http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/lifestyle-saudi-trumpets.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Saudi's new university, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, is a huge step away from the typical atmosphere of Saudi universities. The university is the first of its kind in that it will be completely co-ed and there will be no control over the curricula, staff or students from the higher education ministry. The King wants this campus to be as that of any other high quality college anywhere else in the world, one of free thought, equality and easy mingling of independent men and women. King Abdullah laid the first stone at the university and his backing is promised to ensure that the college remain free from any governmental or religious constraints. Surprisingly, the college could possibly headed by a woman. A woman being placed in such a position is definitely a supportive step to what the establishment is trying to promote. The university partnering with as many as 60 other universities is also a step in the right direction to the success of the open enviroment that officials desire. The campus is expected to be completed in 2009. How exciting for a new generation of learners in Saudi.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
idealist.org - Welcome to Idealist.org - Imagine. Connect. Act.
idealist.org - Welcome to Idealist.org - Imagine. Connect. Act.: "The Greensboro, NC Idealist.org Graduate Degree Fair for the Public Good is generously hosted by: University of North Carolina at Greensboro Graduate School Fair Details: 5pm-8pm Cone Ballroom Elliot University Center, First Floor University of North Carolina, Greensboro PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS: If you want to attend the fair to look for grad schools, please register above to the right."
Urbanization And Rising Respiratory Problems
Ever since I’ve been doing these current events I have come across some very supportive articles and disapproving articles. Recently however I have made my own opinion of urbanization. It’s a good thing because it provides jobs and better community unity, involvement, resources, and economy for the people and the cities. However, the longer I do this and research about the effects of urbanization the bad usually out way the good. It makes me think that urbanization is not a permanent fix and will soon come to an end. Leaving behind a lot of things to fix in the process.
This article refers to a bad side effect of urbanization. It’s funny because even in the article the author refers to how urbanization is not bad. Because if the right precautions are taken then the environmental issues will not be a concern now or in the future. But of course the precautions were not and have not been taken and now there are issues about respiratory problems. All the urban activities the pollution global warming due to pollution plus the poor indoor air quality. The quality of the air we breathe affects the way our body works. The more factors contributing to that cause a lot of new problems for urban people to deal with. The motor vehicle admissions with in the city and all of the other smog so close to living quarters can cripple the respiratory system. Children and older people are highly vulnerable and not only can this obviously cause issues but a life long struggle of asthma and respiratory issues.
http://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/Urbanization-And-Rising-Respiratory-Problems-28641-1.htm
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Iraq cholera outbreak slows
Kristyn Phillips
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSKAM037742
Finally the cholera outbreak in Iraq is under control. Since it began in August, the disease killed 22 and there were 4,444 confirmed cases. The epicenter of the outbreak is in Kirkuk where there were 2,968 cases and five deaths. Restaurants and water sources are being monitored to prevent further outbreak. Doctor Sabah al-Dawoudi reported that on October 29 there were three reported cases which is remarkable compared to the greater then 50 cases per day at the start of the outbreak. In Iraq officials are giving advice on how to avoid the disease. In some cases juice stalls are required to use mineral water and restaurants are not allowed to serve salads or tap water.
After about three months it is good to see the numbers of cases dropping. Of all the reported cases it is surprising that more people did not die form the disease. Officals seem to have taken the right measures to get the cholera outbreak under control and to prevent more cases from emerging. If Iraq could get sanitary water it would prevent a lot of the risk of contracting the disease.
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSKAM037742
Finally the cholera outbreak in Iraq is under control. Since it began in August, the disease killed 22 and there were 4,444 confirmed cases. The epicenter of the outbreak is in Kirkuk where there were 2,968 cases and five deaths. Restaurants and water sources are being monitored to prevent further outbreak. Doctor Sabah al-Dawoudi reported that on October 29 there were three reported cases which is remarkable compared to the greater then 50 cases per day at the start of the outbreak. In Iraq officials are giving advice on how to avoid the disease. In some cases juice stalls are required to use mineral water and restaurants are not allowed to serve salads or tap water.
After about three months it is good to see the numbers of cases dropping. Of all the reported cases it is surprising that more people did not die form the disease. Officals seem to have taken the right measures to get the cholera outbreak under control and to prevent more cases from emerging. If Iraq could get sanitary water it would prevent a lot of the risk of contracting the disease.
Samantha Stevens
Soc 202
Prof. Sills
10/29/07
Birth Defects Soaring in China
AFP (Beijing)
Birth defects among newborn Chinese babies has soared from 104.9 deformed births per 10,000 babies to 145.5 deformed births per 10,000 last year. The nearly 40% increase means a deformed baby is born nearly every thirty seconds. Between 30% and 40% of the deformed babies die shortly after birth.
There is a direct relationship between the birth defects and the proximity of the newborn's family to areas of high pollution. Shanxi, one of the most polluted areas in China and the source of much of the area's coal, leads the nation in birth defects. An Huanxiao, head of family planning in the northern province of Shanxi, said that a correlation could also be drawn between the families income and level of education.
These correlations are not "new" news. It has long been known that the more a mother knows about caring for herself and her child, the healthier the baby will be. Access to prenatal care and resources is also extremely important for the health and development of the baby. Families with low levels of education and low income do not have these resources, especially in a place like China, where education for females is not a top priority. And the birth defects are just one of the many prices that must be paid for continuing to subjugate people to the dangerous levels of pollution present in China and other quickly-industrializing countries.
Soc 202
Prof. Sills
10/29/07
Birth Defects Soaring in China
AFP (Beijing)
Birth defects among newborn Chinese babies has soared from 104.9 deformed births per 10,000 babies to 145.5 deformed births per 10,000 last year. The nearly 40% increase means a deformed baby is born nearly every thirty seconds. Between 30% and 40% of the deformed babies die shortly after birth.
There is a direct relationship between the birth defects and the proximity of the newborn's family to areas of high pollution. Shanxi, one of the most polluted areas in China and the source of much of the area's coal, leads the nation in birth defects. An Huanxiao, head of family planning in the northern province of Shanxi, said that a correlation could also be drawn between the families income and level of education.
These correlations are not "new" news. It has long been known that the more a mother knows about caring for herself and her child, the healthier the baby will be. Access to prenatal care and resources is also extremely important for the health and development of the baby. Families with low levels of education and low income do not have these resources, especially in a place like China, where education for females is not a top priority. And the birth defects are just one of the many prices that must be paid for continuing to subjugate people to the dangerous levels of pollution present in China and other quickly-industrializing countries.
Chad children kidnapped
More than 100 children have been kidnapped from their homes in Chad. "Whites came and said they would enroll us in school," a 10 years old boy explains. "They came to talk with our father and he allowed us to go with them. They said they would train us and that when we are grown up we would get a vehicle." The children were convinced to get into the cars with promises and sweets. The charity behind it all is called Zoe's Ark. It is said that this was a plot to kidnap children from Chad and Sudan and sell them for adoption in France. Most of the children are between the ages of three and five so they are very upset and confused about the controversey that surrounds them.
For a parent to be promised that their children will be given a future full of opportunity, what parent would pass that down? Now the one hundred plus children are being held in a sleepy day-care center in Abeche called Baken Assalam. Some are to young to speak or correctly identify their pwn parents. How are they ever going to be reunited with their families?
This has not only become a children's rights issue but it has also turned into a racial issue concerning all white people. Whites that are innocently driving around are being hit with stones and other objects. Locals are describing the situation as this: "The local population feels deceived - they see white people driving around in cars pretending to help them and then something like this happens and then of course everybody is looked at in a very difficult way."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7067659.stm
For a parent to be promised that their children will be given a future full of opportunity, what parent would pass that down? Now the one hundred plus children are being held in a sleepy day-care center in Abeche called Baken Assalam. Some are to young to speak or correctly identify their pwn parents. How are they ever going to be reunited with their families?
This has not only become a children's rights issue but it has also turned into a racial issue concerning all white people. Whites that are innocently driving around are being hit with stones and other objects. Locals are describing the situation as this: "The local population feels deceived - they see white people driving around in cars pretending to help them and then something like this happens and then of course everybody is looked at in a very difficult way."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7067659.stm
Monday, October 29, 2007
Landless Poor Protest in Indian Capital
In a recent article from New York Times, about 27,000 people gather in New Delhi to march to Parliament with only one demand- get have land. However, the police locked them up Monday and barricaded the demonstrators inside. The march organizer, stated, “Day-by-day the Sensex goes up but the common people get nothing from this.” He was talking about the Bombay Stock Exchange, which closed at a record high Monday.
He also claims, “people here are asking ONLY for the basics. There is no greed. They don’t want clothes or electricity, just land so they can feed themselves.” Consequently, after the protestors where barricaded they didn’t care how long it took, because at least they were getting one meal a day from the organizers; where at home they had nothing. Seventy percent of India’s 1.1 billion people are dependent on agriculture to survive. However, about 450 million Indians live on less than $1 a day.
Dherum feeds his five children on about 50 cents a day, made by selling firewood foraged from the jungles. He stated, ''I just want a small piece of land so I can grow some vegetables.'' He just wanted some land so he could provide for his family like his ancestors did before him. ''My father died doing this work, I'll die doing this,'' he said. ''Give us some land to farm, nothing else.''
In conclusion, my analysis of this story is very heartbreaking. I don’t understand how Indians who were here first are getting their land taken away from them. Here we American’s are so worried about immigrants and this country was based on immigrants. I think it is horrible that the Indians live on less than $1 a day and they aren’t even asking for anything but the basic needs to survive. Articles like these make me realize how spoiled I am or we are as American’s always wanting the best of things, and how all these people want is land to work on and to make a living for their family. I think the quote that hit me the hardest was, ''My father died doing this work, I'll die doing this,'' he said. ''Give us some land to farm, nothing else.'' My heart breaks for these people, they are willing to die providing for their families and all they are asking for is land.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-India-Left-Behind.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
He also claims, “people here are asking ONLY for the basics. There is no greed. They don’t want clothes or electricity, just land so they can feed themselves.” Consequently, after the protestors where barricaded they didn’t care how long it took, because at least they were getting one meal a day from the organizers; where at home they had nothing. Seventy percent of India’s 1.1 billion people are dependent on agriculture to survive. However, about 450 million Indians live on less than $1 a day.
Dherum feeds his five children on about 50 cents a day, made by selling firewood foraged from the jungles. He stated, ''I just want a small piece of land so I can grow some vegetables.'' He just wanted some land so he could provide for his family like his ancestors did before him. ''My father died doing this work, I'll die doing this,'' he said. ''Give us some land to farm, nothing else.''
In conclusion, my analysis of this story is very heartbreaking. I don’t understand how Indians who were here first are getting their land taken away from them. Here we American’s are so worried about immigrants and this country was based on immigrants. I think it is horrible that the Indians live on less than $1 a day and they aren’t even asking for anything but the basic needs to survive. Articles like these make me realize how spoiled I am or we are as American’s always wanting the best of things, and how all these people want is land to work on and to make a living for their family. I think the quote that hit me the hardest was, ''My father died doing this work, I'll die doing this,'' he said. ''Give us some land to farm, nothing else.'' My heart breaks for these people, they are willing to die providing for their families and all they are asking for is land.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-India-Left-Behind.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
November 28, 2007 3:30 to 5:00 pm - "The Labor Rights Movement at Smithfield Foods"
Please announce, distribute, post, and forward...
Workers' Rights, Unionization, & Worker Safety
The Labor Rights Movement at Smithfield Foods
November 28, 2007 3:30 to 5:00 pm
Organized by Stephen J. Sills, Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina Greensboro
Poverty level wages, brutal conditions, crippling injuries-this is what 5,500 workers face every day when they walk in the door of the world's largest hog processing plant in Tar Heel, North Carolina. Smithfield Packing has created an environment of intimidation, racial tension, fear, and sometimes, violence, for workers who desperately want a voice on the job.
