According to BBC Science it has been recently discovered that the epidemics of "The Black Death", "The Plague", or Bubonic Plague may have actually been traced to gerbils, rather than rats. The history books we have read may actually need some editing.
The bubonic plague originated in Asia, and terrorized the world for hundreds of years. The scientific explanation basically says that the weather patterns in Asia would be more ideal for giant gerbils rather than rats.
For those who are curious, the World Health Organization, reported 800 cases of the plague in 2013 which included 126 deaths.
It's pretty interesting how closely studied the plague is still studied. I do not think there has ever been a case reported in the Americas (need to check). It would not surprise me that most of these cases discovered by the WHO would be in the Indochina region.
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Japan to increase aid to fight terrorism
via BBC News
After the Islamic State killed two Japanese hostages, PM Shinzo Abe has indicated that Japan will contribute 15.5 Million dollars "to efforts to curb terrorism in the Middle East and Africa".
This funding will go towards stepping up border controls to stop foreign fighters from joining the Islamic State.
Abe originally offered to commit 200 Million to countries like Syria for aid, and ISIS demanded a 200 Million dollar ransom for the two hostages. After both hostages were killed, Japan has decided to increase aid.
If the war on terrorism was unpopular, it seems as if ISIS has attracted the attention of many global players, aside from the United States. The threat of ISIS has already been felt in Australia and other places, and it is only a matter of time before other countries start feeling more threatened.
After the Islamic State killed two Japanese hostages, PM Shinzo Abe has indicated that Japan will contribute 15.5 Million dollars "to efforts to curb terrorism in the Middle East and Africa".
This funding will go towards stepping up border controls to stop foreign fighters from joining the Islamic State.
Abe originally offered to commit 200 Million to countries like Syria for aid, and ISIS demanded a 200 Million dollar ransom for the two hostages. After both hostages were killed, Japan has decided to increase aid.
If the war on terrorism was unpopular, it seems as if ISIS has attracted the attention of many global players, aside from the United States. The threat of ISIS has already been felt in Australia and other places, and it is only a matter of time before other countries start feeling more threatened.
Friday, February 6, 2015
Arrange Marriage and Divorce
source
It's rare to see someone speak out on platforms about arrange marriage. Simply put, divorce is very common. It's a harsh reality, but in the Indian community, divorce gets you "shunned". The author of this article basically says that Indian divorcees are shunned like lepers.
However, this particular marriage is interesting. Both people come from the same caste as I identify myself with.. with one exception. The author's mother moved to India when she was seven, and therefore with a marriage, could offer citizenship to her newlywed husband via marriage. Possession of citizenship allows people who would be traditionally lower-caste to soar up in status.
The article takes a feminist viewpoint that basically call out my culture's chauvinistic ways. It's actually pretty sad, because there are many truths to her points. Men carry out affairs, disregard their women's feelings, and hold double-standards.
Going through a divorce, as an Indian woman, is basically committing social suicide. Chastity is something revered in my culture, and once a woman is divorced, they are very unlikely to remarry, unlike males.
One particular passage really moved me: "My culture teaches us that "boys will be boys" and that our role is to deal with it. A good wife can manage her husband and police herself so as not to displease him or upset the balance"
As a Punjabi, Jatt-Sikh, I can safely say that woman are advancing, while men are falling behind to alcohol abuse and general laziness. Some of her points are a bit brash, but it was a very interesting read for me that hit home.
It's rare to see someone speak out on platforms about arrange marriage. Simply put, divorce is very common. It's a harsh reality, but in the Indian community, divorce gets you "shunned". The author of this article basically says that Indian divorcees are shunned like lepers.
However, this particular marriage is interesting. Both people come from the same caste as I identify myself with.. with one exception. The author's mother moved to India when she was seven, and therefore with a marriage, could offer citizenship to her newlywed husband via marriage. Possession of citizenship allows people who would be traditionally lower-caste to soar up in status.
The article takes a feminist viewpoint that basically call out my culture's chauvinistic ways. It's actually pretty sad, because there are many truths to her points. Men carry out affairs, disregard their women's feelings, and hold double-standards.
Going through a divorce, as an Indian woman, is basically committing social suicide. Chastity is something revered in my culture, and once a woman is divorced, they are very unlikely to remarry, unlike males.
One particular passage really moved me: "My culture teaches us that "boys will be boys" and that our role is to deal with it. A good wife can manage her husband and police herself so as not to displease him or upset the balance"
As a Punjabi, Jatt-Sikh, I can safely say that woman are advancing, while men are falling behind to alcohol abuse and general laziness. Some of her points are a bit brash, but it was a very interesting read for me that hit home.
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