EDGE Spring 2008

1.April 1: Enrolment form; Summary of Overview from Trade and the Environment, (a)The Birth of Empires, (b)The Christian Colonial Era, (c)Post Colonial World Wars, (d)After the “Great War”, the Other Great War, (e)Creation of Regional Governments, (f)United States Empire Ambitions, (g)Best Laid Plans, (h)Latin American Seeking Independence, (i)New Efforts stirring  Military Confrontations, (j)Using Oil Profits to make World Trade Fair. Discussion of This Quarter’s Projects

2. April 3: “Pax Americana”: Overwhelming military , Acquisition of Petroleum and Natural Gas resources, “Windfall profits” for overwhelming economic power {$70 Trillion, more than the annual Gross Domestic Products of rich nations combined}; Enron’s control of U.S. and Arabian energy; Russia’s oil and gas through the Yukos Corporation; Caspian Sea pipeline through Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan, Liberation of southern Sudan (Darfur) together with its oil and gas resources, Contracts with Latin American and African oil and gas producers, Partnership with Arabian leaders {Arabian Windfall profits from the petroleum shock of the 1970’s used to incur large economic debts to the IMF and World Banks}.. systematically overturned leaving profits in OPEC and Russia; now joining in Peace and Sustainable Development, Global Warming, Sustainable Energy, Sustainable Peace; Review of Moses leaving for the holy land, current Darfur issues, and Peaceful space exploration.

3. April 8 : Peoples of the World: A broader understanding of world trade is developed by reviewing the empires of the Middle East from Mesopotamian, Egyptian and succeeding empires to today. Included in the world review are Empires in the Americas before 1492, Asian and East Asian Dynasties. The European Colonial Era provides a view of early world trade and Stiglitz’s Chapter 3, ”Making Trade Fair” offers a contrast to that Era. Emerging Human, Cultural and Religious Rights are discussed in light of stability and peace  needed for fair trade

4. April 10: Discussion on Guatemala and Farming, Review of SAARC discussions, Vietnam in post colonial trade, Discussion of Darfur developments, President Carter to meet with Hammas on Palestine issues

5. April 15:Overview of 2008 studies on Poverty and Prejudice, Draft Overview of OPEC investment partners, Draft Overview of investments for peace in the Holy Lands, Draft Overview of investing for peace in Sudan-Darfur, Draft Overview of Expansion of world Micro loan Institutions, Draft Investments for Indigenous farmers in Guatemala, Draft investments to Overcome conflict in the SAARC nations, Draft investments to develop sustainable biofuels in the ASEAN nations, Draft development of trade for rural Vietnam ... Deforestation: good or bad? ..... Removing Religious Prejudice from Jerusalem ... South Asia-A Region in Conflict. .... Darfur .... Grameen Bank .... Vietnam Power .... OPEC .... Indigenous Farmers in Guatemala

6. April 17: As Europe, China, South America and the Arab world find ways to resist our unilateral foreign policies, American private industry, cities, and states are beginning to cooperate in international efforts  towards beneficial trade and peace. Review of 06 studies.

7. April 24: Investments for Peace, Efforts in the Palestine Region, The History of the Holy Lands, Gas and Oil Pipelines, Ukraine’s new leader

8. May 1: Update on Palestine, World food shortages from different viewpoints, Predicted Cartel control of world food trade, Action to be taken by Latin America, Action to be taken by UN, World deforestation statistics ... Presentation on Indian Cotton Markets

9.May 6: Deforestation, reforestation and lumber trade in the ASEAN nations, Palestine and Israel peace process, Resettling refugees in Darfur

10.May 20; Overview Draft

11. May 22: Darfur Investments for Peace, Update on Hamas and Syria, Vietnam Eucalyptus

12. Final Presentations June 3 and June 5: ... Darfur Peace Initiatives(2) .. Darfur Peace Initiatives (3)... Peace in India Pakistan Pipeline ... Peace Initiative in Kashmir ... Peace in the Holy Lands ...Vietnam Power for Rural Areas ... Reforestation and Bio Fuel in the AESAN Region ...Guatamala Investment for Indigenous Farmers ... Microloans Evolution ... Indian Cotton and Clothing Trade

Final Reports: ... Darfur Peace Initiatives ... Peace in India Pakistan Pipeline ... Peace Initiative in Kashmir ... Peace in the Holy Land ..

Vietnam Power for Rural Areas ... Reforestation and Bio Fuel in the AESAN Region ...Guatamala Investment for Indigenous Farmers ... Microloans Evolution ... Indian Cotton and Clothing Trade

EDGE Spring 2007

1. April 3: Overview of world power shift, New leaders in South America, Africa moving more slowly, Arab leadership rising, King Saud taking lead, Bolivia nationalizing oil and gas, Venezuela helping poor around the world, US Mexican communities, Russia discussing gas cartel., Arab League revive peace plans for Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq, Slavery and control of cotton, US debt and trade deficit and poor classes growing.

2. April 5: Update on British Hostage Crisis, Pelosi Delegation visit to Middle East Leaders, Mid East Leadership Emerging, Definition of Income distribution Gini Coefficient, World Comparisons, Change in United States Economic System, National Trade and Budget deficit, Growth of U.S. income gap, Aid around the world, A Modest Proposal, Edge Topics Spring, Next Week Micro-loans, a major solution.

