Thursday, March 26, 2009
Russia's Population Plan
Russia has an artificial mechanism to deliberate population growth.The nation's economy has suffered through twenty years of decreasing human capital, and yielded a seven percent decline in this year's first quarter. Two years ago the government instated a reward of 250,000 rubles (about $9,200) for having a second child. But attempting to manipulate human capital through coerced childbirth overlooks the global security risks of population growth. The United Nations estimates that world population will increase by 40 percent between now and 2050.
The looming result of population growth is the peril of the earth’s resources. President Vladmir Putin dismissed the environmental risk of overpopulation in May 2006 when he said that procreation incentive programs are necessary to ameliorate Russia’s population crisis, which he called Russia's most serious problem. For now, the nation boasts profits from natural resources, but it only has one-third of the per capita income of developed nations. The detrimental health status and low-life expectancy contributes to Russia’s long-term economic risks: reductions in savings rates, fewer education investments, less productive workers, and the reluctance of foreign investment.
Demographic projections estimate that Russia’s shrinking labor force will reduce innovative efforts and result in economic and social deterioration. Younger generations are already beginning to bare responsibilities for the multiplicity of unemployed, older generations. In May 2008, The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) reported that Russia suffers from “population implosion” due to low birthrates and deteriorating life expectancy and health. CSIS predicts that the elderly population may double by 2050, and the median age will rise from 37 to 49. Demographers also project that similar to Japan, Sweden and Germany, Russia’s population will resemble an upside down pyramid by 2050, with the majority of citizens at the top in the elderly bracket, and fewer, migrating younger generations toward the bottom.
But these dangers do not substantiate deliberate population increases. And Russians are apprehensive about the additional child payment program because the total costs of child rearing, like baby equipment, health services, social activities, and education, exceed the government’s subsidy. Conservationists are also skeptical about the benefits of paying families to have more children.
Environmental concerns are generating more green businesses, green governmental policies, and green manufacturing that drive individual and societal behavior change. Although people can mitigate their carbon footprints by adopting green lifestyles, families can make a more immediate impact on sustaining the earth’s resources by practical family planning. Population declines cause a smaller number of carbon footprints, depending on the majority’s willingness to restrict their consumption habits, such as fossil fuels and non-recyclable waste.
Optimum Population Trust (OPT) analyzes the risks of population growth, teaches about sustainable environmental habits and advocates reproductive health and family planning services such as condoms and sex education.
“With smaller populations, living in greater harmony with nature, our horizons may stretch far into the future,” wrote OPT in March 2009. “If the world's parents had smaller families, would their children not have a better future?”
More recently, Russia has tried alternative, less globally threatening means for increasing its labor force. As The New York Times pointed out on March 22, 2009, President Vladmir Putin began a repatriation program that gives cash, social benefits, passports, and employment opportunities to former natural born citizens, upon their return to Russia. Russia’s child payment program will not solve the outward migration pattern because many Russians leave for more specialized opportunities abroad.
Repatriation might help boost Russia’s economy, but its reward program endangers the global population. Population growth makes resources scare, plaguing the world’s food supply while poor nations struggle to feed themselves; the wealthier try to both find cost-effective remedies for keeping low food prices for the masses and to create sustainable living mechanisms in developing nations.
An alternative option for Russia to increase its labor force is by creating a more immigrant friendly environment offering social services and employment opportunities that foster assimilation and integration within Russian society. In order to retain native Russians, the government could explore the causes of emigration and revise gaps in sectors like education, jobs, and social reform, which have been key indicators of previous exoduses.
The looming result of population growth is the peril of the earth’s resources. President Vladmir Putin dismissed the environmental risk of overpopulation in May 2006 when he said that procreation incentive programs are necessary to ameliorate Russia’s population crisis, which he called Russia's most serious problem. For now, the nation boasts profits from natural resources, but it only has one-third of the per capita income of developed nations. The detrimental health status and low-life expectancy contributes to Russia’s long-term economic risks: reductions in savings rates, fewer education investments, less productive workers, and the reluctance of foreign investment.