To meet production goals, the processing lines move exceedingly fast. Workers are under extreme pressure to keep up, and some have reported being verbally abused, or even fired, if they fall behind. Others try to keep up to the best of their abilities, but very few work in this plant for more than a couple months without suffering an injury. Safety and health are of many workers' rights issues at the plant. Human Rights Watch has cited Smithfield Packing for violating international human rights standards in two reports. According to Human Rights Watch, Smithfield has violated the rights of workers to organize a union, has denied workers' compensation to injured workers, and has retaliated against workers for reporting injuries.
Smithfield Packing is a serial labor law violator, having blatantly refused to abide by National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decisions which ordered it to stop unlawfully assaulting, firing, intimidating and threatening workers with violence and arrest. Even after a federal appeals court in May 2006 ruled against Smithfield and upheld the NLRB's cease and desist order, the company continues to disrespect the law.
http://www.ufcw.org/smithfield_justice/index.cfm
Please come to this special talk hosted by the Dept. of Sociology
--
Stephen J. Sills, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology
320 Graham Building
PO Box 26170
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
http://www.uncg.edu/~sjsills/
sjsills@uncg.edu
Biofuel crops a 'crime against humanity'
The article I read is one that brought great interest to my attention. Australia is now able to use its Sugar Crop as a biofuel making them a great global provider of ethanol. Though at first such discovery means that we are now able to use less of a scarce resource towards fuel, UN activists are asking for a five year moratorium against such technological advancements.
UN Famine activists are saying that the conversion of a food crop to fuel is a crime against humanity. One of their biggest arguments is simple... "a child under 10 dies from hunger or disease related to malnutrition every five seconds." Using such crop towards fuel will drastically increase the prices of food world wide. With over 854 million hungry people in the world, the last thing we need is increased food prices.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/biofuel-crops-a-crime-against-humanity/2007/10/28/1193555530464.html
UN Famine activists are saying that the conversion of a food crop to fuel is a crime against humanity. One of their biggest arguments is simple... "a child under 10 dies from hunger or disease related to malnutrition every five seconds." Using such crop towards fuel will drastically increase the prices of food world wide. With over 854 million hungry people in the world, the last thing we need is increased food prices.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/biofuel-crops-a-crime-against-humanity/2007/10/28/1193555530464.html
Sunday, October 28, 2007
To end conflict and find peace, listen, mediator says
To end conflict and find peace, listen, mediator says
Glenda Wildschut, a psychiatric nurse, states that there should no longer be conflict and anger between different ethnicities and cultures. Glenda Wildschut was named to the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1995 by Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected president of that nation. Now she works for the United Nations working committee on justice and reconciliation. Glenda Wildschut is a firm believer that all racial, ethnic, and cultural conflicts should all come to an end and focus more positive energy on peace and happiness. Glenda states that there are more similarities than differences between the people amongst us.
I think its great that a woman in Hawaii is standing up for her beliefs and stating what she thinks should happen. If Glenda continues to hold conferences and committees then hopefully she will see some positive change in her community. Maybe eventually, throughout more than just her community and make a global change.
http://starbulletin.com/2007/10/27/features/story02.html
Glenda Wildschut, a psychiatric nurse, states that there should no longer be conflict and anger between different ethnicities and cultures. Glenda Wildschut was named to the South Africa Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1995 by Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected president of that nation. Now she works for the United Nations working committee on justice and reconciliation. Glenda Wildschut is a firm believer that all racial, ethnic, and cultural conflicts should all come to an end and focus more positive energy on peace and happiness. Glenda states that there are more similarities than differences between the people amongst us.
I think its great that a woman in Hawaii is standing up for her beliefs and stating what she thinks should happen. If Glenda continues to hold conferences and committees then hopefully she will see some positive change in her community. Maybe eventually, throughout more than just her community and make a global change.
http://starbulletin.com/2007/10/27/features/story02.html
Religion Not an Excuse for Criminal Acts
Stephanie Branson
SOC 202 11/2/07
Religion Not an Excuse for Criminal Acts
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0710/S00651.htm
This week I read an article in titled, Religion Not an Excuse for Criminal Acts. It was an article about how the UN rights experts warned against the use of religion as an excuse for criminal acts. It goes on to say how people’s religious beliefs should not be taken as a reason for anyone to do any kind of criminal actions that invade on the rights of others. Yet the freedom in pursuing one’s religion or belief must be protected as well as respected. They discuss how the problem is finding a balance between the two. They want to safeguard freedom of religion or belief yet they do not want this to be an excuse for any kind of violence. The quote that was given said “protection must be complemented by prevention efforts”.
This article was very interesting to me. I always saw religion as a belief and something positive for people to believe in, something that gives you hope, not violence. But then again if you think about all that is happening with Iraq then this article would fit perfectly for this situation. So thinking about this I do believe that there needs to be a balance between religion and criminal acts. But then again when you think about it, it is a hard decision. You want people to be able to believe in what they want to believe in yet if it is criminal then you are saying that they can’t. So what do you do? This is a tough one to answer. I believe the quote that was given is the best answer for this “protection must be complemented by prevention efforts”. So in other words you can believe in what you want to believe in just make sure that you do not harm others or cause criminal acts.
SOC 202 11/2/07
Religion Not an Excuse for Criminal Acts
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0710/S00651.htm
This week I read an article in titled, Religion Not an Excuse for Criminal Acts. It was an article about how the UN rights experts warned against the use of religion as an excuse for criminal acts. It goes on to say how people’s religious beliefs should not be taken as a reason for anyone to do any kind of criminal actions that invade on the rights of others. Yet the freedom in pursuing one’s religion or belief must be protected as well as respected. They discuss how the problem is finding a balance between the two. They want to safeguard freedom of religion or belief yet they do not want this to be an excuse for any kind of violence. The quote that was given said “protection must be complemented by prevention efforts”.
This article was very interesting to me. I always saw religion as a belief and something positive for people to believe in, something that gives you hope, not violence. But then again if you think about all that is happening with Iraq then this article would fit perfectly for this situation. So thinking about this I do believe that there needs to be a balance between religion and criminal acts. But then again when you think about it, it is a hard decision. You want people to be able to believe in what they want to believe in yet if it is criminal then you are saying that they can’t. So what do you do? This is a tough one to answer. I believe the quote that was given is the best answer for this “protection must be complemented by prevention efforts”. So in other words you can believe in what you want to believe in just make sure that you do not harm others or cause criminal acts.
Immigration crackdown expands along border | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
Immigration crackdown expands along border | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "Immigration crackdown expands along border Laredo effort signals an end to return without prosecutions By JAMES PINKERTON Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle TOOLS Email Get section feed Print Subscribe NOW Comments (150) Recommend (5) Related links Speak out Blog: Immigration watch Voice your opinion on immigration Graphics Graphic: Locations of new border checkpoints More Complete coverage of immigration issues The U.S. Border Patrol plans to announce today a 'zero tolerance' operation to prosecute, jail and deport all illegal immigrants caught in the bustling Laredo area, marking a significant tightening of immigration enforcement along a key U.S. border corridor. This stepped-up effort is an expansion of the Border Patrol's 'Operation Streamline' project in the Del Rio and Yuma, Ariz., sectors, which sharply reduced illegal entries. That is being expanded to the sprawling Laredo sector beginning Wednesday, officials confirmed. Extending the operation to a large, populous sector such as Laredo — the nation's largest inland port and a growing commercial center — signals a major expansion of a strategy officials plan to implement along the entire Southwest border."
Saturday, October 27, 2007
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Burmese people 'waiting in the dark'
BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Burmese people 'waiting in the dark': "Last Updated: Tuesday, 23 October 2007, 23:18 GMT 00:18 UK E-mail this to a friend Printable version Burmese people 'waiting in the dark' Montage of photos from the protests in September It has been a month since rare anti-government protests in Burma were suppressed by the military government there. The BBC news website asked people in Burma, who had been previously e-mailing daily updates about the unrest, to describe how life has changed and what has been happening since the dissent was silenced. CHERRY WINN Life is back to normal now, 'normal' being a total decline in every area. Poverty, fear, lack of human rights, that's what's normal here. The government pushed us into a situation even worse than before. People drink rice juice when they can't afford to buy food The inflation rate is getting higher and higher. We expect that prices will go up because the economy is suffering from the political instability. People suffer as they don't earn enough to buy daily essentials. Many families can only afford one meal a day and people have started to drink rice juice when they can't afford to buy food."
The Winds of Change
http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/economy/2007/10/26/getting-a-second-wind.html
Did you know that the fastest growing renewable energy source is wind energy? Wind energy is a renewable energy source that is always in great abundance and has the potential to power the nation. In the United States alone there is a wind turbine built every 4 hours. However, current data shows that still only makes up 1% of the nations energy production. The latest plan in the United States is to build a new wind turbine every 15 minutes, thus boosting wind energy usage to 20%. The United States data still pales in comparison to the efficiency of our neighbors across the pond in Europe. Europeans have long reaped the benefits of using wind energy, and have now shifted their focus to where the wind is most abundant...offshore. In a recent article written by Marianne Lavelle, for the U.S. News and World Report describes how an American company Clipper is working on a research study in England to make the world's largest offshore wind turbine. By placing the wind turbines offshore, the turbines can be placed higher to catch the more powerful wind currents and still be placed close to highly populated areas. Why, one might ask, is a U.S. based company working to with the British to develop the world's largest wind turbine? The answer is because here in the United States we are stuck on the details, such as location. Some people want the wind turbines to be built offshore, where they cost more to build, but are more efficient. Others, want the turbines to be built onshore primarily in Texas, where they cost less to build, but would be less efficient. My opinion of the debate is why not have both? When the turbines built onshore are not producing enough energy, we can then in turn rely on the offshore turbines.
Did you know that the fastest growing renewable energy source is wind energy? Wind energy is a renewable energy source that is always in great abundance and has the potential to power the nation. In the United States alone there is a wind turbine built every 4 hours. However, current data shows that still only makes up 1% of the nations energy production. The latest plan in the United States is to build a new wind turbine every 15 minutes, thus boosting wind energy usage to 20%. The United States data still pales in comparison to the efficiency of our neighbors across the pond in Europe. Europeans have long reaped the benefits of using wind energy, and have now shifted their focus to where the wind is most abundant...offshore. In a recent article written by Marianne Lavelle, for the U.S. News and World Report describes how an American company Clipper is working on a research study in England to make the world's largest offshore wind turbine. By placing the wind turbines offshore, the turbines can be placed higher to catch the more powerful wind currents and still be placed close to highly populated areas. Why, one might ask, is a U.S. based company working to with the British to develop the world's largest wind turbine? The answer is because here in the United States we are stuck on the details, such as location. Some people want the wind turbines to be built offshore, where they cost more to build, but are more efficient. Others, want the turbines to be built onshore primarily in Texas, where they cost less to build, but would be less efficient. My opinion of the debate is why not have both? When the turbines built onshore are not producing enough energy, we can then in turn rely on the offshore turbines.
GE hopes to cut mercury in "green" light bulbs
The company General Electric is taking bigger strides to cut down on the mercury content of lightbulbs. Mercury is a toxic poison found in thermometers and lightbulbs that is harmful if absorbed by the human body. Eliminating mercury will not only cut down on carbon dioxide emissions but will cut energy costs. The new compact fluorescent lightbulbs use only one-fourth the energy of regular fluorescent lightbulbs and still they produce the same light. The new lightbulbs still contain a tiny amount of mercury but only a trace amount. The issue right now for the company General Electrics is that many of these new energy and environmentally friendly lightbulbs are not being recycled. Many of the lightbulbs end up in the landfills. It is the hope of many of the companies that produce compact fluorescent lightbulbs that they will be recycled. These new lightbulbs are becoming popular all around the world. China has already decided to stop using the conventional lightbulbs as well as Canada and Australia.
The benefits will eventually be seen if more countries decide to stop using conventional lightbulbs. To many this might seem like a small way to help the environment, but if everyone begins to use this as a light source benefits will ultimately emerge. Already many energy efficient lightbulbs are being sold at stores such as Target, Wal-Mart, etc. More common everyday products are trying to “go green” to help save the environment. In the next five years it will not be surprising to see numerous products that have changed to meet safer environmental standards.
