OU Journalism Students: Global Spotlight

Covering the World from Athens

Scripps journalism students who took our Foreign Correspondence course this winter have produced a total of 34 international special reports and other commentaries on issues pertaining to global crises. The special reports are published in our 2010 Global Spotlight e-magazines and on this IIJ site.

The stories are originally pitched, investigated, written, edited, and published by the students, in conjunction with the Institute for International Journalism. The Global Spotlight publishes three issues annually, which feature underreported international issues and current affairs from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South America and Western/Eastern Europe.

Here are the 2010 Scripps international correspondents and their datelines:

Evan Barton - South Africa
Gail Burkhardt - Jordan
Brigitta Burks - Morocco
Alexandru Cristea - Egypt
Garrett Downing - Colombia
Steve Gartner - Argentina
Allie LaForce - Denmark
Jane Lonsdale - Kenya
Chen Lou - India
Aisha Mohammed - Pakistan
Alex Moorhead - Brazil
Kristin Nehls - Ecuador
Craig Reck - Spain
Eric Sandy - Italy
Meghan Ventura - Japan
Theresa Warzecha - Somalia
Yacong Yuan - Romania

Discrimination against Women in Egypt

By Alexandru Cristea

Edited by Chen Lou

Government records for unemployment in Egypt show that women are mostly impacted by this problem. Unemployment has been one of the biggest social problems in the country for the last two decades. Several characteristics define this steady increase in the number of people out of work.

According to the Egyptian Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistic, the level of unemployment has risen steadily in the last decade. Unemployment levels in the last quarter of 2009 were situated at 9.4% of the existing labor force. In addition, a 2009 report released by the World Bank showed that Egyptian labor force increases each year by around 3%, despite a continuous decrease in the demand for labor. Furthermore, women bear the brunt of unemployment at about 23% of the entire female working population in Egypt. By comparison, just 5.2% of male labor force in the country is unemployed. These figures do not include Egyptians working abroad.

The rate of unemployment for men has steadily decreased from 6% to 5% from 2007 to 2009. In that same period, however, the number of unemployed women increased by approximately 5%. Such differences can be attributed to downsizing in the public sector and to the existence of gender bias in the private sector, according to Professor Naglaa El Ehwany, at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science of Cairo University. Professor El Ehwany is the deputy director and lead economist at The Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES) located in Cairo. ECES is an independent, non-governmental think-tank which conducts research activities in collaboration with local and international experts with the goal of providing solutions to challenges facing the Egyptian economy.

“Women are not encouraged to work in the private sector for cultural issues and because of their family obligations,” El Ehwany said in an exclusive interview with this reporter. “And the private sector is reluctant to hire women because of these obligations,” she added.

There are misconceptions in Egypt where by hiring women is considered detrimental to financial efficiency and places additional legal responsibilities on the company. The Egyptian Labor Law 12/2003 guarantees women employees maternity leave and two breaks of half an hour, but counting them as working hours. By law in Egypt, “a woman can leave the workplace an hour early if she has a baby,” El Ehwany indicated. The Labor Law has several provisions aimed at employed women including up to ninety days of maternity leave and the establishment of nurseries in companies with more than 100 workers.

“There are many social and legal problems that affect women’s ability to get jobs,” said Hany Fawdry, program director with the Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance (EWLA) located in Giza. EWLA is a non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to increasing women’s knowledge of their constitutional rights. “The law discriminates a lot and gives more rights to men than to women. And, of course, there is the fact that women have additional obligations, like family,” he added.

“Women often do not have the time to work late. Organizations must provide places for their children, which they are unwilling to do most of the time. Of course, companies are mostly interested to employ men,” said Fawdry. “They can work until midnight. And women end up marginalized,” he explained.

According to Soha Abdelaty, the problem is also linked with the fact that “harassment against women in the workplace affects the position of women.” Abdelaty is deputy director at Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), a human rights NGO located in Cairo. Abdelaty also disclosed that companies are aware of the potential challenges and very often will not want to risk having women as employees.

Marwa Rushdy, program associate at The Education For Employment Foundation (EFE Foundation), lamented the bias against women in the private sector. EFE is an NGO located in Cairo and focused on labor training. It was established in 2008 with a sole purpose of reducing unemployment by training graduates and placing them in companies.“It is something that comes from the private sector mainly. Sometimes companies come and tell us that they specifically want men to fill their jobs,” Rushdy indicated.

El Ehwany indicated, however, that things are changing for the better. “Some businesses are more and more aware that women are more willing to prove themselves,” she said. “They are offering jobs and training. Five, six, seven years ago, they were not willing to embark in training courses, but now many have the initiative of training them on the job. This is mainly because the education system does not produce qualified graduates,” she explained.

