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Created and managed by Carnegie Council Senior Program Director and Senior Fellow William Vocke, Global Ethics Corner is a weekly 2 minute segment devoted to newsworthy ethical issues
Also in the Global Ethics Corner series
Global Ethics Corner: Who Does Everest Belong To?
(01:59)
From: Carnegie Council
A fight on Mt. Everest between Nepalese Sherpas and European climbers has again raised questions about tourism and the world's tallest mountain. Should the Sherpas, who live ...
Global Ethics Corner: Food for Peace?
(02:12)
From: Carnegie Council
Food for Peace, which ships American farm products to developing nations, has long been criticized for crowding out local agriculture. Now, to the dismay of the U.S. farming ...
Global Ethics Corner: Should Childhood Vaccinations Be Mandatory?
(02:05)
From: Carnegie Council
Childhood vaccination programs have been met with skepticism and hostility in the U.S. Some oppose them on religious grounds, while others worry about preservatives. Do ...
Thought Leader: Dan Ariely
(03:41)
From: Carnegie Council
"The good news is that we're figuring out some of the big mistakes people are making, and if we figure out in time, we can try to fight that and actually do things in a ...
Global Ethics Corner: Was the Boston Lockdown Justified?
(02:09)
From: Carnegie Council
As authorities searched for one of the Boston Marathon bombers, the city of Boston and its suburbs were put on lockdown. Was this action justified? Does this set a dangerous ...
Global Ethics Corner: What’s Going on in Guantanamo Bay?
(02:02)
From: Carnegie Council
With over half of the detainees on a hunger strike, tensions are worse than ever at Guantanamo Bay. Is it finally time for the United States to close this detention camp? Or ...
Thought Leader: Srdja Popovic
(02:45)
From: Carnegie Council
"There are two kinds of countries in this world, the good ones and the bad ones. The good ones I count as the countries where the governments are afraid of their people. The ...
Global Ethics Corner: Kenyan Election Controversy
(02:05)
From: Carnegie Council
After a controversial election, Kenya has inaugurated Uhuru Kenyatta, who has been indicted by the ICC for crimes against humanity, as its new president. Should Kenya, a hub ...
Global Ethics Corner: Are We Good Because of God?
(01:52)
From: Carnegie Council
A new book claiming that bonobos can feel empathy suggests that morality may be biological. If this is the case, what purpose does religion serve? Is it still a useful tool ...
Global Ethics Corner: Who Benefits Most From Wearable Computers?
(01:56)
From: Carnegie Council
Apple and Google will, reportedly, both soon be selling computers that you can wear. But will the trove of details that these devices will be able to collect be an invasion ...
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Piece Description
Created and managed by Carnegie Council Senior Program Director and Senior Fellow William Vocke, Global Ethics Corner is a weekly 2 minute segment devoted to newsworthy ethical issues
Transcript
A state's fundamental goal is security for its people. Regimes, which control the legitimate use of force, compete, and openness can undermine security. Military or technological ascendancy can be squandered. Strategic advantages can be lost. Confidential sources (spies) can be compromised.
In contradiction, an underlying tenet of democracy is that the free flow of ideas is crucial for a democracy's health.
So, there are democratic reason's to minimize a state's natural tendency toward secrecy in foreign affairs. There is a political tension between transparency and secrecy.
Unfortunately, there are other reasons for secrecy. For individuals it is safer to stamp everything rather than to risk careers for negligence. Secrecy brings an illusion of importance. Bureaucratic rules impel extensive classification schemes.
The result is detailed in The Washington Post series, "Top Secret Ame...
Read the full transcript
Additional Credits
William Vocke- Producer, Program Director, Writer and Voice Talent
Deborah Carroll- Production Manager
Robert Smithline- Editor
Terence Hurley- Editor
Ina Pira- Media Coordinator
Julia Kennedy- Content Editor
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