Suchergebnisse

A new coalition government was formed in September 2012 following the collapse of the previous government at the end of August 2012. The Kyrgyz economy experienced a significant decline during the first half of 2012 caused by disrupted operations at the Kumtor gold mine. A decline in gold exports combined with a higher level of imports has increased the current account deficit. Expansionary fiscal policy during the first half of the year along with revenue weakness during the remainder of the year will widen the fiscal deficit to 6.1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012 from 4.8 percent of GDP a year ago. The medium-term growth outlook is favorable although there are significant downside risks. There are also exogenous shocks that will need to be mitigated, including rising food prices, spillover effects from the Euro zone sovereign debt crisis, and a weak global economy.

Bridging the Atlantic is a descriptive study of Brazil's involvement with counterparts in Sub-Saharan Africa through knowledge exchange, trade, and investments. The objective of the study is to understand these relations better with the intent to forge concrete and mutually beneficial partnerships between Brazil and Sub-Saharan Africa. Brazil and Sub-Saharan Africa are natural partners, with at one point a shared geography and later a shared history. Since the turn of the twentieth century, Africa has become one of the major fronts of Brazil's international agenda. Africa is rapidly changing and Brazil has expressed growing interest in supporting and taking part in African development. The study includes a narrative of the shared history between Brazil and Africa, as well as a description of Brazilian foreign direct investment and trade with Africa. It ends with recommendations made by the World Bank to strengthen the cooperation between Brazil and Sub-Saharan Africa.

The World Bank's Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (CPIA) is an important knowledge product that assesses the performance of 39 IDA countries along 16 dimensions of policy and institutional quality. This is the first in the series of annual reports. The 16 dimensions are grouped into four clusters: economic management; structural policies; policies for social inclusion and equity; and public sector management and institutions. The CPIA has been measuring and tracking the strength of policies and institutions in IDA-eligible countries since 1980, and releasing that information since 2006. Until now, the CPIA has been used mainly to inform IDA's allocation of resources to poor countries and in research. Yet the information contained in the CPIA is potentially valuable to governments, the private sector, civil society, researchers and the media as a tool to monitor their country's progress and benchmark it against progress in other countries. By presenting the CPIA scores for 38 African countries over six years in one easy-to-read document, this report aims to provide citizens with information that can support evidence-based debate that can, in turn, lead to better development outcomes. The scope of the report is motivated by the World Bank's open data initiative and the new Africa strategy, both of which seek to foster participation in development from a wide range of stakeholders by providing broader access to data and knowledge.

The outlook for FY2011 has changed since the last macroeconomic update in October 2010.1 While gross development product (GDP) growths is still projected to be around 6.2 percent in FY11, inflationary pressures have strengthened and the external position has weakened. Rising energy and food subsidies are placing a strain on the budget, but higher-than-anticipated revenues and lower-than-budgeted Annual Development Program expenditures leave sufficient fiscal space for the government to react to these pressures. Progress on reforms is mixed, with advances made on Value Added Tax reforms, efforts to tighten liquidity and setting up a framework for public-private partnership projects. Developments on telecommunication policy, the Anticorruption Commission, and policy responses to stock market volatility are a cause for concern. The growth outlook for FY12 remains good but there are risks that need to be contained. Short-term risks include rising food and fuel prices, deteriorating remittances, an increased reserve drawdown, a growing quasi-fiscal deficit, stock market volatility and its potential impact on the banking sector. Long-term risks include the inability to sufficiently alleviate power shortages, raise public investment, and remove bottlenecks for private investment.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been described by one senior African diplomat at the United Nations as a 'state in the making; it is not yet a state.' Further, this 'state in the making' also is a state that, with few exceptions, has been in decline since the early 1970s. The colonial era, from 1885 until 1958, was a period of nearly uninterrupted state construction; the hegemony of the Belgian colonial apparatus steadily deepened. In its final two years, the colonial edifice progressively lost control over civil society to a tumultuous and fragmented nationalist movement, which was unable to capture intact the colonial infrastructure. The result was five years of turbulent state deflation, generally known as the 'Congo crisis.' The Mobutu coup of 1965 inaugurated a new cycle, with eight years in which a rising tide of state ascendancy seemed to dominate the political process. After 1974 currents of decline again began to flow strongly, progressively eroding the superstructure of hegemony. The actual purpose of the Zairian government under Mobutu was not to fulfill basic state functions; rather, the government existed as a structure for individual enrichment and patronage. Officials at the highest levels stole large amounts of money, usually from mineral or customs revenues, sometimes through extremely straightforward strategies, such as literally pocketing gem diamonds and having them sold for personal gain in Antwerp or elsewhere.

One of the problems in discussing one-stop shops is that everyone seems to have a different idea of what one is. There have been one-stop shops since at least the 1920s, mostly in the retail trade, epitomized by the development of supermarkets and, in recent years, internet sales outlets. This book is about one particular type of service, namely, business registration, and the various one-stop shops that exist now and might exist in the future. If there is confusion about what constitutes a one-stop shop, there are also a variety of views about business registration. In some countries all businesses have to be registered, in others, only those companies with a legal existence separate from their owners. In some countries, registration is the responsibility of the courts; in others, it is an administrative function handled by a government ministry, semi-autonomous agency, or chamber of commerce. Registration may be a function of a central institution or may be affected at a local level. In all these areas, there is change when it comes to implementing a one-stop shop. It is hardly surprising therefore that there are many different views about what constitutes, or should constitute, a one-stop shop.

Doing business in India 2009 is the first country specific subnational report of the doing business series that measures business regulations and their enforcement across India. Doing business in India 2009 covers 10 out of the 12 previously measured cities, and documents their progress. It adds 7 new locations, expanding the study to 17 locations. Comparisons with the rest of the world are based on the indicators in doing business 2009. The indicators in doing business in India 2009 are also comparable with the data in other subnational and regional doing business reports. The indicators are used to analyze economic outcomes and identify what reforms have worked, where, and why. Other areas that significantly affect business, such as a country's proximity to markets, the quality of infrastructure services (other than services related to the trading across borders indicator), the security of property from theft and looting, the transparency of government procurement, macroeconomic conditions, or the underlying strength of institutions, are not directly studied by doing business.

After decades of war, with a dilapidated infrastructure and millions of people dead, wounded or displaced, Vietnam could have been considered a hopeless case in economic development. Yet, it is now about to enter the ranks of middle-income countries. The obvious question is: How did this happen? This paper goes one step further, asking not which policies were adopted, but rather why they were adopted. This question is all the more intriguing because the process did not involve one group of individuals displacing another within the structure of power. To answer this question, the paper relies on the insights of those who were actually involved in the economic experiments, conceptual discussions, and political maneuvering that led to the adoption of key reforms. Especially, it builds on a series of long and regular conversations with H. E. the late Vo Van Kiet, one of Vietnam's leading figures. In doing so, it brings into the open the inside story of Doi Moi, a process that is not known by outsiders and remains opaque to most Vietnamese. The relevance of this exercise is not merely historical. Understanding how reforms were engineered may yield valuable lessons for other developing countries. It is also relevant for Vietnam, as two decades of rapid economic growth have resulted in dramatic changes in its economy and society. While praising the decision-making processes that allowed Vietnam to successfully emerge from poverty, the paper also explores the adjustments that could be needed for it to become an industrial country.

Many oil, mineral, and plantation crop-based economies experienced a substantial deceleration in growth following the commodity boom and bust of the 1970s and early 1980s. This article illustrates how countries dependent on point source natural resources (those extracted from a narrow geographic or economic base, such as oil and minerals) and plantation crops are predisposed to heightened economic and social divisions and weakened institutional capacity. This in turn impedes their ability to respond effectively to shocks, which previous studies have shown to be essential for sustaining rising levels of prosperity. Analysis of data on classifications of export structure, controlling for a wide array of other potential determinants of governance, shows that point source and coffee and cocoa exporting countries do relatively poorly across an array of governance indicators. These governance effects are not associated simply with being a natural resource exporter. Countries with natural resource exports that are diffuse relying primarily on livestock and agricultural produce from small family farms do not show the same strong effects and have had more robust growth recoveries.

■■■ , I ISHHBHBKi'ffl HELP THOSE WHO HELP US. ♦ The IntercoIIepte Bureau or Academic Costume. Chartered igost. Cottrell & Leonrard Albany, N. Y. Makers of Caps, Gowns, Hoods m All College Text Books Promptly Ordered. Second Hand Books Bought and Sold. H. G. Brffltyirt, prop. Come and Have a Good Shave, or HAIR-CUT at Harry B. Seta's New Tonsorial Parlors, 35 Baltimore St. BARBERS' SUPPLIES A SPECIALTY. Also, choice line of fine Cigars. Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, A, L, DillenbEck, Agent. COLLEGE. IF YOU CALL OUT C. A. Bloehep, Jeuuelei*, Centre Square, He can serve you in anything you may want in REPAIRING or JEWELRY. WE RECOMMEND THESE FIRMS. jk The Pleased Customer is not a stranger in our estab-lishment— he's right at home, you'll see him 'when you call. We have the materials to please fastidious men. J. D. LIPPY, 3XEe;rc2:ha.n.t Tailor, 29 Chambersburg Street, GETTYSBURG, PA. CITY HOTEL, Main Street, - Gettysburg, Pa. Free 'Bus to and from all trains. Thirty seconds' walk from either depot. Dinner with drive over field with four or more, ^r.35. Rates, $1.50 to $2.00 per Day. Livery connected. Rubber-tire buggies a specialty. John E. Hughes, Prop. T|PTi M Now in THE .PHOTOGRAPHER. new Studio 20 and 22 Chambersburg Street, Gettysburg, Pa. One of the finest modern lights in the country. C. E. Barbehenn THE EAGLE HOTEL Corner Main and Washington Sts. mM mmmmmmm U-PI-DEE. A new Co-cd has alighted in town, U-pi-dee, U-pi-da I J^KH" In an up-to-datest tailor-made gown,U-pi-de-l-da I ff J The CDepcary. The Literary Journal of Gettyburg College. Vol. XIII. GETTYSBURG, PA., OCTOBER, 1904. No. 5 CONTENTS "YANZIE MAY," 162 BY "FLORENCE EDNA." ONE—AND HIS CALL, 164 [Winner Reddig Oratorical Prize.] A. L. DILLKNBECK, '05. LIEUTENANT JACK OF THE THIRTEENTH, . . 168 BVTHALES." THE GREAT, ■ . . 173 " '04." THE BIRTH OF POLITICAL FREEDOM, . . . 176 "JUVENAL." TRADE UNIONS AND THE INDUSTRIAL CRISIS, . . 178 [Honorable Mention Reddig Oratorical Prize ] CHARLES W. HEATHCOTE, '05. "ATTACK ON FORT SUMTER," 182 "Scio." "THE SAME OLD STORY," • . 184 "AEIEIE." EDITORIALS 185 EXCHANGES 187 ^— .,." *M\ i l62 THE MERCURY. "YANZIE MAY." BY "FLORENCE EDNA." ,nk S, among the gorge's of the old Catoctin Mountains, ■" *" Rushing swiftly onward, to the dark Monocacie, In deep pools, or shallows, more magnificent than fountains Made by mortal man, can ever be. Onward, always onward, through its strange mysterious turnings Goes the mountain brook ; so Destiny, Shapes the courses of men's lives despite their yearnings, For the great unknown—Posterity. Thus, the darkest pools are ''lives of great men," Cutting deep upon the rocks of time, And the laughing shallows, lives of light men, Passing o'er them with a joy sublime. What then, shall we call those quiet places Where the water, gently flowing through, Leaves green moss, and rock-fern, living traces, Of the wondrous work it has to do? Caxi ye give no name for humble beauty? Yet, the lives of many men to-day Are but answers to the calls of duty, Such, the life of one—old "Yanzie May." ********** Just a simple "swamper " youth was Yanzie, When, with honest eyes of dusky brown, He went forth, to woo the beauteous Nagel, Fairest of all maidens in the town. " He will never win her," quoth the gossips, "Handsome lovers hath she by the score. She has answered every one with scorn-lips, Master her? can he, than these, do more? " But e'en Gossip can not close the heart-gates, ^ When the tiny god, with arrows bright, Bars the entrance for each one whom Love hates, Sends his wounded favorite, through—to light. THE MERCURY 163 '> So, in gloaming days, when Indian Summer Painted far and near, the country-side, Yanzie, in his lonely mountain cabin, Called her "Nagel May," his " bride." ******** * On the mountain summit with the snow-flakes, Two long winters passed them quickly by, Like short summers seemed they free from heart-aches Then, as Summer dies, did Nagel die. * * * * * * ^ * * * * Did he yield him to his maddening sadness, When to-night so swiftly turned his day, Lead a hermit life among the mountains, Caring not what fellow-men might say ? No, as years rolled on, whene'er in sorrow, Men below him in the valley lay, To them went, on many a brighter morrow, " Old man of the mountains," "Yanzie May." Through his simple days of noble living, From the prime of youth, to good old age, He, himself, to others gone, and giving, Passed the life of Old Catoctin's Sage. " Passed"—and now the ruined mountain cabin Is a symbol of his stay on