Syrians stage mass anti-US rally

I thought this article was interesting, becaise growing up in America you think, "this is the best place to live" and "everyone wants to live here". Of course over the years I have learned how un true that is, however I still get a little bit of a shock when I see anti-US articles.

Thousands of people have held a peaceful demonstration in Damascus against an alleged US raid on a village that Syria says killed eight people.
Riot police armed with batons and shields surrounded the US embassy in Damascus, which closed due to what it said were increased security concerns.
The US state department and the White House have refused to confirm, deny or comment on the alleged attack.
The Syrian government has demanded an apology from Washington.
It also threatened to cut off co-operation on Iraqi border security if the US carried out any more raids on Syrian territory.
Unnamed US officials said the target of the attack was the leader of a network with links to al-Qaeda, smuggling foreign fighters into Iraq.
Damascus said it was doing all it could to stem any traffic of foreign fighters across the long and porous border.
Iraq said it would share the results of its own investigation into the raid near Abu Kamal, some eight kilometres (five miles) north of Iraq's border with Syria.
Victims' anger
Thousands of people took to the streets of Damascus, waving flags and carrying banners reading "No to American terrorism" and "America the sponsor of destruction and wars".
The protesters, including many civil servants and students, also waved pictures of the Syrian president, as they converged on the central Youssef al-Azmi square.

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BBC correspondent Paul Wood at the scene of the alleged US air assault
Security was tight ahead of the march, with riot police cordoning off the US embassy and an adjacent US residence building.
The embassy announced it would close on Thursday "due to past demonstrations which resulted in violence and significant damage to US facilities and other embassies".
It also said a US school would close temporarily and warned US citizens to avoid the area.

Fury sweeps Syria over raid
Profile: Abu Ghadiya
Five of those killed in the raid on Sunday were from the same family, and the BBC's Paul Wood spoke to the woman who lost her husband and four sons at the scene of the raid.
She was being treated in a Syrian hospital for injuries she said she received during the attack.
"I went outside to get my son and the Americans shot me," she said. "I was screaming in terror."
She said all the men were working on the house that was in the compound where the Americans landed, and denied any link between them and al-Qaeda.
Our correspondent says although there were Syrian officials present and those interviewed were most likely following the official line, their underlying anger seemed genuine.
'Totally unjustified'
But unnamed US officials have said it killed Iraqi Abu Ghadiya, a former lieutenant of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaeda in Iraq leader who was killed in 2006.
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The US blamed him for bringing thousands of fighters across the border.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem denied the US claims, calling them "totally unjustified".
He branded the attack a "war crime attempt" and said it had claimed the lives of civilians.
Iraq has also condemned the unconfirmed helicopter strikes.
"The Iraqi government rejects the US helicopter strike on Syrian territory, considering that Iraq's constitution does not allow its land to be a base for launching attacks on neighbouring countries," government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said on Tuesday.
But he urged Damascus to prevent groups using Syrian territory for "training and sending terrorists for attacks on Iraq and its people".
If confirmed, Sunday's strike would be the first US attack in Syria since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

over 36-month prison sentences passed on three journalists

Often we as Americans forget just how cozy we have things. We forget the ransoms that were paid to ensure our freedom. Although the freedom of speech may insinuate that it is free we must remember that a price must always be paid. October 29, 2008, Syria- Three journalists were sentenced to server 36-months in prison and charged with “publishing false information with the aim of harming the state, and being members of a secret organization designed to destabilize the state and inciting ethnic and racial tension”.
I find it interesting how easy it is for the “free world” to sit back and watch as world citizens have their voices snatched away. This is a prime example of how the luxuries we have in the U.S is paled by our blatant nonchalant attitude towards those who are fighting the same fight we fought more then 232 years ago. When it comes to freedom there is no middle ground you either are for it or not, if you do nothing then you are not for freedom. I challenge everyone who reads this to take a second to really count your comforts. Thank you for reading and have an insightful day.
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=29121

Hey everyone it's Sarah. I'm a lead blogger this week. I found this story on the BBC world website and I thought it was pretty interesting because blogging is definitely one of the major topics in journalism right now.

News blogger detained in Nigeria

A US-based Nigerian news blogger is being held without charge by Nigeria's secret service.

Jonathan Elendu was taken into custody on Saturday when he arrived in the capital, Abuja, on a family visit.

The State Security Service (SSS) has refused to allow his lawyers access to him and denied him a medical visit.

Elendureports.com is one of a number of diaspora-run "citizen reporting" websites about Nigeria and is known for publishing controversial stories.

According to Nigerian law anyone arrested must be charged in court within 48 hours, but correspondents say the rule is frequently broken.

The SSS told Mr Elendu's lawyer that Mr Elendu had not been "arrested", but "invited" for talks at their headquarters.

An SSS spokesman said he was being investigated for "acts of sedition", but refused to give details.

Spokesman Kene Chukwu also told the BBC that Mr Elendu's detention had followed legal rules.

"I am telling you all the legal rules were followed, and you have to accept it," Mr Chukwu said.

Mr Elendu's lawyer says he has not spoken to his client since his arrest.

"They have not pressed any charges and have not allowed anyone to see him," said Ugo Muoma.

He said he was filing papers in court to force the SSS to charge or release Mr Elendu.

Elendureports.com operates from Lansing in Michigan and publishes often controversial stories about Nigerian politicians, accusing some of them of corruption and other crimes.

Their stories are often based on anonymous sources.

President's son

Another US-based Nigerian news website, Saharareporters.com, quotes anonymous sources as saying Mr Elendu may have been arrested because of photographs it published a few months ago showing President Umaru Yar'Adua's son.

The Saharareporters.com pictures, which caused a stir in the local media at the time, showed 13-year-old Musa Yar'Adua waving wads of money around and holding a policeman's gun.

But Saharareporters.com says Mr Elendu is not a member of their staff and has nothing to do with the photographs.

International media rights groups Reporters Without Borders has called for Mr Elendu's release.

"There haven't been many really controversial stories about the president on Elendureports.com in the last few months," said Mr Muoma.

During the election campaign in 2007, Elendureports.com claimed that Mr Yar'Adua had died during a medical trip to Germany.

