Syria chemical weapons equipment destroyed

By Lucy

Syria’s equipment  for  producing, mixing and filling chemical weapons has been destroyed. By doing so, Syria has met the deadline set by the OPCW (The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) Executive Council for “Complete as soon as possible and in any case not later than 1 November 2013, the destruction of chemical weapons production and mixing/filling equipment.”  

Now, since the weapons have been placed under seal and put beyond use, Syria still has to destroy the chemical weapons themselves by mid-2014.

"I hope those who have always thought of us negatively will change their minds and understand that Syria was, is, and will be always a constructive partner," Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mr. Mekdad said.

From his words, we can see the Syria government tries to be friendly to the rest of the world and rebuild a better image. It remains to be seen whether they will destroy the chemicals weapons by themselves.

  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24754460

Europe’s other debt crisis

By Lucy

In July 2012, Mario Draghi promised to keep the single currency. The yields on sovereign bonds have fallen which caused euro mess become chronic. Mr Draghi launched an inspection of the balance-sheets of the region’s 128 biggest banks this week. ECB officials and outside experts will peer into the banks’ balance-sheets and impose common standards for loan quality in order to find out which banks are viable now.

The origins of the euro disaster is more about excessive private borrowing than government profligacy. Most euro-zone countries have achieved less private-sector, for three reasons. First, the financial limitation imposed on Europe’s economies deepened their recessions, which made it harder to reduce private debts. Second, small banks did not want to recognise non-performing loans. So they make provisions for them. And third, European bankruptcy law is helpful for restructuring debt.

According to the IMF, the influence on Europe’s growth from private debt is larger than government debt. One necessity is for banks to recognise, and write down, non-performing loans. In addition, more honest assessment of banks’balance-sheets must translate into a willingness to sell or restructure mortgages and corporate loans.

Dealing with the private-debt trap should be a priority for Europe’s leaders.Mr Draghi is fighting to start clearing up.

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21588366-its-not-just-sovereign-borrowing-there-are-too-many-zombie-firms-and-overindebted

North Korea to Release 6 South Korean Detainee

by Elaine
  North Korea announced Thursday that it would release six South Koreans it has been holding in detention.
  Recently, North Korea has alternated between harsh verbal attacks and conciliatory gestures. In mid-September, floods of South Korean vehicles began crossing the border as authority resumed at a cooperatively industrial park in the North Korean town of Kaesong. The factories had been shutdown since the North Korean withdrew all the workders amid tensions from the latest nuclear test.

  North Korea desires to expand the Kaesong complex, where its low-paid workers make textiles, shoes and other labor-intensive goods in South Korean-owned factories. The North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, is determined to attract more foreign investment and to improve his people’s living standards.
  Still,the South has remained skeptical of the expansion until the two Koreas can agree on measures to prevent another politically motivated shutdown, like allowing non-Korean investment in the complex. Those negotiations made progress fitfully.
  However,the potential to absorb investors from other countries was suspended this month.

source:North Korea to Release 6 South Korean Detainees - NYTimes.com
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/25/world/asia/pyongyang-says-it-will-release-6-south-korean-detainees.html?ref=northkorea

UK's Manchester United apologizes for swastika-like logo, Nazi-style reference

By Lynn

UK's Manchester United apologizes for swastika-like logo, Nazi-style reference

English soccer team Manchester ,which is one of the richest and most popular teams in the world, apologized to fans for sending them letters with a design similar to swastika alongside the words "New Order". This slogan was used by Hitler's Nazi party.

The "New Order" headline was a reference to the Manchester band of same name.
The swastika has been used by many culutres, but it is most well known as a symbol og Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler used this symbol to impose the European New Order after World War II.

Many fans of Manchester United were outraged by this headline and questioned how it had not been spotted.

Manchester United Head of Media said it was completely inappropriate and that internal action was being taken.

I think Manchester United made a completely wrong decision on making the symbol. Many people are very sensitive about this. I also wonder how does that get through sign off? Did they need any attentions?



Sources: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/28/21209271-uks-manchester-united-apologizes-for-swastika-like-logo-nazi-style-reference?lite

US protesters call for end to spying.

by Vanilla(Tang Min)
Since Edward Snowden,former CIA employee and NSA contractor in the U.S,publicly announced the top secret "Surveillance programmes" of United States and British government, this shocking news have been concerned by the world.Recently,a large number of protesters have marched to protest against the US government's behaviors in Washington.

