On Sunday, an earthquake hit Japan. Because it was on the coast, there was a chance for a tsunami, but no tsunami warning was issued. No injuries or damage were reported. Japan is part of the Pacific ring of fire which is known for much volcanic activity and other natural disasters.
“Violent Clashes Reported in China over Mosque Demolition” by Edward Wong
Near Beijing, many Muslims defended a mosque that was supposed to be demolished. It was built illegally, so it had to be taken down. Police came, with several injured and killed. It is said that the protestors have moved to other parts of China to protest.
“In Mexico, 12000 Killed in Drug Violence in 2011” by William Booth
Drug violence in Mexico has taken a heavy toll on the population, as almost 12,000 people were killed due to it. The Mexican newspaper, Reforma, reported 12, 359 deaths because of drugs and Daily Milenio reported 12, 284. However, he homicide rate dropped 1/3 in Ciudad Juarez, once known as Murder City.
“More Tests Underway on Body Found on Queen Elizabeth’s Estate” by NewsCore
Recently, the body of a young woman was discovered on Queen Elizabeth’s estate. A DNA test was conducted and failed so officials are waiting for the results of other tests. This discovery is being labeled as a murder. Two other women had recently gone missing and it is possible that they are linked to this case.
“Israel to Rule out Lopsided Prisoner Deals” by Ethan Bronner
Israel is planning on establishing rules for future exchanges. “Stricter” rules are to be enforced so that the trading is fair; unlike it was when 1, 027 soldiers were traded for one, being imprisoned by Hamas. In the past, Israel has performed prisoner exchanges, all of them being too easy with no rules.
This ties into human geography because it deals with human resources. Soldiers are being traded, strengthening and weakening armies. It also changes the population of countries. Establishing rules, or laws, can also play a part in a country’s development. A country with reasonable laws has a good structure. Countries with a good structure tend to be developed.
Learning Reflection:
This week in human geography, we focused on dictatorship, totalitarianism, and authoritarianism. To better understand this, we watched a documentary on North Korea, displaying how the North Koreans were treated and brainwashed into believing their dictator was doing good for their country. We also learned about micro-credit and micro-loans. This is where people can invest in small businesses. They can help the business grow and prosper.
The first parliamentary election in Egypt was held on Monday, where many voters were eager to participate. In Cairo, the army and police watched the lines of voters, even though no fights broke out and everything was under control. However, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tahrir Square rebelling against the military power. Many polling stations had delays because ballots had not yet arrived and, although illegal, political parties gave out fliers, influencing voting.
“Real-Life ‘Slumdog Millionaire’: Poor Clerk First to Win Million on Indian Game Show” by Associated Press
In eastern India, Sushil Kumar, a poor government clerk, won a little above one million dollars on an Indian game show. This historical event was like the real-life version of the 2008 movie “Slumdog Millionaire” which is about a poor person who won the grand prize on the show. Kumar plans on using the money for education, so that he can take a civil service exam and have a successful job, and wants to build a library for the children in his village.
“Former Ivory Coast President in International Court Custody” by Eric Agnero
Laurent Gbagbo (former president of Ivory Coast) was put on trial Wednesday, as a result of encouraging the killing of thousands after Ivory Coast’s election. He was on house arrest then a plane, but it being called an “illegal transfer”. The mass killing killed 3,000+ people and over 600 were either arrested or missing.
“Half of German City to be Evacuated as Massive WWII Bomb Defused” by NewsCore
In Koblenz, Germany, a bomb dating back to World War II was discovered. Bomb experts are working on defusing the bomb and the city is being evacuated. So far, around 45,000 residents, along with a jail, 2 hospitals, and several retirement homes, were already evacuated. It is expected that more bombs will be discovered.
Focus Article:
“HIV/AIDS by The Numbers” by Lauren Said-Moorhouse and Stephanie Busari
This map shows how HIV/AIDS has progressed over the course of 9 years. In 2001, 28.6 million people were affected by this disease. This number increase to 33.3 million in 2009, and is still growing today.
I thought that this related to human geography the best, because disease are the cause and effect for a lot of emigration, immigration, population changes, birth rate, death rate, etc. HIV is the most common STD in the world, and it is impossible to get AIDS unless you have HIV. This disease, all diseases, affects the birth and death rate. People can die from this disease. If a person is infected, they may not be able to have kids, or if they are able to, the child’s survival rate is less than it would be if the parent was not infected and the child is at risk for other diseases.
