Title of Current Event: Czech Republic: Churches to Get Restitution for Seized Property
Source of Current Event: www.nytimes.com
After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, there were major changes to the
country formely known as "Czechoslovakia". In 1993, Czechoslovakia split into two different countries, one called "The Czech Republic", the other one called "Slovakia". After the Czech republic joined the European Union (E.U) officially, they slowly made the transition to a democratic systen. Currently their political system still runs under a Democratic system. Also, their leader right now is Vaclav Klaus. He became the Czech Republic's leader in 2003 after Vaclav Havel stepped down because of ill health. Vaclav Klaus was the perfect person to succeed Havel after being the country's prime minister for 5 years (1992-1997). The economy of Czech Republic under nValclav Klaus improved greatly.
Summary: On wednesday, April 25, the Czech government agreed to pay billions of dollars in compensation to churches whose property was seized by the former Communist government. This compensation plan is a win-win situation for both the Czech government and the Churches. The state would no longer have to pay priest's salaries. Under this plan, the Czech Republic's seventeen churches, including the Roman Catholic and Protestant sections, would get back at least 56 percent of their old property that was held by the state. The churches will also get 2.9 billion dollars over the next thirty years. this will enable the state to gradually stop covering church expenses.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Current Events Assignment #4
Title of current event:
Gettlemen, Jeffrey "Ethnic Killings Fray Unity Marking Birth of South Sudan"
Source of current event: http://www.nytimes.com/
This article is about mass murder caused by ethnic conflict. For many years there has been a civil war in the south. the article talks about how " billions of dollars " have been invested in South Sudan by the united states and other western countries. This investment is not for the benefit of the new country (South Sudan). This investment is to create a "Stable, Western - friendly nation in a unsteady region". South Sudan used to be part of the country known as Sudan. South Sudan became an independent nation in July 9, 2011. The country of Sudan was imperialized first by the Egyptians in 1820 (The Egyptians controlled Sudan from 1899 to 1955. As long as the British controlled Sudan, they put political and economic structures in place that never existed. The Sudan has always been split between its Arab and Muslim heritage in the north and its African culture in the south. Now it looks like their differences have formed into a official border in the world map.
This article is mainly wrapped around the rivalry between two ethnic groups, the "Murle" and the "Nuer" fighting each other. This article discusses a social and political issues, but I think there is an economic angle. There is a social issue due to all of the tension between the two different ethnic groups. No new country can last if its people are killing off one another. This is a political element. The United States have invested billions of dollars. Why? The South Sudan has almost 80% of the former Sudan's oil output. (C.I.A World Fact Book) These people have hated each other for centuries, so any solution won't be quick. Empower the U.N (United Nations) troops more aggressively in protecting the victims (the murels). They should also work on the infrastructure, and they should keep the control of the oil with the South Sudan people. These are just some suggestions, but the South Sudan people might want to build on these suggestions if they want to be a successful, independent country.
Gettlemen, Jeffrey "Ethnic Killings Fray Unity Marking Birth of South Sudan"
Source of current event: http://www.nytimes.com/
This article is about mass murder caused by ethnic conflict. For many years there has been a civil war in the south. the article talks about how " billions of dollars " have been invested in South Sudan by the united states and other western countries. This investment is not for the benefit of the new country (South Sudan). This investment is to create a "Stable, Western - friendly nation in a unsteady region". South Sudan used to be part of the country known as Sudan. South Sudan became an independent nation in July 9, 2011. The country of Sudan was imperialized first by the Egyptians in 1820 (The Egyptians controlled Sudan from 1899 to 1955. As long as the British controlled Sudan, they put political and economic structures in place that never existed. The Sudan has always been split between its Arab and Muslim heritage in the north and its African culture in the south. Now it looks like their differences have formed into a official border in the world map.
This article is mainly wrapped around the rivalry between two ethnic groups, the "Murle" and the "Nuer" fighting each other. This article discusses a social and political issues, but I think there is an economic angle. There is a social issue due to all of the tension between the two different ethnic groups. No new country can last if its people are killing off one another. This is a political element. The United States have invested billions of dollars. Why? The South Sudan has almost 80% of the former Sudan's oil output. (C.I.A World Fact Book) These people have hated each other for centuries, so any solution won't be quick. Empower the U.N (United Nations) troops more aggressively in protecting the victims (the murels). They should also work on the infrastructure, and they should keep the control of the oil with the South Sudan people. These are just some suggestions, but the South Sudan people might want to build on these suggestions if they want to be a successful, independent country.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Currents events assignment # 3
Title of Current Event: Beijing Imposes New rules on Social Networking Sites
Source of Current Event: http://www.nytimes.com/ (December 17, 2011)
In Beijing, China on Friday, December 16, 2011, a story broke out about the Chinese government imposing new rules that are aimed at controlling the way people post messages on social networking sites. These rules were enacted due to Chinese internet users posting messages that haved challenged the Chinese government's authority. The Chinese government wants to restrict access to social media networks. They want to uncover the true identity of people who dissent (disagree) with Chinese officials. This will be done by requiring users to register using their real biographic information - real names, addresses, phone numbers,etc. Imagine a suggestion box and requiring people to sign their name.
