The situation in Northern Nigeria looks to be digressing as the militant Islamist group Boko Haram continues to terrorize the streets of Kano. The city has placed a 6 pm curfew, which has hurt business and other key industries. The main target of the groups attacks have been the police and the Nigerian state. Many of the inhabitants of the city support Boko Haram because in them they see a group fighting against the inequality that the Nigerian state has overseen for the best ten years. Also, the northern part of Nigeria is predominately Muslim, and poor. The Nigerian state has labeled Boko Haram as a foreign entity which seeks to undermine peace and prosperity, when in reality, this group draws all of its support locally. However, there has been linking of this group to Al Queda. It is likely that violence will increase, along with other restrictions of freedom in the city of Kano due to the groups insurgency.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/world/africa/in-northern-nigeria-boko-haram-stirs-fear-and-sympathy.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=world
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Current Event #3
The elections in Russia look to be heating up as protesters attempted to form a human chain along the 15 km "Garden Ring" road in Moscow. They failed to completely set up the ring but their presence was still felt delaying traffic in some parts of the road. State news outlet RIA Novosti quoted police as saying that 11,000 people showed up, opposed to the protesters figures of 40,000. The true number of people there was probably between these two figures. Putin seems to be losing support as he tries to suppress dissidence within the country through his state controlled media. I believe that the more he tries to suppress the opposition the more support he will lose, and the more likely he will lose the upcoming presidential election. Russia isn't know for having a great track record with freedom, and Putin is only making it worse. Hopefully the new "civil society" will prevail and Putin will give up his power like a true man.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Boiling Point in Iran
Tensions between Israel and Iran have been growing since last year, and it is evident that things will only get worse. The article discusses the time frame of when an aerial attack from Isreal against Iran's nuclear facilities would be. It also discusses the involvement of America in a military conflict between the two, citing the amphibious landing drills that have been started by the U.S. military. The decision to fight Iran will not be Pinetta's or Obam's decision but the Israeli's. If a war was to break out, the region would become chaotic with countries such as Syria coming to the aid of Iran and countries like America and the Saudis coming to the defense of Israel. I have a feeling that Israel won't wait much longer sitting idle while Iran develops a weapon. An airstrike could occur late this spring in my opinion.
http://www.economist.com/node/21547297
http://www.economist.com/node/21547297
Sunday, February 12, 2012
China current event #1
When the Olympics were held in China during the summer of 2008 many environmental groups were emphasizing the high levels of pollution that China has. The images of the air that summer did nothing to reverse this assertion. PM 2.5 refers the smallest particles in the atmosphere which can get deep into your lungs. A report done from by Yale's Angel Hsu using American satellites shows that almost all of China's provinces of ratings of 10 micro-grams per m3, considered unhealthy. The pollution in China is a result of their growth economically. With many jobs comes many pollutants. It will be interesting to see if China takes any measures to make sure its air quality improves. I doubt this will happen because China is focused on surpassing economically America. If no reforms are implemented, you may find some unhappy Chinese complaining along with enviormentalists, now that's an odd group.
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