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Katie Feikema

Costa Rica's citizens of conservation: in their newly adopted homes, enclaves of foreig... - 0 views

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costa Rica environment

shared by Katie Feikema on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Historically, Costa Rica has been ecofriendly. It has set aside a higher percentage of land as national parks than any other nation in the Americas. Government programs assist landowners with reforestation, helping to bring land back to its natural state.
  • a number of examples exist where foreigners have become agents of change who add to the richness of Costa Rican fife. The Costa Rican government hopes to encourage such balanced exchanges.
  • Out of the Kyoto Protocols and through the World Bank, Costa Rica was selected to sell carbon credits. "They are paying people to produce oxygen,"
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • Several times a year, they bring groups of university student volunteers to work in this small Costa Rican community. Last year, the volunteers renovated the school by painting it, sanding and varnishing the desks and chairs, and repairing windows. They also helped build an organic garden and learned about the value of growing their own foods.
  • The group also had a dream to create a library to serve the schools in the four communities of the Valle de Diamante. This past February the library opened right next to the freshly renovated school in La Florida.
  • The library, which serves the four community schools, will enhance the quality of education and create long-lasting opportunities for the areas children.
  • Villages are looking for a new ways to sustain themselves and their culture. This library, along with new skills related to farming organically, composting, using bio-fuels and alternative energy, and rehabilitating and reforesting land will bring greater financial abundance to the communities.
  • Their dream is to create a sustainable environment and a balanced ecology benefiting their region and the entire planet.
  • I see my role as making them aware of what's available through national programs and then facilitating the implementation." When he leaves after two years, the community will be more aware of the resources available to them and more able to fight for their own development.
  • Over time, Ewing's interest in cattle was replaced with an enthusiasm for the natural world of the Costa Rican forest. Little by little, he began thinking of the hacienda as a nature preserve.
  • Ewing allowed other parts of the hacienda to regenerate naturally. The rich, fertile, volcanic soil of the region, along with the vast seed bank of the primary forest and the average 150 inches of yearly rainfall, brought rapid reforestation.
  • In August of 1995, President José María Figueres signed a decree designating Hacienda Barú as a National Wildlife Refuge. The forest continues to regenerate.
  • Hacienda Barú's story is one of enormous success, and it is not just an ecological success, as spectacular as that is. Perhaps more importantly, the experience of Hacienda Barú has pioneered a way for others to follow.
  • Hacienda Barti National Wildlife Refuge. The densely forested 830 acres belie its previous incarnation as a cattle ranch and rice farm.
  • Source Citation"Costa Rica's citizens of conservation: in their newly adopted homes, enclaves of foreigners support their local communities by using sustainable methods to preserve the land and the environment." Americas [English Edition] July-Aug. 2010: 22+. Academic OneFile. Web. 16 Feb. 2011.
    • Katie Feikema
      Katie Feikema on 17 Feb 11
       
      Reflection: I think that what these people did in Costa Rica seems to have been very beneficial to them and the native Costa Ricans. Through the experience they are able to serve and get close to nature which can be a very relaxing and rewarding experience. They are also able to improve the education, environment, and quality of life for the Costa Ricans. They are teaching them a bit about how to farm better as well wich will be a great asset to the natives as they build up their economy through better agriculture.Questions:1) I wonder how the natives feel about what American's are doing there. Do they give their full support? Or are they skeptical?    2) Is the impact they have made becoming more noticeable in the economy as well as the environment?3) Do they plan to slowly back out of the leadership positions and teach the natives how to carry on for themselves? 
  • Katie Feikema on 17 Feb 11
     
    Research Question: What effect does Costa Rica's ecological conservation have on it's environment and economy? Source: "Costa Rica's citizens of conservation: in their newly adopted homes, enclaves of foreigners support their local communities by using sustainable methods to preserve the land and the environment." Americas [English Edition] July-Aug. 2010: 22+. Academic OneFile. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Summary: This article is about the success and help that people, not native to Costa Rica, have been able to bring to their "adopted land" in Costa Rica. They tell about what got them interested, what they did and how it has helped the country of Costa Rica. 
Won Geun Jung

Georgians Build Ties With Russian Caucasus - NYTimes.com - 0 views

www.nytimes.com/...13georgia.html

georgians Russia US

shared by Won Geun Jung on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Won Geun Jung on 17 Feb 11
     
    Georgians Build Ties With Russian Caucasus - NYTimes.com http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/world/europe/13georgia.html?_r=1 Summary
Won Geun Jung

BBC News - Regions and territories: Abkhazia - 0 views

news.bbc.co.uk/...3261059.stm

Russia Georgia BBC War Abkhazia

shared by Won Geun Jung on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia in 1999, but Tbilisi continues to regard it as a breakaway region
  • Abkhazia's battle for independence from Georgia since the collapse of the USSR reduced the economy to ruins. More recent times have seen major Russian investment in the territory, as Moscow seeks to consolidate its influence.
  • In 2010 Russia said it had deployed S-300 anti-aircraft missiles in Abkhazia in order to defend it and South Ossetia, shortly after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Sukhumi. Georgia expressed "concern" at the move.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • Meanwhile, Abkhaz forces drove Georgian troops out of the only area of Abkhazia still under Tbilisi's control - the Kodori gorge.
  • After the 2008 conflict, Moscow declared that it would formally recognise the independence of both South Ossetia and Abkhazia. As of the end of 2009, only Nicaragua and Venezuela had followed suit.
  • In October 2008, Russia pulled its troops back to the Abkhaz-Georgian border, but stationed a large force in the breakaway republic, with the agreement of the Sukhumi government.
  • Abkhazia formally declared independence in 1999, resulting in an international economic embargo that is still in force. It has left Abkhazia's economy highly dependent on Russia, which maintains a border crossing and railway line to Sukhumi.
  • However, in August 2008, during the war between Russia and Georgia over South Ossetia, Russian army troops moved through Abkhazia and pushed into Georgia proper, effectively using the region to open another front with Tbilisi.
  • Abkhazia's long history was always closely intertwined with that of Georgia, although its language is unrelated, and is closer to several spoken in the North Caucasus.
  • At the time of the collapse of the USSR in 1991, less than a fifth of the people of Abkhazia were ethnic Abkhaz, while the rest of the population was made up largely of Georgians.
  • Won Geun Jung on 17 Feb 11
     
