10 The DePaulia.

September 27, 2010

NATION & WORLD

Students unsatisifed with DePaul's
efforts to aid Pakistani flood victims
By MICHAEL CORIO
In late July 2010, the typical
monsoon rain that brings the
moisture necessary for rice,
wheat, potatoes, and a host of
other agricultural crops began in
the northern Pakistani province
of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. For
farmers during the peak rice-
growing season, it was a welcome
sight; the moisture seemed
substantial this year, which meant
higher crop yields. Except the
rain never stopped.
Now, two months later, the
flood along the Indus River is
considered one of the worst
natural disasters in Pakistani
history, resulting in 1,802
casualties, as well as displacing
and affecting a record 20.2
million people.
Noting DePaul’s “strong
emphasis on social justice
and reaching out to the
underprivileged,” Agha Raza,
a media consultant living and
working in Islamabad who
graduated from DePaul last year,
called on DePaul to “stand up for
the principles it is founded on”
to “help the millions of Pakistani
victims who were stranded by the
flood.”
“The crisis took the people and
government by surprise,” said
Raza. “The disaster in Pakistan
crept up on people. Initially, the
flood didn’t get a lot of domestic
media coverage, as monsoon
rains during this time of the year
aren’t out of the ordinary. No
one expected precipitation of this
magnitude.”
The enormous amount of
people displaced by the flooding
has made it hard for Pakistan to
provide adequate supplies and
keep up with the rising need
for medical care. The refugee
camps are often overcrowded and
unsanitary. Health conditions that
experts say will only get worse
include cholera and malaria,
fueled by remaining pools of
stagnant water that are breeding
grounds for disease.
Ramla Salahuddin, an
international communication
student at DePaul who was born
and raised in Pakistan, saw the
relief operations firsthand. She
said that the Pakistani people
“really stepped up to help”
giving clothes, food, and money
to victims which was considered
by many to be a part of the
observance of the Islamic holy
month of Ramadan.
Salahuddin also acknowledged
the great work of NGOs and other
private organizations in their
efforts noting their “organization
and mobility” in distributing
supplies and food.  the perception of Pakistan in
However, problems of
accountability and transparency
have surrounded the massive
effort to help the victims.
Salahuddin relayed a story of
when Pakistani Prime Minister
Syed Gilani personally visited
two camps in the Islamabad area,
“praising their cleanliness and
organization, and awarding relief
money to both.”
The following morning,
however, Ramla said the
leaders packed up the camps,
“disappeared and were nowhere
to be found.”
Criticism of the civilian
government has been widespread,
especially due to the slow pace
and transparency issues in
distributing the aid to the camps.
A credible source in Pakistan
that wished to remain anonymous
said, “Many Pakistanis believe
that the government won’t pass
on aid to the people. This is not
a good concept and it reflects
some internal problems in the
way the situation so far has been
handled.”
Although the humanitarian
situation in Pakistan is one of
the worst in recorded history,
international support for the relief
effort has been small in relation
to the scope of the disaster.
The vast majority of the
Pakistani aid money so far has
come from governments and Image courtesy of MCT Wire Service
large organizations rather than
individual donations. active role in fighting extremists a refugee tent, and how “the first
within its own borders.” thing they did was to offer me
Raza said he believes that the
lack of donations also stems from “I as a Pakistani appeal to the tea, something to eat, a place
world for help and support. The to sit. They had lost everything
Western countries, including the relief efforts are so huge no and what little they received they
government can handle it alone,” offered to a complete stranger.
United States. “The perception
of Pakistan is not so great in the said Asif Salahuddin, a prominent Do we have the heart to share
figure in Pakistan who owns the like that?” She said that when
eyes of many Americans,” said
Raza. Independent News Pakistan. she talks to many students at
“Unemployment and crime DePaul they aren’t even aware
“When average Americans
hear these comparisons,” Raza are on the rise, and without of the disaster. “We have stalls
rehabilitation of the victims these here for every small thing- tons
said, “it is hard for them to open
up their wallets and donate to problems will plague Pakistan of sororities, sports clubs, and
and the rest of the world for many interest groups. Did we ever
a country that they perceive to
be supporting terrorism, even years to come. Please help my have a collection or booth for the
country and my people”. Pakistani flood victims? I don’t
though Pakistan has taken an
Ramla talked about going into think so.”