Two foreign journalists have been detained and deported by the SSS for reporting in the politically sensitive oil-rich Niger Delta region over the last few months.

In September, six local reporters and media executives were detained and questioned after a television channel reported, after receiving a hoax e-mail, that the president planned to resign.

Journalists killed in Croatia

Shocking news came from Croatia today - one of the most prominent journalists in South-Eastern Europe Ivo Pukanic and his collegue were killed in the bomb blast in front of their weekly newspaper Nacional. This is the first killing of journalist since Croatia gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. The country is candidate for European Union, and is considered the most developed non-EU-member country in the region.

BBC / Croatia blast 'kills media pair'

A car bomb in the Croatian capital Zagreb has killed two journalists, including the owner of a leading weekly newspaper, reports say.

Ivo Pukanic, co-owner of the Nacional weekly, was killed with another employee in the blast outside the newspaper's premises, state TV said.

The explosion occurred in the centre of the capital at about 1820 (1620 GMT), the reports said.

Zagreb has been gripped by a wave of violence this year.

"This is a shock, a disaster .... The police and all of us have to do everything to stop this violence," government spokesman Zlatko Mehun told Reuters news agency.

Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader sacked his interior and justice ministers, as well as the head of the national police, earlier this month in response to the spiralling crime rates across the country.

His move came amid fears that rising violence could threaten Croatia's success during EU accession talks next year, correspondents say.

Croatia hopes to complete negotiations for entry in 2009 and to become the 28th EU member in 2011.

A crucial European Commission progress report is due to be released next month.

Afghan aid workers undeterred

I really enjoyed reading Three Cups of Tea and I keep running into these articles that correlate so well with the book. As you know the book ended with Greg planning to build a school in Afghan, we also read in the earlier chapters how the more militant muslims payed close attention to Greg to make sure he wasnt forcing Christianity on the children or people in general. This article gives the raw truth of what happens when Afghans suspect that you are teaching Christianity.

Eleanor Weber-Ballard, 25, works for the Danish Committee for Aid to Afghan Refugees (Dacaar) and has been in Afghanistan for three months.
She said: "I think it's easy to lull yourself into a false sense of security because although you're aware of incidents that happen - there's not a huge sense of danger in the Afghan capital.
But Kabul is a fascinating place to work and the Afghan people are friendly and appreciative - that's the draw.
What happened to Gayle Williams brings home the dangers of working here
Eleanor Weber-Ballard
Aid workers under threat
Everybody knows that security restrictions are in place for a good reason but that doesn't stop you getting frustrated.
What happened to Gayle Williams on Monday brings home the dangers of working here and that has a huge impact on how you view the situation.
You start asking questions - 'Where exactly am I going? Is this journey really necessary?'
Some of the places aid workers often go to - restaurants, for example - are packed with other foreigners and you start thinking that these places might be a target.
The security restrictions frustrate people in different ways. I find it difficult that you have to be driven around in a vehicle - and you can't interact with the local population as much as you'd like to.
I came to Afghanistan wanting to experience the country at first hand, particularly with the elections coming next year.
It's tough here sometimes, but I think the rewards outweigh the risks and I'm determined to stay."
ANDY MILLER
Andy Miller, 34, who works for the Aga Khan Foundation, arrived in Afghanistan 18 months ago.
He said: "Daily life is very different in Kabul from Western countries. Most foreigners live in a compound. Everything here takes a bit longer and requires a bit more patience.
In the last six months, the deteriorating security in the provinces close to Kabul has become noticeable.
I perhaps do things differently now because of that. Before the summer, I would have been about a bit more - or walked around the city. But we have quite tight restrictions on movements anyway.
This latest killing has shown how dangerous it can be working here
Andy Miller
Sometimes I get frustrated but you have to have stamina for a place like this - you can't be easily upset or disturbed.
In Kabul the security seems to come and go - sometimes I feel perfectly safe but this, of course, is when you're most at risk by letting down your guard. But in recent months, I've wondered what the real undercurrent of the security situation really is here.
There are lots of incidents that happen that never make the press. This latest killing, however, I think has shown how dangerous it can be working here.
I think it's the sort of the incident that if you're wavering about coming to Kabul in the first place it might possibly change your mind.
But personally I always think that these are the sorts of the risks that you take when you believe in a place.
I've been gripped by Afghanistan's culture and the history for a long time and want to use my skills to help this country."

India, Pakistan open historic Kashmir trade route

I thought this was a perfect post- discussion article of Three Cups of Tea today. Its explaining the exchange of goods between the Pakistani and Indian people. Due to the help of Three Cups of Tea we have a deeper understanding of their conflict which makes this article all the more interesting.


The longtime rivals exchanged goods across the divided territory for the first time in 60 years.

