Energy Nationalism and Related Articles

The article called “Energy Nationalism” talks about how governments around the globe have gained control of the majority of the world’s energy sources. These governments are now given the title of “petrostates,” which are big targets for terrorists. Not only this, but the petrostates are also using their energy resources to give them an edge in politics. Conflict is a huge concern over countries that are vying for the oil supplies. How far are countries willing to go to be the number one superpower in terms of energy resources? How quick will nations be to fight over these sources?

Russia is a major player in the list of countries that control energy resources. Vladimir Putin viewed the fall of the Soviet Union as a disaster, a view that is in opposition to the United States’ view. He sees energy resources as a major factor of Russia’s success today. Will this view of Russia’s president bring a cause for concern over possible conflict? In addition to Russia, will other nations be hostile towards the United States in terms of gaining power? Oil could definitely prove to bring conflict. Since the Arab oil embargo in 1973, the energy source has proven to have a strong hand in international politics.

A factor that could shift the desire for energy resources is the idea of renewable energy, such as solar power. A recent article on CNN talks about Bertrand Piccard who desires to use a solar plane to go around the world. In doing this, he wants to prove that solar power can replace fossil fuels. How will the potential use of solar power change the desire for energy sources such as oil? Will this decrease the possibility of conflict? Another article, from the New York Times, brings up the possibility of another possible energy resource, wind. Matthew L. Wald, the author, stated that by 2024 wind could be the primary source of energy for “30 percent of the electricity supplied in the eastern two-thirds of the United States.” This could seriously turn around any tension that may arise for energy resources. Aside from the possibility of a lowered possibility for conflict, will this prove to be an economically sound idea?

-Joe Siler

The Troubled Dollar and Related Articles

The article called “The Troubled Dollar” discusses how the current currency of choice around the world, the US dollar, is facing a huge downturn. In the recent decade, the US dollar has seriously lost its strength in the world economy, which has led to an increase in prices for oil and food. The article even raises the possibility that the US’s currency could be replaced by another one, such as the euro or China’s yuan. The economic crisis that is taking place in the US seems to be spreading like a disease to other countries. This just goes to show how dependant the world is on US as a global superpower. I wonder how much longer it will be before foreign investors begin turning to a country for their finances.

It’s truly astounding how the US lost 26 percent of its value in just six years. Even though it is recovering a little, it still faces a huge deficit. Those around the world who are reliant on the success of the dollar are beginning to have their doubts. It poses a huge threat to Middle Eastern nations, such as Saudi Arabia, who count on the stability of the US dollar by pegging their currency to it. With the serious downturn of the dollar in the recent decade, I worry about what our nation’s currency will face in this coming decade. Will this decade prove to be the end of the US currency as the primary world currency?

In a recent CNN.com news article by Fareed Zakaria, it is stated that Wall Street has the possibility of paying a large bonus after having relied on the government for a year. Zakaria recommends that a portion of the money should be kept in reserve for crises that may occur in the future. I believe that this is a great idea. With the US dollar being as shaky as it is now, there is no telling what may happen in this new decade. How should investors go about saving their money? What percentage should be kept in reserve? In another article, this one written by David Frum, it’s is said that the rents for offices in Washington could potentially be higher in expense than New York. Frum declares that it shows how Washington is becoming the dominate financial capital in the US. This may prove that there may no longer be a separation of business and government offices. My question is how might this possibility be affecting the financial in not only America but the world as well? Should this change be accepted?

-Joe Siler

No Blog on Friday January 15 - Group Won!

Since I was in group 6 and we won the activity I am not required to do the blog on the Global Food Crisis article.

-Joe Siler

Final Prospectus

Research Topic: How Globalization Has Affected Japan in Terms of Culture and Economy

Globalization in the 21st century is tied to Japanese cultural and economical identity. This paper will discuss the historical context in which globalization has become important to the experience of Japan’s culture and economy, and then examine the response that Japan as a nation has had to the phenomenon--which, despite evidence of the country's resistance to it, continues to unfold, to the benefit of many industrialized countries and ultimately to Japan's cost.

www.jcie.org

www.jspsusa.org

www.oecd.org

www.glocom.org

Globalization and Social Change in Contemporary Japan by J.S. Eades, Tom Gill, Harumi Befu

Japan and Its Other: Globalization, Difference in the Critique of Modernity by J.R. Clammer

Featherstone, M. (1991). Global culture: An introduction. Global

Culture: Nationalism, Globalization and Modernity. M.

Featherstone (Ed.). London: Sage Publications. 1-14.

Ohnuki-Tierney, E. (1997). MCDonald's in Japan. Golden Arches

East: McDonald's in East Asia. J. L. Watson (Ed.). Stanford,

Calif.: Stanford University Press. 161-182.

Progressive Living Green Site. (2010). Retrieved from the World Wide web.~ January.~ at

http://progressiveliving.org/globalization defined.htm.

Robertson, R. (1991). Mapping the global condition: Globalization

as the central concept. Global Culture: Nationalism,

Globalization and Modernity. M. Featherstone (Ed.). London:

Sage Publications. 15-30.

Robertson, R. (1992). Globalization: Social theory and global

culture. London: Sage Publications.

Smith, A.D. (1991). Towards a global culture? Global Culture:

Nationalism, Globalization and Modernity. M. Featherstone

(Ed.). London: Sage Publications. 171-191..

