first up, the situation in sudan ... i hadn't heard of this before. man its scary. must take some courage to go and work there!!! i'm not sure i would be up to it. what should be done? part of me says that they should have armed peacekeepers stationed with the aid agencies and enact the kind of 'eye for an eye' justice, i.e. get these police who have done all this stuff and shoot them between the eyes as they stare in to the gun. i'm not sure that would help though ...

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/aid-agencies-may-quit-sudan-after-police-sexually-assault-woman/2007/01/28/1169919213392.html

"There has been growing concern about violence towards aid workers in Sudan. In December, an international staff member working for a French aid agency was raped, others were beaten and one was subjected to a mock execution in the town of Gereida in south Darfur. Another international worker was sexually assaulted in September."

secondly, this on the environmental problems in china ... the environmental stuff in china is often put forward in a positive light. but obviously its not all sweetness and light and there is A LOT of work to be done ...

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/dark-clouds-for-chinas-polluted-future/2007/01/28/1169919213398.html

"The environmental cost has been huge. Most of China's rivers, seas and other water sources are heavily polluted and/or drying up. The country's air quality is among the worst in the world, and there are unsustainable levels of industrial waste and energy consumption."

and finally, peace protests in washington. i love the speech made by the 12 year old!

http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/silence-no-longer-an-option-says-fonda/2007/01/28/1169919213371.html

"Standing on her toes to reach the microphone, 12-year-old Moriah Arnold told the crowd: "Now we know our leaders either lied to us or hid the truth. Because of our actions, the rest of the world sees us as a bully and a liar." The 6th-grader, the youngest speaker on the stage, organised a petition drive at her school against the war. "I encourage the youth of America to rise up and tell our government, 'Changes have to be made,"' she said."