Just nine years ago, Zimbabwe was known for assisting many countries in Africa which did not produce enough food. This once peaceful and prosperous nation was known as the “bread basket” of Southern Africa. However, now the country is starving; Zimbabwe requires an annual total of one million tons of grain for human consumption and 400,000 tones for industrial use, but with haphazard preparations behind schedule and the ZANU-PF party allocating all resources to their supporters, it is very unlikely to happen.
A lot of people are straying into the poverty and over 70% are living below the poverty datum line. . Growing poverty is the major issue for Zimbabwe the country continues to slip further into chaos, hunger, and economic collapse with no signs of rains, available fertilizer, or maize seed in sight. The unemployment rate is at 80%, which is driving many Zimbabweans into desperation. Rural children no longer go to school because they are out in the streets scraping for food. The price of basic commodities changes at least twice a day, the prices continuing to increase even though they are far below standard. In other countries when inflation hits 50% it is considered a national disaster. Inflation has hit 231 million percent in Zimbabwe, which is unthinkable for most nations around the world. Supermarket employees spend a considerable amount of time changing price tags every day.
It is hardly fathomable to believe the hardships experienced by Zimbabweans every day. Nothing is secure. Nothing is reliable. The ZANU-PF party led by President Mugabe continues to push the nation further and further into poverty while only a select few of his supporters gain what little profit can be found. The DMC party is horribly underfunded and cannot possible gain support because of the inhumane sufferings experienced by supporters from the ZANU-PF. Not only is there no money found in the economy, no money sponsors the infrastructure, and no money sponsors the only healthy political party, anther dilemma facing Zimbabwe’s poverty is coping with HIV/AIDS. About 1,000 people die a day because of AIDS-related ailments. The emotional, social, and economic ramifications have been serious and continue to go downhill for all Zimbabweans.
http://www.thezimbabweindependent.com/business/21446-hope-for-a-good-harvest-fading.html
Friday, October 31, 2008
Rebecca Roberts, Slowdown in the Gulf reverberates in the Middle East; Oct. 31, 2008
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/29/africa/29mideast.php
For some of the financially strapped countries in the Middle East, the oil rich countries of the Gulf have helped to send the dollars back home. That is until recently with the oil prices per barrell falling to below $100 a barrel. In countries such as Egypt and Jordan are mostly hit by the dropping oil prices.
Analysts speculate that so long as prices for oil per barrell continue to stay at $55 countries budgets will not be able to handle the drop in prices. Egypt is currently receiving $6billion in aid to its more than 2 million citizens to help in the decrease in oil prices. In Saudi Arabia alone this year has sent to Jordan $500 million to help with finances.
Over the summer months with oil barrel prices were at $150 a barrell countries in the Middle East did not have to struggle as much as they are now. Countries in the Middle East that are oil-rich are struggling now to make their ends meet.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/29/africa/29mideast.php
For some of the financially strapped countries in the Middle East, the oil rich countries of the Gulf have helped to send the dollars back home. That is until recently with the oil prices per barrell falling to below $100 a barrel. In countries such as Egypt and Jordan are mostly hit by the dropping oil prices.
Analysts speculate that so long as prices for oil per barrell continue to stay at $55 countries budgets will not be able to handle the drop in prices. Egypt is currently receiving $6billion in aid to its more than 2 million citizens to help in the decrease in oil prices. In Saudi Arabia alone this year has sent to Jordan $500 million to help with finances.
Over the summer months with oil barrel prices were at $150 a barrell countries in the Middle East did not have to struggle as much as they are now. Countries in the Middle East that are oil-rich are struggling now to make their ends meet.
Arab Environmental Issues in Need of Attention
Stephanie Adams
The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) held a conference where 350 members gathered together and discussed what they believe to be the four major environmental challenges of Arab nations. Lately Arab nations have seen a growth in the economy due to increased profits from oil and an increasing population. The AFED fears that a lack of focus on the environment during this growth will cause or increase serious environmental problems. The four major environmental problems that need attention according to the AFED include: fresh water scarcity, desertification, air and marine pollution.
The issue with water scarcity was is one that is expected to increase by 2025 and cause severe water stress. The water scarcity being caused by global warming, needs to be tackled by reducing water unnecessary water consumption.
Desertification has become a problem needing more attention and the AFED is concerned about the amounts of fertilizer and pesticides used. Arab countries use the highest amount of pesticides and fertilizer in the world and the AFED worries about health and food issues. Global warming is expected to cause a loss of Arab agricultural land.
Carbon dioxide emissions have increased in Arab countries and are causing an increase in air pollution. Air pollution leads to serious health and environmental problems that are expensive to fix. The marine environment has been threatened by oil spills, over fishing and pollution. These
The AFED discussed the importance of involvement from the government, private companies and environmental organizations. There is a need for funding and awareness to the general public on the environmental problems in Arab nations.
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=97278Obama to go green, but push could be costly
31 Oct 2008, 2212 hrs IST, REUTERS
posted by Zaki Bernoussi
"We are not just facing an economic crisis unseen since the Great Depression; we are also facing a climate crisis, which we have never before seen in history. We must respond to both," said Gernot Wagner, economist with the Environmental Defense Fund in New York.
"And I will invest $15bn a year in renewable sources of energy to create five million new energy jobs over the next decade - jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced; jobs building solar panels and wind turbines and a new electricity grid..." said Obama. Because "there is no better potential driver that pervades all aspects of our economy than a new energy economy ... That's going to be my No. 1 priority when I get into office."
"That has been a consistent theme throughout that as you bring on these new technologies there are jobs that go with them and that is the rationalization," said David Pumphrey, Deputy Director of an energy program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
"But the reality is when oil prices fall and consumption falls and taxes falls, then subsidizing wind power becomes proportionately even more expensive. It' a big line item," said Kevin Book, Senior Analyst Energy Policy for Friedman, Billings, Ramsey and Co. Inc.
"That $600bn will go a long way for buying stuff and it's four times as much stuff as Obama has talked about buying. So I don't know how much they are going to focus on the green economy but I do know they are going to look at environmentalism as a driver to taxation, because they have to."
I felt that in this article, the quotations were so very important and spoke for the meaning behind the whole piece. I decided to give you, the reader, the direct quotations because what better way to understand this issue than to hear it from the horses mouth.
Obama has made it a staple in his campaign to go find new resources for energy and to continue this fight even though the price of gas is now falling to a low level. Unfortunately, it seems that reality is a bigger obstacle than expected. The speculation is that these new resources will not be financially feasible and thus costly. Obama may be spinning his wheels with ideas of obtaining wind energy facility or hydro powered vehicles without diving deep in American taxation and funds.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Obama_to_go_green_but_push_could_be_costly/articleshow/3660020.cms
posted by Zaki Bernoussi
"We are not just facing an economic crisis unseen since the Great Depression; we are also facing a climate crisis, which we have never before seen in history. We must respond to both," said Gernot Wagner, economist with the Environmental Defense Fund in New York.
"And I will invest $15bn a year in renewable sources of energy to create five million new energy jobs over the next decade - jobs that pay well and can't be outsourced; jobs building solar panels and wind turbines and a new electricity grid..." said Obama. Because "there is no better potential driver that pervades all aspects of our economy than a new energy economy ... That's going to be my No. 1 priority when I get into office."
"That has been a consistent theme throughout that as you bring on these new technologies there are jobs that go with them and that is the rationalization," said David Pumphrey, Deputy Director of an energy program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
"But the reality is when oil prices fall and consumption falls and taxes falls, then subsidizing wind power becomes proportionately even more expensive. It' a big line item," said Kevin Book, Senior Analyst Energy Policy for Friedman, Billings, Ramsey and Co. Inc.
"That $600bn will go a long way for buying stuff and it's four times as much stuff as Obama has talked about buying. So I don't know how much they are going to focus on the green economy but I do know they are going to look at environmentalism as a driver to taxation, because they have to."
I felt that in this article, the quotations were so very important and spoke for the meaning behind the whole piece. I decided to give you, the reader, the direct quotations because what better way to understand this issue than to hear it from the horses mouth.
Obama has made it a staple in his campaign to go find new resources for energy and to continue this fight even though the price of gas is now falling to a low level. Unfortunately, it seems that reality is a bigger obstacle than expected. The speculation is that these new resources will not be financially feasible and thus costly. Obama may be spinning his wheels with ideas of obtaining wind energy facility or hydro powered vehicles without diving deep in American taxation and funds.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Obama_to_go_green_but_push_could_be_costly/articleshow/3660020.cms
Dire forecast of one million layoffs inflated
Angela Berst
Sociology-202
4:34pm
10/31/08
Dire forecast of one million layoffs inflated
Many jobs in Thailand are predicted to be cut next year. The FTI or the Federation of Thai Industries has analyzed the future loss of jobs and reasons for job cuts in this article. Thaveekij Japurajarernkul, the vice president of FTI, said that “one million jobs could be lost next year in line with a decline of up to thirty percent in purchase orders as the world economy declines”. A meeting with FTI members will be held soon in order to discuss the “economic forecast” and make a few changes to it. Although the vice president of FTI thinks that the loss of one million jobs can be cut next year, the members think otherwise. Many members of the FTI have “rejected the possibility of one million layoffs”. It seems as though the calculations for next year are not particularly being agreed upon and are cloudy. Hopefully the negative predictions of the loss of jobs next year will not come true. Once a lot of people start losing their jobs, then the population in general becomes unhappy or experiences feelings of depression. This would also lead people to have a decrease in income which will cause the demand for products to go down, therefore causing more problems for the economy. The only way to know what will happen next year is to wait and find out.
"Dire forecast of one million layoffs inflated." Bangkok Post. 29 Oct. 2008. 31 Oct. 2008.
Sociology-202
4:34pm
10/31/08
Dire forecast of one million layoffs inflated
Many jobs in Thailand are predicted to be cut next year. The FTI or the Federation of Thai Industries has analyzed the future loss of jobs and reasons for job cuts in this article. Thaveekij Japurajarernkul, the vice president of FTI, said that “one million jobs could be lost next year in line with a decline of up to thirty percent in purchase orders as the world economy declines”. A meeting with FTI members will be held soon in order to discuss the “economic forecast” and make a few changes to it. Although the vice president of FTI thinks that the loss of one million jobs can be cut next year, the members think otherwise. Many members of the FTI have “rejected the possibility of one million layoffs”. It seems as though the calculations for next year are not particularly being agreed upon and are cloudy. Hopefully the negative predictions of the loss of jobs next year will not come true. Once a lot of people start losing their jobs, then the population in general becomes unhappy or experiences feelings of depression. This would also lead people to have a decrease in income which will cause the demand for products to go down, therefore causing more problems for the economy. The only way to know what will happen next year is to wait and find out.
"Dire forecast of one million layoffs inflated." Bangkok Post. 29 Oct. 2008. 31 Oct. 2008
Pakistani girl mauled by dogs, shot dead by inlaws: parents
Danielel Plesser
SOC202
October 31, 2008, 4:16 PM
A pregnant seventeen year old girl in Pakistan was mauled by dogs and then shot dead in March (though the details of the story are only coming out now). The girl’s family claims that this was the doing of her in-laws over a dispute of land. Following her death, the tribal elders accused the girl of having illicit relations with men other than her husband, and the girl’s family claims that this is an excuse the in-laws are using to avoid responsibility for the girl’s death. Though honour killings (jirgas) were banned in the southern Sindh province in 2004, the article says human activists claim that they continue to be held.
This is one of those articles where I cannot find a single thing on which I can shed a positive light. Whatever the reason for her death, it was an atrocious murder and one that no family should have to experience. She was a young girl, and regardless of the reason (be it a family dispute or an honour killing), the use of dogs as a killing tool like that just makes me sick. I’m upset for the animals, the girl, the family, everyone. The activist groups may be horrified, but nothing was said about any improvements being made in the area, and that makes this article a heavy one.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5j4rJrV0ah18m1X6p2QIMOXaUBXtA
A Continuing Abomination
Alisha Casey/Oct. 31. 2008/4:15
Women have been suffering for a long time especially in developing countries such as Africa. A young girl was sold at the age of 12 to a wealth businessman for 400 dollars. By age 13 she conceived three children to this man, only two survived, and both were taken from her. For nine years she had to work in the fields for long periods of time. Once given the chance she chose to flee and marry the man she had chosen. One the authorities found out she was taken to jail for six months and charged with bigamy.
Enslaved women in Niger and surround countries may not have to suffer for much longer. There has been Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has issued a case against slavery in West Africa. They are holding states to 1926 UN Slavery Convention or Africa’s own 1981 Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and they are not letting up. There is a no complince practice not allowing countries to get away without following the rules.
I think that it is sad that women are still suffering after so many years. There have been changes within the Constitution that have tried to change the lives of women but the drawback is that all women are not treated equally and change needs to happen soon.
http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subjectid=348951&story_id=12517060
Women have been suffering for a long time especially in developing countries such as Africa. A young girl was sold at the age of 12 to a wealth businessman for 400 dollars. By age 13 she conceived three children to this man, only two survived, and both were taken from her. For nine years she had to work in the fields for long periods of time. Once given the chance she chose to flee and marry the man she had chosen. One the authorities found out she was taken to jail for six months and charged with bigamy.
