How many people must die
Before too many people have died
On 9/11:
246 plane passengers
2602 people in New York City
125 in Pentagon
23 NYC Police officers
343 NYC Firefighters
37 Port Authority police officers
24 missing and presumed dead
19 Terrorists
3173 total
Since 9/11:
98 journalists
2672 US military
118 UK military
115 other Coalition military
5370 Iraqi Security Forces
349 Contracters with the reconstruction
41860 Iraqi civilians at minimum
338 US military in Afganistan
139 other Coalition troops in Afganistan
51059 minimum total people killed since 9/11
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Friday, February 17, 2006
Wrong side of the fence
I find myself in an new interesting position. I've been supporting big companies. For those of you who know me well, you know I go to great lengths to support small business. I buy my groceries at six different neighborhood stores. My butcher, my wine & cheese store, my organic food store, my locally owned deli, and my low income grocery store and my locally owned fresh fish store.... And this is just for food. But when you look at the global economy and how globalization changes the world I've come to understand the outsourcing of so many companies. Microsoft, Yahoo and Google are in Washington D. C. right now justifying their cooperation with China's strict censorship laws. Socially I' have always been one of the first to jump out and denounce such practices but I no longer feel that way. After learning more closely the way commercial development actually helps the social development of countries in the book The Travels of a T-shirt in the Global Economy I've changed my tune slightly on my hard edge fear of big business. In Pietra Rivoli's book she describes how the insertion a large company from an open society like the USA into closed countries such as China are slowly changing their social structure inspite of all the restrictions that the government imposes. The small changes that each company brings to the table. The opportunities that are given to women who live in such restrictive environments in these countries are pathetic to our sensibilities but are transformative dreams in their minds.
The slow change of mindset is the only thing that will eventually bring about social justice in these countries. It has to come from a change from within, not a forced "democratic" society brought in by other countries such as the US. As businesses such as Google enter the economic society of China then the minds of the people will grow and strengthen. Although this often takes generations to bring forth giant change it is also been proven in history to be the most permanent method of change.
Our country's government has taken a policy as of late to force our ideals upon the rest of the world. And although I agree that China needs more freedom for it's people, and Saddam Hussain was a crazy dictator that does not give our government the right to bring back colonialism in it's "altruistic" desire to change the world. I think Google is right in the belief that to change China we must first become a part of them. And to become a part of them Google must play by their rules. Ideas leak through societies and people like water through a aging dam. A strong impenetrable force in the beginning water will slowly break down even the strongest material. First just a tiny crack. Which gets sealed. Then another and another. And eventually, given patience and time, the water always wins. Censored materials will leak through. People will have their eyes and hearts and minds opened. And we will see change. But only if we let the door open. Even if it's just a crack.
So my belief in small business is as strong as ever but I now have a growing belief in the power a strong conscientious big business can have for the world. Google purpose of existence is to transmit information. All information. Google has thought long and hard on it's expansion into China. Google has seen that the best way to bring about it's ideals is to first get it's foot in the door. I, for one, support and commend Google for it's strength and fortitude against an intrusive and overbearing government.
Kat
The slow change of mindset is the only thing that will eventually bring about social justice in these countries. It has to come from a change from within, not a forced "democratic" society brought in by other countries such as the US. As businesses such as Google enter the economic society of China then the minds of the people will grow and strengthen. Although this often takes generations to bring forth giant change it is also been proven in history to be the most permanent method of change.
Our country's government has taken a policy as of late to force our ideals upon the rest of the world. And although I agree that China needs more freedom for it's people, and Saddam Hussain was a crazy dictator that does not give our government the right to bring back colonialism in it's "altruistic" desire to change the world. I think Google is right in the belief that to change China we must first become a part of them. And to become a part of them Google must play by their rules. Ideas leak through societies and people like water through a aging dam. A strong impenetrable force in the beginning water will slowly break down even the strongest material. First just a tiny crack. Which gets sealed. Then another and another. And eventually, given patience and time, the water always wins. Censored materials will leak through. People will have their eyes and hearts and minds opened. And we will see change. But only if we let the door open. Even if it's just a crack.
