Becca Saylor September 4th, 2016 Topic: Feticide/Gendercide (in India)
This article features a brief look into an average Indian mother’s experiences with expectations and decisions about her pregnancy. Two women discuss the pain of not just one but multiple abortions due to fear that their pregnancy will result in a female child. Not only do they discuss the pain they feel they must bear in order to avoid giving birth to a girl, but the grim reality that they are expected to continue about their daily duties and accept their fate without scruple. If we consider the likelihood that female feticide is more rampant in areas of poverty, then we also must consider the likelihood that these women have had limited access education. This becomes most concerning when the cultural expectations force these women to accept the prediction of an astrologer, a street corner radiologist, and simply swallow a pill that has been promised to end the problem without any qualms. One of the women admitted to not even knowing the name of the pill that costs 500-600 rupees. This reality is terrifying, for if these astrologists and radiologists setting up illegal scanning centers charge a fee to simply tell a woman that since she has two girl children already her next pregnancy is probably a girl as well, then what are they even selling to pregnant women who are so desperate to not give birth to a girl for fear of societal repercussion? And unfortunately in more traditional societies there are cruder approaches of inserting parts of plants or plant secretion directly into the genitals of pregnant women, but the article did not touch on the physical ramifications or success of this approach. These women feel pressured to resort to these measures and then have no doctor instruction, no doctor care, and often not even the company of their husband or a relative when the remedies are successful and the fetus is expelled. For example, one woman in the article was working alone in the fields in order to provide for her other children when that tiny pill finally completed its work, and she was left to struggle alone through the cramping, bleeding, and delivery of the aborted fetus.
This situation highlights the expendability of women in certain parts of Indian culture not only with such high rates of feticide but with the expectations of the already living, breathing women who must perform the feticide. First and foremost, this is a social justice issue for women. This idea of women’s expendability persists at an overarching ideological level that permeates this culture and that will require careful approach to combat. As a female social worker one of my soapboxes is women’s education and women’s healthcare, especially the marriage of those two subjects in educating women about proper reproductive healthcare. To begin to fight the prevalence of feticide will require major cultural overhauls in certain Indian districts, but I believe small successes can also be had through techniques such as teaching women how to prevent pregnancies, what questions to ask about methods, and even how to properly care for their bodies after an abortion. While my first response is to want to educate women on why they do not have to kill their female children and how not to get pregnant, in reading on advocacy in class we know that this is not always going to be the appropriate approach because it will not necessarily be the least conflictual approach in this culture. Furthermore, India needs advocates who are willing to tackle government problems of poor access to healthcare and the blind eye that is turned to the thriving businesses of illegal back-alley radiologists.
Article: Female foeticide thriving business for radiologists, astrologers in Salem, Tamil Nadu http://www.ibtimes.co.in/female-foeticide-thriving-business-radiologists-astrologers-salem-tamil-nadu-689306
Great post. It was very interesting and even more upsetting. It’s hard to believe that this kind of thing actually happens. When you mentioned that the article did not touch on the physical ramifications of the approach of inserting parts of plants or plant secretions into the genitals of pregnant women, it made me wonder what the physical ramifications of all of the approaches may be. It made me wonder how many women have had serious side effects or even died from these procedures. It made me wonder if some women have had reproductive problems, such as sterilization or birth defects in future children, after having one of these procedures.
PRASHANT KOIRALA 9/9/2016 Wonderful post, subject discussed over is one of the major issue in India. Yearly thousands of women are facing this problem. The cultural taboo and the dowry practice make women weaker and vulnerable. The patriarchal dominance keeps the women’s choices aside and the male decisions are final. Female in India are not empowered enough to take choice on their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Your view to help as a social worker by educating these women’s is very much genuine. Though I feel that there is high challenge to combat this issue through education only but beside this I don’t see any alternative too, I too believe that first education and advocacy later would be more effective. Yes, indeed weak medical regulation and belief in fate and astrology has made this issue even more worst.
You really did a great job in capturing this article. It is insane that this even happens and worse, that most people have no idea that it is happening. It breaks my heart to even think of how these young women are feeling after having to kill their baby, just because their spouse, family, society doesn't approve. As a mother, I can not even imagine. I'm sure this has to impact them mentally. I know the article told how the women go through the process alone, but I wonder if they have anyone they confide in about such. It just seems like the whole process is pretty secretive and hush-hush. Imagine how lonely it must be to deal with something like that, and how that may play into their mental health. I do agree with you though, that small successes can be made through education, prevention and access to proper healthcare and services. However, the true issue is still in the objectification and idea of women as property, or at least as unequal to men...and while this may be considered "normal" for many middle eastern religions and cultures, it is an issue that I feel very strongly about. And while I wish I could just erase the gender differences, how do we begin to combat and change how these cultures/societies view women.
Karen L. Jones September 5, 2016 Topic: Food and Water Concerns
In researching news articles this week I came across an article in the New York Times about the thousands of people who participated in a March in Caracas, Venezuela. The people of Venezuela were protesting to oust President Nicolás Maduro. The people blame President Madura for the economic collapse that led to the devastating food shortage.
In class we talked about globalization and how one dimension of globalization can affect other dimensions. In this case, the international decline in the price of oil has caused the economic collapse of a country that depends on the income of their oil sales to survive. The collapse of this nation’s oil revenue in turn has caused the nation’s food supply to become depleted.
The citizens of Venezuela are now struggling just to find food. They wait in long lines to try to get whatever food is available. One of the women interviewed for this article stated that, “the most difficult thing is getting food.” She also talked about her frustration and how deeply it hurts her when her children beg for food and she is unable to give it to them. This article highlighted some of the frustration the people of Venezuela are feeling. It also brought to light the heartbreaking crisis this country is in.
As I read this article, I sat in the comfort of my own home, knowing I was able to go to my kitchen, the grocery store, or any fast food restaurant I want, anytime I want, and I actually felt guilty. I felt guilty for several reasons. I felt guilty because I take these things for granted, that I have so much when so many people have so little, and that the food I waste could feed so many who are starving. I can’t help but think of how much food is wasted just here in the United States and how many people that could feed in Venezuela. Would there even be a food shortage in Venezuela if we could send all of the food we waste here in America to the people there?
This article demonstrates how one thing, such as the international decline in oil prices, can drastically effect so many other things. We think that declining oil prices is a good thing because it enables us to save money. We don’t think about the far reaching effects that it may have. We definitely don’t think about the fact that it could be a contributing factor in the collapse of a country’s economy that ultimately causes a shortage of food and people to go hungry.
Original article: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/02/world/americas/caracas-venezuela-nicolas-maduro-protests.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FShortages&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection Supplemental article: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/2149858-hundreds-of-thousands-take-to-streets-in-venezuela-to-demand-ousting-of-president/
It is sad to see how badly the Venezuelan economy is declining. Not only is the shortage of food an issue, but also the corrupt government along with multiple human rights being pushed aside. The article spoke about how political leaders were being freed from jail and how the president was using his powers to override the people. After discussing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in class I couldn’t help but to dig deeper and determine just how many human rights were being denied. For example Article 20 states that everyone has the right to a peaceful assembly and association. In the article it stated that an individual was detained because the person was a journalist and was not committing a crime while at the march. Article 23, everyone has the right to work and has protection against unemployment. There are many others that could be brought to discussion as well. The Venezuelan government is clearly lacking presence as the article stated. Because of the lack of jobs and resources individuals are also being denied their right to an adequate standard of living with food and clean water. It is terrible how the change in economy in one part of the world can greatly affect another in such a drastic measure. It seems that one issue is leading to another and is creating a downward spiral for Venezuela. One of the worst parts about it is that so many people are unaware of this. Is our country unaware of the damage our economic changes are causing for other countries? It is definitely something to think about. I believe that the amount of protestors and the rise of support for their country to have a new leader is a positive step in the right direction.
Hannah George September 5th, 2016 Civil War/Conflict This article revolves around the civil war that is continuing in Syria. This civil war is one that has many different components as there are several groups that are wanting control of this land. As we saw in one of the videos last week, groups include the government of Syria, the rebels, and the Islamic State. The article discusses how allied groups of Turkey have taken back the lands of Syria that border Turkey. The border land stretches 91km which is approximately 55 miles. Parts of this stretch had recently been taken over by the “so-called Islamic state”. We also learn from this article the city of Aleppo, which is Syria’s second largest city, is currently divided and being controlled by both governmental troops as well as rebel forces. As of Sunday, however, the government has been putting the eastern districts, which have been majorly controlled by the rebels under siege, meaning they are cutting off all supplies and goods to these areas.
One major thing we talked about in class was the idea of globalization and how we must look at the world as a whole and make sure all parts are balanced and taken care of, otherwise other parts will fail. I think the idea of civil war is easily something we can look at and decide that it is not something that pertains to us. Just by definition we see civil war as something that takes place between the members of just one country. However, just in this article alone there is mention of six other countries, some of which do not even border Syria. The 400-word article does a great job of showing how this conflict is effecting the entire world. Although assumptions are lofty, one could argue differing opinions about what would happen if our own country became involved. What would be the financial repercussions if the US stepped in? What would be the global view of the US if we sided with government or rebels? There are so many ways our involvement or our un-involvement could be perceived and eventually would affect our everyday lives.
