Author Archive
26 Aug, 2011
Jewish vote in play in 2012? – Right Turn – The Washington Post
Top GOP contenders Mitt Romney and Texas Gov. Rick Perry have strong pro-Israel credentials and solid ties in the Jewish community. It is clear that both consider Obama’s treatment of the Jewish state to be unacceptable. Romney accused Obama of “throwing Israel under the bus.” Perry in his announcement speech specifically cited Israel as an […]
more…26 Aug, 2011
Killing the Truth: Western Mainstream Media Complicit in NATO War Crimes in Libya
Libya represents a new low in Western government war crimes – which is something of a disturbing record given the decades of war criminality by these governments. In Libya, not only is there the criminal military assault on a sovereign country, the destruction of civilian infrastructure, the murder of women and children, and all the […]
more…26 Aug, 2011
China announces support for Palestinian UN statehood bid
China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Thursday that Wu Sike, its special envoy on the Middle East, told Palestinian leaders in a meeting in Ramallah that Beijing and the Chinese people have always supported the Palestinian cause. The Foreign Ministry statement said Wu expressed understanding, respect and support for the Palestinians’ bid for statehood. […]
more…26 Aug, 2011
Reflect on negative effects of Libya war – People’s Daily Online
The Libyan war started under the banner of U.N. Resolution 1973, but whether NATO’s air strike has exceeded the power granted by the resolution has long been questioned by all parties. The war seems to be a conflict between Libyan rebels and the governmental forces but is actually manipulated by the Western powers. Without NATO’s […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Univ of Wisconsin Campuses Launch Health & Wellness Online Degree
Worksite wellness programs have continued to grow in numbers and sophistication since their formal introduction in the 1970s. The rising cost of healthcare, sweeping national healthcare legislation and concerns about productivity have spurred demand for such programs. As healthcare costs continue to rise, insurance companies, employers, and governments are attempting to find ways to curb […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Survey Finds Africans Blame Themselves for Horn of Africa Famine
The results were equally striking in terms of who should take the lead in solving the current famine problems. All of the Kenyan and South African respondents cited the African governments themselves as did 71 percent of the Britons and 83 percent of the Americans. Only the Nigerian respondents felt that developed countries should also […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Survey: 7 in 10 Don’t Think U.S. Govt Will Ever Pay Off National Debt
Worthington, OH (PRWEB) August 25, 2011 — The vast majority of Adults 18+ (72.5%) are not confident that the government will ever pay off all its debt, according to the latest [American Pulse™ Survey of 5,243 respondents. 11.8% think it is possible while 15.8% don’t know. Further, nearly half (49.8%) don’t think the most recent […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
DOJ Probe Sought of Secret NYPD-CIA Program to Spy on Muslims
A coalition of civil rights and advocacy organizations have called on the U.S. Department of Justice to open an investigation into allegations that the New York City Police Department (NYPD), with support from the CIA, is conducting a massive covert program to monitor the Muslim communities in New York and New Jersey. More than a […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Gross National Happiness in Bhutan – New Review Published
The authors of a new paper on Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness, Tashi Tobgay, Ugen Dophu, Christina Torres and Kesara Na-Bangchang, report on the current status of Bhutan’s health and happiness. Health makes up about 5.7% of the total planned budget from the government, which has resulted in significant improvements for all health indicators. Life expectancy […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Global Mobile Security Market to Reach $14.4 Bln by 2017 – Report
The global market for Mobile Security is projected to reach $14.4 billion by 2017, primarily driven by rapid proliferation of feature phones and intelligent mobile computing devices, according to new report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.. Increasing use of mobile devices for accessing data services and corporate networks and the emergence of open network concept, […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Vedic Studies Forum Holds World Conf on Indian Caste system
On July 31, 2011, the World Association for Vedic Studies (WAVES) concluded a well-attended three-day conference on Varna, Jati and Kula (India’s caste system) that featured prominent scholars worldwide and robust youth participation from high school, college and graduate school students, including members of Gayatri Pariwar, HSC and Youth for Sewa. For three days, scholars […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Economy, Gas Prices, Air Fares Will Shape U.S. Travel Over Labor Day Weekend
AURORA, Ill., Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The American Automobile Association (AAA) forecasts 31.5 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Labor Day holiday weekend, a 2.4 percent decrease from the 32.3 million people who traveled one year ago.
