Mexico: Guns from the Us, not illegal immigrants, are real problem

Mexican foreign minister said that violence in the United States is not related to illegal Mexican immigrants, but vast weapons from the United States is making public peace in Mexico worse. From this Mexican foreign minister said that Mexico try to stop the flow of weapon from the United States. Since 2006, Mexican governments has seized over 85,000 weapons in Mexico. And also She insisted that immigrants from Mexico are not related to “serious crime”, by pointing of the dramatic drop in the crime rates in New York City and Los Angels - there are two largest Latino populations areas, and in Arizona, which borders on Mexico.



There are two big drug cartel in Mexico, and they cause serious problems not also in Mexico but also in the world today. Mexico imports many guns from the US, but actually, most of the guns are used by the drug cartel. Maybe Mexican Government tries to stop the flow of guns from the US in order to decrease the amount of guns to the drug cartel. Certainly, the guns from the US is related to the violence in Mexico.However, I think even if government stops importing guns from the US, drug cartel have many routes to get guns illegally all over the world. Therefore this action will not be effective to stop growing problems in Mexico.

French unions strike over pension reforms

France’s eight leading trade unions Thursday held their second day of strikes this month. They demonstrated against government pension reforms, including the retirement age. According to The Interior Ministry, the number of the people protested in the demonstrations was near a million. But Unions still hoped to bring more people to Thursday’s demonstration. A bill was passed last week by France's National Assembly to raise the national retirement age from 60 to 62, and to relieve the financial burden on the pension system. But the bill must pass the Senate to become law. Some concessions were seen in the bill, including allowing some people in labor-intensive or dangerous jobs to retire at age 60. Unions were hoping Thursday's strikes would result in more concessions. But the government has made clear it will not compromise with the main idea of the bill.
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My points of view

This situation has really put French government to a test. On one hand, many people are not satisfied with the passage of raising the retirement age. On the other hand, the government's pension system is almost in deficit. What the government have to do now is to estabilish new law. However, before the government take something good from the hands of its people, they should also give back something good. Accordingly, concessions are necessary and the Unions must do ,within its power, whatever to ask the people to make the government concess.


http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/09/23/france.strikes/index.html?iref=allsearch

Italy: Muslims appeal to president over 'discrimination' in north

Muslims from the north of Italy wrote a letter to the President of the country, Giorgo Napolitano, asking him to intervene to help solve the problems of discrimination that affects them because of the anti-inmigrant policies of the Northern League Party, that treats them as "second-class citizens". A lack of mosques, their traditional food are just a few examples of violation of their constitutional rights.

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Personally, I think that this type of issue is more important that it might look like. When we are talking about constitutional rights, tolerance and respect for the different cultures that coexist together, there is no better option than justice. If Italy has muslim citizens, they should be respected as they deserve. Basic things like mosques or proper food (they don't eat pork) must be available for them. It is fair and correct to provide them the basic tools they need so they can live as good as any other italian citizen, regardless of the policies that some party might have.

Police Expenses for Summit Security

OTTAWA — Canadians were amazed to learn that hosting the world’s leaders at back-to-back summit meetings on a weekend in June cost more than $1 billion, most of it for security. Their surprise was renewed this week when newly released documents provided a glimpse into how the police had managed to spend so much money in so little time.

The information provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to an opposition member of Parliament accounted for only about one-sixth of the overall cost of the summit meetings. But it included a wide array of unexpected or expensive items.

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My opinion

It is an excellent movement what Canada did but, it is really make us shocked, no body imagine this amount of money spent in few days. However, we talk about security and save the important politicians and their companion. So, it is really worth this titanic amount of money. Also, Canada is considered one of the countries that has good relationships with most countries of the world. It 'd rather lose this reputation if something happen.


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/25/world/americas/25canada.html?_r=1&ref=canada

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told reporters Friday.

The Iranian President said that his country is ready to discuss with The P5 about the nuclear program. The countries include Germany, and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, Britain, France, China, and Russia. The Iranian President said also they supposed to be ready for October to talk. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that he would like to discuss with The United States about the war in Afghanistan if The US is ready to discuss with his country."If they show conditions are ripe and are ready to hear the reality of Afghanistan, we are ready to sit with them on Afghanistan," he said.

The evolution of the Iranian nuclear program actually is very controversial. It's clear that the Iranian government is trying to have time in order to reach its goal. The international community is trying to press Iran to stop its program. The latest decision of Russia to refuse to sell weapons to Iran and the decision of China to support sanctions against Iran is the sign of the determination of the P5 to put Iran under pressure. Iran has no choice than cooperate or try to show a volunteer of cooperation in order to get the veto of its allies in case of a military option.

