China and Australia rising tensions

On April 15th Chinese and Australian ships had a confrontation in the south China sea.  There were no attacks, but the Australian claimed the Chinese were  "robust" in their talks.  China refuted these claims saying the Chinese soldiers were nothing but polite.  The Chinese were running military exercise in the South China Sea at the time of this occurrence.       

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/20/asia/australia-china-south-china-sea-intl/

By Stephanie Milroy

'Their Country is Being Invaded': Exodus of Venezuelans Overwhelms Northern Brazil

This article discusses the growing refugee situation in Brazil. As Venezuela continues to face a growing economic crisis tens of thousands of it’s citizens are fleeing, crossing the boarder into Brazil, where they are living in refugee camps, that resemble more of a shanty town than anything else. The article explains how the large number of refugees has begun to take its toll on Brazil’s resources, leading some to call for the boarder to be closed. The article paints a grim picture for the refugees and details how there has already been clashes between the refugees and Brazilian citizens. I believe this article, and the situation it covers, is a real-world example of the ‘Environment and Resource Conflict’ theory that we discussed in class. It fits perfectly with the bifurcated world idea and the picture of shacks neighboring high-rise buildings. It will be interesting to see how this clash between Fukuyama’s Last Man and Hobbes’ First Man plays out in months or years.

Kevin Druger

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/28/world/americas/venezuela-brazil-migrants.html?rref=collection%2Fissuecollection%2Ftodays-new-york-times&action=click&contentCollection=todayspaper&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection

Hollis Esposito "At Nike, Revolt Led by Women Leads to Exodus of Male Executives

Multiple sexual harassment reports are taking place at Nike and the human resources are doing little to nothing about it. The Nike’s Beaverton, Ore. headquarters started a small revolt in order to make the issue more publicly known. They began with a survey of the female workers in order to see if they have experienced of sexual harassment and gender discrimination. Once done with the surveys, the results were appalling. The completed surveys ended up at the desk of Mark Parker, the Nike’s chief executive. Many of the big businessmen quit their jobs and resigned from their positions after the data. The internal pressure from employees makes a difference even in large business corporations. Nike is now making sure human resources operations are doing their jobs correctly and is making management training mandatory. Many of the women that stood up to Nike did not go to complain, they went in order to make the workplace better.   

Hyperlink: 

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/28/business/nike-women.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news 

North Korea nuclear test site to close in May, South Korea says by Jesus Ponce

This week was quite interesting. North and South Korea agreed to end the ongoing war. North Korea also agreed to shut down one of its nuclear test sites. This may be great news but I’m still skeptical. This country was once seen as the enemy, but now they’re being seen as equals. Why would they shut down a site? I think they have something planned in case things don’t go well with Trump.

Kim Jung-un is now being seen an empathetic leader. I’ll be honest, the man is a genius. When he asked Moon to enter the North Korean side my mind went crazy. It was a full proof plan. The guy literally new what to do to get the rest of the world on his side.

Now we have to see how the talks with Trump go. They went very well with Moon so hopefully the same happens. I still think there has to be more to Kim. Don’t get me wrong, this is all great news but I think Kim is hiding something. He followed the same leadership as the past dictators so why the sudden change?

Alexis Reese- Nigeria's deadly codeine cough syrup epdemic

In Nigeria, thousands of young people are addicted to codeine cough syrup. It is estimated that nearly 3 million bottles of codeine cough syrup is consumed daily. The syrup, due to the codeine, provides a high to its users, and has become a street drug. In the video the reporters went undercover to expose a man who works for a pharmaceutical company that illegally sells the cough syrups to drug dealers. This epidemic is affecting an entire generation of young people, and the elders and religious leaders of local communities are fighting it.

http://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-43944309/nigeria-s-deadly-codeine-cough-syrup-epidemic

Matthew Wagner- At end of migrant caravan, families fear what comes next.

