| Andrew Neff : Sakhalin-1 Under the Microscope
When officials from Rosprirodnadzor, the Russian environmental watchdog agency, last year launched a barrage of criticism about violations of the country's environmental regulations by foreign consortia operating oil and gas projects on Sakhalin Island in Russia's Far East, the main target was the Sakhalin-2 project, at the time led by Dutch/U.K. supermajor Shell. The subsequent pressure campaign against Sakhalin-2 eventually prompted Shell and its Japanese partners to concede by selling a 50% stake in the project to Gazprom in December (see "Related Articles"). TNK-BP, which holds the rights to the 1.9-Tcm Kovykta gas field in eastern Siberia via its controlling stake in RUSIA Petroleum, and Total, the operator of the Kharyaga production-sharing agreement (PSA) in northern Siberia, are also facing heavy pressure from the authorities.
Affordable housing a high priority
NORWALK While the war in Iraq and affordable health care continue to be the top concerns for many Americans, another issue might be the political hot-button that could decide who Americans put in the White House in 2008. According to the Zogby America poll, nine out of 10 Americans cite affordable housing as a high priority and seven out of 10 said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate "who had articulated a detailed plan for providing affordable housing."
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Republic Property Trust Reports 2006 Fourth Quarter Results
HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Republic Property Trust (the "Company") (NYSE: RPB), a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust, today announced its results for the three months ended December 31, 2006. Net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2006 was $3.1 million and funds from operations ("FFO") for the same period was $2.3 million. Financial statements and exhibits included in this release reflect the results of the Company for the three months ended December 31, 2006 and for the period from December 20, 2005 through December 31, 2005 and of its predecessor, RKB Washington Property Fund I L.P. (the "Predecessor"), for the period from October 1, 2005 through December 19, 2005. At December 31, 2006, the Company owned 13 properties, comprising 24 buildings in the Greater Washington, D.C.
Guest Commentary - Signs of the times: A response
In the February 26, 2007 edition of The Current, Opinion Editor Myron McNeill expressed his concerns about The Blacklist, a resource compiled by Charles Tarver, a writer and radio station director at the University of Delaware. This resource, authored by an African American gay man, was shared by the GLBT & Allies Resource Center as a contribution to Black History Month.
Tarver's work discussed the sometimes difficult intersection between African descent and LGBT minority status, and the inherent difficulties of multiple minority status as experienced by Black LGBT persons.
In compiling a well-researched list of famous and influential persons of African descent who were also lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, the author hoped that above all else, LGBT persons of African descent (and other persons) would see that it is indeed possible to be Black, LGBT, and successful.
Experts warn of gathering health crises
As World Health Day approaches this Saturday, international experts are focusing on the formidable and mounting threats to the world's collective health security. These include emerging and rapidly spreading diseases, environmental change, the danger of bioterrorism, sudden and intense humanitarian emergencies caused by natural disasters, chemical spills or radioactive accidents, and the effects of HIV/Aids, a disease that threatens the stability of communities in some of the poorest countries in the world. "The uncertainty and destructive potential of disease outbreaks and acute public health emergencies gives them a high public and political profile," said Margaret Chan, the World Health Organisation's (WHO) director general. "When the world is collectively at risk, defence becomes a shared responsibility of all nations," Chan stressed.
Chomsky on Iran, Iraq, and the Rest of the World
Chomsky is intervewed by Shank on some current key issues,.. some of his opinions denouncing the double discourse have been highlighted -for both fans and foes ! Shank: With similar nuclear developments in North Korea and Iran, why has the United States pursued direct diplomacy with North Korea but refuses to do so with Iran? Chomsky: To say that the United States has pursued diplomacy with North Korea is a little bit misleading. It did under the Clinton administration, though neither side completely lived up to their obligations. Clinton didn't do what was promised, nor did North Korea, but they were making progress. So when Bush came into the presidency, North Korea had enough uranium or plutonium for maybe one or two bombs, but then very limited missile capacity.
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