Measuring Risk and Reward of Drilling in the Arctic
The long-running national debate over our dependence on non-renewable energy such as oil, natural gas and coal is not likely to end soon. While industry experts and lawmakers disagree over the severity of the problem and potential solutions, the reality remains that our supply of fossil fuels cannot possibly keep up with the growing demand […]
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A Year of Action: President Gives State of the Union When writing the Constitution, our forefathers decided that our president would, “from time to time, give to the Congress information of the State of the Union.” In it, he would “recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary.” This means summarizing the […]
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Polar Vortex Explained If you live in the northeastern quarter of the United States, then you probably spent the first of the year hunkered down waiting for the weather to change. The abnormally low temperatures are being blamed on a phenomenon known as the polar vortex. While it may sound like the name of a […]
Japan’s Shrinking Population
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in Japan recently reported that there were 6,000 fewer babies born in 2013 (1,031,000 total) than the year before. This is the fifth consecutive period of decrease. At the same time, there were 19,000 more deaths (1,275,000). This trend is not new news, as Japan has seen a […]
btw’s Year in Review: World News
Last week, btw took a look at the big stories from around the United States. This week we move on to the rest of the world. With the Internet, social media and other various outlets, the world community feels closer than ever. We saw a shift in leadership with the election of a new pope […]
Understanding Apartheid
Last week, btw reported on the death of Nelson Mandela. He was a prominent world leader and South Africa’s first black president. But he is perhaps best known for his fight to successfully end apartheid in his country. So What Is It? South Africa has a long history of racial tension going back to its […]
Nelson Mandela, 1918-2013
Nelson Mandela passed away yesterday. Mandela was one of the most significant political and social leaders of the late 20th century. As a political activist, Mandela led social protests in South Africa against that nation’s apartheid policy of racial segregation. For his actions, Mandela was jailed by the South African government. He spent 27 years […]
A Look at Magnificent Libraries
Going back to their earliest days–2600 B.C.E.–libraries have been many things to many people. For some, they are institutions of learning and a place to acquire knowledge. For others, they are sanctuaries, safe havens, community gathering spaces or architectural marvels. Even today, in an age where the printed word is challenged by digital content, libraries […]
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China Ends One-Child Policy China has the highest population of any country in the world. Between 1949 and 1976, its population almost doubled from 540 million to 940 million. This was due, in part, to a dramatic increase in life expectancy as well as a belief that more people empowered the country. In 1979, however, […]
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Super Typhoon Thrashes the Philippines The strongest recorded storm ever to reach land hit the Philippines on November 8. There are at least 10,000 reported deaths so far, and more than 11 million people said to be affected, around 673,000 of them completely displaced. The Philippines is a country made up of a cluster (or […]