Condoleezza Rice is currently on her way to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in order to discuss US and Russia relations with focus on Putin's criticisms on the US' missile tests and plans. She insists that the relationship between the two countries has not gone back to that between the United States and the USSR during the Cold War. Instead, she states that their relationship is currently improving.

okay now you tell yourself that, Condie. really now. all Putin and Condie have been doing while apart is criticizing each other about their nations' foreign policies. we'll see how this works out. i'm sure they'll be civilized while they're in the same room in front of the cameras. but once apart, Putin will go back to calling Bush a Hitler, and Condie will go on to defend Bush. talk about passive aggressive...look at the sexual tension in the picture!

Animals Bringing People Together

Although it has been seen as an issue on the agenda of the liberal population, animal rights has now become an issue that members of various and very different religious sects agree on. The LA Times recently reported that 20 clergy leaders, all from different leaders are going to have a ceremony and sign a statement in Washington D.C. concerning the rights of animals and animal welfare.

It is amazing how something that seems so trivial in many people's eyes could create such a strong bond with so many different people. I just find so much hope in this story because it shows that we have so many options in finding tolerance, peace and unity.

YAYUH! way to go Bush - tightening sanctions against Sudan

Yesterday, President Bush announced that he is to tighten economic sanctions against the nation of Sudan due to its humanitarian violations because of the genocide occurring in Darfur. this is a step. a big one. but really, there could be so much more going on to stop the genocide. but at least we are really making a stand against what is going on there. hopefully we'll soon be making a bigger one. more aid needs to be sent, military support from countries like the United States is absolutely necessary. i really want this not to be another Rwanda. but i know that in a few years, we'll look back and regret not going in when we should have.

US gives millions to Palestine...you mean Israel right?! no really. Palestine!

well not to Palestine directly. The State Department has just announced that the United States is cleared to transfer almost $60 million to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority President. The funds are to be used for equipment and training for Abbas' security forces. They have done so making sure to keep funding away from Hamas, which they have done in accordance with the European Union because of their refusal to recognize Israel and terrorist attacks related to the group.

wow. when i first read this i almost went into shock. but- then i read that they are doing so without connection to Hamas. let's see how this goes, maybe it will lead to better relations with Palestine. but i'm not sure if this will be fine with or just anger Hamas.

US tries to free Jersey man...supposedly.

In December, Ethiopian officials detained Amir Mohammed Meshal, a man from New Jersey who traveled to Ethiopia to help with the Islamist movement. His was arrested for suspicions of terrorism. Human rights groups are now using his case as an example of a supposed secret detention program created by the US and Ethiopian governments. In response, the American officials insist that they are doing everything possible to ensure Meshal's freedom, and that there is no such thing as a secret detention program under their power.

well i've never heard of the conspiracy about a secret detention program under the collaboration of Ethiopia and the US. i doubt that it's true...but this is the last thing that the US needs, especially with the controversy surrounding the inhumane treatment of the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay. i pray that the US is not lying about their attempt to free Meshal. it could show that our government has a fair policy in terms of cruel and unusual punishment.

STOP THE GENOCIDE!

Today, President Bush called for the government of Sudan , particularly Sudan President Bashir to stop the violence occurring in Darfur. He has also made threats stating that if no action to stop the situation, U.S. sanctions against the country may be enstated. This comes after pressure from humanitarian agencies calling on Bush to draw more attention toward the situation in Darfur. The Bush Adminstration has refered to the killings in Darfur as "genocide", but no significant action has been made by the U.S. government.


Hmm..well this is a step. as a college student, i feel lucky enough to know that we might have the power to draw more and more attention toward this problem, which is genocide. but i still feel that more attention by the United States government is absolutely necessary. i am happy that President Bush has decided to take this step, but i just hope that he will be able to follow through.

Save the Children

Today, humanitarian organization Save the Children announced that the child death rates for those under the age of five in the poorest of nations have drastically decreased. The exceptions include the war ridden Iraq and certain areas in Sub-Saharan Africa that have been greatly afflicted by HIV/AIDS. The organization states that this improvement has been due to the work done by nations to improve health care, family planning, and hygenic values.


i really love this article because it shows that there is hope for nations that have allowed their policies to change because of the drastic poverty that has afflicted them. it also draws focus on the great problems that War and HIV/AIDS have caused in bettering the living situations for developing countries. this only means that we need a cure, and we need to find more peaceful ways to gain means. i still think that people in the US do not know enough about the poverty that goes on outside of out country. hopefully people could wake up see what needs to be done. we need to find cheaper treatments, have more focus on finding a cure for HIV/AIDS, and find a way to peacefully approach the problems in war ridden nations.