Yvonne Walters 9/6/13 @10:33pm Global Topic: Gendercide http://www.aleteia.org/en/world/article/21st-century-holocaust-3254001
21st Centry Holocaust (Aleteia; Seekers of the truth)
Most people know the word Holocaust. Most of us have been taught that the word holocaust, according the Merriam-Webster, means "the mass slaughter of people". We hear about it, but most of us feel that it's "too big of an issue" to really do anything about it. In this article, by Aleteia, It give staggering numbers of fetuses/infants/young girls/women being aborted, murdered, and tortured to enforce China's One Child Policy. The story of Wang Liping is devastating. Being in love and wanting a child is a natural human instinct for many people. Yet in China, this is not so. In China, women live in fear of the Guying Population and Family Planning Office. These tyrannts kidnapped Ms. Liping and literally took her unborn baby from her body through force, then laid her dead child next to her wrapped in a plastic bag, and demanded that she pay for the disposal of the body. Absolutely appalling! I could never begin to imagine the trauma, the nightmare, of such a life changing event as this. An advocacy group, Women's Rights Without Frontiers, is a non profit, non partisan coalition designed to combat abortion, gendercide, and sex slavery in China (Aleteia, 2013). This group filed a complaint to the United Commission on the Status of Women to directly challenge China's One Child Policy siting "It is a brutal, sorry tale of murder and complete disregard for the dignity of life". The complaint revealed that in China, 200 million abortions were performed for the sole reason that the fetus was female, not to mention millions of intrauterine devices implanted in women who did not want them, and millions of sterilizations performed. On a final note, which I found shocking, the United Nations Population Fund may be involved in supporting the gendercide of these females. The corruption of this world saddens me beyond belief. I will say this, it certainly makes you want to get out there and do something about it though!
This was a really good article. Something that caught my eye while reading the article was this statement "Oh yes, we’ve heard it all before and perhaps that’s the problem, perhaps we’ve become desensitized to the whole thing: this or that woman in a country far, far away has been killed and her child forcibly aborted; yes, yes it’s all very sad but what can I do about it? and then I remember that I have to pick up milk from the supermarket..." This spoke volumes to me because I myself am guilty of this as well. We hear about these horrible conditions that people are living in or dealing with and we become angry and want to help. However, we become distracted with our "First World Problems" and quickly forget the emotion we once held. I think this ties into what we are learning in class as well. We hear and learn about these horrible events that have been occurring for years ( child labor, human trafficking, discrimination, etc, but no progress has been made to stop it. I believe it comes back to simply being desensitized to it.
Reading this article makes me sick to my stomach. I am so sad for those women having to go through this. What makes me even more sad is that my friend is Japanese and has lived in China all her life. She recently moved back to Japan, thank God, but what if she hadn't? Would this kind of torment be in her future had she not moved? Not to mention all the Chinese that are here at Campbellsville. My heart hurts for them. I read in the article that China had the highest female suicide rate in the world. This blows my mind. It just saddens me to think that this continues to go on. See, I had heard of this a long time ago but had no idea that it was still going on. I am glad that I am now aware because it makes me want to go out and do something about it too.
This article was so sad to read, but it is heartbreaking that this is happening in our world today. I agree with Jonnecia in that we have became desensitized to this awful reality. I understand that it would be nearly impossible to know how many births end in forced abortions by the Family Planning Police, but I wish the article had given an estimation. It is very easy to stand back and think "this is another country. I'll probably never even be in China, so how does this affect me?" But I was pleased to see resources at the end of the article providing ways that we CAN help. Another sad reality is that China isn't the only country that has a problem with forced abortions.
I am with Makayla, I am sick to my stomach after reading this. I totally agree with the article when it says that the most lethal weapon in this holocaust of the unborn, the female children, and the women of China's society is an idea. Actually an idea that really took off early in the 20th century with the study of eugenics, which ironically was lead by the same woman who was one of the early leaders in Planned Parenthood and actually from the USA, Margaret Sanger. I have done some research on this subject myself and it is heartbreaking that an idea so cold hearted could be part of our world, but sadly it is and has been for a long time. One of the most important ethical codes given by the NASW we follow as social harm is to protect from harm and to also advocate for those who can't advocate for themselves (I know this is paraphrased)and for me that includes fighting for the rights of children, women, and yes, the unborn. I am afraid that this will only get worse, not only in China, but in other countries as well, until the world's idea that others can and should determine the worth of an individuals life to the point that their murder is not only acceptable but necessary if it does not contribute to the society they envision. I think the first step we need to take in changing this idea is to acknowledge that it exists and is more common than we would like to know and to educate ourselves as much as possible on how extensive it actually is. As you can tell, I am extremely passionate about this subject.
I understand China’s one child policy, after all they are already struggling to feed what they have. What I do not support is the forced abortion and brutal treatment of the people who are fighting a battle to survive. I had made reference to this lack of respect for human life in my last Blog post. As time goes on it is less folks will care about human life. Killing is the norm almost. When the soldiers do a forcible rape and deliberate execution of an unborn child the policies are not working. To throw a woman’s baby into a bag without any concern shows the depravity of mankind. Life is no longer sacred. The author of the blog states that the United Nations may be involved in supporting genocide. I firmly believe that the whole world is desensitized to life.
Jonnecia Bradford Topic: Discrimination/Injustice Date: 9/7/13 Time: 1:15 Country: Wales Title: Guide dog owners denied access, says charity
Guide Dog….No Service
This week I stumbled across an article on the BBC entitled “Guide dog owners denied access, says charity.” In this article, I found that many individuals with disabilities in Wales who need the assistance of a guide dog are being denied access to several public places such as restaurants and public forms of transportations. The article also stated that there have been over 400 complaints made by the owners of guide dogs. When the BBC went to investigate they found that owners of these restaurants shared a different story and were more than willing to service these individuals. However, this is definitely not the case or the truth for individuals living in this country. Business owners are required to make adjustments to their facilities in order for disabled individuals to be able to access it. I feel that by denying these individuals the right to use their services if their guide dogs are present, is in turn infringing on their basic rights as a human being.
Article 25 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.” Denying individuals the right to public services such as transportation through buses, railways, etc is illegal and shouldn’t be accepted. Better communication and advocacy between these public establishments and organizations in support of guide dogs can help eliminate some of this discrimination and help inform individuals on the importance and need for guide dogs. To do nothing is an injustice for individuals suffering from these disabilities and who are now being denied access to much needed services.
This article shocked me because it seemed as if nothing was being done to insure that taxis, restaurants, and buses were providing services to those who used guide dogs. What is being put into place to insure they are being afforded the same as someone who does not use a guide dog? I agree that denying these individuals the use of these services is infringing on their rights and I would love to know what is being done to make sure this does not keep happening. You are right on target with stating that Article 25 is being abused. Denying anyone with a disability access to services is a huge injustice and I hope this article will spur government officials into action. Great post!
Heather Keith 9/7/13 Global Topic: HIV/AIDS Time of Post: 10:30 pm HIV positive German popstar Nadja Benaissa sentenced: Suspended sentence for German HIV singer Nadja Benaissa – BBC news – Europe The news article and video I located on BBC news tells of a story of a young, famous woman in Darmstadt, Germany who was charged, convicted of and sentenced for “causing grievous bodily harm” to one of her sexual partners because she willingly engaged in sexual activity without protection even though she knew she was infected with the HIV virus. Nadja Benaissa is a twenty-eight year old pop star in Germany and reportedly kept her condition a secret for fear of consequences to her career as well as to protect her young daughter. She was given a sentence of two years which was leniently suspended because the judge presiding over the case thought she had “learned to be responsible with her illness.” Nadja’s story reveals that she has had a troubled history. She was addicted to crack cocaine at the age of fourteen, became pregnant with her daughter at sixteen, and found out she was HIV positive at the age of seventeen through routine blood testing during her pregnancy. During the court process, she was described as being emotionless at first, but nervous. Toward the end of the hearing she was breaking down and crying, reportedly showing a great deal of remorse and even calling her own actions “cowardly.” Her statement throughout was that yes, she had kept her HIV infection a secret,” but she never intentionally infected anyone” and that her doctor said “the chances of infecting anyone were close to zero. While watching the video and reading the article I had mixed feelings concerning the details of this story. To me, it is incomprehensible that anyone with HIV would carry on sexual relationships without discussing such with their partners. I do concur that it is criminal. While taking in the facts of the news report, though, I tried to put myself in the place of this woman and I can imagine how the thoughts of damaging her career, with which she supports her child, would be frightening. As the text reading pointed out, being a single parent is a huge factor of poverty and she may have felt the desperate need to protect her career, which in her case demands having a reputable image, to avoid that trap at all costs. Also, some other sources in the story pointed out that her partners could have and should have used protection regardless of what they knew, which is true. However, I can’t get past the fact that the sole responsibility, in my opinion, was with the one infected. Even with all of these other factors considered, there isn’t any excuse that doesn’t sound like pure selfishness to me to not disclose such information.
So she had unprotected sex... Didnt tell any of her partners that she was infected with HIV... all so that she could "protect her young daughter and her band." I am not sure I see where the protection is. I agree with you when you say that it is imcomprehensible that anyone with HIV would carry on a sexual relationship with someone without telling. I feel that this pop singer had her "protections" backwards. She should be protecting herself and her partners from several things. Protecting herself from having more children... Protecting her partners from contracting the disease... And protecting the rest of the population who may have unprotected sex with the partner who knew nothing about her having HIV in the first place. She mislead a lot of people, and I am sure that there are more than the handful of people that she claims to have had unprotected sex with.
