Low Earth Orbit

UN-environmental

[ "source(BBC)":http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3078559.stm, "source(Samizdata)":http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/004211.html#004211 ]

There is a growing and lucrative trade in the furs of wild animals in Afghanistan, despite an international ban. And the people who are buying the furs are foreigners who are in Afghanistan to help rebuild the country. […] "It's the market created by the foreigners - particularly those who are working with the UN or other NGOs." said Afghanistan Environment Minister Yousef Nouristani

Once again the UN and NGO staff demonstrate the caliber of their personal morality and the level of their belief in UN policies.

THIS JUST IN: Bush nominee thinks like Bush

[ "source(UPI)":http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030812-061039-3826r ] "Analysis: Leavitt seems in the Bush mold" "Governor Leavitt will be a good fit with the Bush administration" "Leavitt shares the same disregard for clean air, clean water, land conservation and global warming as the president" "I suppose anyone who is appointed is someone basically to carry out the policy of the administration"

Asking the tough questions

[ "source(Arab News)":http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=30191&d=12&m=8&y=2003, "source(Best of the Web)":http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110003877]

Section 38 of the [non-immigrant US visa] application, which is a new addition, asks whether the applicant has been involved in past criminal activities, in particular prostitution. […] On seeing the question, a Saudi husband, who asked not to be named, told Arab News: "This is ridiculous. Have they no respect? How dare they ask me if my wife or even I have ever been involved in prostitution? They need to realize that our society and our women are different from the women they have in America. What's next, are they going to start questioning whether our children are really our own?"

Say, that's not a bad idea!

When teachers run schools

["source":http://members.aol.com/educationintel/, "source(Joanne Jacobs)":http://www.joannejacobs.com/archives/2003_08_03_archive.htm#106043595748364108] In 1996, the National Education Association announced it would open six charter schools. Four actually opened, including Kwachiiyoa in San Diego. bq. By the time Kwachiiyoa’s initial charter expired on January 14, 2003, enrollment was at half-capacity, three classroom teachers were jointly running the school without benefit of an administrator, and the school was the lowest-performing of the 121 schools in the San Diego Unified School District. It ranked lowest even when compared to other California schools with similar student socioeconomic backgrounds. bq. […] The lesson of Kwachiiyoa is … a cautionary tale about publicity stunts disguised as education reforms. The NEA lost interest in its charter schools not long after the press releases went out. “Somebody birthed this school and then they left us in the cold,” said Kwachiiyoa teacher Rhonda Schwartz.