RESEARCH
Iranians have democratic values
by Yuval Porat
In the high-stakes international discussions surrounding Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons, Iran's 80 million people are often forgotten. So I, along with a small team of Israelis, decided to explore the driving forces of Iranian society. There have been signs, on the streets and over the Internet, of a battle raging between the country's Islamic fundamentalists and the proponents of freedom. The question we set out to explore is where the majority of the people stand
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BAHAIS
Despite uncertain future and the regime's ever-tightening noose
The rule barring 300,000 or so Bahais from Iran's colleges and universities remains in place. It is enforced with particular vigor by the hard-line government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Even before Pohl's exposé, the Bahai community had begun seeking ways to educate its youth. Those efforts culminated in the establishment of a secret distance-education college operated by hundreds of volunteers inside and outside Iran
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LIBERAL
Why am I so pleased by the earthquake that has just shaken the present landscape?
Let’s hear it for the President. Bravo! Bravo is also Italian for brave and it takes a brave man and a strong heart to come out in favor of gay marriage in a country dominated by the raucous—and nefarious—Koch Brothers, Rush whats-his-name and assorted religious freaks. Whether Biden had been encouraged a few days ago or not to “force” Obama into making his own position clear is open to speculation but the result is what counts here
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FUTURE
Middle East in 10-20 Years
For most people, the Middle East (ME) is synonymous with oil. Economies of most major ME countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran and the U.A.E. are based on oil. Today over a third (38% to be exact) of all oil produced worldwide is used for transportation; automobiles and trucks. What would happen if people and businesses stopped using gasoline for their cars and diesel for their trucks?
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