She also indicated that there are no clear political agendas to solve this issue from either government or opposition. “The government undertook several reform measures to increase the level of competition and foreign investment but there is no interaction between macroeconomic policies and employment policies. In reality, I cannot see a comprehensive strategy from either power or opposition regarding employment,” she added.

Photos courtesy of Exploring Africa and hedprogram.org

Pakistan: The Future of a Gold Mine

By Aisha Mohammed

Edited by Chen Lou

Miners working in the Saindak copper mine in Pakistan have little to look forward to. Wages, which are meager to begin with, are siphoned away to pay for substandard housing, food and medical bills, said Zahir Mengal, executive director of Azat Foundation. The foundation works to protect the rights of miners in Balochistan, a province mired in poverty in spite of its resource-rich lands.

Mengal says that a state-owned Chinese company called Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC), which has operated Saindak since 2003, has over-mined the land but provided few benefits for workers. Miners get USD 5 a month for medical care and injured workers have received pink slips in lieu of medical attention. Development analyst Fazl-E-Haider has also noted that to date, there is no reliable data on the mine’s environmental impact.

In comparison to MCC, Tethyan Copper Company (TCC), enjoys a better reputation among miners. TCC holds an exploration license for the neighboring Reko Diq mine. It is working on a feasibility study and plans to apply for a mining license in the next few weeks. Unlike MCC, TCC has hired an environmental manager and workers at the site earn twice as much as their Saindak counterparts, said Mengal.

Yet, the future of TCC’s Reko Diq agreement is uncertain. Last December, the Government of Balochistan (GoB) terminated the agreement in order to gain greater control of the mine, which may be the fourth largest copper and gold deposit in the world.

According to Fazl-e-Haider, the federal government has indicated that it will re-negotiate the deal only if TCC agrees to form a joint venture with a smelting firm. This would allow the government to reap a greater share of the profits by exporting processed rather than raw copper. Although smelting captures less than 10 percent of the profits of the copper mining process, former U.S. Representative William Zeliff said the amount is “still important to the people there.” Zeliff currently serves as Chairman of Benway Corporation, a mining company which owns 241,000 acres of land next to Reko Diq.

Exploration and development rights for Reko Diq, which is estimated to yield over 11 billion lb of copper and 9 million oz of gold, have passed through the hands of several international companies. In 1993, the GoB awarded exploration rights to Broken Hill Proprietary (BHP), an Australian company. Seven years later, the GoB established a joint venture with BHP, allocating a 25% interest to the government and a 75% interest to BHP.

In 2000, TCC acquired the BHP holdings, but sold them 6 years later for USD 230 million to Barrick Gold Co., a Canadian company and Antofagasta Plc, a Chilean company. According to Shiekh Tanvir, CEO of Benway Corp., the “accounting was not correct,” because the GoB did not receive any portion of the profits.

“Barrick went through the back door. The deal was not done in a transparent manner,” said Ahmar Mustikhan, founder of the American Friends of Balochistan. According to Mustikhan, former TCC Chairman Muslim Lakhani acquired exploration and development rights in a questionable manner. Lakhani, a non-Balochi, established TCC for the sole purpose of operating Reko Diq and then exploited his friendships with members of Musharraf’s administration to get the rights transferred to his company. “He got it [rights for Reko Diq] moved to his company’s name, but he had no experience in gold or copper mining,” Mustikhan said.

Mengal dismissed the allegations against Lakhani as propaganda. He believes that China may have pressured the government to cancel the agreement because Reko Diq has more gold than Saindak. In February, the Pakistani Business Recorder reported that the Pakistani government declined a proposal from the Chinese government that urged them to award the contract to MCC. The Pakistani government declined, anticipating a legal battle with TCC. “We think that TCC has done a very good job, and this is their right to move forward. The Balochi people do not want the Chinese because their past record is not very good,” said Mengal.

Others, like Mustikhan are not so keen on TCC and its partners. According to Fazl-e-Haider, the “rapid change in the ownership of the province’s copper and gold properties [has] further created doubts” among the Balochi people. To the Balochis it seemed as if “foreign firms paid more attention on selling their interests in copper and gold property at Reko Diq to other copper firms than development of the mine,” he said.