By Mian Ridge Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor
from the October 22, 2008 edition
New Delhi - Trucks piled high with containers of apples, nuts, and honey became symbols of the slow-moving peace process between India and Pakistan when an old trade route across Kashmir reopened Tuesday after 60 years.
The reopening of the route, which runs across the Line of Control (LoC) that divides the Himalayan region, is one of several "confidence-building measures" agreed on as part of a peace pact made by the two nuclear-armed neighbors in 2004.
But passing as it does through hotly disputed Kashmir, the reopening of this route is especially potent. Kashmir, which both countries rule in part but claim in full, constitutes the core of the disagreement between India and Pakistan that has sparked three wars since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947.
The timing of the road's reopening heightens its significance, after months of growing antagonism between India and Pakistan.
Earlier this year, India accused Pakistan of allowing militants to sneak across the border. Terrorist bomb attacks in India, and on the Indian Embassy in Kabul – which India explicitly blamed on Pakistan – have further shaken the peace process.
Indian-administered Kashmir, meanwhile, has in recent months seen the biggest pro-independence demonstrations since a violent separatist insurgency broke out in 1989 and killed tens of thousands of people. Since 2004, and the advent of peace talks, the region had experienced relative calm.
But a government plan to transfer a plot of land in Muslim-majority Kashmir to a Hindu group, later rescinded, unleashed new calls for independence – and violent protests – in the summer.
"This is a very substantive move, very much to be welcomed," says Maj. Gen. Ashok Mehta, a retired military officer and now security analyst in New Delhi. "In fact I would describe it as almost a breakthrough. It's especially welcome on India's side after three months of tension in the Kashmir Valley and in Jammu.
From an economic point of view, too, the reopening of the trade route – one of the few big, all-weather roads in a region that is heavily snowed upon in the winter – is momentous. It is believed that without restrictions, cross-border trade could reach $6 billion a year.
Currently, only 21 approved items can be moved along the trade route, one day a week. "But it could expand to other areas, like tourism," says General Mehta.
Indian Kashmir's Governor Narendra Nath Vohra described Tuesday as "a historic day which will surely help the economy of both parts of Kashmir," adding that he hoped "it will herald peace in the region."
Across the border, Pakistani Kashmir’s prime minister, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, said he was confident “that this beginning will lead us to proper and regular trade and commerce,” but warned it was unlikely to lead to a quick resolution of the dispute.
Another historic step in Kashmir three years ago – the opening of a bus service between the two sides – has since petered out.
In the short term, India in particular hopes that the road’s new life will bring calm to its portion of Kashmir. Over the weekend, it announced that staggered state elections – always a security concern here – would kick off in November.
Indeed, though the demand of many Kashmiri Muslims for independence from India remains unanswered, some have been placated, somewhat, by Tuesday's move. Earlier this year, Hindu groups protesting the government's decision to renege on the land transfer blocked the main highway from the Kashmir Valley to north India. Back then, Kashmiri salesmen demanded they be allowed to sell their produce to Pakistan-administered Kashmir. On Tuesday, that demand was met.
Television footage showed hundreds of people gathered at both sides of the heavily militarized border to cheer on the departing trucks. On the Indian side of the border, the vehicles were decorated with banners reading: "Long live trade across the two sides."
On the Pakistani side, schoolchildren chanted, "Long live Pakistan" and "Kashmir will become a part of Pakistan" – a reminder that Tuesday's move was only a tiny step forward in a long-running and complex dispute.
For truck drivers, fruit salesmen, and apple farmers, however, the reopening of the road was a simple cause for rejoicing. "I was 12 years old when I last saw baskets of fruits being packed to be sent to Rawalpindi [a town in Pakistan]," Haji Abdul Ahad Bhat, an apple farmer from the Indian side, told the Associated Press.

CNN Broadcasts from UAE

IT'S BLAKE O'NEAL, I'M THE LEAD BLOGGER FOR THIS WEEK. I FOUND THIS ARTICLE WHILE LOOKING THROUGH RECENT NEWS HEADLINES FOR MY COMPANY TIME WARNER INC. FOR DR. PITT'S COM430 CLASS. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE INTERESTING CONSIDERING WE WERE JUST GOING OVER THE MIDDLE EAST AND DISCUSSING THE UAE IN CLASS.

CNN Announces Live Daily Broadcasts from United Arab Emirates
October 12, 2008

CNN International plans to start broadcasting live daily programming from its new broadcast center in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates in a landmark move that signals the global network's significantly expanded commitment to the Middle East. The as-yet-titled CNN International program marks CNN's first regularly scheduled program from the region.

The development is part of ongoing plans for CNN's new broadcast and production center set to open in the Abu Dhabi Media Zone in early 2009. In addition to the daily, local prime-time newscast, the new production center will provide the infrastructure for expanded newsgathering activities throughout the region. The center enhances CNN's existing presence in the region which currently comprises news operations in Amman, Jordan; Baghdad, Iraq; Beirut, Lebanon; Cairo; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Jerusalem and is part of the company's ongoing newsgathering expansion which over this year has seen more than 50 additional staff and more newsgathering operations in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

CNN's Abu Dhabi operation complements the network's ongoing presence in Dubai as well as existing international broadcast facilities in London, Hong Kong and Mexico City and U.S. production centers in Atlanta, Washington, D.C., New York and Los Angeles.

"Our UAE expansion is one of our boldest editorial undertakings of recent years and one that builds on our existing newsgathering heritage in the region,"said Tony Maddox, managing director for CNN International. "For a global news organization, the Middle East was the logical choice for an investment of this scale. Our new operation in Abu Dhabi will enable us to continue to meet and exceed the demands of our audiences at a time when many of our competitors are having to retrench.”

The expansion cements CNN's desire for a broad presence in the United Arab Emirates at a time when the Middle East is making headlines in the political, business and cultural arenas.

"With a successful long standing operation in Dubai, the natural next step is to have a base in the capital city,"Maddox said. "We have long covered the Middle East region comprehensively on our air, and now we will have the on-the-ground infrastructure to serve, support and facilitate that coverage to the next level through these complementary operations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This groundbreaking initiative allows us to put news from the Middle East right at the heart of our output in a proper reflection of the role the region is playing on the world stage and is a significant plank in our ongoing newsgathering expansion.” -more-

In addition to the launch of live daily news programming, CNN will also move the production of its popular Middle East-focused feature programs Inside the Middle East and Marketplace Middle East to the new center.

The new CNN hub will be a custom-built news center overseen by the newly created role of managing editor CNN Abu Dhabi. The operation will house approximately 30 staff including a new CNN International anchor and programming, production and newsgathering staff who will play a key role in increasing CNN's coverage of the Persian Gulf region and the wider Middle East for all of CNN Worldwide's networks.

The new production center in Abu Dhabi marks another significant step in CNN's content ownership strategy launched at the end of last year. This has seen the network invest heavily in new news operations around the world as part of its commitment to producing premium news content for its audiences across CNN's many platforms and services.

In November 2007, CNN announced the hiring of an additional 50 staff including 12 new correspondent positions. CNN also announced plans to open new editorial operations in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Santiago, Chile.

Rebels absent as Sudan holds Darfur peace meeting

I thought this article was interesting beacause I dont hear too many people talking about Darfur and its bloody civil war anymore. I thought this article would be a good update.


