Environment

Leading the Charge for Low-Emission Sustainable Development

http://www.usaid.gov/press/frontlines/fl_jun11/FL_jun11_LEDS.html

Why do airlines fight rules to help the environment?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/26/uk-column-airlineemissions-goldmark-idUSLNE76P02I20110726

Global Warming a Hoax? NASA Reveals Earth Releasing Heat into Space

http://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/articles/189649/20110730/global-warming-hoax-nasa-earth-releasing-heat-space.htm

Poverty

When Wealth Breeds Rage

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/24/opinion/sunday/24africa.html?_r=2

Are We Prepared as World Population is Set to Breach 7 Billion Soon?

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/189799/20110731/world-population-prepared-seven-billion-united-nations-japan-and-germany-2050.htm

Globalization

Keep immigration door open, Lee tells Singapore

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/keep-immigration-door-open-lee-tells-singapore/142094/on

Environment

China: Time to tackle rising environment deficit

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-07/16/content_12914822.htm

Sustainable development vital to protect economies and environment – Ban

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=39056&Cr=sustainable+development&Cr1

Business as usual is not an option in developing countries

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/blog/population-growth-developing-world-business-solutions

Environmental Group Determines Lamb as Worst Meat for Environment

http://www.ecorazzi.com/2011/07/18/environmental-group-determines-lamb-as-worst-meat-for-environment/

Arts

The arts add to economy and shape the nation, says PM Lee

http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110716-0000063/The-arts-add-to-economy-and-shape-the-nation,-says-PM-Lee

Poverty

Foreign Policy: The Price Is Right

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/20/138536566/foreign-polcy-the-price-is-right 

Economy

Asia Booming With Theme Park, Casino Construction

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory?id=14133474 

China, rich with coal, seeks more next door in Mongolia to meet its energy needs

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/china-rich-with-coal-seeks-more-next-door-in-mongolia-to-meet-its-energy-needs/2011/07/01/gIQADIncII_story.html 

Technology

Google Acquires Facial Recognition Technology Company

http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2011/07/22/google-acquires-facial-recognition-technology-company/? mod=google_news_blog 

Toyota Developing New Technology to Lessen Injuries, Damage in Accidents

http://www.techzone360.com/topics/techzone/articles/199795-toyota-developing-new-technology-lessen-injuries-damage-accidents.htm 

Poverty

Web site of the week: Girleffect.org

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/07/14/3013300/web-site-of-the-week-girleffectorg.html 

Apple and the 80-Cent iPhone Problem

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/07/apple-and-the-80-cent-iphone-problem/ 

Media

End Murdoch's Criminal Empire

http://www.avaaz.org/en/stop_the_murdoch_mafia_2/?vc 

Social Media: a double-edged sword in Syria

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/13/us-syria-social-media-idUSTRE76C3DB20110713 

Environment

A Human-Waste Gold Mine: Bill Gates Looks to Reinvent the Toilet

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2082509,00.html 

Environment

All for saving the environment, but at what cost?
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/all-for-saving-the-environment-but-at-what-cost-20110710-1h8zy.html

Poverty

Surging BRIC middle classes are eclipsing global poverty

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/2011/0517/Surging-BRIC-middle-classes-are-eclipsing-global-poverty

Want to slash poverty? Look to Latin America.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/2010/1122/Want-to-slash-poverty-Look-to-Latin-America 

Environment

Singapore backs proposals for stronger global nuclear safety framework

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1137152/1/.html

Oceans on brink of catastrophe

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/oceans-on-brink-of-catastrophe-2300272.html

Poverty

Wealth of world’s richest rose nearly 10 percent in 2010

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2011/jun2011/rich-j25.shtml

Poverty in an overpopulated world

http://www.theunion.com/article/20110625/NEWS/110629837/1024

Ghana makes strides in poverty reduction

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=211652

Singapore

Singapore to Leapfrog Switzerland as Top Wealth Center

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/singapore-to-leapfrog-switzerland-as-top-wealth-center/2011/06/21/AG4ET9dH_video.html

Technology

Internet minders OK vast expansion of domain names

http://newsok.com/internet-minders-ok-vast-expansion-of-domain-names/article/3578924

Media

FBI uses social media in search for long-time fugitive

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fbi-uses-social-media-in-search-for-long-time-fugitive/2011/06/20/AGvefNdH_story.html

Environment

Scientists See More Deadly Weather, but Dispute the Cause

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/science/earth/16climate.html?ref=science

I.E.A. Says World Will Increasingly Turn to Americas for Oil

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/business/energy-environment/16oil.html?_r=1

Berlusconi's nuclear power plans crushed

http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC110615-0000037/Berlusconis-nuclear-power-plans-crushed

Media

OMG, the news is making itself new!

http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110615-0000021/OMG,-the-news-is-making-itself-new!

