Articles

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Effects of the Greek Bailout on E.U. Development Aid

DEVELOPMENTS The financial situation in Greece has become the biggest threat to the process of European economic integration that began more than half a century ago. Greece recently sought and received assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), marking the first time the IMF has bailed out an European Union member state. As the world's largest donor of international development aid, Europe plays a critical role in global efforts to reduce poverty and achieve universal education, gender equality, and improved health care. Considering that over half of all development aid worldwide comes from Europe, any potential reduction in European aid is likely to have wide-ranging consequences for many living in the world's poorest nations.

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Diplomacy and the Vatican Sex Abuse Scandals

DEVELOPMENTSIn recent weeks the Catholic Church has been besieged by accusations of sexual abuse of children by priests. The accusations are being made across Europe and closely mirror the allegations made by many American Catholics only a few years ago. The media firestorm ignited over Holy Week, with thousands coming forward and alleging sex abuse and subsequent cover ups by the church. Even the Pope himself has been touched by the controversy, as it has been revealed that he played a hand in relocating an alleged child abuser to another parish, in order to avoid criminal prosecution. The revelation that the Pope relocated alleged abusers has prompted calls for his resignation.

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Blood, Land and Sovereignty: The Status of Indigenous Rights in the Americas

The indigenous rights movements of the Americas are experiencing a renaissance. Indigenous peoples of the Americas are increasingly reasserting their claims to sovereign rights of self determination and resource governance.

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Oil, Courts, and Death: Interview with "Crude" Director Joe Berlinger

In 1993, thirty thousand indigenous and non-indigenous rain-forest dwellers sued the U.S. oil giant Texaco alleging decades of systemic pollution of water, land and air. Texaco subsequently merged with the oil company Chevron in 2001. The case was initially brought to court in the United States but was dismissed and relocated to an Ecuadorean court.

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Energy Policy in Latin America: A Cross Roads of Environmentalism, Indigenous Rights and Development