Parenti Part III: Ch. 9,10,11,&12

In chapter nine, Parenti discusses his journey in East Afghanistan in September 2006.  When he was visiting Nangarhar, there was a severe drought, that the United Nations discovered four years prior to Parenti's visit.  The wells running dry in Afghanistan had been "the most severe drought in living memory".  Once again, climate change has been the root problem to many disasters in the world and is  suggested to many reason why Afghanistan suffered one of it's most devastating droughts.  In 2008, the British government had come together produce a statement and overall, consensus of what would happen to Afghanistan due to the climate change.  Famine, lack of rain, lack of natural resources, and much more was endured by the people of Afghanistan.  "British government researchers see a link between global warming and conflict in Afghanistan".  Climate change has drastically been doing severe damages within the world and has immensely created chaos and destruction.  Parenti describes all this as "the dialectical connection between climate change, war, and environmental degradation become mutually reinforcing".

Parenti begins chapter ten by stating the chaotic and raged state of people living in Kyrgyzstan because of huge price increase to communal services that included water and electricity.  "The crowds, protesting price hikes soon turned into mobs and armed gangs and they attacked government buildings".  All this commotion was occurring because the lack of resources, which ultimately was happening because of this issue of the climate change.  President Bakiyev had to enforce army men into the streets to try and restore order and get the people under control.  Parenti discusses how the continent of Asia became about it's ruins and terrible and constant wars with violence, drought, poverty, famine, etc.  Finally in August of 2010, the climate began to shape up and water was blessed upon the lands of Afghanistan.

In chapter eleven, Parenti states the infamous truth about Pakistan and India being in continuous struggle. Water has been the main resource and is what both sides fight for, because water is basically a lifeline for their survival.  With the climate change being so erratic, the effects of it has been devastating and has been increasing an enormous amount of sheer violence.  Parenti states that "As climate change beings more extreme weather, monsoon disruptions, flooding, drought, and rapid glacial melting, it plays an ever-greater role in shaping the India-Pakistan conflict".  With many factors playing a role into the sad wars of India-Pakistan, the reasons behind the wars have created a reasoning of "beliefs" "religion" "ethic" etc.

Chapter twelve, Parenti discusses the suffering of India's Deccan Plateau and how the farmers are greatly being hit hard by the declination of rain.  "There is declining rain, and this affects yields, and the prices are still low," states Linga Reddy Sama, who is cotton farmer herself in the village of Jaamni.  India ha always been know to suffer form poverty, especially with the climate change.

Quiz Question: What war with Pakistan is another country involved with?

Research Proposal: How can climate change be reduced to end this struggle with war and violence and dispair? 

Parenti Part II: Ch. 4,5,6,7,& 8

In chapter four, Parenti begins with the death of Ekaru and how his killing is a concrete result of climate change.  The world is not the world's leaders are not fundamentally thinking about the repercussions of their "logic" analysis and solution to try and end climate change by "warfare".  "The situation is so bad in some areas that people are now killing each other for water-shooting it out for control of wells and pasture.  This is perhaps the most direct example of how climate change plays out as violence" Parenti liberally states his opinion about the true facts that are currently happening in the world.  He saw first hand what climate change was doing to our world, more specifically East Africa.  Parenti discusses how tribes were turning on each other and raiding each other's tribes for resources by using violence to get what they needed.  Parenti also, shockingly gave the statistics of Kenya's annual drought-fueled violence during the summer of 2008.  From August 5th to September 4th, many people were killed because of climate change.

In chapter five Parenti addresses the issue of the clouds being the "main" resource to the residents of East Africa, Kenya how distraught the residents have been because of droughts that have consequently devastated them agriculturally.  "Climate plays a key role in socioeconomic activity-our economy is very weather dependent.  Most Kenyan farmers rely on the two rainy seasons, one in the spring, the other in autumn" Chief Meterologist James Muhindi states.  Parenti goes above and beyond to establish and ultimately publish, this book in regards to what the world is going through with climate change and wars by making all the way across to East Africa.  

In chapter six Parenti discusses the history of the British annexing, and ultimately shaping, East Africa in the early 1890s.  Throughout this chapter, Parenti lays out the fundamental history and background of Africa and it's territorial owners that fought over the land.  Africa is one of the places that is in drastic needs of help because of the how bad the climate change has affect it's cultural land by tribes becoming desperate and raids being created so people could get resources and barely get by life.

In chapter seven, Parenti introduces the leader Mohammed Siad Barre, a social reformer who came into somewhat power.  Parenti discusses the fall of the lion when the emperor Haile Selassie was in reign and how the Sahelian drought devastated many Ethiopian farmers, oil prices were tripling, and the economy was in horrid value.  In attempts to restore order, Selassie ordered an military army to control the public under chaos.  Siad Barre saw the craziness that was happening on the border and took initiative to seize Ogaden, and did.  War broke out because of the seize.  These wars were shadowing powers from the Cold War.

