Opinion: Violence against women, rebuilding Haiti, food security

Feb 20 2010

Sen. Cardin Examines How Violence Against Women Exacerbates Health, Economic Conditions

"Violence against women is a global epidemic, threatening the lives and safety of women and girls around the world," Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-Md.), chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, writes in a Baltimore Sun opinion piece in which he asserts his support of the International Violence Against Women Act. In the piece, Cardin describes how violence against women increases risks of health problems - such as dying in pregnancy and contracting HIV - and poverty (2/19).

Foreign Policy Opinion Calls For Transformation Of Aid System

"Haiti will need more than just relief: To transform this unfortunate and collapsed country, the whole system of aid needs a complete transformation, too," Paul Collier, professor of economics at Oxford University and former special advisor on Haiti to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, writes in a Foreign Policy opinion piece. "Today, as NGOs see unprecedented amounts of private donations streaming in, it is critical that they respond to the earthquake not just by expanding, but by decisively changing their approach." Collier highlights several problems in the system and suggestions for improvements, before concluding, "Now that Haiti commands global attention, NGO failure would happen in the full glare of global public scrutiny. It would be the death of business as usual. Change is inevitable: The question is whether it will be the response to failure or whether it will prevent it" (2/18).

Christian Science Monitor Opinion Examines 'Middle' Ground To Rebuilding Haiti

In a Christian Science Monitor opinion piece, Robert Muggah, research director of the Small Arms Survey, and Trinity Washington University's Robert Maguire, chair of the Haiti Working Group at the U.S. Institute of Peace, examine the two major ideologies on the best approach to rebuilding Haiti. "On one side are the reformists … the 'disaster capitalist,'" who see the disaster as an opportunity "to 'build back better.'" On the other side of the debate, the authors write, stand those "deeply skeptical of the global aid industry."

"But a middle way also exists," the authors continue. "This middle way acknowledges Haiti's specific historical patterns of inequality and the need for a rebuilding vision that is sensitive to these realities. Just as important, this view also highlights the importance of rebalancing a country that was teetering on disaster before the quake." They offer five priorities for a comprehensive rebuilding strategy (2/18).

Politico Opinion Highlights Successful Methods For 'Agricultural Revolution'

In a Politico opinion piece, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) addresses how to expand world food output. "Today, malnutrition is associated with half of all deaths in children under the age of 5 each year, and more than 1 billion people currently suffer from hunger and poverty. These numbers can be expected only to grow as our population increases by one-third over the next four decades," Daschle writes. "Innovation will lie at the heart of the agricultural revolution necessary to accomplish our goal of feeding the world by 2050 without increasing pressure on our world's already strained and limited resources," he continues, highlighting what he describes as "core pillars" of promoting success. "The challenges we face are daunting. But I remain confident that harnessing the innovation of our policymakers, scientists and farmers around the world will put us on track to feed the world and preserve its resources. Indeed, we have no other choice," he concludes (2/16).