Barrick’s 2009 Third Quarter Report noted that three Pakistani citizens had filed a law suit against Lakhani, all the mining companies involved in Reko Diq, the Balochistan Development Authority (BDA), and the governments of Balochistan and Pakistan. The petitioners alleged that the BDA’s entry into an agreement with BHP was illegal, along with the subsequent transfer of its interests and licenses to TCC. After the Balochistan High Court dropped the law suit in June 2007, the petitioners filed an appeal in the Supreme Court of Pakistan in August 2007. The Pakistani Supreme Court has yet to consider the appeal, but Barrick noted, “it intends to defend this action vigorously.”

That is not the only court case pending against Barrick. The Benway Corporation is suing Barrick for encroaching upon its lands. In 2007, Barrick began building an airstrip on 75 acres owned by Benway and appropriated surface rights for an additional 44,000 acres. Barrick needs the land for water and pipelines and is already conducting surveys, said Tanvir. The Board of Revenue granted Barrick the rights, even though it is only authorized to handle transfers that involve 15 acres or less. “To give rights to Tethyan on Benway exploration land for 75 acres and 44,000 acres is, in our reading of the law, a violation of their authority. The surface rights on mining exploration land can only be allocated by Mines and Minerals Department and not without consent of Benway,” he said.

Others are concerned about the Canadian mining giant’s environmental track record. In January, Norway’s Ministry of Finance announced that the country’s pension fund would divest from Barrick for ethical reasons. The Norwegian Council of Ethics concluded in its report that, “the company’s assertions that its operations do not cause long-term and irreversible environmental damage carry little credibility. This is reinforced by the lack of openness and transparency in the company’s environmental reporting.” Mir Mohammed Ali Talpur, an active member of the Baloch nationalist movement, is concerned that Barrick will not keep its word at Reko Diq. “Barrick is saying that it won’t use cyanide. I have my doubts about it,” he said.

Fazl-e-Haider said that Baloch nationalists had reservations about the deal because the provincial administration was under federal control at the time, and the “province’s interests were naturally neglected.” The Reko Diq project is just one of several development projects that the federal government has executed in Balochistan, despite opposition from Baloch nationalist groups. Historically, the Balochis have claimed that the federal government has denied them an equitable share of their natural resources.

The outcome of the negotiations could have a significant impact on Pakistan’s economic future. The mine is estimated to be worth USD 100 billion, and if Pakistan is able to capture even half of that wealth, it could pay off its external debts, which stand at USD 50.1 billion. However, cutting off ties with foreign investors, could also have ramifications. Speaking at the Overseas Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry, U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Paterson warned that, “Multinational corporations will not invest in a country where deals are cancelled in one hour.” After peaking at USD 8.4 billion in 2007, foreign direct investment declined by nearly 50 percent last year.

Sitting on a volatile goldmine, Pakistan has no choice but to engineer a solution that satisfies the demands of its Balochi citizens as well as the balance sheets of foreign investors.

Photos from AP and benwaycorp.com

Journalism in the 21st century:UNESCO Model Curricula For Journalism Education Журналистика в 21 веке:Учебные Программы по Журналистике, Модель ЮНЕСКО

Dr. David Mould / Доктор Давид Моулд

We live in an age where information is essential. Governments, businesses and organizations use it. As individuals, we need it in our daily lives—for work, education and health. Information shapes our world—and how we think about issues.

We can’t have good information without good journalism. Despite rapid changes in media technology, the fundamentals of journalism have not changed. The journalist needs to research a topic, weigh the evidence and conflicting views, and present a fair and balanced story to an audience. The journalist needs to be aware of the power of media and maintain high ethical standards. Good journalism is vital to understanding the complex issues of our world—from government policies to sustainable development, gender, climate change and biodiversity.

UNESCO is pleased to introduce the Russian version of its Model Curricula for Journalism Education. The English version, developed by an international panel of journalism educators, was launched at the World Journalism Education Congress in Singapore in 2007. More than 50 universities in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America have adopted the curricula or parts of it.

Over the last year, we have been working to develop Russian-language readings and resources. Knowing that library budgets are limited, most readings are copyright-free and downloadable as PDF or Word files.

This is a non-profit project, designed to improve journalism education and enable educators and trainers to share perspectives. By logging into the site, you will have free access to:

• Syllabi for 15 courses and suggested curricula for bachelor’s, master’s and diploma programs
• Recommended readings and resources for 15 courses, ranging from research and writing to law, ethics and specialized reporting courses
• Links to online journalism and media libraries and resources in the UNESCO Series on Journalism Education
• A moderated blog where you can post comments and share perspectives with colleagues

This is a work in progress and your comments are important to us as we develop the curricula. Which syllabi and readings would you use and recommend? Which would you not recommend? Do you have ideas for other courses, topics and readings? Are there student assignments you would like to share?