I do not feel that this woman has received an appropriate sentence. I think that because she says she is remorseful is one thing. I think that this woman should be required to give seminars on the effects of HIV, and make a service recording to educate others on HIV. She is a pop star who is famous in Germany, so she should be required to use her fame to promote education of HIV.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23770001 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/21/russian-city-khabarovsk-evacuation-flooding The Guardian.com reports that the Khabarovsk Territory, Jewish Autonomous Region and the Amur Region in Russia have been affected by heavy rains, swelling rivers, and flooding leaving 23,000 residents without homes since mid-August. While authorities and residents continue to build dams and provide temporary shelters many homeowners are reported as living in the attics of their homes because they refuse to leave or waited too long to leave. Looting has resulted in numerous arrests, police are confiscating weapons, and alcohol sales have been banned in these regions in order to prevent and contain any potential problems the floods may create. The waters of the Amur River were predicted to reach 7.8m above normal by August 24 which means that many more families will be displaced, businesses will be closed, and the financial toll will continue to rise in these areas. Officials are not expecting to call for a mass evacuation since the Amur River will only affect the low-lying areas if it floods. The Amur River’s flooding has caused devastation in many cities, towns, and villages in Russia and China according to BBC News. In the town of Blagoveshchensk people had been given permits to build in areas that were ravaged by flood in 1984 when the Zeya River burst its banks. Homes that cost thousands of dollars to build are now submerged in water and with officials only offering about $300 compensation (with a promise of more to come) it is highly likely that families will suffer great financial loss, much stress, and possible health problems if they try to rebuild in these areas. For those who were lucky enough to be able to afford insurance it will be much easier to rebuild, but many more were not able to afford insurance as it was too expensive. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is being trampled on in some of these cases simply because people are not being afforded an adequate standard of living which allows for their health and well-being. On a more personal note the worries of a resident of a flooded village struck a chord with me because I had friends who lived in several states that experienced flooding this past year and living conditions and looting were serious worries. She was worried about her parents because they are stuck on the roof of their home “surrounded by chickens, rabbits….and looters”. While I donated money and household goods that were sent I still felt helpless. I think even if I was able to physically go to these flood ravaged places I would still feel as if I was not able to help enough because the need is so great. I had to remind myself that while I cannot help everyone what I did send helped a few. These articles also spoke to the power of people and hope because the people kept moving forward even though they had suffered great losses at the hands of Mother Nature.
Jason Underhill September 8, 2013 Week 2 Afghan Militants Kill Female Author CNN September 5, 2013 2:26pm EST.
Women in the United States must be outraged and filled with sympathy when reading stories like the one linked to this blog. Not only does the women in Afghanistan get oppressed, but also killed for any type of activity that advances their well being and individuality. The ladies of this country must to tattoo the name of the husband on the hand as a mark of ownership; this has all of the similarities of slavery. What has the United States done to better this country after 10 years of war? We may have eliminated a government that aided terrorism (that is certainly debatable) but you cannot change culture. We try to promote human rights and democracy around the world, even removing leaders and handing them over to their people to be trialed for crimes against humanity. The new leaders come in to office with the exact frame of mind as the previous leader because of culture and societal norms. We ally with regimes that oppress women and exercise a dictatorship under the guise of a monarchy. I am speaking of Saudi Arabia. How is their monarchy any different than a communist dictatorship like North Korea? In my opinion it is not. The royal family calls all the shots, makes the laws, and uses religious beliefs to frame and interpret those laws. This subjects everyone in that country to the religious beliefs of the leadership. These are all direct violations of the United Nations Security Council's Deceleration of Human Rights. Article 3 of the Deceleration states that everyone has the right to life liberty and security of person. There are plenty more rights that were violated by the murders of Ms. Banerjee the Indian woman. She was murdered for telling her story through a movie and for her role as a business owner. Article 19 gave this lady the right to express herself through the media, however it cost her life. Freedom is something that must come through revolution of thought and new interpretation of ideas not through war. We cannot liberate the mind of oppressive ideology with guns, bombs, and a new Embassy building.
Even though I have heard and read about the living conditions of woman in Afghanistan every time I read something like this it is jarring to me. It is easy if you don't absorb yourself with news around the globe (like yourself) to let others, our fellow mankind, slip to the back of our minds. Meanwhile their suffering does not stop. I myself know ashamedly little about politics in our own country, let alone globally. However, I agree that the solution we are searching for is not in guns but in education and school of thought. My opinion is that our government knows that they cannot just sit by and let this happen, (you may disagree) so they do what they know. They fight it. But this war is not one that can be won with a physical fight but as this woman has done, it must be fought through awareness. It is nothing less than awful that she was a woman of bravery that even though she undoubtedly knew the risks she pursued this life because she lives her husband and she has not been killed. But what she left behind was a desire to change the world around her and that is the greatest place to start.
Jason, I thought this was a very good article. As an American women with just as many freedoms and privileges as a man it is heartbreaking to think of the way the women in Afghanistan are forced to live. The article stated that "they were even prohibited from stepping out of their houses unless accompanied by their husbands." Can you imagine what that would be like? The article also said the women had to have the their husband's name tattooed on their left hand. It's like these women are slaves to their husbands, and a part of his property. The women in this article did not want any part of that. She was determined to be a successful business owner, and she wanted people to know her story through the movie she made. This ultimately cost her her life. I also like what you said about the United States helping in this matter. I have thought about that many times. We have been in "war" for 10 years and what do we really have to show for that? In my opinion, somebody could be doing something to help these women. I agree, that you cannot go in there expecting to change the culture, nor should that be your mindset, but a little support and education could never hurt!
MaKayla Jessie September 8, 2013 Global Topic: Terrorism Time posted 8:20 pm
In regards to the article Terror Bust: Three women among suspected terrorists held as investigations continued, police have arrested three women that may be connected to a terrorist plot against Islamabad. In this potential attack, the suspects used remote control planes and filled them with explosives. These three women were not the only suspects in this terroristic plot. A man by the name of Muhammad Shoaib was arrested from the house that the plot took place in while another fled the scene while firing at the police. They have not had any luck tracking down the suspect and have gathered no further information on him. His name is Irthighazun Nabi Gillani. Previous investigations have led police to think that the suspects in this plot may be also connected with Al-Quida. They thought that these remote control planes could have been a distraction so that they could form a terrorist attack on the capital’s high security Red Zone. According to the article, this is the fourth terrorist attack in the capital since August. In connection to the reading this week, Chapter 3 in Global Problems: The search for equity, peace and sustainability, it doesn’t talk about terrorists that are female. However, its topic is on gender and family and gives us an understanding on women and men’s roles have changed over time around the world. I feel as though in this area of the world, women are often looked down on and are considered property to the men. When I heard of three women being suspected terrorists in this country, I thought of suicide bombers as opposed to terrorists. There wasn’t any further information as to how they were connected to these plots. Also, while reading Chapter three, I linked the term matriarchal to my article. Matriarchal tells us that women are powerful but instead are actually victimized and taken advantage of. Maybe this is what this terroristic group is trying to imply making them feel just as important as men carrying out this act when actually they are just used for terroristic plots.
Child Labor Kayla Hood September 8, 2013 8:03 p.m.
Children in Burkina Faso Take on Dirty, Dangerous Work of Digging Up Gold
In Burkina Faso a small town in West Africa there is for the first time in year’s economic opportunities. After a severe drought forced families to move poverty was if possible even more prevalent that it had been before. But now Burkina Faso is experiencing a gold rush and families are jumping on the opportunities to escape their financial crisis. Unfortunately this new opportunity has brought with it new challenges, like child labor. The average family in this area is making $2.00 a day, but families working in the gold mines can bring in anywhere from $5.00 to $40.00. This has pushed many families to pull their children from school and keep them home to work in the mines. The mines present many dangers. Not just the physical risk such as falling or being injured on the way down the mining shaft but also risk of disease. After the gold is mined, there is a process that must take place. The rocks containing the gold must be crushed and sifted. The gold in then panned in liquid mercury, this helps bind the gold. Mercury can have toxic affects leading to kidney disease, brain problems and lung issues. According to the article some of these issues could be prevented through education. Many parents are not even aware that there can be negative effects from the mercury. What personally hit me about this article was the part where the young boy was asked his age and he reported he thinks he is nine. That part was in particular was heart breaking to me. These kids are not allowed to really be kids and this is yet another story where children are being robbed of their childhoods. On the one hand, parents are trying to better their families and you cannot blame them for that but when children are pulled from school it just means that they are being deprived of their education and are having to sacrifice their future. This is not good for the child or their nation. It only means the cycle of poverty will continue.
This video was heart breaking; it is difficult to watch, read and learn about child labor. The children in the video work in such dangerous environments for as little as two dollars per day. I agree with you in saying the parents are only trying to help their families, however, it seems as though the parents should be more focused on the affects the labor is causing on their children. The video stated in December, the US Department of Child Labor will provide a five million dollar grant for four years, to assist with the issue in Fasco. The reporter admitted one grant would not be able to change the community’s viewpoint but could definitely make a difference by educating the families on the problems/issues.