Article- https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/at-end-of-migrant-caravan-families-fear-what-lies-next/2018/04/29/4f2f9094-4b31-11e8-8082-105a446d19b8_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.8cb2eddd46af

    This article from the Washington Post details how the caravan of immigrants has reached the United States border. This caravan has been a big deal since its inception, even sparking the mobilization of National Guard soldiers. There were only about 200 people left when they finally reached the border to attempt to go through a port of entry into the US. Their fait is uncertain with a mix of hopefullness and hopelessness. About 300 of the caravan migrants have stayed in Mexico to attempt to apply for a Mexican Visa but the Mexican government is not following through with the promise of Visas they previously made. These next few weeks will be very interesting to see how the situation plays out.

                                     -Matthew Wagner

North and South Korea vow to end the Korean War in historic accord

Thang Duong

In a remarkable history record, the leaders of North and South Korea have committed to to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and to bring the formal end to the Korean War after 65 years. In their speeches, Kim Jong Un was quoted as saying the Koreas will be united as one country and Moon Jae-in said that there would not be any more war on the Korean peninsula. However, a formal end to the war will involve more than just the Koreas since Both China and US were massively involved to the conflict and would have to be signatories to an eventual peace treaty.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/27/asia/korean-summit-intl/index.html

What is North Korea doing? Ryan Lorig

With many news outlets and political scientists alike scratching their heads over the sudden, random end to the Korean War, one would like to know; what is North Korea thinking? Now this, as President Trump hopes, would be a sudden realization of America’s military power or of a higher power, some may even call an epiphany. However, most others are skeptical of Kim Jong-Un’s intentions regarding this issue as it is unwarranted. Michael J. Green, author of Pyongyang is Playing Washington and Seoul, would agree, suggesting that Kim Jong Un’s intentions are to reaffirm North Korea’s status as a nuclear weapons state while diluting both Chinese and South Korean support for sanctions against North Korea. That is to say that North Korea did not take any steps to commit to denuclearization. Green also argues, based on a memorandum sent from Kim Jong Gak, director of the Political Bureau of Korean People’s Army, to Kim Jong Un that this move is set to push Americans to abandon their hostility and unfavorable policies towards North Korea. I would argue that this idea is gaining momentum in a sense that this move humanizes North Korea. For the first time in many years, we have seen North Korea take steps toward diplomacy in what started as a march of solidarity between the Koreas in the Olympics to Kim Jong Un crossing the DMZ this past weekend. No doubt this has been nothing but a series of extremely odd moves to someone like myself, but to someone like me, a (now) average thinker on international relations, these are moves that make North Korea look culturally relatable. Doing things that make sense, abandoning their stubborn ways, and attempting to reach an “agreement” with the United States that would make both sides satisfied. These are all very confusing to me and one would have a right to be skeptical as North Korea seemingly has little to gain from this and a decades-old nuclear program to lose. So why is North Korea doing what it is doing?

http://foreignpolicy.com/2018/04/27/pyongyang-is-playing-washington-and-seoul/

UK Interior Minister Quits Over Immigration Scandal

Kyle Bujak
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/uk-vows-humane-immigration-policy-scandal-grows-54809059
In an attempt to cut down on illegal immigration into the United Kingdom, Home Secretary Amber Rudd has been caught up in a scandal that her and others are accused of treating immigrants poorly in an effort to stop others from pouring into their country. The article also points out that immigrants who came in the decades shortly following WWII were refused health care by the British government and were even threatened with deportation. Even though most people will look at Donald Trump and see his face when talking about suppression of immigrants, there are still many others who are also intolerant of people coming into their country.

Asylum-seeking migrant caravan reaches the US-Mexico border

This article by CNN discusses the climax on what was a caravan traveling from various locations in Central America to the U.S. southern border. Leaders within the caravan have stated that they plan on crossing the border and then peacefully turning themselves in seeking asylum. Their journey stopped at Friendship park in Tijuana. With the present administration's view on immigration, it has become an extremely hot and emotional topic for people to talk about. Trump has already come out and condemned the caravan several weeks ago.

Many of the people within the caravan are seeking a better life for themselves and their families. It will be interesting to see what develops from this as only 25% of hopeful refugees from Mexico attain asylum from the United States.

