The UNPFII ( United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues) is an organization based out of the UN to target issues specific to Indigenous peoples. Many members of this organization are indigenous people themselves and unfortunately they spend most of their time talking about the issues instead of just dealing with them within their own nations. I do not get why Canada has anything to do with this program. The creation of this organization is only going to make the difference between indigenous peoples and other people in the country larger by make them more distinctly different. indigenous peoples should learn to adapt to their changing world instead of holding on to the past.
The UNPFII meets for two weeks out of the year, what are they doing with the rest of the year? not much obviously because the "Issues" only seem to get worse and worse according to them. It would seem pretty stupid that any government is paying people to discuss issues for a tiny fraction of the year and then do nothing about it. This money could be far better used to just solve the issues that are obvious. Canada has some grasp over this idea because they voted against the declaration of the rights of indigenous peoples.
It seems to me that the entire point of the UNPFII is to try and make indigenous peoples look better somehow and convince governments that they deserve special treatment somehow. This is ridiculous as all peoples should be treated equally. The indigenous people of many countries are simply not willing to change with the rest of the world believing that they don't need to change, and they don't really. If the whine enough about their problems governments will just give them what they want so they'll shut up. This is how it works in Canada at least.
Change is the word of our times, everything around us is changing at such a alarming rate that it's hard to keep up with it all. Many indigenous peoples are not used to this state of constant change and simply cannot keep up, this isn't their faults entirely. By putting them on reserves we've basically put them aside to fend for themselves, and that was just peachy 100 years ago, but now it is simply impossible for indigenous people to live the same lives they have been living in todays world, so they are expected to make 100 years of change up instantly. It cant be done, plain and simple. This is partly governments fault for in a way, holding indigenous cultures back by not allowing them to merge with other societies and cultures. It is also the peoples fault for not pushing for this until now, they've waited until it was to late to try and make nessacary changes and they expect it (the catch-up process) to be easy and pain-free because they want others to do it for them.
In summary the UNPFII isnt really doing anything for the world, I could not find one thing on their website that actually changed something in a nation or raised awareness, I hadnt even heard of the UNPFII until today.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
The Silk Road
The Silk Road had a massive impact on the development of Europe, ranging from the Romans to the Renaissance. Culture and vital technology were shared by these routes that without, we may still have been living in a feudal society. Many goods were also traded obviously that enhanced the lives of both the Europeans and those they traded with. But with the sharing of these cultures and religions came conflict with led to wars such as the crusades.
While traders traversed the silk road (although very few went from one end to another) they passed by and stayed amongst cultures that were far different from their own, many of these traders that experienced these different traditions and ideas brought them back home with them. For example the Chinese were the first to effectively use gunpowder, and without the silk road this incredible advancement in warfare would have not been available to Europeans for hundreds of years. The printing press which allowed thinkers to get their radical new ideas about freedom and rebellion against the Catholic church was also first developed in Asia. The people of Europe took the idea and applied it to their own lives. Without either of these things, Europe could have very well been the same old society we read about in history books still.
Silk was not the only thing that was traded on the Silk Road. Many other valuable products made their way across the Route for the gain of all who were involved, although most of the benefit does go to Europe. Spices that allowed food that had been salted in order to preserve it to still have some taste to it, a big plus to the lives of those who could afford to have spices shipped half way around the world. Medicines were also traded which have very obvious value in that they extended the lives of those who could get a hold of them. Pottery was also traded by those in the middle east for products that both the Europeans and the Asians had, this allowed middle eastern nations to develop along side their neighbours and remain in control of their lands.
While some traders brought back the ideas and traditions that they had learned on the Silk Road, some opposed them and tried to force their ideas upon the natives of the land. This resulted in Major conflicts. Through the Silk Road, leaders of the Christians in Europe learned that the "Holy Land" or Israel was under control of the Arabs, They couldn't just let that sit could they? So they sent their great armies to go and reclaim it and thus the crusades began. If the silk road had not existed, how would they have learned of these things? Also, how did these armies get to the Holy Land? Most likely through the trade routes of the Silk Road. Even today, these same conflicts still exist, and it all started on the Silk Road.
