National Analysis

Pioneers Can Secure Our Future

RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH 09/13/07 By Michael Shank and US Representative Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) Russia, Canada, and the United States are rushing to the North Pole in a pioneer-like land grab for an estimated 25 percent of the world’s unknown oil and gas reserves. One wonders when we will learn. Oil and […]

Wal-Mart is Walking the Walk on Sustainability

FINANCIAL TIMES 09/12/07 By Michael Shank Sir, With reference to “Soft soap? Why the greening of Wal-Mart may hinder the way to a sustainable world” (September 10): it should be a soft sell for the unconverted. Preaching with no less flair than a southern Baptist preacher, Arkansas’ Wal-Mart is leading […]

Wal-Mart is Walking the Walk on Sustainability

Financial Times 09/12/2007 By Michael Shank Sir, With reference to “Soft soap? Why the greening of Wal-Mart may hinder the way to a sustainable world” (September 10): it should be a soft sell for the unconverted. Preaching with no less flair than a southern Baptist preacher, Arkansas’ Wal-Mart is leading […]

Plenty of Candidates, Yet No One to Vote for

Arab News 08/22/2007 By Michael Shank The winner of the 2008 United States presidential election is going to be the most expensive candidate ever. Estimates gauge that the road to the White House will have cost a total of $1 billion. What else is unprecedented about the 2008 Oval Office […]

A Chance to Improve Mental Health Services for Virginians

Richmond Times-Dispatch 08/14/2007 By Michael Shank and Sandra Cheldelin Virginia Tech’s tragedy remains a stark reminder for those working in emergency medical services — particularly in mental health — that existing detection and response systems are dysfunctional. As exemplified all too painfully in the case of Tech’s Seung-Hui Cho, the […]

Going Green

Foreign Policy in Focus 03/13/2007 By Michael Shank Elected officials far and near are doing it. The European Union is doing it. U.S. governors are doing it. Even U.S. mayors are doing it. France’s Jacques Chirac calls it “revolutionary,” and California’s Arnold Schwarzenegger says “the time to act is now.” […]

Socially Irresponsible Investing

THE MENNONITE Vol. 7, No 11, June 04 By Michael Shank When a financial services firm such as Mennonite Mutual Aid (MMA), a company committed to socially responsible investing, makes investment decisions, they rely on a philosophy of stewardship for guidance. The firm’s philosophy is guided by a set of […]