Jennifer Collins
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN2448675120071025?sp=true
The benefits will eventually be seen if more countries decide to stop using conventional lightbulbs. To many this might seem like a small way to help the environment, but if everyone begins to use this as a light source benefits will ultimately emerge. Already many energy efficient lightbulbs are being sold at stores such as Target, Wal-Mart, etc. More common everyday products are trying to “go green” to help save the environment. In the next five years it will not be surprising to see numerous products that have changed to meet safer environmental standards.
Jennifer Collins
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN2448675120071025?sp=true
Friday, October 26, 2007
Mobster Monster
Mobsters current or past? Believe it or not the MAFIA is still alive today. In early 2004, mob veteran Vincent Basciano took over as head of the Bonanno crime family.
Now less than 50 total members exist and are in action, an all time low for this organization. (about two families in total.) Is it over? Do we need to worry?
Information from: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071025/ap_on_re_us/the_mafia_s_malaise;_ylt=AlMP_cVFDpXBlWhVVeWQ2ais0NUE
Within a year, the ex-beauty shop owner was behind bars — betrayed. This stand-up guy was finally, now sitting down with the FBI.
The mob's activities were evident in recent months in Chicago, where three senior-citizen mobsters were locked up for murders committed a generation ago. In the 1950's more than two dozen mod families operated in the U.S. performing organized crime to anyone, and everyone who had the money for it.
Now less than 50 total members exist and are in action, an all time low for this organization. (about two families in total.) Is it over? Do we need to worry?
Information from: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071025/ap_on_re_us/the_mafia_s_malaise;_ylt=AlMP_cVFDpXBlWhVVeWQ2ais0NUE
International Students Pay More In Australia
Australian higher education system is one of the world's most globally intergrated. Austrilia has the world's highest ratio of international students to domestic students. The affects of this has been huge! Many students study in this region to seek opportunities and experiences that are not available in their homeland. Most students find this area very attractive place to study and meet new people. Many people within the education system thinks that the system could have a better educational reputation. They have been successful at increasing their students numbers and staying within the range of the global higher education range. Now, the numbers are decreasing due to international students paying more than the domestic student fees. International students are recruited in order to cross-subside local students, which is known as the "cash cow" problem. Many institutions give high priority to international students rather than the quality.
I think that the Australian higher education system should not charge international students more than the domestic students. This can be fixed by letting every exchange student pay the same price of tution that they would pay at the primary school from their homeland. This way everyone saves some money, and they won't get treated differently. If this were to happen, maybe the numbers of students would increase again.
I think that the Australian higher education system should not charge international students more than the domestic students. This can be fixed by letting every exchange student pay the same price of tution that they would pay at the primary school from their homeland. This way everyone saves some money, and they won't get treated differently. If this were to happen, maybe the numbers of students would increase again.
No military solution possible, terrorism experts tell Sri Lanka
Terrorism experts tell Sri Lanka’s government officials there will be no end to the war through military means. A political plan needs to be enacted to stop this long term civil war. The military has done a good job getting the Tamil Tigers (a well known organization, branded as a terrorist organization) on the run by capturing and destroying their weapons and ejecting them from their territory. The Tigers will need at least a year or more to get their warfare materials back up to at least 50 percent. However, the military can only go so far. A viable peace deal needs to be put into place. "There are no quick solutions to counter terrorism... the military can only create conditions wherein the adversary is inclined to or feel it necessary to come to the negotiating table," said Malik. Some suggest the Tigers are not interested in peace talks. Political measures have been made in the past to solve the problems and make a truce with the terrorists but have ultimately failed. Some suggest they “need to look at the sympathizers, the financers, the facilitators of money, the propaganda machine, the procurement of arms and criminal activities being carried out”. The Tigers’ Tamil Television Network has 22,000 subscribers in Europe and generates a considerable amount of money from advertising. With these funds, the Tigers will just take their time in recollecting supplies and the war will continue.
I believe the terrorism experts are correct about the solution to the terrorist organization not being through military attacks alone. There is a “negotiation table” the military can offer by their presence to allow for political solutions to come into play. However, if political solutions have been offered in the past, what makes the experts believe there will be one reached now? It sounds to me like the financial flow of the organization can be attacked and other resources can be cut to render this terrorist organization even further from their goal.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hS8XLN7RkfxWQT8PydpdejolrcmA
I believe the terrorism experts are correct about the solution to the terrorist organization not being through military attacks alone. There is a “negotiation table” the military can offer by their presence to allow for political solutions to come into play. However, if political solutions have been offered in the past, what makes the experts believe there will be one reached now? It sounds to me like the financial flow of the organization can be attacked and other resources can be cut to render this terrorist organization even further from their goal.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hS8XLN7RkfxWQT8PydpdejolrcmA
Climate Change Testimony Censored?
This article talks about how the government is not expressing to the general public all of the aspects and potential harms of global warming. Dr. Julie Gerberding, a government expert on the health effects of global warming sent a long testimony to the government. This testimony that originally was 12 pages long was “edited” and then cut to 6 pages. The text that was cut during editing was talking about health effects such as waterborne and animal transmitted diseases. The White House denies censoring her testimony.
I believe that this is kind of just like our government. They censor important information that the public needs to know about. Without this information most of the general public is unaware of all of the serious side effects to global warming. I mean I know that most everyone knows it’s melting the ice caps and the planet is starting to have an overall warmer temperature but that’s about all that everyone knows. They don’t put together that the water warming could cause more standing water which could lead to more mosquitoes and they could potential spread blood borne pathogens. There are many other ways that humans as well as animals can become sick because of global warming that isn’t just solely because of skin cancer.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1675550,00.html
author: H. Josef Herbert
I believe that this is kind of just like our government. They censor important information that the public needs to know about. Without this information most of the general public is unaware of all of the serious side effects to global warming. I mean I know that most everyone knows it’s melting the ice caps and the planet is starting to have an overall warmer temperature but that’s about all that everyone knows. They don’t put together that the water warming could cause more standing water which could lead to more mosquitoes and they could potential spread blood borne pathogens. There are many other ways that humans as well as animals can become sick because of global warming that isn’t just solely because of skin cancer.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1675550,00.html
author: H. Josef Herbert
technology key to meeting regional and global energy needs
This article is about BP idea that the key to meeting regional and global needs is through technology. The article goes on to state that BP showcased some of its industry leading technologies at the World Energy and Chemicals Exhibition, demonstrating how these leading technologies can be applied to meet rising Middle Eastern and international energy demand. BP has developed a range of proprietary industry-leading technologies that have enabled it to increase recovery factors throughout its global network and to unlock difficult to extract resources. BP believes the Middle East has vast resources of ‘difficult hydrocarbons’ which have not yet been developed because they pose significant technical challenges. In the article it also explain Bp's other technologies, BP developed Improved Waterflood Recovery, Waterflooding Technology significantly improves sweep efficiency allowing for greater amounts of oil to be displaced and ultimately extracted. The president of BP said that their aim is to work in partnership with national oil companies and governments to maximizes their resources and meet expansion targets by sharing BP’s global expertise and upstream technologies.
This was an interesting article because I feel that there are people out there that do care about about the world. They are willing to work to save this planet from all of the pollution and the harmful things that is destroying the world. A fascinating fact from the article was "the major Gulf producers have announced plan to increase oil production capacity by more than 50% by 2020, equivalent to an unprecedented average of 1 million barrels/day of net productive capacity per year. . These plans take on new significance in light of increasing global energy demand and domestic and international economic growth".
http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/UAE/217901
This was an interesting article because I feel that there are people out there that do care about about the world. They are willing to work to save this planet from all of the pollution and the harmful things that is destroying the world. A fascinating fact from the article was "the major Gulf producers have announced plan to increase oil production capacity by more than 50% by 2020, equivalent to an unprecedented average of 1 million barrels/day of net productive capacity per year. . These plans take on new significance in light of increasing global energy demand and domestic and international economic growth".
http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/UAE/217901
Condaleeza Rice addresses issue with Private Contractors in Iraq
I just thought some of you might be interested in reading this article in the aftermath of our classroom discussion and viewing of "War Profiteers" about private contractors in Iraq.
Enjoy.
"Rice says 'hole' in U.S. law shields contractors in Iraq"
-By John M. Broder
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/26/america/26contractor.php
Enjoy.
"Rice says 'hole' in U.S. law shields contractors in Iraq"
-By John M. Broder
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/26/america/26contractor.php
Wal-Mart's Need For Speed
Wal-Mart Stores have taken over the world. Monday they announced the company would take over its subsidiary in Japan, Seiyu Ltd. Wal-Mart plans on changing this slump for one of the world’s largest economies.
The move allows this largest retailer an added investment, up to almost $900 million dollars just for Japan. Wal-Mart has 50.9 percent of shares in Seiyu, and pays $1.23 per share. The growth of the highly successful retail chain ensures the long-term achievement will only prosper for Japan.
If the deal is successful Seiyu will be deleted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Wal-Mart’s fast moves are necessary for growth. Management changes are promised, alongside improvement for less than great sales. Many assumed the world’s largest company would have no problem moving in because of Wal-Mart’s increase buys of Seiyu’s stocks. It was only a matter of time.
Seiyu’s net loss in less than a year came to 11.42 billion yen, from just half of that from a loss a year before. Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. have also lost a third quarter of it’s profits. Although they ensure they were going to cut cost controls.
Wal-Mart’s expansion has traveled all over including China and even India. Since Japan such a great commodity for the retail market, they plan on opening larger supermarkets, remodeling the stores, and introducing more high scale technology. For Wal-Mart it is just one country at a time.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21419150/
The move allows this largest retailer an added investment, up to almost $900 million dollars just for Japan. Wal-Mart has 50.9 percent of shares in Seiyu, and pays $1.23 per share. The growth of the highly successful retail chain ensures the long-term achievement will only prosper for Japan.
If the deal is successful Seiyu will be deleted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Wal-Mart’s fast moves are necessary for growth. Management changes are promised, alongside improvement for less than great sales. Many assumed the world’s largest company would have no problem moving in because of Wal-Mart’s increase buys of Seiyu’s stocks. It was only a matter of time.
Seiyu’s net loss in less than a year came to 11.42 billion yen, from just half of that from a loss a year before. Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. have also lost a third quarter of it’s profits. Although they ensure they were going to cut cost controls.
Wal-Mart’s expansion has traveled all over including China and even India. Since Japan such a great commodity for the retail market, they plan on opening larger supermarkets, remodeling the stores, and introducing more high scale technology. For Wal-Mart it is just one country at a time.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21419150/
Equality laws working against young women
A new research shows that 24% or directors in Wales avoid hiring women of child-baring age. New laws of maternity leave were highlighted but are having a reverse effect. 43% of directors in the North East and 32.5% in Yorkshire and Humberside admit to not hiring women who fall in to this category. In London and the South East only 18.5% don’t hire women because they are within the child baring age. Some directors have said they avoid women of child baring age because of “the legal risk posed by the constant changes in regulations regarding maternity pay and leave.” The report also reveals that one in five nationally avoids hiring women in this category and they are in fact discriminating against women in the workplace. The laws on maternity leave and pay were supposed to help women but in fact they are hurting women’s opportunity to find jobs. I think this is horrible. Discriminating women just because they are with in child baring age is horrendous. This does not only happen in the UK, sadly this happens in a lot of places. Businesses do not want to pay for maternity leave so they would rather not hire the women even though the women could be highly qualified. I kind of understand why some businesses do this but they should not discriminate against all child baring women. I guess businesses look at it like if an employee gets pregnant the company has to pay more money for leave and possible hiring someone else while the women is out. I still think it is wrong how some companies discriminate, but it’s never going to go away. There is always going to be discrimination in the world.
