This is summary from times magazine 2007 (title is my own as i forget the article one)
Part of the article:
- talks about china investing in other resource rich country like Africa etc.
- not likely to go to war cos its economy good.. war will destroy it. but china is investing a lot in military. 300 percent more over the years.
- US do not have leverage in China like they did in Soviet Union. China has a lot of US currencies and that Soviet Union are starve for US funds.
- china do not like other country to interfere with its domestic issues. because of this, china in turn did not interfere with countries that they are dealing with. eg china loan 2billion to zimbabwe's mugabe that others say are violating human rights issue.
- as a powerful country with big influence in the world, currently china give no clear indication that they will support major issue in the world but one indication is clear is that China make decision to protect its interest (china is a nation starving for natural resources). eg: china support the sanction in north korea due to the nuclear test over there. this is because they find that north korea is a threat more than to support the UN. then later china object the sanction in iran because china invest US18billion there. while Zimbabwe's Mugabe is late in giving back loan to UN, China did not hesitate to loan them 2billion. other countries question china action in zimbabwe.
- China is also slow in combating intellectual property rights. US make a report to WTO that China is violating the intellectual property law. China take some action against the ppl that sell pirated cd for few days but are not strict to them. Instead of the ppl selling pirated cd reduce, they increase. For 60 cent u can buy a cd and due to intense competition each vendors earn abt 13 cent only.
Showing posts with label World news (summary). Show all posts
Showing posts with label World news (summary). Show all posts
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
BRAZIL:Big nation but low level of education
This is a summary from Times magazine 2007 (the title is different as i forget wat the article title)
- 5th largest nation in the world
- but very low level of educated ppl.
- half of 15 years old fail in simple maths, 74% students do not understand detail text reading, a quarter to third could not read simple sentence.
- biz choose to offer lessons cos they realize that gov do not invest in education. eg: a company decide to teach some lesson after work cos some worker could not read the simple warning in some machinery.
- Brazil economy grew 2.6% per year from 2000 - 2005. less than half of Russia, South Korea and India. less than a third of china. clearly something is wrong.
- the president realize that this and pledge to improve the education level. but right now there is progress are yet to be seen.
- 5th largest nation in the world
- but very low level of educated ppl.
- half of 15 years old fail in simple maths, 74% students do not understand detail text reading, a quarter to third could not read simple sentence.
- biz choose to offer lessons cos they realize that gov do not invest in education. eg: a company decide to teach some lesson after work cos some worker could not read the simple warning in some machinery.
- Brazil economy grew 2.6% per year from 2000 - 2005. less than half of Russia, South Korea and India. less than a third of china. clearly something is wrong.
- the president realize that this and pledge to improve the education level. but right now there is progress are yet to be seen.
ZIMBABWE:Land of Chains and hunger - eyewitness account of zimbabwe
Summary from times magazine 23.4.2007
- author wanted to report on the bad policies that have turn Zimbabwe into one of the poorest countries and most repressive countries in the world.
- thousands of Zimbabweans travel to gold minining region of Matabelaland as the economy collapse. He saw thousands are dying while thousands others survive by trapping animals, bare handed minings.
- during the 1980s Zimbabwe was 2nd largest economy in Southern Africa - millions of tourist come visit the hippos, lions and awesome Victoria Falls drama. they also give best education and health care.
- However over 2 decades Mugabe's single protection of his power devastated the economy and turn the country into a police state. Unemployment are 80% and living standard are back to the 1953 levels. Average life expectancy of woman is 34 years old while man is 37 years old. Inflation stands at 1792.9% in February and expert predict is will be 3700% by end of year. this means that a single brick now cost more that a 3 bedroom house with a swimming pool in 1990.
- Previously the opposition party are active but now no more. Once Mugabe won the election he destroy the opposition party. there is violence like shooting and imprisonment. ppls are encourage to "disturb" those who support the opposition party tat live in the city. eventually many active members fled. now the opposition are weak and no one dare oppose mugabe.