By: Josh Simmons
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/29/americas/migrant-caravan-us-border-crossing/index.html

Iran Behaving Worse Since Nuclear Deal

In this article titled "Mike Pompeo: Iran 'Behaving Worse' Since Nuclear Deal", discusses Secretary of State's, Mike Pompeo, recent trip to the Middle East. He claims that Iran has been "behaving worse  since [their] nuclear deal [in 2015]" because of their support of terrorists and President Assad. Pompeo has redeclared the US' support of Israel in response to the continued threats from Iran. He also mentioned the lack of fear he has about the Iran Nuclear Deal affecting the deal the US is discussing with North Korea. Pompeo also articulated that the US will be in support of Saudi Arabia, as they are battling Iran's support of rebels that threaten trade and civilians.

Kimi Epker

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2018/04/29/mike-pompeo-iran-missiles-saudi-arabia/562680002/

Trade with North Korea possible, but not anytime soon: Champagne

Champagne notes that Canada already has major economic and political interests in the Asia-Pacific region due to its involvement in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. The article takes hints at the fact that President Trump may possibly also choose to re-enter the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Champagne also sought out some changes to NAFTA, hoping to bring to attention that Canada seeks better labor standards.

Noel Corral

https://globalnews.ca/news/4172715/north-korea-trade-canada-not-anytime-soon-champagne/

Migrant caravan prepares to reach the US-Mexico border Sonday afternoon

Caravan is a group of people traveling together for safety in passing through deserts, hostile territory. On Sunday morning, caravan participants are gathered at Friendship Park getting ready to march into US-Mexico border. They are expected to march toward the border and ask for asylum in the United States. Asylum is hard to get for those people, and especially when the president of the country is opposed to those immigrant issue. This issue is better known because of the tweets from President Trump and the immigration policy. President Trump is strongly opposed to the immigrants issue that he has encouraged Mexico to break up the caravans and tweeted that he will not accept those immigrants. To take from his tweet, "I have instructed the Secretary of Homeland Security not to let these large Caravans of people into our country. It is a disgrace. We are the only country in the world so naive! WALL.", he said. As the president of the country is not so friendly to those immigrants, those people will illegally enter the United States and the government said that if they catch those immigrants illegally entering the border, they will prosecute under US law. In the situation where those immigrants fled from their own country because they felt unsafe, they are just seeking for safety. As asylum hard to get and the president oppose to the idea of letting those people in, it seems very difficult for them to find home anytime soon.

Rena Kawakami

https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/29/americas/migrant-caravan-us-border-crossing/index.html

"Kim Prepared to Cede Nuclear Weapons if U.S. Pledges Not to Invade" New york times Andrew Honig

In the most recent New York Times article I had read this was rather interesting to say the least. North Korean leader Kim  met with South Korean leader Mr. Moon about a denuclearization of all North Korean nuclear weapons. This meeting took the world by surprise but not necessarily the administration. On Easter weekend the new Secretary of state Mike Pompeo had a secret meeting with Kim. They spoke on good terms and had come up with a peaceful solution to the aggression between the United States and North Korea. This was also the first time a sitting leader in North Korea has ever crossed into South Korean borders. Kim and Moon had agreed in the future to end the Korean war between the two countries and find peace with the United States. People all around the world are still a bit skeptical because Kim has made pledges before to relinquish his nuclear weapons in the past and failed to keep his word. In my honest opinion it is a little strange he was extremely hostile in the beginning of the year and now he is willing to give it all away just like that. In the article it states that he said that he is not the type of guy to shoot missiles to the south. He did in fact recently shoot a test missile near Japan so that statement to me doesn't really hold up like he thought it would. The world would also not like to see anymore North Korean propaganda and false claims about their country anymore. People around the globe want to see true progress with the Koreans and the president is looking forward to meeting with Kim in the near future about this. Japan is now in the conversation as well because they feel threatened and have been threatened by North Korea in the past. Japan believes that this opens up dialogue between the two country's that was not there in the past. However, this is not a short and easy process getting rid of all the nuclear weapons North Korea has. It will take months of negotiation and steps to truly remove their program.

