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Reason for Germany's Industrial Expansion

Did Germany experience rapid industrial expansion in the 19th century due to an absence of copyright law? A German historian argues that the massive proliferation of books, and thus knowledge, laid the foundation for the country's industrial might.

What is Peepli Live About?

Peepli Live is a remarkable film for many reasons, the least of which is that it deals with farmers’ suicides.

Why Wikileaks Must Be Protected

On 26 July, Wikileaks released thousands of secret US military files on the war in Afghanistan. Cover-ups, a secret assassination unit and the killing of civilians are documented. In file after file, the brutalities echo the colonial past. From Malaya and Vietnam to Bloody Sunday and Basra, little has changed. The difference is that today there is an extraordinary way of knowing how faraway societies are routinely ravaged in our name.

Dangerous Repeat of History

 History is repeating itself in West Bengal, with Maoists, the Trinamool and the Congress doing what they had done in the late 60's and early 70's. And it will not be history repeating itself, first time as a tragedy, the second time as a farce. This time around, it will be a much bigger tragedy.

David Cameron: Hard Selling Aircraft and Soft Selling the Host

David Cameron, the British Prime Minister visited India recently. His visit caused much more of a flutter in Pakistan than in India. They are still livid with his statement in Delhi that Pakistan is exporting terror. After Zardari's visit to London, both Cameron and Zardari have now decided to forget what was said in Delhi about Pakistan. We will have to wait and see what really happens. In India, the main issue on Cameron's visit was how to pronounce his name – most people called him Cameroon, and not Cameron. May be a hangover of the World Cup. In any case, what is in a name – the foreign media insists on calling Manmohan Singh – Man-Mohaan Singh, though we shudder to think what they will do to Delhi's Chief Minister during the reporting of the Commonwealth Games.

Capitalism in Action: the Case of BP's Oil Spill

On the 22 of April, ironically being observed world over as Earth Day, the Deepwater Horizon rig drilling in Gulf of Mexico, blew up killing 11 workers and creating one of the worst oil spills in history. The oil well being drilled off the coast of Louisiana was owned British Petroleum (BP). The well which has been temporarily capped now, spilled an estimated 5-9 million barrels or an equivalent of one Exxon Valdez every 3-5 days. Exxon Valdez was the tanker, which had sunk off the Alaskan coast in 1989 and is held as the benchmark on oil spills in the oceans.

Hungary, the IMF and the EU

The more things change, the more they really do stay the same. For a while after the global crisis, we were told that the IMF had changed its position with respect to the strict and generally pro-cyclical measures it had been suggesting to countries in the throes of financial or balance of payments crisis. Their economists openly accepted the need for fiscal stimuli and generally counter-cyclical macroeconomic policies to combat the recession.

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The Wisdom of Teaching With Technology

Multimedia—dangerous!

Online research—depthless!

Classroom screens—dubious!

If you're looking for a contrarian take on technology, Nicholas Carr is your man. In 2003 the author touched off a debate about the role of computers in business with his article "IT Doesn't Matter." He caused another kerfuffle five years later with an Atlantic piece, "Is Google Making Us Stupid?"

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The Wisdom of Teaching With Technology

Multimedia—dangerous!

Online research—depthless!

Classroom screens—dubious!

If you're looking for a contrarian take on technology, Nicholas Carr is your man. In 2003 the author touched off a debate about the role of computers in business with his article "IT Doesn't Matter." He caused another kerfuffle five years later with an Atlantic piece, "Is Google Making Us Stupid?"

Read More

New anti-apartheid movement grows in India against Israel

July 9 2010, New Delhi – Boycott initiatives grow across India - from the dockworkers to the academics - as the global movement for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) marks the fifth anniversary since Palestinian political and social forces launched a united call for BDS against Israel.