JESSICA EISE Unlike the United States, Mauritius was virgin territory. There weren’t any native inhabitants apart from the birds and the bees. Safeguarded by a coral reef, the small island was protected even from waves and the crystal clear waters sparkled bright blue in the sunlight. The dodo bird was allowed to evolve into utter…
LAURA RENA MURRAY I got off the crowded BART train a little after 11am and followed a stream of people filing out to join Oakland’s general strike on November 2nd. Everyone clutched signs and backpacks as they ascended the stairs, talking excitedly about the day’s events. Downtown Oakland’s Frank Ogawa Plaza, renamed “Oscar Grant Plaza”…
ROBERT WATSON When George Washington arrived in New York City in late April of 1789 to assume the presidency of the United States, he was uncertain as to how he should approach the new office and had no clear plan for the many challenges facing the young republic. His fellow citizens were just as uncertain…
TOM CONWAY AND KEVIN MAHER Do you want to start off by speaking a little about yourself, your background, and what exactly qualifies you to speak on the topic? Kevin Maher: I am retired from the U.S. Department of State, where I was a Foreign Service Officer for 30 years, 19 of those years I was…
GEORGE FEIFER Starting with elementary facts about the largest land-sea-air battle in history may make sense because they’re so little known. Or approximation of facts, since the number of Okinawan civilians killed in 1945 will never be known, the three months of battle for their once famously peaceful, traditionally submissive island having destroyed virtually all…