By: Andrew Honig

"At 17, this sexual abuse survivor set out to fix a broken system"

Timea Mozsi

I found an article about a woman, a survivor of sexual abuse, who established a foundation in Cochabamba, Bolivia to help others fight against sexual violence. The article described the injustice that Brisa De Angulo suffered as a child. She tried to speak up about the sexual abuse that she endured from an adult family member, but many in her community were trying to silence her with enormous threats. Some even attempted to burn down De Angulo’s home to keep her quiet. Despite all the efforts to keep the young girl’s mouth shut, the community was unsuccessful in keeping De Angulo’s story in the dark; she could not pretend like the injustice was not present.

At this point it became clear that this is not just a personal story, but a global concern. In 2004, 17-year-old De Angulo established Fundación Una Brisa de Esperanza, or A Breeze of Hope Foundation. “At its center in Cochabamba, Bolivia, the group provides free and comprehensive psychological, legal, medical and social services for child and adolescent survivors of sexual abuse.” They also work with pregnant women, entire families, and give workshop trainings to people working in the government, police officers, judges, prosecutors, and children in school. The purpose of attacking this issue from so many angles is to spread awareness and reduce the level of gender inequality that exists so heavily. De Angulo attempted to take her own case to a judge, something that very few people do because they are essentially always turned away.

We, in Naperville, likely not see the issues of gender inequality as much as it is still present in the rest of the world. Is this a culture clash? Feminism is obviously a way of viewing this issue. One thing is for sure, these types of injustices need to stop. I am really happy to hear that De Angulo was able to push through the extreme unpleasantry and go against the ways of her country to stand up for what is right. And now, is helping so many others do the same.

Source: https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/19/world/cnnheroes-brisa-de-angulo-a-breeze-of-hope-foundation/index.html

North Korea vows to close nuclear site in May

This article is about North Korea and the promises they have made within the last couple of days after meetings with South Korean president Moon Jae-in. The article states that North Korean leader Kim Kong Un has vowed to shut down the country’s nuclear test site in May and open the process to expert and journalists from South Korea and the United States. This also comes before Kim’s nuclear negotiation with president Trump that is set to take place within the next couple of weeks. In regards to his potential meeting with president Trump, Kim is quoted stating that “Although the United States inherently dislikes North Korea, once we start talking they will know that I am not a person to launch nuclear weapons at South Korea, the Pacific or the United States.” All of this news coming out of the meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea is promising, but it will be interesting to see if Kim sticks to his word.

-Noah Parrill

Link: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/north-korea-vows-close-nuclear-sites-may-adjust-its-time-n869851

Gabbi Gruver - Saudi Arabia is pushing out foreigners to create jobs for locals

Saudi Arabia is pushing out foreigners to create jobs for locals

Saudi Arabia is going through “labor pains” as they attempt “saudisation” efforts put in place by Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. But Saudis are not always up for the jobs that foreigners were doing as well as they expect to be paid significantly more. Such efforts are an attempt to replace foreign workers with Saudis in the workforce. Prince Muhammad has barred foreigners from 12 sectors of the economy, which will reduce the kingdom’s dependence on 8 million unskilled foreigners. Ultimately, he is hoping that this will reduce Saudi Arabia’s jobless rate from 13% to 10% by 2022. Getting more young people, half of who are unemployed, is key for Prince Muhammad. Because the Prince has taken on the kingdom’s clerics and alienated other princes by consolidating his power, the Prince relies on popular support and hopes that by bringing more jobs to the people, he will maintain his support by the people. However, much of the country relies on cheap labor and because they now have to employ much more expensive employees, one third of firms may close. Saudisation may be a painful necessity to help narrow the pay gap between the bloated public sector controlled by Saudis, and the private sector controlled by foreigners.

https://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21741195-new-saudi-hires-are-not-always-up-job-saudi-arabia-pushing-out

Gabbi Gruver