May 23
In my last blog post I wrote about The International Ecotourism Society’s list of 10 energy saving tips for travelers, and today I will cover another aspect of sustainable tourism promoted by TIES: economic impact. It isn’t enough to reduce your carbon footprint while traveling; you must also increase your economic footprint, otherwise it isn’t …
May 23
Charity: water is an nonprofit organization that brings clean water to developing areas by building wells and water sanitation projects. In just four years, charity: water hasraised over $20 million, which is clearly an enormous accomplishment. One of the most impressive things about the organization, and one of the major factors in its success thus far, is …
May 20
In my last post I discussed the general global issue of child soldier exploitation. When child militarism is discussed, the spotlight is usually directed at the experiences of boys. However, out of the estimated 300,000 children exploited in armedgovernmental and rebel forces, about 30% are female. Due to social, cultural, political, and religious factors in …
May 19
It took Syria a few weeks longer than other Arab nations to catch the fever of the Arab spring. Now that over 800 Syrians have died in protests for freedom and basic rights at the hand of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the international community has decided that it’s time to step in. Yesterday, President Obama …
May 18
Stopping the Use of Child Soldiers When we think of the lives of children we often do not think of them as training in military camps and fighting in wars. Yet, there are thousands of child soldiers involved in armed conflicts around the globe—some as young as 8 or 9. Universally, the use of child …
May 17
Until recently, there was little reason to doubt that the 2008 Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the US and Iraq would be honored and all US forces would be out of Iraq by December 31st, 2011. As the deadline nears, the agreement is being called into question. This is a mistake. Withdrawing US forces …
May 16
It’s rare to read a news article on the Tunisian revolt without also reading about Facebook; it was the “Facebook revolution,” the “social media revolt,” sparked by WikiLeaks and organized by Twitter users. But how much of the credit can really be given to social media? The revolution began in December 2010, sparked by the …
May 16
On May 10, 2011 Columbia became the 100th country to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The event is a majormilestone for the treaty, as it demonstrates how quickly progress was made in spreading its message across the international community after it entered into force in 2008. To …
May 16
In the education system in the U.S., so many resources are utilized in order to teach children how to read. Starting in our early elementary years, various skills and tools are drilled into our heads to enable literacy. From memorizing the alphabet to understanding grammar rules to practicing reading comprehension skills, the education system ensures …
May 13
In my previous post, “Labeled Disabled”, I highlighted the divisions among isolatedinterest groups in American society. Continuing along this vein, I will explore an alternative approach that could potentially break the stigmas attached to disability in our society. American society has always nurtured its “rugged individualism” and its proudly independent character. We take pride in …
