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In this article, ethnic groups, such as the Maori, which are found in New Zealand, are getting paid lower wages and they are not considered equal to the other non-ethnic groups. Even though this has not escalated to a full out war (yet), what would happen if the Maori stopped putting up with being "inferior" to the other groups? Would a territorial conflict arise? I think the answers to these questions are obvious because land equals money, which equals power. So, for these Maori people to get the equality they deserve, maybe all they need is a territorial war to gain back power?

I don't think war is a good idea, it seems that if the people want equal pay, they have to do something about it. As seen in the Arab-Israeli conflict, it may not be the best idea to go to war, but perhaps the people need to do something else.

I agree with Brooke. Despite the fact that land equals money and money equals power, does a war guarantee that the minority group will gain land and thereby power to be paid the same amount? In addition, a war requires political power and money in order to gain access to resources. If the minority group has little power to begin with, how are they to obtain the resources necessary to win a war? There must be a better solution to this issue than to go to war.

With the speedily approaching presidential election, Republican and Democratic candidates have taken over the news with their ideas and justification as to why he or she should be the next president. After the Benghazi crisis occurred in 2012, there was much controversy over the Islamic militants and their violent action that caused the death of several US government officials. Later, the controversy expanded when it was discovered that Hillary Rodham Clinton was using a personal server and email accounts while serving as the Secretary of State (2009-2013). While at the time, Clinton downplayed the issue, the national security issue has come back to bite during the current election. This prime example of Globalization can be examined in several ways. The emails sent information that then affected people and cultures on the other side of the world. Also, the emails have spread ideas across the United States and have shifted some Democratic support to Bernie Sanders, the other popular candidate. Politics and current world events are often linked together and can leave negative and positive effects on the opposite sides of the globe.

I agree with your statement at the end about the negative and positive impact of globalization around the world. How may this be apparent in the books you all read this summer?

When reading Behind the Beautiful Forevers, there was a constant theme of political power and corruption. Asha, a popular wife of an unsavory drunk in Annawadi, desired to have a position of power to prove that she was in control of her family. She used her cell phone to organize meetings with other politicians in order to hopefully be one of few female slumlords. Later on in the story, the reader learns that the "meetings" were intimate times between her and various politicians to gain their support and assistance. Like Clinton with the personal emails, she eventually got herself in trouble but rather than facing trial in court, she was thrown into the back of a van, never to be seen again. Politics can make people do things that they never would have, all for the desire for power and respect.

There was conflict between the Taliban and the Westerns and those who support the western views, because of the different religious and ethnic views. For example westerns believe women should be educated just like men, but the Taliban is against women education. Why is a school in a home that teaches the same thing that a governmentally funded school less likely to be attacked, since the Taliban is still against those ideas?

I think that as long as the Taliban are in control there will always be violence between the Taliban and the Westerners. Women should be educated just like men, but as long as the Taliban have power, I do not think that will happen. The Taliban showed just how much they are against women getting an education when they shot Malala Yousafzai in the head on her way home from school. Schools in homes are less likely to be attacked than schools run by the government because they have the protection and support of the village and villagers. The Taliban might also target government run schools because they oppose the government.

Have you ever wanted to watch two very amateur chefs almost kill themselves when they attempt to make foreign food? Guaranteed to make you laugh at their stupidity, LiAnn and Kara demonstrate their awful and slightly-less-awful cooking skills through the completion of this beautiful meal. Featuring: Some weird Lithuanian pork stuff that was actually pretty good; Greasy Chips a.k.a. Tanzanian French Fries; Chai tea with way too much cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger; and, an Orange and Mango drink in the fancy "I'm a Grownup, I Swear!" wine glasses.

I loved the video you made! It was... the most unique one I've seen thus far. It was informative, and your commentary was quite comical (my personal favorite being the bay leaf). The diffusion of "greasy chips" was well displayed, and how they have become popular throughout many countries, including Tanzania.

I thought it was very informative as well as funny. I liked that the greasy chips were basically french fries with another name. It shows how foods can have more than one origin.

This is really interesting. I wonder if any of the women at least suspected that something was going on. The whole idea seems kind of ridiculous, but I don't really see why so many people were extremely offended by it!

Jes, your article was fascinating. It is baffling how far people will go to "fit in." You made a tremendous point about Dove's advertisement. TV commercials are sources of globalization since they connect different people from around the world.

The film industry is trying to bring the dangers of advancing terror groups into light. Groups like ISIS are spreading fear and influence across regions like the Middle East, but they are also spreading their influence to places all around the world. Social media outlets have made this spread of ideas possible and able to thrive. Globalization or the interconnection between all of us in this day and age has given us the ability to spread and receive ideas like these with ease. Anyway, important people that run the film industry may realize the importance of this danger and decide that they should spread it to get the audience to realize it as well. It's a case of hierarchical diffusion and I believe that their goal is eventually expansion diffusion. It's all about spreading ideas to where they're not necessarily regarded as widely. I know for a fact that the war on terror isn't as prevalent in our minds as it is in the people that are collateral damage from it. Filmmakers are trying to change that with themes that act like metaphors to the situations going on right now in war-torn areas. These producers and creators of films take advantage of the popularity of the medium to display their ideas and spread them. However, will these messages make their way through to the public? Will they see that the war on terror is sometimes as bad as the films' problems? Will the medium have any effect on the progress we make with ridding the world of these groups of terror?

