May 5, 2009
A Reuters article says that a TV network showed footage of American soldiers in Afghanistan with stacks of Bibles translated into the local language. Some are alleging that the soldiers are proselytizing while on duty, which not only goes against US military regulations, but is against the law in Afghanistan. If someone converts from Islam in Afghanistan, they can be sentenced to death. Clearly, if soldiers are attempting to spread their faith to the locals it will cause not only division but upset. If conversion is such a sensitive and important topic to the local Afghans, it will be likely to be seen as a type of religious antagonism coming from the US forces.
Although the US denies the above allegations, and even evangelical clergy are reported to be telling the soldiers they cannot proselytize while on duty, this is still an issue that will cause untold unrest if not dealt with properly. The United States wants its troops to be seen as acting on its behalf; accordingly, the US does not want its troops to be seen as making religious attacks of Afghans.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
trade inbetween countries
Cory Mattson
May 5, 2009
Foreign trade is a big part of our economy these days. Trade can affect us in the United States, countries across the world, and even next door to us. Trade is able to help everybody and benefit the standard of living in the country. It helps people with jobs, getting new ones and keeping the same jobs that people have had for years instead of people getting laid off. With the foreign trade decreasing, jobs will start to become more unavailable which just helps increase the problems to our economy. Our dollar in the United States is looking cheaper to the other countries, and we are not able to buy as much from the other countries because no one is buying anything.We need to find some way in the United States to help out our economy to keep the foreign trade keep going. If there is no foreign trade not only will us in the United States suffer from the problem but the other countries will fall and their economy will be drowning because no one is buying the products that they usually trade with other countries.
May 5, 2009
Foreign trade is a big part of our economy these days. Trade can affect us in the United States, countries across the world, and even next door to us. Trade is able to help everybody and benefit the standard of living in the country. It helps people with jobs, getting new ones and keeping the same jobs that people have had for years instead of people getting laid off. With the foreign trade decreasing, jobs will start to become more unavailable which just helps increase the problems to our economy. Our dollar in the United States is looking cheaper to the other countries, and we are not able to buy as much from the other countries because no one is buying anything.We need to find some way in the United States to help out our economy to keep the foreign trade keep going. If there is no foreign trade not only will us in the United States suffer from the problem but the other countries will fall and their economy will be drowning because no one is buying the products that they usually trade with other countries.
Monday, May 04, 2009
Ethnic Divisions Delay Bosnia Transition Decision
The body overseeing Bosnia’s peace process has agreed to delay into 2009 a decision to end international supervision because ethnic division continues to prevent the country from meeting all necessary conditions. The OHR, which was created in 1995 to oversee implementation of the Dayton peace agreement, has been due to close in June 2007 but has already been extended amid the continuing tensions between Bosnia’s two parts.
I feel that it is unbelievable that Bosnia is still having issues this big just because of ethnic backgrounds. Something needs to be done soon before it is too late.
I feel that it is unbelievable that Bosnia is still having issues this big just because of ethnic backgrounds. Something needs to be done soon before it is too late.
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Anatomy of an `inside' ambush in Iraq
On February 24th, 2009 United States soldiers and Iraqi police had sat down for lunch inside a police building in Mosul. Flak jacket vests and other protective gear were removed. A door to the same room was left open and open just enough for a barrel of an AK-47 rifle to be aimed through the opening. The person holding the rifle was an Iraqi police officer still in his teens. He opened fire during the meeting which killed one United States soldier and his interpreter. Five others were wounded in this attack. This was a inside job and the gunman and the vehicle that carried him away to safety are still at large. This single attack reinforced what many fear, insurgents and sympathizers possibly infiltrating the ranks of Iraq's security forces.
Another example was presented on Saturday. An Iraqi soldier killed two American soldiers and wounded three at a combat outpost south of Mosul. The attacker was a soldier who also served as a Sunni Muslim preacher for his unit.
This article is perfect for my final current event. This one article sums up what I have been trying to present as my main theme. I have been trying to show the insecurity, danger, and hostility our armed forces are going through. This just shows that you cannot trust anyone and also how corrupt the people are that our soldiers are trying to deal with. It is amazing the progress they have made so far but it shows there is a lot more to go. I personally hate reading articles such as this one. This is not a way to fight a war to me. We are limited in every way to what we can and cannot do. These people are relentless and have such a mentality that we may never break or change them. Hopefully in the future things will change.
Another example was presented on Saturday. An Iraqi soldier killed two American soldiers and wounded three at a combat outpost south of Mosul. The attacker was a soldier who also served as a Sunni Muslim preacher for his unit.
This article is perfect for my final current event. This one article sums up what I have been trying to present as my main theme. I have been trying to show the insecurity, danger, and hostility our armed forces are going through. This just shows that you cannot trust anyone and also how corrupt the people are that our soldiers are trying to deal with. It is amazing the progress they have made so far but it shows there is a lot more to go. I personally hate reading articles such as this one. This is not a way to fight a war to me. We are limited in every way to what we can and cannot do. These people are relentless and have such a mentality that we may never break or change them. Hopefully in the future things will change.
Saturday, May 02, 2009
Education for Women in Afghanistan
Brittany Walker
May 2, 2009
11:08 pm
In rural Afghanistan, around 90 per cent of women and 60 per cent of men are illiterate. Most teachers in Afghanistan are male and traditionally many families do not allow wives or daughters to be taught by a member of the opposite sex. Under Taliban rule (1996-2001) it was illegal and a crime punishable by death for women to learn to read and write. The Taliban held that women’s education was forbidden in the Qur'an. Many families are too poor to send all their children to school, and it is usually the girls who are kept at home to help. Poverty also causes girls to be taken out of school to be married, as poor families so desperately need the dowry paid by the groom’s family. But things are slowly changing. Most of the women in the shura cannot read or write and use their thumb print instead of a signature. The adult literacy classes they have helped to set up will ensure that future generations are empowered through better education. Today in Afghanistan there remain many barriers to female education, including entrenched social opposition, lack of educational institutions and extreme poverty. Christian Aid is working with local Afghan organizations to challenge stereotypes and help families escape poverty, giving girls and women an opportunity for an education, and a better chance in life.
After reading this article it is clear that the women of Afghanistan are not the one’s to blame why they do not have the economical resources they need in order to receive a descent education. Afghanistan is the poorest country in the world next to Africa, and I think that it’s sad that Afghan women heave to sacrifice more in order to receive an descent education should be able to receive the same opportunity as if she was a male.
May 2, 2009
11:08 pm
In rural Afghanistan, around 90 per cent of women and 60 per cent of men are illiterate. Most teachers in Afghanistan are male and traditionally many families do not allow wives or daughters to be taught by a member of the opposite sex. Under Taliban rule (1996-2001) it was illegal and a crime punishable by death for women to learn to read and write. The Taliban held that women’s education was forbidden in the Qur'an. Many families are too poor to send all their children to school, and it is usually the girls who are kept at home to help. Poverty also causes girls to be taken out of school to be married, as poor families so desperately need the dowry paid by the groom’s family. But things are slowly changing. Most of the women in the shura cannot read or write and use their thumb print instead of a signature. The adult literacy classes they have helped to set up will ensure that future generations are empowered through better education. Today in Afghanistan there remain many barriers to female education, including entrenched social opposition, lack of educational institutions and extreme poverty. Christian Aid is working with local Afghan organizations to challenge stereotypes and help families escape poverty, giving girls and women an opportunity for an education, and a better chance in life.
After reading this article it is clear that the women of Afghanistan are not the one’s to blame why they do not have the economical resources they need in order to receive a descent education. Afghanistan is the poorest country in the world next to Africa, and I think that it’s sad that Afghan women heave to sacrifice more in order to receive an descent education should be able to receive the same opportunity as if she was a male.
