New Study Tests Effectiveness of Women-Focused HIV/AIDS Prevention Interventions in South Africa

Esther Mandelstamm/Feb 29, 2008/4:53pm/Gender Issues

Researchers at RTI international and the Medical Research Council of South Africa are trying to reduce HIV/AIDS transmission in South Africa. They will conduct a study to test the effectiveness and combining voluntary counseling and HIV/AIDS testing with women-focused behavioral interventions to prevent the spread of the disease. This article describes the testing processes that are going to focus on women behavior intervention that helps women reduce substance abuse, sexual risk, and victimization. The intervention offers strategies for developing personal power, strengthening negotiating skills, and preventing sexual violence. "The HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa has received substantial attention, but interventions that address the increasing problems of women's drug abuse and victimization, and how they contribute to the spread of HIV, are urgently needed," said Wechsberg, who is principal investigator for the project. "These intersecting phenomena jeopardize not only the present generation, but also future generations." In 2005 there was an intervention/test of 112 women and all reported a reduction in their sexual risk behavior and victimization, as well as substance use as verified through biological testing. These women also reported that after the study, they continued to support each other gaining a sense of community cohesion (Western Cape) HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of premature death in South Africa.

We have all heard about the epidemic of HIV/AIDS within Africa especially with women. Many people are trying to help and figure out ways to reduce the spread and this article addresses one intervention study that is being explored. I believe that the issues that are addressed in this article are key things that need to be worked on, reduce substance abuse, sexual risk, and victimization. My personal passion that I wish women did not have to suffer is the victimization and sexual abuse in Africa. When these women are victims they are virtually helpless to the transmission to this disease. I believe that these women need to the skills to learn to protect themselves from men and well as the ways to protect themselves if they choose to engage in sexual activity.

http://carolinanewswire.com/news/News.cgi?database=01news.db&command=viewone&id=1453&op=t

Zambia's Economy Grows, Fails to Shrink Poverty

Katrina Shankle/Feb. 29, 2008/4:33 p.m./Global Economics

All seems to be going well in Zambia, the economy has continued to grow steadily five percent for the last five years. While investors are toasting Zambia's successes, the people living in the capital city are asking one question, "Why are we still living in poverty?"

"'It seems this economic growth is only known by the government; they tell us the economy is growing but to us life is still the same, prices of everything on the market are still the same, we are still poor, and we are still looking for jobs,' Lusaka resident Agness Banda told IRIN."

Copper, which accounts for more that eighty percent of total foreign earnings for the country, has reached a record high fetching price on the world market and contributed to the growth of Zambia's economy.

The question is, if the economy is doing so well, why has the cost of living failed to go down?

http://allafrica.com/stories/200802270914.html

Real Erin Brockovich may sue mining giant Alcoa over health problems

Whitney Everett/Real Erin Brockovich may sue mining giant Alcoa over health problems/February 29, 2008/4:26pm/post 7

The real Erin Brockovich who is an renowned US environmental campaigner is planning to sue the mining giant Alcoa in relation to it’s West Australian refinery. Complaints that emissions from Alcoa’s Wagerup refinery were made that they were triggering health problems, nearly hundred and sixty Yarloop residents are reported to have complained of respiratory problems, skin irritation, sore throats and eyes, extreme fatigue, mental dysfunction, stomach upset, nose bleeds, cancers and organ failure. Brockovich received an email from a Yarloop resident and decided to look further into the case. She is choosing to represent the clients who have suffered illnesses and injury that they attribute from Alcoa refineries.
I think this is a real interesting article and I believe Erin Brockovich is doing the right thing by representing these people who have serious problems from these refineries. On one hand I feel bad that these people are having problems with their health because of the conditions of Alcoa but also they have agreed to work in these mines as a job. Mining is not the best and cleanest job and they are getting into it I’m sure knowing this. I think that the people that are being represented should take a stand and come together to fight this issue involving Alcoa. If they are developing cancer and organ failure I believe something needs to be done and fast. Either shut down the mines, find a better alternative or release these people that are having to work in these mines and being subdued to this kind of environment.



http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/entertainment/real-erin-brockovich-may-sue-mining-giant-alcoa-over-health-problems_10022555.html

Bomb at Pakistan funeral

Jake Robinson/February 29, 2008/3:53 pm/current event 7/war

Bomb kills 35 at Pakistan funeral

A suicide bomber killed 35 and wounded 62 at a funeral for a slain police officer. The attack occurred in the volatile Swat Valley in Pakistan. The attack occurred at a government high school.

About 800 people were at the funeral including civilians and police officers, according to Shahbuddin, who is an assistant inspector of police who was at the funeral.

The explosion occurred as the pallbearers began to carry the coffin towards the grave. Shahbuddin said that as soon as the coffin was lifted, “I moved toward the gate but suddenly a big explosion took place, which dashed me against the gate…it was hell.” Shahbuddin was slightly injured in the attack.

Mingora, the town where the attack took place, is in northwestern Pakistan about 100 miles from Peshawar, a town bordering Afghanistan. Earlier this year, president Musharraf sent thousands of troops to the scenic Swat Valley to quell an uprising of a Taliban cleric. Attacks persist, but the army is confident they have driven many of the insurgents from the area. Just last week a roadside bomb killed twelve at a wedding party.

Iqball, the deputy police chief of the Lakki Marwat district, and his driver were killed by a roadside bomb Friday morning, by the time his body had returned to Mingora, night had fallen. In the shadow of night, the suicide bomber was allowed easily to mingle with the grievers.

This topic of war is depressing, no doubt about it. Will we ever live in an age where people will put aside their differences and live with each other instead of dying with each other?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080229/ap_on_re_as/pakistan

Officials deny allegations that Beijing manipulated air pollution monitoring

Andrew Calhoun, Jr. / 2-29-08 / 3:46PM / Pollution / Current Event #7

The previous articles I've posted have focused in on Beijing's struggle to get their air pollution under control for the upcoming summer Olympics. This article addresses some concerns other officials have had with China's air pollution monitoring system, claiming that it has been tampered with and data has been altered in order to benefit the Chinese government's desire to have the Olympics still be held in Beijing. The claim is that two out of the five stations monitoring air pollution for the area had their readings dropped in favor of the other three stations that had a better reading. Chinese officials involved in monitoring the air pollution claim their monitoring system is in the process of improving and being adjusted, rather than it being an attempt to provide false data.

The response from those involved in the Olympics has varied. Some teams plan to move their training camps to locations just outside of Beijing prior to the event so their athletes can train and adjust to the air pollution inside Beijing. Other individuals like distance runner and marathon world record holder Haile Gebrselassie are still wary about performing out of fear for their long-term health.

I feel like this issue has a lot more to it then the Chinese government says it does. All I seem to see from the officials in Beijing is good reports but my gut feeling is pointing in the opposite direction. I refuse to believe that officials have been able to reduce air pollution by as much as what they're claiming and there not be some type of miscalculation or mistake with the data. They make it appear as if pollution is a short-term thing with an easy solution; like there are no side effects.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jatqS_8IItqqf9st8zGgTE68LSNA

Israeli-Palestinian Relationship Takes a Nose Dive

Max Peck / February 29, 2008, 12:14 PM/ Global Political Relations / #7

On Thursday, Israel’s defense minister promised to continue the counter-offensive against Gaza – this in response to the recent onslaught of rocket attacks from Palestinian Hamas militants. Later that day, at least 20 Palestinians were killed by Israeli air strikes, four of the dead being children.

Another airstrike hit a Palestinian police station, demolishing it.

Almost 90 rockets have hit the Israeli state since Wednesday, killing one Israeli and wounding several others. On Wednesday almost immediately following the Hamas’ attacks, Israeli’s answer consisted in air-striking Gaza, killing 11 people, including three children (one three-month old).

The only defense for Israeli common-people is crouch in their bomb shelters, which are being quickly constructed to defend against the constant barrage of rockets, which are fired on almost a daily basis. Sderot, an Israeli city, is the most common target because it is the closest city of significance to the Palestinian-inhabited Gaza area.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she discussed the situation with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in a meeting Thursday in Japan, where she voiced both personal and political concerns. "I'm concerned about the humanitarian condition there and innocent people in the Gaza who are being hurt," she said. Meanwhile, Olmert stubbornly promised his people that he would not “slacken” in his fight against Hamas, promising violent retaliation.

