What Do We Really Care About?

I ran across an interesting CNN interview today with 2009 top 10 CNN Hero and former bartender Doc Hendley about his efforts in enabling impoverished people all over the world to enjoy the pleasure of having clean water. When the interviewer asked Hendley what people should know about the global water crisis, he mentioned how a lot of people had questioned the need for his organization, Wine to Water, since they hadn’t heard as much about the water crisis as they had about other charity cases. Hendley answered with, “here in the West, we help support things that we can empathize with,” meaning Americans have such an overabundance of clean water that many cannot fathom the thought of a fresh water shortage. On the contrary, cancer is a subject we’re all more familiar with and can relate to one way or another, consequently pulling in millions of dollars a year for research.

                http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/21/world/cnnheroes-hendley-water/index.html?hpt=wo_t4

   

No longer focused on the mission statement of his organization and the fight for clean water, I began to wonder what exactly pulls at our heartstrings, here in the West. I thought about a couple of issues that are prevalent in our nation like cancer and gay marriage. In regards to cancer I thought about the concern some people have about the “overemphasis” of breast cancer support. They believe it may be, indirectly, leading to the death of many people who are suffering from other cancers that receive less support, like prostate cancer, for the simple fact that breast cancer is more popular.

I wonder if the difference in breast cancer funding is due to the amount of empathy the average person feels when they hear “breast cancer.” Women alone cringe at the thought of losing a piece of what makes them a woman. Whether it is men or women, the word “breast” is universally known. It sparks visuals in men’s minds and a feeling of sexuality in women worldwide. Personally, when I hear “breast cancer,” I think of the close aunt I lost a child. It was the first death of a family member I experienced and it brought a lot of sadness to my family; family gatherings I cherished so much weren’t ever the same afterwards.

 

Regarding gay marriage, Hendley’s comment made me think of the fight for equal rights that always seems to follow that subject. For instance, some advocates of gay marriage use the angle of everyone being able to love whoever they like and should have the right to express their love just like the next person. I believe this approach is effective because it appeals to people’s heart. Love is a touchy subject for most people; especially in regards to that special person you choose to spend the rest of your life with. Thusly, by affecting emotions, gay activists are able to have more people understand their views and support their cause, for love’s sake.

                                                               http://winetowater.org

So what is it that we care the most about? Love? Money? Helping others? Hendley mentions how he has questioned risking his life by visiting the dangerous country of Syria to deliver water filters. Even with the risk of leaving a wife and two children behind, he recalls the feeling he gets at the sight of Syrian families getting clean water for possibly the first time and his decision is affirmed.

North Korea's Nuke Threats

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/03/world/asia/south-koreans-opinion-nuclear-test/index.html?iid=article_sidebar

There has been a lot of news about the nuclear threats our country has received from North Korea, headed by leader Kim Jong Un in their capitol of Pyongyang. Due to recent sanctions put on North Korea by the United Nations to regulate their nuclear weapon manufacturing, the North Korean government has become more belligerent towards the United States, with their officials releasing statements such as, "[The United States] is set to light a fuse for a nuclear war," which was spoken by a North Korean foreign ministry spokesman. Such statements cannot be taken lightly considering the immense amount of danger lying behind them. Referencing back to my group's presentation in class over nuclear weapons, the destruction caused by a nuclear attack is enough to kill and seriously injure millions of people.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/07/world/asia/un-north-korea-sanctions/index.html

I'm sure our government officials have a lot on their plates and must be decisive when choosing what is more important when steering their efforts, but if I were in office, these nuclear threats would definitely be on the top of the "important" list. And in fact, the US government has, indeed, heeded the threats and taken action to strengthen our nuclear defense by employing more missile interceptors and reactivating Missile Field 1, which was mothballed (decommissioned) in 2011. Both actions are to be supported under a budget totaling about $1 billion, according to Pentagon officials. There are also doubts about whether or not North Korea even has the ability to attack the US with a nuclear weapon due to their primitive technology and lack of uranium enrichment knowledge, even though both of those categories are continuing to rise. The price and said doubts might cause you to question the true necessity for such a large investment in missile defense, but Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel believes action is imperative "to not take any chances...to stay ahead of the threat and to assure any contingency." I agree with Washington's reasoning, most of them seeming to be in accordance with missile defense advancement, I believe it is incredibly important that we make sure that in the event a nuclear weapon would be discharged towards our country that we would have the necessary tools to impede it.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/07/world/asia/un-north-korea-sanctions/index.html

However, the threats we have been receiving are relatively new in comparison to another country that has seemed to have always been under North Korea's radar. South Korea has also been issued nuke threats from Pyongyang, but they are not as concerned as we are. Perhaps 30 years ago, nuclear threats from North Korea to South Korea would cause concern and preemptive measures, but in today's day and age South Koreans are well used to the threats from their northern neighbors who like to refer to them as a "group of puppet traitors." Researchers and inhabitants of South Korea explain their reasoning as adaptation, if you will. South Koreans have grown to accept national threats from North Korea as a way of life and are far more focused on domestic affairs such as jobs and their economy.

