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lane rottschafer

Can Afghan Farmers Move Beyond Opium? - 0 views

  • Don Dwyer, a longtime expert in international agricultural development
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture has also dispatched 60 advisers to boost the efforts of Afghanistan's Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock
  • The first thing Rahimi did in his post was put together a viable new national agriculture plan focusing on four components: natural-resource management, production, postharvest handling and marketing
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  • What makes products like pomegranates, almonds and especially grapes so exciting, experts say, is that a plot of these legal gems can be five times more profitable than an equivalent-size plot of poppies.
  • The drawback, however, is start-up time.
  • Poppies, which are cultivated to produce opium, are an annually harvested crop. The establishment of a grape vineyard could take three to five years
  • the production cycle is only part of the problem
  • Saffron is also a high-value crop: one kilogram can fetch $2,000 to $3,000 in the local market
  • That compares to just over $90 a kilogram for poppies
  • The farmer's problem is processing, development, getting a brand and entering the international market ...
  • it's more practical to focus on enhancing the production of crops that farmers are already growing — like wheat and corn.
  • "Getting a farmer to try something new is very, very difficult. So we're trying to get them to take what they're doing now and just do it better,"
  • there has been significant progress. Over 1,000 new orchards have been planted, 30,000 tons of improved wheat seeds were distributed and ministry officials in provincial centers are working with foreign counterparts on development projects including aid programs to wean farmers off poppy
  • many complain that government involvement at the local level remains minimal to nonexistent.
  • "Agricultural production in Afghanistan needs long-term commitments and investments
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    http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1991283,00.html Can Afghan Farmers Move Beyond Opium? What are the effects of opium sales on Afghanistan? Summary: People are trying really hard to get them to grow other crops but its jut not working. They could make even more money than with the poppy if they just wait the period of time it takes to start a new crop Response: I think that this article shows that its pretty obvious things could change. It is hard to say to people, "stop what your doing and stop making money, but in the long hall you will make more money." I don't even know how many people here in america would take that chance. Questions: 1) what are the main foods that they could grow? 2) Why are those foods so fresh and tasty there? 3) They have the best ground for some of these crops, why aren't they using it? 4) What are all the crops that they could grow that would make them even more of a profit if they just wait? Citation: HAUSLOHNER, ABIGAIL. "Can Afghan Farmers Move Beyond Opium?." TIME. Ed. Kabul. N.p., 24 May 2010. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. .
Cindy Son

Israeli and Lebanese Forces Engage in Deadly Clash. - 0 views

  • Israeli and Lebanese army troops exchanged lethal fire on their countries' border on Tuesday, in what was the fiercest clash in the area since Israel's monthlong war against the Lebanese Hezbollah militia in the summer of 2006
  • A Lebanese Army spokesman said the skirmishes started after Israeli soldiers crossed into Lebanese territory to cut down a tree. ''We fired in the air, and they responded by firing artillery shells,'' the spokesman said
  • Israel said that its forces were doing routine maintenance work in a gap between the so-called Blue Line, the internationally recognized border, and its security fence
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  • Israel said it believed that the Lebanese attack had been planned. Before gunfire broke out, Lebanese soldiers shouted at the Israeli troops to move back, Israeli military officials said, and the Israelis shouted that they were in Israeli territory.
  • After the first Israeli response, Colonel Leibovich said, the Israelis were asked to hold their fire so that the Lebanese could evacuate their wounded. She said that Israel acquiesced, but that 30 minutes later, a rocket-propelled grenade was fired toward an Israeli tank.
  • Israel said its foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, had instructed the Israeli diplomatic delegation to the United Nations to file a protest with the secretary general and the Security Council, calling the clash ''one of many violations'' of the United Nations resolution on the border, No.1701.
  • On Tuesday, senior Israeli military officials said that elements of the Lebanese Army had been influenced by the Shiite, Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
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    Research Question : What are the effects of Hezbollah on Israel? Kershner, Isabel, and Nada Bakri. "Israeli and Lebanese Forces Engage in Deadly Clash." New York Times 4 Aug. 2010: A9(L). New York Times. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. Summary : Another clash happened; it is the fiercest clash since the Israel-Hezbollah war in 2006. Israeli think they need to protest with the Security Council this time. Lebanese are justifying themselves by claiming that they started the gunfire because the Israel troops crossed into their territory. However, Israeli forces says they were just in the Blue Line, the internationally recognized border. Israeli even hold their fire and allowed Lebanese to evacuate their wounded. Unfortunately, rocket-propelled grenade is what Israeli got for their generosity. Reflection : This hatred has been huge problem between Lebanon and Israel especially after the war in 2006. Lebanese has to take responsible for starting the clash this time; they should admit that their sudden furious toward Israel made this bad result of this attack. It has been about 5 years after they went through that war, and they now have to find some other peaceful ways to compromise instead of fighting against each other for forever, because their conflict affects both of them in a extremely negative way. Questions : 1) Is this clash affects other countries besides Lebanon and Israel? 2) What specifically the Security Council promised to do for the peace between two countries? 3) What methods are Israeli going to use to protest with the Security Council?
ni iang

Eco-Luxury - - 0 views

  • Matthew Cook, executive director of the Association for the Conservation of the Mono Titi (ASCOMOTI), a nonprofit dedicated to saving the endangered Costa Rican red-backed squirrel monkey, says an industry-wide drive is needed to prevent further environmental destruction. In Manuel Antonio, the organization has the support of 28 businesses that fund conservation and reforestation programs. Thanks to the efforts of some forward-thinking hoteliers, for travelers who relish a cocktail by the pool, conservation could not get any easier.
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    Miranda, Carolina A. "Eco-Luxury." Time 20 Sept. 2004: 5 pars. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. . Summery  This article talks about that some of the Hotel in Costa Rica are trying to help the environment by doing little thing that will help the environment.  Costa Rica has  been grappling with new challenges to their environment and it has growen well, all the natural beauty has attracted  millions of visitors.  But hotels and businesses increase their businesses into untouched areas.   New hotel in Costa Rica called the Four Seasons Resort has supported the environment by planting grass that can live on 50% of ocean water and 70% of the land will  remain in its natural state.  Another hotel Hacienda Pinilla also try to help environment.  The 4500 acre resort which is in the untouched area of the  Nicoya Peninsula, will maintain main areas of undeveloped land.  El Remanso hotel on the Pacific Coast have used fallen wood to build their cabins.  And also another association for the conservation of the Mono Titi, nonprofit, said that the industries need to prevent further environmental damage.  This organization support 28 businesses that work for conservation and reforestation programs. 
Nick Mast