This is looking extremely dismal, to say the least. Everyone with the slightest knowledge of the Israeli-Palestinian disputes must be dismayed by the recent developments in this area, since on some levels it had seemed that something resembling peace might be achieved, even if for a short amount of time. This is an extremely important story, since it’s not entirely out of the question for the U.S. to get involved to save their economic baby, Israel, if things get too out of hand.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/02/28/mideast/index.html
(Associated Press)

Conservative Rabbis to Vote on Resolution Criticizing Pope's Revision of Prayer

Ashley Flaherty/ February 28,2008 12:09pm/ Religious Conflict

Conservative Judaism's international assembly of rabbis says in a resolution to be voted on next week concerning the revision of a Good Friday prayer approved by Pope Benedict XVI. Which in turn would set back the Jewish-Catholic relations. The prayer revision calls for God to enlighten the Jews so that they may acknowledge Jesus Christ , the savior of all men. This revised prayer shows a lot of disrespect to the Jewish beliefs. This would in turn make it harder for Jews to engage constructively in dialogue with Catholics. It prayed for the conversion of Jews, referring to their blindness and calling upon God to lift the veil from their hearts. Rabbi Joel H. Meyers says that the Jewish community is calling for a revision of the prayer and that the relationship with the Catholic church has been good for quite sometime now and they would like it to stay that way.
I think that this is completely disrespectful for the Catholic church to do this to the Jews, they have a right to believe what they want to and not have someone throw it in their face that they are wrong to believe what they believe. They should respect the Jews and their beliefs as the Jews should respect them. Did we not all learn do on to others as you want them to do to you?

Whaling Meeting Doesn't Lead To Results

Kristopher Hilbert / 11:22 AM / 02.29.08 / Pollution / 7

        Earlier this week nations from all over the globe, NGOs, conservationists, scientists, and whaling leaders met in Tokyo to discuss the current whaling protocols. The meeting was brought about by a US based think-tank who was hired to help resolve the global disagreements on whaling. Opinions ranged from Japanese leaders saying whaling is “trivial” to Green Peace explaining the importance of biodiversity and survival of species. These annual meetings have been gathering for over 25 years yet little has been done to really resolve the global disagreements.
        Through the International Whaling Commission many laws and regulations have been created in order to satisfy all parties. These rules range from types of whales to the purpose of the slaughter to the amount that are killed. The problem is enforcement. There are also many loopholes that have allowed whaling to thrive such as Japan’s excuse of “scientific research” and Norway’s of “disagreeing with the IWC.” There are fears from conservationists that nations that are pro-whaling will soon leave the IWC and form their own, more lenient organization.
        The heightened media attention and emotions involved with the current whaling practices is forcing both parties to budge on their beliefs. Pro-whaling nations have admitted to believing they can reduce numbers and conservationist groups have not denied to option. Many are hoping for a reform of the IWC with stricter guidelines, stronger enforcement, and binding agreements.

        At least they’re talking. The concept of a group of rich leaders discussing whether it’s economically possible to kill fewer whales is absurd. It worries me that the conservationists might budge on a total moratorium. The nations that currently whale see the problems of their whaling practices but simply say they are necessary. An option I have not seen placed on the table is for anti-whaling nations and groups to help pro-whaling nations economically make up for what they will “lose” from not whaling. Just because it can help an economy to kill thousands of whales a year doesn’t mean humans should.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7266516.stm

Vinnie Merryman / Feb. 29 11:25 am / Labor Problems

Child Labor

This story tells of a girl, Jyothi Ramulla Naga, who is from Uyyalawada (southern India). This young girl works from sun up to sun down on a cottonseed farm for only twenty cents an hour. She process high-tech cottonseeds genetically engineered to contain a natural pesticide, on behalf of U.S. agriculture giant Monsanto. To get the seeds to breed true the farmers have to cross-pollinate the plants, a laborious task that keeps a peak of a dozen workers busy for several months on just one acre. And to make a profit the farmers have to use cheap labor. They choose to use this cheap child labor over machines, such as the ones used in the United States. Jyothi has been working in these fields for over five years and the money is very important for her family. She started working at an early age because her father committed suicide due to large debts.

Last year 420,000 laborers under the age of 18 were employed in cottonseed farms in four states across India, estimates Glocal Research, a consultancy in Hyderabad that monitors agricultural labor conditions. Of that total 54% were under the age of 14 and illegally employed. The law prohibits children under 14 from working in factories, slaughterhouses or other dangerous locations. There are some exceptions for farm work; if the hours are limited, the kids are in school and there are no machines to be operated. But many of the children are unable to attend to are working in the fields for over ten hours a day. The enforcement for these laws are very lax. Even though India is nearing First World status, it is still a country where child labor resides heavily.

I find this to be very sad, but from many of the articles I have read, this just seems like a repeated story. There are so many children exposed to harsh working styles and not being compensated for it in pay or education. They are being completely exploited, and while there are laws to protect them, they are rarely enforced. Hopefully places like this will modernize to an extent and use machinery to eliminate at least some of the child labor.

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=26&article_id=89378

Kenyan rivals reach agreement

Mark Moon / 2.29.2008 / 10:55 AM / Ethnic Conflict

The government in Kenya reached an agreement with opponents resulting in a new form of government and a power sharing agreement dictating each have power in the new regime. Odinga, the opposition to the victor of the December election, had been calling for the position of 'prime minister' that had real power and control, not just a figurehead position. Kibaki and Odinga reached their agreement with mediation provided by Koffi Annan. Since the election, over 600,000 Kenyans have been displaced due to ethnic violence, and another 1,000 killed. While hardliners on each side are likely to be unhappy, the compromise was the only way to move the country forward. The United States and other international powers have pledged to keep Kenya on the right track in its seemingly turbulent future.

It's great Kenya finally reached an agreement. After two months of negotiations, and countless destruction, Annan and other international allies were able to bring the two men together and settle the conflict. They are taking the right steps by re-writing the constitution of Kenya, legally creating the prime minister position and government structure. This way, any attempt at resistance will be much more difficult due to the legal process.


http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/02/28/kenya.talks/index.html

Strawberry Crop threatened by Pollution Rules

Jessika Ziglar/02-29-08 10:50am/Pollution

According to Edgar Terry, a farmer in Ventura Co. California, the biggest threat to his strawberry crop is the Clean Air Act. The Southern Californian county's farmers are expected to cut the use of pesticides that contribute to smog by as much as half.

It began in 1994 when the state negotiated with the EPA and agreed to the Clean Air Act in order to reduce emissions of organic volatile chemicals (like methyl bromide). Environmental watch groups sued California, claiming that not all areas were abiding by the new rules. Now Ventura County faces the toughest pesticide regulations ever imposed by the state. Unlike in the past when farmers could use some fumigants, but not others, starting in May, they will have to limit the use of ALL major fumigants.

The farmer's of Ventura County have few other options for crops, since the land is expensive and strawberries are the only crop that is profitable enough to make sense. Last year, the 12,000 acres produced $323 million worth of the berry. The new regulations would reduce production and could drive the prices of strawberries up in grocery stores.

The farmer's are appealing the decision. "We don't feel like that's right," said Hector Gutierrez, who farms about 120 acres. "If we continue to be able to farm and continue to seek new alternatives, as time goes on we're only going to get better at reducing emissions."

This story reflects the problems of regulating pollution: it often hurts the small industries and farmer's the most. But which is most important? It's hard to weigh the well-being of individuals against the environment.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jeKQhkRW6DwtZtr8maU-T8b_CkPwD8V3S87G0

Chemical Ali to be Executed within 30 Days

Catherine McDuffie February 29, 2008 10:50 AM Global Crime

Iraq’s Presidential Council voted for the death sentence for Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as “Chemical Ali.” Al-Majid received this nickname from the thousands of Iraqi Kurds he gassed during the 1988 genocide attempt. Al-Majid, who was cousin to Saddam Hussein, will be executed within the next thirty days. “In June, the Iraqi Supreme Criminal Court convicted al-Majid of genocide and crimes against humanity.” The death penalty was also given for his defendants who were guilty of the same charges. These convicts will remain in US custody until the Iraqi government requests that they be “handed over” for the execution. Saddam Hussein’s government killed over 180,000 Kurds as well as the Shiite majority.

