Blog #7

     The Human Development Index is, in a way, a variety of measurements that produce the overall quality of life– this includes happiness levels. There are four areas that one can look at : Human Development Index (trends), Gender-related Development index, Gender Empowerment Measure, and the Human Poverty Index. 

     The United States is at a world ranking of 15 and it is all due to our blessings as a nation. Even with today's unstable economy, we are the wealthiest country in the world. Getting an education is another blessing that contributes to America's HDI ranking. Lastly, women are treated as equals to men in our society. Other countries around the world are not as blessed to share this standard of life! On the extreme opposite of the HDI rankings there is the country of Sierra Leone.

     Blood diamonds and various other sources of conflict have been the source of a low HDI. Not only that, but the extreme levels of poverty continue to increase– the war lords receive all the money and become rich, and the rest of the society weakens. Women are raped and murdered on an hourly basis, they aren't respected and treated as they should be. If I were forced to live in a situation where fear ruled my life, I would not be joyful in the least.

     Countries with the highest HDI in the world mainly come from the MDC bracket. Higher employment, education, higher salaries, and equality have undergone much more improvement in MDCs than what has occurred in LDCs.  I believe that Sub-Saharan Africa is ranked lowest amongst HDI tallies is largely due to their lowest of the LDCs status. They don't have a whole lot going their way– crime and lack of hope are overwhelming to lead happy lives! 

     

Blog #6

     This is an image of Halley's comet. One of 200 comets in our solar system that make periodic trips around earth. Halley's comet orbits earth every 76 years and will orbit earth again in the year 2061. 

     I chose this image for one main reason: I love stars, they're incredible! On clear summer nights back in Colorado my friends and  will lay in the grass, discuss matters of life, and see how many shooting stars we can count. (You would be surprised how many deep conversations can come from 

star-gazing, haha.) I believe that stars, right behind the human body, are the most incredible creation of God. It still baffles me that atheists persist to deny God in our society today. When you see the stars there is no denying a higher power! 

     Even though I miss the mountains when I'm at school here in Nebraska, at least I have the stars. Alright, fine, I'll admit it: the stars look even more amazing in Nebraska than they do in Colorado. Just realize something though, it's because NOTHING is here and there are many SOMETHINGS in Colorado! 

Blog #5

Since 1963, travel and trade has been halted with Cuba due to their Communist actions. 

Fidel Castro, at the age of 81, does not have as much impact as he once did; he just recently resigned as President. Even though Castro technically isn't the head of power anymore, and his power has began to dwindle, I don't believe that the United States should lift the embargo. 

First, I believe that the lift of the embargo would add to illegal drugs coming into the states. With the large killing sprees occurring in Mexico due to the cartels, I don't see any need for raising a new potential drug ring. 

Second, I don't see a need for the United States to go into business with a Communist country. What does Cuba have that the United States already doesn't; all I can think of is Cuban cigars! The article best describes how I feel about a lift of the embargo: "Tourism dollars spent in Cuba will inject more oxygen into the dying Castro regime." It would be a poor choice for America to poor money into such dangerous and ruthless hands! 

In conclusion, I don't like the idea of the United States becoming all "buddy buddy" with Cuba. There are too many "what ifs"; no one really knows what would happen if we were to lift the embargo! Those who are wanting to travel to Cuba should find somewhere else to travel. There are plenty of Caribbean islands and far away places that are probably just as interesting, if no more interesting, than Cuba. The only way I would ever lift the embargo with Cuba is if Castro was gone and I knew their state of communism was kaput. 

Blog #4

The article I choose for this blog can be found at:  http://xrl.us/befoau

     After our discussion last class concerning drug trafficking, I became very interested in stories relating to what is occurring on our southern border and in Mexico as a whole. 

