Blog 10: Mauritania Confronts Long Legacy of Slavery

Protesters gathered in front of a police station located in Boutilimit, Mauritania to demand the end of slavery. They specifically wanted the arrest of a family who was accused of holding a slave since childhood.  The girl, now 18, was forced to work menial tasks and sometimes even beaten by the family that enslaved her since the age of 4. Her mother had also worked for the same family but was replaced by her daughter. The authorities briefly detained several members of the family accused of enslaving the girl but the prosecutor released them saying there was no evidence of the crime. As the protests continued for weeks, demonstrators were arrested and beaten while the slave masters remained undistributed by authorities. According to the 2013 Global Slavery Index, Mauritania has the highest prevalence of slavery with as many as 140,000 or more of the nation’s 3.8 million enslaved.

Slavery is a sociological created problem because people are the creators of slavery, and they are the ones who can also destroy it. Because slavery is socially constructed, it also has social side effects that negatively impact the group of people who are being enslaved. For example, slavery creates a social imbalance in any society because there is always a superior group and an inferior group. In the case with Mauritania, Moors (light-skinned elites that are often a mixture of Berber and Arab) belong to the superior group and the dark skinned people living in poverty belong to the inferior group.

This also leads to injustice and continued cruelty, bigotry, racism, and denial of human rights for all. This was also the case with Mauritania who denies that there is a slavery problem and does nothing to people who enslave others because of the social standing in society. In the article it says that in 2007, a law criminalizing slavery was passed but three years later, nobody had been prosecuted under it. This is what caused uproar in demanding more attention towards ending slavery in Africa which has already existed for centuries. This is mostly affecting those families who are living in poverty because they are more likely to become enslaved than those who are living in the upper class. Slavery impacts families in various ways but by making it very difficult for families in poverty to move out of that state. It is especially difficult for females who are raped by their masters and become pregnant with his child. They are not guaranteed food or shelter if they leave and by staying they are continuing the cycle of slavery with their child.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/12/world/africa/mauritania-confronts-long-legacy-of-slavery.html? pagewanted=1

Karina Velazquez

12/15/13

1:55 pm

Blog #9: Chinese Doctors Becoming the Targets of Patients’ Anger

According to the China Hospital association, medical staffs are being attacked by patients or their relatives at a rate of once every two weeks per hospital. At least six serious incidents have occurred in the last two weeks. This includes the case of Dr. Yunje who was stabbed to death by a patient unhappy with his treatment on October 25^th. Since 2002, attacks have risen by an average of nearly 23 percent a year. In the late 1980s, the state provided about 60 percent of investment in most public hospitals. After medical reforms by 2009, they were providing 20 percent and remaining 80 percent had to be covered with revenue generated by the hospitals. The central government’s National Health and Family Planning Commission has pushed for emergency measures to be implemented which includes having hospitals assign one security guard per 20 beds, and guards should account for no less than 3 percent of the total medical staff.

The issue of high medical cost for Chinese people is a sociological created problem that has surfaced in recent years. Nearly all the major medical facilities are run by the government but underfunding has become a major problem that has caused poor healthcare quality and crowded hospitals. After learning more about China’s overpopulation problem, I can see why healthcare is not a major concern. It is also important to note that violent incidents are more severe in these smaller or local hospitals. There is a widespread lack of trust in doctors and hospital administrators, not to mention corruption in every level. This is affecting families all over China who often do not have enough time or money to pay for private care in China. Illness frequently causes bankruptcy in families who exhaust their saving on healthcare. These families’ expect positive results and when they don’t see them, they often blame the doctors which explain the rise of violence within the hospitals. This is commonly a problem with families living in poverty because they make very little money in the factories they usually work in. If someone in the family were to become ill, that would worsen their situation because it will be less income contributing to the family.

http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/doctors-the-targets-of-patients-anger/?_r=0

Karina Velazquez

11/8/13

1:05 am

Blog 8: Gang Rape in India, Routine and Invisible

A twenty-two year old photojournalist was raped repeatedly on Thursday by five men. This incident occurred in Mumbai, India late Thursday evening in a Mill complex. At the time, she was walking with her male colleague when they were both confronted and beaten by the five men. This was not the first time these men had committed this horrendous crime but this was the first time it had been reported to police officials.  In total, these men had raped five people; a woman who worked as a scavenger in a garbage dump, a sex worker, a call center worker, a transvestite, and the photojournalist. The victims of the Thursday’s crime were left by the railroad tracks and were threatened by the men who said they would upload video of the attack on the internet if they reported the crime. The two immediately caught a cab to the hospital where they reported the crime.