By MOHAMED OSMAN
updated 4:58 p.m. CT, Thurs., Oct. 16, 2008
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KHARTOUM, Sudan - Sudan's president opened a conference on the Darfur conflict Thursday with a call for a national vision for peace in the desert region, but his rebel foes stayed away, dismissing the meeting as a sham.
Rebel groups in the western Sudanese region said the three-day forum was only an attempt by President Omar al-Bashir to avoid prosecution by an international court where judges are considering a request to seek his arrest.
Up to 300,000 people have been killed and more than 2.5 million chased from their homes since ethnic African groups rebelled against the Arab-dominated national government early in 2003.
The chief prosecutor at the Netherlands-based International Criminal Court accused al-Bashir in July of orchestrating genocide in Darfur. Judges said Thursday they had given the prosecutor a month to provide more evidence before they decide on his request for an arrest warrant.
The meeting convened by al-Bashir brought together delegates from a dozen political parties and civic groups in Sudan. Representatives of the African Union as well as some of al-Bashir's foreign supporters, including Egypt, Libya and Qatar, attended the opening session.
Sudan's government said rebel groups were invited, too, but none showed up.
One group, the Justice and Equality Movement, called the forum a "desperate attempt" to garner support for al-Bashir, the first sitting head of state to face genocide charges at the international court. Another, the Sudan Liberation Movement-Unity, also said the initiative was just an attempt to "circumvent" justice.
Al-Bashir's government has been lobbying regional groups to support a U.N. Security Council motion to freeze the prosecution. There is no clear consensus within the world body on how to proceed.
Al-Bashir promised the gathering to bring back peace, set up fair and just trials, and commit $250 million for development in the region in the coming year.
"We insist on reaching a final solution this time, based on the initiative and a broad national consensus aiming for a just and comprehensive and permanent solution," al-Bashir said.
Alberto Fernandez, the U.S. charge d'affaires in Sudan, who attended, expressed hope the forum is a genuine search for change.
"If it is a true process, if this is the beginning of a true change, a substantive change in the way Darfur has been handled, then it will be supported by people. People will join, people will be eager to become part of it," he told reporters. "But there is a problem. The government lacks credibility because of the last five years. There is doubt in the minds of many people."
___
Associated Press writer Sarah El Deeb contributed to this report.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Dailymotion

dailymotion.com is a video site much like YouTube. Apparently, Dailymotion is becoming more and more popular in Europe and is attracting world-wide viewers more and more everyday. A friend had told me about Dailymotion about a month ago, but I never bothered to check it out. I finally, tonight, and probably because I thought I could blog about it here, went to see what it had to offer. 

I searched videos for bands that I like, because that's what I usually do on YouTube, and most of them were comparable to what YouTube had, however, Dailymotion, a France based site, didn't have anywhere near the videos of lesser known bands from America. A band I've been interested in lately, The Avett Brothers, a North Carolina folk/punkish (I know, sounds ridiculous, but its awesome) duo, had only one video show up. YouTube had over 7 pages of 20 videos when I typed in "Avett Brothers". That one show on Dailymotion was a concert in Glasgow, Scotland, which made me go back and look at some of the more popular bands I had searched earlier. I found that Dailymotion did offer some live video from European shows that would have probably taken a while to find on YouTube. 

I suppose if you are a die hard fan of any band or artist, who exhausts YouTube footage, Dailymotion does have some videos you haven't seen, but Dailymotion's growing popularity probably won't really catch on in America soon. 

Music is the only thing I explored on Dailymotion, but I would encourage everyone to visit it and see how it compares to the places you go to online and the things that interest you.

Bangladesh

I found this article about a reporter in Bangladesh while I was thinking about countries to use for our final paper. Bangladesh has been under an "emergency state" government for over a year now, and the government has significant control, or at least interference, of the media there. 

Bangladesh borders Burma, which has been mentioned in class as well as Global Media Musing, and when Bangladesh was originally created, it was known as "East Pakistan", and this is a region of the world we have spent some time reading about.

Hopefully no one else was planning on using Bangladesh for their topic, but, regardless, I thought this article and the current situation in Bangladesh was relevant to our class. 

Probe on Bangladesh media torture sought 

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 15:13:00 10/11/2008

DHAKA -- An international media watchdog called on Bangladesh's emergency government Saturday to investigate the alleged torture of a newspaper editor by elite security forces.

International press freedom group Reporters Without Borders said Noor Ahmed of the daily Sylhet Protidin was tortured several times by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) while held in custody last year.

The global media group said he was "beaten with a stick from his knees to his feet and was questioned about his implication in a case of extortion and beaten each time he denied it."

Ahmed, released on bail in September 2007, told a local rights group, which first carried out an investigation into the alleged torture, that he was targeted because he was investigating alleged illegal activities by the RAB and allegations that the police chief of the northeastern city of Sylhet was taking bribes.

"RAB agents several times demanded the closure of the paper and threatened to harm Noor, while still in prison, unless he shut it down," Reporters Without Borders said.

"After a night of physical and mental torture, he signed a paper which he was unable to read. While he was in prison, RAB officers threatened to imprison him again if he returned to journalism on his release," the group said.

"It is appalling that local officials, including those responsible for law and order, can attack journalists with complete impunity," Reporters Without Borders said, demanding punishment for the perpetrators.

Established in 2004, the elite RAB is Bangladesh's top security force, formed by the country's last elected government to combat specialized crime, Islamic militants and Maoist rebels.

But rights groups have accused the force of 500 extrajudicial killings.

Bangladesh's emergency government came to power in January last year and launched a nationwide crackdown on corruption, nabbing scores of high-profile political figures.

A number of journalists have been tortured and a television channel shut down for breaking the emergency laws and being critical of the government.

Article found on Inquirer.net

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20081011-165906/Probe-on-Bangladesh-media-torture-sought

The World Market

Hello all. I realized that when I was lead blogger a couple weeks ago, I posted an article that had already been posted on a previous page! So here is a new one from Al-Jazeera's website that is quite relevant. As the stock market dipped again yesterday (the second worst dip behind the 777-point drop), I always wonder what we are doing to the markets in other countries. Well, it appears that we are definitely effecting them. Essentially all markets over the world are experiencing drop-offs, whether big or small. Tokyo had their largest loss in two decades, while some European markets suffered only slightly. It's just interesting to see the true interaction of global media as sometimes we close ourselves off to how we are affecting and being affected by the world. I talked to my friend in China, and she said that the Chinese people are following the stock market and presidential race so closely that it is like it is happening in their country! But while all the markets are dipping, so are oil prices, which have reach a new 13-month low at $73.26 a barrel.