    Regions and territories: Abkhazia  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3261059.stm Summary: Abkhazia already had a independent country in 756 AD and it was invaded by Russia and Georgia.  After Georgia declared independence in 1991, Georgia invaded Abkhazia in 1992.  So, Abkhazia had declared independence in 1999 and Georgia did not agreed the independence of Abkhazia.  In 2004, Georgia president Saakashvili tried to restore Georgia's land like Abkhazia, and South Ossetia.  In 2008, Georgia attacked Abkhazia and Russia attacked Georgia for protecting Abkhazia. Reflection: Even if Georgia did not accept their independence, Georgia needed to have conversation each other.  Also, Russia should not attack Georgia because it was huge damaged to Georgia.  If Russia was really willing to help them, Russia should be a neutral for both countries. Question:1) Why Russia interrupt between Georgia and Russia?2) Why Georgia did not accept Abkhazia as a country?3) How every country will be peaceful?4) Are both Georgia and Abkhazia safe?
Mackenzie Haveman

My Library - 0 views

www.diigo.com/...mackenziehaveman

shared by Mackenzie Haveman on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
    • Mackenzie Haveman
      Mackenzie Haveman on 17 Feb 11
       
      Response: For me it is very hard to think about the fact that yet a year after this destruction, the Haitians are still going through this chaos. There lives since the earthquake have not even changed that much it sounds like. My heart breaks when I hear that even they think that they will never be rebuilt. I understand their frustration. If they keep acting the way that they are, and with the same processes, I think that they will have a very slow recovery--just like this past year. I agree completely with Matthew when he says that they need political leadership. They need someone to step forward and take a stand and make the important decisions. Things need to be recovered, and the only way this can happen is if they come together and help one another. The country to be completely rebuilt--and having somebody in complete charge is a very smart decision to me. Questions:1.) How many Haitians that did not live in poverty, do now because of to earthquake? 2.) For them to come together and move forward, they need to move forward socially, economically, and politically. Which step should they take first out of the three? 3.) How many Haitians lived and how many were killed?
    • Mackenzie Haveman
      Mackenzie Haveman on 17 Feb 11
       
      Response: After reading this article, I have realized that I am actually not surprised at these results that the researchers have come to. It definitely makes a lot of sense that these people start to go through mental illnesses because of what all they went through. After taking psychology class, I have already learned about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and sometimes it can get very serious or it can last a very long time. Many times, this comes alone with depression. Many people think that these mental illnesses aren't a bit deal in places like this that are in poverty--but that is definitely not the case. One in every five people who survive a disaster suffer from PTSD, which to me is definitely a lot. I think that this research is a very good thing, because it need to be solved in order for their community to come together.  Questions:1.) How many Haitians suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder? 2.) How many people recover from these disorders? 3.) How would the Haitian get over these mental illnesses?
Luke Terpstra

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

www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php

Putin South Ossetia Georgia assistance

shared by Luke Terpstra on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • ussian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that a Russian-funded “plan on rehabilitation” launched after the August war between Russia and Georgia that led to Moscow’s recognition of South Ossetia as an independent republic “is practically over,”
  • Putin, speaking at a meeting in Moscow with Eduard Kokoity, the de facto leader of the breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia, said problems might remain
  • After the meeting Kokoity said it was possible to say that “consequences of the Georgian aggression of August 2008 will be fully eradicated in a year or two.”
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  • “Despite the global economic crisis, Russia has completely met its commitments,” said Kokoity, regarding financial assistance to Tskhinvali, adding that a total of 792 of South Ossetia’s facilities were rehabilitated with Russian assistance.
  • Luke Terpstra on 17 Feb 11
     
    "Putin meets South Ossetia leader in Moscow." Hurriyet Daily News 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.   Summary:    Vladimir Putin, the Russian prime minister, says that he and Eduard Kokoity,  the leader of the region in Georgia called South Ossetia, and stated that hostilities may still exist, but they have assisted South Ossetia in rehabilitating some of their facilities. Putin claims that with Russian aid, nearly 800 facilities were rehabilitated.  Reflection:      I find it hard to believe that Russia would help restore South Ossetia at all. They have constantly met all hostilities from Georgia with more offense, and not with the respectful defense they should have. I also find it strange that they find it strange that Georgia would attack them back.  Questions:  1. What do you think caused Russia to help South Ossetia out. Was it that they were obligated to do it, or did they just want to play the good guy role?  2. How much help do you think South Ossetia got, and what kind?  3. Why do you think Georgia is still hostile to Russia?
Bryce Lutke

Relations with Soviet Union and Cuba - 0 views

player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm

Cuba Economy Soviet Union Relations

shared by Bryce Lutke on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Castro, Guevara and Anastas Mikoyan, 1963
  • Deputy Soviet Premier Anastas Mikoyan first visited Cuba in January 1961, and agreed to buy 1,425,000 tons of sugar in the next two years
  • In exchange, Castro resumed diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union.
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  • Between 1961 and 1967, the U.S.S.R. wrote off a billion dollar trade deficit with Cuba.
  • Cuban debt to the Soviet Union was more than $5 billion by 1990.
  • Castro had to find other markets for Cuban sugar and new trading partners
  • The resultant disruption brought the economy to its lowest levels since the revolution.
  • Bryce Lutke on 17 Feb 11
     
