Brosseau,+Benjamin


 * WEEK 9**

Urumqi Riot Sentence

Four more people have been charged with death for leading and masterminding the deadly Urumqi Riot that occured last year on July 5. Chinese officials said that they were responsible for extreme vandalism, burning, and very violent attacks. The riot, which contained mainly Uyghurs who are a minority in China, left 200 people dead in the captial of the Xinjiang region, Urumqi, and was driven by the fury the Uyghers felt for the Chinese. This is one of the several horrific events that have taken place between the Chinese and the Uyghers as the Uyghers have fought for independence and equal rights, and the Chinese for power. Some people in America feel that this is not only a heartless retalitation by the Chinese for their losses, but a sign that the Chinese government needs help. "Since July 5 ,China hasn't stopped using these heartless methods to raise the pressure on Uighurs," said Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the exiled World Uyghur Congress. "We think that these trials respond to a political need in China." A fifth person was also charged with death, but has been given a two-year reprieve.

Sources: CNN News - http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/01/26/china.urumqi.unrest/index.html Washington Post - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/26/AR2010012601158.html

Similarities: Both of these articles contained very similar imformation. One, they covered the date, location, and effect of the riot. Two, they talked about the Chinese government's reaction to this. Three, they both mentioned the fifth person who was charged with death, but gained the reprieve.

Differences:

There were several differences between these articles. One, the Washington Post article was the only one that mentioned the twenty-six other people that had recieved the same charge earlier. Two, the Washington Post talked about the view of some American officials that were observing the entire event. Three, the CNN article mentioned the few other attacks that occured recently between the two groups.

My Opinion:

I feel that this entire event was preventable. If the Chinese had only listened to the Uyghers and given them equal rights, none of this wouold have happened. Actually, I believe that the Chinese would have benefited more from making an alliance with the Uyghers, versus fighting them. Also, I feel that their charges are a little harsh as well. Such charges only create more tension between the two groups, which will lead to yet another clash between the two. I feel that the only way to stop this is for the Uyghers and the Chinese to come to terms and make an alliance, despite the past.


 * WEEK 8**

Pakistani Hearing

Five American Muslim men who were arrested last month on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack were discovered to have been tortured after their hearing with the Antiterrorism Court as the Pakistanis took them into custody. One of the victims' representatives accused the police saying that they were "mistreating" and "tortured" during their imprisonment. The Pakistani police denied these acts, but a medical examination proved these denials to be false. However, the police considered it to be just, since the men were proven and confessed to being jihad supporters and that they had supplied money to several outlaw militant groups. After the examination, the torturing stopped and the five men now wait for their next trial on February 2, 2010.

Sources: Washington Post - [] CBS News - []

Similarities:

Both of these articles included the charges of the men, the men's real intentions, and the fact that the Pakistanis had been torturing the men, even theough they denied it.

Differences:

There are not many differences betweent these two articles, except for the fact that the CBS article went into much more depth as to what reasons the men had been arrested for as far as pre-arrest activities, and it talked more about the location of the men's prison and their protests as they were led away from the court.

My Opinion:

I believe that the act of the police, no matter how justified, were wrong. Even though these men were proven to be terrorists, it is an inhumane act to torture people. If you really want to prove to the terrorists who is the better side, then you have to act like the better side, which means you have to be much more controlled and thoughtful, and not so cruel to your prisoners, since they are the ones who witness your side close up and carry the memories of it. If their memories of the imprisonment are very bad then their view of you will be very bad and then everyone they tell will look at your side that way, but if they were at least treated civily and comfortably then their views may be a little better of you.


 * WEEK 7**

Madagascar's Raucous Government

The U.S. sent representatives today (12/13) to the island nation of Madagascar to deliver a warning that if Madagascar's government did not settle itself down and reach a stable situation, then the U.S. would cut off trade with Madagascar. Madagascar's government has been in an unstable position ever since Marc Ravolamanana, Madagascar's president, was ousted in a coup last March by Andry Rajoelina. This has stirred up frustration and tenision between the current and past leaders and has plunged Madagascar's government into chaos. When the representatives reached Madagascar, they were met with hostility by Rajeolina and are currently not being allowed out of Madagascar to obtain backup, which has furthered the U.S.'s frustration.