This is a sociological created problem affecting many families in India where this kind of crime often occurs but is hardly reported. The view and definition of rape in this culture highly impacts the incident of rape in their society. In a survey of more than 10,000 men carried out in six Asian countries, India not among them, found that when the word “rape” was not used as part of a questionnaire, more than one of ten men admitted to forcing sex on a woman who was not their partner. When asked why the overwhelming majority said it was “entitlement” and their motivation was “entertainment seeking.” The culture of rape also puts blame on the victim instead of the perpetrator(s) and this was also clearly seen in the article where one of the criminals’ mother partially defended her son by saying that the girl was also to blame for wearing provocative clothes and being out late at night. Lastly, these men all came from a very low socioeconomic status where it made it easy for them to commit the crime because they said they felt like they had nothing to lose. These men were unemployed or working in harsh conditions and only getting paid as little as $4 a day. Although women are the main victims, the whole family is impacted. After being raped, these women are no longer seen as desirable which makes it hard for her to find a husband. This leaves a burden on many families who often depend on the money they will receive from their daughter's finance when they marry them off. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/27/world/asia/gang-rape-in-india-routine-and-invisible.html?pagewanted=2

Karina Velazquez

11/1/13

3:20 pm

Blog 7: Hardships Mounting for Refugees Inside Syria

There is estimated to be about five million Syrians that are now refugees in their own country. In addition, two million Syrians have left their country and more than twice that number are facing privations at home.  According to Save the Children, a fifth of Syrian families go without food one week a month. These staggering numbers are the result of long civil war in Syria that began in January of 2011. Prior to the war, this country produced most of its own food and medicine, and despite worsening economic inequality had a strong social safety net and educational system by regional standards. Aid workers analysts warn that as the war continues into its third winter, deaths from hunger, disease and cold could begin to exceed those from violence which has already killed 115,000 people.

The rising poverty and death toll rates in Syria are a socially created problem because they are a result of the civil war in their own country. Because civil wars are caused by social injustices in ones’ own country in which people usually attempt to have more freedom or independence, they are therefore a socially created problem. In Syria’s case, the civil war was caused when protesters voiced their opinions against the Assad’s regime. Families in these countries are being greatly impacted in many ways from having to leave their home country to living out on the streets with no food. Children are paying the price in terms of health, education and psychological trauma. At this point, even if the war were to end soon, Syria would need a lot of help and assistance from other countries in order to begin the process of building back their country. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/25/world/middleeast/hardships-mounting-for-refugees-inside-syria.html?pagewanted=1&ref=world

Karina Velazquez

10/25/13

4.42 pm

Blog 6: Mexico Takes Bloomberg-Like Swing at Soaring Obesity

According to the World Health Organization, a staggering 70 percent of Mexicans are now overweight and about a third are obese.  These high rates of obesity, which are almost the same as in the United States, has caused for legislative action to occur. President Enrique Peña Nieto has proposed a tax on sales of all sugary drinks which congress is schedule to vote on this week. The expected tax increase will be of 7.7 cents per liter which is half of what public health advocates will like. If the tax goes through, the tax will make Mexico a rare test case of a national soda tax directed at a severe obesity problem. The mayor of New York, Michael R. Bloomberg, has offered to give a three year $10 million grant to use towards supporting anti-obesity advertising and also for the purpose to use Mexico as a pilot project that could be adapted to other developing countries if it is successful.

In the past Mexicans often suffered from under-nutrition or malnutrition due to the high percentage of people living in poverty who were unable to afford purchasing enough food to maintain a healthy diet. Therefore, Mexico’s obesity issue is a recent problem that has arisen in recent years. The increase in obesity seen in Mexico and many other underdeveloped countries are not due to an improvement in financial stability but rather to a shift in a diet towards more consumption of processed foods. On the surface it appears that the obesity issue many countries are experiencing is due to a change in preference for processed food but once we examine the underlying causes, we are able to clearly attribute this epidemic to a problem that was created by society.

