Strauss-Kahn's Fall

10 Facts you should know

Dominique Strauss-Kahn is a French economist, lawyer, and politician

Strauss-Kahn is a former communist and member of the Socialist Party of France

In 2007, he became the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Strauss-Kahn has been arrested for attempted rape

The trial was held Monday, May 16^th, 2011 in Manhattan

Strauss-Kahn was charged for attempting to rape his hotel maid on Saturday, May14th, 2011

Many European countries have always disliked Strauss-Kahn, but need the support of the IMF

Strauss-Kahn persevered and continued to help to bring these countries financial aid

Now that Strauss-Kahn is out of the picture, debt-choked European countries are undergoing difficult economic times

Some European countries fear that more powerful countries will enforce their hard-line policies (Germany in particular)

In my opinion Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s fall is harming multiple European countries. The defeat of the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund will prove disastrous for the countries to which it provides financial stability. Debt-choked countries who rely on the IMF to provide the finances required to keep their economy stabilized will grieve over the arrest of Strauss-Kahn. Unfortunately his fall will take its toll on not only the IMF itself, but on the countries in which it is invested. Strauss-Kahn was not a popular figure in a number of European countries involved with the IMF, but his defeat means that those countries are in for a trying time; without Strauss-Kahn, these countries will easily be filtered into the ways of more powerful Euro countries (such as Germany). In conclusion, the detainment of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, although justified, will have a negative effect on European countries which are dependent on the IMF.

Environmental	Political	Social & Cultural	Economic
Countries in poverty because of national financial instability will become littered and filled with wreckage and filth è    pollution Citizens will overexploit natural resources in search for profit from trade or industry è    Diminish natural resources	IMF is an international government organization è    Loses world reputation Effects the governments of many desperate European countries è    Leaves them open for powerful countries to enforce their hard-line policies Makes a poor exemplar for other IGOs	European countries lose faith in the IMF è    Financial instability France is given a poor reputation è    Sets the climate for the Socialist party of France to rise Gives power to other IGOs è    IMF supporters are left without a cause àbrings other parties into power	Trade will increase between poor European countries Financial debt increases àcivil war European national debt increases àwar Inflation àDepression

How did this issue start?	How should this issue be resolved?
On Saturday, May 14th, 2011 Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the leader of the IMF, attempted to rape his hotel maid and was arrested before his New York-bound flight took off	Dominique Strauss-Kahn should be tried in court and punished accordingly He should be fired as Managing Director of the IMF, and denied return Dominique Strauss-Kahn should make a public apology on behalf of the IMF to allow the worthy IGO to maintain its reputation, and save Europe from worsening its debt

Nuclear Construction & Expansion in Brazil

Facts you should know

1.       Brazilian nuclear industry is planning the construction of a nuclear reactor on the coastal region of Angra

2.       The reactor should be complete by 2013

3.       The nuclear plan is expanding and should be complete with several more reactors by 2030

4.       GREENPEACE has made demonstrations protesting the nuclear growth

5.       Brazilian people are fearful of an incident similar to Japan 2011 if construction continues

6.       Government buildings, such as the BNDES, have become the place for protesting

7.       GREENPEACE is not only planning to end construction, but to shut down all nuclear plants

8.       The BNDES announced a 3.9 billion dollar loan from the United States for the works

In my opinion, the GREENPEACE protests are completely legitimate and justified. I feel that they are effectively speaking on behalf of the Brazilian people, and voicing their concerns for the country. If Brazil already has two nuclear reactors, a third is unnecessary and poses nothing but argument and tension. The Brazilian nuclear industry is developing at a rapid pace and is consuming much of the country’s funds; financially, Brazil cannot afford to allow the nuclear industry to continue expansion at this rate. I believe that the government should listen to the concerns of the people and put an end to the construction, the new nuclear reactor demonstrates more risk and negativity than advantages. If the population, the environment, and the future financial stability are all at risk then this project should seriously be given more thought before being carried out. There is fear of a nuclear industry war between the neighbouring countries which will, without a doubt, spread throughout the rest of South America. This would be harmful to the continent’s reputation, as well as pose outside threats; if the rest of the world gets involved we will only be following history’s destructive pattern. More so, for the future of the environment and on behalf of its unspoken pain the nuclear construction should be terminated immediately. Brazil should definitely reconsider expanding its nuclear industry, and start thinking about its future generations as well at their effect on the declining environmental state of the world around them.

