Blog #12 Adultery is still a Crime...

Adultery laws have been presented since the Old Testament that stemmed from the concept of “adulterating” or polluting the bloodline of a family when a married woman had sex with someone other than her husband and ran the risk of having another man’s child. Today adultery is still a criminal act but possibility of a guilty person going to jail for this criminal act is doubtful. There are still 23 states that acknowledge adultery as a crime. Some states consider it a misdemeanor such as New York but others such as Idaho or Michigan consider adultery as a felony. Conviction of this crime results in a $500 fine and up to 30 days in jail. Even though many states have eliminated their laws regulating cohabitation, homosexual sodomy and fornication, adultery still remains on the books as law. Many argue that if these sexual acts have been removed from law, adultery should be too. Committing the crime of adultery only seems to stand during divorce and custody hearings. If adultery were removed from law books there would not be any consequences for many of the cases in the courts for divorce. If one party can prove that the other party committed adultery then it is proving that that party is a criminal because they violated their marriage, which is a legal contract. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/15/us/adultery-an-ancient-crime-still-on-many-books.html

Blog #11

Women in the Middle East have been taken advantage of for many years and equality doesn’t seem to be in sight any time soon. Twenty-year-old Mah Gul was beheaded by her mother in law and also a relative to her mother in law because of her refusal to prostitute herself. Police later reported that the woman’s throat was slashed and her head was not fully cut off. This incident happened in southwest Afghanistan near the Iranian border. Mah’s husband is a baker and had to go away for work. While her husband was away for work his mother forced her to sell her body to help make more money. In this region it is known for women to be raped, killed and forced into marriage in childhood, they are denied from obtaining an education and denied their sexual and reproductive rights. Many women, after being forced into marriage, are then forced into prostitution by their families and even their husbands. In this case Mah’s husband had nothing to do with her killing or force into prostitution. The constant inequality for women has become worse over the years under the Taliban. Many women want to get an education and go to school but the society they live in makes it hard for them to do so. The women get terrorized as they walk to school and there are laws that prevent women from publicly being seen without a male escort. If they are seen without a male escort they are publicly beat, so men tend not to escort them to school to keep them from getting an education.

 

cnns.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/18/afghan-woman-beheads-daughter-in-law-for-refusing-prostitution-police-say/?iref=obnetwork

Blog #10 Drug Traffickers go under water

A crack down on drug trafficking has been a priority to board authorities such as the Coast Guard across the Caribbean Sea. The constant drug war has caused innovations of new ways to transport drugs. Recently it was discovered that a submarine was transporting several tons of cocaine. These submarines are built in the jungles of South America to help transport narcotics between the United States and Latin America. These submarines are capable of carrying up to 10 tons of cocaine. Authorities are very worried about these new forms of transportation because normally drug traffickers would use speedboats or fishing boats that are easy to spot and they are able to carry fewer drugs but with submarines it is harder for them to detect and see under water. This not only raises caution to the on going drug wars but also to terrorist attack. These submarines are able to carry or transport attackers or weapons. It seems that authorities cannot out smart the criminals behind these illegal activities. Once it seems like we have found a solution to deter these criminal acts there is a new innovation or ideas that makes it harder to control these criminal acts. Our military intelligence and authorities must continue to work with other countries and continue to fight against these criminal acts to protect all countries. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/world/americas/drug-smugglers-pose-underwater-challenge-in-caribbean.html?ref=americas&_r=0

Suicide Bomber Kills 40

Courtney Gaston 

This morning as Afghan worshipers gather for prayer for a Muslim holiday, Eid al-Adha, a suicide bomber enters the mosque and kills 40 people. Included in the 40 people killed was also the suicide bomber. There was also about 40 people that were wounded from the bombing. Authorities are pointing the finger at the Taliban as to blame but a Taliban spokesman is investigating the situation to find out who is to blame. It is reported that almost have of the victims that were killed were police officers.  The Taliban is a militant movement group that has been trying to take over Afghanistan since 1996. This group has also been the blame for the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centers and Pentagon in the United States causing American to go to war to dethrone the group and regain order in the Middle East. The president of Afghanistan has made many proposals for the group to stop their terrorist ways and join the Afghanistan government. The US has also made peace negotiations with the Taliban, as American troops are soon to come out of the region in the coming years. The violence in this area seems to be intensifying and looks as though the Taliban have no end insight. US troops have been helping the Afghanistan government in fighting back against this group but with most of the troops gone it seems that the tension is growing. I don’t think our troops should be there any longer because of soldiers are dying as a result of their war and issues but the Afghanistan government does need some kind of assistant with this terror group or else they will take over Afghanistan. 

http://t.news.msn.com/world/officials-suicide-bomber-kills-40-at-afghan-mosque

Father kills daugher and gets 90 days...

