The year 2040 seemed so far fetched when I was a child. At 8 years old, the idea of 2040 had visions of flying cars and living on another planet in my head. Now, at the age of 20, the year 2040 doesn’t seem so far off. Here it is, 2007, and really, what progression have we made in this world? Have we really made advances or are we just sitting still? Or are we in fact falling backwards into our dark historic past? Imagining the world 33 years down the road, when I am 53 years old, doesn’t seem so far fetched as it used to. However, I would be lying if I discussed a utopian society in the following paragraphs, because honestly, I do not think that perfection can be obtained ever, near perfection maybe, but we are no where close to that and could never reach that in the next 30 some years.
The world I would like to live in, now there is a good question. I have actually thought about his before, and I have had a hard time deciding what kind of world this could be. I guess I am sort of an indecisive person, or maybe I am too much of a realist to think in such ways, but in taking on this assignment, I have determined that it will open of my creativity, which is highly profitable for future endeavors.
The world that I would ideally like to be living in by 2040 would have to be one more open to the opinions, beliefs, concerns, ideas, and thoughts of ALL human beings. One in which race, gender, ethnicity, and religion no longer have an affect on how we view others, but instead are seen as important and intriguing aspects of a persons character. I am not sure, and am highly concerned with how this would actually come to be, a large part of me HOPES this will be attained by then, but, the realistic side of me can logically say that by this time, I can only hope to be on the road to attaining this environment. I also would hope that by this year, we would stop resorting to violence at any indiscretion, and instead, start communicating, and determining other, more productive ways of resolving conflicts in our world. On a smaller, more personal front, I hope that more focus will be devoted to issues such as poverty, hunger, education, and personal/human rights, and less on money, wealth, and power of those who already have money, wealth, and power.
I believe I will start where this project directs me: standard of living. Standard of living really addresses the idea of a smaller, more personal development of our society. Standard of living deals with poverty, hunger, education, career development, as well as human rights campaigns. Every human has the right to a healthy, fulfilling life. I feel that at this point in time, this has yet to be conquered. I hope that in 30 years, poverty and hunger will no longer be major issues. I hope that all human beings have access to health care and with the advancement of technology and medical sciences, as well as increased education, major diseases such as cancer and AIDS, will be curable and nearly eliminated. As for wealth, I hope that more focus is drawn toward emotional, spiritual, as well as creative wealth, rather than material wealth. If we were to focus more on important things, like family, friends, and actually having the life that we were given, instead of what kind of purse we are carrying or how much money we have in the bank, then maybe, the world would be a little more concerned with human beings, and less with materials that bring no real happiness to a person’s life. We should be able to find comfort in real life: our environment, our education, our communities, our friends should all provide us with the fulfillment and enriching lifestyles we all crave. Instead, we are filled with mindless, self-indulging luxury items. We have become so disconnected with reality and so reliant on material goods that we no longer no how to function without such things as the internet, television, and cell phones.
I believe, however, that for such a thing to begin happening on an individual level, it must first happen at the governmental or international relations level. Which, would mean, our world would have to stop focusing on resources as reasons to fight with others, and start developing solutions and working together in order for ALL humans to benefit. I suppose this is where I get into Michael T. Klare’s book, Resource Wars. Klare makes a very strong and crucial point that, the majority of the war’s fought in today’s society, as well as in the history of the world, have been over crucial resources such as water, oil, and minerals needed to power our ever growing technology and consumption of resources to power our televisions, cars, and houses, as well as all other aspects of a our ever growing consumer lifestyles.
As for human relationships in general, I can only hope with the improvement of our dependency on resources and wealth, that we can finally and clearly understand the importance of each and every human being. Although numerous accomplishments have been made in the past 100 years about racism, sexism, etc, I feel that there is still SO much to be accomplished in this society. I can only hope that with another 30 years, we can see past skin color, ethnicity, religion, gender, and sexual orientation and instead see a PERSON. EVERYONE, no matter what, deserves equal treatment in a society as advanced and “civilized” as ours. Again, I direct my attention to a larger party. Before human beings can start listening to each other and respecting each other, our government must start doing the same with other countries. We must stop jumping to violence, and we must start communicating. Governments as well as distinguished leaders around the globe must start setting the example. Until that is possible, no resolution or peace talks can happen. I think in order for us to begin this process, the government must step up and take responsibility, and smaller groups of citizens must start speaking up and taking action. Although I believe there is power in numbers, I also feel that it is the smaller things, the smaller movements like sexual assault rallies and park cleanups that begin revolutions. If we could address things on a more personal level, a lot of work could get accomplished. If only we could get governments to pay attention to the smaller, hard working citizens who are trying to make a difference. When that day comes, change will happen.