Markets jittery amid recession fear

Business

Global stock markets have seen mixed trading, with Wall Street jittery while European markets fell for a second day running and Tokyo suffered its worst loss in two decades. The falls in Asia and Europe on Thursday were considered to be a reaction to the record plunge on Wall Street a day earlier and fears of a global recession. US stocks rose marginally in the first half hour of trading, with the Dow Jones index up 1.25 per cent to 8,685.12. "Make no mistake though the overriding fear here is of a recession in the US spilling over to the rest of the world," John Terrett, Al Jazeera’s correspondent at the New York stock exchange, said. Terrett said that inflation figures released today - with the cumsumer price index remaining stable at 0.1 for September and August - meant that confidence was boosted pre-opening. "That's the first time that [inflation has remained stable] in more than two years. "It was because airline tickets are coming down in price, the price of automobiles are coming down, and fuel coming down as well." Europe's main stock markets fell heavily at the start of trading, with London and Frankfurt down five per cent. EU mandate There were concerns in Europe, where leaders have pushed for a co-ordinarted overhaul of the global financial system. Speaking at a two day summit in Brussels, Sarkozy said: "We do not have the right to miss this opportunity for reconstructing our system of finance for the 21st century." At the summit French President Nicolas Sarkozy was given a mandate by 27 Euro leaders to propose the overhaul to President George Bush at a meeting at Camp David on Saturday. Sarkozy said that a proposal to revamp the International Monetary Fund, big bonuses and currency reforms, as a precursor to an international summit in November. European state assistance was handed out on Thursday when the Swiss government announced that it would take a near 10 per cent stake - worth $5.2bn - in UBS, the Swiss banking giant. The Swiss central bank also lent UBS $54bn to transfer its non-liquid assets into a separate fund. The Swiss bank is looking to bolster its funds in the wake of the global economic crisis. Tens of millions of deposits have been withdrawn from the bank over the past weeks amid fears over the bank's stability. By midday (1047 GMT) the FTSEurofirst 300 index of the top European shares was down 2.6 per cent at 879.96. Markets down Gulf stock markets also fell at the start of trading on Thursday, led by the Dubai Financial Market, which dropped more than six per cent. Hong Kong share prices closed 4.8 per cent lower while share prices in South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and New Zealand were also sharply lower. Tokyo's Nikkei stock index plunged 11.41 per cent by the close of trading, the biggest loss in two decades. Japan's benchmark index has lost more than 23 per cent this month. Taro Aso, the Japanese prime minister, put the losses down to the "insufficient" US bank bailout, a $700bn plan to secure American financial institutions. Aso told parliament that "since it [the bailout] was insufficient, the market is again falling sharply", reflecting investors' sentiment that the government intervention may not be enough to stave off recessions across the globe. Though financial rescue packages around the world have helped alleviate the pressures on the banking system, they will do nothing to prevent a serious economic slowdown. Concerns about the global economic outlook are clear also in the price of oil, which has fallen another $1.28 to $73.26, a new 13-month low.

GLOBAL HUNGER

I found this article interesting just because when we talk about the world globally there needs to be the mention and/ or conversation of starvation that many third-world countries experience. It was interesting to read what America is doing sepcifically to help out. Do you think we could be doing more?

Center opens in NYC to fight global hunger
By DEEPTI HAJELA Associated Press Writer
October 15, 2008
NEW YORK - Not just education, but inspiration. The people behind a new institution opening in lower Manhattan hope visitors to the Action Center to End World Hunger will come away not only knowing more, but doing more. The center, a project of international aid organization Mercy Corps, opens Thursday _ World Food Day _ across the street from the Irish Hunger Memorial. The multimedia, interactive facility designed by Edwin Schlossberg tries to connect people to the hunger relief work being done around the world and offers a variety of ways to get involved. It features a video narrated by "30 Rock" and "Saturday Night Live" star Tina Fey.
"This is a place to turn people on to becoming a part of this," Schlossberg said. "What we're about is OK, so what are you going to be doing for hunger, now?" George Devendorf of Mercy Corps said one goal is to "get someone who hasn't previously taken an action to take one." That, he says, could "be a catalyst in their own life." Devendorf said the idea started at the Battery Park City Authority, which was looking for a complement to the hunger memorial in that neighborhood. The memeorial commemorates the famine that led to millions starving and brought hundreds of thousands of Irish to New York. Mercy Corps, based in Portland, Ore., sees the center as a way of helping Americans change the way they see the world, and getting them more connected to global issues, Devendorf said. "We're not going to be successful in achieving the kind of lasting change we want unless we open up a second front in that struggle, and that second front is here at home," he said. "It's influencing Americans and building a constituency of citizens who understand what some of these root causes are that animate hunger and poverty and have a clear understanding of some of the steps they can take." It's a message that he thinks Americans are more receptive to hearing, given rising food prices and the financial crisis. The center opens with a briefing room. "Each night, almost one billion people around the world go to bed hungry," Fey says in the video shown there. "Yet hunger itself is a symptom of wide problems faced by communities in every country _ problems being greatly exacerbated by the current food crisis both in the U.S. and around the world. "The Action Center will illuminate how hunger is not the problem, but the symptom of many root causes, such as poor agricultural practices, human rights abuses, and the impacts of climate change. By identifying and highlighting these underlying causes, the Action Center will seek to generate the public resolve necessary to create lasting change." Four "training towers" focus on issues related to hunger like land use or governance, and show how those issues are dealt with in a specific country. Other screens show Mercy Corps workers around the world, giving accounts of their work. An action center allows visitors to see what they can do, depending on what amount of time they want to give _ from one minute to one day to one lifetime. Actions can range from sending letters to elected officials to volunteering. The center is hosting a number of events to mark the opening, including a panel discussion and a comedy show. ___ On the Net: Action Center to End World Hunger: http://www.actioncenter.org

Barbecued Kittens

While the media is making more of an effort to include news about other countries, often times these "news" stories are ridiculous factoids that inspire xenophobia . How can Journalists make news that is platable for American masses (interesting) without making the developing world look savage? Is there a solution?