You got it. The film industry has certainly been a vehicle for globalization. We tend to trust ideas from those we admire and respect or from mediums such as Youtube that are easily accessible. Invisible Children came out with a Youtube video a few years ago about the African war lord, Joseph Kony. https://youtu.be/Y4MnpzG5Sqc How might something similar be created about ISIS?

Yes, I remember this video. I had watched it when it had caught so much traction. I think a huge difference between Kony and ISIS is that I feel like not many people really knew about Kony while the news has basically insured that everybody knows about ISIS. When it's a new topic, people may be more interested in finding out more about it, like with Kony. But I feel like if a Youtube video like that was created for ISIS, it might not gain the same traction because it has been covered heavily for the past year. That's why I'm so intrigued with the hidden themes in movies because I feel that subtlety is the best way to bring forth new ideas without being overbearing.

Visit this site if you want to learn about the most popular sport in the world, soccer. You'll learn about how soccer diffused across the globe, from the U.K., and how it influenced Rugby, a very unique sport. Soccer is a great tradition for many countries, and it brings countries together every 4 years for a world cup. But, how did this begin?

This website does a good job at going in detail about soccer. I never knew that soccer was that old and how it can actually be traced back to it's original origin.

It may be the most popular sport on Earth, but not very much is widely known on it's origins. Thanks for further insight!

CARE is an international charity organization focused on improving the quality of life and development of people, increasing their HDI, that I would like to support.  The charity would improve the quality of life and development of people (increase their HDI) by helping people, women to be more successful in their day-to-day life, and by supporting certain projects that work to end the existence of poverty, and that support humans.  By helping women and other people and being against poverty they are working to increase countries' HDI's because if women are given more help, then they could know ways they could improve their life (e.g. getting a job, attending classes, etc.).  This would help the economy, thus improving their country's HDI.

I found it interesting how the article referred to the point-source water pollution from the shrimp industry. The chemical pollution in the water comes from industrial and agricultural sources related to shrimp. While the shrimp industry is important to Mexico's economy, it also has downsides, including health issues coming from the pollution of water that may go untreated.

All about possible sanctions of U.S goods from Russia which effects many computer companies which have factories in silicon valley

I think that it is interesting that the company might have to move due to taxes. I don't think that they talked much about it in the textbook but I do feel that it is a HUGE reason that companies might have to move so that they can keep up their profit.

It's interesting that the US is getting involved in the issue between Russia and Ukraine. It's unfortunate that the computer companies might feel a backlash from Russia's actions in Ukraine. Nice work Lockwood!

What are the causes and effects of urbanization? Read this article to learn more. (**Hint. Hint)

As seen before, the effects of war can be physically and mentally gruesome as spontaneous acts of violence unravel extreme havoc to numerous civilians. In fact, recent violence has caused insurmountable refugees (mostly Syrians, Afghans, and Eritreans) to leave their homes and embark on a journey to Europe for their safety. This portrays the example of mobility as large amounts of people are leaving their homes in hopes of a better future. This is an example of relocation diffusion. As stated on page 11 of the textbook reading, relocation diffusion brings the ideas and practices of the migrant(s) to a new region. Furthermore, this mimics the events of Ishmael (the protagonist) in the memoir, A Long Way Gone, as he leaves his nation of Sierra Leone to live a safer life in New York City. Along with mobility, the geographical theme of globalization is also represented in the article. As the number of refugees crossing the Mediterranean increased, the European Union decided to distribute the thousands of refugees across its 28 nations. As a result, the European Union itself is an example of globalization as they communicate and connect with its members. All 28 countries are connected with one another, and they communicate to solve problems regarding peace, human rights, and economic development in Europe. Moreover, nations with a greater access to technology and communication (such as the members of the European Union) have a much better chance of establishing global connections because of the resources they have. Thus, this sudden rise of refugees migrating into European nations is correspondent to the themes of mobility and globalization. However, how does the increase of migrations affect the European nations bordering the Mediterranean? What economic problems will arrive with the increase of labor and population? How will the core-periphery pattern of formal regions, in regards to Syrian culture, change as many of its civilians depart?

Nicely done, Sam. Good job weaving the current event into themes from your book. The current migration flows n the Mediterranean region have tremendous political, economic, and social implications. How do you think the cultural landscape of European countries such as Norway or Germany might change as a result of recent migration flows?