Egypt and Tunisia's Unfinished Revolutions - TIME - 0 views

  • Egypt and Tunisia's Unfinished Revolutions By Issandr El Amrani
  • deal with the mountain of problems left behind by the dictators,
  • And at the same time, they must
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  • In Egypt, Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq had been appointed only days before Mubarak was forced out
  • Egypt's Shafiq was hurt by his proximity to Mubarak, but what undid him was his defensive appearance on a live television show where, for the first time in Egyptian history, he was forced to debate in public with opposition figures
  • His resignation the next day was announced on the military's Facebook page, which has become its primary outlet after it was criticized for handing public relations through very abrupt martial communiqués
  • Economic revival will need working banking systems and stock markets
  • The real challenge is one of political leadership, which takes us back to our first point
  • Who, in the absence of an Egyptian
  • has the credibility to inspire confidence and patience in a public hungry for change?
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    Egypt and Tunisia's Unfinished RevolutionsBy Issandr El AmraniSummary: After Mubarak removal from office a lot of uncertainly faces the Egyptian government. The military plays a big role in what will happen next, but first they have to clean up the mess the leaders left behind. There are a few keys for Egypt to get back on track, first getting the confidence back in the streets of the people, second the media is huge, Egypt had a been tightly controlled by government. The third key is the islamists gain, and the others to, the islamists had a lot to do in the protesting and what they thought of the president. And the last key is to made sure they have have a trade off between social justice and economic recovery, getting trust and money back into the country will be crucial.  Reflection: After reading this article and seeing the the work Egypt still has to do is a lot, getting rid of the old president was the easy part of this road to recovery. They have to establish the trust back into the people and faith back into the government. Also they have get all the business and economic stuff back and running with money flow, it took kind of a hit because the world didn't know how to react and deal to what was going on in Egypt. Egypt is now just starting the long road to getting the people trust and the trust of other countries in them, and the world will watch closely as they decide who is there next leader.  Questions: What role does the media play in Egypt's future? What role will the military play in the next decision for leader? Does the military have to change its role in government? How will the media react to the steps Egypt takes? its important the media gives good remarks
ni iang

Eco-Luxury - 0 views

  • Costa Rica is coming of age--and grappling with new challenges to the environment that has fueled its growth. As word about its staggering natural beauty has slipped out, the country has become one of the world's leading eco-destinations, attracting a million visitors a year
  • With this boom, upscale resorts are establishing beachheads up and down the Pacific Coast, offering championship golf courses, world-class restaurants and plenty of spas. But as hotels and other tourism businesses increasingly set up shop in remote and pristine areas, the government--which lacks the resources for effective enforcement--is facing issues such as deforestation and waste disposal.
  • They have begun to work on ways to protect the environment. The newly opened Four Seasons Resort fourseasons.com/costarica on the Papagayo Peninsula sacrifices nothing in the way of luxury.
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  • In a similar nod to the eco-ethic, Hacienda Pinilla haciendapinilla.com) a 4,500-acre resort and residential community on the Nicoya Peninsula, will maintain extensive tracts of its terrain undeveloped.
  • There are tennis courts, pools and a golf course. The hotel has made concessions to the environment too: 70% of its land area will remain in its natural state, and the golf course uses a type of grass that can be irrigated with a 50% ocean-water mix, conserving valuable freshwater.
  • Hidden in the heart of cattle country--Costa Rica's Wild West--this tropical dry forest is inhabited by dense populations of howler monkeys, iguanas and birds
  • Smaller boutique hotels, such as El Remanso elremanso.com on the Pacific Coast, have found ways to be environmentally conscious from the ground up. Fallen wood was used to build El Remanso's roomy cabins, so no rare hardwood trees were logged. Each unit is surrounded by a moat of moving water that keeps ants out of the rooms, eliminating the need for pesticides.
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    Miranda, Carolina A. "Eco-Luxury." Time 20 Sept. 2004: 5 pars. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. . Summery  This article talks about that some of the Hotel in Costa Rica are trying to help the environment by doing little thing that will help the environment.  Costa Rica has  been grappling with new challenges to their environment and it has growen well, all the natural beauty has attracted  millions of visitors.  But hotels and businesses increase their businesses into untouched areas.   New hotel in Costa Rica called the Four Seasons Resort has supported the environment by planting grass that can live on 50% of ocean water and 70% of the land will  remain in its natural state.  Another hotel Hacienda Pinilla also try to help environment.  The 4500 acre resort which is in the untouched area of the  Nicoya Peninsula, will maintain main areas of undeveloped land.  El Remanso hotel on the Pacific Coast have used fallen wood to build their cabins.  And also another association for the conservation of the Mono Titi, nonprofit, said that the industries need to prevent further environmental damage.  This organization support 28 businesses that work for conservation and reforestation programs.    
Mackenzie Haveman

Student Edition  Document - 0 views

  • Yet one year on, Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times writes that Haiti is struggling to emerge from the perilous position of post-quake shock. Kristof argues that improved economic prospects are necessary for breaking the cycle of "more needs, more crises, more tragedies, more victims.
  • "Let's send in doctors to save people from cholera. Let's send in aid workers to build sustainable sanitation and water systems to help people help themselves. Let's help educate Haitian children and improve the port so that it can become an exporter. But, above all, let's send in business investors to create jobs."
  • The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund understands the need for stable economic development and partnerships that develop Haiti's export potential.
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  • By supporting projects that help businesses grow, bring more Haitians into positions of steady income, and promote native exports, the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund partnerships seek to create growth that can see Haiti well into the future.
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    "NY TIMES OP-ED: WHAT HAITI NEEDS MOST A YEAR ON ARE JOBS." States News Service 12 Jan. 2011. Student Edition. Web. 11 Apr. 2011 Summery: This article is about different ideas to work on to help Haiti gain more jobs. It talks about how Haiti is still suffering from post-quake shock, and they are struggling to emerge from this. A man named Nicholas Kristof implies that economic growth is very necessary, and they need to beak the cycle of "more needs, more crises, more tragedies, more victims." He says that things such as sending in doctors, aid workers, and people to educate children are all important, but what is even more important is sending in business investors. They would to this to help create jobs for the people of Haiti.  Reflection: I definitely agree with this article. Like Nicholas Kristof said, it is very important to be there for the Haitians when they need doctors and teachers and aid workers, but now it is time to make some progress and rebuild the country. They need to be better off than what they once were, and in order to do that, they need to help the people find jobs and teach them how to work these jobs.  Questions: 1. What type of jobs and businesses would be appropriate to start in Haiti? 2. How long could this development take? 3. Will this be something easy for the Haitians to accept and take on?
Nick Mast