I agree with Kasey this video is heart breaking to say the least. When I have researched child labor I have looked at it on the human trafficking side. Those children are often sold or abducted, but most of these children are working out of love and obedience for their families. I think both a equally disturbing just from two different stand points. I also was very upset from hearing that the little boy thought he was nine years old. These children are in working in such dangerous conditions, and the parents and adults have no or minimal education of this. I think that it is crucial that we educate these people on the issue, and increase their awarness on the dangers of gold mining. I do not think it will change the minds of every parent but I do think that it will help some see the bigger picture and the consequences.
It is very sad to know that families have to put their children in this position to provide for their families. I was very surprised to hear that the kids working in the gold mines back more then double in a day then what the average individual makes. It is even more heartbreaking to know that parents do not even realize how dangerous the conditions are that they are sending their children into. It also makes me wonder how Burkina Faso will ever be able to break away from the poverty of its community, and the necessity for families to send their children to work, when the young generation is not receiving the proper education in order to further the developmental growth of their economy.
In reading the article I found for this week, I again realized that crime occurs everywhere all over the world. I read about two women that were found dead in Turkey in August of 2011. The recent hearing date was today, September 9, 2013 in the city of Izmir. The article explained that there were two men being accused of murdering these women; a man by the name of Recep and his father. The women were found dead in a forest, and it was later discovered that they had been stabbed. The article stated that Recep had admitted to stabbing the women; however he claimed that his father had nothing to do with the murder. The judges had previously said that Recep was in need of a psychiatric assessment, but after this most recent trial the request for the assessment has been rejected. After the father again denies his involvement in the case, the public prosecutor explains that he feels that both men had something to do with the death of the two women. Recep then suggested that the court check some security footage to see where his father was at the time of the murder. The lawyer for Recep claimed that he committed the crime under “heavy provocation.” The lawyer for his father has not yet submitted a defense, but is expected to do so at the next hearing which is scheduled for October 2.
When I read this article my mind automatically wanted to compare this case to other similar cases. I searched and read over many different articles about crime, and it seems to me that no matter what country the crime occurred in the cases were all pretty similar. Crime happens in Turkey just like it does in Russia, China, Japan, and even the United States. In this particular case I feel like I would need to know a little more information about the men being tried before I made a decision about further psychiatric testing. The article did however state that Recep had no previous psychological problems. Just from reading the article, it does seem that Recep and his father are telling the truth in that the father was not involved in the murder. I think it would be interesting to be a fly on the wall at the next hearing in Turkey just to see what the verdict is. I am not an expert on crime by any means, but it would be interesting, and even educational, to be a part of a trial like this. Especially in another country; I’m sure the government and court systems are ran differently there than they are in the United States. I just think it would be exciting to see how they run this trial and how they determine a verdict.
Morgan Williams Aging 9/9/13 2:34 pm http://www.vancouversun.com/business/China+braces+aging+population+boom/8856801/story.html China is known for its increase economic industry and high populations. The fastest growing age group in China is its elderly population. With such an increase in the elderly population, (200 million over the age of sixty, and that is expected to double in the next forty years) one may expect the Chinese government to have plans of how they will accommodate this growing population. The sad reality is, there are not even a fraction of resources available for this population. Like in most countries, part of the aging population's problem is the fact that the life expectancy is increasing. This should be a good thing, but it causes there to be even more resources needed that are just not available. Part of the issue China's aging population faces is also the fact that traditionally, the family took care of their aging parents. Now with the one child rule, there aren't as many children around to take care of their aging parents. China is lacking in in-home healthcare services as well as residential facilities for the aging population. According to the article, eight months after an assisted care facility opened in Shanghai, only 25 beds were being occupied, out of an available 100. The Chinese culture will have to change toward their elderly, as well as their resources for these aging individuals. Elderly care is so new to China, their population does not even know where to begin with facilities and such; and when these facilities are available, people are unsure about whether to trust this new idea of the elderly being cared for by people other than their family. Residential elderly healthcare is only one resource that China is lacking concerning their elderly. China also does not have a home healthcare system like The United States or other Westernized counties does.
Kasey Spicer September 9, 2013 Topic: Environment Title: Labs to Start Syria chemical weapons analysis
The article, Labs to Start Syria chemical weapons analysis by Pallab Ghosh written on September 3, 2013 discusses a chemical attack in Syria. According to Ghosh, the attack is being investigated to determine whether chemical weapons were involved in the alleged attack in Ghouta (around the Syrian capital of Damascus). Two days after the attack, scientist gathered samples from alleged victims and (tissue) samples from deceased victims such as blood, urine and hair. Scientist, Dr. Trapp reported, surviving victims did not show signs of sarin exposure. Dr. Trapp reported symptoms usually include narrowing pupils and shaking. Ghosh reported each of the samples were sent to three separate laboratories and tested using two different methods. One of the two laboratories included UK’s Defense Science and Technology Laboratory, which includes a network of over 20 laboratories with facilities in China, United States and France. The testing process will take several days to complete. After completion, scientists will develop a report to submit to the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon. Mr. Ki-Moon will also be receiving daily updates of the laboratory tests.
This article ties into the human rights perspective. Garcia and Van Soest state, “basic rights include the assurance of freedom, certainty of social justice and assurance of the social and international order needed to realize one’s rights and freedoms.” (Garcia, B. and Van Soest, D. 2006, p. 18) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights include individuals having the right to life, liberty, and security along with the right not to be subjected to torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. This chemical attack goes against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the victims in the attack faced cruel treatment. I am curious to know what will happen if the lab tests show the chemical attack involved chemical weapons.
This article that I first thought would just be informative really hit hard on my heart. Sometimes talking about people being victims of chemical weapons does not have the impact it should, and when learning about the way victims reacted, and should react based of certain types of chemicals was hard to read because these were real people that had to endure such acts. I too am curious about what the lab tests show, but also how these lab results will transfer into the decision making process of doing something about the situation. What would we have done in the past without these technological advances, and why is the actual chemical of force so important? Sometimes we get so caught up in the details we forget about the actual people who are victims and focus on how the crimes were carried out. As social workers, I hope we can keep focus on those we work with rather than being concerned with so many other details.
Kasey, While the subject of chemical weapons and warfare are very interesting, especially when concerning their use and human rights issues, your topic says "environment." I could understand using this article if your topic was terrorism, warfare, or human rights, but you didn't tie it into an environmental issue. I would understand if there were a question of if the chemical had contaminated the ground or water supply and how long traces would remain in those areas, but it seems that the scientists in the article were worried that they wouldn't be able to find traces of the chemicals in or on the victims two days after the attack. Although I don't see how it ties into your topic, I think it is an excellent article and you did a wonderful job summarizing it and tying it into our class discussion.
After re-reading your summary, I think my previous response was wrong. I take it that you are seeing the chemical attack as an environmental factor affecting the individuals in Ghouta. It is definitely a violation of their human rights with cruelty and lack of security through poisoning of their surroundings which would have a direct effect upon them. I apologize for not seeing/understanding how you were relating this earlier. Excellent job.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24014967 Rebecca Wright Blog #2- Crime
This week’s article and video talk about a people group from Kenya who were forced from their home after the 2007 elections between Mr. Ruto and Mr. Kenyatta. President Kenyatta won the election in 2007, and the people from the same culture as Mr. Ruto were forced from their homes and town. Nearly 600,000 people were forced to live in a desert area, Rift Valley, in a “tent city” style structure. The tents are made of tarp like materials and secured to the ground with large boulders. Mr. Ruto and President Kenyatta were of different cultures, and throughout the election they attacked each other’s people groups. Since the election in 2007 Mr. Ruto and President Kenyatta have joined forces to become President and Vice President of Kenya in March 2013. Both now stand trial in the International Criminal Court (ICC.) Both men, along with a radio boss, have been charged with “inciting and helping coordinate the attacks.” 1,000 people lost their lives in the attacks in 2007.
Witnesses to this trial are being bribed and threatened to recant their statements. Several news article claim that the witnesses have also "dissappeared." Although both the president and deputy president will not stand trial at the same time, the ICC has blocked off four week segments in the trial as not to be confused between the two statements. Both men will not be able to be at each other's hearing since they can not both leave the country at the same time. It has been five years now and the people of the Rift Valley still have no answers as to when they can return to their homes. The people of the Rift Valley feel that if they return while there have been no actions taken against those who made them flee in the beginning would be “an act of suicide.” Out of the nearly 600,000 people who fled to the Rift Valley almost 200,000 remain in the tent like structures.
Looking at the Universal Declaration of Human Rights there are several articles in which these people are lacking. The people of the Rift Valley are no longer entitled to the same rights as the people who remain in Kenya. The people have also been subjected to cruel and degrading treatment. The most important, Article 25, states: 1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. These people are unable to access any of these rights.