You don't have to be a cat lover to hate this
John Kass
October 15, 2008

Americans are busy hissing and scratching each other's eyes out over presidential politics. But there is one thing we can agree on—sending a few thousand U.S. troops into Peru to occupy the nation and stop Peruvians from eating all their cats.This villainous cat-munching takes place in the fall, when otherwise gentle and kindly Peruvians gather in the village of La Quebrada, just south of Lima, to gorge on felines. They eat fried cat and stewed cat and poached cat. Also, cats prepared with various savory local spices, such as Grilled Cat with Huacatay, the pungent and tasty Peruvian black mint.Americans have proved we'll accept almost anything if packaged and marketed properly. We've recently accepted socialism just to make Wall Street happy before an election. But if there's one thing we won't abide, it's a nation of cat-eaters.The terrible Peruvian cat-eating spree has a name: La Festival Gastronomico del Gato. Or for those of you who don't speak Spanish—the Gastronomic Festival of the Cat.

To find out more, we contacted Nilda Pariona, who works for the regional government. Sadly, she said the mayor of the village of the cat-eaters, Alcalde Javier Alvarado Gonzales, was unavailable. But recently, she answered an e-mail, which was then translated. Here it is:"With respect to questions relating to the Gastronomic Festival of the Cat, I can inform you that this traditional festival evolved in Canete, specifically in the La Quebrada district of San Luis. On Sept. 21 of every year, the inhabitants of the said zone celebrate this festival justly to celebrate the Fiesta de Santa Efigenia."They eat cat for tradition, but according to the townspeople, these are cats that come from special nurseries, they are not the cats that you'd frequently encounter in the streets. There exists a diversity of preparations: Cat Stew, Milanese of Cat, fried cat strips, grilled cat with Huacatay, among others. The most common is the cat stew. This year, they featured the dish Grilled Cat with Huacatay, but every year they present a different dish."The flavor is like the meat of a rabbit, and they say it's very delicious. I particularly have not had the opportunity to sample these plates, but I hope that next year I can try them. Perhaps you could visit us and have it in the next festival. That promises to be a grand gastronomic festival. It is a pleasure to chat with you. Kindest regards, Nilda."This news is most unfortunate because after reading "The Bridge of San Luis Rey," a tender novel of Peruvian kindness (although the monk who investigated the bridge collapse was burned as a witch), I've always wanted to visit Peru. But grilled cat with local mint is not on my menu. Besides, are cats fat enough for proper grilling?Legend has it that the cats are eaten in the hopes of promoting healthy lungs in the people. Various news reports suggest that the Gastronomic Festival of the Cat was born long ago, when slaves had little protein except cats to augment their meager diets.Either way, the Gastronomic Festival of the Cat now honors the town's patron saint, Saint Efigenia, and as they go about chopping their cats, the happy villagers are most likely unaware that the original Efigenia was the daughter of King Agamemnon, sacrificed by her father so favorable winds would carry his warships to the shores of Troy. Later, Efigenia's mother paid Agamemnon back by chopping him to bits in the bathtub on the day of his glorious return."There isn't much to justify our culture," Jamie Rojas, 49, a Peruvian education worker, was quoted as saying in a wire report. "We tried to rescue the dance, the food. It is like Spain with the running of the bulls—these are our roots and can't be forgotten."There are many questions too horrible to contemplate, such as: How did the Peruvians learn to herd their cats? Do they drive the fattened cat herds through town on the eve of the festival, as the villagers sing traditional cat-eating songs? And do they add fat when they grill the cats?Predictably, this horrible behavior has angered People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a group of animal lovers growing in strength in America, where people are still fat and haven't yet been reduced to eating their pets to survive."This is an easy one," PETA spokesman Bruce Freidich said over the phone. "Contrary to what some humans think, other animals are made up of flesh and bone, they have brains and they feel pain. Future generations are going to come to view a festival centered around the consumption of animals with the same horror that they viewed our atrocities during the witch trials."I didn't tell him that cats are often depicted as hanging out with witches, and unconfirmed reports from old wives suggest that cats can climb onto the chests of babies and suck out their immortal souls. When I was an infant, my grandmother's two black Persian cats jumped into my crib and put their mouths next to my lips. But they were apprehended before they finished me off.Cats are interesting and somewhat insolent, and though they would eat us if we were tiny creatures, we shouldn't return the favor. America, let's put aside our differences for once and stop the cat-eaters of Peru before another cat is mixed with Huacatay against its will.

Geographic Teams With Abu Dhabi To Make Movies

By Joel Garreau

Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, October 11, 2008; Page C01

National Geographic is entering a $100 million partnership with a media company owned by a Middle Eastern government. The deal is designed to at least double National Geographic's output of films for theatrical release.

The arrangement with Abu Dhabi Media is intended to fuel a revolving fund that would produce half a billion dollars' worth of films over the next five years. While this would hardly put National Geographic in the league of major Hollywood studios, it could make the society a significant indie producer of two or three films a year.

The impact on the economy of the District, where National Geographic is based, will probably not be large, says Tim T. Kelly, president of its global media division. Rather than spend a lot of money expanding headquarters staff, the plan is to "put money on the screen," funneling funds to filmmakers based all over the world, he says.

Reached yesterday at the opening of the Middle East International Film Festival in Abu Dhabi, where he reports the weather is comparable to Washington in July, Kelly says, "The objective for us and them is to tell great stories with substance -- stories that also entertain. You can make movies about superheroes, or movies about real life. We tend to be focused on the latter."

What Abu Dhabi Media sees in the deal, says Edward Borgerding, its CEO, is that National Geographic "is a global brand, admired and respected. It's a perfect partner for us. Kids like it, parents like it, grandparents like it. It's a hugely valuable asset. It cuts across all those demographics, is famous around the world, makes great movies, produces high-quality, respected content. It has a lot of the same values that Abu Dhabi has -- respect for the environment, and for other cultures."

The plan is to make movies for theatrical release, not television, Kelly says. He expects the 15 or so movies to be produced in the next five years to be a mix of documentary features, comparable to "March of the Penguins"; fact-based dramas, comparable to the upcoming television series based on "Undaunted Courage," the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition; and films for Imax-like giant screens, such as "Sea Monsters," which has grossed close to $30 million.

"Right now we're lucky to get one or two movies made a year, some years not any," Kelly says. "This will give us more range, and higher-priced projects. 'Sea Monsters' was about $12 million, and that was a big risk for us. With this fund, we'll be able to participate in films with budgets maybe $25 [million] to $30 million. We're an indie film company with a nice brand, and now some nice funding."