In chapter eight, Parenti discusses how the climate change has greatly affected the small land place of Kisangani.  Kisangani basically, turned into ruins.  Kisangani was fully disconnected with the outer world and society itself.  Parenti describes how Kisangani wasn't even connected to the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Kisangani was technically part of the failing state.  "War makes states" is a quote from Charles Tilly's essay recalls the facts that organized-crime style protection rackets came close to taxation by the states.  War had deeply made holes in states pockets because of the European war was becoming so expensive to maintain and keep forth with all the ships, cannons, and fielding armies, that the project of taxation and administration became more developed in terms of this outcome.

Quiz Question: How bad was the condition of Kisangani? Was it connected to the DRC or society for that matter?

Research Proposal: Africa is a living proof of the negative outcome of climate change.  Can't the leagues/united  nations reunite and come to a consensus of how to deal with this issue? Because it's only becoming worse and worse and countries are starting to experience it first hand, like the death of Ekaru Loruman. 

Parenti Part I: Ch. 1, 2,& 3

In the beginning of chapter one, Parenti begins by describing the death of a pastoralist from the Turkana tribe, named Ekaru Loruman.  He was killed by the tribe called the Pokot, that was resident next to the Turkana tribe.  The Pokot had sent out an enormous cattle raid, that ended up killing Ekaru.  Parenti shocked me when he discussed how the Turkana people do not bury the people who were killed in a raid because they have a superstition that if they bury those who were killed in a raid, more deaths and attacks will continue into their tribe.  The bodies of raided victims are left on the ground, where they remain until they basically decompose; i thought this was extremely shocking because i didn't know tribes would just "leave" dead bodies on their land.  Parenti describe that many raids occur in tribes like Pokot and Turakana, which are in East Africa, because in the duration of droughts, many crucial resources become scarce and the men of other tribes go raiding into other tribes in hope of getting resources for their tribe. Parenti discusses how our global environment is drastically altering our earth's systematic behavior.  Just by that 1 degree Celsius increase, in over a hundred years, is changing our earth's flow, which ultimately Parenti ties this connection to the death of Ekaru-the reasoning behind this book, poverty and scarce resources due to global climate changing creating "cattle raids".

In chapter two, Parenti states a quote that really shows how bad our global environment is decreasing to, "Food insecurity, for reasons both of shortages and affordability, will be growing concern in Africa as well as other parts of the world. Without food aid, the region will likely face higher levels of instability-particularly violent ethic clashes over land ownership."  This quote from Dr. Thomas Fingar, completely describes and puts into words what happened to Ekaru in Turkana.  Ekaru is a living proof of how our earth's atmosphere is changing, and not for the good of it.  Parenti discusses how countries all over the world are coming together and saying how this earth's issue is on the verge of creating various issues in terms of countries staying strong and still standing.  

In chapter three, the old war act of the "counterinsurgency" (COIN) was discussed and shown in a way that Parenti lets us readers fundamentally understand the seriousness of our earth's climate change. Parenti brought out a very good point in my opinion, in how because of the climate change and lack of resources that's causing poverty worldwide, politicians are now focusing on "warfares" when in reality, that's not what the world needs.  Instead of leaders allowing mini wars to break out throughout the world because of this climate change, they need to come together and realize and come to a resolution that helps us deal with the change in the climate and not solve it by administering more wars. 

Quiz Question: What is the purpose of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?

Research Proposal: With all this commotion and concern about the climate change, why are there so many people coming into terms of acting out in violence and creating a bigger issue, instead of trying to unite and help resolve this serious problem at hand?  

Brewer, Ch. 4,5,6 & Conclusion

In chapter 4 four, Brewer begins by stating about the the Korean War and how President Truman sent U.S. forces into Korea to help discontinue the growth of communism there. However, Brewer also states that the U.S. had more fear in on shoulder other than just communism in Korea; Europe, Japan and the Middle East were stirring up conflict and discomfort that was making the U.S. prepare for a Cold War.  Once again propaganda was used to manipulate the views of Americans by telling them they had to go and fight communism in Korea or else everything would be "taken away" or they would be fight communism in "Wichita" instead of in Korea.  I thought it was completely interesting how Brewer stated that during the World War II, Koreans differentiated between "Good Asian" and "Bad Asian."  The Chinese had been labeled with the term "Good Asian"with associated with South Koreans and the term "Bad Asian" had been labeled as the Japanese which associated with North Koreans.