Overpopulation in our world has caused there to be a demand for inexpensive filling food. This has created a rise in production of processed foods which are convenient because they did not go bad as quickly as vegetables and other healthy foods do and are a lot cheaper and faster to produce. This has made it possible for people living in poverty to be able to afford purchasing more food than they would have been able to before. Unfortunately this is what has led to the rise in obesity seen mostly within this population because they are constantly only being able to consume these foods which are high in calories, sugar, fat, and salt Globalization also pays a role in this process because factory workers are being exploited by being forced to work in horrible conditions at low wages in order to keep food prices low. This has especially affected families in poverty because not only are they suffering from health problems related to obesity, but this is also affecting their ability to work and make the little money they would make in factories. Ultimately this is a never ending cycle for people in poverty who have no choice but to consume these processed foods because it is mainly all that they can afford.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Karina Velazquez

10/18/13

3.35 am

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/world/americas/mexico-takes-a-bloomberg-like-swing-at-obesity.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0

Blog 5: Bangladesh garment factory fire kills 10

A fire at a Bangladesh clothing company, with links to Western clothing brands, killed 10 people including the general manger, Rashiduzzman Mandal.  This incident happened only six months after a factory building collapsed that killed 1,100 people which has lead authorities and global clothing companies to pledge on improving safety standards. Through undercover investigation, CBS found that many factory workers are working under the legal age of employment, in poorly ventilated work areas where toxic chemicals are being used, and are often not provided with safety equipment. When the fire had started, there were currently 170 workers inside the factory and most were able to escape the flames. The cause of the fire is still unknown but is being under investigation by the government.

            Families of victims affected by the incident are being left to deal with the loss of their loved ones while also trying to figure out how to manage without the income they received through the factory. This incident and others like it are due to globalization, factory owners do not take the precautionary measures to ensure their workers are safe because they do not want to lose any money or profits. They also exploit their workers by having them work in horrible conditions at very low wages. The lack of employment opportunities leave people with no other choice but to work under these conditions in factories. Although it is unfair to the workers and their families, this is the only way for the factory to be competitive with other factories who are also exploiting their workers. We, Americans, allow for this injustice to occur because we buy a huge portion of the clothes from the factories that exploit their workers. Unless strict laws are made for to protect factory workers from other countries, this will unfortunately continue to occur.  

Karina Velazquez

10/11/13

2:35 pm

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57606628/bangladesh-garment-factory-fire-kills-10/

Migrants Die as Burning Boat Capsizes Off Italy

A boat from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea on its way to Italy caught on fire before dawn on Thursday killing many families aboard.  Those on the boat were an estimated 500 African migrants who were fleeing war and poverty in their home country. The fire started when someone on board set a match to a blanket to signal for their position, the fire from the burning blanket ignited gasoline and caught the boat on fire. At the time this occurred, they were not even a quarter-mile away from reaching their destination when they were forced to flee the boat and attempt to swim to land. At least 111 people were reported dead, with up to 250 still missing. Italy’s Coast Guard are still continuing to search for more survivors.       

Although on the surface this tragedy may seem as though it is not a sociological created problem, by examining the underlying causes to why this happened we can begin to understand how society played an important role in this incident. Globalization has had a huge impact on Africa’s economy in more negative ways than positive. Those Africans fortunate enough to find work in factories must do so under harsh conditions and at low wages. Many do not find jobs and must resort to drugs or other criminal activity to make a living which also results in an increase in violence.  Jobs in Africa are really scarce due to its struggling economy mainly because of the depletion of resources and the exploitation of its working citizens. Therefore, the lack of opportunities for Africans has led to high violence rates affects all of African citizens.  African families who have the opportunity to leave to Europe take it even if it means risking their lives like those who were on the boat that caught on fire.

Karina Velazquez

10/4/13

4:34 pm

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/04/world/europe/scores-die-in-shipwreck-off-sicily.html?_r=0

Blog 3: Shootings at Nairobi's Westgate Mall

Kenya faced a devastating terrorist attack on Saturday September 21 that lasted for five days in Nairobi’s upscale Westgate mall. The attackers were an estimated 10 to 15 Somali Islamist extremists who had meticulously planned the massacre. The attack involved them slipping in assault rifles, used by Kenyan security services, into the mall and Kenya’s borders. These attackers opened fire in the mall shortly after 12 pm killing what is now confirmed to be at least 62 children and adults. Although the motive is still unclear, it possible that the attack had something to do with the recent killing of Omar Hammami, a Shabab fighter who grew up in Alabama and was fatally shot by another wing of the Shabab less than two weeks ago. Mr. Hummmami gained unpopularity among the Somalia community after he complained that the Shaban had become too brutal with their fellow Muslims. In the Nairobi mall shootings, civilians were asked by their attackers what religion they belonged to. Those who were Muslims were released while all others were said to be killed on the spot. Dozens of families are still unsure if their loved ones are dead or alive as they wait until more bodies are being released.