I think it is great that the Iraqi government is punishing those who have caused the country so much pain and damage. It is so nice to hear of some organization coming out of the country and I hope that they will continue to get themselves together and hopefully have a better future than they have past. I’m not sure that I agree with the execution of these people only because I am not in favor of death penalty. I am glad that the Iraqi government is finally making people own up to their unjust acts and I hope that in the future problems like this may be avoided.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=abtLmZ_aQ66o&refer=home

Frustration with Charities and U.N. in Congo

Kimberly Mega -Food Scarcity- Thurs Feb 28th 11:05 pm

As the violence increases in the Congo many relief organizations are helping the almost million people who have been displaced from fighting. Congo is on the verge of a new civil war and the UN is trying very hard to protect its civilians. Many of the locals are frustrated with the UN officials because they have had to cut back on some funding to afford helping with other things. There is too much of a demand for food, shelter and supplies due to the massive amount of people in need. And it becomes increasingly difficult to reach all the people because of the violence. Also, the prevalence of disease is rising because people are on the run and find unsanitary conditions to hide in rather than clean shelters with latrines. An estimated four million people have died since the war began in 1996. A big factor of death is the rapid spread of cholera. No medicine is necessary to treat and cure just a lot of fluids. Unfortunately, this proves almost impossible for relief workers in some situations. Child malnutrition is also rapidly rising but people are forced to leave without anything to support their families. There is hardly any room left to farm and working in the fields would only make people targets for the rebels. It seems like every week I find an article about a country with civil wars and unrest. And it seems like the innocent are always the ones with the most to lose. This finding makes me want to focus on displaced people and especially child malnutrition. In my health class we are discussing the effects of malnutrition on young children and the actions needed to bring them back to health. There are nutrients and supplements needed as well as physical and mental rehabilitation. For most people in these situations the idea of medical attention is far fetched. And unfortunately, there is an unknown amount of time and money to be spent on foreign aid.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/world/africa/16congo.html

China's January Inflation Soars to an 11-Year High

Shamia N Irving, Thursday, February 28, 2008, 10:28 pm

Snowstorms that China experienced in January caused inflation to rise to an 11 year high as upward pressures on rising prices strengthened. The main factor pushing consumer inflation to 7.1% in January from 6.5% in December was rising food prices. The percentage in January was the highest year-over-year rate China has witnessed since September 1996, when consumer inflation managed to hit 7.4%. The snowstorm of 2008 was the worst winter in recent years, and the heavy snowfall severely hit food supplies, destroying crops and killing millions of livestock, and sending food costs up 18%. The heavy snow also caused non-food inflation to rise slowly, at an annual rate of 1.5%. However there is one factor that make the information about the snowstorm a little bit hard to interpret. The fact that the New Year fell in Mid-February for the Chinese this year. Being as though prices were expected to rise anyway in the year 2008, it's hard to say if the rise of inflation lies solely on the snowstorm. The snowstorm and the New Year expectations will continue to obscure the issue of what is happening to underlying inflationary pressures. Until the Chinese government knows for sure, Chinese interest rates will be maintained for the next couple of months, and their policies will remain the same.

Largest Venezuelan Food Producer Denies Hoarding

ashley snyder/february 28, 2008/9:22pm/food scarcity

Returning to my previous post about Venezuela's food hording problems, this past week President Hugo Chavez said that Polar Foods is a prime example of companies witholding food, and will be taken under control of the government if evidence is sufficient.

On one hand this seems like the president is looking for any reason to take Polar under control, due to the past 70 inspections showing no signs of food hording, and the fact that Polar does not produce foods that are in scarcity such as milk, chicken, meats, sugar, coffee, and eggs.

Critics of the way the government is handling this shortage say that the government is toying with chaos, and that if the private sector was left alone things would work out. As food prices flucuate due to shortages, the government is raising prices of staple foods such as rice, which prevents countries such as Chile from making deliveries to Venezuela.

On top of all of this the government is having to monitor over 6000 businesses to make sure food is not being smuggled to Colombia.
The situation with the Government trying to prevent hording and smuggling of food to Colombia is still going on, and the President is starting to single out single companies. While some say this is necessary, some think that the government is toying around with a disasterous situation. Ill let you know more as it develops.


http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/3182

Playing With Children’s Lives: Big Tobacco in Malawi

Jessica Otey/ February 28, 2008/ 10:06 pm/ Labor Problems

Malawi is a relatively poor country that relies heavily on producing and exporting tobacco. Unfortunately, the tobacco industry employs a lot of children to work the fields, in hopes of acquiring cheaper labor. There are approximately 1.4 million children working in Malawi. These shocking numbers make Malawi the city with the highest incidence of child labor in South Africa.

Many of these children are forced to work because their families need the extra income. Many families can not make it solely on what the mother and father bring home. Therefore, they must rely on the labor of their children to make ends meet. In most situations, children drop out of school around age 12 in order to work on the tobacco plantations. Some may not even have the opportunity to attend school for any length of time.

The country estimates that it takes $1 for a farm worker to produce a kilogram of tobacco. Usually, the tobacco is then sold for 70 cents which means the farmer is losing 30 cents per kilogram that he sells. When the farmer can no longer make a profitable living he turns to child labor because it is cheaper.

It’s really sad that things like this happen, but these families really don’t have any choice but to allow their children to work. They have to make enough money to support themselves and it seems that the only way to do that is by sending their children to work on tobacco fields. It seems as though the only way to relieve this problem would be for the government to step up and make changes in the tobacco market and in child labor laws.

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14947

South Africa University Controversy

Rebecca Hauser/February 28, 2008/ 9:03 pm/ human rights

South African University Controversy

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is investigating a horrible case of racial discrimination. A video was made a year ago, yet only surfaced last week, of black university employees duped into eating food that had been urinated on by white university students. The white students urinated on the food and never told the employees. Not until this week were any arrests made.

This is not the first case of human rights violations at this school. This school is mainly attended by whites or students related to the white apartheid rule. Recently, the university has been trying to implement racial integration into the dormitories. This video was made as part of an uprising against this. The SAURC has promised to deal with this matter swiftly and firmly.

South Africa seems to be over-run with cases like this. Recently in the Northwest province a man is on trial for going on a shooting rampage, killing four blacks, including a mother and her infant. This outburst was due to recent undercurrents remaining from multiracial elections. Also, many farmers are on trial for murder of a black African, yet these farmers are claiming that they mistakenly thought the victim was an animal. In my opinion, this is absolutely barbaric. How could anyone shoot another human being and then claim that they thought they saw an animal. These cases of racial discriminations are no less than violations of human rights. As a member of the species of human, people are entitled to certain rights. These rights are being stripped away from innocent humans.

International Conference on "Moving Towards Gender Sensitisation of Trade Policy" Concludes

Kelli Mack/ February 27, 2008/ 5:19 pm/ Gender Issues
Today a three day conference on the gender sensitization of trade policy concluded in India. This conference provided a forum for Indian and international trade and gender experts to get together and share their ideas on how to implement gender into trade policies. There was a huge push towards India and other developing countries. It was said at the conference that the only way to incorporate gender sensitization into trade is to change the trade policies and agreements. In India women are a great stakeholder in the process of trade, growth and development. It is felt that the government should take this and harness it to use to make the trade system more inclusive. It is also believed that women's groups should be more active in the making of trade policies and have more of a say so as to integrate gender into trade in the best way possible. Empowering gender and paying explicit attention to gender issues, as well as attitudes are all key to maximizing trade gains and minimizing the costs that arise.
I have read several articles on implementing women's groups into policy making and I think it is a great idea, especially in developing countries. In places like the USA women already have a large say and play an important role in the economy. In developing countries, women do not have these opportunities and are looking to make them and the only way to do that is to incorporate them into the law and policy making process. It is also important to include them if they do have a large stake in the economy of the country, if they are making some of the important economic decisions, they should have a say in what is going on in their economy.


http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=35653

India struggles to tame its heart of darkness

Lamanda(Michelle) Reid/Feb.27,2008/4:57p.m./poverty and inequality
The article India struggles to tame its heart and darkness was written by Simon Denyer Reuters, and was published on February 20, 2008 in the International Herald Tribune. Bihar is India’s poorest and slowest growing states economically. Bihar is the home to 10% of India’s population. Approximately 90 million people reside in Bihar. Bihar contains one-seventh of Indian’s poor. It only produces 1.6% of India’s gross domestic product. The Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) has divided India into two types of states, one is sunrise and the other is sunset. Sunrise states are states that are conforming to the global economy. Sunset states, such as Bihar, are states that are being left behind. Bihar is also known as India’s heart of darkness, both metaphorically and literally. There is little electricity so at night there is slim to no light. Bihar has like most poor countries of this status have a corrupt government and lack of adequate roads. There is a very high crime rate, with little conviction. Kidnapping is at the top of the crime list.
Currently India isn’t being affected by Bihar, but eventually this will cause global problems. Flooding from last year caused great turmoil and caused lots of migration to surrounding countries. In these places Biharis are looked down on, and are also blamed for the rising crime rates. Like most places there is a definite gap between the rich and poor. This is very sad, so many people are suffering. So many people are living in poverty with no way do to either the lack of skill or lack of education.

