World's Personal Issues

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Speak English, Who Cares?

America does not have an official language. Many have encouraged congress to pass a law stating that English is the official language. But ironically back in the 1700's many encouraged to ban English. The benefits of not having English as an official language is that around 97% of Americans speak English said by Dennis Barron. He also states that because English is widely spoken now that non speaking immigrants are learning the language rapidly than before.

But what happens when we encourage people to speak English. What about over languages that are being left behind. While many believe English should be globally known language, other languages will become extinct. Studies have shown that if continue to encourage speakers to leave their native language that at least 6000 of these languages will go extinct by the century. Many blame that globalization causes countries to lose their native language. An endangered language is not just about the language but as well the local culture of it. These languages can help anthropologist find the missing pieces in history. Many of these languages are only spoke and not documents for history purposes.

For a language to be classified as endangered/ going extinct the language must have been replaced by a modern language like Chinese, English, French, Spanish or Dutch. Some Linguist have placed old English as extinct because many now speak modern English.

My father's side of the family are known as Otomi people in Mexico. Otomi means "shooter of the bird." Many of the Otomi people live in the eastern part of Hidalgo (where my family is from), they also live in Tlaxcala, Michoacán, and Guanajuato. The Otomi people have their own language called Otomi (known in Spanish) or Hñähñu. Hñähñu is the main language that is spoken by

Otomis. (Or as we call it). The otomi language has three types of language, Northwestern (Hidalgo, Queretaro, Guanajuato), Southwestern (State of Mexico) and Eastern (eastern of Hidalgo, Tlaxcala). About 290,000 people have identify as being Otomis but that doesn’t secure that they speak the dialect. Otomi was recently recognized by Mexico as a national language by law in 2003 with 61 other languages. Otomi began in the 16th century, it uses some of the Latin alphabet. Otomi is a vulnerable language that needs to still be part of Mexico’s culture. Otomi is a lucky language to have been documented and have books distributed out by the government to involve the locals in Hidalgo to continue to cherish their culture and pass it down to their next generation.

This takes place in Danghu, Tasquillo, Hidalgo Mexico on December 24. This is located near where both my grandmothers live. At 8:45 a little girl starts talking in Otomi. At around 9:05 She talks in Spanish. Then afterward there is a small scene of the baby Jesus movie in Otomi with Spanish subtitles. In my best opinion to start at 42 mins. In the beginning they start walking at the edge of town to the church where the school children put up a show of the baby Jesus being born. From then at 42 mins in they start cradling him to sleep at midnight in a blanket. Then they light up the bull afterwards and party.

National Science Foundation

Monday, January 11, 2016

Chernobyl Disaster

Three months after accident thirty-one people had died. But now the accident is still being investigated after three decades because of the long term affects and the number of linked deaths to accident is 64. The Nuclear Plant was going through an experimental safety test by a group of workers who were unfamiliar with the routine. The morning (1 am) of April 26, reactor four was unstable when it was shut off which caused a power surge that was uncontrollable. After the explosion fire fighters came to the scene but where not trained to deal with a nuclear power plant fire. There were two different accounts by firemen that describe the scene. One of stated that they were unsure of what caused the fire, they had thought it was some wiring. That they were not fully aware of the radiation in the air.

But another fire fighter said that they made an assumption that there was radiation but still decided to put out the fire because it was morally right. The almost all of the fire was put out at five with the exception of the fire that was inside reactor four. That fire lasted for days. In the meantime Citizens were unaware of the dangers of the explosion. A couple hours’ people started feeling dizzy, nauseous, and felt a metallic feel in their taste buds. But they had announced an evacuation the day after the explosion. The Ukraine government did not receive information about the explosion until later morning because Moscow authorities were in charge of the power plant. Originally the government had said that the evacuation would be temporary. They had said it would be for a couple of days. But then those days turned out to be weeks. The radius of the evacuation also increased from 10km from the plant to 30km. On April 28 the government had officially made an announcement to the world that there was an accident at the power plant. These people would never see their personal belongings or town again. Months after the environment had largely changed. The forest has been named the Red Forest because the leaves red brown.

