Fight Over Dowry In Bangladesh

For my last blog post, I decided to skim the posts about Bangladesh on the website Global Voices.  I came across on from last November, which described the story of a woman who had recently gotten married.  Farzana Yasmin, the bride, and Shawkat Ali Khan Hiron, the groom, were married on November 11, 2011, a day many people around the world chose to tie the knot on.  She works for an insurance company, and he is the head master at a government elementary school.  However, luck or good fortune was in store for the new couple.  

Shawkat's parents stated that they wanted several items from Farzana's family as a dowry, including a TV and a refrigerator.  This occurred during the reception after the wedding.  To the surprise of Farzana, Shawkat supported his parents demands.  After only being married for less than a day, the bride divorced her new husband, ignoring her in-laws pleas to try and work out the issue.  Shawkat had posted negative comments about his ex-wife on Facebook and denied asking for a dowry from Farzana's parents, but he was forced to remove the posts after protests.

Before I comment on this story, I should explain what has caused so much anger in the country and over the Internet.  A dowry, according to merriam-webster.com, is "the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband in marriage."  A bride's parents was forced to provide a dowry to the husband's family.  This occurred in various regions throughout the world.  However, this could be a problem for poor families who did not have the money or resources to provide one.  The song "Matchmaker" in the film Fiddler On the Roof has the three oldest daughters singing about getting married.  The oldest one, Tzeitel, tells Chava that "With no dowry, no money, no family background, be glad you got a man!"  A woman would be able to marry a man with wealth, or one that at least be able to easily provide for her, if she had a large enough dowry.  

As mentioned in the post, over the last hundred years, many countries in South Asia have banned the requirement of a dowry for marriage, but the practice still occurs.  Women every year are abused and/or killed by their husbands over a dowry.  This is why Farzana's story has created such a firestorm in the country.  She was strong enough to stand up for herself, and numerous people in Bangladesh have commented on her courageous decision.  Farzana has received a lot of support from people in the news and over social media.

When I first read this story, I did not realize what was so significant about it.  Here in the United States and other developed nations, a woman can easily receive a divorce from her husband.  She has rights and can charge him with a crime if she is abused or threaten with her life.  However, this is not necessarily the case in other countries around the world, like in Bangladesh.

I, like many in the nation, am proud of Farzana for standing her ground and doing what was best for her.  Some of the comments in the blog post state that Farzana is an inspiration for other women who face pressure to provide a dowry and abuse.  I hope that other women are able to follow her example and that women can gain more rights in Bangladesh.

Jenny

Blog Entry - 
Rezwan. (2011, November 15). Bangladesh: A bold protest against dowry. In Global Voices. Retrieved April 17, 2012, from http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/11/15/bangladesh-a-bold-protest-against-dowry/
Map - http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/bd.htm 

The Falkland Islands: Great Britain vs. Argentina

I was searching the website Global Voices for an interesting blog post when I came upon a couple related to the conflict between Great Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands.  The Falkland Islands are located east of Argentina in the South Atlantic Ocean.  They are claimed by both Great Britain and Argentina.  The post explained that in 1982, an unofficial war broke out between the two nations when Argentina invaded the islands and occupied them.  This caused the British to send troops, and after a couple months, the British were able to retain the islands.  Argentina has asked Great Britain to discuss with them the sovereignty of the Falklands, hoping to settle the dispute.  However, the British have refused, stating that the citizens of the island have made it clear that they would like to remain under the jurisdiction of Great Britain.  Numerous exchanges have occurred between the governments of the two nations in the past year, and countless others have provided their opinions on the subject.

I was surprised to learn about this conflict, since I was previously unaware of it.  We have discussed in class the topics of colonialism and imperialism, but I did not realize that the sovereignty of a territory was still under dispute between Great Britain and another nation.  When I was reading the blog posts on this issue, I found it interesting they rarely discussed the views expressed by the residents of the Falkland Islands.  The posts commented on the positions taken by Great Britain and Argentina, official statements made by leaders of both nations, and the opinions of reporters and journalists.  However, it never really examined the opinions of the people living on the Falkland Islands.  The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, did state that the residents want to be British, and that they will remain British until they decide otherwise.  Nothing else was stated beyond that comment.  It would seem reasonable for anyone reporting on the topic to investigate and determine what these people have said they want.

