When peacekeepers prey instead of protect

p. 82-83

U.N. seeking more women officers

In recent years there have been reports that male peacekeeping soldiers have preyed on women, often under 18, in vulnerable populations. Some have even bought sex for payments ranging from two eggs to$5. Between Jan 2004 to Nov 2006, 319 peacekeeping personnel worldwide were investigated for sexual misconduct or abuse. Out of that 144 military, 17 police were sent home. “You get these abuses not just with peacekeepers but with soldiers in general, and it gets worst the further they are from home and the more destitute the local population,” says Richard Reeve. The U.N. is now starting to send female peacekeepers instead of men to certain areas. India sent the first all female police unit to Liberia, where there have been accusations of trading food for sex with teenagers. The U.N. is trying to recruit more female soldiers or peacekeepers because it sends a message to the local society that a woman can do the same job as a man. The U.N. is trying to get rid of the argument between different cultures with a “Duty of Care” code. This code states that all peacekeepers have to abide by local customs or laws, or the customs or laws of their own country.
These peacekeepers are paid to help keep societies and local population safe, but instead they have abused the power that has been given to them by sexually abusing vulnerable females and sometimes even impregnating them. Just because there are people live differently or poorer than others doesn’t make them less of a human then the rest of us. They still have rights and still should be treated with respect.

Ending Poverty in Africa p. 167

During June 2007, first lady Laura Bush visited a hospital clinic for people who have HIV or AIDS, which has received nearly $600,000 in direct aid from the USAID. This hospital has a vegetable garden that the patients tend to themselves as part of their treatment that emphasizes the importance of nutrition. Three months after her visit the Gates and Rockefeller foundations announced plans to spend $150 million over a five year period to help the agricultural productivity throughout Africa. An outline of things that need to be done in Africa to help them clime out of deep poverty:
Expand anti-HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, including care of AIDS orphans,
Expand family-planning services,
Provide more access to clean water,
Expand malaria-mitigation efforts and,
Begin training some of the 4 million new teachers Africa needs.

I am all for helping out other people and other countries in need but I don’t understand how the U.S government is handing out all this money to help with disease and poverty in Africa and we have the same thing happening in the U.S. Everywhere you turn there is a homeless person or family, or a family living in poverty, people with disease and babies being born addicted to drugs. How can we expect to help other countries when we have our own people suffering here in the states.

Phi Theta Kappa

Yeaaaa.......!!! I've just been invited to be a member of Phi Theta Kappa. I'm really excited. I'm glad all this hard work hasn't gone to waste. WoooooHooooo......

Torture Debate pg. 139

Waterboarding is a form of torture that is used to get information from prisoners. The prisoner’s feet are strapped to a board hanging upside down with his mouth and nose covered. Then water is poured over their face, causing a sense of drowning. The U.S government denies using any such methods on its prisoners. According to human rights groups and the U.S. state department, there are about 160 countries that use torture methods. Many countries now use the U.S. as an explanation as to why they practice torturing, because of the methods that the U.S. used post 9/11. The U.S. has opened itself to possible charges of being a hypocrite by losing its position as the leader in the fight against human rights abuses. Many believe that aggressive interrogation methods are needed to protect against future terrorist attacks. I’m not sure if all torture methods are going to be effective because most will say what is wanted out of them in order to end their suffering. On the other hand it can be used as a deterrence tool; to send a signal to anyone who is an opponent that there will be very bad repercussions.