This article truly opened my eyes to how a civil war can affect the world, and you explained this in a great way. Like you said, many times we think a civil war/conflict only deals with the country it is being fought in. Which makes me think; how many refugees could the world help if we just looked outside of our country? Why is it so hard to lend a hand to the hurting people in these countries? Many people in the US and I am sure other countries get talk about wanting to help and be involved in the world around us but when will someone take action? What is frustrating to me is the lack of support by other countries when clearly Syrian’s and other involved need our help.
It is very amazing that Scotland and UK are able to see the need to assist these Syrian refugees by opening the doors of their countries to them. there has been a lot of arguments about the not letting Syrian refugees into the US because of the fear of bringing in terrorist, but Scotland and the UK seem to be focusing on treating these people as fellow human beings in need of a safe place live. Not only are they opening their country to the refugees, they have committed themselves to provide equal and quality education to both boys and girls. By doing this, they are helping these children gain access to the basic human rights by providing them security, shelter,and education. While reading the article, I could not stop thinking about what would happen if other Western countries their countries did the same? The US is very powerful, what if the US becomes more accepting of refugees? How about looking beyond religion and see these people as human beings first? Also, as good as this approach seems, is it going to last?
Mariah Corbin September 7, 2016 Topic: Human Trafficking (Romania) When searching for an article on Human Trafficking I was shocked to find so many results pop up from all over the world. One that caught my attention was in Romania. The information in this article was shocking so I decided to look further into the situation.
The article states that slavery is becoming a growing issue in Romania. However, they found that many of their victims are being trafficked in from Europe. It’s scary nonetheless, but it gets worse. Children as young as nine years old are being trafficked, or bribed, into being trafficked. Children and families are desperate to make money any way that they can, which in turn makes them an easy target for traffickers. Since many of these children are being trafficked to other countries, the language barrier can make it more difficult for them to be rescued. Romania also has one of the largest populations of individuals in the EU. I also found that they have a limited government. Much of the population is living in poverty. This makes the individuals even more desperate to do whatever is needed in order to lead a better life. Traffickers take this to their advantage and provide their victims with promises of false hope in order to take them captive.
After reading the first half of the article and learning about the country’s struggle with the language barrier of their victims and the cultural differences. One may wonder, is anything being done to address the growing numbers of victims? It seems as if there is a lack of public awareness and education of the dangers of human trafficking, and the use of force, fraud and coercion. I kept asking myself, what about social justice and human rights? Members of society should have the same rights, opportunities, and benefits. It is their civil right to be free from torture and slavery, as we have been discussing in class. It seems as though children, along with adults, are being denied all of these rights, when they are being forced into slavery; many by their own families. Is it a lack of knowledge on what they are really doing, or is it simply hunger to lead a better life?
I began to think about the whole situation. Another thought that came to mind was maybe the Romanian cultural values and beliefs are different than ours. Their culture may have different beliefs and values. I also wondered, why would some families sell their children to a trafficker? I began to read on into the article and found that the Romanians have a belief that money is power, and they, including the children, will do whatever they have to in order to receive money and power. Some children were interviewed to find that boys and girls as young as age eight wanted to be traffickers or a trafficker’s mistress when they grew up. Little did they know they would become slaves by force, fraud, and/or coercion.
In summary, slavery and human trafficking is a serious and continually expanding issue not only in Romania and Europe, but all over the world. Will future generations of Romanians continue to have the same mindset of money and power that is presently consuming the children? Their government has recognized the need for improvement. However, it worries me that public awareness and educating families and children on the growing issue may be just as, if not more effective, than more government involvement. Hopefully the country will continue to make progress and develop other strategies to combat human trafficking. Thus, bringing awareness to the culture that is unaware of the danger of human trafficking in their backyard.
PRASAHNT KOIRALA Ending Open Defecation and Achieving a Clean and Healthy Rural India
Researching for this week article I came up with the issue of open defecation that is yet prevalent in India. I choose this article because this is the issue prevailing in my country and these are the areas where I myself will be exercising my knowledge and skills to help people overcome this issue through different collaboration, linkages with governmental and non-governmental bodies, communities etc. by initiating different awareness program, projects, educational seminars, plays and skate etc. The article is shocking for most of the population who don’t have the problems of open defecation. But indeed millions of population are facing this problem in different parts of the world. Open defecation has triggered to other health issues as well. Due to the open defecation different water borne disease spreads in rainy season. Likewise, open defecation even has contributed in rape issues, because people has to go out for their natural calls and incidents like rape happens. And the rape even can contribute different STDs. Yes, indeed if we look more closely, the death due to open defecation and bad sanitary habit is shocking. Now, analyzing this article I came in conclusion that, yes previously too this program and project to Ending Open Defecation and Achieving a Clean and Healthy Rural India had been implemented but it failed. Because in the article it has been clearly cited that “Building on lessons learnt from past experience” this means that the project was not effective. Here arises a big question why these types of big program and projects fails. There are variety of reasons why projects from foreign donor face challenges in giving out desired outcome. For an example lack of proper baseline survey, research question for baseline survey not relevant to project, lack of cultural impact assessment, environmental impact assessment and more. Hence, at last the issue of open defecation may get reduced in the years to come. And hope the program and the projects of this huge investment reach its goal. Because we all are interconnected and the problem of one will definitely create problem to other.
I agree that this a huge problem and due to the interconnectedness of the world, it may begin to affect other's wellbeing outside of India. Without a proper sanitation system, diseases begin to breed and spread. I did not even think of rainy season and how the bacteria/diseases are absorbed into the ground! I am not sure how far the bacteria will spread, but I imagine that it could eventually end up in rivers or oceans, traveling to other parts of the world. Not to mention illnesses that can spread between humans and animals, which can be brought into other areas of the world at any given time.
The other issue mentioned here is the safety of women and children who have to defecate outdoors. If a man is outside during dark hours, he is less likely to be bothered. However, women and children are extremely vulnerable during this time, making it easy for predators to attack. I wonder what safety precautions will be put into place after outhouses are built. Just because there is a shelter surrounding them while they use the restroom does not ensure their safety in my eyes. Anyone could be lurking outside of the facility, just waiting for them to finish and exit the outhouse. Additionally, as you mentioned, with rape comes the spread of STDs. This has to be a piece of their plan for effective disease control.
I do think they are on the right path and I am glad to see they are using the shortcomings of the previous attempt to fuel this new effort. It seems like they are trying to make this more collaborative by including the towns people in their planning. It is a great idea to train several people and have them go into each community and raise awareness. Like we were discussing in class, if someone from a different race came to “preach” this information, it would not be received the same way. If there are several designated facilitators who understand the importance of this issue and know how to reach their communities, it will make a world of difference. I also think listening to the opinion of the town on where to place facilities is a brilliant idea, and something we should always be doing. If we come in and start changing things to the way we see fit, I guarantee you the assistance will not be received the same way. The townspeople are important and they should be made to feel that way. If we do not ask their opinions and educate them in a way that is not degrading, the help will be unwanted and efforts will be wasted.
I am interested to see how this plan works out. I think it has a lot of great components, and training others on health benefits or even how to build the outhouses will help create sustainability. If this plan is successful I believe we can all learn from it and take pieces to implement into other missions and projects around the world.
Haley Bumgardner September 7th , 2016 Topic: Refugees
When I began searching for an article on Refugee’s I was pleasantly surprised by the numerous reports about my topic. As I sifted through several articles, Scotland’s promise to take in more refugees caught my eye. Scotland has been praised for taking in their one thousandth Syrian refugees, however the article states this is a minuscule number compared to the bigger picture. The article states Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon shares Scotland’s establishment of funds to better assist the UK’s plan to take in up to 20,000 refugees. Scotland and others in the UK are taking a proactive stance on this crisis by encouraging refugees to come into their country, to seek asylum. According to this article tens of thousands of people have applied for asylum in the UK. The article continues to praise Scotland on their commendable acts of accepting and befriending refugees in their country. Several opportunities for refugees to gain help adjusting to their new life are accessible through volunteers in the UK. These volunteers are willing to get refugee’s rides from place to place, babysitting, and even helping children with homework in their new learning environment. To go even further in providing aid for these refugee’s through quality education for all refugee children by the end of the 2016/17 school year, and hopes of 1.1 million job creations by 2018.
Scotland and the UK are taking an actively providing help and assistance to these refugees assuring that their human rights are being met. We see in the news and read articles online about the lack of assistants being given to refugees. That is a direct violation of Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is hard for me to grasp the concept that countries (including our own) over look these rights. How can one look at a human being and say, “we do not want to help you or your family”? As we talked about in class how is this reaction being a global citizen? This article stuck out to me because Scotland and the UK are being just that, a global citizen. They are looking at the big picture of our world as a whole, and doing what they can to help these refugees attain their human rights, through volunteer programs, education, and job creation promises. What if every county or even half of the countries in the world stepped up and accepts more refugees? What if we look outside of our countries needs to help others seek asylum and have a safe welcoming environment to live in?