Africa: UN Campaign to End Violence Against Women

Shavon Pulley/ Feb 27, 2008/ Gender Issues
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has unveiled a global campaign bringing together the United Nations, governments and civil society to try and end violence against women. "At least one out of every three women is likely to be beaten, coerced into sex or otherwise abused in her lifetime .Violence against women impedes economic and social growth which causes problems later in life. This is a campaign for the many sex slaves, rapes, and sexual violence done to females . It is a campaign for the women and girls who have the right to live free of violence, today and in the future. "It is a campaign to stop the untold cost that violence against women inflicts on all humankind. This campaign is part of the new goals of 2015, this is the same target year as the internationally agreed aims known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs ). As part the campaign's launch, Rachel N Mayanja, the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women, held a press conference together with a number of other activists, both male and female, working to end violence against women and are slated to participate in other discussions on the subject at UN Headquarters. As this issue continues, it is noted that many women have been left out of development efforts because of the violence that is continually being inflicted on them. The Secretary-General's campaign would bring a new sense of urgency to bear on this tragic issue.
I think this is an excellent campaign that the UN has addressed. In the many blogs I have posted before, Africa is a main concern with women issues and inequality. Bringing awareness to this issue and ways to go towards solving this problem as a group is a huge step in fighting for women equality.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200802260599.html

India's big population challenge

Matthew Heyes / 27 Feb 12.30 / Population

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7261458.stm

This article begins with the discussion of the world’s population. It is expected to rise from 6 billion in 2000 to 9 billion in 2050 based on estimates from the United Nations Commission on Population and Development. China currently is the world’s most populated country with 1.3 billion but this is expected to level off due to the one child rule. India is second with 1.1 billion but this may reach 1.6 billion by 2050.

In 1947, when India became independent from British rule, average life expectancy was just 33 years. Improved living standards and healthcare have raised that figure to the mid-60s. At the same time birth rates have been falling. But the reduction has not been fast enough to prevent the overall population rising rapidly. And it is often the poorest families which have the most children.

A professor describes efforts to promote family planning as "a drop in the ocean" and goes on to explain the reasons to do with culture, religion and lack of education which have created a big divide between the high birth rate among India's poor families and the much lower birth rate for middle class women.

The article discusses the challenges that this population boom will have on India’s infrastructure. One of the biggest challenges will be the supply of water as agriculture uses most of India's fresh water it will need to dramatically increase production. Industrial pollution may even reduce the amount of fresh water available in 2050. A planning commission official argues that India can provide for the growing population providing that there is a systemic change in how we deal with resources which are becoming scarce.

Candis Little/In Rwanda, Bush Mourns 2 Conflicts/02/26/2008/10:32p.m./ethnic conflict

As I reported last week President George Bush decided not to visit the nations who have had a high violence rate in which I personally thought that he was wrong for but this week I feel something totally different. In a gruesome genocide 800,000 Rwandans were slaughtered over 100 days in 1994. But what is the most depressing is that many of the 800,000 were children. It is now 2008 and “skeletons are still being discovered and buried in mass on a terraced hillside.” On Tuesday President Bush and his wife Laura paid their respects to the dead by laying a memorial wreath. The president and the first lady also “toured a museum where the skulls of victims are laid out under in haunting, neat white rows, the subject of another conflict-genocide.” I felt that this gesture put points in my book because he did show a little respect.
President Bush participated in a news conference where he shared unusually personal terms about the frustrations and hard choices that he had faced in grappling with the situation in Durfur but he did not mention that he faced criticism from human rights advocates for not being aggressive enough with the Sudanese government.
This was President’s Bush first time visiting the museum but first lady visited the center in 2005 with their daughter Jenna. President Bush seemed very unlike himself as he kept a grim face and held the tattered clothes of the victims and countless pictures of the dead including life-size images of children. I hope this experience really touched his heart because just by reading and reporting on it each week it has touched mine.

Dutch coach wants IOC focus on China human rights

Emily Mader/26 Feb. 2008/4:30pm/Human Rights

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has come under the scrutiny of multiple participants in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games for their lack of action on China’s human rights violations. Several of the voices of dissent hail from Holland; all have voiced concerned over China’s human rights abuses. They claim that China should be doing more to aid the situation in Darfur, Sudan, where the country has heavy investments in oil. Stephen Spielberg quit his role as art director for the Games this February citing China’s lack of action in Sudan. Also, eight Nobel Peace laureates have voiced the same concern over China’s lack of involvement in an area where the country has much influence. Beijing assures the public that they have invested in peace efforts in Sudan and that the Olympic Games should not be politicized.

I agree with the dissenters; the Olympic Games represent a unification of people all around the world in a peaceful event that is meant to booster camaraderie through healthy competition. How then can such an organization not be critical when its host country turns a blind eye to serious human rights violations that can be ameliorated? As a country that has economic influence – which can go a long way – in the Sudan, China is morally obligated to intervene in the conflict. The IOC, though it is being hosted by Beijing, needs to push for China to take this role. I think China is running away from the issue by saying that the Games should not be politicized.

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7331697,00.html

Bosnia Serbs try to attack U.S. consulate

Nakita Knight/2-26-08/4:08pm/global crime

People who were once members of a peace rally on Tuesday broke away and headed for the U.S. Embassy's office. This took place in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The demonstrators ended up running into the police about halfway to heading to the office, one police reporter said. The demonstrators from the rally began to throw rocks and stones at the police, while the police responded with tear gas. There were about 600 to 700 of these violent demonstrators who broke away from a 100, 000 strong rally protesting Kosovo's recent declaration of independence. U.S. members have been a target for these violent attacks because they are for Kosovo's independence. These violent tactics weren't a surprise. Warning were posted on the U.S. Embassy's web site, saying that demonstrations may occur in other parts of Bosnia on February 26th and the days proceeding. Last Thursday, protesters smashed windows and set parts of the U.S. Embassy on fire in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. No one was injured and all members were evacuated. Because of all that is going on in Bosnia right now, Americans are advised to delay travel time over there.

Once again, people are unhappy with decisions that are made that they really have no control over. What do they do? Raise hell! I just don't understand. Is all of this really necessary? All they're doing is killing each other slowly. It makes no sense at all to cause ruckus every time something doesn't go your way. All that leads to is your people getting arrested and killed because they can't just sit back and do nothing about this chaos. So who's going to fight and throw a fight when all of you are dead, so there's no one to do it? I apologize if I sound blunt or insensitive, but damn! It seems like all that most of these Middle-Eastern and some European countries care about doing is fighting. Then, all they're waiting for is something else to happen so that they can go fight again. What ever happened to petitions? What ever happened to writing letters of concern and things of that nature? I just really feel like all of this fighting is unnecessary.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/02/26/serbia.kosovo/index.html

Bishop's Heaven: Is There Life After The Afterlife?

Ashley Flaherty/Feb. 26,2008 1:27pm/Religious Conflict

Bishop Tom Wright questions whether heaven even exist, wondering if christians have gotten it wrong all these years. Wright is one of the world's foremost theologians and thinks that christians have been confused for centuries. Saying that people invent ideas about the afterlife that are not in scripture and points out that christians are not ultimately destined for heaven. Wright feels that in the end God will literally remake our physical bodies and return us to a newly restored planet. He thinks that heaven is a temporary holding place for people until God remakes them, returning them to the planet. Wright hopes that his new book will revive belief in the prospect of a new, physical heaven and earth, which he says will somehow materialize when God decides to rebuild and restore the universe. " Heaven and earth joined together in a new reality".This is the exact opposite of what many christians believe, many believe that God will swoop all christians up to heaven and the earth will enter a period of cataclysmic wars until it eventually disintegrates. He wants christians to focus on how their final destination should affect their lives, in the here and now.
I chose this article because these kind of ideas and speculations can cause some turmoil in the christian communtiy, for a belief that christians have believed for centuries to be questioned is going to spark some contorversy. Though I think that Wright brings up a valid question who really knows what is in store for us after death.

