Katrina Shankle/Mar. 31, 2008/8:31 p.m./Global Economics
It looks like more woes may lie ahead for the global economy in the wake of the United States subprime mortgage crisis. As March draws to a close, the first quarter for the United States’ financial and stock markets have closed with a disappointment. Treasury secretary Hank Paulson unveiled a new plan in hopes of reorganizing regulation of the nation’s financial markets. The stock market managed a small rally on the heels of this news. Dow Jones closed up forty-six points while the NASDAQ was up eighteen points and the Standard and Poor’s Index finished up five hundred points.
Financial, retail, real estate, and semiconductor stocks were among the highest today. In fact, Citigroup was the day’s Dow Jones leading stock with a 2.8 percent gain. Standard and Poor’s leader of the day was the chip maker Micron Technology which was up 9.5 percent; Fortune Brands also had a good day. Merck, the medical corporation, was the weakest Dow stock of the day.
The first quarter is the weakest it has been for the stock market since 2002. March essentially ended on a flat note for the big indexes.
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Investing/Dispatch/080331markets.aspx
Monday, March 31, 2008
Australian Medical Journal Published Study Finds Skins(TM) Compression Technology Valuable to Travelers
Erin Norris/March 31, 2008/technology
Everyone in sports has to travel in hours worth of flights when they are traveling to different countries. These athletes are expected to get off the plain and in just a few hours play on a field or court in the best shape. So now all atheletes are wearing these skins while they are in flight to help them to be in top shape when they are playing. These skins improve circulation which prevents a lot of leg pain. It also increases alertness and energy in people who wear them in flight which can prevent jet lag. Another group of people who can also benefit greatly from this product that was published in Australia and businessmen who have to be in meeting right after flights and be right on top of their game. A researcher specifically tested the ankle swelling of pilots as well as passengers and it certainly decreased when they wore the skins.
I think that this is a great idea. I think that it is really cool that people are thinking of things all the time that can improve the quality of players and anyone who travels a lot. I have an uncle that would love to have a product like this people he travels back and forth from the states to different countries for school and he is just amazed by this product.
Everyone in sports has to travel in hours worth of flights when they are traveling to different countries. These athletes are expected to get off the plain and in just a few hours play on a field or court in the best shape. So now all atheletes are wearing these skins while they are in flight to help them to be in top shape when they are playing. These skins improve circulation which prevents a lot of leg pain. It also increases alertness and energy in people who wear them in flight which can prevent jet lag. Another group of people who can also benefit greatly from this product that was published in Australia and businessmen who have to be in meeting right after flights and be right on top of their game. A researcher specifically tested the ankle swelling of pilots as well as passengers and it certainly decreased when they wore the skins.
I think that this is a great idea. I think that it is really cool that people are thinking of things all the time that can improve the quality of players and anyone who travels a lot. I have an uncle that would love to have a product like this people he travels back and forth from the states to different countries for school and he is just amazed by this product.
Does capitalism lead to democracy, and how? - International Herald Tribune
Patricia Cohen: Does capitalism lead to democracy, and how? - International Herald Tribune: "After communism collapsed, Fukuyama, perhaps more than anyone else, was associated with the idea that capitalism and democracy are inextricably linked. In his famous essay, 'The End of History,' he declared that all nations would ultimately evolve into Western-style liberal democracies."
Zimbabwe victory claim warning
Zimbabwe victory claim warning: "Zimbabwe's main opposition party claims to have defeated Robert Mugabe in the presidential elections."
Sunday, March 30, 2008
New PM for Fighting Terrorism
Carla Neal/March 30
According to an article yesterday, in Voice of America, the new PM of
Gilani proposes to do this by fighting poverty first and foremost in the tribes that produce most of the Taliban extremist because he believes it is that poverty that “encourages this type of behavior” and thus to fight the extremist you have to “fight” the source. He now has the approval and backing of the parliament, even those that are supporters of Musharraf, which he needed in order to secure his positions. Now, this is worrying some people because they are afraid he may have just done this in order to secure his position; however, the article alluded to the fact that he had enough support to secure his position before he made this speech therefore it must be true. I am just hoping that it is true because Pakistan has been through quite a bit and also that Musharraf won’t do anything extreme in order to keep his position, but only time will tell.
http://voanews.com/english/2008-03-29-voa10.cfm
Tibetan Students Enter U.N. Compound.
Joseph Borawski, Sunday March 30th 2008, 3:51 AM, Global Social Protests Current Event (late)
Tibetan Students Enter U.N. Compound.
This week roughly twenty Tibetan high school students scaled a brick wall which surrounds the United Nations compound in Katmandu and were treated to lunch by the United Nations while given the opportunity to write down their grievances for the benefit of the United Nations officials to read. Spokesman John Brittain was quoted as saying the teenagers “…were very nice,” and “They say down on the grass and chatted and as they were asked to put down their grievances”. This is an interesting form of protest, peaceful invaders, though security around the compound has doubled while the investigation of how they were able to scale the wall goes underway, this is just another example of the mounting pressure the Tibetan people are putting on the world and through the world China. The protests have continued on for about two weeks.
I think that this is quite astonishing; you wouldn’t think that twenty high school students would be able to just climb over a wall into a United Nations compound. Though I think that the reaction the United Nations had was even more amazing, listening to these high school students and treating them to lunch was an appropriate response and certainly one, which wasn’t required. Perhaps there are still a few voices of reason in the world. None of the high school students were arrested, and afterwards the United Nations made sure they were returned to their homes safely. Check it out here:
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Disputed Darfur Figures
Mark Moon / 1:17 AM / 3.29.08 / Ethnic Conflict
In the conflict between ethnic minorities and majorities in Darfur continues, the death count is clearly rising. The issue lies in the exact number. The estimate from the UN two years ago was at 200,000. They now estimate that 400,000 is closer to the correct figure. Without access to areas where humanitarian workers aren't allowed to venture, it will never be certain. In addition, the UN is too busy helping the living to worry about the total number of dead. Meanwhile, Sudan is pressing against a mortality count. Sudan claims only 10,000 deaths in Darfur. Aid workers say that perhaps that is the number killed by bullets, but not by starvation and disease.
With such drastic differences in figures, one can only imagine what the true mortality count is in Darfur. How many are due to direct violence? How many are a result of this violence in the form of starvation and disease? Until we are able to stabilize the region, we'll likely never know.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23848444/
In the conflict between ethnic minorities and majorities in Darfur continues, the death count is clearly rising. The issue lies in the exact number. The estimate from the UN two years ago was at 200,000. They now estimate that 400,000 is closer to the correct figure. Without access to areas where humanitarian workers aren't allowed to venture, it will never be certain. In addition, the UN is too busy helping the living to worry about the total number of dead. Meanwhile, Sudan is pressing against a mortality count. Sudan claims only 10,000 deaths in Darfur. Aid workers say that perhaps that is the number killed by bullets, but not by starvation and disease.
With such drastic differences in figures, one can only imagine what the true mortality count is in Darfur. How many are due to direct violence? How many are a result of this violence in the form of starvation and disease? Until we are able to stabilize the region, we'll likely never know.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23848444/
Friday, March 28, 2008
Vinnie Merryman / March 28 9:30 pm / Labor Problems
The Child Coal Hauler
This particular article is about three kids who were left behind by their parents in China. They are now working as coal haulers and they look to be possibly 10-12 years old. The age requirement to work in China is 16, and until the age of 18 children are not allowed to do construction or mining work (like the kids mentioned in the article). It is believed that many of these kids are left behind because their parents go to the big cities to look for work and leave the children behind with friends or relatives to look after them. This results in a lot of children running away in search of their parents. Having no idea where to look, they become very vulnerable to cheap, child labor. This article is not very long, but there is also a video attached to it. The video is a 12 minute documentary on these children and although it is in a different language, the struggles the children endure are very obvious. The three kids work very hard hauling coal across the city on their back. Luckily for them, this video became very popular and local authorities got involved on this particular case. They found these kids and took them away from this work and enrolled them into a school.
As lucky as these individual gets were to be discovered and able to attend school, there are still many children that are left behind stuck doing these jobs that are not meant to be done by young children. Hopefully this video will raise awareness and there will be more steps in preventing children from getting stuck in this type of labor force. Unfortunately, China doesn't seem to address the problem of child labor and keep records of child labor on the downlow and do not release them to the public. This strikes me as a way of not having to address the problem since they aren't showing the data for child labor so it wouldn't be deemed as a problem.
http://observers.france24.com/fr/content/20080327-chinese-children-working-illegally-exploited
This particular article is about three kids who were left behind by their parents in China. They are now working as coal haulers and they look to be possibly 10-12 years old. The age requirement to work in China is 16, and until the age of 18 children are not allowed to do construction or mining work (like the kids mentioned in the article). It is believed that many of these kids are left behind because their parents go to the big cities to look for work and leave the children behind with friends or relatives to look after them. This results in a lot of children running away in search of their parents. Having no idea where to look, they become very vulnerable to cheap, child labor. This article is not very long, but there is also a video attached to it. The video is a 12 minute documentary on these children and although it is in a different language, the struggles the children endure are very obvious. The three kids work very hard hauling coal across the city on their back. Luckily for them, this video became very popular and local authorities got involved on this particular case. They found these kids and took them away from this work and enrolled them into a school.
As lucky as these individual gets were to be discovered and able to attend school, there are still many children that are left behind stuck doing these jobs that are not meant to be done by young children. Hopefully this video will raise awareness and there will be more steps in preventing children from getting stuck in this type of labor force. Unfortunately, China doesn't seem to address the problem of child labor and keep records of child labor on the downlow and do not release them to the public. This strikes me as a way of not having to address the problem since they aren't showing the data for child labor so it wouldn't be deemed as a problem.
http://observers.france24.com/fr/content/20080327-chinese-children-working-illegally-exploited
Jazmin Hermosillo/March 28/6:13pm/Religious Conflict
Pope Calls for Peace and Celebrates Conversions
On Easter Sunday Pope Benedict XVI lead a prayer in St. Peter’s Square. He noted that the disciples had spread the message of Christ’s resurrection and as a result of that “thousands and thousands of persons converted to Christianity”.
During this time Osama bin Laden had issued a threat against Europe that included the accusation that the pope was involved in a “new Crusade” against Islam and Magdi Allam. On this same day the Pope baptized an Egyptian born writer and he also received his very first communion.
During this ceremony the Pope took advantage to convert many people and it seems to have been a great day for everyone. Allam, 55, says that the miracle of the resurrection of Christ reverberated into his soul, freeing it from the shadows of a preaching where hate and intolerance toward he who is different.
Besides the pope doing this for the people, he also prayed for the peace in troubled parts of the world. He cited Darfur in Sudan, Somalia and “the tormented Middle East, especially the Holy Land, Iraq, and Lebanon. The pope also mentioned that how often relations between individuals, between groups and between peoples are marked not by love but by selfishness, injustice, hatred and violence. He delivered Easter greetings in 63 languages and talked more about how these problems opened and festered in every corner of the planet, and how although they are often ignored and sometimes deliberately concealed, wounds that torture the souls and bodies of countless people.
I have been following the Pope’s actions for a while now and all of his events have been controversial, but this one I believe has given him a lot of good feed. It was really great that the pope gave a speech on all those countries that have been in some need of help, and I believe that his actions do well for all.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/world/europe/24pope.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
On Easter Sunday Pope Benedict XVI lead a prayer in St. Peter’s Square. He noted that the disciples had spread the message of Christ’s resurrection and as a result of that “thousands and thousands of persons converted to Christianity”.
During this time Osama bin Laden had issued a threat against Europe that included the accusation that the pope was involved in a “new Crusade” against Islam and Magdi Allam. On this same day the Pope baptized an Egyptian born writer and he also received his very first communion.
During this ceremony the Pope took advantage to convert many people and it seems to have been a great day for everyone. Allam, 55, says that the miracle of the resurrection of Christ reverberated into his soul, freeing it from the shadows of a preaching where hate and intolerance toward he who is different.
Besides the pope doing this for the people, he also prayed for the peace in troubled parts of the world. He cited Darfur in Sudan, Somalia and “the tormented Middle East, especially the Holy Land, Iraq, and Lebanon. The pope also mentioned that how often relations between individuals, between groups and between peoples are marked not by love but by selfishness, injustice, hatred and violence. He delivered Easter greetings in 63 languages and talked more about how these problems opened and festered in every corner of the planet, and how although they are often ignored and sometimes deliberately concealed, wounds that torture the souls and bodies of countless people.