Enslaved women in Niger and surround countries may not have to suffer for much longer. There has been Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has issued a case against slavery in West Africa. They are holding states to 1926 UN Slavery Convention or Africa’s own 1981 Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and they are not letting up. There is a no complince practice not allowing countries to get away without following the rules.
I think that it is sad that women are still suffering after so many years. There have been changes within the Constitution that have tried to change the lives of women but the drawback is that all women are not treated equally and change needs to happen soon.
http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subjectid=348951&story_id=12517060
Fears of Disease In Children During Quake Hit Pakistan
Kenneth Miller
3:56
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gxSk8TYA57FpxUQ12usXmr7pKkfg
Unicef warned earlier today that the spread of deadly diseases through out quake ridden Pakistan was imminent. The quake that struck on Wednesday has left 70,000 homeless, 30,00 of which are children. Pakistan officials have assessed the situation and fear for the safety of women and children. The top priority has been clean water to prevent further disease spread and shelter for the survivors as winter colds sweep through Pakistan. Pregnant women and young children have been flagged most vulnerable to diseases in these conditions including commonly Diarrhoea and Cholera. 12,000 people still lack safe water as the quake damage many water resources. Due to the cold many of the children are also suffering from phuemonia and the death toll is expected to rise. Tents, blankets, and medical supplies are in great shortage. The majority of victims involved in the quake were children and have also endured physcological trama from the situation. Many women refuse to recieve medical treatment due to their traditional beliefs. Military forces are doing their best to distribut supplies to the victims, while red cross also distributes food kits to families. Yet despite all these best efforts the death is still expected to rise.
It's pretty terrible to think about what all the people over there are going through having just encountered such a rough natural disaster. Being thrown out of their homes and having to deal with the winter is leading to alot of sickness, and it's unfortunate that so many suffered. This serves somewhat of a reminder at how fragile our balance with the environment is. Being left homeless, the masses face such a high rate of disease due to just clean water alone, not to mention the freezing cold. Hopefully the U.N provides more medical supplies if they can and perhaps the families can soon find shelter, if at least for just the children. I feel the best we can do is cross our fingers and hope for the best or contribute what small sum we can to red cross to help better their efforts.
3:56
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gxSk8TYA57FpxUQ12usXmr7pKkfg
Unicef warned earlier today that the spread of deadly diseases through out quake ridden Pakistan was imminent. The quake that struck on Wednesday has left 70,000 homeless, 30,00 of which are children. Pakistan officials have assessed the situation and fear for the safety of women and children. The top priority has been clean water to prevent further disease spread and shelter for the survivors as winter colds sweep through Pakistan. Pregnant women and young children have been flagged most vulnerable to diseases in these conditions including commonly Diarrhoea and Cholera. 12,000 people still lack safe water as the quake damage many water resources. Due to the cold many of the children are also suffering from phuemonia and the death toll is expected to rise. Tents, blankets, and medical supplies are in great shortage. The majority of victims involved in the quake were children and have also endured physcological trama from the situation. Many women refuse to recieve medical treatment due to their traditional beliefs. Military forces are doing their best to distribut supplies to the victims, while red cross also distributes food kits to families. Yet despite all these best efforts the death is still expected to rise.
It's pretty terrible to think about what all the people over there are going through having just encountered such a rough natural disaster. Being thrown out of their homes and having to deal with the winter is leading to alot of sickness, and it's unfortunate that so many suffered. This serves somewhat of a reminder at how fragile our balance with the environment is. Being left homeless, the masses face such a high rate of disease due to just clean water alone, not to mention the freezing cold. Hopefully the U.N provides more medical supplies if they can and perhaps the families can soon find shelter, if at least for just the children. I feel the best we can do is cross our fingers and hope for the best or contribute what small sum we can to red cross to help better their efforts.
Pakistan and U.S. Relations on a Down Spiral, Jared Hill, 10/31/08, 3:45 p.m.
Pakistan was bombarded by two missile attacks on Friday. The first missile came from two drones of the United States military. The missile attacked a region of Pakistan known as North Waziristan. Although the overall death tally was not extremely high, an alleged 21 civilians were killed in the attack near the Afghanistan border. Unidentified deaths are also still in question because of the missile crashing into a civilian house and burned. A member of al queda may have been killed according to the Associated Press. They claim that member Abu Kasha was among the dead from this attack. Kasha lived in the area and was among those that helped organize attacks within Afghanistan. Though this may have been a proven victory among the United States, it was not without the lives of a majority of innocent people that this event took place. Two other missiles continued to hit a house in South Waziristan later that day. Only seven people died in this attack, but five were alleged Arab fighters. This conflict has not helped relations between Pakistan and the United States. This year has proved to be troublesome for the two countries in efforts to cooperate with one another. The leader of Pakistan has already stated his disapproval of U.S. military efforts in their homeland, due to the excessive amounts of devestation caused without much success. This event marks the ninth missle strike in only the month of October. The country’s parliament executed documentation that resents the use of any foreign country attacking on their home soil.
LINK: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/31/pakistan.missile.strike/index.html
LINK: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/10/31/pakistan.missile.strike/index.html
Terrorist at 15
We should all live in fear, of a fifteen year old?
A boy by the name of Fabbian Sabbara ,age 15, was dressed in his school uniform and was stopped by three police community support officers for taking photos of the Wimbledon Station on his mobile phone. The student was taking pedestrian counts, surveys and photos as part of a geography project.
According to Barry Reeve of the PCSO he told the young boy that he had to sign forms under section 44 of the terrorism Act. This act allows the police to stop and search anybody who plans a terrorism attack.
The boy was threatened to be arrested if he did not sign it. The high school sent out 54 other students to do the same fieldwork.
Parents of the young boy tried to call the police to ask it to be removed from his record but it was refused and must remain on his record for six years.
Since the incident this has been removed from his record but his father goes on to complain. He says his son could have faced long term hard ache and trouble working if this were to stay on his record.
My feeling is just like everyone else's , its crazy. First I would like to know what what the ethnicity of this boy was. Why is he a threat and is this a big issue. People of middle eastern decent have been scrutinized and blamed for everything. I think having safety is a good thing but you can't make a child sign for something he did not do.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3328990/Schoolboy-stopped-under-Terrorism-Act-for-doing-geography-fieldwork.html
A boy by the name of Fabbian Sabbara ,age 15, was dressed in his school uniform and was stopped by three police community support officers for taking photos of the Wimbledon Station on his mobile phone. The student was taking pedestrian counts, surveys and photos as part of a geography project.
According to Barry Reeve of the PCSO he told the young boy that he had to sign forms under section 44 of the terrorism Act. This act allows the police to stop and search anybody who plans a terrorism attack.
The boy was threatened to be arrested if he did not sign it. The high school sent out 54 other students to do the same fieldwork.
Parents of the young boy tried to call the police to ask it to be removed from his record but it was refused and must remain on his record for six years.
Since the incident this has been removed from his record but his father goes on to complain. He says his son could have faced long term hard ache and trouble working if this were to stay on his record.
My feeling is just like everyone else's , its crazy. First I would like to know what what the ethnicity of this boy was. Why is he a threat and is this a big issue. People of middle eastern decent have been scrutinized and blamed for everything. I think having safety is a good thing but you can't make a child sign for something he did not do.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/3328990/Schoolboy-stopped-under-Terrorism-Act-for-doing-geography-fieldwork.html
5 Suicide Bomb Attacks Hit Somalia
Chara G. Garmon
10/31/08
SOC 202
Global Crime
4:02 PM
On Wednesday at least twenty-one people were killed at various United Nations and government sites in northern Somalia by car bombers. Once considered the safest city in Somalia, Hargeisa, Somaliland was the first area attacked between the times of 10 and 10:30 am on Wednesday. Here, the presidential palace, the Ethiopian Consulate office and a United Nations office were attacked killing over twenty people at the consulate office alone. Two suicide blasts took place in Bosasso, attacking two offices of the Puntland security forces. Buildings were leveled by the attacks and officials are putting the blame on Islamist terrorists, specifically, the militant group Shabab. It is believed that the attacks were to parallel with the meeting of Somalia transitional leaders and foreign forces in Nairobi, Kenya. Islamist groups were not invited to the meeting in Nairobi. The Shabab wants to make Somalia into an Islamic state and wants the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops. Other attacks have been coordinated and executed on Ethiopian and Somali army bases but nothing of this magnitude. Shabab continues to target the weak transitional government of Somalia. At least thirty people were wounded in the attack in Hargeisa, but no precise figures have been given of exactly how many casualties as of Wednesday.
Power, control, greed. There are probably a lot more words that could describe what I felt the driving force behind these attacks were. I just do not understand. These terrorist groups just roam around with their ideals and those governments who do not share in these beliefs automatically become targets. Hargeisa, was believed to be this place of stability to Somalilanders and just as these people feel they are safe, they are sent this horrific message of terror. How can this continue to go on? Innocent people are losing their lives daily at the hands of those who only want more power, control and who are greedy because they are not satisfied with the position they are in. I could go on and on about this story. It just sickens me because I want to understand what the underlying problem is, but, it’s like time is ticking while people are continuing to die. Something has to be done. United Nations workers are not considered safe in these areas anymore, therefore, outside help begins to dwindle. But how can they help themselves once everyone is gone? History is just repeating itself in these countries. So who and/or what can stop it? I recommend everyone read this article and try to answer that question.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/world/africa/30somalia.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin
10/31/08
SOC 202
Global Crime
4:02 PM
On Wednesday at least twenty-one people were killed at various United Nations and government sites in northern Somalia by car bombers. Once considered the safest city in Somalia, Hargeisa, Somaliland was the first area attacked between the times of 10 and 10:30 am on Wednesday. Here, the presidential palace, the Ethiopian Consulate office and a United Nations office were attacked killing over twenty people at the consulate office alone. Two suicide blasts took place in Bosasso, attacking two offices of the Puntland security forces. Buildings were leveled by the attacks and officials are putting the blame on Islamist terrorists, specifically, the militant group Shabab. It is believed that the attacks were to parallel with the meeting of Somalia transitional leaders and foreign forces in Nairobi, Kenya. Islamist groups were not invited to the meeting in Nairobi. The Shabab wants to make Somalia into an Islamic state and wants the withdrawal of Ethiopian troops. Other attacks have been coordinated and executed on Ethiopian and Somali army bases but nothing of this magnitude. Shabab continues to target the weak transitional government of Somalia. At least thirty people were wounded in the attack in Hargeisa, but no precise figures have been given of exactly how many casualties as of Wednesday.
Power, control, greed. There are probably a lot more words that could describe what I felt the driving force behind these attacks were. I just do not understand. These terrorist groups just roam around with their ideals and those governments who do not share in these beliefs automatically become targets. Hargeisa, was believed to be this place of stability to Somalilanders and just as these people feel they are safe, they are sent this horrific message of terror. How can this continue to go on? Innocent people are losing their lives daily at the hands of those who only want more power, control and who are greedy because they are not satisfied with the position they are in. I could go on and on about this story. It just sickens me because I want to understand what the underlying problem is, but, it’s like time is ticking while people are continuing to die. Something has to be done. United Nations workers are not considered safe in these areas anymore, therefore, outside help begins to dwindle. But how can they help themselves once everyone is gone? History is just repeating itself in these countries. So who and/or what can stop it? I recommend everyone read this article and try to answer that question.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/world/africa/30somalia.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin
China predict 'climate phenomena' from global warming
The Chinese government recently released major policy document on climate change, it stated that global warming has already had massive adverse effects on China, and on climate change it has warned of the difficulty of reducing the country's reliance on coal and the potential devastation that this could cause. The report stated, "Extreme climate phenomena, such as high temperatures, heavy precipitation and severe droughts have increased in frequency and intensity". Xie Zhenhua, a deputy chief of he National Development and Reform Commission, said China's emissions have caught up with the United States and will not fall soon. The paper also warns that China's coal-dominated energy mix can not be quickly changed making control of greenhouse gasses "rather difficult".
No offense to China, but if their government can confirm that they are suffering from the effects of global warming and states but not directly that greenhouse gases from human actions are causing it why can't they US feel the same way.But it does make me mad that they aren't offering any solutions to fix the problem they are just saying yep we got a problem but idk where to start so I'm not worrying about it... I'm glad to know that we only have 2 more months of this unrealistic view of global warming in the US, and soon enough we can get some real CHANGE.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/29/2405083.htm?section=justin
Gulf Cartel Busted - Project Reckoning
Hazel Inglis/ global crime/ 10/31/08 / 2:46 pm
More than 500 people in the United States, Mexico, and Italy have been arrested from the long term international investigation called Project Reckoning. The Project Reckoning is an investigation on one of Mexico’s largest drug trafficking cartels and their international distribution networks. It is believed that the cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana in this investigation are coming from Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, and Mexico and into the Untied States.
The people arrested in this busted where charged for anything from drug trafficking charges related to cocaine and marijuana to solicitation and conspiracy to kidnap, attempted murder, money laundering and many other related crimes. The things that were seized in Project Reckoning were approximately $60.1 million in U.S. currency, 16,711 kilograms of cocaine, 1,039 pounds of methamphetamine, 19 pounds of heroin, 51,258 pounds of marijuana, 176 vehicles and 167 weapons.