MISSING GIRL AT BEACH
Andrecious Clark
7:42
The mother of a 17 year-old girl who disappeared while on spring break in Myrtle Beach South Carolina was seen on a surveillance camera in a hotel and confirmed by the mother’s eyes. The girl was last seen Sunday in Myrtle Beach. Dawn Drexel the girl mother told CNN she forbade her daughter to go in the first place. So forth the mother arrived in Myrtle Beach to assist the police in finding her daughter. The mother feels some of the stories don’t match, in the video she was seen leaving the hotel to go to another to meet up with friends, which was on Saturday, and then wasn’t seen anymore. The police did a 40 mile search, the check with restaurants and everything and still no signs of her daughter. No one knows where she could be, I don’t want to say she doesn’t want to be found by her mother, because before she got missing she was still talking to her mother, although she was forbidden to go and did not listen. I don’t want to come off wrong or wish anything bad on people, but children should listen more to their parents. Parents have gut feelings about things that may happen when their away from home. Some parents are over protective buts it’s in our best interest, but some of us fail to listen and things like this happen. My prayers go out to her family and friends.
Zippy electric motorcycle
Trey Brown
3:40pm
5/02/09
Energy efficiency and the lessening of Co2 output has been becoming more and more of a concern for the people of both this country and the world but finding a easy and fun way to do it has been an even bigger concern. Zero Motorcycles is a company based out of Santa Cruz, California that has made great steps forward by creating the Zero S electric motorcycle. Its electric engine ensures greatly lessened Co2 output by any concerned person willing to ride it. Also despite it being built around an electric motor the Zero S has great acceleration up to a top speed around 70 mile per hour and only weighs 225 pounds. There are a few draw backs to be found though. Because it is new technology it is still tagged with a fairly high initial price (near $10,000 before the in U.S. tax credit or Cali rebate) as well as a high prices for replacement parts (a new battery costs $5,000).
By entering low emission technology into an area like transportation that is a concern for people worldwide, Zero Motorcycles is ensuring the advancement of low emission environmentally friendly technology. The worry that electrical supplies will become more dependent on emission heavy fuels because of things like the growing electric motor craze isn’t unfounded. Yet it would seem that any technology that helps to wean the general public away from environmentally unfriendly behavior is a plus. More and more ways to create electricity are being found and maybe that combined with cleaner transportation will keep our environment safe and able to support future generations to come.
Link to Article
3:40pm
5/02/09
Energy efficiency and the lessening of Co2 output has been becoming more and more of a concern for the people of both this country and the world but finding a easy and fun way to do it has been an even bigger concern. Zero Motorcycles is a company based out of Santa Cruz, California that has made great steps forward by creating the Zero S electric motorcycle. Its electric engine ensures greatly lessened Co2 output by any concerned person willing to ride it. Also despite it being built around an electric motor the Zero S has great acceleration up to a top speed around 70 mile per hour and only weighs 225 pounds. There are a few draw backs to be found though. Because it is new technology it is still tagged with a fairly high initial price (near $10,000 before the in U.S. tax credit or Cali rebate) as well as a high prices for replacement parts (a new battery costs $5,000).
By entering low emission technology into an area like transportation that is a concern for people worldwide, Zero Motorcycles is ensuring the advancement of low emission environmentally friendly technology. The worry that electrical supplies will become more dependent on emission heavy fuels because of things like the growing electric motor craze isn’t unfounded. Yet it would seem that any technology that helps to wean the general public away from environmentally unfriendly behavior is a plus. More and more ways to create electricity are being found and maybe that combined with cleaner transportation will keep our environment safe and able to support future generations to come.
Link to Article
UK combat ops end in Iraq
Keyanna Spears
5/2/09
www.bbc.com
2:56
UK combat operations end in Iraq
After six years, the UK has decided to call it quits and pull out of Iraq. The 20th Armored Brigade took part in a flag-lowering ceremony with the U.S brigade to honor their efforts in the Iraq War. John Hutton (the secretary of defense) was quoted saying “I think when history is written of this campaign, they will say of the British military: We did a superb job.” There were ceremonies held to honor the soldiers from the UK as well as a memorial wall that “featured the names of the 234 UK and foreign troops and civilians who lost their lives under British command in Iraq.” Lt. Col Chamberlin mentioned how he and his battalion have been working on how to leave Iraq secure, and happy. The president of Iraq thanked the UK and said that they have helped liberate his people from the worst type of dictatorship. The UK began their official pull put last month in southern Iraq in Basra. The soldiers who have been pulled out of Basra was said to have left Basra in a different state than it was when they came. The city’s population has severely declined and their infrastructure is severely devastated. Also, the Iraqis left in Basra are afraid that the American troops who will take place of the UK soldiers will be more aggressive towards them.
I am glad to see that the UK has taken the initiative to pull out. This gives the American people more hope and motivation that our troops will be coming home soon.
5/2/09
www.bbc.com
2:56
UK combat operations end in Iraq
After six years, the UK has decided to call it quits and pull out of Iraq. The 20th Armored Brigade took part in a flag-lowering ceremony with the U.S brigade to honor their efforts in the Iraq War. John Hutton (the secretary of defense) was quoted saying “I think when history is written of this campaign, they will say of the British military: We did a superb job.” There were ceremonies held to honor the soldiers from the UK as well as a memorial wall that “featured the names of the 234 UK and foreign troops and civilians who lost their lives under British command in Iraq.” Lt. Col Chamberlin mentioned how he and his battalion have been working on how to leave Iraq secure, and happy. The president of Iraq thanked the UK and said that they have helped liberate his people from the worst type of dictatorship. The UK began their official pull put last month in southern Iraq in Basra. The soldiers who have been pulled out of Basra was said to have left Basra in a different state than it was when they came. The city’s population has severely declined and their infrastructure is severely devastated. Also, the Iraqis left in Basra are afraid that the American troops who will take place of the UK soldiers will be more aggressive towards them.
I am glad to see that the UK has taken the initiative to pull out. This gives the American people more hope and motivation that our troops will be coming home soon.
THE POST TO END ALL POSTS
Alex Sayre
12:08
May 2nd
This just in! Co2 clogs our lungs our trees our atmosphere! What shall we do? Recent discoveries have found that semi-porous rocks in the North Sea can actually hold Carbon Dioxide! I have yet to use a period! Do you guys think I can keep it up? I DO! This semi porous rock has the potential to hold millions of tons of the gas in what is known as saline aquifers. Well that didn’t last very long… Oh man I just used three in a row! This process of storing the CO2 in rocks would create tons of business for countries nearest to the area mainly for Scotland. Professors at Edinburgh discovered this process to store the greenhouse gas emissions where these saline aquifers hold them for years.
I am actually really skeptical about this relief on the huge load renewable energy has to cover. For one what major problems would occur when the carbon dioxide is placed into the rock? Would it have a chemical reaction with so much of the material affecting possible sea life (small stuff like zooplankton) and exactly how long would it stay down there. This method of helping our planet definitely needs some heavy research if it hopes to be successful.
And that ends my story telling. Thanks for reading and I enjoyed the class and everyone’s (mostly) ideas and comments. Haha.
http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/39827
12:08
May 2nd
This just in! Co2 clogs our lungs our trees our atmosphere! What shall we do? Recent discoveries have found that semi-porous rocks in the North Sea can actually hold Carbon Dioxide! I have yet to use a period! Do you guys think I can keep it up? I DO! This semi porous rock has the potential to hold millions of tons of the gas in what is known as saline aquifers. Well that didn’t last very long… Oh man I just used three in a row! This process of storing the CO2 in rocks would create tons of business for countries nearest to the area mainly for Scotland. Professors at Edinburgh discovered this process to store the greenhouse gas emissions where these saline aquifers hold them for years.