Sources:

Africa News - [] The Washington Post - []

Similarities:

Both of these articles contained, basically, the same information. They both talked about the coup in March, the tension in the government, the representatives from the U.S., and the hostility from Rajeolina. Also, both had quotes from people.

Differences:

Some differences were that the AF article title one was focused on the threat by the U.S. and the WAP one was focused on the fact that the representatives were not being allowed out of Madagascar. Also, they both quoted different people, the AF quoted a man by the last name of "Kelly" who is a government official, and the WAP quoted Mamy Rakotoarivelo.

My Opinion:

I feel that the Madagascar people should try to impeach Rajeolina since he is threatening their economy. I feel, also, that Rajeolina is an extremely unfit and irresponsible leader and that things may head in a bad direction for Madagascar if he remains in power.


 * WEEK 6**

Egypt Ferry Collision

Two ferries collided on the Nile River yesterday leaving eighty people missing, three dead, and twelve survivors. The cause of the collision is currently unknown, but it is believed that one of the ferries split in half upon impact while the other capsized. The official number of people that were on the ferries is unkown since they do not take counts of passengers on Nile ferries. The collision has lead to another outcry from the public targeting the Egyptian government's lack of transportation safety that has lead to the death of 1034 people on a Red Sea Ferry that caught on fire and 18 deaths in a train collision, all of which took place in recent years. But for now, the government is focused on finding the eighty missing passengers.

Sources:

Africa News - [] Press TV - []

Similarities:

Both of these articles included similar statistics involving the state of the passengers, they both included a discription of the collision, and neither included quotes from people. Also, both of the articles' titles involved the number of people missing in the crash.

Differences:

The Africa News (AF) article involved more historical events involving transportation whereas the PTV one involved more detail as to what else was lost in the crash. Also, the statisticts were not exactly the same in the case of "number missing". The AF one counted 80 and the PTV counted 11. However, severa other articles said 70-80, so I went with that.

My Opinion:

I feel that the government and their views of transportation safety had something to do with this, which makes me think that this was preventable. However, it is still too early to tell anything.


 * WEEK 5**

Mali Kidnap

A Fench national visiting Mali was kidnapped on Wednesday (11/25) near the town of Menka. Pierre Kamatte, the kidnapped, was visiting from France with the intent of studying Malaria, authorities say. He was kidnapped in the middle of the night by three armed gunmen when the power was shut off to conserve energy for the next day from his hotel room. This makes authorities believe that this was a preplanned. It is also believed that this is the work of Al-Queda hired soldiers. Currently, Malian officials are hunting down the man and his kidnappers, but no idea of his whereabouts has been presented yet.

Sources:

IOL - [] Africa News - []

Differences:

There are not many differences between these two articles, due to the recency of the event, besides the fact that they interviewed different people, there is not much else.

Similarities:

Both of these articles had almost the exact same title and information. They both mentioned the Al-Queda, the purpose of the Frenchman's visit, and the fact tht no one is sure of his whereabouts.

My Opinion:

I believe that the Malian officials should wait at least a week for the kidnappers to send a notification of some kind, most likely for a ransom, and then establish a connection with the kidnappers through that, and negotiate something out with them.


 * WEEK 4**

Mt. Kilimanjaro's Glaciers

Mt. Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest mountain, beholds many wonderous sights, including its amazing glaciers. However, Africa's climate is threatening these glaciers, as they are melting at a drastic rate. Scientists first recorded the melting of these glaciers in 1902 and since then, the main glacier has decreased in size by 85%. In the neighboring ice fields, scientists have recorded an annual 2.5% drop in size since 1989, which has totalled to a drop of 26% in overall size. Now, melting rates are beginning to climb at a much more rapid pace and scientists fear that the glaciers could be completely gone in the near future. "The shrinkage and ultimate disappearance of these glaciers will create tremendous ecological and social problems in the near future," said Doug Hardy, a researcher at the Climate Systems Research Center. Also, people fear that the disappearance of the glaciers will drop tourist rates dramatically, which many people depend on in the areas surrounding Mt. Killimanjaro. Tourism rakes in an estimated $50 million dollars in that area, which affects the state of the country and its people greatly.

