U.S. Delays Somalia Aid

The United States is withholding about $50 million in American aid to Somalia, fearing the donations are, in fact, filling the stomachs of terrorists, according to the New York Times.
“American officials are concerned that United Nations contractors may be funneling American donations to the Shabab, a Somali terrorist group with growing ties to Al Qaeda. [...]

Students in Literacy “Red Zone”

Charleston County, South Carolina has a growing literacy problem. Recent test scores have shown that at North Charleston High School 46% of incoming 9th grade students read at a fourth-grade level or below.
In the Charleston County School District 23% of all incoming 9th grade students read at a fourth-grade level or below. The [...]

Cause of Conflict: Natural Resources & the Environment

Without greater focus on the environment and natural resources during the peacebuilding process, intrastate conflicts are likely to escalate, says a report from the UN Environment Porgramme (UNEP), From Conflict to Peace building: The Role of Natural Resources and the Environment. Conflicts with a link to natural resources are twice as likely to relapse within [...]

Forest Stewardship Council Promotes Sustainable Forestry

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a group composed of loggers, foresters, environmentalists, and sociologists that focus on increasing the use of sustainable forestry methods worldwide. The group, formed in 1993, now has offices in over 40 countries, and it’s sustainability standards have been embraced by 57 nations. According to their website, “FSC sets forth [...]

Mosquito Laser Could Help Fight Malaria

A new device is being developed that could prove to be the biggest catalyst to a successful fight against the spread of malaria. The device, a handheld laser that can find individual mosquitoes, and kill them, is in the beginning stages of its development, but researchers believe that it could have the potential to totally [...]

Aquaponics- A Sustainable Solution

A loop system approach to sustainable living. Aquaponics could change how many countries suffering from poverty and facing water and food shortages could tangibly grow crops, purify water, and raise fish.
            The concept is relatively simple, Growing Power an organization that teaches sustainable farming techniques including AquaPonics explains, “By using gravity as a transport, water [...]

Obama lifts restriction on foreign aid

On January 23 President Obama signed a measure that will lift the Bush administration’s block on funding to foreign assistance programs that provide education on abortion to woman, a move that could have a big impact on international poverty programs. According to a post on the White House website, this Reagan era policy referred to [...]