The National Geographic deal is not the first or the largest hookup between an American film company and foreign money. Steven Spielberg's DreamWorks recently agreed to a $1.5 billion joint venture with one of India's biggest entertainment conglomerates -- Reliance ADA Group.

Abu Dhabi is the oil-rich capital of the United Arab Emirates with grand ambitions to catch up with its neighbor Dubai in the competition for spectacular trophy high-rises, tourism and the fruits of global finance.

Abu Dhabi Media includes television and radio networks, newspapers, magazines and other properties, mostly in Arabic, according to Borgerding, who is an American. It employs 1,800, and its gross revenue exceeds $1 billion a year, he says. It is not publicly traded. He compares it to the BBC, in that "it is ultimately owned by the government of Abu Dhabi." But it is "a for-profit company. We sell ads."

At this point the conversation is interrupted because Borgerding has just caught sight of Meg Ryan at the opening festivities of the Middle East International Film Festival.

Abu Dhabi's creative contribution, according to Kelly, is that "they are going to be involved in the greenlighting of films." But he expects National Geographic to retain "editorial control of its movies, and ultimately what we decide to produce."

Kelly does not expect National Geographic's partnership with Arab interests to be a conflict for the society's Jewish supporters. "No, not at all. I don't think so," he says.

Kelly does not believe the market turmoil of recent weeks will have any direct impact on the deal. "I'm here with all the principals. They all seem very calm and comfortable. Frankly, our deal is not a huge deal for these guys. Our money and theirs is already set aside. We don't anticipate a problem," he says, laughing. "Although in this world today, you never know. It's a very weird world we're living in right now."

Media Coverage of the Global Economic Crisis

Below is an article from October 4th that I found in the Canadian publication The Star. The article is incredibly relevant to what we discussed in class last week: how global media is covering the economic crisis. Clearly, as we've identified, the crisis is evident and effects the whole world as the United States has become a superpower in global economics. One idea we have yet to discuss (this is a perfect lead in for those of you who want to comment) is whether the media coverage is informing or alarming media consumers. It seems to me that in the spirit of appealing to peoples' emotions, alarming is the method of choice. As the article points out, though, we must not forget the other side of the emotion spectrum: assurance that everything will be okay. It would be great if media could stick to the facts and do the simple task of reporting, but as we all see as we look at global coverage on this crisis, not many sources are giving us the straight up facts. I encourage you to take a look at this article and critically read other articles with this in mind so that you can be a smart media consumer.


Oct 04, 2008 04:30 AM
Kathy English
As global markets plunged in past weeks, it's not surprising that public interest in news about the economy soared.
A U.S. study released this week indicates record interest in economic news. The current global crisis ranks among the top 10 news stories since the mid-'80s, coming sixth in public interest behind news of the 1986 Challenger disaster, 9/11, the 1989 San Francisco earthquake, Hurricane Katrina and the gas price hikes of 2005.
It's also not surprising to me that as public concern about the economy deepened in 2008, daily newspapers have been the news source people are most likely to turn to and the news source most likely to provide extensive coverage of the economy. That's because "traditional media" such as the Star are most likely to have the journalists to report fully on this complex crisis that fundamentally affects us as both citizens and consumers.
"Generally speaking, daily newspapers – which, in many cases have sizable business staffs regularly covering the subject – have been in the forefront of economic coverage," concludes a report last month by the Project for Excellence in Journalism (PEJ).
Indeed, the Star has reported extensively on what's now generally regarded as the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, playing this historic story prominently on page 1 in recent weeks. And though the Star has the leanest business section of the three Toronto daily broadsheet newspapers, the newsroom has consistently provided smart news, analysis and editorials about the Canadian and global economy throughout this year of global uncertainty.
The work of the Star's 20-member business department has helped readers understand the interrelated nature of these complex economic developments, with numerous articles in past months on the beleaguered auto industry, soaring energy prices, Ontario's manufacturing crisis, housing values and the ongoing indicators and implications of a slowing economy and possible recession.
Of particular note in helping me make sense of all of this chaos is the news reporting of Rita Trichur and the cogent analyses of columnist David Olive. His May 8 article stating that the worst is likely not over and indeed, "actually there's a Prada inventory of shoes to drop," now seems quite prescient in explaining various pieces of the economic puzzle to create a picture of a looming "crisis of crises."
Anxiety about the economy in the midst of uncertainty is a story that affects almost everyone at the most basic level of their personal financial security, and the media have a responsibility to report from a variety of perspectives. Readers look to and depend on trusted media sources for answers: How much savings did we lose? Is my job safe? Will I be able to fund my retirement? Did the value of our home drop?
Those are the questions of the lucky middle classes. For those less privileged, the questions are more dire: What happens when our EI runs out? What's left for groceries this month? Where will we live?
Far more challenging and complex questions regarding accountability for this global crisis also demand answers. How and why did this happen and who is responsible? With elections underway in Canada and the U.S., this is now more than an economic story – it's become the primary narrative driving both election campaigns, and the media must hold politicians to account here.
There may also be some connection between increased news coverage, growing public anxiety and the behaviour of the markets. In May, Douglas Porter, chief economist of BMO Capital Markets, suggested that "gloomy headlines" played a role in declining Canadian confidence. Last month's PEJ report, asks this: "Are the media reflecting public concern about the economy, telling a story they know the public is interested in hearing? Or are the media manufacturing public concern, driving a crisis in consumer confidence?"
Should the media draw a line between informing readers and alarming readers by reporting fully on negative trends that lend themselves to those gloomy headlines? Or, should we look to the optimists who present a rosier picture?
Star business editor Mark Heinzl believes it's important to seek out a variety of perspectives and experts to make sense of the current chaos. But, he adds, "I don't think you can get too alarmist when some of the oldest institutions on Wall Street collapse, when massive banks fail and millions of people are left wondering what is happening to their lives."
I agree. With public interest in this economic crisis at a historical high, and readers turning to newspapers for critical information, this is no time for newspapers to sugar-coat economic realities.
publiced@thestar.ca.