It is very amazing that Scotland and UK are able to see the need to assist these Syrian refugees by opening the doors of their countries to them. there has been a lot of arguments about the not letting Syrian refugees into the US because of the fear of bringing in terrorist, but Scotland and the UK seem to be focusing on treating these people as fellow human beings in need of a safe place live. Not only are they opening their country to the refugees, they have committed themselves to provide equal and quality education to both boys and girls. By doing this, they are helping these children gain access to the basic human rights by providing them security, shelter,and education. While reading the article, I could not stop thinking about what would happen if other Western countries their countries did the same? The US is very powerful, what if the US becomes more accepting of refugees? How about looking beyond religion and see these people as human beings first? Also, as good as this approach seems, is it going to last?
Beverly Bryant September 7, 2016 Topic: Poverty (Port Talbot UK)
For this week’s article I chose to focus on Poverty in the UK, which seemed fitting after our numerous BREXIT discussions. Port Talbot voted to exit the EU in hopes of change and taking control of their situation again.
In Port Talbot the poverty rate has skyrocketed, several businesses have closed down, and people are being forced to work multiple jobs just to be able to “survive.” I use the word survive loosely because if you are working three jobs and still have to use a food bank for assistance, there is something wrong there. If a person still cannot meet a comfortable standard of living working three jobs, the government has failed them. In reality, if a person is working three jobs to begin with I think the government has failed them (unless that’s what they want to do of course). This is abuse of Article 23 in the Universal Declaration of human rights. To start, these people (and millions of others around the world) are not being protected against unemployment. Additionally, if a person has to work three jobs and still cannot afford their food how are they being protected by society? How is their existence worthy of human dignity at that point? Ultimately, it is the government’s job to protect its citizens. While they seem to be making efforts, clearly what they have been doing is not working. The video goes on to report that billions of dollars have been given to this town alone, but look at the outcome. They are still losing jobs and the towns people are still living in poverty. At what point do we stop throwing money at them and start helping by looking at the structure of the government? If there is not a strong foundation there, this country will not be able to sustain and then all efforts are wasted. There has to be some fusion of giving assistance and teaching the town to become sufficient on their own. If no skills are taught, who will sustain the change when relief leaves? If policies are not adapted, what happens when the financial relief runs dry? We cannot just throw money at impoverished nations and expect that they will be able to allocate the funds properly. They need to be educated and trained. Old policies that have been in place for hundreds of years need to be adapted to changing times.
When we were talking last night about the underlying issues that seem to be bubbling up to the surface, I just kept think ‘fear.’ People are afraid of change, resistant to change, unwelcoming of anything different because of the unknown. Just out of personal experience, change triggers anxiety and with anxiety comes irrational thoughts/emotions/reactions. If we are not educated about this, we have no coping mechanisms and our fears begin to take control. Sometimes, we are so resistant to change that we begin to deny there is even a problem. Or we continue down the same path hoping something will be different this time. Even Michael Sheen sees this within his hometown (and around the world) stating that massive fears, anxiety, and insecurity have caused all of us to fail in meeting the challenges of a globalization.
Change is upon us and we have to start meeting the challenges head on. We cannot run from this problem anymore if we want to survive. We cannot continue to Band-Aid all of the world’s problems because eventually Band-Aids fall off. We have to get to the root of the problems and begin to make change from the bottom up by creating sustainability and giving everyone equal opportunities to be a part of that change.
I assumed that this topic would essentially be easy to locate stories and report on but when thinking critically, how do you determine what is justice and what is not? In the end, someone always gets the short end of the stick and almost always, common social themes prevail…For this reason, I thought this article would be great to discuss.
My chosen article this week describes a new German law that would force women in question to divulge who they have had sexual intercourse with during the time of conception regarding the child in question. WOW! When I read the first few lines of the article, I was immediately appalled. I thought, “That isn’t fair, infidelity as harsh as it is should not only be brought to light because the paternity of a child is in question”! Infidelity is unfair on both sides of the coin. Why should only the woman divulge this information? Further into thought and into the article I thought of the child and the medical necessity of knowing your genetics. In many cases, knowing your biological family’s history is absolutely important and can help prevent disease or treat early onset of a disease. In that case, I could understand why knowing your genetics or biological parents should be mandated. But wait…
The law came about when Germany’s highest court suggested that new legislation on the issue of a woman not divulging who she slept with would be welcome in the courts. This came in a ruling when a man sued his wife after he found out that he may not be the father of the child in question and took her to court to find out who she slept with. This new law is meant to protect “sham fathers”. Why does he need to know who she slept with? Garcia and Van Soest explain critically, the male privilege presented in our society and the power of oppression. In this case it is institutional – laws are suggested to enlist power over another individual and members of this system who may not have these sexist ideal are somewhat compelled to act in a sexist manner. Furthermore, what is the purpose of the “sham father” knowing who she slept with? The “sham father” can receive reparations without that specific information. When considering the rights of the woman and the child, Article 7 and 25 of the Declaration of Human Rights are ignored. This law does not support them socially or physically. While I agree that it is terrible for a woman to knowingly or sub knowingly subject an unknowing male into fatherhood is terrible and wrong and she should be punished, I do not believe that opening her diary to the public (the suspecting male) is the morally proper way to go about justice. In many cases, women are not of liberty to speak or have legit reasons not to speak up. According to Germany’s minister “women only have the right to remain silent”! Her reasons for wanting to keep quiet about her infidelity are only determined legit by the male populated legislative system.
This brings me to the readings from Ezell and the take on advocacy. Real work must be done in order to prevent this law and to change the atmosphere regarding practice. Practice on the part of commitments and practice on the part of the legislative system. According to the article, Germany will have a huge outcry from this law due to the sensitivity of privacy in their land. The writer doubts that the law will last but according to Ezell, just the very thought of enacting such a degrading law to women means that someone needs to advocate.
I really liked how you looked at both sides of the argument of this piece. When I first read your article I was struggling to see the injustices. I was looking at it from the perspective of the father paying for child support of a child who was not biologically his and how if I were him, I would also probably be very upset and demand money from the biological father. When you began to explain your argument it totally clicked how unfair this would be on the mother. It reminded me of the book The Scarlet Letter. The fact that a woman would have to go publicly in front of a court, admit to infidelity, and bring shame and humiliation upon herself and potentially her child is completely ridiculous. When you mentioned male privilege I began to think of a situation in which the roles would be reversed and although it is on a smaller scale, I thought of a STD debacle. In my example, a woman had to pay for medical treatment because of an STD a man gave her. The man would then have to appear before court and reveal every woman her had been with and demand the giver to pay her back for the medical treatment she received. I really appreciated your article because it really made me think about where I stood on issues such as these!
Wow! I pondered this for a good while and seriously thought about responding to a different post. It appears to be a bucket of worms for mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, and possibly the children. I totally get the importance of privacy issues for all concerned. I don’t think civil society could survive such a conflagration as a legal requirement to divulge the type of intimate information called for in this law. It carries many implications such as the medical genetics mentioned in your post or the rights of a child to know who is or is not the child’s biological parents. In one of the cases the father sued the mother with suspicions that he was not the child’s father. I assume that in Germany he has an interest to recover (from the biological father) whatever support he was not legally bound to provide. I know of no such recourse for ‘sham’ fathers in the U.S. However, mothers can be denied certain benefits for the refusal to divulge the identity of the father of her child for the purpose of exposing him to a lawsuit by the state. From a father’s perspective, I am most horrified by the possibility of losing parental rights to a child that I thought was my own but wasn’t! I understand the privacy concerns of women in these situations. I also understand the privacy concerns of men who are named and ordered to take paternity tests. For me personally, I couldn’t give up the child. My biggest concern would be how to secure rights to a child that is not mine but with which I have a bonded paternal relationship.
http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/isis-slices-nine-youth-with-chinsaw-mosul/# The list of terrorist atrocities continues to grow since 2014 when ISIS first besieged the city of Mosul in Northern Iraq. In the news this past week are reports of Iraqi youth being cut in half with an electric chainsaw after being convicted by a sharia court of collaborating with enemy forces. These reports are difficult to attain and impossible to verify. Other news sources, Orazz and Inquisitr, echo the corroboration of reliable sources inside Mosul. Other recent reports from Iraqinews.com include people being boiled in vats of tar, crucifixions, beheadings, slavery, and rape. Recent witness testimony before Parliament in the United Kingdom largely corroborates reports coming out of Mosul of the horrendous treatment of children, especially girls ("Orrazz," 2016). Pondering this article in the context of the dimensions of globalization immediately calls upon the obvious challenge to globalization of localized terror in a besieged city like Mosul. The ease at which capital, goods, labor, and profits can cross borders without government interference is a measure of both globalization and security. The threat of cross border terrorism causes governments to reassert tighter controls on cross-border transactions. This change of priorities from economic to security heightens intergovernmental monitoring of information, people, and money. Global terrorism depends on the success of globalization but also threatens an important facilitator of globalization, the liberalization of economic interdependencies between nations. Since global economic interdependence is not a reversible option, could it be possible for cooperative globalized economies to coexist amidst global political chaos?
