Does Climate Change Worry You? How About Insurance to Cover Its Consequences?
Terry Anderson and Dino Falaschetti/ Forbes
With private investment in green energy down 34 percent between 2011 and 2012, proponents of subsidies for R&D struggle to make their case. For example, former Secretary of State George Shultz recently defended subsidies as a necessary “insurance policy” against the catastrophic consequences of climate change.
Historical Climate Change Study Reveals Human’s Role in Current Warming
Denise Chow/ Live Science
The comprehensive study, which was published Sunday (April 21) in the journal Nature Geoscience, highlights regional changes based on proxy data, or records from a wide range of sources that can stand in for direct measures of temperature and climate.
Slow Start on Environment in Second Obama Term
John Broder / The New York Times
President Obama promised assertive leadership on climate change and energy. In his State of the Union address in February, he vowed that if the assembled lawmakers failed to pass broad climate legislation, he would act unilaterally. And yet in the ensuing months, little more has been heard from the president or his cabinet on the matter.
Conservatives Grand Opportunity on Energy
Bob Inglis / Politico
Former Congressman Bob Inglis calls on conservatives to use conservative principles to solve energy and climate issues.
Assessing Progress on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament: Updated Report Card
Arms Control Association
While states have taken “limited steps” to reduce the “dangers posed by nuclear weapons,” the pace of nonproliferation efforts have failed to match the severity of nuclear threats. Little progress has been made to mitigate the proliferation threat posed by states of concern (North Korea, Iran, Syria). The UK, US, and Russia have made important strides towards the disarmament goals established by the NPT.
PM opposes U.S. tactical nuke weapons redeployment
Yonhap News
South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won voiced opposition Thursday to ideas of redeploying U.S. tactical nuclear weapons here to deter North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
Iran says it’s ready to resume talks with world powers
Stephanie Nebehay / Reuters
Iran is ready to resume talks with world powers on its disputed nuclear program and awaits word from the European Union on timing and details, Iran’s deputy nuclear negotiator said on Thursday.
Putin says Boston shows need for security ties with U.S
Timothy Heritage / Reuters
President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday the Boston bombings proved his tough line against militants in the North Caucasus was right and showed Russia and the United States must step up cooperation on security.
How People in the Middle East Actually Use Social Media
Everette E. Dennis, Justin D. Martin and Robb Wood/ The Atlantic
To more rigorously study how people in the Arab world access news and information, rate the credibility of information sources, and use social media, Northwestern University in Qatar commissioned a survey among people in eight Arab countries.
More State Senior Officials Exciting
Al Kamen/ Washington Post
Two more senior State Department officials are preparing to leave the already hollowed-out top ranks at Foggy Bottom.
Al-Qaida offshoot on run in Mali fights back with soft power via Twitter
Elaine Ganley/ Newser
Battered by a French-led military campaign in Mali, al-Qaida’s North African arm is trying something new to stay relevant: Twitter. The PR campaign by the terror network seeks to tap into social grievances and champion mainstream causes such as unemployment, all in bid to reverse decline and win new followers.
ASP Recently Published Reports
International Progress on Fusion Energy- How American Leadership is Slipping
ASP’s fact sheet, “International Progress on Fusion Energy” outlines the steps other countries are taking in developing fusion energy. Meanwhile, the U.S. is considering budget cuts to its fusion program, which will cause irreparable harm to the development of fusion power.
Perspective: The Defense Industrial Base
The defense industrial base is tied to American competitiveness in the 21st Century. For that reason, leaders in the private and public sector must take steps to thrive during a drawn out period of changing expectations while also remaining committed to keeping the country strong through innovation, long-term investment and disciplined management.
On Our Flashpoint Blog
In Economic Battle for Influence, Soft Power May Decide the Winner
Livia Pontes Fialho
A recent article highlights what may be a decisive factor in a battle between two rising powers in Africa: soft power. Brazil and China, in their efforts to expand their industries’ reach and secure natural resources, respectively, have developed aggressive strategies in the continent.
U.S. Must Include Skilled Workers in Immigration Reform
August Cole
There remains important work to be done on getting America’s visa system for skilled workers and their families up to the standards of a 21st Century economy. This is not just a matter of addressing the shortfall in STEM workers, which has become a front-burner corporate issue.
Tom Donilon- Global Energy and Climate is a National Security Issue
Danielle Parillo
“We are in the midst of two changes that have presented themselves with great speed: first, the substantial increase in the supply of available, affordable energy inside the United States … second, a transformation in the global climate….”
U.S. and North Korea Disagree on Nuclear Status
Eric Bernstein
Early Tuesday, North Korea reaffirmed its intent to gain permanent membership to the nuclear club. Through its state-controlled media, the DPRK countered the U.S.’s pre-condition for de-escalation talks, that North Korea surrender its nuclear weapons program, with a pre-condition of its own: The U.S. must recognize North Korea as a nuclear weapons state.
This Week in Public Diplomacy
Lívia Pontes Fialho
A round-up of news in Public Diplomacy.
Event Review: The environmental and Security Communities – How do Their Evolving Concerns Overlap?
Justin Yarros
On April 22nd, The Stimson Center celebrated Earth Day with the first part of a series that will bring together experts to illuminate the connections between security and environmental issues.
The North Caucasus – a long history of violent insurgency
Daniel Painter
In the aftermath of last week’s Boston Marathon bombing, many are focused on what motivated this violent act of terrorism, putting the spot light on the lives of the suspected bombers – Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.