I am actually really skeptical about this relief on the huge load renewable energy has to cover. For one what major problems would occur when the carbon dioxide is placed into the rock? Would it have a chemical reaction with so much of the material affecting possible sea life (small stuff like zooplankton) and exactly how long would it stay down there. This method of helping our planet definitely needs some heavy research if it hopes to be successful.
And that ends my story telling. Thanks for reading and I enjoyed the class and everyone’s (mostly) ideas and comments. Haha.
http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/39827
Friday, May 01, 2009
Strip mining policy overturned
Matthew Supple
Long overdue in a long list of undoing former president bush's mistakes, Obama has overturned a ruling allowing for unchecked, incredibly destructive form of mining. Strip mining has seen a huge resurgence over the bush era because his policy was always to put economic gains over environmental, as seen with oil. The prior allowance let the mining companies face nearly no resistance in the Appalachia chains in search and aquisition of coal deposits.
As I said, this is long overdue. Bush's primitive policies of focusing on big industry and completely disregarding the environmental ramifications. There is no room in todays modern society for this kind of backward, self serving, inhuman policy making. This, to me, marks another nail in the coffin of the old era and another window into the next, hopfully brighter chapter in our nations story.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/mountaintop-removal-mining-47042801
Long overdue in a long list of undoing former president bush's mistakes, Obama has overturned a ruling allowing for unchecked, incredibly destructive form of mining. Strip mining has seen a huge resurgence over the bush era because his policy was always to put economic gains over environmental, as seen with oil. The prior allowance let the mining companies face nearly no resistance in the Appalachia chains in search and aquisition of coal deposits.
As I said, this is long overdue. Bush's primitive policies of focusing on big industry and completely disregarding the environmental ramifications. There is no room in todays modern society for this kind of backward, self serving, inhuman policy making. This, to me, marks another nail in the coffin of the old era and another window into the next, hopfully brighter chapter in our nations story.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/mountaintop-removal-mining-47042801
Women And Men Take Part In China's High-Heeled Running Festival
Kenya Satchell
May 1, 2009
7:00 P.M.
Men and women in China are putting on their pumps for two weeks of intense competition. According to China's "Wuzhou Daily," the town of Nanning is holding their annual high-heeled running festival. Male racers are required to wear heels at least eight centimeters in height, while the women's shoes must be at least ten centimeters tall. The competitors, who are aged between 18 and 55, have to run along a track over 20 yards long while making their way over hurdles. Winners of each event win nearly 150-dollars as well as shopping vouchers. A spokesman for the event says the men more than hold their own in the competition, stating, quote, "Their technique was quite amazing, as despite wearing high heels there were no sprained or twisted ankles."
Since everything else I reported on this semester was so serious, I decided to give you a little entertainment for the last blog. I have no idea what the point of this race is other than $150, shopping vouchers, and a little exercise, but I guess whatever floats their boat! Another reason I chose this as my blog entry is because this week, for some reason, I couldn’t find anything on women! Let’s see if I can tie this into Sociology some kind of way. Well, we know that Chinese women use mushrooms and green tea to keep breast cancer down, so maybe this is a way they celebrate that. They want the men to join in with wearing heels because obviously they can’t get breast cancer, so they experience a little of a woman’s pain in another way.
http://mystateline.com/content/fulltext/?cid=63361
May 1, 2009
7:00 P.M.
Men and women in China are putting on their pumps for two weeks of intense competition. According to China's "Wuzhou Daily," the town of Nanning is holding their annual high-heeled running festival. Male racers are required to wear heels at least eight centimeters in height, while the women's shoes must be at least ten centimeters tall. The competitors, who are aged between 18 and 55, have to run along a track over 20 yards long while making their way over hurdles. Winners of each event win nearly 150-dollars as well as shopping vouchers. A spokesman for the event says the men more than hold their own in the competition, stating, quote, "Their technique was quite amazing, as despite wearing high heels there were no sprained or twisted ankles."
Since everything else I reported on this semester was so serious, I decided to give you a little entertainment for the last blog. I have no idea what the point of this race is other than $150, shopping vouchers, and a little exercise, but I guess whatever floats their boat! Another reason I chose this as my blog entry is because this week, for some reason, I couldn’t find anything on women! Let’s see if I can tie this into Sociology some kind of way. Well, we know that Chinese women use mushrooms and green tea to keep breast cancer down, so maybe this is a way they celebrate that. They want the men to join in with wearing heels because obviously they can’t get breast cancer, so they experience a little of a woman’s pain in another way.
http://mystateline.com/content/fulltext/?cid=63361
Pollution, Pollution, Pollution
Juan Miranda
On April 29, the American Lung Association released a report that informed the public that air pollution doesn’t only affect the environment adding to the problem of climate change, but in fact it affects humans directly. The report states that air pollution endangers the life of six out of every ten Americans, which is a total of about 186 million people. This problem does not seem to slow down, since even with the progress by agencies like the Environment Protection Agency and other governmental organizations. In some areas of the country, the conditions of the air have worsened since last year. "This should be a wakeup call. We know that air pollution is a major threat to human health," said Stephen Nolan, American Lung Association National Board Chair. "When 60 percent of Americans are left breathing air dirty enough to send people to the emergency room, to shape how kids' lungs develop, and to kill, air pollution remains a serious problem." This report should increase the urgency in which the issue of pollution and the search of alternative energy because its not only going to be a problem in the long run, but its already killing us today. We need to realize that the way we have been treating the environment is obviously not efficient and we have to hurry up and find ways to reverse all the damage that we have caused. It is no longer an issue that will affect us in a thousand years, it is affecting us now.
http://www.reuters.com/article/mnCarbonEmissions/idUS335768782520090430
On April 29, the American Lung Association released a report that informed the public that air pollution doesn’t only affect the environment adding to the problem of climate change, but in fact it affects humans directly. The report states that air pollution endangers the life of six out of every ten Americans, which is a total of about 186 million people. This problem does not seem to slow down, since even with the progress by agencies like the Environment Protection Agency and other governmental organizations. In some areas of the country, the conditions of the air have worsened since last year. "This should be a wakeup call. We know that air pollution is a major threat to human health," said Stephen Nolan, American Lung Association National Board Chair. "When 60 percent of Americans are left breathing air dirty enough to send people to the emergency room, to shape how kids' lungs develop, and to kill, air pollution remains a serious problem." This report should increase the urgency in which the issue of pollution and the search of alternative energy because its not only going to be a problem in the long run, but its already killing us today. We need to realize that the way we have been treating the environment is obviously not efficient and we have to hurry up and find ways to reverse all the damage that we have caused. It is no longer an issue that will affect us in a thousand years, it is affecting us now.
http://www.reuters.com/article/mnCarbonEmissions/idUS335768782520090430
Pipe Leak at Nuclear Plant Raises Concerns
Amanda WorleyThe one-and-a-half-inch hole caused by corrosion allowed about 100,000 gallons of water to escape from the main system that keeps the reactor cool immediately after any shutdown, according to nuclear experts. It has raised concerns about the monitoring of decades-old buried pipes at the nation’s nuclear plants, many of which are applying for renewal of their operating licenses. Indian Point 2, whose 40-year operating license expires in 2013, already faces harsh criticism from New York State and county officials who want it shut down.
“This leak may demonstrate a systemic failure of the licensee and the commission to inspect critical buried pipes in a manner sufficient to guarantee the public health and safety,” was writeen to the commission’s chairman, Dale Klein, in a letter on Thursday. The congressmen said they were “shocked” that a leak that big could develop without detection and called the system for detecting such problems “profoundly inadequate.”