Egypt's attorney general forbids Mubarak from leaving country - CNN.com - 0 views

  • Cairo, Egypt (CNN) -- Egypt's attorney general issued an order Monday freezing the assets of former President Hosni Mubarak and his family and prohibiting them from leaving the country.
  • Mahmoud ordered the freeze for property owned by Mubarak,
  • Mubarak, through his attorneys and in official filings, has describe
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  • reports of immense wealth as "fabrications and baseless rumors."
  • Mubarak, who resigned February 11 after 18 days of protest against his rule
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    Egypt's attorney general forbids Mubarak from leaving countryBy the CNN Wire Staff Summary: On Monday Egypt's general attorney froze all of old president assets and froze him and his family from leaving the country until they come up with a resolution. The general attorney issued this just days after a member from the Egypt's parliament lost his seat after filing corruption cases against other people in high authority in the government. Mubarak and his family are rumored to have a net worth of 150 million dollars. The freeze includes his house or his home away from homes, his stocks, bonds and many other financial assets that value in a lot of money. Mubarak said through his people that this is baseless rumors put upon him.   Reflection: To hear that Mubarak's family and assets are all froze is really not surprising. By freezing all of his assets and him and his family you buy your parliament some time to figure out what there next step is to complete. And by keeping them in the country you reassure yourself that he won't be leaving. But this move also marks just another crazy step in Egypt that is going on because of his past leadership, and a step i think the government needed to take so that they have some time to figure out there next move. Questions:Why did the general attorney have to decide this? What does this mean for government? What happened to the parliament guy who lost his seat? How long are him and his assets frozen?
Luke Terpstra

Georgia Has Veto Power Over Step in Closer U.S.-Russia Ties - NYTimes.com - 0 views

  • MOSCOW — When Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. sits down with Russia’s leaders later this week, a central topic will be the payoffs of the “reset” between Russia and the United States, among them Russia’s long-awaited accession to the World Trade Organization, which American officials have vigorously supported. But it is far too early to declare that project a success. Among the remaining sticking points is the fact that Georgia, which joined the trade group in 2000, has the power to block the admission of any new member.
  • For a decade, while grievances mounted between Russia and Georgia, the Georgian government has sought policy changes from Russia in exchange for its approval. Negotiations foundered in 2008, and a few months later, when war broke out over the separatist territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, further talks began to look like a lost cause.
  • On Monday, with the 17-year process of Russia’s entry nearing its endgame, Georgian officials confirmed that they would sit down with their Russian counterparts in Switzerland, which “has been mandated to act as a mediator between both countries,” said a spokeswoman for the Swiss Foreign Ministry
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  • For Georgia, “the W.T.O. issue is a double-edged sword,” said Svante E. Cornell
  • The issue is a difficult and occasionally painful one for all the parties involved: for Russia, which must reach out to a government it has demonized; for the United States, which has made Russia’s membership in the trade group into a central goal; and for Georgia, which has a limited window in which to negotiate before its allies become impatient.
  • Two and a half years after Russian forces routed the Georgian army in South Ossetia, tens of thousands of ethnic Georgians remain displaced from their homes in the enclave, and Russia has moved in heavy weaponry, including tactical ballistic missiles and rocket launchers.
  • Georgia’s veto power was one of only two or three issues — like intellectual property rights and agricultural subsidies — that were keeping Russia from membership in the trade organization. Members acknowledge Georgia’s right to strike a bargain with Russia for its consent, Mr. Aslund said, “but the W.T.O. accession for Russia is really moving on.” “Right now Georgia has great leverage, but it will soon disappear,” he said. “They should use this in an effective fashion.”
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    Barry, Ellen. "Georgia Poses Hurdle for U.S.-Russia Ties." The New York Times 7 Mar. 2011 [Moscow] . Web. 8 Mar. 2011. .  Summary:       The issue facing russia and the World Trade Organization, is the fact that Georgia is already a member. With Russia wanting to join the W.T.O., Georgia has the power to deny Russia's passage into the organization. Georgia is trying to use this as leverage to make deals with russia so it can get peace and get the russian troops out of it's borders. The rest of the World Trade Organization views this as annoying but expects it to be solved and done with.  Reflections:       The fact that Georgia is using this as leverage is great. If I was in control of America I would also block Russia from joining in. I probably would not give up my denial of Russia until I got recognition of Georgia as a NATO member, a country that owns itself, and  get protection from attacks from Russia. I also would think that the rest of the world, just like me, would see this stupid, unneeded, bloody conflict as completely one sided. Questions: 1. What do you think Georgia should negotiate for? 2. Do you think it is fair to Russia to be denied by a country they oppress? 3. Do you think America should support them? Explain? 4. Do you think georgia should be completely supported by  America and its allies.? Why or why not?   
Won Geun Jung

South Ossetia News - Breaking World South Ossetia News - The New York Times - 1 views

