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

www.npr.org/...story.php NPR CostaRica
shared by Mallory Huizenga on 29 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • It's announced it wants to be the first developing nation to be carbon-neutral; that is, to have zero output of carbon dioxide. It's goal is to be that by 2021.
  • A small regional air carrier called Nature Air advertises itself as the world's first carbon-neutral airline.
  • What if everything, every hotel room, every sack of coffee beans, every microprocessor made by Intel carried the C-neutral brand?
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  • Land owners think of cattle, agriculture or selling to a developer, and forest conservation is the last thing they think about. So we need to create an incentive so the property owner will conserve.
  • Saving trees is important. They're the lungs of the Earth. Costa Rica claims to have planted five million trees last year, although there's no proof how many of them survived, but that's not going to make this or any other country carbon-neutral.
  • New Zealand and Norway have also pledged to erase their carbon footprints
  • What if you don't become carbon neutral but become 90% carbon neutral? I think this still would be a great example to the world.
  • The big obstacle for all three countries is transportation.
  • I'm not against it, but I think it will be very difficult, because here our culture is not educated for such a thing.
  • Some Costa Ricans believe their government's goal of zero carbon emissions is a distraction from more pressing environmental problems. Illegal loggers are still hauling out old growth hardwoods.
  • , in 2005 Costa Rican plant life absorbed about two and a half million metric tons of CO2, but Costa Ricans produced five times that amount, about twelve and a half million metric tons of CO2
  • Or 80% carbon neutral, or 70%. People who work on global warming say considering the sluggish movement of most countries on climate change, Costa Rica's green crusade, however quixotic, should be applauded.
  • Mallory Huizenga on 29 Mar 11
     
    Research Journal #3: Article Two Research Question: How is ecological conservation effecting Costa Rica? Source: NPR: "Costa Rica Aims to Be a Carbon-Neutral Nation" by John Burnett Citation: Burnett, John. "Costa Rica Aims to Be a Carbon-Neutral Nation." Climate Connections. NPR, Feb. 2008. Web. 29 Mar. 2011. . Summary: This article is set up interview style. The author John Burnett, talks with different people about Costa Rica's goal to become carbon-neutral by 2021. Becoming carbon-neutral in a short amount of time isn't that easy. Other countries such as New Zealand and Norway also hope to become carbon-neutral, but have set their goal for a later date of 2050. This article focuses on the transportation, cattle ranching, trees, and the Costa Rican government. The article looks at what those areas are doing to bring Costa Rica to being carbon-neutral. The article does speak of how failure of reaching this goal is quite possible unless Costa Rica works hard to change its ways.  Reflection: I found this article intriguing because it brought forth the idea that Costa Rica could fail. Other articles I have read, don't talk about the possibility of failure. If Costa Rica takes the right steps, and works hard to change their ways I do believe they can become carbon-neutral. I hope that Costa Rica works hard to achieve this goal. They have strong potential. I think there willingness and their drive to become carbon-neutral will lead them to becoming carbon-neutral. Questions: 1) How far along is Costa Rica on their journey to becoming carbon-neutral? 2) How much is still need to be done for Costa Rica in the next 10 years? 3) How many other countries are striving to become carbon-neutral? 4) Is America looking at one day becoming carbon-neutral?
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Introduction to Gangs: Opposing Viewpoints - 0 views

ic.galegroup.com.references.herrickdl.org/...ReferenceDetailsWindow gangs mexico drug
shared by megan lemmen on 28 Mar 11 - No Cached
    • megan lemmen
      megan lemmen on 28 Mar 11
       
      Response: There obviously is no place where we can draw a line to where the violence stops. The drug cartels are crossing over into America because this is where their drug market is; are we directly causing the violence and deaths in Mexico? Money should be used to stop drug addictions rather than to add to the violence. Why is the United States funding Mexico to create more violence with weapons and training? I agree that the United State's money should primarily be used to help weed out government corruption. The citizens of Mexico deserve our help, protection, and support. Questions:1) I'm curious as to how many innocent citizens have died in the US and Mexico due to these drug cartels? Not just the number dead-but solely innocent civilians.2) Has there been an improvement in the violence since the US gave money to help Mexico?3) How many gangs in the US are related to those in Mexico?4) Is the violence spreading across Mexico's other borders into Guatemala?
  • megan lemmen on 28 Mar 11
     
