The Dangers of Journalism in Mexico

The Mexican Drug Wars affect more people than the one involved in the rival cartels. Those who dedicate their life to bringing others the news of what is going on around them have been placed in an incredible danger by these drug lords. Assassinations all over Mexico have been increasing ever since the declaration of the "War on Drugs" by the 2006 Mexican president Felipe Calderon. There has been a total of 74 deaths and 13 missing person in the last 12 years. The country has become one of the most dangerous places to be a journalist. Many journalist have given up or lost their career and are now struggling to survive because they cannot find a job. An example of this is Mario Segura who lost his job and now has become a clown in order to win some money and survive. The problem has caught the attention of the government that it has even implemented a new law to financially help journalist who have had to retire or have been fired. However, this law has yet to be enforced.

This is an important event because it does not only affect journalist in Mexico but all over the world. People are afraid to go and report what is going on. Therefore the truth about events can be easily be manipulated by both the government and the drug cartels. Perhaps the public is being falsely alarmed or not fully informed and that creates a sense of ambiguity. This makes it difficult to know the truth and try to fix things.


Works Cited
Rueda, M. (2013, 09 02). El drama de un periodista desplazado por los narcos. Retrieved from http://noticias.univision.com/mexico/noticias/article/2013-09-03/el-drama-de-un-periodista-desplazado-por-los-narcos

Casillas, K. (2013, 09 11). Ser periodista en méxico, una profesión de riesgo. Retrieved from http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=173772

The Greek Debt: Where it All Began

Now you may wonder where Greece’s debt may be coming from. Just like how debt works, Greece ended up spending more than they had. As Greece changed their currency from the drachma to the euro, Greece had high expectations to live up to the other 16 prosperous countries in order to enter in the European Union (EU).

In 2004, Greece was graced with the opportunity to host the 2004 Summer Olympics. Now with the expectations of topping the previous hosts of the Olympics, Greece dropped a heaping $11 billion (US dollars). But what sank the economy were the country’s “early retirement age, generous benefits, and mass tax evasion”. With taxes unpaid, the government turned European banks to borrow money.

Why is Europe so worried about Greece?

With Europe not as financially stable as they used to be, Greece’s failing economy would be too much for the EU to handle. It would affect the currency and all the countries using the euro.

Why won’t the Greeks let the EU bail them out?

Bailout would mean the European banks take out “50 cents for every dollar owed” by the Greeks. But a bailout would mean Greece would not have the benefits they are enjoying now, and their economy would also shrink. Is Greece’s debt cut in half worth all the riots that may ensue if the Greeks are cut off from their benefits? Who knows? All we know is the world does not need another country headlining “Riots Take Over.”

Citations:

Kreig, Gregory J. (2011, November 4). Web. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/11/an-idiots-guide-to-the-greek-debt-crisis/

Coppola, Frances. (2012, November 22). Web. Retrieved from http://euronomist.blogspot.com/2012/11/what-will-happen-to-greek-debt.html

China in the Middle East

China in the Middle East

Just how it looks to Africa for its abundance in raw materials, the Middle Kingdom has also begun to move into the Arabian Peninsula to fulfill its lack of fossil fuels. While the PRC has started investments in “greener” energy solutions, it still must increase its oil imports to meet its ever-growing domestic oil demand; a demand that is predicted to exceed the United States’, who is the current leader in oil consumption, within four years. Due to actions in the past decade, many Middle Eastern countries have developed a sense of distrust toward Western investors, leaving a void that China has been happy to fill. Just today, Jordan and China have signed into existence a plan to build a $2.5 Billion oil shale-fired power plant, allowing China to get a foot into the door of a country that holds the fourth largest reserve of oil shale in the world. This trend of investment continues, even in countries deemed “hostile”, like Iraq, Egypt and Yemen.

