Global Awareness: The Only Way Around Political Labels

“Political labels hinder our ability to fix society’s problems. We should spread ideas that benefit the human condition as a whole.” As the world has developed from a relatively isolated system, towards one that is more interconnected and globalized, the role of its inhabitants has changed as well. This is the product of the exchange […]

Powder Keg in the South China Sea

With the launch of China’s newest naval vessel, a 1000 foot – 67,500-ton ex-Soviet aircraft carrier, it becomes a member of an elite group of nations. Only nine other nations operate these capital ships, of which only 20 exist worldwide. All nations on the United Nations Security Council, including China’s rival, India, operate and maintain […]

What Super Tuesday Means to the GOP

On Tuesday, Republican voters from 10 states will take to the polling booths. They will decide whether to establish Mitt Romney as the nominee or drag out the nomination process for several more months. This comes at a time when President Obama has benefited from the bickering between Romney and Rick Santorum and has seen […]

Romney Still GOP Frontrunner

If his victory in Arizona and Michigan this past week is any indication, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is poised to win the 2012 Republican Presidential Nomination and face President Obama in the general election. This certainty stems in part from the relatively weak pool of GOP candidates. Each has overtaken or gained momentum on […]

America, in the Age of Drones: Reconfiguring International Relations

The recent loss of a United States RQ-170 Sentinel unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the Islamic Republic of Iran, and Pakistan’s removal of a United States UAV base in its territory have brought the issue of remotely piloted drones to the forefront of international relations.  New developments in drone capabilities, including longer flight distances, the […]

UK Energy Policy, Nuclear Optimism, and the Future

The prospect and pursuit of long-term sustainable energy security has caused progressive anxiety among fossil fuel dependent countries as they come to grips with dwindling supplies and an unstable Middle East. Increases in the cost of uranium and fossil fuels, expanding populations, finite energy supplies, and the globally swelling demand for energy factor into a […]

The Last Mountain: Understanding the Toxic Side of Coal

At last year’s Sundance Film Festival, a movie premiered entitled The Last Mountain. At the time of writing The Last Mountain is available for streaming via Netflix – and it is a must watch for all of us. The film’s director, Bill Haney, previously directed and produced the documentary A Life Among Whales, which takes […]

One Against All: Media Culture and Public Perception

“[Qaddafi’s death] confirms Obama’s moves regarding foreign policy; he may have a tough time with domestic, but most of his decisions internationally have been spot on—from killing Bin Laden to now the complete fall of Libya without [America] getting entangled.”[i] Media culture within the United States has become emboldened with the support of viewers and […]

Incident Blown Out of Proportion: A Deeper Look into U.S. Policy Abroad

As video recently surfaced showing four U.S. Marines urinating over the bodies of three deceased Taliban fighters, U.S. government officials became concerned that this could incite anti-American sentiment around the world.  This public outcry made me realize just how flawed some American’s outlook on the world really is.  This fear is especially focused on Afghanistan […]

The Iron Lady: Lloyd’s Thatcher Shows the Strength Necessary to Lead

The Iron Lady is a film that has been engineered to win Academy awards, but behind the artsy appeal, the glitz and the glamour lies a solid critique on the modus operandi of western political systems, wherein the events of Margaret Thatcher’s life echo our current political situation. Phyllida Lloyd’s film portrays Margaret Thatcher through […]