earth ? Nay, far rather is the mountain brooklet Saving thirsty lands from curse of dearth. For, as long as men who are unselfish Live with us, and from us pass away, As the mountain waters, never failing, So, will live the " life of Yanzie May." 1 ■ wmgmm *M 164 THE MERCURY. ONE—AND HIS CALL. {Reddig Oratorical Prize Oration.) A. L. DIIXBNBECK, '05. EVER throughout the centuries that are gone when mankind in a crisis of state, or church, or liberty has stood in sore and direful need of a leader forth he has stepped upon the field of action and nobly and bravely directed the forces of righteous-ness with the pen or with the sword. Of such—heroes we must call them—the names of some have been sung in rhyme and legend and story and others by imposing masses of granite or marble have been immortalized in the hearts of their countrymen. It is true that these to a very large extent have gone to their graves with but a faint idea of the esteem in which they were held by their fellows. And of still others it must be said they died " unwept, unhonored, and unsung." Strange that the laurel wreath of meed and praise be thus withheld from the living brow of the worthy and the dead form be buried amid flowers and highest eulogies fall on the deaf ears of death. Biographies of the dead have their use, yet it were better that those worthy of the praise of their fellowmen should reap the reward of appreciation and esteem while living. God always furnishes the man to meet the call of the hour. Every clean minded and thoughtful citizen of our republic has long seen and bitterly deplored certain existing evils in our political system. Partisanship has its followers so fervid that love of party has supplanted love of country; lust for office has made positions of trust—the free gifts of a people—objects of purchase and barter; and the shameful use so often made of them has made the words of the honest Lincoln "agovern-ment for the people and by the people " a mocking paradox. Even the royal right of franchise—an American privilege fought and died for in the past—has lost its value in the sight of many. When the civil officers of a nation reach such a climax no one dare say the nation is not in deep need. Such has been the need of our land for some time past—a need so pressing it THE MERCURY. I65 •would seem that the spirit of right and freedom could voice its heartful desire in no better words than Holland's " God give us men ; a time like this demands Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands ; Men whom the lust of office does not kill. Men whom the spoils of office cannot buy, Men who possess opinions and a will, Men who have honor ; men who will not lie." And the spirit of our fathers cried not in vain. Lo! from our best and bluest blood came one to meet the need and throw a life filled with honest effort into the breach Theodore Roosevelt. Born of an aristocratic Knickerbocker family, for eight gener-ations resident in our great and stirring metropolis, and which ■contributed to the cause of liberty, philanthropy, and industry ■many of its sons, he is the composite product of this sturdy age, worthy of his ancestral name. As an infant and youth he was a puny, sickly child giving dittle promise of the amazing vigor of his later life. His father, who was a strict disciplinarian, early taught him to " do things for himself" and to keep body and mind active. This good advice, closely followed at the Long Island homestead, on the Western plains, in every position he has occupied, has made him the man of vigorous body and keen mind he now is. There is certainly nothing superhuman about him, and there is no doubt that much of the splendid personality which at-tracts and charms those who are thrown in close contact with it has been the outgrowth of his own development and tre-mendous working power. Call him what they may—opportunist, crest of a wave, Rough Rider—they cannot blot out the fact that he is the man for the needful occasions. Without a doubt fortune has smiled upon him, although very often her smiles were hidden by the cloud of disappoined im-mediate personal ambitions. He failed to become Asst. Secre-tary of State and became Civil Service Commissioner instead; he failed to realize his hopes on the Police Board and became Assistant Secretary of the Navy; he was compelled to reluc- T\l> I66 THE MERCURY. tantly accept the Vice-Presidency and become the nation's-head. There is a strangeness in his career which to the thoughtful is really wonderful. Nevertheless, the opportunity always found him prepared. What are the traits in his character that make him so clearly the fulfillment of the nation's need ? First of all he is honest— honest in thought, honest in deed, honest in peace, honest in battle, honest in his speech and dealing—honest everywhere and honest to the backbone. Politicians and wire-pullers find him such ; his constituents have found him such ; his colleagues have found him such ; his enemies admit it. Did he not say to you on yonder rostrum a half-month ago "as courage is the cardinal virtue of a soldier, so is honesty the basic principle in civic life ?" This is the mainspring of his-wonderiul popularity. And going arm in arm with his unswerving honesty is the proven courage of the man. It required courage to face un-flinchingly the hot fire of Spanish bullets ; it required courage to face the wounded grizzly in our western hills. It required courage of a higher kind when, as a stripling out of college, the youngest member in the New York Assembly, he boldly stood before them and denounced his party leaders as rascals. It required more of that courage when the jeers and threatened ruin of his political life, and the waves of denunciation came to his ears. They called him a youth and a fool but he knew he was right and by his honesty, energy and courage won his fight in Albany against robbery and competition until the State from end to end rang with his name. It required courage and honesty combined to face the bribery and red- tape, of precedent when as Civil Service Commissioner he purged the system of its corruption. It required both as Police Commissioner of New York City to battle with the agents of the liquor traffic and dive keepers and Tammany until that debauched depart-ment was cleaner. He believed that his appointment of the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission would be his political deathblow, nevertheless because much suffering was imminent he did what to him seemed right. THE MERCURY. 167 He believes in the people, especially the the masses, as no other man has ; he has had no end to gain, no ax to grind, no machine to build up. Why then his strenuous executive ac-tivity? The one incentive—the best and noblest man can rind—honesty and fair dealing in the administration of govern-ment. With no selfish aims, with high ideals, with love for the people, abiding honesty and courage, it is not strange after all that he has become the peoples ideal—the very Appolo of our vigorous American manhood. Whether as soldier, public officer, or as private citizen, we view the life and character of Theodore Roosevelt, there is nothing but good with a deep and wholesome motive back of it, in the example set before us. To us then, that example of him who has so gallantly volunteered to lead the way against negligence, corruption and incompetency in public places should appeal in strongest terms. Altho he is there "trying" as he styles it, " to do something worth while, there is the same need calling us. He is calling to us to come and fight in the battle of truth and right. Will we listen to his call ? The world to-day needs men of action, men of work, men who struggle among their fellows for the improvement of the race—men who are true agents of the upward, onward march of progress. The world needs men not prophets—men of moral strength, of mental and physical health, of honesty of purpose, of truth well-spoken, of good deeds well done. May the God of the nations grant that as each of the com-ing years of this young century becoming old, rings in the new year it may " Ring out false pride in place and blood, The civic slander and the spite ; Ring in the love of truth and right, Ring in the common love of good." M/I») wm -'.- r by the bullet what could not be won by the ballot. Perverting: the meaning of liberty, the South assumes rights and privi-leges contrary to the spirit of the Constitution, and proclaims THE MERCURY. 183 herself no longer a member of the Union ; and the hope of a peaceful secession is soon frustrated. Nerving herself for the worst, she hurls an insulting shot at the grand old flag floating over Fort Sumter. On the evening of the second day of the assault the brave little garrison is compelled to surrender, and as the sun in beauty sank in the West, so the " Stars and Stripes " were lowered from the staff; As the pale moon rose up to supplant the sun in the heavens, so the ensign of rebellion was raised over Fort Sum-ter ; and as day gives place to black night, so Peace gave way to bloody War. The rebel hosts have taken Fort Sumter, but have they con-quered ? The wires flash the wild news and the country is aroused. The call goes forth, " To arms, ye loyal sons ! To arm ! " Then loyal hearts give answer, and loyal hands grasp the sword, and beneath the old flag, with drums beating, swords flashing and bayonets glittering, forward to the front they march. Desperate is the conflict, for the destiny of a great nation hangs in the balance. It is brother in Blue against brother in Gray. But at length, after years of bloodshed and death, heaven smiles upon the Right, and to the goddess of Peace says: " Peace, thy divine wand extend, And bid wild war his ravage end." The attack on Fort Sumter has shown to the world that to pluck a single star from our national firmament is impossible; that a slave empire could not be established on American soil; that liberty and equality, the natural rights of man, are secure to all; that the " government of the people, by the people and for the people, shall not perish from the earth." But what has it cost to learn these lessons?—The lives of over one million of our dear ones—A price dear, but not too dear, for our country is now the free and common country of all, and that grand old Flag, first unfurled in Freedom's holy cause, will forever wave " over a free country and a brave people." 184 w THE MERCURY. ■THE SAME OLD STORY." "AEIEIE." HEN the Russian ships without a stand Sought out a short cut for the land, This happy message soon was sent, Which to Nick's grief a solace lent, " Our ships sank in good order." • Said he, " Kuropat-kin play a hand That soon will make those Japs disband And wish that they had learned to swim." When lo ! this message greeted him : "Retreated in good order." Then Kuropatkin thought a rest At Liaoyang would be the best Thing for his men. Around his lines He put up fences, trespass signs, Dug pits, and installed telephones. Thought he, " I'll rest my weary bones Till all those Japs are full of aches From jumping down on pointed stakes. But what would Mrs. 'patkiu say If I should come home dead some day ? I guess I'd better go to-night, And leave this long and fearful fight." So up he got and off he went, After this note to Nick was sent: "Retreated in good order." The aim to which the Japs aspire Is to sieze the enemy entire, While that of Russia seems to be, Not driving Japs into the sea, But "retreating in good order." THE MERCURY Entered at the Postoffice at Gettysburg as second-class matter VOL. XIII GETTYSBURG, PA., OCTOBER, 1904 No. s Editor-in-chief C. EDWIN BUTLER, '05 Exchange Editor C&ARLES GAUGER, '05 Business Manager A. L. DILLENBECK, '05 Asst. Business Manage* E. G. HESS, '06 Associate Editors H. C. BRILLHART, '06 ALBERT BILLHEIMER, '06 H. BRUA CAMPBELL, '06 (Exchange Editor Pro Tern.) Advisory Board PROF. J. A. HIMES, LITT.D. PROF. G. D. STAHLEY, M.D. PROF. J. W. RICHARD, D.D. Published each month, from October to June inclusive, by the join, literary societies of Pennsylvania (Gettysburg) College. Subscription price, one dollar a year in advance; single copies 15 cents. Notice to discontinue sending the MERCURY to any address must be accompanied by all arrearages. Students, Professors and Alumni are cordially invited to contribute. All subscriptions and business matter should be addressed to the Busi-ness- Manager. Articles for publication should be addressed to the Editor. Address THE MERCURY, GETTYSBURG, PA. EDITORIALS. MERCURY TO the new student, hale, hearty and fresh—and PRIZES. Gettysburg has an unprecedented number, like-wise to the alumni and friends of the college just as hale and hearty but not so fresh, THE MERCURY extends a cordial greet-ing and best wishes for your success. May you be attended with every blessing and unflinchingly grasp all noble oppor-tunites as they present themselves. And just here we would urge the new and old students to read again the statement made last year with respect to the MERCURY Prizes. Several contributions are printed in this number in competition for the prizes and others will be received and printed in the next few issues. / I* 186 THE MERCURY. COLLEGE Great has been the outward growth of the GROWTH. American Colleges in the last decade, but greater still has been their internal development, and the alumni in-terest has by no means been the smallest factor and aid in this marvelous advance. Happily we can say with all truth and ex-actness that our dear old Alma Mater has made wonderful pro-gress even in the few months which have passed since the elec-tion of our new president. So large a class of first year men Gettysburg has never before known, and the general spirit of progress, which pervades the entire college, is quite perceptible to the visiting alumnus. The enthusiasm aroused among our graduates has been marked, and it should continue to grow and increase until every son of Pennsylvania has been seized with the spirit and becomes vociferous in his praise. That this influence will react to produce greater zeal and activity, both in the college and out, cannot be doubted. If the newly awakened interest of our alumni and the untiring efforts of our worthy President have enabled us to accomplish so much within such a short time, may we not even now make this hallowed spot, known throughout the world for its acts of bravery and daring, just as famous for its educational facilities. The top of the ladder is in sight, and tho as yet far off, we have but to quicken our ardor, redouble our zeal and increase our activity to banish the difficulties and attain the goal. if LITERARY The value to the college man of membership in SOCIETIES, the Literary Societies and participation in their ex-ercises cannot be too strongly urged upon him. They supply a need which the class-room drill cannot give. They are the training-schools in the literary department of college. The measure of their success is seen in their well-stocked libraries, their well-equipped reading-room and the intelligent interest manifested in their work. It is in the society hall that the true worth of the student is shown and cultivated. It is here he puts into practice the theories learned in the class-room ; it is here he makes a personal practical application of the knowl-edge he has acquired. Especially the new men should con-sider the importance of this matter, visit the different societies, \ THE MERCURY. 