more…25 Aug, 2011
William Pfaff: Victory in Tripoli: They Did It – Truthdig
The beauty and hope of the Arab Awakening movements has been that they have been spontaneous. That makes it impossible for the United States to deal with them impartially. The Europeans can and eventually will, which offers some mitigation of the situation, but at the cost of worsening American-European relations. American relations with new “post-Awakening” […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
OP-ED: Governments Kill – IPS ipsnews.net
WASHINGTON, Aug 24, 2011 (IPS) – We make a bargain with our governments. We pay taxes and expect a set of government services in return. And in return for a guarantee of some measure of security, we grant the government a monopoly on legitimate violence. In theory, then, we forswear mob rule and paramilitary organisations, […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
EUROPA – EU has been “preparing intensively” for Libyan regime change
After six months of conflict, events in Libya reached a decisive moment over the weekend of 20-21 August with the rebels’ entry into Tripoli. The European Commission has been preparing intensively for this moment – and for the challenges that lie ahead – since the beginning of the Libyan uprising. Below is an overview of […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
With CIA Help, NYPD Moves Covertly in Muslim Areas | Common Dreams
Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the NYPD has become one of the country’s most aggressive domestic intelligence agencies. A months-long investigation by The Associated Press has revealed that the NYPD operates far outside its borders and targets ethnic communities in ways that would run afoul of civil liberties rules if practiced by […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Dash for Profit in Post-War Libya Carve-Up | Common Dreams
After five months of fighting in the world’s 12th-largest oil producer, industry figures are acutely aware that billions could be made in the coming years from rebuilding Libya. Immediate focus will fall on the country’s oil fields that are currently producing a 10th of the 1.6 million barrels a day that were exported pre-revolution. There […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Who–and What–Are Behind the “Official History” of the Bin Laden Raid? | Common Dreams
The establishment media just keep getting worse. They’re further and further from good, tough investigative journalism, and more prone to be pawns in complicated games that affect the public interest in untold ways. A significant recent example is The New Yorker’s vaunted August 8 exclusive on the vanquishing of Osama bin Laden. via Who–and What–Are […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Libya: Obama’s Pyrrhic Victory by Justin Raimondo — Antiwar.com
As the rebels march into Tripoli, and Gadhafi is nowhere to be found, the unelected National Transitional Council (NTC), which claims to be the only legitimate government, has already issued a draft “constitution,” one replete with references to all sorts of “rights” – free speech, assembly, democratic elections, etc. There’s just one little provision – […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
As Qaddafi Falls, K Street Rises – NationalJournal.com
Influence peddlers who once worked for Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi’s regime are scrambling to publicly sever ties with the strongman while their competitors are helping his country’s rebels gain a valuable foothold in Washington. After years spent working under the radar, public-affairs firm Brown Lloyd James and the consultancy Monitor Group this summer disclosed millions […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
What a global food crisis looks like: Oxfam’s food prices map
What causes food price spikes? Failed crops—often caused by our changing climate—hit food prices hard. So does the rising cost of oil—used to grow, fertilize and transport food. Short-sighted biofuels strategies play a part too—taking food off of people’s plates and putting it into car tanks. And dysfunctional commodities markets mean that food prices go […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
R$2.4 billion of Hotel Investments for World Cup 2014
With all eyes set firmly on 2014, the year when Brazil will host the FIFA World Cup football competition, the industry is forecasting investments of R$2.4 billion to build 92 new hotels in the 12 cities that will host the tournament. The figures come from a study carried out for the Folha de S.Paulo by […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Cross-Border Transactions Rise 50% to Half of Global Direct Real Estate Investment
Cross-border transactions rose 50 percent to comprise half of the $103.5 billion[1] of direct commercial real estate investment transactions completed in the second quarter of 2011, according to Jones Lang LaSalle’s new Global Capital Flows report. Given the strong start to the year, Jones Lang LaSalle still expects market volumes to reach its full year […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Fake Messages Led to Libya war – English pravda.ru
PARIS TWITTER, LIBYA WAR. HOW A FATAL TWITTER MESSAGE OPENS THE DOORS TO A MUCH WANTED WAR AGAINST LIBYA, THROUGH THE GATE OF UNSC RESOLUTIONS 1970 AND 1973. The mother of all lies was sent to the world through a Twitter message by Al Arabiya, February 23th. A message which makes Qadafi out to be […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Russian companies to be thrown out of Libya – English pravda.ru
The collapse of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime will close many projects for Russian companies in Libya, the head of the Russian-Libyan Business Council, Aram Shegunts said. Such large companies as Gazprom, Gazpromneft, Tatneft and Russian Railways are currently working in the war-torn country. All of those companies made multi-million investments in their Libyan project. “We have […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
New fees undermine NZ visa “improvements” for Chinese visitors – Xinhua
