Russians Retaliate

The article can be found here.

So, what happens now? Russia decided to retaliate against our actions. We released a sanction against some of the Russian government officials, so they decided to do the same to us. They released their own sanction saying that certain officials of our government could not come into Russia. They also released a statement about how they feel about what we did. They degrade our actions, and say that we took them from "the arsenal of the past," and many things like that.

I do not have the full information, so I do not automatically want to jump in and declare Russia is terrible for saying and doing what they did. However, the fact that they actually did that is what frightens me. How many times have we seen siblings get in fights and do things just to spite the other sibling, no matter where the injustice was committed? Did any of them end well? I think that the emotions of everyone need to cool down so that there are no explosions (pardon the pun) because of the conflict going on in Ukraine right now.

China shows signs of real estate distress

The article can be found here.

This article talks about how one real estate business has declared that they will not be able to pay back their debts and will be going bankrupt. This is not good news for the economy. It shows that companies not only can go back on these promises, but that the market is not good enough to stimulate the homes that they are selling. Hopefully other businesses will be smarter in how they borrow and spend money so that the market can continue to improve.

I think that it is a very interesting concept, going bankrupt. You just say, "Sorry, I can't pay my debts! I guess I'll just . . . not do it!" I think that if you get in debt, somebody has to pay it, and the government most certainly is not in a position to do so. Also, I think that China's economy needs all of the help that it can get. I hope that they continue to go more and more towards capitalism, and to let their economy grow. That is so important for countries to do, because in the world today, money is a huge driving force. This growth is important for the development of their country, and it will be interesting to see how they react to losses such as this and pressures for a more open market.

Russians to be forced out of Crimea

The article can be found here.

There has been quite a bit of uproar in Ukraine right now, and if you didn't know that then you really have not been paying attention to what is going on. Ukraine is now asking the UN to declare Crimea a demilitarized zone, much like there is between North and South Korea, as well as around Israel. They are not only forcing the Russians to leave, but they are also going to make it so that if you want to get into the Ukraine you will need the proper visa identification.

I support Ukraine in this decision. The tension over there right now is insane, and it will be very interesting and possibly world changing to see what happens in the coming months and years. Ukraine needs to make a stance, and we need to back up what is right. I'm not sure what all of the sides are saying, so I need more information. Russia needs to not take over Ukraine. Right now it is seeming very "Cold-war-esque" and that is frightening, given the ramifications of that statement.

Iran and China to work together on nuclear talks

The article is here.

This article talks about how China is ready to push forward the nuclear talks concerning Iran. They will be meeting with the 5+1 group (The regular 5 members of the UN security council plus Germany) to discuss further about the nuclear development in Iran. Currently they have had to cut back on them. It will be interesting to see how these talks go.

I do not want to trust Iran with nuclear weapons. Considering what we saw on Argo I don't think that there is a question of why. Iran right now is still a radical developing country, who is very against us, and I would not want to put that sort of power into their hands. If that much power is put into anyone's hand who is radical, no matter who they are, then it is an extremely dangerous situation for everyone.

British Council Tax May Be Rethought

The article can be found here. 

This article talks about a certain tax in Britain. Actually, it focuses on a tax reduction for people who live alone and who are wealthy. The article states that they have lost 200m pounds per year that this tax reduction has been granted. The main focus of the article, however, is the juxtaposition to the wealthy and their tax reductions and the poor people who can not provide for themselves but may be denied a tax reduction. They are calling for those people who are wealthy to provide more for the people who cannot provide for themselves by raising the tax they "aren't" paying.

I agree with this article. I think that it is extremely unjust that people who live alone and are wealthy should get tax cuts when people who don't even have a home can't pay their taxes, so they have to go on to welfare. I think that this is universal not only to Britain but to the world! If we were more conscious and had wealthy people contribute more (I am not saying we necessarily need to tax the wealthy tons, but they shouldn't receive special attention or cuts just because of the amount of money that they are making) to the world then we could have more money to provide for those people who need more for themselves because they simply cannot provide it.

