Danielle


 * October 5, 2009

Article/Story Date ** : **TYPHOON PARMA HITS THE NORTHEAST PHILIPPINES - SUNDAY OCTOBER 4, 2009** **News link (URL)**: [|BBC News Article] • Luckily the typhoon has not touched the capital city of Manila (population 1.5 million) because the city is still suffering from damage from Typhoon Ketsana last week. This typhoon was very hazardous, causing intense flooding and over 300 deaths. • The typhoon has caused much damage to the northeastern part of the Philippines; the death toll is at fifteen and twelve of those deaths have come from the province of Benguet. The storm has caused flooding and landslides, which catch people off guard and result in these deaths. In addition, the ruined telephone lines and wind gusts over 108 MPH have caused severe damage to the country. • Originally, forecasters were planning on Parma heading toward Taiwan. Due to more recent findings, most likely the typhoon is connecting with another. Thus, it may eventually make its way back to the Philippines again and cause the country even more damage.
 * List three of the most important or compelling pieces of information from this story or article (in your own words):**

This is an important story because it informs us about the tragedies that some countries are experiencing. In the United States, we never feel the fury of typhoons, dumping water and destroying homes. Therefore, we must be aware of what hardships other people are facing, in order to be aware of differences. In addition, because these stories are being put in the news, it informs people of those who are in need of support and aid. The Phillipines is a relatively poor country that most likely would be in need of assistence after a natural disaster such as this. **October 16, 2009 Article/Story Date ** : October 16, 2009 • New waves of Taliban violence have been erupting in Pakistan and has prompted Prime Minister Gilani to call Kayani (Army Chief General) to speak about the issue. • Despite the fact that the Pakistani military has increased its ground control, people are beginning to wonder if this has any significance. Air strikes aimed against Taliban militants have not subsided the attackers. • On Friday, the latest attack took place in Peshawar. 13 people, the majority civilians, were killed in a suicide car bombing. Three policemen were killed in the event, and 10 others were injured. This story is significant because the Taliban is also a threat to the United States and other countries. These attacks in Pakistan were taking place the same day that Barack Obama signed $7.5 billion to Pakistan assistance throughout the coming five years. The White House deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton stated: "once again that the militants in Pakistan threaten both Pakistan and the United States." The US is also spending a large amount of time reviewing their actions in Pakistan and Afghanistan in order to be prepared for the future. This shows that other countries do care about what is happening in Pakistan becuase they are a threatening group responsible for horrbile terrorist attacks. People around the world should and do care when other people are killed.
 * Why is this story significant? How do the events in this story affect the people of this region or the rest of the world?**
 * News link (URL)**: [|Taliban Attacks in Pakistan]
 * List three of the most important or compelling pieces of information from this story or article (in your own words):**
 * Why is this story significant? How do the events in this story affect the people of this region or the rest of the world?**

**TEMPLATE Article/Story Date ** : 'Freed' train returning to Delhi - October 28, 2009

**News link (URL)**: [|Article Link] • A Maoist-Supported militia was holding a train in India for six hours before it was allowed to return to Delhi, it's destination. It departed from Bhubaneswar. • Although the Rajdani Express is one of the most notorious railroad companies in the country of India, it was stopped en route. The driver was abducted and the passengers were held hostage for a great expanse of time. • One policeman was injured in the event. Clearly, the criminals are already pinpointed: "Asit Mahato, leader of the Kanu-Siddhu militia, said to be close to Maoist rebels, claimed responsibility for stopping the train and taking the driver away."
 * List three of the most important or compelling pieces of information from this story or article (in your own words):**
 * Why is this story significant? How do the events in this story affect the people of this region or the rest of the world?** This story is significant because it portrays the horrible things that are happening around the world. Also, just after learning about India, this story connects with the unique characteristics of the country: its poverty and massive growing population. This event affects the people in the rest of the world because they explain an instance like this that would not be as likely to occur in the United States.