In the first stage of the project we invite your comments on the following six courses:

• JOUR 101, Foundations of Journalism: Logic, Evidence and Information Gathering
• JOUR 102: Foundations of Journalism: Writing
• JOUR 201, Reporting and Writing: Basic News and Features
• JOUR 203, Journalism Ethics
• JOUR 403, Reporting and Writing: Specialized Journalism—International and Development
• JOUR 405, Reporting and Writing: Specialized Journalism—Science and Health

The “Journalism in the 21st century: UNESCO Model Curricula for Journalism Education” project is directed by Dr. David Mould, Professor of Media Arts and Studies at Ohio University (U.S.A.). He has 15 years experience as an international journalism educator, and has worked extensively in Central Asia. Arman Tarjimanyan, curriculum resources developer, is Doctoral student in Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism.

PLEASE, ENTER OUR WEBSITE: http://www.ruscurriculum.blogspot.com

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Мы живем во времена, когда информация необходима. Информация пользуется спросом у всех – правительств, бизнеса и организаций. Она необходима нам в ежедневной жизни – для работы, образования или здоровья. Информация формирует наш мир, а также способ мышления.

Невозможно иметь качественную информацию без наличия качественной журналистики. Несмотря на стремительные изменения в медиа технологиях, основы журналистики остались неизменны. Журналисту необходимо исследовать тему, оценить свидетельства и противололожные взгляды и предоставить аудитории честную и сбалансированную историю. Журналисту необходимо знать о мощи медиа и соблюдать высокие этические стандарты. Качественная журналистика необходима для всестороннего изучения всех сложных проблем мира: от правительственной политики до устойчивого развития, гендерных вопросов, перемены климата и биологического разнообразия.

ЮНЕСКО представляет вам русскоязычную версию своей Модели Учебных Программ по Журналистике. Англоязычная версия была разработана международной группой специалистов в области образования и представлена на Всемирном Конгрессе по Образованию в Области Журналистики в 2007 году. Более 50 университетов Азии, Африки, Европы и Латинской Америки внедрили учебные планы полностью или частично.

За последний год мы работали над разработкой русскоязычных материалов и ресурсов. Помня о том, что бюджеты библиотек ограниченны, мы сделали все возможное, чтобы большинство материалов предоставлялись безвозмездно и была бы возможность скачивания в формате PDF или Word.

Это некоммерческий проект, направленный на улучшение журналистского образования и на предоставление возможности обмена мнениями между специалистами из области образования и преподавателями. Войдя на сайт, вы получите свободный доступ к следующим ресурсам:

• Учебные планы для 15 курсов и предлагаемые курсы для бакалавриата, магистрских, а также дипломных программ
• Рекомендованная литература и ресурсы для 15 курсов, в диапазоне от исследования и письма до курсов по законодательству, этике и специализированного репортажа
• Ссылки на онлайн библиотеки по журналистике и ресурсы Серии Журналистского Образования ЮНЕСКО
• Модерируемый блог, где вы можете размещать свои комментарии и обмениваться опытом с коллегами

Работа над материалами все еще продолжается и ваши комментарии важны для нас для разработки учебных планов. Какие именно курсы или литературу вы бы использовали и рекомендовали? Которые из них вы бы не рекомендовали? Есть ли у вас мысли относительно других курсов, тем или материалов для чтения? Есть ли задания, которыми вы бы хотели поделиться?

На первом этапе, мы рекоммендуем вам сконцентрировать внимание на следующих шести курсах:

• JOUR 101, Основы журналистики: логика, достоверность фактов и сбор информации
• JOUR 102: Основы журналистики: навыки письма
• JOUR 201, Подготовка информационных и иных материалов: Простые новости и занимательные статьи
• JOUR 203, Журналистская этика
• JOUR 403, Специализированная журналистика: Международная журналистика и журналистика развивающихся стран
• JOUR 405, Специализированная журналистика: Наука и Здравоохранение

Проектом “Журналистика в 21 веке: Учебные Программы по Журналистике, Модель ЮНЕСКО” руководит Доктор Давид Моулд, Профессор Медиа Искусств и Исследований Университета Огайо (США). У Доктора Моулда 15-летний опыт работы в качестве преподавателя журналистики на международном уровне, кроме того, он активно работал в Центральной Азии. Ресурсы для учебных планов разработанны студентом докторантуры Школы Журналистики Э. В. Скриппса Университета Огайо Арманом Тарджиманяном.

ПОЖАЛУЙСТА, ЗАХОДИТЕ НА НАШ САЙТ: http://www.ruscurriculum.blogspot.com

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This project is hosted by the Institute for International Journalism, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, and supported by grants from the UNESCO Cluster Office for Central Asia and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Representative on Freedom of the Media.

