Tuesday, June 4, 2013
TWIF Flattener 1 - 11/9/89
Use one of the current events sources linked at http://svhs-hwc-fall2013.blogspot.com/2013/06/approved-sources-for-twif-current.html to find a recent news article that relates to, supports, or refutes Friedman's assertion that 11/9/89 was a "flattener." Your comment should include the title of the news article, a link to the article, and a summary of the article including an explanation of how the article relates to this point. Don't forget to check your rubric for evaluation criteria!
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Two Iranians found guilty of Kenya terror plot http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22385149
ReplyDeleteThis news report focuses on two men convicted of plotting against Kenyan government officials. The men were caught in possession of 15 kilograms of explosives in Nairobi, Kenya hidden on a golf course. Police believe that the men are part of a terrorist group that has shipped over 85 kilograms of explosives to Kenya. This story supports the idea of the first flattener from TWIF because although there was a boom of information and an increase in global interaction, there have also been major consequences. Terrorism, specifically 9/11, was cited in TWIF because of the fall of the Berlin Wall. With all of the available communication and information that can be globally accessed, terrorism plots become easier to orchestrate. As seen in the article, 85 kilograms of explosives were brought into Kenya, while only 15 kilos were found. Additionally, there was a network of terrorists creating the plot, but only two of them were captured. This also supports the idea of Friedman in the book, for the Berlin Wall opened the door for terrorism because the world was flatter and greater technological opportunity is present for smaller groups, like terrorists. In essence, the article demonstrates that after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the world was flat enough to constitute the beginning of worldwide terrorism through increased technology and facilitated communication.
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ReplyDeletehttp://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2013/0618/G8-wraps-with-progress-on-tax-evasion-but-not-on-Syria
ReplyDeleteG8 wraps with progress on tax evasion- but not on Syria
This article from CSM discusses the 2013 G8 meeting in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, which included representatives from UK, Germany, Russia, France, and the US. It mostly consists of the agreements among the representatives on policies regarding tax evasion and the disagreements concerning involvement in the war in Syria. The article reinforces Friedman's thoughts about the significance of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the impact that the event has on present day. Initially, the Berlin Wall was built to divide the democratic, West Germany from the communist, East Germany. In The World is Flat, Friedman basically states that the destruction of the Wall allowed for global collaboration as well as the spread of policies such as democracy. These G8 meetings support this idea because people from around the world come together as a group to discuss policies in an auspicious manner. In part, the fall of the Berlin Wall allowed for the flattening of the world because it united countries so that they could collaborate in effort to reform governments and assist people everywhere.
US and Russia 'making progress' on Syria peace talks
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23142382
The article discusses the collaboration of the United States and Russian governments in order to end the bloody conflict in Syria. The Syrian conflict has claimed ninety three thousand lives and 1.5 million people have fled to neighboring counties. After many delays, John Kerry, the United States Secretary of State, had a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. The two discussed the Syrian conflict and what they could do to end the conflict. However, both sides have different views of Syria so a resolution would be difficult. Despite the fact, John Kerry told reporters in an interview that the two found some common ground. The results of this meeting support Friedman’s first flattener. The first flattener was the fall of the Berlin Wall. Friedman says that this flattener marked the start of global collaboration. The meeting about the Syrian conflict was an example of this global collaboration. If the Berlin Wall did not fall, there is no way the meeting would have ever happened. The two sides also made progress according to John Kerry. If the statement is true, this shows that the global collaboration after the fall of the Berlin Wall is successful. In essence, the meeting between the two diplomats showed that global collaboration is present and successful.
