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Northern Europe Announces "Supergrid"

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Energy resources

Nine European nations announced at the end of January they would enter into a project that would help them to capture renewable energy resources. This “supergrid“ will connect different energy sources by cables running under the sea. The cables will connect energy including

The idea is that energy would be captured where it is available, and then could be channeled to a place where energy was needed.  For instance, if the wind farms were creating a lot of energy in England, but the solar panels in Germany were not capturing a lot of power, energy from England could be sent to Germany through the underwater cables.

The new grid system will help to reduce Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels, assisting in the EU’s goal to provide 20% of their energy from renewable resources by 2020.  The development of the grid will also create environmental-friendly jobs— which will stimulate the European economy.  Participating nations are:

  • United Kingdom
  • Germany
  • France
  • Belgium
  • Netherlands
  • Luxembourg
  • Denmark
  • Sweden
  • Ireland

The estimated cost of the grid is $40 billion. And, it is hoped that this North Sea grid would be the first step towards a grid that would serve all of Europe.

Picture sources:

Wind farm

Solar Panels

Tidal Energy

Am I Allowed to Read?

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Education of females is vital to the nation's future.
Education of females is vital to the nation's future.

Just imagine not being able to read.  Even more shocking, imagine being  denied the opportunity to learn how. 

 An eight year old girl, Arzo admitted, “My father does not know that I am here.” “It’s my mother who has begged the teacher to take me in.”

 Mariam, is a fourteen year old tenth grade student who teaches at one of these informal schools and hopes to become a professor one day.  She teaches math and how to read and write in the local language, Dari.

“A typical day in my life starts at 3 a.m.,” she says. “I do my ablutions and pray. From 5 a.m., I clean the house and help my mother with breakfast. Then I am walking to school, which takes about 30 minutes. Our literacy class starts at 2 p.m. at the house next door. Before the lesson starts, I check the homework of my students.”

For Farida Dastgeer, a 65-year-old student, she is just learning how to read since her father never allowed her. “My whole life, I felt excluded from what’s going on,” she says. “This is about to change now. Next year, I will be able to read the announcements in the newspaper and the price tags in shops.”

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund is an agency, created by the United Nations General Assembly that focuses on improving the health and nutrition of children and mothers throughout the world.  Since 2008, UNICEF has supported informal literacy centers throughout the country. 

I cannot even fathom not being able to read yet alone not being allowed to.  Literacy is vital to promoting females in Afghanistan and securing a future.

Slideshow on Flickr of Education in Afghanistan

Climate Change Policy Has Roadblocks in Washington

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Clinton COP15


As the Copenhagen Summit drew to a close, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made a surprising announcement: the United States would raise $100 billon in annual aid for developing countries by 2020, and in return they “open their carbon-accounting book.” There was only one problem with this plan– Congress had not signed off on this promise.  The U.S. needs the support of Congress for policy to be put in place to see the pledge through, and Clinton’s remarks were immediately met with opposition back in D.C.  Now you may be wondering (along with your Congressmen) who will pay this $100 billion.  Here is where this money could come from:

  • Offset projects– projects, such as planting trees, that help to reduce carbon in the atmosphere
    • In a cap and trade program, offsets could help companies meet emissions requirements
    • The European Union already uses such a system
  • Some taxes

This week, talks of the 2011 budget were abuzz at Capitol Hill.  Among those discussions was environmental policy.  Some of the things Obama is calling for in his budget are:

  • Money for renewable energy research– solar, wind, and geothermal
  • Expanding nuclear power
  • Make cuts in tax breaks for large fossil fuel companies

Environmental policy is something that Americans will be hearing about more and more as our administration, along with leaders from around the world, work to improve our world.

Tensions Rise Over Dalai Lama Meeting

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Source: Britannica
Source: Britannica

The White House announced yesterday that President Obama will meet with the Dalai Lama on February 18th.  Among other recent controversies, this is the latest in line to further sour the rocky relations between China and the United States. 

 

Ma Zhaoxu, Foreign Ministry spokesmanfor China, responded quickly, “We urge the U.S. side to fully understand the high sensitivity of Tibet-related issues, honor its commitment to recognizing Tibet as part of China and opposing ‘Tibet independence.’”

 

You may recall that the “Tibet issue” received a large amount of attention during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.  But, you might not know why the protests were occurring.  While it is impossible to fully explain the reasoning behind the protest of the Dalai Lama meeting in one post, here are a few points to consider:

 

  • The origin of the controversy is the “17-Point Agreement”

 

  • China claims the “17-Point Agreement” signed by the 14th Dalai Lama in 1951 is proof that the Chinese have sovereignty over Tibet

 

  • Other sources indicate that the Tibetan government was independent until 1951 and that the “17-Point Agreement” was signed under duress and is therefore not valid

 

  • China argues that their influence has reformed and improved Tibet, specifically economically and in terms of human rights

 

  • The Dalai Lama’s director of information, Thubten Samphel, asserts that the PLA is responsible for over 80,000 Tibetan deaths between 1952 and 1958

 

  • More recently, the March 2008 protest in Tibet was in regards to “widespread mistreatment of the Tibetan population and a denial of religious and political freedom.” 