Проекту содействует Институт Международной Журналистики Школы Журналистики им. Э. В. Скриппса Университета Огайо. Проект осуществляется при содействии грантов офиса ЮНЕСКО в Центральной Азии, а также Представительства Свободы СМИ Организации по Безопасности и Сотрудничеству в Европе (ОБСЕ).

Cycling: Model for Erasing Carbon Footprints?

Denmark's International Model of Excellence

By Allie LaForce
Edited by Yacong Yuan

Twenty percent of energy consumption in the United States comes from the transportation sector. With the ongoing concern and debate over climate change, the U.S. is looking to follow Denmark’s lead in reducing its carbon footprint.Denmark has reduced transportation consumption by turning to a much cleaner mode of transportation - cycling. As home of the world’s most livable city,Denmark prides itself in its innovative urban planning that takes advantage of cycling as its main form of transportation.

According to the Cycling Embassy of Denmark, roughly half a million bikes are sold in Denmark each year and 90% of all Danes own a bicycle. The MunicipalityofCopenhagen indicates that Denmark’s capital enjoys 350 kilometers of cycle tracks and 40 kilometers of green cycle routes. These green cycle routes allow the city to remain a minimal contributor to carbon dioxide (co2) traffic emissions. “When we reach the stage that over 50% of commuters choose to cycle to their place of work or education, then Copenhagen traffic will be able to save an additional 80,000 tons of co2 per year,” according to Denmark’s national website.

In most developed countries however, motorized vehicles remain at the forefront of transportation. The United States, China, Russia and India are among the top contributors to co2 emissions and the U.S. has a national average of at least 2 vehicles per household.

“The problem is we are creating an automobile friendly environment,” saysGeoffrey Buckley, Associate Professor of Geography at Ohio University. “Landscapes are not very dense so public transit systems and biking don’t make sense in the United States.”

Limiting co2 emissions is only one of the reasons Danish citizens buy into the cycling lifestyle. Biking to work, school and sporting events also serves as a daily dose of exercise.

“I used to bike everyday for going to work and picking up the children. I do some running as well, but I did get 45 minutes of exercise everyday on the bike from going to work,” says Mats Hansen, Team Manager for the Technical and Environmental Administration in Copenhagen, Denmark. “It was an important part of my daily exercise and I do feel a difference now that I do not bike to work.”

“I bike to the station everyday,” says Lars Benjaminsen, Borgerservice Assistant. He adds that “Twice a week it is my source of fitness and it includes about 30 minutes of exercise going 4 miles each way. It is not a part of my social life. I just exercise because it is the easiest way to get to the train station. I feel very safe biking and can exercise at the same time.”

While Benjaminsen feels safe traveling to work, many Danes are fighting for safer transportation structures. An urban plan that incorporates cycling as an environmentally friendly mode of transportation and a form of exercise is beneficial. However, developing a safe cycling environment has been an on-going challenge. A typical cycling track is 2.2 meters wide with a curbstone edge to protect cyclists from cars, but the Cycling Embassy of Denmark reports that 54 deaths and 561 people were seriously injured from bicycling accidents last year.

“The bike paths are quite structured. However, there are many times when there is not enough space or when you are traveling with cars it can be very nerve-racking and dangerous,” Danish citizen, Jonny Rainton says.

“Our institute has found that close to half of Copenhagen cyclists feel safe and over half of those who feel unsafe say that cars are the cause of their anxiety… When drivers are asked the same question, 61% feel cyclists are an irritating factor,” Says Hansen.

American Cross-country cyclist Brian Barnhart, who has cycled through Europe, says the problem happens when city planners do not consider the challenges of having cars and bikes share transportation routes. “There are huge differences between communities depending on whether or not the city is fit for bicyclists and it is extremely frustrating,” says Barnhart, adding that communities that have separation of driving and cycling lanes in Europe, make it more safe for cyclists and drivers to travel at their own pace.

U.S. transportation authorities are now encouraging more people to cycle. The New York Times reported on December 15^th, 2009 that Mayor Bloomberg of New York City earned the first Award of Leadership for Cycling Promotion by the Cycling Embassy of Denmark. The city has added 350 kilometers to the cycling system. This helped to increase cycling by 26 percent in 2009.

Barnhart says “The traffic would be far less if even ten percent of the people would take bicycles. You hear complaints about sitting in traffic when biking would take the same amount of time and general congestion in the city would be better.”