Marching Forward: The Great Power is Still Licking Old Wounds
ReplyDeletehttp://www.economist.com/news/books-and-arts/21582489-great-power-still-licking-old-wounds-marching-forward
This article from the Economist describes how China's previous struggles are the reasons that it is the world power that it is today and supports Friedman's idea that the fall of the Berlin Wall opened doors for new views across the world. China's hardships began during the First Opium War in 1842 when British soldiers invaded their country demanding the use of imports. The country constantly reminded itself of this defeat and that fortified China's desire to rebuild their nation. This war is now looked upon as the reason for modern Chinese history. Like the fall of the Berlin Wall, this was first seen as a calamity that destroyed the country, but in the end it was the drive for their success. Because of China's dark past, it has a bright future and is now known as one of the most innovative, technologically advanced countries in the entire world. So in spite of the horrible incidence that happened with China, the event has triggered breakthroughs and has made an impact on the world today. Just as this act, when the Berlin Wall fell, information and communication was able to be shared with the rest of the world and progress was made just as Friedman had described.
Iran's new leader Rouhani urges 'serious' nuclear talks
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-23591371
This article summarizes Iran’s new president’s intent to develop its nuclear program for peaceful resolutions. BBC’s article also describes the United States position on Iran’s actions according to an interview with a journalist. He seems skeptical about Rouhani, the Iranian president’s, orders, but the journalist believes that Iran and P5+1, a group of countries involved in the diplomatic efforts of Iran’s nuclear program, should communicate openly. The president also states that the development of the program will remain very open and the media will stay posted on the successes and failures in program. I believe this best relates to effects of the first flattener, the Berlin Wall, because the world demands that the advances in Nuclear production in other countries be transparent so as not to continue the problems of the cold war. Also, this article proves the mandatory use of democracy because of its wide range of enforcement from other countries. The president also touches upon another one of Friedman’s assertion, the horizontal person to person communication through PCs and the media. With the proper research on computers and the great access of the media, individuals can raise their awareness of these advancements in a specific program in a country across the world and without a flattening world this awareness would be unattainable.
20 years after Berlin Walls falls, Eastern Europe has yet to catch up with world economies
ReplyDeletehttp://voices.washingtonpost.com/political-economy/2010/10/by_howard_schneider_the_fall.html
In this article posted on the Washington Post website, the main point made is that some countries are still struggling to catch up 20 years after the Berlin wall fell. The article is not at all saying that the falling of the wall did not require a great deal of effort, and the author agrees that it was a major step forward for Europe, even the world. However, the author believes that the world underestimated how much of an effort it would be for the communist countries to catch up after the falling of the wall. This article refutes Diamond's argument that the falling of the Berlin Wall was a flattener. Diamond believes that when the wall fell that it allowed the previously communist countries to begin to excel economically, however, according to this article, many of these countries still struggle economically.
U.S. Embassies To Close Sunday, And Possibly Beyond, For Safety
ReplyDeletewww.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/08/02/208194764/u-s-embassies-to-close-sunday-and-possibly-beyond-for-safety
In this article on NPR, multiple U.S. embassies are being closed due to terrorist threats. There has been instructions for a good amount of U.S. embassies to shut down for specific days. These embassies are located all around the world in multiple different countries. This is due to threats coming from the terrorist group Al Qaeda. Officials believe that the possible attacks will happen at the locations of these embassies. Also coming up is the one year anniversary of the attack on a U.S. compound in Benghazi, so there are many worries about what may be coming up for the U.S. This article relates to Friedman's points about the fall of the Berlin Wall. When the wall fell, it completely flattened the world, creating an equal opportunity for everyone. This article exemplifies the opportunities that terrorists have with this newly flattened world. In the book, Friedman states that some people have worries about the flat world because it opens doors for terrorists as well. This story is a perfect example of how, thanks to the fall of the Berlin Wall, terrorists gain as many chances to use the flat world to their advantage as everyone else.
