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Troy Rietsma

Cable: Leaders, military behind Nigeria oil thefts - World news - Africa - msnbc.com - 0 views

  • Politicians and military leaders — not militants — are responsible for the majority of oil thefts in Nigeria's crude-rich southern delta, according to a U.S. diplomatic cable quoting a Nigerian official and released by WikiLeaks.
  • A member of a government panel on troubles in nation's Niger Delta implicated Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, a general whose brother became president, and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as being the biggest forces behind the thefts, the cable claims
  • Those thefts also fuel arms sales to the restive region while causing environmental damage and cutting production in a nation crucial to U.S. oil supplies.
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  • The diplomatic cable quotes Uranta as blaming "no more than 15 percent" of oil thefts on militants operating in the delta, a tropical maze of creeks and waterways about the size of South Carolina. Instead, politicians, retired admirals and generals and others in the country's elite profit from the thefts. Typically, thieves solder or cut into oil pipelines running through the mangrove swamps of the delta. Some refine the crude into kerosene or diesel in crude refineries, while other oil sails out to foreign ports for sale.
  • The large-scale theft, compounded by anger over unceasing poverty and pollution in the delta despite 50 years of oil production, led to an uprising of militants in the region beginning in 2006. Military-grade weapons funneled into the region, turning gunrunners into militant leaders who espoused political ideas — but kept their eyes on the profits from stolen oil.
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    Research Question: What effect does the competition of oil have on the people of Nigeria? 1. Source: Gambrell, Jon. "Leaders, military behind Nigeria oil thefts." MSNBC.com. MSN, 11 Apr. 2011. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. . 2. Summary: The oil bandits that I mentioned in an earlier post have an unsuspected force behind them. That force is allegedly the politicians and military leaders who lead the country. One of them was Shehu Musa Yar'Adua, a general whose brother became president.They allegedly supported the thieves who cut production of oil that is crucial to our own supplies. 3. Reaction I think this article is really going to give us a lead on our research question. Although we don't see exactly why these leaders would do this so clearly, we do see the corruption around the oil. It's hard to believe that leaders would do this; we take it for granted that although our leaders aren't perfect, we still have relatively loyal people leading our country. 4. Questions: How have the people of the country reacted? Are the people going to be pressed with charges? What kind of actions will follow such a find?
Luke Terpstra

Putin meets South Ossetia leader in Moscow - Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review - 0 views

  • ussian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that a Russian-funded “plan on rehabilitation” launched after the August war between Russia and Georgia that led to Moscow’s recognition of South Ossetia as an independent republic “is practically over,”
  • Putin, speaking at a meeting in Moscow with Eduard Kokoity, the de facto leader of the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia, said problems might remain
  • After the meeting Kokoity said it was possible to say that “consequences of the Georgian aggression of August 2008 will be fully eradicated in a year or two.”
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  • “Despite the global economic crisis, Russia has completely met its commitments,” said Kokoity, regarding financial assistance to Tskhinvali, adding that a total of 792 of South Ossetia’s facilities were rehabilitated with Russian assistance.
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    "Putin meets South Ossetia leader in Moscow." Hurriyet Daily News 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.   Summary:    Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister, says that he and Eduard Kokoity,  the leader of the region in Georgia called South Ossetia, and stated that hostilities may still exist, but they have assisted South Ossetia in rehabilitating some of their facilities. Putin claims that with Russian aid, nearly 800 facilities were rehabilitated.  Reflection:      I find it hard to believe that Russia would help restore South Ossetia at all. They have constantly met all hostilities from Georgia with more offense, and not with the respectful defense they should have. I also find it strange that they find it strange that Georgia would attack them back.  Questions:  1. What do you think caused Russia to help South Ossetia out. Was it that they were obligated to do it, or did they just want to play the good guy role?  2. How much help do you think South Ossetia got, and what kind?  3. Why do you think Georgia is still hostile to Russia?
Nick Mast

Academic OneFile  Document - 0 views

  • Synopsis: Fewer than 3 in 10 Egyptians (28%) in 2010 expressed confidence in the honesty of elections in their country.
  • s that might be included in a new constitution, large majorities said they would support freedom of speech and religion.
  • When asked hypothetically in 2009 about rig
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  • But the 2010 ele
  • ctions that
  • esulted in a landslide victory for Mubarak's National Democratic Party were mired with widespread fraud allegations.
  • nearly all Egyptians (96%) said they would "probably agree" with the inclusion of free speech as a guaranteed right in a new country's constitution. A majority of them (75%) also said they would probably agree with constitutional guarantees of freedom of religion and freedom of assembly (52%) or the right to congregate for any reason or in support of any cause.
  • gyptians' lack of confidence in the honesty of elections in previous years highlights the need for quick constitutional guarantees to set the stage for free and transparent elections.
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    Before Uprising, Egyptians Lacked Faith in Honesty of Elections; Nearly all in 2009 said they would in theory support freedom of speech as a constitutional right.(survey) By: Gallup Organization Byline:Mohamed Younis Summary: In 2010 3 in every 10 people trusted the current Egyptian government. Many people thought that Mubaraks win in 2010 was rigged by people inside the government.  People in the country want in there next leader someone who listens and a lot of people want to be given freedom of religion and freedom of speech.The voting and choosing of leaders after the citizens protests is important they make the right moves and decisions for there country and the world will all be watching as this evolves carefully.  Reflection: To read this article and see that only 3 out every 10 people expressed confidence in the egyptian government, that low of a number just shocked me. No wonder everyone in the country revolted, no one trusted them. So now that the people have gotten rid of there old president they need to put there trust back into the government in making a smart choice about who is going to be the next leader, and they have to make sure they pick a leader who will hear there voices, for freedom of speech and religion and more.  Questions: What do people in Egypt now think of there governmental stand? Are more people starting to believe in the government? Do the people trust the government they have in place now? What would government have to change to make people trust them again?
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.
Hojin Choi