I found an article that had interviewed a couple residents of the Falkland Islands.  They related stories of the war from thirty years ago, explaining how they resisted the Argentinians when they invaded.  While only a couple of the residents were interviewed for the article, it highlighted a point-of-view not readily mentioned.  I believe that if the people living on the Falkland Islands overwhelmingly decide that they want to remain tied to Great Britain, then their opinion should be respected.  If they want to become part of Argentina, I believe it is their decision to make.  While this issue may not seem important when compared to other crises in the world, any problem relating to the self-determination of a group of people needs to be addressed.

Jenny

Blog Entry -  

Calzolari, N. (2012, January 26). Argentina: Diplomatic conflict with United Kingdom over Falklands. In Global Voices. Retrieved April 17, 2012, from http://globalvoicesonline.org/2012/01/26/argentina-diplomatic-conflict-with-the-united-kingdom-over-the-falklands/

Map - http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/samerica/fk.htm

Other Related Articles - 

•  Calzolari, N. (2012, February 17). Argentina: Government accepts UN mediation in Falklands conflict. In Global Voices. Retrieved April 17, 2012, from http://globalvoicesonline.org/2012/02/17/argentina-government-accepts-un-mediation-in-falklands-conflict/
• de Araujo, R. (2012, February 29). Brazil: Dispute over the Falklands opens debate on economic perspectives. In Global Voices. Retrieved April 17, 2012, from http://globalvoicesonline.org/2012/02/29/brazil-falklands-argentina-uk-economic-mercosur/
• Sherwell, P. (2012, April 1). Falkland Islands 30 years on: 'I naively thought the Argentine problem was sorted that day, but now they are causing all sorts of trouble again.' The Telegraph. Retrieved April 17, 2012, from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/falklandislands/9177897/Falklands-Islands-30-years-on-I-naively-thought-the-Argentine-problem-was-sorted-that-day-but-now-they-are-causing-all-sorts-of-trouble-again..html

Kenya - Facing Drug Shortage

Peter Orengo wrote in his March 27, 2012, article on The Standard about the drug shortage hitting Kenyan hospitals.  Due to the shortage, public hospitals are resorting "to use funds meant for development to buy emergency medicine from local pharmacies."  The Kenya Medical Supplies Agency (Kemsa) is supposed to provide the hospitals with the necessary drugs to ensure the patients are able to receive proper medical care.  Some people, including the Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU), do not believe the government is doing its job in supplying the needed drugs.  According to Orengo, this drug shortage is just one of many that has occurred in the country.  "Malarial drugs, rehydration salts, anti-retrovirals (ARVs) and antibiotics were some of the drugs cited to be in short supply," Orengo wrote about a study done last year on the national drug supply issue.

When I read this article, it reminded me of the drug shortages that are hitting this country, along with Canada, and Australia.  Reports and news stories are constantly covering the problems the health care industry is facing in ensuring patients are treated with the medication they need.  Even though we hear about these shortages in the United States and other Western nations, we do not always receive reports on other nations, like those in Africa.  ABC, NBC, Fox News, and other television news channels normally do a good job reporting on events happening in other countries.  However, not everything that occurs throughout the world is able to be covered in the US, since most Americans are more concerned with problems affecting this country.

As we have discussed in my History of American Foreign Relations class this term, American presidents are often elected due to concerns within this country.  Domestic issues (the economy, health care, taxes, the federal deficit, etc.) and experience dealing with them take precedence over other problems occurring outside this country.  There are exceptions to this idea (Israel, War in Iraq and Afghanistan, etc.), but we as Americans are concerned with problems in our own lives.  This has been a characteristic of the United States policy since its independence over two hundred years ago.

Even though this fact may be true for many Americans, I believe we need to be more aware of issues facing countries like Kenya.  The article mentioned that people on ARVs are suffering due to this drug shortage.  We have discussed in class how the HIV/AIDS epidemic greatly affected African nations.  If Kenya and other countries dealing with HIV/AIDS experience drug shortages, the progress they have made in improving their citizens' health could be reversed.  I hope that Kenya can solve its drug supply issue, so its people do not have to suffer from not having their proper medications.

