Mike

Cambodia Homework • How would you summarize the rise to power of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge? Pol Pot brought his Marxist ideology to Cambodia where he went on to form the Khmer Rouge in a conflict with the Cambodia's monarchy. Due to a U.S. backed coup and a subsequent U.S. invasion, the Khmer Rouge fought alongside the monarchy to regain control of the country. The constant conflict destroyed the people and the economy. Throughout this the support for Pol Pot continued to grow because if his promises of an ideal society. Out of the remains Pol Pot took over and began his agricultural "utopia." • What effects did the policies of the Khmer Rouge have on the people of Cambodia? (What evidence can you include to support this answer?) The biggest impact was math death. Over 1.7 million people were killed in the Khmer Rouge's genocide. By working in brutal killing camps and simple executions, the country was brutally beaten into a starved and depressed third world country. This is bluntly seen in the Khmer Rouge quote, "Whether you live or die is not of significance." The Khmer Rouge ultimately eliminated the country's intellectual society. By killing and arresting the educated elite including doctors, lawyers, teachers, and others, Pol Pot left the information provided to the people in his hands. "What is rotten must be removed." In addition to this, the Khmer Rouge isolated the country from outsiders. This prevented the starving population from gaining any humanitarian aid or scientific advancements. Because cars, radios, and other essentials of a growing country were forbidden, Cambodia lost years of progress and were starved of cultural growth. The Khmer Rouge's policies brought nothing but chaos and death to an undeserving people. • Complete brief research: What was the response of the world community to the genocide in Cambodia? (Please be sure to cite your non-Wikipedia sources.) The world's response was one of genuine concern, but due to Cambodia's nearly impenetrable isolation, the U.S. and other Western powers were unable to get conclusive evidence as to the country's internal happenings. U.S. satellite photos were rough at best and unable to see the death and destruction in the country. The U.S., and later the U.N., debated whether military intervention was necessary but due to the lack of concrete data from first-hand sources, neither acted on the intuition they felt about the country's social situation. It wasn't until Vietnam ended the regime that the world really saw the devastation. Had this information been known while it was happening thousands, if not millions, of lives could have been saved.
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** Article/Story Date **: China Holds Firm on Major Issues in Obama's Visit/November 17, 2009 ** List three of the most important or compelling pieces of information from this story or article (in your own words) :** • Obama's Administration has taken a new approach to foreign policy. Its priority is to show the US as a thoughtful listener rather than as a bully. • President Hu has been much more assertive with Obama than with past US leaders. He refused questions in one of their conferences and has proved that China has its own issues to deal with which don't neccessarily match up US interests. • Lastly, China has not been as cooperative with the UN Security Council in assisting us with Iran as we would have liked. Rather than support tough sanctions, China claims that discussion with Iranian officials will suffice in limiting their nuclear program. This is an idea that is clearly not in US interest. **Why is this story significant? How do the events in this story affect the people of this region or the rest of the world?** Chinese policies have become more strict as China has grown into a dominant world power. This change in relationship between the US and China symbolizes the exchange of power between the two countries. This exchange will affect all the people in the country. International relations may change as a result of Chinese supremacy. China is no longer intimidated by US power as they have become aware of their own strength. US recommendations no longer have the same impact they had thirty years ago. This could mean than Tibetan relations are out of US control and China has much more free reign over its the region.
 * News link (URL)**: []

We know not that developing countries need to pay attention to their pollution and take into account necessities such as water when developing. China has a serious problem of lack of water that it needs to address. In parts of the country the water table is sinking four feet a year. Clearly, China is heading down a scary path towards dehydration. As we look to develop or help other nations develop, these types of things need to be considered so that the future for everyone is brighter.
 * • What can we learn about the challenges of environmental planning for the 21st century from the experience of China?**

China is unimaginably larger than nearly every other developing country. Because of its size, China needs to build larger things. One example of this is the Three Gorges Dam, the largest in the world. This massive construction strains the supply of industrial supplies such as concrete that other countries are in demand of. The increase in demand increases prices so that it costs other nations more to build.
 * • How might the industrial development in China affect the rest of the developing world?**