Earlier this year, Los Angeles began to address the issue of cycling and public safety. Police Department Chief Charlie Beck became the first top LAPD brass to publicly address the rights and protection of cyclists. According to journalist Ari Bloomekatz of the Los Angeles Times, Beck’s statements come amid growing complaints from cyclists that drivers make it difficult for them to ride of narrow streets.

“It is going to take citizens who are able to lobby and promote the ideas among politicians. It will take a full renovation to be successful. The cities are going to have to start providing storage for people when they bike in as well as a way for them to freshen up with they get to work after a ride,” says Barnhart. “It will not be an easy transition but its impact on health and the environment would be significant.”Photos courtesy of seattletimes, sightline and maddaps

Systemic Racism Ripples through Italian Society

By Eric Sandy

Edited by Yacong Yuan

Regions in southern Italy have long been host to numerousimmigrant workers. In recent months, however, international media outlets have highlighted the inherent racism in the area.

The problem is, in fact, quite multifaceted. Italy, known as a hotbed of immigration (and emigration) in Europe, is presently witnessing the byproduct of institutionalized racism. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi recently summed up his government's view, one that does not invite the political or economic diversity of an immigrant population.“The left wants a multiethnic society – we don't,” Berlusconi said of his center-right coalition government. Statements such as that, which are common in Italian politics, emphasize the deep social divide amongst politicians and their constituents. Ideas like immigrant reform are indeed hot topics in Italy, as more that 5 percent of the country's population is labeled legal immigrants. Countless immigrants work and live in Italy illegally. This notable proportion of the population (especially in rural areas) makes economic waves for the country, which is similar to other developed nations like the US and France. A closer look reveals much of the racism to have roots far below the surface, signaling a systemic problem in society.

That very issue of racism came to the forefront with a series of riots and attacks in January. In rural Calabria, a region in Southern Italy (think of it as the “toe” of Italy's boot shape), poor immigrants clashed with poor residents after tensions rose to extreme levels. During the three-day riots, nearly 50 people were injured (including police officers and immigrants workers alike). Italian journalist Jean-Léonard Touadi compared the scene to Alabama in the 1920s – an explosion of vitriol and xenophobia.

International news outlets, such as CNN and The New York Times' bureau in Rome, were quick to report the story, focusing on the surface-level racism that plagues much of Italy. As the story unfolded, things began to take a different shape.

Some Italian officials and journalists quietly pointed fingers at local crime syndicates in the area – namely, 'Ndrangheta, a notorious outfit based in Calabria. According to journalist Giulio D'Eramo, an Italian journalist presently based in England, that organization recently became “the richest and strongest criminal organization in Italy” - trumping Sicily's Cosa Nostra.

'Ndrangheta’s history goes back about 150 years. The group's mission tends to focus on draining the central power of the region or country. In that sense, the group co-opted the arrival of immigrants and nudged them into “subhuman conditions, without human rights,” according to Flavio Di Giacomo, the spokesman for the International Organization for Migration in Italy, who is quoted by Rachel Donadio in The New York Times.

Immigrant workers, seeking the only viable alternative to Berlusconi's anti-immigrant policies, often turn to such horrid situations for their livelihoods. Those very workers then produce much of the food that comes from the region – food that is often exported to other countries. Considering that, it is clear that criminal syndicates and similar groups are exploiting the racial tension of southern Italy for their own economic gain.

The South, which is an agricultural-based economic area, is seen as the breeding ground for racism, as well as its foil - antiracist activism. That phenomenon is worsened by the fact that southern Italy has some of the highest unemployment rates in Europe.

“As far as southern Italy is concerned, the worst aspect is that the south no longer believes in itself. They are resigned to things as they are,” Gian Antonio Stella said in an interview with Federica Zoja of ResetDoc. Stella is a writer for Corriere della Sera, an Italian daily based in Milan.

Getting into those southern regions is a complex matter for immigrants. Often, transportation across the Mediterranean will cost an individual upwards of $10,000. Once in the target European country (Spain also attracts many migrants), many will settle and integrate into the working economy. In Italy, this typically means evading the government's deportation policies and siding with the power of organized crime.

Such powers, like 'Ndrangheta for instance, wield a mighty sword over the silent populace. While racism is allegedly the culprit in times of distress, it seems that people are hesitant to cast blame at organized crime – a significant instigator of systemic problems like racism. Such realities shed light on the influence that non-governmental groups can harness over people.

With the local media warping the situation by focusing only on aspects of the sickness, rather than the whole of it, the problem atrophies. Though Italy has such a grand connection with immigration, those local newspapers and broadcast stations (many of which are somehow owned by Berlusconi) rarely touch the topic. When they do, it’s in the vein of nationalism or finger pointing.

