Ranking Explanation

Human & States at Risk
Time magazine calls it the ‘Deadliest War in the World.’ Since 1998, 4 million people have been killed and nothing is being done to stop it. The Democratic Republic of Congo has been in desperate need of help but – similar to the genocide in Rwanda – the United States government is turning its head away from one of the most imminent human rights crises in modern history. As Time reports “1,250 Congolese still die every day because of war-related causes--the vast majority succumbing to diseases and malnutrition that wouldn't exist in peaceful times.” While the U.N. has made the Congo its main project their capacity to aid is limited. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1198921,00.html
The Congo is the world’s most resource rich country. There is tremendous potential for Congolese to live wonderful lives but the U.S. has to help.

Human & Terrorism/ Crime
In Sri Lanka terrorism is so deeply entrenched in the inner workings of the country that it’s practically impossible to try and isolate regions where the LTTE are located. The strength and network of the LTTE has exponentially grown through time, mainly in light of the impartial and sometimes favorable treatment it has received from the international community. Some countries like Canada still don’t acknowledge the LTTE to be terrorist group. As a result this destructive organization has grown by soliciting 80-90% of their funds from people and sources outside Sri Lanka, according to the Human Rights Watch. In the past two months over 200 people have been killed in Sri Lanka due to terrorist activity. It angers me to witness the hypocrisy that exists within the international community when dealing with terrorism especially the U.S. This country has positioned itself as the moral authority of the world by promising to police the international community yet in practice its policing heavily discriminates. Having lived in Sri Lanka and knowing people who’ve worked in the island’s U.S. Embassy I know of the U.S. sentiment towards the LTTE is anything but impartial. US representatives are wined and dined by the LTTE. Concurrently both the U.S. and the LTTE don’t engage in any political interactions. Irrespective, there is no doubt that terrorism continues to plagues people throughout the world.

Global & Environment
This article from the Union of Concerned Scientists explains California recent decision to enact the nation’s toughest global warming bill into law.
http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/california-enacts-nations.html
Climate action can not only help protect the environment; it can also help boost the economy. As a recent study from the University of California at Berkeley found, meeting AB 32’s emission limits can increase the Gross State Product (GSP) and create up to 89,000 jobs. UC Berkeley also helped organize an open letter by 60 Ph D economists including 3 Nobel Laureates. The letter urged for action to reduce California’s pollution standards stating that “the most expensive things we can do is nothing.” For more information on the California campaign visit http://www.climatechoices.org

Posted by Rukesh Samarasekera on October 10, 2006 12:31 PM | Permalink

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