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2007/10/24/equality-laws-working-against-young-women-91466-19997830/
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/business-in-wales/business-news/2007/10/24/equality-laws-working-against-young-women-91466-19997830/
Health Care in Cuba: Myth Versus Reality
Cuba's economy is in disarray as a direct result of its government's continued adherence to a discredited communist economic model. This decline has directly affected the health of ordinary Cubans. Lack of chlorinated water, poor nutrition, deteriorating housing, and generally unsanitary conditions have increased the number of cases of infectious diseases, especially in concentrated urban areas like Havana. The grave economic problems in Cuba were exacerbated by the demise of the Soviet Union and the ending of the $5 billion in subsidies that the U.S.S.R. gave annually to the Castro government. Cuba made significant advances in the quality of health care available to average citizens as a result of these subsidies. However, it devoted the bulk of its financial windfall to maintaining an out-sized military machine and a massive internal security apparatus. The end of Soviet subsidies forced Cuba to face the real costs of its health care system. Unwilling to adopt the economic changes necessary to reform its dysfunctional economy, the Castro government quickly faced a large budget deficit. In response, the Cuban Government made a deliberate decision to continue to spend money to maintain its military and internal security apparatus at the expense of other priorities--including health care.
According to the Pan American Health Organization, the Cuban Government currently devotes a smaller percentage of its budget for health care than such regional countries as Jamaica, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic.
Mariam Ahmad
According to the Pan American Health Organization, the Cuban Government currently devotes a smaller percentage of its budget for health care than such regional countries as Jamaica, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic.
Mariam Ahmad
Bomb blasts south of Baghdad kill eight Iraqis
On Wednesday October 24, 2007, two bombs went off simultaneously south of Baghdad killing eight people and wounding 20 others. Police officials said that several of the victims were women and children. The bomb was set off in a busy market area at a bus stop in Shi'ite dominated location, where transportation was provided to take people to their jobs.
The killing of these eight innocent plus 20 wounded people are clear signs that life in Iraq is deminishing and that working to help a family is getting harder and harder each day. A busy market area is now turned into a bloody mess due to terrorists organizations. But its not only the adults that suffer, it is the children as well. Dead and wounded children lay on the ground because of radical ideologies and miss interpretations of the Qu'ran and the Sharia law. There is no better time for the Iraqi people to stand united to stop these radical islamic fundamentalist and proclaim "no more children's blood shall be spilled."
http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-10-24-voa13.cfm
The killing of these eight innocent plus 20 wounded people are clear signs that life in Iraq is deminishing and that working to help a family is getting harder and harder each day. A busy market area is now turned into a bloody mess due to terrorists organizations. But its not only the adults that suffer, it is the children as well. Dead and wounded children lay on the ground because of radical ideologies and miss interpretations of the Qu'ran and the Sharia law. There is no better time for the Iraqi people to stand united to stop these radical islamic fundamentalist and proclaim "no more children's blood shall be spilled."
http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-10-24-voa13.cfm
Investing in Asian American Women Through Education
by Molly Nance
http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_9895.shtml
Wendy Cai is a 33 year old Asian American woman who is a high-level executive at one of the world’s leading investment companies, Deloitte and Touche USA LLP. She has become the youngest recipient of the United Nations Population Fund Award for the Health and Dignity of Women. She has earned this award for promoting education among Asian American women. She has been generating funds for scholarships as a board member of Asian Women in Business, and is "currently raising $200,000 in scholarship money." Cai says that “there are perceptions and challenges out there about Asian women. So we created scholarships for women of Asian decent who are enrolled in accredited, four-year colleges.” She also believes “that education and financial independence is extremely important and that women outside of the United States deserve help, too.” She has been working on micro-lending programs in China, in which the programs will help women out of the situations they are in and help give them better opportunities.
I think that this is a great honor for Cai. For her to give money out of her own pocket shows how committed she is in doing good for women. Right now she is helping Asian women, but maybe someone else will see what a great effort this is and help other women from different parts of the world. And it goes to show that it doesn’t matter how old a person is, everyone can make a difference.
http://diverseeducation.com/artman/publish/article_9895.shtml
Wendy Cai is a 33 year old Asian American woman who is a high-level executive at one of the world’s leading investment companies, Deloitte and Touche USA LLP. She has become the youngest recipient of the United Nations Population Fund Award for the Health and Dignity of Women. She has earned this award for promoting education among Asian American women. She has been generating funds for scholarships as a board member of Asian Women in Business, and is "currently raising $200,000 in scholarship money." Cai says that “there are perceptions and challenges out there about Asian women. So we created scholarships for women of Asian decent who are enrolled in accredited, four-year colleges.” She also believes “that education and financial independence is extremely important and that women outside of the United States deserve help, too.” She has been working on micro-lending programs in China, in which the programs will help women out of the situations they are in and help give them better opportunities.
I think that this is a great honor for Cai. For her to give money out of her own pocket shows how committed she is in doing good for women. Right now she is helping Asian women, but maybe someone else will see what a great effort this is and help other women from different parts of the world. And it goes to show that it doesn’t matter how old a person is, everyone can make a difference.
Friday Fests and other info
Friday Fest - China & Hong Kong
Friday - October 26
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
I-House (Phillip-Hawkins Dorm)
Friday Fest - Iran
Friday - November 2
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
I-House (Phillip-Hawkins Dorm)
Workshop: Curricular Practical Training
Thursday - November 8
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Kirkland Room (EUC)
Friday Fest - Argentina
Friday - November 9
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
I-House (Phillip-Hawkins Dorm)
International Education Week
November 12 - 16
Friday - October 26
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
I-House (Phillip-Hawkins Dorm)
Friday Fest - Iran
Friday - November 2
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
I-House (Phillip-Hawkins Dorm)
Workshop: Curricular Practical Training
Thursday - November 8
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Kirkland Room (EUC)
Friday Fest - Argentina
Friday - November 9
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
I-House (Phillip-Hawkins Dorm)
International Education Week
November 12 - 16
Global Leadership Program, International Programs Center, UNCG
Global Leadership Program, International Programs Center, UNCG
Global Leadership Program
Upcoming Opportunities Online Registration Form Experiential Credit Claim Form
MISSION STATEMENT
"Upon successful completion of the Global Leadership Program, UNCG students should possess a set of skills that enhance their development as leaders and, more importantly, as engaged world citizens with an appreciation of the importance of intercultural understanding reinforced by having applied these principles in their own international experiences."
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
In today’s world ideas, cultures, products, media and people traverse national borders continuously. As a result, UNCG alumni will increasingly work in international and global contexts and will need to understand, adapt to and practice concepts that could only have been imagined a few years ago. Leadership, citizenship and cross-cultural understanding have taken on new meanings and have become essential for the successful citizen of the new globalized world.
The Global Leadership Program (GLP) is open to all domestic and international students at UNCG, demonstrating the University’s commitment to the core value of internationalization and to the importance of enhancing the competencies of its graduates. The GLP welcomes students from all disciplines, whether in the liberal arts or the professional schools.
The core concepts of intercultural understanding, experiential learning and skills development promoted by the GLP will distinguish participants as individuals prepared to assume roles as effective global citizens.
Global Leadership Program
Upcoming Opportunities Online Registration Form Experiential Credit Claim Form
MISSION STATEMENT
"Upon successful completion of the Global Leadership Program, UNCG students should possess a set of skills that enhance their development as leaders and, more importantly, as engaged world citizens with an appreciation of the importance of intercultural understanding reinforced by having applied these principles in their own international experiences."
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
In today’s world ideas, cultures, products, media and people traverse national borders continuously. As a result, UNCG alumni will increasingly work in international and global contexts and will need to understand, adapt to and practice concepts that could only have been imagined a few years ago. Leadership, citizenship and cross-cultural understanding have taken on new meanings and have become essential for the successful citizen of the new globalized world.
The Global Leadership Program (GLP) is open to all domestic and international students at UNCG, demonstrating the University’s commitment to the core value of internationalization and to the importance of enhancing the competencies of its graduates. The GLP welcomes students from all disciplines, whether in the liberal arts or the professional schools.
The core concepts of intercultural understanding, experiential learning and skills development promoted by the GLP will distinguish participants as individuals prepared to assume roles as effective global citizens.
Electricity to be cut off by Israel
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/10/25/israel.gaza/index.html
On Thursday, Ehud Barak who is the Israeli Defense Minister approved the idea of cutting off the electricity to Gaza. Israel has declared this area “hostile territory.” Hospitals and other humanitarian sources will not be affected as the electricity is gradually cut off. Barak would not say when this will begin, but the Israeli daily Haaretz reported that the power and fuel cuts will start in the upcoming days.
This move is part of a plan that was put together by Israeli security officials in response to the ongoing attacks by rockets. Earlier in the year, mid-June to be exact, Hamas gained control of the Gaza Strip, which is a Palestinian territory.
Israeli officials say that the humanitarian assistance will not be harmed, but the United Nations Relied and Works Agency (UNRWA) says that they will be as a result of these new sanctions that are being imposed. The UNRWA states that the impact from these measures will be “extremely detrimental” to the humanitarian services in Gaza.
A spokesperson said that “this would be just another tightening of the knot on Gaza.” About 1.2 million Gazans currently receive emergency food rations while 860,000 people are fed everyday by the UNRWA.
Cutting the electricity to Gaza does not seem like a good idea. Even though Israel does not plan to cut it off to the hospitals and other human services, it could possibly happen in the future. That would be harmful to the community because no one would be able to receive services of any kind, which could be fatal to the community as a whole. I am aware that Israel wants to claim Gaza back, but as of now this war is going to continue no matter how many resources are cut from the area.
On Thursday, Ehud Barak who is the Israeli Defense Minister approved the idea of cutting off the electricity to Gaza. Israel has declared this area “hostile territory.” Hospitals and other humanitarian sources will not be affected as the electricity is gradually cut off. Barak would not say when this will begin, but the Israeli daily Haaretz reported that the power and fuel cuts will start in the upcoming days.
This move is part of a plan that was put together by Israeli security officials in response to the ongoing attacks by rockets. Earlier in the year, mid-June to be exact, Hamas gained control of the Gaza Strip, which is a Palestinian territory.
Israeli officials say that the humanitarian assistance will not be harmed, but the United Nations Relied and Works Agency (UNRWA) says that they will be as a result of these new sanctions that are being imposed. The UNRWA states that the impact from these measures will be “extremely detrimental” to the humanitarian services in Gaza.
A spokesperson said that “this would be just another tightening of the knot on Gaza.” About 1.2 million Gazans currently receive emergency food rations while 860,000 people are fed everyday by the UNRWA.
Cutting the electricity to Gaza does not seem like a good idea. Even though Israel does not plan to cut it off to the hospitals and other human services, it could possibly happen in the future. That would be harmful to the community because no one would be able to receive services of any kind, which could be fatal to the community as a whole. I am aware that Israel wants to claim Gaza back, but as of now this war is going to continue no matter how many resources are cut from the area.
100 laptop program still eyes India
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/ptech/10/25/100.laptop.india.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch
CNN reports that last year, India declined participation in the One Laptop Per Child Initiative. The program initially hoped to provide "rugged little laptops" to children in developing countries and encouraged those countries to support the program by buying at least 1 million computers. Due to Indias rebuffing of the program the standards have been revamped and expectations lowered. Being shut out of the second most populous country in the world seemed a defeat and although the concept has been tougher to sell than expected the organizer are hoping for a second chance with India. As a result of continued talks they have started a pilot program in which 22 children from a one room school in Maharashtra are using the computers. One of India's education consultants claims the model has evolved and this could mean distribution of the computers could soon take place.
CNN reports that last year, India declined participation in the One Laptop Per Child Initiative. The program initially hoped to provide "rugged little laptops" to children in developing countries and encouraged those countries to support the program by buying at least 1 million computers. Due to Indias rebuffing of the program the standards have been revamped and expectations lowered. Being shut out of the second most populous country in the world seemed a defeat and although the concept has been tougher to sell than expected the organizer are hoping for a second chance with India. As a result of continued talks they have started a pilot program in which 22 children from a one room school in Maharashtra are using the computers. One of India's education consultants claims the model has evolved and this could mean distribution of the computers could soon take place.
