Big oil about to strike again? AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 02/16/2010

Big oil about to strike again? AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Ken Fuller 02/16/2010 Concern continues to grow regarding the current US role in Haiti, shattered by a massive earthquake on Jan.12. Why, when Cuba sent 400 doctors, with more on the way, did the USA send 20,000 troops to “restore order?” Why did the US military deny landing rights to international rescue missions bearing essential medicines and water, sparking protests from Latin American and European countries? Why, before the earthquake, had the USA chosen to construct its fifth largest embassy in this small, poverty-stricken nation? The answer, as is so often the case, seems to be: Oil. Ever since Haiti gained its independence from France, the former colonial power, the role of the USA has rarely been less than outrageous and self-seeking. Fearing that a nation ruled by liberated slaves would set an unfortunate example for its own slave population, the USA refused to grant Haiti diplomatic recognition until 1862. In 1915, the US occupied the country and, arguing that Haitians were unfit to rule themselves (similar arguments were, of course, put forward in the Philippines at the same time), remained there for 19 years, during which time land was seized and a police force and Army formed to US specifications.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune ALTERNATE URL: http://www.classicposters.com/commentary/20100216com5.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Power fight FRONTLINE Geared for the elite class FEATURE ‘I am not a racist’: Cubans debate prejudice against blacks NO HOLDS BARRED Mrs. B AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Big oil about to strike again? FEATURE Architect on a mission to save Kathmandu’s soul focus Baghdad battles to preserve its battered heritage

Architect on a mission to save Kathmandu’s soul FEATURE 02/16/2010

Architect on a mission to save Kathmandu’s soul FEATURE 02/16/2010 KATHMANDU — Nepal’s ancient capital Kathmandu is famed around the world for its intricately carved medieval temples and ancient royal palaces. But as the once-sleepy city hurtles into the 21st century, the distinctive architecture that visitors once flocked to see is rapidly being replaced by the high-rise concrete structures favored by modern residents. It is a trend the Nepalese architect Rabindra Puri bitterly opposes — and he is on a one-man mission to prevent the disappearance of what he calls the “soul” of Kathmandu and its surroundings.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune ALTERNATE URL: http://www.classicposters.com/commentary/20100216com6.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Power fight FRONTLINE Geared for the elite class FEATURE ‘I am not a racist’: Cubans debate prejudice against blacks NO HOLDS BARRED Mrs. B AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Big oil about to strike again? FEATURE Architect on a mission to save Kathmandu’s soul focus Baghdad battles to preserve its battered heritage

Architect on a mission to save Kathmandu’s soul FEATURE 02/16/2010

Architect on a mission to save Kathmandu’s soul FEATURE 02/16/2010 KATHMANDU — Nepal’s ancient capital Kathmandu is famed around the world for its intricately carved medieval temples and ancient royal palaces. But as the once-sleepy city hurtles into the 21st century, the distinctive architecture that visitors once flocked to see is rapidly being replaced by the high-rise concrete structures favored by modern residents. It is a trend the Nepalese architect Rabindra Puri bitterly opposes — and he is on a one-man mission to prevent the disappearance of what he calls the “soul” of Kathmandu and its surroundings. Puri, a former sculptor, was struck by the city’s transformation when he returned from a two-year study trip in Europe in 1995.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune ALTERNATE URL: http://www.classicposters.com/commentary/20100216com6.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Power fight FRONTLINE Geared for the elite class FEATURE ‘I am not a racist’: Cubans debate prejudice against blacks NO HOLDS BARRED Mrs. B AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Big oil about to strike again? FEATURE Architect on a mission to save Kathmandu’s soul focus Baghdad battles to preserve its battered heritage

Baghdad battles to preserve its battered heritage focus 02/16/2010

Baghdad battles to preserve its battered heritage focus 02/16/2010 BAGHDAD — Fawziya al-Maliki, an elegant and determined 44-year-old, is spearheading Iraq’s efforts to preserve what architectural treasures remain in the war-ravaged country, but her job is proving dangerous. With many Iraqis fiercely opposed to letting cultural concerns undermine their financial interests, Maliki received death threats in early February for prohibiting the demolition of an old house in central Baghdad to make way for a new apartment block. “Lots of people took advantage of the chaos after the US invasion in 2003, when laws were not being enforced, to demolish their houses, especially in Kifah, Al-Rasheed and Haifa street, as well as in Adhamiyah,” the capital’s historic center, said Maliki, the director of Heritage, a state agency set up by the ministry of culture.... MORE Source:  The Daily Tribune ALTERNATE URL: http://www.classicposters.com/commentary/20100216com7.html

COMMENTARY EDITORIAL Power fight FRONTLINE Geared for the elite class FEATURE ‘I am not a racist’: Cubans debate prejudice against blacks NO HOLDS BARRED Mrs. B AN OUTSIDERS VIEW Big oil about to strike again? FEATURE Architect on a mission to save Kathmandu’s soul focus Baghdad battles to preserve its battered heritage