 

Technology

Quiet China Giant Embodies Technology Aspirations

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=13843903 

Poverty

Poverty wrecks the mind, not just the wallet

http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/poverty_wrecks_the_mind_not_just_the_wallet_20110612/?ln

Media

Who Will Win the Facebook and Google War?

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2011/05/13/facebook-google-war-social-media-smackdown-ages/

It’s no fiction: Amazon Kindle eBook sales and the impact on booksellers

http://www.weberbooks.com/selling/2011/05/its-no-fiction-amazon-kindle-sales-and-the-impact-on-booksellers.html

Poverty

Zambia: World Bank Changes Strategy to Arrest Poverty

http://allafrica.com/stories/201105121204.html

UN: Food Prices Deepening Global Poverty

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/europe/UN-Food-Prices-Deepening-Global-Poverty-121591139.html

Environment

Climate change bringing infection, hunger, illness

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/13/us-climate-change-illness-idUSTRE74C6WF20110513

Health

Is McDonald's Betraying Our Kids By Barraging Them With Junk Food Ads?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-robbins/mcdonalds-ads-kids_b_864956.html 

April Snippets 02

Media

Old (Media) Habits Die Hard

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-pollack/old-media-habits-die-hard_b_848408.html

 

Chinese editors, and a Web site, detail censors’ hidden hand

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/chinese-editors-and-a-web-site-detail-censors-hidden-hand/2011/04/01/AFpMiRSD_story.html

Poverty

World Bank: Fight Poverty With Political Reform

http://www.npr.org/2011/04/11/135302949/world-bank-fight-poverty-with-political-reform

 

The poverty impacts of climate change : a review of the evidence

http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2011/04/04/000158349_20110404100435/Rendered/PDF/WPS5622.pdf

Technology

Technology and Options: Goodbye Living. Hello Deciding.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-pell/technology-and-options-go_b_845772.html?ir=Media

International Relations

Five myths about the United Nations

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-the-united-nations/2011/03/24/AFWSzmXB_story.html

April Snippets 01

Education

SINGAPORE: NUS-Yale tie-up to proceed despite controversy

http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20110401190823948

Media

Media distorts dangers of radiation in Japan

http://www.kentucky.com/2011/04/03/1694907/media-distorts-dangers-of-radiation.html

Happiness

Beautiful People Happier, More Successful Than Plain-Looking Counterparts
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/04/01/beautiful-people-happier-successful-plain-looking-counterparts/

Environment

Obama pushes for oil use reduction, clean fuel technology

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/02/us-obama-radio-idUSTRE73123J20110402

Poverty

World must plan to defeat urban poverty

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/apr/03/tdcomm03-world-must-plan-to-defeat-urban-poverty-ar-944599/
Fighting Poverty with Better Nutrition for Women
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/decapua-women-hunger-poverty-31mar11-118977039.html

Early week Snippets!

Media & Technology
Technology Poses Big Test for Regimes

As exemplified by the successful Egyption upheaval, Social Media is now a powerful tool for political reform.

"There is a bridge quality to mainstream media from social media that leads to greater transparency on the ground, and greater connectivity globally,"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704329104576138643482318336.html

Social Activism and Social Media.
An insightful analysis of the role and influence of Social Media in social uprisings.
"People protested and brought down governments before Facebook was invented,"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/edward-lee/why-malcolm-gladwell-shou_b_822640.html


Economics
China Officially World's Second-Biggest Economy
"It's realistic to say that within 10 years China will be roughly the same size as the US economy,"
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503983_162-20031720-503983.html

Post-holiday Snippets!

Happiness

Message to Facebook: I'm Taking back my Happiness

An interesting piece exploring the purported negatives of being steeped in the online world. A simple and logical solution is explained.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-gutman/facebook-happiness_b_819656.html

Environment

Warming world not such a warm place

Nobel Prize recipient Paul Krugman comments on the food crisis and its link to the evironment

http://www.todayonline.com/Commentary/EDC110208-0000154/Warming-world-not-such-a-warm-place-,,,         

Media

Egypt's state-run media starting to shift from pro-Mubarak coverage

Brave journalists refuse to report blatant government propaganda. This has led to more honest and accurate news coverage.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/09/AR2011020906234.html?sid=ST2011020703989

U.S. mends frosty relations with Al Jazeera

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-al-jazeera-20110207,0,7680421.story