    Discovery Education. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. . What is the effect of the trade embargo on the Cuban Economy? Summary: It is a short description of a relationship between the Soviet Union and Cuba involving sugar trade and the effect it had on the Cuban economy Reflection: After reading this I wonder why Cuba even wanted to be involved with a group of people who treated them so poorly and ended up putting their economy worse off than they had been in a long time.  Questions: Why would Cuba seek relationships with the Soviet Union? What are some of the other markets that Cuba sold their exports to? What are some of the other exports that Cuba has and can utilize
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? 
Luke Terpstra

Georgia names Russia enemy number one: Voice of Russia - 0 views

english.ruvr.ru/...44645681.html

russia conflict georgia

shared by Luke Terpstra on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Georgia has unveiled its new national security strategy, declaring Russia its major enemy. 
  • Actually, there seems to be nothing new about the document. The Saakashvili regime has just stopped beating around the bush
  • After the 2008 conflict when Georgia invaded its breakaway republic of South Ossetia and Russia sent its troops there to protect the local population, as well as that of neighboring Abkhazia, official Tbilisi has made its choice.
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  • It was already clear in 2006
  • And it has become absolutely evident by now that Tbilisi is ready to officially put Russia on its blacklist."
  • The document was submitted to parliament, inviting parties to deliver their take on the problem of national security
  • It is clear, however, that the president will get the document he wants.
  • In case he decides to launch another military campaign, he will use this document as justification.
  • Vladimir Zharikhin explained to the VOR what stands behind the newly unveiled national security strategy:"By designating Russia its major enemy, Georgia has actually unveiled its plans for revenge. And all promises it has made to the EU, primarily about the non-application of force to restore its territorial integrity, no longer sound truthful."
  • At the latest UN Human Rights Council session, Georgia was criticized for a lack of independence of its judiciary system, suppression of the opposition and journalists, as well as Georgian nationalism and anti-Russian propaganda.
  • Luke Terpstra on 17 Feb 11
     
    Vatutin, Alexander. "Georgia names Russia enemy number one." Voice of Russia (2011): n. pag. Web. 17 Feb 2011.   Summary:       Georgia is officially declaring Russia an enemy of state. They have an official document in the works and it seems there is nothing stoping it's passage through Georgia's parliment. Russia is saying that Georgia has always been this way and claims that it has always known this.       My big thing is why would Russia need to go out and state that they already knew it. If you would think about it from both sides, I'm sure you could come up with a lot of different stuff. But one thing is for sure it is the agressivness of both sides that got them in this fist fight. If after the civil war they did lots of peace talks and negotiations they might be friends by now.  Questions:  1. What caused the hurt between the two countries?  2. Why is Russia not giving Georgia its space?  3. What does this mean for peace talks?
jeni bouwman

BBC News - Egypt country profile - 0 views

news.bbc.co.uk/...737642.stm

egypt

shared by jeni bouwman on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • The head of Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque is one of the highest authorities in Sunni Islam.
  • The head of Cairo's Al-Azhar Mosque is one of the highest authorities in Sunni Islam.
  • But the historic step by President Anwar Sadat to make peace with Israel in the 1979 Camp David agreement led to Egypt being expelled from the Arab League until 1989, and in 1981 Mr Sadat was assassinated by Islamic extremists angry at his moves to clamp down on their activities.
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  • resident Hosni Mubarak has taken a more moderate line, but Islamic groups have continued their campaigns sporadically.
  • Although Egypt has changed its constitution to allow the opposition to contest presidential polls, potential candidates must meet strict criteria for participation.
  • jeni bouwman on 17 Feb 11
     
    Summary: This article talks about how Egypt used to be having wars with Israel and no becoming more peaceful. Egypt is trying to do all they can do to compromise with the people and make it a better place that it ever was before.  Reflection: I think this was a good article about whats going on in Egypt because it let me know the update for what rules have been changed and why all this is happening. If it wasn't for this article I would never been informed and I'm glad I was. Because it makes me know how good we have it here in America. I think we American's take living here for granted.  Questions: 1.Why is Egypt so strict about all there rules, such as religious political parties?  2. Why is Egypt all of a sudden such a big deal, that ever before? 3. Is president Muhammah Hosni Mabarak making good decisions for Egypt?  4. Why did it take Egypt so long to realize what they needed was to make peace? 
Leah Hop

Priests and parishes threatened by drug cartels - 0 views

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Mexico Drug Priests Cartel

shared by Leah Hop on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Mexican priests have suffered numerous threats of violence, kidnapping and extortion from the nation's narcotics-trafficking cartels.
  • a growing number of priests--mostly serving in remote and mountainous areas rife with illegal drug trade activities--have been transferred to other parishes, assigned other types of work or even moved to other parts of the country because of threats. Other priests, meanwhile, have been forced to raise up to $800 each week for extortion payments.
  • violence overflowing parts of Mexico has claimed at least 22,700 lives--a figure recently revised upward by the federal government--since President Felipe Calderon took office in December 2006 and sent the army and federal police to crack down on the cartels.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • fear exists and the insecurity destroying the life of so many communities isolates them and exposes them to new expressions of violence
  • cartels and their affiliates have threatened to kidnap evangelical pastors and extorted churches and charity projects through protection rackets.
  • Rev. Manuel Corral, who initially denied similar threats against members of the Catholic clergy, but stories of aggression against priests and the church quickly surfaced.
  • In his region near Ciudad Juarez it has turned once-peaceful communities into ghost towns as frightened residents flee to Texas and cartel members burn down buildings thought to be affiliated with rivals.
  • Leah Hop on 17 Feb 11
     