At a nuclear plant, a central water system takes heat from the reactor in the form of steam and turns it into electricity. During a shutdown at Indian Point 2, that system often turns off and a pipe measuring 12 inches in diameter carries water from the tank into the cooling system to carry off excess heat. The buried portion of neither the eight-inch supply pipe nor the 12-inch pipe connecting the tank to the reactor cooling system has been visually inspected since the reactor began operating in August 1973, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Nor does the commission require such inspections.In conclusion, the buried pipes are emerging as an endemic problem as reactors age, although so far most of the attention has been to the substance that is leaked — not to a pipe’s role in ensuring the reactor’s safe operation over all. As we explore alternative energies, we must consider the alternatives that are still being used out there that need scientific advancements as well as those yet to be discovered.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/02/nyregion/02nuke.html?ref=science
U.S. bill to create clean energy investment agency
Samuel Dalzell
Friday, May 1, 2009
4:22 PM
Energy/Alternative Energy
In Washington this week, lawmakers in Congress introduced new legislation that would create an independent agency to oversee government clean energy investments, such as those included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The bipartisan bill would establish a Clean Energy Deployment Administration within the Energy Department; this agency would provide various forms of credit including loans and loan guarantees to support new green energy technologies in an attempt to diversify America's energy supply and help curb the human environmental impact. A clean energy investment fund created from collected payments and fees would be used to start the agency. The lawmakers who introduced the bill hope that it will lead to further development and diffusion of green technologies by ensuring that commercial financing for new projects will be available in the future. The main goal of the agency is to support new projects that are considered too risky by private companies. The Energy Department was recently allocated $6 billion in the stimulus package, and is currently going through applications for clean energy loan guarantees. This new bill is widely supported by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
This is terrific news that we've been waiting for in this country; a concrete legislative solution that simultaneously addresses the energy crisis, the environmental crisis, and the economic crisis, and that doesn't create needless mandates and regulations. And the fact that it has overwhelming bipartisan support is a great thing as well---it proves that people on both sides of the aisle are ready to start implementing ideas that will radically change the status quo. It's good to finally see some federal action on these issues---issues that have been pestering us for far too long. And it's great that the agency will support projects that are supposedly "too risky" according to private companies who are too concerned about their overhead. Hopefully we will now see some federal support for some radical new ideas that will totally change the way we create and consume energy.
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE5406CY20090501
Friday, May 1, 2009
4:22 PM
Energy/Alternative Energy
In Washington this week, lawmakers in Congress introduced new legislation that would create an independent agency to oversee government clean energy investments, such as those included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The bipartisan bill would establish a Clean Energy Deployment Administration within the Energy Department; this agency would provide various forms of credit including loans and loan guarantees to support new green energy technologies in an attempt to diversify America's energy supply and help curb the human environmental impact. A clean energy investment fund created from collected payments and fees would be used to start the agency. The lawmakers who introduced the bill hope that it will lead to further development and diffusion of green technologies by ensuring that commercial financing for new projects will be available in the future. The main goal of the agency is to support new projects that are considered too risky by private companies. The Energy Department was recently allocated $6 billion in the stimulus package, and is currently going through applications for clean energy loan guarantees. This new bill is widely supported by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.
This is terrific news that we've been waiting for in this country; a concrete legislative solution that simultaneously addresses the energy crisis, the environmental crisis, and the economic crisis, and that doesn't create needless mandates and regulations. And the fact that it has overwhelming bipartisan support is a great thing as well---it proves that people on both sides of the aisle are ready to start implementing ideas that will radically change the status quo. It's good to finally see some federal action on these issues---issues that have been pestering us for far too long. And it's great that the agency will support projects that are supposedly "too risky" according to private companies who are too concerned about their overhead. Hopefully we will now see some federal support for some radical new ideas that will totally change the way we create and consume energy.
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE5406CY20090501
Families to be Relocated
Trisha Butterworth
5-1-09
There are 700 Chitsa families located at Zimbabwes Gonarezhou National Park, and authorities want them moved out so they can start their Transfrontier park. Most of the families have valid letters from the government to stay there, but the transfrontier park will be one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries. The director of the park said that they would help find relocation for theses families. They had plans to relocate the families from the beginning, but did not realize that the government gave them letters saying they were to stay there. Apparently they are going to find a way to work through that. They need to get the park finished by soccer finals next year, because South America is the host and there will be lots of tourism. The families are fighting to stay because many of their ancestors owned the land that the park is on.
I am confused on how the government allowed people to stay on a park site, but the park is going to fight them staying there. I wonder if the park will win over the government. It seems like a big deal for the families to stay on the land their ancestors belonged to. But the park wants tourism, and I could see them convincing the government that tourism will only help, and expansion will improve it. It seems like a bad situation for the families. I wonder what will happen to them, and where they will go.
5-1-09
There are 700 Chitsa families located at Zimbabwes Gonarezhou National Park, and authorities want them moved out so they can start their Transfrontier park. Most of the families have valid letters from the government to stay there, but the transfrontier park will be one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries. The director of the park said that they would help find relocation for theses families. They had plans to relocate the families from the beginning, but did not realize that the government gave them letters saying they were to stay there. Apparently they are going to find a way to work through that. They need to get the park finished by soccer finals next year, because South America is the host and there will be lots of tourism. The families are fighting to stay because many of their ancestors owned the land that the park is on.
I am confused on how the government allowed people to stay on a park site, but the park is going to fight them staying there. I wonder if the park will win over the government. It seems like a big deal for the families to stay on the land their ancestors belonged to. But the park wants tourism, and I could see them convincing the government that tourism will only help, and expansion will improve it. It seems like a bad situation for the families. I wonder what will happen to them, and where they will go.
Swine Flu In Mexico City
Richard Gregory
May 1, 2009
4:05 PM
The swine flu is not just affecting everyday people but now some high authority people are coming down with the swine flu such as Manuel Camacho Solis who was the former mayor of Mexico City. On that same day, Mexico released a statement saying that 18 people have already died of the same flu that he had. The next paragraph goes on to talk about a government conspiracy as some citizens say that the Mexican government could’ve don’t something sooner to prevent the spread of the disease and all the lives this disease has taken. With schools are being shutdown in Mexico, more than 33 million students are not getting their education for right now. Movie theatres, churches, and stadiums are also being closed for the time being. A church in Mexico City also brought out a statue of Christ onto the streets as a symbol for that people are praying for others to get better. The end of the article is the scariest, as a man who chose to not give his name says that doctors in hospitals are being told not to record deaths as swine flu deaths.
Swine Flu has been a very interesting topic to me because they say things are always get worse during economic downfall and this sure proves that theory right. This disease is very scary thought because it is moving so rapidly. A few days ago I checked and no states around NC had any cases of the disease and now South Carolina and Virginia have cases of the disease so this worries me a little. I’m just glad that doctors and scientists around the world are all coming together to help America, Mexico, and any other countries bring this disease to an end.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/195400/page/1
May 1, 2009
4:05 PM
The swine flu is not just affecting everyday people but now some high authority people are coming down with the swine flu such as Manuel Camacho Solis who was the former mayor of Mexico City. On that same day, Mexico released a statement saying that 18 people have already died of the same flu that he had. The next paragraph goes on to talk about a government conspiracy as some citizens say that the Mexican government could’ve don’t something sooner to prevent the spread of the disease and all the lives this disease has taken. With schools are being shutdown in Mexico, more than 33 million students are not getting their education for right now. Movie theatres, churches, and stadiums are also being closed for the time being. A church in Mexico City also brought out a statue of Christ onto the streets as a symbol for that people are praying for others to get better. The end of the article is the scariest, as a man who chose to not give his name says that doctors in hospitals are being told not to record deaths as swine flu deaths.