Environmental	Political	Social & Cultural	Economic
Nuclear construction is harmful to the environment Leakage into the waterà spread throughout the ocean, reaching distant countries Infects the rest of South America through ground water, soil, and eventually crops	The government is being challenged for its decisions Government-run building have become the gathering place for protests and riots à government workers are influenced and distracted	People are fearful of a nuclear accident This is a sensitive time, just after Japan’s nuclear incident in 2011 Loss of faith in the government à loss of faith in the people	Nuclear industry grows à takes over other industries à loss of jobs Loss of diversity in the industry A massive nuclear industry would take up a lot of space à loss of domestic space à population decline

How did this issue start?

How should this issue be resolved?

This issue began when the Brazilian government expanded its nuclear industry growth plan, planning to build several large nuclear reactors to be completed between 2013 and 2030. The people of brazil expressed concern, and GREENPEACE began demonstrating that concern through visual protests outside of government buildingsàconcerned about expenditure as well as environment, and protection

To resolve this issue, the Brazilian government should listen to the people and put an end to the nuclear construction. The rights of the people, Brazil’s economic state, the environment and the potential for disaster should all be taken into consideration by the government before any further construction takes place. Nuclear industry workers should go on strike to demonstrate the sacrifices that the citizens are willing to make for their safety

Radiation Detected in British Columbia via Japan

                In regards to the discovery of radiation in British Columbia, I am a strongly right-winged authoritarian. Usually I prefer to take a more moderate centrist or left-wing libertarian stand point, but in this specific situation I feel that the people need to take a backseat and allow the government to step forward. This issue is still very recent, but I believe that Canadians have the right of knowledge, and the government has failed to release full stories and/or other media reports concerning the well-being of citizens both physically and mentally. The public deserves the ability to obtain all possible information on this subject, and to be informed through the media. Clearly the dominant elite have filtered the stories in order to retain control and to avoid distress in British Columbia, but by doing so they have left the citizens next to clueless. Even though the radiation levels are not severely harmful, there are still existing issues concerning them. I would encourage the government to step in and get a hold on society before the people decide to take matters into their own hands and take any irrational course of action. For the quizzical viewers, here is what is currently occurring. Water sample test of sea water and rainfall have proven positive for increased levels of iodine in British Columbia. The iodine comes from radiation which is released from a nuclear reactor based in Japan; the reactor is currently under repair but is currently releasing radiation into the atmosphere which then travels through the air and is distributed through rainfall over the Pacific Ocean. The radiation is affecting the coastal regions of British Columbia, and poses an unpretentious health threat to civilians.

Increased levels of radioactive iodine have been detected in seaweed and rainwater samples in British Columbia

Scientists have concluded that a nuclear reactor in Japan is definitely the source

Scientists predict that iodine levels in British Columbia will continue to rise over the next 3 to 4 weeks, until the nuclear reactor in Japan ceases to release radioactivity into the atmosphere

The radiation found in British Columbia was carried by the jet stream, and is now falling over the West Coast with rain, which is mixing with sea water and accumulating in seaweed

Japanese fish products are no longer permitted to be imported to Canada due to harmful radiation

Health Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency and Transport Canada all must approve any vessels arriving at the port, and all packages go through a mandatory radiation screening process at the border

So far radiation waves are confined to the coastal regions of British Columbia, and are not expected to infect highly populated areas

Authorities in both Canada and Japan will continue monitoring radiation levels for the next month or so

Since the radiation is carried through the air, several new radiation monitors have been installed along the coastline of BC to measure the radiation levels in the air about the sea

Scientists have concluded that the radiation levels are not severely harmful to humans, and that they don’t suspect any further damage

 

Environmental	Political	Social & Cultural	Economic
Radiation from Japan is filtering into the water cycle of British Columbia Fish and other sea life from Japan are contaminated à fewer exports Radiation is distributed through rainfall which seeps into the soil and contaminates the crops and surface water sources Forests are partially cleared in order to install Air Radiation Monitors	Government creates an exclusive persona for itself by holding back media content Foreign affairs like trade decrease Citizens may lose trust in the government No major action has been taken à this makes the government appear weak	Society is fearful and takes great precaution à nobody wants to boat, fish, swim, etc. à loss of culture Tourists choose not to travel to BC for health reasons à less income Citizens allow precautions to filter into the workplace à concern takes over everyday life	Water products will not be bought Fish and other sea products are not sold à fisherman lose business Low productivity = lower economic wealth Fishing is a major industry in BC and the radiation causes it to suffer

How did this issue start?