German Catholic Bishops Say Church Must Discuss Taboos and Compensate Abuse Victims (By Nelson Salgado)

Archbishop Robert Zollits

(Image courtesy of Deutsche Welle)

Today was held the conclusion of the autumn plenary assembly of the German Bishops' Conference in Fulda, Hesse, Central Germany. The head of the Catholic Church in Germany Archbishop Robert Zollisht made some declarations as part of the conclusion of this meeting. "Issues about awkward subjects in the area of sexuality must be discussed. The vow of celibacy or the receiving of the sacrament by divorcees are examples of these taboos". These were some of the words of the ecclesiastical authority.

During the conference he also confirmed that the German Catholic Church is willing to pay compensations to victims of clerical sexual abuse. This pronouncement occurs after the disclosure of hundreds of sexual abuse and pedophilia cases within the Catholic Church during the last year.

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In My Opinion...

A wave of sexual abuses and pedophilia scandals have whipped the Catholic Church in countries such as Mexico, the United States or Germany along these last two years and especially during 2009 in the Teuton nation. Decades ago, these denounces would have never be revealed if it is considered the huge influence that Catholic Church exercises (and keep exercising in some countries) on the public opinion and press.
These pronouncements of sexual abuse victims have provoked that more than one questions the necessity of "modernizing" some archaic customs within the structure of catholicism. I agree with the argument that these sexual assaults are in part motivated for the bad canalization of the sexuality's lack in priests and other ecclesiastical authorities who must practice the vow of celibacy. If they were allowed to develop a healthy sexual life or having a couple, it could at least prevent some cases like these. Catholic Church still keeps reluctant to change, it seems there is no near future for this initiative.

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If you want to read the entire article please visit the website:

 http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6042767,00.html

London enhance the terrorist attack risk concerning northern Ireland

The level of alertness concerning the risk of terrorist attacks because of the situation in northern Ireland passed from "moderated" to "important".It is the third step on a five step scale.It means that a terrosrist attack strongly possible following The British Minister of Interior, Theresa May.This is the first time that the ministry publish this level of emergency concerning northern Ireland.They declared that the objective is to be transparent with the population. "I want the population to report any susppect event to help the police and the security services in the accomplishment of their job" declare Mrs May

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Even if the northern Ireland problem has officially ended on 2007,some terrorist attacks keep occuring.So the way Mrs May react by letting the population know about the emergency of the situation has both a good and a bad effect.the good effect is that,as Mrs May said, It helps the security services finding any potential terrorists.the bad effect is that telling to the population that the state is in emergency can establish terror and panic within the state

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Britain-raises-level-of-terrorist-threat-from-Northern-Ireland-103780199.html

Turkey, Israel Still `Friends' Following Dispute Over Aid Ships, Gul Says by Elea Ortega

Turkey and Israel are talking about their government relationship and they're saying that their friends but their not enemies.

“I must emphasize that Turkey and Israel are friends,” Gul said at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York today. “There are strong, centuries-old ties of friendships between our people, and Turkey was one of the first countries to recognize Israel in 1949.” According to the article.

----------------------------------------- My opinion about it -----------------------------------------------

My opinion about this article is that israel and Turkey are saying that they're friends just to fool the press, but in reality they are not. The most recent event deals with Turkish aid ships which were attacked by Israeli soldiers. Israel claims that the ships were in violation of international law. I think Peace is best achieved when when people do not use violence tactics. The countries will continue to argue when they continue to use violence.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-24/turkey-israel-still-friends-following-dispute-over-aid-ships-gul-says.html

Solutions!

JAPAN VS CHINA

Tokyo, Japan (CNN) –
China's military puts the scare into Japan, and the U.S. is a key to keeping peace in the region, "The lack of transparency in Chinese national defense policies and the direction of military power are a concern for the region and the international community. Conflicting claims to territorial waters and islands - and the natural resources that go with them - are one of the Asia-Pacific region's flashpoints. China disputes most of its neighbors' claims and claims nearly the entire South China Sea as its own. Japan and China are currently involved in a conflict over a Chinese trawler that collided with Japanese patrol ships Tuesday off the disputed Diaoyu Islands, in the East China Sea. The Japanese coast guard arrested the trawler's captain and the ship. China will never accept the Japanese side's applying domestic law to the Chinese fishing boat operating in that area," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu, according to state-run media. Japan's handling was "absurd, illegal and invalid. The Japanese defense white paper also focused on the role of the U.S. military in protecting Japan from possible attack. In that role, the U.S. military is best positioned on.
These kinds of issues are always happen between two countries who share territorial waters which may cause noisy political conflicts. However, China tries to scare Japan to avoid further action like this. Moreover, showing the power is not a good way to solve this problem due to many consequences if that happened, one of them is economy collapsing in all world because these two countries is considered leaders countries. In contrast, China are so conservative about the military power, they will not involve in war with no positive income. Furthermore, U.S military will take care of Japan territory according the U.S – Japan alliance. Finally, best solution to solve his issue is China should claim the Japanese side to release blocked Chinese ship and crew members and ensure their safety and signing a treaty involving the preservation of the integrity of territorial waters between them.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/09/10/japan.china.paper/index.html