Tension of the Tea Party attracts

media, says DePaul professor France bans Muslim veils
Students seek to understand foreign perspectives
By MICKIE ANDERSON By TAJ SIMMONS a condition that still persists today.
According to John DiMucci, the Assistant
As months of political Director of the Catholic Campus Ministry,
French senators passed a law this month
unrest continuously loom the secular nature of France after the
making it illegal to wear a full Islamic
on both local and national Revolution is something that parallels this
facial veil in public places.
levels, ultraconservative situation and may have contributed to the
While the majority of Europeans approve
television and radio host passage of the law.
the ban, most Americans disagree with
Glenn Beck organized a “I don’t think they’re being mean
this measure, found a study by the Pew
large gathering on the steps spirited, it’s just how they are,” said
Research Center. The study found that 65
of the Lincoln Memorial DiMucci. “After the Revolution, all
percent of Americans are opposed to the
in Washington D.C. last vestiges of religion were forced out of
law versus the 17 percent of the French
month with the intent to French society, so when you’re thinking
who disagree.
send the message for the Photo courtesy of MCT Wire Services about France, you have to understand the
The foundation for the bill came in Jan.
need to “Restore Honor”
Tea Partiers at the Beck Rally in Washington, D.C. when French President Nicolas Sarkozy history that led to the law.”
throughout America. In Pakistan, a full-scale protest was held
gave a public address, stating “The burqa
Held on Aug. 28, the continue to face because of sweeping the U.S. but with after the National Assembly’s passage of
is not welcome in France because it is
47th anniversary of the what he considers an “out- good photo opportunities, the bill. In Indonesia, which embodies
contrary to our values and contrary to the
March on Washington, of-touch” Washington. excellent quotes, and what the world’s largest Muslim population,
ideals we have of a woman’s dignity.”
Beck, along with input Beck has publicized is represented as a simple the head of the Indonesia Ulema Council
Students at DePaul University, which
from former Alaskan himself and his beliefs story line, “Tea Party denounced the French Senate for passing
has been named by the Princeton Review
Governor Sarah Palin, led through the usage of the stories couldn’t help but the law.
as one of the top twenty schools for
the crowd in what Beck media in both his rally and catch on with many in the While many Muslim women in France
diversity for six consecutive years, have
declared a non-political television and radio shows. media.” wear hijabs, which cover the head but
looked to understand the reasoning behind
rally to uphold Martin Regardless of one’s The Tea Party won the not the face, only an estimated 2,000
France’s ban.
Luther King’s message personal views of Beck, Senate primaries this wear niqabs (which obscures the face), or
“It’s kind of unsettling that this law
of equality. According his use of media is month in Alaska- by Joe burqas (which also obscure the eyes).
passed,” said junior Bob Juranek. “I
to CBS News, the rally “exceptional in the way Miller, and in Delaware- “If it’s such a small population affected,
understand where they’re coming from,
consisted of an estimated that he rallies support,” by Christine O’Donnell. then there must be other motives,” said
but at the same time I find it disturbing
87,000 people. said Professor of Media The message of Beck’s senior Abeer Najeeb.
because they’re imposing their ideas on
Though the rally was and Technology Paul rally may have great Under the proposed law, anyone seen
others.”
deemed non-political, Booth, PhD. effect on the upcoming wearing a burqa or a niqab will be fined
“It’s about assimilating. France is a very
Beck’s personal “The media’s coverage elections both nationally 150 euros and may be required to take a
secular country and all non-Catholics
conservative views and of the Tea Partiers has and locally here in Illinois, class about citizenship. Those who force
are frowned upon. It’s a huge double
the intent to uphold the probably helped it,” said said political science a woman to wear a burqa or niqab will be
standard,” said Omar Farooq, a junior.
founding principles of journalism professor Mike Professor Khalil Marrar, fined 15,000 euros. That fine would be
“There is definitely a cultural divide
America were prevalent Conklin. “The media PhD. Marrar said that doubled if the victim is a minor.
happening in France right now,” said
within his religious always likes confrontation just the idea of discontent The French ban is scheduled to come
Islamic Studies major Trent Carl, a senior.
and almost sermon- and tension.” in the government itself into law early next year. Spain and
France is historically a secular country.
like speeches. Beck While Conklin said that is a “powerful impetus Belgium are currently developing similar
After the French Revolution, all churches
spoke of the difficulties he does not see the Tea for voting against bans against the head coverings.
were taken over by the government-
that America is and will Party as a huge movement incumbents.”
 Nation & World. September 27, 2010. The DePaulia 11

