Presenting news from around the world…………

From Costa Rica……

Demand for Bulletproof Kids Clothes Soars

For the last 22 years, Miguel Caballero’s Columbian factory has produced bullet proof clothing for adults.  Primarily, the clothing was sold to politicians who reside in the Middle East and Latin America.  The company never produced bullet proof clothing for children.  Following the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre, they were flooded with requests for bulletproof child size clothing.  Until the Sandy Hook massacre I had never heard of bullet proof backpacks for kids.  I wrote about companies that produce backpacks for children here: Bulletproof Backpacks for Children.  So, now back to school shopping means that parents can buy bulletproof clothing and bulletproof backpacks.    

 

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From Mali……

France Bombs Malian Islamic Forces for 3rd Straight Day

Despite the American media’s lack of reporting, there is in fact, a war going on in Africa.  Islamic forces are fighting in several countries.  France is sending an estimated 500 French soldiers to ‘assist’ the Malian military in their fight against Islamic militants.  The French military has also been bombing the Islamist positions.  France is justifying their military intervention by saying that they are protecting the large French expatriate community living in Mali. 

 

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From Australia……

Australia Continues to Battle Wildfires

The country of Australia is in the midst of a terrible fire season.  Wildfires are being fought throughout Australia.  Extreme heat and drought caused by climate change, created the conditions necessary for fires to rage across the country.  Last week, Australia’s largest astronomical observatory was damaged in the fires. 

As a side note to this story, this article is from the Sidney Morning Herald.  Click the link to see a startling difference between American newspapers and their counterparts from around the world.  The section that this story is in is called: Environment.  One of the categories in the Environmental section is: Climate Change.  Yes, that’s right, a section in a major newspaper that is actually titled: Climate Change.   Here are some of the stories currently being covered in the Sidney Morning Herald’s, Climate Change section:  Risks of Economic, Ecological Collapse, Climatechange Denial Feels the Heat, and Delay Climate Action--and Pay.

Real journalism is not something that most Americans experience very often.  See what journalism looks like when it is actually practiced? 

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From Brazil……

Brazil to Open First Public/Private Prison

Few would argue that Brazilian prisons are a source of pride for the country.  The prisons suffer from violence, overcrowding and a recidivism rate of approximately 70%.  Since 1995, the prison population in Brazil increased by nearly 150,000 inmates.  Just as America discovered, when more inmates are created then more prisons must be created.  Unlike America, Brazil has long avoided turning their prison system over to for private operations.  However, that might soon be changing.  Brazil has now opened their first public/private prison.   This is a very interesting article about a topic (the penal system) that needs to be discussed more within the progressive community. 

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From Azerbaijan……

Azerbaijani Genocide Memorial to Open to Public

Most people are aware of the Armenian genocide.  Beginning in 1915 and continuing for several years, the Turkish government embarked on a policy of genocide against the Armenian people.  While exact figures have never been determined it is likely that a minimum of 1.5 million people were murdered.  What few people are aware of is that while the Armenians were themselves being killed, they were killing the people of Azerbaijan in their own effort to create a ‘Greater Armenia’. 

Self determination should be a fundamental human right.  Big fish eats the little fish is not a way to move humanity forward.