The significance of the new rules is that the Chinese government's abuses will never be revealed to or addressed by the outside world. The impact that it will have locally is that it will reduce the number of complaints to and about the government. Nationally, there will be no changes made due to the fact that everyone is now afraid to even make an attempt at "dissenting" or speaking out. Globally, this will have effect how other countries and nations use social networking sites like facebook, myspace, or twitter when contacting someone who lives in China. This has been an age where questions about privacy have reached an all time high. Other nations would not try and fight the Chinese government`s rulers and restrictions because militarily and economically very few nations can challenge them. The Chinese would not be able to make the argument against the social networking laws.
One of the enlightenment thinkers was Francois Marie Arouet (a.k.a Voltaire). He had strongly supported freedom of speech. Voltaire would probably read this article and ask what the Chinese government meant to accomplish by these laws. He would disagree with the goivernment stifling free speech by intimidating its citizens with restricions and coercion.
Source of Current Event: http://www.nytimes.com/ (December 17, 2011)
In Beijing, China on Friday, December 16, 2011, a story broke out about the Chinese government imposing new rules that are aimed at controlling the way people post messages on social networking sites. These rules were enacted due to Chinese internet users posting messages that haved challenged the Chinese government's authority. The Chinese government wants to restrict access to social media networks. They want to uncover the true identity of people who dissent (disagree) with Chinese officials. This will be done by requiring users to register using their real biographic information - real names, addresses, phone numbers,etc. Imagine a suggestion box and requiring people to sign their name.
The significance of the new rules is that the Chinese government's abuses will never be revealed to or addressed by the outside world. The impact that it will have locally is that it will reduce the number of complaints to and about the government. Nationally, there will be no changes made due to the fact that everyone is now afraid to even make an attempt at "dissenting" or speaking out. Globally, this will have effect how other countries and nations use social networking sites like facebook, myspace, or twitter when contacting someone who lives in China. This has been an age where questions about privacy have reached an all time high. Other nations would not try and fight the Chinese government`s rulers and restrictions because militarily and economically very few nations can challenge them. The Chinese would not be able to make the argument against the social networking laws.
One of the enlightenment thinkers was Francois Marie Arouet (a.k.a Voltaire). He had strongly supported freedom of speech. Voltaire would probably read this article and ask what the Chinese government meant to accomplish by these laws. He would disagree with the goivernment stifling free speech by intimidating its citizens with restricions and coercion.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Current Events Assignments #2
Title of Current Event: Taken by Pirates
Source of Current Event: www.nytimes.com
There was an article in the October 30, 2011 edition of the Sunday New York Times discussing
the kidnapping of a British couple by Somali Pirates. The incident that happened was this: Rachel
and Paul Chandler were seized on their yacht on October 23, 2009 by Somalian Pirates. They
were held for more than a year (388 days to be exact). Before being released the final ransom was paid.
The event itself, the kidnapping of Mr. and Mrs. Chandler, is not the significant event. Piracy is the significant event. Piracy occurs globally but most often in the Pacific Ocean and around the area known as the " Horn of Africa". Piracy is a global problem and its impact is environmental, economic, and political. Piracy cost money. According to the NY Times, shipping companies hire armed guards to protect the vessels, buy special weapons and equipment to fight the pirates, and pay higher insurance premiums. They also change their routes
and this causes delays in delivery of goods. These things are expensive and the costs are passed on to
consumers. There's also an environmental impact. The navies form more than 24 nations patrol Somalia's coast. They burn about 1 million dollars of fuel per day. The burning of oil affects the sea life in the area, adds on to green house gases, and uses up a larger portion of the world's oil supply. The reaction to Piracy is still developing. New weapons and counter measures are being used by shipping companies. The navy of many different countries are now actively searching for Pirates along the Somalian coast. One of the Enlightenment thinkers, Voltaire, would have tried to resolve the conflict between Somalia and the rest of the world by using logical thinking. He probably would have written a satire to describe and explain the situation. He was
a philosopher. A different Enlightenment figure was Catherine the great. She would have used the Russian navy to eliminate the pirates.