Mexico Drug Cartel Leader Dies . . .Again

The article can be found here.

This article talks about Nazario Moreno, a drug lord who had been "killed" three to four years ago. However his body was never found, and rumors spread that he was still alive. The people that he led kind of worshiped him as they would a saint. Statues were erected in his name, and he was revered by the Knights Templar gang. Moreno was the person identified as being killed in a recent shootout with the government. But why is this even an issue in Mexico?

There are two reasons that I bring this up. First of all, why didn't they confirm his death the first time? Why did they just proclaim him dead, and think that was good enough, even though they didn't have his body? That seems extremely lazy, and neglectful considering he was a leader in the area. It is concerning to see how little the Mexican government/police force can and can't do. The second reason is because of his influence. He is so revered among the people that he had statues. Statues. That is frightening that someone with that position could receive honors like that. I think that Mexico needs to be more strict and put an end to the corruption in their government and society. It has been a long tradition in Mexico, and some traditions just need to end.

Whippings in Nigeria

The article can be found here. 

This article is a small article on some whippings that happened in Nigeria. Why did they happen? Well, four men were accused and confessed (although they were beaten during the interrogations process) to having same-sex relationships. An angry crowd actually asked for the death sentence to be given to these men, but the judge said that "[The] offenses had taken place a long time ago, and the men had repented." This is why he ordered a simple whipping instead of the death sentence. 

I think that this sort of action is horrendous. I will be the first to stand up and say that I do not support homosexuality, and I am on the "unpopular" side of all of the current issues. But I also do not think that treatment like this is warranted. Whipping? While it is true that Nigeria is not as developed as we are, it still makes me very sad that the divide between societal beliefs is wide enough to warrant a whipping of people, and even then only because a merciful judge was appeasing a people who wanted to kill them. It is tough to see things in the world like this and not jump to our feet and help, but sometimes you need to sit back and watch, guiding as much as you can, and only step in when it is necessary. Am I saying these men didn't deserve help? No. But the sad truth is that we can't help everyone, regardless of race, religion, beliefs, etc. We just do our best and keep helping as many as possible. 

NSA Looking To Store Phone Data With Third Parties

The article can be found here.

In this article, we read about how the NSA is wanting to possibly shift the storing of all of the phone data to third parties. In fact, they would like to push it to the phone companies themselves to store the data. However, they still want to be able to exploit that data. The phone companies are fighting against this, as they do not want to store data any longer than their company usually does. The NSA is worried that many of its procedures will shut down in coming years, and so this is why they are looking to change some of their system.

I have a problem with the NSA looking into my information at all. I recognize that they are trying to do something good, but I also think that America, a nation that was founded on freedom from the oppression of government, should not become a place where everything about your phone records is open to the government's prying eye. I also do not like the thought of "big brother" constantly looking over my shoulder, and going through my things. If any of you have read 1984, you can see how truly frightening that prospect is. Now, am I saying that we are living in a place that is analogous to 1984? Definitely not. I am merely saying that as we lose freedoms, the influence of the government in our lives will get bigger and bigger. We need to hold on to our freedoms as much as possible.

Temporary Stay Granted To Utah

The article can be found here.

What this article talks about pertains a lot to what we were talking about in class. One of the biggest topics in the nation (and definitely Utah) is the fact that a judge ruled that gay marriage was legal in Utah. This came as a shock to many people, because Utah was a very unlikely candidate for this quickly legalizing gay marriage. However, it did happen. In a crazy couple of weeks, Utah scrambled, and did happen to receive a stay from the Supreme Court. That is what this article talks about. However, what this will actually result in is still a toss-up. Utah has to go and appeal the case in a 10th circuit court, and we will just have to wait and see what happens.

I am very glad that they received this stay. I know that it is possible it may not change anything, but I think that they do deserve to appeal. I will be very honest in saying that I am against gay marriage. I recognize that this belief is quickly becoming unpopular, especially outside of Utah, but I will stand by it. I just hope that during this whole appeal, and the courts' decisions and rulings, that we will be able to peacefully resolve the conflict.