WELLINGTON, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) — Cost-conscious Chinese travelers are turning off New Zealand after New Zealand’s immigration department ramped up the cost of applying for a visa, New Zealand media reported Tuesday. The New Zealand government has been touting “improvements” to the visa application process for Chinese travelers, but the New Zealand Herald newspaper reported […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Airport Screening Policy: Repression or Discretion? – Media Monitors Network
Google “TSA stupidity” and you will find that almost one-and-a-half million websites have something to say about the subject. If the United States is to avoid another major terrorist attack on its air transportation system without placing greater restrictions on the civil liberties of air travelers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) had better get smart. […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Why the US must support bid for Palestinian statehood – CSMonitor.com
Historically, Europe has always had a great impact on the American position toward the Middle East. In fact, one of the primary issues on the agenda for President Obama’s May trip to Britain, Ireland, France, and Poland was the coordination of positions on the Middle East peace process. While it is not yet clear the […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
US must do more to protect women from domestic violence, UN rights expert warns
23 August 2011 – The United States must do more to protect women from domestic violence after a regional body found it wanting in defending a battered woman and her three murdered children from her ex-husband, an independent United Nations human rights expert warned today. “The US Government should reassess existing mechanisms for protecting victims […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
High unemployment blights Palestinian lives, despite economic growth – UN
24 August 2011 – The economy of the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) grew by 9.3 per cent last year, but that expansion was not enough to reduce the area’s 30 per cent unemployment rate, the United Nations trade and development arm said in a new report released today. Gaza saw a 15 per cent growth, […]
more…25 Aug, 2011
Haaretz Columnist: “I am a Zionist. And I am a Palestinian nationalist”
Ha’aretz Columnist Mira Sucharov. Yes, I support the right of Jews to a sovereign country, but so too do I support the right of Palestinians to live their lives in their own state, unencumbered by Israeli occupation. via The Fifth Question -Israel News – Haaretz Israeli News source..
more…25 Aug, 2011
Globalizing The Intifada By William T. Hathaway
24 August, 2011 — Countercurrents.org The invaders have surrounded and attacked us, conquered here and there, and built their bases in our lands. So we attack the invaders where we can, determined to retake our lands and drive them out. We would prefer not to be warriors. We would rather raise our children in the […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
Stronger RMB does not mean unilateral revaluation – People’s Daily Online
A stronger RMB will exert a profound and far-reaching influence on the structure of the Chinese economy. It can promote the development of non-tradable sectors like the service industry and boost the upgrading of tradable sectors, bringing both pressure and impetus for China’s economic restructuring. The RMB has continued to rise against the U.S. dollar […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
From China to London by bike – People’s Daily Online
The charms of the open road are easily matched by its daunting challenges – one wrong turn and you could end up in a very different place than you intended. Yet for 23-year-old Zheng Sheng, a recent graduate of Shanghai Science and Technology University, such challenges were hardly a deterrent when it came to his […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
Hainan’s overseas investment tops $400 mln in Jan-July – People’s Daily Online
HAIKOU, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) — Overseas investment by enterprises in south Hainan Province has totaled 400 million U.S. dollars in the first seven months of this year, sources with the provincial Department of Commerce said Sunday. Hainan’s overseas investment has mainly gone to eight countries and regions, which includes India, Singapore, Tanzania, Indonesia and Russia, […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
Bangkok Post : Graft agency rules against ex-TAT Governor
The National Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday formally ruled against former Tourism Authority of Thailand governor Juthamas Siriwan in the film festival bribery case. Commissioner Medhi Krongkaew said the NACC found Ms Juthamas has committed criminal offences as a former state official in connection with the case. The NACC also decided Ms Juthamas’s daughter had been complicit […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
China extends yuan trade settlement to whole country | chinadaily.com.cn
BEIJING – China announced on Tuesday that all parts of the country are able to use its national currency, the yuan or Renminbi, in cross-border trade settlements. Previously, only 20 provincial regions in the country could conduct cross-border trade settlements in yuan. The policy was announced by the People’s Bank of China, the country’s central […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
China finds faith in US finances | chinadaily.com.cn
BEIJING – China’s leaders on Friday expressed confidence in the fundamentals of the US economy and its prospects as the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to a strong and enduring relationship. In the opening remarks of a roundtable discussion with US and Chinese political and business leaders earlier in the day, Vice-President Xi Jinping said […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
For firmer ASEAN-China ties | chinadaily.com.cn
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their dialogue partnership. The relationship progressed from consultative dialogue partners in 1991 to full dialogue partners in 1996, then on to a strategic partner in 2003 and finally to an ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) last year. ASEAN member states […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