I have been following the Pope’s actions for a while now and all of his events have been controversial, but this one I believe has given him a lot of good feed. It was really great that the pope gave a speech on all those countries that have been in some need of help, and I believe that his actions do well for all.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/world/europe/24pope.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Monk self-immolates in Burma shrine
Seng Yang/Human Rights/Friday, March 28, 2008/5:12pm
Monk self-immolates in Burma shrine
To protest the economic hardships in Burma, a monk set himself on fire in Rangoon's holiest Buddhist temple to protest the military government. Myanmar has been trying to achieve complete democracy from junta military. The 26-year-old was praying at a shrine in Shwedagon Pagoda on Friday before dousing himself with petrol and setting himself alight. Before setting himself on fire he shouted, “May we be free from economic hardship."
The reason for the protests from the people of Myanmar and the monks are because of e hiked fuel prices in August of 2007. Burma's economy has been decimated by decades of mismanagement by military governments since the army seized power in 1962. They used to be one of the most successful South East Asian countries cultivating rice.
The man is now recovering in the hospital.
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/200803/s2197525.htm?tab=latest
What to do: Discuess Women's Issues
Shavon Pulley/March 28, 2008/ Gender issues
http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2008/03/25/027.html
I thought this was an interesting article to bring awareness to another group of people. For the last couple of weeks every article that I have read always bring attention to Africa , Asia, or India. I wanted to know if there were any other female gender issues in the world besides these particular countries. The International Womens Club will hold a conference in Moscow to discuses certain issues. This will be the first organization of this type ever held in Russia. The club wants to address issues such as women today, women in health care, culture, and education. By bringing in these type of broad topics they will raise the issues of family care, career choices, trafficking of women, and racial interlorence.
I want to follow this article as it progresses to see the outcome of these situations and how will it be handled by the group. Hopefully, with a few articles to discuses problem in Russia, I will be able to compare and contrast the different countries. I want to find out if they view their women the same and how they plan on helping them succeeding. I will keep you posted on any information that I find dealing with this article. Please comment on this article of what you think the outcome will be for the groups and how you think the countries will compare.
http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2008/03/25/027.html
I thought this was an interesting article to bring awareness to another group of people. For the last couple of weeks every article that I have read always bring attention to Africa , Asia, or India. I wanted to know if there were any other female gender issues in the world besides these particular countries. The International Womens Club will hold a conference in Moscow to discuses certain issues. This will be the first organization of this type ever held in Russia. The club wants to address issues such as women today, women in health care, culture, and education. By bringing in these type of broad topics they will raise the issues of family care, career choices, trafficking of women, and racial interlorence.
I want to follow this article as it progresses to see the outcome of these situations and how will it be handled by the group. Hopefully, with a few articles to discuses problem in Russia, I will be able to compare and contrast the different countries. I want to find out if they view their women the same and how they plan on helping them succeeding. I will keep you posted on any information that I find dealing with this article. Please comment on this article of what you think the outcome will be for the groups and how you think the countries will compare.
Saudi king seeks religious dialogue
Ashley Flaherty/March 28,2008 1:16pm/Religious Conflict
King Abdullah has made an impassioned plea for dialogue among Muslims, Christians, and Jews. The first being from ultraconservative Saudi Arabia which has no ties to Isreal and bans public non-Muslim religious services. This talk comes at a time of tension among these three religions. Muslims have been angered by cartoons published in European papers seen insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Abdullah's call is significant and could add weight to sporadic efforts at dialogue among religious leaders. A Saudi official with knowledge of the proposal said it was not intended to have a political angle. Saying that the intiative was not aimed at the middle east but at the whole world. Abdullah's contacts with Benedict are also significant. In his speech, he said he discussed the dialogue proposal with the pontiff at their Vatican meeting. Abdullah's framing of the dialogue in ethical terms may aim to reassure hard-line Muslim clerics that it would not invovle any concessions. but some are already wary. Marwan Abu Ras, a lawmaker with the Palestenian Hamas militant group and chairman of the Palestinian Religious scholars said the call for dialogue is advocated by Islam.
King Abdullah has made an impassioned plea for dialogue among Muslims, Christians, and Jews. The first being from ultraconservative Saudi Arabia which has no ties to Isreal and bans public non-Muslim religious services. This talk comes at a time of tension among these three religions. Muslims have been angered by cartoons published in European papers seen insulting the Prophet Muhammad. Abdullah's call is significant and could add weight to sporadic efforts at dialogue among religious leaders. A Saudi official with knowledge of the proposal said it was not intended to have a political angle. Saying that the intiative was not aimed at the middle east but at the whole world. Abdullah's contacts with Benedict are also significant. In his speech, he said he discussed the dialogue proposal with the pontiff at their Vatican meeting. Abdullah's framing of the dialogue in ethical terms may aim to reassure hard-line Muslim clerics that it would not invovle any concessions. but some are already wary. Marwan Abu Ras, a lawmaker with the Palestenian Hamas militant group and chairman of the Palestinian Religious scholars said the call for dialogue is advocated by Islam.
Gunman holding 50+ Children in Central African Republic
Rebecca Hauser
Human Rights
March 28, 2008
12:45 pm
300 gunman fron a Ugandan rebel group raided 4 communities earlier this week in the Central African Republic. They have abducted more than 150 people total. This group is well known for capturing children and forcing them into the sex slave industry. 30 adults have been released. All of the women who have been released are claiming that they were gang raped. The individuals were captured, tied with rope around their waists, and forced out of their communities.
This is an absolute attrocity. I can not believe that this is actually occuring. What makes this situation even more pressing is the fact that they are holding cihldren and refuse to release them. There is no telling what will happen to these children, but given this rebel group's previous reputation, I am afraid that their future may be grim. It scares me that things like this are occuring in the world that I am living in. The thing that compounds my worries is the fact that there is really nothing that I can do about it. Though this situation is happening so far away from me, I can't help but to think about what our society would do if something like this happened here in the United States.
Human Rights
March 28, 2008
12:45 pm
300 gunman fron a Ugandan rebel group raided 4 communities earlier this week in the Central African Republic. They have abducted more than 150 people total. This group is well known for capturing children and forcing them into the sex slave industry. 30 adults have been released. All of the women who have been released are claiming that they were gang raped. The individuals were captured, tied with rope around their waists, and forced out of their communities.
This is an absolute attrocity. I can not believe that this is actually occuring. What makes this situation even more pressing is the fact that they are holding cihldren and refuse to release them. There is no telling what will happen to these children, but given this rebel group's previous reputation, I am afraid that their future may be grim. It scares me that things like this are occuring in the world that I am living in. The thing that compounds my worries is the fact that there is really nothing that I can do about it. Though this situation is happening so far away from me, I can't help but to think about what our society would do if something like this happened here in the United States.
Children of Somalia
Joey Sawyer March 28 12:30
I was browsing Al Jazeera website and I am finding it a very useful tool to find info about food shortages outside the US. Although this is a very big problem in many areas, it is not exactly "news" because most of it is not new. While this is true, I can see that things are getting worse, and it seems to me that huge droughts all over the world are the main culprit. It is amazing that what we do to the air blows across the world and causes disasters in a place I have never seen and kills people I have never known and never will. It is a small world, or else I could set an oil field ablaze and no one would bat an eye for another millennium.
Things have gone from bad to worse in Somalia since the time I first heard about them. I grew up seeing that chubby bearded fellow hugging emaciated doe-eyed African babies on the TV hearing that a few cents a day could change their lives forever. Apparantly just forking over some pocket jinglies was not enough, because your brand new 1997 ford explorer that gets you from your inexpensive factory-built mansion in the latest cheesily named community just outside of Atlanta to your cubicle downtown sends out enough toxic gas to cause huge drought riots ten years later. So your ten cents a day that saved that kids life, but left him hungry for a decade was well spent so that he could pick up a cheap chinese made russian assault rifle and blast anyone that got in the way of his now untamable sweet tooth because of those tootsie rolls you kept sending him in those care packages. Now they have to BS you in phony postcards from him about how he is in school and loves jesus when he is killing his neighbors for flour and sugar and oil so he can make the cookies he so desperately craves.
I got a little carried away there. The point is things are getting worse, even though we are trying to help these people. It is obviously not a cure all to send food to people in these struggling areas. It would be better to help them grow there own food, but now even that is out of the question. It is hard to find a realistic solution to a problem as big as an overpopulated desert. There are a lot of people and absolutely no resources. The only thing that can help these people is to get out now. People will either have to get over their reservations about other people and make large personal sacrifices in how they live their daily lives if they want to genuinely help anyone in such a situation, but the fact of the matter is more people would rather ignore it and let them die. They will die, they have to. The earth cannot sustain them this way. The guns these people have are kind of a form of euthanasia. It hurts less to be shot and killed than forgotten while you slowly starve to death.
So if you want to help, don't send these people ten cents a day. They can't even get it right now, aid organizations are afraid to go to Somalia. I forgot that that was my point, I got carried away again. Aid workers are getting killed in the cross fire or robbed of their care packages. It is survival of the fittest now. If someone is lucky enough to get to safety in some refugee camp, and you are willing to let a stranger come into your home and live and eat your food then you are able to help a little. Short of that you have to let them fight it out and the desert will claim them.
I was browsing Al Jazeera website and I am finding it a very useful tool to find info about food shortages outside the US. Although this is a very big problem in many areas, it is not exactly "news" because most of it is not new. While this is true, I can see that things are getting worse, and it seems to me that huge droughts all over the world are the main culprit. It is amazing that what we do to the air blows across the world and causes disasters in a place I have never seen and kills people I have never known and never will. It is a small world, or else I could set an oil field ablaze and no one would bat an eye for another millennium.
Things have gone from bad to worse in Somalia since the time I first heard about them. I grew up seeing that chubby bearded fellow hugging emaciated doe-eyed African babies on the TV hearing that a few cents a day could change their lives forever. Apparantly just forking over some pocket jinglies was not enough, because your brand new 1997 ford explorer that gets you from your inexpensive factory-built mansion in the latest cheesily named community just outside of Atlanta to your cubicle downtown sends out enough toxic gas to cause huge drought riots ten years later. So your ten cents a day that saved that kids life, but left him hungry for a decade was well spent so that he could pick up a cheap chinese made russian assault rifle and blast anyone that got in the way of his now untamable sweet tooth because of those tootsie rolls you kept sending him in those care packages. Now they have to BS you in phony postcards from him about how he is in school and loves jesus when he is killing his neighbors for flour and sugar and oil so he can make the cookies he so desperately craves.
I got a little carried away there. The point is things are getting worse, even though we are trying to help these people. It is obviously not a cure all to send food to people in these struggling areas. It would be better to help them grow there own food, but now even that is out of the question. It is hard to find a realistic solution to a problem as big as an overpopulated desert. There are a lot of people and absolutely no resources. The only thing that can help these people is to get out now. People will either have to get over their reservations about other people and make large personal sacrifices in how they live their daily lives if they want to genuinely help anyone in such a situation, but the fact of the matter is more people would rather ignore it and let them die. They will die, they have to. The earth cannot sustain them this way. The guns these people have are kind of a form of euthanasia. It hurts less to be shot and killed than forgotten while you slowly starve to death.
So if you want to help, don't send these people ten cents a day. They can't even get it right now, aid organizations are afraid to go to Somalia. I forgot that that was my point, I got carried away again. Aid workers are getting killed in the cross fire or robbed of their care packages. It is survival of the fittest now. If someone is lucky enough to get to safety in some refugee camp, and you are willing to let a stranger come into your home and live and eat your food then you are able to help a little. Short of that you have to let them fight it out and the desert will claim them.
Cairo hurts for bread
Joey Sawyer 11:50 am march 28
According to an article earlier this month in Al Jazeera, the citizens of Cairo are having a very tough time getting their hands on some essential nutrients. Egypt is a huge importer of wheat, among other grains. Some people are waiting all day in bread lines just to get one loaf, others turn to violence in the streets. This sort of food shortage is being seen in many places that have to import certain basic food items because global climate change has decreased areas abilities to grow certain crops and food stockpiles are quickly being used up. The problem in Cairo is also that the Nile delta has become over populated and what once was fertile farmland is now rife with neighborhoods and slums. This has contributed to their reliance on imported food. This combined with the high prices of fuel make importing food especially expensive. Cairo has become very geographically unsustainable and the population is suffering the effects of being much too large. What I found interesting is now that they are in such dire conditions many people believe it is the job of the military to provide for them. If the people believe it is solely the government's responsibility to feed them, but the government does not have the means to do so, then this country could be at a great risk of large scale upheavals against the government. There have already been a few riots, but this could get much worse. People fight to survive like any other animal, but we have become very good at killing. Mother Nature has its own way to force its inhabitants to be sustainable, and we can only go behind her back for so long feeding these areas before she finds another way to stop us. What happens when we can't help? what happens when these people can no longer get food? We see death on the human scale, but on the broader scale we see balance.