  • South Ossetia is a small enclave in the Caucasus Mountains that falls within the borders of Georgia but has been all but independent
  • Whatever vestige of control Georgia had it lost in a short war in August 2008, in which its forces were routed by Russian troops. Afterward, it was recognized by Russia as a sovereign nation, a designation not supported by most of the rest of the international community.
  • Russia has supported South Ossetia and another breakaway region, Abkhazia, as quasi-satellites since the wars in the 1990s ended in stalemates.
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  • In 2005 Georgia's president, Mikheil Saakashvili offered significant autonomy and economic development to South Ossetia if it renounced independence. South Ossetia's president rejected the plan "developed by a neighboring country'' sight unseen. Mr. Saakashvili had made national reunification a centerpiece of his administration.
  • In 2008, tensions between Georgia and Russia rose steadily and during the summer artillery fire was exchanged across the South Ossetian border.
  • In the event, a massive Russian invasion soon followed, and the Georgians were not only driven from Tskhinvali, but lost control of the approaches to Abkhazia and, for a time, large swaths of its own northern territory.
  • Russians saw the attack on Tskhinvali, which they call by its Ossetian name, Tskhinval, as a watershed moment akin to the Sept. 11 attacks, and aid pledges flooded in.
  • But reconstruction has proceeded slowly in this patch of rural land that had a prewar population of 70,000. A report released in December by Russia's federal auditing agency found that of about $55 million in priority aid pledged by Russia, only about $15 million had been delivered and only $1.4 million spent. It also found that of 111 structures scheduled for renovation by the end of 2008, 8 had been completed and 38 had not yet been touched.
  • On July 14, 2009, the Russian president, Dmitri A. Medvedev, made a surprise visit to breakaway South Ossetia, inspecting a new Russian military base there and promising citizens that Russia would rebuild neighborhoods destroyed during the brief war between Russia and Georgia.
  • The visit, coming just after President Obama's visit to Moscow, underscored Russian support and the gulf that remained between it and the United States over the breakaway republics. The "reset" of relations has sidestepped the issue of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
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    South Ossetia News - Breaking World South Ossetia News - The New York Times http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/georgia/south_ossetia/index.html?scp=10&sq=south&st=cse Summary: South Ossetia is a small enclave in the Caucasus Mountains that falls within the borders of Georgia but has been all but independent.  Since 1990, South Ossetia and the rest of the regions declared independence from Georgia, and Russia were supported them.  In 2005, Georgia's president Mikhail Saakashvili would support them if it renounced independence but South Ossetia's president rejected.  Then in 2008, Georgia and Russia had a short war and their regions was invaded.  Then Russia pledged that they will support South Ossetia but the reconstruction has proceeded slowly.  In 2009, Russia president visited to South Ossetia after President Obama visited to Russia.  South Ossetia will be sidestepped by Russia and U.S. Reflection:  I think that South Ossetia and the other regions were really dangerous places between Russia and Georgia.  Also, this relationship between Russia and US would be affected because of Russia's president's visit.  If Russia really want to help South Ossetia, then they have to help the reconstruction of South Ossetia and the other parts which was invaded. Question:1) Why Georgia's president helped their economic problems and why South Ossetia's president rejected.                 2) Why Russia president surprise visit to South Ossetia?                 3) Why Russia did not help South Ossetia's reconstruction?
Joy Merlino

A Bold New Palestinian Approach Can Succeed - Council on Foreign Relations - 0 views

  • The demolition of East Jerusalem's Shepherd Hotel this week to make way for a new Jewish housing development follows two years of failure by the Obama administration in bringing Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiating table.
  • Yet it should not obscure a revolutionary new Palestinian approach towards statehood that is producing results. While the international community has spent the past two years focused on Israeli settlement activity – allowing the issue to thwart negotiations to end the conflict – Salam Fayyad, the Palestinian Authority prime minister, has made significant headway in the West Bank. Under his leadership, the PA is taking steps to help Palestine become a fully functioning state. This pragmatic “bottom up” effort reflects nothing short of a thoroughly reconstructed Palestinian approach towards peace with Israel.
  • Mr Fayyad's strategy is one of self-reliance and self-empowerment; his focus is on good government, economic opportunity, and law and order for the Palestinians – and security for Israel by extension– removing whatever pretexts may exist for Israel's continued occupation of the Palestinian territories. He has abandoned “armed struggle” and international intervention – the traditional Palestinian approaches to attaining nationalist objectives. Instead, by changing social and political realities and concretely preparing for independence, Mr Fayyad is trying to change perceptions of what is possible.
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  • Since 2007 when Mr Fayyad took over, the West Bank economy has taken off.
  • Government spending has remained within budgetary targets and improved tax collection rates have resulted in higher than projected domestic tax revenues. Unemployment, close to 20 per cent in 2008, has fallen by nearly a third. More than 120 schools have been built in the past two years, along with 1,100 miles of road and 900 miles of water networks. the prime minister's goal has been for Palestinians to be prepared for de facto statehood by 2011; from an economic and institutional standpoint, he has achieved this.
  • Mr Fayyad's Palestinian critics accuse him of naivety, however noble his intentions. They argue that Israel will never allow the Palestinians to succeed. They want to declare independence now. Yet proclaiming independence without negotiating with Israel will create a state that controls only 40 per cent of the West Bank, leaving Gaza in Hamas's control and all of Jerusalem in Israel's.
  • Israel should end its ambivalence and recognise that Mr Fayyad and PA president Mahmoud Abbas are the best Palestinian partners they are likely to find.
  • Mr Fayyad does not seek to establish Palestine unilaterally – he recognises that Israeli partnership is required.
  • Fayyadism alone will not resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Only an agreement accepted by Israelis and Palestinians can do that. But Fayyadism is helping support that effort, and preparing the groundwork for peace and Palestinian statehood, in a way that negotiations alone and armed struggle never could.
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    How does the Israeli-Palestinian conflict affect the futures of both Israeli and Palestinian children? Danin, Robert. "A Bold New Palestinian Approach Can Succeed ." Council on Foreign Relations. N.p., 11 Jan. 2011. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. . Summary: The Palestinian Authority prime minister Salam Fayyad, has decided to embark on a different strategy in regard to peace with Israel. He has "abandoned 'armed struggle' and international intervention... and instead, by changing social and political realities & concretely preparing for independence, Mr. Fayyah is trying to change perceptions of what is possible." From an economical standpoint, the strategy seems to be working. The economy has been boosted, & Palestine is moving more and more towards being able to become an independent state. Reflection: In theory, this is a great was for Palestine to work with Israel. However, time will tell how this new strategy will pan out. It may be that Israel would take advantage an idealist such as the prime minister, & it may be also that the Palestinian people will not stand behind a solution that is this inactive. Time will tell if this new strategy is a positive step towards Palestinian independence, or if it is merely an idealistic dream. 
Katie Feikema