Hackers use new tactic to attack U.S. media sites
ReplyDeletehttp://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/15/net-us-washingtonpost-hacked-idUSBRE97E0VM20130815
Lately, hackers siding with the Syrian Electronic Army (SEA) have been breaking into American websites according to an article from Reuters. CNN, Time, and Washington Post were all targets of this latest attack, with users being redirected to the SEA’s website when they clicked on advertisements within the sites. The hackers, who support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, have also recently hacked into the Associated Press’ Twitter account, posting a false message on their feed. Outbrain, the company which manages the advertisements on many of these news sites, took down their network to prevent further attacks. The company says that the SEA gained access to the site after they sent a spam e-mail to an Outbrain employee, making it look like it was sent by the CEO. The employee logged in, giving the hackers the credentials they needed to overrun the system. This frightening incident reflects Friedman’s first flattener, the advent of the Internet and the new era of computer technology after the Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989. The Berlin Wall’s destruction marked an era of global collaboration, and while the Internet allows for easier access to information, collaboration software, and communication methods, it also lends these tools to terrorists and other dangerous people. As Friedman explained in The World is Flat, terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda may abuse these technologies just as easily as anyone else, for the Internet is virtually free for all to use. The Syrian Electronic Army, a group with their own political agenda, not unlike that of al-Qaeda, is indeed misusing this technology. However, this is not the end according to Chris Wysopal: “As the Internet becomes more interconnected, this risk is going to increase.” In essence, this story illustrates Friedman’s first flattener in the sense that the Internet and the increased connectivity that it entails offers tools to potentially ordinary citizens and hackers alike.
Al-Qaeda Threat Causes US to Issue Travel Alert and Temporarily Close Embassies
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theworld.org/2013/08/al-qaeda-threat-causes-us-to-issue-travel-alert-and-temporarily-close-embassies/
In this article and voice interview published in PRI's The World on August 2, 2013, describes how the US was forced to issue a travel alert to all citizens departing the country. The issue stated that a possible attack may be targeted in the Middle East or North Africa on US embassies and consulates, from the beginning to the finish of the month of August. In fact, 21 of these embassies and consulates were shut down for a short time on Sunday, August 4th. What a "shut down" entails is, workers will not return to work on that day and the security is more extreme. A counterterrorism analyst, Scott Stewart stated, “They just want to ensure that nothing happens when they have information that someone, somewhere believes is credible.” Friedman's points about the Berlin Wall, can be easily related to this article. When the wall was knocked, it flattened the "playing field", and gave everyone a fair opportunity. This article very much illustrates a picture of how terrorists are given new opportunities in this "new world." In this force, Friedman stated that because of the flat world, many people had become worried that terrorists would have a greater advantage. This article can serve as a great example for how with the fall of the Berlin Wall, many terrorists have gained access to the flattened world, and all of its dominance.
North Korea ‘willing to restart’ nuclear talks
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22980078
After significantly stalled talks to end nuclear capabilities, North Korea finally is willing to begin talking again, according to China’s foreign ministry. North Korean officials hope to peacefully resolve nuclear arms issues in a civilized manner to avoid farther conflict with other countries. Pervious talks of such kind were held years ago in 2008. The U.S and its allies, consisting of China, South Korea, Japan, and Russia, hope to persuade Pyongyang to give up plans to produce nuclear weapons in turn for security and aid to the country. Pyongyang would like to reduce tension with his country and others. He is starting to hold high-level talks of regional peace with the U. S. and South Korea. However, it ended talks with South Korea. Friedman mentions the Berlin Wall and how its fall allowed other countries to collaborate and to talk. If the Berlin Wall never fell, talks with North Korea would not have been possible and farther conflict may have occurred without the fall of the Berlin Wall. According to Friedman, the fall of the Wall allowed other countries to connect in a way like never before: opening paths for countries that seemed lost. Global collaboration with North Korea to stop its nuclear arms program shows that the fall of the Berlin Wall achieved a great success in allowing other countries to communicate efficiently and effectively.
Britain and Europe: Making the break
ReplyDeletehttp://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21567914-how-britain-could-fall-out-european-union-and-what-it-would-mean-making-break
Britain did not try to Germany, France, Italy and the Benelux countries forged a single market in coal and steel, which became a broader common market. It eventually joined, in 1973, largely because Europe seemed to be where the money was. Britains still think of their relationship with Europe as a transaction. This relates to when the people around the world when they thought as the world as a signal market, a signal ecosystem, and a single community. If Britain falls out of the EU, it may find itself completely outside the single market.This also relates to when the Berlin Wall fell and this did not help Germany, because they were shield from the world. But did help all of the countries realize opportunities.