According to an article earlier this month in Al Jazeera, the citizens of Cairo are having a very tough time getting their hands on some essential nutrients. Egypt is a huge importer of wheat, among other grains. Some people are waiting all day in bread lines just to get one loaf, others turn to violence in the streets. This sort of food shortage is being seen in many places that have to import certain basic food items because global climate change has decreased areas abilities to grow certain crops and food stockpiles are quickly being used up. The problem in Cairo is also that the Nile delta has become over populated and what once was fertile farmland is now rife with neighborhoods and slums. This has contributed to their reliance on imported food. This combined with the high prices of fuel make importing food especially expensive. Cairo has become very geographically unsustainable and the population is suffering the effects of being much too large. What I found interesting is now that they are in such dire conditions many people believe it is the job of the military to provide for them. If the people believe it is solely the government's responsibility to feed them, but the government does not have the means to do so, then this country could be at a great risk of large scale upheavals against the government. There have already been a few riots, but this could get much worse. People fight to survive like any other animal, but we have become very good at killing. Mother Nature has its own way to force its inhabitants to be sustainable, and we can only go behind her back for so long feeding these areas before she finds another way to stop us. What happens when we can't help? what happens when these people can no longer get food? We see death on the human scale, but on the broader scale we see balance.
Purposive use of the Social Sciences in Military control of other nations....
Blackwell Synergy - Anthropology Today, Volume 24 VIRTUAL ISSUE: War on Terror Page 21-26, February 2008 (Article Abstract): "Between July 2005 and August 2006, the US Army put together an experimental counterinsurgency programme called‘Human Terrain System’(HTS). The programme's building blocks are five-person teams (‘Human Terrain Teams’ or HTTs) assigned to brigade combat team headquarters in Iraq and Afghanistan, comprising regional studies experts and social scientists, some of whom are armed. This article looks at the roots of the human terrain concept, which appears to have originated in domestic counterinsurgency efforts connected with US government efforts to suppress political dissent in the 1960s. Of special concern were militant groups such as the Black Panthers. The article then explores the genesis and development of HTS, as it moved from concept to reality. As the programme was being implemented, some of those involved with its creation referred to it as a ‘CORDS for the 21st Century’, in reference to a Vietnam War-era initiative that gave birth to the infamous Phoenix Program. The latter was a‘neutralization’campaign that led to the assassination of some 26,000 Vietnamese. The article also reviews the potential future uses of the data collected by HTTs, which has been of great interest to several research groups involved in crea"
Ten terrorists get up to four years imprisonment in Morocco
The ten men were charged with belonging to a radical religious movement known as Salafya Jihadia. They were arrested in Morocco's northern city, Tangier and sentenced for "conspiracy with the intention to prepare and commit terrorist acts," "holding non-authorized public meetings," and "exerting activities in an unrecognised association."
The court condemned three of the defendants to four years in jail, and the remaining seven to two years each.
The court had earlier in the day sentenced a man recently extradited from Spain on terror charges to four years in jail.
El Hassan Miftah Idrissi, who was arrested in mid June 2007 near Barcelona, Spain, and handed over later to Morocco, was sentenced for "conspiracy" and " public order disturbance by resorting to violence and terror."
HAMID BENBELLA,Friday28,March 2008
The court condemned three of the defendants to four years in jail, and the remaining seven to two years each.
The court had earlier in the day sentenced a man recently extradited from Spain on terror charges to four years in jail.
El Hassan Miftah Idrissi, who was arrested in mid June 2007 near Barcelona, Spain, and handed over later to Morocco, was sentenced for "conspiracy" and " public order disturbance by resorting to violence and terror."
HAMID BENBELLA,Friday28,March 2008
North Korea Test Fired Missiles, South Korea Says
I do not know much about the history of
Africa’s Merchant of Death
Stefanie Rumple/03/28/08/ 10AM/ Global Crime/ Africa's Merchant of Death
We have learned how the end of the Cold War created a market for PMCs and mercenary soldiers; it also opened up the world arms market to a man named Viktor Bout, nicknamed Africa's Merchant of Death. Bout is Russian, although reports vary as to where in Russia he is actually from, and he is known to carry passports in several other names. He attended the Soviet Military Institute of Foreign Languages in Moscow in the 1980s, which the US alleges was a training ground for KGB officers. The KGB funneled arms to many conflicts during the Cold War, and it is thought that this is where Bout gained initial contacts for his arms trade, although Bout has always denied any membership in the KGB. He worked as a translator in Angola for UN peacekeepers, and speaks at least five languages, including several African languages. With his main base in Sharjah in the U.A.E., Bout is said to have supplied illegal arms, but also legal goods, to countries around the world, including the US, most recently during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, he is also known to be supplying arms and other supplies to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. This is apparently a long-standing modus operandi; Bout has supplied arms to both rebel and terrorist groups as well as to the governments those groups fight against. He is credited with being a major supplier of arms for both sides for the conflicts in Sierra Leone, Liberia, the Congo, Angola, and the Sudan, while also transporting peacekeeping forces and supplies into Rwanda, Iraq, Afghanistan, and others. For many years and on countless occasions, he has defied UN arms embargoes to war-torn areas, with the assurance of getting away with it, as apparently there is no penalty and no way to enforce one for breaking embargoes.
On March 7th, Bout was arrested in Bangkok, Thailand, although formal charges have yet to be filed. Bout’s attorney’s allege that the arrest is unlawful, and Bout physically resisted being extradited to the US, stating that as no charges had been filed by the US either, there were no grounds for him to be extradited. The Thai government is still investigating whether he used their country as a base from which to ship illegal arms, and can hold him for up to 48 days before filing a formal indictment. They have, however, denied bail, and US officials stand waiting to extradite him in relation to his dealings with FARC, the Colombian rebel group supported by the government of Venezuela, which the US has designated a terrorist organization. Viktor Bout is said to be the real-life model for the character played by Nicholas Cage in the recent movie “Lord of War”. He refers to himself as a business man who has no reason to know the contents of his characteristic military-green cargo containers, or the purpose they will be put to. He seems to me to be a pure capitalist, ironically coming from Russia, the cradle of communism, with all the entrepreneurial spirit of a Rockefeller or a Bush, and many of the same ethical views.
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/17/russian.arrest/
http://www.analyst-network.com/article.php?art_id=1846
http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=126563
Morning snacks 'fuelling obesity'
Whitney Everett/Morning snacks ‘fuelling obesity’/March 28, 2008/9:23am/post 10
A study has been shown that young people who skip breakfast and eat a mid morning snack can raise obesity rates instead of slowing metabolism. Nearly half of people aged sixteen to twenty four miss breakfasts at least twice a week. Out of two thousand people asked about their breakfast habits found that eighty five percent admitted adding snacks to keep mid morning hungry away. Children who are overweight and obese are likely to grow into obese and overweight adults who are high at risk of cancer and other diseases. Survey reflects that many young people miss breakfast only to eat sugary snacks and fatty snacks when they get hungry. Eating a nutritious breakfast can help lead you to a healthy diet and decrease the risk of obesity, cancer and other health related diseases.
I think that many young adults do not eat breakfast because of lack of time. I know for myself I do not have time in the morning to eat breakfast but by the time lunch comes around I am starving. Instead of not eating breakfast at all and then resorting to sugary, fatty snacks because of hunger, eat a banana or some fruit. This will stop the hungry that you are feeling but will reduce the risk of obesity and health risks that come from sugary snacks that have no nutrition at all. They could also just grab a granola bar or banana out of the door and eat it on the way, so even though they do not have the time to sit down and eat a nutritious breakfast they are still eating a healthy breakfast on the go.
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iEvPbFxgmJ3MMpBS_sGY-eXpq33g
Candis Little/Ethnic Divide Worsens as Sri Lanka Conflict Escalates/03/28/2008/12:22p.m./ethnic conflict
Security is tight, and tensions high, in Colombo. Some minority Tamils fear wrongly being arrested during checks in which have been occurring quite frequently since the truce between the Sri Lankan government and the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is over, and gone are the Nordic monitors who kept watch over it. After the memorial of the 5 year anniversary of the declaration of war with Iraq things have gotten so much worst. The Red Cross confirmed that in the first six weeks of this year alone, 180 civilians had been killed, a toll it called appalling. Independent journalists are not allowed anywhere near the front lines. Tamil neighborhoods are raided at night. Few people are willing to speak their minds, for fear that any criticism of the war effort will be construed as support for the rebels, or worse, that they will be detained under stringent emergency laws.
On Thursday, a foreign panel invited by Sri Lanka to observe a government commission’s investigations into rights abuses said it was leaving the country, frustrated by a lack of support from the government. I feel that the government at this point and time should support any type of positive movement that is leaning towards this war coming to the end. Alongside the conventional war, a shadow war has been waged in government-held cities, including Colombo. In a report released Thursday, Human Rights Watch blamed the government for a string of unexplained disappearances; the victims were largely Tamils.
I regret picking this topic because every week I have to read and discuss the depressing news of people dieing in thousands by the minute all over the world.
On Thursday, a foreign panel invited by Sri Lanka to observe a government commission’s investigations into rights abuses said it was leaving the country, frustrated by a lack of support from the government. I feel that the government at this point and time should support any type of positive movement that is leaning towards this war coming to the end. Alongside the conventional war, a shadow war has been waged in government-held cities, including Colombo. In a report released Thursday, Human Rights Watch blamed the government for a string of unexplained disappearances; the victims were largely Tamils.
I regret picking this topic because every week I have to read and discuss the depressing news of people dieing in thousands by the minute all over the world.
Samuel Fahnrich/3-28-08/12:54 am.
Oh, says the scientist
Samuel Fahnrich
I don't know why, but there is a part of me that enjoys controversy among today's scientists. When it involves global warming, well, that's fair game for a blog entry. Finally, I can support what I've been thinking this whole time with, "current scientific evidence." The view of global warming being a natural development for our planet blown in our face due to political coverage in the media. For instance, the Ice Age occurred before the invention of a combustible engine and flooding occurred before Bush became president. Now, how do I plan to support this astonishing claim?
Starting off- here's a quote straight from the article, copied and pasted concerning the Great Miami Hurricane aka the Big Blow that hit in 1926. (I'm not kidding)
"Its path through the now heavily developed southern tip of Florida would have caused $157 billion in damage, followed by Katrina, whose toll was $81 billion. Six of the top 10 most damaging storms occurred before 1945."
Taken completely out of context, the back story is about whether or not it is financially "smart" to fix or adapt to global warming.
Similar to the Natives of the South West, it may be better to irrigate a few crops than to turn northern Phoenix into a rain forest. I'm not saying global warming is falsified, that would un academic, but I am saying that our current lifestyles may have to alter. It is not that Global warming wasn't going to occur, but that our actions did speed up the deadly rate.
To find out more, check out- http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-adapt26mar26,1,6268751.story?track=rss&page=2
Or just come back to this next week when I go further in depth.
Heck, you could even leave a comment.
Samuel Fahnrich
I don't know why, but there is a part of me that enjoys controversy among today's scientists. When it involves global warming, well, that's fair game for a blog entry. Finally, I can support what I've been thinking this whole time with, "current scientific evidence." The view of global warming being a natural development for our planet blown in our face due to political coverage in the media. For instance, the Ice Age occurred before the invention of a combustible engine and flooding occurred before Bush became president. Now, how do I plan to support this astonishing claim?
Starting off- here's a quote straight from the article, copied and pasted concerning the Great Miami Hurricane aka the Big Blow that hit in 1926. (I'm not kidding)
"Its path through the now heavily developed southern tip of Florida would have caused $157 billion in damage, followed by Katrina, whose toll was $81 billion. Six of the top 10 most damaging storms occurred before 1945."
Taken completely out of context, the back story is about whether or not it is financially "smart" to fix or adapt to global warming.
Similar to the Natives of the South West, it may be better to irrigate a few crops than to turn northern Phoenix into a rain forest. I'm not saying global warming is falsified, that would un academic, but I am saying that our current lifestyles may have to alter. It is not that Global warming wasn't going to occur, but that our actions did speed up the deadly rate.
To find out more, check out- http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-adapt26mar26,1,6268751.story?track=rss&page=2
Or just come back to this next week when I go further in depth.
Heck, you could even leave a comment.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
UN Human Rights Council resolves to pressure Sudan over Darfur
Jake Robinson/March 27, 2008/9:56 pm/current event 10/UN Human Rights/war
UN Human Rights Council resolves to pressure Sudan over Darfur
The UN Human Rights Council, on Thursday, pushed through a resolution pressuring Sudan to punish those responsible for human rights violations in the Darfur regions civil war.
In the resolution, the Council “expresses its deep concern at the seriousness of the ongoing violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in some parts of Darfur.”
International organizations estimate Darfur’s ongoing civil war has killed 200,000 people and displaced 2.2 million people out of a population of six million.