    Research Question: What is the cause of all the violence associated with the Mexican drug trade? Source: "Priests and parishes threatened by drug cartels." America 3 May 2010: 6+. Student Edition. Web. 17 Feb. 2011.http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/retrieve.do?contentSet=IAC-Documents&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&qrySerId=Locale(en,,):FQE%3D(ke,None,6)Mexico:And:FQE%3D(ke,None,10)drug+trade:And:FQE%3D(ke,None,8)violence:And:LQE%3D(AC,None,8)fulltext$&sgHitCountType=None&inPS=true&sort=DateDescend&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&tabID=T003&prodId=STOM&searchId=R1&currentPosition=1&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&docId=A226089688&docType=IAC Summary: This article is about Mexican priests that have faced threats of violence, kidnapping, and extortion from the cartels. Because of these threats many priests have to transfer to a different parish, take up different types of work, and even move to other parts of the country. On the other hand, other priests are forced to raise $800 a week for extortion payments. The violence created by the cartel has killed at least 22,700. This number has increased ever since Presiden Felipe Calderon stepped into office as President in 2006. Reflection: I was kind of surprised that priest are being threatened and that because of this many need to move to a different part of the country. It's sad to see that this violence is turning once peaceful communities into "ghost towns" where residents are feeing in complete terror. This article doesn't really help answer my research question, but it does help me understand what the cartel is doing, and who the violence is being inflicted upon. Questions: 1) What is the motive behind targeting/threatening priests? 2) How should the church respond to this violence? 3) What are Mexican police doing to stop this? 4) How do other cities in Mexico respond when they hear about the violence created by the cartels?
Ji-Yoon Jeon

Muslims Asked to Be Peaceful. - 0 views

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Peace Islam Violence

shared by Ji-Yoon Jeon on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Muslims to avoid violence in the name of religion.
  • the religious values of Islam are best promoted and nurtured through peace and understanding, not violence.
  • "Religious values of tolerance and compassion, both within the Islamic community and in relations with others, can go a long way in inculcating the much needed culture of peace,"
  • ...2 more annotations...
  • the efforts of the Acholi Religious Peace Initiative, which brings together Christian and Muslim leaders in search of peace in northern Uganda.
  • "Such collaboration among various social and religious groups in Uganda will foster national unity,"
  • Ji-Yoon Jeon on 17 Feb 11
     
    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? "Muslims Asked to Be Peaceful." Africa News Service 23 June 2004. Student Edition. Web. 17 Feb. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T004&prodId=STOM&docId=A118509071&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary: This article was about the United Nations Development Programe advising Ugandan Muslims to avoid violence. One of the representer, Toure, said that the value of Islam is best promoted and nurtured through peace, not violence. He kept stressing that peace is the key for better religious values and peace will bring foster national unity. Reflection: I think he is absolutely right. Violence is never an answer for anything. Peace might not always work out as we think, but peace is the ultimate key for incorporating all other religions and achieve better value of Islam. By reading this, Muslims asked to be peaceful, it tells me that still people's view of Islam is violence. Even though it's only a small group of people being violence, it's impact is enough to get this kind of advise. I think Muslims should remind themselves of the foundation of Islam.  Questions: 1)Why are they asking Muslims to be peaceful and not other religions? 2)What is the relationship between Muslims and the advisor? 3)What is Muslims view of this advise?
Leah Hop

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

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-latin-america-11189017

Mexico Drug BBC

shared by Leah Hop on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • come into existence some seven years ago, when leaders of the Gulf cartel of illegal drugs traffickers took it on as their security network.
  • The gang was called Los Zetas after the Mexican word for the letter 'z', as this was the radio call sign of one of their first leaders, former Mexican Special Forces Lieutenant Arturo Guzman Decena.
  • Mr Guzman took 30 other personnel from Mexico's Special Forces Airmobile Group to work with him for the Gulf cartel.
  • ...19 more annotations...
  • The original group trained new members, and quickly became known for its ruthlessness, in particular for beheading their victims.
  • The Mexican Defence Ministry has described the cartel as "the most formidable death squad to have worked for organised crime in Mexican history".
  • By 2007, after the extradition of Gulf cartel leader Osiel Cardenas-Guillen to the US, the Zetas are said to have begun running their own drugs smuggling operation from Mexico to the US.
  • In February and March 2010, between 200 and 250 members of rival cartels were killed as they battled to control regions in Mexico's north-east.
  • It says he was a corporal in the Airmobile Group before being recruited by the Zetas in 2002, and it has offered a $5m (£3.2m) reward for his capture.
  • Ten members of the Zetas are on the DEA's most-wanted list, with total rewards offered amounting to $50m.
  • The Zetas have apparently switched their operations from the west coast state of Michoacan to Tamaulipas on the east coast, and down to Cancun in the Yucutan Peninsula.
  • As the Zetas have tried to take over territory controlled by other gangs, there has been a sharp increase in murders of rival gang members.
  • According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), in 2009 the leader of the Zetas was Heriberto Lazcano-Lazcano.
  • In addition to drugs, the Zetas have specialised in human trafficking,
  • The Zetas are said to charge $1,000-$2,000 for each man and woman smuggled across the border. The business also gives them contacts throughout Central America, and in the US, where they are suspected of committing a number of murders.
  • In late August 2010, they are thought to have been responsible for the deaths of 72 Central and Southern American illegal migrants
  • They have also become notorious in Mexico for breaking out of jail when they are caught and imprisoned.
  • In May 2009, 53 inmates of Cieneguillas prison in Zacatecas state escaped, freed by gunmen thought to be Zeta members.
  • Some analysts say that Mexican government's hardline tactics, such as the recent raid which ended with the deaths of 27 alleged Zetas near the US border in Tamaulipas, have seriously weakened its capacity.
  • in July 2010 in the northern city of Monterrey, when Zetas leader Hector Raul Luna Luna was captured by the authorities.
  • there are as many as 30,000 youngsters aged between 18 and 24 who have no work apart from the easy money offered by groups such as the Zetas
  • Some 28,000 deaths have been blamed on organised crime since President Felipe Calderon came to power in 2006.
  • He has drafted as many as 50,000 members of the security forces into the fight against the cartels, but is facing increasing criticism because of the surge in deadly violence throughout Mexico.
  • Leah Hop on 17 Feb 11
     