BBC NEWS | South Asia | Tribal leader killed in Pakistan - 0 views

  • A tribal leader who opposed the head of the Taliban in Pakistan has been shot dead in the north-western Pakistani town of Dera Ismail Khan, police said.
  • Qari Zainuddin
  • Baitullah Mehsud, was killed by a gunman in his office early on Tuesday.
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  • South Waziristan.
  • Zainuddin hit out at Mehsud for recent attacks in which civilians have been killed.
  • The fresh violence comes as the Pakistani army is preparing to launch a new offensive against Taliban fighters under Mehsud's command.
  • Zainuddin was taken to the hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.
  • Not a jihad'Earlier this month, Zainuddin criticised Mehsud after an attack on a mosque which killed 33 people.
  • "Islam stands for peace, not for terrorism,"
  • Mehsud is thought to head the most powerful group of militants in the country, with a network of alliances with other militants.
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    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? Citation:Tribal leader killed in Pakistan. BBC, 23 June 2009. Web. 16 Feb. 2011.  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8114104.stm Summary: This article announced about the Pakistan. A trivial leader, Qari Zainuddin, 26,  who opposed the Taliban; as a result, he was assassinated in the north-western Pakistani town. He usually blamed Baitullah Mehsud who was the head of Taliban, and also most powerful group of militants in the county. Recently, Zainuddin attacked to the Mehsud; therefore, a guard who was under controlled by Mehsud entered the room at Zainuddin's office and fired.   Reflection:This article is what I want for my research question. For the reason, this is the evidence or reference to show people that Islam refer to maintain violence than peace. Since I have known the Pakistanis' violence, I recognize that it is worst than what I guess before. I can realize why they killed  between Pakistani and Taliban, but I need to consider about the initiation of the conflicts; it should be demarcation dispute of the Islam. According the article said,  "the Islam stands for peace, not for terrorism"; however, having many happenings between two sides don't make any sense of the Islam purpose.  Questions:1) What is the initiation of the conflicts between them?2) How can we solve sensitive problems?3) What is the Islam main purpose?4) Was Zainuddin's behavior for the Islam or just his authority? 
Hojin Choi

Will Islam divide or unite Iraq?(Opinion)(Viewpoint essay). - 0 views

  • Will Islam divide or unite Iraq?
  • American combat troops have officially left Iraq, but religious factions there continue to jostle for power in the still-unformed government seven months after the March election failed to elect new leaders.
  • Sunni, Shiite, Sadrist, and Kurdish political leaders are struggling to negotiate a coalition government.
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  • When religion goes wrong
  • When religion goes wrong, it goes very wrong.
  • Archbishop William Temple
  • When people slaughter the innocent believing that they are doing it in God's name, the effects are catastrophic.
  • If 9/11 showed us the power of religion to cause tragedy on an epic scale, the aftermath should teach us something else. When religion is at the heart of the problems in a country, religion also needs to be at the heart of the solution.
  • Relationships of trust
  • I first visited as a peace negotiator in 1998. My commitment to Iraq over such a long period has enabled me to develop relationships of trust with nearly all of the most senior religious leaders.
  • Through religious leader engagement, we have been able to negotiate the release of many hostages, both expat and Iraqi.
  • Making
  • ake war
  • hose who m
  • peace with t
  • This work has been difficult.
  • Members of my church have been kidnapped or killed. I have lost many friends. But if you want to work for peace, you need to be willing to work with people who make war. Nice people don't cause conflict.
  • the warmakers need to be encouraged to become peacemakers.
  • Peacebuilding requires relationships.
  • A Sunni/Shiite fatwa against violence
  • Long-term commitment
  • This is religious reconciliation at a grassroots level, and gives standing to negotiate at the highest level.
  • raq needs this religious reconciliation if it is to survive. And so we remain committed to a long term, relational program of religious leader engagement.
  • Andrew White, an Anglican reverend and canon, is president of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East.
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    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? Citation:White, Andrew. "Will Islam divide or unite Iraq?" Christian Science Monitor 20 Oct. 2010. Student Edition. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=STOM&docId=CJ239979945&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary:This article about the perspective of Andrew White, the president of the Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East. He discussed about the Islam after the Iraq War; although there are some political leaders attempt to negotiate a government, the Islam still have a power at the government during seven months. The author quotes Archbishop William Temple saying that " When religion goes wrong, it goes wrong." He suggests 4 different solutions to prevent for abusing the islam: 'Relationship of trust', 'Making peace with those who make war','A Sunni/Shiite fatwa against violence', and 'Long- term commitment'. 
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    You are missing your questions and reflection sections
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
Leah Hop