            This massacre is a sociological created problem because the shootings were said to have been based off of religious differences. Religion plays an important role in how any society is structured and functions. Religion helps guide people into making decisions of whether something is right or wrong therefore, it can help determine how people of that society will behave. The shootings at Nairobi’s mall are an example of how people of extremist views on religion can act out on those beliefs to do what they believe is right. Consequently, families are paying the price for their cause by losing their loved ones. Unlike other shootings that target men, these shootings were not aimed at a specific gender or age group. Women, men, and children were all victims of this horrendous crime and their families are left to face the consequences of the shootings. Since Nairobi is the home to one of Africa’s largest stock exchange headquarters, this could possibly lure people away from coming to make business there. Consequently affecting the economy and the government policies of Nairobi which will therefore impact the lives of Kenyan families. 

Karina Velazquez

9/27/13

11:30 am

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/25/world/africa/kenya-mall-shooting.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

Blog 2: Fear and Loathing in North India’s Sugar Cane Town

Violence in small villages in India has begun to spread due to religious tensions. On September 7^th, riots broke out between the majority Jat community and the Muslim minority in the Muzaffarnagar district located about 80 miles North of New Delhi in an agricultural district of predominately sugar cane fields. Forty-five people have already been killed and 42,000, mostly Muslims, have been evacuated to Muslims camps located in Muslim majority villages. The start of the riots, however, started out small with two Hindus man killing a Muslim man for stalking their female relative. The family of the stalker retaliated by killing these two Hindu men and progressively the violence evolved into riots. On September 8^th, local police were sent out to respond to the violence by imposing curfews and evacuating Muslims to camps. The families from the villages affected by the violence have encountered everything from shootings involving the death of many of their family members as well as the burning down of their villages.

            Families of the victims killed by the violence in their villages must come to terms with the loss of their loved ones while also adjusting to their new lives without them. This can be especially challenging for women because of the lack of financial opportunities they have in the rural areas of India. This can eventually lead to poverty within their families if they are unable to come up with enough money to support their families. . It is also important to note that Muslims are the minorities in the Jat community where the violence has occurred which can suggest that they are being treated this way since there is less of them to fend for themselves.   The violence occurring in India also more sociological implications because Hindus and Muslims are not being treated the same. According to the article, unlike the Hindus, Muslims are being evacuated to crowed camps in horrible conditions where other Muslims are going through the same situation. The Prime minister has already promised relief to the victims and persecution of those responsible for the riots but nothing has actually been done. 

Karina Velazquez

9/20/2013

12:08 am

http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/17/fear-and-loathing-in-north-indias-sugarcane-town/?src=twrhp&_r=0

Blog 1: Marikana families picket South African government

Hundreds of family members of the victims from the Marikana mine shootings marched on South African government buildings Thursday to protest the lack of state funding for survivors of shootings at the Marikana mine. On August 16, forty-four miners were killed and 270 were injured or arrested by the South African Police Service for protesting for better work conditions. This incident was the most lethal use of force by the South African security forces against civilians since the Sharpeville massacre during the apartheid times. Controversy arised after the discovery that most victims were shot in the back and many were shot far from police lines when the massacre occurred.  The issue for government officials to provide funding for family members of the victims is going to be very important for next year’s elections.

            Most of these families depended on the income that they received from their loved ones who were killed at the mines where they were protesting for being exploited.  Now that these family members are not receiving that income, they are more than ever depending on the state funding to make ends meet. If something is not done soon, these families will not have financial means to survive especially since there is already a lack of employment in their area.  This problem is also due to globalization because the workers were being paid at very low wages in order for the owners to make high profits.  Although this is unfair to those families and workers affected by the violence, there is still nothing being done for them.  

Karina Velazquez 

9/13/13

4:50