Alex Koudal
Article #1:U.N. Calls on Western Nations to Shelter Syrian Refugees
MLA:Sengupta, Somini. "U.N. Calls on Western Nations to Shelter Syrian Refugees." The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 Apr. 2015. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.
Summary: Due to the outcry of the Syrian war, there’s pressure on powerful nations and leaders to open up their doors for the refugees fleeing the horrid scene. Organizations, such as the U.N, has provided shelter to over 130,000 refugees from Syria. Countries around the world has promised to take in two-thirds of what the U.N is asking with even more refugees seeking asylum in Europe. The U.S is planning on bringing in 2,000 refugees by fall 2015 which is over twice the amount that they have brought in since the start of the war. Although, in order to resettle this many people, the U.S is planning on going through a slow vetting process to organize and make sure of who they are going to aid in this dire situation. Refugees that may not be admitted into the U.S resettlement program will have to resort again to seeking asylum in Europe in fear of being prosecuted at their homes.
Analysis: Personally I do not understand the purpose of the U.S using the vetting program. This process of getting each and every single refugee screened would be very lengthy and it will endanger the refugees who are awaiting upon its response. If 50,000 refugees are seeking aid from the U.S, but they have to go through a very lengthy process just to be considered for resettlement. In that amount of time, a significant amount of refugees could be endangered and some even killed. I understand that there is danger into letting anyone who says they are in a dire situation into the U.S, but there has to be an efficient and quick way to get the refugees safe rather than the very slow screening process. There are hundreds of thousands of people in danger in Syria who are pleading for help, the U.S has to be quick to respond and cannot take precious time away screening the people.
Article #2:South Africa Moves to Quell Anti-Immigrant Violence
MLA:Onishi, Norimitsu. "South Africa Moves to Quell Anti-Immigrant Violence." The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 Apr. 2015. Web. 17 Apr. 2015.
Summary: On friday,April 10th, in Johannesburg South Africa, stores and vehicles were attacked from the anti-immigrant violence that has been ongoing for awhile now and taken up to at least four lives in the country. South Africans had to intervene when immigrants from other African nations had armed themselves to protect their businesses and valuable against South africans who have accused the immigrants of stealing their jobs. The violence began in Durban and then spread to Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city, with the Government slow to respond. The past waves of anti-immigrant violence in Johannesburg went up to 60 deaths in 2008 and at the moment, it could be headed in that direction yet again. The attacks began after Zulu king, Zwelithini, hit out against the foreigners and demanded that they leave South Africa, no politicians has spoken out against the words of the king, the king’s salary is oddly enough paid by the government.
Analysis: The South African government must act quickly if they want this unnecessary violence to end. Although they cannot speak out against the requests of the Zulu king because if the government had done that, it will create even more unrest than there already is among the population. Its a delicate situation that the government must handle but they have to protect the citizens and foreigners that are being targeted by the rioters. Immigration allows for cultural diversity and it boosts any nation’s economy, so it has to be a priority to protect the foreigners who are innocent and contribute to South African society. The Government although should be sympathetic to those who are upset because when living in poor conditions it is understandable to blame someone and blaming foreigners for taking jobs away from the natives is arguable. National leaders and politicians should seek to create peace between the two groups because if they don’t, there could be numerous casualties.
Article #3: Obama Open to 'Creative Negotiations' on Iran Sanction
MLA:"Obama Open to 'Creative Negotiations' on Iran Sanctions." The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 Apr. 2015. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
Summary: President Barack Obama has told his advisors and diplomats to come up with creative ways of negotiations with Iran over the fate of its sanctions and to persuade them to loosen up their nuclear program. Officials of America have long waited to see Iran come to agreement in more favorable terms for the people, although Iran wants immediate relief from the sanctions that has been placed on them. Mohammad Javad Sarif, who is Iran’s foreign minister, has said that the U.S has given them their basic provisions which does not include lifting sanctions on Iran. Negotiators are planning on meeting in Vienna in the coming weeks to come to a final agreement. Obama, when commenting on this topic, he has refrained from criticizing Russia’s apparent sales of anti-aircraft batteries to Iran, which if happens makes it more difficult for the U.S to bomb Iran’s nuclear facilities if the deal breaks down. Although Obama was apparently surprised that Russia has hold back the sale of these defense weapons for so long.
Analysis: At this meeting that U.S diplomats are going to be attending, they are going to have to create a tempting bargaining deal, in which Iran would loosen up their nuclear program for. They can’t go to the meeting and expect Iran to give up their protection for the good of society without any incentive. Although it is tricky about the sanctions that are placed on Iran at the moment will be tricky of negotiate with since Iran demands that they are to be lifted before any other deal takes place. I understand that the U.S cannot meet those demands immediately because if they do that’ll threaten America’s safety if it is true that Iran is holding a nuclear missile program secretly in their facilities. They will have to convince their foreign minister somehow to abandon that program or maybe they could offer something they will find more valuable to them to even the tides of that negotiation. Its going to be hard to play this out smoothly with Iran especially since Russia are soon going to be selling anti-nuclear weapons to Iran, which creates even more tension than there already is with Russia.
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