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February 28, 2002
In his Christian Science Monitor editorial, Voodoo environmentalism,William G. Moseley argues that the concept of wealth-induced environmental conservation is questionable in practice. His reasons:
- "Economic growth tends to create as much environmental degradation as it potentially resolves . . . [in] that increased wealth tends to foster increased consumption and its attendant pollution."
- While "wealth may give consumers the means to purchase low-polluting technologies, such as hybrid cars, the demand for manufacturers to develop these advanced technologies simply doesn't exist."
- "The growth-induced environmental conservation argument often is supported by cross-national studies suggesting a correlation between wealth (or GNP) and environmental standards. In most instances, these studies have focused on industrial emissions as a proxy for all environmental variables." The focus on emmissions misses the shift of dirty industries from wealthier to poorer countries.
- "The flip side of the wealth-induced environmental conservation argument is that poverty is one of the major causes of environmental destruction. My own research with rural farmers in West Africa suggests that poor farmers tend to engage in more environmentally friendly practices than their wealthier counterparts . . . [who] tend to contribute more to environmental degradation because they are more likely to grow cash crops, and invest more heavily in crop- production technologies that are harmful to the environment."
February 27, 2002
The US may be preparing for military action. in former Soviet republic of Georgia against Chechen rebels suspected of having ties to al Qaeda.
February 23, 2002
Recently a university student requested an interview. Here is the interview.
February 22, 2002
Daniel Pearl (1964-2002)
February 21, 2002
Colombia has broken off talks with FARC rebels and initiated a new military campaign aiming to reclaim the rebel controlled regions of the country (a region the size of Switzerland). The change in strategy follows a kidnapping of Liberal Party senator. The US has provided equipment and training for the operation.
February 19, 2002
The complete version of the tropical fish site should be ready by 3/12/02.
February 16, 2002
Slobodan Milosevic, former leader of Serbia, told the war crimes tribunal that the U.S. was an "unwitting ally of Osama bin Laden" during the Kosovo operation against Serb forces in 1998-1999. Milosevic claimed "al Qaeda was 'one of the fundamentalist groups which sent a unit to fight in Kosovo' alongside Muslim Kosovo Albanians.'"
February 6, 2002
The tropical fish beta site is up. A complete version should be ready by 2/22/02.
February 4, 2002
I apologize for the lack of postings - things have been absurdly busy of late and I'm also working on adding a section on tropical freshwater aquarium fish.
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