How should this issue be resolved?

During the earthquake in Japan, one of the largest nuclear reactor towers was severely damaged and has been releasing radiation into the atmosphere ever since The radiation gets trapped in the clouds which travel through the jet stream (wind pattern) over the Pacific Ocean. The clouds then dispose of the radiation through rain which falls along the coastlines of British Columbia, contaminating their water supply and posing a health threat to the people

The government should utilize its position of authority to make the people aware of the current situation, and to implement safety precautions The people of Japan should work to fix the nuclear reactor immediately An explanation and apology should be given to the people of British Columbia from the leaders of their provincial government as well as the government of Japan Environmental activists should seize this opportunity to make other coastal areas to test their water, and to start new environmental movements

Suicide Bombings in Afghanistan- Complex Mind Map

Suicide Bombins in Afghanistan- My Opinion

In regards to the suicide bombing attacks in Kunduz, Afghanistan I have a very right-winged opinion. I feel strongly that this is the moment where the Afghan government should step up and take control. Throughout history, it is proven that in times of fear and chaos all forms of government shift to a dictatorship. When a political strongman has a grasp on the situation, the outcome is usually progressive. For the sake and well-being of all Afghan citizens, a strong authoritarian should be brought into the political spectrum. The suicide bombers have been proven to be travellers from the northern parts of Afghanistan. In the north, there are Taliban tribes along the borders who victimize their own country and have been sending persistent waves of suicide bombers into the cities over the past few months. The government clearly needs to take a course of action against these groups and put an end to their terrorism. NATO troops have already been deployed in the north, and have been pushing their way into holding some of the Taliban areas as militant-states; but this is not enough. Afghan forces should also be deployed to either help the NATO troops, or to capture and detain the Taliban. The suicide bomb attacks need to be put to rest, and the government is the only power strong enough to do so. However, in regards to the issue of suicide bombings the government has been ridiculed and made to look like a puppet to the Taliban.  Government events, government workers and government buildings have been the main target in every attack thus far. So, my opinion is that the Afghan government must find a strategy to make themselves more prominent and intimidating, or their country may very well be facing higher terrorist threat rates than ever before.

Suicide Bombings in Afghanistan- Summary

In Kabul, Afghanistan 8 suicide bombers blew themselves up on Monday, February 28^th in front of an Afghan government building

The suicide bombing killed a total of 40 people, and scores of others were wounded

Many citizens had gathered in front of the government building that day to receive their government identification cards, the bombers were among them

In northern Afghanistan there are known hideout for the Taliban, and violence has been on the rise recently

NATO has sent more troops to northern Afghanistan who are pushing for the trouble areas to become militant-held

This particular bombing was a form of retaliation against the Afghan government in response of the mistreatment of afghan prisoners under their hands

The suicide bombing occurred in Imam Sahib of Kunduz, a northern province of Afghanistan, where security has been going downhill for the past few months

Also on Monday, a Canadian NATO services member was killed in a roadside bombing- the bomber was also from Kunduz

After the suicide bombing, border security has been increased and several active suicide bombers have been caught and detained by Afghan forces before they could get passed the Taliban Tribal Belt

Just days after the suicide bombing, video footage aired on news stations on several continents. This outraged the Afghans

Suicide Bombings in Afghanistan- Interrelated Mind Map

Environmental	Political	Social & Cultural	Economic
Destructionà rubble, fragments spread all over Bombs release chemicals into the air, adding to gas pollution	Government institutes and officials are the main target NATO service members as well as other foreign government workers are targeted Taliban are threatening to overthrow the Afghan government Governance is not stepping up and taking controlà appear weak Military numbers are dwindling, and volunteer rates are decreasing rapidly	Emigration leads to loss of culture Citizens live in fear à become counter-productive Taliban supporters and anti-Taliban citizens may start civil wars Large groups are killed in suicide bombings, important members of society are among them	When buildings are destroyed, workers become unemployedà unemployment rate soars GDP rate slopes Some natural resources are destroyed à exports decrease while imports increase à debt Foreign countries feel that business with Afghanistan could be threatening, and cease several foreign affairs