    Research Question: What is the cause of all the violence associated with the Mexican drug trade? Source: Caistor, Nick. "Mexico's drugs gang 'death squad' ." BBC News. N.p., 4 Sept. 2010. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11189017 Summary: The Zeta drugs gang, formed around seven years ago, is known as the most ruthless and threatening death squad in Mexican history. Ten members of the Zetas are on the DEA's most-wanted list with rewards reaching $50m. As a result of the Zetas trying to take over more territory, there have been a rapid increase in murders of rival gang members. "President Felipe Calderon has drafted nearly 50,000 members of the security forces into the fight against the cartels, but is facing increasing criticism because of the surge in deadly violence throughout Mexico." Reflection: To be honest I didn't know a lot about the Mexican drug trade, and had never heard of the Zetas. It's unfortunate to see how influential and dangerous this group has become over the course of just seven years. It disgusts me to read about how ruthless this gang is; particularly for beheading their victims. Also, I read about what Mexico's president is trying to do, however he is being criticized because of the increase in violence. Thinking more about President Felipe Calderon makes me want to look more into what Mexico is trying to do to stop such violence. This article helped me understand more about the Zeta gang but didn't specifically help answer the cause of my research question. Questions: 1) What is the most effective way of trying to reduce violence throughout Mexico? 2) Are the Zetas targeting certain areas or specific gangs? 3) Why do the Zetas want to conquer more territory so badly? 4) Because the Zetas committed some murders in the US, is the US doing anything to stop this from happening?
Laurel Ackerman

Letter From Palestine - 0 views

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Israel Palestine

shared by Laurel Ackerman on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • The Tel Aviv suicide bombing a week earlier, in which twenty-one Russian-immigrant kids were killed and about a hundred wounded, was a good thing, and many more such bombings are needed in order to throw off the yoke of Israeli occupation.
  • The Palestinians I talked to were just as harsh on their own leadership, excoriating the Palestinian Authority for its incompetence, corruption and brutality. The signs are everywhere: You can drive through Gaza and see, amid the shocking poverty, sumptuous palaces built by Arafat's cronies, many of them paid for by the crooked import/export monopolies they wangled after the Oslo agreements were signed
  • In Deir al Bala, there was still animated discussion and approval of the January assassination of Hisham Makki, the notoriously corrupt head of the Palestine Broadcasting Authority (the hit is widely believed to hav
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • e been carried out by dissident elements of Yasir Arafat's Fatah organization). The PA has done little to relieve the suffering of civilians impoverished or made homeless by Israeli army closures and shelling, though it should be pointed out that the majority of its revenues, tax transfers from trade, have been withheld by the Israelis since the beginning of the intifada.
  • I visited the village of Al-Khadir, near Bethlehem, the day after the army had set up new blockades that prevented the villagers from getting to 5,000 acres of their farmland, the lifeblood of their community, land that the nearby settlement of Efrat has had its eye on for some time
  • The government will prevent villagers from going to their fields, using various pretexts; then it will declare the fields "abandoned" and seize them. Finally, they'll be handed over to a new or existing settlement.
  • n an attempt to head this off, the villagers had set up tents next to their fields, to let everyone know they weren't giving up without a fight. I could see the Israeli tanks patrolling on the next hilltop. "Don't point at them!" one man told me. "They'll shoot at you." A few days after I was there, a coalition of villagers from Al-Khadir and Israeli anti-occupation activists marched up to the hilltop together and held a peaceful demo. The army ordered them to leave in ten minutes. After deciding that they weren't leaving quickly enough, the soldiers began to beat the protesters, breaking the arm of one Israeli activist, Neta Golan.
  • the 1982 Sabra and Shatila massacre in Beirut, in which 1,000-3,000 Palestinian civilians were butchered by Israel's Phalangist allies while under close Israeli army supervision
  • The latest signs from the region are ominous. After the recent killing of a settler near Hebron, Israel carried out a scorched-earth campaign, demolishing dozens of houses and wells, destroying fields and expelling hundreds of occupants. This was followed by the demolition of dozens of homes in the Jerusalem-area refugee camp of Shuafat and in southern Gaza. For its part, Hamas has vowed revenge and more suicide bombings in response to the Israeli army killing of an 11-year-old boy in Gaza.
  • Laurel Ackerman on 17 Feb 11
     
    How does the conflict in Israel affect the futures of Palestinian children compared to Israeli children?  Carey, Roane. "Letter From Palestine." The Nation 273.4 (2001): 28. Student Edition. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Searched InfoTrak Student Edition: Israel Palestine Conflict http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=STOM&docId=A76563733&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary: This is a letter explaining the issues between Palestine and Israel. It starts with talking about some radical Palestinian men who are bent on bombings being the way to throw off Israeli occupation. Then, the author talks about the violence between the two people groups and the futile attempts of the Palestinians to dissuade the Israelis. It also talks about the history of the conflict.  Reflection: I realized that even though we did listen to Abdullah in class, there are people who still want the bombings. I think that will have to have a play in the futures of the Palestinian children. Depending on the families of the Palestinian children, do their futures change? It's also interesting that the Palestinians are even harsh on their own government. Nothing is working in Israel. It's an issue. Questions: What are the statistics of Palestinians killed? What are the statistics of Israelis killed? Is there any way to get a kid's perspective?
Andrew Kuper

