Global Integrity Report: Russia

Highlights: Russia continues to face challenges in accountability across branches of government, which, in addition to an almost non-existent whistle-blowing culture, serves to increase the power and influence of the ruling political party. While government claims to support a more robust civil society, distinctions are made between domestically and internationally funded non-profit groups. Freedom of the media remains severely restricted in Russia, with the government applying direct pressure on media owners and intimidating journalists. However, Russian public opinion does not rest entirely with the free press movement. Citizens' "paradoxical" relationship with the government and its uneasiness with full democratic change can be seen in a poll noting how "two thirds of Russians are enthusiastic supporters of society's democratic development, but they are not so sure about freedom of the press." There is also a popular mistrust of the judicial system, where all appointments to judicial posts in the last five years have been granted to former members of law enforcement rather than lawyers.This peer-reviewed country report includes:Integrity Indicators Scorecard: Scores, scoring criteria, commentary, references, and peer review perspectives for more than 300 Integrity Indicators.Reporter's Notebook: An on-the-ground look at corruption and integrity from a leading local journalist.Corruption Timeline: Ten years of political context to today's corruption and integrity issues.Country Facts: Statistical context for each country

Global Integrity Report: Nigeria

Highlights: Nigeria continues to suffer from poor accountability across all branches of government and the civil service. While citizens' right to access information is embedded in the regulations of some specific agencies, a general freedom of information act has been sitting in the Nigerian legislature since 1999. There continues to be little protection for whistleblowers, however the creation of internal anti-corruption units in government ministries does provide some hope for effective whistleblower outlets in the future. The Public Procurement Act of 2007 is still in the process of being fully implemented, but it is viewed as having already had a positive effect on Nigerian procurement practices.This peer-reviewed country report includes:Integrity Indicators Scorecard: Scores, scoring criteria, commentary, references, and peer review perspectives for more than 300 Integrity Indicators.Reporter's Notebook: An on-the-ground look at corruption and integrity from a leading local journalist.Corruption Timeline: Ten years of political context to today's corruption and integrity issues.Country Facts: Statistical context for each country

America in Space - the First Decade. Linking Man and Spacecraft

NASA methods, systems, equipment, and facilities for information transfer between spacecraft and eart

Global Integrity Report: India

Highlights: India has a moderate governance framework, with several strong institutions. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is noted for being independent and well staffed. India scores well in tax processes, public procurement and privatization processes. Budget processes, executive accountability and legislative accountability can be improved, yet are above the international median score. Judicial accountability is a notable exception; it is accessed as very weak. Other bad news includes nepotism embedded in the civil service; journalists harassed for reporting on corruption; and an increase in off-the-books campaign finance arrangements. Citizens may dispute the moderate assessment: pessimism about corruption is pervasive.This peer-reviewed country report includes:Integrity Indicators Scorecard: Scores, scoring criteria, commentary, references, and peer review perspectives for more than 300 Integrity Indicators.Reporter's Notebook: An on-the-ground look at corruption and integrity from a leading local journalist.Corruption Timeline: Ten years of political context to today's corruption and integrity issues.Country Facts: Statistical context for each country

The ethical responsibility of the scientist in the development of weapons

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston UniversityThe problem of this dissertation is the formulation of a method for determining the ethical responsibility of the natural scientist for participation in the development of modern military weapons. This question of responsibility is presented to the scientist by the extreme destructiveness of many modern weapons and by the requests of governments for scientists to participate in the development of new weapons. The role of advanced scientific work has become basic and therefore crucial to the success of weapons development programs. The question of responsibility has been debated among scientists and others, particularly since the development of the atomic bomb. In general, this debate has been inconclusive, and no extended studies of the ethical issues involved or of the method needed for resolution of the issue have appeared. This dissertation is an approach to filling this need. [TRUNCATED

Global Integrity Report: Pakistan

Highlights: Pakistan has a very strong anti-corruption legal framework, but practical implementation is a different story, as seen in the weak scores for the anti-corruption agency, law enforcement, and government accountability across all branches of government. Media reporting during the February 2008 elections contained political bias, with women being misled by local television broadcasters to believe they were unable to participate. Pakistan's civil society organizations remain vocal but are not transparent in terms of their funding, which is suspected to come primarily from foreign sources. Despite an increased score for law enforcement accountability from last year's assessment, Pakistan's police force remains "infested with political interference," with bribes a commonplace occurrence.This peer-reviewed country report includes:Integrity Indicators Scorecard: Scores, scoring criteria, commentary, references, and peer review perspectives for more than 300 Integrity Indicators.Reporter's Notebook: An on-the-ground look at corruption and integrity from a leading local journalist.Corruption Timeline: Ten years of political context to today's corruption and integrity issues.Country Facts: Statistical context for each country

Global Integrity Report: United States

Highlights: The United States has a generally strong anti-corruption and governance framework, through troubling exceptions exist, contributing to recent high-level lobbying and corruption scandals. Official secrecy is increasing. Lobbyists exploit loopholes in campaign finance regulations. The United States lacks a true ombudsman; instead a collection of oversight agencies, few of them truly independent, monitor different aspects of governance. The Inspectors General (IG), a key element of this framework, has received considerable political pressure, and IG appointments often go to party loyalists. In the civil service, political appointments made by the president without congressional approval have increased 33 percent between 2000 and 2005 (FEMA leadership during Hurricane Katrina was an example of these appointments at work).This peer-reviewed country report includes:Integrity Indicators Scorecard: Scores, scoring criteria, commentary, references, and peer review perspectives for more than 300 Integrity Indicators.Reporter's Notebook: An on-the-ground look at corruption and integrity from a leading local journalist.Corruption Timeline: Ten years of political context to today's corruption and integrity issues.Country Facts: Statistical context for each country

Some remarks on the concepts of Preferences and Freedom of choice.

No abstract available.