Ukraine cries 'robbery' as Russia annexes Crimea

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/13/world/americas/opponent-of-mexicos-cartels-is-detained-in-vigilantes-deaths.html

Completely contradictory to western condemnation Russia has annexed Crimea. Crimea was actually originally a part of Russia but was given to Ukraine by Nikita Khruschev who was Ukrainian and very Pro Ukraine. So a large majority of the population in Crimea and eastern Ukraine is Russian. So when they voted at a 97% majority to be annexed into Russia it's not completely unlikely, it's just annoying because Russia thinks they can do whatever the heck they want to and that they don't have to abide by international law or listen to anyone else. And we can't really do anything about it because a huge percentage of U.S. natural gas comes out of Russia. Specifically the region right there by Crimea. So basically we can't fight them, cuz we don't want a war first of all, but also because we depend on them for a lot of resources and we can't afford that kind of conflict with them. Honestly they just bug me. Vladimir Putin bugs me. He's a bully and he think he can just do whatever he wants and get away with it. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT!?!? He pretty much can so that really sucks...

Opponent of Mexico’s Cartels Is Detained in Vigilantes’ Deaths

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/13/world/americas/opponent-of-mexicos-cartels-is-detained-in-vigilantes-deaths.html

Hipolito Mora claims to have started the first self-defense group a little over a year ago to defend the people in the region against the knights templar cartel and their incredible violence and cruelty. Since then other groups have been developed as well and it looks to me like the self-defense groups are starting to act like the cartels... Mora was recently arrested as a suspect in the murder of two men from another group. A lot of people are denying it saying that he would never and that he was framed. There is a lot of evidence pointing to him tho including many disputes between him and this rival groups leader and the negotiations that these groups have been having get heated and turn into fights. Mora is also accused of using the land that he has acquired for himself and making personal money off of it rather than for the group. There is also a lot of suspicion about the groups being infiltrated by the cartels and may be working for them more than anything at this point. 

What really interests me about this article is first of all the whole dynamic of the situation is so foreign to me. Where I live the government and the police force defend against lawlessness but in some parts of Mexico the cartel is so out of hand that the people have had to set these groups up to feel safe and in the end the rivalry between the self-defense groups has turned violent and very tense and full of friction more than anything really a power struggle, making them resemble cartels that they are defending against quite a bit. Which is really kind of ironic in a sad way that makes you really feel for the people that are so caught up and stuck in the midst of this corruption and violence. And the fact that the government is now intervening and taking action against who are supposed to be the good guys that has got to be so frusterating for the people who live there. But then again are they really the good guys?

West Sees Unity on Iran Despite Crisis in Ukraine

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/19/world/europe/iran-nuclear-talks.html?_r=1

Basically no one wants Iran to make or to have nuclear weapons. So Iran and the 5 plus-1 coutnries, which includes, Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — plus Germany, are having some negotiations on the issue. The current crisis in Ukraine that Russia is involved in is apparently not effecting the negotiations at all and they are still continuing on as planned. The west had feared that Iran could exploit them because of Russia's defiance of their condemnation and annexing Crimea anyway, but this argument has made no appearance in the two-day talks they've had thus far. Iran continues to insist that their nuclear activities are peaceful. Russia does have personal interest in being apart of these negotiations. So we'll see how it goes. 

I really don't think that Iran should have nuclear weapons cuz they can be a little crazy sometimes and from what I know of their government and processes they are leaning on the more corrupt side of the spectrum and I don't really rust them...

Minister fuels pension debate with Lamborghini comment

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-26649162


From 2015 on, there will be a rule change with state pensions and people will be able to spend them however they want. George Osborne made a comment about how people could spend it on a Lamborghini if they wanted and that it wasn't up to them to decide that. Under the rule change people are guaranteed free advice on how to spend it but will no longer be restricted as to what they can spend it on. Most pension pots aren't even enough for people to be buying things like elaborate sports cars. It is expected that anyone who is over the age of 55 will be able to take out sums of cash form their pension pots do spend or invest how they wish.
There has been a lot of controversy about this new change to the budget, as well as other changes made by Osborne. Conservatives are questioning what will happen once the pension runs out. Who will pick up the tab?
I think that both sides have good points and valuable reasons behind their arguments. But being the capitalist American that I am naturally I would say that there should be little restriction on how people are to spend their pensions. They don't need to be babysat by the government.