ENVIRONMENT-COSTA RICA: TOURISM TURNS INTO GREEN GOLD. - 2 views

  • The success of eco-tourism is bringing about a change in the attitudes of rural communities in Costa Rica
  • begun to see the natural beauty surrounding them in a new light, and hopes for development have begun to encourage civil society and businesses to organize, while boosting conservation efforts and investment in green-friendly projects.
  • has begun to have an impact on the economy of this Central American nation of 3.5 million, which not only provides abundant natural beauty, but enjoys the advantage of being one of the safest and most politically stable countries in Latin America.
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  • "We know that although there is still much to be done, tourism is an activity that can generate economic resources," Mayor Juan Flix Matute told IPS.
  • in recent years, lodges and inns promoting eco-tourism have begun to crop up in the tropical rainforest surrounding the town.
  • "We want to protect nature while promoting development in the area," the president of the local chamber of tourism, William Rodr[inverted exclamation mark]guez, told IPS.
  • The members of the local chamber of tourism are interested in making sustainable use of the area's historical heritage and biological wealth.
  • "We know nature is our livelihood, and that is why our mentality now is to take care of it. This is how businesses in the region see things today," said Rodr[inverted exclamation mark]guez, who pointed out that eco-tourism already provided steady jobs for 1,500 local residents.
  • In Sarapiqu[inverted exclamation mark], a chamber of tourism has been set up, local attractions are marketed over the Internet, and part of the tourism revenues are used to offer English and computer courses to the local community.
  • Tourism activity grew nine percent last year, compared to an average of between three and four percent worldwide,
  • Tourism is the main foreign exchange-earner in Costa Rica's services sector, with more than one million arrivals by foreign visitors last year, and $339 million in revenues in the first quarter of this year alone.
  • The biological wealth of the surrounding rainforest has also become a magnet for scientific projects set up by international organizations.
  • Visitors to the museum can see traditional graves of Huetar indigenous people, and can stay at a special villa designed to reproduce the lifestyle of local Indians in the 15th century, before the Spanish arrived.
  • "The money generated by this institute will be reinvested in the research carried out by the center," Knockaert explained.
  • Other scientific organizations are also active in the area, with their research centers open to the general public.
  • Among the attractions marketed on the local community's Internet website (www.sarapiquirainforest.com) are whitewater rafting, birdwatching, horseback riding, nature walks, tours of a butterfly garden and banana plantations, and an aerial tram, on which visitors can "fly through the rainforest canopy."
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    Research Question: What effect does Costa Rica's ecological conservation have on it's environment and economy? Source: Munoz, N. "ENVIRONMENT-COSTA RICA: TOURISM TURNS INTO GREEN GOLD." Environment Bulletin (2000): ITEM00151001. General OneFile. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Summery: this article tells of the environment pulling in tourism and bringing to the economy. Reflection: The different things offered to tourists sounds amazing and like something that will be worth seeing for a long time. I don't think this resource will die. Questions: 1) how do they plan to expand this resource to bring in more economic growth? 2) Will the tourism business begin to ruin the environment?  
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    HI Katie, Nice job on the annotations. Please make sure that next time however that your Summary and reflection are a bit more comprehensive. Thanks:)
megan lemmen

Drug Trafficking, Violence and Mexico's Economic Future - 0 views

  • In August, the bodies of 72 migrants were found in northern Mexico. They had been shot after refusing to work for a drug gang. Days later, a prosecutor and police officer investigating the crime disappeared.
  • Its largest market, the U.S., sources 90% of its cocaine from Mexico.
  • Drug trafficking is a lucrative activity for the Mexican cartels, generating estimated annual revenues of US$35 billion to US$45 billion for Mexico, with a profit margin of approximately 80%.
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  • Currently, seven powerful drug-trafficking organizations occupy different regions of Mexico -- La Familia Michoacán, the Gulf Cartel, Los Zetas, the Beltrán-Leyva Organization, the Sinaloa Cartel, the Tijuana Cartel, and the Juárez Cartel.
  • For example, the Mexican government is working to improve the effectiveness of its federal police force, planning to hire 8,000 additional police investigators during 2010, while at the same time trying to purge the force of corruption.
  • In August 2010, nearly 10% of the federal police were fired for failing lie detector, drug, or other tests that form the "trust control exams" designed to identify officers with ties to organized crime.
  • In addition, Plataforma México, a recent reform related to information management, aims to create real-time interconnectivity within Mexico's police force by developing a national crime database to facilitate tracking drug criminals.
  • More importantly, the government is taking the punishment of convicted drug criminals seriously and has increased extraditions to the U.S.
  • An estimated 7,000 people died in Mexico in 2009 as a result of the drug war -- significantly more than the 1,300 people who are believed to have died in 2005 before the war began. There were also an estimated 1,200 kidnappings in 2009.
  • As previously noted, vehicle armoring is a principal offering of the security industry, and it is not surprising that the growth of the market is most visible in this subsector. In Latin America, the armoring market has increased by 850% in the last eight years, and Mexico is now the second largest market after Brazil. Since 2008, the number of armored cars has increased by 25% in Mexico City and by 60% in the rest of the country. This market is expected to grow by 20% in 2011. Businesses have responded to this need: There are now 70 registered providers of armoring, compared to only three 15 years ago.
  • In August 2010, the far-reaching impact of Mexico's drug-related violence prompted Calderón to open debate on legalizing drugs.
  • For the past two years, American Chamber Mexico (AmCham) has conducted a survey of its members -- foreign and national managers -- to gauge their sentiment regarding corporate and personal security: 75% say their businesses have been affected by the country's insecurity.
  • Nearly 60% of the respondents felt less secure on a personal level in 2009 than in 2008; but the same respondents were equally divided as to whether their respective companies were more, less, or equally secure across the same period.
  • Of the third of the respondents who viewed their companies as being less secure than the year before, the most commonly noted contributing factors were the strengthening of organized crime activity, impunity in the judicial process, and activities associated with drug trafficking. Among those who felt their companies were more secure, 25% credited the work of the Mexican authorities, while 75% attributed the improvement to the results of efforts within their own companies.
  • Pemex, the state-owned petroleum company, has been a repeated target of the cartels. In 2010, the company experienced multiple kidnappings and theft by the cartels and corrupt employees. Reuters estimates that Pemex loses "US$750 million of fuel and oil from its pipelines each year" along with "valuable spare parts and equipment."
  • Kroll estimates the direct cost of insecurity to the government, businesses, and citizens to be US$65 billion, or 8% of GDP.
  • focuses
    • megan lemmen
       
