What We’re Reading 12/8/08

Dec 8th, 2008 12:09 PM UTC
By Chandler Smith

New York Times: A Killer Without Borders (op-ed, Kristof)
Kristof glances into the life of an Armenian man stricken with the most deadly form of tuberculosis. If cases such as this continue to occur untreated, the world is facing a deadly and widespread health risk. Kristof compares global attitudes towards TB with that of our approach to AIDS in the 1980s and asks for an Obama administration to take this disease very seriously.

Wall Street Journal: In the Land of Cholera (editorial)
A shift has occurred in public opinion regarding the political situation in Zimbabwe, according to this New York Times editorial. Not only are western powers asking for a regime change but now Africans are taking a bolder stand as the failing health and volatile security situations threaten to spread.

Reuters: WTO proposals show trade deal far from certain
The latest negotiating texts from the World Trade Organization issued late on Saturday show that a new deal to open up global commerce is far from certain. The new drafts retain many of the compromises reached at a meeting of ministers in July, including a 70 percent cut in the ceiling for U.S. farm supports. No agreement has been made on how to develop a safeguard for poor farmers, the issue that wrecked the July talks and threatens to be a deal breaker this time.

New York Times: Situation in Somalia Seems About to Get Worse
The security situation in Somalia is dire as Ethiopians who have been keeping the peace for two years may leave the country soon. In their absence, the transitional government is likely to collapse and many expect rival groups to fight for power. Meanwhile, Somalians continue to suffer from hunger, violence and disease.

-Chandler Smith

TAGS: ONE, Policy News, What We're Reading