3. April 10: The upcoming Elections in Nigeria, World poverty and the Millennium Commitments, Ranking of the world’s Gross Domestic Products, OPEC fund Grameen Bank and funding development, World Campaigns for the “living wage”, Debt Forgiveness for developing nation, Noel Prize winning alternative to “neoliberalization”, World Cotton Trade, WTO, Cooperatives, Other national and international cooperatives ,Overview of Romania and ASEAN bloc.

4. April 12: Overview of the Spring projects, Oil and the International Balance of Wealth, The Arab League resolving Mid East Issues, Morocco and the North Africa Nomadic Peoples, Romania transition to the European Union, From the USSR to the E.U, ASEAN trading bloc, Japan in International Trade, India in International Trade, Formation of Diamond and other Producer Cartels, Chinese Communities around the world, Labor in Mexico and the United States, Military intervention in International Drug trade.

5. April 17: Iran wants Euros instead of dollars, Iran war still possible, Nigerian Election this weekend, Russia economic during Soviet era and now, Mexican Immigration, Poverty and NAFTA, Tape Presentation of Stanford Islamic Society

6. April 19: Student Presentations; Mexico, Colombia, Japan, Diamond Cartel, Romania

7. April 24: Student Presentations; $100 laptop computer, India, ASEAN, MAGREB, China

8. April 29: Iran Nuclear Compromise?, New Nigerian President, Project for a New American Century (PNAC), Where are they now?, Competing Economic Powers Europe and China , Venezuela and Latin America, NAFTA and Labor rights, Widening poverty gap

UN study on the "Alliance of Civilizations"

9. May 1: Saudi Arabia taking lead in Middle East, Arab League on Sudan; elements of Oil, Russia objects to US missile deployment, Evo Morales and the People’s Trade Association, Agenda for Nigeria’s Yar’Adua, Reaction to Student Proposals.

10. May 3: Europe enters Iraq discussions and aid, Meetings in Sharm El Sheikh on Iraq, Overview of Accion’ investments, The long and bloody history of world empires and colonization

11. May 8: Discussion of Majic Johnson Foundation .... India Culture and Poverty

12. May 10: US Stock growth vs Euro GrowthWorld Military budgetsUN Mission to Lebanon China and the Arab LeagueSarkozy elected French President Mousa of Arab League Promotes Mid East Peace Jordan King urges Palestinian Israeli peace Islamic Development Bank launches $10 Billion FundThailand Leader to meet Saudi King The Organization of Islamic Conference programsPakistan, Philippines urge UN Interfaith Unit China Trade with Philippines growing.

13. May 15 :Hugo and the Banco Del Sur, Continuing Iran Nuclear Discussions, Continuing N. Korean Nuclear Discussions, Arab League Visits, Happenings in Colombia Thailand, Burma, Cambodia… Oil there too, Midterm Update Schedule

14. May 17: Midterm Update Schedule, Hugo and the Banco Del Sur, Continuing Iran & N. Korean Nuclear Discussions, Arab League Visits, Sudan AU UN NATO EU Happenings in Colombia, Thailand, Burma, Cambodia… Oil there too, East Timor and Indonesia UN

Student Presentations ... Mexican Imigration ... Japan Workforce and Economics

15. May 22: Peace or War in Middle East, The World Bank, Russia making friends in Mid East, Nigeria Update, International Efforts to relieve Poverty, Latin America

Student Presentations ( India Economic Emergence)... ( MAGREB Rural Economic Investment)

16. May 24: Student Presentations ... (Colombia International Development) ... (International Cartels) ... ( OPEC Overview) ... ( The $100 Laptop) .. (India Development)

17. May 29: Update on North Korea Money transfer, U.S. Meets Iran in Iraq, Overview of Empires, Wars and Cultures, Evolution of regional Economic and Political Blocs

Student Presentations... (China Development) ... (ASEAN Overview)

18. June 5. Vanity Fair Article on the SACK of WASHINGTON, Overview of Regional Trade Groups and the shift of world power: EU, South America, Africa, Asia, South East Asia, Russia-CIS, Arab League,Saudi Leadership, Schedule for Final Presentations, G8 Summit

Student Final Presentations .... (Mexico Trade) ... (Japan History) ... ( Romania and the EU) ... (OPEC a ) ...(OPEC b) ... (Poverty and Prejudice in China) ... ( Rural Morocco) ... (Colombia's Future) ... (Diamond and Cotton Cartels) ... (India Poverty Castes a) ...(India Poverty Castes b) ... (ASEAN)

Final Reports:

Overview of Poverty and Prejudice, the History of Empires

United States, Mexico and NAFTA:

Japan’s Empire and Economic Development:

Relieving Poverty in Rural North Africa

Economic Development in Colombia

Past, Present and Future of OPEC

The History and Politics of OPEC

International Cartels in Diamonds and Cotton

The Colonial History of the ASEAN Nations

China Economic Growth and Rural Poverty

India in the World Economy

The Continuing Effects of the Indian Caste System

Romania in the European Union

Development with $100 Laptop Computers