    Research Question: How does the Mexican drug war affect the government and people of Mexico? Source: "Introduction to Gangs: Opposing Viewpoints." Gangs. Ed. William Dudley and Louise I. Gerdes. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2009. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 2 Feb. 2011. Summary: Not only is the Mexican drug trade affecting Mexican citizens, but also those in America. The violence has crossed the borders and affected immigration patrol, gangs in the US, and other citizens. Mexico provides most of the cocaine and meth to the United States-about 90%. The expansion of the drug market has allowed for gangs to take higher risks for themselves, and thus higher risks for Mexicans and Americans. Because the United States is the main consumer of these drugs, we are fueling the violence. Politicians who were previously liberal on the border policy might become more conservative to protect their constituents. The US is giving money to Mexico to "help Mexico's military purchase weaponry and fund training" as well as "reform its judiciary system." Some believe that this money should actually be used to stop the government corruption instead. *the rest is on a sticky note on this page
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Mexico Finds Dozens Buried in Mass Graves - 0 views

ic.galegroup.com.references.herrickdl.org/...NewsDetailsWindow Mexico graves drug
shared by megan lemmen on 28 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • soldiers have found at least 51 bodies dumped in mass graves after what appeared to be a series of executions by drug gangs in northern Mexico.
  • The bodies were buried in several graves scattered over an area the size of three soccer fields in an isolated zone east of the city of Monterrey, Mexican officials said
  • There were so many bodies that the authorities were using refrigerated trucks to hold them.
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  • Many of the dead, he said, appeared to have been tortured. ''Some were tied up with rope, others taped up with their hands bound with tape,'' he said. ''There are others with handcuffs. Most of them have tattoos.''
  • Photographs showed charred spots on the ground, suggesting some bodies may have been partially burned.
  • Mexico's drug cartels sometimes use corrosive liquids, fire and other methods to dispose of victims or make it harder to identify the bodies.
  • A state government spokesman said the bodies had been found both whole and in parts, with some buried in pits and others at or near the surface.
  • Officials said it appeared that the victims -- 48 men and 3 women -- had been dead about 15 days.
  • The area around Monterrey, Mexico's industrial capital and an important site for American investors, has become a central battleground in the country's drug wars over the past 18 months, with drug traffickers able to block roads and paralyze the city at will.
  • In May, investigators found 55 bodies in an abandoned silver mine shaft in the Pacific Coast state of Guerrero, near Taxco, a favorite tourist spot.
  • megan lemmen on 28 Mar 11
     
    Research Question: How does the Mexican drug war affect the government and people of Mexico? Source: Malkin, Elisabeth. "Mexico Finds Dozens Buried In Mass Graves." New York Times 25 July 2010: A10(L). Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 2 Feb. 2011. Summary: Fifty-one bodies were found in mass graves in northern Mexico, east of Monterrey. This area is extremely industrial for Mexico and is a main point of violence for the drug wars. The bodies seemed to be tortured, tied up, or burned-they had been dead for approximately fifteen days. "There were so many bodies that the authorities were using refrigerated trucks to hold them." The bodies were found both whole and in parts, and at different depths in the ground.  Reflection: My first reaction was "Wow!" this seems like something from a CSI episode. Horrific mass-murders like these seem so distant to me. It's almost impossible to imagine digging up fifty-one bodies out in the middle of nowhere, finding them beaten and maimed. This is just one examle of the horrible violence that is occurring in Mexico.   Questions:1) Were these bodies of members of drug cartels?2) Have all of the bodies been identified?3) How many other instances like this have occurred?4) Was there any way to trace who killed these people?
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"Tourist and Turtles: Searching for a Balance in Tortuguero, Costa Rica" - 0 views

find.galegroup.com/...infomark.do MEL Costa Rica
shared by Mallory Huizenga on 28 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • can be used to (1) raise awareness about sea turtles, (2) provide funding for conservation and management, and (3) create 'alternative livelihoods' and revenues for communities who engage(d) in direct consumption or sale of sea turtle products.
    • Mallory Huizenga
      Mallory Huizenga on 28 Mar 11
       
