Archive for the ‘World current affairs’ Category
“The Measure Of America”
July 18th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
Many people around the world – especially those in developing countries – think that the USA is a country in which everyone enjoys a good standard of living and has a long and healthy life. Of course, compared to most other countries on the globe, most Americans are exceptionally privileged, but the wealth and health […]
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Why are oil prices rising so fast? (4)
July 16th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
This is the fourth time that I’ve blogged on this subject in just seven weeks. In my second posting, I wrote: “If the cause is rising demand, then prices will continue to rise because demand will continue to rise but supply will probably only increase marginally (in the short term anyway). If the cause is […]
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Understanding the Qur’an
July 16th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
This week, Channel Four screened a two-hour programme on the Islamic holy book the Qur’an. This was television at its best: a thoughtful, informed and balanced examination of an important and controversial subject with global implications. The programme showed how the Shi’ite version of Islam as practised in Iran and the Whabbism version of the […]
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The American presidential election (49)
July 14th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
I’ve always told my American friends that, if Britain really was the 51st state in the USA, we would be voting for Obama big time rather than John McCain. Now we have the evidence that it would be by an astonishing five to one. We’re fired up and ready to go!
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The American presidential election (48)
July 13th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
As discussed in this article, Barack Obama and John McCain are now thinking hard about the appointment of a Vice-Presidential running mate and there’s a lot of interest in one or both candidates choosing a woman. This is more likely to happen on the Democratic side and the article mentions three possibilities: Kathleen Sebelius, Governor […]
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The American presidential election (47)
July 5th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
The American presidential election is all about the electoral college and the winning or losing of each state – rather than about the overall popular vote (as Al Gore demonstrated four years ago). There’s still four months to go in the election, but a state by state analysis suggests that, as of now, it’s looking […]
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Death penalty for bloggers?
July 4th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
This news is horrifying.
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Forgotten World (140): Belize
July 4th, 2008 by Roger Darlington
Belize – located south-east of Mexico – has more in common with the Caribbean island-states than with its Central American neighbours. This is reflected in its major languages, English and Creole, and in its mainly Anglo-Caribbean architecture and its relatively peaceful political culture. However, Belize has a problem with violent crime, much of it drug-related, […]
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Forgotten World (139): Saint Helena
July 3rd, 2008 by Roger Darlington
Just ten miles long and six miles wide, St Helena sits in the middle of the South Atlantic as one of the most isolated, inhabited islands in the world: 700 miles to Ascension Island, 1500 miles to Tristan da Cunha and 1650 miles to Cape Town. Traditionally served by the Britain’s last working Royal Mail […]
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Forgotten World (138): Fiji
July 2nd, 2008 by Roger Darlington
The 800-plus volcanic and coral islands that make up the Pacific nation of Fiji enjoy a tropical climate and are a prime destination for tourists. However, since 1987 racial and political tensions have been an intermittent source of instability and international isolation and there have in fact been four coups in the last 20 years. […]
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