This week's Newsweek is running an article on global warming deniers, who apparently prefer to be called to greenhouse doubters. I really thought we were past the stage of denying the existence of global warming in the United States, but clearly I am wrong.

At this point there is little disagreement that the world's oil supply will peak, but people waste time and energy arguing over when it will happen. If it's inevitable that the world will run out of oil, eventually, whether it is 5 years or 100 years from now, it serves everyone's interest to be prepared.

China is currently facing a wealth gap between urban and rural citizens that is widening at a dangerous rate. High growth rates have raised living standards tremendously, but people living in the countryside have seen little or none of this prosperity.