References Abdallah, A. (Ed.). (2016, August 31). ISIS slices nine youths with chainsaw in Mosul. Iraqi News. Retrieved from http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/isis-slices-nine-youth-with-chinsaw-mosul/# ISIS chainsaw massacre: nine youths literally sawed in half, accused of being part of resistance faction. (2016, September 1). Orrazz. Retrieved from http://www.orrazz.com/2016/09/isis-chainsaw-massacre-nine-youths.html
Albino Campo reports in the article that only one year ago, his well water was clear. Now he shows a black slime covering the pump hose that he uses to pump water from his well. He also shows evidence of a greenish-brown residue that is left in his water bucket after depositing water from the well. Although big oil and government deny any environmental harm in fracking, Congressman Eduardo Amadeo responded to the article by saying,“You cannot stop production for 45 million people because one or two thousand feel that their rights are affected.” While it is true that fracking provides a way to obtain additional fossil fuels and alternative to coal while increasing economic growth providing jobs, lower fuel prices, and helps areas to become self-sufficient. However, at what cost to us as a world? At what cost to our environment? Fracking certainly has its benefits, and I do not deny that I enjoy the lower fuel prices, but what will the impact of this be in 20 or 30 years or in just 5 years? In just a few short years, the Mapuche community is already acknowledging that their water has changed and that fracking is likely the culprit. Earlier evidence, a study in 2011 of the two earthquakes near Blackpool, in Lancashire found high probability that the shale gas test drilling in the area, did in fact, trigger the earth tremors. Imagine these adverse effects happening worldwide, more than they already are! How that will effect each of us individually; as nations; as a global nation? With global warming and climate change in full force, I feel that it is imperative that we take the necessary changes, globally, to move toward a renewable energy source, as opposed to continuing to use up the last remaining bits of natural fuels. With the technology we have today and the advancements we are making in all other areas, why are we not looking for a renewable energy source? I feel it is important that we take this into consideration as we move forward. Livingstone, G. 2016. Mapuche community in Argentina fights fracking site. Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36892770
BBCNews. 2016. What is fracking and why is it controversial? Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-14432401
When the Congressman discussed not being able to stop production because of what the country "needed," I am immediately reminded of utilitarianism in the distributive social justice model. It is so frightening how quickly the government can dismiss the legitimate needs of people to have clean access to water, to be able to raise a sustainable livelihood on the land they live on, and to not become ill from ill effects of environmental practices. You raise a good point, Alisha, when you bring up how we enjoy the effects of this through lower fuel prices (and now hopefully I will think of fracking when my gas bill is $4 lower) but what is the ultimate cost? Will it completely deplete our world of resources in twenty years from now, and what effect on quality of life, longevity, and mortality might it ultimately have?
Alice TankoSeptember 7, 2016 at 7:27 PM Alice Tanko September 7th, 2016 at 11:00 pm Topic: Child Labor in India I came across Child Labor:India’s Hidden Shame as I was looking for resources for my blog and decided to base my research on it. The article analyses the story of 13 year old orphaned girl who was kidnapped and forced in to becoming a housemaid. She recalls that she was sexually abused by the men who that kidnapped her, she did not tell anyone out of fear and shame of losing her dignity in the village, when a girl is rapped in India, it is assumed that is her fault and it will bring shame not only to her but the entire family. Her family could not afford to go and look for her so she was enslaved for four years until the police found and rescued her. It was noted that little girls especially girls from poor families get kidnaped by the rich by offering them things that they cannot afford to have because of poverty. They are then, abused and forced in to child labour by their kidnappers, the worst is that they do not get paid for their hard work. We talked about the fundamental human rights in class and in our text readings, it is easy to use certain gifts to entice and kidnap gils from the lower class in India because of the need to have those fundamental rights. Their families cannot afford to give the right to have clean clothes, shoes, good food, and a safe environment to live in. This is the reason why they quickly follow an adult who promises to provide those things not knowing that it is a trap. It is good that there a rehabilitation place to girls who have been rescued from such violations of human rights, it is terrible that a 13 years old girl would locked up in a house for fours years laboring without a break.Lakshmi had mentioned to the police that she was been yelled at and beaten whenever she was caught taking a break. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights ”No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel,inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.” Everyone should be able to enjoy these rights, no human rich or poor, should be treated in such an worthy manner. I think that since the government of India hasn’t really done anything about this violations; parents need to teach their young girls to avoid receiving gifts from strangers and have stay inside the house when parents are out working on the farm. This awareness might reduce the number of rape and kidnaps of little girls that take place India. http://www.bbc.com/news/business-25947984
In terrorism this week I began with a reflection of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center to ask ‘Why do terrorists terrorize?’ Horrid acts of mass murder couldn’t possibly influence regular people to accept ideologies that lead to such atrocities, but I’m not sure that matters. I came across several definitions of terrorism. The U.S. Defense Department, the FBI, and the U.S. State Department uses similar definitions with more varied definitions outside the U.S. The common theme in defining terrorism is violence intended to instill fear in order to intimidate and coerce governments or societies for the purpose of obtaining goals that are generally religious, ideological, or political. The global aspect of terrorism then is to exert influence beyond the immediate target of a terrorist act. This influence of fear could be exerted as a physical, financial, technological, or psychological threat. The article I chose is critical of U.S. foreign policy in Syria. The Arab spring failed to spring the Assad regime from power. Syria has been in the throes of a complex and confusing civil war in which the U.S. strongly opposes the Assad regime. It has been very difficult to discern just what is U.S. policy in Syria. The U.S. is in a complicated position of supporting terrorist factions in order to defeat Assad. But to whose succession? The article uses three headlines to sum up U.S. policy in Syria: How the U.S. can Win in Syria which supports arming rebel factions, Syria’s Message to Tourists: Come Back Enjoy Our Beaches which speaks to the psychological aspect of a normalcy returning to Syria, and Kurds Fear U.S. will Again Betray Them in Syria demonstrates questionable humanitarian motives as opposed to the self-interests of the U.S. The article claims that the U.S. is intentionally perpetuating extremism in the region and intends to turn Syria into a failed state as happened in Libya. It is unclear what the goal is with opposing the Assad regime with only worse in line to succeed. As Syria is torn asunder, it may become more difficult to defend U.S. policy on humanitarian grounds ("Empowering," 2016).
References Empowering terrorism to stop terrorism:America’s foreign policy summed up in three headlines. (2016, September 2). GlobalResearch. Retrieved from http://www.globalresearch.ca/empowering-terrorism-to-stop-terrorism-americas-foreign-policy-in-syria-summed-up-in-three-headlines/5544020?utm_campaign=magnet&utm_source=article_page&utm_medium=related_articles What is terrorism. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.terrorism-research.com/
lice Tanko SWK615 September 20,2016 Topic: Child labour in India
When search for this weeks’ article, I came across this article heading about the amended child labour’s bill in India. So I decided to base my research on it. The main article illustrates the UN dissatisfaction by the amended Child Labour Bill in India. The bill prohibits employer from hiring children under 14 years unless they are helping in family owned businesses and fails to develop realistic ways to protect children from being sold into underground forced labour. The UN according to the article is concerned that some types of child labour may go unnoticed and the most vulnerable and marginalized children will end up not having access to education which is already an issue of concern among the poor. It is a good thing that the UN is involved in fighting to protect children from underground forced labour because it shows that this is not just an India problem. But It is indeed a global issue so,the united nations is joining heads with Indian advocates to see that certain phrases are removed from the bill. Certain parts of the article reminded me of our class discussions about child trafficking. I noted that child labour increased in the urban areas. The book Not for Sale describes how children and adults are lured to the cities with promises of providing them with jobs,education, and good lives, only for them to be subjected slavery. The children end up being separated from their families and forced into hard labour,sexual, and physical abuse. laws are supposed to protect human rights, but of what use are laws if they do not make provisions to protect and enforce human rights? What difference is the difference between laboring for an employer and laboring for family? The Indian child labour bill cannot be fair if it does not prohibit children from working on family farms performing hard duties such, tobacco rolling, carpet waving, cotton fields etc. Knowledge they say, is power, there should be provision for children of the lower class in India to have access to affordable education. When they are educated, they will educate their own child, have access to good job opportunities, and child labour will be reduced.
Becca Saylor
ReplyDeleteSeptember 4th, 2016
Topic: Feticide/Gendercide (in India)
This article features a brief look into an average Indian mother’s experiences with expectations and decisions about her pregnancy. Two women discuss the pain of not just one but multiple abortions due to fear that their pregnancy will result in a female child. Not only do they discuss the pain they feel they must bear in order to avoid giving birth to a girl, but the grim reality that they are expected to continue about their daily duties and accept their fate without scruple. If we consider the likelihood that female feticide is more rampant in areas of poverty, then we also must consider the likelihood that these women have had limited access education. This becomes most concerning when the cultural expectations force these women to accept the prediction of an astrologer, a street corner radiologist, and simply swallow a pill that has been promised to end the problem without any qualms. One of the women admitted to not even knowing the name of the pill that costs 500-600 rupees. This reality is terrifying, for if these astrologists and radiologists setting up illegal scanning centers charge a fee to simply tell a woman that since she has two girl children already her next pregnancy is probably a girl as well, then what are they even selling to pregnant women who are so desperate to not give birth to a girl for fear of societal repercussion? And unfortunately in more traditional societies there are cruder approaches of inserting parts of plants or plant secretion directly into the genitals of pregnant women, but the article did not touch on the physical ramifications or success of this approach. These women feel pressured to resort to these measures and then have no doctor instruction, no doctor care, and often not even the company of their husband or a relative when the remedies are successful and the fetus is expelled. For example, one woman in the article was working alone in the fields in order to provide for her other children when that tiny pill finally completed its work, and she was left to struggle alone through the cramping, bleeding, and delivery of the aborted fetus.