            As the US begins to shift its attention to maintaining its foothold in the Pacific, it now must keep one eye on the Middle East; following the ever growing flow of investment capital. While the PRC’s involvement in the Middle East may turn out to be harmful to US long-term strategic interests, America has begun attempts to utilize China’s growing sphere of influence. John Kerry met with China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the 18^th to discuss China’s leverage in the Syrian crisis.

            All in all, China continues in its game of catch-up, perpetually a step behind the majority of developed nations. While the West has begun to look for ways out of the Middle East, China has just started its courtship. While the West has begun to decrease its reliance on fossil fuels, China’s requirement for oil steadily grows. As the West begins to rethink its plans to stabilize the Middle East, China picks up this ever daunting task.

Cited:

Amman. " .:Middle East Online::Jordan seals deal with China to build oil shale-fired plant in Karak:.." MIddle East Online. N.p., 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 20 Sept. 2013. <http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=61473>.

FlorCruz, Michelle, and Jacey Fortin. "The Takeover: Stable China Looks To Volatile Middle East For Investment Opportunities As West Backs Away." International Business Times - International Business News, Financial News, Market News, Politics, Forex, Commodities. N.p., 11 Apr. 2013. Web. 20 Sept. 2013. <http://www.ibtimes.com/takeover-stable-china-looks-volatile-middle-east-investment-opportunities-west-backs-away-1249621>.

Rapoza, Kenneth. "Within Four Years, China To Consume More Oil Than U.S. - Forbes." Information for the World's Business Leaders - Forbes.com. N.p., 25 Aug. 2013. Web. 20 Sept. 2013. <http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2013/08/25/within-four-years-china-to-consume-more-oil-than-u-s/>.

"Remarks With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Before Their Meeting." U.S. Department of State. N.p., 19 Sept. 2013. Web. 20 Sept. 2013. <http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks

Disaster Strikes Again

On September 16, 2013 Japan was hit by a tropical storm known as Man-yi. The storm hit near Kyoto, one hundred and fifty-five miles northeast of Tokyo where the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant was hit by the storm (Yamaguchi, 2013). “The rain […] lashed near the broken power plant run by Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), swamping enclosure walls around clusters of water tanks containing toxic water that was used to cool broken reactors.”(The Huffington Post, 2013) A plant operator stated that workers moved 1,130 tons of rainwater into enclosure walls within the ground and pumped water with high radiation levels back into extra tanks. (Yamaguchi, 2013) However, the company found one site where water was contaminated beyond the safety limit and leaked from the enclosure for several minutes due to workers inability to contain the water during the storm. It is believed that this water has seeped into the sea along with “300 tones of mildly contaminated groundwater” which is passing under the reactors daily (The Huffington Post, 2013).

Since the start of the Fukushima disaster, TEPCO has not taken sufficient action to prevent more radiation spills. The Man-yi tropical storm emphasizes that TEPCO needs to step up and protect the environment from these spills. TEPCO’s inability to prepare for natural disasters is a huge factor as to why the nuclear spill occurred in the first place. If the earthquake did not emphasize the need for using
efficient safety precautions in the handling of the nuclear power plant, perhaps the Man-yi tropical storm will.

For more info and visuals click here.

Works Cited

1.Yamaguchi, M. (2013, September 17). Tropical Storm Man-yi Weakens After Lashing
Japan - weather.com Raw: Typhoon Man-Yi Hits Japan. National and Local Weather
Forecast, Hurricane, Radar and Report. Retrieved September 17, 2013, from http:/
/www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/typhoon-man-yi-weakens-afterlashing-japan-20130917


2.Fukushima Operator Dumps 1,000 Tons Of Polluted Water In Sea. (2013, September
17). Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post. Retrieved September 17,
2013, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/17/fukushima-pollutedwater-
sea_n_3939014.html#slide=2853580

