When asked about her aspirations for “Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide,” Sheryl WuDunn demurely mentions that the work speaks for itself and she hopes it will inspire people to action. Upon catching wind of a naysayer’s opinion that efforts to free women from subjugation may cause more harm than good, [...]

WASHINGTON — Some people eagerly respond to impassioned statements about climate change, such as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s warning we cannot compromise with Earth. Others appreciate stunts, for example, a recent Maldive Islands cabinet meeting that convened under water to signal worries about climate change. To me, though, nothing resonates more than the evidence, [...]

Of all the voiceless people on Earth, I can think of few more unfortunate than the multitudes — mostly women and children — who toil as modern-day slaves. They typically suffer cruelty, deprivation of their rights and unspeakable living conditions. And they face only two certainties, both unpleasant: that they will wake up tomorrow to [...]

In a period of uncertainty, rapid change and economic disruption, it is more important than ever to plan for the future. Strategizing is especially urgent for America’s young people, who already face the most difficult job market in decades. To compete in the global marketplace, they must assemble a carefully selected basket of skills.
Fortunately, many [...]

On the eighth anniversary of 9/11, Americans are wasting time squabbling over counter-terrorism bragging rights, with former Bush administration officials hurling criticism and Obama team members attempting to deflect it. Rest assured, the nation’s adversaries relish, rejoice in and reap benefits from the divisiveness.

Days after viewing “District 9,” a quirky but compelling film set in South Africa that reveals much about human behavior, I cannot shake its troubling images and lessons. This mock documentary vividly presents what can happen when we succumb to our worst fears, insecurities and tendencies in dealing with those (in this case, extraterrestrials) whose [...]

Too many of the world’s small countries, those with populations of less than 1.5 million, are sinking fast — in more ways than one. The latest warnings come from the Pacific region. At a recent conference in Australia, it was reported that some members of the Pacific Islands Forum — a 16-state group dedicated to [...]

What comes next in troubled Iran, especially after former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani’s intense sermon criticizing June’s fraudulent presidential election and the ensuing roundup of protesters?
Considering that Iranians in massive numbers are sick of repression, corruption and deprivation, offended by their government’s manipulative ways, alienated from President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and eager for change, anything is [...]

President Barack Obama’s ominous warning about climate change stayed in my mind long after his historic address to Ghana’s Parliament was over. He was correct in noting that a warming planet will spread disease, shrink water resources and deplete crops, creating conditions that contribute to the spread of famine and conflict. Still, as he optimistically [...]

In a chaotic, problem-filled world — compounded by a lingering recession — it is easy to feel helpless and frustrated. However, it is also possible to make a difference in a surprisingly big way, as my wife and I found out during a yearlong sponsorship of a young woman in sub-Saharan Africa. To protect the [...]