China 'spying on Skype messages'

Hey everyone, I'm lead blogger this week and this article was perfect for me, because of the fact that earlier this week I got an email regarding this issue from my friend who is in China. It again is an example of the extremes that certain governments will go to censor their people. They are going so far as to block instant messages that contain certain words and phrases that are deemed "offensive" by the government. To me, this means that any talk of something against the government is definitely deemed as offensive. Anything they can do to suppress the voice of the people will be implemented. China already censors a large amount of things that can be viewed by their people, and this is only adding fuel to the fire.

China 'spying on Skype messages'

China has been monitoring and censoring messages sent through the internet service Skype, researchers say. Citizen Lab, a Canadian research group, says it found a database containing thousands of politically sensitive words which had been blocked by China. The publically available database also displayed personal data on subscribers. Skype said it had always been open about the filtering of data by Chinese partners, but that it was concerned by breaches in the security of the site. Citizen Lab researchers, based at the University of Toronto, said they discovered a huge surveillance system which had picked up and stored messages sent through the online telephone and text messaging service. The database held more than 150,000 messages which included words such as "democracy" and "Tibet" and phrases relating to the banned spiritual movement, Falun Gong. "These text messages, along with millions of records containing personal information, are stored on insecure publicly accessible web servers," said Citizen Lab's report, entitled "Breaching Trust". They said that by using one username, it was possible to identify all the people who had sent messages to or received them from the original user. 'Meeting laws' Skype is operated in China as Tom-Skype, a joint venture involving the American auction site, eBay and Chinese company TOM-Online. Citizen Lab said it was "clear" that Tom was "engaging in extensive surveillance with seemingly little regard for the security and privacy of Skype users". They asked to what extent Tom Online and Skype were co-operating with the Chinese government in monitoring communications. But Skype president Josh Silverman said China's monitoring was "common knowledge" and that Tom Online, had "established procedures to meet local laws and regulations". "These regulations include the requirement to monitor and block instant messages containing certain words deemed offensive by the Chinese authorities," he said. Mr Silverman said that it had been Tom Online's policy to block certain messages and then delete them and he would be investigating why the policy had changed to allow the company to upload and store those messages. Although internet use is high in China, the authorities have long prevented citizens from accessing websites which are considered politically sensitive. Western internet companies such as Google, Microsoft and Yahoo have been criticised by human-rights groups for adhering to China's strict regulations.

Endemol Transitions "Wipe Out" to Other Countries

We have discussed Endemol several times recently in COM415. I ran across this article that Endemol Agrentina will be picking up this program for broadcast in serveral other countries. Wipe Out was developed by Endemol USA for broadcast on ABC. We have discussed in class that a lot of Endemol's shows have originated in the U.K. and were then brought to the U.S. Wipe Out is a different example of a show that was created here in the U.S. and is now being transfered to the U.K.

'Wipe Out' hits U.K.
Endemol Argentina to produce int'l versions
By CHARLES NEWBERY

Reality giant Endemol has handed production of a crop of international versions of "Wipe Out" to its division in Argentina, the same strategy it used for "Fear Factor."
Endemol Argentina has already produced localized versions of the obstacle course competition for Belgium, Germany and Spain and now will do so for the U.K., followed likely by another 19 territories.

Argentina "has a large talent pool and the success of 'Fear Factor' was our introductory letter for 'Wipe Out,' " said Endemol Argentina managing director Martin Kweller.

"Wipe Out" was developed by Endemol USA and aired to high ratings on ABC this year.

Endemol Argentina also is preparing a sixth season of "Big Brother" for top-ranked Telefe, a local version of British gamer "Golden Balls" for fourth-ranked America TV and entertainment show "Hoy puede ser" for second-ranked Artear-Canal 13.

Endemol Argentina also has teamed with Sebastian Ortega's Underground Contenidos ("Lalola") to produce 150-hour crime comedy "Los exitosos Pells" (The Successful Pells) for Telefe.

China 'spying on Skype messages'

Big Brett here, posting my first (and only?) blog on this WONDERFUL website (e-brown nosing). Anyhow, let's imagine if this were a Skype chat and not a blog posting. If I merely mentioned "I love democracy, yada yada yada, free Tibet" and I were posting from China, you would never even get a chance to read this post (due to censorship). Read on to see what the Chinese government is saying about their actions and how Skype is dealing with China's censorship demands.

[BBC article]

China 'spying on Skype messages'

Skype say they are abiding by Chinese laws over internet use

China has been monitoring and censoring messages sent through the internet service Skype, researchers say.

Citizen Lab, a Canadian research group, says it found a database containing thousands of politically sensitive words which had been blocked by China.

The publically available database also displayed personal data on subscribers.

Skype said it had always been open about the filtering of data by Chinese partners, but that it was concerned by breaches in the security of the site.

Citizen Lab researchers, based at the University of Toronto, said they discovered a huge surveillance system which had picked up and stored messages sent through the online telephone and text messaging service.

The database held more than 150,000 messages which included words such as "democracy" and "Tibet" and phrases relating to the banned spiritual movement, Falun Gong.

"These text messages, along with millions of records containing personal information, are stored on insecure publicly accessible web servers," said Citizen Lab's report, entitled "Breaching Trust".

They said that by using one username, it was possible to identify all the people who had sent messages to or received them from the original user.

'Meeting laws'

Skype is operated in China as Tom-Skype, a joint venture involving the American auction site, eBay and Chinese company TOM-Online.

Citizen Lab said it was "clear" that Tom was "engaging in extensive surveillance with seemingly little regard for the security and privacy of Skype users".

They asked to what extent Tom Online and Skype were co-operating with the Chinese government in monitoring communications.

But Skype president Josh Silverman said China's monitoring was "common knowledge" and that Tom Online, had "established procedures to meet local laws and regulations".

"These regulations include the requirement to monitor and block instant messages containing certain words deemed offensive by the Chinese authorities," he said.

Mr Silverman said that it had been Tom Online's policy to block certain messages and then delete them and he would be investigating why the policy had changed to allow the company to upload and store those messages.

Although internet use is high in China, the authorities have long prevented citizens from accessing websites which are considered politically sensitive.

Western internet companies such as Google, Microsoft and Yahoo have been criticised by human-rights groups for adhering to China's strict regulations.