Top Stories

These are a few of my favorites.
(Click the headline of each summary to read the story, and others I've written for the same publication.)

THE QUEST FOR EQUALITY IN THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN, JSelect Magazine, 9/03

"...Japan is known for its downright civility--true. But those in both local and international circles argue that it is sorely lacking in civil rights. A new government poll shows nearly half of the Japanese say they needn't share all such rights with foreigners. The globally respected democracy is an oddity, in that it has no laws to enforce its own constitutional claim against racial '...discrimination in political, economic or social relations...'" A United Nations human rights committee is among the disgruntled. So too are members of the Japan Civil Liberties Union, Solidarity Network with Migrants Japan, a group of ex-pats called The Community as well as other groups and long-term non-natives.

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THE BATTLE OVER SANTA MONICA'S LIVING WAGE LAW, Los Angeles Times, 5/01-8/01

"Santa Monica approved its controversial living wage law last month, but the fight over the measure continues." Serial coverage of the labor/business clash over the nation's first city-imposed minimum wage for private business: The pros and cons from both sides, plus the law's potential legal, political and social affects.

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THE EPUPA DIVIDE, The Namibian, 10/29/97

"People in the Kunene region are deeply divided over the pros and cons of the planned Epupa hydroelectric project. With the results of the feasibility study on the scheme due to be announced early next week, OSCAR JOHNSON travelled to the region to speak to the opposing camps."

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MOTORCYCLES, JESUS AND SERVICE, Daily Press, 11/24/01

"They don black leather and denim, sport names like Doc, Stumpy and Po' Boy, and ride Harleys and Yamahas. But this band of fraternal brothers is neither postmodern posse from the West nor outlaw motorcycle gang. They're the Buffalo Boyz Motorcycle Club of Williamsburg. And they say their mission is divinely inspired."

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