Swine Flu has been a very interesting topic to me because they say things are always get worse during economic downfall and this sure proves that theory right. This disease is very scary thought because it is moving so rapidly. A few days ago I checked and no states around NC had any cases of the disease and now South Carolina and Virginia have cases of the disease so this worries me a little. I’m just glad that doctors and scientists around the world are all coming together to help America, Mexico, and any other countries bring this disease to an end.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/195400/page/1
Cyprus Peace Talks Face Dual Threats
Lauren DiCiaccio
May 1, 2009
3:30pm
Peace talks in Cyprus have hit a wall with opposition from both sides and a growing concern over economic threats and instability. The island of Cyprus, located in the Mediterranean, has had an ongoing conflict between the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. Currently, the island is split into two zones, in which the groups co-exist in relative peace. While some are fighting to reunite the island, others want Cyprus to be split into two sovereign states. The Turkish army invaded Cyprus in 1974, leading to the split of territory and the current population living there today. However, fears have arisen about a division into two states about other ethnic conflicts between the Cypriots and other groups of foreigners.
I found this article interesting because it is one of the few zones in Europe where the United States has peacekeeping troops. While the Cyprus conflict is not particularly well known, it is important for regional politics and especially plays a role in integrating Turkey into the EU. However, outside of Europe and the Mediterranean, the conflict isn't widely known. In my opinion, a two state system might not be the worst thing, given the populations now, however, I am opposed to the initial Turkish invasion of the island.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-30-voa41.cfm
May 1, 2009
3:30pm
Peace talks in Cyprus have hit a wall with opposition from both sides and a growing concern over economic threats and instability. The island of Cyprus, located in the Mediterranean, has had an ongoing conflict between the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots. Currently, the island is split into two zones, in which the groups co-exist in relative peace. While some are fighting to reunite the island, others want Cyprus to be split into two sovereign states. The Turkish army invaded Cyprus in 1974, leading to the split of territory and the current population living there today. However, fears have arisen about a division into two states about other ethnic conflicts between the Cypriots and other groups of foreigners.
I found this article interesting because it is one of the few zones in Europe where the United States has peacekeeping troops. While the Cyprus conflict is not particularly well known, it is important for regional politics and especially plays a role in integrating Turkey into the EU. However, outside of Europe and the Mediterranean, the conflict isn't widely known. In my opinion, a two state system might not be the worst thing, given the populations now, however, I am opposed to the initial Turkish invasion of the island.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-30-voa41.cfm
“Top Georgia Students Lose Assured Scholarships”
Jacob Nord
Current Events
Sociology 202
Final Blog
“Top Georgia Students Lose Assured Scholarships”
3:11 P.M.
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/on-education/2009/04/28/top-georgia-students-lose-assured-scholarships.html
Recently, in the state of Georgia school valedictorians have lost promised scholarship money and incentive to go to state schools. Originally, there was a 4.5 million dollar budget for students who had residence in Georgia, now that budget was quietly voted down to only 1.3 million dollars. This now only leaves approximately nine hundred dollars per valedictorian to go to a public University in Georgia, mere pocket change. Many experts feel that this will not convince students to go to public schools that instead they will still be going off to more prestigious private schools in other states.
I think that it is quite awful that the state of Georgia cannot find enough room in its budget to fund deserving students to go to public schools. By not investing in their younger and brighter students, the state of Georgia is really shortchanging itself. Georgia in order to pull itself out of the recession with the rest of the nation needs to give more incentives for its bright young minds to go to school and invest in the infrastructure of Georgia rather than other states. With less valedictorians going to school, less and less Georgians will be able to compete in the national and global job market which is bad news for all. Also, this move on behalf of the state officials sends a negative message to Georgia’s students, as if they do not value them as much as they used to.
Current Events
Sociology 202
Final Blog
“Top Georgia Students Lose Assured Scholarships”
3:11 P.M.
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/on-education/2009/04/28/top-georgia-students-lose-assured-scholarships.html
Recently, in the state of Georgia school valedictorians have lost promised scholarship money and incentive to go to state schools. Originally, there was a 4.5 million dollar budget for students who had residence in Georgia, now that budget was quietly voted down to only 1.3 million dollars. This now only leaves approximately nine hundred dollars per valedictorian to go to a public University in Georgia, mere pocket change. Many experts feel that this will not convince students to go to public schools that instead they will still be going off to more prestigious private schools in other states.
I think that it is quite awful that the state of Georgia cannot find enough room in its budget to fund deserving students to go to public schools. By not investing in their younger and brighter students, the state of Georgia is really shortchanging itself. Georgia in order to pull itself out of the recession with the rest of the nation needs to give more incentives for its bright young minds to go to school and invest in the infrastructure of Georgia rather than other states. With less valedictorians going to school, less and less Georgians will be able to compete in the national and global job market which is bad news for all. Also, this move on behalf of the state officials sends a negative message to Georgia’s students, as if they do not value them as much as they used to.
Kenyan women ban sex over political reform
Shermunda Lawrence
3:00pm
5/1/2009
Activists in the East African nation are urging women to withhold sex for a week to protest the growing divide in Kenya's coalition government.
This campaign was organized by G-10, an umbrella group for women's organizations. It called on the wives of President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to join the cause.Odinga's wife says that the government,"need to focus on the things that affect our people, and I hope the publicity from this campaign will raise awareness on those issues. Some husbands say, "Seven days is just too much," where other are saying,"Seven days is nothing..I can wait a year."
People in Kenya have become increasingly frustrated by a shaky coalition government formed in the wake of the post-election violence that killed more than 1,000 people in 2008. A government official decried the campaign, saying Kibaki has always been committed to reform.In addition to targeting politicians, activists say, the campaign aims to draw spouses into the conversation and nudge them into demanding change.
Faith Karimi
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/30/kenya.sex.ban/
3:00pm
5/1/2009
Activists in the East African nation are urging women to withhold sex for a week to protest the growing divide in Kenya's coalition government.
This campaign was organized by G-10, an umbrella group for women's organizations. It called on the wives of President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to join the cause.Odinga's wife says that the government,"need to focus on the things that affect our people, and I hope the publicity from this campaign will raise awareness on those issues. Some husbands say, "Seven days is just too much," where other are saying,"Seven days is nothing..I can wait a year."
People in Kenya have become increasingly frustrated by a shaky coalition government formed in the wake of the post-election violence that killed more than 1,000 people in 2008. A government official decried the campaign, saying Kibaki has always been committed to reform.In addition to targeting politicians, activists say, the campaign aims to draw spouses into the conversation and nudge them into demanding change.
Faith Karimi
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/30/kenya.sex.ban/
Swine Flu
Swine Flu
Amanda O'Donnell
May 1, 2008
2:36pm
The Swine Flu is still spreading all over the world causing several deaths. As of Wednesday, April 29th, these are some of the latest counts on how many cases of Swine Flu and also ways that we are trying to prevent the illness.
I have read so many articles about disease and illnesses quickly spreading but no one has ever taken control about the situations. In Africa or Asia they just sat back as several thousands people die and it was all because of dirty water. Yet when America and Europe are threatened by a certain illness they are cutting off all sources/connections to other countries, killing animals that may be an issue, and overall just making a difference in trying to end the illness. Too bad it cant be the same way when issues like this happen in other countries.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hZVkRqV2uZVim0TRk5R1ZBfovTCAD97S5H0G0
Amanda O'Donnell
May 1, 2008
2:36pm
The Swine Flu is still spreading all over the world causing several deaths. As of Wednesday, April 29th, these are some of the latest counts on how many cases of Swine Flu and also ways that we are trying to prevent the illness.
_Deaths: 159 in Mexico, seven confirmed as swine flu and rest suspected. One confirmed in the U.S., a 23-month-old Texas child.
_Sickened: 2,498 suspected and 19 confirmed in Mexico. Confirmed elsewhere: 66 in U.S.; 13 in Canada; 14 in New Zealand; five in Britain; three in Germany; four in Spain; two in Israel; and one in Austria.