 

The rift between China and Tibet runs deep and it can only be inferred that a meeting between Obama and the Dalai Lama will not bode well for US-China relations.  The only question left to consider is “How will the impact manifest itself for the United States and for Tibet?”

The Cold Hard Truth

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  • Upwards of 27 million people are held in some form of slavery, sexual trade, or indentured servitude.
  • According to the United Nations, human trafficking has become a $12-billion-a-year industry impacting nearly every country, surpassing all criminal markets other than drug and arms trades.
  • Slaves today are usually valued at less than $100, giving slaveholders minimal incentive to take care of them.
  • According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), almost 200 million children (5-14 years) are put to work to help support their families in the developing world.
  • In an attempt to combat human trafficking, the US created a tier system, 2000 Trafficking Victims Protection Act, rating countries on the degree at which they are fighting trafficking:
  • Tier 1: Countries are considered active in fighting trafficking
  • Tier 2: Countries are making moderate efforts against trafficking
  • Tier 3: Countries have done nothing to prevent trafficking.  If a country is categorized in Tier 3 for three consecutive years, all U.S. non-humanitarian funds will be withheld.

Human labor trafficking in Malaysia
Human labor trafficking in Malaysia

Several Country Specifics:

  • Nearly every country plays some role in human trafficking.  Frequently, it is the cooperation of the trafficking networks that connect countries, allowing for the illegal kidnapping across borders, and fostering the continuation of the slave trade.  However, human trafficking seems to appear in different forms from country to country.
  • Approximately 90 percent of girls in rural parts of Albania cannot go to school for fear of being kidnapped and sold into prostitution.
  • Moldovan women may make up to 80 percent of prostitution trafficking in Western Europe.
  • Trafficking for labor rather than sex is more prevalent in African countries.
  • Asian victims are often sold to traffickers by their own families in hopes of providing an escape from poverty.
  • Some 25,000 women and children are trafficked each year out of Bangladesh.
  • Thailand is a prime destination for pedophile sex tourists fueling the demand for the trafficking of children.

Sources: The CQ Researcher, March 26, 2004, Volume 14, Number 12, pages 273-296

Photo Source: http://nimg.sulekha.com/Others/original700/malaysia-human-trafficking-2009-7-27-1-10-0.jpg

NAFTA Spells Oppression

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Earlier this month, Mexican officials announced they expect the economy to grow by 3.4% in 2010.  Despite this projected growth, much of the country is ravaged by poverty and inequality.  Mexico has one of the most disparate wealth distributions in the entire world.  NAFTA is largely to blame.    

When President Bill Clinton implemented the North American Free Trade Agreement I don’t think he knew its implications for Mexico’s poorest citizens.  At least, I hope he didn’t.

Signed into law in 1992, NAFTA is a tripartite agreement between Mexico, Canada, and the United States stipulating the equal flow of goods between the countries.  Although well-intended, the sudden influx of drastically discounted goods into Mexico crippled farmers and indigenous populations who have survived off the profits of their land for centuries. 

NAFTA quickly put the majority of rural farmers out of business.

Mexican farmer selling corn in the marketplace.
Mexican farmer selling corn in the marketplace.

Corn subsidies only exacerbated the problem of selling products in the local market.  Seed prices are up 20%.  In February of 2008, hundreds of thousands of Mexican farmers rallied in the streets of Mexico City, the nation’s capital to protest the corn subsidy. 

Corn is not the only crop that has gone to pot since NAFTA began, literally. 

According to an article in La Jornada, the relationship between the signing of the bill and drug trafficking has become tighter.  In places such as Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Veracruz, the growth of marijuana and poppy seed has increased with unprecedented intensity.  1/3 of all arable and permanent croplands in Mexico are used to grow illicit substances.  (I will explain more about the War on Drugs in later posts.)

While it is true the Mexican economy as a whole has made slight gains in the years since NAFTA, the campeñeros are bearing the brunt of this preferential agreement between the United States and Mexico.

(RED): The Color of an Emergency

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“We must all come together in supporting the global fund and the fight against AIDS.

…I applaud (RED) and its partners for their vision and commitment.” –Nelson Mandela

This quote by former South African President, Nelson Mandela, is printed at the top of one of the most well-known AIDS philanthropic organizations, “The (RED) Campaign.” Mandela is right, with HIV/AIDS continuing to be a growing epidemic, people all around the world need to work together in order to stop the spread of this fatal disease. Foreign Policy and governmental aid are doing all they can in order to help with programs such as PEPFAR and USAID but they are not enough to stop this epidemic, therefore there are hundreds of philanthropic groups devoted to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS.