“Our Initiation Ritual is Leading to Genocide, Claims African Tribal Leader as Deaths From Botched Circumcisions Soar”
By Helen Collis
While searching online for an article to write about this week about genocide, I found this article. When I think about genocide, I think of it as one group of individuals intentionally doing it to another group of individuals, not as an accident. The article said that accidents and improper techniques during the circumcision procedures in isolated areas of South Africa have caused so many deaths that a local health official labeled the procedure as genocide. Over the past seven years, there have been 492 reported deaths and over 5000 young men admitted to the hospital after unsafe operations in South Africa. The botched circumsions are not only causing infections and deaths. The young men who survive accidents and infections are left deformed. Local health facilities are looking into setting up facilities that have surgeons and medical staff that can and will be able to perform the procedure properly and safely. I could not imagine being the parent of a child that is getting initiated into the tribe not knowing if they would live or die because they wanted to belong to their tribe. After reading this article, I can easily see how this is/and will lead to genocide. Then again, this is just one of thousands of tribes of indigenous people. This cannot be the only one with death tolls this high due to circumsision. It also makes me wonder what other initiation rituals other tribes may be involved in that could be labeled as genocide. I also wonder how old the young men in the tribe have to be to become initiated. If they are old enough to know what is going on, do they have any say in it? Could they refuse to become a member of the tribe if they thought it might lead to their safety?
In class Thursday night we discussed human rights. The members of certain tribes shouldn’t have to live in fear of going through a ritual that could lead to death or life altering deformity. I wonder if these individuals know they have human rights or what rights are like in their culture. Tribal leaders and all the members of the tribe need to be made more aware of human rights. After reading this article, I had many thoughts on how to advocate for and empower the individuals of these tribes. We also discussed how everything has a change reaction and is connected to something else. So, would trying to advocate or empower these individuals to change affect their culture to the point that they no longer fit in to their culture?
This week I decided to look for an article that would not only connect to my topic but to some current issues that are very out in the open. I found an article on Syria and how the civil war there is founded on religion. http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/04/syrian-wars-got-religion-and-that-aint-good/?iref=allsearch The article talks about the dangers of a religious war, how they are likely to last longer and reoccur. Knowing this, it makes me weary to know the US may get involved because our country is known for Christianity and it would be another religion per say getting involved. I was surprised to see that it was Shiite and Sunni Muslims fighting against each other because I although the Muslim Religion is prevalent in the Middle East, I did not know they fought against each other. The article goes on to explain the differences in the groups of Muslims towards the end and how they have been fighting for years in other countries. After reading this article I vaguely remember learning about the “Sunni and the Shiites” but because I couldn’t remember the exact details I decided to do a little more research. In the article “What Is the Difference Between Sunni and Shiite Muslims--and Why Does It Matter?” I was able to answer more of my questions and identified that these groups originally had a disagreement on their religion at the death of Muhammad in 632. With this information, it makes me wonder how much help we would be in the Syria conflict, because this issue goes much deeper than one conflict in one country. http://hnn.us/article/934 Going back to the original article after learning a little more knowledge about the Sunni and Shiites, one piece of the article that really disturbed me was when it talked about “hat video of a rebel eating the heart of a Syrian soldier while shouting "God is great!"? Or the other video showing the beheading of three men with butcher knives, also while praising God?” Many of us Christians are worried to share the gospel for fear of what others may think, and here this religion is doing horrendous things, but they are not worried about what others think, for they believe they are praising their god. Just something to think on…
The idea that the USA may be intangled in another war is a very scary thought. I agree with you that it goes deeper than one can begin to understand the conflict between the Sunni and Shiites. I believe the murder of innocent children, women and families is wrong. I do not think that the US should become involved in a war over religious beliefs, but I am not sure how I feel about becoming involved over using chemical weapons against women and children. The article reported that religious wars last longer than other wars,which is something all countries should be aware of before becoming involved in the war. I also read in the article that many people fear that whichever side wins the other will completly destroy the other. I took that to mean if the Shiites are in power then teh Sunni will be destroyed. It is a very scary time for the world today. Great job, Alison!
RE: Asylum Suzanne M. Wright http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2013/09/10/Australia-reiterates-tough-asylum-boat-policy/UPI-20261378807560/
This week I found an article titled “Australia reiterates tough asylum boat policy”. Australia has a major issue with asylum seekers arriving in unseaworthy boats, many of them drowning before reaching their destination of Christmas Island. Australia’s Prime Minister elect, Tony Abbott has stated that his “hardline policy against asylum seekers would begin the day his new government is sworn in”. A key issue in the election is the increased numbers of asylum seekers arriving in Australia. According to Abbott he will not only focus on the actual asylum seekers, but his main focus will be on the human smugglers themselves. When interviewed about is quoted as saying “human smugglers will know that their time is up”. Abbott reports that the new coalition government will be able to stop the flow of refugees into Australia through “Operation Sovereign Borders”. In researching my topic of Asylum, I realize that I had no idea how common it is for refugee’s to request asylum. I guess I had never really thought about it until now. It appears that Australia is trying to crack down on this issue for a couple of reasons. According to the article the number of asylum seekers has increased so dramatically that it is difficult to allow so many in their country. Also, asylum seekers are paying “human smugglers” to get them to Christmas Island and the voyage is unsafe and many are dying before during the trip. According to Sernau, “above all seek safety”. Many countries are cracking down on asylum seekers due to the host country believing the refugees are creating more crime, disease and an economic strain. Sernau states “when jobs and resources are available refugees can be a source of innovation and prosperity. In researching this topic it appears that due to the influx of asylum seekers, many countries are tightening their policies or restricting asylum seekers, but the policy makers seem to be forgetting that they seek asylum for their own safety and that of their family.
Amanda Goodlett 9-10-13 @7:00 pm Topic: Human Trafficking http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/opinion/sunday/women-bought-and-sold-in-nepal.html?ref=humantrafficking&_r=1&
This week I came across an article titled “Women, Bought and Sold in Nepal.” This article discusses the issue of the Nepalese women and girls being smuggled and trafficked across the Nepal-India border. Nepal borders India on both its south east and the west borders, which make Nepal prime location for traffickers. Orlinsky (2013) states that, “7,000 women and girls are trafficked out of Nepal to India every year, and around 200,000 are now working in Indian brothels.” The author of the article spoke with a woman named Charimaya Tamang. She tells her story of being kid-napped while doing her everyday chores in the fields of her village. After being kidnapped Charimaya was forced into prostitution for 22 months. While reading her story I could not help but to put myself in her shoes. I cannot imagine going to my job like I do every morning and having the possibility of being taken and forced across the border to enter a life of slavery, however for the women and girls of Nepal that is reality. As I read on through the article I found a similarity between the types of people that traffic the girls in Nepal and the story of Kim Meston in the book “Not For Sale.” The article mentioned that a brother in law could be a likely trafficker, and that is exactly who trafficked Ms. Meston from her refugee camp in India. As I read the story of Charimaya Tamang, and saw the pictures of the young girls of Nepal my heart broke. Those girls are so young and innocent, when I was there age my only worry was how long my mom would allow me to stay outside and play. No one should have the fear of being trafficked, especially a young child. As I read and learn more about human trafficking I am constantly reminded of how blessed I am to live where I do and have the human rights that I do. Although everyone should be entitled to those human rights Nepal’s worldviews (such as sons are preferred over daughters) and low economic development play a major part in why the women and girls of Nepal live a life of fear.
Erica Stevens September 10, 2013 Global Topic: Poverty Time of Post: 7:30pm Long After Earthquake, Haiti Still Endures Cholera Epidemic In this video, we see that Haiti is struggling to rid its community of Cholera. Since the Earthquake in 2010 Haiti has been hit by three hurricanes, Tomaz, Isaac and Sandy. Cholera had not been seen in over a decade and reappeared 10 months after the Earthquake in 2010. It is thought that this disease was brought in through UN Peace Keepers. Dr. Jackinson Davilmar said that since hurricane Sandy admissions to their treatment center have increased from 20 to 40 cases a day. It is believed that the wells are contaminated including the main source of water for washing and drinking. In the past 2 years there have been 600,000 people sickened by Cholera and 7500 people who have died. 600 people have died this year alone. A big challenge in curing Cholera in Haiti is due to their poverty. Due to many treatment facilities being closed many families cannot afford to travel the distance to receive treatment. It is also a struggle for families due to there being very few toilets and in some areas no toilets. Water has to be carried into many homes due to there being no water sources in many areas. Another individual stated that it is too expensive to treat enough water to care for the 14 people in their family. Many families are living in crowded tent camps, more so due to poverty then the disasters that struck the area. Nigel Fisher, UN Representative stated that there were many problems prior to the Earthquake including poverty and underdevelopment. It was stated that a strong, accountable government is needed in order for Haiti to be rebuilt and at this time hardy any money is going to strengthen the government. Human Rights Activist stated that there is “no change with education, healthcare and infrastructure… corruption, poverty and hunger have not decreased.” I can not wrap my mind around how our world, with today’s interventions and technology, still allows people to live with unclean water. This community of people continues to get sick because they do not have access to clean water. I would think that as a “world” so focused on human rights we would have already helped install a clean drinking system for this country. It seems unreal that due to the underdevelopment of Haiti and the lack of financial means many families continue to drink from a water source that they know is killing hundreds of people.