Human Rights Film Festival - In this World Nov 5th
sorry about the cross posting & duplication... the distribution list has grown so you might get this more than once...
Nov 5 6:30 pm - In This World (2003)
88 minutes
Discussant: Aaron Chandler
"Travelling through Iran, Turkey, Italy, and France, Jamal and his cousin Enayatullah embark on a desperate journey to freedom. Short on money, lacking proper papers, and forced to travel in trucks, lorries, and shipping containers, the two boys find themselves at the mercy of the people-smugglers who make their living out of others' misery. Shot on digital video, "In This World" is styled as a fictional documentary, using voiceover narration and real refugees and locations (including the now infamous Sangatte camp). The predominantly improvised script creates a powerful piece of guerrilla filmmaking." Jamie Russell
Films start at 6:30pm in McIver 028 and will be followed by discussion
More information at http://www.uncg.edu/~sjsills/cci_filmfestival.html
Upcoming films in this series:
12-Nov Life and Debt
20-Nov Invisible Children
28-Nov Night and Fog
Please forward
--
Stephen J. Sills, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology
320 Graham Building
PO Box 26170
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
http://www.uncg.edu/~sjsills/
sjsills@uncg.edu
"Opposition Leader Meets Burmese Official"
By: Seth Mydans
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/world/asia/26myanmar.html?ei=5087&em=&en=d5
On Thursday a special "minister of relations" met with long time opposition leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in Myanmar following increased pressure from the international community. Suu Kyi has been held under house arrest for the past twelve years for her advocation of democracy in Myanmar, which has been under military control for the past two decades. U.N. envoy, Ibrahim Gambari urged Burmese officials to take this step since the government continues to face economic sanctions and criticism for its suppression of a large anti-governmental demonstration "led by tens of thousands of Buddhist monks" (Mydans). While the government claims that only ten people died from the crackdown, other sources inside say that the numbers were much higher. Not only is the government suppressing peaceful demonstrations, but "the military is also continuing a campaign of intimidation and arrests and appears to have rounded up most of the leaders of these demonstrations" (Mydans). Shortly following Gambari's suggestions, the junta's leader, Senior General Than Shwe, said he would meet with Aung San Suu Kyi personally. However, many speculate as to his sincerity, since he was quoted following that statement that she should "stop advocating economic sanctions and abandon what he called her backing for ' "confrontation" ' and ' "utter devastation" ' (Mydans).
It sounds to me like the military government of Myanmar is simply looking to "placate" the international community, as the article suggests. A government that has recently stifled a peaceful demonstration by killing "ten people" (more accurately hundreds if not thousands) cannot have any intention of cooperating with a woman who seeks to throw them out of power. The Senior General's own comments relay that message quite clearly. Although I do have hope that the UN and other international organizations will help Myanmar become free of its oppressive government, the military officials are not going to simply lay down their arms and allow it to become an open, democratic state. The show that was put on in Burma does not appear to have fooled anyone.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/26/world/asia/26myanmar.html?ei=5087&em=&en=d5
On Thursday a special "minister of relations" met with long time opposition leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, in Myanmar following increased pressure from the international community. Suu Kyi has been held under house arrest for the past twelve years for her advocation of democracy in Myanmar, which has been under military control for the past two decades. U.N. envoy, Ibrahim Gambari urged Burmese officials to take this step since the government continues to face economic sanctions and criticism for its suppression of a large anti-governmental demonstration "led by tens of thousands of Buddhist monks" (Mydans). While the government claims that only ten people died from the crackdown, other sources inside say that the numbers were much higher. Not only is the government suppressing peaceful demonstrations, but "the military is also continuing a campaign of intimidation and arrests and appears to have rounded up most of the leaders of these demonstrations" (Mydans). Shortly following Gambari's suggestions, the junta's leader, Senior General Than Shwe, said he would meet with Aung San Suu Kyi personally. However, many speculate as to his sincerity, since he was quoted following that statement that she should "stop advocating economic sanctions and abandon what he called her backing for ' "confrontation" ' and ' "utter devastation" ' (Mydans).
It sounds to me like the military government of Myanmar is simply looking to "placate" the international community, as the article suggests. A government that has recently stifled a peaceful demonstration by killing "ten people" (more accurately hundreds if not thousands) cannot have any intention of cooperating with a woman who seeks to throw them out of power. The Senior General's own comments relay that message quite clearly. Although I do have hope that the UN and other international organizations will help Myanmar become free of its oppressive government, the military officials are not going to simply lay down their arms and allow it to become an open, democratic state. The show that was put on in Burma does not appear to have fooled anyone.
Money Sent Home
According to an article in the New York Times, after years of strong increases, the amount of money Mexican migrants in America are sending back home has stagnated. Between 2000 and 2006, the amount of money increased from $6.6 billion to $24 billion. So far in 2007 the increase has been less than two percent. The money sent home allows the migrants’ families to pay medical bills and school fees, start small businesses, build houses, and buy clothes and food. Recently, the flagging economy and an enforcement campaign against illegal workers have deterred many migrants from crossing the border illegally in search of work. Many of those in the United States are sending less money back home.
While families in Mexico are feeling squeezed, in the rest of the world remittances are rising up to as much as ten percent a year. Last year migrant workers sent more than $300 billion to families in developing workers. This is nearly twice as much as foreign direct investment.
Today, many migrants who work in the United States have returned home discouraged. The crack down on illegal immigration at the border and in the workplace, along with the construction slump and anti-immigrant sentiments, has made it harder for Mexican migrants to cross into the United States and find work.
I believe that poverty is at the core of immigration. It is one of the main factors pushing immigrants to cross U.S. borders. It fills me with anger when I hear people make anti-immigrant remarks without attempting to understand what would drive a person to cross into the U.S. illegally. Immigration levels will not decease until the problem of poverty is correctly addressed.
While families in Mexico are feeling squeezed, in the rest of the world remittances are rising up to as much as ten percent a year. Last year migrant workers sent more than $300 billion to families in developing workers. This is nearly twice as much as foreign direct investment.
Today, many migrants who work in the United States have returned home discouraged. The crack down on illegal immigration at the border and in the workplace, along with the construction slump and anti-immigrant sentiments, has made it harder for Mexican migrants to cross into the United States and find work.
I believe that poverty is at the core of immigration. It is one of the main factors pushing immigrants to cross U.S. borders. It fills me with anger when I hear people make anti-immigrant remarks without attempting to understand what would drive a person to cross into the U.S. illegally. Immigration levels will not decease until the problem of poverty is correctly addressed.
UN Chief Decries Female Violence
Read the full article here.
“The U.N. secretary-general warned that violence against women has reached "hideous" levels in some countries trying to recover from conflict, and the U.N. Security Council demanded an end to impunity for rape and other sexual abuse.”
"While rape is used as a weapon of war in situations such as ... Congo and Darfur, addressing this war crime requires going beyond political compromise, power and resource sharing agreements," he said. "Instead, combating rape and other forms of sexual violence calls for concerted, robust and ongoing action on the part of both national actors and also the international community at every level of engagement."
All governments, parliaments, international organizations, and civic groups have been urged to take part and help by joining a worldwide campaign on violence against women and girls that will launch later this year.
This reminded me of what we were talking about in class recently, about rape to wipe out a certain group of people with genocidal ways. Or, when women are raped during times of war, as their homes are raided and ransacked, just for the fun of it, or whatever false reasons people can come up with in defense for themselves. I think it’s terrible, there’s no excuse, and they do need to put a stop to things like this. It’s nice to see that they’re making it a priority. Whether it’s successful is yet to be seen, considering the campaign hasn’t launched yet. I’m wishing it luck though.
“The U.N. secretary-general warned that violence against women has reached "hideous" levels in some countries trying to recover from conflict, and the U.N. Security Council demanded an end to impunity for rape and other sexual abuse.”
"While rape is used as a weapon of war in situations such as ... Congo and Darfur, addressing this war crime requires going beyond political compromise, power and resource sharing agreements," he said. "Instead, combating rape and other forms of sexual violence calls for concerted, robust and ongoing action on the part of both national actors and also the international community at every level of engagement."
All governments, parliaments, international organizations, and civic groups have been urged to take part and help by joining a worldwide campaign on violence against women and girls that will launch later this year.
This reminded me of what we were talking about in class recently, about rape to wipe out a certain group of people with genocidal ways. Or, when women are raped during times of war, as their homes are raided and ransacked, just for the fun of it, or whatever false reasons people can come up with in defense for themselves. I think it’s terrible, there’s no excuse, and they do need to put a stop to things like this. It’s nice to see that they’re making it a priority. Whether it’s successful is yet to be seen, considering the campaign hasn’t launched yet. I’m wishing it luck though.
Family Quality and Family Planning
DEVELOPMENT OF HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS FAMILIES
Family Quality
The Government will pass policies for the carrying out the growth of family value to be set forth in laws and regulations.
The enactment of policies will be going to towards the understanding of family quality characterized by family self-reliance and resilience as human resource potentials, and conserving the environment, and building human harmony in the environment in order to attain continuous development.
Family Planning
In order to realize the development of happy and prosperous families, the Government must pass regulations on efforts to carry out family planning.
The policies must be carried out by efforts to better the integration and participation of society, family guidance and birth control in regard to religious values, harmony, proportion, and balance between the size of the population and what the environment can support and house, conditions of socio-economic and socio-cultural development in addition to systems of values adhered to by society.
The policies will be linked to the willpower of the ideal number of children, the spacing of childbirth, the ideal marriage age, and the ideal age for delivery.
Birth control should be carried out by methods which are efficient and effective and which can be accepted by husband and wife couples in agreement with their choice.
Birth control methods should be carried out by methods which can be accounted for with regards to health, ethics, and the religion followed by the persons concerned.
Every husband and wife as a couple can make their own choice in planning and regulate the number of children and the spacing of childbirth based on alertness and responsibility to the present generation and to future generations.
The husband and wife have equal rights and duties in addition to equal status in deciding the method of birth control.
The use of birth control devices, drugs and methods which give rise to a risk to health shall be carried out under guidance and or by competent health personnel.
The actions for uses must be carried out according to professional health standards in line with prevailing laws and regulations.
The showing and or demonstration of contraceptive devices, drugs and methods can only be done by skilled personnel in the field of planning and in the proper place and in the proper way.
The Government must control the supply and or distribution of contraceptive devices and drugs based on a balance between needs, supply, and reasonable distribution of services.
Research and development of the technology of contraceptive devices, drugs and methods must be carried out by the Government and or society based on the provisions of prevailing laws and regulations.
In order to instill the norm of the small, happy and prosperous family, the Government must carry out efforts to improve public information, guidance and or services regarding birth control and the provision of facilities and basic organization required for birth control services; counseling on determination of the ideal marriage age and delivery age.
http://www.unescap.org/esid/psis/population/database/poplaws/law_indo/chap6.htm
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Urbanization rate 'higher than thought'
A renowned economist said that the real urbanization rate has exceeded the official figure of 43 percent, as it has surpassed the 65 percent mark. This means that instead of the 517 million urbanites, China has 800 to 900 million. Urbanite is defined as a person that stays in a city for a minimum of three months. This new number has caused a change in policy propositions, as China’s governments are now putting forth efforts to conform urban and rural development. One government official said that China should avoid a situation where infrastructure in villages sits idle. Thus the government started a campaign last year, which gave money to rural areas to build new roads, standardize houses for villages, ensure clean water supplies, and to provide healthcare for villagers.
A problem that urbanization has caused are the workers available in the villages. Since nearly 90 percent of people are in the city instead of these villages, there isn’t a lot left behind to do the rural work. Also those who have left for the city are not likely to return to the villages.