_Confirmed U.S. cases by state: 45 in New York, 11 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one each in Indiana and Ohio, according to CDC and states.
_U.S. Food and Drug Administration issues emergency guidance allowing certain antiviral drugs to be used in broader range of population if needed. Public health emergency declared and roughly 12 million doses of Tamiflu from federal stockpile to be delivered to states.
_Cuba bans flights to and from Mexico; Argentina suspends flights from Mexico; U.S., European Union, other countries discourage nonessential travel there. Arriving travelers questioned at Mexico's U.S. border and world airports. Cruise lines avoid Mexico ports.
_Mexico suspends all schools until May 6. In U.S., some schools closed in Illinois, New York City, Texas, California, South Carolina, Connecticut, Minnesota and Ohio.
_In Mexico City, surgical masks given to the public, venues closed and public events canceled. President assumed new powers to isolate infected people. World Bank loaning Mexico more than $200 million.
_Egypt begins slaughtering nation's roughly 300,000 pigs as a precaution.
_World Health Organization alert at Phase 4 of 6, meaning disease spreads easily but isn't pandemic.
I have read so many articles about disease and illnesses quickly spreading but no one has ever taken control about the situations. In Africa or Asia they just sat back as several thousands people die and it was all because of dirty water. Yet when America and Europe are threatened by a certain illness they are cutting off all sources/connections to other countries, killing animals that may be an issue, and overall just making a difference in trying to end the illness. Too bad it cant be the same way when issues like this happen in other countries.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hZVkRqV2uZVim0TRk5R1ZBfovTCAD97S5H0G0
US Praises Bangladesh Freedoms
Katy Greene
May 1st, 2009
1:45 PM
A United States congressional panel has decided to remove Bangladesh from a list of countries that it says violates religious freedoms. A spokesman for the Prime Minster said that the government is now determined to protect religious minorities within the country. Pakistan, however, is still considered very problematic, according to the panel. Afganistan and Sri Lanka are also considered troublesome.
Bangladesh recently held elections, which were relatively unviolent. The party that won is said to be much more supportive of the rights of minorities in Bangladesh. Minorities were allowed to vote in the 2008 elections, and they were relatively unpersecuted during the process. In the 2001 elections, there was a serious outbreak of violence against religious minorities who tried to vote. The party in office at that time failed to investigate these cases, some of which were very serious offenses, such as murder, rape, arson, and extortion. Hindus were persecuted in particular. In Pakistan, however, there has been a recent rise in power of a religious extremist group whose members are very violent to those in Pakistan and elsewhere. Shia Muslims, Ahmadis, Christians, and Hindus are all targets of this extremist group. The government has done very little to protect its citizens from harm.
I think that it is wonderful that Bangladesh has recently decided to protect all it's citizens, even the ones that are minorities. It sets a great example for the rest of the countries in that region, many of whom do not show responsibility for all of their citizens. Pakistan should learn from Bangladesh, and help to remove this religious extremist group from power.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8028613.stm
May 1st, 2009
1:45 PM
A United States congressional panel has decided to remove Bangladesh from a list of countries that it says violates religious freedoms. A spokesman for the Prime Minster said that the government is now determined to protect religious minorities within the country. Pakistan, however, is still considered very problematic, according to the panel. Afganistan and Sri Lanka are also considered troublesome.
Bangladesh recently held elections, which were relatively unviolent. The party that won is said to be much more supportive of the rights of minorities in Bangladesh. Minorities were allowed to vote in the 2008 elections, and they were relatively unpersecuted during the process. In the 2001 elections, there was a serious outbreak of violence against religious minorities who tried to vote. The party in office at that time failed to investigate these cases, some of which were very serious offenses, such as murder, rape, arson, and extortion. Hindus were persecuted in particular. In Pakistan, however, there has been a recent rise in power of a religious extremist group whose members are very violent to those in Pakistan and elsewhere. Shia Muslims, Ahmadis, Christians, and Hindus are all targets of this extremist group. The government has done very little to protect its citizens from harm.
I think that it is wonderful that Bangladesh has recently decided to protect all it's citizens, even the ones that are minorities. It sets a great example for the rest of the countries in that region, many of whom do not show responsibility for all of their citizens. Pakistan should learn from Bangladesh, and help to remove this religious extremist group from power.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8028613.stm
Father Throws 10 Month-Old in Boiling Water on a Dare
Michelle Commiskey
May 1, 2009
12:30pm
Last week in Taiwan, a father severely burnt his 10 month-old daughter. Huang is a 47 year-old noodle factory owner. He is also known as an alcoholic. He had been out drinking with his buddies when he returned and got into a fight with his girlfriend, and his baby’s mother. Lin was holding the baby in her arms when a dare or bet came about of throwing the baby into the wok of boiling water. Huang did exactly that. Lin was in a state of shock but managed to pull the screaming child out of the water, but she was already 90% burnt. Lin rushed to hospital.
“A doctor described the baby’s pain as ‘being slashed by a thousand knives’, and almost 10 times worse than labor pains.”
The girl dies 3 days later after multiple organ failure. The mother states “It was just too painful for her”.
I can’t believe a father would do that to his child. Even worse, when police turned up at his factory, he was cooking noodles as if nothing had happened! He blames his terrible action on having “a drop too much” to drink.
Before anyone even points fingers at the mother, I doubt what she said was as simple as “I dare you to stick our child in that boiling water”. A more probable statement would be something more like “If you are going to act this irresponsible, you might as well boil our child”. She never expected him to do that. She did it out of anger, trying to prove a point…and in a way, it did. Huang is not responsible enough to raise a child. He is an alcoholic and now responsible for killing his own daughter. He didn’t deserve the title “father”.
pictures and story
May 1, 2009
12:30pm
Last week in Taiwan, a father severely burnt his 10 month-old daughter. Huang is a 47 year-old noodle factory owner. He is also known as an alcoholic. He had been out drinking with his buddies when he returned and got into a fight with his girlfriend, and his baby’s mother. Lin was holding the baby in her arms when a dare or bet came about of throwing the baby into the wok of boiling water. Huang did exactly that. Lin was in a state of shock but managed to pull the screaming child out of the water, but she was already 90% burnt. Lin rushed to hospital.
“A doctor described the baby’s pain as ‘being slashed by a thousand knives’, and almost 10 times worse than labor pains.”
The girl dies 3 days later after multiple organ failure. The mother states “It was just too painful for her”.
I can’t believe a father would do that to his child. Even worse, when police turned up at his factory, he was cooking noodles as if nothing had happened! He blames his terrible action on having “a drop too much” to drink.
Before anyone even points fingers at the mother, I doubt what she said was as simple as “I dare you to stick our child in that boiling water”. A more probable statement would be something more like “If you are going to act this irresponsible, you might as well boil our child”. She never expected him to do that. She did it out of anger, trying to prove a point…and in a way, it did. Huang is not responsible enough to raise a child. He is an alcoholic and now responsible for killing his own daughter. He didn’t deserve the title “father”.
pictures and story
Father Who Threw 4 Children Off Bridge Sentenced to Death
Kelly McKee
May 1st, 200912:04 p.m.
A father threw four children over the Dauphin Island Bridge
I can not believe a father could do such a thing to his own children. If he and his wife were having problems they should have worked it out before the kids were involved. I think he got what he deserved, but an alternate sentence would have been to throw him over a bridge and let him suffer like those poor children did. I know that will never happen but he needs to know what he felt like to them. I hate the fact that innocent children were the victim in this because they had their whole life ahead of them. This man should have gotten help for his drug addiction and depression before it lead to this.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518497,00.html?sPage=fnc/us/crime
Stimulus funds child care scholarships for working families
Adonya Douglas
11:14 am
May 1, 2009
Families
Stimulus finds child care scholarships for working families
Gov. Phil Bredesen announced the creation of a child care scholarship for low-income, working families this week.“This scholarship is designed to help working families provide their children safe, quality child care,” Bredesen said. “The Department of Human Services has created an excellent program to use valuable child care Recovery Act dollars to reach as many eligible families as quickly as possible.” A family of four must make less than $4,260 a month gross income to qualify. The program will end when the federal money has been allotted.