Yvonne Walters
ReplyDelete9/6/13 @10:33pm
Global Topic: Gendercide
http://www.aleteia.org/en/world/article/21st-century-holocaust-3254001
21st Centry Holocaust (Aleteia; Seekers of the truth)
Most people know the word Holocaust. Most of us have been taught that the word holocaust, according the Merriam-Webster, means "the mass slaughter of people". We hear about it, but most of us feel that it's "too big of an issue" to really do anything about it. In this article, by Aleteia, It give staggering numbers of fetuses/infants/young girls/women being aborted, murdered, and tortured to enforce China's One Child Policy. The story of Wang Liping is devastating. Being in love and wanting a child is a natural human instinct for many people. Yet in China, this is not so. In China, women live in fear of the Guying Population and Family Planning Office. These tyrannts kidnapped Ms. Liping and literally took her unborn baby from her body through force, then laid her dead child next to her wrapped in a plastic bag, and demanded that she pay for the disposal of the body. Absolutely appalling! I could never begin to imagine the trauma, the nightmare, of such a life changing event as this. An advocacy group, Women's Rights Without Frontiers, is a non profit, non partisan coalition designed to combat abortion, gendercide, and sex slavery in China (Aleteia, 2013). This group filed a complaint to the United Commission on the Status of Women to directly challenge China's One Child Policy siting "It is a brutal, sorry tale of murder and complete disregard for the dignity of life". The complaint revealed that in China, 200 million abortions were performed for the sole reason that the fetus was female, not to mention millions of intrauterine devices implanted in women who did not want them, and millions of sterilizations performed. On a final note, which I found shocking, the United Nations Population Fund may be involved in supporting the gendercide of these females. The corruption of this world saddens me beyond belief. I will say this, it certainly makes you want to get out there and do something about it though!
This was a really good article. Something that caught my eye while reading the article was this statement "Oh yes, we’ve heard it all before and perhaps that’s the problem, perhaps we’ve become desensitized to the whole thing: this or that woman in a country far, far away has been killed and her child forcibly aborted; yes, yes it’s all very sad but what can I do about it? and then I remember that I have to pick up milk from the supermarket..." This spoke volumes to me because I myself am guilty of this as well. We hear about these horrible conditions that people are living in or dealing with and we become angry and want to help. However, we become distracted with our "First World Problems" and quickly forget the emotion we once held.
DeleteI think this ties into what we are learning in class as well. We hear and learn about these horrible events that have been occurring for years ( child labor, human trafficking, discrimination, etc, but no progress has been made to stop it. I believe it comes back to simply being desensitized to it.
Reading this article makes me sick to my stomach. I am so sad for those women having to go through this. What makes me even more sad is that my friend is Japanese and has lived in China all her life. She recently moved back to Japan, thank God, but what if she hadn't? Would this kind of torment be in her future had she not moved? Not to mention all the Chinese that are here at Campbellsville. My heart hurts for them. I read in the article that China had the highest female suicide rate in the world. This blows my mind. It just saddens me to think that this continues to go on. See, I had heard of this a long time ago but had no idea that it was still going on. I am glad that I am now aware because it makes me want to go out and do something about it too.
DeleteThis article was so sad to read, but it is heartbreaking that this is happening in our world today. I agree with Jonnecia in that we have became desensitized to this awful reality. I understand that it would be nearly impossible to know how many births end in forced abortions by the Family Planning Police, but I wish the article had given an estimation. It is very easy to stand back and think "this is another country. I'll probably never even be in China, so how does this affect me?" But I was pleased to see resources at the end of the article providing ways that we CAN help. Another sad reality is that China isn't the only country that has a problem with forced abortions.
DeleteI am with Makayla, I am sick to my stomach after reading this. I totally agree with the article when it says that the most lethal weapon in this holocaust of the unborn, the female children, and the women of China's society is an idea. Actually an idea that really took off early in the 20th century with the study of eugenics, which ironically was lead by the same woman who was one of the early leaders in Planned Parenthood and actually from the USA, Margaret Sanger. I have done some research on this subject myself and it is heartbreaking that an idea so cold hearted could be part of our world, but sadly it is and has been for a long time. One of the most important ethical codes given by the NASW we follow as social harm is to protect from harm and to also advocate for those who can't advocate for themselves (I know this is paraphrased)and for me that includes fighting for the rights of children, women, and yes, the unborn. I am afraid that this will only get worse, not only in China, but in other countries as well, until the world's idea that others can and should determine the worth of an individuals life to the point that their murder is not only acceptable but necessary if it does not contribute to the society they envision. I think the first step we need to take in changing this idea is to acknowledge that it exists and is more common than we would like to know and to educate ourselves as much as possible on how extensive it actually is. As you can tell, I am extremely passionate about this subject.
DeleteI understand China’s one child policy, after all they are already struggling to feed what they have. What I do not support is the forced abortion and brutal treatment of the people who are fighting a battle to survive. I had made reference to this lack of respect for human life in my last Blog post. As time goes on it is less folks will care about human life. Killing is the norm almost. When the soldiers do a forcible rape and deliberate execution of an unborn child the policies are not working. To throw a woman’s baby into a bag without any concern shows the depravity of mankind. Life is no longer sacred. The author of the blog states that the United Nations may be involved in supporting genocide. I firmly believe that the whole world is desensitized to life.
DeleteJonnecia Bradford
ReplyDeleteTopic: Discrimination/Injustice
Date: 9/7/13
Time: 1:15
Country: Wales
Title: Guide dog owners denied access, says charity
Guide Dog….No Service
This week I stumbled across an article on the BBC entitled “Guide dog owners denied access, says charity.” In this article, I found that many individuals with disabilities in Wales who need the assistance of a guide dog are being denied access to several public places such as restaurants and public forms of transportations. The article also stated that there have been over 400 complaints made by the owners of guide dogs. When the BBC went to investigate they found that owners of these restaurants shared a different story and were more than willing to service these individuals. However, this is definitely not the case or the truth for individuals living in this country. Business owners are required to make adjustments to their facilities in order for disabled individuals to be able to access it. I feel that by denying these individuals the right to use their services if their guide dogs are present, is in turn infringing on their basic rights as a human being.
Article 25 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.” Denying individuals the right to public services such as transportation through buses, railways, etc is illegal and shouldn’t be accepted. Better communication and advocacy between these public establishments and organizations in support of guide dogs can help eliminate some of this discrimination and help inform individuals on the importance and need for guide dogs. To do nothing is an injustice for individuals suffering from these disabilities and who are now being denied access to much needed services.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23975145
This article shocked me because it seemed as if nothing was being done to insure that taxis, restaurants, and buses were providing services to those who used guide dogs. What is being put into place to insure they are being afforded the same as someone who does not use a guide dog? I agree that denying these individuals the use of these services is infringing on their rights and I would love to know what is being done to make sure this does not keep happening. You are right on target with stating that Article 25 is being abused. Denying anyone with a disability access to services is a huge injustice and I hope this article will spur government officials into action. Great post!
DeleteHeather Keith
ReplyDelete9/7/13
Global Topic: HIV/AIDS
Time of Post: 10:30 pm
HIV positive German popstar Nadja Benaissa sentenced: Suspended sentence for German HIV singer Nadja Benaissa – BBC news – Europe
The news article and video I located on BBC news tells of a story of a young, famous woman in Darmstadt, Germany who was charged, convicted of and sentenced for “causing grievous bodily harm” to one of her sexual partners because she willingly engaged in sexual activity without protection even though she knew she was infected with the HIV virus. Nadja Benaissa is a twenty-eight year old pop star in Germany and reportedly kept her condition a secret for fear of consequences to her career as well as to protect her young daughter. She was given a sentence of two years which was leniently suspended because the judge presiding over the case thought she had “learned to be responsible with her illness.”
Nadja’s story reveals that she has had a troubled history. She was addicted to crack cocaine at the age of fourteen, became pregnant with her daughter at sixteen, and found out she was HIV positive at the age of seventeen through routine blood testing during her pregnancy.
During the court process, she was described as being emotionless at first, but nervous. Toward the end of the hearing she was breaking down and crying, reportedly showing a great deal of remorse and even calling her own actions “cowardly.” Her statement throughout was that yes, she had kept her HIV infection a secret,” but she never intentionally infected anyone” and that her doctor said “the chances of infecting anyone were close to zero.
While watching the video and reading the article I had mixed feelings concerning the details of this story. To me, it is incomprehensible that anyone with HIV would carry on sexual relationships without discussing such with their partners. I do concur that it is criminal. While taking in the facts of the news report, though, I tried to put myself in the place of this woman and I can imagine how the thoughts of damaging her career, with which she supports her child, would be frightening. As the text reading pointed out, being a single parent is a huge factor of poverty and she may have felt the desperate need to protect her career, which in her case demands having a reputable image, to avoid that trap at all costs. Also, some other sources in the story pointed out that her partners could have and should have used protection regardless of what they knew, which is true. However, I can’t get past the fact that the sole responsibility, in my opinion, was with the one infected. Even with all of these other factors considered, there isn’t any excuse that doesn’t sound like pure selfishness to me to not disclose such information.
References
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11097298
So she had unprotected sex... Didnt tell any of her partners that she was infected with HIV... all so that she could "protect her young daughter and her band." I am not sure I see where the protection is. I agree with you when you say that it is imcomprehensible that anyone with HIV would carry on a sexual relationship with someone without telling. I feel that this pop singer had her "protections" backwards. She should be protecting herself and her partners from several things. Protecting herself from having more children... Protecting her partners from contracting the disease... And protecting the rest of the population who may have unprotected sex with the partner who knew nothing about her having HIV in the first place. She mislead a lot of people, and I am sure that there are more than the handful of people that she claims to have had unprotected sex with.
