Trying to Pull Together- Africans are asking whether are making their lunch or eating it

Gilbert Strizich 144211

Proyecto de Titulación I

The piece Trying to Pull Together, published by The Economist in 2011, provides a broad analysis of the changing relationship between the Chinese government and selected sub-Saharan African countries receiving economic resources from China. Chinese companies that were initially viewed as sources of growth are now being criticized for their aggressive business tactics and the shoddy quality of their construction projects. Many African countries now view billion dollar projects and investment with increasing anxiety.

                  The Chinese approach to development in Africa differs drastically from the American approach. As mentioned in the article, “Politics can be even murkier than finance. For years China has been chummy with African despots who seem to be reliable partners.” Whereas the United States companies require a certain amount of  “good governance” in prospective countries in order to protect investments, the Chinese for go such requirements.  This has meant in part that the Chinese are investing more vigorously in Africa- but what is the real economic impact of this investment? In addition to concerns over ill constructed infrastructure projects, there is increasing evidence that shows certain forms of foreign direct investment can radically raise inflation in economies that are less developed. This in turn can put unforeseen pressures on a country’s currency. Similarly, certain forms of foreign direct investment are more susceptible in retaining wealth in the receiver country, and others not- it is important to know which is the case in Africa.

                  Also worth considering are the different approaches in providing finance, and the implications of these approaches. The article points out, “Perhaps the most significant Chinese push has been in finance. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China has bought 20% of Standard Bank, a South African lender and the continent's biggest bank by assets, and now offers renminbi accounts to expatriate traders. Other mainland banks have opened offices too, and from their sleek towers they make collateral-free loans to Chinese companies. In theory Africans are eligible to borrow on the same terms, but this rarely happens.” This is only an aspect of financial practices to analyze.

                  The real potential area of investigation that comes to mind is a comparative study of these two approaches on economic growth through examining macro-economic indicators over the last ten years. While one may accurately assume that the healthy growth is more likely in countries receiving American investment, what is the effect of a rapid influx of investment, even if the investment is more volatile? These are questions that many have considered, but it is worth wondering if there is anything unique to African countries that would alter these considerations.  After all, each country is different. Perhaps the best way of doing this is two compare the two countries that receive the highest amount of investment by the Chinese and Americans, respectively. However, should it be highest amount in proportion to the their respective GDPs, or would that even change the results?

                  These are only facets of the analyzing what is in reality a huge, highly complex question. To attempt to isolate certain tendencies to within these approaches, then accurately analyze their impact on growth and development is a huge task. However it is a question that needs to be considered, as insights provided through attempted to address it could be highly beneficial to African countries, and perhaps also developing economies.

http://www.economist.com/node/18586448

De esto sale bien fácil una tesis de licenciatura, con la siguiente pregunta de investigación: Have the two approaches towards economic development in sub-Saharn Africa practiced by the United States and China over the last ten years led to similar levels of economic growth, and what is the nature of this growth? Y la siguente hipótesis: The two varying approaches have had a number of different consequences in certain areas of the economy, leading to some countries in a healthier economic state than others.

                 

                  

Boehner: 'Difficult' to move on immigration reform in 2014

César Oscar Cano Gutiérrez

Sociedad y política de Estados Unidos de Norteamérica

6 de febrero de 2014

The article “Boehner: ‘Difficult’ to move on immigration reform in 2014” from the Washington Post, describes the difficulties that exist on the lawmaking process, especially in laws related with the immigration topic. In this article is shown what House Speaker John Andrew Boehner has said about the immigration reform. Boehner had appeared to be pushing for this reform to occur sometime on this year, but now he has stated “there’s widespread doubt about whether this administration can be trusted to enforce our laws. And it’s going to be difficult to move any immigration legislation until that changes,” because of this year’s midterms elections. And also, Boehner says that this applies to the ongoing debt-ceiling negotiations.

            On this article is stated the situation, where some people, like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, think that “it would be impossible for the House and Senate to strike a deal that could pass both chambers” on this year. But on the other side, some Republicans believe that “if Boehner aggressively pursues immigration reform in 2014, it could spell doom for House Republicans who face contentious races in this year’s midterms.” Both opinions shows the effects of elections on lawmaking process, because of the distrust on that if the reform will be implemented as they were intended to be, and also, because of the interests behind the candidates.

            Finally, this article shows some jokes made by Boehner about Republicans’ position on these topics, saying that Republicans will be against any kind of motion introduced by the Congress.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/02/06/boehner-difficult-to-move-on-immigration-reform-in-2014/

I agree with Boehner’s statements because of this year’s midterms elections, candidates are more cautious with the decisions they make so they don’t get a bad reputation, also because the intention of the Republicans to place obstacles on Democrats’ way to make them lose voter’s support on elections. But I think that the jokes were “a bit too much” because those jokes might be considered some kind of offense or aggressive behavior against Republicans, and that might make them, the Democrats, lose support. I mean, I think those jokes were funny, but they were out of order.

