What to Do about Syria?
The Syrian government bombs its own people with chemical weapons. The USA weighs whether to intervene. Yes: Freedom fighters struggle for democracy. No: Islamic militants are thoroughly infiltrated in the conflict and will likely take power if we cause the rebels to win. Yes: Assad’s actions are reprehensible, and he must be taken out. No: He treats Christians and other religious minorities well, and they’d be wiped out if he falls from power. Yes: How can we stand by watching the atrocities and do nothing? No: How can we get enmeshed in yet another intractable Middle Eastern conflict? Look at…
When Righting a Wrong Creates a Bigger Wrong
Edward Snowden came to the conclusion that the CIA and NSA, for whom he worked, had way too much ability to spy. They can virtually listen in on any phone conversation they like. This is scary. And hardly ethical. So he blew the cover of the entire operation. As egregious as the government’s ability and practice of spying may be, the spy agencies pointed out that with this cover blown, Americans at large are now put at greater risk. And terrorists they might have caught will now be aware of what they didn’t know before and less likely be caught before they…
North Korean Kids Sent back to Hell
An international outcry has rightfully emerged at the Laotian government that sent nine North Korean refugee kids back to North Korea for certain imprisonment in a concentration camp, probable torture, and possible death. They were part of a group of kids who had at various times escaped North Korea, been orphaned in one way or another, lived on the streets in China, and found by South Koran Christians who gathered them in. The youngest and oldest got to safety. The remaining nine pictured here made their way into Laos, with the aim of getting to the South Korean embassy in…
Crowded at the Top
Who’d have believed that Mt. Everest would become crowded– crowded! The mountain was first conquered in 1953, a feat most thought was impossible. BBC reports that now “the summit has become as congested as a five-lane motorway during bank holiday weekend.” One day in 2012 234 climbers reached the peak–in a single day! This year some climbers have complained of having to wait in bottlenecked lines for as long as two-and-a-half hours. The BBC quotes experienced climber Graham Hoyland as saying, E-mail this Page.Tweet
CO2 Threshold–Watch Out
Carbon Dioxide levels have now surpassed a critical threshold: 400 parts per million. The average daily readings on top of Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory are considered the best indicator because of the mountain’s height and distance from any major polluter. It doesn’t really matter what you think about global warming here. When CO2 density surpasses 400 ppm, the average global temperature will rise. And it will almost certainly bring E-mail this Page.Tweet
