More stories you may have missed in 2007
It always makes me depressed to think about how little attention the vast majority of Americans pay to the rest of the world. Passport readers are, of course, an exception. But I’m reminded of how isolationist the general American public can be whenever I stumble across stories like this, Time magazine’s Top 10 Underreported Stories ...
It always makes me depressed to think about how little attention the vast majority of Americans pay to the rest of the world. Passport readers are, of course, an exception. But I'm reminded of how isolationist the general American public can be whenever I stumble across stories like this, Time magazine's Top 10 Underreported Stories of the year. Of the 10 stories on the list, seven of them have to do with international developments (OK, this item is arguably a domestic story, but I'm including it in my tally because it's about nukes). And of those seven stories, only one of them was a surprise to me: Brazil's announcement that it had made the largest oil discovery since 2000. (I'm chalking up missing this story to the fact that it happened around Thanksgiving time, when I wasn't paying attention to the news as I should.)
It always makes me depressed to think about how little attention the vast majority of Americans pay to the rest of the world. Passport readers are, of course, an exception. But I’m reminded of how isolationist the general American public can be whenever I stumble across stories like this, Time magazine’s Top 10 Underreported Stories of the year. Of the 10 stories on the list, seven of them have to do with international developments (OK, this item is arguably a domestic story, but I’m including it in my tally because it’s about nukes). And of those seven stories, only one of them was a surprise to me: Brazil’s announcement that it had made the largest oil discovery since 2000. (I’m chalking up missing this story to the fact that it happened around Thanksgiving time, when I wasn’t paying attention to the news as I should.)
Granted, it’s my job to pay attention to what’s going on in the world. But honestly, should it really be new news to people that the U.N. reduced its estimates of those afflicted with AIDS, or that tensions are getting worse between Ethiopia and Eritrea?
At any rate, I suppose I should be grateful that Time is bringing its readers’ attention back to these important topics. But for stories that really went underreported, check out FP‘s The Top Ten Stories You Missed in 2007. And make your family and friends add “pay more attention to international news” to their list of New Year’s resolutions.
More from Foreign Policy
Is Cold War Inevitable?
A new biography of George Kennan, the father of containment, raises questions about whether the old Cold War—and the emerging one with China—could have been avoided.
So You Want to Buy an Ambassadorship
The United States is the only Western government that routinely rewards mega-donors with top diplomatic posts.
Can China Pull Off Its Charm Offensive?
Why Beijing’s foreign-policy reset will—or won’t—work out.
Turkey’s Problem Isn’t Sweden. It’s the United States.
Erdogan has focused on Stockholm’s stance toward Kurdish exile groups, but Ankara’s real demand is the end of U.S. support for Kurds in Syria.
Sign up for Morning Brief
Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter with what’s coming up around the world today. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
