1)Gustavo: Italy
I chose Gustavo's as my #1 because he compared their way of living with ours, on how it could be better and what he stated about everyone being equal.
2)Natalia O: Syria
I really liked Natalia's proposal because she expressed her emotions in her writing and how she really wants to change this country.
3)Juan: Cuba
I chose Juan's proposal because we all know what problems Cuba has been facing all these years.
4)Frederick: Ecuador
Frederick's proposal was very interesting because he talked about the problem with oil and different problems with its society.
5)Kimberly: Uganda
I liked kimberly's proposal because she says all the bad things that is happening to Uganda.
6)Yamilette: Saudi Arabia
Yamilette's proposal was very interesting and very fun to read because I also think that women have to receive the same rights as men.
7)Airined: Libya
Airined pointed out although Libya is a wealthy country, its society isn't well because of the rule of it's dictator.
8)Miguel C: Somalia
I agree to what Miguel pointed out on his proposal about the police being corrupt and abusive.
9)Karolina: Ivory Coast
Karolina's proposal is very interesting because of how she stated that any help can make a change towards it's country.
10)John: India
John's proposal is kinda cool because it talks about issues that society are having.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Resolution Proposal "Iran"
Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a great and powerful country. What needs to be done to ensure the human rights of this great and potential country is to ensure the chidren's right to eduducation. And also to ensure the right to jobs for the non-educated people.
The United Nations should come to the fact that Iran is a small country and needs to have an education system and a good foundation of food. Though Iran is a small but yet populated country it has a strong grasp of its situation. Iran's foreign relations are based on two strategic principles, eliminating outside influences in the region and pursuing extensive diplomatic contacts with developing and non-aligned countries.
The economy of Iran is the eighteenth largest economy in the world by purchasing power parity . Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service venture. Its economic infrastructure has been improving steadily over the past two decades but continues to be affected by inflation and unemployment. In the early 21st century the service sector contributed the largest percentage of the GDP, followed by industry and agriculture. In 2006, about 45% of the government's budget came from oil and natural gas revenues, and 31% came from taxes and fees.
The last subject is Iran ranks second in the world in natural gas reserves and third in oil reserves. In 2005, Iran spent $4 billion on fuel imports, because of contraband and inefficient domestic use.[Oil industry output averaged 4 million barrels per day (640,000 m3/d) in 2005, compared with the peak of six million barrels per day reached in 1974.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Iran's Human Right's Issues.
Up to this very day, Iran is an enigma. Which means that it is a fundamentalist religious regime and an industrialized democracy. A country where women are educated and can legally vote but can be subject to arrests, beatings, and imprisonment. A country where youth who use Facebook evident reelect political candidates with an 11th-century concept of divine right law. It is both nationalistic and cosmopolitan, theocratic and modern, fundamentalist and socialist. It is, in all probability, a secular democracy waiting to happen.
Human rights abuses including arbitrary arrest, torture and extensive use of the death penalty still persist in Iran, Amnesty International warned today on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Recently the authorities bulldozed a mass grave site at Khavaran, near Tehran. Where many of those executed are thought to be buried. Relatives of those killed have been arrested and imprisoned after gatherings to commemorate the executions. The rights that are being violated among the country of Iran are:
Links to reputable news:
http://news.ino.com/headlines/?newsid=41220111136
http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-188368.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110411/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_bahrain_1
Human rights abuses including arbitrary arrest, torture and extensive use of the death penalty still persist in Iran, Amnesty International warned today on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. Recently the authorities bulldozed a mass grave site at Khavaran, near Tehran. Where many of those executed are thought to be buried. Relatives of those killed have been arrested and imprisoned after gatherings to commemorate the executions. The rights that are being violated among the country of Iran are:
Article 7
- All are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.
Article 10.
- Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.
Links to reputable news:
http://news.ino.com/headlines/?newsid=41220111136
http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-188368.html
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110411/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_bahrain_1
Monday, April 11, 2011
Background History of Iran
The nation of Iran, also known as Persia, has traditionally been a major power in the region. Despite invasions by Arabs, Seljuk Turks, and Mongols, Iran has always had power in its national identity and taken pride in its unique cultural and political heritage.
Archeological findings tell that human activity in Iran dates back to the middle Paleolithic era, about 100,000 years ago. Many dynasties have ruled Iran, beginning with the Achaemenid (559-330 B.C.), which was founded by Cyrus the Great. After the conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great ushered in the Hellenistic period (300-250 B.C.), ancient Iran was ruled by the Parthian (250 B.C.-226 A.D.) and the Sassanian (226-651) dynasties.