I think that it is important for governments around the world to work together to fight drug trafficking but I think that there is another angle of this problem that needs work. I think that more local governments should spend more on rehabilitation for drug uses and more education programs to steer people away from drugs. If there are less drug users then there are less need for drug trade and less of a problem. The whole drug business is very complex and there is not an easy fix for the massive problem.
http://www.357news.com/crime/gulf-cartel.php
More than 500 people in the United States, Mexico, and Italy have been arrested from the long term international investigation called Project Reckoning. The Project Reckoning is an investigation on one of Mexico’s largest drug trafficking cartels and their international distribution networks. It is believed that the cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana in this investigation are coming from Colombia, Guatemala, Panama, and Mexico and into the Untied States.
The people arrested in this busted where charged for anything from drug trafficking charges related to cocaine and marijuana to solicitation and conspiracy to kidnap, attempted murder, money laundering and many other related crimes. The things that were seized in Project Reckoning were approximately $60.1 million in U.S. currency, 16,711 kilograms of cocaine, 1,039 pounds of methamphetamine, 19 pounds of heroin, 51,258 pounds of marijuana, 176 vehicles and 167 weapons.
I think that it is important for governments around the world to work together to fight drug trafficking but I think that there is another angle of this problem that needs work. I think that more local governments should spend more on rehabilitation for drug uses and more education programs to steer people away from drugs. If there are less drug users then there are less need for drug trade and less of a problem. The whole drug business is very complex and there is not an easy fix for the massive problem.
http://www.357news.com/crime/gulf-cartel.php
Scientists Confirm Global Warming at North and South Poles
While studies are reasonably clear on the role of carbon emissions by humans in causing global warming in the Arctic, less is know about the causes of warming in Antarctica because of its remoteness. Some experts believe it is due to greenhouse gases while others believe changes in the Antarctic landscape are due to natural fluctuations in climate. A study Nature Geoscience , an international team of scientists reports on the results of a new model they say proves the human footprint in global warming in the Antarctic. The model incorporates 100 years worth of temperature data from the Arctic and about 50 years of recorded temperatures from stations in Antarctica. The temperatures in the Antarctic were gathered along the coastal areas, according to scientists, because it is too difficult to get to the continent's interior. When the temperature data from both continents were plugged into the model, scientists say it clearly showed the human effects of global warming in the South Pole.
All the information is collected, the evidence has been filed, what else do we need to show that humans are the major factor in today's global warming. The majority of ice on our planet resides in the south and north poles among most many other places, the ice that is in the poles if melted will cause disastrous sea level rises around the world that will change the way we live our everyday lifes.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-10-30-voa66
All the information is collected, the evidence has been filed, what else do we need to show that humans are the major factor in today's global warming. The majority of ice on our planet resides in the south and north poles among most many other places, the ice that is in the poles if melted will cause disastrous sea level rises around the world that will change the way we live our everyday lifes.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-10-30-voa66
Thousands of Syrians protest deadly U.S. raid
In Damascus, Syria thousands gathered in the square to protest the US's raid near the Iraq border. The protest displayed the message, "America, leave us alone." Syria's government has even gone toward measures of removing security along the Iraq border to reduce security cooperation with the US. Syria's government asked the US to justify their raid on Sunday by asking about the Al-Queda militants existence near Syria. This protest lead to Syria's US embassy closing because of security concerns. The people of Syria want to be compensated for this attack, and asked when the US's bullying would end. Iraq has admitted to no part in the attack and has expressed apologies for Syria to keep strong ties. I feel this attack was legitimate. It is apparent the US was misinformed about the where abouts of this terrorist group but I think that any chance the military has to destroy a terrorist group then they should take advantage of it. However, I think the US has become a bully in the middle east and needs to let the countries there deal with their own problems.
Citations:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27452319/
Citations:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27452319/
Why is the gender wage gap widening again?
Fikre Debela
Oct. 31st 2008
The gender pay gap is widening all over the world, but particularly in the country of New Zealand. In the typical family women are suppose to be the "care-givers” of the family and the men are the one who bring in the money. However, in today's society that’s not how it is anymore. More women are working either because they are a single parent or the family can’t afford just having the men work. In this case woman often have two jobs: take care of the family, and work an outside job. But is it fair that women who have the responsibility to take care of family have to deal with inequality in the workplace. Well, in New Zealand its becoming a problem because women just as qualified or more are suffering from the inequality they have to face in their jobs.
On average men earned $977 where by the same full time employed women earned $659 in the year 2008. Why? Inequality is a major factor. When women are employed they are often paid lower if they have children. However, it becomes harder for a women to raise their standards in the workforce when society has assumed them as the major care-takers for the proper raising of their children. This becomes even harder for women who are single parents. Sometimes they don’t have much of a choice but to take the pay cut they receive. In the New Zealand it has shown that a larger number of women are often having to take part time jobs as well.
Women are faced with this issue all around the world. With the need for more income women are faced with even more inequality. I don’t think discrimination is fair for women when society places their second job to be the “care-givers” in the family. Its only fair to decrease a pay if the women is not working the same amount of hours but just because a women may have more resopsibilties than man to deal with does not make inequality right.
http://www.businessday.co.nz/blogs/nicksmith/2008/10/30/why-is-the-gender-wage-gap-widening-again/
Oct. 31st 2008
The gender pay gap is widening all over the world, but particularly in the country of New Zealand. In the typical family women are suppose to be the "care-givers” of the family and the men are the one who bring in the money. However, in today's society that’s not how it is anymore. More women are working either because they are a single parent or the family can’t afford just having the men work. In this case woman often have two jobs: take care of the family, and work an outside job. But is it fair that women who have the responsibility to take care of family have to deal with inequality in the workplace. Well, in New Zealand its becoming a problem because women just as qualified or more are suffering from the inequality they have to face in their jobs.
On average men earned $977 where by the same full time employed women earned $659 in the year 2008. Why? Inequality is a major factor. When women are employed they are often paid lower if they have children. However, it becomes harder for a women to raise their standards in the workforce when society has assumed them as the major care-takers for the proper raising of their children. This becomes even harder for women who are single parents. Sometimes they don’t have much of a choice but to take the pay cut they receive. In the New Zealand it has shown that a larger number of women are often having to take part time jobs as well.
Women are faced with this issue all around the world. With the need for more income women are faced with even more inequality. I don’t think discrimination is fair for women when society places their second job to be the “care-givers” in the family. Its only fair to decrease a pay if the women is not working the same amount of hours but just because a women may have more resopsibilties than man to deal with does not make inequality right.
http://www.businessday.co.nz/blogs/nicksmith/2008/10/30/why-is-the-gender-wage-gap-widening-again/
First-Hand Account to the Suffering of Women in Burma; 2:15pm, 10/31/2008
First-Hand Account to the Suffering of Women in Burma
John Johnston
2:15pm
10.31.2008
The article is three sections long, with the first article detailing an authors account of the current status of Burma. Burma, being notoriously known for imprisoning women and refugees into slave camps for years without trial and chance at freedom, was not always this way. In 1947, the Panglong Agreement was signed by the majority three parties and was supposed to establish economic, political, and social equality for all citizens in Burma. However, this established doctrine did not do much to help anything, with Burma suffering as one of the lowest in education and health in the world.
The second article details a first-hand account of a woman, Tluang Ngam, who was imprisoned in Burma for being a refugee and was put in jail for six and half years. Throughout this section, she details the life she had in prison, working in bathrooms and cleaning hour by hour, suffering verbal and physical abuse. She was released shortly after the Saffron Revolution, only to suffer many mental and physical affects.
-------------------------
I have chosen to focus on both of these articles for the sake of my response.
It is bad, when a country like Burma still exists in this type of chaotic state. I don't understand why a country that has a document that can prevent this type of behavior does not enforce it. The opportunity that is provided for women in this country is at the bare minimum, and the government does not do much policing to stop this behavior from occurring on a day-to-day basis. It upsets me that the government would rip a person from a family, hold them for years on end, terrorize the family with interrogations and threats, and then release a now mentally and physically unstable person. And to top it off, they just shrug it off like a fly in a room, like nothing bad has happened and nothing bad will come of it. They quell rebellion with violence, threaten families on a daily basis, and continue to oppress the country into economic and political turmoil. The whole situation boggles me, and I can honestly offer no solution to the problem except awareness. Each country has to deal with it's own problems if it wants to, and some countries just won't. Maybe sanctions should be in place from the UN that will help make this problem a little smaller. It's a sad day in the worldwide present when just one person suffers from this kind of torment.
http://thewip.net/contributors/2008/10/burmas_junta_targets_women_in.html
John Johnston
2:15pm
10.31.2008
The article is three sections long, with the first article detailing an authors account of the current status of Burma. Burma, being notoriously known for imprisoning women and refugees into slave camps for years without trial and chance at freedom, was not always this way. In 1947, the Panglong Agreement was signed by the majority three parties and was supposed to establish economic, political, and social equality for all citizens in Burma. However, this established doctrine did not do much to help anything, with Burma suffering as one of the lowest in education and health in the world.
The second article details a first-hand account of a woman, Tluang Ngam, who was imprisoned in Burma for being a refugee and was put in jail for six and half years. Throughout this section, she details the life she had in prison, working in bathrooms and cleaning hour by hour, suffering verbal and physical abuse. She was released shortly after the Saffron Revolution, only to suffer many mental and physical affects.
-------------------------
I have chosen to focus on both of these articles for the sake of my response.
It is bad, when a country like Burma still exists in this type of chaotic state. I don't understand why a country that has a document that can prevent this type of behavior does not enforce it. The opportunity that is provided for women in this country is at the bare minimum, and the government does not do much policing to stop this behavior from occurring on a day-to-day basis. It upsets me that the government would rip a person from a family, hold them for years on end, terrorize the family with interrogations and threats, and then release a now mentally and physically unstable person. And to top it off, they just shrug it off like a fly in a room, like nothing bad has happened and nothing bad will come of it. They quell rebellion with violence, threaten families on a daily basis, and continue to oppress the country into economic and political turmoil. The whole situation boggles me, and I can honestly offer no solution to the problem except awareness. Each country has to deal with it's own problems if it wants to, and some countries just won't. Maybe sanctions should be in place from the UN that will help make this problem a little smaller. It's a sad day in the worldwide present when just one person suffers from this kind of torment.
http://thewip.net/contributors/2008/10/burmas_junta_targets_women_in.html
GAMBIA: Sex tourists exploiting children (Martika Bigham)
10/31/08
1:35
1:35
Although there are laws against child exploitation by tourist, it is still taking place in Gambia. The sexual relationship between tourist and children is becoming harder to track, due to the fact that the issue has shifted from hotels, into the community. Most of the sex workers are under the age of 18, some as young as 12. Their clients are from all walks of life, but western male tourists are most common.
Most of the girls who are being exploited come from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, have dropped out of school, or have been uprooted from rural areas and lost the protection of their extended families. They make about 2,000 Dalasi a day ($83 US). Some may receive “gifts” from the tourist such as watches or cell phones. If a tourist returns and asks for the same girl, the girls consider themselves as the tourists “girlfriend”. A lot of the girls are tricked into this industry. Tourists approach the girls and some even approach the parents, promising that they will “sponsor” the girl’s education.
The government is starting to take steps to correct the situation. In 2003 the government also passed the Tourism Offences Act, which regulates tourist behavior and in 2005 they passed the Children’s act, which provided a protective environment for children.
Despite the efforts to fix this issue, the government is some-what reluctant to emphasize child sex tourism as a problem due to the fact that they rely heavily on tourist dollars. Tourism brings in approximately 16 percent of The Gambia’s national income.
This article really upset me. I was happy to hear that Gambia was taking steps towards ending child exploitation, but then when I read that they didn’t take it as seriously because it was a good source of income, it really pissed me off. It’s awful that a country would be willing to do that just for money.
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81205
Syrian Ambassador Criticizes Suspected US Military Raid
Krista Giles
Oct. 31; 11:40 am
Syrian Ambassador Criticizes Suspected US Military Raid
Last Sunday, Oct. 26, there was an attack on Syrian village, Sukkariyah. U.S. Helicopters were seen attacking a group of people who were building a house. Two more helicopters were sent down to make sure everyone had been killed. In this group were a father and his four sons, a husband and wife, and a fisherman. Imad Moustapha, Syrian Ambassador, has demanded an apology of the U.S. and Iraq for the raid he says is a “criminal, terrorist attack against unarmed, innocent civilians.” The Bush Administration who is at blame for this raid has neither confirmed nor denied the raid, however anonymous U.S. officials have said that the operation was targeting the leader of a smuggling network used to send foreign fighters, weapons and money to Iraq. None of the bodies in the attack have been independently identified. There is much mystery to this situation, from Moustapha’s point of view he sees this as an accident with odd timing, and it’s becoming more mysterious because Moustapha may be conscious of the “smuggling network” and covering it up. The U.S. commandos say that they killed men who they identified as the insurgent al-Qaida in Iraq, including Abu Ghadiyah. Moustapha points out that Syria and the U.S. have been meeting under good terms and the U.S. Army say they have had a dramatic decrease in foreign fighters coming across the Syrian Border to Iraq. Also, Moustapha seems to believe that the election may have a strong correlation to this raid in the sense that American voter’s can now be manipulated to change their attitudes about the election with the launching of the attack.