187 join the society of their choice and take part in its meetings. And let us hope that the new interest shown in other lines of work this fall will also manifest itself in the Literary Societies and cause old and new members to work with greater earnest-ness and enthusiasm than has ever before characterized this ■department of college activity. " B," '06. EXCHANGES. Almost all the college monthlies which are on the desk of the exchange editor are June numbers, very few of the Sep-tember editions having as yet been issued. As a result the •exchanges contain commencement news to the exclusion of •poetry, fiction and other interesting features which go to make up a well balanced literary magazine. However many of them are very well edited and the commencement news, so interest-ing to the alumni, is presented in a very attractive form. The trend for some time past has been toward an increase in the number of pages alloted to fiction each month and it is to be hoped that this movement will not abate. Articles of a lighter vein act as a sauce so that the more serious composi-tions can be more easily digested. The June number of the University of Virginia Magazine is an admirable one in many respects, and its table of contents ■shows that the staff realize the importance of issuing a well rounded periodical. The poetical contributions are excellent and'breathe the fragrant spirit of summer. The business manager of the Lesbian Herald evidently is progressive, for a classified list of advertisers appears in the June number of that magazine. An excellent innovation it is. The Forum published 'at Lebanon Valley College shows an improvement this year, it being one of the first September numbers to arrive. It lacks an exchange department, of vital importance to every college monthly. The July number of The Phareha published by the students ■of Wilson College presents a fine appearance. Its interesting 188 THE MERCURY. contents appeals to the reader and its attractiveness is greatly enhanced by the excellent cover in which it appears. The commencement news is very well edited. The " Observations " department in the High School Argus-of Harrisburg is sprightly and original. It is an excellent high school periodical. The Yale Scientific Monthly appears \vith a particularly timely article entitled " Engineering Details of the World's Fair." The other scientific articles appearing in the magazine are presented in lucid style. Get ready for the Pen and Sword Prize Essays which will appear in the November number of the Mercury. / PATRONIZE OUR ADVERTISERS. FURNITURE Mattresses, Bed Springs, Iron Beds, Picture Frames, Repair Work done promptly. Under-taking a specialty. J» Telephone No. 97. H- IB. ZOer^cLer 37 Baltimore St. Gettysburg, Pa. THE STEWART & STEEN CO. College EngTCbueTs and (pTinteTS 1024 Arch. St., Philadelphia, Pa. MAKERS AND PUBLISHERS OF Commencement, Class Day Invitations and Programs, Class Pins and Buttons in Gold and Other Metals, Wedding Invitations and Announcements, At Home Cards, Reception Cards and Visiting Cards, Visiting Cards—Plate and 50 cards, 75 cents. Special Discount to Students. A. G. Spalding «S Bros. Largest Manufacturers in the World of Official Athletic Supplies. 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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY SMALL-SCALE FARMERS' STRATEGIES IN DEALING WITH CRISES: AN ANALYSIS OF HOUSEHOLD RESPONSES TO CRISIS IN FOUR VILLAGES IN RURAL ZIMBABWE Crises caused by natural and human-induced disasters have always been part of farmers' lives, but recently they have proliferated through the emergence of new economic, political and environmental challenges. Generally, it is the ordinary poor people, many of them living in the vulnerable contexts of the rural tropics, who are bearing the brunt of these changes. This is particularly true for many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, where more than two-thirds of the population still depend on agriculture, and a large proportion of rural households suffer from poverty, food insecurity and social unrest. In such contexts, national governments and numerous NGOs, often supported by international donors, become active in supporting small farmers with training programs, the diffusion of technology, credits, social payments, subsidies and infrastructural investments. These efforts have had a remarkable success, except in stopping a general process of local marginalization and environmental degradation. In the end, the vast majority of small-scale farming families are left on their own to face the challenge of sustaining their livelihoods and guarantee food for their families under precarious conditions. More effective measures to support poor rural farmers in Africa are urgently needed that take better account of and stimulate their adaptive capacity to find responses to the manifold challenges. The research in this thesis aimed to generate empirical insights into farmers' responses to crises as a basis to supporting small-scale farmers more effectively, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa, in times of crisis. This includes three specific objectives: (1) to describe how crises changes the conditions for small-scale farmers' activities; (2) to learn how small-scale farmers are responding to these changes; and (3) to find out what factors are driving farmers' 'decisions. To comply with these objectives, the study analyzed in depth the dynamics in four rural villages in Zimbabwe, which represent three typical agricultural contexts in Sub-Saharan Africa: (1) communal agricultural lands with traditional social configurations; (2) agricultural landscapes formed by individualized settlers; and (3) areas resettled in the course of land redistribution programs. Zimbabwe was chosen because it is a prime example of a crisis that brought about severe multi-layered political, economic, social and environmental challenges, especially during the presidency of Robert G. Mugabe between 2000 and 2017. Data were gathered, processed and analyzed using a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach. Household surveys were conducted with lead farmers and extension agents to gain an understanding of the factors and conditions that influence farmers' behavior and choices and to establish categories of farmers. Households were surveyed to determine their characteristics at the personal level (family size, head, level of education, financial situation, and farm experience), the farm level (assets, size, land tenure, remoteness) and the institutional level (extension services, financial support, social organization). Besides, farmers' households that represented the strategies typically used to cope with the situation of crisis were selected for in-depth interviews to learn about the operational details, underlying rationalities and effects of the strategies they had adopted. Expert interviews and participatory mapping exercises with local experts and leaders were conducted to gain an understanding of how the Zimbabwean crisis changed the conditions under which the farmers live and to grasp the range and spatial relevance of strategies adopted by the farmer in response to the changed conditions. Also, secondary sources were systematically explored for relevant information, including reports from international organizations, non-governmental agencies, local NGOs, public research organizations, farmers' groups, dairy associations, Internal Savings and Lending Clubs (ISACs) and government agencies. The study made three principal findings: (1) crises strongly affected farming households; (2) most farmers managed to respond effectively to crisis situations; and (3) support and resource endowments are critical to overcoming crises. The crises strongly affected farmers. More than fifteen years of political and economic crises in Zimbabwe, in combination with frequent droughts, profoundly changed the conditions under which rural farmers live and produce. Most strikingly, the manifestation of this complex situation of crises was the breakdown of public services, including progressive reductions of public services providing farmers with technical and financial assistance and, partly related to this, increases in corruption. For example, although the ruling party announced million-dollar tractor and farm mechanization programs during elections, not one of the farmers from the four case studies received anything. Most critical was also the fact that the state-driven Grain Marketing Board failed to continue offering support to maize farmers with regard to pricing and payment patterns, which led to a massive decline in the production of maize, the key business of many farmers at that time. This withdrawal of the state was further compounded by a massive distortion of markets, which for the farmers made the profitable marketing of their own production considerably more difficult or even impossible, as well as making agricultural input prices unaffordable. The latter development forced a majority of farmers to skip using fertilizers, certified seeds and pesticides. Some few only managed to apply sub-optimal amounts of fertilizers occasionally on smaller parts of their fields. Devastatingly, farmers also suffered animal losses to drought (especially the extreme drought of the 2015/2016 season) and animal diseases that hampered their practice of using manure to maintain soil fertility. In parallel, farmers were heavily affected by climate change, manifested through an increase in dryness, soil erosion and unpredictable rainfall. This was especially hard for farmers acting in the dry conditions that are typical of large parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, where water is the limiting factor of production and where agricultural activities depend on the predictability of rainfall during the sowing period and the availability of groundwater or water reservoirs in the mountains during the growing period. This critical situation was, at least partly, mitigated for more than a third of farmers (38%) through the intervention of donors, NGOs and private companies, who, in contrast to the government's initial strategy of diffusing technical packages, promoted low-cost technologies in the case of development organizations and contract farming in the case of private companies. Nevertheless, the situation of crisis resulted in considerable losses of harvests, plants and animals, particularly in very dry years (2002-2003, and 2015-2016), when some crops were a complete write-off, but also due to political violence, when livestock and harvests were looted, for example, in the aftermath of the 2008 election. Despite these difficulties, the vast majority of families remained on their properties and tried to cope with the challenging situation. In the resettlement area too, where the government distributed the land of expropriated white farmers, all those farmers who had settled there at the beginning of 2000 remained on their farms and in 2015were joined by new farmers settling on grazing land. Roughly a third of households (29%), however, decided to send a member or two to urban centers, abroad or other farms to search for remunerative employment off the family farm. As it was mostly young male adults who were drawn into leaving the farm for jobs, across all case studies it was common for women, children and the elderly to be left with the task of managing farm operations. Effective responses of the farmers. In response to the situation of crisis, the farmers in the case studies employed a wide range of strategies. Responses included orientation towards livestock, the reduction of the land area under cultivation, the adoption of low-input farming systems, intensification, and on and off-farm diversification, as well as migration, a re-orientation to subsistence farming and the unsustainable exploitation of common resources. Most farmers combined two or more of these responses. Where possible nearly all households (84%) started to buy livestock when a crisis broke, whether cattle or small livestock, the latter being seen as resistant to drought and more easily convertible into cash. To improve food security, many farmers (71%) reduced and concentrated inputs on the most suitable parcels of land to optimize the application of scarce resources. Upon realizing surpluses, some farmers (15%) then included tobacco as a cash crop, or even diversified their production portfolios more strongly (20%). Only traditional dairy farmers (10 %) mostly continued their production because, often belonging to the second or third generation of farmers, they had the knowledge and experience to continue and even intensify production. Also, migration and, relatedly, the transfer of remittances became a central resource for many families (29%). Accordingly, concentration and diversification were closely linked with an orientation to the market. The farmers who produced for markets were well connected with relevant platforms and networks (e.g., tobacco auction floors, milk collection points, the Grain Marketing Board, millers, etc.) and used their surpluses to invest in the farm and grow their asset base. Those farmers who received remittances also invested in farming, often accompanied by a diversification of production. The switch to low-cost technologies and the concentration of production on the most suitable parcels of land massively reduced the dependence on government subsidies. In parallel, many farmers managed to significantly enhance their areal productivity, so that overall production remained stable, despite a significant reduction in the land area under cultivation. Some farmers even managed to increase their gross incomes by intelligently combining on-farm with non-farm strategies. The concentration of farming activities on the most fertile land parcels also allowed fields to be left fallow and promoted other ecologically valuable land-use resources, such as woodlots. This effect was particularly visible in contexts that already showed a high level of degradation. Only 7% of farmers became engaged in unsustainable exploitative activities, but, every tenth household was forced to re-orient itself towards subsistence farming. However, about 75% of households in the case-study sites had somehow found effective ways to cope with crises, implying that the vast majority of farmers substantially changed or strongly adapted their livelihood strategies. While in 2000 most farmers were dedicated to the production of maize and dairy for income generating purposes, in 2016 livelihood strategies were diversified and included the production of food, dairy and cash crops, as well as off-farm employment. Support and resource endowments are critical. The specific choice and quality of farmers' responses varied strongly in accordance with institutional, farm and personal features, except the consistent orientation towards livestock across all farmers and case studies. In particular, a set of four factors had a highly significant positive influence on the successful actions of farmers, based on concentration, market orientation and diversification, namely the availability of farm assets (particularly ownership of cattle), financial support, the level of social organization and formal tenure arrangements. Market orientation was also favored by accessibility. Other factors had a comparatively low influence on farmers' responses, except a preference for diversification by older and female-headed households. Concerning remittance support, higher educational levels and the good financial situation of the households played a moderately positive role. The picture was less clear concerning factors that influenced responses with questionable livelihood outcomes, such as re-orientation towards subsistence farming (lack of assets, low level of education, households headed by females without husbands) and