The council insisted Sudan “address urgently this question by thoroughly investigating all allegations of human rights and international humanitarian law violations, promptly bringing to justice the perpetrators of those violations.”
However, the Council’s Canadian representative said those living in Darfur “deserve better” than this resolution.
Last week, the United Nations issued a report on what it said were deliberate attacks carried out on Darfur’s civilians by the Sudanese army in the past two months.
According to the investigation, these attacks in western Darfur left at least 115 dead and another 30,000 forced away from their homes, mainly in the direction of Chad.
This latest piece of news in the ongoing Darfur conflict appears to be a step in a positive direction. By holding those responsible for human rights violations, it may lead to a cessation of the ongoing and seemingly endless struggle in the region. It is impossible to know if anything will come of this, but it is clearly a step in the right direction.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080327/wl_africa_afp/sudandarfurunrights;_ylt=Av_TSnaredm9ui7Y35ppc8pvaA8F
RBA Governor Stevens Says Australian Banks Weathering Financial Turmoil
Shamia N Irving, Thursday March 27, 2008 9:14pm
The RBA (Reserved Bank of Austrailia) governore Glenn Stevens spoke at a conference in Sydney, Australia. He informed those in attendance about the country's financial system and how it was pulling through despite the turmoil that was affecting the global marketplace, although some markets abroad had not yet stabilized. Stevens stated that the country has been sticking through this challenge for the pass nine months. "We have seen a significant reappraisal (re-evaluation) of certain categories of risk and considerable financial turbulence in key international markets." He also stressed the importance of liquidity (this makes it easier for an investor to get his/her money back out of the investment) and pledged that the RBA would provide funding as needed. Lastly, he explained that in the long term co-operative central bank action would be required. He finished up his speech by stating that the US Federal Reserve took a recent action that will help stabilize the financial system, despite the fact that many other central banks were experiencing inflationary pressures.
Although Australia has not fully solved all of their problems, it does seem as if they have them under control, which is always good. Unlike other countries who are experiencing major inflation problems, and haven't figured out the first step to get things on the up and up.
Some words I weren't sure what they meant so I looked them up and put the synonym or explained it in parenthesis.
http://www.economicnews.ca/login.php?page=reportsDetails&newsid=65130&prevview=&view=details&country=Australia&plimit=0&category=Australian%20Economic%20Reports
The RBA (Reserved Bank of Austrailia) governore Glenn Stevens spoke at a conference in Sydney, Australia. He informed those in attendance about the country's financial system and how it was pulling through despite the turmoil that was affecting the global marketplace, although some markets abroad had not yet stabilized. Stevens stated that the country has been sticking through this challenge for the pass nine months. "We have seen a significant reappraisal (re-evaluation) of certain categories of risk and considerable financial turbulence in key international markets." He also stressed the importance of liquidity (this makes it easier for an investor to get his/her money back out of the investment) and pledged that the RBA would provide funding as needed. Lastly, he explained that in the long term co-operative central bank action would be required. He finished up his speech by stating that the US Federal Reserve took a recent action that will help stabilize the financial system, despite the fact that many other central banks were experiencing inflationary pressures.
Although Australia has not fully solved all of their problems, it does seem as if they have them under control, which is always good. Unlike other countries who are experiencing major inflation problems, and haven't figured out the first step to get things on the up and up.
Some words I weren't sure what they meant so I looked them up and put the synonym or explained it in parenthesis.
http://www.economicnews.ca/login.php?page=reportsDetails&newsid=65130&prevview=&view=details&country=Australia&plimit=0&category=Australian%20Economic%20Reports
Angry RusAI Miners Refuse to Leave Shaft
Jessica Otey/ March 27, 2008/ 7:52 pm/ Labor Problems
Last Wednesday, One hundred miners working for a company called RusAI went on strike. They have decided that until their demands are met they will not surface from the mine that they have been working in. The miners are about 700 meters below ground in a mine located in Sverdlovsk, Russia.
The miners are requesting a 40 percent pay raise, eliminating work on Saturdays, allowing miners to strike without being punished upon their return to work, and restarting construction on a local, uncompleted mine.
So far RusAI is not recognizing the miners’ demonstration as an actual strike. The company claims that the miners have not formally submitted a list of their demands and until they do so they are not willing to negotiate. In addition, the company does not approve of how the miners have handled their difficulties with the company. A spokesperson stated that they encourage workers to express complaints in a more constructive approach. RusAI also claims that the miners receive a yearly increase in salary based on inflation rates and as of right now they earn more than the industry’s average.
This article is really quite sad. I cannot imagine staying in a mine for the period of several days. It seems like an extreme way for the miners to get their point across. I think that their efforts would be received a whole lot better if they sat down calmly and discussed their demands with the company. On the other hand, the company could be covering up some of the story to make themselves look better.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2008/03/28/041.html
Last Wednesday, One hundred miners working for a company called RusAI went on strike. They have decided that until their demands are met they will not surface from the mine that they have been working in. The miners are about 700 meters below ground in a mine located in Sverdlovsk, Russia.
The miners are requesting a 40 percent pay raise, eliminating work on Saturdays, allowing miners to strike without being punished upon their return to work, and restarting construction on a local, uncompleted mine.
So far RusAI is not recognizing the miners’ demonstration as an actual strike. The company claims that the miners have not formally submitted a list of their demands and until they do so they are not willing to negotiate. In addition, the company does not approve of how the miners have handled their difficulties with the company. A spokesperson stated that they encourage workers to express complaints in a more constructive approach. RusAI also claims that the miners receive a yearly increase in salary based on inflation rates and as of right now they earn more than the industry’s average.
This article is really quite sad. I cannot imagine staying in a mine for the period of several days. It seems like an extreme way for the miners to get their point across. I think that their efforts would be received a whole lot better if they sat down calmly and discussed their demands with the company. On the other hand, the company could be covering up some of the story to make themselves look better.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2008/03/28/041.html
Carbon tariff on China possible to curb pollution
Andrew Calhoun, Jr. / 3-27-08 / 5:18PM / Pollution
In response to China's increased air pollution issues, officials in countries such as Canada and the United States are considering the option of placing Carbon tariffs on China's goods, which in turn forces those countries that are in a developmental phase to yield to greenhouse gas emission standards. The article comments how even though industrialized countries in the global north are primarily responsible for the issues with greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, a viewpoint that was also held by the same countries in the '97 Kyoto Protocol, ideals and beliefs have shifted now that countries like China and India have stepped up in their development. "Since the beginning of the decade", the article states "China's emissions have increased about 120 per cent and are greater than Canada, India, Spain and Japan combined."
I feel like this response to China's growth is very timely considering the summer olypmics in Beijing are just right around the corner. Now, it seems, China has become a target for attention on multiple levels; from political issues right down to environmental issues. If these tariffs and fines are put in place in countries like China and India, my main concern is how will that change their development. I also wonder why the US and other countries feel an overwhelming need to charge their imports rather than work together to promote the reduction of these greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. I mean, the US and other countries still aren't able to cut down on their own emissions and now because a country has increased their abilities and increased their development at a fast rate, they feel the need to tax them?
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/380403
In response to China's increased air pollution issues, officials in countries such as Canada and the United States are considering the option of placing Carbon tariffs on China's goods, which in turn forces those countries that are in a developmental phase to yield to greenhouse gas emission standards. The article comments how even though industrialized countries in the global north are primarily responsible for the issues with greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, a viewpoint that was also held by the same countries in the '97 Kyoto Protocol, ideals and beliefs have shifted now that countries like China and India have stepped up in their development. "Since the beginning of the decade", the article states "China's emissions have increased about 120 per cent and are greater than Canada, India, Spain and Japan combined."
I feel like this response to China's growth is very timely considering the summer olypmics in Beijing are just right around the corner. Now, it seems, China has become a target for attention on multiple levels; from political issues right down to environmental issues. If these tariffs and fines are put in place in countries like China and India, my main concern is how will that change their development. I also wonder why the US and other countries feel an overwhelming need to charge their imports rather than work together to promote the reduction of these greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. I mean, the US and other countries still aren't able to cut down on their own emissions and now because a country has increased their abilities and increased their development at a fast rate, they feel the need to tax them?
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/380403
Women Good For Peace Keeping Missions
Kelli Mack/March 27, 2008/ 2:47 pm/ Gender Issues
Starting tomorrow, a high level conference will be held in Rwanda for the high level defense forces, military academies, and universities. At this conferences it will be proven to the high ranking officials that women are necessary for peace keeping missions. This is because a dual gender peace keeping mission more resembles society, thus intentions and actions can be kept civilized and the members can relate more to those they are helping. This conference will also promote prevention of sexual violence on these missions as well. It has been seen in cases where women are deployed along side of men there is less sexual violence on missions. This has not been seen in Rwanda and Congo, all that has been seen is increasing violence in male dominated peace missions. Sadly, women are reported to be receiving at least 50% of the violence. Hopefully, this conference will raise awareness of the violence going on in these missions and the country will realize the need for women in their peace keeping missions.
I find it very sad that on a mission that is meant to help make peace, women are being violated and beaten rather than receiving the aid they are supposed to. I hope this conference makes a difference in this country and things start to change because this is just awful to read about.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200803260394.html
Starting tomorrow, a high level conference will be held in Rwanda for the high level defense forces, military academies, and universities. At this conferences it will be proven to the high ranking officials that women are necessary for peace keeping missions. This is because a dual gender peace keeping mission more resembles society, thus intentions and actions can be kept civilized and the members can relate more to those they are helping. This conference will also promote prevention of sexual violence on these missions as well. It has been seen in cases where women are deployed along side of men there is less sexual violence on missions. This has not been seen in Rwanda and Congo, all that has been seen is increasing violence in male dominated peace missions. Sadly, women are reported to be receiving at least 50% of the violence. Hopefully, this conference will raise awareness of the violence going on in these missions and the country will realize the need for women in their peace keeping missions.
I find it very sad that on a mission that is meant to help make peace, women are being violated and beaten rather than receiving the aid they are supposed to. I hope this conference makes a difference in this country and things start to change because this is just awful to read about.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200803260394.html
France, UK to encourage nuclear power
Brian England 3/27/08 Global Political Relations
www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/03/27/france.britain/index.html
This article seems to be reactions to my last article on Al Qaeda threats made to Europe even though there is no stated coorelation. The french and british leaders have met this week to discuss the need to move to nuclear power. But at the same time they stress to disable nuclear weapons. "We need to help countries get civil nuclear power, but they need to renounce the idea of getting nuclear weapons." This conclusion was also brought about by the idea of Iran having nuclear weapons which makes many nations nervous. Under this idea, the duo are coming together with similar ideas of bringing all nations together to fight common problems. One of which is al Qaeda, where the nations stress the need to win the battle. The last thing they want is al Qaeda returning to power in Afganestan. They also are discussing a global approach to economy, environment, climate change, security, and bringing rich and poor nations together. They have distinct ideas on how to improve Africa before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which seems to be a safety concern for fans as well as players.
This unity can really speak out to change the future. Many nations assist eachother and are often allied on controversy, but these common terms are usually corrupt with politics, history, and direction for the long term. The France and Britain cooperation seems to be completely honest and loyal. And hopefully this can lead to some sort of global togetherness. But it seems conveniant that last week al Qaeda threatened Europe for portraying Muhammed in a newspaper cartoon stating that the penalties will be severe, and this week forces are coming together to talk about ideas that will benefit the world, and at the same time speaking of sending more troops to Afganistan. This was great timing.
www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/03/27/france.britain/index.html
This article seems to be reactions to my last article on Al Qaeda threats made to Europe even though there is no stated coorelation. The french and british leaders have met this week to discuss the need to move to nuclear power. But at the same time they stress to disable nuclear weapons. "We need to help countries get civil nuclear power, but they need to renounce the idea of getting nuclear weapons." This conclusion was also brought about by the idea of Iran having nuclear weapons which makes many nations nervous. Under this idea, the duo are coming together with similar ideas of bringing all nations together to fight common problems. One of which is al Qaeda, where the nations stress the need to win the battle. The last thing they want is al Qaeda returning to power in Afganestan. They also are discussing a global approach to economy, environment, climate change, security, and bringing rich and poor nations together. They have distinct ideas on how to improve Africa before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, which seems to be a safety concern for fans as well as players.
This unity can really speak out to change the future. Many nations assist eachother and are often allied on controversy, but these common terms are usually corrupt with politics, history, and direction for the long term. The France and Britain cooperation seems to be completely honest and loyal. And hopefully this can lead to some sort of global togetherness. But it seems conveniant that last week al Qaeda threatened Europe for portraying Muhammed in a newspaper cartoon stating that the penalties will be severe, and this week forces are coming together to talk about ideas that will benefit the world, and at the same time speaking of sending more troops to Afganistan. This was great timing.