The Protesters'aim is to urge Congress to reform the legal framework supporting the National Security Agency's secretive online data gathering.People took signs such as: "Stop Mass Spying," "Thank you, Edward Snowden" and "Unplug Big Brother" to demonstrate against the online surveillance.The event was organised by a coalition known as "Stop Watching Us" that consists of about 100 public advocacy groups and companies, including the American Civil Liberties Union, privacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation, Occupy Wall Street NYC and the Libertarian Party.

It is said that the U.S has tapped the information of Merkel's mobile phone for more than 10 years.Such behavior certainly caused great concern in Germany so that German spy chiefs plan to intervene this serious issue to demand the answers from the U.S.

When mentioned spying ,it is said that it's a war without smoke of gunpowder.Every country should respect others no matter the country is poor or rich.I think that spying is also a behavior to undermine the international relations and causes the crisis of confidence from other countries.I hope that government will consider the advice and insight of citizens.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2013/10/us-protesters-call-end-spying-2013102621619345970.html

The US is shrouded in the crisis of confidence

By Effie

           

                                       The US is shrouded in the crisis of confidence

  As Snowden vanished from the scene, people’s memory of the U.S. surveillance scandal is gradually fading away. However, recently the United States was criticized for the surveillance once again. On arrival at an EU summit in Brussels, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed anger about her mobile phone calls being spied on.She had told the US president Barack Obama that spying on friends is not acceptable and demanded a “complete explanation” of the claims.

  The United States and European countries have been on friendly terms, especially France and Germany. Two years ago, president Barack Obama even called France its strongest alley. In spite of that, it is reported that the United States has been spying on France over 70 years and the National Security Agency swept up 70.3 million French phone records in a 30-day period.Besides, the United States has been spying on Merkel's mobile phone since 2002.

  This kind of double-dealing behavior infuriated France and Germany, and these two countries declared they wanted the US to sign a no-spy deal by the end of the year.

  Expect for European countries, Austria, Japan, India and many other countries are also involved.

  Monitoring the populace’s phone records makes the anti-terrorism no more an excuse for the U.S surveillance. As countermeasures, every country begin to strength internet defense works. Hence, the United States should restrain itself. If it continues to do like that, it will finally be forsook by its allies.



Resource:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-24647602

Can we trust the US?

by Corentin

The United States are accused to have bugged the German Chancellor's phone. And the bigest problem is this spying last for more than 10 years.
According to the german newspaper "Der Spiegel", Obama stopped this spying, when he knows it. Due to this problem, the americain ambassador in Germany was called for the first time ever.
The mobile telephone had been listed since 2002 by the NSA's Special Collection Service.
SCS would have a "not legally registered spying branch" in the embassy in Berlin like in 80 other places in the world including Paris, Rome, etc..
Even if it's not sure they recorded conversations or "only" connection data, this story could damage international relations with US.
Obama had to apologize, and Germany will send intelligence chiefs to the US to get answers about this problem.
This matter is not the first, the US already bugged European Union offices.
Furthermore the US have a huge power regarding reports from Google or Facebook they have.

Security is the freedom's enemy, so maybe the US go sometimes too far.
Why are they allowed informations about everybody in the World? Because they are the most powerful country in the World and affirm to the country of democracy and freedom? I'm not sure.


http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/26/21176401-us-spied-on-german-leader-merkels-phone-since-2002-report?lite

Chinese Tibet and Outsiders

By Elaine

When comes to question begin with letter “T”, China never gives a satisfactory answer. 

Recently, with the completion of Qinghai-Tibet Railway, a rapidly growing number of tourists rush into the plateau to appreciate its mystery, which constantly invigorates the local economy. It seems that everything is as peaceful as the idyllic landscapes in Tibet, but, as a matter of fact, many of the monastery’s resident monks are not calm about their lives and complain that “government intrusive policies to encourage tourism are strangling their culture and identity.” 

Since 2008, in the wake of violent protests that swept Tibet and self-immolations that followed, security forces have tightened their grip. There exists a largely unseen web of controls that nips the unrest in the bud: Surveillance cameras, paid informers and plainclothes security agents who hide in the busloads of tourists. Government is alert and keeps everything under the control to prevent the religious affairs from joining periphery power and threaten the regime. During 2008 Olympics torch relay, some aggressive protestor assaulted the torch bearer in attempt to destroy the relay procedure, which even influenced the relation between France and China. 

