An increase in news stories on the environment

It started a couple months ago, this recent, but welcomed, avalanche of news and commentary on the environment and national parks. First there were the much praised documentaries Earth Days and Earth which were released earlier this year. Next came word of Ken Burn’s “labor of love”, a six part documentary called National Parks: America’s Best Idea which debuts on PBS this evening (see local listings). Also Time and Newsweek were in on the action with a list of the "Environmental Heroes of 2009", rankings of the greenest companies operating in the US, and a lengthy commentary by UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. As if that weren’t enough, news broke at the UN 2009 Climate Change Summit that China had taken a lead role in promising to expand energy efficiency initiatives and curtail greenhouse gas emissions.

However, keeping issues of climate change and environmental protection at the forefront of public discussion is only the first step. More important is what all of us, as responsible citizens as well as leaders at all levels of government and in the businesss community, are willing to do to make the goal of environmental sustainability a reality.

There were a number of other news stories and issues that caught my attention, which I plan to check out as soon as I have time. On the most recent episode of Bill Moyers Journal, which is available for viewing online, I plan to check out commentaries by Rory Stewart on the situation in Afghanistan and Kavita Ramdas on the issue of women’s rights. Also I am looking forward to reading Jeremy Waldron’s review of Kwame Anthony Appiah’s book called Experiments in Ethics in the current issue of The New York Review of Books, which I purchased yesterday. Based on my impression of points that are raised in the review, I may offer my thoughts in a blog entry at a later day.

Stevie Wonder - Love's In Need Of Love Today

ripple effect: a shift in focus of blog

I have shifted the focus of this blog from one of random commentary on events and interests as I see them to one of commentary on random events and interests through the lens of compassion (or associated terms such as kindness, altruism, generosity, mercy, empathy, benevolence, charity). This does not mean everything I write will be concerned with the idea of compassion; rather I will continue to post comments on, for example, music and tennis and movies. But most of the commentary will be about issues I feel has a direct positive impact as well as has the potential to have a significant positive influence. A few random sites I visited and a journal I have purchased that are related to the idea of compassion include Dayton Literary Peace Prize (be sure to check out the recent winners); the MacArthur Foundation, whose mission "supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world" (recent winners include Esther Duflo, Professor of poverty alleviation and Developmental Economics at MIT, and acclaimed writer Edwidge Danticat); and the Stanford Social Innovation Review. I have a few other updates and changes planned for the blog in the near future.

Update: I feel I should refine slightly what I mean by the term "compassion." By compassion I mean an "empathetic desire," borne out of "impersonal love," to alleviate the suffering of those who are "less fortunate." So, for example, if one is to show compassion or mercy to someone who has caused untold suffering to others, one would also have to take into account the suffering of the latter (who are, after all, the ones who are truly "less fortunate"). There are many instances, however, where being compassionate to those who have caused untold suffering, such as the case of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (which Desmond Tutu supported as recounted in his book No Future Without Forgiveness), would be the moral course of action. It depends on the situation. Also, I will be amending the focus of the blog further in the future to incorporate a few other "primary" topics, such as "hope." But that would be later on.

Time Annual list of Most Influential People

Here is the 2009 list of 100 most influential people from Time magazine, which includes the subcategories Leaders and Revolutionaries, Builders and Titans, Artists and Entertainers, Heroes and Icons, and Scientists and Thinkers. Although I am not completely cognizant of the selection criteria, I believe someone from this group of influential people will ultimately be chosen for the honor of "Time Person of the Year", which obviously could include positive role models as well as those less deserving of that appellation. Also, one of the more interesting Time magazine issues to come out in recent weeks was, in my opinion, last week's. In that issue, journalist Richard Stengel, in an article titled For Consumers, a Responsibility Revolution, wrote about the emerging phenomena of "ethical consumerism," which I thought was intriguing and would like to read this week. I use to read Time magazine quite a bit when I was younger but I have stopped doing so because I felt hard news stories about topics that really matter was taking a backseat. However I do check out the occasional compelling Time magazine issue or article whenever possible.

Brief musings on the idea of love and ethics

A year ago I randomly came across a document on the net called "A Christian Response" to "A Common Word Between Us and You." The idea behind the document is that we - Christian and non-Christian alike - are called to "love our neighbors as ourselves." As I read this document, I could not help but think how far we often stray from the spirit of this noble ideal. It is because "perfect love" is so elusive that ethics is needed. While we may be unable to love everyone equally in every instance, ethics allows us to treat others justly or with compassion, as if we loved them. Hatred, selfishness, fear are the ultimate foils to ethical behavior, however. In a book I read several years ago, called Humanity, Jonathan Glover argued that cruelty toward others is borne out of objectifying them, regarding them from a "distance," seeing them as some ignominious "other." We can fall into this trap even if we do not intend to, or consider ourselves to be good people, by merely being complacent about or momentarily indifferent to the suffering of those who are not part of our immediate circle of close friends and loved ones, choosing only to care about others in the most disastrous of situations, as Rebecca Solnit points out in her interestingly titled new book, A Paradise Built in Hell. This is why empathy, being able to put one’s self in another person’s shoes, is so important. In the future I will try to provide my thoughts on books and, to a lesser extent, current event stories dealing with questions about ethics.