More Snippets! 25/26 Jan 2011

Media
Social media change the landscape for politicians
Examples of important Canadians riding the social media tidal wave. Notice the witty and entertaining writing style.
o The benefit to politicians of using new media is obvious -they can get their message out for free, and unfiltered by the mainstream media
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Social+media+change+landscape+politicians+reporters/4167723/story.html#ixzz1C8KJnpHa

Google and Mozilla Announce New Privacy Features
o Mozilla and Google announced features that would allow users of the Firefox and Chrome browsers to opt out of being tracked online by third-party advertisers.
o It recognizes that consumers want a choice about who is tracking their movements online, and it’s a first step toward giving consumers choice about who will have access to their data.
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/24/google-and-mozilla-announce-new-privacy-features/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Poverty
Poverty's success story
Latest Stats and Research on global property. Download and digest!
http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Files/rc/papers/2011/01_global_poverty_chandy/01_global_poverty_chandy.pdf

A brilliantly enlightening article. A must-read for all!
oWe know that growth lies at the heart of poverty reduction. As the growth of developing countries took off in the new millennium, epitomized by the rise of emerging markets, a massive drop in poverty was only to be expected.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/25/AR2011012506906.html

World needs global food system overhaul
o it is unsustainable, with resources being used faster than they can be naturally replenished.. Secondly, a billion people are going hungry with another billion people suffering from 'hidden hunger,' whilst a billion people are over-consuming.
http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20110125-316460/World-needs-global-food-system-overhaulreport

Website - UN: We can end Poverty by 2015
http://www.un.org/en/mdg/summit2010/
http://un.org//millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG_FS_1_EN.pdf
http://un.org//millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG_FS_4_EN.pdf
http://un.org//millenniumgoals/pdf/MDG_FS_8_EN.pdf

Environment
A win for environment and for energy
Useful article with some insights on Biomass energy
o States now have a legal and scientific basis for concluding that biomass for energy is the “best available control technology’’ to curb greenhouse gases.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2011/01/26/a_win_for_environment_and_for_energy/

Globalization
Singapore government fund to take stake in Georgia power plants
o Singapore’s GIC continues to diversify and expand its asset base internationally
http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/6773189

Snippets - 21 & 24 Jan

Media
iPhone 5, iPad 2 to focus on social Media
Apple knows it, the world knows it, I know it, you need to know it. Social Media is a legitimate revolution. Keep close tabs on its development.
o Apple obviously regards social networking as an important piece of the mobile device revolution and their brand name being associated with this movement is crucial.
http://www.benzinga.com/tech/11/01/798805/iphone-5-ipad-2-to-focus-on-social-networking#ixzz1BvJkCz45

Too much sex in this city for kids
Another menifestation of the perennial debate - freedom vs censorship.
o Let us look at how we can achieve a liberal society unlike any other without having to conform to the norms of a global media promulgating a certain pop culture. After all, Singapore has proven time and again to detractors that we can achieve success in different areas in our own unique ways.
http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC110124-0000078/Too-much-sex-in-this-city-for-kids

Blackberry blocks porn in Indonesia
Censorship again in the news, this time by the makers of Blackberry under pressure form a government. Pity the porn posse?
o RIM is the world's fourth biggest smartphone platform, with global sales of 11.9 million units, according to research firm Gartner. The company does not filter its web content in any of its other markets around the world.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/technologynews/view/1105848/1/.html

Happiness
50 is the Happy age
o This may be because they have the peace of mind of having paid off their mortgage, got the children off their hands or are simply enjoying spending more time with loved-ones and friends.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spirituality/holistic-living/True-happiness-comes-at-the-golden-age-of-50/articleshow/7324964.cms

Technology
Logical, but this article bugs me.
'Bug Mac' the food of the future – Insects a superior source of meat?
o Bugs are high in protein, low in fat and efficient to cultivate - 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of feed yields six to eight kilograms of insect meat compared to one kilogram of beef, states the university's research.
o Insects are abundant, produce less greenhouse gas and manure, and do not transfer any diseases, when eaten, that can mutate into a dangerous human form, say the researchers.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eatndrink/view/1106494/1/.html

Environment
Australia’s Flood Crisis in Pictures
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/photosgallery/gallery_20110104124635.htm

2010 was the wettest, hottest year on record
o The Earth has been warming in fits and starts for decades and a large majority of climatologists say that is because humans are releasing heat-trapping gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
http://www.todayonline.com/Science/EDC110115-0000166/Its-official--2010-was-the-wettest-year-on-record