Learning Reflection:
This week, we learned about economic geography. Economic geography includes the three types of resources, three levels of economic activity, and technology/land use. The three types of resources are human (man and his mind; depend on level education, skilled/unskilled labor, and managerial abilities needed), natural (renewable resources that will renew themselves over time), and capital (resources that can be used to make more resources). The three levels of economic activity are primary (deals directly with natural resources), secondary (manufacture and process natural resources), and tertiary (service activities). Land has been used for farming, mining, fishing, and overtime, technology has helped. This technology includes the steam engine and later, computer chips.
In Pakistan, a U.S. drone is suspected of firing missiles. It took place in an area that was inhabited by the Taliban and Al-Qaida militias. Militias from Pakistan and Afghanistan were hit by this attack and many were killed. Pakistani leaders have said that these strikes violate the country’s dominance. However, it was believed that the Pakistani government supported this.
“State Department Could Buy Local Food for Its Workers in Iraq” by Walter Pincus
For the American military, the cost of being in Iraq is becoming too much. In order to cut costs, it is being decided whether or not to continue to import food or begin to buy locally, as it would be cheaper. For security purposes, the food would have to be brought in from Kuwait, under the security of soldiers and security contractors. There is a contract for this, including security escorts, security teams, and more.
“Suspect Arrested in White House Shooting” (no author present)
On Wednesday, Oscar Ortega was arrested in Pennsylvania. He is believed to be the one who was the shooter in the White House shooting. At least two shots were fired, one bullet being discovered in the Yellow Oval Room. Luckily, no one was hurt and the President and First Lady were not there at the time of the shooting.
Europe is continuing to fall into more debt. Spain is beginning to see debt, as they are trying to find other countries that are willing to help them. So far, they are $600 million in debt. Not many countries are willing to help out. This can quickly lead to bankruptcy. It is unclear what will happen if no lenders are willing to help.
This article related the best to human geography. It showed how one country’s actions can affect other countries and how one or few economies can change the world’s economy. If one country goes bankrupt, other countries will most likely help out, but they are at risk of also going bankrupt and falling into debt. If the lending countries don’t fall into debt, they can bring the failing country back up.
Learning Reflection:
This week in class, we worked individually and later in groups on an essay. The topic of this essay was the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We had to research what it was, why it was happening, who was involved, the arguments on both sides, and what was being done to resolve it. We also began learning about genocide. In small groups, we defined genocide and found four examples of it. Genocide is the mass killing of people because of religion, ethnicity, etc. We discovered that some genocide included the Holocaust, Rwanda, and Cambodia.
The objective of this project is to have the probe reach and land on Mars, then return to Earth with soil samples from Phobos. The probe was launched successfully and is expected to return to Earth in August of 2014. It can hold a capacity of 7 ounces of soil. This current mission is a follow-up of the unsuccessful mission in 1996.
“France Seizes ‘Stolen” Painting from London Gallery” by NewsCore
Two hundred years ago, “The Carrying of the Cross” by Nicolas Tournier was supposedly stolen from an art museum in Toulouse, France. The painting was discovered while on loan to an art fair from a London art gallery. There is the possibility for a custody battle over the painting, for it is being priced at €675,000, which is equivalent to $934, 038.99.
“Going, Going, Gone: 3 Rhino Subspecies Extinct or Close to Extinction in the Wild” by Associated Press
Recently, the Western Black Rhino of Africa was announced extinct. The Javan Rhino and Northern White Rhino are also at risk of becoming extinct. In the 1800’s, the Southern White Rhino was close to extinction, but began to increase and now numbers in the 20,000s. Rhinos are becoming rarer due to the fact that hunters/poachers want their horns, even though it is illegal.
This week, another earthquake hit Turkey. It had a magnitude of 5.7 and at least 3 people were reported dead, 50+ are still missing. In Van, Turkey, the earthquake caused a six-story hotel to collapse.
Focus Article:
“Angels Rushing In Where Others Fear to Tread” by Damien Cave
Ciudad Juarez is Mexico’s most dangerous and violent city. Recently, a group of young people from a Christian church took a stand against the violence. The group calls themselves Messenger Angels. They dress like angels and stand on the sides of roads, busy intersections, and dangerous parts of town, silently protesting against criminals. So far, the feedback they have received has been positive.
This relates to human geography because it deals with cultural geography. This group’s beliefs are that crime is wrong and it needs to be stopped. A person’s beliefs are part of their culture. When people voice their opinions like this, people listen and respond positively, unlike the protesting that has been going on on Wall Street. This article also relates to political geography because the protests weren’t taking place everywhere, but in specific place.
