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Nicki Pifer

Obama Opens Trade and Travel Relations With Communist Cuba - 0 views

www.thenewamerican.com/

embargo trade Cuba travel

shared by Nicki Pifer on 01 Mar 11 - Cached
  • Nicki Pifer on 01 Mar 11
     
    On Friday, January 14 President Obama announced that he plans on easing trade and travel relations with Communist Cuba, including making it easier for U.S. citizens to travel directly to the island from American airports. The President added that he had instructed the relevant government departments to allow religious groups and students to travel to the communist-run island. For almost half a century, the debate has been raging over the United States' policy towards Cuba, which has been communist since Fidel Castro's coupe de etat in 1959. Free travel from the U.S. to Cuba was halted in 1963 under President John F. Kennedy. The explanation at the time for why Americans could visit the Soviet Union but not Cuba was that the communist government in Moscow was permanent but that Fidel Castro was temporary. In 1977, with Cuba still unchanged, President Jimmy Carter relaxed the travel ban. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan restored it. n 1998, with the Soviet Union "gone," Clinton loosened it and in 2004, with Cuba still unchanged, President George W. Bush tightened it again. Now President Obama is going back to the Clinton policy, which will make it easier for churches and universities to sponsor trips to the communist state. Obama's announcement calls for changes in policy at the Departments of State, Treasury, and Homeland Security, as both travel and remittances are involved in the changes, and the new regulations will be promulgated as modifications of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations and the Customs and Border Protection Regulations. The new policies call for the following reforms to Cuba-United States relations. According to the BBC, Obama's new proposals: * Allow religious organizations to sponsor religious travel to Cuba under a general license; * Allow accredited institutions of higher education to sponsor travel to Cuba; * Allow any U.S. person to send remittances (up to $500 per quarter) to non-family members in Cuba to support private e
lane rottschafer

Iran hangs Dutch-Iranian woman for drug smuggling, report says - 0 views

www.cnn.com/...index.html

Opium Drug Trade

shared by lane rottschafer on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Fars said Bahrami smuggled cocaine into Iran with the help of a Dutch partner.
  • drug charges were only a pretext to execute her.
  • accused of bringing cocaine into the country twice
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • 70 lashes and a $1,400 fine
  • 450 grams of cocaine and 420 grams of opium were discovered
  • 150 grams of cocaine.
  • lawyer was "shocked" to find she had been hanged
  • lane rottschafer on 17 Feb 11
     
    http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/01/30/iran.execution/index.html?iref=allsearch Iran hangs Dutch-Iranian woman for drug smuggling, report says How is the Opium Drug Trade affecting the people of the middle east? Summary: In Tehran Iran, A Dutch-Iranian woman was hung for drug smuggling. Iran hanged Zahra Bahrami saying she was a drug smuggler. Fars said Bahrami smuggled cocaine into Iran with the help of a Dutch partner. The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran were saying that the drug charges were only a pretext to execute her. Her lawyer was shocked that she was hanged and had no idea of the situation. Bahrami was accused of bringing cocaine into the country twice, and of selling it. Cocaine and opium were booth found during a search of her home. Her sentence also included 70 lashes and a $1,400 fine. It was said that 450 grams of cocaine and 420 grams of opium were discovered and, through further investigation, it was found that she had also distributed 150 grams of cocaine. On Sunday, the Netherlands strongly advised Dutch-Iranian citizens not to travel to Iran. Reflection: I think that this whole situations is absurd. The first thing, is that not only was she hanged, but she also was given 70 lashes, and a fine. If the people knew they were going to hang her, why did they also need to do that. And The fact that all the Netherlands did is suggest that no one else goes there, its crazy. I know she did a lot of drug trade, but there are a lot worse people out there. She shouldn't have been tortured and then hanged. Questions: 1) Why was she hanged? 2) Before she was hung, why did she get the 70 lashes 3) Why didn't the Netherlands do more? 4) What is something else that could have been done other than executing her? Citation: CNN Wire Staff, . "Iran hangs Dutch-Iranian woman for drug smuggling, report says." CNN World 30 january 2011: n. pag. Web. 16 Feb 2011. <http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/01/30/iran.execution/index.h
  • Jessica Ruthsatz on 28 Feb 11
     
    Great posting Lane, but you are missing your annotations? Where are they?
khamkhoun sedsaykongsa

