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Economy

A Russian Bear is Bullish for Big Oil

By Staff Report | June 11, 2008

Climbing energy prices are a natural reaction to limited oil supplies, and are in fact necessary to “choke off demand,” the Financial Times of London reports. Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, predicts that current market trends will drive the price of oil over $250 per barrel by 2009. Even as costs increase, Gazprom is opening up new speculative fronts, particularly in the natural gas market. The company is gearing up to develop the huge Shtokman natural gas field in northern Russia, in cooperation with France’s Total corporation and StatoilHydro of Norway. Production is expected to start in 2014, and Gazprom might try to take over a U.S.-based energy company to give it an entry into the North American market.

Democracy & Civics

Food Crisis Renews Biotech Farming Debate

By Staff Report | June 11, 2008

As global food prices climb, the debate over genetically modified agriculture is once again heating up. The Christian Science Monitor reports that resistance to the use of modified crops is declining in some regions, as farmers contemplate increased profits, and governments feel the economic pressure. After the cost of non-genetically modified corn more than doubled, for example, Japan and Korea have “quietly” begun allowing modified corn in snacks and drinks. In France, following a contentious debate, a bill to allow gene-altered crops passed in parliament by one vote — but can’t be enacted until the European Union lifts its ban. The Monitor reports that Europe’s farmers and agribusiness — such as Germany’s BASF corporation, which is pushing a genetically modified potato to market — are even pondering legal action to open up continental markets to their biotech food products.

Nation

Will Pond Scum Save the Planet?

By Staff Report | June 5, 2008

With corn-based fuels being blamed for the global food crisis, biofuel supporters are looking for non-food crops to be the next energy source. This includes algae, a plant that few people would rather see on their plates instead of in their gas tanks. According to Biomass magazine, a commercial wild algae harvesting operation is now under way in New Zealand ponds, with the slimy stuff going toward the production of so-called biocrude. Barrie Leay, one of the founders of Aquaflow Bionomic Corp. Ltd., would not give the magazine details of his company’s technology, but said, “The processes we have worked through are evolutionary — not revolutionary — to get to this scale over the past two-and-a-half years.

Democracy & Civics

Less than Virginal, a French-Muslim Marriage Goes Awry

By Staff Report | June 5, 2008

France has been rocked in the past week by news that a court allowed a Muslim groom to annul his marriage because he found out on his wedding night that his bride was not a virgin. The wedding took place two years ago and the annulment was granted last month, but once the story was revealed in a legal journal it caught fire with the media. Many French politicians and activists have strongly condemned the state’s recognition of the annulment. The Socialist Party’s Segolene Royal called the decision by a high court in the northern city of Lille “a step backwards for the emancipation of women and the right that they won to dispose freely of their bodies,” according to the Times of London. Dounia Bouzar, an anthropologist and expert on Muslims in Europe, told the International Herald Tribune, “It’s a victory for fundamentalists and a victory for those who look at Islam as an archaic religion that treats women badly.”

Democracy & Civics

Local Music Thrills to New Community Radio

By Staff Report | June 5, 2008

A new, noncommercial FM radio station — one of the first to be approved nationwide in 15 years — is coming to Portland, Oregon. The Oregonian reports that MetroEast Community Media in Portland successfully petitioned the Federal Communications Commission for the license during an unusual weeklong application period last October. The licenses were only accepted if it could be proved that the new stations wouldn’t interfere with signals from existing broadcasters. The idea of a new, commercial-free FM radio station in a heavily commercialized market drew a broad variety of supporters, such as the local cable access service, and the local Musician’s Union chapter. Together, the coalition raised about $250,000 for building the new station — and local musicians are thrilled.

Democracy & Civics

Earthquake Parents Protest China Schools Collapse

By Staff Report | June 5, 2008

About 100 parents of children killed in schools by China’s recent earthquake have been turned back from a protest at a court in the Sichuan province. Approximately 7,000 classrooms collapsed in the 7.9 magnitude temblor, The Guardian reports, and in some cases were the only buildings to crumble in a given district. Some of the protesting parents called for a lawsuit, and angry questions about inadequate construction and corruption persist. Chinese officials, however, ordered news media to soften any criticism of school construction. Journalists were “dragged away” from the protest, and Zao Ming, an official in China’s foreign affairs office, told The Guardian: “This is not a good place to do interviews.

Economy

A Merrie Olde Credit Crisis

By Staff Report | June 5, 2008

Aftershocks from the mortgage and credit crises are rattling nerves around the world — particularly in England’s banking and lending sector. The Telegraph reports that investors have pulled more than 2.77 billion pounds (approximately $5 billion) from the British lender Bradford & Bingly, following the revelation of a cash crunch resulting from declines in its mortgage business. Faced with a shortfall from low-rate mortgages, the bank had apparently been hoping — in vain — for an upturn in mortgage lending at higher prices. Other banks may face a similar threat, one analyst said, describing the situation as a “mortgage market contagion” that could spread throughout the system. Source:
“U.K. bank shares fall as investors bail out”
The Telegraph (U.K), June 3, 2008

Nation

Where'd All the Dead Bodies Go?

By Staff Report | May 29, 2008

You might think that if there’s one product that will never be in short supply, it’s dead bodies. Though there’s no shortage of dead people, but U.S. medical schools and universities are having trouble getting enough cadavers for dissection in anatomy courses. The Los Angeles Times and the Denver Post report that the supply of human cadavers for dissection in Colorado and Wyoming is at its lowest rate in 20 years, and it’s hardly any better in other parts of the country, forcing anatomy instructors to turn away students. Mark Frasier, an associate professor at Colorado State University, told the Los Angeles Times: “This year, I requested 15 (cadavers) and we’ll get seven. So now I’m cutting back on students that can take dissection.

Nation

Olympic Stadium Mobile Home

By Staff Report | May 29, 2008

The Olympic Torch makes a world tour, why not an Olympic stadium? The Guardian is reporting that organizers of the London 2012 Olympics are planning to build a so-called flatpack stadium, which could be partly dismantled and shipped to another location. According to the Guardian, London organizers have spoken about the proposal with planners for Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics. The paper quoted Chicago organizer Doug Arnott as saying: “If we could box it up and ship it to the next games, that’s something that could benefit the Olympic movement. This is to do with the responsible use of materials and trying to avoid leaving infrastructure that will burden a city.”