I like this article because it shows the efforts China is making toward urbanization. I like that they are reaching out toward the rural areas. I believe if they don’t the gap between rural and urban/city economies and class will grow substantially, as the rural areas are left behind in the dust. I like that the campaign reaches out in helping rural areas with economic issues as well as individual care through the clean water and healthcare advances. I have noticed that with all of the concern with urbanization, rural areas seem to be excluded because the government is mored worried about where the growth is taking place. But with the campaign China is enforcing it seems that they are taking into account all aspects of urbanization. Because it affects everybody, from those who are leaving to live in urban zones, to those who have been left behind for new beginnings.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-10/18/content_6185612.htm
A problem that urbanization has caused are the workers available in the villages. Since nearly 90 percent of people are in the city instead of these villages, there isn’t a lot left behind to do the rural work. Also those who have left for the city are not likely to return to the villages.
I like this article because it shows the efforts China is making toward urbanization. I like that they are reaching out toward the rural areas. I believe if they don’t the gap between rural and urban/city economies and class will grow substantially, as the rural areas are left behind in the dust. I like that the campaign reaches out in helping rural areas with economic issues as well as individual care through the clean water and healthcare advances. I have noticed that with all of the concern with urbanization, rural areas seem to be excluded because the government is mored worried about where the growth is taking place. But with the campaign China is enforcing it seems that they are taking into account all aspects of urbanization. Because it affects everybody, from those who are leaving to live in urban zones, to those who have been left behind for new beginnings.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-10/18/content_6185612.htm
Turkish Bombings on Kurdish Rebels
Turkish warplanes and helicopter gunships have been Kurdish separatist positions in Turkey along the Iraqi-Turkish border, aimed continuing diplomatic efforts to avert a major cross-border incursion by Turkish military forces. Reports say that there has been reported aerial strikes have been going on since Sunday with several F-16 warplanes loaded with bombs taking off from an airbase in a southeastern city. Turkish government has been receiving public pressure to authorize a strike against Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters accused of mounting attacks against Turkish forces and civilians. A Kurdish television station broadcasted the footage of the capture of eight troops by the PKK in the attack that killed 12 on Sunday. Turkish officials did report that eight soldiers were missing, but not confirmed hostages. The Turkish government is pledging to do its best in order to limit the PKK and its terrorist activities that are a threat to Iraq. The government offered a cease-fire but it was rejected because a cease-fire was something only to be agreed upon between two countries or militaries, and not with a terrorist organization. The U.S. fears that the Turkish strikes against the PKK could destabilize the supply lines to the 160,000 troops in Iraq. The U.S. is launching a major diplomatic push to persuade Iraq to move against the PKK and to keep Turkey from launching an attack.
The U.S. only seems to be concerned with one thing, and one thing alone, the success of its own operations against certain terrorist organizations and not with terrorist organizations outside of the war we are fighting. I believe the war is called The War on Terrorism, not The War of Terrorism of Certain Organizations. Instead of the U.S. pushing Iraq to move against the PKK why don’t we aid in the move against them to end that effort so maybe we could get extra help when we need it. If other countries see we only want to benefit for ourselves, we are going to start losing support from all the other countries.
http://cnn.site.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Turkish+planes+bomb+Kurdish+rebels+-+CNN.com&expire=-1&urlID=24582276&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2007%2FWORLD%2Fmeast%2F10%2F24%2Fturkey.kurds%2Findex.html%23cnnSTCText&partnerID=211911
The U.S. only seems to be concerned with one thing, and one thing alone, the success of its own operations against certain terrorist organizations and not with terrorist organizations outside of the war we are fighting. I believe the war is called The War on Terrorism, not The War of Terrorism of Certain Organizations. Instead of the U.S. pushing Iraq to move against the PKK why don’t we aid in the move against them to end that effort so maybe we could get extra help when we need it. If other countries see we only want to benefit for ourselves, we are going to start losing support from all the other countries.
http://cnn.site.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=Turkish+planes+bomb+Kurdish+rebels+-+CNN.com&expire=-1&urlID=24582276&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2007%2FWORLD%2Fmeast%2F10%2F24%2Fturkey.kurds%2Findex.html%23cnnSTCText&partnerID=211911
A year without murder
Courtney Keeton
IGS 233B
10th Blog
Crime
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=82f40c3e-97e0-4f50-8b2a-85d1d5832f37&k=84380
This week, my story comes from the Canadian province of Quebec where they have good news, but don’t want to celebrate. For the first time in 45 years, on October 31, Quebec will be able to say that they have not had a murder in a year.
Quebec has always been known to have a relatively low crime rate and it can also boast the fact that it has the lowest homicide rate in the country, too. However, the city’s officials aren’t bragging and are just as surprised, if not more, than people outside the city. They are calling it “a stroke of luck.” This may be because although homicide is nonexistent as of yet, the city is not really any safer than it was this time last year. This may be due to the fact that violent crimes, including sexual and aggravated assault are on the rise.
A criminologist stated that there was really no reason to focus on the statistics for the last year. He goes on to say that in order to get a glimpse at the real statistics, they cannot focus on the decrease in one type of crime while others go up. It’s not accurate and to be able to attain those results, an ongoing study must be done to get the correct data. Basically, as the criminologist stated, they [the citizens and officials of Quebec city] should be happy and enjoy the luck while they have it.
IGS 233B
10th Blog
Crime
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=82f40c3e-97e0-4f50-8b2a-85d1d5832f37&k=84380
This week, my story comes from the Canadian province of Quebec where they have good news, but don’t want to celebrate. For the first time in 45 years, on October 31, Quebec will be able to say that they have not had a murder in a year.
Quebec has always been known to have a relatively low crime rate and it can also boast the fact that it has the lowest homicide rate in the country, too. However, the city’s officials aren’t bragging and are just as surprised, if not more, than people outside the city. They are calling it “a stroke of luck.” This may be because although homicide is nonexistent as of yet, the city is not really any safer than it was this time last year. This may be due to the fact that violent crimes, including sexual and aggravated assault are on the rise.
A criminologist stated that there was really no reason to focus on the statistics for the last year. He goes on to say that in order to get a glimpse at the real statistics, they cannot focus on the decrease in one type of crime while others go up. It’s not accurate and to be able to attain those results, an ongoing study must be done to get the correct data. Basically, as the criminologist stated, they [the citizens and officials of Quebec city] should be happy and enjoy the luck while they have it.
Comfort for the Prostituted
Child prostitution is becoming all too common around the world. Finally though, some of these children are going to be able to rest a little easier. About twenty of these Nigerian child prostitute ring leaders have been arrested. These people are being charged with more than just prostitution leadership. They are also involved in cases made against them including smuggling people into other countries (the children), and making fake passports for the children. For a while, the Dutch police force was investigating the disappearance of close to 150 young children from safe centers. They were found scattered between France, Italy and Spain, working as prostitutes. The children were pressured into this by taunting voodoo rituals. They were forced to swear to repay “debts” to the voodoo minister. The majority of the suspects were apprehended after raids conducted in the Netherlands. The remainder of the suspects turned up in New York, Spain, Belgium, and Coventry. The suspects that were apprehended in Nigeria will be facing charges in court during the week while the Netherlands are waiting to hear from the host countries. This means that the Netherlands are hoping to apprehend and punish each of the other suspects by their laws.
It is refreshing that some children are finally getting relief. However, why can’t more children be pulled from the rubble? Why can’t more perpetrators be prosecuted? Aren’t the children of the future worth putting in a little extra effort? Out of an innumerable number of people who are leading this prostitution and people smuggling, only twenty have been brought to justice. This number can be severely improved.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21455663/
Mindy Collins
It is refreshing that some children are finally getting relief. However, why can’t more children be pulled from the rubble? Why can’t more perpetrators be prosecuted? Aren’t the children of the future worth putting in a little extra effort? Out of an innumerable number of people who are leading this prostitution and people smuggling, only twenty have been brought to justice. This number can be severely improved.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21455663/
Mindy Collins
Europe condemns Iran over human rights issues
The European Union Parliament has recently shown that they are willing to take steps to resolve human rights violations in Iran. The EU is very resistant towards the discriminations against journalists, homosexuals, and human rights activists in Iran, and they are beginning to talk about ways that their parliament can make some kind of difference.
Iran still actively practices stoning and public hangings as punishments, and furthermore, some are given these punishments before they are even proven guilty, based on discriminations. The EU says that it is a violation of human rights to kill or torture someone based on no criminal activity, and they say that Iran has some priorities to sort out or the EU will think about ways to get involved.
It's hard to imagine stoning taking place anywhere outside the Christian Bible- much less in modern times. Not only do the victims of Iran's human rights violations have to face gruesome deaths, according to the article, a majority of the deaths are public. The EU is not saying that they will take action, but as of now, they are strongly condemning the Iranian government hoping that a change will take place. Apparently, Iran has been responsible for violations of human rights for years, and the EU is just starting to get fed up. It's difficult to say whether it is another nation's job to go into another nation because of human rights violation- but it had to be done in the case of Germany, and Iraq, and it sounds like Iran may be next. Can our modern civilization save the uncivil? I'd like to think that we'd try to help, of course, avoiding a drawn out war and revolution (that we've failed to do in the case of Iraq). The EU does not want to "start anything" but hopefully by noticing the mishaps and saying something, some kind of change will be made.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3464183,00.html
human rights and democracy
Summer Little
Iran still actively practices stoning and public hangings as punishments, and furthermore, some are given these punishments before they are even proven guilty, based on discriminations. The EU says that it is a violation of human rights to kill or torture someone based on no criminal activity, and they say that Iran has some priorities to sort out or the EU will think about ways to get involved.
It's hard to imagine stoning taking place anywhere outside the Christian Bible- much less in modern times. Not only do the victims of Iran's human rights violations have to face gruesome deaths, according to the article, a majority of the deaths are public. The EU is not saying that they will take action, but as of now, they are strongly condemning the Iranian government hoping that a change will take place. Apparently, Iran has been responsible for violations of human rights for years, and the EU is just starting to get fed up. It's difficult to say whether it is another nation's job to go into another nation because of human rights violation- but it had to be done in the case of Germany, and Iraq, and it sounds like Iran may be next. Can our modern civilization save the uncivil? I'd like to think that we'd try to help, of course, avoiding a drawn out war and revolution (that we've failed to do in the case of Iraq). The EU does not want to "start anything" but hopefully by noticing the mishaps and saying something, some kind of change will be made.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3464183,00.html
human rights and democracy
Summer Little
Jolie: 'I dont know what the excuse is'
Angelina Jolie, actress and humanitarian, has a new cause: she is the spokeswoman for Global Education Week and she has called on the worlds nations to help all of the worlds children to go to school. She was on a family vacation, when she emerged to speak on behalf of the children in poor countries who do not get a chance to go to school. When asked what was the worst thing on her mind, Jolie said that the lack of education causes death. She said that more children die under the age of 5 just because their parents were uneducated. She said that more people get AIDS because they aren't educated and that there are statistics that prove that if every child was in school, 700,000 less people would get AIDS. She adopted 2 children and says that her children could be in the same situation as the rest of the children. She especially looks at her daughter because millions of children, especially girls are uneducated. She says that there would have been no possible way her daughter would have been able to have gone to school. She looks at her son and says that he could have been one of the children digging through garbage cans. She is glad that she has helped 2 children in some way and that she is going to beable to provide a good, descent education for them. She said when she visited Cambodia, she said it must have been the worst thing in the world because she saw so many moms who were not able to give their children everything they deserve. She thinks that American people can help these children, even though we have problems at home. She says that it does not make sense to fix your own house when your neighbors are falling into chaos. The interviewer said that the US spends alot of money on helping poor people get educated and Jolie agreed. But she also said that 'no child left behind means no child left behind.' She says Britain gives 3 times as much as we do and that they arent richer than us and she doesnt understand what the excuse is.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12504495/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12504495/
Throughout the world, crime rates are on the rise. More specifically than terrorism or state crime, street crime is rearing its ugly head. Often, the victims of crimes such as murder and robbery are as poor as the perpetrator. According to a 2003 report, all the countries which the UN tracks have rising violent crime rates. Even the
One intriguing thought is what social forces are leading to the rise in crime? Obviously economic inequality, as stated in the article. But does something as simple as peer pressure amongst younger adults come into account? Perhaps the solution is as simple as offering an alternative to desperate individuals. The question is what are those alternatives?