Reverting back to resources, my hope is that in 30 years, we are able to more adequately obtain resources, as well as conserve resources by having limitations as well as equal distribution to all parties. I believe that by 2040, we will have developed even more technology that allows us to convert plentiful resources and such things as recycled products into useful materials and for things such as power, energy, and fuel for vehicles. My hope is the emissions from vehicles as well as homes can be reduced by using new and more efficient fuels. I hope that we are more able to utilize our environment in order to save our environment. We must find more efficient resources and ones that are going to be able to last for a long amount of time. In order to do so, our society must become less obsessed with money and wealth and luxuries, and as I sad before, more concerned with each individual person.
The conflicts within education, religion, law, medicine, and other social institutions will have hopefully been addressed more appropriately and adequately at this time. These issues are generally the ones most discussed, but most likely to be put at the end of the list when it involves politicians and government. The educational system in our world is what I believe must be tackled first. I think this because if we can improve our educational system, then improvements between conflicts in religion, law, medicine, and all other social institutions can be made. If everyone has the equal opportunity to an education, then everyone can be equally educated about said social institutions. By improving educational institutions with better supplies, better teachers, more funding, as well as better environments and programs which keep our children intrigued and motivated to learn, and then we will be better able to understand each other better. Which in turn, allows us to better understand different belief systems, different religion and ethnic backgrounds, as well as allow people to be better-rounded and developed in their thinking. If we could show people how to think less one dimensional and more worldly, we could put aside the conflict between social institutions that really should be working together for the better of society instead of constantly contradicting each other and pitting the world against each other. AGAIN, I blame the simple mindedness and quick to use violence idea used in the world today (mainly super powers such as the United States).
This education, of course, must start with our youth. The youth of our world is the future of our world, and if early enough, all children have access to resources and education, all children will have a chance to better understand the world that we live in as well as in what ways they can help to keep our world as efficient as possible. Children should be taught how to resolve conflict without the use of force or violence. They should not be encouraged to fight or quickly attack others. They instead, should be taught how to communicate with one another as well as express their thoughts and concerns in a manner that is appropriate as well as more efficient than punching someone in the face. Children should learn from a young age that different is not a bad thing. Just because a person is different does not make that person lesser or inferior to you, all humans should be considered just as equal and as important as the next. This is where education needs to become less one dimensional and more let’s think critically and see the position from many different angles.
Of course, none of this will be possible if the main superstructures of our society do not agree. Thus, government, education, family, religion, and etc. must work together. I believe the family, especially, must be in this mindset for education to be successful. The power structure and family dynamic must be diverse as well as open to all aspects of life in order for a child to be that way as well. No influence on a child is as powerful as that family structure. This is where gender roles come in, too. Mothers and fathers must equal share family roles and should be on equal playing fields when it comes to their children. They need to show their child that no one person is better than another. Thus by sharing responsibilities and educating their children about diversity and acceptance, maybe our youth will be able to grow up and change the face of the world.
As for where I sit in this perfect society of mine, I hope to be a parent, someday down the road, and I can only hope that when I do have children, I can educate them to the best of my ability in every aspect I just discussed. Until I have children, I am planning on making a difference on a more personal level, in hopes that the ripple affect occurs and it touches enough lives to make a difference. That is one of the main reasons I am in the field of psychology as well as interests in sociology and social work. I am much more of a person to person, individualistic thinker, than I am a ‘let’s tackle the government type’. I feel that if I can help people, in the ways that I have been helped by counseling and general sincerity of others, then I truly am making a difference. I may not be able to over throw a government or change the entire world, but if I can save one person’s life like mine was saved, then I feel I am changing things for the better. Not only one on one effectiveness, but through organizations that devote themselves to such things such as sexual assault and rape. I see myself as being a person devoted to such a cause, because if I can tell a person my story, and make them feel less alone, then I can change lives and in a sense make our world a better place.
Do I truly believe that the ideal scenarios I have laid out previously can be accomplished? Well, I can only say that I hope so, with time. Can I really explain how or when they will be accomplished? Not really. All I can do is get my ideas out there, help as many people as I can, and hope, that in the next 33 years of my life, I make a small dent in the surface….
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Djibouti in the News
When searching for news articles and current events in Djibouti, I had a difficult time finding any that were directly to the country. However, I did run across a few conflicts in which Djibouti is involved, and also some incidents not involving conflict, but smaller accidents within or around the country.