Source: VOA news
Oct. 31; 11:40 am
Syrian Ambassador Criticizes Suspected US Military Raid
Last Sunday, Oct. 26, there was an attack on Syrian village, Sukkariyah. U.S. Helicopters were seen attacking a group of people who were building a house. Two more helicopters were sent down to make sure everyone had been killed. In this group were a father and his four sons, a husband and wife, and a fisherman. Imad Moustapha, Syrian Ambassador, has demanded an apology of the U.S. and Iraq for the raid he says is a “criminal, terrorist attack against unarmed, innocent civilians.” The Bush Administration who is at blame for this raid has neither confirmed nor denied the raid, however anonymous U.S. officials have said that the operation was targeting the leader of a smuggling network used to send foreign fighters, weapons and money to Iraq. None of the bodies in the attack have been independently identified. There is much mystery to this situation, from Moustapha’s point of view he sees this as an accident with odd timing, and it’s becoming more mysterious because Moustapha may be conscious of the “smuggling network” and covering it up. The U.S. commandos say that they killed men who they identified as the insurgent al-Qaida in Iraq, including Abu Ghadiyah. Moustapha points out that Syria and the U.S. have been meeting under good terms and the U.S. Army say they have had a dramatic decrease in foreign fighters coming across the Syrian Border to Iraq. Also, Moustapha seems to believe that the election may have a strong correlation to this raid in the sense that American voter’s can now be manipulated to change their attitudes about the election with the launching of the attack.
Source: VOA news
Financial crisis triggers cyber-crime surge
This article dealt with the direct link between the recent stock market declines and the involvement of cyber-criminals on the internet. During the plunges of the stock market during early to middle September was seen to have a direct correlation between cyber-crimes as it was observed that the number of threats of malware doubled in days. Also, the malware preferred by hackers changed with the stability of the economy as the more preferred Trojans were swapped for adware, and by doing so, the effectiveness desired increased. Banks that have had to receive stability from government intervention lead hackers to ignore traditional methods such as stealing personal banking information and instead, relied on online transactions where the money is received immediately. By evidence of the aforementioned facts, it is shown that cyber-criminal has an adaptive nature that does not give up during economic lows, but works harder and adjusts their techniques; this proves that cyber-criminals are a force to be reckoned with as they are no slouches when it comes to overcoming obstacles and reveals how truly capable they are when exposing how vulnerable we are.
I can see a pattern between these modern-day con-artists and those of the past who feed on and take advantage of the economy’s weak condition. It is interesting to delve deeper into the mind of cyber-criminals by observing changes in their routine conditions. I do not think that these will be the last observations made, but hopefully they will be studied to help prevent future threats on this global crime.
Article originally on GoogleNews
http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=1585
I can see a pattern between these modern-day con-artists and those of the past who feed on and take advantage of the economy’s weak condition. It is interesting to delve deeper into the mind of cyber-criminals by observing changes in their routine conditions. I do not think that these will be the last observations made, but hopefully they will be studied to help prevent future threats on this global crime.
Article originally on GoogleNews
http://www.itnewsafrica.com/?p=1585
Indian Nun Raped in Orissa Accuses Police of Failing to Respond Adequately
Chambria N. Brawley
10-31-08
2:00 am
The anonymous Roman Catholic, Indian nun that I reported of last weekend came forward and revealed herself on Saturday to Orissa officials and the Indian public. The news conference was held in the Indian capital, Delhi where she insisted on intervention from national police forces. Meena Lalita Barwa, offered an account of her rape during the public conference and states that throughout her violent ideal, police did little to acknowledge despite their presence.
Orissa police have been subject to extreme scrutiny over the past couple of months due to delays in the case. The death toll has now risen above 30 and thousands of Christians have been made homeless as a result of anti-Christian violence.
Sister Barwa’s complaint was originally filed on August 25, in which the 29 year-old stated she was abducted from a Christian prayer hall in Kandahamal and raped by a mob of approximately 50 Hindu men. She was then paraded throughout the street in her undergarments while being beaten on her face, hands, and back with sticks. When she sought help from the police, they did not budge and they would later be inattentive to the details of her horrific ordeal.
I can’t possibly imagine how it feels to be in her position. To be faced with such brutality and the voice she does have is essentially ignored. Over the past couple of months, these reports of anti-Christian violence have come to be highly publicized yet, still little or no means of true intervention or cessation in sight. The alarming part is, how many other individuals have fallen subject to the same cruelties as Sister Barwa, and have lacked the courage to come forward, or were unable to voice their ordeals due to mortality.
http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2008/10/29/indian-nun-raped-in-orissa-accuses-police-of-failing-to-respond-adequately/
10-31-08
2:00 am
The anonymous Roman Catholic, Indian nun that I reported of last weekend came forward and revealed herself on Saturday to Orissa officials and the Indian public. The news conference was held in the Indian capital, Delhi where she insisted on intervention from national police forces. Meena Lalita Barwa, offered an account of her rape during the public conference and states that throughout her violent ideal, police did little to acknowledge despite their presence.
Orissa police have been subject to extreme scrutiny over the past couple of months due to delays in the case. The death toll has now risen above 30 and thousands of Christians have been made homeless as a result of anti-Christian violence.
Sister Barwa’s complaint was originally filed on August 25, in which the 29 year-old stated she was abducted from a Christian prayer hall in Kandahamal and raped by a mob of approximately 50 Hindu men. She was then paraded throughout the street in her undergarments while being beaten on her face, hands, and back with sticks. When she sought help from the police, they did not budge and they would later be inattentive to the details of her horrific ordeal.
I can’t possibly imagine how it feels to be in her position. To be faced with such brutality and the voice she does have is essentially ignored. Over the past couple of months, these reports of anti-Christian violence have come to be highly publicized yet, still little or no means of true intervention or cessation in sight. The alarming part is, how many other individuals have fallen subject to the same cruelties as Sister Barwa, and have lacked the courage to come forward, or were unable to voice their ordeals due to mortality.
http://www.anglican-mainstream.net/2008/10/29/indian-nun-raped-in-orissa-accuses-police-of-failing-to-respond-adequately/
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Oil workers killed in Sudan
Brittany Sturdivant
October 30, 2008
11:30pm
Three oil workers that were working for the Yemeni HTC oil company were killed and two others are reported missing. The men were ambushed in Southern Sudan yesterday while they were traveling between the Heglig oil-producing area in South Kordofan. The kidnappers are said to have killed the oil workers because they thought a government plane that was sent to the country was going to attack them. The plane that the kidnappers thought was a danger to them was really a plane that was bringing food and water to the area for the troops that were there. I understand that they were worried that the plane might be a threat to them, but they had no evidence to prove that they were planning on attacking them. Today China sent some workers to help with the search to find these men that have been kidnapped. I think it’s great that China is helping during this difficult time and hopefully they will find these men and the individuals that were involved in this awful crime. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that this is happening to these men. Not even nine months ago some Chinese oil workers were abducted and later some were killed and the others escaped. I think there should be stricter security in place especially since this is becoming an issue that’s occurring in more than one country. I wonder what the underlying issues are behind these workers being killed. I understand that were in a very critical state right now but harming innocent people isn’t the issue to solve any problem.
http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnJOE49T0OA.html
October 30, 2008
11:30pm
Three oil workers that were working for the Yemeni HTC oil company were killed and two others are reported missing. The men were ambushed in Southern Sudan yesterday while they were traveling between the Heglig oil-producing area in South Kordofan. The kidnappers are said to have killed the oil workers because they thought a government plane that was sent to the country was going to attack them. The plane that the kidnappers thought was a danger to them was really a plane that was bringing food and water to the area for the troops that were there. I understand that they were worried that the plane might be a threat to them, but they had no evidence to prove that they were planning on attacking them. Today China sent some workers to help with the search to find these men that have been kidnapped. I think it’s great that China is helping during this difficult time and hopefully they will find these men and the individuals that were involved in this awful crime. I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that this is happening to these men. Not even nine months ago some Chinese oil workers were abducted and later some were killed and the others escaped. I think there should be stricter security in place especially since this is becoming an issue that’s occurring in more than one country. I wonder what the underlying issues are behind these workers being killed. I understand that were in a very critical state right now but harming innocent people isn’t the issue to solve any problem.
http://africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnJOE49T0OA.html
Somalia: Conflict, drought force more children onto Hargeisa Streets
Jessica Maw, October 30th 2008, 9:30pm
Conflict, drought and hardships has resulted in the number of street children to increase in the capital of Somalia’s self-declared independent republic of Somaliland Hargeisa. There is an estimate of 3,000 to 5,000 children living on the streets in Hargeisa.
These children have been spilt into three categories: those who work to help their families and go home at night; those who sleep on the streets; and, those who move from town to town. The children have different jobs with the boys working shining shoes, cleaning cars and the girls can be found cleaning and sweeping business premises.
The risk for these children that live on the streets is one mainly of their own safety. These children are known to suffer abuse as they are vulnerable by themselves. The street children have resulted to tying a sack around their lower body in an attempt to help protect themselves from a possible sexual attack.
To help prevent these conditions UNICEF and CCBRS identify vulnerable communities and then help put systems in place to better protect the children. The systems include ensuring the poorest and most vulnerable have access to schooling and healthcare.
These children are on the streets from no fault of their own which makes this so hard. They have come from backgrounds where the family can not afford to send them to school so they must work and households where they have suffered from violence. These children deserve the right to experience their full childhood and not be put through such experiences.
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81052
Conflict, drought and hardships has resulted in the number of street children to increase in the capital of Somalia’s self-declared independent republic of Somaliland Hargeisa. There is an estimate of 3,000 to 5,000 children living on the streets in Hargeisa.
These children have been spilt into three categories: those who work to help their families and go home at night; those who sleep on the streets; and, those who move from town to town. The children have different jobs with the boys working shining shoes, cleaning cars and the girls can be found cleaning and sweeping business premises.
The risk for these children that live on the streets is one mainly of their own safety. These children are known to suffer abuse as they are vulnerable by themselves. The street children have resulted to tying a sack around their lower body in an attempt to help protect themselves from a possible sexual attack.
To help prevent these conditions UNICEF and CCBRS identify vulnerable communities and then help put systems in place to better protect the children. The systems include ensuring the poorest and most vulnerable have access to schooling and healthcare.
These children are on the streets from no fault of their own which makes this so hard. They have come from backgrounds where the family can not afford to send them to school so they must work and households where they have suffered from violence. These children deserve the right to experience their full childhood and not be put through such experiences.
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81052
Hard-line Sudan politican may hold key to Darfur conflict
Danielle Jones
10.30.08
Currently in Sudan, presidential adviser Nafie Ali Nafie is being put in charge of the conflict in Darfur. Many are opposed to his involvement because he is seen as brutal and tough. Nafie believes however, that he was chosen for the job because he is a “mild person.” Nafie’s record looks grim when it comes to being able to relate to the people in his country, and being personable towards individuals. In the past he has always been known as the “bad cop”, being that he was once an interrogator in one of Sudan’s well known prisons. He also lacks military training, and Islamist credentials some say is needed to succeed when dealing with the Darfur conflict. Nafie claims that he never asked to be involved in the Darfur conflict, but was forced to when the government’s prior candidate was killed in a car accident. Nafie denies any claim which promotes that the Darfur conflict somehow has to do with “ethnic cleansing,” and claims that the “West is using Darfur to destabilize Sudan because Sudan is seen as a rebel, and a bad example for the rest of Africa.”He also claims that the U.S. is trying to weaken Sudan’s government in order to “steal oil.”
If I were a resident of Sudan, I would be greatly hesitant in letting Nafie deal with the Darfur conflict. He seems to be a steadfast leader, which could be good in promoting progress, but, he also seems as if he has an underlying purpose for being in charge of this problem. He seems like a very tough leader who could possibly turn on the people in this country. To have him in charge of an issue that affects the lives of many, is taking a great risk. He seems to be nonchalant about the fact that thousands of people have died in the Darfur conflict. There always seems to be a justification in his mind as for why this issue is not as bad as it is portrayed, like for some reason, the issue isn’t as serious as it obviously is.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/africa/la-fg-sudan26-2008oct26,0,4057636.story?page=2
10.30.08
Currently in Sudan, presidential adviser Nafie Ali Nafie is being put in charge of the conflict in Darfur. Many are opposed to his involvement because he is seen as brutal and tough. Nafie believes however, that he was chosen for the job because he is a “mild person.” Nafie’s record looks grim when it comes to being able to relate to the people in his country, and being personable towards individuals. In the past he has always been known as the “bad cop”, being that he was once an interrogator in one of Sudan’s well known prisons. He also lacks military training, and Islamist credentials some say is needed to succeed when dealing with the Darfur conflict. Nafie claims that he never asked to be involved in the Darfur conflict, but was forced to when the government’s prior candidate was killed in a car accident. Nafie denies any claim which promotes that the Darfur conflict somehow has to do with “ethnic cleansing,” and claims that the “West is using Darfur to destabilize Sudan because Sudan is seen as a rebel, and a bad example for the rest of Africa.”He also claims that the U.S. is trying to weaken Sudan’s government in order to “steal oil.”
