Travel: Beirut day dreams

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

A planet of song …

Mosque along the river in Mostar, Bosnia.

By Garrett Palm

I daydream a lot. Often these daydreams are of whole new worlds that I think I am creating. A while ago I had a reoccurring daydream where I took Captain Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation to planets throughout the universe that I found fascinating. Yes, it is embarrassing to admit, especially since it was a daydream from my twenties so I can’t say I was really that young. All I can say in my defense is that I grew up on Star Trek. (more…)

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Ancient documents in Iraq offer climate clues

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Baghdad became the most prosperous place at the time, and the center of international trade and agricultural development. Map courtesy Fernando Domínguez-Castro.

Cold weather outbreaks may be linked with volcanic activity

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Spanish scientists have tracked a series of unusual cold snaps in the Middle East by translating written documents recorded by Arab historians.

Through painstaking work, the research team has constructed a chronology of climatic events between 816 and 1009, when the region apparently experienced regular cold spells and even snowfall.

“We have recovered an interesting chronology of climatic events, such as droughts, floods, rain, frost, heat and cold waves as well as strong winds during the period between 816-1009 in the areas now known as Iraq and Syria,”  said Fernando Domínguez-Castro, lead author and researcher in the Physics department at the University of Extremadura. (more…)

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Report: Torture still widespread around the world

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Emerging forms of torture cause no visible effect but are responsible for a variety of serious mental health problems

Torture remains widespread as a means of intimidation.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Despite a 30-year-old ban, the use of torture remains widespread, especially in Africa, Asia and the Middle East — but the techniques are more complex and sophisticated, according to research from Queen Mary, University of London.

The researchers, led by Dr Nasir Warfa at Barts and The London Medical School, based their study on asylum seekers who were being detained at Oakington Immigration Centre in Cambridgeshire. They carried out an audit of reports of torture over a six-month period. The results showed that 17 per cent of people at the Centre reported that they were tortured in their home countries.

The study suggests that these emerging forms of torture, which include various types of rape, bestiality and witnessing violent acts, are experienced by people seeking asylum in the UK. (more…)

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U.S. shale gas boom could tilt global ‘petro-power’ balance

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Conservative think tank advocates for responsible development of  domestic resources, saying increased U.S. production could curb Russia’s petro-power

U.S. natural gas production could quadruple in the next 30 years.

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — In Colorado, the debate over natural gas production from shale formations like those in the northwestern part of the state often focuses on environmental impacts, including the growing fragmentation of wildlife habitat and concerns about air and water quality from hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

But there’s also a geopolitical dimension dimension to the rising tide of U.S. gas production. By some recent estimates, shale-gas production will quadruple by 2040, to more than 40 billion cubic feet per day. And that level of production has the potential to affect Russia’s ability to wield an “energy weapon” over its European customers, according to a recent study by the Baker institute. (more…)

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Global tourism busting pre-recession records

Posted on January 11, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Global tourism has rebounded past pre-recession levels thanks in part to a strong economic recovery in Asia and a continuing tourism boom in emerging economies.

2010 numbers show tourism is helping global economic recovery

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Global tourism has bounced back to pre-recession levels, with total international tourist arrivals totaling 642 million from January to August 2010 (the latest figures available), 40 million (7percent) more than during the same period in 2009, and 1 million more than during the record 2008 tourism year.

Based on those numbers, the World Tourism Organization expects the 2010 total to climb about 5 or 6 percent above 2009, with more moderate growth of about 4 percent expected in 2011. Emerging economies continued to lead the way, growing through August at a rate of 8 percent, compared with 5 percent for advanced economies. (more…)

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