      Reflection: There is no possible way to completely eliminate corruption, even in the United States; the fact that Mexico realizes, however, that there is a problem is a step in the right direction. While it's great that Mexico is making efforts to decrease corruption in the police force and government, it's a task that will take a long time to complete. It's horrifying to think that a birthday party-a normal, friendly activity-could be so terribly interrupted by the drug cartel. As to legalizing the drugs, I think that it would cause more problems than it would solve. Yes, it would decrease the price of drugs and decrease the demand from drug cartel, but then how would they get their money? They would go to other means of earning a living; men who can be violent like this would have no problem getting money through other horrifying crimes. Questions:1) What are all of the positive and negative effects of legalizing drugs?2) Is there a better way to screen government and police officials in order to decrease corruption?3) What are other safety measures that the typical citizen can go through to be more safe?4) What else can be done to decrease the drug cartels?
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    Research Question: How does the Mexican drug war affect the government and people of Mexico? Source: Duff, Devon, and Jen Rygler. "Drug Trafficking, Violence and Mexico's Economic Future."Knowledge @ Wharton. N.p., 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. . Summary: Mexico is making efforts to cleanse their police force by performing drug tests, lie detector tests, and other exams to make sure that the officers are being honest. There is also a new program called "Plataforma México" that will try to connect the police force better in order to catch criminals. Many Mexican businesses are suffering due to the violence; drug cartels are using theft or kidnapping to gain power or profit. A birthday party was even interrupted by the drug cartel-the violence is now affecting the citizens. Legalizing drugs has been considered as a means to decrease the price of drugs, and thus get rid of the drug cartels. Some think, though, that this will increase their violence in order to earn more of a profit. Private security has increased due to the lack of trust in Mexico's public security. Tourism has decreased, not only due to the violence but swine flu as well in 2009.  ***rest of info is sticky noted on this page
jeni bouwman

Egypt's Military Says PM Has Resigned - TIME - 0 views

  • Egypt's military rulers say the prime minister appointed by ousted President Hosni Mubarak has resigned, meeting a key demand of the opposition protest movement.
  •  
    Summary: Anti- government protesters are protesting against President Hosni Mubarak- throwing stones between the supporters of the president.  Everyone is angry that he was resigned to be the president again. Massive anti-government protest went on when this happened.  Response: I think that after reading this article I feel really bad that the people are brave enough to do this to him. Even if they don't like there new president I don't think they should protest against it. Like theres always going to be people that don"t like the new president. Protesting against him is only going to make him feel bad and not change anything.  Questions:  1. Why are they not over it yet? 2. Why do they keep protesting over and over again? 3. Whats so bad about the new president? 4. WHat do they think this is going to change, by doing this? 5. How long will they protest? 
Mackenzie Haveman

To recover, Haiti needs leaders - CNN.com - 0 views

    • Mackenzie Haveman
       
      Response: (to recover, Haiti needs leaders)I definitely agree with some of the things that this article has to say. I agree with the fact that this could be a great time for them to rebuild their country, since it was already hurting very much before the earthquake happened. The article talks about the fact that they don't necessarily just need these donations from these agencies, but they need skills to be able to carry out these types of things for themselves. I think that the most help that we can give them, is teaching them. We cannot forget about them, and they still have so much recovery yet to build. If we were to go and teach them about how to be leaders, and actually try to help them find a leader who would be a positive attribution to their country, would be awesome I think.  Questions:1. Many of the Haitians cannot worry about things such as government because their worries are much great, such as worrying about surviving. Is it possible for them to do this reconstruction in a decently quick way if they are already suffering so much and have so much work to do for themselves?2. Are there government officials from other countries meeting with Haitian officials?3. How long will this rebuilding take?
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    Schindall, Julie. "To recover, Haiti needs leaders." CNN. CNN, 13 Jan. 2011. Web. 9 Mar. 2011. . Summery:  This article is about the recovery of Haiti. It says that even though it is one year after the earthquake, the reconstruction has hardly even begun. One of the big topics throughout this article is about how even before the earthquake struck, Haiti was still in a world of hurt. It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Many Haitians are hoping that this is their chance to reconstruct their country into a place in which is better and safer. The recovery is the hardest part though. They now need to know how to make smart changes. They need to make their government more capable of doing its job, they need to stop corruption, and make donors follow through with their promises. It is so hard for them because there are so many times where there are donors that try to help, but they don't always follow through. Or now, a year later--people have forgotten about them...even though they still need so much help. They need someone who can take control as a leader and help them take steps forward. As for now, they need to live knowing that the most important thing is to survive, and pray that their country rebuild.
Cindy Son

Hezbollah warns Israel against fresh violence - World - IOL | Breaking News | South Afr... - 0 views

  • Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on Tuesday warned Israel against launching new attacks against his militant group in a speech marking the anniversary of the end of the war with the Jewish state.
  • Nasrallah said Hezbollah had provided $380-million in emergency aid to assist 28 300 families affected by the war, most of them in southern Lebanon.
  • He did not say where the money came from, but Hezbollah is widely believed to be bankrolled by Iran.
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  • The last time the charismatic leader, considered Israel's enemy number one, appeared in public was on September 22, 2006, when he made a speech in the same neighbourhood to proclaim victory following the devastating 34-day war.
  • "We are here because Hezbollah is the only one that managed to defeat Israel, despite the high price we paid," said Hassan Korkomaz, who gathered with his family on Tuesday to listen to Nasrallah's speech.
  • Israel's war with Hezbollah resulted in the deaths of more than 1 200 Lebanese civilians, a third of them children, as well as 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.
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    What are the effects of Hezbollah on Israel? "Hezbollah warns Israel against fresh violence ." IOL News. N.p., 15 Aug. 2007. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. . Summary : Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah warned Israel not to attack against Hezbollah anymore. According to the article, "Israel's war with Hezbollah resulted in the deaths of more than 1,200 Lebanese civilans, a third of the children, as weel as 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers." Therefore, Hezbollah leader, with the help of Iran, supported 28,300 Lebanese families who were affected by the war. Because Hezbollah started to support those people who were affected by the war, Lebanese began to feel supportive and think that Hezbollah is the only one that can manage to defeat Israel; they believe in Hezbollah's ability to deal with Israel. Nasrallah's speech is significant because it was the first time he appeared in public after the 2006 war. Reflection : Through this article, I could find out that Hezbollah tired their best to get support from the people in their country. And I was surprised that they actually obtained people's positive opinions around 2007 by warning Israel not to bomb or attack against their country again. It was smart a decision of Hezbollah that they drew people's attention positively to deal with the issues between Israel and themselves.  Question : 1) How people's opinions about Hezbollah changed after 2007?  2) Did Nasrallah's speech made any difference between Lebanon and Israel?  3) Are there any other ways to manage to defeat Israel beside Hezbollah?
ni iang

