Brave Old World?
by Andrew Thomson
Afghanistan, whose various factions were once united into a common front against a group of foreigners controlling the government, may slowly be unraveling back to a state of tribal and civil warfare.

Ottawa, 2002
by Joanna Kocsis
The world will never be the same after September 11th”, everyone said. As thirty-two students and five teachers from the Niagara region discovered this May, business on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill proceeds relatively unhindered.

Basketball—A Link To Japan
by Evan Kenney
Thirty Niagara youth, coaches and chaperons are preparing to head to Japan thanks to Port Colborne's Paul Faris and the board members of The Niagara International Friendship Exchanges for Education (NIFEE).

Ground Zero
by Mike Keenan
It’s eerie and silent despite the fact that there is a crowd gathered on a long wooden ramp allowing a panoramic view of the empty expanse bordered by Barclay, Trinity, Liberty and West streets. On the NYC map clutched in my freezing hands, the area labeled in red ink, The World Trade Center, is now referred to as Ground Zero.

Literacy Outreach
COWAC, in cooperation with the Canadian Authors Association, Niagara has recently organized a literacy outreach program in the Fort Erie Elementary School system as a trial program for possible inclusion next year throughout the entire Niagara region.

INMUN XIV Keynote Address
by Stephen Swecker
It is especially satisfying to see so many of you taking an active interest in world affairs. Surely, if ever there was a time for seeking an informed, comprehensive understanding of the international community and the forces that have shaped and are shaping life on Planet Earth, such a time is now.

Dispatches From Japan
by Donna Kollee
Donna, a popular regular at COWAC conferences for many years, has decided to teach English in Japan. She has promised to keep us informed with regular dispatches.

Respond to Violence:
Teach Peace, Not War
by Russell Mokhiber and
Robert Weissman
From 1969 to 1997, Colman McCarthy wrote a column for the Washington Post. He was let go because the column, he was told, wasn't making enough money for the company. "The market has spoken," was the way Robert Kaiser, the managing editor at the Post, put it at the time.

Wither Afghanistan?
by Andrew Thomson
The American bombing campaign in Afghanistan is approaching its one-month birthday, looking to be wandering aimlessly from day to day. Some call it "Operation Infinite Justice," others (mostly media pundits) have deemed this "America Strikes Back."

Some Are More Equal Than Others
by Faith Roebuck
Stratification is the division of groups into layers, according to power, property, and prestige. These are the three factors that Max Weber stated which determine social class. These features determine a country’s or an individual’s status.

To Air is Human
by Hans Tammemagi
How do you describe air, after all it is invisible and has no odour? Perhaps you envision it as a gentle puff of wind that caresses your cheek like the soft hand of a lover. Or perhaps air is the fluffy white cloud that scampers like a lamb across the brilliant blue sky.

Book Review
by Book Review
While many may be familiar with Gandhi’s instruction, since it is COWAC’s mantra, it appears that Anita Roddick has only recently taken it to heart with her new globalization action guide, Take It Personally: How to Make Conscious Choices to Change the World. Roddick, better known as the founder of the Body Shop chain of cosmetics stores, takes on a new role as editor of this collection of short essays by prominent critical writers and social and environmental activists.

The Niagara Escarpment:
The Last Preserve
by Hans Tammemagi
I love to hike along the Bruce Trail. Walking from the car into the peaceful, cool greens of the forest is like entering a majestic cathedral.