Avaaz.org - The World in Action
Avaaz.org - The World in Action: "Petition to Chinese President Hu Jintao:
As citizens around the world, we call on you to show restraint and respect for human rights in your response to the protests in Tibet, and to address the concerns of all Tibetans by opening meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Only dialogue and reform will bring lasting stability. China's brightest future, and its most positive relationship with the world, lies in harmonious development, dialogue and respect."
As citizens around the world, we call on you to show restraint and respect for human rights in your response to the protests in Tibet, and to address the concerns of all Tibetans by opening meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama. Only dialogue and reform will bring lasting stability. China's brightest future, and its most positive relationship with the world, lies in harmonious development, dialogue and respect."
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The Penguin Visits Palestine for Peace
Max Peck / March 26, 2008 PM / Global Political Relations / #10
Abbas, left, and Cheney
Abbas, left, and CheneyOn Sunday, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank to discuss the recent military clashes between Israeli soldiers and Hamas militants. There, Cheney conceded that success in peace would require “painful concessions” on both ends, and that the U.S. was committed to an independent Palestinian state.
Abbas thanked Cheney for his show of support and proceeded to lash out at Israeli’s settlement and checkpoint policies, blaming them in part for the lack of peace and security in the West Bank region. Cheney (“The Sage,” or “Papa,” as Americans affectionately refer to him) claimed that “the future belongs to the advocates of peace and reconciliation.”
The meeting, held on Easter Sunday, was prefaced by a visit to a tiny chapel by Vice President Cheney, where the crowd prayed to a seemingly absent god and sang Amazing Grace.
Just as in my last article, the content above seems irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. Is this a purely political showing-of-face / shaking of hands, or is this a “real” meeting driven by a meeting’s definitive motivations: to communicate, to plan, and to share genuine information and advice for the benefit of all parties involved?
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/03/23/cheney.mideast.ap/index.html#cnnSTCText-Associated Press
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Bread Ingredient Sparks Fear
Kimberly Mega Food Scarcity 3/25/08 11:40pm
Since 2003 folic acid has been added to bread due to chronic malnutrition in children and is distributed to places such as South Africa. The addition of folic acid to South Africa’s bread is mandatory. A British study has recently found that the increased levels of folic acid is linked to bowel cancer and heart disease. Folic acid is a man made B vitamin found in a variety of foods such as leafy vegetables and liver. The Foods Standards Agency is overseeing two large scale experiments to study the effects of folic acid on the heart and the colon. Some bread companies have already been asked to reduce the levels of folic acid in their product. Although some experts are saying that the particular diets of South Africans will allow them the room for extra nutrients because their diet is scarce as it is. I find it very interesting that one of the things that will greatly decrease global malnutrition, they are trying to take away. In my international health class the fortification of foods is a top priority to help infant and maternal hunger. If the older generations aren’t nourished how do they expect the younger children to survive. The mothers will have no nutrients in their breast milk and no one will be strong enough to work the fields.
http://www.iol.co.za/general/news/newsprint.php
Since 2003 folic acid has been added to bread due to chronic malnutrition in children and is distributed to places such as South Africa. The addition of folic acid to South Africa’s bread is mandatory. A British study has recently found that the increased levels of folic acid is linked to bowel cancer and heart disease. Folic acid is a man made B vitamin found in a variety of foods such as leafy vegetables and liver. The Foods Standards Agency is overseeing two large scale experiments to study the effects of folic acid on the heart and the colon. Some bread companies have already been asked to reduce the levels of folic acid in their product. Although some experts are saying that the particular diets of South Africans will allow them the room for extra nutrients because their diet is scarce as it is. I find it very interesting that one of the things that will greatly decrease global malnutrition, they are trying to take away. In my international health class the fortification of foods is a top priority to help infant and maternal hunger. If the older generations aren’t nourished how do they expect the younger children to survive. The mothers will have no nutrients in their breast milk and no one will be strong enough to work the fields.
http://www.iol.co.za/general/news/newsprint.php
Riots rage in China as protests overshadow Olympic ceremony
Joseph Borawski, Tuesday March 25th 2008, 9:25 AM, Global Social Protests Current Event (way late, meant for Friday the 21st)
Monday in Tibetan-populated areas of China pro-independence protests raged with the death of at least once policeman, and several more being wounded in a riot in Sichuan province. The exiled Tibetan political leader Samdhong Rinpoche said that 130 people had now been killed since the start of the Chinese crack down following two weeks or protests, this is up from a previous figure of 99. Protesters seeking to embarrass the Chinese government disrupted the lighting ceremony of the Olympic torch in Olympia. The torch is to be ran from Greece to China. The officer was named Wang Guochan, was killed by a group who attacked armed police with knifes at about 4:30 in the afternoon. This was following the firing of warning shots by the police so as to disperse the crowd.
There is also an unconfirmed report from a rights group called the Tibet Support Group, of the deaths of a monk and a farmer, with the injury of 10 others. Despite these injuries over 200 monks, 200 nuns and about 1000 farmers were involvedin the unrest. Local authorities announced that 381 alleged rioters had been rounded up in a Tibetan-populated area of southwest Sichuan. World governments and sports associations have decided to keep themselves as distant from the calls to boycott the Olympics. One of the protesters who interrupted the torch lighting ceremony said “We have nothing against the Olympic games or the athletes. We want to draw attention to the fact that China is the world’s biggest prison.” I think the Tibetans have an honest claim to want to protest and for a good reason, but I certainly doubt the effectiveness that boycotting the Olympic Games will have, seems it would garnish more antipathy than support. Check it out here:
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hw92BmwCMcm5RgT2Lxy0tjyUITlQ
Monday in Tibetan-populated areas of China pro-independence protests raged with the death of at least once policeman, and several more being wounded in a riot in Sichuan province. The exiled Tibetan political leader Samdhong Rinpoche said that 130 people had now been killed since the start of the Chinese crack down following two weeks or protests, this is up from a previous figure of 99. Protesters seeking to embarrass the Chinese government disrupted the lighting ceremony of the Olympic torch in Olympia. The torch is to be ran from Greece to China. The officer was named Wang Guochan, was killed by a group who attacked armed police with knifes at about 4:30 in the afternoon. This was following the firing of warning shots by the police so as to disperse the crowd.
There is also an unconfirmed report from a rights group called the Tibet Support Group, of the deaths of a monk and a farmer, with the injury of 10 others. Despite these injuries over 200 monks, 200 nuns and about 1000 farmers were involvedin the unrest. Local authorities announced that 381 alleged rioters had been rounded up in a Tibetan-populated area of southwest Sichuan. World governments and sports associations have decided to keep themselves as distant from the calls to boycott the Olympics. One of the protesters who interrupted the torch lighting ceremony said “We have nothing against the Olympic games or the athletes. We want to draw attention to the fact that China is the world’s biggest prison.” I think the Tibetans have an honest claim to want to protest and for a good reason, but I certainly doubt the effectiveness that boycotting the Olympic Games will have, seems it would garnish more antipathy than support. Check it out here:
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hw92BmwCMcm5RgT2Lxy0tjyUITlQ
Kraft's China unions says relocation violates law
Breanna Fehr, March 25, 2008. 5:30 p.m. Labor Problems
A labor union at Kraft Foods in China said that the company violated Chinese labor by not consulting workers about a relocation of its headquarters. The relocation of the headquarters threatens up to 340 people’s jobs. Since the beginning of March the company has been having talks about moving its headquarters from Beijing to Shanghai.
According to Chinas new labor law, a company is required to consult with its staff before making any major decisions that may affect employee interest. Kraft announced its plans for relocation abruptly which bothered workers. Since workers were kept in the dark about such an important decision they decided to unionize. After unionizing the workers stated examining legal options for saving their jobs. The union says that Kraft has hurt the interests of Chinese employers and is demanding that Kraft apologize for violating the law and that workers are given a voice in the relocation process.
A company spokeswoman said that half of the 250 non-sales staff in Beijing would be offered jobs in Shanghai and the other half would be offered severance pay that is more generous than required by Chinese Law.
I think it’s really important that the workers are working together to help resolve some of their problems. The company would have gotten away with not talking to its employees about the relocation if the workers hadn’t gotten together and demanded that they talk with them; after all it is the law. This just proves that the only way these laws will be enforced is if people work together to promote them because Kraft only cared about the law after the workers brought it to their attention. I think this should set a precedent for Chinese workers, because of them unionizing they got the company to offer them jobs and severance pay. If the workers kept quiet about their problems about losing their job than they probably would have never been offered the jobs or severance pay.
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSPEK33478320080325?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=10004
A labor union at Kraft Foods in China said that the company violated Chinese labor by not consulting workers about a relocation of its headquarters. The relocation of the headquarters threatens up to 340 people’s jobs. Since the beginning of March the company has been having talks about moving its headquarters from Beijing to Shanghai.
According to Chinas new labor law, a company is required to consult with its staff before making any major decisions that may affect employee interest. Kraft announced its plans for relocation abruptly which bothered workers. Since workers were kept in the dark about such an important decision they decided to unionize. After unionizing the workers stated examining legal options for saving their jobs. The union says that Kraft has hurt the interests of Chinese employers and is demanding that Kraft apologize for violating the law and that workers are given a voice in the relocation process.
A company spokeswoman said that half of the 250 non-sales staff in Beijing would be offered jobs in Shanghai and the other half would be offered severance pay that is more generous than required by Chinese Law.
I think it’s really important that the workers are working together to help resolve some of their problems. The company would have gotten away with not talking to its employees about the relocation if the workers hadn’t gotten together and demanded that they talk with them; after all it is the law. This just proves that the only way these laws will be enforced is if people work together to promote them because Kraft only cared about the law after the workers brought it to their attention. I think this should set a precedent for Chinese workers, because of them unionizing they got the company to offer them jobs and severance pay. If the workers kept quiet about their problems about losing their job than they probably would have never been offered the jobs or severance pay.
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSPEK33478320080325?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=10004
Extra Credit - ISA - International Student Association
ISA - International Student Association: "The International Festival is an annual celebration of the diverse world in which we live and of the beauty that human cultures have to offer. I-Fest promotes cultural awareness, appreciation and understanding through the mediums of music, food, crafts, demonstrations and entertainment from all corners of the globe. I-Fest is an event open to the UNCG family and the general public during which you, your families and friends may come to experience and learn about the diverse world in which we live as I-Fest brings the world to you!
As an I-Festival visitor you will be able to see, hear, smell and taste various cultures from around the planet! Whether you are curious about life beyond our shores, or curious about the curious people down the street, I-Fest is a kaleidoscope that brings all peoples together. At I-Fest you will discover a “Global Village” of nearly 40 booths along the lawn of the Fountain Area and live entertainment throughout the festival's duration."
As an I-Festival visitor you will be able to see, hear, smell and taste various cultures from around the planet! Whether you are curious about life beyond our shores, or curious about the curious people down the street, I-Fest is a kaleidoscope that brings all peoples together. At I-Fest you will discover a “Global Village” of nearly 40 booths along the lawn of the Fountain Area and live entertainment throughout the festival's duration."
Samuel Fahnrich/Oceanic hotspots/12:09/3-25-08
Oceanic hotspots
Samuel Fahnrich
I have discussed topics relating global warming to the ocean before, but this time I want to inform you about the livelihood of corals.
It is no secrete that millions of people rely on seafood as a means of living for food and economy. As you learn in Biology, the ocean is a network of food chains and webs involving predators and their prey. Links in these systems build upon a starting organism which produces its own energy through photosynthesis. The light from the sun enables these organisms to harness their own energy and sustain life. They are then eaten by other organisms, who are then eaten by another, etc. This is the process of a food chain, with a food web incorporating different organisms who consume the same species of prey.
Other than performing a fine review of Biology 101, my summary refreshed the principle of organism dependency. This relates to global warming in a number of ways, but for this I want to focus on coral reefs and their one-celled friends. Corals are the world's largest known organisms which expand far across the ocean floor. Because of this factor, corals are not only important for coastal regions, but all oceanic relations. The problem lies within overexposure to sunlight, and the process of "bleaching" that occurs when the sun literally kills the corals means of survival. The dependency is based on the one-celled organisms of algae (zooxanthellae) providing corals with nutrients to survive. As the ocean temperature becomes warmer the algae dies, eventually killing all of the algae if temperatures allow. Without the algae the coral soon starve to death impacting all oceanic forms of life due to the breaks and gaps of food chains and webs.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080324091101.htm
Samuel Fahnrich
I have discussed topics relating global warming to the ocean before, but this time I want to inform you about the livelihood of corals.