This situation highlights the expendability of women in certain parts of Indian culture not only with such high rates of feticide but with the expectations of the already living, breathing women who must perform the feticide. First and foremost, this is a social justice issue for women. This idea of women’s expendability persists at an overarching ideological level that permeates this culture and that will require careful approach to combat. As a female social worker one of my soapboxes is women’s education and women’s healthcare, especially the marriage of those two subjects in educating women about proper reproductive healthcare. To begin to fight the prevalence of feticide will require major cultural overhauls in certain Indian districts, but I believe small successes can also be had through techniques such as teaching women how to prevent pregnancies, what questions to ask about methods, and even how to properly care for their bodies after an abortion. While my first response is to want to educate women on why they do not have to kill their female children and how not to get pregnant, in reading on advocacy in class we know that this is not always going to be the appropriate approach because it will not necessarily be the least conflictual approach in this culture. Furthermore, India needs advocates who are willing to tackle government problems of poor access to healthcare and the blind eye that is turned to the thriving businesses of illegal back-alley radiologists.
Article: Female foeticide thriving business for radiologists, astrologers in Salem, Tamil Nadu http://www.ibtimes.co.in/female-foeticide-thriving-business-radiologists-astrologers-salem-tamil-nadu-689306
Great post. It was very interesting and even more upsetting. It’s hard to believe that this kind of thing actually happens. When you mentioned that the article did not touch on the physical ramifications of the approach of inserting parts of plants or plant secretions into the genitals of pregnant women, it made me wonder what the physical ramifications of all of the approaches may be. It made me wonder how many women have had serious side effects or even died from these procedures. It made me wonder if some women have had reproductive problems, such as sterilization or birth defects in future children, after having one of these procedures.
DeletePRASHANT KOIRALA 9/9/2016
DeleteWonderful post, subject discussed over is one of the major issue in India. Yearly thousands of women are facing this problem. The cultural taboo and the dowry practice make women weaker and vulnerable. The patriarchal dominance keeps the women’s choices aside and the male decisions are final.
Female in India are not empowered enough to take choice on their sexual and reproductive health and rights. Your view to help as a social worker by educating these women’s is very much genuine. Though I feel that there is high challenge to combat this issue through education only but beside this I don’t see any alternative too, I too believe that first education and advocacy later would be more effective. Yes, indeed weak medical regulation and belief in fate and astrology has made this issue even more worst.
You really did a great job in capturing this article. It is insane that this even happens and worse, that most people have no idea that it is happening. It breaks my heart to even think of how these young women are feeling after having to kill their baby, just because their spouse, family, society doesn't approve. As a mother, I can not even imagine. I'm sure this has to impact them mentally.
DeleteI know the article told how the women go through the process alone, but I wonder if they have anyone they confide in about such. It just seems like the whole process is pretty secretive and hush-hush. Imagine how lonely it must be to deal with something like that, and how that may play into their mental health.
I do agree with you though, that small successes can be made through education, prevention and access to proper healthcare and services. However, the true issue is still in the objectification and idea of women as property, or at least as unequal to men...and while this may be considered "normal" for many middle eastern religions and cultures, it is an issue that I feel very strongly about. And while I wish I could just erase the gender differences, how do we begin to combat and change how these cultures/societies view women.
Karen L. Jones
ReplyDeleteSeptember 5, 2016
Topic: Food and Water Concerns
In researching news articles this week I came across an article in the New York Times about the thousands of people who participated in a March in Caracas, Venezuela. The people of Venezuela were protesting to oust President Nicolás Maduro. The people blame President Madura for the economic collapse that led to the devastating food shortage.
In class we talked about globalization and how one dimension of globalization can affect other dimensions. In this case, the international decline in the price of oil has caused the economic collapse of a country that depends on the income of their oil sales to survive. The collapse of this nation’s oil revenue in turn has caused the nation’s food supply to become depleted.
The citizens of Venezuela are now struggling just to find food. They wait in long lines to try to get whatever food is available. One of the women interviewed for this article stated that, “the most difficult thing is getting food.” She also talked about her frustration and how deeply it hurts her when her children beg for food and she is unable to give it to them. This article highlighted some of the frustration the people of Venezuela are feeling. It also brought to light the heartbreaking crisis this country is in.
As I read this article, I sat in the comfort of my own home, knowing I was able to go to my kitchen, the grocery store, or any fast food restaurant I want, anytime I want, and I actually felt guilty. I felt guilty for several reasons. I felt guilty because I take these things for granted, that I have so much when so many people have so little, and that the food I waste could feed so many who are starving. I can’t help but think of how much food is wasted just here in the United States and how many people that could feed in Venezuela. Would there even be a food shortage in Venezuela if we could send all of the food we waste here in America to the people there?
This article demonstrates how one thing, such as the international decline in oil prices, can drastically effect so many other things. We think that declining oil prices is a good thing because it enables us to save money. We don’t think about the far reaching effects that it may have. We definitely don’t think about the fact that it could be a contributing factor in the collapse of a country’s economy that ultimately causes a shortage of food and people to go hungry.
Original article: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/02/world/americas/caracas-venezuela-nicolas-maduro-protests.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FShortages&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection
Supplemental article: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/2149858-hundreds-of-thousands-take-to-streets-in-venezuela-to-demand-ousting-of-president/
Mariah Corbin
DeleteSeptember 6, 2016
It is sad to see how badly the Venezuelan economy is declining. Not only is the shortage of food an issue, but also the corrupt government along with multiple human rights being pushed aside. The article spoke about how political leaders were being freed from jail and how the president was using his powers to override the people. After discussing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in class I couldn’t help but to dig deeper and determine just how many human rights were being denied. For example Article 20 states that everyone has the right to a peaceful assembly and association. In the article it stated that an individual was detained because the person was a journalist and was not committing a crime while at the march. Article 23, everyone has the right to work and has protection against unemployment. There are many others that could be brought to discussion as well. The Venezuelan government is clearly lacking presence as the article stated. Because of the lack of jobs and resources individuals are also being denied their right to an adequate standard of living with food and clean water. It is terrible how the change in economy in one part of the world can greatly affect another in such a drastic measure. It seems that one issue is leading to another and is creating a downward spiral for Venezuela. One of the worst parts about it is that so many people are unaware of this. Is our country unaware of the damage our economic changes are causing for other countries? It is definitely something to think about. I believe that the amount of protestors and the rise of support for their country to have a new leader is a positive step in the right direction.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHannah George
ReplyDeleteSeptember 5th, 2016
Civil War/Conflict
This article revolves around the civil war that is continuing in Syria. This civil war is one that has many different components as there are several groups that are wanting control of this land. As we saw in one of the videos last week, groups include the government of Syria, the rebels, and the Islamic State. The article discusses how allied groups of Turkey have taken back the lands of Syria that border Turkey. The border land stretches 91km which is approximately 55 miles. Parts of this stretch had recently been taken over by the “so-called Islamic state”. We also learn from this article the city of Aleppo, which is Syria’s second largest city, is currently divided and being controlled by both governmental troops as well as rebel forces. As of Sunday, however, the government has been putting the eastern districts, which have been majorly controlled by the rebels under siege, meaning they are cutting off all supplies and goods to these areas.
One major thing we talked about in class was the idea of globalization and how we must look at the world as a whole and make sure all parts are balanced and taken care of, otherwise other parts will fail. I think the idea of civil war is easily something we can look at and decide that it is not something that pertains to us. Just by definition we see civil war as something that takes place between the members of just one country. However, just in this article alone there is mention of six other countries, some of which do not even border Syria. The 400-word article does a great job of showing how this conflict is effecting the entire world. Although assumptions are lofty, one could argue differing opinions about what would happen if our own country became involved. What would be the financial repercussions if the US stepped in? What would be the global view of the US if we sided with government or rebels? There are so many ways our involvement or our un-involvement could be perceived and eventually would affect our everyday lives.