So my belief in small business is as strong as ever but I now have a growing belief in the power a strong conscientious big business can have for the world. Google purpose of existence is to transmit information. All information. Google has thought long and hard on it's expansion into China. Google has seen that the best way to bring about it's ideals is to first get it's foot in the door. I, for one, support and commend Google for it's strength and fortitude against an intrusive and overbearing government.
Kat
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Feminism
In a day and age where sometimes the word feminism is considered foul I am proud to see such strong wonderful examples in our news.
Liberia and Chile have both shown the world this month that they are ready for a new start. They have not just elected a woman to run their country but chosen a person who is prepared to bring them out of the oppression and bloodshed that they have lived in for decades. This is what feminism has been waiting for. To not see women as the same as men but to see them as equals in intelligence but that emotional differences in men and women can actually be beneficial to our world. Recently, a scientific study showed that men actually have pleasure reactions to another person being punished for a wrong doing, where as women showed concern and empathy for the same instance. Liberia and Chile both have decided that they wanted presidents that don't forget their past but forgive it. They want the past remembered, but also see the only way to move into the future and become part of the new world order is to forgive these past oppressors.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has a lot of challenges in her future. Liberia is 80% illiterate, over half their citizens don't even have electricity or running water and maybe worst of all Liberia needs to find a balance with the United States as they ask for help in repaying or canceling their extraordinary debt while also reigning in on such American companies as Firestone who have made a career out of stealing their natural resources. Liberian citizens have shown the world that they want a chance. They chose a women who left the country for a strong Harvard education when an education couldn't be found in Liberia but returned to her country. She has been a political prisoner twice in her lifetime but continues to remain patriotic and proud to be a Liberian. She shows her people that anger makes you no better then your oppressor. She shows her people that kindness and strength can be synonymous and their relationship together will bring Liberia into the 21st century. She brings forth womanly emotions and shows her people and the world these traits are jewels to be treasured not weaknesses that need to be hidden.
I am proud to be categorized in a group with people as President Johnson Sirleaf and Bachelet. I hope that this is the direction that feminism continues to develop. I hope that other women see how good it is to be a woman. I hope that pride and strength and kindness continue to grow in our minds and hearts. And I hope that we bring back that the power that comes with being part of a group. I hope we support these people as strong women as they support us as strong women.
Liberia and Chile have both shown the world this month that they are ready for a new start. They have not just elected a woman to run their country but chosen a person who is prepared to bring them out of the oppression and bloodshed that they have lived in for decades. This is what feminism has been waiting for. To not see women as the same as men but to see them as equals in intelligence but that emotional differences in men and women can actually be beneficial to our world. Recently, a scientific study showed that men actually have pleasure reactions to another person being punished for a wrong doing, where as women showed concern and empathy for the same instance. Liberia and Chile both have decided that they wanted presidents that don't forget their past but forgive it. They want the past remembered, but also see the only way to move into the future and become part of the new world order is to forgive these past oppressors.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has a lot of challenges in her future. Liberia is 80% illiterate, over half their citizens don't even have electricity or running water and maybe worst of all Liberia needs to find a balance with the United States as they ask for help in repaying or canceling their extraordinary debt while also reigning in on such American companies as Firestone who have made a career out of stealing their natural resources. Liberian citizens have shown the world that they want a chance. They chose a women who left the country for a strong Harvard education when an education couldn't be found in Liberia but returned to her country. She has been a political prisoner twice in her lifetime but continues to remain patriotic and proud to be a Liberian. She shows her people that anger makes you no better then your oppressor. She shows her people that kindness and strength can be synonymous and their relationship together will bring Liberia into the 21st century. She brings forth womanly emotions and shows her people and the world these traits are jewels to be treasured not weaknesses that need to be hidden.
I am proud to be categorized in a group with people as President Johnson Sirleaf and Bachelet. I hope that this is the direction that feminism continues to develop. I hope that other women see how good it is to be a woman. I hope that pride and strength and kindness continue to grow in our minds and hearts. And I hope that we bring back that the power that comes with being part of a group. I hope we support these people as strong women as they support us as strong women.
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