Within the past three days, the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu had taken a direct hit by Cyclone Pam after a sudden of direction to the West, devastating the archipelago and leaving the death toll in an unknown state. Communications with the island nation are cut off almost completely and access to clean water and power there was no better. Because of the remote nature of the island chain, assessing damage was no easy task either.
As the cleanup continues after the storm struck, countries around the world and in the region- notably Australia- have contributed to the aid for the island nation, with the International Red Cross leading the mission. Pacific Red Cross chief Aurelia Balpe told The Australian newspaper that most buildings were destroyed if not severely damaged, and that the southern section of island chains took the most direct hit from Pam. In the city of Port Villa, 90% of all homes are no more.
Helo pilots reported many iron and cement structures demolished all over, with very little buildings and structures still standing. Pam, a category 5 storm with winds over 165 mph, may be the worst storm in the South Pacific's history. With a population of 267,000 and a distance about a quarter from Australia to Hawai'i, citizens of Vanuatu describe the scene of the aftermath as "looking as if a bomb hit".
This article pertains to place, location and region, as the open Pacific Ocean is well known for cyclones, typhoons, and hurricanes alike- depending on the region. The same storm that hit Vanuatu also hit the nations of Kiribati and the Solomon Islands, all of which are island nations vulnerable to the powerful storms. Human Environment Interaction wise, Vanuatu has received a global presence in assisting its recovery.
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
The Japan Times- Kurds play TSA in Northern Iraq
On March 11, 2015, a Japanese man was temporary detained authorities in the Kurdish Autonomous region in Northern Iraq as a suspicious individual after entering the country through Turkey. After being detained for several days in Irbil, a major city in the Kurdish region, he was released and has since left Iraq.
Officials of Japan's Foreign Ministry reported last month that two other Japanese nationals were detained on separate occasions before being released. According to the ministry, the Kurdish officials have taken action in examining foreigners traveling in the country with the utmost scrutiny. This is most likely a result of the impending ISIS threat, as Iraq is one of the several countries in the Middle East that ISIS controls territory in.
Location and region are two legitimate factors here, as the juxtaposition of the ISIS controlled regions and the Kurdish region in which the Japanese nationals were held makes Northern Iraq a particular hot zone. As many ISIS recruits have come from multiple countries around the world- including the US, security would most likely be stepped up around the areas of fire.
Los Angeles Times- The Road to Recovering Fukushima is Vast
Many remember the disastrous event that saw a chain reaction of catastrophe on Japanese soil in 2011. First, the monumental category 9.0 earthquake struck Tohoku hard, resulting in a massive Tsunami wave developing in the Pacific, which traveled up to the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant and caused three of the six nuclear reactors to meltdown and release massive amounts of radioactive material into Japan's soil and the Pacific Ocean.
At 140 miles northeast of Tokyo, it posed a danger to many surrounding areas and affected a large area in the Pacific Ocean as well, with the radiation spreading as far as the west coast of the United States. The area in which the cleanup and decontamination process expands totals approximately 105 cities, towns, and villages affected by the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe. Many have been evacuated from their homes in these areas as the cleanup expands to their homes.
Today, that disaster remains a health risk in the region, and the resultant cleanup and decontamination process continues four years later. It is on record the most massive and costly nuclear cleanup ever attempted in history. While many regard this cleanup project as an obligation by the involved groups to correct this tragedy, others are skeptical of the project and see it as a useless endeavor that will waste valuable resources,
This article definitely pertains to human environment interaction, region, movement, location, and place. As the man-made nuclear plant melted down and spread throughout Japan and the Pacific Ocean, extensive regions of Japan and the entire Pacific Ocean were both greatly affected by this incident. In Japan specifically, a large area of land is now uninhabitable, which forced many people to leave their homes. Now the cleanup will be a long and costly one.
At 140 miles northeast of Tokyo, it posed a danger to many surrounding areas and affected a large area in the Pacific Ocean as well, with the radiation spreading as far as the west coast of the United States. The area in which the cleanup and decontamination process expands totals approximately 105 cities, towns, and villages affected by the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe. Many have been evacuated from their homes in these areas as the cleanup expands to their homes.
Today, that disaster remains a health risk in the region, and the resultant cleanup and decontamination process continues four years later. It is on record the most massive and costly nuclear cleanup ever attempted in history. While many regard this cleanup project as an obligation by the involved groups to correct this tragedy, others are skeptical of the project and see it as a useless endeavor that will waste valuable resources,
This article definitely pertains to human environment interaction, region, movement, location, and place. As the man-made nuclear plant melted down and spread throughout Japan and the Pacific Ocean, extensive regions of Japan and the entire Pacific Ocean were both greatly affected by this incident. In Japan specifically, a large area of land is now uninhabitable, which forced many people to leave their homes. Now the cleanup will be a long and costly one.