Campaign to plant 5 million trees in Central America - 0 views

  • A youth organization in Costa Rica announced Wednesday that it will plant at least five million native trees throughout Central America in June, with the goal of reforesting the region and mitigating climate change.
  • The organizations have the goal of not only planting trees, but also monitoring their growth. The Union for the Conservation of Nature supports the initiative.
  • The campaign “Reforestando Centroamérica” ("Reforesting Central America") involves social and environmental organizations and businesses from Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
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  • A youth organization in Costa Rica announced Wednesday that it will plant at least five million native trees throughout Central America in June, with the goal of reforesting the region and mitigating climate change.
  • Guatemala accomplished a similar project last year through the work of 10,000 youth volunteers.
  • In Costa Rica, the initiative hopes to plant at least 5,000 trees in mangrove areas in towns in the Caribbean and Pacific as well as metropolitan areas. The main day for planting the trees will be June 25.
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    "Campaign to Plant 5 Million Trees in Central America." Tico Times 11 Apr. 2011. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. . Summary  In Costa Rica, a youth organization is planning to plant five million trees throughout central America to support the environment.  And also not just planting them, they are planning to continue to take care of all those trees and make sure that they grow well.  The group also is going to plant at least five thousand trees in the City in Costa Rica but also bigger areas of their neighbor's land like Caribbean and Pacific as well.  They announced that the big planting day will on on the 25th June.   Reflection  I think this plan is really good plan because iit s not hard to plant a tree, but it will help a lot of the environment as long as they take care of them as they plan.   They seem very serious about this plan because they are even going to plant to their neighbor's land, which shows that they really care for the environment.  Since this plan is coming soon, I'm excited to learn about how it will go.  This makes me think that if the rest of the world will  care like them, our world would be so much healthier than today.  How old are the  youth  who volunteer?How would the neighbor's country respond? How much will it help the environment from this many tres being planted and how long will it take to grow?
khamkhoun sedsaykongsa

Art Exhibition Fuels US-Cuba Thaw - 0 views

  • The show's American curator is gallery owner Alberto Magnan, whose parents left Cuba when he was five years old.
  • "I would love for this show to be a beginning step towards both countries getting a little closer together and starting a dialogue and I think art is a great way to do it," he said.
  • "This is the first exhibition we made after Obama rose to power," he says. "This is a kind of lighthouse of the next process of the culture and the politics between Cuba and the United States."
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  • The show is expected to attract large numbers of Cuban artists who have spent years working in isolation, with little real contact with what is going on across the straits of Florida.
  • During the Clinton years, US museums and art dealers used to regularly visit Cuba, buying works and helping Cuban artists to exhibit there. But the Bush administration tightened trade and travel restrictions, making art and other cultural exchanges increasingly difficult in recent years.
  • major exhibition of U.S. artists in Cuba in a quarter of a century, part of what organizers are calling a social experiment in connecting Cubans and Americans. "Art is a great bridge, the way to start a conversation," said Alberto Magnan, a New York gallery owner who is in Havana to oversee the exhibit. Havana is crawling with Americans these days." (Los Angeles Times) This article surveys the thawing of relations between the governments of America and Cuba, illustrated by the cooperative art exhibition taking place in Cuba.
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    Wilkinson, Tracy. "American Tourists at Home in Cuba." Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA). 12 Apr 2009: n.p. SIRS Renaissance. Web. 12 Apr 2011. Summary: The art show between U.S and Cuba. To warmup  the relationship to both cultures and country. To be to know each other. Exchange the idea. Artist judge other less and don't carry much about politics. So it will be easier to trade in the future. Reflection: If the 2 groups of people get to know each other better, it would be easier to get rid of embargo. So they will be no more war. Art it a beautiful thing that could bring people together. It show the personal and the paint of the art of the different in both cultures  Question: 1. Is it alright to have the art show. When we have law and restricted for people to go to Cuban? 2. Should we later on having sport friendship game or other stuff to strengthening the 2 relationship? 
Joy Merlino

Palestinians to hold elections by September - USATODAY.com - 0 views

  • The Palestinian leadership in the West Bank on Saturday promised to hold long-overdue general elections by September, a surprise move spurred by political unrest rocking the Arab world and embarrassing TV leaks about peace talks with Israel.
  • The announcement appeared to be an act of desperation by an embattled government that has been weakened by the standstill in peace efforts with Israel, its rivalry with Hamas and the loss of its key Arab ally in Egypt. Mubarak had served as an important mediator between Israel and the Palestinians, and rallied Arab support for Abbas when needed.
  • Still, it c
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  • uld become difficult for Hamas to reject elections at a time of growing calls for democracy throughout the Middle East. Hamas itself has praised the downfall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as a victory for the Egyptian people.
  • The call for elections came a day after Mubarak stepped down, forced out by mass protests against his ironfisted 30-year rule. The Egyptian uprising and another successful revolt in Tunisia a month earlier have inspired calls for democratic reform throughout the region.
  • Abbas aide Yasser Abed Rabbo said Saturday that preparations were underway for legislative and presidential elections later this year. "We call on parties to put aside all of their differences and to focus on conducting the elections by September at the latest,"
  • In principle, elections could help end the deep political split between West Bank-based President Mahmoud Abbas and the Islamic militant Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, the other territory the Palestinians want for their state.
  • The documents showed that in 2008 Abbas agreed to major concessions toward Israel by dropping claims to parts of east Jerusalem, the hoped-for Palestinian capital, and acknowledging that most Palestinian refugees would never return to the lost properties in what is now Israel.
  • With the call for elections, Abbas is trying to signal that he is attentive to his people's demands. By putting his job on the line, he can portray himself as a leader committed to democracy. It was not clear whether Abbas, who has said he would step down after his current term, would seek re-election. But the move is a gamble. With peace talks on hold, Abbas and his Fatah party will have no major accomplishment to present to voters.
  • And Hamas, which seized Gaza from Abbas' forces in 2007, said it would not participate in the elections. Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, called the election "illegitimate."
  • September is shaping u
  • At that time, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad expects to complete a two-year process of building the state from the ground up. The Palestinians have also signaled they will ask the U.N. Security Council, whose decisions are legally binding, to formally recognize an independent Palestine at that time.
  • Israeli officials have dismissed the Palestinian tactics, saying unilateral recognitions will not change the situation on the ground and that there is no replacement for direct negotiations. However, Netanyahu's hardline government, already reluctant to making deep concessions to the Palestinians, appears unlikely to make any bold offers while the Egyptian situation remains fluid.
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    Research Question: How does the conflict in Israel affect the future of Israeli children compared to Palestinian children? Summary: This article states that the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank is planning on holding general elections by September. This has been brought about as a response to the TV leaks, and the unrest in the surrounding Arab countries. This is an attempt to end the conflict between the Hamas and the West Bank. However, this article does not think that the Hamas will respond favorably to this call for democracy. But with the unrest in the surrounding nations, they might be pushed into cooperation.  Reflection: If these elections do in fact take place, this would mean a dramatic change for the future generation of Palestinians and Israelis alike. If Palestine could become an independent state, this would mean that there would hopefully be an end to the conflict that is associated with the borders. However, this is not certain. The Palestinians best hope would be to get the recognition of the UN. Unfortunately, this could be a challenge due to the relations held between the US and Israel, and the veto power that the US holds. This would also have an effect on the future generation of Israeli citizens. As the conflict would almost certainly dissolve to an extent or reach a boiling point that would inevitably lead to military action. The occurrence of these elections -- or lack thereof -- has the potential to entirely reshape the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. 
Mallory Huizenga