Simon and Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water (Live 1969)

Congratulations to Kim Clijsters and Juan Martin Del Potro

I would have loved to see the entire match between Roger Federer and Juan Martin Del Potro. The portion I did get a chance to see was the first set and most of the second set. And at least in those first two sets, the match did look like it was going to be a routine win for Federer: Federer, surprisingly, was basically neutralizing Del Potro’s incredible windspand, hitting sharp angles and coming to net whenever the opportunity arose. Anyone who has seen Del Potro play, however, knows he is not only a gifted athlete but a superbly talented tennis player also. It was only a matter of time for Del Potro to shake off the gitters of being in his first Grand Slam final and find his groove, and it looks like that moment came when Del Potro managed to win the second set – that likely signaled to him that he had a genuine shot at winning. I hope ESPN Classic replays the final so I could see how the drama unfolded. At any rate, congratulations to both Kim Clijsters and Juan Martin Del Potro, two very deserving champions. Here are a few images from the Times.



Unranked Kim Clijsters completed her comeback to tennis by capturing the women's singles title, dispatching 19-year-old Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, 7-5, 6-3. On Monday she was ranked 19th.

Photo: Josh Haner/The New York Times




Clijsters with her daughter, Jada. A 26-year-old wild-card entry from Belgium, Clijsters was a former No. 1 player. She left the game two years ago to start a family, and has played in only three tournaments since her return this year.

Photo: Josh Haner/The New York Times



Juan Martín del Potro is a powerful, 6-foot-6 player with a huge serve whose game is well-suited to the speedy hard court of Ashe Stadium, and he stunned Nadal on Sunday, winning in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.
Photo: Uli Seit for The New York Times

Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company

"The familiar that discloses itself at the end of a journey"

When one thinks of Kim Clijsters and her tennis journey so far, there is a prevailing sense of potential that has yet to be fully realized. Ever since she began playing on the pro circuit, Kim Clijsters has always shown the kind of promise that many of the greatest tennis players have shown when they began their tennis journeys - by virtue of her unbelievable athletic ability, her superb tennis skill and her unyielding determination to run down every ball. We have seen glimpses of that potential greatness when she achieved the number one ranking in women’s tennis; won the US Open title in 2005; won the WTA year-end Championships in 2002 and 2003; and reached the French Open finals twice and the Australian Open once. Even so, for one reason or another, she seemed to be one step behind other top players, such as fellow Belgian Justine Henin. Part of the reason is due to the incredible depth of competition on the women’s tour. Nonetheless it is also true that Kim Clijsters failed to shift things into first gear when the occasion warranted it. The breakthrough that could set Kim Clijsters on a path to fully realizing her potential, however, may have come at this year’s US Open, two years after her decision to retire from tennis and start a family.

The circumstances of her renaissance at this year’s US Open could not have been more exhilarating and surreal. In a match played late last night, as a consequence of the rain that has caused havoc to the schedule of play, Kim Clijsters displayed the brilliant form and mature resolve that dashed Venus’ hopes in the previous round while endearing her to tennis fans. I saw only portions of the match, but, from my vantage point, there was no doubt Kim Clijsters was outplaying Serena Williams – who, as I have mentioned, was “full of confidence” coming into the US Open and was looking for a Grand Slam trifecta after winning the Australian Open and Wimbledon championships this year. (While I will leave it to the tennis authorities to sort out the circumstances of this unusual semifinal encounter, I will say that rules are put in place for a reason – that is, to assure equitable and fair treatment to all). Kim Clijsters will next go up against Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki in a highly anticipated final. As the acclaimed writer Cynthia Ozick once noted: "nothing is so awesomely unfamiliar as the familiar that discloses itself at the end of a journey." Although anything can happen in a tournament marked by surprises, a win in the final will no doubt carry special meaning for Kim Clijsters.

National Day of Service and Rememberance: a few quotations

Through their own lives and through you, the loved ones they left behind, the men and women who lost their lives eight years ago today leave a legacy that still shines brightly in the darkness and that calls on all of us to be strong and firm and united. That is our calling today and in all the Septembers still to come. - President Barack Obama

The world is hugged by the faithful arms of volunteers. - Everett Mámor

Eight years ago, countless people played a part in history by doing something to help another person. Each act was a link in a continuous chain that kept us from falling into cynicism and despair. - Mayor Michael Bloomberg

From this day forward, we will safeguard the memories of those who died by rekindling the spirit of service that lit our city with hope and helped keep us strong. - Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Nancy Wilson singing "How Glad I Am"

Defying the odds: upsets and comebacks

I am taking a quick break from watching - as well as taping - the Rafael Nadal and Gael Monfil match. As expected the match is filled with brilliant shot making and incredible displays of athletic ability on both ends. I have followed Gael Monfil ever since he was a junior, when he won grand slams on three different surfaces – grass at the All England club, the red dirt of Roland Garros, and the Australian Open hardcourts. But like many before him the transition to the pro circuit has not been as seamless as one would expect. And the fluctuations in the match is an indication why: Gael Monfil is able wow the audience with his wide array of skill and natural talent, but has not yet – although he still has time - been able to kick it up a notch during crunch time, something Rafael Nadal, winner of six major titles so far in his relatively young tennis career, is obviously more than capable of doing. Will this US Open be the moment when Gael Monfil is finally able to live up to his true potential?