**• Do environmental issues in China have an impact on the US environment and society? Explain.** The horrible pollution in China has created many devastating effects that can impact even the US. Cancer has become the leading cause of death in China, due to poor drinking water quality. Statistics shows that only 1% of the 560 million Chinese city dwellers breathe fresh air. In addition, children are dying from pollution and poisoning, while coastal regions are suffering from red tide and can no longer sustain aquatic life. Overall, although the industrialization is extremely profound in China, the use of coal to achieve this has helped to create other devastating environmental issues. The New York Times claims that: "Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides spewed by China’s coal-fired power plants fall as acid rain on Seoul, South Korea, and Tokyo. Much of the particulate pollution over Los Angeles originates in China, according to the Journal of Geophysical Research." This clearly portrays the idea that this is one globe, where the environment is easily affected by different regions no matter how far away they may be. China's emissions are said to lead those of any other country in the near future, adding to the prevalent issue of global warming. This brings up many social and political issues in the US. One other fact pertains to the Communist party in China, which is strictly committed to continual progression and growth. This may mean that China's increased pollution may not cease quickly.
 * NOVEMBER 9, 2009 **
 * • How might the industrial development in China affect the rest of the developing world? The industrialization of China has an effect on the rest of the world. One instance of this is with the growth of major cities, the US and other countries may outsource factories to China. Thus, jobs will be taken from the US and given to Chinese people, who will work for lower wages. This could potentially create problems for people in the US because they are having trouble finding jobs, which in turn hurts the US economy. In addition, as is portrayed in the following question, the industrial development in China has created huge pollution problems, which affect the world as a whole. On the positive side, industrial development has brought many Chinese to the cities on the coast, and helped them to create a living. The young adult population now has "purchasing power." With this comes the new sense of materialism which is prevalent with the country's youth. In addition, Chinese production of goods have increased imports to the US and other countries. Overall, China's industrial development has a large affect on the developing world. **

• When President Obama and Hu Jintao were planning on meeting, reports were stating that the two would be likely to discuss trade. Their two countries are extremely interdependent through trade. • There was a local market that was selling Obama shirts depicting the man as a communist leader. The government banned the sale of these shirts as to not offend President Obama. • As China has been growing so rapidly, there is currently a huge demand in the country for raw goods. Human rights groups are getting worried that China is creating a harsh and repressive regime in order to secure that they will be able to obtain these goods. • Obama has a half brother named Mark Obama Ndesandjo (he took the last name of step-father) lives in China. He left the States seven years previous when he lost his job. He is in the process of writing an autobiography; supposedly he had an abusive father. The man is now teaching piano alongside owning a few restaurants. There is no information on whether or not Obama will see his half-brother on his trip to China.
 * Article/Story Date** : November 15, 2009
 * News link (URL)**: [|Article CNN]
 * List three of the most important or compelling pieces of information from this story or article (in your own words):**

This story has extreme significance at this time in history. First of all, this is one of (if not the first) major trip that Obama has taken to Asia. Throughout his travels he is working on improving relations with East Asian countries. He has been to Japan, Singapore, China, and South Korea. People around the world are following the news as this American President meets and travels, hoping to improve international sentiment and relationships. When people see President Obama being greeted with welcome in South Korea, people are thankful that their president has been received well half way around the world. Also, when Obama's speech was being censored in China, people realize what a different culture China has. This teaches people, particularly Americans, that freedom of speech and freedom of the press is not an omnipresent right, but that some countries such as China repress these human rights. Overall, there is much to be learned from Obama's Asian travels this November. **   ** Article/Story Date ** : • • •
 * Why is this story significant? How do the events in this story affect the people of this region or the rest of the world?
 * News link (URL)**:
 * List three of the most important or compelling pieces of information from this story or article (in your own words):**


 * Why is this story significant? How do the events in this story affect the people of this region or the rest of the world?**