It is no secrete that millions of people rely on seafood as a means of living for food and economy. As you learn in Biology, the ocean is a network of food chains and webs involving predators and their prey. Links in these systems build upon a starting organism which produces its own energy through photosynthesis. The light from the sun enables these organisms to harness their own energy and sustain life. They are then eaten by other organisms, who are then eaten by another, etc. This is the process of a food chain, with a food web incorporating different organisms who consume the same species of prey.
Other than performing a fine review of Biology 101, my summary refreshed the principle of organism dependency. This relates to global warming in a number of ways, but for this I want to focus on coral reefs and their one-celled friends. Corals are the world's largest known organisms which expand far across the ocean floor. Because of this factor, corals are not only important for coastal regions, but all oceanic relations. The problem lies within overexposure to sunlight, and the process of "bleaching" that occurs when the sun literally kills the corals means of survival. The dependency is based on the one-celled organisms of algae (zooxanthellae) providing corals with nutrients to survive. As the ocean temperature becomes warmer the algae dies, eventually killing all of the algae if temperatures allow. Without the algae the coral soon starve to death impacting all oceanic forms of life due to the breaks and gaps of food chains and webs.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080324091101.htm
Monday, March 24, 2008
Alternative Energy Slow to Take Hold
Mallory Overstreet/Oil and Energy/March 24, 2008/10:05pm
Unfortunately, the plunge for alternative energy is not going to happen as fast as we were hoping it would. According to researchers, no alternative source of energy has the strength to replace petroleum, and they say it will possibly take decades to develop different sources that work as well as it does now. This is simply due to the fact that petroleum works the best and it is (or was) the cheapest way to provide energy to the world. Now that the need for fuel is growing faster than it used to, our regular sources are struggling to keep up. This, of course, causes prices to sky rocket. Something else contributing to the high prices is the fact that they have not found something better to replace it. So we are stuck paying for the fuel because we have to. One thing that we could try though, is "saving and substituting efficiency for all the oil we use". Although this way is cheaper than buying the oil, it still does not solve the oil crisis. Also, only biofuels, such as ethanol, can only replace the fuel used for transportation, which is most of the fuel that we need in order to get the prices back down to normal. And even if ethanol is produced in very large amounts, it would only contribute to five percent of the fuel used by motorists every day. As well as not producing enough, researchers say that it would require more fuel to produce these specific biofuels than they would actually produce, leaving us deeper in the hole than when we started.
In conclusion, it seems like we need to just try to be patient about fuel prices, keeping in mind that researchers are constantly looking for better ideas to help us now and in the future.
Unfortunately, the plunge for alternative energy is not going to happen as fast as we were hoping it would. According to researchers, no alternative source of energy has the strength to replace petroleum, and they say it will possibly take decades to develop different sources that work as well as it does now. This is simply due to the fact that petroleum works the best and it is (or was) the cheapest way to provide energy to the world. Now that the need for fuel is growing faster than it used to, our regular sources are struggling to keep up. This, of course, causes prices to sky rocket. Something else contributing to the high prices is the fact that they have not found something better to replace it. So we are stuck paying for the fuel because we have to. One thing that we could try though, is "saving and substituting efficiency for all the oil we use". Although this way is cheaper than buying the oil, it still does not solve the oil crisis. Also, only biofuels, such as ethanol, can only replace the fuel used for transportation, which is most of the fuel that we need in order to get the prices back down to normal. And even if ethanol is produced in very large amounts, it would only contribute to five percent of the fuel used by motorists every day. As well as not producing enough, researchers say that it would require more fuel to produce these specific biofuels than they would actually produce, leaving us deeper in the hole than when we started.
In conclusion, it seems like we need to just try to be patient about fuel prices, keeping in mind that researchers are constantly looking for better ideas to help us now and in the future.
RP among world’s top 5 remittance recipients in 2007
Matthew Heyes / 24 March 9.30pm / Population
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=112970
This article looks at the levels of emigration from developing countries into rich developed ones. Rich countries are still the main source of remittances. The United States is the largest with $42 billion in recorded outward flows in 2006. Saudi Arabia ranks second, followed by Switzerland and Germany. For 2007, recorded remittance flows worldwide were estimated at $318 billion, of which $240 billion went to developing countries.Remittances are transfers of money by foreign workers to their home countries. The top 5 remittance recipients are listed as India, China, Mexico, the Philippines and France. This however refers to the total of money sent back to that country. If you were to look at it as a share of gross domestic product (GDP), however, smaller countries such as Tajikistan and Moldova had the highest with 36 percent of GDP; Tonga, 32 percent; the Kyrgyz Republic, 27 percent; and Honduras, 26 percent. In many developing countries, remittances provide a lifeline for the poor. They are often an essential source of foreign exchange and a stabilizing force for the economy in turbulent times. Access to financial services are promoted which increase financialo and social inclusion
In particular levels of skilled emigration are discussed. Even though people can study for skilled jobs in developing countries there is often not the market in which to offer employment upon qualifying. These people therefore have to look elsewhere for a well-paid position. Almost all the physicians trained in Grenada and Dominica have emigrated abroad. St. Lucia, Cape Verde, Fiji, São Tomé and Principe and Liberia are also among the countries with the highest emigration rates of physicians.
FRONTLINE: bush's war: introduction | PBS
FRONTLINE: bush's war: introduction | PBS: "From the horror of 9/11 to the invasion of Iraq; the truth about WMD to the rise of an insurgency; the scandal of Abu Ghraib to the strategy of the surge -- for seven years, FRONTLINE has revealed the defining stories of the war on terror in meticulous detail, and the political dramas that played out at the highest levels of power and influence.
Now, on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion, the full saga unfolds in the two-part FRONTLINE special Bush's War. Veteran FRONTLINE producer Michael Kirk draws on one of the richest archives in broadcast journalism -- more than 40 FRONTLINE reports on Iraq and the war on terror. Combined with fresh reporting and new interviews, Bush's War will be the definitive documentary analysis of one of the most challenging periods in the nation's history."
Now, on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion, the full saga unfolds in the two-part FRONTLINE special Bush's War. Veteran FRONTLINE producer Michael Kirk draws on one of the richest archives in broadcast journalism -- more than 40 FRONTLINE reports on Iraq and the war on terror. Combined with fresh reporting and new interviews, Bush's War will be the definitive documentary analysis of one of the most challenging periods in the nation's history."
400 Tibetans detained in protest
Emily Mader/24 March 2008/8:33pm/Human Rights
Roughly 400 protestors, mostly Tibetan, were arrested today during uprisings in
It seems that there is pattern in how protests against the Chinese occupation of
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23427558-1702,00.html
Pakistan's New PM
Carla Neal/March 24
A month after the public elections in
Gillani has already released some of those wrongfully imprisoned and has “reinstated the Supreme Court judges that were imprisoned”, one of which gave thanks to his new leader and the supporters while he was “away”. Gillani also plans to address the UN about an investigation of the assassination of Bhutto, the Pakistani Prime Minister before Musharraf, who many suspect of political foul play. All of this comes before he takes his official oath on Tuesday.
Now while some may not be exactly thrilled with the new election because of America’s ties with Musharraf helping fight terrorism, maybe this will be for the best simply because already this man is taking stands to reunite his country in a democratic way, so really this can only help. Another concern by some is what the Pakistan Muslim League, the group that backed Musharraf will do, because some believed they gained power illegally once so what is to stop them now? I guess we will just have to wait and see.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/world/asia/25pakistan.html?hp
UNC in Washington
A Semester of Study and Internship in D.C.
Earn full-time academic credit, live and attend class with other UNC system students, and participate in an internship while you learn about D.C. from the “inside.”
Three UNCG students are selected to participate each semester.
A great experience for students in all majors!
“Everything from working at a highly prestigious internship to exploring the city’s rich history and culture, D.C. does not disappoint, and the UNC in Washington Program will open up just the right doors to allow you to shoot for the stars and provide you with a shuttle to get there!”
– Keeley Hawkins, UNCG participant, Spring 2008
Application deadline for Fall 2008 is April 15
A Semester of Study and Internship in D.C.
Earn full-time academic credit, live and attend class with other UNC system students, and participate in an internship while you learn about D.C. from the “inside.”
Three UNCG students are selected to participate each semester.
A great experience for students in all majors!
“Everything from working at a highly prestigious internship to exploring the city’s rich history and culture, D.C. does not disappoint, and the UNC in Washington Program will open up just the right doors to allow you to shoot for the stars and provide you with a shuttle to get there!”
– Keeley Hawkins, UNCG participant, Spring 2008
Application deadline for Fall 2008 is April 15
Pope calls for peace in Tibet, Iraq, Holy Land
Ashley Flaherty/March 24,2008 10:12 am/ Religious Conflict
Pope Benedict XVI rejoiced over the baptism of a prominent Muslim and used this time to call for peace in Iraq, Tibet, and the Holy Land. The conversion of Magdi Allam, a prominent journalist and commentator in Italy who has received death threats for his denunciations of Islamic fanaticism. His criticism of Palenstinian suicide bombings prompted the Italian government to provide him with a sizable security detail in 2003 after Hamas singled him out for death. the pope himself has come under verbal attack from Islamic militants. Osama Bin Laden accused Benedict of playing a role in what he called a "new Crusade" against Islam. The pope talked about denouncing "selfishness, injustice,hatred, and violence" between individuals and people.
I think that this is going to stir up more issues of hate with Muslims towards the Catholics and it is ridiculous. If Magdi wants to be baptized that is his personal choice and no one else should have a say in the matter. Especially since he was never a practicing Muslim. I think that this shows where most of the violence and hate started in the Middle East because they are so quick to hand out death threats when someone doesn't believe exactly what they what them to believe. Its like Guerrilla warfare over there and I don't think there is anything that the United States or any other country can resolve. it is belief they have had since the beginning of time and they are not going to fold for anything and we should not make them. We would not want someone coming into our country and tell us not to get angry or offended when someone denounces our beliefs so why should we do that to them?
Pope Benedict XVI rejoiced over the baptism of a prominent Muslim and used this time to call for peace in Iraq, Tibet, and the Holy Land. The conversion of Magdi Allam, a prominent journalist and commentator in Italy who has received death threats for his denunciations of Islamic fanaticism. His criticism of Palenstinian suicide bombings prompted the Italian government to provide him with a sizable security detail in 2003 after Hamas singled him out for death. the pope himself has come under verbal attack from Islamic militants. Osama Bin Laden accused Benedict of playing a role in what he called a "new Crusade" against Islam. The pope talked about denouncing "selfishness, injustice,hatred, and violence" between individuals and people.
I think that this is going to stir up more issues of hate with Muslims towards the Catholics and it is ridiculous. If Magdi wants to be baptized that is his personal choice and no one else should have a say in the matter. Especially since he was never a practicing Muslim. I think that this shows where most of the violence and hate started in the Middle East because they are so quick to hand out death threats when someone doesn't believe exactly what they what them to believe. Its like Guerrilla warfare over there and I don't think there is anything that the United States or any other country can resolve. it is belief they have had since the beginning of time and they are not going to fold for anything and we should not make them. We would not want someone coming into our country and tell us not to get angry or offended when someone denounces our beliefs so why should we do that to them?
EC - Talk on Underground Railroad
Talk on Underground Railroad
Noted author will speak at the Central Library
Bordewich What: A Talk by Author Fergus Bordewich, Author of Bound for Canaan: The Epic Story of the Underground Railroad, America's First Civil Rights Movement.
The true story of the Underground Railroad is much more morally complex and politically divisive than even the myths suggest. Against a backdrop of the country's westward expansion arose a fierce clash of values that was nothing less than a war for the country's soul. Not since the American Revolution had the country engaged in an act of such vast and profound civil disobedience that not only challenged prevailing mores but also subverted federal law. Bound for Canaan tells the stories of men and women like David Ruggles, who invented the black underground in New York City; bold Quakers like Isaac Hopper and Levi Coffin, who risked their lives to build the Underground Railroad; and the inimitable Harriet Tubman. Interweaving thrilling personal stories with the politics of slavery and abolition, Bound for Canaan shows how the Underground Railroad gave birth to this country's first racially integrated, religiously inspired movement for social change.
When: April 3
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Greensboro Central Library
For more information visit the Greensboro Library website by clicking here.
Noted author will speak at the Central Library
Bordewich What: A Talk by Author Fergus Bordewich, Author of Bound for Canaan: The Epic Story of the Underground Railroad, America's First Civil Rights Movement.
The true story of the Underground Railroad is much more morally complex and politically divisive than even the myths suggest. Against a backdrop of the country's westward expansion arose a fierce clash of values that was nothing less than a war for the country's soul. Not since the American Revolution had the country engaged in an act of such vast and profound civil disobedience that not only challenged prevailing mores but also subverted federal law. Bound for Canaan tells the stories of men and women like David Ruggles, who invented the black underground in New York City; bold Quakers like Isaac Hopper and Levi Coffin, who risked their lives to build the Underground Railroad; and the inimitable Harriet Tubman. Interweaving thrilling personal stories with the politics of slavery and abolition, Bound for Canaan shows how the Underground Railroad gave birth to this country's first racially integrated, religiously inspired movement for social change.