New Permits Could Harm Eagles

The article is here.

What this article talks about is a permit that the United States is moving forward on passing, which would allow builders of wind farms and other projects to last longer, and still have accidental eagle deaths. So, why is this such a problem? The eagle is a symbol of our country. They are endangered animals. But, no matter what animal it is, we do not want to allow too many accidental deaths. The problem is that we, as a human race, are expanding and needing more energy to run our usual lives. This means that we need to dip into the environment's pool of available space and habitats to make room for us. This is how eagles, and other animals, are accidentally killed due to the expansionism of people.

What do I think about this? I'll be honest, I am not one of the people who freaks out every time a tree is cut down, or an animal is killed. I am not saying, in any way, that I am against environmentalism. I think that there are ways for us to expand and get the resources that we need, while at the same time preserving the environment. The land that we live on deserves our respect, and we need to make sure and try to keep it as safe as possible. The eagle is a special symbol of our country. However, in this article it also talks about how these projects need to come up with plans to try and minimize accidental eagle deaths. I think that if we do our best, and continually revise plans to save eagles, and other animals, then we can expand. To a point. We need the environment we live on as much as we need the space for new energy projects. Expanding can be necessary, but I think that as many innovations as possible, to conserve space and help produce more energy efficiently, should be the direction that we head.

Marijuana and its Effects

The article is here.

As marijuana is becoming legal in some states (right now just Colorado, with Washington following later this year), the question comes up: what does marijuana do? What are the effects of this drug. The truth, according to this article, is frightening. Marijuana creates a high because of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), which goes from your blood stream into the brain, and there attaches to nerve cells in high-density areas. These areas can include important functions such as "Memory, thinking, concentration, feelings of pleasure, coordination and movement, and sensory and time perception." So, these are the functions that are affected by marijuana. That is what is frightening. These are the basic functions that we need in order to perform well in life. The short term effects according to the Washington Post are, "a rapid heart rate, increased blood pressure, red eyes, dry mouth, increased appetite and slowed reaction time." Long-term usage has also been shown to effect your body, and "Has been linked to impaired thinking, memory problems, panic attacks and other psychological issues. There have also been studies showing a weakened immune system and, for those who smoke the drug, impaired lung function."

So, why did I post about this? The reason I did is because I disagree with the legalization of marijuana as a recreational drug. The fact that it is a gateway drug is one of the most frightening facts of all, and now that it is legal I worry that more drug abuse will become a prevalent part of our society. However, just because I disagree with its recreational legalization does not mean that I disagree with its medicinal legalization. Already twenty states, as well as the District, have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. I think that it can be very helpful in this way. The fact is, good or bad, it can create a high that helps with pain. So, why not use it responsibly to help people? That is how I think it should be legalized. That way, under a doctor's care, you can receive treatments. With recreational legalization I can see too many people abusing the drug, which would have a negative effect not only on themselves, but also on society.

Deportation Causing Upheaval in Children's Lives

The article is here.

This article explains the effects of deportation on children in the United States. The problem is that many people who came into the country illegally are raising children here who are U.S. citizens. So, what happens if the parents are sent back to their country? What happens to the children? How would you feel if your parent was taken away from you? Many kids said that they cried more often, and were more fearful. Some were more aggressive and angry. Many experienced changes in their diet and sleeping habits. These children's lives are getting turned upside down. Many programs are trying to be as careful and lenient with them and their parents to try and not destroy the kid's lives. But, can it really be done? Is it  lawful to treat the parents differently?

This is a large problem in America. Immigration has been a fight for quite a while. I am not 100% sure what my view is, but isn't America supposed to be a place where we accept people into our country regardless of race? When did we become extremely closed down to all of the outside world, as far as our country is concerned? I do see a problem with the people who come and take advantage of our system, but that isn't everyone. I think that we need to be a little more open, and to change our laws so that we can include as many people in our country as possible. We want more children in America, so that we can grow! Growth in America can help us not only grow in population, but also to grow in developments and technologies, because of the new ideas generated by the rising generation.