BBC News - Mexico's drugs gang 'death squad' - 0 views

  • come into existence some seven years ago, when leaders of the Gulf cartel of illegal drugs traffickers took it on as their security network.
  • The gang was called Los Zetas after the Mexican word for the letter 'z', as this was the radio call sign of one of their first leaders, former Mexican Special Forces Lieutenant Arturo Guzman Decena.
  • Mr Guzman took 30 other personnel from Mexico's Special Forces Airmobile Group to work with him for the Gulf cartel.
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  • The original group trained new members, and quickly became known for its ruthlessness, in particular for beheading their victims.
  • The Mexican Defence Ministry has described the cartel as "the most formidable death squad to have worked for organised crime in Mexican history".
  • By 2007, after the extradition of Gulf cartel leader Osiel Cardenas-Guillen to the US, the Zetas are said to have begun running their own drugs smuggling operation from Mexico to the US.
  • In February and March 2010, between 200 and 250 members of rival cartels were killed as they battled to control regions in Mexico's north-east.
  • It says he was a corporal in the Airmobile Group before being recruited by the Zetas in 2002, and it has offered a $5m (£3.2m) reward for his capture.
  • Ten members of the Zetas are on the DEA's most-wanted list, with total rewards offered amounting to $50m.
  • The Zetas have apparently switched their operations from the west coast state of Michoacan to Tamaulipas on the east coast, and down to Cancun in the Yucutan Peninsula.
  • As the Zetas have tried to take over territory controlled by other gangs, there has been a sharp increase in murders of rival gang members.
  • According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in 2009 the leader of the Zetas was Heriberto Lazcano-Lazcano.
  • In addition to drugs, the Zetas have specialised in human trafficking,
  • The Zetas are said to charge $1,000-$2,000 for each man and woman smuggled across the border. The business also gives them contacts throughout Central America, and in the US, where they are suspected of committing a number of murders.
  • In late August 2010, they are thought to have been responsible for the deaths of 72 Central and Southern American illegal migrants
  • They have also become notorious in Mexico for breaking out of jail when they are caught and imprisoned.
  • In May 2009, 53 inmates of Cieneguillas prison in Zacatecas state escaped, freed by gunmen thought to be Zeta members.
  • Some analysts say that Mexican government's hardline tactics, such as the recent raid which ended with the deaths of 27 alleged Zetas near the US border in Tamaulipas, have seriously weakened its capacity.
  • in July 2010 in the northern city of Monterrey, when Zetas leader Hector Raul Luna Luna was captured by the authorities.
  • there are as many as 30,000 youngsters aged between 18 and 24 who have no work apart from the easy money offered by groups such as the Zetas
  • Some 28,000 deaths have been blamed on organised crime since President Felipe Calderon came to power in 2006.
  • He has drafted as many as 50,000 members of the security forces into the fight against the cartels, but is facing increasing criticism because of the surge in deadly violence throughout Mexico.
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    Research Question: What is the cause of all the violence associated with the Mexican drug trade? Source: Caistor, Nick. "Mexico's drugs gang 'death squad' ." BBC News. N.p., 4 Sept. 2010. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11189017 Summary: The Zeta drugs gang, formed around seven years ago, is known as the most ruthless and threatening death squad in Mexican history. Ten members of the Zetas are on the DEA's most-wanted list with rewards reaching $50m. As a result of the Zetas trying to take over more territory, there have been a rapid increase in murders of rival gang members. "President Felipe Calderon has drafted nearly 50,000 members of the security forces into the fight against the cartels, but is facing increasing criticism because of the surge in deadly violence throughout Mexico." Reflection: To be honest I didn't know a lot about the Mexican drug trade, and had never heard of the Zetas. It's unfortunate to see how influential and dangerous this group has become over the course of just seven years. It disgusts me to read about how ruthless this gang is; particularly for beheading their victims. Also, I read about what Mexico's president is trying to do, however he is being criticized because of the increase in violence. Thinking more about President Felipe Calderon makes me want to look more into what Mexico is trying to do to stop such violence. This article helped me understand more about the Zeta gang but didn't specifically help answer the cause of my research question. Questions: 1) What is the most effective way of trying to reduce violence throughout Mexico? 2) Are the Zetas targeting certain areas or specific gangs? 3) Why do the Zetas want to conquer more territory so badly? 4) Because the Zetas committed some murders in the US, is the US doing anything to stop this from happening?
Joy Merlino