Museum tells story of Japanese-American detainees – Yahoo! News
RALSTON, Wyo (Reuters) – It was a bittersweet return for more than 250 Japanese-American former detainees at Heart Mountain Relocation Center in the state of Wyoming who gathered for the opening of a museum about their wartime internment. A replica guard tower stands over the museum on a remote wind-swept plain where nearly 14,000 Japanese […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
8.7 million species exist on Earth, study estimates – The Washington Post
For centuries scientists have pondered a central question: How many species exist on Earth? Now, a group of researchers has offered an answer: 8.7 million. Although the number is still an estimate, it represents the most rigorous mathematical analysis yet of what we know — and don’t know — about life on land and in […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
West lashing out when faced with uncertain future – People’s Daily Online
To err is human. The West looks at the worsening financial crisis and political chaos in its own yard this way. Mistakes are nothing new. Western countries have undergone various crises in the past. This is not the first time the world has been mired in troubles started by a few countries. Other countries entangled […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
Asia Times Online : Welcome to Libya’s ‘democracy’
The Big Gaddafi has barely left the building – the Bab-al-Aziziyah compound – and the Western vultures are already circling overhead; the scramble is on to seize the “big prize” – Libya’s oil and gas wealth. [1] Libya is as much a pawn in a serious ideological, geopolitical, geo-economic and geostrategic chessboard as a pedestrian […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
Japan tries to scare off yen speculators | Reuters
TOKYO, Aug 23 (Reuters) – Japan’s finance minister on Tuesday warned speculators against betting on further yen gains that could hinder recovery from the March earthquake, but his chances of keeping them at bay looked in doubt as ultra-easy U.S. monetary policy could keep the dollar weak. Bank of Japan Governor Masaaki Shirakawa also declared […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
US public is paying the price – People’s Daily Online
The debt crisis has exposed the defects rather than the advantages of America’s tit for tat democratic system The US debt crisis has drawn much criticism both at home and aboard. It is inconceivable to many people that as the only superpower in the world the US was locked in a struggle that threatened to […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
Fukushima fallout said 30 times Hiroshima’s | The Japan Times Online
Video footage of Tatsuhiko Kodama’s impassioned speech before a Diet committee in July went viral online recently, showing the medical expert’s shocking revelation that the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant spewed some 30 times more radioactive materials than the fallout from the Hiroshima atomic bombing. Kodama, a professor of systems biology and medicine at the […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
Russian spending abroad back to pre-crisis levels | Russia Beyond The Headlines
Aggregate spending by Russians abroad in so far 2011 has reached pre-crisis 2007 levels, according to Citibank’s annual research. Citibank experts estimate that the total amount of purchases made abroad until the end of 2011, including on credit cards, will amount to 3 percent of the GDP, or $40 billion. via Russian spending abroad back […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
PressTV – ‘Europe to face social explosions’
A senior Iranian commander says the recent protests in the UK have raised the possibility of “social explosions” in other European countries in the near future. “The European countries’ fear and concern about the spread of what happened in the UK has put the possibility of experiencing social explosions in the fall before the governments […]
more…24 Aug, 2011
Tweet revenge at last for shoppers with complaints
August 24, 2011 — CONSUMERS are increasingly turning to Twitter and Facebook to vent their frustrations at having their complaints ignored as online activism becomes a powerful tool forcing businesses to fix unresolved issues. The consumer group Choice said its members were using social media to air their complaints, which was encouraging businesses to monitor […]
more…23 Aug, 2011
Free Advice For Social Media Users In Light Of UK Rioting Jail Terms
In light of prison sentences given to two British men, Protostar Leadership Development, a UK management consultancy is issuing a free 8 page guidance booklet covering everything from cyber bullying to the safe use of Facebook. It hopes that readers will avoid some of the potential risks of using the internet and in particular, social […]
more…16 Aug, 2011
UN Hails “Youth-Quakes” Which Ousted Dictators
In this dispatch:
1. Trees ‘Speak Out’ In UN Writing Competition To Save Forests
2. UN Invites Budding Creators To Enter Competition On Technology Innovation
3. UN Chief Retraces His Roots, Tells Hometown ‘Global Is Local And Local Is Global’
4. On World Youth Day, UN Hails “Youth-Quakes” Which Ousted Dictators
5. UN-Backed Tsunami Warning System For The Mediterranean Passes First Test
16 Aug, 2011
Smithsonian Journeys Offers Value Mediterranean Cruises for 2012
In this dispatch:
1. Smithsonian Journeys Offers Value Cruises to the Mediterranean for 2012
2. Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Searching For Best Mom On Wheels
3. Check Before Buying Travel Insurance for Rental Cars — Most Travelers Are Already Covered
4. Top 25 Flexible Career Trends
5. Top 10 Hates of School Students
15 Aug, 2011
UK Awakening: Post-riots Issues Emerge for Travel & Tourism
The week of rioting in the streets of many British cities has raised many issues for the travel & tourism industry to ponder both in the lead-up to, and during, the upcoming World Travel Market in November. The earlier the industry awakens to the global awakening now under way, the better.