URL:http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37272895
This article truly opened my eyes to how a civil war can affect the world, and you explained this in a great way. Like you said, many times we think a civil war/conflict only deals with the country it is being fought in. Which makes me think; how many refugees could the world help if we just looked outside of our country? Why is it so hard to lend a hand to the hurting people in these countries? Many people in the US and I am sure other countries get talk about wanting to help and be involved in the world around us but when will someone take action? What is frustrating to me is the lack of support by other countries when clearly Syrian’s and other involved need our help.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIt is very amazing that Scotland and UK are able to see the need to assist these Syrian refugees by opening the doors of their countries to them. there has been a lot of arguments about the not letting Syrian refugees into the US because of the fear of bringing in terrorist, but Scotland and the UK seem to be focusing on treating these people as fellow human beings in need of a safe place live. Not only are they opening their country to the refugees, they have committed themselves to provide equal and quality education to both boys and girls. By doing this, they are helping these children gain access to the basic human rights by providing them security, shelter,and education. While reading the article, I could not stop thinking about what would happen if other Western countries their countries did the same?
DeleteThe US is very powerful, what if the US becomes more accepting of refugees? How about looking beyond religion and see these people as human beings first? Also, as good as this approach seems, is it going to last?
Mariah Corbin
ReplyDeleteSeptember 7, 2016
Topic: Human Trafficking (Romania)
When searching for an article on Human Trafficking I was shocked to find so many results pop up from all over the world. One that caught my attention was in Romania. The information in this article was shocking so I decided to look further into the situation.
The article states that slavery is becoming a growing issue in Romania. However, they found that many of their victims are being trafficked in from Europe. It’s scary nonetheless, but it gets worse. Children as young as nine years old are being trafficked, or bribed, into being trafficked. Children and families are desperate to make money any way that they can, which in turn makes them an easy target for traffickers. Since many of these children are being trafficked to other countries, the language barrier can make it more difficult for them to be rescued.
Romania also has one of the largest populations of individuals in the EU. I also found that they have a limited government. Much of the population is living in poverty. This makes the individuals even more desperate to do whatever is needed in order to lead a better life. Traffickers take this to their advantage and provide their victims with promises of false hope in order to take them captive.
After reading the first half of the article and learning about the country’s struggle with the language barrier of their victims and the cultural differences. One may wonder, is anything being done to address the growing numbers of victims? It seems as if there is a lack of public awareness and education of the dangers of human trafficking, and the use of force, fraud and coercion. I kept asking myself, what about social justice and human rights? Members of society should have the same rights, opportunities, and benefits. It is their civil right to be free from torture and slavery, as we have been discussing in class. It seems as though children, along with adults, are being denied all of these rights, when they are being forced into slavery; many by their own families. Is it a lack of knowledge on what they are really doing, or is it simply hunger to lead a better life?
I began to think about the whole situation. Another thought that came to mind was maybe the Romanian cultural values and beliefs are different than ours. Their culture may have different beliefs and values. I also wondered, why would some families sell their children to a trafficker? I began to read on into the article and found that the Romanians have a belief that money is power, and they, including the children, will do whatever they have to in order to receive money and power. Some children were interviewed to find that boys and girls as young as age eight wanted to be traffickers or a trafficker’s mistress when they grew up. Little did they know they would become slaves by force, fraud, and/or coercion.
In summary, slavery and human trafficking is a serious and continually expanding issue not only in Romania and Europe, but all over the world. Will future generations of Romanians continue to have the same mindset of money and power that is presently consuming the children? Their government has recognized the need for improvement. However, it worries me that public awareness and educating families and children on the growing issue may be just as, if not more effective, than more government involvement. Hopefully the country will continue to make progress and develop other strategies to combat human trafficking. Thus, bringing awareness to the culture that is unaware of the danger of human trafficking in their backyard.
Article Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-37169492
Supplemental Article Link: http://www.heritage.org/index/country/romania
PRASAHNT KOIRALA
ReplyDeleteEnding Open Defecation and Achieving a Clean and Healthy Rural India
Researching for this week article I came up with the issue of open defecation that is yet prevalent in India. I choose this article because this is the issue prevailing in my country and these are the areas where I myself will be exercising my knowledge and skills to help people overcome this issue through different collaboration, linkages with governmental and non-governmental bodies, communities etc. by initiating different awareness program, projects, educational seminars, plays and skate etc.
The article is shocking for most of the population who don’t have the problems of open defecation. But indeed millions of population are facing this problem in different parts of the world. Open defecation has triggered to other health issues as well. Due to the open defecation different water borne disease spreads in rainy season. Likewise, open defecation even has contributed in rape issues, because people has to go out for their natural calls and incidents like rape happens. And the rape even can contribute different STDs. Yes, indeed if we look more closely, the death due to open defecation and bad sanitary habit is shocking.
Now, analyzing this article I came in conclusion that, yes previously too this program and project to Ending Open Defecation and Achieving a Clean and Healthy Rural India had been implemented but it failed. Because in the article it has been clearly cited that “Building on lessons learnt from past experience” this means that the project was not effective. Here arises a big question why these types of big program and projects fails. There are variety of reasons why projects from foreign donor face challenges in giving out desired outcome. For an example lack of proper baseline survey, research question for baseline survey not relevant to project, lack of cultural impact assessment, environmental impact assessment and more.
Hence, at last the issue of open defecation may get reduced in the years to come. And hope the program and the projects of this huge investment reach its goal. Because we all are interconnected and the problem of one will definitely create problem to other.
Article Link: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2015/12/15/ending-open-defecation-achieving-clean-and-healthy-rural-india
Beverly Bryant – Response
DeleteSeptember 8, 2016
I agree that this a huge problem and due to the interconnectedness of the world, it may begin to affect other's wellbeing outside of India. Without a proper sanitation system, diseases begin to breed and spread. I did not even think of rainy season and how the bacteria/diseases are absorbed into the ground! I am not sure how far the bacteria will spread, but I imagine that it could eventually end up in rivers or oceans, traveling to other parts of the world. Not to mention illnesses that can spread between humans and animals, which can be brought into other areas of the world at any given time.
The other issue mentioned here is the safety of women and children who have to defecate outdoors. If a man is outside during dark hours, he is less likely to be bothered. However, women and children are extremely vulnerable during this time, making it easy for predators to attack. I wonder what safety precautions will be put into place after outhouses are built. Just because there is a shelter surrounding them while they use the restroom does not ensure their safety in my eyes. Anyone could be lurking outside of the facility, just waiting for them to finish and exit the outhouse. Additionally, as you mentioned, with rape comes the spread of STDs. This has to be a piece of their plan for effective disease control.
I do think they are on the right path and I am glad to see they are using the shortcomings of the previous attempt to fuel this new effort. It seems like they are trying to make this more collaborative by including the towns people in their planning. It is a great idea to train several people and have them go into each community and raise awareness. Like we were discussing in class, if someone from a different race came to “preach” this information, it would not be received the same way. If there are several designated facilitators who understand the importance of this issue and know how to reach their communities, it will make a world of difference. I also think listening to the opinion of the town on where to place facilities is a brilliant idea, and something we should always be doing. If we come in and start changing things to the way we see fit, I guarantee you the assistance will not be received the same way. The townspeople are important and they should be made to feel that way. If we do not ask their opinions and educate them in a way that is not degrading, the help will be unwanted and efforts will be wasted.
I am interested to see how this plan works out. I think it has a lot of great components, and training others on health benefits or even how to build the outhouses will help create sustainability. If this plan is successful I believe we can all learn from it and take pieces to implement into other missions and projects around the world.
Haley Bumgardner
ReplyDeleteSeptember 7th , 2016
Topic: Refugees
When I began searching for an article on Refugee’s I was pleasantly surprised by the numerous reports about my topic. As I sifted through several articles, Scotland’s promise to take in more refugees caught my eye. Scotland has been praised for taking in their one thousandth Syrian refugees, however the article states this is a minuscule number compared to the bigger picture. The article states Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon shares Scotland’s establishment of funds to better assist the UK’s plan to take in up to 20,000 refugees. Scotland and others in the UK are taking a proactive stance on this crisis by encouraging refugees to come into their country, to seek asylum. According to this article tens of thousands of people have applied for asylum in the UK. The article continues to praise Scotland on their commendable acts of accepting and befriending refugees in their country. Several opportunities for refugees to gain help adjusting to their new life are accessible through volunteers in the UK. These volunteers are willing to get refugee’s rides from place to place, babysitting, and even helping children with homework in their new learning environment. To go even further in providing aid for these refugee’s through quality education for all refugee children by the end of the 2016/17 school year, and hopes of 1.1 million job creations by 2018.
Scotland and the UK are taking an actively providing help and assistance to these refugees assuring that their human rights are being met. We see in the news and read articles online about the lack of assistants being given to refugees. That is a direct violation of Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is hard for me to grasp the concept that countries (including our own) over look these rights. How can one look at a human being and say, “we do not want to help you or your family”? As we talked about in class how is this reaction being a global citizen?
This article stuck out to me because Scotland and the UK are being just that, a global citizen. They are looking at the big picture of our world as a whole, and doing what they can to help these refugees attain their human rights, through volunteer programs, education, and job creation promises. What if every county or even half of the countries in the world stepped up and accepts more refugees? What if we look outside of our countries needs to help others seek asylum and have a safe welcoming environment to live in?