(RED) is one of the leading philanthropic organizations and most well-known. Founded by U2 front man, Bono and Bobby Shriver in 2002, The (RED) Campaign raises awareness and money for the Global Fund by pairing with the most popular icons in today’s world such as; American Express, Gap, Apple, and Starbucks.

Today, there is an estimated 33 million people living with HIV, and 2.7 million people were newly infected in 2007. HIV/AIDS can be stopped if everyone works together. For example, with the help of (RED) and its sponsors the purchase of one Ipod and nine Starbucks drinks provides someone living with HIV in Africa with three weeks and three days of lifesaving medicine. This is incredible, and if everyone continues to be informed and work together, hopefully the battle with HIV/AIDS will come to an end.

Product (RED)
(PRODUCT) Red

Checking and Vetting

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The slogan posted at the top of TSA blog website reads,

“Terrorists evolve.  Threats evolve.  Security must stay ahead.  You play a part.” 

In order to uphold their goal of lowering the risk of air travel, the TSA has implemented new and strengthened former security regulations. 

 

TSA's Layers of Security
TSA's Layers of Security

 

In June 2007, the job of “Document Checker” was created. Trained Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) use black lights and magnifying glasses to check boarding passes and forms of identification, such as driver’s licenses or passports.  These people are stationed at the head of every security checkpoint in every American airport. Since the inception of the program, these TSOs have uncovered “thousands of suspect, illegible or expired documents.”

 
Another new program that the TSA has created is Secure Flight.  A recent TSA press release read, “TSA’s goal is to vet 100 percent of passengers on all domestic commercial flights by early 2010 and 100 percent of passengers on all international commercial flights into, out of, or over the U.S. by the end of 2010.” The airlines can now ask for a passenger’s name, DOB, and gender when making a reservation.  This added information is used to crosscheck your information with international watch lists, such as the No Fly list, in order to prevent any suspect passengers from even getting a flight reservation.

sf_index1 copy

 

While the job of Document Checkers may seem mundane, and has caused you frustration while traveling through an airport, their jobs are actually quite effective in stopping passengers with counterfeit papers. The Secure Flight Program is an up-and-coming process that will hopefully be effective in halting any and all passengers on watch lists from even getting close to an airport.

Will China Levy Sanctions Against the US?

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The Chinese government announced that they may enact trade sanctions on foreign arms contractors (meaning any U.S. company that sells or distributes arms to Taiwan).  This response came shortly after the announcement was made on Friday, February 5, that the United States would be selling Taiwan a $6.4 billion arms package.  Boeing is a good example of a company in threat of being sanctioned.

Source: Boeing
Source: Boeing

Several reports doubt that China would ever put these sanctions in place.  The reason?  Boeing products comprise 53 percent of civilian aircraft in China.  It seems that China would only be hurting itself because they would be subject to World Trade Organization rules.  If successfully challenged, “Beijing could face sanctions against its own exports that would be equivalent in value to the estimated loss of business to US companies.”

 

The Taiwan dispute is nothing new, but it is integral in foreign relations between China and the United States or any other country that recognizes Taiwan as a state separate from China.  Japanese colonization of Taiwan from 1895-1945 sparked a “century of humiliation” that would only end with the reunion of China and Taiwan.  Chinese possession of Taiwan is so deeply entrenched in Chinese pride.  Any country committing the act of attempting to help Taiwan defend itself is undermining Chinese authority and esteem.  Saving face is a large motivator in the Chinese government’s action or inaction, which brings us back to the threat of sanctions. 

 

Ultimately, times are tense for US-China relations and it is unknown if tensions will increase or decrease as this story develops.  There is currently such a torrent of news items on US-China relations, that there is no telling what’s next.

A Review of the Copenhagen Summit

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I want to start this blog with a review of the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference, or known commonly as the Copenhagen Summit.  This summit is significant to the topic of U.S. foreign policy in regards to the environment and climate change, because it is the latest attempt to bring many nations together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Here is a some fast facts about the Summit:

  • Leaders from 193 nations around the world met in December 2009
  • Individual nations made commitments to lower their own impact global warming
  • Did not make a binding international treaty to lower environmental impact– failing to meet a goal of reaching such an agreement by 2010
  • Failed to name strict goals for lowering greenhouse gas emissions
  • Obama said that of the Summit: “We’ve come a long way but we have much further to go.”
  • EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the agreements fell “far short of our expectations”

Here is a slideshow of images from the Summit.

This information should be helpful as we continue to look at the relationship between the U.S. and the European Union in regards to climate change.

Source:

New York Times with Google

Photos:

Poster; World Leaders; Plenary; Obama; Prince Charles; Sarkozy; Protests; Comic