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World Affairs

COVID-19 History War

389 Articles

Environment

Victoria Jennings

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15 Apr 2015

Do the Economic Benefits of Fracking Outweigh the Risk of Pollution and Depletion of Natural Resources?

Hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as “fracking,” is a method of extracting natural gas by drilling wells and then shooting liquids at high pressures down the well in order to fracture the shale surrounding natural gas reservoirs. It is currently one of the cheapest and most lucrative methods of extraction, and is sustainable in the sense … Continue reading "Do the Economic Benefits of Fracking Outweigh the Risk of Pollution and Depletion of Natural Resources?"

Politics

Carrie Robinson

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13 Apr 2015

Ethics of the Iranian Nuclear Deal

Recently, the P5+1 powers (China, France, Russia, United Kingdom, United States, plus Germany) have taken interest in reducing the amount of nuclear weaponry in Iran. In light of historically strained relations with post-revoluntionary Iran, the major world powers have reason to be feel threatened by the prospect of a nuclear program in the country. Suspicions were confirmed as a … Continue reading "Ethics of the Iranian Nuclear Deal"

All World Affairs Stories

Banning Beef in India

In the most recent election in India, the Hindu Nationalist Party (BJP) won. In the state of Maharashtra, the new government has banned the possession and sale of beef. Since it is against their religion to consume beef, the government has now forced religious dietary restrictions onto followers of Hinduism and non-Hindus. Violators of the new … Continue reading "Banning Beef in India"

11 Apr 2015

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Gender and the Draft

At the age of 18, all male citizens of the United States are legally required to register for the Selective Service, so that they may be called to serve in the military in the event of a draft. Although there has not been a draft since the Vietnam War, selective service registration resumed in 1980 … Continue reading "Gender and the Draft"

9 Apr 2015

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Frederick Douglass Prize Winner will be the 2015-2016 Schaenen Scholar

The Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics is proud to announce that Christopher Hager will be the 2015-2016 Nancy Schaenen Endowed Visiting Scholar of Ethics. Dr. Hager received his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and his Ph.D. from Northwestern University. Currently he is Associate Professor of English at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where he teaches … Continue reading "Frederick Douglass Prize Winner will be the 2015-2016 Schaenen Scholar"

31 Mar 2015

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Prindle News Hound

Banning "India's Daughter"

The film “India’s Daughter” has stirred up controversy worldwide over the past few days. The film details the brutal gang rape of 23-year-old Jyoti Singh, a medical student, on a bus in Delhi in 2012. Rape and misogyny has been a huge problem in India; misogyny is part of the culture. One journalist gives the … Continue reading "Banning “India’s Daughter”"

13 Mar 2015

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an image of the Pentagon

Lying in the Military

A new study conducted by the U.S. Army War College has found that U.S. Army officers regularly lie, and that the Pentagon is fully aware of that behavior. Former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressed concern about ethical behavior within the military prior to stepping down on Tuesday. This new study has found that the U.S. … Continue reading "Lying in the Military"

19 Feb 2015

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Cannabis and Cancer

An Australian man was arrested and stripped of his parental rights after treating his 2-year-old daughter with cannabis oil. Adam Koessler’s daughter has been diagnosed with stage-4 neuroblastoma, which develops from immature nerve cells. The cannabis oil was used in addition to diet changes, chemotherapy, and nautropathic medicine. Although he says that his daughter’s quality of … Continue reading "Cannabis and Cancer"

20 Jan 2015

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Prindle News Hound

Can You Own Yoga?

Can you own an ancient practice? India has recently appointed a “Minister of Yoga” to the Cabinet, and begun compiling a library that demonstrates how to “properly” do yoga. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants yoga to be recognized as an Indian tradition. While nothing official has been released, the government appears to be moving in … Continue reading "Can You Own Yoga?"

19 Jan 2015

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A photo of the Buchenwald concentration camp today.

Repurposing Buchenwald: Housing Refugees

Should refugees seeking asylum be housed in former concentration camp barracks? Schwerte, Germany, is planning to house 20 asylum seekers in a satellite post at former Buchewald concentration camp. While the barracks were used for guard’s quarters and not as housing for the camp’s slaves, some refugee groups have said that it is in poor … Continue reading "Repurposing Buchenwald: Housing Refugees"

16 Jan 2015

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A photo of an iPhone in a charging dock

What the Government Can See and No More?

If the government can’t see it, should you be allowed to communicate with it? British Prime Minister David Cameron said Monday that if he is reelected, his Parliament will draft a bill that bans messaging applications that encrypt data so that the government cannot view it. Certain messaging applications’ style of encryption makes it difficult … Continue reading "What the Government Can See and No More?"

15 Jan 2015

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A sign for a medical facility in Sierra Leone.