The animals that stayed either died from the suffocation of the radiation or lived but could barely reproduce. Some animals that were nearby but that could still reproduced had animals that were mutants. The Government did not have a safety plan if there was a nuclear power disaster. They had only focused on if there was a power outage and that if the machines would still run in that predicament.

PBS

Monday, November 9, 2015

Mini Prisoners

We already know that America has a prison population problem. In 2012, there was about 113,000

women who were either federal or state prison. Recent statics showed that 6.7% of women were in federal prison. We know that prisoners average cost is around $30,000 to $40,000 a year. But what does one do about the cost of a prisoner and their unborn child. It’s an overlooked problem that is common among female prisoners. The cost of a baby in prison is around $24,000 but only 10 states have nursery prisons. These nursery allow the prisoner to keep their babies with them up to the age of 30 month. (Depending on the prison) Many of the prisons support that it is important for the babies to bond with their mother.

In Sociology there was an experiment done with a baby monkey. The baby monkey was put in a cage with two robot moms. One of the robot moms had a soft cloth over itself and the other mom had a feeding bottle. In the experiment it was concluded that the baby monkey attached itself to the cloth mom and would only go the non-cloth mom to retrieve food. In conclusion it is shown that nature and nurture are equivalent to each other.

So these babies need to form a bond with an adult that should be there for their childhood. It is best to encourage bonding with the mother as soon as the baby is born because it could go through unstable emotions and could affect their basic social skills and future. Advocates say it gives the mother incentives to improve their life for their child. Mothers who have been separated from their babies are more like to return to prison.

So what does one do, do we either encourage more states to create nursery prisons. Many would say that this would encourage the poor to commit more crimes to get government help. Or do we just sweep up the babies as soon as their born to a foster home or adoption center. Jim Dwyer, opposes that children should be raised in prisons and even suggest that women should terminate their child because they use them as an excuse to receive a lower sentence. Though it is stated in the article that Dwyer opinion seems a bit racist because he aims his theory toward black mothers.

We should look at what is best for the children. We do not want these kids being influence in prison and repeating the actions of a parent but we can not separate them from their mother. Its a complicated situation that is overlooked and should be fixed in a way that best for the children.

The cost of a prisoner

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Solar Panels

Solar Panels?

Solar Panels turn light to electricity. They get the name solar from absorbing the strongest source which is the Sun. Obviously one has to retrieve the sun to receive energy. It gets much harder for those who are secluded from the sun. People who live in Florida are more likely to use solar panels than people who live Alaska. Solar panels help reduce electricity bill for the common people. But the thing is solar panels come at a hefty price. The total cost of a solar panel cost an average of $19,000. Then Solar panels can come with dangerous problems. A research was done by the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition that had found that solar panel create toxic byproducts like sulfur hexafluoride.

On the bright side, if one does purchase solar panels they will receive a tax break from the government. A person can receive a Solar Investment Tax Credit it is widely used to support the use of solar energy in the USA. Solar panels also add property value to home when installed and save money.

Tax Credit
The Cost
Health Risk
Solar Panels
Solar Panel 2

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Trafficking 3

Wildlife Trafficking: Expose the light

On August 8th it is National Wildlife Trafficking Awareness. Wild trafficking is third on the list of things that are being traded among the world, after drugs and weapons. Many of the animals that are being transported are birds and other exotic animals. But half way through out the 1900's we did not have any help or laws globally that would help stop. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) began in the 1960's and began regulating laws in in 1970's. It was an international agreement that was set up for the governments to be aware of the endangered species and to make sure they are not for trade or that their habitat is not to be disturbed for their survival. CITES has reached over 150 Country members and these countries that are members must adopt the original amendments and the 2 additional ones that were added in in 1983 and 1987.