Impatient Palestinians Eye Arab World In Flux : NPR - 0 views

  • Could the Arab Spring pass over the Palestinians?
  • With the peace process going nowhere, the threat of new violence increasing and the Palestinians badly divided, people in the West Bank and Gaza are surveying the rapid changes in the rest of the Arab world — and growing impatient with stagnation at home.
  • In Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority, officials are quietly working on a plan: Going for statehood without agreement with Israel, bypassing the moribund peace process.
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  • Abbas' prime minister, Salam Fayyad, has long cited September 2011 as the moment his people will be ready for independence, after a two-year program of rehabilitating courts, police and other institutions. It also coincides with the annual meeting of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly.
  • "I believe that change is coming to our part of the world. We need as Palestinians to catch the moment," said Saed Issac, a 22-year-old law student in Gaza. "It's time for national unity first, to elect new leaders, and to work hard to achieve our task to end the occupation."
  • Issac was referring to Israel's control over Palestinians' lives — which Palestinians feel applies not only to the West Bank, where power is shared in a complex arrangement dating back to the 1990 autonomy accords, but also in besieged Gaza, even though Israeli settlers and soldiers pulled out five years ago.
  • In Israel, many eye the changes in the Arab world warily, fearing freedom could unleash more hostility — and that is doubly true when it comes to the Palestinians.
  • the Palestinians were influenced by "the trauma of Hamas' rise in the Gaza Strip, relative prosperity in the West Bank" and the expectation of statehood materializing within months. If that expectation is disappointed "a political tsunami" will result, he predicted.
  • A paradoxical challenge results: Hamas won elections but rules Gaza in authoritarian fashion, while Fatah, despite canceling recent elections, has made strides in convincing the world community that in the West Bank it is genuinely laying the foundations of a functioning independent state.
  • The picture that emerges from interviews with top Palestinian Authority officials, most off the record, marks a break from past policies that ranged from negotiations to violence and terror attacks. It combines what seems like genuine commitment to nonviolence with utter impatience with more talks with Israel.
  • "Negotiations have hit a dead end, and the U.S. administration is not willing to pressure Israel. Therefore, we have no other option except taking our case to the international community," said Palestinian negotiator Mohammed Ishtayeh.
  • Although revolt seems unlikely for now, the crowded coastal strip has experienced a series of demonstrations with youths calling for national reconciliation between the two Palestinian territories.
  • The Palestinians say 120 of the 192 countries in the General Assembly have already granted full diplomatic recognition to Palestine, including a recent string of Latin American nations. Many have said the state should be based along the pre-1967 boundary between Israel and the West Bank — effectively taking the Palestinians' side on the border question, since Israel hopes to keep parts of the West Bank under a future deal.
  • Israel had previously dismissed the General Assembly as toothless, but that is starting to change.
  • In an interview with the Jerusalem Post Friday, former Israeli U.N. Ambassador Gabriela Shalev warned that a General Assembly resolution might be meaningful if passed under the auspices of so-called Resolution 377, a little-used device dating back to the Korean War that permits the body to recommend measures ranging from sanctions to the use of force in cases where the Security Council members cannot reach unanimity and peace is imperiled. "This would seek to impose on us some kind of Palestinian state," Shalev was quoted as saying.
  • Although a General Assembly declaration might not force immediate change on the ground, the Palestinians see it as a major step that would "give us new political, moral and legal standing against the Israeli occupation," Ishtayeh said.
  • Inspired by the unrest elsewhere in the region, the Palestinians are also considering backing the diplomatic offensive with peaceful — and photogenic — mass marches and sit-ins across the West Bank, confronting Israeli checkpoints and settlements.
  • One senior Palestinian official said the strategy, following the successful uprisings that ousted leaders in Egypt and Tunisia, would be meant to push the U.S. to take action.
  • A Facebook group called "Let's End the Occupation" has already sprouted up, saying it is preparing demonstrations near the Beit El settlement near Jerusalem later this year.
  • If all else fails Palestinians warn they might disband the Palestinian Authority — a move that would saddle Israel with responsibility for civil and security affairs in the West Bank, huge expenses and a public relations nightmare.
  • As long as peace talks were an option, Abbas could not afford to alienate Israel by embracing its archenemy this way. But the equation changes now that hardly a single Palestinian official can be found who believes in peace talks anymore: World recognition demands a unified front. And because the new strategy does not actually require the Palestinians to offer Israel formal peace, Hamas could be more likely to go along.
  • But there is a certain foment growing from within. Its scale is difficult to gauge, because fear is still widespread, but recent weeks have seen repeated popular protests, which Hamas has alternately supported and violently dispersed.
  • "Hamas needs to listen to the young generation's demands," Fahmi said. "The whole world is changing. You can feel it. So can Hamas."
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    How does the conflict in Israel affect the future of Israeli children compared to Palestinian children? Summary: This article is discussing whether or not the uprisings in the Middle East will spread to the palestinian lands. Given the fact that the leaders in the Palestinian lands no longer believe in the effectiveness of Israeli peace talks, the thought is that the spirit of the riots being held in neighboring countries will be caught by the Palestinian people. The attempt is to become recognized as a sovereign state; before this was to be attempted through peace talks, now the thought of many is to forgo the peace talks and deal directly with the international community.  Reflection: Our research question was focused mainly on the Israeli conflict alone; however, with the current rebellions and unrest in the rest of the MIddle East, it makes logical sense to explore their effect on this conflict as well. It is very true that these uprisings may lead to a want for an expedited statehood. We will just have to see how this all plays out.  
Matt Mulder

North Korea parliament praises progress on economy - FoxNews.com - 1 views

  • parliament praised progress in building the economy
  • but state media made no mention of a major promotion for the son of leader Kim Jong Il
  • Kim Jong Un would be elected to the powerful National Defense Commission — a move that would further solidify the young man's standing as North Korea's next leader.
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  • parliament typically meets once or twice a year
  • outsiders scrutinize the sessions for clues to changes to the tightly controlled country's economic policies and power structure.
  • election to the National Defense Commission, which formulates key state and military policies, would be the next step in the path to formally naming him as successor.
  • The country has made it a key goal to build up the economy by 2012, the 100th anniversary of the birth of national founder Kim Il Sung.
  • built a new steel factory, increased coal industrial capacity and built hydropower stations
  • "It actively encourages the struggle for the improvement of the people's living standards, marking the 100th anniversary of the birth of our fatherly leader Kim Il Sung in 2012, next year,"
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    Research Question: How does North Korea's communist government and nuclear technology influence the lives of its people? Source: Foxnews.com Summary: The leaders of North Korea's government met on thursday, and there were rumors that Kim Jong Il's son would be appointed to a higher position in the government to secure his place as next in line for the leadership of North Korea. However, there weren't any reports of that happening this time. Apparently, the top officials in the government meet once or twice a year to pass bills, appoint new leaders, etc. The government has been making significant progress over the past decade or so to be more self-sufficient as a country, which should greatly improve the standard of living for the average North Korean citizen. Reflection: I really think it's great that the people of North Korea might finally be able to have a better life, oppressed though it may be. I think that once the people have a better standard of living, they might also get to doing some thinking for themselves, and maybe have some interesting ideas about how their government is doing things. Yes, I know, that's a best-case scenario, but it could still happen. Questions: 1. What will happen once the people get better lives? 2. Is an overthrow possible? 3. What will Kim Jong Un be like as a ruler?
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?
Cindy Son

