Entry 3

Entry 3, March 23

Topic: Joe Biden attacks Israeli plan for East Jerusalem

Vice President Joe Biden condemned the Israeli plan for housing in East Jerusalem causing the Israeli leaders to condemn the building of homes in East Jerusalem which is considered to be occupied land and cannot build there due to international law.

Article 1: Blogger of Chinese dissent

http://mon88cler58.blog.com/2010/03/10/joe-biden-attacks-israeli-plan-for-east-jerusalem/

Joe Biden attacks Israeli plan for East Jerusalem

In this blog the blogger starts out by saying that Joe Biden has condemned Israel’s approval of 1,600 new homes for ultra-Orthodox Jews in East Jerusalem. The blogger quotes Mr. Biden “the kind of step that undermines the trust we need” and also stating the condemnation of the decision “I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for the new housing units in east Jerusalem.; Palestinian leaders condemned the controversial move but insisted that the procedural step had no connection to Joe Biden’s visit. The international community considers East Jerusalem occupied territory so building on the occupied land is considered illegal under international law.

Article 2: Europe? I don’t know where the article is from

http://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/joe-biden-attacks-israeli-plan-for-east-jerusalem-homes-1/

Joe Biden attacks Israeli plan for East Jerusalem homes

The Palestinian leaders also condemned the controversial move who claim that the US had no say with their condemnation. US Vice-President Joe Biden has condemned Israel’s approval of 1,600 new homes for ultra-Orthodox Jews in East Jerusalem. Joe Biden said in Israel as part of US attempts to kick-start the peace process, and said it was “the kind of step that undermines the trust we need”. Under US Pressure Israel has agreed a 10-month suspension of a new building in the west bank but the moratorium excludes East Jerusalem, where Palestinians want their capital.

Article 3: Washington – US

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/09/AR2010030900497.html

U.S condemns Israel’s plans to build housing in east Jerusalem

Vice President Biden ended most of Tuesday celebrating what he called the “unshakable” bond between the US and Israel, he later ended the day strongly condemning the long time U.S. ally for approving 1,600 new housing units in disputed east Jerusalem which threatened to kill a new push for Mideast peace by the Obama administration. During a meal between the Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netayahu and Vice president Joe Biden, Joe Biden declared “I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem”

Reflection

My opinion on this is that I believe what Mr. Biden is saying that it is illegal to build in occupied land due to the international law which has to be obeyed, if this carried out there might have been some troubles dealing with the law and some powers.

Entry 2

Entry 2, March 3

Topic: Earthquake in Chile

On the 28^th of February 2010 an earthquake hit Chile at a magnitude of 8.8 on the Richter scale this is one of the biggest earthquakes to hit Chile since 1960 where a earthquake of 9.5 hit the region. There has been a death toll of around 800 people. There has also been an estimated 500,000 houses that have been destroyed or have been badly damaged; the President Michelle Bachelet said that there is a growing number of people who are considered to be missing. Some news services have said that a number of super markets have been looted and no food of water can be found, Electricity and water services have become out of service.

Article 1: Cyprus

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2010/0227/Chile-earthquake-much-stronger-than-Haiti-s-but-far-less-damage.-Why

Chile quake death toll hits 708 as rescue ramps up

In this Cypriot article it shows us that the Chilean people are committing banditry on Chile’s shattered streets whilst rescuers are digging for survivors. The Chilean government sent soldiers and ordered a night-time curfew to suppress the looting. The death toll has climbed to more than 708 in one of the top 2 earthquakes recorded in Chile. There was a situation where fire-fighters have been pulling survivors out of a toppled apartment block had to pause due to tear gas fired to stop looters from whatever they could get their hands on.

Article 2: USA

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2010/0227/Chile-earthquake-much-stronger-than-Haiti-s-but-far-less-damage.-Why

Chile earthquake much stronger than Haiti's but far less damage. Why?

In this article it summarizes the how the magnitude of 8.8 and also deals with though this earthquake is much stronger than the one that hit Haiti but the casualties and damages appears for be much lower than from the damage in Haiti. Officials said that the damage what much more contained rather than the earthquake in Haiti. Because of Chile’s previous history with earthquakes its buildings and roads are constructed to higher standards. The exact numbers of deaths are varied due to the many rural areas where the population is dispersed and hard to account for.

Article 3: Massive earthquake hits Chile

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100301/Massive-earthquake-hits-Chile.aspx

Massive earthquake hits Chile

Many Chileans struggled to deal with the aftermath of the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that tore through the southern half of the country. The earthquake damaged roads, buildings, telecommunication services and cut power to some parts for the country. There have been reports of at least 10 aftershocks that hit the region in the hours after the initial earthquake hit which was felt 2,000 miles away in Sao Paulo, Brazil. As the cause of the earthquake the waves grew to more than 6 feet above their normal height hit the country’s coastline.

Reflection

My thoughts on this tragedy is that Chile is well equipped to handle earthquakes more than any country due to their previous experiences with earthquakes which lead them to build their houses and roads to a certain degree to sustain earthquakes that help protect the people of Chile. I am amazed that the number of the death toll in Chile was much lower than the one in Haiti even though it had a higher magnitude than in Haiti.