Still, many international organizations like International Campaign for Tibet call for more freedom for the religion. Chinese government acclaims that all Tibetan affairs should be and only can be solved domestically without any foreign power. 


sources:http://www.nytimes.com/index.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Cubans give muted welcome to end of 'convertible peso' dual currency system

By Lynn

Cubans give muted welcome to end of 'convertible peso' dual currency system

Cuba used to have dual currency system: domestic pesos (CUP) and "convertible" tourist pesos (CUC) which is 25 times more valuable and tied to the U.S. dollar. Tourist Pesos are used for forighn trade. The dual currency system existed since 1994, after the collapse of the Soviet Union ended profitable trade deals. And it forced Cuba to open its economy to tourism.
Many imported goods can only be bought in CUCs, and it divided society into ordinary Cubans and those who access to the much more valuable currency.

However, Cuba plans to phase out this system as part of reforms for the island's economy.
Many Cubans welcomes this change, because they beleive that it might improve their economies.
Workers are paid in domestic pesos, and it made profssionals like doctors and teachers to work at night as taxi drivers or private tutors to supplement their state salaries.

However, any changes bring the risk of high inflation. Juan Molina, 45, a gas station attendant said that he likes the idea that ordinary national currency will be used everywhere and that he doesn't have to change it into CUC to buy things. He also said that he supports the change, but he is worried that the prices might rise while wages remain as low as they are.

I heard that Cuba's centralized government has dominated all commerce on island and its economy is hampered hampered inefficiencies and a longlasting U.S. trade embargo. I hope this change will bring some positive effect to the economy of Cuba.


source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/22/21079591-cubans-give-muted-welcome-to-end-of-convertible-peso-dual-currency-system?lite

Pope speaks English publicly for the first time

By Bing Yuan

The Catholic churches own the largest number of people among all Christian churches around the world, about 1.13 billion, accounting for 17% of the total population in the world.

Recently, Pope Francis who is the leader of the world's Catholics addressed in an evangelization conference which was held in the Philippines. Since Philippines has many people are Catholic, like my homestay who come from the philippines they go to church every week to do prayer, and they can't speak and understand English well, but to my surprise Pope speak English at the end of his talking: "Please pray for me, I need it, I promise to pray for you." It shows Pope hope to bring modern thought into Catholics so that people who are Catholic know more about kindness, nice, friendly as well as modern development to keep peace better.  

Reference: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/18/21028427-let-jesus-be-known-pope-speaks-english-publicly-for-the-first-time?

Mayoral Race Threatens to Shake Up Tradition Where Jesus Grew Up

by Lucy

Ramiz Jaraisi has been the mayor of Nazareth, Israel for almost 20 years. Since 1975, the Nazareth Democratic Front has been running the city. “This is one of the most well-known cities in the world, the place where Christianity started,”said Mr. Jaraisi.

But citizens in Nazareth say it is time for change. Mr. Jaraisi has been elected mayor four times, with the votes of both Muslims and Christians. Now, he is facing a serious challenge. Ali Salam, Mr. Jaraisi’s former deputy, is one of four candidates running against him. Another strong contender is Haneen Zoabi, a Muslim woman and a firebrand member of the Israeli Parliament representing Balad. Mr. Jaraisi is hoping to draw at least 40 percent of the vote and win in the first round. If not, Mr. Abu Nassar said, he might face an alliance of opponents in a runoff.

Municipal elections are mostly affairs in Israel, but this time, a few of the races are gaining national attention. In Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, a rightist who has increased cultural activities and attracted numerous international events to West Jerusalem in the past few years, is being challenged by Moshe Lion, a former civil servant

Residents of Nazareth complain a lot about the infrastructure. More than 1,000 residents move out each year, even though the Jewish mayor insists on retaining its Jewish character to the point where he has refused to consider opening an Arabic-language school.

Both Mr. Jaraisi and Ms. Zoabi say many of the city’s problems are the result of decades of state discrimination against the Arab citizens, who make up about 20 percent of Israel’s population of eight million.

Mr. Jaraisi is promising to build new neighborhoods and said construction on a cultural center with an auditorium, will begin in 2014. Ms. Zoabi’s campaign brochure complains that Mr. Jaraisi and the Democratic Front have been promising to build the cultural center for the past 10 years.