War plan.(Hezbollah-Israeli War, 2006). - 0 views

  • N JULY 12, Hezbollah fighters crossed the border separating Israel from Lebanon. They killed several Israeli soldiers and captured two others, spiriting them across the border into Lebanon.
  • After the border incursion by Hezbollah there was still time to negotiate for the return of the prisoners, something that Israel had done in the past (1996, 1998, 2004). Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah held a press conference shortly after his unit returned from its incursion into Israel to say he was ready to negotiate a prisoner exchange.
  • But Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert had a different plan. In an emergency meeting, Olmert told his cabinet: "This morning's events are not a terror attack, but the act of a sovereign state that attacked Israel for no reason and without provocation.... The Lebanese government, of which Hezbollah is a part; is trying to undermine regional stability. Lebanon is responsible, and Lebanon will bear the consequences."
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  • By 9 p.m. Ha'aretz was reporting that Israel had bombed bridges in central Lebanon and attacked "Hezbollah's posts" in southern Lebanon. The next day, Amnesty International reported that 40 Lebanese civilians had been killed, including several families, with 60 other civilians injured.
  • It was not until after those initial Israeli attacks inside Lebanon that Hezbollah began to fire rockets into northern Israel. Israel said it was attacking Lebanon to recover its soldiers; instead, it was launching a massive air attack, not just against Hezbollah, but against the entire country with no effort at diplomacy or negotiations.
  • Israel knew that the war would be costly. Ha'aretz reported that the Israeli cabinet was aware that Hezbollah had been stockpiling rockets since 2000, and expected that Hezbollah would use them if provoked. Matthew Kalman wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle that Olmert had been waiting for any incident Israel could use as an excuse for an attack and had a plan in place.
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    What are the effects of Hezbollah on Israel?  Wall, James M. "War plan." The Christian Century 123.18 (2006): 61. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 15 Feb. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=EAIM&docId=A152196094&source=gale&srcprod=EAIM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary: In 2006, Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers, and took them to Lebanon. Hezbollah expected Israel to negotiate with them for the return of their prisoners; however, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert didn't even bother to negotiate. Israel attacked bridges and "Hezbollah's posts" in Lebanon, and killed many Lebanese civilians. Israel was actually trying to attack not only Hezbollah, but also the entire country of Lebanon. Reflection: The capturing of two Israeli soldiers, a small event, triggered this big 2006 Hezbollah-Israel war, which explains the later conflicts between Lebanon and Israel. I was surprised that Israel was actually waiting for Lebanon's provocation. According to what I have learned, Israel has been in the middle of a lot of problems with many countries; the tension between Lebanon and Israel is one of them. I think I need more articles that explain further information about the conflicts that happened recently. Question:  Is Hezbollah in the process of planning another war recently? What are the main conflicts that happened after the 2006 war? What is the reaction of the leader of Hezbollah towards the Israeli prime minister?
Leah Hop

How Mexico Can Stop Losing The Drug War - 0 views

  • Mexican President Felipe Calderon is losing his war on the drug cartels.
  • More than 35,000 people have died in the conflict - 15,000 in 2010 alone - and drug-related violence continues to spiral to new, horrifying levels.
  • Mexican production of marijuana, heroin and meth continues to ramp up.
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  • Mexico cannot win its war against the cartels unless the U.S. does more to curb insatiable American demand
  • Weak democratic institutions, a corrupt and ineffective judicial system and underdeveloped infrastructure have made it virtually impossible for the Mexican government to break up the country’s vast and flexible criminal networks.
  • Calderon would be better advised to focus on more attainable goals; like implementing judicial reforms, expanding access to credit, growing the middle class, and promoting government accountability and transparency.
  • Restoring a semblance of order to Mexico’s civil and political society would be a good first step toward reversing the country’s slow economic growth and declining global competitiveness.
  • most of Mexico’s major cartels do not have a political or social agenda
  • Calderon could recall the 45,000 troops he sent to fight the drug war and call for a ceasefire between the Mexican army and the cartels
  • escalating violence and terror is endangering business growth and fledgling civic networks.
  • using the Mexican military to fight the drug war point to the army’s success capturing drug kingpins and cartel cell leaders
  • drug war has destabilized the cartel leadership and led to the atomization of powerful criminal organizations into smaller, more regionalized gangs.
  • If left alone, these weaker organizations will wield considerably less influence over local governments and law enforcement than their predecessors. Stronger democratic institutions and a reformed criminal justice system would further marginalize and weaken these gangs.
  • The fight against drug traffickers - and the militarization of domestic security - is eroding Mexico’s democracy
  • Money, not power, is the goal for the vast majority of Mexican traffickers. The cost of fighting a multi-front war seriously cuts into profits.
  • As long as American demand exists, the drug trade will thrive south of the border. But as the cost of doing business in Mexico increases, the nexus of power will shift to other Latin American countries.
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    Research Question: How does the Mexican drug war affect the government and people of Mexico? Source: Wyler, Grace. "How Mexico Can Stop Losing The Drug War." Politix. Business Insider, 5 Mar. 2011. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. Summary: Mexico is losing the war on the drug cartels and can't win its war unless the U.S does more to stop our drug addiction. More than 35,000 people have died due to drug related violence and this fight against drug traffickers is eroding Mexico's democracy. In the last decade, Mexico has made steps to fix their slow economic growth but still have a long, long way to go. Also, the Mexican military has captured drug kings and cartel cell leaders, which has helped destabilize cartel leadership and create smaller/regional gangs. Having smaller/weaker organizations will have less of an influence over local governments. Reflection: I agree with this article in the fact that the U.S needs to lose our greedy demand for drugs in order to help stop the drug war. The corrupt and ineffective judicial system as well as the underdeveloped infrastructure has made it basically impossible for the Mexican government to stop these drug gangs. I think if Mexico really wants this drug war to end, then they need to iron out their government so that they can become stronger on a democratic and judicial level.. Questions:  1) Is there any way the U.S can decrease their demand for drugs? 2) Can Calderon do anything to rebuild the corrupt government? 3) If Mexico's government was less corrupt, would their still be a drug war?
Heather Kapenga

Now SACCORD Seeks to Resolve HIV/Aids Conflict. - 0 views

  • However, for the Southern African Centre for Conflict Resolutions of Disputes (SACCORD), political leaders could be key in helping to mitigate the effects of this pandemic.
  • He observed that what killed people infected with the HIV/AIDS was not the disease itself alone but the attitude that people cast on such patients.
  • Habasonda said it was sad that stigma had reached high levels - extents where people got depressed and died because no one took the interest to take care of them.
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  • "It is high time that we mobilised the much needed political will so we mitigate the effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This disease is dangerous and unless we act now, it will wipe us all out," he said.
  • It is apparent that all the arguments by these learned colleagues point but to one aspect, the need by lawmakers and the Government in particular to redouble efforts in fighting the pandemic. HIV/AIDS is not a health problem, but the most serious socio-economic problem that Zambia, indeed Africa has ever faced
  • He said it was sad that access to anti-retroviral (ARV) therapy was almost impossible in some constituencies that his organisation had taken a pilot project to sensitize people on the dangers of the pandemic.
  • Habasonda said voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) centres were other facilities that were not available in remote areas. He said the issue of CD4 count machines was worrying and Government should address it.
  • Habasonda said HIV/AIDS should not remain within the bounds social issue but it should be mainstreamed in political circles for the fight to be won.
    • Heather Kapenga
       
