Huynh,+Thy+4

 Wiki #8   China’s Plans to Protect Homeowners Against Forced Evictions   China’s government plans to change the way people’s homes are taken and seized for redevelopment. They have created proposals that would ban violence and coercion to make people move. Owners would also have the opportunity to appeal against evictions and anyone losing land/property is entitled to get market price compensation for their land. For years, forced evictions, especially struggles over compensation, has created protests, riots, and caused social unrest.   Similarities & differences:  Both articles from BBC and the New York Times talked about how serious protests can get as a number of times, homeowners have even set themselves on fire to protest against having their homes taken away. The two articles also each mention the cutting off of water and power to people’s properties, strong-arm tactics that officials and developers are using to drive homeowners out of their homes and off their own land. BBC and the New York Times also both refer to the Xinhua news agency as a source. Xinhua has reported information like that in the government’s new proposals, the “use of violence or strong-arm tactics to force people out of their homes would be banned.”   One way the articles are different is the New York Times gives more info on how the situation was before the Chinese government has just recently decided to toughen regulations and protect and compensate homeowners. For example, NY Times tells that up until 2004, “the Constitution gave the state the right to seize private property without compensation” and it’s only been “in the past few years that the Chinese government begun to build a legal foundation to protect property owners.” NY Times also uses Wang Xixin, a Peking Univesity law professor, and Cai Dingjian and Wang Yukai, both from the China National School of Administration, as sources while BBC only cited the Xinhua news agency. Wang Yukai said that the “draft regulation would make it harder for authorities to locate people,” and Dingjian had said “the proposal did not go far enough as to cover rural areas and should be a law instead of a regulation.”   Opinion:  I agree with Cai Dingjian that the government’s proposal should be a law instead of a regulation, otherwise it wouldn’t protect homeowners in rural areas. However, I think that this new proposal to ban eviction by violence, coercion, etc., is a good first step forward towards justice for the homeowners. Often, they complain that developers or local governments compensate them at “artificially low levels that do not reflect the market value of the property.” Often, courts would also reject hearing forced eviction cases. I think it’s good that at least the government is doing something now for its people that would positively affect them.   Sources:  New York Times: __http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/30/world/asia/30evict.html__ <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> BBC: __http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8487252.stm__

Wiki # 7 ** EU Naval Force and Somali Pirate attacks

Sources: BBC- [] Sacramento Bee- []

The EU Naval Force is thinking of extending the area they patrol. But the commander of the Naval Force says that they will never be able to fully secure the massive area where Somali pirates are attacking and hijacking ships off East Africa. The EU Naval Force is just one of the forces trying to fight off Somalia piracy, and the forces together have been able to reduce the number of successful pirate attacks, but haven’t been able to totally eliminate them. Rear Admiral Hudson of the EU Naval Force says that he has on average 6 to 7 warships under his command, but an area 10 times the size of Germany to cover.

Similarities: There aren’t a lot of similarities in the two articles other than the fact that they are about Somali pirate attacks and what the EU Naval Force has to say about it, as well as the fact that it’s impossible for the Naval Force to stop the pirate attacks. Both the articles also quoted Admiral Peter Hudson many times, saying that pirates have been attacking ships as far as 1000 miles from the Somali coast, which presents a large challenge and that “difficulties in an area as large as it is in the Indian Ocean with the short number of assets that we have is that ... the pirate can keep going and keep going and keep going until it's successful in getting on board, because there's nothing there to stop it.” Both articles quoted Hudson about 3-4 times.

Differences: The BBC article is much shorter than the article from the Sacramento Bee, so it doesn’t give as much information. While BBC doesn’t mention this, the Sacramento Bee talked a lot about the latest pirate attack where the Somali pirates captured a Greek tanker that was carrying 275,000 metric tons of crude oil, which is worth about $150 million dollars. Another thing that the Sacramento Bee mentioned, that BCC didn’t say anything about, was that the pirates now hold 11 ships and 264 crew members off the coast of Somalia, and that pirate activity has increased off East Africa. Also, BBC talks about good support to help the Naval Force from EU countries and the Provision of Vital Maritime Patrol for Surveillance, while Sacramento Bee talked about how the EU Naval Force has helped with humanitarian aid in Somalia like escorting 300,000 tons of food into Somalia. Another difference is that the BBC article has two pictures, one of a Somali pirate holding a gun, and another of Rear Admiral Hudson. The Sacramento Bee provided no pictures.

Opinion: I agree that it’s true that even with other forces working to battle piracy, the Naval Forces will never be able to completely stop the Somali pirate attacks when they have such a large area of ocean to cover and not enough people to do the patrolling. It wouldn’t hurt to get more people on the job to help guard along the East African coast, but I don’t think admiral Hudson should extend the area that he alone is in charge of patrolling unless he gets more people, otherwise it just leaves him with an even larger area to cover than he already had, and that could give pirates a better chance to attack and hijack more ships.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> Nigeria’s President asked to Resign December 2, 2009
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">WIKI #6 **

Nigeria’s president Umaru Yar’Adua was asked by over 50 Nigerian public figures to resign because of his health. People fear that the president may not be able to do his job because of his health problems and how they may affect his judgment. However, the President refuses to do so even though he was just recently diagnosed with acute pericarditis—an inflammation of the lining of the heart—and is known to have a kidney problem, also. Ministers, on the other hand, say that there was “no basis” for the president to stand down.

Similarities: There are only a few similarities between these two articles. Aside from the fact that they are on the same topic both mention that the President Yar’Adua was diagnosed only last week, and that he has “acute pericarditis— <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">an inflammation of tissue around the heart.”