Courtney Gaston

Blog #7

There is controversy in Colorado over a case where many believe that the slap on the wrist consequence that a 19-year-old father received was not enough. 19-year-old Dylan Kuhn called police when he found his daughter not breathing and hanging over the side of the bed with a blanket around her neck. Later an autopsy showed that baby Sailor had evidence of recent injury to her optic nerve sheath and also bleeding. These injuries were thought to be caused by the baby being slammed against something like a firm mattress. Dylan then admitted to the baby falling off of the couch a few days prior supposedly but then later confessed that he did slam his daughter down on the bed the night she died but not intending on hurting her. Dylan pleaded guilty to manslaughter and because of a plea agreement the child abuse chargers were dropped. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail because the judge felt as though he would not be a repeat offender and because of his age. In addition to jail he also has probation and get mental health and substance abuse treatment. Cases like this enrage many people because of the extent of the situation. Dylan killed a child and admitted to killing a child and received the bare minimal punishment when in case similar to this but with difference circumstances such as race or gender or location there would be a different consequence. Inequality in our court systems has shown still relevant today.  If an African American male were in the same situation would the verdict be the same? 

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2012/10/18/teen-dad-who-killed-baby-sentenced-90-days?hpt=ju_r1

Blog #8 India's sex slaves...

Andhra Pradesh, India has became a safe haven for young girls that have fallen victim to the sex trafficking crimes that are on the rise in India. The rescued girls range from the youngest at 13 years old. These girls come from brothels in big cities where they have faced abuse, slavery and inhumane treatment. Andhra Pradesh accounts for nearly half of all sex trafficking cases in India. It is reported that nearly 300,000 women and girls have been trafficked for sex work out of Andhra Pradesh but only 3,000 have been rescued so far. This area is India is known to be one of the poorest in the world and because of the poverty many girls are tricked into sex trafficking without knowing. They are approached with promises of jobs, a better life and money and then are sold to brothels were they are forced to sleep with numerous men over time before they are even given some type of compensation. Government is trying its best to rescue these women and girls from traffickers and place them in rehabilitation. By the time many of these females get to rehabilitation their mental and physical state is beyond fixing. The sex trafficking of women shows that inequality for women is still very well present all around the world. There needs to be more opportunities for women to educate and better themselves for a better life instead of being trapped into demining situations such as these. Opportunities for women to go to school and get jobs or hold political positions just like their male counterparts need to be fought for all over.

www.cnnfreedomprojects.com

Blog #6 Slain Mexican Kingpin

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Courtney Gaston

Blog #6

For several years Mexico City has struggled with drug gangs running the streets and terrorizing citizens and authority. The boss of the notorious drug cartel, the Zetas or Z-3, was killed this week. Heriberto  Lazcano was originally apart of Mexico’s military before switching sides to join the criminals and then became one of the most feared and biggest kingpin. The Zetas grew into a feared organization that had more than 10,000 gunmen. Heriberto was killed in a gunfight with the Mexico navy but hours after his death a group of armed men took his body from a funeral home that his body was transported to. Mexico military has had difficulty capturing and killing Heriberto because of his expert intelligence and low-key profile. In 2007, Heriberto was mistakenly reported killed by military but later was reported the military had not killed him. With the military killing this notorious kingpin the fight with drug cartels is far from over. Heribertos followers will probably react to his death in rage and retaliate against the Mexico government. Mexico can expect many more killings and riots in the city in honor of the fallen leader. In many organized crimes such as drug cartels, the organizational structure is carefully planned out and there are always next in line authorities in place in case some such as this happens. The Zetas will continue drug trade in Mexico but it will probably be easier for government and military to continue to break down this organization since the leader has fallen. 

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/10/14342659-slain-mexican-zetas-kingpin-deserted-army-led-deadly-drug-gang?

Blog #5 Reward for killing of Film Maker

 Courtney Gaston

Anger is still present in the Middle East over the YouTube video that was posted about the Muslim leader Muhammad. A Pakistani government minister announced that they have placed a $100,000 bounty for the killing of the person who produced the online video. The support of the Taliban and al-Qaida has been requested in support to the would-be killer. Legislation was requested to have the anti-blasphemy law at the global level so that no one could hurt the religious emotions of the Muslims in the name of freedom of expression. Muslims across the world are feeling anger and distress from the video. Leaders are not encouraging the people to engage of acts of violence during their protests because of fears that could defame Muslims and their religion. But the people are not listening to officials and are still acting in violence, 15 people were killed and there were shops and businesses that were damaged in Pakistan. Dozens of other people have been killed because of the anguish of the video, including the US ambassador to Libya. Protests are going on all over the world, thousands of people protested in Nigeria’s largest city, Kano. The person who is believed to have made the film, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula was arrested on Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles. He was arrested for violating his probation from previous federal fraud charges in 2010. His probation strictly prohibited him from using “any online service at any location” without permission. Nakoula is a Coptic Christian that was born in Egypt.

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/22/14036172-pakistan-official-offers-100000-reward-for-killing-of-maker-of-anti-prophet-muhammad-film?lite

Ax -swing man kills 3 and wounds 13...