Nigerian tribunal upholds presidential election results

Brian England 2/26/08 Global Political Relations
www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/02/26/nigeria.elections.ap/index.html

President Umaru Yar'Adua has been reelected as Negerian President for his second term but it is said to be flawed. He is trying to avoid court by saying he had no hand in the 'box stuffing', and he is also trying to say that it was not widespread enough to make a difference. This is controversial as his opponents Muhammadu Buhari and ex-vice president Atiku Abubakar try to bring this matter to the highest court in Nigeria. Men were said to have been outside of voting booths were weapons intimidating voters. This is not the first time election rigging has been accused of occuring but this is the first time with this severity. Also Yar'Adua was peacefully handed over office by former president Obasanjo, which was a hopeful step in the way of democracy. There are also election commisioners that say the effect of the rigging on the results of the outcome is speculative and inconclusive.
Even though the 'box stuffing' was widely observed, these two men have to be able to prove that it was influential, which makes it hard considering the president has many friends and much authority to hide an accurance like this. Corruption like this can go on in governments for a long time, and it may be a responsibility of an outside nation to go in and enforce some imperialism. That is just an idea and not my opinion. But it would be in some nation's best interest to monitor this government's intentions if there may be future plans that they don't want outsiders to come in and be awakened to.

Multicultural Toolkit Summary

Multicultural Toolkit Summary: "
# Denial: Does not recognize cultural differences
# Defense: Recognizes some differences, but sees them as negative
# Minimization: Unaware of projection of own cultural values; sees own values as superior
# Acceptance: Shifts perspectives to understand that the same 'ordinary' behavior can have different meanings in different cultures
# Adaptation: Can evaluate other’s behavior from their frame of reference and can adapt behavior to fit the norms of a different culture
# Integration: Can shift frame of reference and also deal with resulting identity issues"

The 'Made in Italy' label: Read the fine print

Breanna Fehr. February 25, 2008, 11:35 p.m. Labor Problems

The made in Italy label is a sign of tradition and standards. The label has a tradition of meaning, not only that it was made in Italy but that it was made the Italian way. This may no longer be true as the label no longer means what it used to. In Prato, legal Chinese residents make up 12% of the population but if you include illegal residents than they make up nearly 25% of the population. This is because the big-name clothing labels use Chinese staffed workshops as a way to keep costs down by supplying cheaply and quickly made products. Many of the factories “are nothing more than sweatshops with deplorable conditions and virtually indentured workers.”

Italian law governs the workplace safety by limiting the number of hours worked and setting a minimum wage but the law is often not enforced. Many of these workshops that have been reported have been shut down by the police because of the poor living conditions. The companies can’t produce papers for many workers because they claim they are just trying out and there temporarily. Chinese workers self-exploit themselves; they spend a lot of money to go there and than work undesirable hours for such low pay to try to pay their debts off.

It seems to be the case everywhere that companies are doing anything they can to compete in the market. These Chinese workers are doing the same things others in Italy are, only they are getting paid extremely less. Since the Chinese workers go in debt going to Italy to find work they have no choice but to work whenever they can; long hours up to fourteen hours a day, nights, and weekends. It doesn’t seem humane that anyone would let people work such long hours in sheds. Than when they are done working they return to small rooms right in the factory to sleep. I think it is good that the police occasionally do raids and shut down the factories that they find have illegitimate conditions for workers. However, it is probably more often that the factories get away with the things they are doing. I could never imagine being put in this kind of situation, these people need a voice and the governnment should have the man power to step into situations like this more often.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-fg-madeinitaly20feb20,1,7453058.story?page=1&cset=true&ctrack=2

12-year wait for OFW wife - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos

12-year wait for OFW wife - INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos: "The last time he saw his wife, Evan Jean Tupa, was the day after their wedding in Manila on June 25, 1996.

He was 28 years old then and she was 27.

She left for a job as a factory worker in Taiwan, as scheduled. For six months they kept in touch through letters and phone calls. By 1997, the husband said he heard nothing more from her. Andanar, a resident of barangay Apas, Cebu City asked the court to declare his wife “presumptively dead” so he could find happiness with someone else."

Rwanda: The Power of Science and Technology

Erin Norris/February 25, 2007/11:17/technology

The president of Rwanda has decided that the power of technology is what is going to help Rwanda to become a more developed country. President Kagame talked about the challenges of trying to take on science and technology in Rwanda and how it will effect the development.Communication or manufacturing technology will be hard work but it will help the people of the Rwanda community as well.He says that it is the humans and not the natural resources that will determine the development of a country.The addition of science and technology has helped many countries to become more developed and it should not be underestimated in its effect on a country.Private companies in Rwanda are being asked to contribut a great deal to this effort. The president is not only trying to get the institutions in this country to contribute but also encouraging everyone at home to know that they can do their part as well.

I think that this is a great thing for this country and I'm so glad that this president is making sure that everyone is involved because it seems like in some countries they look for the people with the money and the people who are really effected by such a big change are not even included in the process and that he is encouraging them to be a part of such a great process is such a good thing for a president to do and I hope that they can succeed and become a more developed country. I really believe that this will be a good thing for Rwanda's people.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200802251115.html

Whopping Gas Field Teases Drillers

Mallory Overstreet/February 24, 2008/Oil and Energy/7:04pm/

Executives may have found an answer to our gasoline problem. In the northern states of New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio, there is a field called the Marcellus field that lies one mile underground that is filled with natural gas. It is estimated to contain about fifty trillion cubic feet of gas, the only problem is getting to it. Researchers have recently figured out a way to get to it, however, the process will be very expensive. After going over the numbers though, the executives figured out that the amount of gas they have found is worth spending the money to get to it. They have figured out that it will cost at least eight hundred thousand dollars. Another question they have run into is weahter the drill will be able to consistently release the gas from underneath the layers of rock. It seems like the Marcellus Shale may be a huge help to ease our natural gas problem. Hopefully geologists will figure out a good way to get it out from underneath the ground.

Botswana: Women in Politics fight back

Shavon Pulley/Feb 23/Gender Issues
Botswana National Front (BNF) Women's Wing publicity secretary, Keneilwe Lekoba, has hailed the party leadership for taking gender issues seriously. . Gender oppression is one issue that is receiving a lot of attention from BNF leadership," said Lekoba, adding that a lot of BNF leaders are now "thinking outside the box." Gender issues have now become a component of BNF political education. The BNF is able to "analyze inequality on the basis of the tools of class theory and class oppression. Many are asking if this new thinking within the BNF help BNF women to participate in large numbers in the next general election? Many women are interested in the 2009 general election because of this movement. For sometime, women politicians across the political divide have cried that the playing field between them and their male counterparts was uneven making life difficult for women. The women want to benefit from both men and women through their seminars. BCP believes that they will be able to get women all over the country to participate fully. With the workshops and seminars, they were able to conclude that the government needs to fund all political parties to level the playing field. They feel that "We need to speak with one voice as women and pressure the government to fund political parties to level the playing field,".
I think these women getting together forming a group that directly puts the focus on them for help. Women in these other countries are always getting treated unequally and it's time for them to stick together and unite as one voice. As quoted in the article she said that although they have limitations, they would have to work very hard "as we cannot simply give up on this fight". That is a strong statement because if they continue to stick together, then taking them all down will be a hard task than just illuminating one.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200711051576.html?viewall=1

Sociology Club

Hi! Soc. club is ready for the month of March and all the wonderful events coming up. Please plan to participate. Our last event for February will be Monday, February 25th. Dr. Markham will speak on "Saving the Environment: German Style" @ 5pm in Graham 302. You wouldn't want to miss this! March 3rd will be the screening of the documentary "The Trials of Darryl Hunt". The video will be shown in Jarrell Lecture Hall(lower level of the library) from 6pm-8pm and a discussion with Hunt & his lawyer will follow! Some of the proceeds from the bake sale will be donated to the Darryl Hunt project for Justice. Our volunteer opportunity for the month of March is two fold. One will take place at the beginning of the month, and the second at the end of the month. First, we will be volunteering to help out in the Darryl Hunt screening. If you can help set up @ 5 or help clean up @ 9 e-mail the account. Secondly, on 3/28 there will be a drop box on the first floor of Graham to collect children's books for the clinic in Belize. Please begin checking at home, dollar stores, goodwills, friends, etc. for English and Spanish children's books to donate. The speaker for March will be announced at a later date. Our fundraiser for March will be pre-registration for a Wii tournament that will benefit Diabetes research. More details to come... Our social event for the month of March will be Saturday, March 22. We will go to the zoo from 8am-3pm and the cost is $8/person. Everyone is encouraged to attend. More information will be given as the time approaches. Thanks to all who attended the Immigration panel, as you know it was very informative. If you have any questions, or comments please e-mail the account. Thanks!

