Guatemala's Drug Massacre

Summary:

• Declared a 30 day emergency
• 27 people were murdered as a result of a drug gang ambush
• Proclamation allows military to arrest suspicious people without warrants
• Murderers slaughtered the innocent cow farmers including children and women and used their blood to write all over the walls
• There were only two survivors: a young labourer and a pregnant woman
• The survivors agree that the attackers spoke with Mexican accents
• Mexico’s largest drug organization, the Zetas,  has now started to function in Guatemala
• Investigators believe there was a connection between the cow farmer and the Zetas
• None of the cow farmer’s workers were connected with the Zetas, and died innocently because they were in the wrong spot at the wrong time

Opinion:
In my opinion, the Guatemalan border guards are at fault for the Mexican drug gang coming over into Guatemala. It is the government's responsibility to ensure that its citizens are safe. By increasing army size and widening their area of patrol, the Guatemalan people will feel more safe in their country. Although this will cost money, I believe it is necessary to expand the army to ensure that the citizens of Guatemala are safe, especially if there are Canadian tourists who may also be at risk.

Guatemala Declares Emergency Over Drug Massacre

Map of Guatemala

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Paranoia in New York Since bin Laden's Death

Summary:

• Sunday night, President Obama announced that Al Qaeda’s leader, Osama bin Laden was killed
• Americans are paranoid because they are afraid of an up rise in terrorist attacks since Osama’s death
• There are many reports of suspicious baggage and packages in New York City
• On Monday alone, the New York Police Department received 62 calls regarding suspicious packages being left on the streets and in the subway
• Regardless of the call, the police department attend every site to insure that the area in secure
• Of there is a threat of an explosive, the bomb squad is called and the area is evacuated
• No packages have been found to be dangerous
• As the one year anniversary of an attempt to blow up a car in the streets of New York approaches, the NYPD aren’t taking any chances

Opinion:

The United States knew that the assassination of Osama bin Laden would spark possible terrorist attacks on them. I think it is good that the NYPD have the citizens of New York participating in keeping their city and their country safe. Better safe than sorry is definitely an appropriate phrase in this situation. Even if none of the packages were proven to be dangerous, it is important to have an emergency plan in place. I think that the New Yorkers have a right to be paranoid and are taking action to ensure there are no terrorist attacks in their city. Although there have been many false alarms, the NYPD appreciates that people continue to call in any suspicious packages. I hope that New Yorkers continue to support the NYPD and their efforts to keep Americans safe.  

Google Maps: New York City
More Information: Hightened Security in New York City

Article: New York City Skiddish After Osama bin Laden's Death

Mass Graves Replace Elaborate Funerals in Northern Japan

Summary:

• After the 9.0 earthquake that triggered a tsunami in Japan almost 2 weeks ago, the country’s body count continues to rise
• The very first mass burial sight has been created in Kamaishi, Japan 
• Along with the clean up from demolished buildings, the body count is so high that there is no where to put them
• For now, the deceased will lie in this temporary grave, then later transferred to the Buddhist burial site
• Many citizens continue the search for their loved ones, just hoping to be able to give them a proper burial
• The Japanese who have lost loved ones can not carry out the traditional Buddhist funeral ceremonies because there is no where to have these ceremonies and there are too many corpses to have the ceremonies
• The space to store the corpses is so limited, bodies from pulled from the rubble are being kept in schools and in gymnasiums 
• Even now with limited space for corpses, nearly 17 000 people remain missing, so more bodies are expected to be recovered
• The bodies must be isolated to prevent the spread of disease
• Now, bodies are being cremated, sadly because there is no space to put them

Opinion:

This disaster is devastating. The amount of destruction in Japan is horrendous. People have not only lost their loved ones, but they have lost their homes. I believe that the government is doing the best they can to help calm the chaos and clean up in the streets of Japan. Canada has offered to help Japan finacially as they rebuild their nation, but before they can rebuild, they must clean up the rubble and bodies the tsunami and multiple earthquakes left behind.