If I were a resident of Sudan, I would be greatly hesitant in letting Nafie deal with the Darfur conflict. He seems to be a steadfast leader, which could be good in promoting progress, but, he also seems as if he has an underlying purpose for being in charge of this problem. He seems like a very tough leader who could possibly turn on the people in this country. To have him in charge of an issue that affects the lives of many, is taking a great risk. He seems to be nonchalant about the fact that thousands of people have died in the Darfur conflict. There always seems to be a justification in his mind as for why this issue is not as bad as it is portrayed, like for some reason, the issue isn’t as serious as it obviously is.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/africa/la-fg-sudan26-2008oct26,0,4057636.story?page=2
Climate Ideas Put Under Spotlight
Radical new ideas to fight climate change are being developed. A new idea called "geo-engineering", is a notion that climate change can be faught on a planetary-scale. Today marks the launch of a study of engineering put together by Britain's scientific community, the Royal Society. One such "geo-engineering" project includes adding iron as a nutrient to the seas becuase it can foster the growth of plankton, and in turn the plankton will absorb more carbon dioxide. After the plankton absorbs carbon dioxide, it sinks into the seabed and dies. Reducing carbon dioxide is an especially important project becuase emissions of greenhouse gasses show no sign of slowing. However, it is unknown whether or not the plankton will actually carry the carbon dioxide to the depths and keep it locked in there. Another potential problem is that since an ocean is a delicate ecosystem, this kind of a project could trigger some unexpected reaction and even make things worse. Some marine scientists simply say our oceans are to precious to meddle with. Environmental groups like Greenpeace agree and have campaigned to bring geo-engineering under control, saying that it is a distraction from cutting greenhouse gasses in the firstplace. If it did work, however, it would trap 1/8th of our greenhouse gas emissions.
If they can find a way to be sure that geo-engineering wouldn't further harm the earth, I would be for it, but if not I think we should stay away and maybe look into other options. Mainly I agree with Greenpeace, that we should focus on what caused the problem in the first place; excess greenhouse gasses, and try to reduce them before we do anything else.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7701006.stm
If they can find a way to be sure that geo-engineering wouldn't further harm the earth, I would be for it, but if not I think we should stay away and maybe look into other options. Mainly I agree with Greenpeace, that we should focus on what caused the problem in the first place; excess greenhouse gasses, and try to reduce them before we do anything else.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7701006.stm
Migrant women: wives and workers
Kari Leonard
October 30, 2008
4:19pm
In this article, it is speaking about the affect of the global financial crises on jobs among migrant workers and the affect on the amount of money that it sent overseas from workers or migrants. The migrant workers who are unskilled and less valuable to their employers would take the first and earliest hits. “The Department of Foreign Affairs, said the DFA has served notice that “several traditional destinations for women service workers were closing their recruitment doors. It was also reported that even low-paid jobs were getting lower (paid.”” The article states that because of this then the Philippine government should rethink its policy about sending out mostly women for service work abroad or domestic work. The fact that the women are sending money back might not be an economic advantage because there is a serious social cost of an absent wife or mother. Women also migrate to other countries as spouses of nationals. Most of the time the “marriage migrants are regarded as potential nationals to be assimilated rather than as culturally autonomous migrants.” I feel like after all of the progress that we feel is happening with women in developing countries that this article brings a drawback. The migrant women are going to no longer have many jobs over here in the U.S. and be kept in their lowest paid jobs in their own country. And also the U.S. is basically forcing the women that are marrying nationals to ‘assimilate.’ They are not even allowing them to keep their own culture when they marry. They are forced to become one of us.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20081026-168473/Migrant-women-wives-and-workers
October 30, 2008
4:19pm
In this article, it is speaking about the affect of the global financial crises on jobs among migrant workers and the affect on the amount of money that it sent overseas from workers or migrants. The migrant workers who are unskilled and less valuable to their employers would take the first and earliest hits. “The Department of Foreign Affairs, said the DFA has served notice that “several traditional destinations for women service workers were closing their recruitment doors. It was also reported that even low-paid jobs were getting lower (paid.”” The article states that because of this then the Philippine government should rethink its policy about sending out mostly women for service work abroad or domestic work. The fact that the women are sending money back might not be an economic advantage because there is a serious social cost of an absent wife or mother. Women also migrate to other countries as spouses of nationals. Most of the time the “marriage migrants are regarded as potential nationals to be assimilated rather than as culturally autonomous migrants.” I feel like after all of the progress that we feel is happening with women in developing countries that this article brings a drawback. The migrant women are going to no longer have many jobs over here in the U.S. and be kept in their lowest paid jobs in their own country. And also the U.S. is basically forcing the women that are marrying nationals to ‘assimilate.’ They are not even allowing them to keep their own culture when they marry. They are forced to become one of us.
http://opinion.inquirer.net/inquireropinion/columns/view/20081026-168473/Migrant-women-wives-and-workers
Filipino Fish Price Goes Up
Luka Suon
October 30, 2008
Sociology 202
The Philippines has proposed adding a premium to the price of fish harvested from the Coral Triangle this week as nations work to preserve this unique marine habitat. The countries that have special interests in the triangle (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and East Timor) got together in Manila to draw up plans to protect an ecosystem spanning 2.2 million square miles that is home to 3,000 species of fish. There are concerns that if Mediterranean stock is depleted fisheries will over fish this area next.
With the recent concern for the repercussions brought on by oceanic pollution many nations, including the United States, offer their support in protecting this unique habitat from over fishing and further pollution.
We need to be careful of what happens. Human carelessness has wiped out species already, and our high priced lifestyle and excessive demand will be the end of some species and the destruction of a habitat. It is unbearable but it is in our hands to decide the necessary change.
Links:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27340356/#storyContinued
Fairtrade coffee sales steady in economic downturn
Carrie Reinheimer October 30, 2008 9:08 am
Global sales of Fairtrade coffee are holding up well despite an economic slowdown, coffee dealers and farmers' unions said on Thursday. The Fairtrade system helps farmers and workers from poor countries to develop their communities through fairer terms of trade. The movement developed in the 1990s at a time of falling commodity prices.
Barbara Crowther, head of communications at London-based Fairtrade Foundation, the certification body behind the Fairtrade label, said the global financial crisis would not stop consumers from buying premium-cost Fairtrade coffee. "As of now we have not yet experienced here a significant impact in terms of reduction in the price of fairly traded coffee," said Joseph Nkandu, executive director of the National Union of Coffee Agribusinesses and Farm Enterprises in Uganda.” It has not been so long since the financial crisis began. Probably we will start noticing if it drags on. "Dessalegn Jena, deputy general manager of the Oromia Coffee Farmers' Co-operative Union in Ethiopia, said the Fairtrade coffee market was growing to meet consumer demand, but he voiced concern about the outlook due to the economic meltdown. Spokesmen for Nestle, the world's biggest food group, and ASDA, Britain's second-biggest supermarket group, said the global credit crisis had not yet affected sales of Fairtrade coffee. Fairtrade coffee sales at ASDA were steady, and non-Fairtrade coffees and instant coffees were growing modestly, an ASDA spokesman said. "Consumers tend to buy into Fairtrade because they believe in the ethics behind the products," he said. "We are waiting to see whether the credit crunch begins to impact Fairtrade coffee sales in the future. Seattle-based coffee shop chain Starbucks Corp said this week it was doubling its global buying of Fairtrade certified coffee to 40 million pounds ($64.13 million) in 2009 making it the largest purchaser of Fairtrade certified coffee. "The increased purchases will come from (Fairtrade) co-operatives in Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa," a Starbucks spokeswoman said.
It is good to see that one part of the economy is seeing a bright light. I feel like even though it is coffee it is still good to see something in the economy doing well. Maybe this will be a start of something new and the economy will start to see a better light. I think the economy is starting to go up because the American dollar just went back up a little but and now the coffee is making a come back. I think that everything is going to fine.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7957471
Global sales of Fairtrade coffee are holding up well despite an economic slowdown, coffee dealers and farmers' unions said on Thursday. The Fairtrade system helps farmers and workers from poor countries to develop their communities through fairer terms of trade. The movement developed in the 1990s at a time of falling commodity prices.
Barbara Crowther, head of communications at London-based Fairtrade Foundation, the certification body behind the Fairtrade label, said the global financial crisis would not stop consumers from buying premium-cost Fairtrade coffee. "As of now we have not yet experienced here a significant impact in terms of reduction in the price of fairly traded coffee," said Joseph Nkandu, executive director of the National Union of Coffee Agribusinesses and Farm Enterprises in Uganda.” It has not been so long since the financial crisis began. Probably we will start noticing if it drags on. "Dessalegn Jena, deputy general manager of the Oromia Coffee Farmers' Co-operative Union in Ethiopia, said the Fairtrade coffee market was growing to meet consumer demand, but he voiced concern about the outlook due to the economic meltdown. Spokesmen for Nestle, the world's biggest food group, and ASDA, Britain's second-biggest supermarket group, said the global credit crisis had not yet affected sales of Fairtrade coffee. Fairtrade coffee sales at ASDA were steady, and non-Fairtrade coffees and instant coffees were growing modestly, an ASDA spokesman said. "Consumers tend to buy into Fairtrade because they believe in the ethics behind the products," he said. "We are waiting to see whether the credit crunch begins to impact Fairtrade coffee sales in the future. Seattle-based coffee shop chain Starbucks Corp said this week it was doubling its global buying of Fairtrade certified coffee to 40 million pounds ($64.13 million) in 2009 making it the largest purchaser of Fairtrade certified coffee. "The increased purchases will come from (Fairtrade) co-operatives in Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa," a Starbucks spokeswoman said.
It is good to see that one part of the economy is seeing a bright light. I feel like even though it is coffee it is still good to see something in the economy doing well. Maybe this will be a start of something new and the economy will start to see a better light. I think the economy is starting to go up because the American dollar just went back up a little but and now the coffee is making a come back. I think that everything is going to fine.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/7957471
Fwd: THURS: Human Rights Week talk by former child soldier
Stephen J. Sills, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Sociology
320 Graham Building
PO Box 26170
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Greensboro, NC 27402-6170
http://www.uncg.edu/~sjsills/
sjsills@uncg.edu
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Human Rights Research Network <humanrightsresearch@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 29, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Subject: THURS: Human Rights Week talk by former child soldier
To: humanrightsresearch@gmail.com
From: Human Rights Research Network <humanrightsresearch@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 29, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Subject: THURS: Human Rights Week talk by former child soldier
To: humanrightsresearch@gmail.com
Ishmael Beah, who was conscripted as child soldier in his war-torn home country of Sierra Leone, will offer the keynote address "Children at War." The lecture takes place Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. in Aycock Auditorium.
Beah's 2007 memoir "A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Solder," recounts the years he spent as a teenage soldier followed by his long journey toward self-forgiveness and healing. Beah came to the United States in 1998 and graduated from Oberlin College with a BA in political science. He currently serves as a member of the Human Rights Watch Children's Rights Division Advisory Committee and has spoken before the United Nations, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Center for Emerging Threats and Opportunities and many other NGO panels on children affected by war.
The lectures are part of Human Rights Week at UNCG Oct. 27-31. 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Human Rights Week is sponsored by UNCG Department of History, the UNCG History Club, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the UNCG Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, and the Human Rights Research Network (HRRN): http://www.uncg.edu/cci/HRRN/
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
‘Southern AIDS Living Quilt’: Revealing the new female face of HIV/AIDS in America-Cara Beck- 10/29/2008- 10:20pm
Tomorrow, October 30th, Miami will launch it’s first ever “Southern Aids Living Quilt”. This quilt was organized for the purpose of revealing the faces of women, especially American women living in Southern states, who are living with AIDS. Organizers of the quilt hope to break the stigma attached to women living with AIDS and especially to bring awareness to those more likely to contract the disease: African American and Latino women. More than 25,000 women are currently living with AIDS in Florida. Compare statistics showing that one out of every 472 Hispanic or Latina women are living with the disease versus one out of every 1,281 white women living with HIV/AIDS. In the United States AIDS is the leading cause of death for African American women ages 25-34.
Along with the quilt there is an education campaign also being launched to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS. Also adding to this educational aspect is the attendance at the luncheon of some of the women who shared their stories on the quilt- their stories can be found at www.livingquilt.org.
Events such as this are important not only in the Southern United States, nor should the be limited to American soil, but abroad as well. People in all parts of the world should receive this education on AIDS awareness as well as motivation for those living with AIDS. There are stigmas worldwide about those with AIDS, it is important to see examples of women (and people in general) not only surviving after being infected with the disease, but people living with AIDS.
http://www.thewestsidegazette.com/News/article/article.asp?NewsID=92199&sID=20&ItemSource=L
Along with the quilt there is an education campaign also being launched to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS. Also adding to this educational aspect is the attendance at the luncheon of some of the women who shared their stories on the quilt- their stories can be found at www.livingquilt.org.
Events such as this are important not only in the Southern United States, nor should the be limited to American soil, but abroad as well. People in all parts of the world should receive this education on AIDS awareness as well as motivation for those living with AIDS. There are stigmas worldwide about those with AIDS, it is important to see examples of women (and people in general) not only surviving after being infected with the disease, but people living with AIDS.
http://www.thewestsidegazette.com/News/article/article.asp?NewsID=92199&sID=20&ItemSource=L
Pope condemns Christian killings in Iraq, India
Once again there are uproars over the attacks against the Christians by Hindus in northern Iraqi and Mosul. Although the attacks have lessened they are still going on forcing Christians out of their homes. Pope Benedict XVI steps in again and ask that “political and religious leaders to defend them.” He also asked for others to step in.
