Rachel's News Journal

The article “WFP Chief says Yemen Food Survey May Not Show Famine” describes how although many people in Yemen are starving, they are not officially considered in a “famine”. This is relevant to food security because it is an example of a country whose food security is limited. WFP director David Beasly said that this survey may show an increase in acute hunger, or a “catastrophic” food crisis, but may not show famine. Beasly says that he knows that the rate for severe hunger rates will surely increase.

This article is significant becuase it shows how developing countries struggle to maintain a food source. It also shows how a country can be starving, and it is not considered and issue until it is labeled as “famine”. Any severe lack of food should be concerning, not just famine.

Reuters.”WFP Chief says Yemen Food Survey May Not Show Famine.” The New York Times, 4 Dec. 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2018/12/04/world/middleeast/04reuters-yemen-security-wfp.html

The article “Brazil Backs out of Hosting 2019 Climate Change Meeting” describes how the Brazilian government’s new views on climate change have led to them pulling out of hosting the conference. This is relevant to resources because Brazil’s rainforests are important resources that are quickly disappearing. President Bolsonero has vowed to take on commercial ventures in the Amazon. Brazil vowed in 2009 to attempt to reduce green house gasses and restore the rainforest, making them one of the most environmentally aware countries. This image of Brazil is now disappearing, as farmers, miners and cattle ranchers in recent years have cleared certain areas of the forest. In 2017, deforestation in the Amazon rose by 14%, the largest loss of the amazon in a decade. Pulling out of the conference will affect many of Brazil’s investments and business deals.

This article is significant because it shows how some countries deny climate change completely. It also shows how as new governments come in to power, a country’s views on an issue can shift drastically. The Amazon is one of Brazils most important resources, and it is disappearing rapidly.

London, Ernesto, and Friedman, Lisa. “Brazil Backs out of Hosting 2019 Climate Change Meeting.”The New York Times,https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/28/world/americas/brazil-climate-meeting.html

 

The article “Climate Scientist Claims to use Crispr to make First Genetically Edited Babies” describes how researcher He Jiankui claims to have used the gene editing technique Crispr to create the first genetically edited babies, twin girls. This is realvent to population growth because if this gene editing can eliminate diseases, there are probably thousands of other possibilities of what it could do. This all could eventually escalate and lead to overpopulation. He Jiankui claims to have altered a gene that makes the babies resistant to H.I.V. , although he has not given any evidence to show if this is true. Scientists are fearful that if this is true, many babies may soon be altered for different traits, like athletic and intellectual. The gene editing process can also have adverse affects on other genes. It is unusual that Dr. He has provided no proof, and many people are investigating him for fraud and unethical practices. Other scientists even claim that H.I.V. can be treated without altering genes.

This is significant because it shows a real possibility that technology and science could have in the future. If gene editing continues, it is possible that babies’ genes could start being edited for specific traits. It is important to note that by trying to fix one problem, scientists have caused another.

Kolata, Gina, Wee, Sui-Lee, and Belluck, Pam. “Climate Scientist Claims to use Crispr to make First Genetically Edited Babies.” The New York Times, 26 Nov. 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/26/health/gene-editing-babies-china.html

The article “Bare Knuckle Bouts in Madagascar? It is about more than Fighting” describes and illustrates the sport of moraingy and how it is important to the culture of Madagascar. This article is relevant to the culture of another country becuase the sport is unique to Madagascar, and is valuable to its culture. The fights in this traditional sport take place outside grass huts, where onlookers come to watch and cheer The fighters, called fagnorolahy, travel to different towns by van, and announce their matches over loudspeakers. How the fighters preform in the matches is a marker of character and self control. People in Madagascar prefer indirect forms of confrontation, and these fights are a way for them to do just that. Fighters describe the sport as the country’s culture, tradition, and history.

This article is significant because it shows a unique aspect of another culture. The pictures included in the article provide a closer look at what is described. The photos and article are useful in contrasting American Sports with moraingy.

O’Reilly, Finbar. “Bare Knuckle Bouts in Madagascar? It is about more than Fighting.” The New York Times, 5 Nov. 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/05/world/africa/madagascar-moraingy.html

Jonathan Martin and Alexander Burns’ article “For Both Parties, a Political Realignment Among Cultural Lines” describes the results of the midterm elections on both the Democratic and Republican sides. This is relevant to Althen’s American Ways because in the chapter of the book on politics, Althen describes how Americans are divided on certain issues, and are thus labeled “liberal”, “conservative”, “republican” and “democrat”. The article describes how the republicans lost their house majority, and the democrats struggled to win the senate. The republicans lost some of their political allies during this election.The Democrats lost voters in the cities that Trump visited in the final days before the election, as well as losing Florida to republicans.

This article is significant because it shows the tensions that come with elections. It also shows that some outcomes in elections are unexpected. Trends in voting usually stay consistent, but in this case voting patterns changed a bit, making this election a noteworthy one.

Martin, Jonathan and Burns, Alexander. “For Both Parties, a Political Realignment Among Cultural Lines.” The New York Times, 7 Nov. 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/07/us/politics/elections-divided-nation.html

Trip Gabriel’s article “Two Visions of Patriotism Clash in the Midterm Elections” describes how both republicans and democrats differ in their views on what it means to be patriotic. This article is relevant to American culture because it shows the two types of political beliefs in America and describes what each side views as “American” or “Patriotic”. The article talks about how president Trump has called his opposers “unpatriotic”. These opposers include NFL players who kneel for the National Anthem, and Democratic Lawmakers who did not clap for his state of the Union Address. For republicans, patriotism means openly showing respect for traditional American things such as the flag, the military, and the Pledge of Allegiance. Democrats, on the other hand, view patriotism as voting in an effort to reclaim American Democracy. Recent polls have shown that with Trump’s presidency, many Democrats’ pride in America has dropped. The article asks many citizens of different backgrounds and viewpoints to define what they think it means to be patriotic, and it is clear that there are some disagreements on this subject.

This article os significant because it shows that there is not just one definition of patriotism. Everyone views being patriotic differently, so how can we tell someone they are wrong for that they think is truly American? AS long as there is a divide in political parties, people will always disagree on what it means to be patriotic.

Gabriel, Trip. “Two Visions of Patriotism Clash in the Midterm Elections.”The New York Times, 6 Nov. 2018, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/06/us/politics/patriotism-midterms-trump.html