Water, water everywhere: strong storms flood Australian cities. - 0 views

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Australia Flood

shared by Andrew Kuper on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • The downpours have caused the worst floods there in 50 years.
  • The cyclone caused rivers and lakes to flood, leaving about 386,000 square miles of the nation underwater. That is an area larger than Texas.
  • The rushing waves affected more than 200,000 people.
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  • some experts say the country's economy could suffer for years.
  • estimates repairs will cost more than $5 billion.
  • Andrew Kuper on 17 Feb 11
     
    What are the effects of the Australian Floods? Citation: "Water, water everywhere: strong storms flood Australian cities." Weekly Reader News Edition 4-6 [a Weekly Reader publication] 11 Feb. 2011: 2+. Student Edition. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Summary: Australia is recovering from the worst flood it's seen in 50 years. The flooding was caused by heavy rain from a cyclone. Over 386,000 square miles of Australia is underwater. The flooding has affected over 200,000 people, and has cost at least five billion dollars (not sure if it's Australian or US) in damages. Analysis: This is simply shocking to me. I'm bothered by how little attention this has received in relation to the magnitude of what's going on. The amount of land that is underwater is larger in area than the state of Texas, and 200,000 people have been affected. By comparison, Hurricane Katrina left only 1,500 people homeless, and we're still talking about that six years later. Questions: 1. What are the environmental/ecological impacts of the flooding? 2. How will this affect Australia's economy/businesses? 3. What all is being done to help those affected?
Matt Mulder

BBC News - North Korea 'ready for sacred war' with the South - 1 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-asia-pacific-12067735

NorthKorea bbc war Nuclear

shared by Matt Mulder on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • North Korea is ready for a "sacred war of justice" using a nuclear deterrent, its armed forces minister has said.
  • Kim Yong-chun accused South Korea of making preparations for war
  • come a month after North Korea shelled a Southern island
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  • South Korean President
  • promised immediate retaliation to any further Northern attack.
  • the drill was aimed to display its firepower.
  • Despite possessing enough plutonium to create a bomb, the North is not thought to have succeeded in building a nuclear weapon.
  • US officials too are privately expressing their concern about Seoul's new, more aggressive stance
  • North Korea walked out of the six-party talks in April 2009 and expelled UN nuclear inspectors from the country.
  • Matt Mulder on 17 Feb 11
     
    BBC News - North Korea 'ready for sacred war' with the South http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12067735 Summary: North Korea says that they are prepared to use nuclear force against the South if provoked (they say the provocation is what the South did when they did war exercises after the bombing of an island). The South has taken a similar stance, only they don't use nukes. China wants to get North Korea back in peace talks, but that probably won't happen, seeing as they won't let the UN into their country. Reflection: i think that the North Koreans are just being paranoid. Also, (as seen in an annotation above) we don't know if they actually have a nuke. They could just be bluffing. The South only has taken their new stance and has done the war demonstrations because THEY were provoked by the North, not vice-versa. I really think that the North is being immature. Questions: 1. Does the North actually have a bomb or not? 2. Will both North and South follow through on their promises of war if provoked? 3. if so, what would we do about it?
Troy Rietsma

BBC News - Nigeria's president told to reduce ministries - 0 views

www.bbc.co.uk/...world-africa-12251208

nigeria bbc government

shared by Troy Rietsma on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • The budget proposed for 2011 shows Nigeria would spend far more on the government than on infrastructure.
  • but the majority of its 150 million people still live in poverty.
  • Parliamentarians' salaries are not made public in Nigeria, but diplomats say the country's politicians are among the best paid in the world.
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  • 2011 Budget Proposal: $27.6bn Ministries: $12bn Other government bodies: $350m Parliament: $707m Pensions and gratuities: $1bn Transfers to statuary bodies: $1.3bn Debt payments: $3.5bn Other expenses: $2.6bn TOTAL RUNNING COSTS: $21bn CAPITAL EXPENDITURE: $6.5bn
  • "You can't provide education, health or security without resources generated from a robust economy," he said.
  • The president's proposal for this year's national budget, which is currently before parliament, shows that nearly 75% of the $27.6bn (£17bn) would be spent on running government and its agencies.
  • Only $6.5bn is proposed for spending on capital projects, such as investment in vital infrastructure.
  • Troy Rietsma on 17 Feb 11
     
    BBC News: Nigeria's president told to reduce ministries http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12251208 Summary: This article talked about Nigeria's economic crisis. Nigeria's government seems to starve people of money, and most residents live in poverty. Around 75% of all Nigeria's money is spent on government, and their politicians are known as the highest paid in the world. But now the government is going to try to make cuts and spend less on government, and spend more money on the rest of the economy. Reflection: I think this article really helps us understand why the oil industry in Nigeria is considered "blood oil." This article didn't talk about the bloody part of it, but we can understand why there may be turmoil. The government is oppressive, and these people must not be happy when they are living in poverty while the government is living in luxury. Questions: 1. Is money the only issue that makes the Nigerian oil industry a "blood oil" industry? 2. Is the mistreatment of oil workers direct abuse from the government, or from oil industries themselves? 3. Is this small change in spending really going to help the problem of blood oil that much?
Kyleah Vander Klok