The seventh century Arab conquest of Iran, which introduced Islam to the population, was followed by invasions by the Seljuk Turks and the Mongols. Iran experienced a political and cultural revival under the Safavid dynasty (1502-1736), during which Shah Abbas expelled the Uzbeks and Ottomans from Persia. The conqueror Nadir Shah and his Afsharid dynasty (1736-1749) were succeeded by the Zand dynasty (1750-1794), which was founded by Karim Khan, and later the Qajar (1795-1925) and the Pahlavi (1925-1979) dynasties.
Many date the beginning of modern Iranian history to the nationalist uprisings against the Shah in 1905 and the establishment of a limited constitutional monarchy in 1906. The discovery of oil in 1908 would later become a key factor in Iranian history and development.
In 1921, Reza Khan, an Iranian officer of the Persian Cossack Brigade, seized control of the government. In 1925, after finally ousting the Qajar dynasty, he declared himself Shah and established the Pahlavi dynasty.
In 1951, the government of nationalist Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh nationalized the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.
In 1961, Iran administered a series of economic, social, and administrative reforms--pushed by the Kennedy administration--that became known as the White Revolution. As a result of this program, which was driven by reform, modernization and economic growth proceeded at an unprecedented rate. This tremendous growth was fueled by Iran's vast petroleum reserves, which were then the third-largest in the world. However, while Iran’s economy prospered, democratic reform and civil liberties deteriorated.
In 1978, domestic turmoil turned to revolution driven by several disparate groups--nationalists, Islamists, Marxists, and students--who joined together in opposition to the Shah. In January 1979, the Shah fled Iran for Egypt, later traveling to the U.S. to seek medical treatment for cancer; he died in exile in Egypt one year later.
On February 1, 1979, exiled religious leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from France to assume control of the revolution and establish himself as Supreme Leader of a new, theocratic republic guided by Islamic principles.
Following Khomeini's death on June 3, 1989, the Assembly of Experts chose the outgoing president of the republic, Ali Khamenei, to succeed him as Supreme Leader. Although the transition appeared smooth externally, there was debate amongst senior clerics regarding Khamenei's relative lack of religious credentials.
In August 1989, Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, Speaker of the Majles, was elected President by an overwhelming majority. He was re-elected June 1993, albeit with a more modest majority. Some Western observers attributed the reduced support for Rafsanjani in 1993 to popular disenchantment with Iran’s deteriorating economy.
In August 1997, an overwhelming majority of Iranians elected reformist cleric Mohammad Khatami as President, hoping he would usher in a new era of freedom and reform. Khatami had modest successes in broadening the participation of Iranians in government by holding popular elections for local government councils and encouraging the development of civil society.
Although many liberal-minded Iranians were disappointed that Khatami did not support student protesters in 1999, he retained enough popular support to secure re-election in June 2001.
In February 2004, elections were held for the Seventh Majles, in which many reformists were prohibited from running, resulting in a more conservative group of parliamentarians in control of the Majles. In March 2008, the Iranian Government again interfered in parliamentary elections. Although reformist candidates managed to hold onto their positions, the Eighth Majles remained under the control of conservative blocs.
None of the seven presidential candidates on the ballot for the June 17, 2005 elections received a majority, resulting in a two-candidate runoff on June 24 between Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad and former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Some Iranian politicians alleged voter fraud and electoral interference by the Basij militia forces during the first round of voting.
Ahmadi-Nejad, who won in the second round with nearly 62% of the vote according to Iranian Government figures, assumed office in August 2005. Ahmadi-Nejad was re-elected as Iran's president in June 2009, in a multiparty election that many Iranians considered neither free nor fair.
Due to a lack of independent international election monitors, international organizations could not verify the results. Although the final vote tallies remain disputed, the Iranian Government’s official results allocated 62.6% of the vote to Ahmadi-Nejad, with his closest challenger, Mir Hossein Mousavi, receiving 33.8%.
Archeological findings tell that human activity in Iran dates back to the middle Paleolithic era, about 100,000 years ago. Many dynasties have ruled Iran, beginning with the Achaemenid (559-330 B.C.), which was founded by Cyrus the Great. After the conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great ushered in the Hellenistic period (300-250 B.C.), ancient Iran was ruled by the Parthian (250 B.C.-226 A.D.) and the Sassanian (226-651) dynasties.
