Blog 13: Europe's old wealth seeks new home in Asia

              The Spinola family of Genoa, those who were once friends and business partners with Christopher Columbus are now moving their money and ties to Asia.  Many ultra-affluent families are moving their assets to Singapore into family offices.  There is a pull to look east when preserving fortune, managing trusts and investments.  These are no small investments.  Families are bringing billions of dollars in assets with them to Singapore.  Singapore is providing many different opportunities with regards to the investment of money which include low tax rates and the smooth movement of money among other perks.  Singapore is also offering benefits for those investors to spend their money and to unwind.  There is a pull to move money and invest money in Southeast Asia because the prospects are good, in comparison to the weak economies of Europe and the United States.  Singapore is becoming a financial center for family money.  It is providing new ways for families to manage their wealth and providing greater financial technology.  These families are generally investing in things like energy, commodities, healthcare, and biotechnology stocks.

                Old family money is being put to use in new ways.  Money is now being invested in other parts of the world.  Families in Europe are investing their family money into Singapore because they can see its potential.  As a result of the weak economies in Europe and the United States, families are looking elsewhere to invest their assets.  This is important because more and more money is now in Southeast Asia.  Where economies are already doing well, investors are choosing to place more money and more faith into these countries.  Taking their money and assets out of the current country and moving them elsewhere can only place a hardship on the former country.  If the reason for these families investing their money into Southeast Asian countries is because of the economy, how will the current economy in the other countries fare?  I realize that it is a business decision when moving assets; however it does not benefit their own country when moving their investments.  Struggling economies will only continue to struggle if this attitude and these actions persist by families.  

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/17/us-wealth-families-asia-idUSBRE83G0UP20120417

Blog 12: The Global Problem of Gender Inequality

            Gender inequality continues to be a problem in the majority of countries.  Only four nations, Cuba, Costa Rica, Sweden, and Norway have achieved gender equality.  Gender inequality affects women and the family.  Access to education, health and life expectancy, economic opportunity, and political empowerment are all areas that show the inequality between males and females across the world.  There are far more crimes committed against women than men.  The ways in which gender inequality is seen varies throughout the world.  For example, in China, females are undervalued and seen as weaker, more expensive, and less intelligent than males.  Some counties, including China also practice in sex selective abortions allowing the parents to choose whether or not to keep the child based on whether it is a male or a female.  China is making some advances in this area as it is allowing parents who have had a girl the chance at having a son despite the one child policy.  India is encouraging women’s education and supplying parents with financial aids to go towards their daughter’s dowry.  In Saudi Arabia, the Society for Defending Women’s Rights is seeking to empower women and protect their rights.  Women are suffering severe emotional and economic repercussions as a result of gender inequality being deeply rooted in history, culture, and tradition.  Gender inequality prevents maximum productivity.  This needs to be addressed in order to help human development and the economy.  Equal partners will allow for societies and families to flourish.

            Gender inequality is prevalent everywhere and affects everything including the family.  Some families are choosing whether or not to keep their child or abort based on the sex of the child because one is more favored.  Something must be done to create gender equality amongst all nations.  We need to look at the four countries that have accomplished this and see what programs and laws they are implementing to create gender equality.  More importantly I think we need to take a look inward and see where gender inequality is present in our own society.  While the United States may have more gender equality than countries like China and India, gender inequality still exists and should be addressed.  Families cannot keep pretending that gender inequality is okay.  China and India and countries alike should reexamine their practices and attitudes towards gender in order to produce more productive members of families and society.  If we were to stand up to gender inequality and create truly equal countries, these countries would be much better off economically because they would be able to have maximum productivity.  I believe one of the first steps to go about changing the ideas and attitudes towards gender and the family is to reexamine our history, culture, and tradition.  If we recognize where these thoughts and practices come from, it will be easier to reshape these ideas into something that is more suited towards gender equality.  

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nake-m-kamrany/gender-inequality_b_1417535.html

Blog 11: Families around world grieve after mass shooting

There was a mass shooting on the campus of Oikos University in California on Monday.  Families around the world are grieving the loss of sons and daughters, husbands and wives.  One of the husbands of the victims was still living in the Philippines, waiting for things to become stable before he joined his family in the United States.  Another victim was born in Sikkim, India, near the Himalayan Mountains.  The point is, people across the world are going through the grieving process, from this one event.  School shootings are not something to be taken lightly; families are severely affected by this.  Some of the victims were finishing up their last semester before starting their careers.  Devastated families across the world are mourning the death of loved ones. 