One of the first things I ran across that caught my attention, which is not directly affecting my county, but still very important, is the recent fighting putting Somali troops and Ethiopian allies against Islamic insurgents. The fighting has killed more than 1000 civilians and wounded 4300 in capitol of Somalia, Mogadishu. In regards to Djibouti, ethnic Somalis want to incorporate other ethnic Somalis from Djibouti, as well as eastern Ethiopia and northeastern Kenya. The fighting has been going on for many years now and the present fighting is the worst in more than 15 years. The U.N. refugee agency says 124,000 have fled Mogadishu since early February.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/04/10/somalia.fighting.ap/index.html
In other news, at least 69 people recently died after a boat capsized in the Red Sea just off the coast of Djibouti. The Vessel was carrying more than 200 passengers on its way from the port of Djibouti to Tadjouara. The were on their way to a religious festival. Many have still not been accounted for.
http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?q=Djibouti&uri=%2F%2Fhome%2Fsystem%2Fwww%2Fmediaselector%2Fcheck%2Fnb_checkedBandwidth%3Fm%3D%2F%2Fhome%2Fsystem%2Fwww%2Fmediaselector%2Fcheck%26redirect%26checkedBandwidth%3Dnb%26checkedMedia%3Dram%26subtitles%3Dhide%26alreadySeen%3D1
One of the first things I ran across that caught my attention, which is not directly affecting my county, but still very important, is the recent fighting putting Somali troops and Ethiopian allies against Islamic insurgents. The fighting has killed more than 1000 civilians and wounded 4300 in capitol of Somalia, Mogadishu. In regards to Djibouti, ethnic Somalis want to incorporate other ethnic Somalis from Djibouti, as well as eastern Ethiopia and northeastern Kenya. The fighting has been going on for many years now and the present fighting is the worst in more than 15 years. The U.N. refugee agency says 124,000 have fled Mogadishu since early February.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/04/10/somalia.fighting.ap/index.html
In other news, at least 69 people recently died after a boat capsized in the Red Sea just off the coast of Djibouti. The Vessel was carrying more than 200 passengers on its way from the port of Djibouti to Tadjouara. The were on their way to a religious festival. Many have still not been accounted for.
http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?q=Djibouti&uri=%2F%2Fhome%2Fsystem%2Fwww%2Fmediaselector%2Fcheck%2Fnb_checkedBandwidth%3Fm%3D%2F%2Fhome%2Fsystem%2Fwww%2Fmediaselector%2Fcheck%26redirect%26checkedBandwidth%3Dnb%26checkedMedia%3Dram%26subtitles%3Dhide%26alreadySeen%3D1
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Djibouti Cont.
Life Expectancy, Hunger, Infant Mortality Rates, Health Issues, Housing
Many Djiboutians live in poor housing with inadequate water and sanitation. The infant mortality rate is high due to diarrhea and dehydration. Tuberculosis is a major health problem. Djibouti city has a hospital and several primary care clinics, and local dispensaries serve the rural areas.
Education
The educational system, although free, is burdened by the needs of Djibouti's young population. For many, formal education ends with early childhood training at local Qur'an schools. Primary schools are run by the state and by Roman Catholic clergy; advancement to the secondary level in the public system is limited by the size of state facilities. A small vocational training program is offered, but no postsecondary educational institutions exist. Less than one-fifth of the adult population is literate.
Many Djiboutians live in poor housing with inadequate water and sanitation. The infant mortality rate is high due to diarrhea and dehydration. Tuberculosis is a major health problem. Djibouti city has a hospital and several primary care clinics, and local dispensaries serve the rural areas.
Education
The educational system, although free, is burdened by the needs of Djibouti's young population. For many, formal education ends with early childhood training at local Qur'an schools. Primary schools are run by the state and by Roman Catholic clergy; advancement to the secondary level in the public system is limited by the size of state facilities. A small vocational training program is offered, but no postsecondary educational institutions exist. Less than one-fifth of the adult population is literate.
You Know You Want Some More...Djibouti!!!
Climate
Djibouti swelters all year round, with slightly more friendly conditions, and a few wet days, in and around January. The relatively dry conditions guarantee lots of sun and just bearable heat, peaking around 29-32°C (85-90°F) between October and April. In between these months things get extreme, with 40°C (104°F) days not uncommon.
Population and Colonialism
Pre 20th Century History
Despite the inhospitable climate, Djibouti's arid plains have been populated since the Paleolithic era, fought over by Afar and Somali nomadic herdspeople. Islam spread its prayer rugs from around 825 AD in a region that was then used as grazing lands by several tribes, including the Afars from eastern Ethiopia and the Issas from Somalia. Arab traders controlled the region until the 16th century, but the Afar sultans of Obock and Tadjoura were in charge by the time the French arrived in 1862. The French were seeking to counterbalance the British presence in Aden on the other side of the Bab al-Mandab Strait and, after negotiating with the sultans for the right to settle, they bought the place for 10,000 thalers.
In 1888 the French started building Djibouti City on the southern shore of the Gulf of Tadjoura, a region that had mostly been settled by Somalis. French Somaliland began to take shape. Djibouti was soon designated the official outlet of Ethiopian commerce, and the French-built Djibouti-Addis Ababa railway became - and remains - of vital strategic and commercial importance to the Ethiopians.