Watson, J.L. (1997). Introduction: Transnationalism,

localization, and fast foods in East Asia. Golden Arches East:

McDonald's in East Asia. J. L. Watson (Ed.). Stanford, Calif.:

Stanford University Press. 1-38.

Weiner, M. (1997). Invention of identity: Race and nation in

15

Japan.

The Construction of Racial Identities in China and

Japan: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives. F. Dikotter (Ed.). London: C. Hurst & Co. 96-118.

Crisis in Darfur and Related Articles

The article “Crisis in Darfur” discusses the current struggles that are taking place in the oppressed nation. Many people have died between 2003 and 2008, which is when the article was written. The country is faced with continuing violence from people such as bandits and warring factions. Nations outside of Darfur seem hesitant in putting anything into action in order to help them. Some fear that any sort of outside help may cause for more violence to take place. I wonder what kind of steps can we as the U.S. take in order to help the innocent people of Darfur, or if we can take any action at all that would prove beneficial.

Hearing about the attacks that are taking place make me wonder about how much the average American thinks about outside countries and their struggles. I would have to say that majority of Americans are not even aware. Multitudes of people are being fired on daily by the town militia and are being chased around while we are able to enjoy comfortable lives. It really opens my eyes up to just how much goes on in the world that I am not aware of.

There is an article on CNN that talks about how Darfur is becoming a “forgotten war.” The author, Tom Cohen, expresses that Southern Sudan is being threatened by a “renewed war” and that this is drawing attention away from Darfur. Those who are aiding the oppressed nation are saying that the misery continues and they are barely giving basic necessities. Going right along Southern Sudan, a recent article states that they are in need of help in order to avoid conflict. Groups that are aiding the nation state that the peace deal signed in 2005 will not hold out much longer. What can outside nations do in order to help subdue the tensions rather than risk promoting it?

-Joe Siler

Women's Rights, Human RIghts in China, and Related News Articles

The article titled “Women’s Rights” begins with studies that have shown an improvement in the treatment of women in certain countries, such as allowing them hold leadership positions. However, there are still other countries that mistreat women with things such as genital mutilation and forced abortions. There are skewed views in certain countries, such as Iraq, where “honor killings” of women take place. One woman in Iraq was killed for loving a man outside of her religious sect. I do not understand how people can see this as being acceptable in society. Do the Iraqis, or any woman abusing country for that matter, see this as being morally wrong, or is this treatment simply something that has been so engrained in their culture that they do not feel any sentiment at all?

In “Human Rights in China” there is discussion about human rights policies in China leading up to the 2008 Summer Olympics. It states that behind the upward movement in China’s prosperity is still the mistreatment of individuals. Things such as forced abortions and the holding back of protestors. China hoped to show the change that has occurred in their country with the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing. Despite their statements, promoters of human rights say that there are still problems that exist. Examples the Chinese governments repression of its citizens, provided by US advocacy groups, are putting journalists in prison, having the one-child policy that causes for forced abortions, and the blocking of web sites and emails. My question is what can we as the US do if China is unwilling to listen to what we have to say about their policies?

One article on CNN.com discusses China’s “rule of law” and how it has denied the fair treatment of an executed drug smuggler. The author, Jerome A. Cohen, states that while the legal training is improving, it still has a ways to go. In regards to women’s rights, China’s abortion policy has brought about a large male population since the 1980s, according to another article. The China Daily states that it has prevented 400 million births. I cannot even begin to fathom the amount of lives, especially female lives, that have been lost.

-Joe Siler

Radical Islam in Europe, Understanding Islam, and Related News Articles

The article titled “Radical Islam in Europe” discusses the presence Islamists who commit terrorist attacks in European countries such as Great Britain, Germany, and Denmark. This intrigues me because I have never really thought about radical Islamic terrorist attacks that take place outside of the war in the Middle East, aside from September 11^th. Not only do we have to worry about a war on enemy territory, but we also must worry about wars that take place on our own soil or allies’ soil. I wonder what kind of measures are being taken today to welcome Islam in countries that are not accustomed to the religion. Even if we do welcome the religion, much like the article states, will we be able to stop the acts of extreme Islamists?

“Understanding Islam” talks about the kind of treatment Muslims face in western society today. There are many misconceptions that exist about Muslims, such as jumping to conclusions that if they practice their beliefs then they are terrorists. In England, there was the girl named Azmi who refused to take off her veil in class. School officials claimed that it was hindering the class but Muslims have thought differently as to why they made her take it off. Many Muslims agree that they take the heat for terrorist deeds and feel that western society should be educated more on Muslim beliefs. I wonder how citizens in the United States would react if it was a required curriculum for their children to learn about Muslim beliefs.

In regards to terrorist attack on our own soil, there was the recent attempted attack on Christmas by Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab. Somehow, he was able to get past security and onto an airplane where he attempted to hijack it. This goes right along with the terrorist attacks that were discussed in the “Radical Islam in Europe” article. What kind of precautions are being taken today to prevent terrorists from entering our country and boarding our planes? In a Fox News article, it was stated that studies done at Duke and UNC Chapel Hill discovered that most U.S. terror suspects are young men. This seems to be a reasonable conclusion by looking at similarities between those that committed the September 11^th attacks and the recent attempted airplane hijacking on Christmas.

-Joe Siler