Blog #2: Measures to save water in Brazil

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This article written by AlJazerea and agencies talks about the water drought that is currently effecting communities in Brazil. Communities in Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil, is being hit the hardest by the lack of water that the country is facing. 20 million people are beginning to hoard water supplies and collect rain water due to a lack of water in the main reservoir. The rainy season in Brazil is coming to an end and the reservoir is only at 6 percent capacity. The article states that the shortage of water is beginning to effect jobs, public health and the quality of life for Brazilians in this region. Officials in Sao Paulo are considering cutting off consumer consumption of water, allowing water usage only two days out of the week if conditions do not change. This is likely the action to be taken if rains do not pick up for the remainder of February and March. But in the mean time people are currently buying water at a rate that is hard for sellers to keep up with.

Analysis:

The shortage of water in Brazil is obviously a major issue that is effecting a large number of people. But is sitting on their hands and waiting for another peak in the rainy season all that officials there are capable of doing to help the issue? And is cutting of the consumer's water the best answer if the rain does not come? The article does not mention any concerns that the World Health Organization(WHO) may have with issue or if they intend to aid the country in any way. I think that this is an issue that the WHO should definitely be involved in due to the negative public health issues that water shortages cause.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2015/02/brazil-drought-prompts-drastic-measures-save-water-150213154556221.html

Phylicia Smith
2/13/15 10:45pm 

Blog 2- Child Brides

Summary:

Last week, I brought about the topic of child brides and its prevalence rate in Islam and went briefly into the adverse physical effects it has on a child’s development at a young age. This week, the topic revolves around the personal effects being a child bride can have. The article I found, “The Stark Contrast between Child Brides and School Girls”, gives great insight to the detriment being a child bride has. The article and video takes place in Chad, Africa and depicts a particular child who sees her life in two ways. One way, the worst and horrible way, was that child as a bride on her death bed with loved ones crying over her. The video states that, in Africa, 13.5 million girls under the age of 18 were forced into marriage and of that 13.5 million, 7 out of ten of them die while giving birth (Couch, 2015). Yet another horrific fact given in this video is these girls are often secluded in their homes, made to do everything, and are often with violent husbands. Another depiction in this video was with the same girl, but this version was her being allowed to go to school, make friends, and be a child.

Analysis:

I find this topic to bring intense feelings of anger and sadness and the desire to speak up and do something. Not only is the topic of child brides revolting, but this article and video shows just a couple of effects a child bride experiences. Throughout the video, you could see the girl wanting to have what ultimately she could have, you saw her fear and innocence being taken away, and you saw her life yanked out from under her. All of this needs to change and I say we start now!

Work Cited

Couch, R. (2015, February 4). Dramatic Video Shows Stark Contrast Between Life As A Child Bride And As A School Girl. Retrieved February 12, 2015, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/04/child-brides-chad-unicef_n_6607552.html

Time Stamp: 2/13/15 8:16pm

Blog#2 Mosque attack kills 19; Pakistan Taliban claim responsibility

The Pakistan Taliban was responsible for an attack on a Shiite Muslim mosque in Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan on Friday. Up to five people were involved with the attack, including a suicide bomber, and a designated shooter inside of the mosque. Another possible suicide bomber was caught, and held in the throat  by civilians in the mosque,A hotel representative reported that nineteen people were killed, and sixty-nine dead in a gunfire assault, and the bomber committed suicide afterwards. Pakistan has seen a lot of violence involving militants among the border of Afghanistan This area marks the territory of a group named .

Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, also known as "TTP". This groups main purpose is to enforce the conservative version of Islam in their nation. This group has faught the Pakistani army, and they have also killed many harmless citizens. TTP commander Kalifa Omar Mansoor has been said to be responsible for not only this attack, but also a December massacre at a Peahawar school, that  left 145 dead, The Army Public School and Degree college had many students that were children of army personnel in the Peshawar area .In the attack, gunman burst in and gunned down many students and teachers, including s whole room of students that were taking a test. Spokesman Muhammad Khurasan told CNN that the Pakistan Taliban orchestrated  this attack as revenge for the  government's December 19th execution of a militant who was allied with the group. Mohammed Aqeel was condemned because of his role in the attack of an army headquarters in 2009.