5th Hour World Cultures

Georgia - Shootout in Abkhazia - NYTimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/09/world/europe/09briefs-Georgia.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=Georgia%20and%20Russia&st=cse Summary: A Russian border and two Georgians were killed according to the Russia's Federal Security service.  Russian border guards were finding an abandoned house when they were attacked.  The security said two Georgians were officer of the Georgian Interior ministry.  However, Georgian's ministry said one is the wanted by police and the other was an area resident.  Russia guards began patrolling the boundaries. Reflection: Even if this article is small amount, this news might be  important because this happening makes big troubles and broke their relationship between Russia and Georgia.  I think that Georgian people will be feared because Russia and Georgia will have war because of this problem. Question:1) Who killed them? 2) Why Russia and Georgia's opinion are different? 3) How to solve this happening and their peace?

BBC News - UN court rejects Georgia case against Russia over war http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12935149 Summary: The US court reject a case filed by Georgia because The ICJ in the Hague could not examine Georgia's complaint.  During the war, thousands of ethnic Georgian fled their land.  After voting 10-6 did not agree to examine Georgia's case because they did not tried to resolve the dispute through negotiations.  However Georgia government did not give up and tried to help US court but Us rejected. Reflection: When I saw this article, both Russia and Georgia had their own pain and they wanted to heal their own property and countries.  Especially, Georgia's case was rejected and it made me surprised because they needed to solve those problems.  However, I just understand some stuff that their case was not enough for examine their problems.   Question:1)Why Georgia's case was rejected by IJC? 2)Why US did not accept Georgia's case? 3)Why Georgia was not giving up?

Reflection: I believe is is easier said than done. When the article talked about the government and how troubled it has become, its easy to point fingers and ask why the government doesn't do anything about the rape and lack of sanity in camps. However, the government its self has been hurt. While the poverty level in Haiti already being so low, its hard to get the money and resources to give everyone food, shelter, water, and safety.  Questions:1. What must the Haitian government do different to protect the women, men,  and children in camps? 2. How could the United States help with these camps? 3. What are the total number of Haitians in this camp still today? 

Research Question: Still today, what are the social, economical, and political effects of the earthquake in Haiti? Citation Source: "UN EXPERT ON DISPLACED PERSONS SAYS HAITI IS STILL IN CRISIS." States News Service 19 Oct. 2010. Student Edition. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. Summary: This article is about the 1.3 million people who lost their homes during the earthquake and were left with no where to go. Nine months after, Haiti is still struggling with the natural disaster. However, the government isn't doing the best job of helping. In camps that have been set up for the homeless, rape has become a serious concern. That is why the Haitian National Police and the Unites States Stabilization Mission in Haiti must increase it's presence in the camps. Then, their is the government that needs to enforce police power and the justice system so that the injustice can soon come to an end. Nevertheless, these are the issues that are left behind and often forgotten. The time after the quake when the reality of a broken government really comes out.   

Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? Citation:Ronk, Sam. We can't point fingers on Muslims, violence. N.p., 11 Apr. 2011. Web.1 Apr. 2011. http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110411/OPINION04/104110304/-1/GETPUBLISHED03scripts/We-can-t-point-fingers-Muslims-violence Summary:This article contains the strong opinion about the Islam. Sam Ronk insists that the Christians make the Islamists to be violence. People think that the Islam is more violence than the Christianity from the death and suffering between the Crusades, Spanish Inquisition, Colonialism. Therefore, he think that the Americans and Christians need to refresh in order to convert the statement of the Islam. Reflection:I love this article because it is really fresh at least to think about the purposing of the religion specially Islam. This article have aggressive opinions against the christianity. I am christian who never regret my decision; however I agree that the christians need to rethink about what we did for the other religions. I believe that the Islam originally purpose to show the violence; they have wrong ways to spread the spirits. I guess that the Christianity seldom did the violence either. According those facts, we don't need to emphasize the Islam is the violence. Question:1) What is the main idol purpose to the Islam and Christianity?2) Why people think that the Islam is always violence that peace?3) What is the violence reaction from the Christianity?4) Why Christians disagree about this article?