Differences: There are a lot of differences between the article from BBC and the one from CNN. First, the BBC article is a lot longer than the article from CNN. CNN doesn’t use any quotes, but BBC uses quotes from Minister Dora <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Akunyili saying that the president <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">has not been found incapable of discharging his functions" and that the "Council wishes to inform all Nigerians that all organs of government are functioning and that government will continue to deliver." BBC also quotes Mary Harper, the BBC Africa analyst, saying that Yar’Adua’s illness "has created a dangerous situation whereby no-one is in charge of the affairs of state". Also, while BBC mentions ministers’ statements on how there is no need for the president to resign, CNN doesn’t say anything on this. BBC also says a lot more on why many believe the president of Nigeria should not continue to serve his term. For example, they say: “Our correspondent says their words reflect the general mood in the country, where there is real concern that the president's recurring health problems have rendered him frequently unable to do his job.”

Opinion: I agree that President Yar’Adua should resign because his ill health could cause his decisions to be irrational or illogical, or leave him unable to do his job correctly. Plus, he’s already misses numerous important events because of his illness, and BBC’s Africa analyst even says that Yar’Adua’s health problems has “created a dangerous situation whereby no-one is in charge of the affairs of state" and mentioned a “vacuum of leadership” where “ministers are engaged in infighting and routinely flout the orders of the president".

Sources: BBC- [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">CNN- []

-- ****<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> W iki #5** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Islamists order UN’s WFP to Stop Food Imports November 27

Sources: CNN- [] BBC- []

The drought and war in Somalia left more than 109,000 civilians dependant on World Food Programme (WFP) feeding centers. However, Islamists in Somalia want the UN’s World Food Programme to stop importing food and goods to feed and aid its people. Instead, they want the WFP to buy from local Somali farmers. Importing large amounts of food rations to give away for free has made it hard for the agriculture industry and has made it hard for Somali farmers if they cannot get any business. The WFP argue back that they are working in Somalia in the first place because the country “cannot currently support the food needs of its population.”

Similarities: Both articles use the same quotes, saying that the “WFP is working in Somalia because the country cannot currently support the food needs of its population.” Also, each of the articles mention al-Shabab and their anger about the WFP distributing free food: The CNN article tells that “ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Al-Shabaab has now waged a bloody insurgency against the U.N.-backed government of transitional President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed” And the article from BBC says the WFP has come under attack numerous times, “ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">its food trucks, warehouses and ships have all been raided.” Differences: The BBC article is a little longer than the CNN article, and it more talks about al-Shabab, and how they stated to the WFP that the “WFP must empty all of its storage warehouses by the end of the year” and warned “local businesses they must end contracts with the WFP.” BBC also mentions that the US believes that al-Shebab has links to al-Qaeda, and it points out Somalia’s disorder and chaos since the collapse of the central government in 1991. On the other hand, CNN doesn’t say anything about these things, but it does talk about how al-Shebab’s warning to the WFP could just a desperate measure because of it’s “financial difficulties following the withdrawal of Ethiopian forces last year.” CNN goes on to very briefly to talk about the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia which “outraged many members of the Somali diaspora who had sent money to al-Shabab, which had vowed to kick out the invading forces.”

Opinion: I think that the WFP should continue to import food because Somalia is in the middle of a crisis, and almost 4 million people need food aid. I don’t think al-Shebab seems very trustworthy when he said, “the WFP must immediately refrain from bringing food rations from outside of Somalia and rather purchase food from Somali farmers, and then that food will be distributed to the needy in Somalia" because the US did have speculations that al-Shebab was linked to al-Qaeda. Plus, when the Ethiopians invaded Somalia, al-Shebab had promised to “kick out the invading forces” but they broke that promise, and people were angry since they had paid for the job to be done. -

Food Shortage in Southern Sudan <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">November 20 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">
 * Wiki #4**

In Southern Sudan, there has been a major food shortage, which is affecting 1.5 million people across the area. Food production is worse than the previous year because of poor rains. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is calling for more efforts and donors to help stop the shortage, and the World Food Programme (WPF) has agreed to lend a hand. The Government of Southern Sudan has also been asked to give more assistance and aid.

Similarities: The articles do not have that much in common other than the fact they are both about the shortage of food in Southern Sudan. Miraya FM stated that “ <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The ministry of Agriculture in the government of South Sudan warned that food production in region is worse than last year.” All Africa said that more work needs to be put in to “ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">prevent the food shortages in parts of Southern Sudan.” Both articles also mention that the food shortage is caused by poor rain, which means no water for agriculture.

Differences: The article from All Africa mentions UNICEF and uses quotes from Hilde Johnson, the Deputy Executive Director: "Now is the time to act. Everybody needs to do their best to stop this humanitarian emergency, which is already affecting 1.5 million people across Southern Sudan," and "Children are the most vulnerable to nutritional shocks and they are the first to succumb when there is not enough food in the home or the community." The article from Miraya FM doesn’t mention UNICEF’s efforts to help prevent food shortages, but instead talks about a 27 million Euro project on fishing production that the Cardinal Company has began. The article only used one quote, which was made by Kual Manyang, the Governer of Jongolei state. Addressing the project, he said, <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">"We still consider Sudan a unified nation so we must work to make the unity attractive."

Opinion: I think it’s sad that there is a major food shortage in Southern Sudan because of the lack of rain. It really shows how much people in Africa depend on water and rain, whereas in Seattle, we get too much rain and we often complain about it. I think, sometimes, people don’t really understand the importance of rain, especially if they live in a place where rain is frequent…like Seattle. Also, it’s great that big organizations are trying to help because it’s the right thing to do, and no one really deserves to starve. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">

Sources: All Africa: [] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: FR;">Miraya FM: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt; msoansilanguage: FR;">[]