"Costa Rica Aims to Be a Carbon-Neutral Nation" - 0 views

  • It's announced it wants to be the first developing nation to be carbon-neutral; that is, to have zero output of carbon dioxide. It's goal is to be that by 2021.
  • A small regional air carrier called Nature Air advertises itself as the world's first carbon-neutral airline.
  • What if everything, every hotel room, every sack of coffee beans, every microprocessor made by Intel carried the C-neutral brand?
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  • Land owners think of cattle, agriculture or selling to a developer, and forest conservation is the last thing they think about. So we need to create an incentive so the property owner will conserve.
  • Saving trees is important. They're the lungs of the Earth. Costa Rica claims to have planted five million trees last year, although there's no proof how many of them survived, but that's not going to make this or any other country carbon-neutral.
  • New Zealand and Norway have also pledged to erase their carbon footprints
  • What if you don't become carbon neutral but become 90% carbon neutral? I think this still would be a great example to the world.
  • The big obstacle for all three countries is transportation.
  • I'm not against it, but I think it will be very difficult, because here our culture is not educated for such a thing.
  • Some Costa Ricans believe their government's goal of zero carbon emissions is a distraction from more pressing environmental problems. Illegal loggers are still hauling out old growth hardwoods.
  • , in 2005 Costa Rican plant life absorbed about two and a half million metric tons of CO2, but Costa Ricans produced five times that amount, about twelve and a half million metric tons of CO2
  • Or 80% carbon neutral, or 70%. People who work on global warming say considering the sluggish movement of most countries on climate change, Costa Rica's green crusade, however quixotic, should be applauded.
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    Research Journal #3: Article Two Research Question: How is ecological conservation effecting Costa Rica? Source: NPR: "Costa Rica Aims to Be a Carbon-Neutral Nation" by John Burnett Citation: Burnett, John. "Costa Rica Aims to Be a Carbon-Neutral Nation." Climate Connections. NPR, Feb. 2008. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. . Summary: This article is set up interview style. The author John Burnett, talks with different people about Costa Rica's goal to become carbon-neutral by 2021. Becoming carbon-neutral in a short amount of time isn't that easy. Other countries such as New Zealand and Norway also hope to become carbon-neutral, but have set their goal for a later date of 2050. This article focuses on the transportation, cattle ranching, trees, and the Costa Rican government. The article looks at what those areas are doing to bring Costa Rica to being carbon-neutral. The article does speak of how failure of reaching this goal is quite possible unless Costa Rica works hard to change its ways.  Reflection: I found this article intriguing because it brought forth the idea that Costa Rica could fail. Other articles I have read, don't talk about the possibility of failure. If Costa Rica takes the right steps, and works hard to change their ways I do believe they can become carbon-neutral. I hope that Costa Rica works hard to achieve this goal. They have strong potential. I think there willingness and their drive to become carbon-neutral will lead them to becoming carbon-neutral. Questions: 1) How far along is Costa Rica on their journey to becoming carbon-neutral? 2) How much is still need to be done for Costa Rica in the next 10 years? 3) How many other countries are striving to become carbon-neutral? 4) Is America looking at one day becoming carbon-neutral?
Katie Feikema

Recycled roads. - 0 views

  • Recycled roads.(Out Of The Box)(Costa Rican portion of Pan-American Highway)(Brief Article). Latin Trade 11.9 (Sept 2003): p59(1). (149 words) 
  • The Pan-American Highway,
  • the jugular vein of road trade and tourism in the Americas. But decades of torrential rains have degraded the Costa Rican portion the highway, leaving a 240-kilometer strip in much need of rehabilitation.
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  • Traditional repair methods, such as repaving the entire strip of road, are expensive and time consuming.
  • Like a slow-moving train, the recycler heats old asphalt, combines it with new material, and lays it back out as a higher quality road.
  • Costa Rica is recycling its old road into a new one.
  • "The recycling technique we currently use in Costa Rica saves us about 30% in costs," says Steven Lee, the principal pavement engineer for Trow Engineering.
  • which is enforcing environmental consciousness to protect its tourism industry, especially liked the recycling method because it uses fewer resources than traditional repaving.
  • the Costa Rican government,
  • Source Citation"Recycled roads." Latin Trade 11.9 (2003): 59. Academic OneFile. Web. 11 Apr. 2011.
  • Document URLhttp://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=AONE&docId=A109178276&source=gale&srcprod=AONE&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0
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    SOURCE: highlighted SUMMARY: This article is talking about the cost effective way that Costa Rica was approaching the re-construction of their portion of the Pan-American Highway. Instead of ripping it all up and using all new materials to build a new section; they recycled the road they had and added new asphalt to the mix. This saved them close to 30% on cost to repair.  REFLECTION: I have seen large chunks of old roads sitting in piles in junk yards, as I drove by on new roads. I like what Costa Rica is doing because it saves money by recycling, and it also saves time and space by not having to dispose of the old roads. I am not surprised by what they are doing, because they are such a green country already, and this is just another way to be an even better country.  QUESTIONS:  - Do they do this for their other roads, or just for the Pan-American? - Did other countries follow their lead and do this too?
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