Obama's stimulus package was very questionable at the early stages but now that Congress has passed the package we are finally starting to see it pay off. Child care is a very expensive and manadortory service for working and non- working families. This program is for those families who do not already qualify for government programs because they make above the poverty line but people must realize this could be only 500 dollars more than the poverty line and they can not qualify for services. I feel this is a great thing being that I work in child care and know that it can be rather expensive especially if you have more than one child and this is the case for families who are well off they still complain of the prices.
U.N. Talks over Western Sahara Peacekeeping Missions
Carina Gibson
May 1, 2009
10:36 A.M.
United Nations talks on Thursday about the disputed area of Western Sahara. In this new round of negotiations, some rejected human rights monitors “to be deployed in the mineral-rich territory.” The United Nations have a mission to protect human rights all over the globe, except the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara does not have that under its agenda. In 1975 when Spanish colonizers left the territory, Morocco and Mauritania split Western Sahara. A year later, however, they went to war over it. In 1979, Morocco took control over the region as Mauritania left. Fighting has continued between the Polisario guerrillas and Morocco’s U.S. army. The UN missions placed there have peacekeeping duties, and nothing on their agenda involves human rights. France has been blamed by the Polisario Front because of its close ties with Morocco. Many human rights groups, as well as various countries around the world, are enraged at this lack of human rights regulations. The new resolution adopted extends the placement of 500 U.N. troops, but no conclusion on human rights regulations have been made.
A stronger push should be made in order to secure the rights of the people living in this disputed region. Tensions between countries and opposing governments are often reasons for the inadequate care of a group of people in a certain area, but this should not be the case. Just as the U.N. forces are there on the peacekeeping mission, they can also (and should) be there to protect the rights of the people no matter whose government they fall under.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5goWYgZRPKbnTyNqyR0p8uqvPHFqAD97T687O1
May 1, 2009
10:36 A.M.
United Nations talks on Thursday about the disputed area of Western Sahara. In this new round of negotiations, some rejected human rights monitors “to be deployed in the mineral-rich territory.” The United Nations have a mission to protect human rights all over the globe, except the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara does not have that under its agenda. In 1975 when Spanish colonizers left the territory, Morocco and Mauritania split Western Sahara. A year later, however, they went to war over it. In 1979, Morocco took control over the region as Mauritania left. Fighting has continued between the Polisario guerrillas and Morocco’s U.S. army. The UN missions placed there have peacekeeping duties, and nothing on their agenda involves human rights. France has been blamed by the Polisario Front because of its close ties with Morocco. Many human rights groups, as well as various countries around the world, are enraged at this lack of human rights regulations. The new resolution adopted extends the placement of 500 U.N. troops, but no conclusion on human rights regulations have been made.
A stronger push should be made in order to secure the rights of the people living in this disputed region. Tensions between countries and opposing governments are often reasons for the inadequate care of a group of people in a certain area, but this should not be the case. Just as the U.N. forces are there on the peacekeeping mission, they can also (and should) be there to protect the rights of the people no matter whose government they fall under.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5goWYgZRPKbnTyNqyR0p8uqvPHFqAD97T687O1
So Smelly Good
Robert McKnight
5-1-09
11:20
Utah says that all landfills could use methane recovery. Many are forced to capture it anyway because it's a greenhouse gas, but most simply burn it off, wasting would-be energy and adding to the problem. P-U!
A most elegant way to put our abundance of smelly gas to good use. If we're going to make methane, and we certainly are, what else would we do with it? Turning it into energy also makes trash production almost desirable... Which is weird.
I like how this system takes something so synonymous with pollution and "badness" in general and cleverly morphs it into something that's... not. It creates a very interesting sort of balance/counterbalance situation for sure. I suppose the big question is whether or not it wouldn't be better for the planet if we just didn't make so much garbage, rather than laboriously synthesizing it's byproducts into clean energy. I also suppose we're not going to stop making a bunch of garbage any time soon, so synthesize away, baby!
Human Rights: 8 year old in Saudi granted a divorce
Taylor Westlake
May 1, 2009
8 am
An 8 year old girl in Saudi was finally granted by the courts a divorce from her husband who is 47 years old. After the divorce was denied twice before finally the courts in the city of Onazia on Thursday. The reason why this time was a success was because of all the pleas that were made. Many human rights acts were against this and they showed that they were, and also the U.S. had something to say about this and they all have ever since this leaked out into the news and became public in December. The marriage between the two was arranged by the girls father to one of his close friends to settle a debt that he had. When the girl's mother had first gone to the courts to have the marriaged annulled they would not allow it because they said that her mother was not her legal guardian because the girl's mother and father were seperated, so the mother did not have a say in it. They still do not know if child marriages all through out Saudi will be abolished. All the concerns that they have were and have been voiced, they are all just waiting to here back on whether or not it is going to happen.
This is a follow up on a story that I had blogged about before and I'm happy to hear that this girl was able to have a divorce happen. I just still think that it is sad that they have yet to abolish child marriages. So many people have voiced there opinions about this and yet the law has not yet been based. But thankfully for this young girl she can now lead a normal childhood. To me it's sad that her father was the one who arranged the marriage just to settle some type of debt, you just don't do that, no matter what debt you have to pay off. I can't wait to see what happens, and to see when they pass this law that they are trying to get through.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/04/30/saudi.child/index.html
May 1, 2009
8 am
An 8 year old girl in Saudi was finally granted by the courts a divorce from her husband who is 47 years old. After the divorce was denied twice before finally the courts in the city of Onazia on Thursday. The reason why this time was a success was because of all the pleas that were made. Many human rights acts were against this and they showed that they were, and also the U.S. had something to say about this and they all have ever since this leaked out into the news and became public in December. The marriage between the two was arranged by the girls father to one of his close friends to settle a debt that he had. When the girl's mother had first gone to the courts to have the marriaged annulled they would not allow it because they said that her mother was not her legal guardian because the girl's mother and father were seperated, so the mother did not have a say in it. They still do not know if child marriages all through out Saudi will be abolished. All the concerns that they have were and have been voiced, they are all just waiting to here back on whether or not it is going to happen.
This is a follow up on a story that I had blogged about before and I'm happy to hear that this girl was able to have a divorce happen. I just still think that it is sad that they have yet to abolish child marriages. So many people have voiced there opinions about this and yet the law has not yet been based. But thankfully for this young girl she can now lead a normal childhood. To me it's sad that her father was the one who arranged the marriage just to settle some type of debt, you just don't do that, no matter what debt you have to pay off. I can't wait to see what happens, and to see when they pass this law that they are trying to get through.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/04/30/saudi.child/index.html
Casey Berry
5/1/2009
8:50 am
By: Vidya Ram
Swiss and U.S. Battle It Out
Switzerland and the United States are trying to work through a revised tax treaty but they cannot come to an agreement. The United States is pretty much demanding that the UBS, which is one of Switzerland’s biggest banks give them 52,000 of its private banking clients. The Swiss federal office is concerned that the court against UBS could “prejudice the successful conclusion of these negotiations and jeopardize ratification of the new treaty.” UBS is asking a court in Florida to drop a tax evasion case although earlier they had agreed with the U.S. to hand over some of their clients. What the Swiss didn’t understand was that by doing this they would be breaking Switzerland’s privacy laws. The U.S. is asking them to break the laws which are enforced through imprisonment.