Whether we know it or not, one action in one area of the world can have a domino effect and impact other areas of the world.  Those who are grieving as a result of this mass shooting are not just from the United States.  There are families in the Philippines, India, as well as other areas that are grieving the loss of family members.  An act that may seem central to the United States has affected the lives of the families of the victims.  These families across the world have to come to terms with the loss of a son or daughter or a sibling.  One act of terror on one day in a small area has a ripple effect.  Not only are the people at the school affected, their families whether they are in the United States or across the world and the surrounding area have all been affected by this one act of terror.  

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=8607153

Blog 10: How China's New Love Affair with U.S. Private Schools Is Changing Them Both

            Chinese students are looking to American private schools to give them opportunity and a more positive future.   American private schools are offering greater opportunity, better education, and have more prestige than high schools in China.  Chinese families look at the expense of American private schools as a worthy investment into the future of their children.  Private high schools in America will lead to Ivy League colleges.  Those studying in American colleges and universities have increased even in the past year.  While studying in America provides a good opportunity for these Chinese students, the application process is extensive and can be geographically out of reach.  Many families in China work closely with education agencies in preparation for American private schools and to help with the application process.  There are both language and cultural barriers involved with the applications that the education agencies help with.  The problem comes when the American private schools are looking at the applications and having to question how much of the information is really from the student due to the language and cultural barriers.  One cause of these barriers is the great emphasis placed on the Chinese education system and the importance of standardized test scores.  As a result of the emphasis placed on testing, many of the Chinese students are uncertain of how to answer the questions on the American applications.  One reason for the push to study in American private schools has to do with the failure of Chinese schools in catering to individual students.  There is greater pressure to excel, and with American private high schools encouraging more independent thinking and allowing students to express their interests, the Chinese students are able to develop skills that will help them excel.  American high school diplomas provide the opportunity for Chinese students to move upward with regards to mobility.  Families are hoping that investing in schooling abroad will help provide greater success at home.  This is creating an increase in economic inequalities. 

            I think that it is very interesting that there is such a push to get an American education.  I realize that private schools are different from public schools, but from what I experienced throughout school, there was not much room to develop independent thinking or dig deeper into my own interests.  Chinese families have to sacrifice a lot in order to send their children to schools abroad.  Not only are they sacrificing financially, they are also giving up the opportunity to see their children grow in the latter years of their adolescence.  This emphasizes the importance of schooling for these children in China.  These families are sacrificing in hopes that their children will have a better future and be able to move upward in society.  The system of education in America, while there are issues, cannot be too bad if there is a great importance on studying abroad in American private schools. 

http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/03/how-chinas-new-love-affair-with-us-private-schools-is-changing-them-both/255154/1/

Blog 9: Outcry over Sweden's Persecution of Homeschoolers Grows

            There continues to be unrest over the homeschooling policy that Sweden has in place.  Homeschooling is prohibited in Sweden because the government wants everyone to have high quality instruction by highly qualified teachers.  Schools in Sweden should teach a curriculum that is comprehensive and objective and they value equality.  Sweden is no longer considered a social utopia.  Swedish law prohibits homeschooling; this is the first Western country since Nazi Germany to prohibit homeschooling.  Many families that choose to homeschool their children are fleeing to escape persecution.  The structure of an overbearing government is reminiscent of the Soviet Union.  Homeschooling allows for parents to teach their children what they believe.  Jews and Christians around the world are in an uproar over this issue.  The Swedish government is already facing a lot of criticism from human rights groups because a seven year old boy leaving the country was kidnapped.  This family and child’s life has been ruined because of a mistake on the government’s behalf.  A letter writing campaign has started asking for Sweden to respect the treaties and the rights of individuals with regards to the persecution.    

            All of the unrest about the homeschooling policy I can only imagine would create a system that is unhealthy for learning.  Children have to flee their homes with their families in order to obtain an education.  While Sweden does provide public education, this education is very structured and highly influenced by the government.  Homeschooling should be a right to children and their families.  While I do not believe that homeschooling is right for everyone, I do believe it can be beneficial and provide the student with a great basis of knowledge and education.  With homeschooling, students would be able to focus more on their interests.  Families and most of all children should be able to choose and have the right to the type of education they receive.  It is absolutely absurd that homeschooling families are being persecuted because of their choice in schooling and how to educate their children. 

http://www.thenewamerican.com/world-mainmenu-26/europe-mainmenu-35/11283-outcry-over-swedens-persecution-of-homeschoolers-grows