Modern History
The Issas demonstrated against the colonial powers in 1949, agitating for reunification of Italian, British and French Somaliland and the expulsion of all colonial powers. The Afars supported French rule, so not surprisingly the French favoured them, putting Ali Aref and his fellow Afars in control of local government. A 60% vote for continued French rule in 1967 was achieved largely by the massive expulsion of ethnic Somalis and the arrest of opposition leaders, and caused serious riots in the capital. Colonial authorities conceded something needed to be done, so they changed the colony's name to the 'French Territory of the Afars and Issas', hoping that would do the job. But Djibouti by any name had become a hornets' nest, and by the early 1970s many of those expelled had joined the Somali Coast Liberation Front and begun chucking bombs.
Ali Aref and his party were on the nose by 1976, following further huge demonstrations in support of the opposition. Aref resigned, and France reluctantly granted independence the following year. The People's Progress Assembly (RPP), led by Hassan Gouled Aptidon, won the elections, and Hassan Gouled became president. Djibouti was the last French colony on the African mainland to win independence.
During Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, Hassan Gouled played a tricky double game - giving lip service in opposition to the military buildup (Djibouti had signed a military pact with Iraq only a few months previously), while allowing France to considerably increase its military forces in Djibouti. He also allowed Allied forces to use Djibouti's naval facilities.
In November 1991, Afar rebels launched a civil war in their traditional territory in the north of the country. They accused the Issar-dominated government of favouring Issars, and after four months of bloodshed and hundreds of casualties, Hassan Gouled's government finally agreed to concessions. The people approved a new constitution at a 1992 referendum, and a peace accord was finally signed in 1994 despite simmering ethnic hostilities, particularly in the north and in border regions.
As Djibouti geared up for the 1997 general elections, renewed fighting between Afar sepratists who had opposed the peace negotiations and government forces broke out along the Eritrean border. Hassan Gouled systematically quashed the rebels, and after winning the election turned his attentions to the Isaak-Somalis, who wanted their own breakaway republic of Somaliland recognised. With the help of Ismael Omar Guelleh, who became president in 2000, the Isaak-Somalis were also defeated.
Recent History
Since his election, Guelleh has moved to strengthen ties with France and the USA by siding with Ethiopia in its dispute with Eritrea and allowing a buildup of French and American soldiers within Djibouti. At the last general elections in April 2005 2003, the RPP won again. Seven women (out of 65 members of parliament) won a seat in the National Assembly. During the Second Gulf War in 2003, Djibouti continued to play an ambivalent role, allowing a US presence in the country - to the great displeasure of France, who would have liked to be considered the most privileged ally.
Despite the inhospitable climate, Djibouti's arid plains have been populated since the Paleolithic era, fought over by Afar and Somali nomadic herdspeople. Islam spread its prayer rugs from around 825 AD in a region that was then used as grazing lands by several tribes, including the Afars from eastern Ethiopia and the Issas from Somalia. Arab traders controlled the region until the 16th century, but the Afar sultans of Obock and Tadjoura were in charge by the time the French arrived in 1862. The French were seeking to counterbalance the British presence in Aden on the other side of the Bab al-Mandab Strait and, after negotiating with the sultans for the right to settle, they bought the place for 10,000 thalers.
In 1888 the French started building Djibouti City on the southern shore of the Gulf of Tadjoura, a region that had mostly been settled by Somalis. French Somaliland began to take shape. Djibouti was soon designated the official outlet of Ethiopian commerce, and the French-built Djibouti-Addis Ababa railway became - and remains - of vital strategic and commercial importance to the Ethiopians.
Modern History
The Issas demonstrated against the colonial powers in 1949, agitating for reunification of Italian, British and French Somaliland and the expulsion of all colonial powers. The Afars supported French rule, so not surprisingly the French favoured them, putting Ali Aref and his fellow Afars in control of local government. A 60% vote for continued French rule in 1967 was achieved largely by the massive expulsion of ethnic Somalis and the arrest of opposition leaders, and caused serious riots in the capital. Colonial authorities conceded something needed to be done, so they changed the colony's name to the 'French Territory of the Afars and Issas', hoping that would do the job. But Djibouti by any name had become a hornets' nest, and by the early 1970s many of those expelled had joined the Somali Coast Liberation Front and begun chucking bombs.
Ali Aref and his party were on the nose by 1976, following further huge demonstrations in support of the opposition. Aref resigned, and France reluctantly granted independence the following year. The People's Progress Assembly (RPP), led by Hassan Gouled Aptidon, won the elections, and Hassan Gouled became president. Djibouti was the last French colony on the African mainland to win independence.
During Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, Hassan Gouled played a tricky double game - giving lip service in opposition to the military buildup (Djibouti had signed a military pact with Iraq only a few months previously), while allowing France to considerably increase its military forces in Djibouti. He also allowed Allied forces to use Djibouti's naval facilities.