HEART OF DARKNESS.(AIDS and HIV in Zambia). - 0 views

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Zambia AIDS orphans

shared by Kyleah Vander Klok on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • The country is 17 years into an HIV/AIDS pandemic.
  • One in four of the 9.5 million population is infected, according to experts in Zambia, and in some areas it's risen to one in three.
  • 1.5 million children in Zambia have lost one or both parents to AIDS
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  • Zambians are reluctant to accept that HJV is the cause of all the dying. The stigma of AIDS is so enormous here, survivors prefer to say that family members died from tuberculosis or meningitis, common AIDS-related conditions.
  • a baby who manages to avoid contracting HIV in utero or during delivery has about a one in three chance of getting the virus from breast-feeding
  • We have 45 orphans in our extended family already
  • This disease has become a wa
  • One generation has been wiped out due to AIDS, says Salvation Army social worker Thebisa Ghaava. "The next one will be lost due to a lack of schooling," she says.
  • Zambia has little in the way of a national HIV/AIDS education program
  • Life expectancy has dropped from 56 years to 37 in recent years, and observers believe it could reach as low as 30 within the next decade.
  • For 19-year-old Rachel Musonda, who lives in the Copperbelt mining region in the north of the country, the past four years have been a nightmare, as first her father, then her mother, and then her three older siblings died of AIDS. With each new casualty, Musonda, who was forced to drop out of high school to nurse her parents and who has no skills or financial means, has been left with more children to raise. At 15, she had no choice but to become mother and father to her six younger siblings, then aged from 13 down to one year. With the subsequent deaths of her two older sisters and brother, and their spouses, she had to take on three more children, bringing the total to nine, because there was nowhere else for them to go.
  • Anti-AIDS medications cost $10,000 to $15,000 a year, more than the vast majority of Africans earn in a lifetime.
  • Consequently, the country's budget for health care is a pitiful $6 to $8 per person per year, and that sum includes the cost of hospitals and treating other rampant health problems such as malaria.
  • And even the discounted price of $2000 a year per patient is still a fantastical sum for Zambians, representing as it does an average of nearly seven years' income for the 40 percent who are fortunate enough to be employed.
  • medications must be taken on a strictly observed schedule around meals. In Zambia, the reality is that many people can eat only when food is available. And that is increasingly becoming only once every several days.
  • 50 percent of children are chronically malnourished.
  • In spite of Christianity's wide reach, traditional beliefs still run deep, and AIDS is often attributed to witchcraft
  • Another growing factor in the spread of AIDS is the legion of street kids, often AIDS orphans, many of whom must turn to prostitution to survive, as the country has only a handful of orphanages. About 750,000 children, some as young as four, have already been forced onto the streets.
  • In 1991, they underestimated the number of infections in the year 2000 by 40 percent. Already, 17 million have died, and today there are more than 25 million infected.
  • n the capital, the HIV rate among pregnant 15-to 19-year olds is beginning to drop for the first time
  • Twenty-five percent of our population is positive," she says but that means 75 percent is negative. Three out of four of us have the means to turn the situation around. But to do that Zambians need to take control of their lives."
  • Kyleah Vander Klok on 17 Feb 11
     
    What are the effects of HIV/AIDS in Zambia? 1.Harper's Bazaar: GOODWIN, JAN. "HEART OF DARKNESS." Harper's Bazaar Mar. 2001: 450. Student Edition. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=STOM&docId=A72411528&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 2. This document is about how so many people are orphaned because of AIDS. People do not want to hear about AIDs and they pass it off for witchcraft or other Viruses.The lifespan of the people has dropped significantly over the years.People are trying to help by letting themselves be open to the youth and be models. 3. It is terrible the effects of the virus, so many have died because the don't know or they can't do anything about it. Those poor children having to raise other kids when they themselves are still to young and have no way to support any of them.  4. WHat can be done to help kids stay off the street and not to sell their bodies to feed their family? Where can the people turn to to know what is happening and what is better for them? 
Ji-Yoon Jeon

Yes, He Is a Terrorist.(The Take; Religion)(Major Nidal Hasan ). - 1 views

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Islam Peace Violence

shared by Ji-Yoon Jeon on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Yet when under threat, real or imagined, we want religion to be definitive. Despite our intimacy with the heterogeneous nature of belief, we allow ourselves to be seduced by cartoon characterizations.
  • it's that there is no definitive religious interpretation.
  • The Quran does condone violence: "Whoso fighteth in the way of Allah, be he slain or be he victorious, on him We shall bestow a vast reward."
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  • It also advocates peace: "Those who invoke not with God, or any other god, nor slay such life as God has made sacred in vain."
  • Muslims to see terrorism as a selfless and righteous act for the greater good of the global Muslim community.
  • Sixty percent of Americans believe that "there is a lot of discrimination" against Muslims, according to the Pew Forum. Thirty-eight percent say they think Islam is a violent religion,
  • while a small number of dangerous Islamic terrorists continue to wage war on the West, the majority of American Muslims are simply trying, like the rest of us, to get by.
  • Ji-Yoon Jeon on 17 Feb 11
     
    Research question: Is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? Miller, Lisa. "Yes, He Is a Terrorist." Newsweek 23 Nov. 2009: 24. Student Edition. Web. 16 Feb. 2011.http://find.galegroup.com/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T003&prodId=STOM&docId=A212141335&source=gale&srcprod=STOM&userGroupName=lom_accessmich&version=1.0 Summary:This article was about Major Nidal Hasan, a Muslim, who murdered 13 people at the Army base in Fort Hood, Texas. It said that there is no definitive religious interpretation, but we try to limit our religion to be definitive, when under threat. Then, is Islam a religion of peace or invitation to violence? In the Quran it supports for both. It condone violence while it advocates peace. But for Hasan's case, the article says he might be suffered from PTSD, but was more awake of the idea of Jihad and convinced by the cleric who said the terrorism is selfless and righteous act for better Muslim community. On the other hand, as statistically, lot's of Americans believe that Islam is a violent religion, when the actual number of terrorist is small and majority of them are just trying to get by.
Haley Luurtsema

