The second major typhoon in a month hit Japan last week. In fact, Typhoon Talas, which arrived on September 2^nd , left Japan with 106 people dead or missing, the worst toll in decades. On Thursday 22^nd, the Typhoon Roke also moved away leaving in the country at least 16 dead or missing because of the storm. Most victims swept away by the overflowed rivers in the southern and central regions. The typhoon caused landslides and flooding, bringing new misery to the zone that had also being affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Transportation was deeply affected and left Tokyo without subways, commuter and bullet trains and airline service temporarily what made the evacuation measures that were taken for more than one million people across the main island even more difficult. Roke threatened to take over the Fukushima plant, which was deeply affected by the events on March 11^th, what would have meant great risk of nuclear contamination but the typhoon finally passed through without major damage.

Even if there were fewer victims than in this year’s two previous events, the whole population was emotionally touched. Japan had already taken measures to try to prevent greater damages from the unfortunate but possible future catastrophes but we can see that it may not be enough. The problem is that it is really difficult to bypass without damages from a natural catastrophe like those ones and the state needs expensive new technologies and international help. Therefore, as Japan is an industrialized country it seems less important than when it happens to poorer countries, where I agree that in those cases the consequences are worse, but we have to keep in mind that Japan has suffered three of those big events in about six months what deeply harms the country and its resources.

Article for the New York Times by Martin Fackler

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/22/world/asia/typhoon-roke-hits-japan-headed-for-stricken-nuclear-plant.html?_r=2&scp=6&sq=japan&st=cse 

First Prize for a Child in Somalia: An AK-47

It is not surprising to hear the crazy news that are happening around the world every day, but this article looks like its been taken out of a comic book or movie. Somalia, a nation which has subsisted without a functioning central government for two decades and its now divided into various groups of total loose control celebrated over the weekend a Trivia contest. Everything sounds fine at the moment right?. These contests tend to give out regular prizes: cash, iPods and even cars, but in this case, those are not quite the prizes.

A Somalian radio station run by the Shabab (the most powerful Islamist militant group in the country) ran a contest for kids from 10 to 17 years old where the prize for the first and second place winners won AK-47s (fully automatic machine guns) and the third doesnt get a simple prize, he gets two hand grenades. The winners had to answer questions related to Shabab history and leaders and facts on the Koran. This is not a surprise coming from a country where children use rifles before pens. Somalia has one of the lowest schooling rates in the world, and its militant group leaders like the Shabab encourage and enforce islamist purity. Bras, dancing and even soccer has been banned for being related to the West.

As we see, Somalia is not on track of being ''civilized'' and it is very far from it. I believe there is much more to be done, it is true they might not allow us to help them but there is got to be a way to try to get them on track. Somalia is currently suffering from famines and thousands of people have already lost their lives. Somalia needs help.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/world/africa/shabab-gives-unusual-prizes-for-somali-children-in-contest.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=somalia&st=cse

Despite crisis, Portugal improves competitiveness

Portugal has improved its competitiveness ranking against other countries, according to the World Economic Forum. Portugal is now ranked 45th in the world, and 18th out of the 27 EU countries. Portugal excelled in the categories of "Technological Readiness" and "Infrastructure" as well as receiving positive rankings for innovation, public health and education. However, Portugal's "Labor Market Efficiency" and "Macroeconomic Environment" ratings were similar to those of most Third World countries. Despite those poor ranking, Portugal received perfect positive scores for crime, theft and foreign currency regulations. The increase in competitiveness for Portugal is the first after six consecutive years of lower positions on the World Economic Forums list.

Despite Portugal's recent economic problems, they are still coming up with ways to improve their country and their outlook in the years to come. Because of their supportive public health system, education system, technological advances and infrastructure improvements, they are putting themselves in a better position to a be a largely influential country in the future. These social improvements may be very beneficial in the long run, creating an encouraging and positive environment for the Portuguese, as well as a strong economy. Compared to countries at the top of the list, such as Switzerland, Singapore and the United States, Portugal is not as competitive because of it's smaller influence of world economics. But Portugal's recent improvements have made enough of an impact to make them more competitive. While relations with labor markets and foreign countries may still need improvement, Portugal is taking steps to make it's country powerful and influential across the world. If these positive and socially-responsible steps continue into the future, Portugal will become a more important and productive country and continue to improve their competitiveness ranking throughout the world.

http://www.theportugalnews.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?id=1129-2

The Great Recession of Greece

On the 20^th of July 2011, President Barroso launched a Task Force to provide technical assistance to Greece. The purpose of the Task Force was to explore the modalities for financing a new multi-annual adjustment programme, with steps to reduce the cost of debt servicing and to improve the sustainability of Greek public debt. It will also provide quarterly progress reports to the Greek authorities and to the European Commission. These measures were required in order for Greece to receive the sixth international tranche of 110,000 million euros approved in May 2010 so as to rescue it from the crisis it suffers. Now, Greece is working on creating reforms and economic measures based on mass layoffs in the public sector, 40% cuts of civil servant´s salaries, increase in property taxes and fuel, and cuts in pensions.