Source: http://libproxy.uncg.edu:2123/itw/infomark/1/1/1/purl=rc1_OVRC_0_A165912976?sw_aep=gree35277
Findings Show Small and Medium Business Largely Incapable of Defending Against Internet Threats
According to Webroot Research Inc., an internet security company, small and medium businesses around the globe are facing more and more security threats due to their inability to adequately safeguard themselves. Lacking the resources of large corporations, small companies often cannot afford the technical expertise or are unaware of the need for it. In addition, many companies mistakenly believe viruses and Trojans pose the greatest threat. According to Webroot’s security report, the prevalence of spyware accounts for the most damage. Surveys consistently show that small and medium businesses make up 99.5% of most countries business force and account for nearly 50% of each country’s Gross Domestic Product. Further, 77% of businesses claim they rely on the internet. Many depend on it to keep track of customer information from online sales, and up to 52% are home-based or remote. Often, small business must contend with the fast paced mobile workforce, which strains their ability to manage the influx of new technology safely. Companies often have no way to enforce the personal activities of its employees which may compromise the company’s network. It is a daunting task to keep up with all the new threats as well. Even if defensive measures are in place, 60% reported virus infections within the past year.
While Webroot’s specialty in internet security lends some weight to its report, one must consider any conflict of interest that may be present. It is not inconceivable to think that Webroot may want to bolster the threat findings in order to demonstrate more need for its product. Further more, only six countries were polled, and they were industrialized countries. If smaller countries with less of an online workforce are taken into account, the threat levels would undoubtedly fall.
Source: http://libproxy.uncg.edu:4618/ehost/detail?vid=1&hid=120&sid=e78b465a-9ff8-4318-b4bb-0033e0c0ed02%40sessionmgr103
Suicide blast kills 24 in Pakistan
In Lahore, Pakistan there was a suicide blast that had targeted a police truck in the Taliban-dominated area of north West Frontier province. The suicide blast killed 24 people, mostly police last Thursday. This attack occurred in Mangora, which is located in the Swat district of Pakistan. Recently, 2,500 troops were deployed in the area to maintain law and order. Police officer, Amjad Kahn, told the Associated Press that the blast hit a platoon of 43 Frontier Constabulary troops in a truck near the police district headquarters. Last week a suicide bombing in Karachi targeted a convoy carrying former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, which killed 136 people. On Thursday, Bhutto told CNN she intends to visit her constituency in Larkana on Saturday amid security fears after last week’s bombing. Hours after Bhutto’s arrival in Karachi, the attack occurred. She feels a dilemma in her decision to return to her ancestral village. She told CNN International that she did not want to risk any more lives but they feel if they do not take the risks in traveling then in fact militants and their sponsers, organizers, and financers will suceed in stopping the democraic process. Pakistan suspects al Qaeda for the suicide attack even though no real suspects have been accused. Bhutto was not hurt in the attacks but she not only wants to find the people who carried out the attack, but also those financing and organizing them. She blames Islamic militants as well as securtity services and elements within the government.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/25/pakistan.blast/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/10/25/pakistan.blast/index.html
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Italian Mafia Turnover $120 Billion
The Mafia has become one of Italy's biggest businesses with turnover of over one hundred and twenty billion dollars. This report was prepared by Italy's leading retailers association who warn of the Mafia's growing influence in the south. Seven percent of Italy's outcome is filtered off by organized crime. The same retailer's association says that they are concerned by the Mafia extortion rackets from small to big businesses. Organized crime is present in all areas of the economy, from food manufacture to tourism, from real estate to finance and in the service industries. In Sicily, eight out of ten shops pay a regular monthly sum to the Mafia. Deputy Minister of the Interior, Marco Minniti said the growth of Mafia crime is alarming.
It seems to me that what Mafia crime is far from being on it's way out and if it gets too strong then there will be no way to put an end to it. Organized crime is not just limited to Italy either, there is still a good amount in the United States as well as other parts of the world. Mafias make their money by preying on and extorting the weak. They are pretty much like school yard bullies and if no one stands up to them, then they will always reign supreme.
It seems to me that what Mafia crime is far from being on it's way out and if it gets too strong then there will be no way to put an end to it. Organized crime is not just limited to Italy either, there is still a good amount in the United States as well as other parts of the world. Mafias make their money by preying on and extorting the weak. They are pretty much like school yard bullies and if no one stands up to them, then they will always reign supreme.
Monday, October 22, 2007
World Bank Report Puts Agriculture at core of Anitpoverty Effort
In a recent article from the New York Times, it was stated, “for the first time in a quarter century, the World Bank’s flagship annual report on development puts agriculture and the productivity of small farmers at the heart of a global agenda to reduce poverty. However, ¾ of the world’s poor live in the countryside. Also, increased public investment was essential for Africa’s poor farmers to grow more crops on their small plots of land. In addition, “most poor Africans make their living in agriculture and need to grow more to feed themselves and earn their way out of destitution,” as said by many analysts.
Furthermore, “the Gates Foundation, known for its work on global health, was motivate in part by an awareness that extreme poverty and malnutrition were underlying causes of much of the sickness and premature death plaguing Africa.” However, the bank among other organizations play a unique role in advising poor countries, and is likely to influence practical policies across Africa, where several millions of farmers and landless labors are still in poverty.
In conclusion, my analysis on this topic is that I think it is GREAT that agriculture can be the core to antipoverty in countries that agriculture is all the poorer people know. I also am very pleased that organizations are realizing that poverty is the source to many other problems and by solving the underlying issue in turn will help resolve the other issues. It amazes me that 3/4 of the world’s poor live in the countryside, but that their agriculture is the heart to reduce poverty. This article gives hope that to all those poor, hardworking, farmers that slave over their crops; that what they are doing is helping to reduce poverty. I also liked the Gates Foundation for reaching out to the people in Africa and trying to influence other farmers across Africa who were living in poverty.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/world/africa/20worldbank.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Furthermore, “the Gates Foundation, known for its work on global health, was motivate in part by an awareness that extreme poverty and malnutrition were underlying causes of much of the sickness and premature death plaguing Africa.” However, the bank among other organizations play a unique role in advising poor countries, and is likely to influence practical policies across Africa, where several millions of farmers and landless labors are still in poverty.
In conclusion, my analysis on this topic is that I think it is GREAT that agriculture can be the core to antipoverty in countries that agriculture is all the poorer people know. I also am very pleased that organizations are realizing that poverty is the source to many other problems and by solving the underlying issue in turn will help resolve the other issues. It amazes me that 3/4 of the world’s poor live in the countryside, but that their agriculture is the heart to reduce poverty. This article gives hope that to all those poor, hardworking, farmers that slave over their crops; that what they are doing is helping to reduce poverty. I also liked the Gates Foundation for reaching out to the people in Africa and trying to influence other farmers across Africa who were living in poverty.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/world/africa/20worldbank.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Ending Poverty in the UK by 2010
In 1999 the Prime Minister of the UK announced that he had a plan to decrease the number of poor children within 10 years and eradicate child poverty within 20. This seems like a wonderful plan but now that the deadline is quickly approaching, some things need to be changed. The yearly budget needs to be increased to allow more money to be given to this cause. "The plan must be to hope that the public finances get better." Apparently tings are slowly getting better according pensions secretary Peter Hain, "a huge amount of success had already been achieved, with 600,000 children lifted out of poverty over the last decade". Official statistics define children in poverty as "those in households whose income is less than 60% of the median for similar households".
Not only is the government working on program directed twoard the children, they are also involving the entire family and their work ethic. Mr Hain said "the combination of helping people into work and targeting help where it is needed will help the government reach its goal of ending child poverty". He also added that, "we know that children in households where no one works are up to seven-and-a-half times more likely to be living in poverty". It is important that children can see the benefits of work and aspire to a life in work and break the cycle of worklessness that still blights too many lives. Child poverty is a major issue in every country around the world. I think that this is a great policy and should be used to inspire other countries as well.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7054286.stm
Not only is the government working on program directed twoard the children, they are also involving the entire family and their work ethic. Mr Hain said "the combination of helping people into work and targeting help where it is needed will help the government reach its goal of ending child poverty". He also added that, "we know that children in households where no one works are up to seven-and-a-half times more likely to be living in poverty". It is important that children can see the benefits of work and aspire to a life in work and break the cycle of worklessness that still blights too many lives. Child poverty is a major issue in every country around the world. I think that this is a great policy and should be used to inspire other countries as well.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7054286.stm
Uganda: Chogm delagates will not see Katwe's poor
| HTTP://allafrica.com/stories/200710220530.html Shafic Kagimu lives between the train tracks and a ditch in a mud packed house. His house sits approx. 100 meters from Entebbe Rd.. Which is a main through fare theough the town of Kampala. It is a newly paved road, some places paved twice so that the queen and other dignitaries to drive through and supposely see the conditions of the largest and most dis advantaged slums. Mr. Kagimu says that approx. 30 to 50 people live in this slum along the railroad bank called Cambodia. It smmells of human feces and disease. The people who live here are completely ignored by authorities because they fear them. The people who live here are so isolated that they can't get help medical help from the outside when someone falls ill. Children don't get to go to school and youth are arrested in an effort to clean up the streets. Mr. Kagimu fears that Uganda is trying to " landscape it's roundabouts and pave over it's potholes" that the visiting dignitaries are very unlikely to see anything. Residents have decided to stand along the road and shout so as to draw notice to their situation but police protection has increased so they feel their idea will be met with opposition and not be well recieved by authorities. |
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Kenya: Ethnicity to Determine Voting Patterns
Stephanie Branson
SOC 202 10/26/07
Kenya: Poll - Ethnicity to Determine Voting Patterns
http://allafrica.com/stories/200710151989.html
The article that I read discusses how the general election in Kenya has shown a voting pattern in which ethnicity is the determining factor. They conducted a poll which was done by the International Republican Institute (IRI) which showed that 38.4 percent of the eligible voters were thinking about regional affiliation while voting. One of the biggest factors which the IRI resident director found was that tribalism was the basis of how a lot of the people were deciding to vote. Some of the other factors included personality, issues addressed by candidates, party affiliation, wealth of a candidate, need for change, experience, and gender. All of the different aspects fell considerably below when comparing them to regional affiliation. In the article it said that a lot of this may have been started due to the fact that a few weeks ago the government ran an advertisement in the newspapers which gave the names of the persons appointed to head public offices and their areas of origin. It has even gone as far as International observers monitoring the General Election have warned that tribalism in Kenya is at its worst and is at a serious point that it could tear the country apart. Their main focus now is on trying to make people vote on who would do the best job and not to base it on ethnicity.
This is another article in which I have read that shows how the government is having issues with politics and religion and or ethnicity. People are basing their votes not on who will do the best job but yet who is similar to their ethnicity. I can kind of understand were the people are coming from. Maybe they are thinking if the person is similar in ethnicity then maybe they will have some of the same views. Maybe they would just like to see a similar face in office. Whatever the answer maybe, the real concern should be who is going to do the best job no matter what ethnicity they may be because this person is going to have major responsibilities.
SOC 202 10/26/07
Kenya: Poll - Ethnicity to Determine Voting Patterns
http://allafrica.com/stories/200710151989.html
The article that I read discusses how the general election in Kenya has shown a voting pattern in which ethnicity is the determining factor. They conducted a poll which was done by the International Republican Institute (IRI) which showed that 38.4 percent of the eligible voters were thinking about regional affiliation while voting. One of the biggest factors which the IRI resident director found was that tribalism was the basis of how a lot of the people were deciding to vote. Some of the other factors included personality, issues addressed by candidates, party affiliation, wealth of a candidate, need for change, experience, and gender. All of the different aspects fell considerably below when comparing them to regional affiliation. In the article it said that a lot of this may have been started due to the fact that a few weeks ago the government ran an advertisement in the newspapers which gave the names of the persons appointed to head public offices and their areas of origin. It has even gone as far as International observers monitoring the General Election have warned that tribalism in Kenya is at its worst and is at a serious point that it could tear the country apart. Their main focus now is on trying to make people vote on who would do the best job and not to base it on ethnicity.
