Nicolas Sarkozy, the newly elected French President, wanted to mark the difference in governing style between himself and outgoing President Jacques Chirac - although both belonged to the same political party and shared basic political orientations. Thus Sarkozy ran on a program of a "break with the stagnant past" as though he had not been a member of the outgoing government. Sarkozy
This week's quiz question: What is the psychological difference between Attorney General Alberto Gonzales's admission, "I acknowledge that mistakes were made here," and George Bush's comment in his January address to the nation, "Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me"? Everyone knows that public figures resort to this cliché to distance themselves from responsibility for their actions; what else is new?
Borders melt in this increasingly globalized world. Modern capitalism has generated mutual dependencies between nations. The tempting nooks and crannies of foreign climes have been battered open in the name of progress, enterprise, and a healthy profit margin. In this thriving global market, foreign goods and foreign investors are often welcome. Foreign workers, on the other hand, are all too often branded as "illegal".
A major debate is underway in China on a proposed Draft Labor Contract Law that would grant new rights to Chinese workers.
"I can't stress enough how vital public pressure is right now for Haramia's case. There needs to be a public outcry that there is no question in this case, everyone agrees that he did not pull the trigger, he never even touched the gun. He is being sentenced to die for driving a car, and that should outrage every single person that hears it."
In this interview, author Ben Dangl speaks about the emerging social movements in
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