Whilst Greece´s national economic situation is devastating the European bank reserves and astringent monetary measures should be imposed to revive itself from such a debt, such austere cuts only seek to drain the middle class-the sector of society that most nations depend on for economic stimulation in such times of depression. Greece should rather look to impose measures that will guarantee larger tax returns in a shorter time frame, for instance higher rates of inheritance tax, an increased tax percentage for the wealthier tax brackets and so forth. Greece should set an example by stimulating the economy throughout all of the classes whilst ensuring that the debt can be paid off quickly and thoroughly.

Pope Weathers Protests and Boycotts in First Official Visit to Germany

Thousands of people rallied in the streets of Berlin last Thursday amid Benedict XVI's first official state visit to his native land since he became Pope in 2005. Protestors demonstrated against the Roman Catholic Church views on subjects such as gay rights, the role of women in the church and scandals of sexual abuse by members of the clergy, a particularly controversial topic in Germany after a hundred of previously unreported cases of sexual abuse of children by priests were revealed last year. Benedict XVI, who was welcomed by chancellor Angela Markel and President Christian Wulff on his arrival at the airport, was also critized for his address before the German Parliament, which many of its members did not attend as a sign of protest because they considered it to violate the separation of church and state. Despite the demonstrations, more than 60,000 followers from all over the country attended the mass that the Pope celebrated in the Olympic Stadium of Berlin on Thursday night.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The fact that so many people decide to take over the streets and protest the visit of a  powerful personality should be seen as something positive because demonstrating is the product of a free society. Whoever that personality may be-a politician, a spiritual leader, an important businessman-, protest within the limits of tolerance and respect is always an enriching experience for any democratic country because people have the chance to speak out and say what they are not happy about, and to try to understand one another peacefully. Taking into consideration the recent scandals of the Catholic Church and the context of strong secularisation that Europe has experienced in the last decades, it is not too difficult to imagine why so many people in Germany decided to stand in the streets and demonstrate against what they consider is wrong.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/world/europe/a-papal-homecoming-to-a-combative-germany.html?scp=4&sq=GERMANY&st=cse

Despite Wiretaps and Economic Woe, Berlusconi Endures.

We have always known that the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, likes parties and especially young women. There are wiretaps as evidence of this, although this has not been a defeat for his government but Standard & Poor's has downgraded this week the credit rating of Italy for its concern that the government cannot get along with the economy. In response, Berlusconi blamed the media for making political judgments without evidence. The internal politics of Italy, and the media, belong to the Prime Minister, so Berlusconi has everything under control and there is no one with a high power that could replace him.

This article calls the Italian government as a “royal court,” where partners and young women give pleasure to the prince, in this case Berlusconi. It is a policy in which laws are always in government’s favor and it consists of an exchange of favors.
The opposition wants Berlusconi to resign, and a growing number of Mr. Berlusconi’s supporters want a future without this Prime Minister.

From my point of view, it makes sense that even his own supporters do not want a Prime Minister like Silvio Berlusconi, always in the media not because of his good policy but for his night outs with prostitutes.. In the words of Emma Marcegaglia, the president of Confindustria, Italy's top organization of Industrialists, "Italy is a serious country, and we're sick of being an international laughingstock”. Neither the Italian government is doing well in the crisis, which is another point against it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/21/world/europe/despite-wiretaps-and-economic-woe-berlusconi-endures.html?_r=1&ref=italy



It doest let me to comment so I will post it here.

Jose Murube/ Somalia
The childhood is made by toys, laugh, and happiness, not in weapons and war.
Because of that, I think it is normal that Somalia has the lowest schooling rates in the world as the article says.
Somalia needs a change, change that will be so hard to make it due to the culture and believes of the Somalian people.

Eduardo Mateos/ Ice hockey
Sports are hobbies, are made to have fun and desconnect from reality. If you make them a part of your life, I mean, in a profesionaly way, then it is more serious, because it becomes your job, but this does not mean that you can do whatever you want in order to win. There are rules that you have to follow, and because it is your job, you have to enjoy it instead of thinking about fighting.