more…12 Aug, 2011
Australia Issues Report on Crimes Against Foreign Students
Responding to a swathe of media reports in 2009-10 about allegedly racially-motivated attacks on Indian students, the Australian government has issued the results of a far more comprehensive study about crimes against students from the five largest source-markets: China, India, Malaysia, South Korea and the United States.
more…11 Aug, 2011
Rising ASEAN says U.S., Europe “No Longer Engines of Global Growth”
Manado, Indonesia, 10 August 2011 – In another sign of the shifting world order and growing economic assertiveness in Asia and the ASEAN countries, Indonesian Vice President Prof Dr Boediono has declared that the US and Europe could no longer power the world economy, but ASEAN economies are in a better situation right now to […]
more…10 Aug, 2011
Millions Of Poor To Have Mobile Phones Under UN Scheme
In this dispatch:
1. Erroneous Linking Of Norwegian Attacks To Islam Was ‘Revealing’ – UN Rights Expert
2. UN-Backed Scheme Enables Colombian Indigenous Groups To Sell Crafts
3. UN Urges Greater Appreciation Of Culture And Creativity Of Indigenous Peoples
4. Reykjavik Earns UN Distinction As A City Of Literature
5. Millions Of Poor To Have Mobile Phone Numbers Under UN-Backed Scheme
10 Aug, 2011
TripAdvisor Unveils Resource Platform And Educational Series For Businesses
In this dispatch:
1. 5 Home Security Tips During Summer Travel Season
2. Google +1 And The Dark Side Of SEO
3. Tripadvisor Unveils New Resource Platform And Educational Series For Businesses
4. New Movie Probes Psychology And Personality Of Whistleblowers
5. Community Turns Challenging Aging Demographic Into An Asset
9 Aug, 2011
Bulwarks Up, Asia Confronts Pros & Cons of Financial Globalisation
Recurring financial crises are again exposing Asia to the pros and cons of globalisation and will lead to a stepped-up search for indigenous solutions and protective measures against currency fluctuations and volatile short-term capital flows.
more…9 Aug, 2011
Five Ways to Strengthen Asia-Pacific Economies
One result of the financial, economic and debt crises in Europe and the United States will be an increase in inter-regional linkages within the Asia-Pacific and intra-regional linkages between the developing countries. One of India’s leading businessmen, Mr. N.R. Narayana Murthy, Chairman, Infosys Limited, outlines five ways to leverage this huge opportunity.
more…8 Aug, 2011
China, India Outline Lessons Learnt From Debt Crisis
This dispatch includes two commentaries published in the official Chinese publication People’s Daily Online and its comments blog section on the lessons that China has learnt and what it could/should do in the wake of the U.S. and European debt crises, and a speech by Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee assessing his country’s economic strengths […]
more…4 Aug, 2011
State of the Future Report: Global Decision-Making Processes Face Overhaul
A “State of the Future Report” issued by a Washington DC-based think tank says it is high time for a major overhaul of the structures and processes to improve the quality of global decision-making, away from short-term, insular, parochial considerations towards more ethical, universal and long-term considerations.
more…2 Aug, 2011
Asia 2050: How Asian Leaders Can Avoid A “Perfect Storm”
“Asia 2050 – Realizing the Asian Century”, a new book commissioned by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), says that Asia’s future prospects are bright but face a “perfect storm” of bad macro policies, finance sector exuberance with lax supervision, conflict, climate change, natural disasters, changing demography, and weak governance.