The enormous number of heavily polluted cities not only affects the US but the rest of the world as well. Green house gas emissions are hurting the environment of the entire world which is forcing other countries to try to account for the excessive pollution. The US society has continued to devote more of its energy towards alternative energies while developing nations such as China are solely concerned with growth and expansion. So the issues China's currently facing are also facing the rest of world. **
 * • Do environmental issues in China have an impact on the US environment and society? Explain.**

Article/Story Date ** : U.S. Considers Reengaging with Myanmar/ September 30, 2009 **News link (URL)**: [] • The Obama Administration has announced plans to have talks with the government of Myanmar (Burma) in hopes of improving the relationship between the two countries. • Myanmar is currently controlled by a group of Generals acting like dictators after a military coup in 1988. They are violent leaders who have harshly suppressed democracy most recently in 2007 when Buddhist monks protesting were beaten down in the streets. They also have Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi placed under house arrest, and she has been for roughly 14 of the past 20 years. • Since 1988, the U.S. has had sanctions on Myanmar which haven't proven to be terribly effective as Myanmar openly trades with India, China, and Thailand.
 * List three of the most important or compelling pieces of information from this story or article (in your own words):**

Myanmar is one of the few remaining harsh dictatorships in the world. People are starving and struggling to live in this country. The poverty here is extremely high and during a cyclone last year, after immense global pressure, the government accepted humanitarian aid. Improved relations with the United States, whose primary interest is in the development of a democratic Myanmar, would benefit many of the impoverished people of Myanmar. Their standards of living could improve with the wealth acquired from more open trading. Ultimately, discussions about a change in Myanmar can develop some great new changes that the sanctions have been unsuccessful at creating. **
 * Why is this story significant? How do the events in this story affect the people of this region or the rest of the world?

** Article/Story Date ** : China Moves 330,000 in Water Plan / 19 October 2009 **List three of the most important or compelling pieces of information from this story or article (in your own words):** • 330,000 families are being moved and compensated with annual subsidies of about $88 and sometimes half the farm land that they originally had. • Three canals are being built from the Yangzte River to Beijing but critics predict that there isn't going to be enough water provided for the people of the North. • The $64 billion project is supposed to provide water to Beijing by 2014.
 * News link (URL)** :  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8314447.stm

**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 is important because the problems of over-population are beginning to become increasingly evident in China. China's increasing population and decreasing food and water supply is going to start to severely hurt the general population. The 300,000 farmers that were moved are getting worse living conditions. The water that they are being moved aside for may also not be enough for the people of Beijing. The huge sum of money that the Chinese have invested in this project (which is four years behind schedule) is proving to have what appears to be more negatives than positives. The future of this country lies in the hands of these crucial decisions and it is looking to be an uncertain future, if anything.

** Article/Story Date **: China confirms Tibetan executions/ 27 October 2009 **News link (URL)**: [] • Two Tibetans, Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak, were executed by the Chinese government for their involvement in the riots in Tibet last year. • The men were given a fair Chinese trial in which their story was told by interpreters. Between the two men, three shops were burned down resulting in the deaths of six citizens. • British officials opposed the execution criticizing that the decision was harsh and made to quickly. **Why is this story significant? How do the events in this story affect the people of this region or the rest of the world?** The riots in Tibet last year caused the death of 22 innocent citizens. Now two more people are dead because of the riots (rumors are spreading that two more are going to be executed). The world needs to understand that Tibet is a place of an angry people. If so many people could be lead to protest, obviously life is troublesome for them. Its time for the world to help Tibet and try to s ettle this conflict in the best interests of China and Tibet. In order to protect more human life, these actions are a necessity. More Tibetans and Chinese people are going to to keep dying if this issue isn't settled.
 * List three of the most important or compelling pieces of information from this story or article (in your own words):**



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