Better way to sell your books

You buy a Stat textbook for $340, you sell it back for $14. You order the norton anthology for $180 and the shops on main street inform you at the end of the semester, that a new edition is coming out this spring and you can't sell that beauty back for any dough.

Here is an alternative that also helps end illliteracy in impoverished nations.

Better World Books Is easy, simple, you are guaranteed a great price of buy backs, and low prices on purchases AND in partnership with Invisible Children you can help those who really need it, the child soldiers of Uganda.

"Sit. Read. Stand. Fight. Buy and sell books to helpInvisible Children bring peace in East Africa"

What could be easier?

Americans locked up abroad - in Iran

Since July, 31 three American hikers have been held, against their will, by the government of Iran.

Shane Bauer, 27, Sarah Shourd, 31, and Josh Fattal, 27 were vacationing in the mountains of northern Iraq when they reportedly crossed over into Iran by accident.

All three Americans were graduates of UC Berkeley. Two of the young hiking enthusiasts were living in Syria at the time of their abduction, the third was visiting. Fattal is a resident of suburban Philadelphia.

Because the United States has no diplomatic ties with Iran a Swiss diplomat was used to visit the detained hikers—they have had no contact with their families.

The families of these hikers will release a youtube video this week that they believe proves the hikers were in fact vacationing, rather than spying, or attempting to create political unrest during the Iranian election as some reports claim they are being held for.

The Associated Press reports that Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said last week that investigators are still questioning the three and that their fate rests with judicial authorities.

This quote suggests that formal charges could still be made against the Americans. Iranian President Ahmadinejad said last month that could he ask the judiciary to ''take a look at the case with maximum leniency.''

Innocent Americans locked up abroad by the Iranian government for three months—when will these innocent travelers be sent home? Public pressure and media coverage surrounding circumstances like these are sometimes the only leverage families have to get their loved ones back. Visit the Web site below to offer your support.

www.freethehikers.org

NYT GLOBAL

If you're like me and read dozens of news stories a day, follow multiple online newspapers and blogs, and are all around a NEWS NERD then just one little click can help you incorporate more obscure international news stories into your daily intake...

OR

If you snooze by the end of most articles and are trying your hardest to stay well informed, one easy step can help you take in as many international stories as possible...

The New York Times Web site can now be switched to GLOBAL EDITION.

In conjunction with the International Herald Tribune this interface allows you to view the NYT homepage from an purely international view.

Just click "switch to Global Edition" on the top of the vertical bar on the left hand side of the homepage.

Easy as pie

Here is a quick hits list of the biggest international stories for today...

Afghan helicopter crashes kill 14 Americans

Iraqi death toll continues to rise in suicide bomber attack, security questions raised

Radovan Karadzic, the man behind Bosnian genocide will face UN Yugoslav war crimes tribunal

Iran still jerking the UN around with their uranium enrichment program

And one last story, my favorite of today about a school literally smack in the middle of a half-century long military standoff. I've never heard anything like this story before. It's really great. Check it out.

The Korean Demilitarized Zone

GULUWALK

Join the RSO Uganda Untold - and me! at the GuluWalk this Saturday morning in Philadelphia.

It's a really great organization that has long been working to help those in northern Uganda effected by the ongoing conflict.

If you can't attend check back for photos and a recap of the event.

You can make a difference

Concerned over the fate of the citizens of Darfur? No matter where Obama stands, and what will ultimately come out of his proposed plan of diplomacy you can help make a difference NOW.

Save Darfur is an amazing alliance of non-profits working to help the people of Darfur. Additionally an event called Pledge2Protect which will bring together more than 1,000 leaders of the worldwide movement to end the ongoing genocide in Darfur.

The conference will convene in Washington, D.C. on November 6-9th. It includes workshops, training, panel discussions, networking events and will culminate in a lobbying day on Nov 9th.

For more information regarding this event check out the Pledge2Protect Web site.

In the past couple of years it has become socially trendy to speak out against the atrocities in Darfur. Let's stop speaking and start Doing. This type of event show the government that Americans care about genocide in Africa, and gets legislation passed.

Obama takes the middle road with Sudan

Advocates of an end to the genocide in Darfur have been anxiously awaiting an official stance on Sudan from the Obama administration since the President took office. Advocates of an end to the genocide in Darfur have been anxiously waiting for an official stance on Sudan from the Obama administration since the President took office.

During his campaign Obama promised a firm stance against the massive slaughtering that has engulfed Africa's largest country for over six years.

In fact the Obama administration will not be taking a firm stance, but instead will once again play the balancing act of foreign diplomacy in which “incentives and pressure” will be utilized. Obama has labeled the human rights situation in Darfur a "genocide" but will at the same time engage, rather than isolate, the murderous government of Sudan.

To engage a government that has been labeled genocidal seems to go against all past political philosophies when it comes to the United States' relations with foreign governments continuing to conduct widespread violations of human rights laws. Simultaneously, an iron clad stance against the government of Sudan leaves little room for creating improvements for its citizens.

The Obama administration stands behind the belief that in order for changes to be made, the government of Sudan must want to adhere. While the specifics of what incentives and pressures will be used, they have said that while working with this new policy a strong eye will be kept on the situation in Sudan - progress being rewarded and increases in violence bringing consequences.

Questions have begun to be raised over whether this lightened stance has anything to do with Sudan's help in America's fight against terrorism. If these allegations prove true, and leniency is being given to Sudan because of its role in fighting terrorists in the middle east, then all bets are off and the United States is in bed with a genocidal government for its own personal gain.

Let's hope this is not the case and purely, these recent policy changes will bring widespread peace and aid to the suffering people of Darfur.