The seventh century Arab conquest of Iran, which introduced Islam to the population, was followed by invasions by the Seljuk Turks and the Mongols. Iran experienced a political and cultural revival under the Safavid dynasty (1502-1736), during which Shah Abbas expelled the Uzbeks and Ottomans from Persia. The conqueror Nadir Shah and his Afsharid dynasty (1736-1749) were succeeded by the Zand dynasty (1750-1794), which was founded by Karim Khan, and later the Qajar (1795-1925) and the Pahlavi (1925-1979) dynasties.
Many date the beginning of modern Iranian history to the nationalist uprisings against the Shah in 1905 and the establishment of a limited constitutional monarchy in 1906. The discovery of oil in 1908 would later become a key factor in Iranian history and development.
In 1921, Reza Khan, an Iranian officer of the Persian Cossack Brigade, seized control of the government. In 1925, after finally ousting the Qajar dynasty, he declared himself Shah and established the Pahlavi dynasty.
In 1951, the government of nationalist Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh nationalized the British-owned Anglo-Iranian Oil Company.
In 1961, Iran administered a series of economic, social, and administrative reforms--pushed by the Kennedy administration--that became known as the White Revolution. As a result of this program, which was driven by reform, modernization and economic growth proceeded at an unprecedented rate. This tremendous growth was fueled by Iran's vast petroleum reserves, which were then the third-largest in the world. However, while Iran’s economy prospered, democratic reform and civil liberties deteriorated.
In 1978, domestic turmoil turned to revolution driven by several disparate groups--nationalists, Islamists, Marxists, and students--who joined together in opposition to the Shah. In January 1979, the Shah fled Iran for Egypt, later traveling to the U.S. to seek medical treatment for cancer; he died in exile in Egypt one year later.
On February 1, 1979, exiled religious leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned from France to assume control of the revolution and establish himself as Supreme Leader of a new, theocratic republic guided by Islamic principles.
Following Khomeini's death on June 3, 1989, the Assembly of Experts chose the outgoing president of the republic, Ali Khamenei, to succeed him as Supreme Leader. Although the transition appeared smooth externally, there was debate amongst senior clerics regarding Khamenei's relative lack of religious credentials.
In August 1989, Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani, Speaker of the Majles, was elected President by an overwhelming majority. He was re-elected June 1993, albeit with a more modest majority. Some Western observers attributed the reduced support for Rafsanjani in 1993 to popular disenchantment with Iran’s deteriorating economy.
In August 1997, an overwhelming majority of Iranians elected reformist cleric Mohammad Khatami as President, hoping he would usher in a new era of freedom and reform. Khatami had modest successes in broadening the participation of Iranians in government by holding popular elections for local government councils and encouraging the development of civil society.
Although many liberal-minded Iranians were disappointed that Khatami did not support student protesters in 1999, he retained enough popular support to secure re-election in June 2001.
In February 2004, elections were held for the Seventh Majles, in which many reformists were prohibited from running, resulting in a more conservative group of parliamentarians in control of the Majles. In March 2008, the Iranian Government again interfered in parliamentary elections. Although reformist candidates managed to hold onto their positions, the Eighth Majles remained under the control of conservative blocs.
None of the seven presidential candidates on the ballot for the June 17, 2005 elections received a majority, resulting in a two-candidate runoff on June 24 between Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad and former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. Some Iranian politicians alleged voter fraud and electoral interference by the Basij militia forces during the first round of voting.
Ahmadi-Nejad, who won in the second round with nearly 62% of the vote according to Iranian Government figures, assumed office in August 2005. Ahmadi-Nejad was re-elected as Iran's president in June 2009, in a multiparty election that many Iranians considered neither free nor fair.
Due to a lack of independent international election monitors, international organizations could not verify the results. Although the final vote tallies remain disputed, the Iranian Government’s official results allocated 62.6% of the vote to Ahmadi-Nejad, with his closest challenger, Mir Hossein Mousavi, receiving 33.8%.
HISTORY ARTICLES:
- http://www.iranchamber.com/religions/articles/history_of_iranian_jews1.php
- http://www.iranchamber.com/history/articles/armano_iranian_per_islamic.php
- http://www.iranchamber.com/history/articles/health_medicine_ancient_iran.php
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Iran's Magnificient Culture!!
Language
The official language of Iran is Persian (the Persian term for which is Farsi). It is the language of government and public instruction and is the mother tongue of half of the population. Persian is spoken as a second language by a large proportion of the rest.
The official language of Iran is Persian (the Persian term for which is Farsi). It is the language of government and public instruction and is the mother tongue of half of the population. Persian is spoken as a second language by a large proportion of the rest.
Religion
The religion held by the majority of the Iranian population is Shia Muslim (89%). Sunni Muslims in Iran constitute about 9% of the population and the remaining 2% of Iranians are from ‘other’ religions – primarily Zoroastrian, Christian and Jewish.