US Starts Evacuation from Serbia

Joseph Borawski, Saturday February 23rd, 2008, 2:28 PM, Global Social Protests Current Event

US starts evacuation from Serbia

This week we travel to Serbia where roughly 1,000 protesters set fire to the United States Embassy in Belgrade following the United States support for Kosovo’s declaration of independence. One person was killed as a result of these riots and more than 100 others were injured. The riots have led the United States to begin pulling out non-essential staff following the incident on Thursday, and since then a convoy of roughly 40 vehicles have left Belgrade carrying American staff and family. United States Ambassador Cameron Munter said “We are not sufficiently confident that they are safe here,” and as such these Americans may be staying abroad for up to 10 days.

The man killed has been identified to have been a young Serbian man originally from Kosovo, who had fled to Serbia after the 1999 NATO-led invasion of the territory. In response to the man’s death and destructive riot’s, Police have arrested 200 people, and the authorities are vowing to bring those responsible to justice. Though the situation has remained calm in the after math according to BBC’s Bethany Bell, Serbian opposition to Kosovo’s declaration is resolute.

Slobadan Samardzic, the minister responsible for Kosovo voiced his opinion that the United States was to blame for the violence, that “The root of violence is the violation of international law” and that “The Serbian government will continue to call on the US to take responsibility for violating international law and taking away a piece of territory from Serbia”. Serbian citizens are also calling boycotts on products and services offered through or from the United States or the European Union. I think that the violent response is a little ridiculous. This region has classically been torn by strife and discord and an independent state of Kosovo would seem to make sense. Check it out here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7260613.stm

U-M researchers release most detailed global study of genetic variation

U-M researchers release most detailed global study of genetic variation: U-M researchers release most detailed global study of genetic variation

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—University of Michigan scientists and their colleagues at the National Institute on Aging have produced the largest and most detailed worldwide study of human genetic variation, a treasure trove offering new insights into early migrations out of Africa and across the globe."

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4312095&affil=wxlv

ABC News: Response to Vandalism Varies With Race?

ABC News: Response to Vandalism Varies With Race?: "It was an early spring afternoon in a suburban New Jersey park. Families, couples, runners and dog-walkers populated the area. Attention was turned to a group of three white teenage boys walking toward a car — an older, well-kept model in an open parking lot. They laughed at the car's 'vintage' appearance. Zac vaulted up on the car's hood and Justin K. looked around, furtively eyeing passersby. Meanwhile, Sam pulled a Jimmy stick from his pants and began breaking into the car."

TV ads in Spanish may fuel kid obesity

Whitney Everett/TV ads in Spanish may fuel kid obesity/February 22nd, 2008/4:02pm/post 6

The article that I chose this week is about obesity again and it is written in India. It talks about how tv ads in Spanish may cause obesity. It says that two to three commercials air on Spanish language television in the United States and a third were aimed at children. Latino children make up one-fifth of the U.S. child population and have the highest obesity and overweight rates. And a federal survey found that 50 percent of Hispanic or Latino children have a television in their bedrooms, compared to 20 percent of white children. The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends that young children should be restricted to two hours a day or less of TV viewing and says children younger than 2 should not watch any TV.

I believe this article does have some significance because I believe that there is many commercials that are focused on children and fast food and unhealthy foods. I do not believe these commercials are causing these children to be overweight. If they are very young they are depending on their caregiver for food and it is up to the caregiver to provide the food to them whether it is healthy or not. They make the decision to whether get the food for their children or not. Just watching the commercials I believe does not cause obesity, it’s a different story though if the caregivers are fulfilling the children’s wants in getting them the unhealthy food.

http://in.reuters.com/article/health/idINN1925689820080219

Alliance to protect African gorillas

Kristopher Hilbert / 3:34 PM / 02.22.08 / Pollution / 6

        Only 700 mountain gorillas are still alive on the planet, almost all of which live within the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda. For the first time, these three countries have joined forces to help ensure the survival of these animals. The gorillas have been facing dwindling numbers for years. Problems with their population stems everywhere from poaching to urban expansion to local villages use of the rainforest woods.
        This cooperation for the safety of gorillas follows the execution style killings of 5 gorillas in the Virunga national park that borders all three nations. The killings brought about global discussion on the issues inside the national park. The gorillas are extremely important to the countries because of the tourist revenue they bring in. Tourist tracking trips make around $5 million dollars between the nations annually. This project will last 10 years and increase security in the park to stop poachers. Virunga will also be helping local citizens understand the problem and encourage them to stop destroying the rainforests in the area.

        I’m glad something is being done. The problems with the Congo’s gorillas have been getting nothing but worse. I hope the project can actually help these nations strengthen the gorillas’ numbers and build their environment back. However, as much as I support the project I am skeptical of the reasons behind it. The article mentions nothing about actual conservationists’ reasons for the project only economic. I worry that the gorillas’ area may become somewhat of a zoo, constantly filled with tourists. I also worry that the fact that part of the revenues from gorilla watching treks go to the organization may lead to zoo like conditions.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7254357.stm

Picture of executed gorillas

Sam Fahnrich/Earth's Bounty/2-22-08/3:12

Sam Fahnrich
Earth's Bounty

I've spent the previous entries discussing what Global Warming is and the effect it has on our planet. I've also collected and shared articles describing how to become environmentally friendly, and the benefits of reducing your energy consumption. Now, I'll talk about how scientists are using environmental elements to decrease green house gases.

As in the past, present and perhaps future, humanity has a tendency to change things as they become unpleasant. For instance we have plastic surgery, divorce, cat litter, and cologne to keep us feeling good about ourselves. In changing the earth we have dams, underground transit, bridges suspended over canyons and waterways, and irrigation systems to keep things convenient. Although there are plenty of other things to alter Earth with, for this I want to focus on sulfate aerosols.

"Sulfate aerosols, commonly released by volcanoes, serve to scatter incoming solar energy in the stratosphere, preventing it from reaching the surface."

Are you thinking about it, science + volcanic aerosols = cooler temps. How? Remember how Global Warming works, as the Sun's rays bounce off of the Earth's surface they get trapped by the gases? If the rays don't make it to the surface they can't bounce back, be trapped, and increase atmospheric temperatures. Oh.

Scientists have and will conduct molecular studies of volcanic properties, produce synthesized copies of the compounds, create a down-scaled model of our environment and test their ideas.

What did they find? It works, but the amount of aerosols required for a significant decrease of gases is incredible. In my own words, every factory in Mexico, Brazil and China would have to start making this stuff. Either that, or every volcano on Earth would need to erupt.

In conclusion, it is effective in reducing green house gases, but not so good to the health of the environment and inhabitants of Earth.