Quotes: The Communist economic modle he introduced after his revolution has in someways failed Jeffery Goldburg Published part of those conversations on a Blog Fidel Castro's over riding fear that the world is on the brink of a nuclear war "The Cuban Model doesn't even work for us any more" Fidel Castro He (raul Castro) has insisted on numerous occasions that changes needed to be made to the economy he has introduced some modest reforms to farmers barbers and even taxies Fidel Castro has completely avoided domestic issues Darlington, Shasta. CNN. CNN, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. . Summary: Fidel Castro seems to realize that the empire that he dreamed of has very little chance of succeeding and that changes need to be made he is supporting some of the steps that his brother Raul Castro has made to change the way that the Cuban Government is run and is now coming out of a media nonexistence to speak of such subjects  Response: I think it is is a good thing that Fidel is realizing that the plans he made for the nation of Cuba are not turing out as well as he had planned and that changes need to be made to how their nation is run. I think it is a good sign that he is supporting his successor in the steps he is taking to make changes to the economy of Cuba.  Questions: What are some of the other things that he is changing? Are they working? What are some ongoing changes right now?

Research Question: What are the effects of HIV/AIDS in Zambia? Citation: "Agencies Step in to Address HIV/Aids in Prisons." Africa News Service 5 Sept. 2005. Student Edition. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. Summary: The summary of this article is about those in Zambia who are in prison and are either already infected by HIV/AIDS before they came to jail or while they are in jail. It explains how people in jail can get infected by the disease by doing things like poor nutrition, injecting themselves with drugs, and having unsafe sex. The ZPS (Zambian Prisons Service) has come up with ways for those infected by HIV/AIDS to help these people by doing things like providing these people with healthcare. Also CBU (Copperbelt University) has developed a program called "In But Free" which is a prevention policy that teaches inmates information on prevention from HIV/AIDS and information on how to protect themselves from being infected by HIV/AIDS. Plus the PFZ (Prisons Fellowship of Zambia) has a prisoners rehabilitation program in 40 jails in the country which allows ARVs as well as counseling for those who are infected with HIV/AIDS.

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.

SOURCE: highlighted SUMMARY: This article is talking about the cost effective way that Costa Rica was approaching the re-construction of their portion of the Pan-American Highway. Instead of ripping it all up and using all new materials to build a new section; they recycled the road they had and added new asphalt to the mix. This saved them close to 30% on cost to repair.  REFLECTION: I have seen large chunks of old roads sitting in piles in junk yards, as I drove by on new roads. I like what Costa Rica is doing because it saves money by recycling, and it also saves time and space by not having to dispose of the old roads. I am not surprised by what they are doing, because they are such a green country already, and this is just another way to be an even better country.  QUESTIONS:  - Do they do this for their other roads, or just for the Pan-American? - Did other countries follow their lead and do this too?

"Georgia, Russia may continue WTO talks in April." Russia Information Agency 11 Mar. 2011. Web. 24 Mar. 2011. . Summary: Georgia is denying Russia it's membership into the WTO because of it's fight with russia. They wish to get a deal with russia by blackmailing them into giving back what Georgia lost in the 2008-present fight with Russia, and plans to use this as a bargaining chip. Most of the current members of the WTO do not like this and asked Russia a Georgia to settle it quickly so as to make Russia a member. Reflection: I think Georgia should use what ever tool of pursuasion they can against Russia. Russia had no business in Georgia from the start, and do not deserve anything in return but retribution. The people of Georgia have endured Russian opression for decades, and deserve a full withdrawl of russian troops from their land. It almost seems as if Russia is still hostile to it's former satilite nations, and as if none care for them, the world turns a blind eye and trades their freedom for oil, and other goods. The sattilite nations of the former soviet union are not completely washed away from these countries, and a lot of them are communist nations with a bad economy. Questions: 1. Why are the former soviet break-away nations so similar in the form of government and economic status as Russia? 2. Does Russia still play a big role in these countries? If so, how? 3. Does Georgia give a good mirror example for the american revolution? explain?

What are the effects of the Australian Floods?Citation:"Australia floods threaten Queensland capital; 14 dead, dozens missing" http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/12/world/la-fg-australia-floods-20110112Summary: The city of Queensland has experienced some particularly bad flooding. The flood here has killed at least 14 people, with many more missing. Much of the flooding has come from a dam which was released to prevent its collapse. This damn was built to prevent flooding after Australia's last major flood in 1974. Questions: 1. Why didn't the dam work, was it not large enough? 2. How will the people rebuild after all this damage? 3. What all is being done to help those affected?

Al Jazeera English - Hezbollah Will Not Recognise Israel http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/03/200931322165471789.html Hezbollah will not recognise Israel. Al Jazeera, 13 Mar. 2009. Web. 11 Apr. 2011. . Summary: This article is all about Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of Hezbollah, saying he will never recognize Israel as a state. The United States is willing to mediate between Israel and Hezbollah and Hamas and try and find peace, but will only do so if Hezbollah recognizes Israel, which they refuse to do.  Reflection: This seems to go along with everything that I have learned so far about Hezbollah, that they are a stubborn group who refuses to see Israel as a state, and almost hurts themselves through their refusal. If they would see Israel as a state, they could possibly move closer to peace and away from the violence that has littered their existence as a political group and military force. Questions: 1. What role has Hassan Nasrallah played in Hezbollah over the years? 2. Have their been any conflicts with Israel since the war in 2006? 3. Will the current upheaval in the Middle East result in more support for Hezbollah as the article suggests?