Jenny

Article - 
Orengo, P. (2012, March 27). Drug shortage hits public hospitals. The Standard. Retrieved March 31, 2012, from http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/health/InsidePage.php?id=2000055053&cid=442&currentPage=1
Map - http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/africa/ke.htm

Related Articles - 

• Australia faces drug shortages: experts. (2012, March 7). ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved March 31, 2012, from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-07/australia-faces-drug-shortages-experts/3875324
• Dick, M. (2012, March 29). Clark:  Drug shortages are compromising patient health and safety. Boston.com. Retrieved March 31, 2012, from http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/melrose/2012/03/clark_drug_shortages_are_compr.html
• Kirkey, S. (2012, March 30). Shortages of drugs put patients at risk. Calgary Herald. Retrieved March 31, 2012, from http://www.calgaryherald.com/Shortages+drugs+patients+risk/6383987/story.html

Iowa Welcomes Chinese Students

In a February 14, 2012, China Daily article by Kelly Dawson, she wrote about how more Chinese students are traveling to Iowa for college.  Between 2002 and 2012, the Chinese student enrollment at Iowa State University increased from 72 to 1,212.  From 2005 to 2011, the number of Chinese students enrolled at the University of Iowa also increased, from 591 to 1,737.  The article states that '"The increase is primarily due to a combination of a growing Chinese middle class and the growing ability of families in China to afford to send students to the US, combined with the belief of Chinese families that students will get both a good education and a stronger proficiency in English."'  More Chinese are understanding the benefits of an American degree and are financially able to send their children to the United States for college.

Dawson continued on by stating that at the same time that more Chinese are coming to Iowa for higher education, more Americans are taking an interesting in studying the Chinese language and culture.  An example of this is the fact that China is becoming one of the most popular countries to travel to for students studying abroad at the University of Iowa.  Even though more Chinese and Americans here in Iowa are coming together, there is still a large number of students from both sides that prefer to surround themselves with friends from their own cultural background.  The article concluded by commenting that the universities are trying to help Chinese students become more accustomed to American culture and living in the United States through various programs and activities.

I found the information in this article very interesting, since I did not realize how many Chinese students have come to Iowa for their education.  It is difficult for me to understand how students from China end up picking colleges like the University of Iowa and Iowa State University, roughly six-seven thousand miles away from their homes.  It must be comical for these students to hear their fellow Iowan counterparts say they are "far" from home, since they typically only are a couple hours away.  Personally, I am three hours away from my family when I am at college.

Whenever I meet an international student at school, I ask them how they ended up in the Midwest.  Iowa is not the first place one imagines when "The United States of America" comes to mind.  States near the coasts, specifically New York, California, and Florida, are the ones that most people associate with this country.  A student last year from Germany said that the German history of the college is what drew her to come here.  Another student, a friend of mine in band, stated that her mom liked how one of the school's colors was orange.  She looked at the college's website, including pictures of the campus, and decided Iowa was where she was headed.  However, she was surprised to learn that the student body is less than 2,000 students, since she was hoping to attend a large university.  She has appreciated everything she has been able to accomplish while here, though, and she told me that she made the right decision.

I believe this article is important for people attending schools in Iowa, especially the University of Iowa and Iowa State University.  The student bodies at these universities are becoming more diverse with the enrollment of students from China and other countries around the world.  Many students in Iowa graduate from school districts where over ninety percent of the students are Caucasian/White.  It is when they attend college that they are exposed to people from a myriad of different backgrounds.  With the increasing number of international students, like the Chinese, coming to Iowa for college, American students need to be more cognizant of their fellow students' culture and ideas.  This increase in diversity can provide opportunities for both Americans and their international counterparts to learn from one another.

Jenny

Article - 
Dawson, K. C. (2012, February 14). Chinese students flock to Iowa. China Daily. Retrieved March 31, 2012 from http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2012-02/14/content_14606471.htm
China Map - http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/cn.htm
Iowa Map - http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/namerica/usstates/ia.htm

Related Article - 

• Heldt, D. (2011, December 8). Iowa universities see surge of Chinese students. The Gazette. Retrieved March 31, 2012, from http://thegazette.com/2011/12/08/iowa-universities-see-surge-of-chinese-students/

Iran - Then and Now

                                     Woman in Iran Dressed "Improperly"
While I was surfing the website Global Voices, I decided to look at the country of Iran.  I found a blog entry titled "Iran: Summer Heat Gives Way to Crackdowns on 'Improper' Clothing" from July 18, 2011, by Fred Petrossian.  The blog entry discussed the crackdowns in Iran by the government on women who were wearing clothing that does not fit their tight dress code, namely "un-Islamic" clothing, during the summer months last year.  As in the United States, the women in Iran appeared to be trying to wear more "revealing" clothing due to the summer heat.  He included pictures and videos of women being taken into custody by officials.  An interesting one, the first video in the blog, showed a woman actually running away from the police before being captured and arrested.  At the end of the blog, Petrossian wrote that another blogger, Irane Azad from Iran, also wrote about these incidents, and he provided a link to one of Azad's entries.  Though I cannot read Farsi, it is easy to understand the point that the blogger was trying to make.  There were pictures of both ordinary women being arrested for indecent clothing and Iranian actresses who were dressed similarly, if not more "revealing" than the women being arrested, who were not facing the force of the government.