---------------------
Journal reference: Exploring the geoengineering of climate using stratospheric sulfate aerosols: The role of particle size. Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) paper 10.1029/2007GL032179, 2008; http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2007GL032179
Authors: Philip J. Rasch and Danielle B. Coleman: National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder Colorado, U.S.A.;Paul J. Crutzen: Max Plank Institute for Chemistry, Mainz, Germany; Also at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, U.S.A.
Adapted from materials provided by American Geophysical Union, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

"One woman killed by domestic violence every hour in Russia"

Esther Mandelstamm/Feb 22, 2008/3:07pm/Gender Issues

This article is about domestic violence in Russia, the victims being women. 14,000 women are killed every year in Russia due to domestic violence which is about one an hour. This is "about the same number of Soviet soldiers who died fighting in the 10-year Afghan war. And at the moment there is no law to protect them." There is a population of about 11 million but there is no shelter in Moscow for abused women. "Fame and fortune couldn't’t save Russian pop singer Valeria from the fists of her ex-husband. “I had no money, no power, I didn’t have anything, if I had said something I would have been killed,” she remembers." Since there are no laws to protect victims of domestic violence this is going to keep happening. There are some organizations that are trying to raise awareness in the community of this problem but there is a lack of reliable statistics and the scale of the problem could be even worse. Campaigners say the root causes of violence aren’t simply alcoholism or drug abuse but are embedded in society.

Domestic violence is a very real problem in the United States and this article shows that its not only here but this is a problem that is world wide. The victims deserve a voice and there is a serious need for more laws to protect these women.
http://www.russiatoday.ru/features/news/20593

RBA Assistant Goveror Expects Inflation to Accelerate

Shamia N Irving, Friday, February 22, 2008 2:51pm

( terms just to help you better understand the text)

RBA- Reserved Bank of Australia

Inflation- The rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in a given economy over a period of time.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)- measures the average price of consumer goods and services purchased by households.

Domestic Capacity- Australian's point of production at which a firm or industry's average costs begin to rise due to a fixed factor (like land or capital)

Malcolm Edey the RBA's Assistant Governor believes that the CPI figure could spike nearly 4% in the next quarter. He warned the Committee for Economic Development of Australia about the continuation of inflation pressures in Austlalia and how it is occurring during a global economic slowdown. His speech is largely based on the Statement of Monetary Policy which was just released on February 7, 2008 by the RBA. This policy is issued 4 times a year, February, May, August, and November. These statements assess current economic conditions and the prospects for inflation and output growth. With the RBA forecasting a slowing pace in nonfarm growth over the next to years, Malcom Edey said that that will allow some lessening of domestic capacity pressures and generate decline in inflation. Right now in Australia, inflation at the top end of the RBA's target, however they think it will begin to slow slightly by the end of the year, unlike Edey who believes it will only rise.
I'm not sure how Australia works but in the US it seems as the year progresses prices do to. I've never experienced dramatic increases, except after the devastation of hurricane Katrina, but I witness prices steadily rising. Honestly Edey and the RBA can only make predictions and prepare for what they think is to come in the future.

Six China Provinces Ordered To Cut Pollution

Andrew Calhoun, Jr. / 2-22-08 / 2:19PM / Current Event # 6 / Pollution

For this week, I have more news involving China's attempt to reverse the damages of air pollution and improve the air quality in Beijing for the upcoming Olympics. As of this Friday, officials in China have decided to cut industrial pollution for two months from late July in Beijing and five surrounding provinces. This "air quality guarantee plan", as described by Wang Jian, director of the division of Air and Noise Pollution Control at the State Environmental Protection Agency, intends to close more than ten factories within the areas of Beijing and Hebei in the next couple of months. Before this recent plan, officials had planned to shut down the factories over the next two years. To ensure the plan's effectiveness, officials targeted factories with the highest pollution content in those six provinces--the worst polluters such as power and steel plants. Along with reducing the power plants and production plants, the plan also targets private vehicles by banning cars from usage with certain registrations on certain days. The details on this portion of the plan would be left up to the authorities in the cities.

I feel like the actions to cut down on air pollution in China are a good step towards improving the current situation. I'm also happy that the officials seem to be making progress in an efficient and fast manner. However, I'm skeptical about the future of such methods and the long term effects. It's quite clear that China has had it's share of environmental woes resulting from their speedy development through the years. In my opinion, looking at their approach to their rate of growth makes the long-term goals even more important. All the goals they set seem very short-term and done for the wrong reasons. Like, I wonder if they would have taken these drastic steps to solve the pollution had they not been the host location for the next Olympics.

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7329225,00.html

Musharraf's Words to Other Democracies

Carla Neal/Feb. 22 11:45 am/Democracy

In a letter focused to the US, the newly reelected president of Pakistan, Musharraf prides himself and his country on the recent and first fair and free election that took place in Pakistan on Feb. 18^th. He claims that his country is now on its way to becoming a democracy and that in order for the country to do this, they will need the support of other democracies such as the US. He also writes that the Pakistani government and people are not radical Islamic like the terrorists and will help the US combat terrorism in any way possible to help make democracies more secure and safe and he claims that the Pakistani military is already helping defend against these situations and are serving to protect their government and people in an upstanding and professional manner. One last thing he mentions in the letter is the “economic strategy” of the government which is to educate and “provide opportunities and benefits” to the people in order make the country a “better place”.

This is a letter, letting the US government know that the Pakistan is becoming a democracy and embracing it, this is after he recently declared that Pakistani people were not ready for democracy and probably wouldn’t be any time soon. It is this reason along with the fact that, only several months ago the same president/leader seized control of the people by military force and having some opponents sent to jails and held as political prisoners, I am still skeptical about this leaders intentions when it comes to the good of his country.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022102158.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

NC company turns brown green

Jessika Ziglar/02-22-08 11:26/Pollution

Cherokee Investment Partners, a real estate company based in Raleigh, NC, is buying often contaminated land (or "brownfields"), cleaning it up, building various things like apartments, and reselling it.

The company has bought up sites like a tainted GM plant in Quebec and Burlington Mills here in NC even though it was contaminated by asbestos and PCBs. Cherokee and Donald Trump even intend on building homes, apartments, and a golf course in New Jersey on top of four old garbage dumps.

But the company isn't just buying up land that no one wants for a profit, Tom Darden the cheif executive of the company and a Morehead Scholar, says that since most of the land they buy is near cities, "One of our goals is always to fill in the holes, rather than build out at the edges." Thus preventing even more urban sprawl. Cherokee also builds "green" energy-efficient houses, schools, and intends on trying to get an old transit line working in Montreal to encourage more use of public transportation.

Unlike the majority of the pollution articles out there, they one had a positive message. Its a breath of fresh air to see there is a company making a profit not at the expensive of the environment, but by cleaning it up and redeveloping it in more responsible ways. AND it's based out of North Carolina!

http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/20/news/companies/gunther_cherokee.fortune/

Vinnie Merryman / Feb. 22 9:25am / Labor Problems

Nigeria: Aondoakaa Gives Recipe for Combating Human Trafficking

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Michael Aondoakaa yesterday explained that unless human trafficking and child labor laws were properly implemented and offenders published accordingly, the fight against such a social menace may become a mirage. At a hearing organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Governmental Affairs, he stated there was an urgent need to properly fund agencies saddled with the duty of fighting human trafficking and child labor. He said the problem of human trafficking and child labor in the country had reached a frightening new dimension and called for proper regulation and review for child adoption laws in the country. Undue advantage of culture, ignorance, and poverty are some of the few major factors identified for leading to human trafficking and child labor. The House of Representatives believes that trafficking in persons and child labor was a multi-dimensional criminal activity that required multi-faceted approach. The House was convinced that the menace of trafficking in persons and child labor was non existent in some developed countries so also it was convinced that the menace can be wiped out in Nigeria if both the government and Nigerians developed the will power to do so. Stakeholders were urged to make presentations directed at providing lasting solutions to the problem of trafficking in persons and child labor, assuring them of the National Assembly's preparedness to take their submission seriously with a view to finding effective ways of ridding Nigeria of modern slavery.
I thought this was a very interesting article and it is nice to see someone, like Aondoakaa try to make an impact in preserving human rights. Human trafficking ahd child labor can't be solved overnight but there has to be a beginning point and it appears Nigeria is lying down the foundation to make a true impact towards human rights.


http://allafrica.com/stories/200802210310.html

Peace or Justice?

Stefanie Rumple/2/22/08/8:05 AM/Global Crime/Peace or Justice?