In November 1991, Afar rebels launched a civil war in their traditional territory in the north of the country. They accused the Issar-dominated government of favouring Issars, and after four months of bloodshed and hundreds of casualties, Hassan Gouled's government finally agreed to concessions. The people approved a new constitution at a 1992 referendum, and a peace accord was finally signed in 1994 despite simmering ethnic hostilities, particularly in the north and in border regions.
As Djibouti geared up for the 1997 general elections, renewed fighting between Afar sepratists who had opposed the peace negotiations and government forces broke out along the Eritrean border. Hassan Gouled systematically quashed the rebels, and after winning the election turned his attentions to the Isaak-Somalis, who wanted their own breakaway republic of Somaliland recognised. With the help of Ismael Omar Guelleh, who became president in 2000, the Isaak-Somalis were also defeated.
Recent History
Since his election, Guelleh has moved to strengthen ties with France and the USA by siding with Ethiopia in its dispute with Eritrea and allowing a buildup of French and American soldiers within Djibouti. At the last general elections in April 2005 2003, the RPP won again. Seven women (out of 65 members of parliament) won a seat in the National Assembly. During the Second Gulf War in 2003, Djibouti continued to play an ambivalent role, allowing a US presence in the country - to the great displeasure of France, who would have liked to be considered the most privileged ally.
Economics
The monetary unit is the Djibouti Franc. Djibouti has few natural resources and extensive unemployment. Efforts to exploit geothermal energy are under way, but without substantial results. Salt was commercially exploited for export until the 1950s; today, surface deposits are collected and marketed through the informal sector of the economy. In rural areas, nomadic pastoralism is a way of life. Sheep and goats are raised for milk, meat, and skins, while camels are used for transport caravans. Agriculture is confined to a few wadis, which produce small yields of vegetables (mostly tomatoes) and dates. The fishing industry is still in the early stages of development. More than 90 percent of the country's food requirements is imported, mainly from France, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
Much of the country's economic potential lies in the transport and service sectors. An international airport is located at Ambouli. The port of Djibouti is a free-trade zone with modern container and refrigeration facilities and a rail link to Ethiopia. International telecommunications services are some of the best in sub-Saharan Africa. The capital has attracted several large commercial banks and provides a thriving entertainment industry necessary to a port city. There is also much unrecorded transshipment, via camels, dhows, and trucks, to bordering countries.
Major public works projects have been funded through foreign aid, and the government actively coordinates donors' efforts. In 1988 a paved road linking Tadjoura and the north with the capital was completed. The improvement of housing and the urban infrastructure continues.
Major public works projects have been funded through foreign aid, and the government actively coordinates donors' efforts. In 1988 a paved road linking Tadjoura and the north with the capital was completed. The improvement of housing and the urban infrastructure continues.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Djibouti
Djibouti was formed from the French territories of the Afars and the Issas in 1977. Djibouti is located in Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia. The major ethnic groups are Somali, Afar, and others including French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian. The dominant religion is Muslim(94%). Djibouti is a republic that became independent from France on June 27, 1977. Hassan Gouled Aptidon became President after
the independence from France and installed an authoritarian one-party state and proceeded to serve as president until 1999. The Afars minority's dissatisfaction during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in 2001 following the conclusion of a peace accord between Afar rebels and the Issa-dominated government. In 1999, Djibouti's first multi-party presidential elections resulted in the election of Ismail Omar Guelleh, who was re-elected to a second and final term in 2005. The present leadership favors close ties with France, which maintains a significant military present in the country, but is also developing stronger ties with the US. Djibouti hosts the only US military base in sub-Saharan Africa and is a front-line state in the global war on terrorism.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
No Logo
Naomi Klein's "No Logo" presents a whole new aspect to consumer America. The ironic thing about it is that after watching her present tactics used by large companies, the flashing of products such as McDonald's and Coca Cola made me really hungry and thirsty(or maybe it's just lunch time). Anyway, Klein begins her discussion with how marketing began. In the early stages, products were marketed through people. Instead of logos or fancy, flashy advertisements, the simple use of people were used to help the average American relate to the product. By allowing the consumer to say, "Hey! That lady is just like me!", the product comes across as a commodities that is needed in order for the consumer to feel important. The switch came when business stopped selling a product and instead begin selling ideas and values. Ideas such as family, sports, and fashion were sold instead of the individual product. The largest example being Disney. Disney used the idea of the "American Dream" to sell their product. By recreating "Main Street America", consumers were allowed to return to a "happier time". A time when things were more personable and simple.
The privatization of these companies has led to consumers being unable to express their beliefs and concerns about these large corporations. As shown in the video, picketing and demonstrating has become nearly impossible. The most interesting facet of this video is how these commodities are being produced. The use of cheap labor through smaller countries and the children and women who are coerced to do so is enabling these multi-billion dollar corporations to make a HUGE profit. Klein presents the idea of free trade as a solution to all of this.
