“A new report claiming to be the most comprehensive look at global slavery says 30 million people are living as slaves around the world. The Global Slavery Index, published by the Australia-based Walk Free Foundation, lists India as the country with by far the most slaves, with an estimated nearly 14 million, followed by China (2.9 million) and Pakistan (2.1 million).

Muslim violence against professing Christians is rising in many parts of the world. However, in the CAR, the brutal violence appears to be the reverse (Deutsche Welle, December 5, 2013). “Christians” and others, calling themselves Anti-Balaka (anti-machete) have joined together to form militias, claiming the need for self-defense.

“From twin pro-gay Supreme Court rulings, to the president of the United States referencing ‘our gay brothers and sisters’ in his inaugural address, to the first male pro athlete coming out of the closet, 2013 has been a ‘banner year’ for gay rights” (YahooNews, December 2, 2013). “Years of campaigning started paying off at warp speed, prompting Fred Sainz of the Human Rights Campaign to call 2013 ‘the gayest year in gay history’” (ibid.).

Last week, tensions erupted in the East China Sea when China declared an air defense perimeter around a group of islands currently controlled by Japan but claimed by China, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan (BBC, November 28, 2013). China also announced that its air force was prepared “to deal with all air threats” from unidentified aircraft (ibid.).  The air defense zone amounts to a claim to all the territory and resources within the contested perimeter.

As a result of the “deal” brokered by the U.S.