French Left Takes Control of the Senate

For the first time since the Fifth Republic was founded in 1958, the Socialist Party has obtained the simple majority in the Senate elections that were celebrated last Sunday. The socialist candidate defends that those results show the disappointment of the french people with the government that Sarkozy promised when he was elected. Even though the french don’t elect the senators directly, and the change in the governement cannot show the real voter sentiment, we can assure that the left is growing and Sarkozy will not win easly the next presidential elections. The PS has until 2012 to convince the public that its leaders are serious and able to rule a country during the crisis. Meanwhile, Sarkozy and his party (UPM) continue explaining that the battle has just started.

I consider that the change was predictable. Seven years ago his administration was promising, but the gestures and promises are more than the facts. He has become the main figure of the french managment and his personal life has been criticized around the world. Part of his allies have been caught in different scandals or allegations of scandals, and the crisis has not helped him either. He has six months to change the image that France has of him, but since my point of view, that’s not going to be easy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/world/europe/french-left-takes-control-of-the-senate.html?_r=1&ref=world

Spain and Italy.How to save the euro.

Politicians of the European states are concern about the importance to preserve the euro, therefore a lot of effort is made by the states to keep up the euro. To preserve the euro countries must base their economy on: Austerity and pretence, and should be able to make any necessary cut in budget deficits and spending costs.

Italy and Spain are in a similar situation in the actual crisis, both are under attack because inverstors fret that they way be forced to default. But also these two countries are defined as solvent but short of liquidity.

To end up with the crisis Europe, should make a real judgement of which countries are in one side of the line and which are in the other in terms of solvent, liquidity, high risk of crash...etc.

After that and finally, countries mentioned before will have to renewed programme of structural reform and liberalisation. Freeing up services and professions, privatising companies, cutting bureaucracy and delaying retirement will make growth happen.

As we all know the actual european economy is not in its best years, unfortunately european countries are suffering a very strong economic crisis and therefore it is needed to adopt strong measures as we have mentioned. These measures will contribute to begin a new era of growth and prosperity.

http://www.economist.com/node/21529049

Turkish mortuary alarm to detect life among the dead

A Turkish local council has built a morgue that identifies if anyone has being buried alive.

This new type of morgue has a system that notices if there is any movement inside it and, in that case, it warns the cemetery workers.The Turkish Anatolia news agency reported the mortuary's refrigerators are sensitive to movement inside.

The alarm would be set off if any motion, even the slightest movement, is registered- as a cemetery official has explained; "If the patient, proclaimed dead by doctors, awakens from a state of unconsciousness, then we consider each and every possibility," he said.

This kind of morgue is also equipped with door handles inside the refrigerator, so in case anyone comes back to life, the possibility of get out from the morgue exists- as the official Akif Kayadarmus has added to the explanation of this new invention.

Although nowadays we have the autopsy to declare if anyone is dead and the reason of the death, it is more comforting to know you have a second chance in case the autospy does not work right. While I was reading this article, I found another one of just a couple days ago in which it was explained how a South African man woke up inside a mortuary and screamed to be let out : he spent almost 24 hours inside the morgue. It could happen to any of us...can you imagine how horrible would it be to feel you have nothing to do? The solution is perfect, even thought it is an extra funereal bill; I am sure I will not care if I have to pay some extra euros to make sure I do not spend my last hours buried alive.

Venezuela and Cuba support Iran’s nuclear program.

During the United Nations meeting in New York, the governments of Caracas and Havana have expressed their unconditional support to the Islamic Republic of Iran, one of the usual and most criticized targets of the majority of countries that comprise the United Nations General Assembly. Iran’s nuclear program, and its potential use for military ends, is often cited as the main cause for the immense criticism that the Persian nation arouses. However, Cuba, and especially Venezuela, have defended this week Iran’s freedom, as a sovereign country, to run a nuclear program without any external interferences, and argue that other countries such as the U.S. or Israel simply use the United Nations’ mechanisms in their own benefit to prevent other states from being economically and energetically independent.

The article shows the strength of the political alliance between Iran and the two Latin American countries, particularly Hugo Chávez’s Venezuela. It is clear that this otherwise strange strategic alliance is based on two important factors, common interests in energetic (oil) matters and mutual opposition to U.S. hegemony and to American pressures on both Caracas and Tehran. In the context of international relations, it is helpful to know about this kind of alliances and the effects they may have on regional issues, such as the increase of American support to Israel against “problematic” Muslim neighbours like Iran or the strengthening of Tehran’s role as a potential leader of Muslim states in the Middle East.