European Commission Warns France About Treatment of Migrants

European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, on Tuesday admonished France to comply with European law in its treatment with migrants who have been forced to leave France. A commission document said last week that France failed to abide by European legislation which is designed to assure bloc’s citizens of free movement and each E.U member is asked to adopted this law to its legislation. However, the result in France was “not satisfactory”. The expulsions would be legal only when certain conditions were met. The number of Romanian and Bulgarian Roma that has been expelled so far is over 8,300. Some left willingly after they got paid. The commissioner guarantee to set up a Roma Task Force to report and analyze how European governments are helping the Roma become integrated. Roma is the largest ethnic minority group in the European Union, with a population of 10 to 12 million. A survey in 2009 showed that half of all Roma respondents had been discriminated in the year before and one-fifth the victim of a racially motivated crime.

France is considered as one of the most democratic countries in the world, and it shouldn’t have exercise expulsion of Roma within its territory. Besides, France has agreed European legislation, so it must do its best to abide by the law to assure every life of his or her prosperity, even if that person is from a minority group. It is necessary for the commissioner to intervene in this situation, since France is less likely to stop the expulsion. What the commissioner has to do is not only to ask its members to help Roma integrate, but also to take strong step to require France to be cooperative. Otherwise, European legislation would lose its place, and there’s no need to build up the legislation.

US preparing massive arms deal for Saudi Araba, defense official says (Genshu)

The Obama administration is preparing plans to sell $60 billion of military equipment to Saudi Arabia. The proposal has not yet been sent to the Capitol Hill, and the amount of army equipment is not certain, but it is said of “enormous.” It is supposed that Saudi Arabia is directed against Iran. The Obama administration plans to send the proposal no later than next week. If the proposal is passed, the army sales will be the largest scale, and lots of new jobs will be created in the United States. On the other hand, it is feared that the current balance in Middle East would be upset.



I think there is a conflict between the Realism and Idealism. In terms of the United States, many new jobs are created and the economy will be recovering from bad army sales due to recent economic recession. On the other hand, the Middle East holds many problems, for example peace making between Israel and Palestine, conflicts in Yemen, and development of nuclear weapon in Iran. The proposal of army sales might lead to a worse relation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and cause more serious tense in the Middle East and the international situation. That is why I think the Capital Hill should discuss this problem seriously.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/09/13/us.saudi.arms.deal/index.html?iref=allsearch

Gillard sworn in as Australian Prime Minister

Australia's Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been sworn into office, making her the first woman elected to the post in the nation's history.

"I, Julia Eileen Gillard, do solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that I will loyally serve the Commonwealth of Australia in the office of prime minister," she said in the ceremony in the Australian capital, Canberra.

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This kind of changes are the ones we need most. Expanding the point of view in politics into a new whole atmosphere, Julia Gillard will become one of the few women in history in take charge of a country. I'm sure that in Australia people will start feel and think that it's definitely for the best, even when her election was narrow and represented by a tiny majority. Is not only about women reaching power, it is more about fairness, opportunities and a new angle to see International Relations, where women's opinion has not really been heard until now.

China's military worrisome

Japan Defense Ministry is worrying about the lack of transparency in China national defense policies and the direction of China military power. The ministry said that it's a great concern for the security for The Asian region and the international community.The report also cites unsettling moves by Chinese submarines and destroyers.Conflicting claims to territorial waters and islands -- and the natural resources that go with them -- are one of the Asia-Pacific region's flash-points. China disputes most of its neighbors' claims and claims nearly the entire South China Sea as its own. Officials said that The US is key in protecting Japan against any attack.

The emergence of China as the second economy after the United States and the decline of Japan economy growth plays a fundamental role in power balance in the Asian region. China is seeking for military power for securing its growth and to capture natural resources in the Asian area. This is a situation that Japan won't accept but Japan can be the loser in this battle anyway. Japan 's security depends on US military power, and it's clear that the influence of China in Asian region can weaken US influence in this region. Even if China decides to control the Island, Japan can protest and Japan will accept but Japan won't wage war against China, either the US. Economic power and capabilities of China will be the leverage that China can use to contain the US in supporting Japan even these two countries are allies. The big question in this problem is the race for military power in the region to counter balance China influence between India, Japan and US.
We can imagine a race for nuclear weapons and nuclear submarines by all the countries in the Asian region. The aggressiveness of China is also a big issue in the area. There is a new slogan that Pekin is using: China will protect its vital interest wherever they are. In this anarchy world, this kind of issues can affect the world stability.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/09/10/japan.china.paper/index.html?iref=obinsite

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1.03.01

Journalism Review - Protests Against Alleged Desecration of the Koran in the US Took Place Across Jammu and Kashmir (By Nelson Salgado)

Indian-administered Kashmir becomes the stage of rancors and disputes once again. The morning of this Monday September 13th, several violent manifestations took place all over the Jammu and Kashmir territory which were motivated for the announce of a church in Florida, United States, to burn copies of the Koran during the 9th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York and The Pentagon.