      Reflection: This article was helpful because it took me one step deeper into the efforts Costa Rica is taking to better their ecological conservation. Many articles that I come across only cover the surface of what Costa Rica is doing. In this article I was able to get an up close look at one of the things Costa Rica is doing: protecting sea turtles. Costa Rica is working with resources, such as tourism, to improve their conservation efforts. It was also nice to get a solid definition of ecotourism in Costa Rica. Questions: 1) What are other organization doing to promote conservation efforts? 2) How many other organizations use tourism to raise awareness? 3) What other steps is Costa Rica taking to protect sea turtles? 4) What other research studies are taking place on sea turtles?
  • ecotourists were portrayed as alternative tourists looking for environmentally focused educational trips.
  • In 2004, the tour system was changed to mitigate potential negative impacts of tourist activity on nesting turtles.
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  • Sea turtle conservation organisations promote tourism as a way to 'save turtles', and reconcile conservation and development near nesting beaches.
  • Turtles and tourism are now so inextricably linked in some places that potential turtle losses represent tourism revenue losses (BBC News 2004).
  • Since the 1990s, ecotourism has become part of the tourism mainstream, especially in places like Costa Rica, where 'softer' ecotourism dominates. It is largely composed of nature-based tourism that includes some 'green' aspects but also offers easier tourist outings and more comforts of home
  • While ecotourism, including ecotourism in Tortuguero, once attracted mostly 'harder' or more rugged and/or environmentally conscious tourists than most nature-based or wildlife-viewing tourism (Place 1991), such distinctions are now less clear
  • As ecotourism grows, and infrastructure and services are added, the destination becomes less attractive to harder ecotourists.
  • In this paper, we focus on tourist perceptions of turtle tours in Tortuguero, Costa Rica, home to Tortuguero National Park
  • (Eco)tourism's promise for conservation Ecotourism is seen as part of a 'mutually beneficial triumvirate', alongside conservation and biology, by many in the conservation world (Brightsmith et al. 2008).
  • Some conservationists see tourism, especially ecotourism, as an important driver of conservation
  • Tortuguero village, Tortuguero National Park and tourism Tortuguero's [Figure 1] nesting beach is used by green, leatherback, hawksbill, and loggerhead sea turtles.
  • Tourist traffic on the beach also has the potential to disturb turtles as they search for a place to nest, sending them back into the water without completing the nesting process.
  • Tourist roles in Tortuguero Tourists play key roles in turtle conservation success in Tortuguero
  • Conservation efforts are also co-dependently intertwined with tourism.
  • We have suggested that tourism in Tortuguero appears to have switched to a softer, more mass tourism-like form of 'ecotourism'.
  • Striving for this delicate balance will not be easy, but gaining a better and ongoing understanding of tourist perceptions is integral to designing more sustainable or less unsustainable turtle tourism options for the future.
  • Mallory Huizenga on 28 Mar 11
     
    Research Journal #3: Article One Research Question: How is ecological conservation effecting Costa Rica? Source: Mel.org: "Tourist and Turtles: Searching for a Balance in Tortuguero, Costa Rica" by Zoe Meletis and Emma Harrison  Citation: Meletis, Zoe, and Emma Harrison. "Tourists and turtles: Searching for a balance in Tortuguero, Costa Rica." Conservation and Society 8.1 (2010): 26. Academic OneFile. Web. 22 Mar. 2011. Summary: This article takes an inside look at the sea turtle population and how tourism has affected the turtle population. The article is filled with information, observations, and facts. The article also displays a study that took place to measure the affects of tourism on the sea turtle population. One of the top things the article talks about is how tourism is raising conservation awareness for the turtle. Through tourism, conservation organizations are able to spread awareness. Another aspect that the article talks about is ecotourism. It talks about the difference between ecotourism and tourism. Costa Rica is becoming known for their ecotourism. The article defines ecotourism as "largely composed of nature-based tourism that includes some 'green' aspects but also offers easier tourist outings and more comforts of home". This article glorifies the efforts Costa Rica is taking to deepen their ecological conservation.  Reflection and Questions on Sticky Note
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North Korea willing to talk about uranium program - World news - Asia-Pacific - North K... - 1 views

www.msnbc.msn.com/42082685 northkorea Nuclear peacetalks
shared by Matt Mulder on 15 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • North Korea told a Russian envoy it is willing to discuss a recently disclosed uranium enrichment program if long-stalled nuclear disarmament talks resume
  • North Korea has carried out two nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009, and is believed to be working toward mounting a bomb on a long-range missile.
  • Pyongyang officials told Russia's top nuclear envoy, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin, that North Korea "is not opposed" to discussion of its uranium-enrichment program as part of nuclear talks
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  • A Russian delegation headed by Borodavkin visited North Korea from Friday to Monday, the spokesman said.
  • North Korea responded by saying it was willing to return to the six-party talks without preconditions, and that other Russian requests could also be discussed
  • The U.S. has 28,500 troops in the South to guard against aggression — a presence that Pyongyang cites as a main factor behind its need to build a nuclear program.
  • Seoul came to a halt for 15 minutes as South Koreans pulled their cars by the side of the road and scrambled under desks and into subway stations as part of regular drills to prepare for a potential attack from the North.
  • Matt Mulder on 15 Mar 11
     
    Summary: north korean officials told the russians that they would be willing to discuss their recently discovered uranium facility in nuke disarmament talks resume. also, south korea is doing regular drills for an attack from their counterparts in the north reflection: i think it's great the the north is willing to actually talk about some of their nuclear program with other nations instead of keeping to themselves and leaving the rest of us wondering. maybe they can be convinced that they don't need to go nuclear questions: why all this transparency all of the sudden? why does NK think that they need nukes just b/c there are US soldiers in the south? could the north be convinced to drop their nuclear program?
  • Jessica Ruthsatz on 22 Mar 11
     
    Matt, You have quite a few punctuation and grammatical errors. As this is a formal submission, you need to take more care in capitalization.
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Egypt and Tunisia's Unfinished Revolutions - TIME - 0 views

www.time.com/...0,8599,2057169,00.html egypt
shared by Nick Mast on 11 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • 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?
  • Nick Mast on 11 Mar 11
     