more…2 Aug, 2011
UNESCO Unveils Winners Of Annual Literacy Awards
In this Dispatch:
1. Marking International Friendship Day, UN Chief Urges Global Amity
2. Suppression Of Women’s Rights Persists Despite Progress On Discrimination
3. UNESCO Unveils Winners Of Annual Literacy Awards
4. UN Economic And Social Forum Ends With Calls For Action To Follow Decisions
5. UN Human Rights Body Criticizes Restrictions On Free Expression
28 Jul, 2011
Research Blows Lid On Global Media Spin That Brainwashed Norway Terrorist
In yet another eye-opening research paper, a senior lecturer at the Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand, has highlighted how the global public fear of Islam/Muslims gives the military-industrial complex a chance to reap billions.
more…27 Jul, 2011
“Why Do We Harass Muslims But Not White, Nordic Males?”
This dispatch includes a collection of reports and commentaries from global media about the 22/7 Blond bin Laden terrorist attack in Norway. Let there be no mistake: Ten years after 9/11, the tables have turned. The “war on terror” has taken on new meaning.
more…26 Jul, 2011
Eye-Opening Report Exposes How “Fear Factor” Drives Global Islamophobia
On 23 June, exactly a month before the Norwegian terrorist suspect struck, the University of California (Berkeley) Centre for Race & Gender (CRG) and the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), issued a powerful report containing a timely warning about the dangers of Islamophobia to U.S. society.
more…25 Jul, 2011
As A Blond bin Laden Strikes, A “Global Awakening” Awaits
Even if indirectly, the travel & tourism industry bears some burden of responsibility for what is being described as a grotesque act of right-wing “Christian jihadi terrorism” in Norway.
more…25 Jul, 2011
PATA Bids to be “Voice” of Asian Travel, But “Face” Remains Non-Asian
BANGKOK – The Pacific Asia Travel Association last week advanced its recovery and rehabilitation campaign by appointing two senior-management executives to help revive its profile in the Asian region and rebuild its membership base.
more…25 Jul, 2011
America In Trouble In The Middle East
The results of this latest poll of Arab opinion demonstrates how precarious the position of the United States is in the Middle East and how important it has become for American policy makers to pay attention to what Arabs are saying.
more…25 Jul, 2011
Murdoch’s Global Reach Needs Much Deeper Probe
The sordid Murdoch phone hacking saga is only the minute tip of an iceberg of cronyism, corruption and nepotism in the West. The real story is how the Murdoch empire has influenced politicians, manipulated public opinion and shaped the global geopolitical and economic agenda over the last 20 years.
more…21 Jul, 2011
European Travel Steady But Economies Face Downside Risk – Report
With Western economies facing significant headwinds and downside risks, European countries will need to maintain strong promotions of inbound tourism to maintain jobs and growth, according to the latest Quarterly Report (Q2/2011) of European Tourism In 2011: Trends & Prospects, released on 20 July.
more…20 Jul, 2011
Pursuit of Happiness Should Have Greater Role In Development Policy – UN Member States
In this dispatch
1. Pursuit of Happiness Should Have Greater Role In Development Policy – UN Member States
2. UN Contest For Best Campaign To End Violence Against Women Opens For Voting
3. Politicians Alone Cannot Create Peace, UN Official Says At Middle East Media Forum
4. Scientists Open Conference On Endangered Species
5. Global Aid For Trade Efforts Vital For Boosting Development
20 Jul, 2011
Women Feel Higher Levels of Financial Stress Than Men
In this dispatch:
1. Women Feel Higher Levels of Financial Stress Than Men
2. New Delta Faucet Study Unveils Americans’ Bathroom Behaviors
3. Data Protection and Privacy: Revolt Emerging Against “Unquenchable Appetite” of Data Collection industry
4. Small Business Internet Marketing Survey: Over 40% Crying For Help
5. CreditDonkey Reveals Just How Much Americans Rely on Credit Cards
19 Jul, 2011
U.S. Court Rules Body-Scanners Can Stay, But Public Views Must Be Heard
A U.S. Court of Appeals has allowed the controversial airport body-scanners to remain in place but chided the Transportation Security Administration for not seeking public comment before having them installed in several hundred airports across the U.S.