Source of Current Event: www.nytimes.com
There was an article in the October 30, 2011 edition of the Sunday New York Times discussing
the kidnapping of a British couple by Somali Pirates. The incident that happened was this: Rachel
and Paul Chandler were seized on their yacht on October 23, 2009 by Somalian Pirates. They
were held for more than a year (388 days to be exact). Before being released the final ransom was paid.
The event itself, the kidnapping of Mr. and Mrs. Chandler, is not the significant event. Piracy is the significant event. Piracy occurs globally but most often in the Pacific Ocean and around the area known as the " Horn of Africa". Piracy is a global problem and its impact is environmental, economic, and political. Piracy cost money. According to the NY Times, shipping companies hire armed guards to protect the vessels, buy special weapons and equipment to fight the pirates, and pay higher insurance premiums. They also change their routes
and this causes delays in delivery of goods. These things are expensive and the costs are passed on to
consumers. There's also an environmental impact. The navies form more than 24 nations patrol Somalia's coast. They burn about 1 million dollars of fuel per day. The burning of oil affects the sea life in the area, adds on to green house gases, and uses up a larger portion of the world's oil supply. The reaction to Piracy is still developing. New weapons and counter measures are being used by shipping companies. The navy of many different countries are now actively searching for Pirates along the Somalian coast. One of the Enlightenment thinkers, Voltaire, would have tried to resolve the conflict between Somalia and the rest of the world by using logical thinking. He probably would have written a satire to describe and explain the situation. He was
a philosopher. A different Enlightenment figure was Catherine the great. She would have used the Russian navy to eliminate the pirates.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Current Events Assignment Number 1
Title of Current Event: Panama Adding a wider Shortcut for Shipping
Source of Current Event: www.NewYorkTimes.com
A project is underway to enlarge the Panama canal by expanding the locks on the Pacific side of the Canal. The $5.25 billion project, scheduled for completion in 2014, will be the first expansion of the century-old shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The excavation to build a larger set of looks for the Panama Canal should double the amount of goods coming in and out of the Canal. This expansion will be beneficial because the wider the space, the bigger the ship. The bigger the ship, the more goods transported. Did you know, that Two-thirds of the goods that pass through the Panama Canal either come from or end up in the United States? Expansion will have a big impact because now, goods can be shipped between other countries two times faster than before. Farmers in America expect the expansion to help them compete with farmers in South America. The local Panamanian economy will benefit from the construction, because jobs will be created. They will need construction workers, of course. Also because larger ships and cargo vessels will be able to reach the eastern United States more easily, patterns of trade will shift. Port cities like New Orleans and Savannah, Georgia will need to deepen their harbors and modernize cargo handling facilities. The Enlightenment thinker I have chosen is Voltaire. As a french Philosopher, he believed in progress. The Panama Canal is a great example of progress. Europe was looking for new markets and an easier and faster route to the East.Voltaire believed in freedom of thought and expression. These are the freedoms found in the bill of rights. If Voltaire was alive today, he would look at The Panama Canal expansion as an example of progress.
Source of Current Event: www.NewYorkTimes.com
A project is underway to enlarge the Panama canal by expanding the locks on the Pacific side of the Canal. The $5.25 billion project, scheduled for completion in 2014, will be the first expansion of the century-old shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The excavation to build a larger set of looks for the Panama Canal should double the amount of goods coming in and out of the Canal. This expansion will be beneficial because the wider the space, the bigger the ship. The bigger the ship, the more goods transported. Did you know, that Two-thirds of the goods that pass through the Panama Canal either come from or end up in the United States? Expansion will have a big impact because now, goods can be shipped between other countries two times faster than before. Farmers in America expect the expansion to help them compete with farmers in South America. The local Panamanian economy will benefit from the construction, because jobs will be created. They will need construction workers, of course. Also because larger ships and cargo vessels will be able to reach the eastern United States more easily, patterns of trade will shift. Port cities like New Orleans and Savannah, Georgia will need to deepen their harbors and modernize cargo handling facilities. The Enlightenment thinker I have chosen is Voltaire. As a french Philosopher, he believed in progress. The Panama Canal is a great example of progress. Europe was looking for new markets and an easier and faster route to the East.Voltaire believed in freedom of thought and expression. These are the freedoms found in the bill of rights. If Voltaire was alive today, he would look at The Panama Canal expansion as an example of progress.
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