      Reaction: I was actually pretty surprised to read that there were people that were not dying from complications of HIV/AIDS but, instead there are those that are dying from being so depressed about having HIV/AIDS because of the attitude the people placed on them for being infected with HIV/AIDS. This relates to my research question because the SACCORD realizes how big an effect this HIV/AIDS epidemic has been in Zambia and they want to work with the Government to come up with ways that they can help with those who are suffering from this disease and for those who are dying of depression because they have HIV/AIDS. Questions:1. Besides trying to get therapy and counseling in Zambia is there anything else that the Government and SACCORD can do to help those who are suffering from complications of HIV/AIDS?2. What if therapy and counseling doesn't help those who have depression and many people still take their lives? What will the Government and SACCORD do then?3. Will therapy and counseling really help these people or not?
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    Research Question: What are the effects of HIV/AIDS in Zambia? Citation: "Now SACCORD Seeks to Resolve HIV/Aids Conflict." Africa News Service 12 Aug. 2005. Student Edition. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. Summary: The summary of this article is that SACCORD (Southern African Centre for Conflict Resolutions of Dispute) political leaders want to try and help those in Zambia who have been infected by HIV/AIDS and did a one day workshop in Zambia and they found out that there were people who were not only dying from complications of HIV/AIDS but there were also people dying from the attitude people had on them which led those people to become depressed and died. SACCORD wants to team up with the Government and come up with ways that they can help these people not only emotionally but physically as well. That's why SACCORD wants to try and get therapy and counseling in Zambia for those who have HIV/AIDS so that it can help those who are depressed from becoming dead and the HIV/AIDS epidemic wiping out all of Zambia.
Nick Mast

BBC News - Egypt faces bumpy ride towards democracy - 0 views

  • Egypt faces bumpy ride towards democracy
  • Grievances that people were forced to swallow during the repressive Mubarak years are pouring out.
  • If they want to keep people on their side, using force to break strikes will not be a good idea.
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  • Egypt needs a new constitution, and a renewed political system. If the protesters are to get their wish for democracy, it needs free and fair elections.
  • That will stop the idea taking hold that the military wants sole charge of the levers of power. And it could also create a sense that Egyptians are in this together, which might even persuade people to go back to work.
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    Jeremy Bowen-BBC Middle East Editor  Summary: This article was about anyone walking the streets in Egypt, looking around and seeing building, houses, and government building surrounded by protesters. Protesters have been protesting for last week outside of multiple government building. Workers who work for Egypt mad and upset about not getting enough money have caused many riots as well. People have been unhappy for a awhile and are finally starting to make in known but rioting at most every building, until they get the money they want and a new leader.  Reflection: I was surprised to read that a lot of the Egyptian riots have been from the workers at the government building. I did not know that they were unhappy with there pay, and that it was not only the dictatorship that was causing problems with the people. I think it is important that we read more into the problems in our world rather than just listening to the nighty news or watch a two minute clip off an american online news site. We need to go more in depth and read into the story more.  Questions: DId the workers end up getting more money?  What is the government doing to control the riots?  Are people still rioting after getting more money? How many people have been injured during riots? 
Brielle DeFrell

Oil unrest grips Nigeria; Turbulent delta raises fears of global energy shock - 0 views