Reference:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/21/world/middleeast/mayoral-race-threatens-stability-in-jesus-childhood-home.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&ref=world

Resolutions on U.S. military bases overseas

by Lucy

WHEREAS, the official number of U.S. military bases overseas is 865. It is the largest one in the world; and

WHEREAS, the military bases overseas cost a lot and may affect the American economy to some degree. U.S. was ranked NO.1 in military expenditure in the world with 650 billion dollars in 2008; and

WHEREAS, the number of injured and dead soldiers is large; and

WHEREAS, it will waste huge amount of natural resources for unnecessary uses, and have bad effect on environment; and

WHEREAS, criminous U.S. military soldiers will not be punished by the local police, instead they will be sent back to America. So the number will enlarge; and

WHEREAS, it will influence the host countries’ authorities and interfere the politics.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE TO RESOLVED, cut the expenditure in U.S. military cost; cut down the number of soldiers for military bases overseas;   let more United Union armies help the poor countries  that need  help.     

              

Lucy&Effie

Problems in Fukushima are never ending

by Corentin Sunday, several tank areas at the plant have overflowed. It’s the first time it’s happened.We don’t know yet how many water overflowed, but probably radioactive water went to the sea. Furthermore, some tank where the radioactivity was above the limit, leaked into more than the half of the plant’s 23 tank areas. To resolve the problem, the utility is renewing today water in to decrease radiation levels, and get an acceptable rate. In April radioactive water leaks from reservoirs were already discovered, so they stopped using them. It was in preparation for the typhoon Wipha, last week. The biggest radioactivity is 29.000 becquerels, air in Fukushima is about 4 million times more radioactive than courant air. The end of this story is still far. There is no real solution to this problem. We don’t control the nuclear power and its consequences. All the Pacific Ocean is paying for this disaster. A lot of countries which are on this ocean risk to suffer from that, Japan in first. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/10/21/national/rainwater-flows-over-tank-barriers-at-fukushima-no-1/#.UmTAsPl7KSo

China's Censorship Rule and China

By Elaine

1979,Chinese economic reform (literally "Reform and Opening up") ushered a new era of Chinese development, the outcome of which not merely opened its door for the sake of further economic development as well as decreased the government’s engagement in national economy, but also rebuilt friendly bridges into outside world as a means of absorbing beneficial information. So how does China define the world beneficial？This is where the problem lies nowadays.

  

 From the sources, the author whose works describing sex explicitly or attempting to explain China’s complex politics and glamorous history will unexpectedly be faced with the “egregious” censorship machine that has no appreciation of literary masterpieces nor is pursuing the goal of enriching the spiritual world. The censors seem to have endless passion in from removing several chapters that tarnish the communist party to finding tiny adjective which unsuitable for Chairman Mao; from hiding the name of the city to revising the translation of the title. From an objective perspective, it ruins the original ideas of the author and sounds like a child clumsily tried to hide his mistake from their families. Indeed it is, and many western authors get indignant when their coherent ideas become pieces as a consequence of being carved to Chinese market place. Some authors prefer to abandon Chinese lucrative market rather than bend to their principles being accuracy. It is a fact that a quite number of novels are not allowed to put on Chinese shelves and a larger number of books Chinese people read are “purified” by their considerate government. In other word, the press is strictly controlled by the government and serves its responsibility to protect the image of the communist and refuse outside viewpoints giving explanations to Chinese political events and history.

However, compared with the time they blocked the access to the world, now they permit a world of information rushing to its land, though there exist unpleasant but necessary bargains, most information there available is better than none. Changes began thirty years ago, which is not a long time, in fact, a short time for a big country whose history never has a time being “open” as today is .

It requires some time to go through those necessary phases: from being obstinate to acknowledge the infallibility to admit the previous political incorrectness. Let us put it this way, give those communists time to be mature, and they will understand the first step to solve a problem is to realize where it is, the real Titan never dares to speak out their faults, and a strong nation can hold integrity not merely the different ethnic groups but also envelope the ideology which even in opposite side. 

source:Authors Accept Censors’ Rules to Sell in China - NYTimes.com

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/20/world/asia/authors-accept-censors-rules-to-sell-in-china.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp&

Abduction by North Korea by Ryosuke

Abduction is a problem between Japan and North Korea. Abduction means that taking people away. In 1970s, North Korea's agents came to Japan by ships, and they abducted Japanese people to North Korea because North Korea wanted Japanese people as teachers of Japanese. The reason why they took Japanese people away is that they tried to dispatch agents who pretend they are from South Korea into South Korea; however, it turned out that it was difficult to dispatch agents who pretended they were South Korean. Thus, North Korea made a new strategy, which was that taking Japanese people into North Korea and having them teach Japanese and Japanese culture so that the agents from North Korea can get in South Korea. In fact, this strategy was conducted, and 17 Japanese people were abducted. A few of them could come back to Japan recently, but almost all of them are still in North Korea. However, it is also said that they already died because even North Korea doesn't have sure information. Now, Japanese government is still discussing this issue with North Korea, but it is difficult to resolve this problem. In my opinion, North Korea should listen to the world's opinion and have responsibility about what they did because the families that lost their children or relatives are still waiting for the abductees.