Is trade with Cuba a reality? Humanitarian shipments were allowed under the Clinton adm... - 0 views

find.galegroup.com/...retrieve.do

Cuba trade

shared by khamkhoun sedsaykongsa on 12 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • World Trade&nbsp;22.8&nbsp;(August 2009):&nbsp;p38(5).&nbsp;(2373&nbsp;words)&nbsp; Reading Level (Lexile): N/A.
  • Yes, he acknowledged, the Obama administration's gambit may indeed have been the first step in a long journey toward a normalization of relations--with all the implications of commercial exchange those relations imply--but the fact of the matter is that scores of U.S. companies have been doing business with Cuba for years. With the appropriate product, the opportunities are now, he explained.
  • "Right now, at least 150 companies in 35 states are doing business with Cuba, thanks in large part to a loosening of the trade embargo during the Clinton years with regards to agricultural products," the president and CEO of Charleston-based Maybank Industries said.
  • ...12 more annotations...
  • From then until roughly two years ago, when the company became Maybank Industries and the family sold off its shipping component, the family-owned business made nearly monthly trips to Cuba.
  • The elder Maybank first learned of the slight loosening of the longstanding embargo over Easter weekend in 2000. Within days, and not knowing a soul in the Communist country, Maybank set out for Cuba and waited several days before finally connecting with Pedro Alvarez, chairman of the Cuban food import company Alimport and the government official in charge of trade
  • Maybank's decision to jump on the opportunity was a master stroke. Alvarez, and Cubans generally, it turned out, place a tremendous amount of weight on personal contact and in doing business face-to-face.
  • She spoke from a unique perspective: Born in Cuba, she came to the United States immediately after the revolution. Today, she regularly sees cargo leaving her port for her home country, as the island nation is already Alabama's top customer for poultry products.
  • But its Mendez's contention, given how close Cuba is to the U.S.--a mere 32 hours by cargo ship--that several more shiploads of goods could be making their way weekly through the Port of Alabama, if only the embargo was lifted and U.S. exporters could offer Cuba and its consumers a variety of goods.
  • Thus far, President Obama has lifted longstanding restrictions on family travel and remittances to Cuba--a significant shift in U.S. policy--but is waiting to see how Cuba responds to a host of human rights and other issues before making further changes with respect to the trade embargo.
  • To begin with, U.S. banks were, and continue to be, forbidden from doing business with Cuba under threat of being cut off from access to the Federal Reserve.
  • Everything must be handled on a cash-on-delivery basis, and unlike traditional trade shipping, where ships ideally discharge cargo and pick up some more at each port of call, nothing can be moved from Cuba--even if it is destined for someplace other than the United States.
  • And as anyone experienced in international commerce knows, getting to know the culture of a new trading partner is a key prerequisite to a successful business relationship
  • Colvin also said an immediate and full lifting of the embargo is too much to expect in any event. For the moment, it would be enough for President Obama to send a message to Congress that he wants to lift the travel ban.
  • Maybank said the first step for anyone contemplating getting involved in the Cuban market is to secure a visa to attend the annual Havana Trade Fair, which is typically held in late October or November.
  • McCue, Dan. "Is trade with Cuba a reality? Humanitarian shipments were allowed under the Clinton administration, now a new President could open the door wider." World Trade Aug. 2009: 38+. Student Edition. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.
  • khamkhoun sedsaykongsa on 12 Apr 11
     
    World Trade 22.8 (August 2009): p38(5). (2373 words)  Reading Level (Lexile): N/A Author(s): Dan McCue. Document Type: Magazine/Journal Summary: We been trading with Cuba for so long, since Clinton time. Now Obama trying to trade more with Cuba. 150 companies in 35 states are doing trade with Cuba. It would be good for  us and it would also be good for Cuba. Even tough Embargo thing still going on, but we still trade. Reflection: It good for both the side to trade. Cuba can get more product, food and other stuff. Cuban people can get jobs. But it also hard because we used to fought with Cuba. And Cuban are not really a social country. Question:  1. How long will the trading with Cuba last? 2. How many more companies would want to trade with Cuba?
khamkhoun sedsaykongsa