Monday, March 2, 2015
CNN- SNL Comedy Creates Controversy
On February 28 of the previous Saturday, Saturday Night Live star Tarin Killam and Fifty Shades of Grey star Dakota Johnson played roles in a parody of a Super Bowl commercial depicting a father dropping his daughter of at an airport where she was soon to join the US army. In the SNL parody, the daughter was depicted leaving to join ISIS.
As it always is, there is a deep disparity in the reaction to this. The outraged cited the comedy skit as having "no respect" for "think(ing) ISIS belongs in a comedy skit", even bashing them as "tasteless scum". However, many not only enjoyed the skit, but praise SNL for making such a skit, believing that "There's no group more deserving of ridicule".
The Human Environment Interaction here is based on the alleged insult of the US military by inadvertently comparing such to the ISIS militants. Place and region can also be tied into that. But such a thing probably isn't impossible. Three British girls left the country allegedly to join ISIS last month. Their movement was swift, and their parents have not heard from them since. In addition, this is not the first time America has made controversial media known to the public. The most recent example of this before ISIS was the motion picture The Interview, which was pulled from all theaters after threats of war by North Korea; it was however later showed in privately owned theaters.
In terms of this small skit, the impact doesn't seem like anything worth the outrage.
New York Times- XL Pipeline Freezes in Cold Battle
In the midst of the Siberian Express, president Obama vetoed the Keystone XL Pipeline bill. Such a bill would allow the construction of an extensive oil pipeline network from Canada cross-borders to the United States. There was much fracas on both side of the argument for this legislation.
The supporters believed that the XL pipeline was a good business move that would create jobs and reduce pollution totals, while the opposition believed that the XL pipeline would be too costly and risky a project which could possibly lead to another oil spill much like the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico five years ago.
There has been much debate on the alternatives of creating an oil pipeline as opposed to trains and trucks shipping oil. Freight trains have been often in the news lately, but not for good reasons. There have been a large number of train derailments as of recent times. Several oil trucks have reported suffering accidents that cause oil to spill onto roads and off the sides. Many argue that a pipeline would be more efficient and less expensive in transporting oil, while the opposition not only believes the opposite, but they believe that there is higher risk should the pipeline experience mechanical issues that could lead to a horrid spill.
Pertaining to Human Environment Interaction, the opposition want nothing to do with another possible crisis like BP caused years ago. BP is still cleaning up after it as well, only this time the drinking supply of millions would be far more at risk for contamination in addition to wildlife suffering as well. Place and region are both affected, as the potential placing of the pipeline project is within a region of North America rich and plentiful in waterways and sources, in addition to large populations of cities and surrounding area in which wildlife thrive.
The supporters believed that the XL pipeline was a good business move that would create jobs and reduce pollution totals, while the opposition believed that the XL pipeline would be too costly and risky a project which could possibly lead to another oil spill much like the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico five years ago.
There has been much debate on the alternatives of creating an oil pipeline as opposed to trains and trucks shipping oil. Freight trains have been often in the news lately, but not for good reasons. There have been a large number of train derailments as of recent times. Several oil trucks have reported suffering accidents that cause oil to spill onto roads and off the sides. Many argue that a pipeline would be more efficient and less expensive in transporting oil, while the opposition not only believes the opposite, but they believe that there is higher risk should the pipeline experience mechanical issues that could lead to a horrid spill.
Pertaining to Human Environment Interaction, the opposition want nothing to do with another possible crisis like BP caused years ago. BP is still cleaning up after it as well, only this time the drinking supply of millions would be far more at risk for contamination in addition to wildlife suffering as well. Place and region are both affected, as the potential placing of the pipeline project is within a region of North America rich and plentiful in waterways and sources, in addition to large populations of cities and surrounding area in which wildlife thrive.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
West African Countries Uniting Against Boko Haram
On Twitter recently, the Nigeria armed forces announced that Baga, a town controlled by Boko Haram, had been recaptured. He stated :We have secured Baga. We are not in full control. There are only mopping up exercises left to do." On January 3, Baga had been taken by Boko Haram forces, along with several other neighboring towns as well. During this period of time, Boko Haram militants burned many settlements to the ground and killed hundreds. This area gave them access to the countries of Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.
