By Lawrence S. Wittner

The offshore oil drilling catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico brought to us by BP has overshadowed its central role over the past century in fostering some other disastrous events.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Past & Present

By Lawrence S. Wittner

The opening this May of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review conference at the United Nations seems likely to feature a conflict that has simmered for decades between nuclear nations and non-nuclear nations.

It's Time to Escalate the Peace

By Randall Amster

What if they held a war and no one came? No one was out in the streets, no one paid the "big speech" much mind, no one asked for permission to protest, no one wrote an open letter to the President. No one enlisted for it, no one paid for it, and no one watched it on television. Perhaps the powers-that-be would take this as a sign to invade and/or escalate conflicts even further, although such non-actions would surely place some serious constraints on the ability to openly wage wars of conquest and adventurism.

By Winslow Myers

The challenge of helping Afghanistan while also serving U.S. security goals includes four aspects: first, U.S. fear of more terrorist
attacks mounted from the region, second, fear that other powers, such as Russia or Iran, could assume undue influence, third, the potential use of the territory as a route to move resources such as oil and natural gas, and fourth, U.S. unwillingness to admit that the
application of power may not part of the solution at all.

We have become weary and distrusting of politicians.  We feel like they are not common folks like us and don't understand the concerns and lives of their constituents.  The hot air that comes from their speeches is as stifling as the hot, humid, thick air of August.  However, on Tuesday, September 8, we experienced a refreshing cool breeze. 

By Tolu Olorunda

I recently had the privilege to catch a play at Ball State’s renowned Pruis Hall. It was a unique experience I’m less likely to forget any time soon. It sought to tackle an abiding question in the Black Community (and other social demographics, as well): “If women ever got men to really talk… what would the fellas have to say?” This—a simple question, with a complex answer. Vernon Williams, the playwright, sought to explore the possibilities contained in his inquiry, and draw deep into the well of discovery, to find the inconvenient truth. If the thunderous applause to conclude the play was of any merit, it’s safe to assume the crowd was thrilled with what it saw. Sonnets for my Sistahs might have begun production in 2006, but its performance affirmed nothing short of theatrical maturity.

By Barbara Sha Cox

Are you a camper, own a boat, fisherman, or just a lover of nature?  Do you believe in protecting our state parks, and state-owned reservoirs and our Indiana taxpayer dollars?

By Sen. Dennis Kruse

“If the wars of the 20th century were fought over oil, the wars of the 21st century will be fought over water.”

That quote, from a recent National Wildlife Federal newsletter, may seem like an exaggeration but it puts into some perspective how important the Great Lakes Compact could be to those states blessed by its resources. A few months ago, I dedicated this column to explaining and praising the Great Lakes Compact – a seven-state agreement regulating use of the five lakes.

By Beth Bechdol

The data are clear...

• 96% of the world's population lives outside the United States.
• 56% of the new people entering the world between today, and 2025 will be in South and Southeast Asia.
• That same region will account for 44% of the new income created in the world by 2025.
• US ag productivity growth is about 2% per year while food demand growth is only 0.8% per year.
• U.S. ag exports were a low $7.3 billion in 1970 - this year's forecast is $114 billion.

By Mike Yoder
Elkart County Farmer & Chairman
Indiana McCain-Palin Farm Team

A McCain-Palin team is a "slam dunk" for farmers in the agriculture policy game. They stand for increasing trade now rather than denying trade to countries that do not meet certain standards the Democrats refer to as "fair trade".