     Cancun's Police Chief, Francisco Velasco, was detained for questioning in the case of a tortured and murdered army brigadier general. Because of Mexico's illegal drug problems 45,000 Mexican soldiers have been assigned to the drug hot spots. In attempts to control the extreme violence, the soldiers have become the targets of the drug cartels. Just last year, six soldiers were beheaded and their heads thrown on a main strip of land for people to see. As we learned in class, a total of 6,000 deaths were linked to the drug cartels and their violent acts. Supposedly 90% of the 6,000 have reportedly been linked to the trafficking of illegal drugs, but the 10% of innocent victims is still an ample number! The end of the article discusses how some of the cartels drop drugs at sea and allow the ocean's currents to bring them to our coasts. Thus, much of the drugs appears near the coast of Baja California; different gangs try to pick them up, and violent battles occur. Sadly, a close end to the drug trafficking and drug related violence doesn't seem to be in sight.

Another interesting sight:   http://projects.latimes.com/siege/#/interactive-map

Blog #3

Books Borrowed:

     My father just happens to be the head Librarian for my school district back home. I can't recall how many schools that involves, but I know it's a good amount! Not only that, but our basement is a library in and of itself; bookcases have been built into all of the basement walls. Each case consists of seven shelves that span the length of four to five feet, at two to three books thick, and two to three books high. My parents love it and my three other siblings have seemed to enjoy it as well; both my older brothers have grown up to become part of the media. My oldest works for The Detroit Free Press while finishing up his masters at University of Missouri. The Birt who comes right before me is in his Junior year at Arizona State University in the search to become a radio host/ DJ. 

     I apologize for the large entry but it will help with the reasoning for the map I choose. This map shows the number of books borrowed, (the number of books checked out from public libraries). Shocking!? I thought so! I really believed the United States would be much bigger and the Eastern World and less developed countries would be smaller. Grant you, Australia is worse than America, but it's because of kids like this: 

                                 

                                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Jw-i-dUMwM

    

      This map gives evidence as to why students across seas seem to have so much more intelligence: they read! Furthermore, I think we as Americans take libraries for granted- we are very spoiled. Those in other countries don't have the experience of the Internet or other media sources and they get their information from books. I think it's an understatement that Americans need to catch up with the rest of the world and start reading rather than watching their daily gossip shows!

Blog #2

• The two countries I chose are Sudan and Switzerland.
  
• Sudan is an LDC.
• Switzerland is an MDC.

There are several reasons Sudan is recognized as an LDC (Lesser Developed Country). First and foremost, the multiple civil wars that have occurred due to the northern political, economic, and social domination of the southern Sudanese. The presence of war, especially civil war, presents any country with a great difficulty to become developed. Furthermore, when you have ongoing civil war in an LDC, any momentum towards becoming and MDC is restrained. No true since of government presents Sudan with another ingredient for being an LDC. A country can't get on its feet when the "leaders" are rebels who kill their fellow countrymen; nearly three million deaths have taken place as a combination of the civil war and genocide in Darfur.  

The impact violence has on Sudan can be seen in the Sudan pyramid. The base of the pyramid is full, representing a large youth. Sadly, as the pyramid rises, the numbers begin to dwindle rather rapidly. Having a large percentage of a countries population be youthful is also a sign of an LDC. 

Sudan's main exports include oil and petroleum products, cotton, livestock, groundnuts, gum arabic, and sugar. Many of these items, especially oil and petroleum, are needed by the whole world. If Sudan was a peaceful country, I believe these exports would serve as a great foundation to its development. But, once again, the violence halts the process of becoming an MDC. 

Switzerland is a perfect example of an MDC (More Developed Country). As the pyramid shows, the amount of people as age increases is fairly equal, unlike that of Sudan. The median age in Switzerland is 40.7, whereas Sudan is 18.9. Another way we can recognize Switzerland as an MDC is by its TFR (Total Fertility Rate), which stands at 1.44. We learned in class that low TFRs represent MDCs and high TFRs represent LDCs. 

From age 15 and up the literacy rate of Switzerland is at 99%; just one more sign of an MDC. The median life expectancy is 80.74, which is unheard of in Sudan (50.84); hardly any bar is shown at the height of the Sudan pyramid! 

From an LDC to an MDC there are significant changes in how the country is dealing with day-to-day life. Both the Sudan and Switzerland pyramids speak for themselves. Sadly, Sudan's violent history seems to shadow over future hope for development. Switzerland, as an MDC, shows distinct features to backup its success as an MDC!