more…17 Jul, 2011
Nelson Mandela Day July 18 – Honour Him By Devoting 67 Minutes To Public Service
In this dispatch:
1. Honour Nelson Mandela — Devote 67 Minutes To Public Service
2. Sustainable Development Vital To Protect Economies And Environment
3. Over 2,000 Children Set Football World Record At UN-Backed Event In Gaza
4. On World Population Day, UN Calls For Greater Efforts To End Poverty And Inequality
5. Forum Urges Greater Efforts To Ensure Access To Decent Education For All
17 Jul, 2011
Indonesia To Broach Joint ASEAN Visa Issue
In this dispatch:
1. Indonesia To Broach Joint ASEAN Visa Issue
2. Gaylord Hotels and Teach For America Join Forces to Honour Teachers
3. Facebook Investigators Launch Anonymous Service to Help People Catch Cheating Spouses
4. New Report Released by American Citizens Abroad (ACA) Shows Devastating Consequences of FATCA Legislation
5. As Unionization Becomes Easier, Projections Releases New Resources to Help Employers Connect with Employees
14 Jul, 2011
“App Yap” Contest to Find Best App for Youth Travel
There are over 17,000 travel apps on the market today, but which one of these apps is the best? The World Youth & Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) aims to find out.
more…13 Jul, 2011
U.S. Image Sinks Further in Middle East, Poll Shows
Washington D.C., (Arab-American Institute Media Release) — With the 2008 election of Barack Obama, favorable attitudes toward the U.S. more than doubled in many Arab countries. But in the two years since his famous “Cairo speech,” ratings for both the U.S. and the President have spiraled downwards.
more…7 Jul, 2011
Arab Spring Awakens Palestinians, Knocks At Israel’s Door
A compilation of stories, press releases and announcements about how activists plan to help the Arab spring lead to freedom and statehood for the Palestinian people. A Palestinian state will allow the people of the world to visit Palestine without undergoing the ignominy of applying for an visa at an Israeli embassy or dealing with […]
more…6 Jul, 2011
PATA, In Comeback Mode, Plans Industry Forums In 12 Global Cities
BANGKOK – In a bold move designed to boost its membership appeal and raise its international profile, the Pacific Asia Travel Association plans to hold strategic industry forums in 12 global cities.
more…4 Jul, 2011
Polarised Thailand Faces Short-Term Gain, Long-Term Pain
BANGKOK – If buyers and sellers of the Thai tourism product want to know what to do in the aftermath of the July 3 national elections, here’s some free advice: Sell Thailand by all means.
more…3 Jul, 2011
Day of Reckoning for Thai Tourism
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has just completed a week-long marketing planning meeting with a forecast for 19.5 million arrivals in 2012. Whether it meets those targets will depend not on the planning but what happens on national election day, July 3,
more…1 Jul, 2011
American Awakening Grows: A 4th of July Message from Rabbi Michael Lerner
Faced with July 4th celebrations that are focused on militarism, ultra-nationalism, and “bombs bursting in air,” many American families who do not share those values turn July 4th into another summer holiday focused on picnics, sports, and fireworks, while doing their best to avoid the dominant rhetoric and bombast. This year that kind of celebration is particularly difficult when many of us are in mourning as we watch our government commit to keep fighting the trillion dollar a year war in Afghanistan while cutting social programs for the poor, the elderly, schools, environment, and other pressing human needs.
more…30 Jun, 2011
American Awakening Gains Traction: Brown Univ Study Pegs Costs of U.S. Wars at US$4 Trillion
In a study designed explicitly “to spur public debate about America at war,” the Eisenhower Research Project based at Brown University has released a comprehensive analysis of the total human, economic, social, and political cost of the U.S. War on Terror.
more…29 Jun, 2011
China Travel Boom Helps Global Tourism Near US$3 billion/day Mark
The most significant change among the top ten destinations by international arrivals in 2010 was the rise of China to third position, according to the UNWTO Tourism Highlights 2011 Edition, released today. China ousted Spain for third place, and has overtaken both the United Kingdom and Italy during the past few years.
more…27 Jun, 2011
U.S.Mayors Seek to Plug Tax Evasion By Online Travel Companies
Mayors of U.S. cities have passed a resolution that highlights alleged tax evasion by online travel companies (OTC) and calls on the U.S. Congress not to block legal action to get them to pay up.
more…27 Jun, 2011
An “American Awakening” Looms: U.S.Mayors Blast Wars Costing $2.1 Million A Minute
Much has been read and heard about the Arab spring and the Arab awakening. But yet another spring is emerging that will lead to a geopolitical shift of potentially tectonic proportions – the upcoming American awakening.
