Abortion Wo's in Ireland

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Today the husband of a women who died because she was denied an abortion testified in Ireland.  Ireland currently does not allow an abortion unless the "life, but not just the health of the mother is at risk."  Apparently the women was informed the the fetus would not make it, but the fetus was not removed until it was dead.  The women died 4 days later from a blood infection.  The husband was the only one who testified today, later the doctors and other will also testify.

I am pretty conservative when it comes to abortion.  I view it very much like killing a baby.  However, it seems that any laws that do not take into account the life of the mother are too extreme.  It is very unwise to protect a new mothers health and is especially tragic in this case when the baby died any way.

Afgan Children Kill in US Airstrike

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In accordance with the last several sad posts I've done, this article is about how an air strike on Saturday killed 10 children.  This airstrike was conducted by the American military and was suppose to be targeting a high-profile Taliban commander, Ali Kahn.  The strike was successful in killing their target as well as several other Taliban fighters, however 5 women were also injured and 10 children kill.  The news article claims the women and children were relatives of the Taliban commander. 

Being the ultra un-violent person that I am, I've never really understood killing in wars and such.  I always wish there was a better way to solve the problems.  It is especially hard, however when the killing involves children, who never hurt anyone.  

President Hamid Karzai had requested in February that their not be anymore airstrikes.  I'm unaware of how he feels about this, but it is probably a find line he walks on what he is willing to allow and what he is not.

Not Enough Relief for Refugees

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This article reports on the Syrian refugees that have been seeking refuge in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.  This is caused from fighting in Syrian's capital Damascus that started back in March 2011.  Since this time the United Nations estimated that 3.6 millions have left the nation.

The United Nations has reported that the refugees could easily overwhelm the international humanitarian agencies.  They stated that if fighting intensifies in Damascus there could be a half million Palestinians who would join the already numerous refugees.  If this happens there is no way the refugee agency will be able to keep up.

Whenever I read stuff like this I remember why I didn't keep up on international news before this class. There are just so many things wrong with this world.  So many things that are not fixable, and on such a huge scale.  So much sadness and so much suffering that I can do basically nothing about.  I cannot imagine being in charge of the United Nations Humanitarian Agencies, what an overwhelming job.

Sudan Removes Limbs of Criminals

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This article reported on Sudan, a country in Africa punishing it's criminals by cutting off the hands and legs of convicted criminals.  These punishments are based on an interpretation of Islamic Law.  Recently some doctors have refused to carry out the orders to remove the hands or legs of these criminals, claiming it would make them break the Hippocratic Oath to protect patients.

It however, was most interesting that some people in Sudan are not alarmed by this and are even make public statements regarding the normalcy of their practices.  Recently Sudan's Deputy Chief Justice announces that they may start to train judges to cut perform the amputations if doctors continue to refuse to carry out the orders.

This article was a pretty good example of the extremely different ways that cultures think from each other.  In our culture this is a very inhumane way to treat any human, even if they are a criminal.  However it appears they find this to be a very normal practice that is not only legal, but encouraged. So in the United States we are in a heated human rights battle over homosexuals being allowed to marry, in Sudan they are still stoning women on counts of adultery.  Definitely extremes in what is cultural acceptable.

More Woes from North Korea

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This article was about North Korea threatening nuclear strikes on the US.  The UN Security counsel was upset at the nuclear tests North Korea has been doing and put sanctions on them.  "The sanctions enraged the North further ... it ratcheted up its threats, suggesting it could carry out a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the United States."  North Korea definitely is trying to make a statement.

North Korea is threatening nuclear warfare on the United States, kind of a big deal, but I thought it was interesting that in my daily life I don't feel the effects of this.  Nothing has changed for me.  It didn't make a difference that some country was treating harm to my country.  It's weird how war is that way.  I hope things simmer down so I don't ever have to experience the trauma that war in your own country brings.