Article Link: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-37234429
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIt is very amazing that Scotland and UK are able to see the need to assist these Syrian refugees by opening the doors of their countries to them. there has been a lot of arguments about the not letting Syrian refugees into the US because of the fear of bringing in terrorist, but Scotland and the UK seem to be focusing on treating these people as fellow human beings in need of a safe place live. Not only are they opening their country to the refugees, they have committed themselves to provide equal and quality education to both boys and girls. By doing this, they are helping these children gain access to the basic human rights by providing them security, shelter,and education. While reading the article, I could not stop thinking about what would happen if other Western countries their countries did the same?
DeleteThe US is very powerful, what if the US becomes more accepting of refugees? How about looking beyond religion and see these people as human beings first? Also, as good as this approach seems, is it going to last?
Beverly Bryant
ReplyDeleteSeptember 7, 2016
Topic: Poverty (Port Talbot UK)
For this week’s article I chose to focus on Poverty in the UK, which seemed fitting after our numerous BREXIT discussions. Port Talbot voted to exit the EU in hopes of change and taking control of their situation again.
In Port Talbot the poverty rate has skyrocketed, several businesses have closed down, and people are being forced to work multiple jobs just to be able to “survive.” I use the word survive loosely because if you are working three jobs and still have to use a food bank for assistance, there is something wrong there. If a person still cannot meet a comfortable standard of living working three jobs, the government has failed them. In reality, if a person is working three jobs to begin with I think the government has failed them (unless that’s what they want to do of course). This is abuse of Article 23 in the Universal Declaration of human rights. To start, these people (and millions of others around the world) are not being protected against unemployment. Additionally, if a person has to work three jobs and still cannot afford their food how are they being protected by society? How is their existence worthy of human dignity at that point? Ultimately, it is the government’s job to protect its citizens. While they seem to be making efforts, clearly what they have been doing is not working. The video goes on to report that billions of dollars have been given to this town alone, but look at the outcome. They are still losing jobs and the towns people are still living in poverty. At what point do we stop throwing money at them and start helping by looking at the structure of the government? If there is not a strong foundation there, this country will not be able to sustain and then all efforts are wasted. There has to be some fusion of giving assistance and teaching the town to become sufficient on their own. If no skills are taught, who will sustain the change when relief leaves? If policies are not adapted, what happens when the financial relief runs dry? We cannot just throw money at impoverished nations and expect that they will be able to allocate the funds properly. They need to be educated and trained. Old policies that have been in place for hundreds of years need to be adapted to changing times.
When we were talking last night about the underlying issues that seem to be bubbling up to the surface, I just kept think ‘fear.’ People are afraid of change, resistant to change, unwelcoming of anything different because of the unknown. Just out of personal experience, change triggers anxiety and with anxiety comes irrational thoughts/emotions/reactions. If we are not educated about this, we have no coping mechanisms and our fears begin to take control. Sometimes, we are so resistant to change that we begin to deny there is even a problem. Or we continue down the same path hoping something will be different this time. Even Michael Sheen sees this within his hometown (and around the world) stating that massive fears, anxiety, and insecurity have caused all of us to fail in meeting the challenges of a globalization.
Change is upon us and we have to start meeting the challenges head on. We cannot run from this problem anymore if we want to survive. We cannot continue to Band-Aid all of the world’s problems because eventually Band-Aids fall off. We have to get to the root of the problems and begin to make change from the bottom up by creating sustainability and giving everyone equal opportunities to be a part of that change.
Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-37283334
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ReplyDeleteCoretta McAllister
ReplyDelete9/7/2016 8:18 PM
Topic: Discrimination and/or justice issues (Germany)
I assumed that this topic would essentially be easy to locate stories and report on but when thinking critically, how do you determine what is justice and what is not? In the end, someone always gets the short end of the stick and almost always, common social themes prevail…For this reason, I thought this article would be great to discuss.
My chosen article this week describes a new German law that would force women in question to divulge who they have had sexual intercourse with during the time of conception regarding the child in question. WOW! When I read the first few lines of the article, I was immediately appalled. I thought, “That isn’t fair, infidelity as harsh as it is should not only be brought to light because the paternity of a child is in question”! Infidelity is unfair on both sides of the coin. Why should only the woman divulge this information? Further into thought and into the article I thought of the child and the medical necessity of knowing your genetics. In many cases, knowing your biological family’s history is absolutely important and can help prevent disease or treat early onset of a disease. In that case, I could understand why knowing your genetics or biological parents should be mandated. But wait…
The law came about when Germany’s highest court suggested that new legislation on the issue of a woman not divulging who she slept with would be welcome in the courts. This came in a ruling when a man sued his wife after he found out that he may not be the father of the child in question and took her to court to find out who she slept with. This new law is meant to protect “sham fathers”. Why does he need to know who she slept with? Garcia and Van Soest explain critically, the male privilege presented in our society and the power of oppression. In this case it is institutional – laws are suggested to enlist power over another individual and members of this system who may not have these sexist ideal are somewhat compelled to act in a sexist manner. Furthermore, what is the purpose of the “sham father” knowing who she slept with? The “sham father” can receive reparations without that specific information.
When considering the rights of the woman and the child, Article 7 and 25 of the Declaration of Human Rights are ignored. This law does not support them socially or physically. While I agree that it is terrible for a woman to knowingly or sub knowingly subject an unknowing male into fatherhood is terrible and wrong and she should be punished, I do not believe that opening her diary to the public (the suspecting male) is the morally proper way to go about justice. In many cases, women are not of liberty to speak or have legit reasons not to speak up. According to Germany’s minister “women only have the right to remain silent”! Her reasons for wanting to keep quiet about her infidelity are only determined legit by the male populated legislative system.
This brings me to the readings from Ezell and the take on advocacy. Real work must be done in order to prevent this law and to change the atmosphere regarding practice. Practice on the part of commitments and practice on the part of the legislative system. According to the article, Germany will have a huge outcry from this law due to the sensitivity of privacy in their land. The writer doubts that the law will last but according to Ezell, just the very thought of enacting such a degrading law to women means that someone needs to advocate.
Original article:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/29/germany-to-force-women-to-disclose-if-children-are-from-an-affai/
Supplemental articles:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/8306269/The-perils-of-the-30-paternity-test.html
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-02/german-cuckoo-kids-law-punishes-women/7805370
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DeleteReply to Coretta regarding injustices in Germany
DeleteI really liked how you looked at both sides of the argument of this piece. When I first read your article I was struggling to see the injustices. I was looking at it from the perspective of the father paying for child support of a child who was not biologically his and how if I were him, I would also probably be very upset and demand money from the biological father. When you began to explain your argument it totally clicked how unfair this would be on the mother. It reminded me of the book The Scarlet Letter. The fact that a woman would have to go publicly in front of a court, admit to infidelity, and bring shame and humiliation upon herself and potentially her child is completely ridiculous. When you mentioned male privilege I began to think of a situation in which the roles would be reversed and although it is on a smaller scale, I thought of a STD debacle. In my example, a woman had to pay for medical treatment because of an STD a man gave her. The man would then have to appear before court and reveal every woman her had been with and demand the giver to pay her back for the medical treatment she received. I really appreciated your article because it really made me think about where I stood on issues such as these!
Reply to Coretta regarding injustices in Germany
DeleteWow! I pondered this for a good while and seriously thought about responding to a different post. It appears to be a bucket of worms for mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, and possibly the children. I totally get the importance of privacy issues for all concerned. I don’t think civil society could survive such a conflagration as a legal requirement to divulge the type of intimate information called for in this law. It carries many implications such as the medical genetics mentioned in your post or the rights of a child to know who is or is not the child’s biological parents. In one of the cases the father sued the mother with suspicions that he was not the child’s father. I assume that in Germany he has an interest to recover (from the biological father) whatever support he was not legally bound to provide. I know of no such recourse for ‘sham’ fathers in the U.S. However, mothers can be denied certain benefits for the refusal to divulge the identity of the father of her child for the purpose of exposing him to a lawsuit by the state. From a father’s perspective, I am most horrified by the possibility of losing parental rights to a child that I thought was my own but wasn’t! I understand the privacy concerns of women in these situations. I also understand the privacy concerns of men who are named and ordered to take paternity tests. For me personally, I couldn’t give up the child. My biggest concern would be how to secure rights to a child that is not mine but with which I have a bonded paternal relationship.
http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/isis-slices-nine-youth-with-chinsaw-mosul/#
ReplyDeleteThe list of terrorist atrocities continues to grow since 2014 when ISIS first besieged the city of Mosul in Northern Iraq. In the news this past week are reports of Iraqi youth being cut in half with an electric chainsaw after being convicted by a sharia court of collaborating with enemy forces. These reports are difficult to attain and impossible to verify. Other news sources, Orazz and Inquisitr, echo the corroboration of reliable sources inside Mosul. Other recent reports from Iraqinews.com include people being boiled in vats of tar, crucifixions, beheadings, slavery, and rape. Recent witness testimony before Parliament in the United Kingdom largely corroborates reports coming out of Mosul of the horrendous treatment of children, especially girls ("Orrazz," 2016).
Pondering this article in the context of the dimensions of globalization immediately calls upon the obvious challenge to globalization of localized terror in a besieged city like Mosul. The ease at which capital, goods, labor, and profits can cross borders without government interference is a measure of both globalization and security. The threat of cross border terrorism causes governments to reassert tighter controls on cross-border transactions. This change of priorities from economic to security heightens intergovernmental monitoring of information, people, and money.