more…27 Jun, 2011
OECD: Global Economic Shocks to Become More Frequent
PARIS, 27 June 2011, (OECD News Release) — Disruptive shocks to the global economy are likely to become more frequent and cause greater economic and societal hardship, according to a new OECD report.
more…27 Jun, 2011
ICANN gTLD: The New Frontiers of Global Cyber Name Identity Branding
What are the immediate and future threats to the current name identity? What are the options for a partial or a full name change? Under what global rules or ‘the laws of corporate naming’ will they find the perfect solution that is best for their wider customer base, international marketing goals, and equally passable under the new ICANN policies?
more…23 Jun, 2011
Wireless Broadband Subscriptions Top Half a Billion: OECD
PARIS, June 23 (OECD News Release) — The fast-growing popularity of smartphones and tablet PCs is driving growth in mobile broadband services. Wireless broadband subscriptions in OECD countries had exceeded half a billion by the end of 2010, an increase of more than 10 percent on June 2010, according to new OECD statistics.
more…23 Jun, 2011
Measuring Hotel Management’s Performance In Ways That Count
The day has come to take the clamps off the Uniform System of Accounts for Hotels and really measure performance based on what is controllable and what is not.
more…23 Jun, 2011
Logging, Drug Threats Put Rainforests On UN Heritage Danger List
In this dispatch:
1. Japanese Accident Offers Lessons For World On Nuclear Safety
2. Logging, Drug Threats Put Rainforests On UN Heritage Danger List
3. Indian Wildlife Sanctuary Lifted From UNESCO’s List Of Endangered Heritage
4. Social Investments Deserve Priority In Economic Recovery Schemes
5. UN Cautions Against Reducing Assistance To Smallholder Farmers
23 Jun, 2011
Unions Seek Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy Disclosure by Hotel Chains
In a move that could open a Pandora’s box for the travel & tourism industry worldwide, the international union of food, farm and hotel workers (known by the French version of its acronym, IUF) has written to hotel chains asking about their policies to prevent sexual harassment of housekeeping staff by guests.
more…23 Jun, 2011
Air France Apology Sought For Worker Sent Home Over Hijab
WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/22/11) – The Council of American Islamic Relations has called on Air France to apologise to a Muslim worker at Washington Dulles International Airport who was allegedly sent home because she refused to remove her Islamic head scarf, or hijab.
more…21 Jun, 2011
Expanded Midwifery Services Could Save Millions Of Lives
Also in this dispatch:
1. UN Calls For Action Against Diseases Caused By Tobacco, Pollution, And Lack Of Exercise
2. UNESCO Chief Presses For Better Preservation Of World Heritage Sites
3. Agriculture Commodity Prices Not Likely To Decline For Some Time
4. Countries Adopt New UN Standards To Improve Conditions For Domestic Workers
21 Jun, 2011
“Historic Change” to Internet’s Domain Name System Approved
Singapore, June 21, 2011 — The Board of Directors of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has approved a plan to usher in one of the biggest changes ever to the Internet’s Domain Name System, according to a press release posted on PRWEB.
more…15 Jun, 2011
Study: Female Hotel Staff Face High Stress, Low Job Satisfaction
Female hotel staff are struggling to cope with high levels of stress, with married women being worse affected due to the pressures of trying to maintain a home:workplace balance, according to the results of a research study by Dr Sheeba Hamid of Aligarh Muslim University in Aligarh, India.
more…15 Jun, 2011
Renewed Efforts Urged To End Practice Of ‘Son Preference’
In This Dispatch:
1. Renewed Efforts Urged To End Practice Of ‘Son Preference’
2. New Initiative Launched To Boost Crops And Protect Environment
3. UN Cultural Agency Calls On Libyans And NATO To Protect Heritage Sites
4. Cutting Smog And Soot Could Have Fast And Broad Benefits
5. Lauding Immunization Pledges, Unicef Says They Will Save Millions Of Lives
15 Jun, 2011
The Thrill of Learning a New Language — Sign Language
During the process of hiring people with a hearing/speech impairment, we conducted basic sign language classes for our associates to break the communication barrier. I now see abled people talking to each other using sign language and when I ask them why, they say ‘Why waste your breath, Sir’.
more…13 Jun, 2011
Tourism and Energy – in the Sign of the Sun
Tourism may lead to “prosperity and peace”, as UNWTO says. Nonetheless, there is a more gloomy side of tourism. In his book ‘The Final Call’, Leo Hickman wonders who would really pay for the collateral damage caused by tourism.
more…
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