DeleteI do not feel that this woman has received an appropriate sentence. I think that because she says she is remorseful is one thing. I think that this woman should be required to give seminars on the effects of HIV, and make a service recording to educate others on HIV. She is a pop star who is famous in Germany, so she should be required to use her fame to promote education of HIV.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23770001
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/21/russian-city-khabarovsk-evacuation-flooding
The Guardian.com reports that the Khabarovsk Territory, Jewish Autonomous Region and the Amur Region in Russia have been affected by heavy rains, swelling rivers, and flooding leaving 23,000 residents without homes since mid-August. While authorities and residents continue to build dams and provide temporary shelters many homeowners are reported as living in the attics of their homes because they refuse to leave or waited too long to leave. Looting has resulted in numerous arrests, police are confiscating weapons, and alcohol sales have been banned in these regions in order to prevent and contain any potential problems the floods may create. The waters of the Amur River were predicted to reach 7.8m above normal by August 24 which means that many more families will be displaced, businesses will be closed, and the financial toll will continue to rise in these areas. Officials are not expecting to call for a mass evacuation since the Amur River will only affect the low-lying areas if it floods.
The Amur River’s flooding has caused devastation in many cities, towns, and villages in Russia and China according to BBC News. In the town of Blagoveshchensk people had been given permits to build in areas that were ravaged by flood in 1984 when the Zeya River burst its banks. Homes that cost thousands of dollars to build are now submerged in water and with officials only offering about $300 compensation (with a promise of more to come) it is highly likely that families will suffer great financial loss, much stress, and possible health problems if they try to rebuild in these areas. For those who were lucky enough to be able to afford insurance it will be much easier to rebuild, but many more were not able to afford insurance as it was too expensive. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is being trampled on in some of these cases simply because people are not being afforded an adequate standard of living which allows for their health and well-being.
On a more personal note the worries of a resident of a flooded village struck a chord with me because I had friends who lived in several states that experienced flooding this past year and living conditions and looting were serious worries. She was worried about her parents because they are stuck on the roof of their home “surrounded by chickens, rabbits….and looters”. While I donated money and household goods that were sent I still felt helpless. I think even if I was able to physically go to these flood ravaged places I would still feel as if I was not able to help enough because the need is so great. I had to remind myself that while I cannot help everyone what I did send helped a few. These articles also spoke to the power of people and hope because the people kept moving forward even though they had suffered great losses at the hands of Mother Nature.
Jason Underhill
ReplyDeleteSeptember 8, 2013
Week 2
Afghan Militants Kill Female Author CNN September 5, 2013 2:26pm EST.
Women in the United States must be outraged and filled with sympathy when reading stories like the one linked to this blog. Not only does the women in Afghanistan get oppressed, but also killed for any type of activity that advances their well being and individuality. The ladies of this country must to tattoo the name of the husband on the hand as a mark of ownership; this has all of the similarities of slavery. What has the United States done to better this country after 10 years of war? We may have eliminated a government that aided terrorism (that is certainly debatable) but you cannot change culture. We try to promote human rights and democracy around the world, even removing leaders and handing them over to their people to be trialed for crimes against humanity. The new leaders come in to office with the exact frame of mind as the previous leader because of culture and societal norms. We ally with regimes that oppress women and exercise a dictatorship under the guise of a monarchy. I am speaking of Saudi Arabia. How is their monarchy any different than a communist dictatorship like North Korea? In my opinion it is not. The royal family calls all the shots, makes the laws, and uses religious beliefs to frame and interpret those laws. This subjects everyone in that country to the religious beliefs of the leadership. These are all direct violations of the United Nations Security Council's Deceleration of Human Rights. Article 3 of the Deceleration states that everyone has the right to life liberty and security of person. There are plenty more rights that were violated by the murders of Ms. Banerjee the Indian woman. She was murdered for telling her story through a movie and for her role as a business owner. Article 19 gave this lady the right to express herself through the media, however it cost her life. Freedom is something that must come through revolution of thought and new interpretation of ideas not through war. We cannot liberate the mind of oppressive ideology with guns, bombs, and a new Embassy building.
Police: Afghan militants kill female author http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/05/world/asia/afghanistan-indian-author-killed/index.html
Even though I have heard and read about the living conditions of woman in Afghanistan every time I read something like this it is jarring to me. It is easy if you don't absorb yourself with news around the globe (like yourself) to let others, our fellow mankind, slip to the back of our minds. Meanwhile their suffering does not stop. I myself know ashamedly little about politics in our own country, let alone globally. However, I agree that the solution we are searching for is not in guns but in education and school of thought. My opinion is that our government knows that they cannot just sit by and let this happen, (you may disagree) so they do what they know. They fight it. But this war is not one that can be won with a physical fight but as this woman has done, it must be fought through awareness. It is nothing less than awful that she was a woman of bravery that even though she undoubtedly knew the risks she pursued this life because she lives her husband and she has not been killed. But what she left behind was a desire to change the world around her and that is the greatest place to start.
DeleteJason, I thought this was a very good article. As an American women with just as many freedoms and privileges as a man it is heartbreaking to think of the way the women in Afghanistan are forced to live. The article stated that "they were even prohibited from stepping out of their houses unless accompanied by their husbands." Can you imagine what that would be like? The article also said the women had to have the their husband's name tattooed on their left hand. It's like these women are slaves to their husbands, and a part of his property. The women in this article did not want any part of that. She was determined to be a successful business owner, and she wanted people to know her story through the movie she made. This ultimately cost her her life. I also like what you said about the United States helping in this matter. I have thought about that many times. We have been in "war" for 10 years and what do we really have to show for that? In my opinion, somebody could be doing something to help these women. I agree, that you cannot go in there expecting to change the culture, nor should that be your mindset, but a little support and education could never hurt!
DeleteMaKayla Jessie
ReplyDeleteSeptember 8, 2013
Global Topic: Terrorism
Time posted 8:20 pm
In regards to the article Terror Bust: Three women among suspected terrorists held as investigations continued, police have arrested three women that may be connected to a terrorist plot against Islamabad. In this potential attack, the suspects used remote control planes and filled them with explosives. These three women were not the only suspects in this terroristic plot. A man by the name of Muhammad Shoaib was arrested from the house that the plot took place in while another fled the scene while firing at the police. They have not had any luck tracking down the suspect and have gathered no further information on him. His name is Irthighazun Nabi Gillani. Previous investigations have led police to think that the suspects in this plot may be also connected with Al-Quida. They thought that these remote control planes could have been a distraction so that they could form a terrorist attack on the capital’s high security Red Zone. According to the article, this is the fourth terrorist attack in the capital since August.
In connection to the reading this week, Chapter 3 in Global Problems: The search for equity, peace and sustainability, it doesn’t talk about terrorists that are female. However, its topic is on gender and family and gives us an understanding on women and men’s roles have changed over time around the world. I feel as though in this area of the world, women are often looked down on and are considered property to the men. When I heard of three women being suspected terrorists in this country, I thought of suicide bombers as opposed to terrorists. There wasn’t any further information as to how they were connected to these plots. Also, while reading Chapter three, I linked the term matriarchal to my article. Matriarchal tells us that women are powerful but instead are actually victimized and taken advantage of. Maybe this is what this terroristic group is trying to imply making them feel just as important as men carrying out this act when actually they are just used for terroristic plots.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/601741/terror-bust-three-women-among-suspected-terrorists-held-as-investigations-continue/
Child Labor
ReplyDeleteKayla Hood
September 8, 2013
8:03 p.m.
Children in Burkina Faso Take on Dirty, Dangerous Work of Digging Up Gold
In Burkina Faso a small town in West Africa there is for the first time in year’s economic opportunities. After a severe drought forced families to move poverty was if possible even more prevalent that it had been before. But now Burkina Faso is experiencing a gold rush and families are jumping on the opportunities to escape their financial crisis. Unfortunately this new opportunity has brought with it new challenges, like child labor. The average family in this area is making $2.00 a day, but families working in the gold mines can bring in anywhere from $5.00 to $40.00. This has pushed many families to pull their children from school and keep them home to work in the mines. The mines present many dangers. Not just the physical risk such as falling or being injured on the way down the mining shaft but also risk of disease. After the gold is mined, there is a process that must take place. The rocks containing the gold must be crushed and sifted. The gold in then panned in liquid mercury, this helps bind the gold. Mercury can have toxic affects leading to kidney disease, brain problems and lung issues. According to the article some of these issues could be prevented through education. Many parents are not even aware that there can be negative effects from the mercury. What personally hit me about this article was the part where the young boy was asked his age and he reported he thinks he is nine. That part was in particular was heart breaking to me. These kids are not allowed to really be kids and this is yet another story where children are being robbed of their childhoods. On the one hand, parents are trying to better their families and you cannot blame them for that but when children are pulled from school it just means that they are being deprived of their education and are having to sacrifice their future. This is not good for the child or their nation. It only means the cycle of poverty will continue.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/world/july-dec13/burkinafaso_09-02.html
This video was heart breaking; it is difficult to watch, read and learn about child labor. The children in the video work in such dangerous environments for as little as two dollars per day. I agree with you in saying the parents are only trying to help their families, however, it seems as though the parents should be more focused on the affects the labor is causing on their children. The video stated in December, the US Department of Child Labor will provide a five million dollar grant for four years, to assist with the issue in Fasco. The reporter admitted one grant would not be able to change the community’s viewpoint but could definitely make a difference by educating the families on the problems/issues.