After watching this video, I can't help but be reminded of Klare's "Resource Wars". Not in the sense of wars over oil, water, and other natural resources, but in the sense that we are so obsessed with commodities that we don't take a harder look at underlying aspects such as the globalization and mass consumerism feeding capitalism. In relation to Barnett's "The Pentagon's New Map", the marketing and globalization of these commodities to the gap countries could be seen as a tactic to "close the gap" and integrate those smaller, less commercialized countries into our Western culture. I see the Free Trade idea as a way of integrating these locations but in a more humane and beneficial way for everyone, not just large corporations!
The privatization of these companies has led to consumers being unable to express their beliefs and concerns about these large corporations. As shown in the video, picketing and demonstrating has become nearly impossible. The most interesting facet of this video is how these commodities are being produced. The use of cheap labor through smaller countries and the children and women who are coerced to do so is enabling these multi-billion dollar corporations to make a HUGE profit. Klein presents the idea of free trade as a solution to all of this.
After watching this video, I can't help but be reminded of Klare's "Resource Wars". Not in the sense of wars over oil, water, and other natural resources, but in the sense that we are so obsessed with commodities that we don't take a harder look at underlying aspects such as the globalization and mass consumerism feeding capitalism. In relation to Barnett's "The Pentagon's New Map", the marketing and globalization of these commodities to the gap countries could be seen as a tactic to "close the gap" and integrate those smaller, less commercialized countries into our Western culture. I see the Free Trade idea as a way of integrating these locations but in a more humane and beneficial way for everyone, not just large corporations!
Friday, February 16, 2007
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Public View
So I've been sitting at the Daily Grind for a couple of hours and as I was sitting here I realized something: I have become one of "those" people. You know, the one that sits there and acts like they are working on something, but really they are listening to everything and everyone that is speaking...
Well, tonight it paid off, at least in terms of Global Peace and Conflict...
I was sitting here enjoying my turkey sandwhich when an older couple sat down at the table beside me. The T.V. happened to be on CNN, which seemed to spur a conversation between the people.
Now I didn't catch the entire conversation, and I didn't exactly get their full positions, but what I did hear were two people talking about issues such as Iraq, 9/11, George W. Bush, Nancy Pullosi, and so on....
Well even though I don't know their stance, It struck me as interesting to hear people talking about the issues. Generally, now days, most people just don't like to talk about it...so I guess it gave me a little hope that there are some people that care about the issues. I don't know if I am more aware of things now do to this class or what. But I think I can appreciate that....
Well, tonight it paid off, at least in terms of Global Peace and Conflict...
I was sitting here enjoying my turkey sandwhich when an older couple sat down at the table beside me. The T.V. happened to be on CNN, which seemed to spur a conversation between the people.
Now I didn't catch the entire conversation, and I didn't exactly get their full positions, but what I did hear were two people talking about issues such as Iraq, 9/11, George W. Bush, Nancy Pullosi, and so on....
Well even though I don't know their stance, It struck me as interesting to hear people talking about the issues. Generally, now days, most people just don't like to talk about it...so I guess it gave me a little hope that there are some people that care about the issues. I don't know if I am more aware of things now do to this class or what. But I think I can appreciate that....
Klare's "New" Book
In Klare's new book, "Blood for Oil", he takes a post 9/11 stance on his original thoughts brought about in his book, "Resource Wars". Oddly enough, the ideas that "Blood for Oil" present are very much the same as its pre-9/11 counterpart. In "Resource Wars", Klare discusses numerous examples of resources, wars, conflicts, and reasons why resources (such as oil) will play key roles in our future. Now, after 9/11, he responds with what I feel is an "I told you so" attitude, or maybe that is just how I perceive it. He is now able to go in depth into the history and recent events in accordance with the attacks on 9/11 and our retaliation against in relationship to our need for oil. I found the discussion of the history the U.S. has with oil dependence. He brought up a key factor that I believe we discussed in class dealing with the Saudi royal family. It's interesting to see the perspective of how the dependence on oil came about, starting with our decline in oil resources and President Franklin D. Roosevelt's meeting and agreement with the Saudi royal family, which has been upheld through every Presidency since. Which brings us to this Presidency, in which Dick Cheney has historic ties to Saudi Arabia. In general, Klare's main focus in this book and the things that struck him the most werer the degree of dependence of our society on cheap, abundant oil, as well as how priveledged we were with a very large oil supply, and until that oil supply started to deplete, we weren't concerned. What really strikes me about this, is that it becomes very apparent that we are unable to function properly when our economy is threatened. Instead of thinking in terms of alternatives, we think in terms of attacking, and until we can get past this idea, and I feel this is what Klare is saying, war's and conflicts will be prevelant for the rest of our lives...