This is another article in which I have read that shows how the government is having issues with politics and religion and or ethnicity. People are basing their votes not on who will do the best job but yet who is similar to their ethnicity. I can kind of understand were the people are coming from. Maybe they are thinking if the person is similar in ethnicity then maybe they will have some of the same views. Maybe they would just like to see a similar face in office. Whatever the answer maybe, the real concern should be who is going to do the best job no matter what ethnicity they may be because this person is going to have major responsibilities.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Biodiesel good news for Developing Nations
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50328
Thailand, Uruguay, Ghana...the list is growing. These developing countries represent a list of countries that have the biggest potential to manufacture biodiesel. These countries were selected based on their current ability to export massive amounts of oil. This time though we are not speaking of crude oil, this data is based on each country's ability to export vegetable oil. Vegetable oil is a product that can be easily converted into biodiesel. Biodiesel can in turn be used to run generators, and vehicles in place of gasoline. Matt Jonhston for the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) states that, "Based on current export volumes of vegetable oil from 119 countries, a grand total of 51 billion liters of biodiesel could be produced annually—enough to meet roughly 4-5 percent of the world's existing demand for petroleum diesel." This form of energy burns cleaner in the environment, and can be replaced quickly and easily. The bonus for the developing country is that they simply need to put a small commodity of the vegetable oil that they are already producing for export and in turn refine it into biodiesel. These returns could mean millions to a developing countries economic budget.
Thailand, Uruguay, Ghana...the list is growing. These developing countries represent a list of countries that have the biggest potential to manufacture biodiesel. These countries were selected based on their current ability to export massive amounts of oil. This time though we are not speaking of crude oil, this data is based on each country's ability to export vegetable oil. Vegetable oil is a product that can be easily converted into biodiesel. Biodiesel can in turn be used to run generators, and vehicles in place of gasoline. Matt Jonhston for the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) states that, "Based on current export volumes of vegetable oil from 119 countries, a grand total of 51 billion liters of biodiesel could be produced annually—enough to meet roughly 4-5 percent of the world's existing demand for petroleum diesel." This form of energy burns cleaner in the environment, and can be replaced quickly and easily. The bonus for the developing country is that they simply need to put a small commodity of the vegetable oil that they are already producing for export and in turn refine it into biodiesel. These returns could mean millions to a developing countries economic budget.
The Cost of Being Clean
Just as there seems to be a bright light shining though the global warming crisis it is realized that the light is only an illusion.There is talk that by the year 2020 companies will reduce their CO2 output by 15%. this prediction does not include the technacalities within measuring the output of the gas. For large companies it is difficult for them to count every carbon molecule that passes through. It is for this fact that these large companies find it easy to disguise or alter their carbon count. The overall temperature is still continuing to rise and the green groups are stepping into help.
I felt that this article started with a false sense of hope to get you to read and then hit you with the truth. I likes how the article was layed out in the fact that it was telling which company or group really did help and which ideals were not very good ones.
Article : http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1673258,00.html
by: Bryan Walsh
I felt that this article started with a false sense of hope to get you to read and then hit you with the truth. I likes how the article was layed out in the fact that it was telling which company or group really did help and which ideals were not very good ones.
Article : http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1673258,00.html
by: Bryan Walsh
Friday, October 19, 2007
Hong Kong’s Health Care Reform: Nursing an Ailing Health Care System Back to Health
Hong Kong’s health care system needs reform. With a public sector facing overwhelming workloads and financial unsustainability and a private sector hit hard by Asia’s economic slump, government officials and citizens alike fear an impending health care crisis. The public health care sector is highly subsidized by the government, which is in turn supported by one of the lowest tax regimes in the world. (Granitsas, p. 1) A number of health care reforms have been proposed in the past ten years; and four years after the transition to China, it seems that Hong Kong can finally concentrate on revamping its health care system. This will be a slow and painful process, however, as the government and the public debate over everything from insurance schemes and medical fees to complaints offices and doctors’ guidelines. Three key reform proposals have been presented since 1999. First, a government-commissioned Harvard report entitled Improving Hong Kong’s Health Care System – Why and for Whom? was released in April 1999. (Health and Welfare Bureau, p. 2) Although the report accurately identified many of the most pressing issues facing the health care system, the proposals made by Harvard’s School of Public Health were loudly criticized and largely rejected by Hong Kong citizens. A second proposal surfaced in December 2000 when the Health and Welfare Bureau released the consultation document Lifelong Investment in Health. While some of the Bureau’s proposals were viewed as acceptable, others evoked protests. The Hospital Authority (HA), which manages all of the public hospitals of Hong Kong, offered a third proposal when it responded to the Bureau with its Annual Plan for 2001-02. Doctors, professors, and ordinary citizens all seem to have their own opinions of what should, could, or definitely will not work. As the debates continue, it becomes clear that there is no easy fix. It also becomes clear when investigating the various attributes and problems of the current system, however, that something needs to be done if Hong Kong is to continue providing up-to-date, effective health care for its citizens.
Mariam Ahmad
Mariam Ahmad
Pirate
Think pirates are make-believe? Well think again, pirate attacks worldwide have increased 14 percent in just the first 9 months of 2007 alone. This is largely due to un-policed (or poorly policed) waters off the coast of Somalia and Nigeria.
Some of the attacks in Somalia have even turned deadly. Theirs rose 26 percent from 2006. During the six months that the Council of Islamic Courts ruled most of southern Somalia, piracy abated. At one point, the CIC said it was sending scores of fighters to crack down on pirates there. Islamic fighters even stormed a hijacked UAE-registered ship and recaptured it after a gunbattle in which pirates , but no crew members, were reportedly wounded.
Indonesia remains the world's worst piracy hotspot, with 37 attacks in the first nine months of 2007. But it is still lower than that of last year (40 attacks by this time). Nigeria, however, rich in oil, has suffered 26 pirate attacks this year, suffering only 9 by this point last year.
Information from: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/10/17/pirate.attacks.ap/index.html
Some of the attacks in Somalia have even turned deadly. Theirs rose 26 percent from 2006. During the six months that the Council of Islamic Courts ruled most of southern Somalia, piracy abated. At one point, the CIC said it was sending scores of fighters to crack down on pirates there. Islamic fighters even stormed a hijacked UAE-registered ship and recaptured it after a gunbattle in which pirates , but no crew members, were reportedly wounded.
Indonesia remains the world's worst piracy hotspot, with 37 attacks in the first nine months of 2007. But it is still lower than that of last year (40 attacks by this time). Nigeria, however, rich in oil, has suffered 26 pirate attacks this year, suffering only 9 by this point last year.
Information from: http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/10/17/pirate.attacks.ap/index.html
Pakistan's Bhutto vows no surrender to militants
On Thursday October 18, 2007 a group of militants tried to kill former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan, by blowing up her motorcade which killed 133 people and wounded 290 others. On Friday Bhutto said she would not surrender the great nation of Pakistan to militants and those who want to destroy democracy in her country. Bhutto was returning home after eight years of exile from Pakistan, and was welcomed by hundreds of thousands of people. She was unharmed in the attack due to a truck reinforced to withstand bomb attacks. Pakistan is a key ally with the U.S. in the war on terror, and this attack defiantly shows why. There were two attempts that day to try and kill Bhutto; the first one was with a hand grenade and the second was by a suicidal bomber who ran into the crowd with 15 to 20 kg of explosives strapped to his body and blew himself up. However Bhutto also claims that there were shots fired at her truck meaning there was more than two attackers trying to kill her. There are still no groups such as Al Qaeda that are claiming responsibility for the attack.
This is another attempt by groups like Al Qaeda to show that all countries that support the U.S. are fair game and no one will be spared. This was not only an attempt to kill Bhutto but an attempt to destroy democracy itself. It is a government of the people, not radicals and needs to be kept that way. We as Americans need to step up and find some way to help the Pakistani people fight terrorism in their country. Maybe not by U.S. military force but by public support for the people and those willing to preserve democracy. They are an ally to the United States and we need to keep that in mind and not let it pass us by as a country that might be harboring terrorists. I don't understand sometimes when people claim that Pakistan is helping the terrorist in Iraq, when these same terrorist are attacking their own country. To me it makes no sense at all.
This is another attempt by groups like Al Qaeda to show that all countries that support the U.S. are fair game and no one will be spared. This was not only an attempt to kill Bhutto but an attempt to destroy democracy itself. It is a government of the people, not radicals and needs to be kept that way. We as Americans need to step up and find some way to help the Pakistani people fight terrorism in their country. Maybe not by U.S. military force but by public support for the people and those willing to preserve democracy. They are an ally to the United States and we need to keep that in mind and not let it pass us by as a country that might be harboring terrorists. I don't understand sometimes when people claim that Pakistan is helping the terrorist in Iraq, when these same terrorist are attacking their own country. To me it makes no sense at all.
Jail crack down in Indonesia
In Indonesia the police force is cracking down on jail time. The new policy is that those convicted of serious crimes such as terrorism, corruption, human rights violation , drug trafficking, etc...would be permitted no remissions in their sentences until they have served at least one third of their sentence. The issue to be faced now is to whom does this new policy apply? Does it apply to everybody jailed previously and recently? Does it only apply to those recently imprisoned? The main concern really is whether it involves retrospectively jailed criminals or not. If the policy includes them it means that remissions granted to prisoners in the past might become null and void since their one third sentence still has not been served. It also would mean that prisoners such as Australians Schapelle Corby and Renae Lawrence and terrorists who bombed Bali in 2002 would have to serve a much longer time in jail than anticipated before. The problem with this is that they have previously received sentence cuts. Would it be a violation of their rights to renege on these decisions?
This sort of thing happens all the time on a far less severe level. There are always changes in requirements for certain programs and degrees. Usually the way it is handled is that those who were instructed to meet the requirements previous to the new ones would be allowed to keep on with the ones with which they started. I think that is a pretty fair way to go about it. It wouldn't be a big problem if it wasn't for the fact that Corby and Lawrence and the Bali terrorists had been given remissions previous to this new policy. My question throughout this article was "what do they want to be done?" It certainly is not fair to give them this allowance only to take it away a moment later. Were it not for the weight of their crimes this shouldn't be a difficult decision at all if you ask me. While being as objective as possible I get the impression that the people on Indonesia would prefer these criminals to be held for longer based on the nature of their crimes. The problem is twisting that decision in such a light as to seem "right..." to twist it to where containing them longer is the right decision.
http://libproxy.uncg.edu:2086/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?risb=21_T2302614275&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T2302614278&cisb=22_T2302614277&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=244784&docNo=16
This sort of thing happens all the time on a far less severe level. There are always changes in requirements for certain programs and degrees. Usually the way it is handled is that those who were instructed to meet the requirements previous to the new ones would be allowed to keep on with the ones with which they started. I think that is a pretty fair way to go about it. It wouldn't be a big problem if it wasn't for the fact that Corby and Lawrence and the Bali terrorists had been given remissions previous to this new policy. My question throughout this article was "what do they want to be done?" It certainly is not fair to give them this allowance only to take it away a moment later. Were it not for the weight of their crimes this shouldn't be a difficult decision at all if you ask me. While being as objective as possible I get the impression that the people on Indonesia would prefer these criminals to be held for longer based on the nature of their crimes. The problem is twisting that decision in such a light as to seem "right..." to twist it to where containing them longer is the right decision.
http://libproxy.uncg.edu:2086/us/lnacademic/results/docview/docview.do?risb=21_T2302614275&format=GNBFI&sort=RELEVANCE&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T2302614278&cisb=22_T2302614277&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=244784&docNo=16
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