Two years ago we cancelled a subscription to a very good database because it didn’t have enough use, but it is such a valuable site that this month we welcome back Issues and Controversies. This is a Web resource that helps students understand today’s key issues. This is a product designed for the student report writer or debater.

Here’s a sample from the start of the article about drone aircrafts:

The issue: Is the use of drone aircraft abroad a valuable military tool or an ultimately ineffective method of warfare? Should drones be used domestically for law enforcement and other uses, or will drones in U.S. airspace lead to invasions of privacy?

• Critics of drones say: The use of drones to carry out killings abroad has resulted in civilian casualties, which fuel anti-U.S. sentiment abroad. Furthermore, the government’s embrace of drone warfare has resulted in military activity that lacks transparency and accountability. Domestically, authorizing law enforcement or private interests to fly drones in U.S. airspace will result in unconstitutional invasions of privacy.
• Supporters of drones say: Drones have proved to be valuable surveillance tools abroad and can carry out targeted killings of U.S. enemies without risking U.S. lives. Conventional warfare has become too outdated to effectively fight highly mobile, shadowy terrorist networks, and drones represent the future of warfare. Domestically, drones could be effective in a variety of capacities, from fighting crime to tracking forest fires to locating missing persons.

What follows are ten pages of supporting material.

Having trouble finding a topic for a report? You can pick a subject from the “Issues in the Headlines” section, start drilling through the Subject Index, or pick a word and search for it in the Keyword Search box.

You might be surprised by what you’ll find in Issues and Controversies: Overfishing, the conflict in Kashmir, committing the mentally ill, and bounty hunting are just a few.

Issues and Controversies is a great resource for anyone interestested in learning more about current events.