In conclusion, I think that this is an important matter to the US Government because the result of the actions made by the chambers will change the course of the US society, especially the immigration reform because it will change the importance and the role played by the immigrants on the US economy, politics and society. I think that the US Government is dealing with a difficult situation between the Congress and the Senate because of the distrust from both parties, and this distrust is magnified by this year’s midterm elections, so this scenario will prevent that reforms or new laws to be accepted by the chambers, at least on this year. So it might be more prudent or wiser to wait until the elections are over to start the negotiations between the Republicans’ and Democrats’ representatives to approve any kind of reform or new law.

Second-Class Noncitizens

Thomas Cummings 400587
Proyecto de Titulación I

En el artículo titulado Second-Class Noncitizens de New York Times, el autor, Mae M. Ngai, habla de los distintos factores que afectan esta cuestión tan polémica. Habla de la posibilidad de legalizar a los 11 millones de migrantes que están en el país de manera ilegal. Esta propuesta les daría la oportunidad de seguir en el país a trabajar con la opción de naturalizarse años después.

Esta, dice el autor, sería una nueva clase social, una clase secundaria que reconoce la presencia dentro de la sociedad sin otorgarles los mismos derechos que un ciudadano. Aquí lo importante es analizar qué hay detrás de esta propuesta. Ngai reconoce un factor que es el voto latino. En los Estados Unidos hay una gran cantidad de latinos que tienen estatus ilegal, sin embargo otro porcentaje sí tiene estatus legal y por ende el derecho a voto. Es importante para los partidos políticos mostrar apoyo a estas minorías que constituyen parte de su apoyo político. Este paso para legalizar a los inmigrantes sin darles la ciudanía es importante por dos razones, los cuales consideraremos los factores más importantes para en el debate sobre la migración.

El primer factor como se ha empezado a describir es contentar a las minorías ciudadanas que forman parte del voto. Una ley que legaliza a los familiares de una minoría, como lo es la población latinoamericana, ganaría el apoyo en su mayoría de esta minoría. Los partidos políticos y más los candidatos a la presidencia u otro puesto político cuentan con este apoyo y es considerado a la hora de establecer su posición. Entonces este puede ser una manera de ganar el apoyo de las minorías sin realmente garantizarles nada. Sí serán reconocidos en la sociedad pero no tendrán derecho a todos los beneficios de bienestar del estado.

Esto nos lleva al segundo factor importante, lo económico. Legalizar a los 11 millones mencionados sin que sean ciudadanos tiene dos beneficios económicos. Primero legaliza mano de obra que es importante para que nuestra economía funcione. Con su estatus legal se les pagaría el salario mínimo o arriba pero en sectores de industria o agricultura esto seguiría siendo de gran beneficio. Una población trabajadora tan grande contribuye a la producción nacional y su competitividad.  El segundo beneficio es que además de contar con la mano de obra relativamente barata (salario mínimo) el Estado no tendrá que ofrecerles todos los servicios como a un ciudadano. Una de las cuestiones importantes es que del bienestar público se les dará a los indocumentados. Muchos que han trabajado toda la vida pagando impuestos y contribuyendo a una pensión y una seguridad social no ven la justicia en dejar a un inmigrante recién llegado recibir los mismos beneficios que ellos.

Entonces atrás de la propuesta para un estatus legal mas no de ciudadano existen factores ocultos que tal vez no lleven a la mejor opción por el individuo.

De esto sale bien fácil una tesis de licenciatura, con la siguiente pregunta de investigación: ¿Cuáles son los factores que afectan la legislación sobre la inmigración en Estados Unidos? Y la siguiente hipótesis: Los factores económicos y políticos, específicamente entre los partidos políticos, son los que afectan la legislación migratoria y no el bienestar de los individuos o la seguridad del país.

                                          

"Second-Class Noncitizens". New York Times. Ngai, Mae, M.. 30 de enero de 2014. 