Ebola in the News

Although the American news coverage has dropped off significantly, the death toll in the Ebola epidemic in West Africa continues to rise. It is currently approaching 10,000 victims, and 6/10 of the people currently suffering from the disease will likely die. Over 8,000 people have died and over 20,000 have been infected. The news cycle … Continue reading "Ebola in the News"

9 Jan 2015

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Cover image for Late for School with an illustration of a young white boy running towards the viewer while gripping his backpack strap. Behind him is a giant gorilla's face and hand and a T-Rex skeleton.

Conflict Antiquities: Is there a Future for the Past?

This Guest Scholar post was written by Rebecca Schindler, professor of Classical Studies at DePauw University. Seven thousand years of history in the Middle East is on the brink of being wiped out. The on-going civil war in Syria and the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) have placed the region’s … Continue reading "Conflict Antiquities: Is there a Future for the Past?"

8 Jan 2015

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Illustrated book cover for Sora and the Cloud featuring a little boy standing on a smiling cloud in the sky. The boy's clothing, hair, and the orange balloon he's holding are blown back by the wind.

Solidarity's Inspiring Effect

The aftermath of the recent deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner is far from over. This time, however, the demonstration came from a more unexpected forum: the congressional staffers. Like many of the other protests, they gathered with hands held up and remained completely silent. The Senate chaplain offered a brief prayer, which pointedly mentioned … Continue reading "Solidarity’s Inspiring Effect"

12 Dec 2014

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Weaponizing Food and the CIA Torture Report

The experience of food is one that runs to the core of our being. As humans, it is such an essential part of our lives that we rarely stop to question its function in everyday life – at least beyond which restaurant to go to after work. It is so central, in fact, that food could certainly become … Continue reading "Weaponizing Food and the CIA Torture Report"

10 Dec 2014

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The "M" Requirement: Building Bridges

Due to recent campus controversies, DePauw University’s administration is in the process of deciding upon an additional distribution requirement to the curriculum. If passed, they will call it the “M” credit for “multicultural”. This new addition would not affect the current students at DePauw, as it would have to be ‘grandfathered’ into the curriculum for … Continue reading "The “M” Requirement: Building Bridges"

9 Dec 2014

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Consumerism, Capitalism, and Personal Identity

Shopping hangovers are just as real of a threat at this time of year as the drinking ones. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday just behind us (but Christmas still ahead), it can seem once again like everyone’s busy typing denouncements of consumerism with one hand while grabbing sweet deals and swiping plastic with the other. Amidst … Continue reading "Consumerism, Capitalism, and Personal Identity"

8 Dec 2014

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Pamela J. Hobart

Hypocrisy: The Universal Trait of Mankind

Hypocrisy is the practice of claiming to moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform. Hypocrites are usually disliked and seen as lacking moral fiber. Many people claim that nothing annoys them more about a person than hypocrisy. I believe this is because we as a race dislike criticism and to … Continue reading "Hypocrisy: The Universal Trait of Mankind"

5 Dec 2014

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Dr. Sharon Crary on the Ebola Outbreak

Dr. Sharon Crary, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at DePauw, has studied Ebola virus extensively and was part of the Center for Disease Control’s response team during the Ebola outbreak in Uganda in 2000. In this video, Dr. Crary discusses the Ebola virus as well as key pieces of advice that we should all know concerning the … Continue reading "Dr. Sharon Crary on the Ebola Outbreak"

17 Nov 2014

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Caroline Zadina

Look Inside: The Moral Implications of Personal Choice

Back when Microsoft Windows XP and Intel’s Pentium 4 Processor were technology du jour, not much was known about the origins of the raw minerals integral to the technology we depend on daily or about the horrendous labors that made possible the innovations of the day. Ethical concepts of blame and praise did not make … Continue reading "Look Inside: The Moral Implications of Personal Choice"

13 Nov 2014

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Henry Dambanemuya

Ebola: Deconstructing Racist Narratives

As the recent Ebola epidemic in West Africa continues to make headlines in world news, and while health workers from across the world unite to contain and treat the disease, CBS’s award winning chief foreign affairs correspondent, Lara Logan, traveled to Liberia to report on Americans working on the frontline of the Ebola outbreak. In … Continue reading "Ebola: Deconstructing Racist Narratives"

12 Nov 2014

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Henry Dambanemuya

Peaceful Conflict: A Question of Privilege

Last month, Prindle sponsored a visit from Conflict Kitchen, a restaurant in Pittsburgh that exclusively serves cuisine from countries with which the United States is currently in conflict. So far, Conflict Kitchen has featured cuisine from Iran, Afghanistan, Venezuela, North Korea and now, Palestine.

12 Nov 2014

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Natalie Weilandt