During Obama's presidency he declared a executive order against wildlife trafficking in 2013. He declared to stop rebelling war for the ivory of Rhinos and Elephants. Ivory is a big part of the wildlife trafficking because they slay about 30,000 - 50,000 elephants per year. But Team Elephants is composed of 24 ranger and volunteers who care for the elephants near central and west Africa. Team Elephant is always in danger by Gangs that try to kill them to retrieve elephant's ivory trunks. The Fish and Wildlife services helps out the Gabon's National Park with protecting Elephants. In Gabon there was 10% decline per year but the population has began to rise up 5% each year. Gabon's success for bringing up the elephant population is due to the commit they have for the elephant. They bought out their navy to help out the national park.

The White House has come up with a Implementation Plan that will fight against wildlife trade. The Implementation Plan has three objections to have a stronger enforcement, to build agreements internationally, and to reduce the illegal trade of wildlife. National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking was created in 2014. It was to encourage the U.S Africa Leader Submit. Since we created the Strategy, Vietnam has taken steps to follow our strategy and have made it a priority to stop wildlife trafficking, China decided to make $10 million funding to help persevere wildlife in Africa.

Ivory is heavily on the black market and the elephants are the victims in this case. On September 25 2015 the US and China Joint committee banned the sale and international trade of ivory. Together both countries believe that if they ban the sale the ivory, it would be another big step to help preserve the elephants. Once both nations definitively take this action, ivory trafficking will begin to fall and the number of elephants could rise again," Said Cristian Samper, who is the CEO/President of WCS and also a Member of the Presidents Advisory Council on Wildlife Trafficking

Warning Kinda Graphic and might cry.

Smithsonian
CITES
Elephants ivory
National Geo
Great News
White house
Ivory

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Human Trafficking

1. Human Trafficking is“the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons:by the threat or use of kidnapping, force, fraud, deception or coercion, or by the giving or receiving of unlawful payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person, and for the purpose of sexual exploitation or forced labor.”[1]

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Human trafficking has started the day humans learn how to walk. From the Moses's time to Slavery to our modern day human trafficking. Trafficking can vary from labor work to sex work. It can happen anywhere even in countries like America where it is suppose to be one of the safest countries. Human trafficking has been globalized by rich countries seeking workers from poorer countries to work cheaply for them. Companies can also be behind trafficking to not spend a lot on their workers.

The Department of State has decided to take action and help out human trafficking by creating Tier levels for each country based on the laws and action being taken care of for victims of human traffic. The first tier consist having laws that meet the Trafficking Victims Protection Act ( USA, France, Iceland, ect..) The second Tier is where countries have a few laws related to TVPA but are working to increase the help of victims. (Chad, Croatia, Fiji, Ect..) The third Tier is where countries have no laws preventing trafficking or provide no help to victims and show no sign of putting effort to stop it. (Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran)Many of theses countries is where the victims come from. Where are the most vulnerable to be taken and "supposedly" have a better life. The link below list where each country is on the tier. The Department of State has been keeping a track of each country for over a decade.

Yemen is listed in the third tier for not complying or putting efforts to protect victims. The .Department of State study has shown that there was an increase of trafficking from 2014 to 2015. These Yemen people are globalized by their neighbor country Saudi Arabia using them for sex work, labor work or military work. It has been estimated that 1.7 million children under the age 14 is in the work force in Yemen.

Gangs have been smuggling children from Yemen to Saudi Arabia to be beggars in the street. Many of these kids the gangs collect are kidnapped or worse rented out by their parents. It because common during religious season to save up for their religious services.

Costa Rica a place to relax to be free and forget your personal problems for a couple a days. But Costa Rica is ranked on tier 2, a country that does not meet the TVPA standard yet are putting effort to comply with them. Costa Rica is has a serious problem with child sex tourism, where people from the States and Europe come. While the victims are from Central America. If they are not subjected to sex work then they are force into agriculture labor. Though Costa Rica has participated into a setting $1.4 million it helped to assist those who had been victims and in 2013 there was an increase of cases against the perps. Its also affecting Trans as they are also significant into the sex worker. “We don’t want Costa Rica to be promoted as a sex tourism destination,” said Rahab Foundation director and founder Mariliana Morales. “We want a country where couples come for their honeymoon. We don’t want planes landing here full of pedophiles to look for little girls and boys.”