Pueblo espectador

Diana Martínez Jiménez

143918

Materia: Política Mexicana Contemporánea

La jornada

Pueblo espectador
5 de febrero 2014 

Presenta AMLO denuncia en la PGR contra Peña Nieto

México,DF. El Movimiento de Regeneración Nacional, encabezado por Andrés Manuel López Obrador, entregó ante la Procuraduría General de la República (PGR) una denuncia contra el presidente Enrique Peña Nieto, por traición a la patria, de acuerdo a los términos que establece el artículo 123 constitucional. López Obrador destacó que hay elementos y pruebas para sustentar esta denuncia, entre ellos el hecho de que representantes gubernamentales sostuvieron negociaciones con funcionarios de Estados Unidos para pactar la entrega del petróleo. Esto es algo muy grave que no debe pasar inadvertido, destacó al señalar que el artículo 27 constitucional, modificado en diciembre pasado, fue resultado de las luchas del pueblo de México. Ante cientos de seguidores que se dieron cita frente a la Procuraduría, el ex jefe de gobierno de la ciudad de México señaló que la PGR está al servicio de la mafia del poder, pero al presentar la denuncia “estamos cumpliendo como ciudadanos” y además “queremos que quede el precedente”. López Obrador reiteró que una vez que triunfe su movimiento revertirán la reforma energética y todas las medidas antipopulares y entreguistas, como la reforma laboral, la educativa y la fiscal. Resaltó que de no prosperar su queja en la PGR recurrirá a instancias internacionales. Bernardo Bátiz y Martí Batres, dirigentes de Morena, entregaron la denuncia ante la oficialía de partes. El primero explicó que la reforma energética pone en riesgo la soberanía y la independencia del país y por ello se procedió a presentar la queja.

http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2014/02/05/presenta-hoy-amlo-denuncia-en-pgr-contra-pena-nieto-3056.html

Conclusión:
esta noticia me pareció interesante, podría proceder la denuncia? , O será que
la gente corrupta no hará caso y archivara la demanda por no tener pruebas suficientes?,
AMLO lo está haciendo por todo los mexicanos o tiene su propio propósito?

EPN y sus acuerdos no han beneficiado en nada, porque entregar nuestro petróleo mexicano cuando tenemos muchísimo hasta para 40 años más aun sin escavar a profundidad, el único que cada año entrega bastante dinero para los mexicanos, en un año entrego más de un billón, cuando empresas grandes como walmark no aportan nada, pero si todo eso cambiara Pemex sería mucho mejor. Como típicos mexicanos solo vemos pero no actuamos y solo dejamos que nos engañen los medios de comunicación, es momento que los mexicanos hablen para el bienestar de todo y no solo de una minoría.  

Investment in educational technology equals efficiency and productiveness

Obama Announces Pledges of $750 Million for Student Technology

Luz Yareni Aceves Martínez

Sociedad y política de Estados Unidos

4 de Febrero, 2014

As part of a program called the ConnectED initiative created by the White House last year, it is expected that over 90% of American students would get beneficiated with technology with educational purposes in the next five years. According to president Obama investment in technology for the American students will allow them to be competitive in the global economy.

What recalls for attention is the announcement of President Obama about the interest of a few American companies that have pledged to invest over $750 millions in this initiative.

A day before the Federal Communications Commission announced that the budget to increase wireless Internet access in public schools and libraries would be over $2 billions, beneficiating 20 million students.

Companies like Microsoft have promised to give software copies to schools (12 million copies of Microsoft Office), computer equipment and even guide teachers so that they can use the tools provided.

Microsoft and Verizon have pledge to provide high-speed Internet to schools; Sprint has compromised to provide free Internet services to “50,000 underprivileged students” over the next years; and AT&T will provide Internet access to middle school students with and investment of $10 million. Another important American company involved is Apple that would give away equipment valued in $10 million to schools.

In a recall for the statistics the director of the White House’s Domestic Policy Council, Cecilia Muñoz said that less that 30 percent of American schools are equipped to use Internet tools properly.

Obama made a statement that this year would be “year of action” in his administration. That he would use his connections, and move without expecting congressional support.

I AGREE with the way the U.S. government is willing to support technology for their students because I believe that education is an essential point for any country; all of this is consistent with the “information society” that the United States proposes in their values ​​in order to generate efficiency and productivity in a capitalistic economy, and generate opportunities for Americans to compete in a global economy.

I also agree that in other hand the statement by President Obama to work without the approval of Congress in not essential subjects like this is a sign of the lobbying that the President is doing with a view to the elections in the Cameras, in order to favor his next two years in the office.

In conclusion from my point of view I noticed in this article the importance for the government of the United States and American companies (even if they are the competition) to work together to create a highly skilled society in technology from the very educational sector to enable them to maintain competitive standards with the rest of the global economy.

Farm bill passes after three years of talks

KAREN DANAE GARRIDO CAZAREZ

Sociedad y Política de los Estados Unidos

4/Febrero/2014

On Tuesday afternoon, The senate voted to approve a new, five year farm bill that the House passed last week. The measure heads next to President Obama, who is expected to sign it in the coming days.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) described the agreement Tuesday as "a major bipartisan jobs bill that makes sure that 16 million people who work in agriculture... have the support that they need."