exploitative strategies (male-headed households and households headed by females without husbands). There were also large differences between the case studies in respect of the factors listed above, partly due to important contextual differences. Most strikingly, the better the situation of a case study with regard to accessibility, water availability and social organization, the stronger the external support. In response, more farmers in the favored case studies exploited the opportunities offered to them mainly by tobacco companies and development organizations (irrigation and dairy farming). One exception was the resettlement case study, which, as a contested area, was disregarded by development organizations, despite favorable environmental conditions. Accordingly, in the least favorable case study, "community in impoverished landscape", households were largely left to face their difficult situations alone. They were more likely to re-orient themselves to subsidence farming and switched to small livestock, thereby managing at least to secure their food basis. In particular, these results provide three important suggestions for how farmers can be better supported in crises. First, effective water management is key. There is an urgent need to diffuse in- field water-harvesting techniques and to further optimize appropriate agricultural practices, such as mulching and gravity-fed irrigation. Second, farmers are creative in finding solutions. This includes farming responses, as well as off-farm strategies. Both are effective from a local perspective. However, only the better-off farmers may have the means and capacities for the necessary investments, whereas the challenges may exceed the possibilities of poorer farmers. The proper management of livestock and the use of manure in agricultural production is another important requisite. Third, support measures are critical. However, rather than distributing of costly technology packages, support should take advantage of and promote capacity of farmers to take meaningful decisions. Thus, support should build on the resources and capacities that are available locally and accordingly highlight low-cost strategies and efficient water-use management, stimulate financially attractive options for diversification, and develop existing market opportunities further rather than creating new ones. In this regard, in particular, the frequently observed strategy of farmers to reduce and concentrate inputs on the most suitable land shows an immense potential for optimization. Supporting such promising attempts by farmers to build robust farming systems following their capacities and interests can help achieve development, social equality and sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa. To operationalize such an approach requires well-trained extension agents working in well-equipped organizations. Also, the provision of tenure security plays a critical role in motivating farmers to invest and develop the land, as well as to turn land into a bankable asset and collateral that enables farmers to secure bank loans for farm improvements. Equally important is investment in research and development regarding basic infrastructure, particularly the maintenance of public infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, which have largely been neglected due to economic hardships. The government can also assist farmers by providing market facilities for small livestock and small grains whose markets are still limited. The private sector has and continues to play an important role in supporting farmers through contract farming arrangements. But they need to consider more intensively weaker farmers who are located far from markets and have to cope with unfavorable situations. Farmers' associations should prioritize programs and actions that support the frequent and most common response of concentration, as well as market participation and diversification of production. Through the local sharing of information and knowledge, they can guide farmers in reducing their dependence on government subsidies and the use of costly inputs such as fertilizers, certified seeds and pesticides. The farmers themselves need to organize themselves better in order to lobby collectively and campaign for technical assistance, credits and secure tenure arrangements. Farmers should intensify crop–livestock integration with livestock, thus equipping farmers with the means to produce much needed inexpensive animal manure to improve soil fertility and to opt for long-term strategies that protect their resource base. Finally, research also has its part to play. More knowledge is needed about farmers' actions and rationalities as a basis for finding more effective ways of consolidating the socio- ecological diversity of Zimbabwe, Sub-Saharan Africa and elsewhere, despite the political, economic and climatic challenges that are to be expected in the future.

AMÉRICA LATINARepública Dominicana elige presidente sin una opción de renovación.Para más información: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/world/americas/new-hints-at-looser-travel-rules-stir-hope-in-cuba.html?ref=world&gwh=540CD4774545D8E17C7F9064A5EA9D35 http://diario.elmercurio.com/2012/05/22/internacional/_portada/noticias/CB59B748-D065-4F16-884B-A12813557137.htm?id={CB59B748-D065-4F16-884B-A12813557137}http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/18/actualidad/1337333119_548420.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18139809 http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2012/05/dominican-republics-presidential-election Guatemala: ex dictador enfrenta cargos por genocidio. Para más información: http://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/ex-ditador-da-guatemala-sera-processado-por-massacre-4967912 http://diario.elmercurio.com/2012/05/22/internacional/internacional/noticias/849e6371-a380-4660-9cee-77b359fe01f2.htm "El País" de Madrid analiza efectos de la política cambiaria argentina: "Lecciones argentinas para esconder billetes".Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/19/actualidad/1337443141_571774.html Asesinado otro reportero en México en un mes fatídico para los periodistas. Para más información: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47483396/ns/world_news-americas/#.T7vvRlK1uw4http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/19/actualidad/1337384449_271233.html Reelección en Venezuela: Chávez afirma que inscribirá candidatura. Para más información: http://diario.elmercurio.com/2012/05/22/internacional/internacional/noticias/D5C4B980-6AD9-4393-9022-FC6AB8A3143D.htm?id={D5C4B980- La detención de tres generales abre una brecha entre el poder civil y militar en México. Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18133808http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/18/actualidad/1337304528_943912.html México arresta líder de cartel que supuestamente está tras la masacre de Monterrey. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18140844http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mexico-bodies-20120514,0,2098410.story Repsol no tiene éxito en su primer intento por encontrar petróleo en Cuba. Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18124320 Repsol cancela las exportaciones de gas desde Argentina. Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18127122 Corrupción en Bolivia hace que Morales vuelva a cambiar al jefe de la policía. Para más información: http://diario.elmercurio.com/2012/05/22/internacional/internacional /noticias/BA437319-03AB-408A-A19D-0BECB836CC3D.htm?id={ BA437319-03AB-408A-A19D-0BECB836CC3D} Tres mexicanos son condenados a muerte por narcotráfico en Malasia. Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18100100 Toma posesión nuevo jefe de Policía en Honduras. Para más información: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/848737.html El periodista hondureño Alfredo Villatoro fue encontrado muerto. Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/16/world/americas/honduras-journalist-killed/index.html?hpt=wo_bn8http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18083550 Haití, entre el cólera y la parálisis política. Para más información: http://diario.elmercurio.com/2012/05/22/internacional/internacional/noticias/19A02809-E2DD-48F1-A307-8041A9B6E6DA.htm?id={19A02809-E2DD-48F1-A307-8041A9B6E6DA}http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/17/actualidad/1337276825_158084.htmlhttp://www.miamiherald.com/2012/05/19/2807321/remnants-of-haitis-army-march.html#storylink=cpy Argentina dio a conocer nuevo memorial de la Guerra de las Malvinas. Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18135404 Noreste de Colombia: choques con las FARC dejan al menos 12 militares muertos. Para más información: http://diario.elmercurio.com/2012/05/22/internacional/_portada/noticias/7894A443-F4F7-4A70-B44A-C060FA5FA473.htm?id={7894A443-F4F7-4A70-B44A-C060FA5FA473}http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/848734.html Candidato presidencial mexicano, Peña Nieto, presentó un "manifiesto" con los principios de su eventual gobierno. Para más información: http://diario.elmercurio.com/2012/05/22/internacional/internacional/noticias/8857F115-D995-4E64-907D-78A99A2E98A1.htm?id={8857F115-D995-4E64-907D-78A99A2E98A1} Miles de mexicanos salen a la calle en contra del candidato Peña Nieto. Para más información:http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/20/actualidad/1337480827_289958.html Instalan Comisión de la Verdad en Brasil para investigar crímenes de dictadura. Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18087390ESTADOS UNIDOS / CANADÁDistintos medios cubren la campaña presidencial en Estados Unidos. Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15949569 http://elpais.com/tag/elecciones_eeuu_2012/a/http://diario.elmercurio.com/2012/05/22/internacional/internacional/noticias/DED6F01B-78A2-4AE6-8A73-3E966CDF2A06.htm?id={DED6F01B-78A2-4AE6-8A73-3E966CDF2A06}http://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/romney-encosta-em-obama-em-arrecadacao-de-campanha-4970694#ixzz1vdB1cknL Obama recibe apoyo de sectores que estaban al margen en elecciones. Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/estados-unidos/obama-recibe-apoyo-de-sectores-que-estaban-al-margen-en-elecciones_11836643-4 Violentos choques entre estudiantes y la policía en Quebec. Para más información: http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/17/11742456-quebec-moves-to-restore-order-as-striking-students-clash-with-police?lite Desvían vuelo en Estados Unidos por mujer que dijo tener artefacto implantado. Para más información: http://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/voo-desviado-nos-eua-por-motivo-de-seguranca-4969522#ixzz1vdB7bRXW http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/estados-unidos/desvian-vuelo-en-ee-uu-por-mujer-que-dijo-tener-artefacto-implantado_11851821-4 Corrupción fluye libremente en la frontera de Estados Unidos con México. Para más información: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-border-corruption-20120513,0,5165934.storyDisidente chino recomienza su vida en Estados Unidos, su país guarda silencio. Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/19/world/asia/china-us-chen/index.html?hpt=wo_c2http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/estados-unidos/disidente-chino-recomienza-su-vida-en-ee-uu-su-pas-guarda-silencio_11839682-http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/20/actualidad/1337473690_210062.html Los recién nacidos blancos ya no son mayoría en Estados Unidos. Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/17/actualidad/1337274105_586907.html Obama busca el apoyo de la OTAN a su estrategia para Afganistán. Para más información: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/us/obamas-journey-to-reshape-afghanistan-war.html?ref=world&gwh=617EC044AFC4D4AE851F916B4AA6F365http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/18/actualidad/1337365516_467431.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/us/us-to-unveil-initiatives-to-bolster-nato.html?ref=world&gwh=B2D94B0606B7E89D5484093F2D5C286C http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/estados-unidos/barack-obama-dice-que-salida-de-afganistn-no-debe-ser-una-estampida_11843221-4 Para Obama la Eurozona se debe enfocar en el crecimiento económico y el trabajo. Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18135042 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/19/us/19iht-currents19.html?ref=world http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-18135796 Obama presenta plan de seguridad alimenticia para África. Para más información: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-05/19/content_15337343.htm EUROPA Distintos portales hacen referencia a la actual crisis económica en la Eurozona. Para más información: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-05/20/content_15340739.htmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18094883 http://internacional.elpais.com/tag/zona_euro/a/http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/19/actualidad/1337454283_695796.html http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/22/11805670-vicious-circle-europe-crisis-threatens-world-economy-oecd-says?lite http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2012/05/daily-chart-13 http://www.lemonde.fr/crise-de-l-euro/ Grecia entre el caos político y el derrumbe económico. Para más información: http://www.economist.com/node/21555567 http://diario.elmercurio.com/2012/05/22/internacional/_portada/noticias/877DE393-32C5-4CC5-8A02-A522CFC9D415.htm?id={877DE393-32C5-4CC5-8A02-A522CFC9D415} http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-greece-banks-20120520,0,235777.story Merkel pide a Grecia que subsane a la brevedad la inestabilidad política. Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/18/world/europe/greece-germany-politics/index.html?hpt=hp_t2 Serbia enfrenta la segunda vuelta de las presidenciales. Para más información: http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2012/05/20/le-nationaliste-tomislav-nikolic-donne-en-tete-de-la-presidentielle-en-serbie_1704422_3214.html http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/20/actualidad/1337522464_617545.html http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/20/actualidad/1337510494_056245.html http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/21/world/europe/serbian-presidential-elections.html?ref=world La denuncia de la limpieza étnica marca la apertura del proceso contra Mladic, el carnicero de Srebrenica. Para más información: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mladic-trial-20120517,0,6653722.story http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/mladic-es-juzgado-por-muerte-de-musulmanes-en-srebrenica_11836645-4 http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/16/actualidad/1337148040_913451.html http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/16/world/europe/robertson-mladic-justic/index.html?hpt=wo_bn9Terremoto sacude el norte de Italia. Para más información: http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2012/05/20/au-moins-trois-morts-dans-un-seisme-dans-le-nord-est-de-l-italie_1704300_3214.html http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/21/world/europe/earthquake-in-northern-italy.html?ref=world&gwh=8E237AD33D0F5E8E46AE9B062C9F502Dhttp://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/20/world/europe/italy-earthquake/index.html?hpt=wo_c2http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/20/actualidad/1337489255_970834.htmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18140543http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/cinco-mil-evacuados-tras-terremoto-en-italia_11846542-4http://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/cidades-italianas-atingidas-por-tremor-vao-receber-130-milhoes-4970870#ixzz1vdEvkhFR Miles de españoles protestan por recortes en educación. Para más información: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/opinion/sunday/spains-yearnings-are-now-its-agony.html?ref=world&gwh=5615EC81EBD9E52A32763B7DB59EDFB5 http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/espanoles-protestan-por-recortes-en-educacion_11850841-4 Sismo de 5,7 sacude la capital de Bulgaria. Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/sismo-de-57-sacude-la-capital-de-bulgaria_11846801-4 http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/848702.html http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/world/europe/frankfurt-germany-protests-austerity-measures.html?ref=world Primera medida del Gobierno socialista francés: un 30% menos de sueldo. Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/17/actualidad/1337269966_524573.html http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/17/world/europe/france-politics/index.html?hpt=wo_bn9 Merkel destituye al ministro Röttgen tras su derrota en el Estado de Renania. Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/16/actualidad/1337180794_362929.html Bomba en Italia dejó como saldo una estudiante muerta. Para más información: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-05/20/content_15339766.htmhttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/world/europe/fatal-school-bombing-stokes-fears-of-new-italy-violence.html?ref=world&gwh=2EA47097F6019E82A292648550254BEE http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/bomba-en-brindisi-italia-dej-como-saldo-una-estudiante-muerta_11832821-4 http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/20/world/europe/italy-blast/index.html?hpt=wo_c2 Rusia aceptaría cambio de régimen sirio sin fuerza. Para más información: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-05/21/content_15340901.htm "El País" de Madrid analiza: "Italia malvive en el desconcierto". Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2012/05/19/actualidad/1337455694_588810.html 7 personas enfrentan cargos de terrorismo por supuestamente pertenecer a la IRA. Para más información: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/20/world/europe/7-suspected-of-ties-to-ira-faction-are-charged-with-terrorism.html?ref=world&gwh=1227D495BFDA74AC40440613EA7B7F56 Dominique Strauss-Kahn, la caída vertiginosa de un libertino. Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/dominique-strauss-kahn-su-caida-vertiginosa_11846586-4ASIA- PACÍFICO/ MEDIO ORIENTE Atentado de Al Qaeda mata a 112 soldados durante ensayo militar en Yemen. Para más información: http://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/governo-do-iemen-destitui-militares-ligados-saleh-4966159#ixzz1vdGOkL3e http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/20/world/meast/yemen-clashes/index.html?hpt=wo_c2http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/medio-oriente/atentado-de-al-qaeda-en-yemen-deja-70-muertos_11846521-4 http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/848691.htmlhttp://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-yemen-bombing-20120522,0,2884842.story http://diario.elmercurio.com/2012/05/22/internacional/internacional/noticias/5F554DE6-CC26-44B2-9DD6-CD028D66C892.htm?id={5F554DE6-CC26-44B2-9DD6-CD028D66C892} La OTAN entregará el mando de sus misiones de combate a los afganos a mediados de 2013. Para más información: http://diario.elmercurio.com/2012/05/22/internacional/_portada/noticias/DB7CA3BD-1E30-4A97-A19B-4D5196B48616.htm?id={DB7CA3BD-1E30-4A97-A19B-4D5196B48616} http://www.lemonde.fr/asie-pacifique/article/2012/05/20/deux-soldats-de-l-otan-tues-en-afghanistan_1704337_3216.html http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-nato-summit-20120521,0,3696577.story Al menos 25 muertos deja el choque de dos trenes en la India. Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/asia/al-menos-15-muertos-deja-el-choque-de-dos-trenes-en-la-india_11848901-4 http://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/batida-de-trens-deixa-aos-menos-25-mortos-na-india-4968644#ixzz1vdEnsqGg Pakistán bloquea Twitter debido a un contenido 'blasfemo'. Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/20/world/asia/pakistan-twitter/index.html?hpt=wo_c2http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/medio-oriente/pakistn-bloquea-twitter-debido-a-un-contenido-blasfemo_11837901-4http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/21/11786700-pakistan-blocks-twitter-over-blasphemous-content-but-fails-to-stop-tweets?lite Japón inaugura la segunda torre más alta del mundo. Para más información: http://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/japao-inaugura-torre-mais-alta-do-mundo-4967044 http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/22/11809861-tokyo-sky-tree-takes-root-as-worlds-second-tallest-structure?lite Continúa la brutal represión gubernamental en Siria. Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17258397 http://oglobo.globo.com/mundo/rebeldes-acusam-governo-sirio-de-matar-dois-na-frente-de-monitores-4966442#ixzz1vdEs0S7J http://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/article/2012/05/20/une-roquette-explose-a-proximite-du-chef-des-observateurs-de-l-onu-pres-de-damas_1704403_3218.html http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria-annan-20120509,0,6654876.story http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18138269 Corea del Norte libera a pescador chino. Para más información: http://behindthewall.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/21/11792486-chinese-fishermen-held-by-north-korea-released-but-questions-linger?lite http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-18141009 La ONU intenta llegar a un acuerdo con Irán sobre desarrollo nuclear. Para más información: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/22/11805208-un-nuclear-chief-deal-reached-with-iran-over-suspected-weapons-program?lite http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18140539 Hackers iraníes se responsabilizan de ataque cibernético a la NASA. Para más información: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47522497/ns/technology_and_science-security/#.T7vvjFK1uw4 Terremoto de 6.1 grados sacude la región de Honshu en Japón. Para más información: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-05/20/content_15340479.htm China expande a nuevas ciudades el impuesto a las propiedades. Para más información: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-05/10/content_15269760.htm "China Daily" analiza: "China y el repunte de sus exportaciones" . Para más información: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/business/2012-05/20/content_15339611.htm Presidente de Sri Lanka libera al General Sarath Fonseka. Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18127712 Según el ministro de finanzas iraní los precios del petróleo seguirán reflejando las sanciones económicas. Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/20/world/meast/iran-nuclear/index.html?hpt=wo_c2 ÁFRICA Histórica caída en la mortalidad infantil en África. Para más información: http://www.economist.com/node/21555571 Egipto vive unas cruciales elecciones presidenciales. Para más información: http://www.economist.com/node/21555607http://diario.elmercurio.com/2012/05/22/internacional/internacional/noticias/CE137D6C-34FD-439F-B9C7-1A6A78B4767E.htm?id={CE137D6C-34FD-439F-B9C7-1A6A78B4767E}http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/22/11810404-egypts-elections-a-struggle-between-secularism-and-political-islam-and-how-it-may-transform-the-middle-east?litehttp://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-egypt-election-campaign-20120521,0,2977866.story Murió el único libio condenado por atentado en Lockerbie. Para más información: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-libya-lockerbie-bomber-20120521,0,4044827.story http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2012/05/20/le-libyen-al-megrahi-condamne-pour-l-attentat-de-lockerbie-est-mort_1704367_3212.htmlhttp://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/20/world/africa/obit-lockerbie-bomber/index.html?hpt=hp_t1 Nigeria entre la inflación y la escasez de alimentos. Para más información: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-05/16/content_15310965.htm Líder de Malí hospitalizado tras que protestantes atacaran palacio presidencial. Para más información: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/21/11796109-mali-leader-in-hospital-after-protesters-attack-presidential-palace?lite Sudan libera a cuatro extranjeros capturados en zona de disputa. Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18137033 OTRAS Líderes del G8 se comprometen con crecimiento y una eurozona unida. Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/19/world/obama-g8-nato/index.html?hpt=wo_c2http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2012-05/20/content_15338533.htmhttp://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/estados-unidos/lderes-del-g8-se-comprometen-con-crecimiento-y-una-eurozona-unida_11835102-4 http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-g8-economy-20120520,0,817522.story"The Economist" presenta su informe semanal: "Business this week".Para más información: http://www.economist.com/node/21555625

AMÉRICA LATINA Ortega es electo por tercera vez como presidente de Nicaragua.Para más información: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45136266/ns/world_news/#.TrpQhHKwA90 http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/internacional/75079.html http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-guatemala-nicaragua-elections-20111107,0,2266003.story http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/latinoamerica/ojal-ortega-asuma-otra-actitud-frente-a-nuestro-pas_10718645 http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/07/actualidad/1320696526_815889.htmlhttp://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/07/world/americas/nicaragua-elections/index.htmlOposición denuncia fraude en elecciones presidenciales en Nicaragua.Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/latinoamerica/elecciones-presidenciales-en-nicaragua-daniel-ortega_10716504-4El militar retirado Otto Pérez Molina llega a la presidencia de Guatemala.Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/07/world/americas/guatemala-elections/index.html http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/06/actualidad/1320606679_168640.htmlhttp://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/06/world/americas/guatemala-elections/index.html http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/latinoamerica/presidente-guatemala-otto-prez_10718084-4"The Economist" analiza las elecciones presidenciales en Nicaragua y Guatemala.Para más información: http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2011/11/presidential-elections-nicaragua-and-guatemalaFuerte sismo de 5,8 grados sacude el Pacífico de Nicaragua.Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/latinoamerica/sismo-de-58-grados-sacude-a-nicaragua_10720764-4 Desplazamientos de tierras en Colombia dejan al menos 38 muertos.Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/07/world/americas/colombia-landslide/index.html?hpt=wo_bn8 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45194110/ns/weather/#.TrpQfXKwA90Funes acepta la dimisión del ministro de Seguridad de El Salvador.Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/08/actualidad/1320781556_793854.htmlEjército colombiano mató a Alfonso Cano, ex líder de las FARC.Para más información: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45172967/ns/world_news-americas/#.TrpQh3KwA90 http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/05/actualidad/1320503011_623990.htmlhttp://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-colombia-farc-20111106,0,1321152.storyLa UNESCO tiene en la mira propuestas de México, Colombia y Perú.Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/latinoamerica/mxico-colombia-y-per-cerca-de-convertirse-en-patrimonio-inmaterial_10724246-4Asesinados cuarto cibernautas por denunciar narcotraficantes en México.Para más información: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-mexico-soldiers-shooting-20111105,0,7865498.story http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/latinoamerica/narcos-en-mexico-homicidio-de-cibernauta_10732724-4 Nuevo titular asume el Ministerio de Defensa cubano.Para más información: http://diario.elmercurio.com/2011/11/09/internacional/internacional/noticias/938CA9EB-662F-44F3-9C6B-1EF1E108A84D.htm?id={938CA9EB-662F-44F3-9C6B-1EF1E108A84D}Nueva etapa en la relación diplomática entre Bolivia y Estados Unidos.Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/08/world/americas/us-bolivia-relations/index.htmlHumala invita a dimitir a su vicepresidente investigado por corrupción.Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/07/actualidad/1320674493_073853.htmlhttp://diario.elmercurio.com/2011/11/09/internacional/_portada/noticias/3E642E52-F806-40FD-8453-7C1C2CD8DC3E.htm?id={3E642E52-F806-40FD-8453-7C1C2CD8DC3E}El presidente venezolano, Hugo Chávez, elogia al 'Chacal'.Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/latinoamerica/el-presidente-venezolano-hugo-chvez-elogia-al-chacal_10728644-4Víctimas de cólera en Haití demandarán compensaciones a la ONU.Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/08/world/americas/haiti-cholera-lawsuit/index.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15648110Haitianos temen creciente influencia de duvalieristas. Para más información: http://diario.elmercurio.com/2011/11/09/internacional/internacional/noticias/C622DDC9-5392-49DC-B8AD-B6B447D41380.htm?id={C622DDC9-5392-49DC-B8AD-B6B447D41380}China devora las materias primas de Latinoamérica.Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/10/17/actualidad/1318844584_652292.htmlOtro ministro brasileño es acusado de corrupción.Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/08/world/americas/brazil-corruption allegations/index.html?hpt=wo_bn8 http://www.economist.com/node/21536570Son utilizados satélites para proteger la Amazonia.Para más información: http://diario.elmercurio.com/2011/11/09/internacional/internacional/noticias/325AD834-443E-4E54-80CD-C1D885ED1E5E.htm?id={325AD834-443E-4E54-80CD-C1D885ED1E5E}México captura a figura clave del narcotráfico en Tijuana.Para más información: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45192297/ns/world_news-americas/#.TrpQinKwA90Hackearon sitios gubernamentales de El Salvador.Para más información: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45214010/ns/technology_and_science-security/#.TrpQd3KwA90 ESTADOS UNIDOS / CANADÁEstados Unidos impondría nuevas sanciones contra Irán.Para más información: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/us/white-house-quiet-on-report-about-irans-nuclear-efforts.html?ref=world&gwh=5406F951F5F281F30CBA7B2A7D729D45 http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/medio-oriente/estados-unidos-se-plantea-la-imposicin-de-nuevas-sanciones-contra-irn_10728556-4 http://www.lemonde.fr/ameriques/article/2011/11/09/quand-l-armee-americaine-maltraite-ses-soldats-tombes-au-combat_1600846_3222.htmlEstados Unidos tiene cinco comandos antidroga operativos en Latinoamérica.Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/08/actualidad/1320728173_644511.htmlLos casos de acoso sexual ponen en peligro la campaña del republicano Cain.Para más información: http://www.economist.com/node/21536610 http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/08/actualidad/1320707818_975816.htmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15641636Terremoto en Oklahoma causa daños en carreteras y viviendas estadounidenses.Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/estados-unidos/terremoto-en-oklahoma-causa-daos-en-carreteras_10715125-4Estados Unidos se plantea un rápido traspaso de la soberanía en Afganistán.Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/04/actualidad/1320418493_554854.html Estados Unidos: crecen las iniciativas para criminalizar el aborto.Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15642138 http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1421660-eeuu-crecen-las-iniciativas-para-criminalizar-el-aborto#comentar http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/estados-unidos/los-ciudadanos-de-misisipi-rechazan-la-criminalizacin-del-aborto_10729804-4Clinton le da su receta a Obama para que Estados Unidos salga de la crisis. Para más información: http://diario.elmercurio.com/2011/11/09/internacional/_portada/noticias/9B70CF51-1ABD-4B52-AAFB-5B7D4FB77503.htm?id={9B70CF51-1ABD-4B52-AAFB-5B7D4FB77503}El fiscal de Estados Unidos califica de fracaso una operación de tráfico de armas a México.Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/08/actualidad/1320778074_167649.htmlhttp://diario.elmercurio.com/2011/11/09/internacional/internacional/noticias/84C00F78-B039-4ECA-9E7F-BDD46BC4A6DD.htm?id={84C00F78-B039-4ECA-9E7F-BDD46BC4A6DD}Estados Unidos destituye a un general por criticar al Gobierno de Karzai. Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/05/actualidad/1320485534_345966.htmlEUROPABerlusconi dimitirá cuando Congreso apruebe ajuste económico.Para más información: http://www.economist.com/blogs/newsbook/2011/11/silvio-berlusconi http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15650842 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45203707/ns/world_news-europe/#.TrpQYnKwA90 http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/807415.html http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/berlusconi-dimitira-cuando-congreso-apruebe-ajuste-economico_10722045-4 http://diario.elmercurio.com/2011/11/09/internacional/_portada/noticias/B44FD86D-0452-47BE-A94E-A837F2640C4F.htm?id={B44FD86D-0452-47BE-A94E-A837F2640C4F} http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/09/actualidad/1320825633_539885.htmlhttp://www.lanacion.com.ar/1421664-berlusconi-me-han-traicionado-los-que-durante-toda-una-vida-he-llevado-en-mi-corazon#comentar http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-11/09/content_14060401.htm http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2011/11/08/le-gouvernement-berlusconi-en-jeu-les-marches-pesent-sur-la-dette-italienne_1600309_3214.htmlLas bolsas sufren fuertes caídas por Italia y la deuda.Para más información: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/world/europe/support-for-berlusconi-ebbs-before-crucial-vote.html?ref=world http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1421669-las-bolsas-europeas-sufren-fuertes-caidas-por-italia-y-la-deuda#comentarGrecia tendrá un nuevo gobierno y seguirá en la zona Euro.Para más información: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-11/09/content_14066950.htm http://www.lemonde.fr/europe/article/2011/11/08/grece-papandreou-demande-la-demission-de-ses-ministres_1600663_3214.html http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/08/world/europe/greece-main/index.html?hpt=wo_c2 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/world/europe/in-turmoil-greece-and-italy-deepen-euro-crisis.html?ref=world&gwh=175EB73A0389F6DE34A3D6B9D9171FD7 http://diario.elmercurio.com/2011/11/09/internacional/internacional/noticias/CC0FF9E6-A01D-43BC-B4BB-55F2F0A0AF8C.htm?id={CC0FF9E6-A01D-43BC-B4BB-55F2F0A0AF8C} http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-greece-talks-20111107,0,6522649.story http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/08/actualidad/1320762261_709044.htmlhttp://www.lanacion.com.ar/1421711-grecia-tendra-un-nuevo-gobierno-y-seguira-en-la-zona-euro#comentar http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-greece-referendum-20111104,0,2245598.storyMasiva marcha estudiantil en Londres.Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-15646709 http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1421680-masiva-marcha-estudiantil-en-londres#comentar http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45211711/ns/world_news-europe/#.TrpQXnKwA90El nacionalismo avanza en Rusia.Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/04/actualidad/1320432867_413034.htmlInauguran el nuevo gasoducto que une a Rusia con Europa.Para más información: http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1421643-inaguran-el-nuevo-gasoducto-que-une-a-rusia-con-europa#comentar http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/08/actualidad/1320737968_046710.htmlDecepción con políticos impulsa a la ultraderecha europea en Internet.Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/ultraderecha-europea-en-internet_10719524-4El acusado de ataque terrorista, 'El Chacal', irá a juicio en Francia.Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/el-chacal-elogia-a-chavez_10730325-4 http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-france-jackal-trial-20111108,0,2772050.story http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/07/world/europe/france-carlos-jackal-trial/index.html?hpt=wo_bn9Medvédev busca el apoyo de la iglesia ortodoxa rusa.Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/06/actualidad/1320617795_508143.htmlCrece oleada de crímenes en las principales ciudades europeas.Para más información: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-11/09/content_14060492.htmETA dice que el cese es definitivo; filósofo español analiza veracidad.Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/europa/eta-deja-las-armas_10729225-4ASIA- PACÍFICO/ MEDIO ORIENTEEl balance de la represión en Siria supera los 3.500 muertos desde el pasado marzo.Para más información: http://www.economist.com/blogs/newsbook/2011/11/syrias-uprising http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15635867 http://diario.elmercurio.com/2011/11/09/internacional/internacional/noticias/22116B1C-CCF8-4C85-A8B6-49A08F3F30C4.htm?id={22116B1C-CCF8-4C85-A8B6-49A08F3F30C4} http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/08/actualidad/1320752638_459858.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/world/middleeast/syria-lays-siege-to-a-city-homs-that-puts-up-a-fight.html?ref=world&gwh=48549C4CB10D521AAD3981DC99E0791A http://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/article/2011/11/08/selon-les-etats-unis-la-syrie-commence-a-ressentir-les-effets-des-sanction_1600272_3218.html http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-syria-un-toll-20111109,0,7411419.storyONU afirma que Irán puede estar desarrollando armas nucleares.Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/07/world/meast/iran-iaea-report/index.html?hpt=wo_bn11 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/world/middleeast/irans-defense-of-nuclear-program-may-be-complicated-by-report.html?ref=world&gwh=9DCBAA603073BA7F5BFBB79625504B1F http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/07/actualidad/1320694291_231272.htmlhttp://www.lemonde.fr/proche-orient/article/2011/11/08/l-evolution-du-programme-nucleaire-iranien-depuis-1953_1600671_3218.html http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/medio-oriente/irn-puede-estar-desarrollando-armas-nucleares_10726506-4 http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/08/world/meast/iran-nuclear/index.html?hpt=wo_c2 http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iran-nuclear-report-20111108,0,7655106.story http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/internacional/75078.htmlIrán descarta cambios en su plan nuclear.Para más información: http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1421665-iran-amenaza-con-destruir-a-israel-y-descarta-hacer-cambios-a-su-plan-nuclear#comentar http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/medio-oriente/plan-nuclear-de-iran_10729924-4 http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/09/actualidad/1320827355_200562.htmlhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15643460Preocupación por significativo avance del programa nuclear iraní.Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/medio-oriente/preocupacin-por-programa-nuclear-iran_10722004-4 http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/08/actualidad/1320778399_374159.htmlIndia: al menos 16 muertos en estampida durante fiesta religiosa.Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/asia/india-al-menos-16-muertos-en-estampida-durante-fiesta-religiosa_10724806-4 http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/807104.html http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-11/08/content_14060209.htm http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/08/world/asia/india-stampede/index.html?hpt=wo_c2Más de 60 talibanes abatidos por la OTAN y tropas afganas.Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/medio-oriente/talibanes-y-ataques-de-la-otan_10730027-4 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45219238/ns/world_news-south_and_central_asia/#.TrpQWnKwA90Corea del Sur aprueba plan de ayuda médica a su vecina del Norte.Para más información: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/world/asia/south-korea-approves-sending-medical-aid-to-north.html?ref=world&gwh=9F97DE3D00FDFB5841A851CD98B1BCB9Bomba explota en el exterior de una mezquita en Afganistán dejando 7 muertos.Para más información: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-afghanistan-bombing-20111107,0,2459362.story http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/08/world/asia/afghanistan-violence/index.html?hpt=wo_bn7 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/world/asia/roadside-bomb-kills--in-western-afghanistan.html?ref=world&gwh=B0A9271B74F555F589292B51640A1C0DNepal integra 6,500 ex rebeldes maoístas a su ejército.Para más información: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-nepal-maoists-deal-20111103,0,3578041.storyDenuncian el asesinato de desertor norcoreano en la frontera con China.Para más información: http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/asia/denuncian-el-asesinato-de-desertor-norcoreano-en-la-frontera-con-china_10718466-4Beijing lucha contra su contaminación ambiental.Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-15649829Las inundaciones en Tailandia dejaron como resultado 529 muertos.Para más información: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-11/09/content_14065334.htmBomba explota en mercado en Bagdad dejando 8 muertos.Para más información: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45181415/ns/world_news-mideast_n_africa/#.TrpQr3KwA90Terremoto amenaza la región japonesa de Okinawa.Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/07/world/asia/japan-offshore-earthquake/index.html?hpt=wo_bn7Miles de seguidores donan dinero en apoyo a disidente chino Ai Weiwei.Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/08/world/asia/ai-weiwei-tax-donations/index.html?hpt=wo_c2http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/07/actualidad/1320662348_309424.htmlEl Pentágono teme un resurgimiento de Al Qaeda en Irak.Para más información: http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/06/actualidad/1320617076_434111.htmlAFRICAAtaques con explosivos dejan unos 150 muertos en Nigeria.Para más información: http://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2011/11/attacks-nigiera http://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/africa/ataques-dejan-63-muertos-en-nigeria_10711204-4 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45163412/ns/world_news-africa/#.TrpQdXKwA90Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf favorita para ganar las elecciones en Liberia.Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/08/world/africa/liberia-election/index.html?hpt=wo_bn10 http://internacional.elpais.com/internacional/2011/11/08/actualidad/1320770240_066908.htmlhttp://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2011/11/08/les-liberiens-appeles-aux-urnes-pour-elire-leur-president_1600266_3212.html http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45190391/ns/world_news-africa/#.TrpQb3KwA90 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15633697 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/world/africa/liberia-tense-as-presidential-runoff-vote-starts.html?ref=world&gwh=64205D9C672942ADEB702AA291B0F8C4Musulmanes celebran la festividad Eid al-Adha.Para más información: http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-11/08/content_14054706.htmCrece la tensión entre Kenia y SomaliaPara más información: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-kenya-somalia-refugees-20111105,0,2584657.story http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2011-11/08/content_14054695.htmProducción de aceite aumento considerablemente desde la independencia de Sudán del Sur.Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15652524Funcionario de la ONU es muerto en ataque en Darfur.Para más información: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/07/world/africa/sudan-peacekeepers-killed/index.html?hpt=wo_bn10OTRAS NOTICIASFMI amenaza con una "década perdida" en la economía global. Para más información: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15649985 http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1421672-advierten-que-la-economia-mundial-esta-en-una-fase-peligrosa-e-incierta#comentar"El Universal" presenta su portal dedicado al cambio climático.Para más información: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/coberturas/cobertura3.html"The Economist" presenta su informe semanal: "Business this week".Para más información: http://www.economist.com/node/21533461