Defying a curfew imposed for the authorities, people went out to the streets to manifest their complaint against the United States and the Indian Government. The result: government institutions and Christian schools were set on fire and eighteen civilians died because of the intentions of the police to calm down the situation. About a hundred of people resulted wounded.

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In my Opinion...

A combination of factors is the motivation for these manifestations. The Indian Government is seen like a dictatorial authority for the Muslim population in Indian-administered Kashmir, specially for those who integrate separatist groups. This is one of the main causes that always provoke this kind of violence in the region. The solution for this conflict seems to be so far from find it; but the violence is not the answer. The only choice is start all over again and establish the foundations for a dialog between the parts involved: both government and its detractors.

In addition, the Anti-American sentiment spreads more and more through the Islamic world and pronouncements  like the Florida's church declarations, just feed rancor feelings against the United States all over the world. This verify the thesis that the hate is only able to generate more hate. "Respect" is the key. If we keep generalizing and stereotyping the people we are going to turn out ourselves victims of our own ignorance.

A British minister spy on his own party members. Hamadoun Issabre

Jonathan Djanogly, the conservative Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice,admitted employing private agents to spy on his local party members. He pretend to react to "malicious, anonymous attacks on [his] family" and to "find out the sources" .Last summer, he was accused to have breached Commons rules by claiming improperly over than £20,000 to clean his house and take care of his two children. One of the target of Mr Djanogly,Council Derek Holley, declared : 'I've spent 34 years in local politics and I am angry that I've been investigated behind my back.he also called on the minister to "consider his position in goverment.He has paid for the investigations his self andrecognise that he has overreacted.The prime minister David Cameron declared that he retains confidence in Mr Djanogly and that he is gonna be judged on his performance as a Minister.

by Hamadoun Issabre

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I completely agree with the fact that Mr Djanogly has overreacted.I can understand that the accusation are serious but it cannot at all explain this reaction.He denied the facts and then payed about £6000 the investigators to see where the information is from "in his entourage" ,that imply that there is a part of truth in it.If It is true,i can't just understand how a millionaire , son of a self made millionaire needs to make money on the back of honest citizens.moreover,a minister who spy on his own colleagues ,that is maybe not very reassuring for the electors.

UN Rights Chief Hits Russia on Murders (Elea)

GENEVA — The United Nations' human rights chief criticized Russia on Monday for failing to bring to justice the killers of journalists and rights campaigners. UN officials said Navi Pillay's strong remarks, in which she also rapped Azerbaijan and Belarus, marked a ratcheting up of her determination to point to alleged abuses wherever they occurred. Civil society groups have been hit by laws and other measures restricting their action in many states, including Belarus, she said.

I agree with the fact that the United Nation's human rights chief criticized Russia, for not bringing to justice the killers of journalists and rights campaigners, because in my opinion, I consider we have to bring to justice, every big mistake of that magnitude, for example in this situation of murder innocent people. This is the reason why countries are they way they are, with corruption, and in this situation they don't do anything. The people who make huge mistakes should be punished.

You can read the complete news at www.themoscowtimes.com or copy and paste in your browser this link below :)

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/un-rights-chief-hits-russia-on-murders/415773.html

WELCOME to our class blog (and your first assignment)

Journalism Review Assignments

Objectives--In order to familiarize yourself with current events in international relations, you will be required throughout this semester to find relevant news stories about either of your two assigned countries from English-language news organizations.  These exercises will require you to search for, read, understand, summarize, share, think about, and comment on articles.

Instructions--From any of the English-language news organizations' websites listed below, find a current story (no older than 7 days ago) about one of your two assigned countries.  Advice:  An article that includes one of your assigned countries and another student's assigned country would be especially relevant.

Read, think about, and summarize the artice in one paragraph (minimum 5 sentences), and state your own opinion about the article's content in another paragraph (minimum 5 sentences).  On the class blog, post your summary with a link to your article.  DEADLINE FOR POSTING = Tuesday 14-Sep. at 2:30 pm.

The New York Times - World

BBC News - World

CNN - World

Also, search to see if your assigned countries have an important English-language daily newspaper that has a website.  These might also be good sources for possible articles.