Since then, the three countries have joined fight alongside Nigerian armed forces to recapture Baga and fight to oust Boko Haram. But is the fight too soon to call? Boko Haram currently controls an area mass the size of Belgium, and about a week ago, Boko Haram militants pushed into Chad and killed about 10 civilians before being pushed out by Chad forces. This was the jihadist group's first lethal attack on Chad, and many speculate that it was a response to Chad joining the Allies against them. Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shedau, directly addressed Idriss Deby, President of Chad. "Your alliance will not achieve anything", he said. "Amass all your weapons and face us. We welcome you."
Some estimate that close to 13,000 people have been killed by Boko Haram, and more than a million have gone missing or been displaced. However the terrorist group appears to be either regrouping for their next attack or purely on the run after joint attacks by national forces. Nigerian General Chris Olukolade is confident that "Not even the strategy of mining over 1,500 spots with land mines on the routes leading to the town could save the terrorists from the aggressive move of advancing troops."
Despite the confidence on both sides in this conflict that victory is inveitable, the fight is not over yet. The struggle continues in West Africa against Boko Haram.
Since then, the three countries have joined fight alongside Nigerian armed forces to recapture Baga and fight to oust Boko Haram. But is the fight too soon to call? Boko Haram currently controls an area mass the size of Belgium, and about a week ago, Boko Haram militants pushed into Chad and killed about 10 civilians before being pushed out by Chad forces. This was the jihadist group's first lethal attack on Chad, and many speculate that it was a response to Chad joining the Allies against them. Boko Haram's leader, Abubakar Shedau, directly addressed Idriss Deby, President of Chad. "Your alliance will not achieve anything", he said. "Amass all your weapons and face us. We welcome you."
Some estimate that close to 13,000 people have been killed by Boko Haram, and more than a million have gone missing or been displaced. However the terrorist group appears to be either regrouping for their next attack or purely on the run after joint attacks by national forces. Nigerian General Chris Olukolade is confident that "Not even the strategy of mining over 1,500 spots with land mines on the routes leading to the town could save the terrorists from the aggressive move of advancing troops."
Despite the confidence on both sides in this conflict that victory is inveitable, the fight is not over yet. The struggle continues in West Africa against Boko Haram.
Young United Nations Members Not So United
Recently, a news story surrounding Harvard University appeared in the media. Two Chinese delegate students whom took part in Harvard's model United Nations were ousted from the event after creating a protest fracas over Taiwan being referred to as a country. They noticed that the list of participants was by country, with Taiwan included. They demanded that the issue be resolved by altering "country" to "country or region". After a day of the open and disruptive protests, they were removed from the event by security and threatened with police action.
Ruth Hagen, the secretary of the 2015 UN of Harvard, issued an email to the Chinese delegation on January 31, explaining to them that "The inclusion of Taiwan is not meant as a political statement, nor does that listing represent the views of the Harvard International Relations Council." The offered stickers saying "country of region" to be applied to their own handbooks, but they were not satisfied. The Chinese delegation believed that they were owed an apology. In the past, they did not have Taiwan listed as a country in 2013. But this year, both Hong Kong and Taiwan were listed as countries. Many would probably wonder why the fuss over this. They would probably be asking "Is Taiwan not a country?" Not to the Chinese.
Since the Chinese Civil War in 1949, China and Taiwan, known officially as the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC) respectively, have been separate nations. However, the PRC still holds the claim of Taiwan as being apart of their country. The PRC has even threatened to use force against the ROC should they attempt to move any closer to independence. On the flipside, Taiwanese citizens do not consider themselves a part of the PRC and have little to no support for reunification with mainland China.
The question here is whether Harvard's UN committee will continue to have the same info give in the handbook next year or change it by next year to avoid another incident.
Ruth Hagen, the secretary of the 2015 UN of Harvard, issued an email to the Chinese delegation on January 31, explaining to them that "The inclusion of Taiwan is not meant as a political statement, nor does that listing represent the views of the Harvard International Relations Council." The offered stickers saying "country of region" to be applied to their own handbooks, but they were not satisfied. The Chinese delegation believed that they were owed an apology. In the past, they did not have Taiwan listed as a country in 2013. But this year, both Hong Kong and Taiwan were listed as countries. Many would probably wonder why the fuss over this. They would probably be asking "Is Taiwan not a country?" Not to the Chinese.
Since the Chinese Civil War in 1949, China and Taiwan, known officially as the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of China (ROC) respectively, have been separate nations. However, the PRC still holds the claim of Taiwan as being apart of their country. The PRC has even threatened to use force against the ROC should they attempt to move any closer to independence. On the flipside, Taiwanese citizens do not consider themselves a part of the PRC and have little to no support for reunification with mainland China.
The question here is whether Harvard's UN committee will continue to have the same info give in the handbook next year or change it by next year to avoid another incident.
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