Al Jazeera: Amnesty Report Slams Global Abuses

The usual culprits, of course: China, Russia, and the US. It's always those who aren't terribly concerned about repercussions in the international arena -- the US is no exception:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/05/2010527164537464311.html

It's so hard to be an optimist, sometimes.

Al Jazeera: Nations Back UN Biodiversity Panel

This is last month's news (I'm a little behind in terms of posting), but still noteworthy:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/06/201061413183923975.html

It's a step forward on endangered species protections. I don't think it'll be the harbinger of biological justice that some people tout it as, of course, but I don't think it'll be quite the disappointment that, say, the League of Nations was. It's more of a symbolic victory in that the international community is finally recognizing the need for global protections and legislation, rather than the regional efforts that have been occurring thus far.

Let's see where it takes us. Fingers crossed.

Paul the Psychic Octopus Predicts Spain over the Netherlands to Win the World Cup

Update: Paul is vindicated! No calamari after all.

I don't normally follow sports -- even the World Cup -- but this is pretty cool. Paul the Octopus has predicted the correct winner of seven out of seven World Cup matches thus far, and is apparently something of a celebrity in Europe. Here he is foretelling the result of tomorrow's game:



The Dutch are probably shaking in their cleats!

(My father told me about this one. He also suggested eating Paul if the Dutch end up winning. Go figure.)

Al Jazeera: The Many Problems Caused by China's One-Child Policy

China's one-child policy has been a subject of much controversy, both within China and in the international community. In the years when it was first implemented, most people agreed that it was an economic and social necessity; now, thirty years later, it is likely creating more problems than it is solving. Al Jazeera reports:

http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2010/05/2010519111922223452.html

The two most pressing issues, as analyzed in the above article, are that there is an increasing gender imbalance, due to the cultural preference for sons, and that a decreasing working-age population is expected to support an increasing population of retired elders (the oft-cited 4-2-1 problem).

Even if the policy is retracted today, the problems will still persist for decades. One can only imagine the lasting consequences if it remains in place for another few decades, or if it is never retracted. The current system was a fine stop-gap measure; it is unsustainable, and it doesn't take a genius to recognize it. It boggles the mind -- what is the government thinking?

Al Jazeera: Australia Takes Japan to Court for Whaling

Finally, after decades of NGOs and independent activists trying to stop whaling by Japanese fishermen and "researchers", some government is finally taking action. Huzzah, Australia!

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/05/20105285365350724.html

Hopefully, the International Court of Justice will accomplish what thousands of activists have tried so hard to do. Stay tuned.

BBC: French Farmers turn Champs-Elysees into Huge Farm Fair

I've been to the Champs-Elysees, and the idea of it turning into a giant farm for two days is a little mindboggling.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/10143393.stm

I want to go see it, but it's only around for a few days.

There's also a video on Al Jazeera.

Al Jazeera: Craig Venter Creates "Artificial Life"

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/05/201052153540508758.html

It's big news. Really big news. It's science telling the Christian crazies to go suck on a lemon, and bringing us one step closer to the origins of life.

I've been fascinated by the topic for a long time, especially since I read the book Origins of Life by Freeman Dyson, back in middle school. (Not what one would consider "light reading", by any means, but it was among the sorts of things I'd read for fun. Go figure.) Seeing this sort of thing actually happen is, well, amazing. Almost makes me regret going humanities -- almost.

Al Jazeera: Art Thefts in Paris

Picassos and Matisses stolen from the Musee d'Art Moderne. Mon dieu... and the recovery rate for this sort of thing (especially intact recovery) is shockingly low, so it's an especial tragedy.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/05/201052013110430506.html

I understand the obvious motivations -- these are extremely valuable pieces -- but if the thieves are intelligent enough to get past museum security, one would think that they'd also consider that these pieces should be tremendously hard to sell, especially after the news gets out that they've been stolen. It's like trying to pawn the crown jewels; they're rather too distinctive. (Actually, it's even more difficult, considering gemstones can be re-set and metals can be melted down, but any alteration to a famous painting drastically decreases its value.)

Al Jazeera: US Senators Introduce Climate Bill

Kerry and Lieberman (not your average superheroes, I'll grant), trying to save the world:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2010/05/201051313748478889.html

Actual serious climate legislation: it's been too long in coming.

It's mostly cap-and-trade; I wish they'd left in some of the subsidies for alternative energy -- but it's still a big step. I hope it passes, this time. Kyoto was really a stain on our record.

This sort of thing is what I meant in the last post, when I spoke of "using" the moment. Capitalize on it. It's a tragedy, but make something good of it.

Al Jazeera: BP's Moby Dick

More about the BP oil spill:

http://blogs.aljazeera.net/americas/2010/05/17/bps-moby-dick

I'm drawing attention to this article in particular, out of the many from all the reputable news sources out there, because of the Moby Dick reference. This journalist knows his Melville.

I read Moby Dick in my junior year of high school. My teacher absolutely loved Melville (as a sort of inside joke, I got him a Moby Dick pop-up book for Christmas, which he thought was pretty funny). It was one of the most absentminded books I've ever read -- everything I know about ambergris, I learned from Melville.

(If you actually want to know about the oil spill, try the link. There isn't much to add to what's out there, other than (a) it's horrible, and (b) our dependence on oil, especially deep sea drilling, obviously needs to stop, and soon.)