People in Uganda face a decision that many of us will never face. They must choose between peace and justice. Leaders of the Lord’s Resistance Army, including Joseph Kony, its self-proclaimed prophet and mouthpiece of the Christian god, were indicted in 2005 by the International Criminal Court in the Hague. This was done at the urging of President Museveni, but now it seems he has changed his mind. President Museveni of Uganda, who has led the country since 1986, has brokered a deal with Lord’s Resistance Army leaders to have peace in exchange for attempting to try them in Uganda for war crimes rather than allowing the indictments of the ICC to stand. By the rules of the ICC, if a local court undertakes to try and punish war criminals, an ICC indictment is unnecessary and would be set aside. However, Amnesty International disparaged the plan, saying that any trial held in Uganda would be a sham trial and would not actually hold rebels accountable for their crimes. The ICC is deliberating as to whether it would recognize the validity of trials held in Uganda or whether it would continue to pursue arrest and conviction on its own.
The war crimes at issue include mutilations, rape, and abductions of children to use as soldiers. Indeed, the people of Uganda vacillate between wanting to stop the rebels’ continued violence and unwillingness to fight against abducted children, who are doubly victims of this war and perpetrators of horrors against the people, as they are forced into these actions by their abductors. The LRA originally sought to create a theocracy, a Christian nation, with the ten commandments as basis for the laws and Joseph Kony, who claims to hear the voice of god, as religious and secular leader. Now they ask for inclusion in the government, but are unwilling to run in elections or form a political party, possibly afraid of marginalization and disenfranchisement because of their ideological persuasion. While they did walk out on negotiations on Wednesday, the Ugandan government has said that this is not the first time, or even the second or third time, that they have walked out, and they are confident LRA representatives will return to the talks.
To me this raises several issues. First there is the position of Amnesty International that the trials would be a sham and would not achieve justice, thereby encouraging similar rebel groups to continue with war-time atrocities without fear of punishment. It is thought that the rebels would not be attending peace negotiations at all if not for the fear of ICC indictments. But also, there is the issue of whether a Ugandan court, with its base in the context and direct knowledge of the surrounding events, might not be better equipped to hand out actual justice, if allowed to run without interference from rebel intimidation or political pressure. Is an international body better than a local one in determining what justice is in a particular situation? Would justice not have to include some provision for the needs and desires of the rebels? As far as Uganda is concerned, they are involved in a civil war. A civil war by definition involves two or more groups who desire leadership of their country, and for reasons that each think of as valid. The LRAs methods of doing so are horrific, destructive, and unconscionable, but have been able to continue with some tacit agreement from the people because the government forces have also been guilty of atrocities, although they haven’t been charged by any international body. So would a trial court in Uganda be more capable of handing out justice? Possibly. Would they be more willing to do so? That is debatable. They want the conflict to end, and there is concern in the international community that they would allow some to escape justice in the interest of peace. However, is justice such an absolute that people should not be allowed to seek peace and an end to these atrocities by abrogating it in some way? Or would peace be lasting and effective without absolute justice being served? Would the people of Uganda ever be able to return to a normal life knowing that people who committed such crimes were allowed to walk free in their cities, their towns, perhaps working and living alongside the very people whose lips, ears, and noses they cut off, whose children they kidnapped and forced into soldiery or killed, whose mothers and sisters they may have raped, whose family members they slaughtered? Maybe we could ask the Rwandans; we in America have no frame of reference I think, it has been a long time since our own civil war.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7254856.stm
http://allafrica.com/stories/200802210736.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7254357.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7252774.stm

Jazmin Hermosillo/Feb. 22, 1:54am/Religious Conflict

In Defense of Secularism

Today I read an article in the Newsweek magazine called “In Defense of Secularism.” It talked about the meaning of the word “Secular”, and how the meaning affected us in the past and how it affects us now.
“Secular” means “godless”, and its neutral meaning has always been a negative one, but recently it has caused more of an uproar. “Secular” is a code in conservative Christian circles for “atheist” or “God hating”, all in all, the demons Christian conservatives have been fighting for more than 30 years: liberalism, sexual permissiveness and moral lassitude. In this article Ann Coulter accused the liberals and the secularists and atheists of using religion as a wedge or as a cover up. In his new book, John Bolton critiques the High Minded elite who worshiped at the altar of the Secular Pope. John Bolton says the secularist equals nonbeliever and that nonbeliever equals immoral God haters and that there was a better word like “humanist”. “Secular” was first used in the middle Ages to mean things and people not belonging to the church.
Well from what I read in the article, I see the Pope in a very difficult situation because from what the Secular word means can make people think of secularist around the world seem as evil beings that don’t believe in the church and don’t have a god. The word secular has many different meanings but I prefer to believe in the Webster’s dictionary meaning; things and people not belonging to the church. As I see it, just because you don’t belong to a church no matter what part of the world you are in it doesn’t make you something evil and it surely doesn’t make you someone different from everyone else.

Miller, Lisa. Newsweek Magazine. 25 Feb, 2008. pg 15

Bush Makes Public Appearances In Ghana

Max Peck / February 22, 2008, 3:28 AM / Global Political Relations / #6

That rascally ol’ George Bush was spotted on Wednesday at the Ghana International School baseball field, sitting amongst a sea of adolescent athletes. While watching the game, Bush made excited exclamations about the game in progress and more than a few times attempted to stir the crowd (mostly young boys) by singing choice selections from the traditional American tune “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.”

After that, he signed a few baseballs embossed with the presidential emblem then headed off to a more important affair: a state dinner with Ghanaian bigwigs. There, Bush listened to Ghanaian President John Kufour’s speech, in which he was complimented for his attentiveness to West African affairs. According to astute listeners, peacocks also in attendance insisted upon interrupting the many speeches given that day no less than forty-five times.

During Bush’s chirp-sprinkled speech, he mentioned the recent Pakistani presidential elections and the task of curbing the spread of AIDS across Africa. He advocated the use of condoms and, most notably, the practice of abstinence (for which a third of the sexual awareness funding has been allocated) – this specifically has drawn criticism because Africans typically have multiple sexual partners (to generalize), so it is expected to have a slim chance of actually working out.

During Ghanaian President John Kufour’s speech, he expressed his dismay that Bush was only staying for two nights. Unbeknownst to him, this is actually quite the long time for Bush to stay in one nation, if you reference the recent past – Benin got two hours and Rwanda got eight.

The new highway built along a busy route has recently been dubbed “the George Bush Motorway.”

http://abcnews.go.com/International/WireStory?id=4318918&page=1

Associated Press

Candis Little/Bush, in Africa, Emphasizes Successes Over Conflicts/ 02/22/07/12:48a.m/ethnic conflict

Even though I have never been a big fan of President George Bush, this situation made me not even have a little respect for him. As I have reported in the past, Kenya and other nations have been fighting constantly. For the past few days, Bush has been on a six-day tour of the continent. Because of this violence, Bush has announced on Saturday, that he has decided not to visit these nations, Kenya and Sudan. I feel that he should not exclude any nation under any circumstance but on the other hand I guess he is trying to protect himself because it has gotten so bad. So many people are dieing and Bush does not want to be another statistic. But I feel that he somehow tried to cover it up by stating that “he wanted to focus instead on the successes like his programs to fight AIDS and malaria.” I would have rather for him to say that he was trying to protect himself instead of trying to protect his image. It is said that the “White House spent much of Saturday fending off suggestions that the president should be more engaged as a peacekeeper.” But in my opinion, in order to keep the peace with the nations, he should have went even for a few hours so that no one would be offended. But in all it was his decision and I just hope that violence would not be started with the United States over this because we have plenty to worry about all ready.

Child mortality: India's record worse than Bangladesh

Marcela Hernandez/ February 22,2008/ 10:44PM/ Poverty and Inequality

My topic is poverty and inequality and I found an article that takes place in New Delhi, India. This article talks about poverty being one of the main causes of child mortality because about two million children under the age of five are dying each year. “A new study conducted by Save the Children, which compares child mortality in a country to its national income per person, shows that India lags behind poorer neighbors like Bangladesh and Nepal when it comes to cutting child deaths.” According to a report Bangladesh and Nepal have emerged as the top 10 performers, recording fewer child deaths than their national income would suggest while India is ranked number 16. They have said that no matter how poor a country is, they can always cut child morality if they pursue the right policies. "There is huge inequality within India - of the 2 million children that die needlessly in the country every year, 60% are living in just five of the country's 28 states. There is a real need to examine how children are looked at in a country that allocates less than 5% of its GDP to children, despite the fact they make up almost 40% of the population," said Shireen Miller, director of policy for Save the Children India. They also say that even though poverty and child mortality is very strong many different countries can use different types of resources to help improve survival prospects of children.