One of the peculiarities of the Vietnamese land system is the existence of a 'zero state' withregard to land institutions: all the country's existing land institutions were put in place in the last25 to 30 years. However, this does not mean that there is no history of such bodies; indeed, thosethat are now emerging carry the traces of each past period. The many local customary institutionsreflect the principles underpinning previous systems regulating the social and spatial distributionof resources, and elements of the French land tenure system can be seen in the decision to registerland ownership certificates rather than follow the more Anglo Saxon system of using the titlesthemselves as proof of ownership. Nevertheless, there is a clear synchronic dimension to theprocess of putting land institutions in place, which is reflected in the role it has played in theprofound transformation of the Vietnamese State and society.In the first stage of this process, between 1979 and 1993, one of the primary concerns in designingland institutions was to respond to the high expectations of a deeply rural society without makingland an autonomous domain. This period saw the progressive dissolution of the cooperativesthrough the withdrawal of their land prerogatives. Moving in incremental stages, the State firstrecognised individuals and households as potential land users (with Decree 100, Decree 10 andthe Land Law of 1989), although land use rights were still limited and defined within cooperativesthrough temporary contracts between the cooperatives, which still held delegated managementrights, and these new users. This stage ended with the Land Law of 1993 which, while not openlychallenging the cooperatives, paved the way for their disappearance by recognising thatindividuals and households had fundamental derived management rights in addition to the right touse agricultural lands (rights to exchange, assign, rent, bequeath and mortgage land) for relativelylong fixed periods. This gave them significant control over land while dispossessing thecooperatives of any real land management capacities. Since these rights are associated with userights, it was not the land that could be transferred or mortgaged, but the right to use it and enjoyits produce. However, the very existence of these rights and their fairly long-term allocation tohouseholds meant that a land market could develop, and that land tenure seemed to function onthe basis of private ownership, even if it was not characterised as such.The second stage was a transition facilitating the 'smooth' passage from a land tenure systemdesigned to meet the needs of the rural population to one that could support the drive to makeVietnam a modern industrial and urban country. This stage roughly corresponded to the decadeseparating the land laws of 1993 and 2003. In this period, the State did little to the rights assignedto individuals and households and hardly changed agricultural land tenure. It did, however,endeavour to put in place the land administration, for which it created an independent organ at theministerial level in 1994, the General Department of Land Administration (GDLA). For the firsttime, this brought together its decision-making, operational and technical dimensions (the formerGeneral department of land management created in 1979, and the former National department ofsurveys and cartography), demonstrating the government's willingness to make this anautonomous domain that carried some weight. The State also progressively regulated modes ofaccess to urban, industrial and commercial lands and increased the rights assigned to privateenterprise, thus paving the way for the changes in the next period (albeit rather haphazardly bygenerating a growing number of texts).The third stage started with a reform of the land administration in 2002 and the publication of anew Land Law in 2003. Land was now becoming a tool to develop the territory forindustrialisation and urbanisation. This was made clear by the law of 2003, which incorporatedregulations from the previous period and barely touched on rural affairs. Little was done tomodify access to agricultural and forest lands, which had been regulated in 1993, or provide moreflexible access for rural households. But the other categories of land and land users – some ofwhom appeared in legislation for the first time – occupied a growing and even dominant place inthe law. Thus, the new legislation was full of arrangements to facilitate industrial and commercialinvestments by private and foreign enterprises, and allowed for the development of markets forland and land use rights. It also specified procedures for cataloguing and planning land use. Whileland use planning remained a top-down procedure steered by the Land Office at different levels,the legislation made the planning process much more flexible by extending the provinces'prerogatives and enabling the infra-provincial administrative authorities to change the status oflands.Since 2002, land issues have both multiplied and intensified on several levels. The partial andpoorly managed decentralisation of land management increased the shortcomings and tensionsbetween the central and provincial levels. On the one hand, the Land Office, which had beensubstantially modernised and was responsible for planning at every level, had never had as muchpotential power. This certainly rattled the central government and probably prompted its demotionin 2002 from a ministry to part of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE).On the other hand, the provinces have used even greater rifts within the administrative system tolessen the constraints of centralised planning and work very broadly with the legislation in orderto respond to local expectations, and especially those of private interests. The increasingprivatisation of land has been another point of tension. Since the Constitution of 1959, the Statehas owned all land in the name of the entire population, and while individual land rights haveconstantly been extended, individuals are assigned rights of use and management. However, thegrowing number of recognised users, more flexible conditions of access to land and theprogressive extension of rights associated with use rights have allowed private national andforeign enterprises to become dominant land actors – hence the spectacular growth in the numberand size of landholdings reserved for industrial, commercial, real-estate and leisure projects,especially in peri-urban areas.The creation of 'land fund development organisations' in 2004 is symptomatic of the problemsposed by redefing the role of the provinces and private investors. Modes of expropriation are arecurrent problem with investments, and especially compensation for those whose use rights havebeen expropriated. This issue was only settled recently, and has been treated on a case-by-casebasis by the provinces or the Land Office. The Law of 2003 still presents the State as the principalactor in land distribution insofar as it is the authority that requisitions land in order to immediatelyreallocate it to investors. However, the State has disengaged from transactions since 2004,creating a new, State-mandated body to intervene when lands are repossessed: 'land funddevelopment organisations' whose task is to simplify procedures for investors by offering them asingle interface, managing the funds from land recovered by the State in accordance withdecisions by the competent bodies, and preparing these lands for reallocation to investors.However, the exact status of these organisations, which are not commercial but also not totallypublic, is somewhat unclear. They are not financially autonomous, they are not mandatory, andtheir form and level of competence fluctuates as they can operate at the district or the provinciallevel. This lack of clarity, which results in the creation of bodies whose nature varies fromprovince to province, suggests that the State is trying to divest itself of the highly sensitiveproblem of expropriations at the expense of their beneficiaries, rather than seeking to resolve it inthe long term.What is the explanation for this disengagement, given that the problems created by the way thatland is expropriated for investment projects are some of the thorniest and most intractable for theauthorities in Hanoi? One reason is probably the increasing complexity of land management, andthe human and financial resources that can be devolved to the administration to carry out the tasksit habeen assigned. These are very substantial needs, especially at the lowest echelons(communes, districts) where staff usually have little or no training. But the State's disengagementcannot be entirely ascribed to these technical and financial challenges; it is also a manifestation ofthe difficulties of addressing two very different priorities: leading Vietnam towards modernity bytransforming it into an industrial and urban country, and organising a fragile and numericallysuperior rural population with a long habit of socialist values. One of the factors currentlyexecerbating the question of expropriation is the fact that agricultural and forested lands havebeen kept in a relatively isolated state of suspension for the last 15 years. One would assume thatthe State has a duty to protect these lands (and their users), but it is actually making them morevulnerable to the dynamics of urban and/or non-agricultural land use (industrial and commercial,leisure, etc.).Agricultural land has been subject to various changes since 1993, but access to such land is stillhighly regulated. Maintaining a ceiling on the amount of land and duration of the rights allocatedlimits the process of land accumulation and ensures that the rural population has egalitarian accessto land. By the same token, households that have been allocated rights to agricultural land by theState do not have to pay tax on this land, whose value is set according to the value of itsagricultural produce rather than the price of adjacent lands (market price). Although this shouldmean that such land remains accessible even to poor rural households, this specific status, andespecially that of highly protected rice-producing land, works against rural households bytrapping them in small, low-value farms and weakening their position when private and/or nonagriculturalinterests come into play. It seems that rather than being protected, agriculturalhouseholds – along with agriculture itself – are being sacrificed to industrialisation andurbanisation.However, things are not as simple as the last few lines suggest. On the one hand, ruralhouseholds' situations vary greatly from region to region, and there are cases where they may beprotected by modes of access to agricultural and forested land, especially the most vulnerablehouseholds. Recent events, and the global food crisis in particular, have reminded Vietnam thatthere is still a role for agriculture and rural producers, and once again put the question of ruralland under the spotlight. In response to this crisis (and soaring rice prices), the governmentdecided to freeze more than one million hectares of rice fields and launch a campaign reaffirmingthe value of rural areas in relation to urban areas (the 'three nong'). It is too early to know whetherthe return to 'rural values' in 2008 will have a lasting impact on agricultural land, and exactlywhat this impact will be. But the decisions that have been taken show that agricultural land stillconstitutes a lever that the government will not hesitate to use when the need arises. For certainnational officials, agricultural land remains a strong symbol of socialism, and its regulation acrucial element of social peace in what is still a largely rural society with close attachments to theland. Agricultural land is also an issue that raises questions about the State's role in the movetowards 'market socialism', and the legitimacy of the Communist Party. While the State'sindecision (or approximations) with regard to land matters could be interpreted as evidence of acertain pragmatism and determination to work with the legacy of the socialist period, recentdevelopments in this domain are testing the very foundations of the Communist Party'slegitimacy, and it could try to deflect this threat by getting the government to maintain the specificstatus of rural land. So is Vietnam heading towards a two-tier system where some land – the vastblock of agricultural and forest lands allocated free of charge – continues to be managed bycentral government in the nation's interest, while other agricultural land can be mobilised atleisure and managed under a liberal regime in order to support the country's economicdevelopment?In order to answer this question we needed to turn to the land actors and seek their opinions. Themajority of foreign actors (who were historically excluded from this sensitive strategic domainand whose involvement is therefore relatively recent) view the reform as incomplete and thus amajor cause of corruption. They are pushing to divest the law of these 'socialist archaisms' andmake it even more liberal. As recently as March 2008 the World Bank, which some see as theglobal symbol of liberalism, and which had until then deliberately avoided land matters, signed upto the highly ambitious Land Administration Project, making it the lead foreign actor in thisdomain and giving a strong indication of the direction in which land affairs are heading. However,the positions expressed by various national land actors are much less clear. On the one hand,officials in the land administration in particular take a fairly technical approach to land: their mainconcern is the effectiveness of the administration and legislation, and making land an autonomousdomain. Officials working directly with foreign experts tend to take a 'top-down' approach,looking at the development of the whole country and seeing the constraints associated with theprocesses of urbanisation, industrialisation and increasing openness. On the other hand, some ofthe actors we spoke to from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) see landas something that cannot be detached from local and sectoral contexts. Therefore, they believethat agricultural land should respond to the needs of agriculture and rural populations, while forestland should primarily respond to environmental protection objectives. At the moment the firstgroup of actors is much more influential because of their strategic position within the landadministration and support from international cooperation; however, in the current economicclimate the question of agriculture and rural areas and populations has re-emerged as a priorityand is slowing the pace of liberalisation.So far there is no indication that agricultural land will be able to take account of the specificitiesand great diversity of rural areas, whether or not it is prioritised, planned or liberalised.Agricultural land tenure is controlled by the State, and characterised more by the numerousconstraints that it imposes (categories, temporal and spatial limits, etc.) than its capacity to adaptto the problems facing the country's rural populations, agricultural practices and environment.Liberalising agricultural land tenure would bring it closer to a system of individual ownership,which would make land legislation more onerous in many settings where local rights of access toresources are not managed in this way. The Land Law of 2003 introduced several innovations thatare helpful in this respect, mainly by creating a new category of users, 'residential communities',which allows groups to collectively hold use rights to unlimited amounts of agricultural and forestland that they are allocated free of charge for unlimited periods. However, this new measure isitself very restrictive in terms of what constitutes a 'community', the procedures it entails and theframework it imposes on collective management. So what place do customary land tenure systemshave in the emerging land system? Vietnamese land institutions seem to have made little or noattempt to plan for this; and the main reason why there are still such diverse local situationsappears to be the government's hesitant approach to agricultural land tenure. The co-existence ofactors with divergent positions on this question and on the role of the State, and the relativeabandonment of the rural world (especially remote rural areas) because it is not consideredimportant as long it doesn't challenge the objectives of urbanisation and industrialisation have lefta gap where customary systems can continue to function. The recent resurgence of interest in thisdomain could revive the debate about systems that are considered incompatible with theestablishment of a modern State, either because of agricultural practices such as slash-and-burn orthe functioning of longstanding local power systems, but customary systems will continue tosurvive as long as efforts to develop intensive, industrial-type agriculture are not sustainedeffectively across the country.