    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
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Academic OneFile  Document - 0 views

find.galegroup.com/...retrieve.do egypt
shared by Nick Mast on 11 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • 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.
  • Nick Mast on 11 Mar 11
     
    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?
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Nigeria and Oil - Global Issues - 0 views

www.globalissues.org/...nigeria-and-oil oil nigeria effects
shared by Brielle DeFrell on 11 Mar 11 - Cached
  • There is a symbiotic relationship between the military dictatorship and the multinational companies who grease the palms of those who rule….They are assassins in foreign lands. They drill and they kill in Nigeria.
  • Human Rights Activist Oronto Douglas
  • Niger Delta in Nigeria has been the attention of environmentalists, human rights activists and fair trade advocates around the world. The trial and hanging of environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other members of the Ogoni ethnic minority made world-wide attention. So too did the non-violent protests of the Og
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  • oni people
  • Ogoni, Ijaw and other people in the Niger Delta, those who have been worse affected for decades have been trying to stand up for themselves, their environment and their basic human and economic rights.
  • divide communities by paying off some members to disrupt non-violent protests.
  • threaten the livelihood of neighboring local communities. Due to the many forms of oil-generated environmental pollution evident throughout the region, farming and fishing have become impossible or extremely difficult in oil-affected areas, and even drinking water has become scarce. Malnourishment and disease appear common.
  • loss of property, price inflation, prostitution, and irresponsible fathering by expatriate oil workers.
  • Organized protest and activism by affected communities regularly meet with military repression, sometimes ending in the loss of life.
  • While the story told to consumers of Nigerian crude in the United States and the European Union—via ad campaigns and other public relations efforts—is that oil companies are a positive force in Nigeria, providing much needed economic development resources, the reality that confronted our delegation was quite the opposite
  • oil company operating in the Niger Delta employing inadequate environmental standards, public health standards, human rights standards, and relations with affected communities.
  • Far from being a positive force, these oil companies act as a destabilizing force, pitting one community against another, and acting as a catalyst—together with the military with whom they work closely—to some of the violence racking the region today.
  • Oil For Nothing: Multinational Corporations, Environmental Destruction, Death and Impunity in the Niger Delta, Essential Action and Global Exchange, January 25, 2000
  • in the killing of Ken Saro-Wiwa to Chevron-marked helicopters carrying Nigerian military that opened fire upon protestors,
  • The military have been accused of thousands of killings, house/village burnings, intimidating people, torture and so on.
  • oil companies have neglected the surrounding environment and health of the local communities
  • oil spills that are not cleaned up, blatant dumping of industrial waste and promises of development projects which are not followed through, have all added to the increasing environmental and health problems.
  • corruption and religious tensions between Muslims and Christians
  • into 2004
  • Shell companies have worsened fighting in the Niger Delta through payments for land use, environmental damage, corruption of company employees and reliance on Nigerian security forces.
  • Shell companies and their staff creates, feeds into, or exacerbates conflict.
  • Voilence in the Niger Delta kills some 1000 people each year,
  • With over 50 years of presence in Nigeria, it is reasonable to say that the Shell companies in Nigeria have become an integral part of the Niger Delta conflict
  • Human Rights Watch’s 2010 report. They note although free speech and independent media remain robust and there have been some anti-corruption efforts. However, this is overshadowed by religious and inter-communal violence that has seen Muslims and Christians killing each other and by Nigeria’s political leaders’ “near-total impunity for massive corruption and sponsoring political violence”.
  • latest escalation of violence began in early 2006, hundreds of people have been killed in clashes between rival armed groups vying for illicit patronage doled out by corrupt politicians, or between militants and government security forces. Armed gangs have carried out numerous attacks on oil facilities and kidnapped more than 500 oil workers and ordinary Nigerians for ransom during this period
  • June 2009, followed a major military offensive in May against militants in the creeks of Delta State, which left scores dead and thousands of residents displaced.
  • — Nigeria, World Report 2010, Human Rights Watch
  • Brielle DeFrell on 11 Mar 11
     
    Research question: What are the effects of the competition with oil in Nigeria?  Shah, Anup. "Nigeria and Oil." Global Issues, Updated: 10 Jun. 2010. Accessed: 10 Mar. 2011. Reflection: The more I research the problem the more I realize how big of a problem this really is. There are so many environmental issues and protests that have come with drilling in Nigeria.  Summary: The presence of oil companies have hurt many of the communities on the Niger Delta in Nigeria including environmental pollution, farming and fishing difficulties because of oil spills, drinking water is getting scarcer and scarcer, and malnourishment and disease is showing up more and more. Not only is it bring environmental issues, but economic and societal one too including loss of property, price inflation, prostitution, and bad fathering by oil company workers.Many people have lost their lives to the violence that goes on with both violent protests and non-violent ones. The government is corrupt and there are religious tensions going on between Muslims and Christians in the midst.  Questions:  *What would be best? To stay and get oil or to get out to stop the violence? *Is there a way to stop the violence? And should we take the step in doing so even though it may hurt us? *How many oil spills have happened in Nigeria?
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Coal and Climate Change in Queensland - 0 views

