African American AIDS statistics
The first blog I found stated a simple fact: If African Americans were one country, they would have a higher infection rate for HIV/AIDS than some of the African nation counterparts. Pretty heavy statistic to swallow. One in every eight Americans is African American, but one in every two people with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. is African American. I know this blog was supposed to be about AIDS in Africa or Asia, but the fact that this statistic represents what is happening in America was absolutely shocking and saddening to me.
Another blog concerns FACE AIDS, a California-based student run campaign to fight AIDS. The organization focuses on a trip three members took to a refugee camp in Zambia, where few people were openly known to have AIDS and regular testing for the virus was almost obsolete. I think this is the biggest problem in terms of the AIDS epidemic in Africa. There is so little knowledge, resources and open communication about the virus. From reading Michael McColly's book, it seems like everyone wants to keep the issue at bay, which only makes it worse.
The last blog I found was about a new program in South Africa that would sent text messages via cell phone. I think in this technological age, this is a great idea. Now if only I could get reminders on homework assignments, stories, dentist appointments and credit card payments on my phone, my life would be a lot easier.
Waiguoren Critic of South China
Teachers in Xinjiang
One blog I found from China was a professor talking about the lack of glasses available for children. Parents think giving their children glasses because they think it will make the children's eyesight worse over time. This leads to problem in the classroom when students refuse to answer questions because they cannot see the board or overhead. It is also disruptive in class with students leaving their seats to get closer to the board to take notes. I found this interesting because parents in the U.S. have their children in glasses as early as two or three years old.
Another interesting blog I found was of reports of factories closing in China, sounding vaguely familiar to what Americans went through over the last 30 years. Unemployment in certain areas of the country are skyrocketing, with 400 factories closing in one part of the country alone. Most companies are moving to Mexico to reduce export costs.
The last blog I found was two Americans teaching English in China's Xinjiang district. The couple live in near six other foreigners and have a KFC near by. But 70 other teacher lives close together, eating at western restaurants on a regular basis, more than Chinese restaurants. American movies are prevalent and buy western snacks. After being in Europe for a few days, I was amazed when our trip leaders went into McDonald's. I swore I wouldn't eat anything I could get at home, but after a while it was a comfort. So I can understand these teachers spending years teaching English to want to enjoy something a little more familiar.
I found a blog about a genocide occurring in India. Hundreds of thousands of Hindus living in the Kashmir Valley have been forced from their homes by Muslim terrorists and are in exile within their own country. This is something I had never heard of before viewing this blog and I was deeply disturbed. After WWII, the world promised “never again,” but we have seen genocides in Bosnia, Sarajevo and Darfur. It is interesting that the world said “never again” after the genocide of the Jewish people in Europe, but they are doing nothing about this conflict going on between Hindus and Muslims.
Another blog I found was titled An Indian Muslim. The blog featured observations from everyday occurrences, including a protest against terrorism, people professing their love for each other on India's trees and monuments and violence. One entry talked about innocent people being killed, while those who commit crime and know people in the government walk free. The article talks about overthrowing the police forces still intact from when the British were in power.
A recent entry into the Pro Pakistan blog stated that the country should have a punishment of the death penalty for anyone involved in “monetary scandals” and embezzlement. I found this slightly humorous given the recent financial climate and scandals that have rocked the U.S. in past years. That's one way to keep Wall Street in line...
