Feb Current Events

1st-- Italy's PKK Training

I found an article on CNN.COM about in Italy there are alleged PKK training groups. The PKK stands for the Kurdistan Worker's Party. They are a separatist group that have been declared terrorists by the United States and European Union. Troops arrested 11 people in the groups, 10 of them are Kurdish, and one is Italian with a criminal record. There was also a camp found where over 70 people were being trained for this group.

This affects the world like any terrorist group would. Although they aren't as well known, they have been causing bloody conflicts all over Turkey, and no one knows if it may escalate to something larger.

2nd- Another Taliban Leader Captured in Pakistan

About a week ago, another Talbian leader was arrested by security forces in Pakistan. His name is Abdul Salem. They say that Salem is believed to be the Taliban commander for theProvince. A lot of infortmation was disclosed due to safety from the American source.

This is global importance because the Taliban is a large terrorist group and being able to capture the commanders one by one, hopefully this will lead to ending the Talbian over Kunduz time.

3rd- UK apologizes about child migration program

Back in the early 1900's prior to WWII, many british kids were taken away from their homes and promised a better life. But instead, they would go to orphanages were they were abused, and forced to due hard labor at such a young age. The British Prime Minister held a speech in London that talked about how it was "a shameful episode in history". There was a total around 7,000 children that were sent away to these camps. The program was abolished in 1967, yet they are just noting it now.

I think the global importance of this is that it is in a way like the holocaust. This was a horrific event that happened, and it should be noted 50 years later so we won't forget. If people stop talking and teaching about the holocaust, there will come a point in time where people could question if it existed or not. It is good that the prime minister is stepping up and talking about this, and helping people realize what did happen so it won't happen again.

2/23 Middle East

When I first hear of the Middle East, my thought goes towards terroism. Not just the internal issues they have with Israel, but also the world, especially the United States.

Middle East

What is Middle East?

The Middle East is exactly what it says. It is a region that is in the center of Africa, Asia, and Europe. It is also said to be called, "the crossroad of the world" because it is the route that most trading goes through. It has a very wide range of geographical changes, but the five main ones are Northern Tier, Arabian Peninsula, Fertile Crescent, Nile Valley, and Maghreb. They all are very different, from deserts to mountains to coasts. We have heard that the Middle East has a huge economical affect on the world because of its supply of oil. It also is the center of religion, mainly Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

Describe why this region over the past thousand years is continually at the center of word conflict.

I think that it is constantly in conflict because of the religious tension and cultural beliefs of all the people that live there.

Why Was Gandhi Able To Achieve Independence?

I think Gandhi was able to achieve independence because he understand what was needed to achieve that. He was well-educated, and he understood what was wrong with the way that the Hindus and Muslims were being treated. He showed people that he wasn't afraid of the law. He wasn't for violence, although in the scene in south Africa he showed that he took the beating to just prove his point. When he studied in England and learned about english law, he also learned how to get around the laws to prove his point but not cause violence or harm or get arrested. When Gandhi spoke to the people and wants them to put aside their differences (caste system) to become one and be able to defeat the British. Although the Muslims were at first skeptical of Gandhi, he found a way to unite them, which I think was the main way he was able to gain independence in India.

Also, he was able to gain it by using civil disobedience. By standing up to the British and showing that they would take the beating, the american journalist and then the world was able to see that the British were cruel and what was really happening in India. To Gandhi and his followers, that was more important than getting beaten by the British troops.

Video Response;

1. If Gandhi lived on, do you believe there would be violence between India and Pakistan today?

I think that it wouldn't of grown to as extreme as it is today. There still would of been violence because of their differences and individual personalities. Both Hindus and Muslims looked up to Gandhi, and I think that if he continued to live on, and give his speeches and reach out to people, the fighting wouldn't have grown to such an extent.

2. Do you believe Gandhi got to enjoy his accomplishments?

I don't think he did, because not only was his main goal independence, it was also peace. When the British left and they gained their independence, it didn't keep them at peace with one another. With Gandhi hearing those horrible things after all he went through to allow Muslims and Hindus to live as one. As he said in the video "he can't watch the destruction of all he has built". I think that this quote says it all. It shows that after all he has accomplished, he still hasn't been able to enjoy the independence.

If An Unjust Law Exsists...

I think that if an unjust law is around, our society is very modernized and have well educated people that understand when unjust things are happening. I would not follow those rules, and if there was someone who was protesting and making a big deal about it, I might help them out or protest along with them, but I wouldn't be the first one to make the difference because I know that I wouldn't be the one to make a big statement.