Ice Hockey: Sports vs. Violence

Jody Shelley is a professional hokey player who became famous thanks to fighting in the ice as part of the game. Now he considers what his career would be without fighting and notices that he would not probably be as known as he is. This made him think about the development of the sport of hockey and came to the conclusion that lately there has been a big interest on the fighting part of the sport, even to the point in which there are players that only appear on the ice to fight and who barely score goals.

It is fair to say that fights is a big part of hockey, they have been there from the origins and nobody complained about it, however it is true that these fights are getting more and more out of hand. Teams now sign contracts with “enforcers” that are over 6 foot 5 and weight 230 plus. It is said that because of the ice and the absorption of momentum is harder to get hurt, however there have been cases of brain damage due to these fights that are affecting the reputation of the sport. In my opinion sports are played to have fun, and although being too competitive can get people into fights, they should not be allowed. A game is not a game when it implies violence.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/are-nhl-enforcers-becoming-dinosaurs/article2179285/page2/

Bangladesh strike over fuel price hike paralyzes daily life

This article deals with the strike that took place in Bangladesh. Its catalyst was the result of the second rise in the price of fuel by the government in a period of four months. The strike was organized and called by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the opposition group. The consequence was the deployement of over thirteen thousand officers in Dhaka, the capital city, as well as the arrest of over 200 people over the country. In addition, schools and businesses closed the entire day and the road communications suffered disruptions of considerable dimensions. The strike was referred to as "issueless by the governemnt and did not give it any importance.

I don't consider this strike to be unimportant. As a matter of fact, I consider it to be quite important for a series of reasons: Bangladesh is not a developed country and the condition of the majority of people that live on it can be defined as precarious. As a result, a rise in the price of fuel and gas would only make matters worse. In addition, as the result of current global crisis, it is likely that the government will increase the prices again. Morever, the capacity of the oppisition party to orginize strike of such dimensions highlights their great amount of influence over the people. Thus, I believe this strike is the first of many that will occur, and that these will become more violent over time, and that the two factors mentioned before might potentially lead to a revolution in the future.

Source:CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/22/world/asia/bangladesh-strike/index.html?iref=allsearch

Protesters bare all over a proposed San Francisco Law

On Saturday, September 24th, there was a "Nude-in" in San Francisco. They wanted to put a proposed law against nudity in public in the spotlights. The law states that nudity in restaurants should be prohibited and that naked people sitting in public places should use a towel between their body and the material they are sitting on. The law was introduced by Scott Wiener, who states that it was in response to an increase in nakedness in parks, streets and restaurants. He had never expected, that putting attention on nakedness in public would let the number of nudists increase so rapidly. George Davis, a 65 year-old nudist who even ran for mayor in his bare bottom, reacted by saying that "putting a towel between your backside and a seat is a basic nudist etiquette." A lot of nudists agree that the proposed law is pointless, since they already know how to behave naked in an appropriate way in public.

_______________________________________________________________

I think it is a good thing that there is a legislation about nudity in public. Obviously, there are people who know how to behave properly, but still there are a lot of people who don't. In addition, the proposed law suggests that the nudists have to put a towel underneath their bottom in public places. I think that is a good thing as well, because a lot of children are in parks for example, so it will be more hygienic if you oblige the nudists to put something underneath them. Maybe a lot of them do it already, but I can imagine that a lot of others don't. Still, for us Europeans it is still a bit strange that public nakedness is allowed, since we are not used to it because it is prohibited in the most European countries or cities.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/us/san-francisco-nudity-restrictions-provoke-the-nakedly-ambitious.html?_r=1&ref=us

Beijing to hold first ever India-China strategic economic dialogue

The eagerly awaited dialogue between the emerging countries China and India will finally take place this coming week. This strategic dialogue will be held by representatives from the two nations in charge of the foreign policy and the economic sector. The conversation will be mostly focused on the macroeconomic perspective, the communication and the coordination regarding the creation of common economic policies. The main aim of this SED (Strategic Economic Dialogue) will be to boost the economic cooperation between these two countries.

In my opinion this Strategic Economic Dialogue is a big step forward in this field. However, I think that there are much more things that India and China should talk about during this conference, apart from the economy. For instance, this would be a great opportunity to talk about their frontiers in order to solve this issue that is causing too much controversy. I also believe that Western economies should be aware of this situation because if these two countries reach a strong economic agreement, they will get stronger at that would directly affect us all.

Source: The hindu:

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2480467.ece

Norway children’s book provokes Israelis

Hans Sande was born in 1946 and he is a Norwegian poet, psychiatrist, novelist and childern´s writer. Recently he wrote a book called " Daddy is a pirate" that has been sharply criticised by the Israeli Embassy in Oslo. The author defends his position claiming that he has the right to free speech and that he did not write the book in order to offend the Israelis but rather to translate his frustration over the Palestinian situation. Israel’s embassy has sent the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs a letter of complaint.

