The Foreign Service Journal, February 2006

12 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 6 AIG stated in its rejection letter. “We will be able to reconsider this decision once you have returned from Israel and there are no future plans to travel to countries of concern.” Other members of the committee agreed with Wasserman-Schultz that the risks involved in such travel did not justify the insurance companies’ practice, and added an amendment to the federal Terrorism Risk Insurance Act then under consideration forbid- ding insurers to deny coverage or charge more on the basis of travel unless they can show that such action is actuarially defensible ( http://finan cialservices.house.gov/news.asp? FormMode=release&id=735 ). The Senate version of the bill does not contain the amendment, and it is unlikely to find a place in the final legislation. But insurance regulation is primar- ily a state subject, and the practice of denying coverage based on travel has already become an issue in some states. Maryland banned the practice in 2005, and New York, California, Illinois and Washington have imposed restrictions. U.N. Greets 2006 with New Drive for Reform U.N. officials greeted the New Year by resolving to act swiftly to enact essential reforms mandated by the world body’s September global summit. At the top of the agenda is estab- lishment of a new Human Rights Council to replace the discredited Human Rights Commission. Nego- tiators resume talks Jan. 11, and must finish their work by March, when the Site of the Month: Words Without Borders Calling itself the “Online Magazine for International Literature,” Words Without Borders ( http://www.wordswithoutborders.org ) publishes stories, poems and essays by foreign authors translated into English. The site offers a unique opportunity to learn about a culture’s indigenous literature without a language barrier. The translations into English are superb and maintain the authentic voices of the authors. From the simple, collected thoughts typical of China to the energetic and detail-oriented personality of Cuba, culture seeps through the words and infuses prose and poetry alike with the flavors of anoth- er world. Words Without Borders gives the reader a rare opportunity to get a non- American perspective on different issues; little of these kinds of works get pub- lished in the U.S. through traditional channels. The site allows the reader to search by region or country, an especially helpful tool. The site also has an Editor’s Pick page of books in translation, with well-writ- ten reviews and helpful comments. Again, the books chosen represent a vari- ety of ideas and histories from around the world. Additionally, the site offers a free newsletter. The articles and other features of the site are completely free, though there is an opportunity to become a member and make a donation to keep the ser- vice running. Past issues of the magazine are also available. — Caitlin Stuart, Editorial Intern C Y B E R N O T E S