DeleteI agree with Kasey this video is heart breaking to say the least. When I have researched child labor I have looked at it on the human trafficking side. Those children are often sold or abducted, but most of these children are working out of love and obedience for their families. I think both a equally disturbing just from two different stand points. I also was very upset from hearing that the little boy thought he was nine years old. These children are in working in such dangerous conditions, and the parents and adults have no or minimal education of this. I think that it is crucial that we educate these people on the issue, and increase their awarness on the dangers of gold mining. I do not think it will change the minds of every parent but I do think that it will help some see the bigger picture and the consequences.
DeleteIt is very sad to know that families have to put their children in this position to provide for their families. I was very surprised to hear that the kids working in the gold mines back more then double in a day then what the average individual makes. It is even more heartbreaking to know that parents do not even realize how dangerous the conditions are that they are sending their children into. It also makes me wonder how Burkina Faso will ever be able to break away from the poverty of its community, and the necessity for families to send their children to work, when the young generation is not receiving the proper education in order to further the developmental growth of their economy.
DeleteI posted this at 9:08, 8:03 is the time I began working on it.
ReplyDeleteTwo Women murdered in Turkey
ReplyDeleteSara Gilpin
In reading the article I found for this week, I again realized that crime occurs everywhere all over the world. I read about two women that were found dead in Turkey in August of 2011. The recent hearing date was today, September 9, 2013 in the city of Izmir. The article explained that there were two men being accused of murdering these women; a man by the name of Recep and his father. The women were found dead in a forest, and it was later discovered that they had been stabbed. The article stated that Recep had admitted to stabbing the women; however he claimed that his father had nothing to do with the murder. The judges had previously said that Recep was in need of a psychiatric assessment, but after this most recent trial the request for the assessment has been rejected. After the father again denies his involvement in the case, the public prosecutor explains that he feels that both men had something to do with the death of the two women. Recep then suggested that the court check some security footage to see where his father was at the time of the murder. The lawyer for Recep claimed that he committed the crime under “heavy provocation.” The lawyer for his father has not yet submitted a defense, but is expected to do so at the next hearing which is scheduled for October 2.
When I read this article my mind automatically wanted to compare this case to other similar cases. I searched and read over many different articles about crime, and it seems to me that no matter what country the crime occurred in the cases were all pretty similar. Crime happens in Turkey just like it does in Russia, China, Japan, and even the United States. In this particular case I feel like I would need to know a little more information about the men being tried before I made a decision about further psychiatric testing. The article did however state that Recep had no previous psychological problems. Just from reading the article, it does seem that Recep and his father are telling the truth in that the father was not involved in the murder. I think it would be interesting to be a fly on the wall at the next hearing in Turkey just to see what the verdict is. I am not an expert on crime by any means, but it would be interesting, and even educational, to be a part of a trial like this. Especially in another country; I’m sure the government and court systems are ran differently there than they are in the United States. I just think it would be exciting to see how they run this trial and how they determine a verdict.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-24023409
Morgan Williams
ReplyDeleteAging
9/9/13
2:34 pm
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/China+braces+aging+population+boom/8856801/story.html
China is known for its increase economic industry and high populations. The fastest growing age group in China is its elderly population. With such an increase in the elderly population, (200 million over the age of sixty, and that is expected to double in the next forty years) one may expect the Chinese government to have plans of how they will accommodate this growing population. The sad reality is, there are not even a fraction of resources available for this population. Like in most countries, part of the aging population's problem is the fact that the life expectancy is increasing. This should be a good thing, but it causes there to be even more resources needed that are just not available.
Part of the issue China's aging population faces is also the fact that traditionally, the family took care of their aging parents. Now with the one child rule, there aren't as many children around to take care of their aging parents. China is lacking in in-home healthcare services as well as residential facilities for the aging population. According to the article, eight months after an assisted care facility opened in Shanghai, only 25 beds were being occupied, out of an available 100. The Chinese culture will have to change toward their elderly, as well as their resources for these aging individuals. Elderly care is so new to China, their population does not even know where to begin with facilities and such; and when these facilities are available, people are unsure about whether to trust this new idea of the elderly being cared for by people other than their family. Residential elderly healthcare is only one resource that China is lacking concerning their elderly. China also does not have a home healthcare system like The United States or other Westernized counties does.
Kasey Spicer
ReplyDeleteSeptember 9, 2013
Topic: Environment
Title: Labs to Start Syria chemical weapons analysis
The article, Labs to Start Syria chemical weapons analysis by Pallab Ghosh written on September 3, 2013 discusses a chemical attack in Syria. According to Ghosh, the attack is being investigated to determine whether chemical weapons were involved in the alleged attack in Ghouta (around the Syrian capital of Damascus). Two days after the attack, scientist gathered samples from alleged victims and (tissue) samples from deceased victims such as blood, urine and hair. Scientist, Dr. Trapp reported, surviving victims did not show signs of sarin exposure. Dr. Trapp reported symptoms usually include narrowing pupils and shaking. Ghosh reported each of the samples were sent to three separate laboratories and tested using two different methods. One of the two laboratories included UK’s Defense Science and Technology Laboratory, which includes a network of over 20 laboratories with facilities in China, United States and France. The testing process will take several days to complete. After completion, scientists will develop a report to submit to the Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon. Mr. Ki-Moon will also be receiving daily updates of the laboratory tests.
This article ties into the human rights perspective. Garcia and Van Soest state, “basic rights include the assurance of freedom, certainty of social justice and assurance of the social and international order needed to realize one’s rights and freedoms.” (Garcia, B. and Van Soest, D. 2006, p. 18) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights include individuals having the right to life, liberty, and security along with the right not to be subjected to torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. This chemical attack goes against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the victims in the attack faced cruel treatment. I am curious to know what will happen if the lab tests show the chemical attack involved chemical weapons.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23947149
This article that I first thought would just be informative really hit hard on my heart. Sometimes talking about people being victims of chemical weapons does not have the impact it should, and when learning about the way victims reacted, and should react based of certain types of chemicals was hard to read because these were real people that had to endure such acts. I too am curious about what the lab tests show, but also how these lab results will transfer into the decision making process of doing something about the situation. What would we have done in the past without these technological advances, and why is the actual chemical of force so important? Sometimes we get so caught up in the details we forget about the actual people who are victims and focus on how the crimes were carried out. As social workers, I hope we can keep focus on those we work with rather than being concerned with so many other details.
DeleteKasey,
DeleteWhile the subject of chemical weapons and warfare are very interesting, especially when concerning their use and human rights issues, your topic says "environment." I could understand using this article if your topic was terrorism, warfare, or human rights, but you didn't tie it into an environmental issue. I would understand if there were a question of if the chemical had contaminated the ground or water supply and how long traces would remain in those areas, but it seems that the scientists in the article were worried that they wouldn't be able to find traces of the chemicals in or on the victims two days after the attack. Although I don't see how it ties into your topic, I think it is an excellent article and you did a wonderful job summarizing it and tying it into our class discussion.
After re-reading your summary, I think my previous response was wrong. I take it that you are seeing the chemical attack as an environmental factor affecting the individuals in Ghouta. It is definitely a violation of their human rights with cruelty and lack of security through poisoning of their surroundings which would have a direct effect upon them. I apologize for not seeing/understanding how you were relating this earlier. Excellent job.
Deletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24014967
ReplyDeleteRebecca Wright
Blog #2- Crime
This week’s article and video talk about a people group from Kenya who were forced from their home after the 2007 elections between Mr. Ruto and Mr. Kenyatta. President Kenyatta won the election in 2007, and the people from the same culture as Mr. Ruto were forced from their homes and town. Nearly 600,000 people were forced to live in a desert area, Rift Valley, in a “tent city” style structure. The tents are made of tarp like materials and secured to the ground with large boulders. Mr. Ruto and President Kenyatta were of different cultures, and throughout the election they attacked each other’s people groups. Since the election in 2007 Mr. Ruto and President Kenyatta have joined forces to become President and Vice President of Kenya in March 2013. Both now stand trial in the International Criminal Court (ICC.) Both men, along with a radio boss, have been charged with “inciting and helping coordinate the attacks.” 1,000 people lost their lives in the attacks in 2007.
Witnesses to this trial are being bribed and threatened to recant their statements. Several news article claim that the witnesses have also "dissappeared." Although both the president and deputy president will not stand trial at the same time, the ICC has blocked off four week segments in the trial as not to be confused between the two statements. Both men will not be able to be at each other's hearing since they can not both leave the country at the same time. It has been five years now and the people of the Rift Valley still have no answers as to when they can return to their homes. The people of the Rift Valley feel that if they return while there have been no actions taken against those who made them flee in the beginning would be “an act of suicide.” Out of the nearly 600,000 people who fled to the Rift Valley almost 200,000 remain in the tent like structures.
Looking at the Universal Declaration of Human Rights there are several articles in which these people are lacking. The people of the Rift Valley are no longer entitled to the same rights as the people who remain in Kenya. The people have also been subjected to cruel and degrading treatment. The most important, Article 25, states: 1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. These people are unable to access any of these rights.