Global terrorism depends on the success of globalization but also threatens an important facilitator of globalization, the liberalization of economic interdependencies between nations. Since global economic interdependence is not a reversible option, could it be possible for cooperative globalized economies to coexist amidst global political chaos?
References
Abdallah, A. (Ed.). (2016, August 31). ISIS slices nine youths with chainsaw in Mosul. Iraqi News. Retrieved from http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/isis-slices-nine-youth-with-chinsaw-mosul/#
ISIS chainsaw massacre: nine youths literally sawed in half, accused of being part of resistance faction. (2016, September 1). Orrazz. Retrieved from http://www.orrazz.com/2016/09/isis-chainsaw-massacre-nine-youths.html
Albino Campo reports in the article that only one year ago, his well water was clear. Now he shows a black slime covering the pump hose that he uses to pump water from his well. He also shows evidence of a greenish-brown residue that is left in his water bucket after depositing water from the well. Although big oil and government deny any environmental harm in fracking, Congressman Eduardo Amadeo responded to the article by saying,“You cannot stop production for 45 million people because one or two thousand feel that their rights are affected.”
ReplyDeleteWhile it is true that fracking provides a way to obtain additional fossil fuels and alternative to coal while increasing economic growth providing jobs, lower fuel prices, and helps areas to become self-sufficient. However, at what cost to us as a world? At what cost to our environment? Fracking certainly has its benefits, and I do not deny that I enjoy the lower fuel prices, but what will the impact of this be in 20 or 30 years or in just 5 years? In just a few short years, the Mapuche community is already acknowledging that their water has changed and that fracking is likely the culprit. Earlier evidence, a study in 2011 of the two earthquakes near Blackpool, in Lancashire found high probability that the shale gas test drilling in the area, did in fact, trigger the earth tremors. Imagine these adverse effects happening worldwide, more than they already are! How that will effect each of us individually; as nations; as a global nation? With global warming and climate change in full force, I feel that it is imperative that we take the necessary changes, globally, to move toward a renewable energy source, as opposed to continuing to use up the last remaining bits of natural fuels. With the technology we have today and the advancements we are making in all other areas, why are we not looking for a renewable energy source? I feel it is important that we take this into consideration as we move forward.
Livingstone, G. 2016. Mapuche community in Argentina fights fracking site. Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36892770
BBCNews. 2016. What is fracking and why is it controversial? Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-14432401
When the Congressman discussed not being able to stop production because of what the country "needed," I am immediately reminded of utilitarianism in the distributive social justice model. It is so frightening how quickly the government can dismiss the legitimate needs of people to have clean access to water, to be able to raise a sustainable livelihood on the land they live on, and to not become ill from ill effects of environmental practices. You raise a good point, Alisha, when you bring up how we enjoy the effects of this through lower fuel prices (and now hopefully I will think of fracking when my gas bill is $4 lower) but what is the ultimate cost? Will it completely deplete our world of resources in twenty years from now, and what effect on quality of life, longevity, and mortality might it ultimately have?
ReplyDeleteAlice TankoSeptember 7, 2016 at 7:27 PM
ReplyDeleteAlice Tanko
September 7th, 2016 at 11:00 pm Topic: Child Labor in India
I came across Child Labor:India’s Hidden Shame as I was looking for resources for my blog and decided to base my research on it.
The article analyses the story of 13 year old orphaned girl who was kidnapped and forced in to becoming a housemaid. She recalls that she was sexually abused by the men who that kidnapped her, she did not tell anyone out of fear and shame of losing her dignity in the village, when a girl is rapped in India, it is assumed that is her fault and it will bring shame not only to her but the entire family. Her family could not afford to go and look for her so she was enslaved for four years until the police found and rescued her. It was noted that little girls especially girls from poor families get kidnaped by the rich by offering them things that they cannot afford to have because of poverty. They are then, abused and forced in to child labour by their kidnappers, the worst is that they do not get paid for their hard work.
We talked about the fundamental human rights in class and in our text readings, it is easy to use certain gifts to entice and kidnap gils from the lower class in India because of the need to have those fundamental rights. Their families cannot afford to give the right to have clean clothes, shoes, good food, and a safe environment to live in. This is the reason why they quickly follow an adult who promises to provide those things not knowing that it is a trap. It is good that there a rehabilitation place to girls who have been rescued from such violations of human rights, it is terrible that a 13 years old girl would locked up in a house for fours years laboring without a break.Lakshmi had mentioned to the police that she was been yelled at and beaten whenever she was caught taking a break. Article 5 of the Universal Declaration Of Human Rights ”No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel,inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.” Everyone should be able to enjoy these rights, no human rich or poor, should be treated in such an worthy manner. I think that since the government of India hasn’t really done anything about this violations; parents need to teach their young girls to avoid receiving gifts from strangers and have stay inside the house when parents are out working on the farm. This awareness might reduce the number of rape and kidnaps of little girls that take place India.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-25947984
http://www.globalresearch.ca/empowering-terrorism-to-stop-terrorism-americas-foreign-policy-in-syria-summed-up-in-three-headlines/5544020?utm_campaign=magnet&utm_source=article_page&utm_medium=related_articles
ReplyDeleteIn terrorism this week I began with a reflection of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center to ask ‘Why do terrorists terrorize?’ Horrid acts of mass murder couldn’t possibly influence regular people to accept ideologies that lead to such atrocities, but I’m not sure that matters. I came across several definitions of terrorism. The U.S. Defense Department, the FBI, and the U.S. State Department uses similar definitions with more varied definitions outside the U.S. The common theme in defining terrorism is violence intended to instill fear in order to intimidate and coerce governments or societies for the purpose of obtaining goals that are generally religious, ideological, or political. The global aspect of terrorism then is to exert influence beyond the immediate target of a terrorist act. This influence of fear could be exerted as a physical, financial, technological, or psychological threat.
The article I chose is critical of U.S. foreign policy in Syria. The Arab spring failed to spring the Assad regime from power. Syria has been in the throes of a complex and confusing civil war in which the U.S. strongly opposes the Assad regime. It has been very difficult to discern just what is U.S. policy in Syria. The U.S. is in a complicated position of supporting terrorist factions in order to defeat Assad. But to whose succession? The article uses three headlines to sum up U.S. policy in Syria: How the U.S. can Win in Syria which supports arming rebel factions, Syria’s Message to Tourists: Come Back Enjoy Our Beaches which speaks to the psychological aspect of a normalcy returning to Syria, and Kurds Fear U.S. will Again Betray Them in Syria demonstrates questionable humanitarian motives as opposed to the self-interests of the U.S. The article claims that the U.S. is intentionally perpetuating extremism in the region and intends to turn Syria into a failed state as happened in Libya. It is unclear what the goal is with opposing the Assad regime with only worse in line to succeed. As Syria is torn asunder, it may become more difficult to defend U.S. policy on humanitarian grounds ("Empowering," 2016).
References
Empowering terrorism to stop terrorism:America’s foreign policy summed up in three headlines. (2016, September 2). GlobalResearch. Retrieved from http://www.globalresearch.ca/empowering-terrorism-to-stop-terrorism-americas-foreign-policy-in-syria-summed-up-in-three-headlines/5544020?utm_campaign=magnet&utm_source=article_page&utm_medium=related_articles
What is terrorism. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.terrorism-research.com/
lice Tanko
ReplyDeleteSWK615
September 20,2016
Topic: Child labour in India
When search for this weeks’ article, I came across this article heading about the amended child labour’s bill in India. So I decided to base my research on it.
The main article illustrates the UN dissatisfaction by the amended Child Labour Bill in India. The bill prohibits employer from hiring children under 14 years unless they are helping in family owned businesses and fails to develop realistic ways to protect children from being sold into underground forced labour.
The UN according to the article is concerned that some types of child labour may go unnoticed and the most vulnerable and marginalized children will end up not having access to education which is already an issue of concern among the poor. It is a good thing that the UN is involved in fighting to protect children from underground forced labour because it shows that this is not just an India problem. But It is indeed a global issue so,the united nations is joining heads with Indian advocates to see that certain phrases are removed from the bill.
Certain parts of the article reminded me of our class discussions about child trafficking. I noted that child labour increased in the urban areas. The book Not for Sale describes how children and adults are lured to the cities with promises of providing them with jobs,education, and good lives, only for them to be subjected slavery. The children end up being separated from their families and forced into hard labour,sexual, and physical abuse. laws are supposed to protect human rights, but of what use are laws if they do not make provisions to protect and enforce human rights? What difference is the difference between laboring for an employer and laboring for family? The Indian child labour bill cannot be fair if it does not prohibit children from working on family farms performing hard duties such, tobacco rolling, carpet waving, cotton fields etc. Knowledge they say, is power, there should be provision for children of the lower class in India to have access to affordable education. When they are educated, they will educate their own child, have access to good job opportunities, and child labour will be reduced.
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/concerned-by-amended-child-labour-bill-in-india-un-2939831/