I think that when the author wrote this book he already knew there would be controversy. But that does not seem bad to me. He is complaining in a clever way and is not hurting ( physically) anyone. It is not an anti-Semitic act, but simply a man who is outraged by the treatment the Palestinians are suffering. The only downside that I can see is that perhaps the book is a little bit striking for the children. But I support freedom of expression and this man has the right to publish the book. Moreover, there is no need to exaggerate because there has always been " hidden" or subliminal messages in children´s books or movies ( lion king, Little Red Riding Hood..). It is just controversial because it is political..and because it is Israel.

Anti Wall Street protesters arrested in New York

The following article raises the subject of the current march that is being held at Wall Street, NY, since last week. Approximately 80 protesters were arrested in last Saturday’s march for disorderly conduct and for blocking the traffic. The protesters, who are mostly young, have decreased in number during the past days. They started the march last September 17^th, mainly to draw attention to "corporate greed and corrupt politics" in the country, but also to support the end of the U.S war, the need of a health care reform and the abolishment of the death penalty.

I believe in freedom of speech and in the idea that people have the right to claim responsibility for the crisis, which is obviously a consequence of the corruption of the system and the greediness of those who were leading the financial businesses. However, I also believe that the right to peacefully assemble can be limited if your assembly and speech interfere with others' exercise of the same or other rights, which is why you can't protest in the middle of a highway or block a street, etc. Many New Yorkers defend that the police actions are a conspiracy against freedom whereas I believe that there are city ordinances and that is why if you don’t get a permit, you can get arrested. In my opinion, this regulation is simply a way to protect many other businesses, in this case the ones located at Wall Street that could be very damaged by the march.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15051554

Kazakhstan helps to build a safer world

Nowadays, Kazakhstan has a leading position on ensuring nuclear safety and creating a nuclear-free world. Its contribution to disarmament began in 1991, when President Nazarbayev closed Semipalatinsk (the world´s second-largest nuclear test site). In 1994, Kazakhstan had more nuclear warheads than France, Britain and China together, and under the Nunn-Lugar program the Republic rid itself of those nuclear weapons. Since that moment, in cooperation with U.S and Russia, Kazakhstan was carrying out different nuclear security measures and new projects. Nazarbayev urged all the states that have not yet signed or ratifyied the CTBT to do it. However, for some countries the development of a world free of nuclear weapons may sound like utopia.

In my opinion, Kazakhstan´s role in global nuclear disarmament is essential and many governments should take example from this country. Semipalatinsk left a devastating legacy for residents and environmnt, but this fact has not touched everybody in the same way. The problem is that there are countries which don´t want to get rid of their nuclear weapons. During the 66th session of the UN General Assembly, Nazarbayev said: "I suggest to sign a collective request to de facto nuclear countries to give up their ambitions and join global treaties". From my point of view, the Kazakh President is making a significant job, but sometimes ambitions are more important than treaties, so creating a nuclear-free world will be a hard issue. I think many steps should be made in order to achieve this goal, and joining the CTBT might be one of them. I believe that, CTBT is an evidence of the fact that not all the countries are ready to lose their nuclear gains and ambitions, but this is something that have to be solved and Kazakhstan is contributing to achieve this goal of global nuclear disarmament.

Source: http://www.kazpravda.kz/eng/politics

Welsh assembly: Parties 'cagey' over powers - Sir Emyr

Sir Emyr Jones Parry, a former UK ambassador to the United Nations, has called into question the priorities of politicians in Wales after the vote in favour of direct law-making powers for the assembly in March.

He questioned the outlines of the First Minister Cawyn Jones and expressed his uncertainty about whether these measures actually fit the needs of Wales; issues like improving the public services, food safety, social measures to address the homelessness, the educational standards and economic performances. In response to the announcement of the Welsh Government about its "detailed legislative programme", Sir Emyr Jones has stated: "I'm not sure whether thay actually hit the button", when some of the main bills are on school standards, organ donation systems and create more cycling routes.

This has concerned him and affirmed that the legislative powers given to Wales will challenge the nation and test the government.

_________________________________________________________________________________

The referendum held in March showed the Welsh claims for statal independence once more. Even though there was an important opposition to the donation of the legislative powers, the vote was favourable to the cause.

It is true that this is a huge step for the Welsh assembly and very positive for the nation, nevertheless, those new powers should be used carefully in order to make the nation grow. This is why I think that the declarations of Sir Emyr Jones Perry are highly relevant now, in times of crisis, more than ever.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-15019180