Courtney Gaston

September 21, 2012

Blog #4

Earlier this morning in China, an unknown man goes in to a day care center and attacks the children in the day care center. This man kills three children and wounds 13 children by the time police arrived. There were children the ages of six and twelve in the day care center. At the time of the attack, the children were having lunch and then this anonymous man came in and began swinging an ax at the children. Out of the 13 children that were wounded some of them were severely injured. Police were able to detain the anonymous man and arrest him but have not yet found out a motive or reason behind the attack. Violent crimes are not uncommon in mainland China against children. In 2010, there were three consecutive school attacks that took place over 3 days. One of the incidents included a middle-aged man going into a school and stabbing twenty-nine children and three teachers in 2010. When this man went to court his motive for the violent crime was he wanted to “vent his rage against society”. This was also the effect of his anger from a series of public humiliation and unsuccessful business ventures. The man was sentenced to the death penalty; this was an example to all that the authorities were getting tough on crime against children. Many people believe these attacks had no coordination and were reactions from mentally unstable people or those with extreme grievance against the government. But others argue that increasing societal pressures on Chinese people and a need for China to examine its mental health and treatment are the causes of these attacks. 

http://behindthewall.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/21/14014789-ax-wielding-man-kills-3-kids-wounds-13-in-china?lite

Blog #3 Outrage over Anti-Islam video

Courtney Gaston

September 14, 12

3:03pm

Yemeni protestors are enraged and are protesting in 10 nations and Indian regions, against “Innocence of Muslims” and the nation were it was produced. The protest is targeted towards the US and Americans. Early this morning protestors burned a US flag near the US Embassy in Sanaa. The anger from the protestor’s stems from a film trailer that imitates Islam’s prophet, which the film is degrading the leader in a bad light. As a result of the anger of protestors, on Tuesday many of them invaded the US Embassy in Cairo and also the US Consulate, which left some American officials dead. President Obama has a high concern for the violent acts and protests over this video and has contacted many foreign counterparts about ways to prevent the protest and chaos from spreading. President Obama has made an agreement with the counterparts in Afghanistan to prevent the spread of violence by blocking access to YouTube there so that the Afghan people are not able to watch this video.

These acts of violence and rage are the wrong examples of protesting and freedom of speech. Protesting should not result in the harm of others or destruction of public places. In regards to the people behind the cause of this protects have the right of freedom of speech and opinion but it should be tactful and respectful. These kinds of wrongful acts, in both sides, are the reason behind the constant lack of unity and peace between nations and countries. A sense of respect needs to be spread among the nations for each respective religion, beliefs, customs and values. 

http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/13/world/meast/embassy-attacks-main/index.html?hpt=wo_bn7

Blog #2 Sex Trafficking

Courtney Gaston
September 7th 5pm
Blog #2


A crime that is seldom reported about is on the rise in New York, sex trafficking and prostitution has become popular in states around the US. The New York police department has started cracking down on this crime by through a program called Johns School. The John School educates offenders that are arrested about the harm and danger to the "Johns" and the prostitutes. "Johns" that are arrested for the first time and have no previous record are able to attend this class and pay a fine instead of going to jail. These prostitutes that these men are seeking are not just normal women but usually are children brought from China or South Africa and many other places around the world. Most of these girls are ages 11 to 14 and have many disease such as HIV and AIDS. The class is suppose to educate these men and deter them from being in this situation again. The class also shows how abused most of these women are, they are usually working for someone and are on drugs. The money they are receiving form the prostitution helps adds that addictions and keeps them for ever enslaved to either a person or a drug or both. Once the men complete the class they receive a Completion dismissal, after the class if they do not get arrested of this crime their record will be wiped clean. The class has proved success, 90% of the men do not get convicted of the crime anymore. There has been over 3000 attendees in the school since 2002. The school makes it very clear that the next time they are convicted for this crime they will be facing jail time.

http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/13/trafficking-class-for-men-using-prostitutes/

Children no longer play with toy guns....

Courtney Gaston
August 28th, 2012 8:43pm
"Child fighter with AK-47..."


Young children around the world grow up admiring action figures and television heroes that use violence and weapons as a form of action and entertainment. For children on the Syria border violence and weapons are not for entertainment purposes but a way of life and survival. 8 year old, Khidir from Lebanon, carries weapons that most people around the world only see on television. Khidir carries around an AK-47 when he walks through the streets of Lebanon for protection for not only himself but also for his family. He and is family are living day after day in live war zone that has been going on for generations. Gun shots and violence goes on violently everyday as two groups are constantly fighting in the streets. The neighborhoods are not safe even in the privacy of homes, Khidir's mother was shot by a stray bullet, while standing on their porch holding her daughter, where she thought was a safe place. The fighting has gotten so out of hand that there is really no safe place anymore. The result of this fighting has forced children to carry guns and kill for their own protection. Parents are teaching their children at a young age how to shoot and carry weapons and this has caused a trend among the children of Lebanon. It is cool for the children to walk down the street with weapons bigger than them. The war and violence going on in these countries are causing more damage than just causalities but it is corrupting children's minds and forming an endless lifestyle of violence that seems like it will never end.

http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=wo_c1#/video/world/2012/08/27/pkg-damon-child-fighter-on-syria-lebanon-border.cnn