When: April 3
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Greensboro Central Library
For more information visit the Greensboro Library website by clicking here.
China Plans to Keep On-Child Policy at Least 10 more years
Lamanda(Michelle) Reid/March 24,08/8:52a.m./poverty and inequality
China plans to keep one-child policy at least 10 more years was written by Jim Yardley and published on March 10, 2008. China doesn’t plan on changing its one-child policy for at least another decade. Zhang Weiging is the Minister of State Population and Family Planning. Weiging states that the policy want be changing anytime some, because over the next ten years approximately 200 million people will enter childbearing age and this could cause major overcrowding. China is the most populous nation with 1.3 billion people. Estimated population growth is 17 million yearly. Currently the law is urban families are allowed one child, and some farming families are allowed two children. A current problem that China is facing is the supply of young workers to sustain the aging economy. There just simply not enough youth to take care of the older people. Also another problem that they are facing is the gender imbalance, due to the one child rule most couples choose to try to have a boy. After the current population peak China may consider altering the one-child policy.
I believe that several inequalities are occurring in relation to this one-child policy. I don’t feel the government should decide how many children a person should have, that is an inequality in itself. I do agree with the policy, but I think it should be voluntary. This is a major inequality to the female population; they are being outnumbered by males due to this policy. This policy is causing the termination of lots of female fetuses. Also some females are being forced to participate in gender selection. China is currently facing a no win problem with no clear solution.
China plans to keep one-child policy at least 10 more years was written by Jim Yardley and published on March 10, 2008. China doesn’t plan on changing its one-child policy for at least another decade. Zhang Weiging is the Minister of State Population and Family Planning. Weiging states that the policy want be changing anytime some, because over the next ten years approximately 200 million people will enter childbearing age and this could cause major overcrowding. China is the most populous nation with 1.3 billion people. Estimated population growth is 17 million yearly. Currently the law is urban families are allowed one child, and some farming families are allowed two children. A current problem that China is facing is the supply of young workers to sustain the aging economy. There just simply not enough youth to take care of the older people. Also another problem that they are facing is the gender imbalance, due to the one child rule most couples choose to try to have a boy. After the current population peak China may consider altering the one-child policy.
I believe that several inequalities are occurring in relation to this one-child policy. I don’t feel the government should decide how many children a person should have, that is an inequality in itself. I do agree with the policy, but I think it should be voluntary. This is a major inequality to the female population; they are being outnumbered by males due to this policy. This policy is causing the termination of lots of female fetuses. Also some females are being forced to participate in gender selection. China is currently facing a no win problem with no clear solution.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Study reveals technology turn-off
New research in Scotland has suggested that people find the new technology of hand held computers to be more of a hindrance than a help.
One in seven people hate to be able to be contacted around the clock. People say that this is more the generation of the older people but actually the people who feel this way are the ipod generation that find it to be more of a hindrance. They semi-older people say that it has helped them to do their jobs better and the people of 55 like the technology and find it to be interesting.
I think that this is interesting because the ipod generation of people are also the age of the people who created the ipod and you would think that they wanted the technology so they would be more apt to think that it is helpful to them but apparently not.
http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Study-reveals-technology-turnoff.3907051.jp
One in seven people hate to be able to be contacted around the clock. People say that this is more the generation of the older people but actually the people who feel this way are the ipod generation that find it to be more of a hindrance. They semi-older people say that it has helped them to do their jobs better and the people of 55 like the technology and find it to be interesting.
I think that this is interesting because the ipod generation of people are also the age of the people who created the ipod and you would think that they wanted the technology so they would be more apt to think that it is helpful to them but apparently not.
http://news.scotsman.com/uk/Study-reveals-technology-turnoff.3907051.jp
New Hope or False Dawn for the Global Economy
Katrina Shankle/Sun. Mar. 23, 2008/3:17 p.m./Global Economics
Housing related data is indicating more heartache for the global economy in the wake of the mortgage crisis in the United States. Some analysts are predicting that the worst is over after more interest cuts and the United States Federal Reserve bailing out investment bank Bear Stearns. While many are viewing this as a positive step in the right direction, others are still nervous, particularly at the fact that another bank may be preparing itself to announce more write-downs of bad debt.
United State's economic data is showing thre tale-tell signs of a recession: deterioration in the maufactoring sector, a sagging job market, and a decline in consumer spending.
Not all news is bad, however as the United States is providing solid exports which are offering support and holding off a U.S. led global recession due to the subprime mortgage crisis. Growth in the euro zone is expected to continue.
The housing market is still in dire need of repair. The eight month long turmoil of the financial market can be traced back to the housing market and failing mortgages. Until the housing market gains stabilization, the United States economy as well as the global economy will not be out of the woods.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/23/business/rtrecon24.php
Housing related data is indicating more heartache for the global economy in the wake of the mortgage crisis in the United States. Some analysts are predicting that the worst is over after more interest cuts and the United States Federal Reserve bailing out investment bank Bear Stearns. While many are viewing this as a positive step in the right direction, others are still nervous, particularly at the fact that another bank may be preparing itself to announce more write-downs of bad debt.
United State's economic data is showing thre tale-tell signs of a recession: deterioration in the maufactoring sector, a sagging job market, and a decline in consumer spending.
Not all news is bad, however as the United States is providing solid exports which are offering support and holding off a U.S. led global recession due to the subprime mortgage crisis. Growth in the euro zone is expected to continue.
The housing market is still in dire need of repair. The eight month long turmoil of the financial market can be traced back to the housing market and failing mortgages. Until the housing market gains stabilization, the United States economy as well as the global economy will not be out of the woods.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/23/business/rtrecon24.php
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Nike says Chinese labor issues persist
Jessica Otey/ March 22, 2008/ 6:44 pm/ Labor Problems
A Nike shoe factory located in China is facing some heat for violation of some labor rights laws there. Many managers in the company are not doing enough to help improve conditions and comply with the new labor laws that went into effect in 2007.
The main problem in the company is that many employees are using false identification in order to obtain a job. There is a lot of competition for jobs since China has such a huge population. A lot of times prospective employees will make themselves look more qualified than they really are. Another problem is that the company is requiring some employees to work overtime, but they are not documenting it correctly. This mis-documentation allows the company to get away with requiring their workers to work longer hours without getting caught. Reports also show that many of the company’s managers are ineffective at meeting the minimum requirements for Nike.
The company employees about 210,000 workers, most of these employees are women that have moved from elsewhere to work for the company. Critics say that Nike factories in general like to position themselves where workers are less likely to unionize.
I was a little shocked after reading this. Most people do not realize that company’s that we support here in America abuse workers in other countries or are not meeting minimum labor law requirements. When I hear things like this I start rethinking what I buy and from whom. Hopefully, Nike will start complying with the newly passed labor laws in China.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23621005/
A Nike shoe factory located in China is facing some heat for violation of some labor rights laws there. Many managers in the company are not doing enough to help improve conditions and comply with the new labor laws that went into effect in 2007.
The main problem in the company is that many employees are using false identification in order to obtain a job. There is a lot of competition for jobs since China has such a huge population. A lot of times prospective employees will make themselves look more qualified than they really are. Another problem is that the company is requiring some employees to work overtime, but they are not documenting it correctly. This mis-documentation allows the company to get away with requiring their workers to work longer hours without getting caught. Reports also show that many of the company’s managers are ineffective at meeting the minimum requirements for Nike.
The company employees about 210,000 workers, most of these employees are women that have moved from elsewhere to work for the company. Critics say that Nike factories in general like to position themselves where workers are less likely to unionize.
I was a little shocked after reading this. Most people do not realize that company’s that we support here in America abuse workers in other countries or are not meeting minimum labor law requirements. When I hear things like this I start rethinking what I buy and from whom. Hopefully, Nike will start complying with the newly passed labor laws in China.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23621005/
Jazmin Hermosillo/March 22/5:37pm/Religious Conflict
The article I am going to talk about is the announcement that there is going to be a Catholic- Muslim Forum in Rome at the end of November to improve the relations between these two religions. The name of one of the forums first meetings is called “Love of God, Love of Neighbor”, in which leaders and scholars from both religions will deal with both theological matters and social themes. In this forum it is expected that Pope Benedict XVI will address the participants and talk to them about the conquering problems and solutions. A Professor of Jordan Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center in Amman says that this forum will bring that sign of hope that everyone has been waiting for and that world peace can only be achieved with respect, dialogue and peace between these religions.
The Muslim delegation announced several initiatives to strengthen their relationship with Islam and denominations like Protestants and Orthodox Christians.
I believe that this forum will be a great success because it is bring two religions together to talk about all the differences between them and they are also going to talk about how to better their relationships with each other. It is also very important that the Pope is going to this Forum because it demonstrates his concern and voluntarily to help out with any issues. I believe it will be something to talk about and hopefully with the success of this Forum they will be willing to have others for other religions too.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/world/europe/06pope.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
The Muslim delegation announced several initiatives to strengthen their relationship with Islam and denominations like Protestants and Orthodox Christians.
I believe that this forum will be a great success because it is bring two religions together to talk about all the differences between them and they are also going to talk about how to better their relationships with each other. It is also very important that the Pope is going to this Forum because it demonstrates his concern and voluntarily to help out with any issues. I believe it will be something to talk about and hopefully with the success of this Forum they will be willing to have others for other religions too.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/06/world/europe/06pope.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
U.S. SoH Pelosi Visits Tibet
Max Peck / March 22, 2008 3:20 PM / Global Political Relations / #9
Yesterday, U.S. Speaker of the House (the third-ranked political position in the U.S.) Nancy Pelosi payed the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, a visit, during which she voiced her personal concerns for China’s treatment of Tibet and calling on “freedom-loving” nations to denounce China, the economic powerhouse. Pelosi also stressed the great political relationship between the U.S. and Tibet, and announced that the karma between the two sovereignties was, at the time, very healthy.
A week ago, in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, conflict broke out over Tibetan protesters and Chinese security forces. Since then Chinese forces have remained in Lhasa, prowling about and on the lookout for rioters capture on video.
Although Pelosi’s visit was scheduled well-ahead of this recent onset of violence, it was her prime concern during her stay.
I am somewhat unfamiliar with the history between Tibet and China, although I am well-aware that conflict is nothing unseen between the two. Although news networks are making Pelosi’s visit out to be a major story, I believe that in the grand scheme of things it will be ineffective and quickly forgotten.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/21/tibet.dalai.lama/index.html
-Associated Press
Yesterday, U.S. Speaker of the House (the third-ranked political position in the U.S.) Nancy Pelosi payed the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, a visit, during which she voiced her personal concerns for China’s treatment of Tibet and calling on “freedom-loving” nations to denounce China, the economic powerhouse. Pelosi also stressed the great political relationship between the U.S. and Tibet, and announced that the karma between the two sovereignties was, at the time, very healthy.
A week ago, in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, conflict broke out over Tibetan protesters and Chinese security forces. Since then Chinese forces have remained in Lhasa, prowling about and on the lookout for rioters capture on video.
Although Pelosi’s visit was scheduled well-ahead of this recent onset of violence, it was her prime concern during her stay.
I am somewhat unfamiliar with the history between Tibet and China, although I am well-aware that conflict is nothing unseen between the two. Although news networks are making Pelosi’s visit out to be a major story, I believe that in the grand scheme of things it will be ineffective and quickly forgotten.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/21/tibet.dalai.lama/index.html
-Associated Press
Piracy Alive and Well
Stefanie Rumple/12:23pm/3/22/08/ Piracy Alive and Well
Pirates roam the ocean in many areas of the world, not the Captain Jack variety of pirate but a modern version thereof, carrying AK-47s rather than swords. These attacks have been on the decrease overall, but in some areas there has been a recent rise. In the international waters off Somalia, a country in northern Africa on the coast that faces Saudi Arabia and the Middle Eastern bloc, piracy has increased by 14% in recent months. Somalia is in the throes of conflict between two factions at present, one an alliance of warlords calling themselves the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter-Terrorism, and the other, the Islamic Courts Union, which seeks to establish Sharia (Islamic) law in Somalia. Ethiopia has sided with the warlords Alliance, and has only recently removed many troops from Somalia. Meanwhile, the security of their waters from piracy can hardly be a priority while the country is only stable in certain regions and a civil war rages.