Canadian-Mexican relations: Rivals more than friends

http://www.economist.com/blogs/americasview/2014/02/canadian-mexican-relations?zid=305&ah=417bd5664dc76da5d98af4f7a640fd8a

This article is basically just all about how Canada says their all good with Mexico. And Mexico is all like, "No, we're ticked at them." Cause Canada is pretty much ignoring them and not trading with them as much as Mexico wants them to. Also there's Canada’s refusal to lift a visa requirement for all visitors from Mexico imposed in 2009 to stem a surge in false-refugee claims. So that's annoying...

This paragraph of the article made me laugh cuz the last sentence is really funny.
"Just before Mr Harper left for Mexico his office put out a press release saying “Mexico and Canada enjoy excellent bilateral relations”. The Mexican ambassador described relations as having entered post-NAFTA old age “with flaws, limitations and increasing wrinkles”. One of them is misreading the situation."

Also this part is funny. 
 "The rancour between two of North America’s three amigos, as the leaders of Canada, Mexico and the United States were once called, predates the visa problem. Canada was a reluctant signatory to the North America Free Trade Agreement, joining to protect access to the American market it secured in a 1989 Canada-US deal rather than out of any desire for closer relations with Mexico. The two have been rivals for US affection and attention ever since."
The last line made me think of a Studio C skit on international relations that I think is hysterical and that you all would enjoy. It's pretty cheesy, but you should watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqIh3N7_xGk

Governor of Nigeria’s Central Bank Is Fired After Warning of Missing Oil Revenue

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/21/world/africa/governor-of-nigerias-central-bank-is-fired-after-warning-of-missing-oil-revenue.html?_r=0

President Jonathan of Nigeria dismissed the governor of Nigeria's central bank after the governor repeatedly addressed the president with reports that billions of dollars in oil revenue were missing from the treasury. The oil  company responded to these charges by Mr. Sanusi, the governor, with outrage. Mr. Jonathan’s government ousted Mr. Sanusi, saying his “tenure has been characterized by various acts of financial recklessness and misconduct.” After he was dismissed the stock market in Nigeria took a plunge and their currency was valued at an all time low. Outside investors had seen Mr. Sanusi as an effective regulator of the country's troubled banking sector. This and many incidents like it in Nigeria under President Jonathan's administration raise concerns about the growing corruption and the dwindling willingness of the government to deal with it or fix it. Public opinion of the government in Nigeria among Nigerians has gone down hill at reoccurrences of such removals of good officials. Even supporters of Jonathan are now calling for an investigaion into the missing oil money.

Corruption of government officials like this, especially on such a large scale, is a sure step on the path straight to chaos, and the collapsing of government. Even whole countries. That may seem kind of dramatic, but one of the common characteristics of a failed state is that the government officials take the money from the people and national organizations and use them towards their own agendas rather than improving the state. That combined with the increasing terrorist activity and other unrest in the region I think puts Nigeria in a precarious position.

Ukraine mobilizes troops after Russia's 'declaration of war'

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/02/world/europe/ukraine-politics/

After a violent uprising in Ukraine, which resulted from former president Viktor Yanukovych rejected a deal with the EU and instead decided to tighten ties with Moscow, the country was thrown into chaos. Since then Russian troops have begun to occupy the Ukraine, Ukraine sees this as a declaration of war. Many disagree with what the russians are doing, saying that it violates the rights of the Ukraine. NATO had a conference in Brussels, Belgium to discuss the verdict of the situation and how to respond. There has been much speculation about the economic effects these events could have on the international economy as well as the Russian economy and it has been presented that until Russia straightens up they should be cut off from international economics. Leaders from all over the world are speculating as to what these events could mean for their country.

This incident is a very clear example of how globalization has effected our world today. A civil conflict within the borders of one country has quickly become a world wide concern, so much so that Russia even took military action. Because of the nature of the modern international economy and unions between nations, such as the EU, there isn't any avoiding the interconnectedness of approximately every nation in the world and in turn the widespread involvement in civil issues.