Suchergebnisse

By virtually every conceivable measure, civic participation is on the decline in America. Volunteering is one important exception. An analysis of a newly available archive of national surveys finds that the frequency with which Americans volunteer has increased 20% since the mid-1970s. However, nearly all of that increase is concentrated among older Americans, who are volunteering twice as frequent in the late 1990s as their same-aged predecessors did in the 1970s. Meanwhile, volunteering has actually decreased among middle-age adults, who once were the voluntary sector's most reliable source of donated labor. The reasons for increased volunteering among seniors remain elusive. Tests of various hypotheses, from improved health and financial conditions to increased spare time, do not explain the explosive increase. Nonetheless, it is clear that a powerful and mysterious force is pushing seniors toward greater volunteer involvement, and non-profit groups should tap into this particularly civic age group before the Indian summer of volunteering reaches its end.

U.S. interests in Hong Kong are extensive and have grown along with the territory's prosperity and role in the international community. These interests will be maintained as sovereignty over Hong Kong shifts from Britain to China, providing that the conditions that have led to Hong Kong's dynamism continue. These include, but are not limited to, considerable autonomy, stability, and prosperity; the presence of a free market system; a favorable attitude toward business; the rule of law, accompanied by the protection of civil liberties and human rights; continued development of open, accountable, and democratic institutions; and cooperation between Hong Kong and foreign law enforcement agencies. The United States has areas of concern but is hopeful that these conditions will be met.