My Page: Nick Gier
The Danish Island that went Carbon NegativeThe people on the Danish island of Samsoe are the first in the industrialized world to go carbon negative. By installing wind turbines, solar panels, and burning biomass in “closed” furnaces, the Samsingers have now reduced their CO2 emissions by 140 percent. Read the full version at www.home.roadrunner.com/~nickgier/samsoe.htm [more]
Alberta’s Tar Sands and Idaho’s Wilderness GatewayAmy Lind (New West 1-12-10) did a great job introducing this issue from a Montana perspective, but I add the view from Idaho aspect, plus the much wider concern of global warming and the green house gas emissions from the bitumen fields. [more]
Social Democrats Not Responsible for Greek CrisisRich Greeks have moved $436 billion off shore into Swiss bank accounts and they are among the world’s worst tax evaders. The Minister of Tourism was forced to resign when it was discovered that her husband owed $6 million in back taxes. The former center-right government left a real mess for the current socialist regime. Read the full version at www.home.roadrunner.com/~nickgier/GreekCrisis.htm [more]
Vietnamese Buddhists: Standing Against DictatorsOn June 11th Vietnamese Buddhists will commemorate the 47th anniversary of the self-immolation of Thich Quang Duc, who was protesting the oppressive U.S.-back Diem government. In this post I will share what I learned about Buddhism in Vietnam after a recent 2-week visit to that country. Read the full version at www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/VietBudd.htm [more]
Vietnamese have Economic Liberty but not Political FreedomThis past week saw the 45th anniversary of the landing of the Marines on the beaches of Da Nang, the 40th anniversary of the shooting of Kent State student protesters, and the 35th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. In this column I reflect on "then and now" after a 2-week visit to the country. Read the full version at www.home.roadrunner.com/~nickgier/Vietnam.htm [more]
Who is Responsible for Cambodia’s Killing Fields?Led by Pol Pot and his henchmen, the Khmer Rouge launched an insane campaign of retribution that led to the death of about 2 million Cambodians. In 1968 the Khmer Rouge numbered only a few hundred comrades, so what made it possible for the most extreme element of the Cambodia left to come to power? Norodom Sihanouk, now the beloved “King-Father of Cambodia,” right-wing leader Lon Nol, the North Vietnamese, Communist China, and Richard Nixon must all share in the blame. Read the full version at www.home.roadrunner.com/nickgier/cambodia.htm [more]
The Huge Costs of Economic InequalityThe Greeks earn half as much as Americans, but their income is spread more equally. Although the Greeks spend half as much on health care, they live 1.2 years longer than Americans and far fewer Greek infants die at birth. A new book explains why America does so poorly on nine social and health indicators. The full version can be read at www.home.roadrunner.com/~nickgier/SpiritLevel.htm [more]
Taliban on a Teeter-Totter: How Schools Pacify JihadistsUnder the Taliban it was illegal for girls to go to school and teachers who held clandestine classes were executed in front of their pupils. Since 2001, the Taliban have attacked 478 schools, three by means of toxic gas. The most vicious attack was the squirting of battery acid in the faces of nine girls and four teachers. For the full version see www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/StoneSchools.htm [more]
Gays Seeks Marriage Rights under U.S. ConstitutionWhen Judge Vaughn Walker also asked Charles Cooper, the attorney defending California's Proposition 8, if he “could provide proof that same-sex marriages harm society,” Cooper conceded that he could not provide any. Read the full version at www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/GaySF.htm [more]
The “Colored” People of South AfricaUnder British rule the "coloreds" of South Africa enjoyed the right to vote in the Western Cape until 1930. After that they could only elect white candidates who would represent their interests. When the Nationalist Party took over in 1948 the rights of coloreds were further restricted. Read the full version at www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/Colored.htm [more]