This religious conflict between the Hindus and Christians is affecting the lives of many. I think it is good that Pope Benedict has decided to join the fight. He has made comments in the past. I’m glad that the attacks are slowly calming down but none of these attacks are necessary.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/10/26/pope.christian.killings.ap/index.html
Once again there are uproars over the attacks against the Christians by Hindus in northern Iraqi and Mosul. Although the attacks have lessened they are still going on forcing Christians out of their homes. Pope Benedict XVI steps in again and ask that “political and religious leaders to defend them.” He also asked for others to step in.
This religious conflict between the Hindus and Christians is affecting the lives of many. I think it is good that Pope Benedict has decided to join the fight. He has made comments in the past. I’m glad that the attacks are slowly calming down but none of these attacks are necessary.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/10/26/pope.christian.killings.ap/index.html
Darling to Support U.K. Economy as Debt Nears Limit
Jennifer Rudd/ October 29, 2008/ 5:30 p.m.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling will promise extra borrowing to support the U.K. economy as it enters a recession, signaling the end of a decade-old pledge to keep debt under 40 percent of gross domestic product. Since reading about the United Kingdom, this is not the first promise so fingers mostly certainly are not crossed. The government will show determination to support the wider economy. While refraining from making an explicit commitment about debt targets in his speech, Darling will urge other governments to support their economies and work toward improving global financial governance. This is what has needed to be done since the beginning, but it will only take a group as in a global effort. The government needs to maintain investment in job-creating public works to support the economy- boosting interest rate cuts from the Bank of England. I feel that this will drastically help the banks of England because it at some point looked as if the banks were not going to make it. The government last week pledged to bring forward projects scheduled for after 2010 to spur the U.K. economy, which contracted 0.5 percent from the second quarter as the financial crisis ravaged industries from banking to construction. I think that this is definitely a smart decision because without running companies, and the economy not growing, things do not stay stable forever that way.
Britain had its biggest budget deficit since 1946 in the six months through September as tax receipts stagnated, and economists say the shortfall may reach 7 percent of gross domestic product over the next two years, more than double the 3 percent European Union limit. The opposition Conservative Party said greater borrowing was a consequence of the U.K. entering recession rather than a strategy to support the economy, and blamed Brown for spending too much when the economy was growing during his decade as finance minister. I feel after reading the section on this it made me see both sides and both sides had great ideas but if merging them together could be an option then the economy may boom, which is ultimately what needs to happen right now.
I feel that the United States is kind of on the same path that the United Kingdom is in just in different ways. We are just a week away from our country being changed who ever gets voted in office. Right now gas has been dropping which means other things go down but just not as fast. I know that peoples jobs are still being laid off but ultimately we need our economy to be going back up the scale and have record breaking highs instead of record breaking lows.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=a6tFA.CyeS_M&refer=uk
Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling will promise extra borrowing to support the U.K. economy as it enters a recession, signaling the end of a decade-old pledge to keep debt under 40 percent of gross domestic product. Since reading about the United Kingdom, this is not the first promise so fingers mostly certainly are not crossed. The government will show determination to support the wider economy. While refraining from making an explicit commitment about debt targets in his speech, Darling will urge other governments to support their economies and work toward improving global financial governance. This is what has needed to be done since the beginning, but it will only take a group as in a global effort. The government needs to maintain investment in job-creating public works to support the economy- boosting interest rate cuts from the Bank of England. I feel that this will drastically help the banks of England because it at some point looked as if the banks were not going to make it. The government last week pledged to bring forward projects scheduled for after 2010 to spur the U.K. economy, which contracted 0.5 percent from the second quarter as the financial crisis ravaged industries from banking to construction. I think that this is definitely a smart decision because without running companies, and the economy not growing, things do not stay stable forever that way.
Britain had its biggest budget deficit since 1946 in the six months through September as tax receipts stagnated, and economists say the shortfall may reach 7 percent of gross domestic product over the next two years, more than double the 3 percent European Union limit. The opposition Conservative Party said greater borrowing was a consequence of the U.K. entering recession rather than a strategy to support the economy, and blamed Brown for spending too much when the economy was growing during his decade as finance minister. I feel after reading the section on this it made me see both sides and both sides had great ideas but if merging them together could be an option then the economy may boom, which is ultimately what needs to happen right now.
I feel that the United States is kind of on the same path that the United Kingdom is in just in different ways. We are just a week away from our country being changed who ever gets voted in office. Right now gas has been dropping which means other things go down but just not as fast. I know that peoples jobs are still being laid off but ultimately we need our economy to be going back up the scale and have record breaking highs instead of record breaking lows.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=a6tFA.CyeS_M&refer=uk
India: Stop Abuse of Sexual Rights Activist, Vanida Chithtamath 1:31pm
Oct. 29th, 2008
1:31pm
Just released in the New York Times yesterday, reports came in from Bangalore, India urging the authorities to investigate the inhumane madd arrest and ill treatment of those captured activist. These workers for working for the betterment of trans-gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity issue in India. Researchers feel that this mass arrest has showed the true colors of the Indian government. “These arrests clearly show that it is time for India’s repressive attitudes and laws to change,” said Dipika Nath, researcher in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Rights Program at Human Rights Watch. “Such blatant police violence points to a system where prejudice trumps justice.” In the following week before the rest, there was much uprise from the local authorities where their main target was to get rid of the eunuch menace. Eunuch is a derogatory term for the Hijras (transgender men). Some of the captured men who were release from their meritless arrest told H.R. W. Activist that they were beaten, slapped, and sexually abused by the police. With this knowledge, 31 activist camped outside the 5 Hijras jail rooms and demanded for their release. This standstill incurred for 18 hours until the men were finally released. “These arrests and assaults on human rights defenders show sheer indifference to the principles of justice as well as the letter of the law,” Nath said. ”When police can seize dozens of activists on the flimsiest of pretexts, all of civil society is in danger.”
I think that last quote said it all, there was no pretexts to their arrest. Once again, freedom of speech was in question here. These men have protrayed themselves out of normative behavior and was arrested without merit. Is it fair, No! Is it right that they were sexually harrassed just because they are transgender? No! I think the authorities felt threaten that this because a global issue, when the activist became involved it made them realized that it was a situation that they can't avoid anymore and they had to let them go. This is an important lesson, the world is watching. With the declaration of human rights, we all deserve the same treatment, and it is a sad world when several million people are treated so inhumane.
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/10/28/india20085.htm
1:31pm
Just released in the New York Times yesterday, reports came in from Bangalore, India urging the authorities to investigate the inhumane madd arrest and ill treatment of those captured activist. These workers for working for the betterment of trans-gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity issue in India. Researchers feel that this mass arrest has showed the true colors of the Indian government. “These arrests clearly show that it is time for India’s repressive attitudes and laws to change,” said Dipika Nath, researcher in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Rights Program at Human Rights Watch. “Such blatant police violence points to a system where prejudice trumps justice.” In the following week before the rest, there was much uprise from the local authorities where their main target was to get rid of the eunuch menace. Eunuch is a derogatory term for the Hijras (transgender men). Some of the captured men who were release from their meritless arrest told H.R. W. Activist that they were beaten, slapped, and sexually abused by the police. With this knowledge, 31 activist camped outside the 5 Hijras jail rooms and demanded for their release. This standstill incurred for 18 hours until the men were finally released. “These arrests and assaults on human rights defenders show sheer indifference to the principles of justice as well as the letter of the law,” Nath said. ”When police can seize dozens of activists on the flimsiest of pretexts, all of civil society is in danger.”
I think that last quote said it all, there was no pretexts to their arrest. Once again, freedom of speech was in question here. These men have protrayed themselves out of normative behavior and was arrested without merit. Is it fair, No! Is it right that they were sexually harrassed just because they are transgender? No! I think the authorities felt threaten that this because a global issue, when the activist became involved it made them realized that it was a situation that they can't avoid anymore and they had to let them go. This is an important lesson, the world is watching. With the declaration of human rights, we all deserve the same treatment, and it is a sad world when several million people are treated so inhumane.
http://hrw.org/english/docs/2008/10/28/india20085.htm
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Colonial Quarter at Panama City Breaks Poverty Cycle
CAPTA which is Capacitacion para el Trabajo ( The ability to work) is a program at Casco Antiguo, Panama that is changing the lives of underprivileged natives. Julia Sanchez is a woman in Panama that was living on 5 dollars a day with a family of four children to support. When she registered at CAPTA, they provided her with hotel training that lead to a steady job in a hotel in her home town. This opportunity changed her life, because now she is able to not only support her four children, but she has new aspirations to learn English, get a career and move into a better home.
CAPTA is one of many community programs that offer people in struggling neighborhoods, a way to improve their life. CAPTA has already trained 60 women, and is continuously growing. The foundations director’s main achievement is to break the negative and domestic image women have of themselves, and realize that they have the opportunities to grow as socially employable.
Casco Antiguo is a city in Panama that is a tourist attraction, but it suffers from gentrification, poverty, lack of education and a paternalistic culture that is inherited from the military days where food was given away in exchange for votes. With programs such as CAPTA, this cycle is broken, and voices of hope will be heard. The city hopes to spread its opportunities all over Panama, so that together they can build stronger communities and fight poverty.
I think this is a wonderful opportunity, not only for women, but for people who have families to support and barely have enough food on the table. These people not only can make ends meet, but they achieve hope that will better their lives more than ever.
Monday, October 27, 2008
EC - talk by former Cuban political prisoner
Tuesday, October 28th, Armando Valladares gives a talk titled "Against All Hope" at 4:00pm in 028 McIver as part of Human Rights Week.
Armando Valladares spent 22 years as a Cuban political prisoner and was the U.S. Ambassador before the United Nations Human Rights Commission during 1987-1992. He wrote a memoir about his experiences as a political prisoner titled Against All Hope:
"Against All Hope is Armando Valladares' account of over twenty years in Fidel Castro's tropical gulag as a result of his philosophical and religious opposition to communism. He gives a picture of the Cuba that he lived in and tells of how his deep Christian faith kept him from abandoning hope during the most evil treatment" -http://www.amazon.com/Against-All-Hope-Memoir-Castros/dp/1893554198
Human Rights Week is sponosored by UNCG Department of History, the UNCG History Club, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the UNCG Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, and the Human Rights Research Network (HRRN): http://www.uncg.edu/cci/HRRN/
Armando Valladares spent 22 years as a Cuban political prisoner and was the U.S. Ambassador before the United Nations Human Rights Commission during 1987-1992. He wrote a memoir about his experiences as a political prisoner titled Against All Hope:
"Against All Hope is Armando Valladares' account of over twenty years in Fidel Castro's tropical gulag as a result of his philosophical and religious opposition to communism. He gives a picture of the Cuba that he lived in and tells of how his deep Christian faith kept him from abandoning hope during the most evil treatment" -http://www.amazon.com/Against-All-Hope-Memoir-Castros/dp/1893554198
Human Rights Week is sponosored by UNCG Department of History, the UNCG History Club, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the UNCG Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, and the Human Rights Research Network (HRRN): http://www.uncg.edu/cci/HRRN/
More Threats to to the Prince
In the country of Saudi arabia has laid charges against nearly 1000 suspected al-Qaeda members. Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz stated that the suspects will be brought before the juiciary. No specific trial dates, charges or identities have been released. There has been a great fear to try militants due to public backlash. The prince states that his kingdom is under attack by militants due to the issues overseas. Extremist militants have been the cause of 30 attacks in the Kingdom since 2003. ninety civilian and 74 members of the security forces had been killed , 439 civilians and 657 members of the security forces had been injured. 160 attacks were stopped before they could be carried out. Many members prior have been released and they are still trying hard to combat this problem.
Through my research with these blogs I am beginning to see the al-qaeda is not just a militant group. This organization spans across many countries and I think the root of the problem should bee the main target. Finding out weapon suppliers controlling how people contribute the the organization.
Through my research with these blogs I am beginning to see the al-qaeda is not just a militant group. This organization spans across many countries and I think the root of the problem should bee the main target. Finding out weapon suppliers controlling how people contribute the the organization.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
ISA News - Possible EC events
News
International Students Association – Elections at Friday Fest
The International Students Association (ISA) invites members to participate in ISA elections this Friday, October 24th at Friday Fest in the International House. Elections will be conducted at 2:15pm. The president and vice president positions are open. Additionally, members are encouraged to get involved in ISA and planning for events like Friday Fest, Semi-Formal and the International Festival. All are welcome to attend ISA meetings on Mondays at 5:00pm in the International Programs Center.
*********************************************************************************************
Campus Events
Friday Fest Schedule
Oct 24 ~ Australia
Oct 31 ~ Turkey
Nov 7 ~ Nepal/ Indonesia
Nov 14 ~ Sweden/ Norway
Nov 21 ~ Mexico
Dec 5 ~ Finland
Friday October 24th - International Friday Fest – Australia
Come check out the Australian International Friday Fest! Students from this country will be presenting their country and culture. Take advantage of this opportunity to sample traditional foods, experience the culture of Australia, and meet new people from all over the world!