Sources:

CNN - [] World News Australia - []

Differences:

There were not many differences between these two articles, only that the CNN was focused on the entire history of the melting period and the overall effect of the melting of the glaciers.

Similarities:

Both of these article's titles were virtualy the same, they involved quotes from scientists that had been observing the melting, and they included a lot of data about the percentage lost in size of the glaciers and the increase in melting rate as well.

My Opinion:

I feel that the best option for saving the glaciers is to close them off. If humans do not touch the glaciers in any way, erosion and damaging occurances will not occur at all on the glacier. Also, I believe that the people that depend so much on tourism around Mt. Killimanjaro may need to prepare to switch to a new resource for money, because it seems the the melting process is going to keep on going until the climate change calms down.


 * WEEK 3**

Somalai's Civil War

Somalia, the World's Number One failed nation, is home to the infamous Al-Shabab, a terrorist group that appeared 18 years ago after President Barre was driven out of the country by the Haiwye Clan. The fighting began in the city of Mogadishu, which is still battered daily by attacks from the Al-Shabab. Though there is a government in Somalia, the real ruler is the Al-Shabab, who controls the majority of the land in Somalia. The Al-Shabab insurgents are everywhere, in a variety of disquises, from soda vendors, to businessmen and women, and none of them would even pause to do the bidding of their master. The Al-Shabab have sent many messages to the government and the UN, who are backing the Somali government, saying that they do not wish to fight and that many lives would be spared if the government gave up and surrendered, which have been turned down many times. Unfortunately for the Somali government, the Al-Shabab is also growing fast. Every day more people, who's lives have been shattered by the war, join the Al-Shabab, most of them young men, and fight the government, and slowly push them farther and farther back.

Sources:

National Geographic September 2009 Issue "Shattered Somalai" Africa Confidential- []

Similarities:

These two articles did not share many similarities, the only thing they had in common was mention of the Al-Shabab and the Somali Civil War.

Differences:

For one, both of these articles had entirely different titles. The NG article's title was focused on the affect of the war, while the AC's title was focused on the American involvement in the war. Also, the NG article was focused on the entire war and its effect and costs, while the AC's article focused on the involvement of the US in the war. Finally, the NG article used a pelifery of quotes while the AC one used none.

My Opinion:

I feel that this whole war is horrible and that the focus should be on getting the civilians out of Somalia as soon as possible, for they are the most affected. Also, I feel that we should put a lot of effort into finding the leaders, capturing them, and using them to shut down the Al-Shabab organization, for they are the snake's head, persay, and cutting them off from the Al-Shabab, the body, would cause the organization to fail. However, I do realize that that is easier said than done, and that the leader's of the Al-Shabab do realize their importance to the organization.


 * WEEK 2**

Return of a Coup Mastermind

Simon Mann, the believed co-mastermind of the 2004 Guinea Coup Plot (A plot to overthrow Equatorial Guinea's president Teodoro Obiang Nguema), is out of jail after serving only 1 of the 35 years of sentenced prison time. Due to his surprising cooperation with the Guinean Government, people believed that he would benefit from clemency, and released him. However, now that he has been released, he is out for revenge, and his targets are businessman Sir Mark Thatcher and Ely Claude Alan Calil, an oil merchant, both of which were believed to have been a part of the conspiracy, but were not proven guilty, which Mann is determined to change. Thatcher believed to have been using the alias "Scratcher", according to Mann, financed the entire plot and managed it as well, while Calil, believed to have been the alias "Smelly", has been accused of being the main architect of the plot. However, neither of the two are worried about Mann's release they, actually, wish to talk things out with him and come to an agreement.

