archives: Politics
Bullets And Backpackers: Political Tourism Hits The West Bank
Take a political tour of this controversial territory. [...]
8 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates On How Leadership Can End War
What qualities does it take to end conflict? [...]
Holy War: How Conflict Shapes The Culture Of Israel
An agnostic's visit to the homeland of her family. [...]
Left Or Right? How Political Ideology Shapes Your Moral Worldview
Political parties share many similarities... if you know where to look. [...]
From Iraq To Samoa: The Traveler’s Guide To Outposts Of The American Empire
From Iraq to Samoa, the gang's all here. [...]
Rick Steves: I’m Not Pro-Drugs, I’m Pro-Common Sense
Rick Steves takes on the backwards pot laws in a new interview. [...]
Lessons Abroad: Why Ireland Wants Obama As America’s Next President
While America debates, Erin Byrne discovers the Irish have already made their decision. [...]
10 Revolutionary Acts Of Courage By Ordinary People
They stood up for peace and human rights, inspiring countless others to do the same. [...]
10 Key Points For Understanding The Protests In Thailand
Learn who's protesting and what's at stake. [...]
Will Religion Prevent Us From Saving The Planet?
It just might, with nearly half the American population anticipating the end of the world. [...]
8 Ridiculous Political Ads From The 2008 Presidential Race
From Chuck Norris, to Moses, To Paris Hilton, the ads are all here. [...]
White Skin: Why Racism In Asia Isn’t Quite What You Think
In Asia, white skin is in. But it's not for same reasons as the West. [...]
Olympic Ethics: Is Traveling To China Worse Than The USA?
Why it's unfair to boycott China for their crimes. [...]
Who’s The More Cultured Traveler: Obama Or Mccain?
And how travel will influence their presidential worldview. [...]
Why Travel Is The Most Patriotic Act You Can Do
Julie Collazo explains how visiting Cuba makes her a true patriot. [...]
Goodbye To Bush: Europeans React To President’s Farewell Tour
For many, the Bush presidency is already in their rearview mirrors. [...]
Hidden Kingdom: Understanding Womens’ Rights In Saudi Arabia
For visitors to the Kingdom, judgement isn't always black and white. [...]
6 Ways To Avoid Aiding Repressive Governments
Travelers can help the people by not helping the government. [...]
Why It’s Useless To Boycott The Bejiing Olympics
History tells us the Chinese would never risk stability for acceptance. [...]
Why We Still Need To Write About African Poverty
Conflict, disaster, and shocking poverty are all part of the story. [...]
Can You Face Your Own Nationality Abroad?
Everything you do and say in your language, with your accent is duly noted by other cultures. [...]
Could You Be A War Photographer?
War photographers bear a terrible burden for witnessing the worst of humanity. [...]
Can Tribal Tourism Actually Help Preserve Indigenous Culture?
There’s a fine line between human interest and human zoo. [...]
Should English Be The World’s International Language?
A modern convenience or curse? Terry Dip explores the popularity of the English language. [...]
Will The Coming U.S. Recession Lead To Reflection?
America, and the world, needs to chill out and slow down. We need to relax. [...]
Budget Travelers Are Hippie Scum
F. Daniel Harbecke rants about hippies: they’re out there. Somewhere. And you can’t tell by looking at ‘em anymore. [...]
Violence In Kenya: Is This What Democracy Looks Like?
We’re in week three of a nation-wide civil uprising in response to the fraudulent December 27th Presidential elections in Kenya, and among the [...]
Why Travelers Everywhere Must Resist Violence Against Women
This New Year’s, I was horrified to read in The Hindustan Times that in Mumbai, India, outside of the JW Marriot Hotel, two women were felt up a [...]
Punk To Police: Globalization From The Eyes Of A Chinese Expat
I once had a university professor who I will describe as “mentally diverse.” She was my favorite professor, although you never knew when [...]
How Travel Will Save The World
Spread throughout the world, spanning every region and boundary, is a vast, borderless nation. Every year, millions migrate to this nation, with lan [...]
5 Techniques For Surviving Political Debates
You are sitting with a family that has invited you in for tea, one of countless offers of hospitality you have experienced since you arrived in the ne [...]
Handup Or Handout? The Case Against Micro-Loans
Is the principal effect of micro-lending to further hook people into dependence upon the money economy? Josh Kearns explains. I want to urge caution i [...]
How Local Self-Reliance Will Overthrow The System
As humans, we have basic needs for food, shelter, medicine, and a few durable goods like clothing, tools and cooking implements. The quality of our f [...]
A Manifesto From A Young American
Today I ended my hypocrisy. Today I sold my stock in multinational corporations. Today I made a step towards moral and existential sanity. Today I [...]
Defending the Dalai Lama
I write for a newspaper, says Dan Gardner, in so many words. When I author, I am relevant and topical. My vocabulary is college-approved, my messag [...]
Why The GDP Says Little About Authentic Happiness
Is there a link between monetary wealth and quality of life? I pose this question because mainstream economic theory and the policies promoted by inte [...]
The 9 Paradoxes Of Modern Tourism
Tourism is the world’s largest export, yet it is ephemeral, produced within an encounter, usually fleeting, between host and guest. It has enorm [...]
The Crisis Of Too Much Energy
You may have heard of the recently announced collaboration between the University of California and BP in a big-money deal to research biofuels and th [...]
We: An Exploration In Human Universals
I didn’t quite know how to introduce this film myself, so here’s the description from their website. This is an unusual kind of undergr [...]
The Occupation Of Oaxaca
In a war of many truths, how do you choose which side to be on? Two years ago, on a wonderful January night, we married in the beautiful city of Oa [...]
Do You Want Culture With That?
In a city engulfed by corporations and Americana, the essence of true culture is always changing. Mazatlan, Mexico. It conjures a precision of mem [...]
Why We Need Micro Loans Instead Of Slum Tourism
Recent articles by the BBC, The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, The Smithsonian Magazine, and others have discussed various aspects of “slum tour [...]
Waiting For Life To Begin In A Burmese Refugee Camp
Part III in a series exploring the experience and responsibility of the traveler in the 21st century. Read the introductory post here then read Part [...]
Atheists in the Holy Land
Part I in a series exploring the role of the traveler in the 21st century. Read the introductory post here. This article originally appeared on Glimp [...]
The Role of the 21st Century Traveler
For many travelers visiting a country wracked by the scourges of war, famine, or poverty, it is an overwhelming experience. My own visit to Cambodi [...]