To be in a situation in which my country's well-being is a secondary concern to the majority of its citizens seems to be very odd and counterintuitive position, but simultaneously, it is understandable. Many South Koreans cannot afford to trouble themselves day after day with every new threat placed on them by North Korea. However, as for my country, we are not accustomed to such threats and I am perfectly okay with taking any preemptive measures necessary to protect our nation, especially with Kim Jong Un's increasing bellicose. It is a heavy situation to be in, we could be on the brink of a nuclear war, but I believe with the right actions taken and the right decisions made by our leaders, we will be just fine.

The Korean War: Is It Really Over?

The Korean War.  CNN quotes it as "the war that never really ended."  It shaped the country and changed history.  At the end of World War II, the Allies agreed to give Korea independence from Japan.  The United States and the Soviet Union divided Korea along the 38th parallel; the two sides were complete opposites.  Kim II-Sung was the communist guerrilla leader in the North and in 1948 Rhee Syng-Man, an anti-communist, was elected as the first president of the Republic of Korea (the South).  Obvious tensions rose between the two sides which led to tensions between their respective allies.

On June 25, 1950, North Korean soldiers crossed the 38th parallel, and overcame the South Korean soldiers who were not expecting them.  The U.S. quickly came to defend South Korea.  When Korean, U.S. and U.N. forces fought to defend South Korea, China went to help North Korea.  The fighting finally ended in 1953 when the two sides signed an armistice agreement, a truce not a peace treaty.  The armistice entailed the Demilitarized Zone to be built; a 155 mile long and 2.5 mile wide line that separates the two countries.  The war caused 1.2 million deaths in South Korea and 1 million in North Korea, along with 36,500 death for U.S. soldiers and 600,000 for the Chinese.
There have been some positive situations between North and South Korea, like the family reunions (separated by war) that took place in 2000, and the trains being able to cross borders in 2007.  But more recently North Korea attacked Yeonpyeong, a South Korean island, killing two marines and two civilians.  With North Korea's nuclear testing the South Korean government has said that it is "an unforgivable threat to the Korean peninsula's peace and safety."  Recently, North Korea has threaten to break the armistice.  In 2009, North Korea stated that since South Korea was joining a U.S. led anti-proliferation plan, their military would no longer have to abide by the agreement.  A news agency in North Korea even said they may have "no option" but to stop honoring the armistice due to the United States "persistent war moves."  North Korea continues their nuclear testing, despite the U.N.'s updated regulations on the matter.
If North Korea were to drop the armistice with South Korea, possible war could break out.  The United States would be at stake because North Korea has had their number of problems with them, but also the rest of the world.  If North Korea were to use nuclear weapons, populations, ecosystems and economies would be destroyed in South Korea and where ever else the nuclear weapons would land.  I feel that maybe the U.S. should back out of South Korea, just a little bit, in order for the armistice to still stand.  I know the feeling of protection that South Korea gets with the United States being involved, but if we took some of the troops away and wouldn't be so involved in their affairs, maybe North Korea wouldn't feel so threatened by us.  Then again, maybe North Korea wants us to back off so they can invade again.  It is a situation for the United Nations to keep and eye on, and a situation that won't easily slip by.


Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/07/world/asia/korean-war-explainer/index.html?iid=article_sidebar
http://www.history.com/topics/korean-war
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/09/us-korea-north-ban-idUSBRE92807Y20130309


By: Kara Rivas

Solar Storms on the Rise for 2013

Is the sun getting hotter or closer or both? For the past several years people including myself have said the sun is getting hotter. Every summer I think it gets hotter and hotter. According to studies they say the sun is getting hotter and it has nothing to do with global warming but from the greenhouse effect. The sun goes through a cycle and this is the year that the cycle has reached its peak and has been said solar flares are coming our way. In this article I read, NASA spokeswomen said, “It has grown to over six Earth diameters across, but its full extent is hard to judge since the spot lies on a sphere, not a flat disk.”  This clearly means that anything can possibly happen within the next couple of years. Should we be worried about it? I believe we should be worried about it because being hit by a solar flare can cause some serious damage. It especially can corrupt our electrical equipment which includes cell phones, computers, electricity, and electrical grids. How would the world survive without all the electrical needs? It would be very difficult considering we basically live off of electrical equipment. What is your opinion on solar flares?

