Commentary

The price of conscience: Drone warfare whistleblower gets 45 months in prison

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Pakistani tribesmen hold up a placard of alleged drone strike victims during a protest in Islamabad on February 25, 2012, against the US drone attacks in the Pakistani tribal region. The protesters demanded an immediate end to drone attacks and compensation for those who lost relatives or property, as well as condemning this week's burning … Continue reading The price of conscience: Drone warfare whistleblower gets 45 months in prison

Vietnam needs to get wise about being healthy and wealthy

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West Lake, Hanoi (Photo by MAA) This is my latest article for VNExpress International about an existential issue that is near and dear to my heart, as it should be for everyone everywhere. I look forward to seeing it in translation because the Vietnamese are my primary target audience - for obvious reasons. Here's an … Continue reading Vietnam needs to get wise about being healthy and wealthy

In the Midst of a Fourth Wave of COVID-19 in Viet Nam

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Source: Worldometer, Vietnam Viet Nam is facing its greatest public health challenge yet since the global pandemic began. As of this writing, the country logged 81,328 active cases of COVID-19. Keep in mind that there were fewer than 200 active cases in April. The total number of deaths stands at 499, which is expected to … Continue reading In the Midst of a Fourth Wave of COVID-19 in Viet Nam

Freedom of speech according to the gospel of Koch

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Image: iStock This is my latest essay for University World News (UWN). I wrote it in response to a 3 July op-ed piece by Jonathan Zimmerman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania. UWN usually doesn't publish essays this long; I'm pleased they made an exception. As always, I welcome your comments either here or … Continue reading Freedom of speech according to the gospel of Koch

Number of US-Bound Vietnamese Students Continues to Inch Upward

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As of June 2021, there were 25,816 Vietnamese students in the US, most enrolled in the nation's colleges and universities, according to the latest SEVIS update. That's an increase of 5.23% over March 2021. There are now nearly as many as there were last September, a positive sign. If you add language training (802) to … Continue reading Number of US-Bound Vietnamese Students Continues to Inch Upward

Short-Term Profit Trumps Long-Term Sustainable Development

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Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder Image from NovaWorld Phan Thiết Have a good look at this image of a new $5 billion development in the beach town of Phan Thiết in southern Viet Nam, about a four-hour drive from HCMC, that's being built by a well-known Vietnamese real estate company. Does it … Continue reading Short-Term Profit Trumps Long-Term Sustainable Development

13 Gold Star Mothers, 13 Sons Killed In Viet Nam

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These reflections are from Mike Hastie. a veteran of the US war in Viet Nam, retired emergency room nurse, writer, and peace photographer. Thank you, Mike, for sharing and continuing to bear witness to the horrors and injustices of the past and the present. Shalom (שלום), MAA This picture was of course taken at the Viet … Continue reading 13 Gold Star Mothers, 13 Sons Killed In Viet Nam

Global citizenship is about more than intercultural skills

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Here's my latest essay for University World News. It's a long-awaited follow-up to a 2016 article about US nationalism. Below is the unedited version. Shalom (שלום), MAA Intercultural Competence and Global Citizenship: Expanding the Debate The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion. -Thomas Paine The international … Continue reading Global citizenship is about more than intercultural skills