socialistresistance.org/...d-climate-change-in-queensland Australia
shared by William Leys on 10 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • The recent severe flooding in Australia that caused scores of deaths and billions of dollars in property damage and which was followed by an unusually powerful cyclone that caused damage hundreds of kilometers from the Queensland coast are the result of climate change. Floods and cyclone are natural phenomena but their unusual intensity and increasing frequency are linked to changes in weather patterns.
  • Meanwhile, ocean surface temperatures off northern Australia have been at record levels — as much as 5°C above average in some places.
  • Given this knowledge, the silence on the contribution of climate change to the January floods and Cyclone Yasi is deafening. The Royal Commission announced to investigate the floods will be limited to the response to the disaster and not the cause.
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  • The Australian and Queensland governments are putting fossil fuel company profits ahead of human safety.
  • William Leys on 10 Mar 11
     
    Research Question: What are the effects of the Australian Floodings? Summary: Australia is putting fossil fuel production ahead of public safety in order to maintain low costs. Reflection: The article is definitely coming from a more socialist perspective (go figure), so they speak against the more Capitalist government in Australia. Questions: How will they be able to prevent future storms given the knowledge they have? They don't offer a solution, so do they know someone who does? "Coal and Climate Change in Queensland." Socialist Resistance (2011): n. pag. Web. 10 Mar 2011. .
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Flood study to examine health effects of mould and mud - News - Virtual Medical Centre - 0 views

www.virtualmedicalcentre.com/...16014 Australia
shared by William Leys on 10 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • Homeowners in flood-affected Brisbane suburbs are being asked to participate in a study that will examine the effects of mould and mud on people's respiratory health.
  • Laboratory director, Professor Lidia Morawska, said although the flood waters had receded in Brisbane, there were numerous public health issues associated with its aftermath.
  • Mould and dust from waterlogged materials and silt and organic debris in flood-affected areas could impact on residents' respiratory health, with the greatest effect typically seen in children and asthmatics, she said.
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  • "Understanding human exposure is very important to know whether there's any risk to our health from mud and mould," said Professor Morawska."It is clear that after flooding there is quite a big problem with mould. This has been seen in many other parts of the world, including after Hurricane Katrina.
  • Professor Morawska said 15 households that were flooded and 15 homes that were unaffected were needed for the study, which would take place in coming weeks.
  • William Leys on 10 Mar 11
     
    Research Question: What are the effects of the Australian Flooding? Summary: Mold and dust have worked their way into people's homes. Test have to be done to see how bad that could be for the owner's health. Reflection: Much like the Katrina situation, they need to insure that they have a clean environment to live in. Questions: How invasive will the tests be? Is it something you have to be out of your home for a full 24 hours? "Flood study to examine health effects of mould and mud." VirtualMedicalCentre.com (2011): n. pag. Web. 10 Mar 2011. .
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Australian Floods Peak in Brisbane - NYTimes.com - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...14australia.html Australia Flood Brisbane
shared by Andrew Kuper on 10 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • BRISBANE, Australia — Floodwaters peaked here on Thursday, swamping tens of thousands of homes and businesses
  • killed at least 15 people in the past week.
  • flood zone could remain under water for days
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  • The Brisbane River, which snakes through Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland, crested early Thursday at about 15 feet above normal
  • cumulative death toll from flooding since the rains began in late November to at least 25.
  • more than 25,000 homes and 5,000 businesses were inundated when the two major river systems burst their banks
  • ripped a 960-foot-long concrete boardwalk from its foundations,
  • In Ipswich, a city of 150,000 people about 20 miles west of Brisbane, officials estimated that 3,000 homes and businesses were flooded
  • Andrew Kuper on 10 Mar 11
     
    What are the effects of the Australian Floods? Citation:"Floods Peak, Leaving Ruin in Australian City"  http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/14/world/asia/14australia.html Summary:The city of Brisbane has experienced some particularly bad flooding. The flood here has killed at least 15 people in one week. The city could remain underwater for several days. The flooding has been caused by extreme rains which caused the Brisbane and Bremer Rivers to rise up to 15 feet. Over 25,000 homes and 5,000 businesses have been flooded in Brisbane alone. Analysis:This article gave much more focused detail than previous articles I had read It really shows how much the devastation has affected individuals. There were several pictures as well which showed the scope of the flooding, including one of flood waters covering most of a basketball court. This really put it into perspective how bad the flood has been. It's extremely tragic to think about how many people have suffered from this flood.  Questions:1. What is the monetary cost of the flood in this area?2. How will the people rebuild after this? One woman wasn't insured for a flood, and is completely homeless.3. What all is being done to help those affected?
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BBC News - Australian Prime Minister unveils new flood tax - 0 views

news.bbc.co.uk/...9378347.stm Australia Flood tax
shared by Andrew Kuper on 10 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • The Australian government has announced a new tax to help pay for the devastating floods over the past month.
  • half of the five-billion dollars the federal government needs.
  • no-one earning less than $50,000 or anyone affected by the flooding would pay.
  • Andrew Kuper on 10 Mar 11
     