Source: http://www.rips.or.jp/research/RIPS_Policy_Perspectives_10.pdf
            http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2013/07/05/japan-north-korea-and-the-abduction-issue/

30 million people still live in slavery, human rights group says

By Lynn

The Global Slavery Index published by the Austrlia-based Walk Free Foundation reported that almost 30 million people in the world are living in modern-day slavery.
This index is supported by the former U.S Secretary Hillary clinton, former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

It says the African nation of Mauritania, Haiti, Pakistan and India have the highest number of slaves in proportion of the population.
Also, China and Russia are in the top list of countries with large number of slaves.

The index says, slavery includes domestic servitude, forced brgging, forced labor, human traffcking, the sale and exploitation of children and force marriage.

The U.S was ranked 134th, worse than Barbados (135), South Korea(137), Hong Kong (141), Costa Rica(146), and Cuba (149).
The reason why U.S is in low risk is that it is the destinations for human trafficking because of the demand for cheap labour.

The report said that the countries(U.K. , Ireland, Island) who got the best rankings still have people in modern-slavery, too which is estimated 4,200-4,600 people.

How can there still be slavery in this modern world?
Are they adopting an expedient?
This article reminds me of the history of Haiti.

Souce: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/17/21005059-30-million-people-still-live-in-slavery-human-rights-group-says?lite

Resolution for International Aid to Haiti

By  
Min Tang
Yilun  Liu

10/16/2013 

  

Whereas, in 1942, when Christopher Columbus arrived Haiti, he brought the slavery to native people in Haiti; and

Whereas, because of backward technology and geographic position in Haiti, people there always suffer inevitable natural disasters, recently  in 2010; and

Whereas, although Haiti became an independent nation, it was forced to pay war reparations to France unfairly which lead to the poverty of Haiti in some extent.

 

Now, therefore, be it resolved, that 
1. Invest money to help them rebuild the public services such as hospitals, transportations, police stations.
2. Improve the local education by sending and encouraging  volunteers to provide training in every field of professions.
3. Establish the  law  and  send  troops to  maintain the public safety.
4.Take a low  interest policy to solve their essential problemsincluding building new factories,new housing  and  satisfying  the survival needs.

 

Resolution for compensations for Haiti

Corentin Enet  

ElaineZheng  

10/16/2013

Whereas, Haiti had been colonially governed by nearly three hundred years

Whereas, all indigenous people, Tainos, were killed as a result of keeping their homeland

Whereas, the territory had suffered from disease, small pox and typhoid as a result of Columbus’ arrival

Whereas, Haiti people are looking forward to a better future and to develop its economy

Whereas, Haiti lost a lot in natural disasters

Whereas, American government extracted 40% Haiti’s GDP to its economic development

Whereas, Haiti needs subventions to reconstruct its destroyed building an reinvigorate its somnolent economy

Whereas, the poverty of Haiti is the consequence of Gunboat diplomacy according to which it had been unfairly treated.

Now, therefore, be it resolved,

The US has to stop interfering Haiti national affairs

The US accounts for building schools, hospitals and factories in Haiti

Resolution to U.S. military bases

Corentin Enet      

ElaineZheng                                                                                                                                                                                                            

10/16/2013

 

Whereas, the United States spends 54% federal budget on overseas military bases and pays 600 billion dollars on military affairs.

   

Whereas, the United States has set up more than 865 overseas military bases to maintain its superpower.

   

Whereas, the United States is not the king of the world who can rule the whole world.

  

Whereas, there are so many homeless American starving on the streets and jobless people are struggling for their future.

Whereas, there are so many soldiers longing to embrace their families and ending up counting the lonely days abroad.

Now, therefore ,be it resolved, that by this resolution calls for cutting half the military budget for the sake of healthcare, charity, education and let those homesick American back their homes.