Demographic projections estimate that Russia’s shrinking labor force will reduce innovative efforts and result in economic and social deterioration. Younger generations are already beginning to bare responsibilities for the multiplicity of unemployed, older generations. In May 2008, The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) reported that Russia suffers from “population implosion” due to low birthrates and deteriorating life expectancy and health. CSIS predicts that the elderly population may double by 2050, and the median age will rise from 37 to 49. Demographers also project that similar to Japan, Sweden and Germany, Russia’s population will resemble an upside down pyramid by 2050, with the majority of citizens at the top in the elderly bracket, and fewer, migrating younger generations toward the bottom.
But these dangers do not substantiate deliberate population increases. And Russians are apprehensive about the additional child payment program because the total costs of child rearing, like baby equipment, health services, social activities, and education, exceed the government’s subsidy. Conservationists are also skeptical about the benefits of paying families to have more children.
Environmental concerns are generating more green businesses, green governmental policies, and green manufacturing that drive individual and societal behavior change. Although people can mitigate their carbon footprints by adopting green lifestyles, families can make a more immediate impact on sustaining the earth’s resources by practical family planning. Population declines cause a smaller number of carbon footprints, depending on the majority’s willingness to restrict their consumption habits, such as fossil fuels and non-recyclable waste.
Optimum Population Trust (OPT) analyzes the risks of population growth, teaches about sustainable environmental habits and advocates reproductive health and family planning services such as condoms and sex education.
“With smaller populations, living in greater harmony with nature, our horizons may stretch far into the future,” wrote OPT in March 2009. “If the world's parents had smaller families, would their children not have a better future?”
More recently, Russia has tried alternative, less globally threatening means for increasing its labor force. As The New York Times pointed out on March 22, 2009, President Vladmir Putin began a repatriation program that gives cash, social benefits, passports, and employment opportunities to former natural born citizens, upon their return to Russia. Russia’s child payment program will not solve the outward migration pattern because many Russians leave for more specialized opportunities abroad.
Repatriation might help boost Russia’s economy, but its reward program endangers the global population. Population growth makes resources scare, plaguing the world’s food supply while poor nations struggle to feed themselves; the wealthier try to both find cost-effective remedies for keeping low food prices for the masses and to create sustainable living mechanisms in developing nations.
An alternative option for Russia to increase its labor force is by creating a more immigrant friendly environment offering social services and employment opportunities that foster assimilation and integration within Russian society. In order to retain native Russians, the government could explore the causes of emigration and revise gaps in sectors like education, jobs, and social reform, which have been key indicators of previous exoduses.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
Sudan Part Two - U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice
The good news is that the United States has more of a presence in Sudan than I thought. Thankfully, Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is attacking President Bashir for his recent actions. Now the bad news. Bashir expelled international aid groups from Sudan on March 5th, after the ICC issued his arrest warrant for committing crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Sudanese Ambassador to the United Nations, Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem supported the expulsion of humanitarian aid because of rumors that the groups had collaborated with the ICC for the arrest warrant.
In an interview with NPR, Rice said that she feel that despite the fact that the United States is not a member of the ICC, it is aligned with the U.N. Security Council and international humanitarian groups who want Sudan to "protect those whose lives are at most immediate risk."
On March 6th, Rice spoke with Bashir and Abdalhaleem, and urged them to safeguard their own citizens by "reversing course" on their decision. Although Rice is helping develop the presence of the United States in the international legal world, only a ubiquitous role in Sudan will demonstrate U.S. foreign policy.
Sudanese Ambassador to the United Nations, Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem supported the expulsion of humanitarian aid because of rumors that the groups had collaborated with the ICC for the arrest warrant.
In an interview with NPR, Rice said that she feel that despite the fact that the United States is not a member of the ICC, it is aligned with the U.N. Security Council and international humanitarian groups who want Sudan to "protect those whose lives are at most immediate risk."
On March 6th, Rice spoke with Bashir and Abdalhaleem, and urged them to safeguard their own citizens by "reversing course" on their decision. Although Rice is helping develop the presence of the United States in the international legal world, only a ubiquitous role in Sudan will demonstrate U.S. foreign policy.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
The International Criminal Court in Sudan...Clinton?