The Holy See often speaks out against such silences and misdirection. Pope Benedict XVI said that “one can defend the legacy of a people, but one cannot live on an island separated from the rest of the world, especially today.” The fact that the world is becoming a sort of global village is something that Italians will have to contend with in terms of their politics, civil societies, economics and their relations in the European Union.

Photos courtesy of bbc,toonpool and dailymail

Coming Soon: Spanish Blockbusters

By Craig Reck

Edited by Yacong Yuan

The Oscars are over and the Academy has proven that bigger is not always better. The international epic Avatar won a few awards, but not nearly as many as the critically acclaimed film The Hurt Locker. Regardless of which one is better, they are both Hollywood blockbusters. But how can countries rich in culture like Spain compete with these powerhouse movies coming from the United States?

The Spanish movie business is not as glamorous as its U.S. counterpart. Filmmakers in Spain turn to the government for support. Spain’s Ministry of Culture provides the necessary funds to maintain a movie industry, because there are not many private investors. Some producers in the industry say the Spanish government should change its business model. Representing Atlantia Canarias based in the Canary Islands, Vicente Mora says, “We believe that Spain should adopt a new model of business in financing based on the private investment and develop equal lines of exposure.”

Until the model is changed, prospective movie producers need to appeal to the Ministry of Culture. If a movie idea does not promote the culture of Spain, the government will not support it. This results in mostly independent films about real life situations, which can frustrate those producers who want to make sci-fi and fantasy pictures. Paulino Cuevas of Euromedia in Málaga says he understands the reasoning, but “you go to cinema to have an experience, you don't want to go see a movie for instance, where a guy looses his job in Andalusia.”

Movie tickets in Spain cost between 8 and 14 Euros, which is the equivalent of paying $11 - $19 in the United States. Spanish moviegoers now have to decide between the Spanish cultural film and the U.S. import. The decision might seem obvious, but Alejandro Loeza, a graduate student in Pamplona, says he “likes Spanish movies better, but they can’t compete visually with U.S. movies.”

Movie producer Paulino Cuevas is working to change that. He wants Spanish cinema to reach the same level as that of the United States, but Cuevas is convinced that the U.S. invented the movie industry. He says classics like Star Wars with the hero in white and the villain in black are now fundamental to the storytelling process of filmmaking. “I like to copy you guys, because you’re so good – silent movies, D.W. Griffith, everything. It’s a timeless business. I’m 41, but I’m still learning,” Cuevas says.

In hopes of shaking the Spanish system, Cuevas and his production company Euromedia made four movie trailers similar to what you might expect from a Hollywood production company. Among the trailers, Arkham Asylum looked at the darker side of Batman, Captain Harlock focused on a space pirate from a popular manga series, and Bad Boy brought to life another character from Frank Miller, who is the same author of popular graphic novels turned movies Sin City and 300. The fourth trailer adapted the popular comic book Sláine, which is based on Celtic myth. Cuevas later met with the comic book publishers, who appreciated his work despite a surge for comic book adaptations in Hollywood. “They appreciated the movie staying true to the story,” he says.

Cuevas premiered Sláine along with the other three trailers at the Málaga Film Festival and astounded the audience. Unable to attend later film festivals to market his work, Cuevas uploaded the trailers to Youtube. Word traveled fast and Euromedia soon had collaboration offers from Hollywood and all over the world.

Since Cuevas’ initial success in 2007, he has worked with international crews from Germany and the Netherlands, and he’s currently producing a Russian film in Moscow. It is alliances like these that strengthen a country’s movie industry when there are so few local private investors. Vicente Mora of Atlantia Canarias, who signed a $2.7 million investment commitment, says, “They help enormously to develop the (Spanish) industry with greater possibilities of success.”

Until the country of Spain can attract more private investors, filmmakers will have to continue making culturally significant movies with government money. The time of attracting private investors might be sooner than expected at the rate Cuevas and Mora are succeeding. An international blockbuster from Spain could be coming to a theatre near you, because there’s more to Spanish cinema than culture. As Cuevas says, “I work in this business to make my dreams come true.”

Photos courtesy of eqgroup.com and tvspain

The Argentine peso and its effect on American expatriates

By Steve Gartner

Edited by Chen Lou

Mike Yanqui will never forget his first visits to Buenos Aires. They came in the 1990s, and he fell in love with the bustling streets and eclectic buildings. He wanted to call the city his home.

But Buenos Aires, nicknamed the “Paris of South America, was one of the most expensive cities in the world.

“There was no way I could afford to live here,” said Yanqui, a native of Chicago.