Perestroika continues: will Cuba post-Fidel be ready U.S. trade - 0 views

find.galegroup.com/...retrieve.do

Cuba trade economy

shared by khamkhoun sedsaykongsa on 08 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • Perestroika continues: will Cuba post-Fidel be ready U.S. trade?
  • Inc.&nbsp;29.5&nbsp;(May 2007):&nbsp;p36(1).&nbsp;(666&nbsp;words)&nbsp; Reading Level (Lexile): 1090.
  • Author(s):Sarah Goldstein.&nbsp; Document Type:Magazine/Journal
  • ...10 more annotations...
  • Full Text :COPYRIGHT 2007 Mansueto Ventures LLC on behalf of Inc.
  • What will happen to Cuba's economy after Fidel Castro dies?
  • Cuba's not huge. There are 11 million people there, and the $40 billion economy is extremely centralized. The Internet, for example, is state-controlled and Cuba has no interest in expanding access.
  • How would U.S. companies fare if Cuba's economy opened up?
  • Even if the U.S. lifted its embargo, you always work with Cuba on Cuba's terms. You can't just buy land and build a hotel. That said, if Americans were only able to travel to Cuba freely, you would see some increase in trade.
  • How big is the market?
  • when El Comandante transferred power to his brother Raul amid reports about his deteriorating health. Philip Peters has been watching the new leadership for signs that it will liberalize the economy.
  • What types of items would be in demand? I think the opportunity in the short term would be for people selling into specific niches of the Cuban market. That's what we've seen with the limited trade--roughly $400 million--that we do with Cuba today. [Limited trade began after a hurricane in 2001.]
  • How likely is reform? I think an economic opening is very likely. Raul is not allergic to reform. In fact, he was behind a series of reforms in the 1990s that legalized self-employment, that allowed farmers to sell their surpluses, and that opened Cuba up to foreign investment. Plus, Raul's government needs to earn political support, and there's no easier way to win support than by opening the economy.
  • Source CitationGoldstein, Sarah. "Perestroika continues: will Cuba post-Fidel be ready U.S. trade?" Inc. May 2007: 36. Student Edition. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
  • khamkhoun sedsaykongsa on 08 Mar 11
     
    Inc. 29.5 (May 2007): p36(1). (666 words)  Reading Level (Lexile): 1090. Author(s): Sarah Goldstein. Document Type: Magazine/Journal Summary: What would happen if Fidel Castro dies? and pass down the power to his brother Raul. Open up the Cuba trading with U.S. Right now the Cuba economy is still small. Reflection:If the Cuba could open up trade  with America. Cuban would be better place, better economy. Because American business could go in and start making factory over there. People would have more jobs. Better money to take care of their family. The Cuba government is taking too much control on food resource. That would not be enough for the people in the country. America will help fixing that problem, and they will also make it equal for all the people to have food to eat. Question: 1. Will Raul let U.S go into Cuba and start open business? 2. What will Fidel Castro saying about this.
Won Geun Jung

Russia: Expelled British reporter violated rules - CNN.com - 0 views

www.cnn.com/...index.html

russia british expelled Georgia suicide bomber

shared by Won Geun Jung on 08 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • The British journalist expelled from Russia was denied entry when he came back to the country because "he violated a number of rules concerning the work of foreign correspondents,"
  • Luke Harding, the Moscow reporter for the Guardian newspaper, was detained by Russian authorities, locked in a cell for 45 minutes, and then put on a plane back to London, according to an article in the Guardian Tuesday.
  • The British Foreign Office said the incident occurred on Saturday. Alan Rusbridger, the Guardian's editor, said in a statement that Russia's move was "a very troubling development with serious implications for press freedom."
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • "If L. Harding complies with these rules, which are the same for all foreign correspondents, there will be no problems with his entry to the Russian Federation," the statement said.
  • "Indeed, last November the Guardian approached us for support to secure Mr. Harding's reaccreditation as a journalist when his accreditation had been withdrawn. We made representations at a senior level and in the event, Mr. Harding was granted an extension of his accreditation as a journalist."
  • Lidington said Harding "knows Russia well and has, over the last four years, given readers of the Guardian genuine insight into that country."
  • Harding covered many events, including the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia and the twin suicide attacks on the Moscow metro system in 2010.
  • He also wrote a number of controversial articles
  • "It is worrying that the Russian government should now kick out reporters of whom they disapprove. Russia's treatment of journalists -- both domestic and foreign -- is a cause of great concern," Rusbridger said.
  • Last year, Harding was reprimanded by Russian authorities for unauthorized travel to areas closed to journalists
  • Won Geun Jung on 08 Mar 11
     