    What are the effects of the Australian Floods? Citation:"Australian Prime Minister unveils new flood tax" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/gmt/9378347.stm Summary:Australia is creating a new tax to help the people affected by the flood. They've excluded those affected by the flood and those who make less than $50000 a year. They need to raise quite a bit of money, and this should get them about half way. The Australian Gov. is also cutting many costs to help raise more money Analysis: This is good news. They have a plan for raising the money they need. This new tax should be a good start. They were smart to tax only those making more than $50000 and who weren't affected by the flood because those aren't the people who need help.  Questions:1. How are they defining "affected by the flood"? That could include almost everybody.2. How much are they taxing each person?3. How do the Australian people feel about the tax?
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The Feminists In The Middle Of Tahrir Square | Modern Egypt Info - 0 views

www.modernegypt.info/...in-the-middle-of-tahrir-square
shared by jeni bouwman on 10 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • At the height of the protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, I saw the crowds cleaved by a stream of girls and young women in pink and blue veils. Men formed a shield around them so they could move through the square unimpeded.
  • To which one of the women added: “We are here as women, but we are speaking out for everyone.”
  • alls of fear, class, and even gender were broken. There was no feminism or ideology. Women were simply demanding the same pragmatic constitutional changes that every Egyptian wants.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • Egypt have always held prominent public roles in the media, film, literature, and civil society
  • hla, a village north of Cairo, had already taken up the torch. Jailed, menaced, and exiled throughout her life, Saadawi is now 79 and could be found protesting in the square every day.
  • student who ran off to
  • off to
  • She went on to graduate from medical school, become a chest surgeon, and marry a fellow student who ran off to Suez as a guerrilla fighter against the British and returned a broken man and drug a
  • ddict. In the 1967 war with Israel she volunteered as a doctor in the trenches and in the Palestinian camps in Jordan.
  • 972 she broke even more taboos than Hoda Shaarawi did by writing Women and Sex, which dealt with female desire, religion, and genital mutilation. Unsurprisingly, it angered the religious and political authorities.
  • jeni bouwman on 10 Mar 11
     
    summary: Only Egyptian women were allowed to do this protest. They wore pink and blue veils. If any men tried to join this the women would kick him out and say its only for women, but speaking out for everyone. they are doing this to show that they want more rights as women.  Response:  I think this is a crazy idea to do, to only let girls be allowed to do that. But also a very good idea because girls never get to do what they want to. This way it shows that they really want there rights because they should! Girls should not be any different then the men.  Questions:  1. What laws do the women want to change by doing this?2. What was the purpose of wearing the veils?  3. What were they trying to prove? 4. How big of event was this, what did it change? 
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Shrinking Lake Chad turning farmland into desert - CNN.com - 0 views

www.cnn.com/...index.html shrinking chad lake Nigeria
shared by Troy Rietsma on 10 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • Lake Chad is shrinking rapidly, threatening the millions of people who depend on it for their survival. But some locals are fighting back in a bid to preserve their way of life.
  • STORY HIGHLIGHTSLake Chad is just a twentieth of the size it was 50 years ago The lake feeds between 20 million people in Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger Local fishermen say they are catching fewer, and smaller, fish in the lake Some people are planting trees to stop desertification of the surrounding land
  • From droughts causing bad harvests, to floods destroying farms and homes, life in Africa's Sahel belt can be a constant struggle.
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • . More than 20 million people depend on the freshwater lake for their survival.
  • But it's been shrinking over the past 50 years and satellite images show it is now just a twentieth of its former size.
  • Huge expanses of water are now nothing more than a series of ponds and islands, and the once-fertile land that surrounds the lake is now dusty and barren.
  • "The lake is in the process of disappearing and the lake feeds many people, not just here but in other countries like Nigeria, Cameroon and Niger," he continued. "They are all people who live on Lake Chad."
  • Locals report that they are catching less fish and the ones that they do catch are smaller than they used to be.
  • A declining stock could have devastating consequences far beyond the water's edge, says Yakowra Mallom, from UNICEF.
  • There are no more fish. There's no more milk, no maize, no vegetables or cereal."
  • Local communities say the changing weather is the biggest reason for the shrinking of the lakes shores. The necessary irrigation of farming land has also been a factor.
  • A small local group is trying to save the surrounding land by planting trees in the villages that have been worst affected by desertification. If they cannot bring back the lake, they hope there will at least be workable land.
  • Troy Rietsma on 10 Mar 11
     
