by Barbara Miller The lead article in the International section of the Sunday New York Times was entitled “Thirsty Plant Steals Water in Yemen–Farmers Grow Narcotic: Drought Fuels Conflict.” Lots to attract readers from environmental concerns to drugs and conflict. Three photographs add to the grab. One small image shows qat leaves. A very large [...]
Local governments in the Republic of Korea that earn the most local revenue from the tobacco consumption tax (TCT) are less likely to participate in the central government’s anti-smoking campaign. Statistical analysis of data on 163 municipalities revealed a clear policy conflict and points to the need to reduce local governments’ dependence on TCT revenue [...]
by Barbara Miller Dr. Lewis Wall is dedicating his life to repairing obstetric fistulas of women in Africa. Nicholas Kristof, who has been writing about fistulas since 2002, lauds him for his work, as we all should. Dr. Wall is an ob-gyn at Washington University. When not in St. Louis, he has done many fistula [...]
• The recession and polygyny: lessons from Inner Asia? In Russia, there are 9 million fewer men than women. The “man shortage” is created by war, alcoholism and economic migration. The Guardian highlighted research on this topic by cultural anthropologist Caroline Humphrey, Sigrid Rausing professor of collaborative anthropology at Cambridge University, and the New York [...]