Learning Reflection:
This week, we watched a documentary called “Promises”. “Promises” was about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. What made it interesting was that you got to see it from the perspective of the Arab and Jewish children. It was interesting to see that they actually understood what was happening and why. At the end when they all meet each other, they got to see the issue from the other side. They got along well and I think it showed that not all Arabs and not all Jews are terrible and want to be fighting, but it takes a small group to cause terror and start blowing an issue out of proportion. Recently, we also learned about political geography. Political geography deals with the layout of land. Land can be divided into states, nation-states, sovereignties, and stateless nations. These land divisions are all different sizes and can be classified as giants or microstates. In terms of shape, they are compact states, prorupt states, elongated states, fragmented states, perforated states, and landlocked state. In some case, it is hard to determine a state, such as China and Taiwan. Taiwan is in China, but they declare themselves a separate state.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-15463522
In Umbrian, Assisi, leaders of many religions came together to form peace. They had agreed that religion should not be used as a cause/reason for war. This gathering was held to celebrate the 25th anniversary of a day full of prayer for peace. It was originally started by Pope John Paul II.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15442199
On Sunday, an earthquake occurred in Turkey. More than 430 people lost their lives. Even though this happened days ago, people are still being discovered underneath all the rubble.
Focus Article:
“With New Smartphones, High Hopes for Nokia and Microsoft Union” by Kevin J. O’Brien
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/technology/with-new-smartphones-high-hopes-for-nokia-and-microsoft.html?ref=technology
On Wednesday, Nokia released two new smartphones. They are the Lumia 800 (touch-screen) and the Lumia 710 (handset). They have the ability to run on 4G and 3G network. Currently, they are only available in six European countries. They will be released in Asia towards the end of the year. The smartphones are working with Microsoft, so Microsoft is expected to spread the business to the mobile device market. The new devices are also expected to help boost Nokia back into the market, passing Apple and Google.
I thought this article was the most interesting and related the best to human geography because of how technology connects the world. The new technology helps to develop the world better and connect international companies, such as Nokia, Apple, and Google. This is countries interacting with each other. Advances in technology help to connect developing countries with developed countries.
Learning Reflection:
In class this week, we learned about cultural geography and presented projects about culture in different countries. Cultural geography is the study of spatial distribution of cultural trades. With this were cultural characteristics. Cultural characteristics include language, religion, ethnic heritage, and spatial divisions. Countries/regions can be united or torn apart because of these characteristics. Of these, spatial division was the most common. Spatial division is how livable land on earth is divided by establishing economic, social, and political control. Divisions include countries, political alliances, and economic alliances. Land is divided because of cooperation, cultural differences, nationalism, difference in language, culture, or religion, imperial conquest and control, economic similarities and differences, territorial disputes, and keeping of historical boundaries. The project on cultures focused on the food, sports, architecture, clothing, music, religion, and language. It was interesting to see how other countries and their cultures differed from America’s, but in some ways were like America’s culture.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-15366640
An Israeli soldier was being held captive for five years. He returned to Israel because of a prisoner exchange. Within the next month, 550 other Palestinians are expected to be freed.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-15366640
In Greece, many are striking against parliament. The parliament is beginning its vote on raising taxes, job losses, and pay cuts. The strike has been going on for two days and has cause many buldings and airports to close.
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/o/occupy_wall_street/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=wall%20street%20protests&st=cse
Activists are still protesting on Wall Street against social inequality, corporate greed, and banks with power. The protest has spread to Los Angeles, Chicago, and other US cities. Now, Occupy Wall Street protests have spread worldwide.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-20123493.html?tag=contentMain;contentBody
California decided to reduce the amount of harmful greenhouse gas emissions caused by polluters by a financial incentive. By 2020, they plan on reducing the emissions to the level they were in 1990.Eventually, pollution producers will need permits, limiting them on how much gas emissions their companies release.
Focus:
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/20/muammar-qaddafi-captured-in-libya-commander-says/
On Thursday, many Libyans celebrated the death of their leader, Muammar Qaddafi. For 42 years, terrorized and dictated Libya. This was put to an end when NATO planes targeted him and rebels in the streets beat and shot at him, leading to his death.
I thought this picture was the most interesting and related to human geography the most because it showed diversity in a country. In Libya, rebels were not happy with Qaddafi and his dictating ways. However, some Libyans were loyal to him. This caused much political unrest in the country and split the country in a political and hostile way, relating to cultural geography.
Learning Reflection:
This week in human geography, we learned about cultural geography. Cultural geography is the study of spatial distribution through cultural trades. Characteristics of this included religion, ethnicity, and language. We learned that characteristics are part of a group’s everyday life and are taught to all members. In some cases, they can also cause a country/region to divide. Religion is unifying and disunifying; it has even cause conflict between religions such as Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. Ethnic groups are the cause of a lot of conflict. While many different ethnicities joined together to form countries, other ethnic groups claimed theirs to be the better and cause the country to split. Language is important because it is used every day. It helps a culture communicate within itself. Currently, the world language is English.