    RESEARCH QUESTION: How does the Nigerian blood oil effect the people of Nigeria? Sessay, Isha. "Shrinking Lake Chad turning farmland into desert." CNN.com. N.p., 2 Mar. 2011. Web. 10 Mar. 2011. . 1. Summary Lake Chad is drying up. This is a really bad thing, you could almost consider it like us with Lake Michigan. The people of Nigeria, Niger, and Chad depend on this lake to survive. Local fisherman even say that they are catching fewer and smaller fish in the lake. Satellite images show that the lake is a twentieth the size it was 50 years ago. 2. Reflection. This poses a huge threat to Nigerians. As if all the turmoil with the Libyans and their oil wasn't enough, the lake is also needed to keep the economy strong. This could change the lives of many Nigerians and how they need to survive. 3. Questions: What else can be done to save the lake besides the planting of trees? Will the planting of the trees help? How important is the fishing industry to Nigeria? Are there other sources of freshwater that will be sufficient for the needs of the Nigerians?
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Egypt's Military Says PM Has Resigned - TIME - 0 views

www.time.com/...0,8599,2056616,00.html
shared by jeni bouwman on 10 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • Egypt's military rulers say the prime minister appointed by ousted President Hosni Mubarak has resigned, meeting a key demand of the opposition protest movement.
  • jeni bouwman on 10 Mar 11
     
    Summary: Anti- government protesters are protesting against President Hosni Mubarak- throwing stones between the supporters of the president.  Everyone is angry that he was resigned to be the president again. Massive anti-government protest went on when this happened.  Response: I think that after reading this article I feel really bad that the people are brave enough to do this to him. Even if they don't like there new president I don't think they should protest against it. Like theres always going to be people that don"t like the new president. Protesting against him is only going to make him feel bad and not change anything.  Questions:  1. Why are they not over it yet? 2. Why do they keep protesting over and over again? 3. Whats so bad about the new president? 4. WHat do they think this is going to change, by doing this? 5. How long will they protest? 
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PressTV - Iran seizes 400 tons of narcotics - 0 views

www.presstv.ir/168770.html
shared by Ryan Wassink on 10 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • With a 900-kilomet
  • With a 900-kilometer (560-mile) common border with Afghanistan, Iran has been used as the main route for smuggling Afghan drugs to narcotics kingpins in Europe.
  • The war on drug trade originating from Afghanistan has claimed the lives of nearly 3,700 Iranian police officers over the past 30 years.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Najjar said that Iran has spent more than $700 millions to seal its borders and prevent the transit of narcotics destined for European, Arab and Central Asian countries.
  • Ryan Wassink on 10 Mar 11
     
    Source: Press TV: Iran seizes 400 tons of narcotics http://www.presstv.ir/detail/168770.html Summary: This is an article about how Iran is trying to stop drugs from afghanistan to come through Iran. Iran is the main root for afghanistan to smuggle drugs into europe. There has been a war on drug trade in afghanistan for the last 30 years and it has claimed the lives of 3700 people. Iran has spent 700 million to try to seal its borders from drug smuggling. Reflection: This was a very helpful article to read. I did not know that Iran had big problem with afghanistan. I also that it was insane on how much Iran has spent on there borders and also that this ongoing war has lasted over 30 years. You would think by now there should be some sort of agreement. Questions: What are the relations between Iran in Europe like? How much of afghanistans drug production goes to europe? Have there been any agreements at all between Iran and afghanistan?
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Myanmar reports progress in opium destruction - 0 views

www.washingtonpost.com/...AR2011030700861.html
shared by Ryan Wassink on 10 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • 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.
  • Ryan Wassink on 10 Mar 11
     
    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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THE GREEN REPUBLIC: A CONSERVATION HISTORY OF COSTA RICA.(Review)(Brief Article). - 0 views

find.galegroup.com/...retrieve.do Conservation Costa Rica
shared by Katie Feikema on 10 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • The conservation of nature is a socio-historical phenomenon that expresses the awareness and ethical values of those who propose to carry it out
  • easy to read book. The Green Republic is about the establishment of Costa Rica's internationally recognized system of protected areas
  • Like all social processes, however, the history of natural resource conservation in Costa Rica is riddled with paradox, passion, and self-interest as well as dedication and commitment.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • the greatest paradox of all is that this nation continues to have one of the world's highest rates of deforestation while simultaneously possessing an immense system of conservation areas in relation to its size, with 25 percent of the country under some form of protection.
  • and other contradictions in both the governmental arena and civil society.
  • Cuello, Cesar. "THE GREEN REPUBLIC: A CONSERVATION HISTORY OF COSTA RICA." Environment 42.1 (2000): 43. Student Edition. Web. 10 Mar. 2011.
  • http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=STOM&docId=A59121194&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0
  • Katie Feikema on 10 Mar 11
     