I thought it was interesting that the government of Iran was actually arresting women off of the street for "indecent" clothing, though I was not surprised.  However, I was surprised at the reaction from both the women and the crowds that normally were watching the arrests take place.  As I mentioned above, one women ran from the police before being captured and arrested.  The crowds in the videos occasionally revealed their support for the women, even protesting their arrests.  Iran is often depicted as a country of extremists with few people resisting the Iranian government.  These videos, though, told a different story.  While they are only a couple of examples, the women in the videos, along with the crowds, reveal to the world that not everyone is in full support of the government and its polices.

As I mentioned, Iran is known by many in the Western world as a country based on extreme Islamic principles.  Women have few rights, and the image of the country is one from centuries past.  When I was on the Foreign Policy website, I saw the Once Upon a Time series.  It includes photo essays of different cities from before they were racked with violence and controversy, "to more peaceful times."  I found the Tehran photo essay very interesting.  One picture really shocked me, especially after reading the blog entries discussed above.  It was from 1971 and had women from Tehran University wearing miniskirts.  The other pictures in the essay revealed a more Western-style Tehran, one that is difficult for anyone born after the 1979 Islamic Revolution to imagine.  There was even a picture of six people smiling at the camera, looking like they were attending UCLA, not UT (University of Tehran).

With all the news stories today about Iran, especially the current ones involving its nuclear activity and tensions with the United States and Israel, I believe it is interesting to look back on Iran before the Islamic Revolution.  The country has changed in the past thirty years, as is revealed when one compares the photo essay from the Foreign Policy and the blog entries from Global Voices.  In understanding the Middle East, specifically Iran, we need to widen our perspective to one that includes what occurred before the violence and repression that is often characterized as the norm.

Jenny

Blog Entry - 
Petrossian, F. (2011, July 18). Iran: Summer heat gives way to crackdowns on "improper" clothing. In Global Voices. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://globalvoicesonline.org/2011/07/18/iran-summer-heat-gives-way-to-crackdowns-on-improper-clothing/
Map - http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/ir.htm

Other Related Articles - 

• http://globalvoicesonline.org/

• http://globalvoicesonline.org/-/world/middle-east-north-africa/iran/

• http://www.foreignpolicy.com/once_upon_a_time 
  

• Azad, A. (2011, July 13). Blog post In Global Voices. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://arshia-azad.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-post.html

• Parks, C. (2012, February 15). Once upon a time in Tehran. Foreign Policy. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/02/15/once_upon_a_time_in_tehran#0

Obesity Rising in South Korea

                           Song Hye-kyo, South Korean actress and model
A report in The Korea Herald titled "Number of obese pupils continues to rise: report" from February 26, 2012, stated that "14 out of 100 children in elementary, middle, and high school are obese."  The report was the result of a study done in 2011, where "181,000 students from 743 schools throughout the country" were examined.  It was determined "that diet, activity level, and amount of sleep had a major affect on students' health."  While the number of overweight and obese students have risen in South Korea over the last several years, the study also found a sizable percentage of students who are underweight.  The rate of obesity in that nation has risen at the same time that children are consuming larger quantities of fast food, not exercising, and sleeping less than six hours a night.

Another article, one from The Guardian on September 6, 2006, titled "Obesity in Asia mirrors western increase," compared the rising obesity rates in Asian nations with those in Western ones, like Great Britain, the United States, and Australia.  It stated that the cause of the issue is Asia's rapid modernization over the last couple decades.  For centuries, people in Asian countries lived rural, agricultural lives, consuming foods like fish and rice.  However, as these nations have modernized, more people are moving to urban centers and consuming high-fat and high-calorie foods, like citizens of Western nations.

I found this news story both interesting and surprising.  Whenever most people, including myself, picture someone of Asian descent, they imagine a small, very slender person.  A prime example is Song Hye-kyo, a South Korean actress and model.  She follows the small and slender stereotype.  The story from The Korea Herald, though, reveals that this reality is quickly decreasing as more and more Asian people, including children, are becoming overweight and obese.  As Asian nations, like South Korea, become more Westernized, they begin to experience problems similar to those in the United States, Great Britain, etc.  The fact that people in these countries have the access to proper nutrition is wonderful, but like Americans, they are overindulging themselves.