In the Philippines, two typhoons hit. The water started to leave the land, but many houses were destroyed. Some residents refused to leave their homes and others were able to use rescue boats to access food and necessities. In recent months, China, Cambodia, Japan, and Southern Asia have all been hit by typhoons, storms, and more. Over hundreds of people have died and some residents have gone missing.
“Amanda Knox Free After Appeal in Italian Court” by Elisabetta Povoledo
Four years ago, Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were accused and arrested for the murder of Meredith Kercher, Amanda’s roommate. On Monday, Amanda Knox was proven not guilty and was freed from jail. A DNA test was used to prove Knox innocent. Both the Knox and Sollecito celebrated, for Raffaele was also found not guilty. Many people believed Amanda Knox to be innocent. They claimed her to be sweet and not capable of doing something like this. However, prosecutors still called the experts inexperienced even though the DNA evidence was crucial to prove innocence for Knox and Sollecito.
“U.S. and Pakistan Coming Together in Music” by Nicolas Brulliard
In the past, and present, America and Pakistan have not been close. However, in terms of music, concerts have been performed by a Pakistani soft-rock group and an American jazz band. Thhis made it seem like the two countries did not have problems to begin with. An ambassador to America in Pakistan claims that these concerts were not to help rekindle the relationship between the countries, for it was planned over a year ago. Pakistani music is similar to American jazz, so fans of both were able to enjoy the tour.
“In Supreme Court Argument, a Rock Legend Plays a Role” by Adam Liptak
In 1994, Congress restored copyright protection to foreign works. Now, it is being questioned whether or not Congress acted constitutionally. This includes Prokofiev, Jimi Hendrix, C.S. Lewis, and many more. First, the Chief Justice brought up the point that he could perform Shostakovich one day, but not be able to the next because Congress discusses it, going against the First Amendment which states Freedoms, such as freedom of speech, assembly, etc. Next, he brought up Jimi Hendrix, who did a cover of the national anthem. If the national anthem had a copyright, Jimi Hendrix would not have been able to perform it. The solicitor general claimed there to be ‘good reasons’ for Congress to reestablish the copyright protection. This led him to say that Jimi Hendrix could claim fair use, meaning he would not be in trouble with the law. He concluded his statement saying that American artists and authors would be given more respect because foreign artists and authors would have better copyright protection.
Focus Article:
“In Arizona Bull Run, Danger, Yes. Liability, No.” by Marc Lacey
In Cave Creek, Arizona, Phil Immordino is organizing a bull run. A bull run is where bulls chase after and encourage runners to run at a fast pace. To participate however, runners need to complete a seven page waiver stating that they cannot sue against the bull run and/or Immordino.Much insurance is needed, not just for the runners, but also for the bull owners, the owner of the land where the run will take place, and Phil Immordino. The event is held on private property for insurance purposes. There was a disagreement on the amount of insurance coverage, so the town revoked the permit Immordino had. This is similar to the bull runs in Spain, but safer. The bulls are not too aggressive, their horns are dull, and there are passages for runners who are too close to a bull. In the years that the bull runs have been organized by Immordino, no serious injury/death had occurred. The organization, PETA, still disagrees with this event, claiming it is unfair treatment to the bulls. They want the public to boycott the run. Immordino agrees that this event is dangerous, yet he says it is not as dangerous as the bull runs in Spain.
I found this article interesting because I have never heard of bull runs and this article is related to human geography because it shows how cultures and other countries have effects and influence each other. Spanish bull runs had influenced Immordino to bring part of the Spanish culture over to America. By bringing this tradition into America, Americans can have a better understanding of Spanish culture/tradition. Americans get the opportunity to participate in something exhilarating. It also makes some people gain more respect for other cultures. When countries and different cultures understand one another, it makes functioning and communication in the world easier.
In Human Geography this week, we learned about population. From the year A.D. 0 to 1999, the world has grown from 300 million people to 6 billion, with 12% in Europe and Africa, 9% in Latin America, and 5% in North America. We also learned what demography is, the statistical study of human population. Included with demography was demographic transition. There are four, possibly five, stages. America is leaving the third stage and entering the fourth stage. Migration was also discussed in class. This is the long term move of a person from one political jurisdiction to another. There are two types of migration, emigration and immigration. Emigration is leaving a political jurisdiction, and immigration is entering one. Other types of migration include chain, voluntary, and forced. Chain migration is when one group or generation of people move with others following. Voluntary migration is migration by choice and forced migration is involuntary. Reasons for migration include political issues, environment, economic factors, culture, and transportation.