That all changed in 2001, however, when a financial crisis hit Argentina. The value of the Argentine peso dropped to one-third the value of the U.S. dollar, allowing Yanqui to look at the financial crisis as an opportunity of a lifetime.

That lifetime became a reality in 2001 when Argentina tried to restructure its $132 billion national debt. After the government couldn’t pay the $95 billion it owed in bonds, its actions created an economic panic. Overnight Argentines withdrew $500 million from banks to protect their money from the collapsing government bonds

Julie Paxton, an economics professor at Ohio University, attributed the panic and the accompanying inflation on people’s worry about the currency. After all the rush on bank deposits, interest rates rose 200 percent, greatly devaluing the peso.

“As others see those price increases, they will ask for higher wages and other things,” Paxton said. “It becomes a self-sustaining cycle.”

Paxton said the best way to break out of the cycle was to work toward removing the debt, a problem that had plagued the country for years. With a struggling economy, finding money to pay down the debt has been nearly impossible.

Despite the difficulties plaguing Argentina economically, its devalued peso has benefited foreigners, many of whom couldn’t afford to live in Argentina in the past but could now live there in luxury.

Yanqui and his wife are an example. They moved to Buenos Aires where her family held rights to a cattle farm. He said he knew they wouldn’t be able to find a better time.

“We were afraid of being sucked into buying some condo in downtown Chicago,” he said.

Like Yanqui, Jaime Schectman, owner of a vacation rental business in Patagonia was another American who took advantage of the devalued peso. He and his wife Shanie moved from Lake Tahoe, Calif., to Patagonia in 2005. Schectman said they now enjoy many luxuries in life, including a maid, weekly massages and regular dinners at the finest restaurants in Patagonia.

“Prices have risen since we first moved here in 2005,” Schectman said. “We have a much higher standard of living than back home.”

Despite the weak economy, the Schectmans continue to prosper because they run their business on dollars and don’t feel the effects of the devalued peso.

Yet most Argentines don‘t live like the Schectmans. Since 2001, inflation has continued to erode their spending power.

Taylor Selden, a U.S. businessman who moved to Argentina in 2004, said he’s seen the value rise from 2.8 to 3.9 per dollar since his arrival. This valuation of the peso most directly affects the average Argentine, people who don’t have the cash flow that most Americans who live there do.

“If he or she is not able to negotiate a salary increase to match the rate of inflation, the purchasing power of their salary will shrink and squeeze their monthly budget,” Selden said. “On a group level, this leads to union conflicts with companies and the government during salary negotiations, protests and social unrest.”

This unrest has only grown as the peso continues to suffer globally. On Feb. 16, the currency was valued at 3.8 pesos per 1 U.S. dollar, surpassing the lowest value in Argentine history, a mark set in 2002.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the peso has weakened 9.4 percent in the last year, the only loser among the six Latin American currencies tracked against the U.S. dollar. The situation is expected to get worse for the peso. The Royal Bank of Scotland estimates the value to balloon to as much a 4.25 pesos per 1 U.S. dollar in 2010.

Despite the devalued peso, Selden said not everything in Argentina is cheaper, especially imports.

“Groceries, eating out, and utilities are cheaper here in Buenos Aires,” he said. “Anything that isn't made here is much more expensive -- electronics and cars -- due to the crushing import taxes. So, it ends up being a mixed bag at best.”

Bernhardson Wayne from the U.S. who is currently visiting Buenos Aires said the inflation doesn’t change the way he spends his money.

“It hasn't affected me all that much, except that dining in restaurants and riding in taxis has gotten much more expensive,” Wayne said. “If I were dependent on a local salary, I would really feel it.”

Some U.S. citizens have been affected just as many Argentines have. Dan Pearlman hasn’t seen his standard of living improve.

“I moved here with money in the bank, and it was really cheaper to live here,” said Pearlman, a chef. “But I was also making less, so it balanced out.”

He moved to Buenos Aires from New York City in 2005 and has seen the standard of living drop to have of what it costs to live in New York.

Inflation also affects local businesses in Argentina. Yanqui said he’s seen shop owners refuse to open their stores some days because they were unsure of the actual price of their goods.

“If he opens the door and is selling it at a price that is too low, he’ll end up closing his door at the end of the day having worked his ass off and having lost money,” he said.

As Argentina continues to wrestle with its devalued peso, Yanqui said the government doesn’t necessarily view the problem as a major concern.

“I think some of it has to do with the government keeping the peso the way it is so some of the exports do well in foreign markets,” Yanqui said.

He’s unlikely to complain as he and other expatriates continue to prosper despite the depreciation of the Argentine peso.

Photos courtesy of Buenos Aires Photographer and The Argentine Post