As you can see The Silk Road has played not just any ordinary role in the development of Europe from its medieval Society to the modern place it is today, but a lead role that we couldn't have lived without. Now we have many other ways of transporting goods such as air travel and new sea routes, but we also have the ways needed to transport ideas across the land through the media. The effects of the Silk Road are still in effect today, the middle east is in chaos because some are still trying to force those same ideals upon the people, and the people will still not accept them.
While traders traversed the silk road (although very few went from one end to another) they passed by and stayed amongst cultures that were far different from their own, many of these traders that experienced these different traditions and ideas brought them back home with them. For example the Chinese were the first to effectively use gunpowder, and without the silk road this incredible advancement in warfare would have not been available to Europeans for hundreds of years. The printing press which allowed thinkers to get their radical new ideas about freedom and rebellion against the Catholic church was also first developed in Asia. The people of Europe took the idea and applied it to their own lives. Without either of these things, Europe could have very well been the same old society we read about in history books still.
Silk was not the only thing that was traded on the Silk Road. Many other valuable products made their way across the Route for the gain of all who were involved, although most of the benefit does go to Europe. Spices that allowed food that had been salted in order to preserve it to still have some taste to it, a big plus to the lives of those who could afford to have spices shipped half way around the world. Medicines were also traded which have very obvious value in that they extended the lives of those who could get a hold of them. Pottery was also traded by those in the middle east for products that both the Europeans and the Asians had, this allowed middle eastern nations to develop along side their neighbours and remain in control of their lands.
While some traders brought back the ideas and traditions that they had learned on the Silk Road, some opposed them and tried to force their ideas upon the natives of the land. This resulted in Major conflicts. Through the Silk Road, leaders of the Christians in Europe learned that the "Holy Land" or Israel was under control of the Arabs, They couldn't just let that sit could they? So they sent their great armies to go and reclaim it and thus the crusades began. If the silk road had not existed, how would they have learned of these things? Also, how did these armies get to the Holy Land? Most likely through the trade routes of the Silk Road. Even today, these same conflicts still exist, and it all started on the Silk Road.
As you can see The Silk Road has played not just any ordinary role in the development of Europe from its medieval Society to the modern place it is today, but a lead role that we couldn't have lived without. Now we have many other ways of transporting goods such as air travel and new sea routes, but we also have the ways needed to transport ideas across the land through the media. The effects of the Silk Road are still in effect today, the middle east is in chaos because some are still trying to force those same ideals upon the people, and the people will still not accept them.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sudan
How does colonialism apply to Sudan today? to understand this question we must first figure out what happened in Sudan and how Great Britain and Egypt have made their impacts on this country. Back in the 1880's the area known today as Sudan was colonized and ruled by Britain. Almost twenty years later Egypt entered the scene when Britain and Egypt decided to rule Sudan jointly and things stayed that way until the "Closed door" policy to separate the Arab peoples in the Northern parts of Sudan and those of African descent and this worked fairly well until 1956 when Sudan earned their Independence from both ruling nations. Sounds great right? not really, the people were still extremely divided from all those years of living the "Closed door" policies so two major groups emerged, the Africans in the south and the Arabs in the north. Now the two groups could have just split off into two separate nations at this point and everything would've been just peachy. Things don't work that way though instead the stronger of the two halves (Arab groups in the North) took control of the entire country and began to force their beliefs and traditions upon the African groups of the south. All other ideals, traditions and beliefs were suppressed and people were punished if they openly supported them. The Africans weren't going down without a fight though, and this has resulted in civil war throughout Sudan.
The best Solution to this problem in my opinion would be a strong, but peaceful intervention by stronger nations like the US, Britain, or Canada. They could bring some sort equality to all the people. Easy to say though, those countries have their own problems that need dealing with let alone taking the problems of other nations upon their shoulders, and even if they were to step in reversing the damage would take many many years.
Overall Colonialism has had a very interesting and negative effect upon Sudan. But I believe the real mistake here was splitting the two cultures up and having the "Closed door" policy in the first place, the people should have been forced to learn to live with each other and accept their differences long before gaining Independence.
