The explosives ignite, the pipeline bursts, and tens of thousands of barrels of oil pour into grasslands and rivers, destroying a vital source of income and large quantities of animals and fish. Frequent attacks on pipelines by leftist rebels over the last 20 years have devastated fragile ecosystems in Colombia and cost the government hundreds of millions of dollars in lost … [Read more...] about Severing the Link Between Oil and Conflict
Social Issues
When Parenting Programs Confront Cultural Taboos
In the mid-1990s, researchers in the United States revealed a stunning gap in the developmental path of rich and poor children. By age three, the researchers found, children of professionals had heard 30 million more words than low-income children. This endowed privileged youngsters with skills that allowed them to acquire richer vocabularies and more sophisticated language … [Read more...] about When Parenting Programs Confront Cultural Taboos
Can Voucher Schools Improve Education? Ask Chile
After a historically fierce and bruising battle, Betsy DeVos, a proponent of school choice, was confirmed Feb 7. as the education secretary of the United States. Devos's supporters applauded her backing of charter schools and vouchers for study in private and religious schools. Opponents argued just as passionately that allowing such options would undermine the public school … [Read more...] about Can Voucher Schools Improve Education? Ask Chile
Natural Disaster Insurance: Why Don’t More Countries Have It?
They are whipped by hurricanes, lashed by storms and crippled by earthquakes. A report compiled by the United Nations, taking into account exposure to natural events and a society's response, found four nations of the region (Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua) to be among the world's 15 nations most at risk from natural disasters. Nonetheless, few countries in … [Read more...] about Natural Disaster Insurance: Why Don’t More Countries Have It?
Never Too Late to Learn: Older Workers and Tennis Stars Can Win
Until last week, 20-somethings in professional tennis might have been forgiven for passing Roger Federer off as a wounded warrior, fading at 35 into legend without so much as a single grand slam title in five years. But Federer's historic three-hour-and-37 minute triumph over Rafael Nadal in the final of the Australian Open Jan. 29—along with the victory of another 35-year-old … [Read more...] about Never Too Late to Learn: Older Workers and Tennis Stars Can Win