Survey Highlights Haitians' Vulnerability; Access to food, shelter, healthcare less pre... - 0 views

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Haiti Earthquake effects

shared by Haley Luurtsema on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • Haitians' lack of access to basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare, even relative to neighboring Dominicans.
  • The effects of a 7.0-magnitude
  • 60% of Haitians said there had been times in the past year when they didn't have enough money to purchase food that their families needed, while 51% said there were times when they could not afford adequate shelter.
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  • Haitians were far more likely than any other population in Central America or the Caribbean to say they have had trouble providing shelter
  • Haitian President Rene Preval said some hospitals have collapsed as a result of the quake, further handicapping a public healthcare system poorly equipped to handle a disaster of this proportion.
  • Fewer than one in four (22%) said they were satisfied with the availability of quality healthcare in their communities, and one in nine (11%) said healthcare is accessible to anyone in the country.
  • Poor sanitation and lack of access to clean water are likely to make cholera and other waterborne diseases a major problem
  • including roads and highways, and schools -- were decimated by the quake. These facilities too were already seen as insufficient by most Haitians polled a year ago. About one-third were satisfied with the roads and highways (31%) and the schools (35%) in their communities
  • n the wake of a disaster, friendships and family ties become lifelines, serving as conduits for material as well as emotional support.
  • 30% said they have no relatives or friends they can count on for help
  • foreign aid both to make the country more resilient to natural disasters, and to improve access to basic social services like healthcare
  • Haley Luurtsema on 17 Feb 11
     
    Research Question: Still today, what are the social, economical, and political effects of the earthquake in Haiti? Citation Source: "Survey Highlights Haitians' Vulnerability; Access to food, shelter, healthcare less prevalent than in neighboring countries." Gallup Poll News Service (2010). Academic OneFile. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Summary: This Article is about the Haitian people and their lack of basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare. The 7. magnitude earthquake effected manly lives of civilians in Haiti. Although, 60% of the people said that in the past year they didn't have enough money to even purchase food for their families needs. While 51% said that they could not afford a shelter. President Rene Preval said that hospitals having been destroyed, the public healthcare system is even more helpless. The Article tells us that less than 22% say that healthcare was fine to begin with in Haiti. Along with 11% that said healthcare was accessible to anyone in the country. Which leads to poor sanitation and lack of clean water in the area. In conclusion, Bill Clinton emphasized that foreign aid must make the country more resistant to natural disasters, and improved basic needs such as healthcare if people wish to survive. 
Mallory Huizenga

"Costa Rica: Committed to Conservation" - 0 views

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MEL

shared by Mallory Huizenga on 17 Feb 11 - No Cached
  • As a result, it intends to protect at least 25 percent of its territory as wildlands. The economic benefits of Costa Rica's conservation commitments include important revenue from hydropower, ecotourism, and scientific activity.
  • Based on land-use capability, less than 40 percent of Costa Rica's land is suitable for agriculture and approximately 60 percent is most suitably left as forest. Some 35 percent of Costa Rica is now pastureland, but only 8 percent is appropriate to that use.
  • The current government has established a goal of completely protecting primary forest, allowing secondary forest to flourish, and promoting tree plantations on degraded soils to meet demands for lumber and paper products.
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • Costa Rica has done more than any other developing country to establish a comprehensive joint implementation (JI) regime as a strategy to meet the objectives of the climate treaty and promote its own sustainable development goals.
  • A high-level Consultative Committee on Climate Change was formed to shape JI policy, within the context of the national greenhouse gas emissions
  • More recently, the OCIC strategy has been exclusively to promote three national-scale projects focusing on (1) consolidation of parks, (2) natural forest management by private landowners, and (3) renewable energy.
  • Changes in Costa Rica's forestry laws during the 1980s and '90s supported substantial tree planting in Costa Rica
  • The law addresses four key environmental services offered by plantations and forests: (1) carbon fixation, (2) watershed protection, (3) biodiversity resources, and (4) protection of natural forest ecosystems located in zones of particular interest.
  • An understanding now exists between the nations of the world that protecting climate and conserving biodiversity are important goals.
  • Mallory Huizenga on 17 Feb 11
     
    Research Journal #1: Article Two Question: How is ecological conservation effecting Costa Rica? Source: MEL Database: "Costa Rica: Committed to Conservation" by Rene Castro Citation: Castro, Rene. "Costa Rica: committed to conservation." World and I Nov. 1998: 65+. Student Edition. Web. 16 Feb. 2011. Summary: This article talks mainly about what Costa Rica's government is doing to converse the land. The article emphasis how Costa Rica is implying their hopes and dreams into reality for the country. The author uses specific facts such as the percentage of wild-lands, the percentage of forests, the percentage of land used for agriculture. The articles also presents the measures that the government set in place in the mid-1990s to create a more sustainable ecology. The end of the articles discuss how Costa Rica is going to keep this "green" idea alive into the future. Reflection: I found this article helpful because it talks about the government side of the conservation, and what the government is doing to help provide and enforce conservation in Costa Rica. The articles makes great points, and is filled with a lot of facts about the country's ecology. I was glad to find an article that talked about the steps that were made to bring Costa Rica to the place where they are in ecological conservation.   Questions: 1) What is the government continuing to do? 2) How well have the guidelines been followed over the years. 3) What other steps outside of the government have been taken to enforce the conservation. 4) As a group we will need to include the starting point behind this push for conservation in our exhibit.
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