Sources: Africa Confidential- http://www.africa-confidential.com/article/id/3304/After-his-release%2c-Simon-Mann-seeks-revenge-and-a-book-deal BBC News- []

Similarities:

Both of these articles did not use quotes, and their titles were also similar, they both involved mention of Simon Mann. Both of these articles also focused a lot of Thatcher and Calil and their potential roles in the plot. Finally, both of these news sources mention that both Thatcher and Calil are not scared of Mann and that they still deny any involvement in the plot.

Differences:

The titles are one main difference, the Africa Confidential article title focuses on Mann's thirst for revenge, and actually made me think "murder" at first sight, whereas the second title focuses on the papers involved in the plot and Mann's use of them to prosecute Thatcher and Calil. Also, the Africa Confidential Article focuses on the prosecution of Thatcher and Calil while the BBC article is focused on the actual plot itself.

My Opinion:

I have a distinct feeling that Mann's release was a little more than "clemency", that someone made a little money in this whole affair. I also feel that Thatcher and Calil are both involved with the whole plot and are really afraid of Mann's release. In truth, I feel that what they said to the media was just a bluff to make them look inoccent and brave.


 * WEEK 1**

East Africa's Wild Weather

East Africa, a mix of dense jungle, arid deserts, and peaceful farmlands, is the site of some of Africa's greatest horrors, including the Rwandan Genocide and the Somalian Civil War. However, as troubled as East Africa has been in the past decade, a new threat has come and taken the majority of the attention: the weather. Two things in this world that affect rainfall in certain areas drastically are El Nino and La Nina, which are water upwellings that travel from West to East in the equatorial Pacific; El Nino is warmer and La Nina is colder. In the past few years, El Nino and La Nina have had much more noticeable affects on the world's climate, especially in East Africa. For around two years, East Africa has been plagued by a consant drought that spiked child mortality rates and malnutrition levels greatly, and this all was after the upwelling of La Nina. Now that it has been a few years, it is El Nino's turn to control the weather. People are expecting some areas of Africa to get hit very hard, with extreme flooding, while others will only get moderate rainfall. The fortunate thing is that people believe that El Nino will soften the affect of the drought and drop temperatures down to a more moderate level. However, even with the coming of El Nino, people in East Africa are still in perilous situations, for the rains may bring a new threat: disease. Water is bacteria's favorite place to grow, it has nutrients in it, and it also allows for chemical reactions such as mitosis to occur. It also happens to be favored by the world's number one disease carrier: mosquitoes. People predict that, since there will be more stagnant pools of water throughout East Africa, that water borne diseases like Cholera and insects, like mosquitoes, will take a spike in population, which spells disaster when you include the poor sanitation conditions East Africa is experiencing. Thankfully, these people have help. The UN has sent in numerous groups to help cut down the amount of malnutrition in East Africa, especially in young children who are the worst hit in this situation. The UN's efforts have helped some, but the drought's percistence has made things more difficult, as more and more people run out of food. However, the El Nino rains have brought some relief to the UN and have helped to cut down the malnutrition levels even more. All in all, people remain optimistic that the rains will be more beneficial than not, and that things will go better from here on out.

Sources: UNICEF- [] VOA News- []

Differences: There are several differences between UNICEF and VOA News. One, many of the UNICEF articles did not include quotes from people, whereas VOA News interviewed several scientists and government officials. Two, UNICEF is focused on the effect the rain and drought has on food, while VOA News is focused on the overall effect on everything.

Similarities: The similarities between the two news sources, is that they both mention the UN and its role in the drought effect, they both focus a lot on farmers and how important it is for them to take advantage of the rainfall while it lasts, and they both talk about the number of people affected and in what areas.

My Personal Opinion: I feel that the droughts are going to get worse and longer from here on, with global warming occuring at such a fast rate, these droughts will start popping up more frequently and in much greater numbers, not just in East Africa, but across the globe. However, I do feel that the best course of action is to get these people the food they need as soona as possible, for populations are going to drop drastically if the children, who are the worst hit, remain malnutritioned and dehydrated like they are now. I believe that, now that the rains have come, that now is the time to take the greatest amount of action, since there is a break in the drought, for it maybe the best chance these people have at surviving this drought.