Obama and Iraq

It seems that anything concerning Iraq and American is a heated topic, however this week presents the greatest decision that American President, Barack Obama has made; to declare war with Iraq. 

The president won’t call it a war, even though we will be bombing ISIS in Iraq and Syria, and despite the fact that we have an open-ended commitment to put an as yet uncertain number of US (non-combat) boots on the ground to help the new Iraq government and the anti-ISIS coalition. And, since the president doesn’t call it a war, he won't feel the need to seek permission from Congress.

Personally, this plan does not give me a lot of confidence. It does not sound very stable; that trial and error is needed in order for the plan to succeed. It also sounds like a plan the president has arrived at reluctantly, and hopes to carry it out with the bare minimum of force, thus lessening his political risk but putting our forces at considerable risk.

I think that a back up plan is needed, just incase that there are implications that will cause dramatic consequences. As in the video link, Obama states many 'don't's' in this plan, which limits any expansion for a plan B. I do not believe in war and I do not advocate violence. In drastic times however, using America's military does seem the appropriate action to take to protect national interests. 

The Middle East has been engulfed in civil wars since the days of the Old Testament, well before Muhammed founded Islam. It is a place of constantly shifting alliances, and temporary allegiances (The Australian, 2014) The latest incarnation of Middle East war is between Shiites and Sunnis.  The radical Sunnis of ISIS want to establish a worldwide Caliphate under their direction. The radical Shiites in Iran also want to establish a worldwide Caliphate under their direction (Ten News, 2014). 

When there are no good options, it is useful to go back to basics. Other than the horrific inhumanity of constant, brutal war, why do we care what happens in Syria and Iraq?  What interests do we have in a region halfway around the world?  

I am eager to see what the future holds for this topic. I fear that many lives are endangered and it is sad that world peace feels so far away. 


References 

http://tenplay.com.au/news/national/latest-news/features/forming-a-us-coalition

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/unintended-consequences-could-doom-the-latest-us-mission-in-iraq/story-e6frg6zo-1227054439130#mm-premium

Oscar Pistorious

It has been Eighteen months after Oscar Pistorious shot dead his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp. The paralympian and former South African awaits this week to learn if he is regarded guily or innocent. 


On Valentines Day, February 14, 2013, Pistorious shot her four times through the bathroom door; Reeva Steenkamp, 29, had died instantly. The day after the shooting, Pistorious was charged with murder.  Channel 7 News Reporter, Laurel Irving informs,  "At his bail hearing shortly afterwards, the track star tendered a statement explaining what he claimed happened that night – that he mistook Reeva for an intruder and believed he was under threat. But police argued it was pre-meditated murder, and he shot Reeva in the middle of an argument."(Seven News, 2014) 

In March of this year, Oscar Pistorius went on trial before Judge Thokozile Masipa after South Africa abolished jury trials during the apartheid era in 1969. (The Telegraph, 2014) The trial continued until August, due a long period of cross examinations of witnesses. In this month, the Prosecution says he is guilty of murder. However the defence "says the runner acted in haste when he heard a noise inside the toilet, firing his weapon before he’d realised what happened" (News.com.au, 2014)

Judge Masipa will begin her verdict on Thursday and is likely to take two days to outline the evidence presented during the trial before she reaches her conclusion. If found guilty of pre-meditated murder, Pistorius could face a life-sentence, which in practice is 25 years in South Africa. However, any sentence could still be weeks away.

Oscar Prestorious' life will never be the same, regardless he is guilty or not. This is a very delicate situation, as it is not just involving the Australian court. I feel that Australian Journalist's should be careful in which how they present the news when the sentence is finally cleared as South Africa's cultural pride must be taken into value. 

References 

https://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/a/24906680/oscar-pistorius-a-spectacular-fall-from-grace/

http://www.news.com.au/world/oscar-pistorius-verdict-guilty-or-innocent/story-fndir2ev-1227055553622

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/oscar-pistorius/11087281/Oscar-Pistorius-verdict-live.html

OZONE

Moving on into the environment side of politics, scientists have noted that the o-zone is beginning to recover. This has largely been due to the phase out since the 1908's; items such as aerosol cans and certain chemicals used in refrigerators have been the main focus.
As reported by Ten News, scientists were able to confirm a statistically significant increase in stratospheric ozone, which sheilds the planet from solar radiation that causes skin cancer and other problems (Ten News, 2014)

The United Nations, according to the Australian, informs that by 2030 there would have been an extra 2 million skin cancer cases a year around the world if ozone problem has not been stressed years ago. NASA scientist Paul A. Newman, claimed that the heat-trapping greenhouse gases - considered the major cause of global warming - are also helping to rebuild the ozone layer, (The Australian, 2014) The report said rising levels of carbon dioxide and other gases cool the upper stratosphere, and the cooler air increases the amount of ozone.

The ozone layer is still far from healed. The long-lasting, ozone-eating chemicals still lingering in the atmosphere create a yearly fall ozone hole above the extreme Southern Hemisphere, and the hole hasn't closed up. Also, the ozone layer is still about 6 percent thinner than in 1980, by Newman's calculations.