The bill authorizes the end of billions of dollars in direct subsidy payments to the nation’s farmers. In their place, farmers will be able to take advantage of a new crop insurance program. The agreement also saves billions by consolidating government conservation programs and cuts about $8 billion in funding for food stamps by tweaking eligibility rules. The bill is supposed to cut roughly $16 billion in government spending over the next decade, according to government estimates.

The bill includes changes to complex programs involving environmental regulations on farms, aid to dairy and sheep farmers, and what kind of food the Agriculture Department should buy to replenish the nation’s food banks. But most of the political attention has focused on food stamps, formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

Ultimately, House and Senate negotiators agreed to cut about $8 billion or 1 percent of the program’s budget by closing a loophole that several states and the District of Columbia have used to boost SNAP payments to low-income households. That change will reduce benefits for about 850,000 households nationwide, according to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office. Supporters say the cuts will come by implementing safeguards designed to reduce waste, fraud and abuse in the program.

A bloc of liberal lawmakers voted against the legislation in opposition to the food stamp cuts, while some conservatives voted against the agreement because it failed to more boldly cut SNAP funding.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/02/04/farm-bill-passes-after-three-years-of-talks/

I DISAGREE

I disagree, because the bill affects families that are going through really tough  times, and are struggling to put something to eat on the table by cutting $8 billion from the  formerly food stamps. This strongly affects the poor people because if they try to save some money for whatever need they have, the bill will eliminate a provision that lets states to give up the assets of the strict limits that punishes families to save money. But it not only affects the poor people it will also affect the middle class, it will certainly affect small businesses and grocers.

CONCLUSION

Congress should pass a farm bill, a bill that doesn’t affect most of the vulnerable citizens in their society. There should be a more focus on nutrition safety and making it stronger rather than affecting it and making it weaker, and also to watch for the benefits of the farmers and making the middle class much stronger.  

Nuestros tesoros nos hace viajar a otros planetas.

Gabriel Arenas Varela. 

ID:145186

Materia:Política Mexicana Contemporanea.

NOTICIA:4/01/2014.

TITULO OFICIAL:Envia Mexico petróleo ultra ligero a India. 

Publica: El Reforma.

Durante siglos, el comercio dirigido por entes mexicanos ha favorecido la vida de todo ser social que pisa el territorio azteca, sin embargo las consecuencias de dichos actos son un factor extremadamente importante en la evolución económica, política y social como la conocemos hoy en día dentro de nuestro sistema de gobierno.

En este caso estamos hablando de el bien energético mas valioso dentro de la industria económica y el único que brinda ciertos bienes y funciones dentro de la sociedad a nivel global, ¨El Petróleo. Mucho se ha hablado sobre este tema, algunos están a favor y otros en contra del comercio de este bien, al igual que muchos no se interesan por saber si quiera un poco sobre los beneficios y desventajas que podría producir el extracto de nuestro patrimonio al extranjero.

Esta noticia llamo mucho mi atención; ¿Que podríamos lograr si comenzamos a negociar a magnitudes enormes el producto mas caro que nuestro patrimonio produce? 

La pregunta tiene miles de respuestas, sin embargo en este caso, estamos hablando de un tipo de petróleo que representa el 12.2 por ciento de la producción total de petróleo en el país , (petróleo extra ligero). El cual en este caso es un poco mas caro en proporción al petróleo de tipo maya, el cual es un poco mas pesado y difícil de extraer.  De igual manera este ultimo (petróleo Maya) ya ha llegado a tierras indias, lo cual en este caso facilita el intercambio comercial entre ambos países.

Todo esto trae tanta angustia al el país a causa de que nuestro vecino del norte ha aumentado la producción de crudo ligero con la revolución de su producción  en el año de 2008 y esto ha desplazado tanto las importaciones como exportaciones de petróleos ligeros, principalmente del continente africano y lo cual en este caso seria la oportunidad perfecta para que México comenzara a explotar sus bienes de exportación y comenzar a evolucionar en la industria del comercio petrolero con pasos firmes y de mayor amplitud. 

 Bibliografía.

http://www.negociosreforma.com/aplicacioneslibre/preacceso/articulo/default.aspx?id=165637&v=1&pc=102&urlredirect=http://www.negociosreforma.com/aplicaciones/articulo/default.aspx?id=165637&v=7&pc=102&urlredirect=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.negociosreforma.com%2Faplicaciones%2Farticulo%2Fdefault.aspx%3Fid