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
The Matrix??? Seriously....wow
Well, besides the fact that I watched the first 10 minutes of the Matrix and determined I had neither the time nor the energy to endure Keanu Reeves, the concept of this whole, alternative reality, or possibly "false consciousness" as Marx would put it, is something I think about every night before I fall asleep....
Well, OK, maybe not every single night, but I have had numerous conversations concerning this various topics with the likes of sociology, psychology, business, and philosophy majors. Thus, I am going to enjoy ranting about my opinion on the matter :)
In our country, and I would presume in other "developed" nations, as well, people are born into this whole idea of who rules what and why. From the moment you are born, and from there on out, you are taught that your parents, teachers, and elders as well as the law are who and what you must obey. That of course, being on the smallest level of "power elite". In terms of our class, what is meant by the "power elite" is those who hold the highest power within the government and politics, as well as big business owners and basically those who have the "means" to control our nation. OK, that seemed a bit harsh, but, in all seriousness, who are we trying to kid saying that we all have an "equal" chance at becoming politicians, presidents, and owners of multi-billion dollar corporations??
Which leads me into the next question, who is this ruling class?? Well, basically, I would have to say that top government officials, big business owners, and hell, I'd even go as far as saying Oprah has a lot of damn power in our country. The key factor is and always will be, money and a name. It can sound disheartening to speak like that, because we all want to believe it is possible to work as hard as you can to get to the top (which, in the case of Oprah, was true..OK, so she might have been a bad example, since she is an exception). Even on the smallest of levels a name or some sort of power is what you must have to go straight to the top. I can remember all throughout my athletic career I had to work my ass off just to make the team or get some playing time, but my friend, whose older cousin and/or brother or sister was a star athlete in the county, had a spot waiting on them 3 years in advance. Which goes to show, it's who you know and how much you make that makes you powerful. So I guess I'm saying that the majority(you know, besides the exceptions like Oprah) are from a different world. OK, say it is "radical hogwash", but I would like to at least entertain this idea that the majority of the "leaders" in our society made it there because they had the means to do so. They had the name behind them to get them noticed, as well as the money to fund all of the marketing campaigns to embed that name into our brains. You get the point.
Well, in making the exclamation that the "ruling class" gets to be the "ruling class" because of money and other such commodities, I would say that they "frame" as you put it, or excuse, global conflict in order to protect their own interests. Those interests being, you guessed it, money and power. Wars are said to be inevitable because "there is no way we could all just get along", that it is just human nature to be at war and it always has been since the beginning of time. They say that war is necessary in order for our country to prosper and succeed. Well, obviously, war is necessary to keep resources handy for big business.
I can go on and on about these topics, and speak my opinion or what I think I know about the issues, but I always come to the question, "Is this my genuine opinion or is it what I think I should be thinking??" Thus, the question of how much of what we receive is factual or perceived knowledge, or is it just filtered through what the media is feeding us. Well, I, as well as others, would like to think that my opinions are insightful and based on the facts. But who are we really to say that we get straight facts from anyone?? Is it even possible to receive the facts? Someone has to tell you what is going on somehow, either through the media or by word of mouth. So can what we hear ever truly be factual?? I'm left with this feeling that any information that we receive will always be filtered somehow, and no matter how the information is given, their will always be an opinion imposed upon it.
Which brings me to my conclusion. Why does this matter to our course. Well, everything previously discussed has much to do about Global Peace and Conflict, and if we are wanting to truly and consciously discuss the issues facing the world today, then we must be able to grasp all viewpoints and ideas about why and how our world comes to battle with each other. It is important to see all sides of it and it is extremely important to critically think through what we are told and taught to believe in our lives, because if we don't take a closer look at our world, then we are destined to repeat our battles over and over until the end of time...
Well, OK, maybe not every single night, but I have had numerous conversations concerning this various topics with the likes of sociology, psychology, business, and philosophy majors. Thus, I am going to enjoy ranting about my opinion on the matter :)
In our country, and I would presume in other "developed" nations, as well, people are born into this whole idea of who rules what and why. From the moment you are born, and from there on out, you are taught that your parents, teachers, and elders as well as the law are who and what you must obey. That of course, being on the smallest level of "power elite". In terms of our class, what is meant by the "power elite" is those who hold the highest power within the government and politics, as well as big business owners and basically those who have the "means" to control our nation. OK, that seemed a bit harsh, but, in all seriousness, who are we trying to kid saying that we all have an "equal" chance at becoming politicians, presidents, and owners of multi-billion dollar corporations??