    Russia: Expelled British reporter violated rules - CNN.com http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/02/08/russia.reporter.expelled/index.html?iref=allsearch Summary:The British journalist expelled from Russia was denied entry because he violated a number of rules.  Luke Harding who is who is the moscow reporter for guardian newspaper locked in a cell for 45 minutes and get a place back to London.  He wrote many controversial articles about secret informations of Russia like secret wealth of Vladimir Putin, the 2008 war between Russia and Georgia and the twin suicide attacks on the Moscow metro system in 2010. But Rusbridger said it would be big trouble both domestic and foreign if Russia's treatment of journalists. Reflection: In my opinion, the journalist should follow the Russia's rules even if their treatment was bad because he was in Russia and he needed to follow the Rome's law when he was in Rome.  Also, Russia needed to know that the truth would be appeared and they should not hide any information that it gave them disadvantage.  I am worried that Russia's policy would be big troubles between Russia and British. Question:1) Why Russia expelled the journalist?                 2) Why he tried to find some informations and write a controversial articles?                 3) Why Russia tried to hide their information like the war of Georgia and Russia and make bad treatments for Journalist?
jeni bouwman

Egyptian tourist sites to reopen; tomb break-ins reported - CNN.com - 0 views

www.cnn.com/...index.html

egyptian

shared by jeni bouwman on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • at least 17 artifacts were missing from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
  • Saying he hopes "tourists from around the world will soon return,"
  • tourist sites will reopen on Sunday.
  • ...14 more annotations...
  • The decision was made after Hawass met with members of the ministry and the Antiquities and Tourism Police to discuss security measures.
  • In addition, some storage magazines in Saqqara, including one near the pyramid of Teti, had their seals broken, along with a magazine at Cairo University, the ministry said.
  • Mubarak stepped down Friday after 18 days of protests and unrest.
  • that ancient burial sites have been broken into.
  • "Dr. Hawass stated he hopes tourists from around the world will soon return to Egypt,"
  • reports on what, if anything, is missing.
  • 5th Dynasty pharaohs chose to site their burial monuments. Saqqara, one of Egypt's oldest burial sites, has several royal pyramids.
  • at least 17 artifacts were missing from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
  • he museum was broken into on January 28, not long after anti-Mubarak protests began.
  • He updated that number to 18 on Monday
  • New Kingdom coffin had been found in a preliminary search of the museum and its grounds.
  • Hawass said he believes the looters dropped objects as they fled, and "every inch of the museum must be searched before the Registration, Collections Management and Documentation Department, which is overseeing the inventory, can produce a complete and final report of exactly what is missing," the post said.
  • "would like to clarify earlier statements in which he announced that nothing was missing (from the museum)." He said when the search committee made its first pass through the museum, "objects that were at first thought to be missing were found thrown into trash cans and corners far from their original locations" and he was led to believe that all the items would be found in a full search.
  • Professionals out to steal would normally be careful not to damage the objects they were planning to take, so the initial impression was that the attackers were vandals rather than thieves," the blog post said. Hawass was also misinformed by a museum staffer about a statue of the pharaoh Akhenaten and was told it was only damaged when it was missing, the post said.
  • jeni bouwman on 17 Feb 11
     
    Summary: In this Article I read that The Egyptian Museum in Cairo got broken into. About 18 ancient burial sites were broken into. Hawass is on top of this and he said to the committie to report if anything is missing. Hawass also believes that the looters were dropping the object as they were running away from the Egyptian Millitary. After more researching and looking around for the object they found they in crazy places like in trash cans, not damaged. Everything they thought was missing was found later on.  Response: I thought this was a crazy article because they are making such a big deal about all this stuff that was missing. Making it seem like it was a tragic thing... which it would of been if they never found the missing objects. But they did, I feel like it was a waste of time to read this article because nothing really happened . Questions: 1. Why did they make such a big deal out of it if they found all the objects that were missing?  2. Who would even try breaking in and stealing objects for the museum? 3. Will this make more tourist come and see the museum, because of this?  4. Why were the object's moved.. and not stolen? Who would just move them around? 
khamkhoun sedsaykongsa

Art Exhibition Fuels US-Cuba Thaw - 0 views

0-sks.sirs.com.elibrary.mel.org/...hst-article-display

Cuban embargo

shared by khamkhoun sedsaykongsa on 12 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • 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."
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • 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.
  • khamkhoun sedsaykongsa on 12 Apr 11
     
    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? 
ni iang

Eco-Luxury - - 0 views

www.time.com/...0,9171,995191-2,00.html

What are the effects of ecological conservation in Costa Rica.

shared by ni iang on 14 Apr 11 - No Cached
  • 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.
  • ni iang on 14 Apr 11
     
    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. 
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