  • Search
  • On Jan. 11, a militia group calling itself Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) seized four Shell engineers and held them hostage for three weeks. Armed forces attacked a flow station, killed several workers and cut Nigeria's oil exports by 10 percent. Shell removed more than 500 employees from the region.
  • 1998, a military group from the Ijaw, the largest ethnic tribe in the southern oil-producing Niger Delta, stormed Shell pipelines and platforms, cutting off one-third of the country's oil exports.
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  • the fifth-largest exporter of crude oil to the United States
  • Before Nigerian elections in 2003, an ethnic uprising shut off 40 percent of the country's oil exports.
  • From January to September 2004, there were 581 cases of pipeline vandalism in Nigeria, according to the Energy Information Administration, a U.S. agency that provides official statistics.
  • "We don't see an end to conflicts in the near future," said Taylor B. Seybolt, an analyst at the U.S. Institute of Peace. "There is a host of problems entangled together, and we expect to see more violence coming."
  • China
  • National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) struck a $2.27 billion deal with Nigeria in mid-January.
  • The Nigerian government aims to increase oil output from 2.5 million barrels per day to 3 million by the end of the year and to 4 million in 2010
  • MEND has adopted tactics different from the old pattern. It asked Shell to pay $1.5 billion to Bayelsa state, stop all oil exports and expel all foreign workers from the delta. It also demanded that the government release Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, a Niger Delta militia leader arrested in 2003.
  • Mr. Albin-Lackey, however, said the government is reluctant to push the militias too hard. "It is afraid that cracking down on the militias would ignite bigger conflicts, which would disrupt the country's oil production,
  • Nigeria's oil revenue accounts for 40 percent of the nation's gross domestic product and 76 percent of the federal government's revenue.
  • . A civil war in Nigeria could send the global oil price to $98 a barrel,
  • "Oil can be stolen on such a large scale that they have to use oil tankers to carry the oil out without people being caught," Mr. Albin-Lackey said. "They must be connected with people in a position of influence."
  • . "After only two or three months in power, officials have already begun their lives of luxury."
  • The nine oil-containing states of southern Nigeria have been plagued for years by oil spills and air pollution. After a half-century of drilling, many pipes are leaky. Explosions occur now and then, and the frequent sabotage adds to the spills. Acid rain and toxic water damage fishing and farming, and pose great threats to the health of residents.
  • Even as gasoline prices increase in the United States, Nigeria burns oil by-products 24 hours a day.
  • Sitting atop the world's ninth-largest concentration of oil, many ordinary Nigerians don't have basic necessities such as running water, electricity, health clinics and schools. The wealth from oil does not return to the land that produced it.
  • Nigeria, which exports oil worth $30 million to $40 million per day, average personal income per year is $390.
  • The federal government has promised that 13 percent of oil revenues would be returned to the oil states, but most of the money seeps away through various level of officialdom.
  • Shell began drilling in Nigeria in 1956, when it was still a British colony. Over the past 50 years, the company has become an icon of oil wealth to many Nigerians, and for most of the time, a quasi-governmental institution.
  • In 1993, after a massive spill in Ogoni state, local poet and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa began the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni people and demanded $10 billion from Shell for environmental damage.
  • On Nov. 10, 1995, he and eight Ogoni colleagues were executed by the Nigerian government for campaigning against the devastation of the delta by oil companies, prompting international condemnation.
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    Summary: As NIgeria has grown in their production of oil they have been dealing with many uprisings from the Nigerian people and different groups. The NIgerian government is planning on increasing oil output as the years go on, hoping they can have more world oil giants join them. MEND has used new tactics than in the past and has asked Shell to pay $1.5 billion and to stop all oil exports. They also asked them to get rid of all foreign works from the delta and to release Mejahid Dokubo-Asari, a militia leader they captured in 2003. The government knows to take care of the violence it needs to push the militias, but is afraid that doing so will create bigger problems. Since oil is 40% of Nigeria's revenue it is afraid that more violence would hurt the country's economy, also effecting the rest of the world's energy market. A civil war in Nigeria could send the global oil price to $98 billion a barrel! The militia is able to take the oil without getting caught, which has told the Nigerian government that the people taking it are connected to those of people in a position of influence. They are usually able to figure out who these people are after two or three months because the officials start showing their money in lives of luxury. All of the oil production has caused many oil spills, air pollution, explosions, acid rain, and toxic water, all posing great threats to the health of the Nigerian people. 
Mark De Haan

Why they hate us - 0 views

  • The mass-based Hezbollah (Party of God) is centered on a core group of militant Shiite clerics, who, like all successful Lebanese politicians, employ armed bands to underscore their message.
  • Hezbollah was formed in 1982, at iranian urging, as aradical alternative to Lebanon's mainstream Shiite movement, Amal. The clerics who founded Hezbollah objected to the secular goals of Amal's leader, Nabih Berri, who opposed the establishment of a separate Shiite entity. Hezbollah's leaders and Iran consider Lebanon, where the Shiites are the largest religious sect, fertile ground for a second Islamic Republic. Last March 15 the now famous Lebanese magazine al Shiraa described Hezbollah as a "branch" of the Iranian revolution, which received "guidance" and "orders" from the Islamic Republic.
  • Hezbollah made its antipathy for the West clear in its 1985manifesto, which proclaimed, "America, France and their allies must leave Lebanon once and for all," and vowed, "We are for dealing with evil at its roots and its roots are in America." The document reserved special hostility for the Phalangist Party, a largely Maronite Christian organization founded by Lebanese President Amin Gemayel's father. Hezbollah declared that the Phalangists "must be subjected to justice . . . for their crimes against Moslems and Christians, with encouragement from America and Israel," a reference to the slaughter of hundreds by the Phalangists and the closely related Lebanese Forces during the civil war. The conduct of the United States and Israel in Lebanon has helped create the present atmosphere, in which anyone from the West is fair game.
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  • Although the Maronites are estimated to compose only 16 percent of teh population, since 1943 they have been guaranteed the presidency, command of the armed forces and a 6-to-5 Christian to Moslem ration in Parliament.
  • But instead of urging change, the United States and France provided Gemayel with about a billion dollars' worth of weapons, which he turned first on the Druze and then on the mainly Shiite southern suburbs of Beirut. The presence of the U.S. marines and the shelling of Druze and Syrian positions by U.S. warships indicated Washington's commitment to a minority Christian regime against its rivals.
  • To make matters worse, U.S. intelligence became involved with some of the mst unsavory elements on the Lebanese scene. According to newspaper accounts, a Lebanese unit undergoing counterintelligence training with the C.I.A. had planted, though without U.S. authorization, the car bomb that on March 8, 1985, killed ninety-two persons and wounded 200 more outside the home of Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, who is considered the spirtual guide of Hezbollah. This sequence of events, argues Rashid Khalidi, "enabled the Lebanese partisans of Iran to turn a lot of people violently against the United States."
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    Why they hate us (Lebanese Shiites) - Stanley Reed The Nation Reed, Stanley. "Why they hate us." The Nation 244 (1987): 168+. Student Edition. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. Summary: This article is an editorial as to why Hezbollah and Muslim Shiites have such hatred for the United States. Most of it is in regards to Israel. The United States continues to back Israel, and Hezbollah as a group despises this. They see America as the root of all evil.  Reflection: Back in 1985, when this article was written, we seemed to be totally anti-Hezbollah. We supported the Christian government that had won office, we then supplied the Lebanese government with weapons which they used to oppress the Shiite Muslims in Beirut. This only created more and more hatred against the United States and Israel, as well as Western culture as a whole. Questions: 1. Where there any violent reactions from Hezbollah after the attacks by the Lebanese President in 1985? 2. Does Hezbollah's hate for Israel come from the Western culture or the opposing religion? 3. How much support does Hezbollah receive from Iran, and how much from Lebanon?
megan lemmen