First on the women’s side but now increasingly on the men’s, additionally, we are seeing the futility of a great number of seeded players in the face of the depth of the field and consequent fierceness of the competition. Andy Murray, one of only a small number of players on tour with a good record against Roger Federer, and a player I thought had a better than average shot of winning the title this year, succumbed to Marin Cilic, a player Andy Murray has actually beaten in the past, although not decisively. Also, after a long fought match, Andy Roddick went down to John Isner, who then had no answers for the shot making variety and athletic versatility of Fernando Verdasco (a player Andy Roddick, nonetheless, stood a good chance of beating). And Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: a player with an abundance of skill and talent and energy, apparently overpowered (I did not get to see this match) by lower seeded Fernando Gonzalez, who has long been a dangerous prospect for any opponent and is showing no signs of slowing down. The difficulty in predicting who would win any given match has certainly added to the suspense and excitement of the tournament this year. Below are a few photographs of today’s action at Flushing Meadows, courtesy of the Times.



Kim Clijsters greeted opponent, 18th-seeded Li Na of China, after storming into the semifinals with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

Photo: Andrew Gombert/European Pressphoto Agency



Spraying ground strokes and misreading returns, Murray bore little resemblance to the steady, self-assured counterpuncher who has thrived on North American hardcourts this year and displaced Rafael Nadal as the world's No. 2 player.

Photo: Josh Haner/The New York Times



Cilic fought off two set points at 4-5 in the opening set, then rolled to a strangely straightforward 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory in 2 hours 8 minutes.

Photo: Josh Haner/The New York Times

Copyright 2009 The New York Times Company

Tennis stars and celebrities have fun for charity

Tennis, Movies and the allure of Jazz

I have not written much lately because I have been really busy, so this post will be a brief summation of some of the stuff I would like to discuss in greater detail but cannot due to time constraints. The first, of course, is the US Open. On the women’s side, the seeds have fallen off at an astonishing rate, which I believe is testimony to the depth of the field. Few to watch on the women side include Melanie Oudin, whose upset wins over tennis stalwarts Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva has put her in the conversation as one of the serious contenders for the title and earned her, in my view, the mantle of breakthrough tennis star this year; Kim Clijsters, whose comeback culminated, recently, in an upset win over Venus Williams; Na Li, who is quietly but expertly making her through the draw; and Serena Williams, who is full of confidence and is playing on her favorite surface, hard courts. On the men’s side, the seeds are holding steady for the most part, but there has been some major upsets, most notably Andy Roddick and Gilles Simon. Roger Federer, whose versatile style of play I admire most, "looks" to be the favorite to repeat. But either Juan Del Potro or Andy Murray is more than capable, when push comes to shove, of staging a huge upset. I cannot say with any certainty who I think could ultimately win – the level of play is universally strong. However, if I were to go out on a limb, I would pick Serena Williams and Andy Murray to win.

Beside tennis, other extraneous things I would like to talk about briefly include: movies, Jazz, and news. First, movies. I have seen most, though not all, of the critically acclaimed films that came out this year, as well as a few that are best forgotten. So far, I liked Star Trek the most, followed by Public Enemies and Harry Potter. District 9 and Up were good (particularly the first fifteen or so minutes of the latter), but not great. I am looking forward to the Oscar race in the fall; the new change implemented by the Academy, namely to showcase ten films in the Best Picture category instead of the customary five, should allow a broader range of deserving films to be honored. Also: while studying I have been listening to Bebop music over the internet. My favorite joints are actually the ones with “love” and “tranquility” as the theme. Perfect quiet is ideal, but the sound of Jazz in the background keeps me attuned and helps the time go by. And finally, I made a few changes to the blog: I added a new “Thought of the Day” feature, which is basically a gadget that tracks the news stories of a particular news topic, which I set periodically to correspond with thoughts and issues I am discussing in my blog entries; and, since I get most of my news about international affairs from the BBC World News America program, I provided a link under “Cool Links” (just below NPR, which is my primary source for things national and local). Until next time.

National Parks, Ken Burns' new documentary, due out this month

Few quotations on nature

I live by a creek, Tinker Creek, in a valley in Virginia's Blue Ridge... - Anne Dillard

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but on trees and flowers and clouds and stars. - Martin Luther

The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do. - Galileo