From the world to you: Student summarizes current events

By Amy Wulff
Cardinal Staff

When school is in session, it can be hard to keep up on current events while studying, working and hanging out all the time. That is why I’ve sifted through news source after news source to come up with current events that have had a great impact on the world both in the past and present and probably the future too. Knowing about these things is important as a citizen of this ever- globalizing ‘community.’

Recently, a wave of unrest has swept the Latin American country of Venezuela due to a number of restrictions imposed by Hugo Chavez’s increasingly dictatorial government. Included in these restrictions were plans to shut down television stations that broadcast opinions that conflicted with Chavez’s. Now, Venezuela has popped back onto the radar with two very striking and somewhat worrying events. First, Venezuela has “signed an agreement to export 20,000 barrels per day of gasoline to Iran… boosting Tehran’s defiance of looming Western threats of fuel sanctions if it doesn’t suspend its key uranium enrichment program,” according to an article on Fox News’ website on Sept. 7, 2009. This agreement was recently signed when Chavez was in Iran, “deepening ties with Iran and to stand together against the imperialist powers of the world.” Then, on Sept. 14, 2009, CNN published an article highlighting a recent arms deal between Russia and Venezuela to the tune of 2.2 billion dollars. Apparently, according to the article, Chavez is procuring close to 100 Soviet-era tanks, some short-range missiles and “an anti-aircraft weapons system with a range of 185 miles,” to “improve morale among Venezuela’s troops.”

At this point, fellow Americans, I think we should be a little worried.

In news that might hit closer to home (for the time being, that is): France’s lower house of parliament has recently passed a bill in an effort to curb Internet piracy. According to My Way News on Sept. 15, 2009, the bill includes measures such that repeat offenders could face charges including the loss of internet and pricey fines. “The Culture Ministry has estimated that 1,000 French Internet users a day could see their Internet connections cut for up to a year,” and face fines up to $435,000, the article says. However, in order for this law to take effect (and be enforceable), “Internet subscribers would be asked to install special software to enable authorities to track down and identify those suspected of illegal downloads.” How does France expect its population, nevermind the certain demographic downloading illegally, to play along? Maybe the next generation of computers could come with software installed, but until then, I think the French government is out of luck. We’ll see if this legislation makes its way across the pond and how it could possibly be enforced in the future. Until then, there is a world outside of Winona; be part of it!