The International Criminal Court (ICC) targeted the instigator of Sudan's horrible human rights abuses, President Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir. Edmund Sunders' (The Los Angeles Times) March 4th interview with Southern Sudanese leader Salva Kiir reveals the implications of indicting Sudan's sitting president. Although critics of the ICC's action claim that it will evoke national violence, Kiir makes it clear that the arrest warrent will not inhibit Sudan's daily operations or progress because "there is no connection between the ICC and peace in the south." Accepting the arrest warrent is the best step for the international community and Sudan to bring justice to the victims (and their families) of Bashir's war crimes. The ICC's indictments eminate applicable deterrents for future human rights abuses.
But where is the U.S.? Hillary Clinton selected special representatives for Afghanistan/Pakistan (Richard Holbrooke), the Gulf and southwest Asia (Dennis Ross), and North Korea (Stephen Bosworth). The U.S. Ambassador to Sudan, Richard Williamson, is far beneath the headlines about the Bashir's arrest warrant, and rarely mentioned in international or national news publications. Clinton has strategic interests for selecting representatives for the aforementioned key conflict regions, but Africa, and especially Sudan needs attention too. Can Williamson approach the battle aggressively?
The Bush administration refused to join the ICC, and the nation's credibility with international law has since suffered. President Obama and Hillary Clinton could devote more focus to Sudan's crisis and will need to engage in African affairs more often, if they want to retain and advance U.S. integrity and influence in the region.
But where is the U.S.? Hillary Clinton selected special representatives for Afghanistan/Pakistan (Richard Holbrooke), the Gulf and southwest Asia (Dennis Ross), and North Korea (Stephen Bosworth). The U.S. Ambassador to Sudan, Richard Williamson, is far beneath the headlines about the Bashir's arrest warrant, and rarely mentioned in international or national news publications. Clinton has strategic interests for selecting representatives for the aforementioned key conflict regions, but Africa, and especially Sudan needs attention too. Can Williamson approach the battle aggressively?
The Bush administration refused to join the ICC, and the nation's credibility with international law has since suffered. President Obama and Hillary Clinton could devote more focus to Sudan's crisis and will need to engage in African affairs more often, if they want to retain and advance U.S. integrity and influence in the region.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Student entitlements
Re: "A growing sense of entitlement" by Ruben Navarrette San Diego Union Tribune 3/1/2009
In his column "A growing sense of Entitlement," Ruben Navarette reveals one of the principal obstacles facing American schools: laziness. Parents, teachers, and students are all guilty of diluting the grading system. For example, where A's and B's previously required hard work and superior performance, now B's are a minimum standard before a "C," the new "F." I observed this problem in high school, but mostly from students whose parents pushed academic excellence ahead of any other objective, to the point of obsession and unhealthy expectations. In college, students who had received all A's in high school expected not to work any harder for the same grade in college, as if college is a continuation of high school. Graduate school was the worst. My professors' grading standards varied so much that some gave A's for simple attendance and assignment completions, while others marked quizzes meticulously for grammar and deep thought analysis. Also, many graduate schools' graduation requirement mandate a grade of a "B" in student's specialization courses. Although academic institutions vary and each has its particular grading policies, parents and teachers could prepare students better from kindergarten: hard work, and only hard work, is repaid with high marks.
Original article:
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/mar/01/z1e1navarre203254/
In his column "A growing sense of Entitlement," Ruben Navarette reveals one of the principal obstacles facing American schools: laziness. Parents, teachers, and students are all guilty of diluting the grading system. For example, where A's and B's previously required hard work and superior performance, now B's are a minimum standard before a "C," the new "F." I observed this problem in high school, but mostly from students whose parents pushed academic excellence ahead of any other objective, to the point of obsession and unhealthy expectations. In college, students who had received all A's in high school expected not to work any harder for the same grade in college, as if college is a continuation of high school. Graduate school was the worst. My professors' grading standards varied so much that some gave A's for simple attendance and assignment completions, while others marked quizzes meticulously for grammar and deep thought analysis. Also, many graduate schools' graduation requirement mandate a grade of a "B" in student's specialization courses. Although academic institutions vary and each has its particular grading policies, parents and teachers could prepare students better from kindergarten: hard work, and only hard work, is repaid with high marks.
Original article:
http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/mar/01/z1e1navarre203254/
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