The BBC News reported on January 2, 2008, that "The World Health Organization predicts there will be 2.3 billion overweight adults in the world by 2015 and more than 700 million of them will be obese."  Obesity, a modern issue facing most Western nations, has a unique impact upon Asian ones.  "Asians On A Different Obesity Scale," a February 11, 2009, article from CBS News explains that Asian people who are small and slender can still face the problem of obesity.  While a body mass index (BMI) of 25 is overweight and 30 is obese, Asians may require an even lower number to be healthy.  This is due to the fact that Asians have more fat content that other racial groups, like Caucasians.  With obesity rates rising throughout the world, Asian nations may be impacted more due to their citizens already natural thin frames.

As with programs here in America, I hope South Korea can fight this epidemic and lead its citizens, especially its youth, down the right path.  The world is becoming smaller with every passing day, as modern technologies, like Skype, connect countries all over the planet.  We need to be concerned about the health of our people here in America and across the ocean in South Korea.

Jenny

Article - 
Number of obese pupils continues to rise: report. (2012, February 26). The Korea Herald. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20120226000288
Map - http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/kr.htm

Other Articles - 

• Obesity on rise among students: report. (2012, February 26). The Korea Herald. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20120226000329

• Obesity in Asia mirrors western increase. (2006, September 6). The Guardian. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/sep/06/health.healthandwellbeing 

• Obesity: in statistics. (2008, January 2). BBC News. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7151813.stm

• Asians on a different obesity scale. (2009, February 11). CBS News. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-204_162-525887.html

• Overweight in children. (2011, March 29). American Heart Association. Retrieved February 26, 2012, from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/Overweight-in-Children_UCM_304054_Article.jsp#.T0pRLPWQmVo

Saudi Women - Fighting for Their Rights

 

Manal Al Sharif Driving in Saudi Arabia (with English subtitles)

In this Youtube video from May 2011, Manal Al Sharif defies Saudi Arabia law by driving through Khobar.  As a woman, it is illegal for her to drive in that country.  She needs a guardian, either a male relative/friend or a hired driver, to be a chauffeur.  Manal Al Sharif narrates the video, telling her audience why women should be allowed to drive.  Her arguments include the need to drive in an emergency, her inability to renew the license for her own car, and the inconvenience for wives when their husbands are away on business.  Manal was arrested for her crime and sentenced to ten lashes, but it was later revoked by King Abdullah.  He also granted women in his country the right to vote.

While many women are fighting for their rights in Saudi Arabia, others are resisting the calls for change and reform.  Eman Al Nafjan wrote in her December 2011 article "What Do Saudi Women Want?" from the Foreign Policy that some women question the responsibilities that would be asked of them once they were granted the right to drive.  She even discussed an incident where a Saudi Arabian woman worked with the ruling family "to strengthen the guardianship system."  While outsiders wonder how women could live without certain basic rights, Saudi Arabian woman question the actions of those outsiders, wondering how they could go places without a male protector or reveal their faces and other portions of their bodies to the world.

When this story come up in my search results, I remembered watching it on the news last year.  Until that time, I did not know that women in Saudi Arabia cannot legally drive.  I knew that that nation is one of the most conservative ones in the world, but driving is a privilege that I, along with many people in the United States, forget does not extend to people in other countries throughout the world.  After being able to drive for the past several years, I find it difficult to imagine not have that right.  I would not be able to perform the simplest of errands, like buying groceries, without the assistance of a male relative or friend.

I am glad that many women in Saudi Arabia are fighting for their rights and standing up to the government.  While a video of one woman driving may not seem like a big deal to people living in the West, Manal Al Sharif risked a lot to show her support and determination for just one of the many rights women in Saudi Arabia do not currently possess.  As citizens of the twenty-first century, I believe it is our duty to be aware of issues and other problems occurring throughout the world.  The tension between reformists and conservatives, especially in the Middle East, is a topic that is extremely important and relevant in today's world.

Jenny

Article -

Al Nafjan, E. (2011, December). What do Saudi women want? Foreign Policy. Retrieved February 25, 2012, from http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/11/28/what_do_saudi_women_want
Map - http://www.worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/asia/sa.htm
Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sowNSH_W2r0

Other Related Articles -

• Henderson, S. (2011, September 26). All the king’s women. Foreign Policy. Retrieved February 25, 2012, from http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/09/26/all_the_kings_women
• Pavgi, K. (2011, September 29). Reprieve for Saudi woman sentenced to lashing for driving. Foreign Policy. Retrieved February 25, 2012, from http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/09/29/saudi_womans_sentenced_reprieved