EQUALSHOT

Here's my latest piece on Western Sahara, published in On The Issues magazine:

When I was in college, I had a small book of questions meant to serve as conversation starters for social gatherings. There was one question in particular that I had no idea how to answer, and not having a response seemed to indicate some form of personal shortcoming in my young and idealistic mind: “Is there a cause for which you’d be willing to sacrifice your life?”

It’s been nearly a decade since Kerry Kennedy and Eddie Adams released their coffee table book “Speak Truth to Power.” Fifty essays about human rights defenders and the torture and harassment they have endured does not seem like a likely topic for a book you’d want anywhere near your coffee table. But there are several reasons why you may want to go out and buy it (or at least check it out of the library)...

Do you notice anything strange about this AP picture?

Here, Al Gore is urging Congress to press ahead with a bill bringing climate change to the top of the political agenda.