- author wanted to report on the bad policies that have turn Zimbabwe into one of the poorest countries and most repressive countries in the world.
- thousands of Zimbabweans travel to gold minining region of Matabelaland as the economy collapse. He saw thousands are dying while thousands others survive by trapping animals, bare handed minings.
- during the 1980s Zimbabwe was 2nd largest economy in Southern Africa - millions of tourist come visit the hippos, lions and awesome Victoria Falls drama. they also give best education and health care.
- However over 2 decades Mugabe's single protection of his power devastated the economy and turn the country into a police state. Unemployment are 80% and living standard are back to the 1953 levels. Average life expectancy of woman is 34 years old while man is 37 years old. Inflation stands at 1792.9% in February and expert predict is will be 3700% by end of year. this means that a single brick now cost more that a 3 bedroom house with a swimming pool in 1990.
- Previously the opposition party are active but now no more. Once Mugabe won the election he destroy the opposition party. there is violence like shooting and imprisonment. ppls are encourage to "disturb" those who support the opposition party tat live in the city. eventually many active members fled. now the opposition are weak and no one dare oppose mugabe.
US: Broken down - what the war in Iraq has done to the US army and how to fix it
Below are summary from Times magazine 23.4.2007
US problem
- US rush army to iraq without giving them proper training. 2 out of 5 they go thru 9 weeks basic training, additional preparation in infantry tactics. they skip the 4 weeks iraq pre training - a taste of what troops will face in combat and instead replace by 10 days of weapon, first aid and Iraqi culture. as a result many soldiers are dying thou US insist that they have adequate training and that they can get the aditional training in Iraq.
- The budget 4 defense reflect the times of cold war. US spend more on air force and navy but very little in the army (25%). as a result they are underfunded and many machinery are very old. soldiers are poorly equip. when word got out that they are poorly equip, they had a harder time recruiting. eg:many transport division die when delivering because many are poorly equip. previously US do not see why the transport division have to equip themselves. as a result the understaff army and poorly equip army has a harder time hiring.
- further they dont have enough troops and they lower standard when recruit soldiers. Recruiters face challenge as they try to permanently add 65k of troops. they lower standard by hiring felony and drop outs.
Overall the US army are not suitable for long war. When they invade Iraq they thought that they have to remain there till election of new prime minister in Iraq. however they are mistaken.
How to fix
- reallocate budget by redirecting the funds from air force and navy to the army.
- increase budget for defense could restore army's health. Instead of a 3.8% allocation, a 4% out of GDP is better estimate. sometimes budget are only 3% between 1999-2001.
- emphasize diplomacy and not war
US problem
- US rush army to iraq without giving them proper training. 2 out of 5 they go thru 9 weeks basic training, additional preparation in infantry tactics. they skip the 4 weeks iraq pre training - a taste of what troops will face in combat and instead replace by 10 days of weapon, first aid and Iraqi culture. as a result many soldiers are dying thou US insist that they have adequate training and that they can get the aditional training in Iraq.
- The budget 4 defense reflect the times of cold war. US spend more on air force and navy but very little in the army (25%). as a result they are underfunded and many machinery are very old. soldiers are poorly equip. when word got out that they are poorly equip, they had a harder time recruiting. eg:many transport division die when delivering because many are poorly equip. previously US do not see why the transport division have to equip themselves. as a result the understaff army and poorly equip army has a harder time hiring.
- further they dont have enough troops and they lower standard when recruit soldiers. Recruiters face challenge as they try to permanently add 65k of troops. they lower standard by hiring felony and drop outs.
Overall the US army are not suitable for long war. When they invade Iraq they thought that they have to remain there till election of new prime minister in Iraq. however they are mistaken.
How to fix
- reallocate budget by redirecting the funds from air force and navy to the army.
- increase budget for defense could restore army's health. Instead of a 3.8% allocation, a 4% out of GDP is better estimate. sometimes budget are only 3% between 1999-2001.
- emphasize diplomacy and not war
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