The best Solution to this problem in my opinion would be a strong, but peaceful intervention by stronger nations like the US, Britain, or Canada. They could bring some sort equality to all the people. Easy to say though, those countries have their own problems that need dealing with let alone taking the problems of other nations upon their shoulders, and even if they were to step in reversing the damage would take many many years.
Overall Colonialism has had a very interesting and negative effect upon Sudan. But I believe the real mistake here was splitting the two cultures up and having the "Closed door" policy in the first place, the people should have been forced to learn to live with each other and accept their differences long before gaining Independence.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Sudan
Colonialism has played a major role in the history and development of Sudan. To understand the situation you need to know what the back story is. In the 1880's, Good 'ole Great Britain began to colonize and rule over the area known as Sudan. They had issues with the neighbouring nation Egypt. in 1899 they agreed to rule the Country jointly divided into a northern half ruled by Egypt and a southern half ruled by Britain. Now the northern half contained people of Arabic descent and the south had the African natives. This kept the two peoples lived on without even really knowing that the other half even existed.
There wasn't really a problem with that until the 50's when both halves of Sudan achieved independence from their mother countries and suddenly had to deal with each other for the first time in 100 years. Now the basic principle is that whoever was the stronger of the two sides would take over and make the government and that side was the Norther Arabic side. This wouldn't have been a problem except that they quickly began to force their religion and traditions on the Sudanese people, not wanting to give up their own beliefs they fought back and civil war ensued. But since the North was much stronger the southern half soon began to lose and suffered from depopulation and forced movement.
A simple solution to this problem would be that the two halves could split off into their own separate nations entirely, but this probably would not end up working out as the stronger of the two nations would feel that the other half should belong to them and war would continue. A more likely solution would be the intervention of the situation by a much stronger nation, (The US most likely) but even then reversing the damage done will take a long time, but its still better late then never I say.
There wasn't really a problem with that until the 50's when both halves of Sudan achieved independence from their mother countries and suddenly had to deal with each other for the first time in 100 years. Now the basic principle is that whoever was the stronger of the two sides would take over and make the government and that side was the Norther Arabic side. This wouldn't have been a problem except that they quickly began to force their religion and traditions on the Sudanese people, not wanting to give up their own beliefs they fought back and civil war ensued. But since the North was much stronger the southern half soon began to lose and suffered from depopulation and forced movement.
A simple solution to this problem would be that the two halves could split off into their own separate nations entirely, but this probably would not end up working out as the stronger of the two nations would feel that the other half should belong to them and war would continue. A more likely solution would be the intervention of the situation by a much stronger nation, (The US most likely) but even then reversing the damage done will take a long time, but its still better late then never I say.
Potlatch
A Potlatch is a social event where a certain family would host a party of sorts. During the party the family would give many marvelous gifts to their guests. While the reason behind this was supposed to be to redistribute the wealth throughout the community but many just used it as a clever way to make they look good to others. Native American tribes of the Pacific Northwest Coast mainly practiced this event of its own.
There are some similarities between Potlatch’s in the past and lots of charity work today. Both are supposed to be Redistributing the wealth and they are, but most people who do charity work are simply put trying to boost the way they look to others. It’s sad but true that many wealthy celebrity figures take this generous act and twist it into a way to just end up making themselves more money. It would seem that the Wealthy of the northwest Pacific tribes have the same pride in them that celebrities today do. We can look on the bright side though, at least they are doing a little good for others in this selfish act, and the same thing probably happened to the less than wealthy people of the past with Potlatchs.
There are some similarities between Potlatch’s in the past and lots of charity work today. Both are supposed to be Redistributing the wealth and they are, but most people who do charity work are simply put trying to boost the way they look to others. It’s sad but true that many wealthy celebrity figures take this generous act and twist it into a way to just end up making themselves more money. It would seem that the Wealthy of the northwest Pacific tribes have the same pride in them that celebrities today do. We can look on the bright side though, at least they are doing a little good for others in this selfish act, and the same thing probably happened to the less than wealthy people of the past with Potlatchs.
Monday, March 23, 2009
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