From the introduction: Global changes of the worldwide economy and free markets offer many business opportunities and advantages for multinational corporations (MNC), but also a lot of social challenges and ecological threats. In the last decades many scandals hit various industries for different casualities, for instance the oil industry for several oil spills, the mining industry for colaboration with corrupt governments and exposing workers to unsafe labor conditions, the clothing industry for exploiting employees or using child labor in sweatshops, the toy industry and other industries for importing tainted and unsecure products from China. As corporations have reaped the benefits of globalization and international trade, they are now, more than ever, demanded to take responsibility for the consequences resulting from their business activities. Due to the risk of a damaged reputation, loosing consumers and hence decreasing profits and as a result of public criticism, more and more corporations are pushed to change their business strategy in a way that fosters sustainable development. As the business world becomes smaller and more transparent, an increasing number of corporations are embracing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to demonstrate their stewardship. CSR is a concept that demands corporations to adress the economic, social and environmental impacts of their global operations while generating profits. The idea of CSR has become a concept that is growing in its importance and it is not only endorsed by corporations and organizations but also by individual consumer and governments. Henry Ford quoted once 'If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things form that person's angle as well as from your own.' This statement shows that companies striving to be economically successful are also demanded to consider the interests of all its multiple stakeholders. As corporations are gaining an increasing power and have an enourmous impact on the society in industrialized and developing countries, they are expected to respond to the societal demands and ecological concerns of all those who are affected by a company's business practices. The aim of this paper is to give a detailed overview of CSR with all its components and its implementation process into the overall business strategy. It analyzes the role corporations play or should play in fostering sustainable development and improve the welfare of the community where they operate. In the latter case, the focus will be on how CSR activities can be linked to international development and how they help to address the biggest challenge of the 21st century – to eradicate poverty. Chapter 2 describes the relation between corporations with its stakeholder versus its shareholders. Shareholders are at the same time stakeholders who have a stake in a company, but they have different interests in a corporation. This could lead to potential conflicts between short-term shareholders' expectations and long-term stakeholders' interests. An appropriate Corporate Governance (CG) practice is necessary to address these conflicts and to conciliate the interests of corporations' key stakeholders. CSR is seen as a corporation's obligation to respond to all stakeholders' expectations - not just to those of shareholders. To give a more detailed understanding of CSR, Chapter 3 outlines the historical evolution of corporate ethics and shows recent global economic trends that led to the fact that CSR has become so important in the 21st century. Furthermore, this chapter represents the main issues of CSR and the incorporation of this concept into the strategic management process. It highlights the importance of CSR communication and an effective Public Relation (PR) strategy for creating awareness about a company's CSR activities. Additionally, the different types of CSR programs – also known as Corporate Social Initiatives – are elaborated that help to support and create public awareness about social causes. Chapter 4 and 5 link CSR with international development and question corporations' role in fostering development. Chapter 4 focuses on the impact corporations have on the poor in developing countries and examines how CSR can help to create wealth and hence reduce global poverty. It further shows how corporations can address development challenges collectively by engaging in Public-Private Partnerships (PPP). It still exist a huge gap between CSR activities in industrialized and developing countries, which implies an additional challenge on promoting CSR standards on a national and international level. As the concept of CSR is often questioned by critics and free marketeers, the last chapter elaborates on the case against CSR and hightlights the different critic points that arise when companies claim to be socially responsible. These criticism has to be addressed in order to handle threats and opportunities in markets of great importance to organizations as well as in areas where problems occur.Inhaltsverzeichnis:Table of Contents: Table of ContentsI Table of IllustrationsII List of AbbreviationsIII 1.Introduction1 2.Shareholder Value vs. Stakeholder Value3 3.Corporate Social Responsibility6 3.1The Evolution of CSR6 3.2Trends in the Global Economy12 3.3Main Issues of CSR17 3.3.1Corporate Governance17 3.3.2Stakeholder Management18 3.3.3Competitive Advantage22 3.3.4Marketplace26 3.3.5Workplace28 3.3.6Environment34 3.4The Strategy Context of CSR39 3.4.1CSR Implementation Process39 3.4.2CSR as a Public Relations Strategy48 3.4.3Corporate Social Initiatives51 4.The Importance of CSR for International Development65 4.1CSR - A useful concept for poverty reduction?66 4.1.1The Supply Side67 4.1.2The Demand Side70 4.1.3The Government Side72 4.2The importance of PPP74 5.Critiques of CSR79 6.Conclusion86 AppendicesIV Appendix 1: Different ChartsIV Appendix 2: International Organizations promoting CSRX Appendix 3: International CSR Instruments and InitiativesXIII Appendix 4: International CSR StandardsXV Appendix 5: International CSR Rating InstitutionsXVII ReferencesXVIIITextprobe:Text Sample: Chapter 4.1, CSR – A useful concept for poverty reduction? Almost half of the world's population (2,7 billion people) lives on less than US2$ a day and another 1,2 billion people have not even US$1 a day to survive. Eleven million children under the age of five die every year from malnutrition and preventable diseases. Everyday over 6,000 people die from and another 8,200 people are infected with HIV/AIDS. Every minute a woman in the world dies in pregnancy or childbirth. Every 3,6 seconds a person somewhere dies of starvation and the lack of access to clean water. It is against these facts and due to the failure of governments and their international arms to address questions of underdevelopment that the corporate sector with its economic power is increasingly demanded to cope with key global challenges of the 21st century. Axel Hesse, a consultant for Sustainable Development Management, ascertained in his dissertation the 'six most important global challenges for sustainable development' are: climate change, water shortage and pollution, deforestation and desertification, biodiversity loss, population growth and migration – all which have an huge impact on poverty in the world. Altough poverty alleviation is not an explicit component of CSR, this section analyses to what extent multinational corporations are able to reduce global poverty with CSR programs. Here the focus will be on multinational corporations who have a wholly owned subsidiary, a joint venture or a major supplier in developing countries. Hence, not the private sector as such will be examinated but rather multinational corporations and the impacts of their FDIs on poverty in the developing world. A direct relationship between FDIs and poverty allevation cannot be established as FDIs in host countries create economic growth which in turn is recognized as a powerful force to fight global poverty. However, MNCs foreign direct investment in developing countries depends on prevailing conditions in the host country in terms of stability, tax regulations, corruption, infrastructure and local foreign policies, laws and regulations. Even if corporations decide to make their investments in developing countries, the location of investment is a crucial factor for development since investments are often made in wealthier regions of host countries. The opportunities for and impacts on poor countries resulting from investments by MNCs and the incorporation of CSR in all their worldwide operations are analyzed in the following from the supply side (poor as producer) and the demand side (poor as consumers) as well as the government side of host countries. The Supply Side: Considering the poor as producer, MNCs can contribute to poverty alleviation by having both a direct effect on the poor through supplying jobs and income opportunities in their foreign affiliates and an indirect effect through creating a linkage to local firms and suppliers. First of all, an association will be drawn between MNCs and their direct impacts on poor communities. In the later case, it will be elaborated on the indirect impact MNCs have on the private sector in developing countries. Even if the total number of people employed in foreign affiliates of MNCs has increased three times, from more than 25 million in 1990 to 73 million workers in 2006, these numbers account only for a small proportion of the total number of poor people living on less than US$2 or US$1 a day. The problem with this is, furthermore, that mainly skilled workers are in these employments which means that the poor do not benefit from FDIs to such an extent. So, in which way can CSR contribute to address poverty considering that just some of the poor work directly for MNCs? MNCs can help to tackle poverty and development issues through carrying out core business activities in a proactive and responsible way which decreases negative impacts of business activities and increases its positive impacts. This can be done by generating income through creating jobs, developing capabilities of human resources, building local business linkages and other economic multipliers that are directed to poor communities in host countries. Other CSR strategies which companies can apply in their core business activities and which address poverty issues include the compliance with international norms, standards, codes of conduct and principles throughout the value chain. These principles include amongst others to treat employees fairly, to cover minimum marketplace standards if government laws are not available, to take actions that do no harm to the environment and to contribute to the welfare of the (poor) community. However, as the poor benefit more from jobs that are created indirectly by suppliers and suppliers of suppliers of MNCs, it is more essential to focus attention on the linkages of MNCs to the private sector of developing countries. The private sector is also the main area of economic growth which provides most job opportunities in developing countries. These are often jobs provided to the poor by small and medium-sized entreprises (SMEs), agricultural smallholders or those in self-employment. MNCs and international agencies have realized the SME potential in developing countries and have begun in their development efforts to contribute to SME development by providing credit and entrepreneurial training as well as by enhancing responsible business practices in supply chains. CSR in the supply chain of MNCs plays an important role for development as suppliers are the main connection between a corporation and the developing world. This is because many corporations outsourced or 'offshored' services and the manufacturing operations, which were usually produced onshore, to suppliers in developing countries. Many designer clothes and branded goods, for example, are basically produced in developing countries. Similarly, basic IT Services, back-office work and call centres were transfered to developing (emerging) countries like India or China. As a great impact of MNCs on the poor takes place through its supply chains, it is more essential to question: how far down the supply chain MNCs should go to ensure responsible business practices in all stages of the product buying process? As supply chains are long and complex, it poses real ethical challenges to corporations to identify abuses of any kind in suppliers' operations. MNCs often demand that their direct suppliers apply the same standards as they do, however, do not go farer down the supply chain. In this new business environment, where corporations and retailers face operational and reputational risks, if exploitative practices are discovered in their supply chains, MNCs have begun to map out their supply chains and to identify countries, suppliers that pose the greatest risk. More and more corporations establish auditing systems and adhere to international standards for their supply chains such as AA1000, SA8000 or FLA. These standards and the ILO core labor standards (ICLS) cover mainly labor issues typically included in corporate codes of conduct. In addition, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Supply Chain Responsibility, an expansion of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises are standards for responsible business practices in the supply chains of MNCs. They are voluntary instruments promoted by governments among MNCs operating in their countries and serve as a tool to hold companies accountable for their global business and supply chain operations. Since these standards are voluntary, many companies still ignore to apply such standards in their supply chains. This was the result of a survey by Integrity-Interactive, a risk consultancy where 2000 big companies where surveyed on their supply chain practices. More than half of the respondents admitted that they are still lacking to apply ethic codes in their supply chains, but 42 % asserted that they are regularly assessing ethical risks in their supply chain. However, it more crucial to ask if not corporate buying practices and their expectations for greater efficiency put pressure on suppliers in the developing world to meet buying requirements which in turn cause exploitation of labor? For example, suppliers are often confronted with issues around flexibility (to respond quickly to costumers' demand) and seasonality (to cover demand for certain seasonal products) on the one hand, and price pressure on the other hand. Are not these factors drivers that lead to coercive and exploitative labor practices where workers have to work excessive overtime hours for minimal wages? The CSR aspect here is to ensure an ethical sourcing or trading by following the subsequent steps. In the first place, it is necessary to review a corporation's own purchasing and pricing practices which have negative effects on suppliers who then in turn cannot meet supply chain labor standards. Key labor standards in the supply chain could be covered by establishing a code of conduct developed by the corporation on its own or by an external organization such as the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI). The ETI is an initiative that sets minimum standards for labor and human rights practices within supply chains. By offering on-going training programs, buyers and employees can be trained on ethical buying practices. At the same time, it is necessary to carry out a risk assessment which identifies suppliers who do not comply with ethical standards. An audit management systems that involves visiting suppliers on side helps to assess suppliers' compliance with the established code of conduct. By drawing up improvement plans, corporations can ideally work together with their suppliers to implement the required standards. Finally, it is important to be transparent and to disclose responsible supply chain practices openly.