Interesting: Reports on Sat Surveillance, Afghan Casualties

Interesting new reports from the U.S. Congressional Research Service. The first is on civil-rights issues related to the possible expansion of satellite surveillance within the U.S. This report, made available at the site of the Federation of American Scientists, covers existing practices, restrictions, legal issues and proposals to expanding surveillance. The second report is a detailed analysis of Afghan military and civilian casualties.

TAGS: intelligence, Afghanistan

Interesting: Exploiting Disaster in Haiti

As legions of aid workers, security personnel and diplomats descended on Haiti in the wake of its earthquake disaster, how much of the millions in help actually made its way to Haitians? Montreal nurse Scott Weinstein, who quickly headed down to help survivors, reports in this interesting first-person account in Montreal Serai magazine that the foreign interests have mostly worked to further their own interests. Meanwhile, ordinary Haitians have little say in the rebuilding.

But unless they have a seat at the table, Weinstein writes, "so-called aid becomes another weapon to exploit these good people who liberated themselves from slavery and are still paying the price."

TAGS: corruption, development

Awards: Calling Canadian Writers

New writing awards have been launched this year at the Professional Writers Association of Canada. The two awards, which come with prizes worth $500 apiece, are for non-fiction features and shorter pieces published in Canadian print and web media. (I'm co-chair of the PWAC committee that spearheaded the awards.) See more details here. The judges are journalism profs Stephen Kimber and Maxine Ruvinsky, Montreal authors Elaine Kalman Naves and Eric Siblin, Best Health editor Jennifer Walker and Bilbo Poynter, executive director of the Canadian Centre for Investigative Reporting. Deadline for entries: Friday, March 19.

TAGS: awards