“Egypt is Muslim,” a statement someone scrawled on the walls in a Christian monetary in Dagla, Egypt. Nowhere is the religious tension at its height then in the region of Dalga where Muslim activist repeatedly attacked followers of the Christian faith as military forces stay idly by. The locals of Dagla only accept Morsi regime and mock and deny General Sisi’s administration. According to New York Times, “Rev. Samuel Aziz, 68, of the Anba Moussa church in Minya, was trapped inside as a mob attacked it, and he said the police initially called with an offer to send officers to sneak him out. But they quickly backed out.” This is prime example of the violence taking place in the region and the refusal of government administered intervention. The violence has recently subsided due to the small security force but interior ministry officials said, “the expedition was an attempt to capture a single fugitive Islamist, and it may depart soon.”  Though the physical violence has lessened, the tension and fear remains prominent.

"In Islamist Bastions of Egypt, the Army Treads Carefully, and Christians Do, Too." New York Times 09 Sept. 2013. <nytimes.com>.

Jonathan 

Elvira

Brennan

Nick

Akana

Ali

Foreign Interest into Chinese Activity in Africa

Chinese economic interest in Africa has enticed the attention of other world economic powers. This August President Obama visited the continent to show the United States’ interest as a possible suitor alongside India and Brazil. While on the trip, the US President launched economic initiatives, specifically Trade Africa and Power Africa. These two programs aim to provide African economic independence while maximizing trade capabilities within the continent and abroad. Though President Obama won support in Tanzania, it is likely that Africa will find the Chinese better trade partners due to their non-interference in internal policy. The US’ advocacy for good governance and human rights was met with claims of holding a double standard for their behavior in the Middle East and Guantanamo Bay.

The President’s visit this August depicted that the world may favor new methods of approaching developing countries, ones which do not come part-and-parcel with democracy and Western Ideals. Though the US will not likely be losing Africa as a trade partner anytime soon, especially with the establishment of Trade Africa, it may have to reevaluate its approach towards developing countries if it wants to remain competitive. #China'sQuestForResources

Works Consulted

Besliu, R. (2013, August 1). China and the US Court Africa. Yale Global Online. Retrieved September 11, 2013, from http://yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/china-and-us-court-africa.

Start of Rebuild

Egypt Update Friday, September 13, 2013

It has been a busy week of rebuilding and keeping control in Egypt.   During the past week Egypt’s interim president Hazem el-Beblawi has extended the nationwide state of emergency for two more months.  This order resulted from Senor Egyptian officials warning of more terrorist attacks following the suicide bombings in the Sinai Peninsula and the failed assignation attempt on the interior minister.  The government has announced to offer low-income families relief for school expenses and public transportation costs.  In addition, the government also plans to put $3.1 billion towards infrastructure projects and increase the employment rate in the country.  The expectation is that the money being put into these projects will increase economic growth from 2 to 3.5 percent.

The actions of offering relief for low income families and the government’s plan to create more jobs is important since the political instability has caused wiped out most tourism and foreign investments in Egypt.  The state’s emergency powers have allowed police to have more power to make arrests, with the goal of keeping the potential terrorists threats under control.  The state of emergency can only be in place for three months after which it must be put towards public referendum.  This extension came after the military launched an offensive in the northern region of Sinai.  The goal was to raid suspected al-Qaida hideouts.  The operation lasted three days, resulted in 29 dead militants and lead to the capture of weapons, explosives and ten anit-aircraft missiles.  It is clear that Egypt is still undergoing a serious rebuilding in both there infrastructure and economy.  In addition, the government does not believe that the state is completely safe and that there is still a need for the current state of emergency resulting from the ongoing terrorist threats and restlessness throughout the country.   

• 
• (This is a picture is of soldiers doing a patrol in vehicles with helicopter support through villages in norther Sinai) 

Authors:
Brennan
Nicholas
Elvira
Jonathan
Akana 

                                                              

                                                             Works Cited: 

1) EL DEEB, S. ((n.d.)). Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/egypt-court-acquits-police-protester-deaths-20233340