**Presentation starts at 2pm in the downstairs lobby of Phillips-Hawkins dorm (I-House)**
Upcoming IPC Sponsored Trips this Semester:
Nov 25 – 30 ~ New York City
African Fashion Show:
The UNCG African Student Union will be sponsoring a fashion show on November 1, 2008 from 7:00-9:00pm in the EUC auditorium. Tickets range from $5-$12 and can be purchased at the UNCG box office (336-334-4849). For more information contact cpmvula@uncg.edu.
International Students Mountain Trip Sponsored by International Piedmont Fellowship (October 24-26):
International Students from several Greensboro colleges/ universities will enjoy the fall colors, hiking, shopping, and international culture and talents as they visit Blowing Rock, NC. Students will leave from I – House at 4:00pm on October 24th and return on October 26th. The cost is $75 and this includes transportation, 2 nights lodging, and 5 meals. To register, please email Audrey at awomack2@triad.rr.com.
Outdoor Adventure trips this semester:
http://campusrec.uncg.edu/programs/outdoor/schedules/
*********************************************************************************************
Off Campus Events:
Carrie Underwood Live in Concert
Guitar Icon Leo Kottke at the Carolina Theatre!
Ghost Stories at Blandwood
** Check out other clubs, restaurants, bars and events in Downtown Greensboro
http://www.downtowngreensboro.org/citylight/
** Be sure to check out http://coupons4greensboro.com/ for discounts on local restaurants and activities.
International Students Association – Elections at Friday Fest
The International Students Association (ISA) invites members to participate in ISA elections this Friday, October 24th at Friday Fest in the International House. Elections will be conducted at 2:15pm. The president and vice president positions are open. Additionally, members are encouraged to get involved in ISA and planning for events like Friday Fest, Semi-Formal and the International Festival. All are welcome to attend ISA meetings on Mondays at 5:00pm in the International Programs Center.
******************************
Campus Events
Friday Fest Schedule
Oct 24 ~ Australia
Oct 31 ~ Turkey
Nov 7 ~ Nepal/ Indonesia
Nov 14 ~ Sweden/ Norway
Nov 21 ~ Mexico
Dec 5 ~ Finland
Friday October 24th - International Friday Fest – Australia
Come check out the Australian International Friday Fest! Students from this country will be presenting their country and culture. Take advantage of this opportunity to sample traditional foods, experience the culture of Australia, and meet new people from all over the world!
**Presentation starts at 2pm in the downstairs lobby of Phillips-Hawkins dorm (I-House)**
Upcoming IPC Sponsored Trips this Semester:
Nov 25 – 30 ~ New York City
African Fashion Show:
The UNCG African Student Union will be sponsoring a fashion show on November 1, 2008 from 7:00-9:00pm in the EUC auditorium. Tickets range from $5-$12 and can be purchased at the UNCG box office (336-334-4849). For more information contact cpmvula@uncg.edu.
International Students Mountain Trip Sponsored by International Piedmont Fellowship (October 24-26):
International Students from several Greensboro colleges/ universities will enjoy the fall colors, hiking, shopping, and international culture and talents as they visit Blowing Rock, NC. Students will leave from I – House at 4:00pm on October 24th and return on October 26th. The cost is $75 and this includes transportation, 2 nights lodging, and 5 meals. To register, please email Audrey at awomack2@triad.rr.com.
Outdoor Adventure trips this semester:
http://campusrec.uncg.edu/
******************************
Off Campus Events:
Carrie Underwood Live in Concert
| ||||||||||
Guitar Icon Leo Kottke at the Carolina Theatre!
| ||||||||||
Ghost Stories at Blandwood
| ||||||||||
** Check out other clubs, restaurants, bars and events in Downtown Greensboro
http://www.downtowngreensboro.
** Be sure to check out http://coupons4greensboro.com/ for discounts on local restaurants and activities.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Promoting Peace in India
Cady Barrett
Religious Conflicts
25 October 2008
The past two months have been filled with religious conflict in India between the Hindus and the Christians of the nation. After numerous deaths, acts of severe violence, and political corruption having been revealed, it is no surprise that people are beginning to speak out in protest. All of the major religions of the world have one common world view, the notion of non-violence. Followed by Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and many others, the world carries this thought with them always. This makes the conflict somewhat confusing. Why are these two groups fighting and killing in the name of their religion if it goes against everything they are about?
Rajan Zed, an Indo-American who is the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism is quoted as saying, “Let us stop hating in God’s name, initiate dialogue, ensure communal harmony and rebuild the devastated communities.” He goes on to explain why this is happening, which is separate from the nation’s differences in faith. These underlying factors are poverty, illiteracy, class conflicts, socio-economic and tribal/ethnic tensions. He goes on to say that governments should have various development projects and protection of religious freedom in the areas that are most affected by the violence to bring peace to the nation.
Being a religious studies major, this conflict interests me very much. The dynamics involved are so complicated and intricate to the society as a whole. To have to take into account the culture, the faith, and the economic status of the country in order to promote peace is powerful.
http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/31326
Religious Conflicts
25 October 2008
The past two months have been filled with religious conflict in India between the Hindus and the Christians of the nation. After numerous deaths, acts of severe violence, and political corruption having been revealed, it is no surprise that people are beginning to speak out in protest. All of the major religions of the world have one common world view, the notion of non-violence. Followed by Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and many others, the world carries this thought with them always. This makes the conflict somewhat confusing. Why are these two groups fighting and killing in the name of their religion if it goes against everything they are about?
Rajan Zed, an Indo-American who is the president of the Universal Society of Hinduism is quoted as saying, “Let us stop hating in God’s name, initiate dialogue, ensure communal harmony and rebuild the devastated communities.” He goes on to explain why this is happening, which is separate from the nation’s differences in faith. These underlying factors are poverty, illiteracy, class conflicts, socio-economic and tribal/ethnic tensions. He goes on to say that governments should have various development projects and protection of religious freedom in the areas that are most affected by the violence to bring peace to the nation.
Being a religious studies major, this conflict interests me very much. The dynamics involved are so complicated and intricate to the society as a whole. To have to take into account the culture, the faith, and the economic status of the country in order to promote peace is powerful.
http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/31326
Iraqi Schools ReOpen
Simon Prather
Post for Friday October 17, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/world/middleeast/12baghdad.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin
Since the United States invaded Iraq in 2003 many elements of living, on a day to day basis, have been effected. Doing things such as going to work, commuting, and attending school have been put on hold in some area's, or greatly changed in other area's. Recently, in Baghdad, schools have re opened, and the security of this peaceful city is being put to test.
Many Iraqi citizens left the country over the course of the current war. They are now returning to safer areas of the country, settling their families back into the lives they abandoned. Many of these citizens claim they have returned with reservations, not truly knowing the extent of safety in their home land. Hind Majid moved with her two daughters to Egypt to escape the war. Her two daughters have returned to the public schools of Baghdad, however, she reports "I am still fearful of the situation". Majid claims she "has taken a gamble" with her return to Iraq. Starting school again is a sign of hope for the six million school children of Iraq. They are expecting far less violence, and a level of normalcy to return to their lives.
Many of the neighborhood schools in the heart of Baghdad are experiencing such a surge of returning citizens that their schools are over crowded. This past August 37, 835 million people returned to their country. The test for a truly improved Iraq is going to be present when families feel comfortable enough with the state of Baghdad to send their young ones to area schools. Maj. Tom Nelson, an American engineering officer in Baghdad has stated "School is probably the most important institution that needs to be re-established for the return to normalcy".
Post for Friday October 17, 2008
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/world/middleeast/12baghdad.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin
Since the United States invaded Iraq in 2003 many elements of living, on a day to day basis, have been effected. Doing things such as going to work, commuting, and attending school have been put on hold in some area's, or greatly changed in other area's. Recently, in Baghdad, schools have re opened, and the security of this peaceful city is being put to test.
Many Iraqi citizens left the country over the course of the current war. They are now returning to safer areas of the country, settling their families back into the lives they abandoned. Many of these citizens claim they have returned with reservations, not truly knowing the extent of safety in their home land. Hind Majid moved with her two daughters to Egypt to escape the war. Her two daughters have returned to the public schools of Baghdad, however, she reports "I am still fearful of the situation". Majid claims she "has taken a gamble" with her return to Iraq. Starting school again is a sign of hope for the six million school children of Iraq. They are expecting far less violence, and a level of normalcy to return to their lives.
Many of the neighborhood schools in the heart of Baghdad are experiencing such a surge of returning citizens that their schools are over crowded. This past August 37, 835 million people returned to their country. The test for a truly improved Iraq is going to be present when families feel comfortable enough with the state of Baghdad to send their young ones to area schools. Maj. Tom Nelson, an American engineering officer in Baghdad has stated "School is probably the most important institution that needs to be re-established for the return to normalcy".
Friday, October 24, 2008
U.N. rushes aid to Iraqi Christian refugees
Danielle Jones
10.24.08
Today in Bagdad, the U.N. has been trying to help in aiding the Christian victims who were fled from their homes located in the northern city of Mosul in Iraq. According to officials, these Christians have been threatened into leaving their homes because of intimidation from the very influential extremist of the Sunni Muslim faith. According to the article, a number of 13,000 Christians living in the city have been forced to flee this month, left with little means in which to take care of themselves. The funded U.N. agency has been able to aid many with relief supplies. Although extremist of the Sunni faith have been blamed for attacks on these Christians, no one has officially taken the blame for the problem. Shiite clerics are calling for unity in the country, and among the ethnic groups, which would involve leaving American troops there for three additional months. Many groups have opposed this idea, saying that they have serious and real issues to deal with among themselves: The whole of Iraq.
It is a terrible thing that people in the same country, with ultimately similar problems are fighting against each other, simply because they share different beliefs. The groups seem so opposed to getting help from Americas, but are obviously in need of some sort of stability. It confuses me that though these people are going through what they are, they refuse help from anyone. It is obvious that the whole country is in need of some serious unity, or everyone will continue to suffer.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27362718/
10.24.08
Today in Bagdad, the U.N. has been trying to help in aiding the Christian victims who were fled from their homes located in the northern city of Mosul in Iraq. According to officials, these Christians have been threatened into leaving their homes because of intimidation from the very influential extremist of the Sunni Muslim faith. According to the article, a number of 13,000 Christians living in the city have been forced to flee this month, left with little means in which to take care of themselves. The funded U.N. agency has been able to aid many with relief supplies. Although extremist of the Sunni faith have been blamed for attacks on these Christians, no one has officially taken the blame for the problem. Shiite clerics are calling for unity in the country, and among the ethnic groups, which would involve leaving American troops there for three additional months. Many groups have opposed this idea, saying that they have serious and real issues to deal with among themselves: The whole of Iraq.
It is a terrible thing that people in the same country, with ultimately similar problems are fighting against each other, simply because they share different beliefs. The groups seem so opposed to getting help from Americas, but are obviously in need of some sort of stability. It confuses me that though these people are going through what they are, they refuse help from anyone. It is obvious that the whole country is in need of some serious unity, or everyone will continue to suffer.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27362718/
North Korea Clamps Down on Mobile Phones to Stop News of Food Crisis
Richard Lloyd Parry, Asia Editor
Ashley Tyner
North Korea is damping down on mobile phones and long distance phone calls to prevent the spread of news about a worsening food crisis. Vitit Muntarbhorn, a Thai law professor who has never been allowed to visit North Korea, says N. Korea's government is using public executions as a means of intimidating the population, and is using spies to infiltrate and expose religious communitites. This report came tow days after the World Food Program said that 2/3 of the population does not have enough to eat, in the country's worse crisis since almost 3 million people died of famine 10 years ago. Muntarbhorn has stated "over the past year we have had very worrying information of a very chronic food shortage."
Recent visitors to the country report that N.Korean's are no longer allowed to use mobile phones at all. The few foreign tourists are made to surrender their mobiles on arrival, then returned only when departing the country. There are also reports that a Korean mobile phone service, which would not be able to communicate with the outside world, is being planned for a possible launch early next year.
WFP announced that some 2.7 million people on N. Korea's west coast will run out of food in October and increasing. The government is still in firm control of the country and its grip on the lives of citizens shows no signs of easing.
Ashley Tyner
North Korea is damping down on mobile phones and long distance phone calls to prevent the spread of news about a worsening food crisis. Vitit Muntarbhorn, a Thai law professor who has never been allowed to visit North Korea, says N. Korea's government is using public executions as a means of intimidating the population, and is using spies to infiltrate and expose religious communitites. This report came tow days after the World Food Program said that 2/3 of the population does not have enough to eat, in the country's worse crisis since almost 3 million people died of famine 10 years ago. Muntarbhorn has stated "over the past year we have had very worrying information of a very chronic food shortage."
Recent visitors to the country report that N.Korean's are no longer allowed to use mobile phones at all. The few foreign tourists are made to surrender their mobiles on arrival, then returned only when departing the country. There are also reports that a Korean mobile phone service, which would not be able to communicate with the outside world, is being planned for a possible launch early next year.
WFP announced that some 2.7 million people on N. Korea's west coast will run out of food in October and increasing. The government is still in firm control of the country and its grip on the lives of citizens shows no signs of easing.