A Switzer Korsakov tugboat was seized in February off the coast of one of the more stable regions of Somalia, the northern semi-autonomous state of Puntland controlled by its President Muhammed Musa Hersi. It was released earlier this week with the captain and all hands unharmed after a ransom of $700,000 was paid to its captors. This ransom is lamented as an encouragement to pirates. Piracy often has a huge monetary impact as food aid ships, oil tankers, and merchant ships are taken, and in many cases ransoms are also demanded for the safe return of the crew. In this conflict-torn country, many of the available forms of employment involve taking up the gun, whether as a member of some militia, or alternatively as a pirate.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7302687.stmFriday, March 21, 2008
Numbers game clouds Sri Lankan war
Catherine McDuffie 3/21/08 11:57 pm Global Crime
The situation in
This situation seems so crazy to me as the world wants to know what is going on in this war, yet there is no way for us to know for sure. As the war wages on more and more lives are lost and they are those who will remain nameless for a long time to come. I do not know how our military keeps up with how many casualties we have suffered or how many of the “enemy” have been defeated, or if the numbers we are given can even be trusted. Situations like this really put you into perspective on how you view your own country and what you are fed by the government and media.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7307349.stmVinnie Merryman / March 21 9:45pm / Labor Problems
Human Rights Council holds interactive dialogue with experts on situation of human rights in Cambodia and Liberia
This article talks about the Human Rights Council having a discussion with the Special Representative of the Security General on human rights in Cambodia and the Independent Expert for technical cooperation and advisory services in Liberia. The article is detailed more in the aspect of the Independent Expert in Liberia. The Independent Expert for technical cooperation and advisory services in Liberia, Charlotte Abaka, presented her report to the Truth and Reconcilation Commission and addressed the concerns and needs of all citizens and particularly the most vulnerable in society. Liberia has implemented many laws into legislation to protect the people, such as facilitating the settlement of disputes of employees. The establishment of the National Child Labor Commission and the National Anti Human Trafficking Task Force were also commendable initiatives. There is a debate going on over an anti corruption policy being passed as well. With the regard to human trafficking, there are still worries that the laws are too weak to adequately protect children that are up for adoption. There were four represantives from different countries that shared their feelings on the progress that has been made in Liberia. Three of these countries, consisting of Egypt, the United States, and Ghana, all felt that the steps that Liberia are in the right direction and they feel very positive about the approach that is being taken. Slovenia was the only country not happy with what was taking place, particulary the issue with girls having a hard time attaining a secondary education.
I think that Liberia is really trying to make an effort to clean up the child labor and human trafficking issues that have been hurting their society. Not only was the article informative and let me know people are really trying to put laws into place to help these individuals out. It was also very convincing to hear people from other countries show that they backed what Liberia was doing and happy with their progress.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EGUA-7CWMC9?OpenDocument
This article talks about the Human Rights Council having a discussion with the Special Representative of the Security General on human rights in Cambodia and the Independent Expert for technical cooperation and advisory services in Liberia. The article is detailed more in the aspect of the Independent Expert in Liberia. The Independent Expert for technical cooperation and advisory services in Liberia, Charlotte Abaka, presented her report to the Truth and Reconcilation Commission and addressed the concerns and needs of all citizens and particularly the most vulnerable in society. Liberia has implemented many laws into legislation to protect the people, such as facilitating the settlement of disputes of employees. The establishment of the National Child Labor Commission and the National Anti Human Trafficking Task Force were also commendable initiatives. There is a debate going on over an anti corruption policy being passed as well. With the regard to human trafficking, there are still worries that the laws are too weak to adequately protect children that are up for adoption. There were four represantives from different countries that shared their feelings on the progress that has been made in Liberia. Three of these countries, consisting of Egypt, the United States, and Ghana, all felt that the steps that Liberia are in the right direction and they feel very positive about the approach that is being taken. Slovenia was the only country not happy with what was taking place, particulary the issue with girls having a hard time attaining a secondary education.
I think that Liberia is really trying to make an effort to clean up the child labor and human trafficking issues that have been hurting their society. Not only was the article informative and let me know people are really trying to put laws into place to help these individuals out. It was also very convincing to hear people from other countries show that they backed what Liberia was doing and happy with their progress.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EGUA-7CWMC9?OpenDocument
Africa: Women - Violence in War And in Peace
Esther Mandelstamm/March 21, 2008/4:36pm/Gender Issues
The article that I read was written by Marie Claire Faray-Kele who is a research scientist in infectious diseases centre, institute of cell and molecular science (ICMS), Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry in London.
On International Women's Day, we can't help but be reminded that "gender-based" violence is on the of the biggest threats to woman's advancement, empowerment and security. For many of Marie Claire's sisters in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), sexual violence in the most severe ways is a daily reality. These women are hurt so badly they struggle to walk to the water well. The human cost of the conflict and instability in the DRC has been cataclysmic. Since 1997 more than about 4 million people have died as a result of the war. Sadly there has been no figure for the numbers of women who have suffered the ordeal of systematic rape. Sexual violence has become a weapon of warn in eastern Congo. "Sexual violence has been used to punish entire communities for their political loyalties, to displace populations from their lands or as a form of tribal cleansing. "
Marie Claire is part of the UK disapora of Congelese women, she is in contact with members of women's organization in the DRC, such as the Solidarit of the Women of Burhale (SOFEBU), based in the east of the country. SOFEBU women set up collective creches, manage livestock and agricultural projects and form cooperatives in jam-making or clothes dye production. These projects are managed and implemented by women. Since 1997, many of the Congelese women have lost everything after being raped and subjected to other gender-based violence. Some are held in sexual slavery, kidnapped at gunpoint, raped by gangs of armed men, who sometimes mutilated their genitals. There is no age limit to this abuse, some are as young as three and as old as 75.
Healing after these terrible physical injuries is unlikely given the scarcity of medical care. Even if the victims do heal they face being rejected by their husbands, due to the stigma of rape. These women are silent with no chance of a social life and their level of poverty increase. There is no justice for these women. "The conflict in the DRC is often referred to as the forgotten war in the international media.
Women are not being adequately involved or informed in the DCR disarmament process. Women are being excluded from the peace building process all together. "The latest peace agreement was signed in late January 2008, at a conference in Goma, eastern Congo.
Out of 600 delegates, there were only 33 women in attendance. Out of a six page document, the only referral to rape and sexual violence was in a singular paragraph that read: "[all parties hereby agree to] the cessation of all acts of violence in all forms towards the civilian population, particularly women and children, the elderly and handicapped."
The Mass killings are referred to as massacres, but there is no noun for the deliberate systematic rape that was endured by these women. Congolese women want to fight and know why. These women want these crimes investigated at the highest levels of the international criminal court. These women want to be an active role in this investigation and pursuing justice.
I believe that we all need to be concerned with the victimization of these women. They deserve justice and protection from this happening again. It is in the interest for all women to protect our sisters. This happened at a time of war, who is to say that it could not happen to us. We can not just brush these women off and say "oh that only happens in Africa, not to me" well that could be any one. Not only were these women physically and emotionally abused but then socially shunned. These women have lost everything.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200803200580.html
The article that I read was written by Marie Claire Faray-Kele who is a research scientist in infectious diseases centre, institute of cell and molecular science (ICMS), Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry in London.
On International Women's Day, we can't help but be reminded that "gender-based" violence is on the of the biggest threats to woman's advancement, empowerment and security. For many of Marie Claire's sisters in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), sexual violence in the most severe ways is a daily reality. These women are hurt so badly they struggle to walk to the water well. The human cost of the conflict and instability in the DRC has been cataclysmic. Since 1997 more than about 4 million people have died as a result of the war. Sadly there has been no figure for the numbers of women who have suffered the ordeal of systematic rape. Sexual violence has become a weapon of warn in eastern Congo. "Sexual violence has been used to punish entire communities for their political loyalties, to displace populations from their lands or as a form of tribal cleansing. "
Marie Claire is part of the UK disapora of Congelese women, she is in contact with members of women's organization in the DRC, such as the Solidarit of the Women of Burhale (SOFEBU), based in the east of the country. SOFEBU women set up collective creches, manage livestock and agricultural projects and form cooperatives in jam-making or clothes dye production. These projects are managed and implemented by women. Since 1997, many of the Congelese women have lost everything after being raped and subjected to other gender-based violence. Some are held in sexual slavery, kidnapped at gunpoint, raped by gangs of armed men, who sometimes mutilated their genitals. There is no age limit to this abuse, some are as young as three and as old as 75.
Healing after these terrible physical injuries is unlikely given the scarcity of medical care. Even if the victims do heal they face being rejected by their husbands, due to the stigma of rape. These women are silent with no chance of a social life and their level of poverty increase. There is no justice for these women. "The conflict in the DRC is often referred to as the forgotten war in the international media.
Women are not being adequately involved or informed in the DCR disarmament process. Women are being excluded from the peace building process all together. "The latest peace agreement was signed in late January 2008, at a conference in Goma, eastern Congo.
Out of 600 delegates, there were only 33 women in attendance. Out of a six page document, the only referral to rape and sexual violence was in a singular paragraph that read: "[all parties hereby agree to] the cessation of all acts of violence in all forms towards the civilian population, particularly women and children, the elderly and handicapped."
The Mass killings are referred to as massacres, but there is no noun for the deliberate systematic rape that was endured by these women. Congolese women want to fight and know why. These women want these crimes investigated at the highest levels of the international criminal court. These women want to be an active role in this investigation and pursuing justice.
I believe that we all need to be concerned with the victimization of these women. They deserve justice and protection from this happening again. It is in the interest for all women to protect our sisters. This happened at a time of war, who is to say that it could not happen to us. We can not just brush these women off and say "oh that only happens in Africa, not to me" well that could be any one. Not only were these women physically and emotionally abused but then socially shunned. These women have lost everything.
http://allafrica.com/stories/200803200580.html
Candis Little/Bush Defends Iraq War in Speech/March 21, 2008/3:43p.m./ethnic conflict
For the last few weeks, I have been reporting on ethnic conflict but it seems as if I have been concentrating on President George W. Bush’s encounters with ethnic conflict. Lately President Bush’s agenda has been flooded with meetings and conferences of this matter.
This week I searched to see what the latest event that is going on in the Congo violence but I saw what made me take a look back on 5 years ago when I was in the 9th grade and it was announced that we had officially declared with Iraq and our lives changed forever.
President Bush spoke about Iraq and the war on terror on Wednesday at the Pentagon. Even in such a delicate time for Bush and all of America Democrats accused him of lacking a strategy to win and withdraw when he used the 5th year anniversary to make case for preserving in a conflict that could have many more anniversaries. I can not really say whether the Democrats were right or wrong in their actions because I did not hear the speech. He remained unwavering in his insistence that the invasion of Iraq which began in March 2003 had made the world better and the United States safer. The anniversary harshly illustrated the divide between President Bush, the Democrats in who control Congress, and Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain, and those seeking democratic nominations, Senator Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. They all talked to different reporters at different locations giving their opinion about the speech but most importantly the 5th anniversary with Iraq and the war on terrorism.
This week I searched to see what the latest event that is going on in the Congo violence but I saw what made me take a look back on 5 years ago when I was in the 9th grade and it was announced that we had officially declared with Iraq and our lives changed forever.
President Bush spoke about Iraq and the war on terror on Wednesday at the Pentagon. Even in such a delicate time for Bush and all of America Democrats accused him of lacking a strategy to win and withdraw when he used the 5th year anniversary to make case for preserving in a conflict that could have many more anniversaries. I can not really say whether the Democrats were right or wrong in their actions because I did not hear the speech. He remained unwavering in his insistence that the invasion of Iraq which began in March 2003 had made the world better and the United States safer. The anniversary harshly illustrated the divide between President Bush, the Democrats in who control Congress, and Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain, and those seeking democratic nominations, Senator Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. They all talked to different reporters at different locations giving their opinion about the speech but most importantly the 5th anniversary with Iraq and the war on terrorism.
Sudan and Chad sign peace pact
Jake Robinson/March 21, 2008/2:01 pm/current event 9/war
Sudan and Chad sign peace pact
President Omar Hassan al-Bashir of Sudan and President Idriss Deby of Chad on Thursday signed a peace deal meant to end the cross-border rebel attacks in a region that includes Darfur.
Foreign diplomats say Chadian rebels have regularly used the Darfur frontier as a base for launching attacks into Chad. Sudan has repeatedly accused Chad’s government of supporting Darfur rebel groups.
The signing, which was witnessed by the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, followed talks in Dakar.
The two countries agreed to the formation of a “contact group” of foreign ministers from a handful of African nations, which would meet monthly to ensure the agreement was carried out in good faith.
The news of this peace pact appears to be a crack in the ongoing war in the Sudan. Hopefully this crack will let some light in. It is inspiring to believe that these peace deals may in fact bring about real change, however, it is hard not to be cynical when so many previous efforts towards peace have ended in the very mutilation of it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/14/world/africa/14chad.html?ref=africa
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