I believe as the number of cultural groups migrate, they will bring their cultural characteristics to the new region. One of them, most likely, is religion. This might affect the landscape because religious shrines or temples will now be incorporated in European nations. In turn, it will definitely diversify the architectural styles seen in the new region.

This article discusses the Israeli-Palestine conflict and how that has turned into many cruel acts of violence. What would possess someone to kill these men, especially on the stairs of a holy place?

Four rabbis and a policeman were killed by 2 palestinians inside of a jewish synagogue, and many people fear that the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is becoming a religious war, since they have different beliefs. Why would the Palestinians decide to attack the Israelis?

These territorial conflicts are coming to be due to the fact that Islamic and Jewish Holy Lands are build right on top of each other and these two groups have to fight for control. Why can't Jerusalem just become a non governed state? Why do any of the conflicting religions need control?

I think its cool that your article, Lexi, connected to willows! This whole issue is fascinating and scary! Great article!

Eena - Why is this issue fascinating and scary to you?

This article is an example of territorial conflicts and religion, because the Russians believe the reason they are fighting is for religious purposes, and that their war in Ukraine is a holy war. How do the Ukrainians view the conflict and it's involvement in religion?

Ukraine has been part of Russia several times and has fought for their freedom from Russia in several wars. Currently, they have only been independent since 1991.

Adam brings up a good point, the history of the Ukraine and Russian conflict must be deeply rooted in historical conflict over the centuries. It would be neat to dig into the history, particularly how the ethnicity differs between the two countries.

Territorial conflicts arose between the Burmese and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) because the Burmese want the KIA's land which is abundant in resources such as timber and hydropower. Is it possible for there to be peace between the two groups after all the violence and fighting that took place?

After reading your article, it doesn't seem like there will be peace between the two groups anytime soon. The Burmese are determined to steal the KIA's land, and it doesn't sound like the KIA is going to give up very easily in protecting their territory. As long as the Burmese continue to want the KIA's land and resources, then violence and wars are going to keep breaking out until one of them succeeds in stealing or protecting their territory.

I agree, I do not see peace between the two groups happening soon. The Burmese won't give up until they get the KIA's land, but the KIA will most definitely put up a fight. In my opinion, the Burmese don't have any right to the land. The KIA own it and therefore they should not have to share their resources.

Perhaps the most recognizable symbol of China and its long and vivid history, the Great Wall of China actually consists of numerous walls and fortifications, many running parallel to each other. Originally conceived by Emperor Qin Shi Huang (c. 259-210 B.C.) in the third century B.C. as a means of preventing incursions from barbarian nomads into the Chinese Empire, the wall is one of the most extensive construction projects ever completed. The best-known and best-preserved section of the Great Wall was built in the 14th through 17th centuries A.D., during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). Though the Great Wall never effectively prevented invaders from entering China, it came to function more as a psychological barrier between Chinese civilization and the world, and remains a powerful symbol of the country's enduring strength.

In your article is says "About 80 of those local companies will be featured among the 200 exhibitors at the Mother Earth News Fair, a massive natural products trade show..." It's very exciting to see these small scale, local businesses thriving. In a country dominated by commercial manufacturing, it is good to see these true home grown enterprises succeeding.

A recent emergency regarding terrorism has surfaced in Tunisia, an African country located along the Mediterranean Sea, after two spontaneous attacks by Islamic extremists, and the effects embody several themes of human geography. To start off, the functional region of Tunisia itself is showcased due to its state emergency declaration, digging of a trench to stop unlawful trade, and implementation of additional law enforcement for protection. Each of these actions illustrate how Tunisia operates within its political boundaries to sustain the well-being of the nation. For mobility, relocation diffusion will decrease as the absorbing barrier of the trench halts people, ideas, and supplies from moving across Libya's border, but Tunisia will benefit from more security and safety. Fewer vacationers coming to Tunisia also impedes the spread of ideas. On the other hand, people emigrating from Tunisia, as mentioned in the article, have increased relocation diffusion by taking their knowledge to new locations, and expansion diffusion has escalated as people rapidly spread news of the attacks. Since the Group of 7 industrialized nations met to discuss the Islamic terror threat, globalization is taking place because multiple countries are interconnected by a foreign problem and are seeking a solution; this resembles the mission of UNICEF in "A Long Way Gone", as do the people fleeing danger like Ishmael did. It is interesting to note that the countries participating in the interactions are industrialized, for they have the technology to provide fast communication and effective actions. Tunisia even asked Western countries specifically for help due to their high development. I believe the gruesome acts were unnecessary and require the proper counteraction, so I am glad these nations are gathering. What will nearby nations do to accommodate refugees socially, politically, and economically? Why might the cultural landscape change to prevent events of this nature?

Excellent analysis. Great work connecting the themes to your selected current event and book. Terrorism is an enormous threat to every country, including industrialized core nations like the Group of 7. Does anyone know why terrorists, and specifically, Islamic extremists such as those associated with ISIS or Al Qaeda, even commit acts of terror on citizens?