Child Traffickers Deserve Stiffer Punishment/JAmilliah Halley
The International Organization of Migration is pushing for stiffer punishment for child traffickers to serve as a deterrent to others. A man by the name of David Terzi is trying to raise money to help the IOM help put the anti-trafficking unit at he Criminal Investigation Department at the police Headquarters in Ghana. He also said in his interview that the leaders of the government should take a field trip to the places that have the highest accounts of children being taken for trafficking. I feel that just trying to get anbti-traffiking police is not enough. How can they get the police if they don’t know the first thing about wear they are taking the children or how the traffickers are equipped. Even if they did know who they were dealing with, or what the traffickers are capable of. They could possibly harm one of the children to protect themselves or even worse.
http://www.newtimesonline.com/content/view/18342/48/
I feel as if a person is willing to buy and sell children as if they were property is sickening. But I also feel that if the anti-trafficking police were to find the traffickers I am afraid of what they might do to the children to save them selves. And I also believe that the first thing on the anti-traffickers police’s mind should be how to get the children out safely when ever they do find traffickers.
http://www.newtimesonline.com/content/view/18342/48/
Egyptian sexual harasser jailed
Danielle Plesser
SOC202
October 23, 2008, 4:55 PM
The first line of the article reads “An Egyptian man has been jailed for three years with hard labour for sexual harassment of a woman in the street.” The man, it is revealed later in the article, also had to pay over 5,000 Egyptian pounds to the woman who made the charges against him. Women’s rights activists in Egypt are happy about this incident because they feel that this is the first time the law has really severely dealt with the issue. Statistics released this year show that it’s a huge issue for women and that even 98% of foreign women and 83% of Egyptian women claimed to have experienced sexual harassment.
So, I have mixed feelings about this article. I’m very glad that the law is responding to the concerns of its people. I think that the numbers presented in the article about how many men admit to groping women and how many women claim to have experienced such harassment are awful.
That said- three years is a ridiculously long time. We’ve talked in class recently about our prisons filling up and holding people for too long; if all the people who admitted to sexually harassing women went to prison for three years, I imagine that Egypt would begin to have the same problems. It’s a difficult issue, to be sure, and I definitely support the law punishing people who invade others’ personal space in such a way. But I think that this won’t be something that always happens, and there needs to be a more clearly defined consequence for everyone so that this doesn’t end up being a one-time scapegoat episode.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7682951.stm
Arguments over Chinese Rights
picture from aljazeera.netRebiya Kaber is a Uighur Muslim who had been detained in a jail for seven years for involvement in a Uighur separitist group, and was considered a terrorist by the Chinese government. Kaber now lives in Washington DC. Since her arrival in the United States, Kaber feels that she has been given a warm welcome. She is very greatful that President Bush has tried to negotiate with the Chinese government to quit persecuting the Uighur minority, which has not won Bush any friends in the Chinese government. He has asked for equal treatment between the Uighus and the Chinese Han who have oppressed the Uighurs for a long time.
The dealings with the Uighurs and the Chinese government has led to contradictions because of the 17 Uighurs being held illegally at Guantanamo. All of the presidents since President Reagan, Democratic and Republican alike, have talked of change for China, but have not really done anything to help the Uighur population.
Hopefully the next president to be elected will find some way to accomplish achievement with the Chinese government. One way would be to raise the trade tarriffs between the US and China, which would not be wise. Another way (to encourage the Chinese to make a commitment for the Uighurs and keep their word) is to give support these seperatist groups in a covert way.
This would be the best in my opinion because many Chinese believe that this is already happening. However, as China begins to gain more economic power over the United States and other countries, an act like this could damage relations between the two countries and the US cannot afford to lose trade with China.
SOMALIA: Conflict, drought force more children onto Hargeisa streets (Martika Bigham)
4:45pm
There has been a recent increase in the number of children living on the streets due to Conflict, drought and economic hardships. Many of the children are from Mogadishu and other parts of south-central Somalia. The chairman of a local human rights group, estimated that there were about 3,000-5,000 children on the streets of Hargeisa. Of the children on the streets they all seem to fall into three categories: those who work for their families on the street during the day and go home at night, those who sleep on the street and those who move from town to town. Most often the children beg, but some have jobs as shoe shiners or car washers. Girls usually clean businesses or homes. While on the streets many children suffer from abuse and violence. Sexual abuse is most common. During the night, the children who sleep on the streets are easy targets for sexual abuse because they have no one to protect them. This is a huge problem. The children living on the streets have been plagued with numerous diseases and don’t even know it.
The article talked about a little boy named Ahmed. He is only 12 years old and he is taking care of his mother and little sisters. After his father died in 2007, he took it upon himself to take the lead. He does all of this on 40,000 Somaliland shillings ($6.50 US) a day.
Although this horrible issue is going on, here are people trying to fix it. There are agencies committed to identifying the vulnerable communities and help them to create a better system of protection for the children. They do things like ensuring the poorest and most vulnerable children have access to schooling and health services. Somalia’s government enacted a Juvenile Justice Law in March, aimed at guaranteeing children's rights. They are also running a orphanage that houses about 400 children.
http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=81052
No Change
Alisha Casey/Oct. 24, 2008/ 4:45 p.m.
It is no surprise that the term abortion causes an uproar no matter where or when it is mentioned. That is why it is no surprise that in Northern Ireland the case is the same. There was an attempt to pass an amendment allowing women the right to have a free abortion in their homes. The four main parties in Northern Ireland came to the same conclusion: NO. On October 22, 2008 the proposed amendment went to the House of Commons and was denied.
In Northern Ireland women are only allowed to have an abortion when the mother's health or life is in danger. It is also evident that many women travel to Northern Ireland in order to have an abortion. The trip there cost at least£450 plus air travel. Not only is there the moral issue concerning abortion but there is also the medical issue surround abortion. Apparently, many women have been calling into the Family Planning Association in Belfast and asking questions concerning buying abortion inducing drugs online. The Family Planning Association is concerned because administering these medications without supervision can be dangerous.
It is no surprise that abortion has caused such an uproar and debate within a country. In America it is an issue as well. The debate on abortion will continue to a controversial issue because there are two sides to every issue. Personally I believe there is a time when abortions should be allowed for example when a women is raped or the mother and child are at risk. I believe that some women take advantage of the right to have an abortion and it is affecting those women that really need to have one. Hopefully, Northern Ireland will keep the amendment the way it is because I believe they are only looking out for the interest of their citizens.
http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subjectid=348951&story_id=12480468
It is no surprise that the term abortion causes an uproar no matter where or when it is mentioned. That is why it is no surprise that in Northern Ireland the case is the same. There was an attempt to pass an amendment allowing women the right to have a free abortion in their homes. The four main parties in Northern Ireland came to the same conclusion: NO. On October 22, 2008 the proposed amendment went to the House of Commons and was denied.
In Northern Ireland women are only allowed to have an abortion when the mother's health or life is in danger. It is also evident that many women travel to Northern Ireland in order to have an abortion. The trip there cost at least£450 plus air travel. Not only is there the moral issue concerning abortion but there is also the medical issue surround abortion. Apparently, many women have been calling into the Family Planning Association in Belfast and asking questions concerning buying abortion inducing drugs online. The Family Planning Association is concerned because administering these medications without supervision can be dangerous.
It is no surprise that abortion has caused such an uproar and debate within a country. In America it is an issue as well. The debate on abortion will continue to a controversial issue because there are two sides to every issue. Personally I believe there is a time when abortions should be allowed for example when a women is raped or the mother and child are at risk. I believe that some women take advantage of the right to have an abortion and it is affecting those women that really need to have one. Hopefully, Northern Ireland will keep the amendment the way it is because I believe they are only looking out for the interest of their citizens.
http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subjectid=348951&story_id=12480468
North Carolina Children Losing Health Coverage
Simon Prather
10/24/2008
http://www.wataugademocrat.com/2008/1020/1020reportncchildren.php
Health care in the United States is some of the best in the world. However, how we operate our health care system varies dramatically when compared to other countries. Many countries provide a universal health care system, leaving nobody with out the means of obtaining proper health services. The universal system allows everybody equal access to the same medical help regardless of finances.
Receiving health care in the United States requires individuals to be held under an insurance plan. Often times insurance is expensive, and is something received through an employer. Recently in North Carolina families are 150% more likely than the average American to have lost medical care that was once provided through the work place. Adam Searings, director of the North Carolina Health Access Coalition at the N.C. Justice Center says "This continues to be an alarming trend that shows no sign of stopping"
When adults are cut from their employer's insurance programs, their children, spouses, and other direct family members are also cut. This seems to affect lower income families more so than any other. People in the bottom 20% of house hold earnings were the least likely to be covered.
I feel like it is a shame that such a great nation such as the United States fails to deliver an equal, simple, affordable health care service to all the people. The state of North Carolina is working on initiatives to secure health care coverage to children regardless of parental employers. Maybe health care in this country needs to get worse for some, before it can get better for all.
10/24/2008
http://www.wataugademocrat.com/2008/1020/1020reportncchildren.php
Health care in the United States is some of the best in the world. However, how we operate our health care system varies dramatically when compared to other countries. Many countries provide a universal health care system, leaving nobody with out the means of obtaining proper health services. The universal system allows everybody equal access to the same medical help regardless of finances.
Receiving health care in the United States requires individuals to be held under an insurance plan. Often times insurance is expensive, and is something received through an employer. Recently in North Carolina families are 150% more likely than the average American to have lost medical care that was once provided through the work place. Adam Searings, director of the North Carolina Health Access Coalition at the N.C. Justice Center says "This continues to be an alarming trend that shows no sign of stopping"
When adults are cut from their employer's insurance programs, their children, spouses, and other direct family members are also cut. This seems to affect lower income families more so than any other. People in the bottom 20% of house hold earnings were the least likely to be covered.
I feel like it is a shame that such a great nation such as the United States fails to deliver an equal, simple, affordable health care service to all the people. The state of North Carolina is working on initiatives to secure health care coverage to children regardless of parental employers. Maybe health care in this country needs to get worse for some, before it can get better for all.
Global market sell-off driven by grim economic outlook
Carrie Reinheimer October 24 2008 4:32 pm
That was the view on Wall Street Friday afternoon after stock markets in Asia and Europe plummeted in response to a series of dismal earnings and economic reports - from Japan and South Korea to Britain and the United States - that pointed to a deepening slowdown in the global economy. A trigger for Friday's global market plunge appeared to be Sony's announcement Thursday evening, after the Japanese market had closed, that it was cutting its earnings forecast. In Tokyo, shares of Sony, whose sales are heavily dependent on consumer spending in the United States and Europe, fell 12.9 percent Friday. Samsung Electronics, Sony's South Korean competitor, reported a steep profit decline, too, echoing other indicators that the consumer electronics industry is headed for deep trouble. The overall Japanese market crumbled as well, with the Nikkei 225 share average down 9.6 percent, breaking below 8,000 points and hitting the lowest level in five and a half years. While the yen continued to strengthen, the British pound was at a five-year low, at $1.58, and the euro fell to a two-year low, of $1.26. In Britain, data released Friday showed that economic output shrank for the first time in 16 years, falling by 0.5 percent from July through September compared to the previous quarter. Britain is the first of the seven major industrialized nations to publish economic data for the quarter and many economists said they expect the other nations to also report that economic activity has fallen. After Japanese markets plunged, major exchanges in Britain, France and Germany fell sharply in initial trading but made up some of their losses by the end of the day.
So while some places are going up the economic ladder others are going down the ladder. Some places are hoping to make a turn around and go back up the economic ladder. It is really a scary thing that is going on. I wish that things would go back up. I think that it will soon though because it is starting to become so bad. I think that when it hits the rock bottom that it will go back up. When it hits the rock bottom they can only go up. I think that we are almost at the rock bottom so it will go up!
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/24/business/markets.php?page=2
That was the view on Wall Street Friday afternoon after stock markets in Asia and Europe plummeted in response to a series of dismal earnings and economic reports - from Japan and South Korea to Britain and the United States - that pointed to a deepening slowdown in the global economy. A trigger for Friday's global market plunge appeared to be Sony's announcement Thursday evening, after the Japanese market had closed, that it was cutting its earnings forecast. In Tokyo, shares of Sony, whose sales are heavily dependent on consumer spending in the United States and Europe, fell 12.9 percent Friday. Samsung Electronics, Sony's South Korean competitor, reported a steep profit decline, too, echoing other indicators that the consumer electronics industry is headed for deep trouble. The overall Japanese market crumbled as well, with the Nikkei 225 share average down 9.6 percent, breaking below 8,000 points and hitting the lowest level in five and a half years. While the yen continued to strengthen, the British pound was at a five-year low, at $1.58, and the euro fell to a two-year low, of $1.26. In Britain, data released Friday showed that economic output shrank for the first time in 16 years, falling by 0.5 percent from July through September compared to the previous quarter. Britain is the first of the seven major industrialized nations to publish economic data for the quarter and many economists said they expect the other nations to also report that economic activity has fallen. After Japanese markets plunged, major exchanges in Britain, France and Germany fell sharply in initial trading but made up some of their losses by the end of the day.
So while some places are going up the economic ladder others are going down the ladder. Some places are hoping to make a turn around and go back up the economic ladder. It is really a scary thing that is going on. I wish that things would go back up. I think that it will soon though because it is starting to become so bad. I think that when it hits the rock bottom that it will go back up. When it hits the rock bottom they can only go up. I think that we are almost at the rock bottom so it will go up!
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/24/business/markets.php?page=2
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)