Which leads me into the next question, who is this ruling class?? Well, basically, I would have to say that top government officials, big business owners, and hell, I'd even go as far as saying Oprah has a lot of damn power in our country. The key factor is and always will be, money and a name. It can sound disheartening to speak like that, because we all want to believe it is possible to work as hard as you can to get to the top (which, in the case of Oprah, was true..OK, so she might have been a bad example, since she is an exception). Even on the smallest of levels a name or some sort of power is what you must have to go straight to the top. I can remember all throughout my athletic career I had to work my ass off just to make the team or get some playing time, but my friend, whose older cousin and/or brother or sister was a star athlete in the county, had a spot waiting on them 3 years in advance. Which goes to show, it's who you know and how much you make that makes you powerful. So I guess I'm saying that the majority(you know, besides the exceptions like Oprah) are from a different world. OK, say it is "radical hogwash", but I would like to at least entertain this idea that the majority of the "leaders" in our society made it there because they had the means to do so. They had the name behind them to get them noticed, as well as the money to fund all of the marketing campaigns to embed that name into our brains. You get the point.
Well, in making the exclamation that the "ruling class" gets to be the "ruling class" because of money and other such commodities, I would say that they "frame" as you put it, or excuse, global conflict in order to protect their own interests. Those interests being, you guessed it, money and power. Wars are said to be inevitable because "there is no way we could all just get along", that it is just human nature to be at war and it always has been since the beginning of time. They say that war is necessary in order for our country to prosper and succeed. Well, obviously, war is necessary to keep resources handy for big business.
I can go on and on about these topics, and speak my opinion or what I think I know about the issues, but I always come to the question, "Is this my genuine opinion or is it what I think I should be thinking??" Thus, the question of how much of what we receive is factual or perceived knowledge, or is it just filtered through what the media is feeding us. Well, I, as well as others, would like to think that my opinions are insightful and based on the facts. But who are we really to say that we get straight facts from anyone?? Is it even possible to receive the facts? Someone has to tell you what is going on somehow, either through the media or by word of mouth. So can what we hear ever truly be factual?? I'm left with this feeling that any information that we receive will always be filtered somehow, and no matter how the information is given, their will always be an opinion imposed upon it.
Which brings me to my conclusion. Why does this matter to our course. Well, everything previously discussed has much to do about Global Peace and Conflict, and if we are wanting to truly and consciously discuss the issues facing the world today, then we must be able to grasp all viewpoints and ideas about why and how our world comes to battle with each other. It is important to see all sides of it and it is extremely important to critically think through what we are told and taught to believe in our lives, because if we don't take a closer look at our world, then we are destined to repeat our battles over and over until the end of time...
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Oxjam 07'
Oxjam was a fabulous way to jump start the weekend! I was very excited to see the amount of people who came out to support a great cause and listen to some sweet tunes. The combination of The Frets, Pierson Keating, George Costa's Feelin' Horny, and various other student musicians here at Wesleyan made for a fun-filled 2 hours. Besides the amazing talent, Oxjam was able to raise funds for Oxfam America, a non-profit organization that raises awareness and funding to help millions of people across the world who suffer from poverty, hunger, and in general, social injustice around the globe. Oxfam has helped millions through their hard work and on hands help. It was enjoyable to know that I could help out such a good cause and have a good time doing so.
As for the relationship to Global Peace and Conflict, I couldn't help but feel that global injustice, poverty, and hunger have had a lot to do with the fact that our world is constantly unstable. After reading "Resource Wars", it got me thinking more and more about how we are in constant struggle to maintain our economy through certain resources such as oil and water. While it may seem as though we are maintaining and everyone is profiting, everyone isn't. You would think that by 2007, people wouldn't be hungry or living on the streets, but they are. Much of which has to do with the fact that the rich keep getting richer and the poor stay the same or go down. This is why Oxfam is a such a great organization. Anyone that can help bring awareness and start changing the way the world works holds a high rank in my eyes.
As for the relationship to Global Peace and Conflict, I couldn't help but feel that global injustice, poverty, and hunger have had a lot to do with the fact that our world is constantly unstable. After reading "Resource Wars", it got me thinking more and more about how we are in constant struggle to maintain our economy through certain resources such as oil and water. While it may seem as though we are maintaining and everyone is profiting, everyone isn't. You would think that by 2007, people wouldn't be hungry or living on the streets, but they are. Much of which has to do with the fact that the rich keep getting richer and the poor stay the same or go down. This is why Oxfam is a such a great organization. Anyone that can help bring awareness and start changing the way the world works holds a high rank in my eyes.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Hi. My name is Jessica Crislip. I am a 3rd year senior psychology major with a minor in sociology. I am from Weston, WV, which is unfortunately about 15 minutes down the road. I enjoy numerous activities, mostly involving sports and nature. I hope to see the world someday. I have many dreams and ambitions. I am in this class because it satisfies credit for my minor as well as a global cultural studies course. I am very excited about learning a subject that I am not as familiar with as I should be. I watch the news a lot, but I would love to have a better understand of the in depth issues that the media tends to leave out. Because I am not familiar with the subject, I am worried about the readings and discussions we will be having, but I am very excited and intrigued by the possibilities and opportunities this class will propose.
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