Uniting the Americas in Summit
At the beginning of the year, btw brought you news of President Obama’s announcement of a historic shift in the United States’ relationship with Cuba. Earlier this month, the leaders of the two countries sat down together for the first time in formal talks. Both were present at the Summit of the Americas, a regional conference […]
Caring for Our Veterans
As more and more troops return home from the Middle East, many of them are in need of the services provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). But the department designed to support those who serve our country has become plagued with allegations of inefficiency and scandal, leaving many to question its […]
The Great Vaccination Debate
Last month, we brought you news of the recent resurgence of measles after more than a decade of being considered “eliminated” in 2000. This week, we dig deeper into the growing concern over the spread of the disease and look at both sides of the larger vaccination debate. A Brief History of Vaccination Smallpox, a highly […]
Crisis in Nigeria (Updated with video content)
Amid news of deadly terror attacks and threats across Europe, the people of Nigeria, located in West Africa, face ongoing atrocities at the hands of the extremist group, Boko Haram. Over the span of five years, the insurgency have massacred close to 10,000 people, many of them children, women, and the elderly. Who are these […]
Landmark Deal on U.S.-Cuba Relations
Cuba is a country made up of islands located around 90 miles south of the tip of Florida. While it is a close neighbor of the U.S., relations between the countries have been non-existent for more than 50 years due to political and economic clashes. Last month, President Obama announced new foreign policy shifts toward […]
Turmoil in Ferguson
In August, btw provided an introduction to the shooting death of Michael Brown and tried to provide some historical context to violent protests in recent U.S. history. Darren Wilson was the Ferguson police officer who encountered Michael Brown and Dorian Johnson in August 2014 while Wilson was on patrol. Brown and Wilson were walking along […]
To Frack or Not to Frack: A Complicated Question
Negotiation over ownership of the world’s natural resources has long caused tensions between nations and lead to ongoing, major disputes, including war. One of the major issues of the 2012 presidential election centered around the United States becoming less depending on foreign oil (mostly the Middle East) and more self-reliant in producing its own energy […]
Violent Acts Rock Canada
Last month, Canada, recently ranked the seventh “most peaceful nation” by the Institute for Economics & Peace, faced two unrelated but public acts of violence. What Happened? On October 20, in the city of Saint-Jean sue-Richelieu, Quebec, 25-year-old Martin Couture-Rouleau rammed his car into two Canadian Armed Forces soldiers in a mall parking lot, killing […]
The Government’s Latest Actions Against Ebola
The news and rumors and misunderstanding about the Ebola disease in the United States is continuing to change. The Obama administration has been working this past week to keep informed about the story and develop the guidelines that are needed to keep citizens and health care professionals safe. On the White House blog page, a […]
Satire and Political Cartoons: A Historical Slideshow
The militant Islamic attack on the Charlie Hebdo offices in Paris have raised questions around the world. Such as, how does the right to free speech relate to the right of religious freedom? How does religious beliefs intersect with satire? Does a free press have an unlimited right to poke fun at any subject matter? […]
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