Socha,+Peter

Article #3: //Thailand’s Red and Yellow Shirts//

In March of 2009 the Red Shirts, formally known as the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship and made up mainly of rural workers, took to the streets protesting against the government, primarily against the military and urban elite, who they see as a threat to democracy. The red shirts are contolled by Thaksin Shinawatra. In 2006 the military preformed a coup took over the government, and red shirts protest that they came to power illegally. Riots escalated and people started to die, so the red shirts called it off for a while, until calling for new protests. The other side, the yellow shirts (or the Peoples' Alliance for Democracy), led the protests that led up to the military coup and the ousting of Thaksin Shinawatra. The yellow shirts consist more of middle class and businessmen. For future rallies the red shirts have said they can rally up to a million on the streets, although there is talk of some peasants being paid to attend.

Sources: BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8004306.stm Al Jazeera - http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/02/201022571942904966.html

These two sources began similarly, both devoting two sections to providing background information on the red shirts and the yellow shirts, both mentioned these “slang” terms as well as the official names. Both talked of riots, but Al Jazeera really went into explaining them. Al Jazeera also provided information about what is happening now, in terms of riots etc. Also Al Jazeera had a short piece on Thaksin Shinawatra, the person responsible for the red shirts, and the cause of the rallies of the yellow shirts.

My opinion is hard to give on this particular article. I think that protests can be good, when carried out legally and with no violence, but protests never seem to go this well. Whenever there are protest, even “peaceful” ones, there always seems to be someone or multiple people who get hurt. If only this country could stay united, but with so many different political views this would be hard, maybe if they could find a way to blend their beliefs? • • • • Article #2: //China’s Economy Boosts//

China’s exports rose in February by 46%, and it’s imports also took a steep rise, rising by 44.7%. Because of this gain the Unites States is pressuring China to raise the value of the Yuan (China’s currency) because they say it is unfairly undervalued. The reason China had not changed the values of its currency against the United States was to help its exports. But are there subtle reasons why this happened? Some say it was due to the fact that the Chinese New Year fell in February this year, others support the opposite by pointing out that February had 5 fewer business days this year, than last.

Sources: BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/mobile/business/8559088.stm SperoNews -http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idCategory=33&idsub=128&id=28795&t=China:+++Exports+and+imports+rise+sharply,+inflations+follows

Out of the two sources the one that had the longest article was definitely the one on SperoNews, although the BBC did provide a nice short synopsis. BBC seemed to be rounding up on the total percentage of growth for China’s exports; BBC published a 46% gain, while SperoNews published a 45.7% growth. Also SperoNews mention that “ exports gained 21.0 per cent, whilst imports increased by 85.5 per cent,” which was a nice addition.

In my opinion this is a great thing; if China is recovering and actually yielded a 46% increase, then it can’t be long before the rest of the world starts benefitting. I also hope that tensions won’t rise between Cina and the United States of the fact that China refuses to raise the value of its currency. China and the United States have already disagreed on many grounds, and I would hate for this disagreement to escalate further.

• • • •  Article #1: //Japan Opposed to Tuna Ban//

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) has decided to but a world-wide bluefin tuna ban to vote. If it receives a 2/3 majority then it will passed. Japan is opposed to this, because the Japanese highly prize bluefin tuna for use in their Sushi. Japan alone accounts for 80% of the bluefin market. Similarly bluefin has declined by 80% since the past 40 years, and environmentalists are crying for the protection of this species, so that it can be given time to “re-stock” its masses. Even though some posses these views other like Hirofumi Hirano think differently; he stated that the “The Washington Convention [or Cites] is basically to protect endangered species, but I personally doubt that bluefin tuna is currently facing such a situation.”

Sources: BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/mobile/asia-pacific/8561751.stm Al Jazeera - http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/03/201031172542137647.html

These sources gave similar information. Both talked about how Japan had opposed this, of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and the fact that tuna have been on the decline. Also they both gave a quote from Hirofumi Hirano. However, the Al Jazeera article went into greater back ground about the bluefin tuna, about the finances of it all and about the EU’s tuna industry.

My personal opinion is that it if the bluefin have indeed be declining at the proposed rate (80% over the past 40 years) then something should be done to help protect this species. If issuing the ban helps this then I think the ban is a great idea, although I do see how hard it would be for Japan, just like Kimio Amano said: "This is like telling the US to stop eating beef."

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Article #5: //Camara Shot, and Wounded by Aid//  In Guinea Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara, who took control in a “bloodless” military coup, was shot at and wounded by one of his own presidential guard. Lt. Aboubacar Toumba Diakite was charged with the assassination, and has been “located.” This happened while the Camara was on a visit to a military camp in Conakry, on Thursday. Helicopters and gunfire was heard, and Camara was flown away in a medical plane. No-one knows yet the extent of his injuries, but they are said to be minor. Some are skeptical, because during the time of the attack the UN were conducting research into the shootings at protests. Some go as far as saying that there is "no doubt that this is linked to the investigation." The ICC are charging Camara with "crimes against humanity."

Sources: //BBC -// http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8394307.stm //Al Jazeera -// http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/12/2009123224843239222.html

The two sources provided //very// similar information, in fact it was surprising how close they were. The BBC did go into more detail, with a "back story" of the protests that happened. They both quoted the same man, but had him saying different thing, not meaning that one of the news sources got the thing he said wrong, but because he said them at different times.

I think that it is definitely fishy, with the timing of the shooting, and that Camara was not killed. It would seem, because of the fact that Diakite was a member of the presidential guard, that if he had wanted to assassinate his leader that he could have done so by getting close, //then// firing, instead of doing it from afar and letting him sustain only minor injuries. I will be interested to see how this plays out...