This highlights that when the world comes together and attempts to make a change, a great impact can result. I think that it is important for people to be continually aware of the environment; keeping up with the statistics and finding ways to make small changes to our lifestyle to make a cleaner future. 

References 

http://tenplay.com.au/news/national/latest-news/features/forming-a-us-coalition

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/unintended-consequences-/story-e6frg6zo-1227054439130

A baby and a debate!

A continuous and evolving story, baby Gammy, born with down syndrome in Thailand through surrogacy, has shed light for the debate of commercial surrogacy. At the beginning of this incident, the controversy evolved around the parents of baby Gammy, David and Wendy Farnell, for abandoning their child in Thailand and only taking home his baby sister. However, the spotlight is focused on the legalisation of commercial surrogacy to prevent a similar incident repeating.


Advocates claim that commercial surrogacy should be legalised in Western Australia to help put a stop to the exploitation of women in developing countries.  Thailand's nelwly formed national assembly have started to investigate and have been handed the draft laws.  (SMH, 2014) This will mean when approved, surrogacy can only take place once a couple are married and a relative are involved.

Furthermore, the laws may consist of the provision for a baby to remain with the surrogate mother between 3-6 months for breastfeeding. Also, the surrogate other will be considered as the child's legal mother. ABC journalist Samantha Hawley states that the ruling army general does not want Thailand to be a surrogacy hub and expects to move quickly to outlaw the practice, essentially ending a lucraative foreign market. (ABC News 2014) 


However, it remains unclear as to what the laws will mean for Australian who already have pregnant surrogates in Thailand. However, this has not lessened arguments over the debate. Parents who have had children through surrogates in Australia say the thriving overseas surrogacy market is being fuelled by messy Australian laws. On the other hand, other perspectives are more central. For example, Dr Renate Klein is a feminist health researcher writes the following, "The right to a child is not questioned, the fact that the birth mother might regret giving away her child for the rest of her life, or decide to keep the baby, is only discussed in the context of what precautions intended parents need to take so that this does not happen. It is accepted without discussion that a "gestational surrogate" - the term used for a woman who becomes pregnant with an implanted embryo that does not contain her own genes – will not have a relationship with the developing baby as it is "not her child".  (ABC News, 2014) 




Personally I think that each family is different; different values, goals and perceptions of life. Therefore I think that it is unfair to be harsh/speaking in general terms as there is a lot of women that are affected by the topic. As for a solution, laws should definitely be more regulated and stressed to prevent further implications. 




References

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-13/thai-military-considers-draft-law-banning-commercial-surrogacy/5668846


http://www.smh.com.au/comment/baby-gammy-has-shown-the-need-for-debate-on-surrogacy-20140819-105pfx.html

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-12/advocates-call-for-commercial-surrogacy-to-be-legalised/5666206

A National Tragedy: MH17- THE FINGER POINTING HAS STARTED

The tragedy represents a serious escalation of the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and comes only months after Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 mysteriously disappeared somewhere over the Indian Ocean.  As this issue has only been recent, there is still a large extent of information that has not been reported; however that has not stopped major speculation and controversy of the cause of the crashing.

The flight may have been shot down by a missile; crashing in eastern Ukraine with a wreckage spread of 22km. Flight mH17 was carrying 295 passengers and crew, believed that there are no survivors. It has been reported that there were 27 Australian passengers on board. (ABC News)

Although not confirmed yet, many reports collaborate on the theory that the plane was shot down in a military attack near the Russian boarder. (Sydney Morning Herald) However, there are other claims that it could have been a terriost attack; a bomb on board the aircraft. David Koche claims, 'It is feared that all 295 passengers have been killed'. (Seven News)

Barak Obama describes the event as a 'terrible tragedy'. He exlaims, ' I have directed my national security team to stay in close contact with the Ukrainian government.. The United States will offer any assistance it can to determine what happened..'. (ABC News)

So who are the fingers being pointed to? Seven News Reporter, Angela Cox informs, 'experts claim that as the plane was flying so high, (10 000m), that bringing it down had to be a military operation'. (Seven News) On the other hand, Ukraine's Foregin Minister claims that it was the work of pro-Russian separatists, and points to their recent record. (Seven News) Malaysia's Prime Minister, Najib Razak, states, 'Ukarainian Authorities believe that the plane was shot down... as this stage though, Malaysia is unable to verify the cause of the tragedy'.

Speculation does not stray far from a deliberate act. If the plane was shot down, the perpertrators must be brought to justice. As we wait anxiously for the Ukrainian Government Officials to carry out the investigation to establish the facts, thoughts and prayers are sent to the families of victims. 

References

http://www.smh.com.au/world/malaysia-airlines-flight-mh17-shot-down-over-ukraine-295-dead-27-australians-on-board-20140718-zu9p2.html

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-18/malaysia-airlines-passenger-plane-crashes-in-ukraine/5606004

https://au.tv.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/watch/24490418/perpetrators-will-be-brought-to-justice-malaysia-pm/

http://www.smh.com.au/world/malaysia-airlines-flight-mh17-shot-down-over-ukraine-near-russian-border-20140718-3c4nl.html