Failure to curb drug war exposes Mexico's weakness - 1 views

  • Overall, the total number of people killed during the past four years is 30,196
  • Most of these deaths are attributed to disputes among the various drug cartels over control of the drug trade routes leading to lucrative U.S. drug markets.
  • The reason that the Mexican government has not been able to make any substantial progress is that the money generated from this illegal drug trade is estimated to be between $8.3 billion and $24.9 billion. This capital is used by criminal bosses to elect and influence officials at all levels of government.
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  • A clear example of Mexico's institutional weakness is the escape of 140 prisoners from a Nuevo Laredo state penitentiary. A convoy of buses and trucks reportedly drove off with the prisoners who exited the prison through a service entrance. This could only occur with the knowledge and benign approval of state and local officials.
    • megan lemmen
       
      Reflection: This man has strong opinions, much like myself. Mexico would be better off with a government extreme makeover rather than our US dollars going to encourage lying, deceit, and a shaky judicial system. When people start using money to pay for their innocence, things start to get messy. Money talks, surely. Nothing significant is changing; we still see the death toll increasing drastically each month. More lives have been lost in Mexico than in Afghanistan-is that because the US isn't militarily involved yet, or because we are monetarily involved? Questions: 1) If the United States gets involved with our military, will we be fighting two wars?2) Is it worth it to continue sending our money to Mexico?3) Is the President really a problem, or are people just looking for someone to blame?4) Is it our job to restructure the government of Mexico?
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    Research Question: How does the Mexican drug war affect the government and people of Mexico? Source: Valdez, Avelardo. "Failure to curb drug war exposes Mexico's weakness." Chron: Viewpoints, Outlook. N.p., 26 Jan. 2011. Web. 28 Jan. 2011. . Summary: More people have lost their lives in the drug war than in the war in Afghanistan; it's obvious that something is amiss here. Although many "famous" drug leaders have been caught, the problem still exists in Mexico. Again, we see that money is an issue; government officials are paid to help the criminals. The weak criminal justice system in Mexico allows for people to use their connections to avoid arrest, conviction, etc. President Calderon started this war even though it's obvious that they are incapable of winning under these circumstances. It may have been a political stunt to win votes for his campaign. The US should spend our money rebuilding the government instead of encouraging the government to become more corrupt. ***rest of info is on sticky note on this page
Luke Terpstra

EUobserver / Cablegate: France bullied Poland over Georgia war - 0 views

  • France threatened to harm a flagship EU policy for post-Soviet countries shortly after the Russia-Georgia war unless the Union forgave Russia for its invasion
  • a Swedish diplomat, told US charge d'affairs Robert Silverman that France pressured Poland and Sweden into lifting the Union's only post-war sanction on Russia.
  • France threatened to stall the Eastern Partnership initiative if the Swedes and others opposed to 'business as usual' with Moscow refused to resume EU-Russia talks
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  • "Once the decision on talks on the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement [with Russia] was made, Sweden and Poland, co-drafters of the [Eastern Partnership] initiative, were given a green light to 'move ahead'."
  • The French support for Russia came at a time when Russian troops were still parked in Georgia proper in violation of a French-brokered peace agreement.
  • Previously leaked cables on the 2008 war show that France, Germany and Italy tried to soften the EU's reaction at every step of the conflict.
  • France later cemented relations with Russia by buying a stake in its Nord Stream gas pipeline and selling it two state-of-the-art warships.
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    Rettman, Andrew. "Cablegate: France bullied Poland over Georgia war." EU Observer 8 Mar. 2011 [Brussels] . Web. 8 Mar. 2011. .  Summary:       The new found source of info the E.U. Observer has obtained contains proof that France bullied Sweden and Poland, so to speak, about keeping out of if not supporting the war between Russia & Georgia. They did this so they could 'keep relations' good with Russia. It is also found that Italy and Germany didn't want big reactions to this either. Reflections:       I think that it shows that it does not think much of Georgia and its interests. If I was a pobig political figure in america or any of those E.U. so called 'american allies' I would give them a peace of my mind , if not Russia a chunk of my fist, and say "Hey do you actually respect NATO, America, peace, and the friends we have now? If you keep on acting like Georgia is just Russia's play thing, I'll make sure you don't stay in office!" or something of that nature. This is just getting to out of hand.  Questions:  1. Why would France or any other E.U. country want to dull reactions to the conflict?  2. Why would countries like Sweden or Poland give into this kind of persuasion?  3. What would you do if you were a political leader in the E.U.? Explain?
Ryan Wassink

Myanmar reports progress in opium destruction - 0 views

  • Afghanistan supplies more than 90 percent of the world's opium, the raw ingredient used to make heroin, with 300,000 acres (120,000 hectares) of the crop planted last year, according to the U.N. Myanmar is distant second with less than a third of that land being used to grow poppies in the country.
  • Opium cultivation in Myanmar has dropped from more then 400,000 acres (160,000 hectares) in 1996 to a little more than 50,000 acres (20,000 hectares) in 2006, but has been inching up since.
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    Source: The Washington Post: Myanmar reports progress in opium destruction http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/07/AR2011030700861.html Summary: This article is about how myanmar (the second leading producer of opium in the world next to afghanastan) has been trying to get rid of the drug in there country. In this specific article 15,000 out of there total 50,000 acres of opium had been destroyed. They say that the drug should be eliminated by 2014. Although the US is uncertain about this because in myanmar the governments first priority is to dealing with ethic minority groups.  Reflection: This article was about myanmar not afghanastan which my research question is about. However I got some great information that I believe will be able to help me. This article gave me the amount and percentage of opium in afghanastan which I did not know before and it also told me that the second leader in opium is trying to get rid of it so that could mean more for afghanistan.  Questions: Why is myanmar getting rid of opium? Do they have other exports? What does the UN think about this after dealing with afghanistan? Will they actually be able to get rid of all there opium?
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