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We Are Vulnerable but not Powerless
by Elizabeth Sawin
— December 2, 2002 —
A Czech friend of mine sent an email during the recent NATO summit as American fighter jets stood by and riot police filled the streets of Prague. “Sometimes,” she wrote, “I feel as though the world has gone mad.” Her words spoke my own thoughts so clearly it was as though I was reading [...]
Ending The Race To The Bottom
by Elizabeth Sawin
— November 1, 2002 —
Here’s a simple game that makes a not-so-simple point.
Stand in a line, with several friends. Each of you hold your right index finger out in front of your body. Now place a long stick across all of your fingers, balanced upon them. Your collective goal is to lower the stick to the ground. There [...]
Dead Zone Economics
by Elizabeth Sawin
— October 1, 2002 —
The headline in the August 16 issue of Science magazine is ominous — “Dead Zone Grows.” To the right of the headline is a map of the Gulf of Mexico. And drawn on the map, hugging the shoreline, is an irregular green stripe. This is the Dead Zone, an area of the Gulf where [...]
Why is the World Angry About the US Farm Bill?
by Hal Hamilton
— September 19, 2002 —
Editorials and proclamations around the world express dismay about the 2002 U.S. farm bill. Media releases from the world summit in Johannesburg were full of criticisms by people in the developing world.
They blame us for hypocritically touting free trade while we subsidize exports that are dumped in their markets. Their local farmers are pushed [...]
New Shoes
by Elizabeth Sawin
— September 2, 2002 —
Kindergarten is starting next week, and the worn-out old sneakers from last spring are pinching my daughter’s toes. There are no sneakers that fit at our favorite used-clothing store, and no neighbors have just the right pair of outgrown sneakers to offer this season. There is no avoiding it. One morning, as early as [...]