Ashley Ware
ReplyDelete9/9/13 @ 11:49 PM
Topic Genocide
“Our Initiation Ritual is Leading to Genocide, Claims African Tribal Leader as Deaths From Botched Circumcisions Soar”
By Helen Collis
While searching online for an article to write about this week about genocide, I found this article. When I think about genocide, I think of it as one group of individuals intentionally doing it to another group of individuals, not as an accident. The article said that accidents and improper techniques during the circumcision procedures in isolated areas of South Africa have caused so many deaths that a local health official labeled the procedure as genocide. Over the past seven years, there have been 492 reported deaths and over 5000 young men admitted to the hospital after unsafe operations in South Africa. The botched circumsions are not only causing infections and deaths. The young men who survive accidents and infections are left deformed. Local health facilities are looking into setting up facilities that have surgeons and medical staff that can and will be able to perform the procedure properly and safely. I could not imagine being the parent of a child that is getting initiated into the tribe not knowing if they would live or die because they wanted to belong to their tribe. After reading this article, I can easily see how this is/and will lead to genocide. Then again, this is just one of thousands of tribes of indigenous people. This cannot be the only one with death tolls this high due to circumsision. It also makes me wonder what other initiation rituals other tribes may be involved in that could be labeled as genocide. I also wonder how old the young men in the tribe have to be to become initiated. If they are old enough to know what is going on, do they have any say in it? Could they refuse to become a member of the tribe if they thought it might lead to their safety?
In class Thursday night we discussed human rights. The members of certain tribes shouldn’t have to live in fear of going through a ritual that could lead to death or life altering deformity. I wonder if these individuals know they have human rights or what rights are like in their culture. Tribal leaders and all the members of the tribe need to be made more aware of human rights. After reading this article, I had many thoughts on how to advocate for and empower the individuals of these tribes. We also discussed how everything has a change reaction and is connected to something else. So, would trying to advocate or empower these individuals to change affect their culture to the point that they no longer fit in to their culture?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2385405/Our-initiation-ritual-leading-genocide-claims-African-tribal-leader-deaths-botched-circumcisions-soar.html
Alison Lee
ReplyDelete9/10/13 @10:28am
Topic Religion
This week I decided to look for an article that would not only connect to my topic but to some current issues that are very out in the open. I found an article on Syria and how the civil war there is founded on religion.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/09/04/syrian-wars-got-religion-and-that-aint-good/?iref=allsearch
The article talks about the dangers of a religious war, how they are likely to last longer and reoccur. Knowing this, it makes me weary to know the US may get involved because our country is known for Christianity and it would be another religion per say getting involved.
I was surprised to see that it was Shiite and Sunni Muslims fighting against each other because I although the Muslim Religion is prevalent in the Middle East, I did not know they fought against each other. The article goes on to explain the differences in the groups of Muslims towards the end and how they have been fighting for years in other countries. After reading this article I vaguely remember learning about the “Sunni and the Shiites” but because I couldn’t remember the exact details I decided to do a little more research.
In the article “What Is the Difference Between Sunni and Shiite Muslims--and Why Does It Matter?” I was able to answer more of my questions and identified that these groups originally had a disagreement on their religion at the death of Muhammad in 632. With this information, it makes me wonder how much help we would be in the Syria conflict, because this issue goes much deeper than one conflict in one country.
http://hnn.us/article/934
Going back to the original article after learning a little more knowledge about the Sunni and Shiites, one piece of the article that really disturbed me was when it talked about “hat video of a rebel eating the heart of a Syrian soldier while shouting "God is great!"? Or the other video showing the beheading of three men with butcher knives, also while praising God?” Many of us Christians are worried to share the gospel for fear of what others may think, and here this religion is doing horrendous things, but they are not worried about what others think, for they believe they are praising their god. Just something to think on…
Alison,
DeleteThe idea that the USA may be intangled in another war is a very scary thought. I agree with you that it goes deeper than one can begin to understand the conflict between the Sunni and Shiites. I believe the murder of innocent children, women and families is wrong. I do not think that the US should become involved in a war over religious beliefs, but I am not sure how I feel about becoming involved over using chemical weapons against women and children. The article reported that religious wars last longer than other wars,which is something all countries should be aware of before becoming involved in the war. I also read in the article that many people fear that whichever side wins the other will completly destroy the other. I took that to mean if the Shiites are in power then teh Sunni will be destroyed. It is a very scary time for the world today. Great job, Alison!
RE: Asylum
ReplyDeleteSuzanne M. Wright
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2013/09/10/Australia-reiterates-tough-asylum-boat-policy/UPI-20261378807560/
This week I found an article titled “Australia reiterates tough asylum boat policy”. Australia has a major issue with asylum seekers arriving in unseaworthy boats, many of them drowning before reaching their destination of Christmas Island. Australia’s Prime Minister elect, Tony Abbott has stated that his “hardline policy against asylum seekers would begin the day his new government is sworn in”. A key issue in the election is the increased numbers of asylum seekers arriving in Australia. According to Abbott he will not only focus on the actual asylum seekers, but his main focus will be on the human smugglers themselves. When interviewed about is quoted as saying “human smugglers will know that their time is up”. Abbott reports that the new coalition government will be able to stop the flow of refugees into Australia through “Operation Sovereign Borders”.
In researching my topic of Asylum, I realize that I had no idea how common it is for refugee’s to request asylum. I guess I had never really thought about it until now. It appears that Australia is trying to crack down on this issue for a couple of reasons. According to the article the number of asylum seekers has increased so dramatically that it is difficult to allow so many in their country. Also, asylum seekers are paying “human smugglers” to get them to Christmas Island and the voyage is unsafe and many are dying before during the trip. According to Sernau, “above all seek safety”. Many countries are cracking down on asylum seekers due to the host country believing the refugees are creating more crime, disease and an economic strain. Sernau states “when jobs and resources are available refugees can be a source of innovation and prosperity. In researching this topic it appears that due to the influx of asylum seekers, many countries are tightening their policies or restricting asylum seekers, but the policy makers seem to be forgetting that they seek asylum for their own safety and that of their family.
Amanda Goodlett
ReplyDelete9-10-13 @7:00 pm
Topic: Human Trafficking
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/01/opinion/sunday/women-bought-and-sold-in-nepal.html?ref=humantrafficking&_r=1&
This week I came across an article titled “Women, Bought and Sold in Nepal.” This article discusses the issue of the Nepalese women and girls being smuggled and trafficked across the Nepal-India border. Nepal borders India on both its south east and the west borders, which make Nepal prime location for traffickers. Orlinsky (2013) states that, “7,000 women and girls are trafficked out of Nepal to India every year, and around 200,000 are now working in Indian brothels.” The author of the article spoke with a woman named Charimaya Tamang. She tells her story of being kid-napped while doing her everyday chores in the fields of her village. After being kidnapped Charimaya was forced into prostitution for 22 months. While reading her story I could not help but to put myself in her shoes. I cannot imagine going to my job like I do every morning and having the possibility of being taken and forced across the border to enter a life of slavery, however for the women and girls of Nepal that is reality. As I read on through the article I found a similarity between the types of people that traffic the girls in Nepal and the story of Kim Meston in the book “Not For Sale.” The article mentioned that a brother in law could be a likely trafficker, and that is exactly who trafficked Ms. Meston from her refugee camp in India.
As I read the story of Charimaya Tamang, and saw the pictures of the young girls of Nepal my heart broke. Those girls are so young and innocent, when I was there age my only worry was how long my mom would allow me to stay outside and play. No one should have the fear of being trafficked, especially a young child. As I read and learn more about human trafficking I am constantly reminded of how blessed I am to live where I do and have the human rights that I do. Although everyone should be entitled to those human rights Nepal’s worldviews (such as sons are preferred over daughters) and low economic development play a major part in why the women and girls of Nepal live a life of fear.
Erica Stevens
ReplyDeleteSeptember 10, 2013
Global Topic: Poverty
Time of Post: 7:30pm
Long After Earthquake, Haiti Still Endures Cholera Epidemic
In this video, we see that Haiti is struggling to rid its community of Cholera. Since the Earthquake in 2010 Haiti has been hit by three hurricanes, Tomaz, Isaac and Sandy. Cholera had not been seen in over a decade and reappeared 10 months after the Earthquake in 2010. It is thought that this disease was brought in through UN Peace Keepers. Dr. Jackinson Davilmar said that since hurricane Sandy admissions to their treatment center have increased from 20 to 40 cases a day. It is believed that the wells are contaminated including the main source of water for washing and drinking. In the past 2 years there have been 600,000 people sickened by Cholera and 7500 people who have died. 600 people have died this year alone. A big challenge in curing Cholera in Haiti is due to their poverty. Due to many treatment facilities being closed many families cannot afford to travel the distance to receive treatment. It is also a struggle for families due to there being very few toilets and in some areas no toilets. Water has to be carried into many homes due to there being no water sources in many areas. Another individual stated that it is too expensive to treat enough water to care for the 14 people in their family. Many families are living in crowded tent camps, more so due to poverty then the disasters that struck the area. Nigel Fisher, UN Representative stated that there were many problems prior to the Earthquake including poverty and underdevelopment. It was stated that a strong, accountable government is needed in order for Haiti to be rebuilt and at this time hardy any money is going to strengthen the government. Human Rights Activist stated that there is “no change with education, healthcare and infrastructure… corruption, poverty and hunger have not decreased.” I can not wrap my mind around how our world, with today’s interventions and technology, still allows people to live with unclean water. This community of people continues to get sick because they do not have access to clean water. I would think that as a “world” so focused on human rights we would have already helped install a clean drinking system for this country. It seems unreal that due to the underdevelopment of Haiti and the lack of financial means many families continue to drink from a water source that they know is killing hundreds of people.
http://video.pbs.org/video/2312574872/