In my opinion Switzerland should have done the proper research to check and make sure what they agreed to is not against the laws. If they promised the U.S. a number of their clients then they should have to give them those clients. Although putting people in prison for something their government agreed to is not fair to the banks clients who would have to switch their bank accounts over. Whoever is in charge of making the agreement obviously doesn’t know anything about Switzerland’s laws and regulations and should be fired immediately for this whole situation. This whole thing has put Switzerland in a very bad situation but honestly it’s their own fault. When I first read this article I thought it made the U.S. look greedy and made them look like they were bullying Switzerland but really Switzerland broke their agreement and should have to pay for that.
5/1/2009
8:50 am
By: Vidya Ram
Swiss and U.S. Battle It Out
Switzerland and the United States are trying to work through a revised tax treaty but they cannot come to an agreement. The United States is pretty much demanding that the UBS, which is one of Switzerland’s biggest banks give them 52,000 of its private banking clients. The Swiss federal office is concerned that the court against UBS could “prejudice the successful conclusion of these negotiations and jeopardize ratification of the new treaty.” UBS is asking a court in Florida to drop a tax evasion case although earlier they had agreed with the U.S. to hand over some of their clients. What the Swiss didn’t understand was that by doing this they would be breaking Switzerland’s privacy laws. The U.S. is asking them to break the laws which are enforced through imprisonment.
In my opinion Switzerland should have done the proper research to check and make sure what they agreed to is not against the laws. If they promised the U.S. a number of their clients then they should have to give them those clients. Although putting people in prison for something their government agreed to is not fair to the banks clients who would have to switch their bank accounts over. Whoever is in charge of making the agreement obviously doesn’t know anything about Switzerland’s laws and regulations and should be fired immediately for this whole situation. This whole thing has put Switzerland in a very bad situation but honestly it’s their own fault. When I first read this article I thought it made the U.S. look greedy and made them look like they were bullying Switzerland but really Switzerland broke their agreement and should have to pay for that.
French Jewish Murder Trial Opens
Jessica Rogers
May 1, 2009
1:10 am
The leader of a French kidnap gang has gone on trial in Paris after being accused of killing a young Jewish man in 2006. Youssouf Fofana admits that he kidnapped the man, Ilan Halimi, but denies actually killing him. As he entered the court room he shouted "God is great" in Arabic and continued to make disturbing comments. For example, when asked when he was born, he replied, February 13, 2006, the day that Ilan Halimi was reported dead. Fofana is the leader of a gang known as The Barbarians, and for years has advocated for anti-Semitism in France. He has ordered the gang to kidnap and torture Jews until ransom was paid. Halimi was lured to an empty apartment in the Parisian suberbs, where he was then attacked, drugged and tortured.
What I do not understand is how Fofana can possibly plead 'not guilty' in this case. You kidnap and torture someone, tie them naked to a tree and stab them, do you really think they will stay alive? Would Fofana really have any intention of keeping him alive if the ransom were already going to be paid? He may not have been the one to stab him, but in the end, it was his organization, his plan. I think that all of the gang members should be locked away, but having their leader put away is a good start. Halimi had done nothing wrong, and yet he was treated like a criminal just because he had a different belief system. And it isn't like Muslim's are that much of a majority either in France. According to the CIA World Factbook, Muslim's only make up about 5-10% of the population. More than the Jewish 1%, but still, it isn't the vast majority. I guess it goes to show that you don't have to be first, you just can't be last.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8023990.stm
May 1, 2009
1:10 am
The leader of a French kidnap gang has gone on trial in Paris after being accused of killing a young Jewish man in 2006. Youssouf Fofana admits that he kidnapped the man, Ilan Halimi, but denies actually killing him. As he entered the court room he shouted "God is great" in Arabic and continued to make disturbing comments. For example, when asked when he was born, he replied, February 13, 2006, the day that Ilan Halimi was reported dead. Fofana is the leader of a gang known as The Barbarians, and for years has advocated for anti-Semitism in France. He has ordered the gang to kidnap and torture Jews until ransom was paid. Halimi was lured to an empty apartment in the Parisian suberbs, where he was then attacked, drugged and tortured.
What I do not understand is how Fofana can possibly plead 'not guilty' in this case. You kidnap and torture someone, tie them naked to a tree and stab them, do you really think they will stay alive? Would Fofana really have any intention of keeping him alive if the ransom were already going to be paid? He may not have been the one to stab him, but in the end, it was his organization, his plan. I think that all of the gang members should be locked away, but having their leader put away is a good start. Halimi had done nothing wrong, and yet he was treated like a criminal just because he had a different belief system. And it isn't like Muslim's are that much of a majority either in France. According to the CIA World Factbook, Muslim's only make up about 5-10% of the population. More than the Jewish 1%, but still, it isn't the vast majority. I guess it goes to show that you don't have to be first, you just can't be last.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8023990.stm
8-year-old Saudi girl divorces 50-year-old husband
Kelsey McGalliard
May 1, 2009
12:40 am
An 8-year-old Saudi girl has divorced her middle-aged husband after her father forced her to marry him last year in exchange for about $13,000, her lawyer said Thursday. The United States, a close ally of the conservative Muslim kingdom, has called child marriage a "clear and unacceptable" violation of human rights.The girl was allowed to divorce the 50-year-old man who she married in August after an out-of-court settlement had been reached in the case, said her lawyer, Abdulla al-Jeteli. The exact date of the divorce was not immediately known. A court in the central Oneiza region previously rejected a request by the girl's mother for a divorce and ruled that the girl would have to wait until she reached puberty to file a petition then. There are no laws in Saudi Arabia defining the minimum age for marriage. Though a woman's consent is legally required, some marriage officials don't seek it. The 8-year-old girl's marriage was not the only one in the kingdom to receive attention in recent months. Saudi newspapers have highlighted several cases in which young girls were married off to much older men or young boys including a 15-year-old girl whose father, a death-row inmate, married her off to a cell mate.
It is good to hear that they finally allowed the 8 yr old girl to get a divorce. No one that age should be forced into a marriage they are just a child and making someone grow up so fast is not fair at all. It amazed me to read about the little girl who was married to her father a death row inmate’s cellmate. It brings up a point brought up today in class about how we as Americans forget about the rights we have and what we could be facing.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g48ZZZzDAqSXRc4c874tLg5dwbZAD97T3SEG1
May 1, 2009
12:40 am
An 8-year-old Saudi girl has divorced her middle-aged husband after her father forced her to marry him last year in exchange for about $13,000, her lawyer said Thursday. The United States, a close ally of the conservative Muslim kingdom, has called child marriage a "clear and unacceptable" violation of human rights.The girl was allowed to divorce the 50-year-old man who she married in August after an out-of-court settlement had been reached in the case, said her lawyer, Abdulla al-Jeteli. The exact date of the divorce was not immediately known. A court in the central Oneiza region previously rejected a request by the girl's mother for a divorce and ruled that the girl would have to wait until she reached puberty to file a petition then. There are no laws in Saudi Arabia defining the minimum age for marriage. Though a woman's consent is legally required, some marriage officials don't seek it. The 8-year-old girl's marriage was not the only one in the kingdom to receive attention in recent months. Saudi newspapers have highlighted several cases in which young girls were married off to much older men or young boys including a 15-year-old girl whose father, a death-row inmate, married her off to a cell mate.
It is good to hear that they finally allowed the 8 yr old girl to get a divorce. No one that age should be forced into a marriage they are just a child and making someone grow up so fast is not fair at all. It amazed me to read about the little girl who was married to her father a death row inmate’s cellmate. It brings up a point brought up today in class about how we as Americans forget about the rights we have and what we could be facing.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g48ZZZzDAqSXRc4c874tLg5dwbZAD97T3SEG1
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)