Mass Graves Replace Elaborate Funerals in Northern Japan article
About Japan's Earthquake and Tsunami
Google Maps- Kamaishi, Japan

 

How did it start?	How can it be resolved?
Earthquake in Japan Tsunami that hit after the earthquake Body count is very high and there is little room left for anymore bodies	Volunteers cleaning up Citizens claim loved ones’ corpses International Aid International Volunteers for clean up Send bodies to neighbouring countries for buriel?

INTERRELATED:
Environmental	Political
- no room for corpses	-government is struggling to help citizens rebuild their lives
- the disaster has damaged nuclear plants and fear of dangerous nuclear material escaping, is becoming a reality	- Countries all over the world are doing their best to help contribute in  the clean up

Social/Cultural	Economic
- Buaddhist ceremnoies cannot be performed on those who have died because there are too many	-companies cannot operate because  their buidlings have been destroyed
- schools and recreation centres are now being used to hold corpses	- the economy is suffering because buildings and homes have been destroyed and people cannot work until the rebuilding begins/finishes

Multiculturalism has Failed in the UK

Opinion:

I think that the Prime Minister is being unfair towards the Islamic people and other religious groups. They have the right to have their own religion and the UK's government shouldn't violate their rights because of what they believe in. Instead, the government should be encouraging immigrants to come into the UK so, like Canada, their nation can be multicultural. The government needs to create a better way to manage terrorism, instead of putting down the Islamic religion. 

Failed Multiculturalism

Google Maps: United Kingdom

Refugees From Libya May Be Next Casualties

Summary:

• Libya is a military dictatorship and the people want a democracy 
• Libya has turned into a war zone with overwhelming violence
• Over 100, 000 have fled
• International Organization for Migration has asked for $11 million in donations for urgent assistance
• USA gave $10 million in refugee aid
• Tripoli, one of the cities in major need for the aid cannot receive it because it is too dangerous for anyone to bring aid into the city
• The war outbreak is caused by conflict between Libyan's President Moammar Gadhafi and the rebels who don’t want him in power anymore
• Egypt is housing thousands of refugees from Libya as well as welcoming returning citizens that have moved out of Libya
• The Egyptian newly appointed Egyptian government is overwhelmed with trying to provide enough shelter and aid for those seeking refuge in Egypt

Opinion: 

The issue between the government and the rebels needs to be resolved by negotiation, not by violence. If the United Nations were to go into Libya, they could help to work out a peaceful settlement or transition of government. If the citizens of Libya decide they want to have a democratic government, it would prevent this conflict from reoccurring. 

Google Maps: 



Article: Refugees in Libya may be Next Casualties 

About Libya:

Earthquake Hits Christchurch, New Zealand

Summary: 

• 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch, New Zealand on Tuesday, February 22, 2011
• The quake was an aftershock of a previous 7.1 earthquake 5 months ago
• Although this quake is smaller, it has left more damage because it’s epicentre was downtown Christchurch, closer to buildings and residences
• Rescue volunteers, paramedics and fire fighters are working around the clock searching for survivors
• The current death toll is 65, but an estimated 100 more are buried alive
• Many buildings tumbled during the earthquake, including the city’s historical cathedral
• Survivors are seeking shelter in community centres and schools

Opinion:
  New Zealand is receiving immediate assistance from Australia and many other countries, including Canada, have offered their aid in any way they can help. The city will need assistance rebuilding and cleaning up their streets. Emergency services will be busy at work, cleaning up after this deadly earthquake.

  Earthquakes are a recurring event for Christchurch, New Zealand. In order to prepare for another earthquake in the future, the city could design buildings to withstand small to medium sized earthquakes. The city should create an action plan to prepare themselves if another quake hits. Shelters, aid and food should be available if another quake hits. 

  The earthquake cause devastation, as the infrastructure in Christchurch did not hold. The quake caused death and injury, which requires; rescue, medical attention, first aid and hospitalization. This issue is interrelated because it’s implications are widespread. The quake wrecked buildings, trapped people under the rubble and caused chaos in the streets of Christchurch. The people will need; shelter, food, water, medical support, volunteers to remove rubble from the streets and help to rebuild the infrastructure that crumbled in the earthquake.

Google Maps: Churchwood, New Zealand

Article: Earthquake Hits Churchwood, New Zealand

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