During the Vietnam war the U.S. was involved in, Brewer brought out a crucial and good point in how "propaganda" really works and it's usage.  In chapter 5, Brewer clearly stated that many government leaders had idea how to present a logic reasoning as to why U.S. troops were in Southeast Asia fighting.  Many Americans didn't know what to believe.  U.S. troops being in Vietnam was solely used at America's dispense in trying to establish a power signal to the Soviet Union.  That was America's true intentions and WHY they were in Vietnam fighting, but in the meantime, they told Americans that U.S. troops were in Vietnam because they wanted to prevent "communism" from spreading.  The Soviet Union was gaining an immense amount of power and had America paranoid.  Brewer brought up a good point that i agreed with since the beginning of the book, propaganda has been used and manipulated to America's beneficial use.  Whether lies or manipulation are being created underneath the truth, America, i believe, has always used propaganda in every war and will continue to do so.

In chapter six, the September 11th attack was brought up a lot and the "Operation Iraqi Freedom."  Brewer states how President Bush announced war on Iraq in March 2003 in terms of defense for the attack of the Twin Towers.  Many Americans were open and patriotic to the declaration of war in Iraq because President Bush informed them that this war was for America's safety and also, help Iraqis be free in their own living situation in Iraq.  This brought up a lot of memories from the Twin Towers attack.  I remember this day so vividly because i was getting ready for school that morning and then i heard my older brother yelling for my mom to go and watch the news.  Then i went to the living room and saw the Twin Towers falling down, crumbling to the ground.  About 45 minutes later, my principal of my private school, called my mother and told her school was cancelled due to the tragic event and of everything that was happening.  Many Americans were confused as to our troops going to Iraq and fighting for other reasons like helping free the Iraqis.  "The United States will use this moment of opportunity to extend the benefits of freedom across the globe" is what President Bush stated.  Americans didn't want to hear that our U.S. troops were going to Iraq and putting their life on the line to help Iraqis; Americans only wanted revenge in my opinion because many were devastated and incredibly angry because many lost loved ones in the Twin Towers.

Brewer has a strong voice and is very opinionated.  Throughout the book, i realized that Brewer wrote about many points in American history that involved war and propaganda.  She truly introduced  how propaganda was and has been used during the times of war and how political leaders use it to manipulate themes.  Whether it's our political leaders using propaganda to protect us or lie to us, propaganda has been the only tool leaders have turned to, to keep the calm and democracy intact.

Quiz Question: Who was the first President to visit China and the Soviet Union in 1972?

Research Proposal: During the attack of the Twin Towers in New York, why did many Americans become impulsive and began to segregate ALL types of Middle Eastern people as to Muslims who were all the same type as Bin Laden?  

Weekly reading: Brewer- Introduction, Ch. 1,2, and 3

 Susan Brewer began the introduction with the term propaganda and how she reflects on it’s true meaning during times America has gone to war.  In chapter one, Brewer discusses the terrorist attack that took place on 9/11 and the campaign that President Bush introduced to America that promoted War in Iraq.  During that time America was in war with Iraq, I remember President Bush constantly stating that our troops were invading Iraq because we were “protecting” and “defending” our country from any attack of creating America to become insecure to its citizens.  Brewer made a good and clear point that made me reminisce during the actual state of America being in war with Iraq when she stated that “American must go to war, announce officials, to secure their own safety, liberate the Iraqi people, and spread the democracy in the Middle East.”  When I read this, I remembered of all the confusion many Americans were in when our troops were in Iraq and the lingering question of “why are our troops still in Iraq” that many US citizens asked.

Brewer concentrates a lot on the term “propaganda” and ties it a lot into the topic of September 11^th.  At first I was hesitant in trying to understand her point of view in terms of what she thought and believed in reference to America’s wars and it’s true reasoning behind war decisions.  Brewer strongly states and enforces that during the time of America being at war, politics and truth clash and produce an ideal theme in making the public believe a certain reason or logic that is ultimately a cover-up for more deeper and political reasoning.  For example, Brewer gives examples of the World War II during the conflicts with Germany and Japan.  Also, the same tactics in using themes like “War for America’s safety and protection” were presented when America was in search for Saddam Hussein and had troops invade Iraq.

During the Philippines war America and the Filipinos were fighting for the Philippine Islands.  America was in this to gain the land and natural resources.  McKinley administrated a lot towards this war in Philippines.

All in all, this book so far seems to lay out a different point of view and establish and question the reasoning behind America’s wars during the century. 

Quiz Question: What does propaganda mean?

Research Proposal:  When America goes into war, how and why are themes usually presented in a different way using propaganda to ensure safety? Doesn’t that defeat democracy and involving the public to updated news and truth?

    

Introduction

Hi guys!
My name is Perla Jimenez and i'm a senior already! My major is biology with a minor in chemistry. I'm pre-med and hope to be taking my MCAT in December and then applying to medical school soon :) I'm so excited for this class because friend told me about it and at first i didn't have a clue what it really entailed.  So on the first day, i was happy to know of all the material we're going to be learning and how this class seems to be very liberal in terms of everyone being "open" to others opinions, thoughts, and perspectives. I love classes like that because it truly allows us students to be open and express our own individual point of view and how we see things, which allows us to see how others view stuff.