    Summary: This article tells about a book that was written about the ecological conservation in Costa Rica.  Reflection: I found it interesting that this article tells us about the social aspect that any new process goes through. While most articles tell of all the good that has been done, this one tells of the less shining aspects of the process. We are also told of the slightly hypocritical deforestation that is going on in Costa Rica even though they are so in favor of saving the environment.  Questions: 1) When will they begin to protect their forests as much as the rest of their environment? 2) How much would their economy suffer if they stopped the logging? 3) Have they cut down on the amount of logging since the book was written.
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HIV/AIDS deepens food crisis in southern Africa. (News). - 0 views

find.galegroup.com/...infomark.do zambia
shared by Kyleah Vander Klok on 10 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • Severe food shortages in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe--and in parts of South Africa--are being worsened by HIV/AIDS. The disease is having "dramatic" effects on agriculture
  • Zambia have already declared their food shortages national disasters
  • households affected by HIV/ AIDS had a far lower yearly income (rand 13 000, i.e. USS 1300) than the unaffected households (rand 20 000 or USS 2000). HIV/AIDS-hit households spent more on medical care and hospital bills, transport and funerals, but less on housing and education.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • households met part of the cost of AIDS by selling their goats and chickens and taking their children out of school.
  • another study shows that by the time a person dies of AIDS, two person-years of labour have been lost--not only because of the incapacity of the patient, but because of the care that others have to provide, and because in many places people can't work during funerals
  • HIV/AIDS also impoverishes the household, so affected families are less able to buy food,
  • people are not fully aware of this, but HIV/AIDS has become a major part of the food crisis
  • Kyleah Vander Klok on 10 Mar 11
     
    HIV/AIDS deepens food crisis in southern Africa. (News). Walgate, Robert, and Kerry Cullinan. "HIV/AIDS deepens food crisis in southern Africa. (News)." Bulletin of the World Health Organization 80.8 (2002): 687. Academic OneFile. Web. 9 Mar. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=AONE&docId=A92081438&source=gale&srcprod=AONE&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 2. Because of AIDS and other problems there are food shortages in Zambia and other countries. The costs of funeral are to high for families so they can barely live and with the money they do earn it is not enough to feed a family.  3. I did not expect that it would cause food shortages. I thought that it may cause people to not be able to buy food because of expenses but I did not think of the problems with not enough people to grow crops.  4. What would it be like to live in fear that family was going to die? would this kind of life desensitize the people living there to what is going on? How many family members are taken care of by one family member
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Student Edition  Document - 0 views

find.galegroup.com/...tab.do Haiti earthquake effects
shared by Mackenzie Haveman on 10 Mar 11 - No Cached
  • The American Institutes for Research (AIR), as part of its commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) to help Haiti's education system, has responded to the devastating January 2010 earthquake by assembling emergency classrooms and providing special training for teachers to help them cope with the lingering effects of the disaster.
  • AIR has assembled temporary schools and classrooms, improved school hygiene facilities, distributed school materials, and provided training and psychosocial support for teachers and school directors.
  • At least 322 emergency classrooms have been assembled. More than 25,000 students have been able to resume their education. A total of 733 teachers and school directors have received special training so they can return to work.
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • AIR has also compiled a directory that identifies Haitian organizations that support primary and secondary education and school-based health activities in the country. The directory has made it easier to identify organizations working to provide education assistance in Haiti.
    • Mackenzie Haveman
      Mackenzie Haveman on 10 Mar 11
       
      Response:I think that what AIR is doing is definitely very helpful. It is very important to help keep their kids in school and have them grow up with an education. I think that this is they type of help that Haiti needs in order to recover. I think that if there were different organizations or countries that could focus on one specific thing to help out with, like education, Haiti could be on their way to a healthy rebuilding. My research question is, "What are the social, political, and economical effects on Haiti after the earthquake." I think that this article definitely ties into my question in that of it can connect to the political point. The education system is definitely part of the political standpoint, and there are much more systems that are to be fixed that are parts of their politics. I think that education is definitely a great place to start because they can teach their children a new way of life, and it can potentially give hope for the country's future.  Questions:1. What are other systems that we can help in where we an go in and teach them? 2. Could the new generation of students potentially flip their society?3. Besides classrooms and training teachers, what else could be helped through the education system if they want their students to help make a difference?
  • Mackenzie Haveman on 10 Mar 11
     
    "AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH'S CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE COMMITMENTS BENEFIT CHILDREN IN HAITI AFFECTED BY THE JANUARY 2010 EARTHQUAKE." States News Service 21 Sept. 2010. Student Edition. Web. 8 Mar. 2011. Summery:  This article is about what The American Institutes for Research (AIR) is doing in helping the effects on Haiti. This institute has tried to focus on students and on education systems. They have helped assemble emergency classrooms and they have trained for teachers to be a part of a good education system and helped them deal with the unforgotten effects. There have been at least 322 emergency classrooms assembled, more than 25,000 students have been able to resume their education, and a total of 733 teachers and school directors have received training so they can return to their works.   
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