Research Question: What are the effects of the Australian Flooding? Summary: The economy in Australia took a hit from the flood, which also combined with a interest rate raise from November and created a 5.6% drop in financing. Reflection: Same thing happened in New Orleans after Katrina, the Government stepped in more forcefully in the U.S. to insure that people could get loans to repair homes though. Questions: Would people in Queensland be more likely to be turned down from loans? They need all the help they can get after taking the hit they did. "Housing finance falls more than expected." Sydney Morning Herald (2011): n. pag. Web. 10 Apr 2011. .

Research Question: What are the effects of the Australian Flooding? Summary: Continuing problems with coal have impacted Australia more than anticipated Reflection: Since the coal mines still have stagnant water in them, the process of procuring coal has stayed difficult and over-costly. Forcing coal prices to rise for the Australian-Asian market. Questions: Why were the original lost tonnage estimates by the Australian Government so off? Shouldn't they have had a better picture of the amount lost?

Reflection: I believe that mental heath is  something that needs to be stressed more about. It effects both the individual and the community in many ways. I don't think people realize how after all the physical needs are met, people still go through terrible depression and PTSD like we are told. When an individual is mentally unhealthily, I believe it brings down the community and allows the negative effect to spread. That is why experts can stop the entire community from falling if they fix one individual problem.   Questions:1. What can we do about depression and PTSD?2. How can we help this not to spread through the community?3. How can Haiti work together and change as a community? 

Reflection: I believe that mental heath is  something that needs to be stressed more about. It effects both the individual and the community in many ways. I don't think people realize how after all the physical needs are met, people still go through terrible depression and PTSD like we are told. When an individual is mentally unhealthily, I believe it brings down the community and allows the negative effect to spread. That is why experts can stop the entire community from falling if they fix one individual problem.   Questions:1. What can we do about depression and PTSD?2. How can we help this not to spread through the community?3. How can Haiti work together and change as a community? 

Research Question: Still today, what are the social, economical, and political effects of the earthquake in Haiti? Citation Source: "RESEARCHERS FOCUS ON PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE FOR HAITI'S EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS." States News Service 24 Mar. 2010. Student Edition. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. Summary:This article is about the long term effects the earthquake has on the people. After addressing the physical needs such as medical care, food, and water, the long term effect is often forgotten. Weeks, months, and even years after, mental heath effects still prolong. That is why experts are stressing about long-term recovery for the person, and community. Things like PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and depression are diagnosed to 1 in every five people who survived a disaster. The article tells us, "Mental illness can be debilitating, and can delay both individual and community recovery--that's why paying attention to mental health issues after a disaster is extremely important." That is why experts want to look into this further and find positive lessons one can lean from the earthquake. 

Research Question: Still today, what are the social, economical, and political effects of the earthquake in Haiti? Citation Source: "RESEARCHERS FOCUS ON PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE FOR HAITI'S EARTHQUAKE SURVIVORS." States News Service 24 Mar. 2010. Student Edition. Web. 10 Apr. 2011. Summary:This article is about the long term effects the earthquake has on the people. After addressing the physical needs such as medical care, food, and water, the long term effect is often forgotten. Weeks, months, and even years after, mental heath effects still prolong. That is why experts are stressing about long-term recovery for the person, and community. Things like PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and depression are diagnosed to 1 in every five people who survived a disaster. The article tells us, "Mental illness can be debilitating, and can delay both individual and community recovery--that's why paying attention to mental health issues after a disaster is extremely important." That is why experts want to look into this further and find positive lessons one can lean from the earthquake. 

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?

Research Question: How does North Korea's communist government and nuclear technology influence the lives of its people? Source: Reuters.com Summary: North Korean officials were to meet this past thursday, and there are rumors that Kim Jong Il's son will be given a high position in the party. The 2nd in command position in the North Korean government has been empty for quite some time after the last guy died. This is the first meeting of the North Korean brass since the bombings in South Korea last year. Reflection: I think that this article gives a fairly nice insight into how the North Korean government works, albeit a tad slowly. Part of me wonders why it is that the government officials haven't gotten together since the bombing, which doesn't really do anything to help my theory that the North Korean government is full of idiots. Questions: 1. Why is it that the North Korean government seems to run so slowly and inefficiently at times? 2. Will Kim Jong-un become the next dictator? 3. What will happen if he does?