This Week in World News

6 MIAMI - Florida Gov. Charlie Crist
announced Wednesday afternoon he will
cease enforcing the state's 33-year-old
gay adoption law, which was declared
unconstitutional by a Miami appeals court
Wednesday morning.
Crist lauded the court ruling as "great"
and told reporters at a 2:30 p.m. EDT news
conference he would immediately stop
enforcing the ban. Crist said he wanted to
confer with the adoptive father at the cen-
ter of the case before deciding whether to
appeal. He said, however, that he believes
the state Supreme Court wouldn't overturn
the court rulings.
Crist once supported the ban. But the
U.S. Senate candidate reversed himself
after he left the Republican Party and be-
gan courting the liberal vote.
A Miami appeals court ruled Wednesday
that Florida's ban on gays adopting is un-
constitutional and affirmed the controver-
sial adoption of two foster children by a gay
North Miami couple.
The unanimous 3-0 decision deals a criti-
cal blow to Florida's 33-year-old law ban-
ning adoption by gay men and lesbians,
and most likely sends the case to Florida's
highest court for resolution.
"Given a total ban on adoption by homo-
sexual persons, one might expect that this
reflected a legislative judgment that homo-
sexual persons are, as a group, unfit to be
parents," the opinion states. "No one in
this case has made, or even hinted at, any
such argument."
"To the contrary, the parties agree 'that
gay people and heterosexuals make
equally good parents.' "
5campaign
MEXICO CITY - Press advocates and newspaper editors say a
by criminal syndicates to kill journalists is drawing a dark
curtain across swaths of Mexico.
1 WASHINGTON - President
Barack Obama, faced with skyrocketing
violence and evidence of growing drug
cartel power in Central America, for the
first time has named three of the region's
countries to the U.S. government's list of
major drug-trafficking nations.
The inclusion of Costa Rica, Honduras
and Nicaragua on the "Majors List" was
front-page news throughout the region,
but there was little expectation that the
designation would mean the U.S. will
make new money and other resources
available.
In Nicaragua, President Daniel Ortega
said the U.S. determination could be
a wake-up call for U.S. legislators that
narcotics "are seriously contaminating"
Central America.
"This contamination, this epidemic,
is across the region, and that's why
it is important that we have more
resources," Ortega said, according to
the La Prensa newspaper in Managua.
"It would be an investment, we say, by
the United States, and I wish members
l of Congress would pay attention to this
k aspect."
j Costa Rican officials admitted that
m o their country is overwhelmed by a
sudden surge of criminal groups tied to
drug smuggling.
n The impact of drug trafficking
throughout Central America is becoming
ever more visible. Panama, Colombia,
and Guatemala, all of which share a
border with Mexico, were placed on
the list more than a decade ago. Of
Central America's seven countries,
only El Salvador and Belize still
aren't considered major narcotics
transshipment nations.

"We aren't reporting on matters of drug trafficking," P a t r i c i a
Mercado, the editor of the Imagen newspaper in Zacatecas,
acknowledged bluntly at a forum Thursday that brought together
editors from across Mexico. "We've been warned that we cannot touch
the issue."
The issue of soaring threats
against Mexican journalists
came to the fore last week
after an anguished front-page
plea to drug cartels from a
border newspaper and the
unprecedented granting of
U.S. asylum to a Mexican
journalist.
"This is a national crisis,"
said Carlos Lauria, senior
coordinator for the Americas
for the Committee to Protect
Journalists, a New York-
based advocacy group. "It
affects the fundamental rights
of Mexicans to be informed."
At least 30 Mexican
journalists have been killed
or have disappeared since
President Felipe Calderon
came to office in late 2006,
but that's resulted in only a
handful of arrests, according
to the committee.
4 MEXICO CITY - In Mexico's northern industrial heartland, gunmen
killed the mayor of the town of Doctor Gonzalez late Thursday, the 10th
time this year that criminals have gunned down mayors. In Mexico City,
a fugitive legislator with drug charges pending against him sneaked
into Congress and took his seat, automatically obtaining immunity from
prosecution.
The assassination of Mayor Prisciliano Rodriguez Salinas outside
his ranch house in a rural area of Nuevo Leon state roiled the political
arena, a sign that politicians who have long been complacent about drug
trafficking are feeling the heat.
Four Mexican mayors have been killed in the past five weeks.
2
LOS ANGELES - One of the nastiest
of the parasites that cause malaria may have
originated in gorillas, scientists say after
analyzing thousands of samples of primate
feces. The findings may clear chimpanzees
for much of the blame.
To test these theories, researchers at
the University of Alabama at Birmingham
analyzed genetic material in samples of
feces vacated by many different types of
primate species: chimpanzees, bonobos,
western gorillas and eastern gorillas. Their
findings were published online Wednesday
in the journal Nature.
Extracting genetic information from gorillas
in the wild is not an easy proposition,
said Beatrice Hahn, a microbiologist at the
university, who co-wrote the study. (Try
drawing blood from a wild adult male gorilla.)
But after studies came out showing that
genetic information could be extracted from
animal droppings, Hahn and her colleagues
realized they were in luck: They had close to
3,000 fecal samples in storage from earlier
work on the simian immunodeficiency virus,
the precursor to HIV in humans.
"They were just sitting there in our freezers,
waiting," Hahn said.
3shoutBUCHAREST,
Romania (above) -- Protesting policemen
slogans, back dropped by a grave cross that reads
"Policeman's Dignity" during a rally in front of the government
headquarters on Friday, Sept. 24, 2010. More than 8,000
police officers and jail wardens, chanting anti-presidential
slogans, joined a rally and, later, an unauthorized march to
the Romanian Presidency headquarters, against the austerity
measures like cuts of salaries and pensions imposed by the
government to meet IMF (International Monetary Fund)
requirements for getting a loan.
Photos and news compiled from MCT Wire services and The Associated Press