Hugo Chavez

Earlier this week Venezuela lost one of its most influencial president of its time. Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias was pronounced dead due to an prolonging battle to cancer for the past two years. He is known for bring up Venezuelan's living standards and prioritising the country's own means of power, and criticizing American policies. He was very much influenced in his way of leading Venezuelians by a man who also fought for independence and is his great romodel Simon Bolivar. Here I found a few articles that give a brief summary of Hugo Chavez and how he lead Venezuela and another that sheds light on his death.

• http://bit.ly/XLah1t
• http://abcn.ws/WNgSWX

By. Ivan Benitez

Molly: It's More Than A Name

I'm sure most people in our class can remember the "Molly as in the drug" reference I made in class. First off I am not a supporter of this drug, or anything illegal in that sense, but this drug has become popular with teens and in school with the influence of hip hop.  Although we didn't discuss this matter in class, I felt like it would be an interesting topic to cover.

Let's begin with what "Molly" is exactly.  Molly is the powder or crystal form of MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine) which is the chemical used in the drug Ecstasy.  Molly is a more potent form of the Ecstasy drug.  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration give a great description of MDMA, its drug class, uses, it's potency, effects, and other chemically related details.  There is currently no legitimate medical use in the United States for the MDMA drug, so it is being used recreational for a party/dance drug due to its hallucinogenic properties.  The effects of this drug include mild intoxication,  relaxation, and increase in emotional and physical energy, dilated pupils, dry mouth, and sweating.  The MDMA drug was synthesized by accident in 1912 by a German pharmaceutical company called Merck.  It was tested in the 1950s by the U.S. Government as a truth serum, but was discarded.  It became a popular drug in the "streets" around the 1980s and was deemed illegal in 1985. Unfortunately, this drug is being seen more and more with teenagers these days.  MTV has even caught notice of this drug's rising popularity in hip-hop music.  Over the years drugs have been a popular topic in rap songs. It started with crack/cocaine in the 1980s, moved to marijuana in the 1990s, and in the 2000s it switched to a cough syrup mixture. Molly is now the next big thing.  Popular rappers such as Kanye West, Juicy J, and Rick Ross have said it in a song or two, and an up-and-coming rapper, Trinidad James has a popular lyric "pop a Molly, I'm sweatin'" in his new single.  He's been quoted "All the people are like 'I don't know what it is, but every time I hear the song, I just wanna do it.' That's a terrible excuse, but go 'head, get high, go 'head. Blame Trinindad, blame it on me." That is being said from an artist that teenagers are listening to and taking after.  "Molly" is becoming a huge problem in schools and Kare11 news team, a local NBC news, has done a story on it that gives a pretty good explanation on the drug and what parents could do about it (just click the link).
A question that you might have asked yourself by now is "What does this have to do with global issues?" The answer is the constant drug smuggling happening across United States borders and other borders. In 2007 there were over 70 known ecstasy laboratories in 8 different countries: Australia, Indonesia, Canada, USA, Holland, France, Mexico, and Spain.  The United Nations office on Drugs and Crime has estimate the the global ecstasy market is worth $16 billion dollars.  Although that is a lower figure than marijuana and cocaine, it is still a problem that we are having to deal with.  Drug smuggling isn't just something we have to deal with in the United States, it is a global issue that many other countries have to deal with and it often leads to bigger problems.  Molly is a drug that effects brain cells greatly and that can happen when used even just once.

Again, I do not support the use of illegal drugs, but there might be ways to prevent them with the younger generation. I suggest that parents start talking to their children. Have open conversations about "Molly" and other drugs that are damaging to health.  The fact that rap music is making the drug seem "cool" isn't helping the cause either.  Parents don't have to be strict about what their child is listening to, but making sure the child understand what can happen when using that drug is something parents can do easily.  I feel that the more a child is able to open up to their parent, the more they are willing to listen.  If we can stop this drug use with high school students, where it is being targeted, we can slow down the drug smuggling business.  Education is crucial when it comes to situations like this.  Maybe popular media can begin to focus on something with positive side effects, instead of something that can end in such a terrible outcome.



Other sources:
http://www.thesite.org/drinkanddrugs/drugculture/drugorigins/ecstasy
http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/16/health/molly-mdma-drug/index.html

By: Kara Rivas