• • • •

Article #4: //New Malaria Vaccine// Note: There might be a few typos in this article, my keyboard is not working properly. If you see a line of "8"s etc. that is just due to this...

In Africa a new Malaria vaccine is being tested. Malaria, which is responsible for around a million child deaths a year, is a huge problem in Africa. It is a parasite that causes the disease, and it is carried/distributed by mosquitoes.

Sources: //BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6047836.stm The Seattle Times - http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2010190185_apafafricamalariavaccine.html//

These two sources covered related, but slightly different topics. They both talked about the new Malaria vaccine, but had different information, statistics, etc. The main reason for this is the fact that one is published in '06 the other in '09.

My view on this topic is that this Malaria vaccine could be very helpful and should be distributed and tested/approved as soon as possible. So many people die every year because of this, and if we could find a way to cut those figures in half that would not only save lives, but also be a huge leap in technology.

• • • •

Article #3: //LRA// //Leader's Mother Dies and Makes a "Dieing Wish"//

In Uganda Joseph Kony's (leader of the Lord's Resistance Army) mother died at age 86. Even though he, Kony, is a rebel leader, his mother dislikes the rebels, and what they do. She has, several times, tried to talk her son into making peace treaties, he has disagreed and refused to sign any treaty with the Ugandan government. She had already displayed ill feelings to what her son is, and has, been doing. Anek is quoted saying that he was, costing us peace in northern Uganda. She was also religious and thought that her son was possessed by evil spirits. When she died, Nora Anek Oting said her final wish to her nurse, "Tell Joseph Kony to make peace."

Sources: //BBC -// http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8355117.stm8sq=ugandan%20rebel%20leader%27s%20mother%20dies&st=cse

The coverage on this event was slightly different for the BBC and The New York Times. The NY Times had a slightly longer article and I got all of my quotes from them. Also the BBC did not discuss the "dying wish" part, they just said that she had died. Both articles went into further detail about the crimes that Kony has committed, and both stated that Kony was wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

My opinion on the death and last wishes of Anek is that, her death is sad and that she was a good woman, even though her son was terrible. Her dieing wish was, I think, a good effort to try to make Kony stop. Will it work? Probably not, I hate to be negative but, he is so twisted that even if the fact that his mother said this touches his heart, it is most likely so crippled that he wont feel much. If someone can do all the terrible things that he has done, then they must have not have much of a heart, if they even have one at all.

• • • •

Article #2: //Albino Killings//

In Tanzania, Africa, abino people (people who have a light skin pigment) are being killed for their body parts. Witchdoctors have for a while now, been using their blood and body parts (hair, limbs, genitalia, bones, skin etc.) for use in potions that are said to bring luck and wealth. For witchdoctors there is little argument for ending this, they can make tens of thousands of dollars by selling of potions containing albino parts. The men who killed and mutate Lyaku Willy's bodies have been captured and are going to be hung. Others have been put in prison and one sentenced to life imprisonment.

Sources: //Al Jazeera -// http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/11/2009113183253812449.html //BBC -// http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8273139.stm

The two sources were a little different, one, I could not find a article about this particular killing in both BBC and Al Jazeera, but the articles focused on some similar things for example: the part played by witchdoctors, they are the driving force behind these killings, without them they would probably not happen, or at least not as often. Both articles disagreed largely on the estimated amount of albinos in Tanzania, since it is an estimate, you would think they would be a little off from each other, but these two estimates were no where near close: BBC: 17,000 Al Jazeera: 200,000.

My personal opinion is: this is horrible!! Why are these people doing this?! Yes, money is part of it for the witchdoctors, but don't they have any conscious? And do they actually believe that these potions will cause wealth and luck? Even if they do, do they have any evidence? And can they really kill just for their beliefs?... Okay tons of people kill for their beliefs, which I also think is wrong.

• • • •

Article #1: //Rwanda Genocide Suspect Caught//

In Rwanda, Africa, Idelphonse Nizeyimana (former deputy intelligence chief) has been caught staying in a hotel in Kampala. Nizeyimana is suspected of helping kill around 800,000 Tutsis in the 1994 mass killing. He is not only a top suspect for instigating the killings of many children, adults, and hospital patients, but also arranging a task force of militia men to kidnap Queen Rosalie Gicanda and shoot her behind the National Museum. And to set up road-blocks that would stop people and check their ID's to find out if they were Tutsis, and if they were, to kill them. Both the U.N. and Rwanda want to hold Nizeyimana on trial and he will be tried at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Even though the USA had offered a 5 mil. dollar reward for the catching of Nizeyimana it is not clear who (if anyone) has claimed this reward.

Sources: //Seattle Times// - http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010009728_apafrwandagenocide.html //BBC// - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8292252.stm

These two sources both provided fairly lengthy reports on Nizeyimana, and covered about the same topics and points. The Seattle Times however did write a longer article and used more quotes. BBC, even though it did not use as many quotes, did have a video attached. The video featured the Rwandan justice minister talking about the capture of Nizeyimana, saying how the capture is a good thing and Rwanda is very pleased. It is not the most informative video, but it was nice to have some sound as well as text.

I though that the coverage on the subject from these two sources was good. When I read these articles I did not now much about the 1994 genocide, I new that sometime, somewhere, a lot of Tutsis had been killed, but the article provided enough background info so that i could grasp what happened. My personal opinion on this is that the catching of Idelphonse Nizeyimana is a very good thing. What happened in 1994 was terrible and I think that all the people that had a hand in this genocide should be brought to justice.