The religion held by the majority of the Iranian population is Shia Muslim (89%). Sunni Muslims in Iran constitute about 9% of the population and the remaining 2% of Iranians are from ‘other’ religions – primarily Zoroastrian, Christian and Jewish.
Cultural Traditions
Christmas in Iran is known as the Little Feast. For the first 25 days of December, a great fast is observed, during which no meat, eggs, milk, or cheese is eaten. It is a time of peace and meditation; a time for attending services at the church. When the fast is over, the feast is begun, for plenty of meat is prepared for the Christmas dinner.Christmas Eve is the last day of the fast. Almost before dawn on Christmas Day, the people attend Mass to receive Communion and it is not until they have received this Communion that they are permitted to break fast.
The boys and girls of Iran have never heard of Santa Claus, so they do not exchange gifts at Christmas. But they do receive new clothes, which they proudly wear all during the happy Christmas week.
A dish eaten for Christmas day is a kind of chicken stew called 'harasa'. It is cooked in large quantities and lasts several days.
Cultural Norms
In Iran, the family is the basis of the social structure. The concept of family is more private than in many other cultures. Female relatives must be protected from outside influences and are taken care of at all times. It is inappropriate to ask questions about an Iranian's wife or other female relatives. Iranians take their responsibilities to their family quite seriously.Families tend to be small, only 1 or 2 children, but the extended family is quite close.
The individual derives a social network and assistance in times of need from the family. Elderly relatives are kept at home, not placed in a nursing home. Loyalty to the family comes before other social relationship, even business. Nepotism is considered a good thing, since it implies that employing people one knows and trusts is of primary importance.
In Iran, the family is the basis of the social structure. The concept of family is more private than in many other cultures. Female relatives must be protected from outside influences and are taken care of at all times. It is inappropriate to ask questions about an Iranian's wife or other female relatives. Iranians take their responsibilities to their family quite seriously.Families tend to be small, only 1 or 2 children, but the extended family is quite close.
The individual derives a social network and assistance in times of need from the family. Elderly relatives are kept at home, not placed in a nursing home. Loyalty to the family comes before other social relationship, even business. Nepotism is considered a good thing, since it implies that employing people one knows and trusts is of primary importance.
Music
Persian classical music is one of the most elaborate and inspiring artistic forms ever created. The musical system consists of twelve modal units called dastgah.
Dance!!
Art
Iranians have one of the richest and most elaborate artistic traditions in the world. Two Islamic prohibitions affect arts in the most direct way: a prohibition against music, and one against the depiction of humans and animals in art. The prophet Muhammad disapproved of music because it acted to transport listeners to another mental sphere, distracting them from attention to the world created by God.
Etiquette
The social lubricant of Iranian life is a system known as ta'arof , literally "meeting together." This is a ritualized system of linguistic and behavioral interactional strategies allowing individuals to interrelate in a harmonious fashion. The system marks the differences between andaruni and biruni situations, and also marks differences in relative social status. In general, higher status persons are older and have important jobs, or command respect because of their learning, artistic accomplishments, or erudition. 
- http://www.iranchamber.com/culture/articles/iranian_marriage_ceremony.php
- http://www.everyculture.com/Ge-It/Iran.html#ixzz1InQduhfu
- http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293998-s202/Iran:Culture.html
Monday, April 4, 2011
Iran (http://iranthecountry.blogspot.com)
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan Geography: Rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
Population: 77,891,220
Current Government Type Political State: Theocratic Republic; a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, but the Deity's laws are interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc.); a government subject to religious authority.
Education and Literacy Rates: age 15 and over can read and write, total population: 77%, male: 83.5%, female: 70.4%
Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%
Religions: Muslim 98% (Shia 89%, Sunni 9%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i) 2%
Death rates: 5.94 deaths/1,000 population
Life Expectancy: 70.06 years Ethnic groups: Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%
Suffrage(Voting Rights): 18 years of age; universal
Unemployment Rate: 14.6%
Population Below Poverty Line: 18%
Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, fertilizers, caustic soda, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous and non-ferrous metal fabrication, armaments
Communications: Currently being modernized and expanded with the goal of not only improving the efficiency and increasing the volume of the urban service but also bringing telephone service to several thousand villages, not presently connected. 25.804 million wired phones, 52.555 million mobile phones.
Military Service: 19 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 17 years of age for Law Enforcement Forces; 15 years of age for Basij Forces (Popular Mobilization Army); conscript military service obligation - 18 months; women exempt from military service (2008)
Transnational issues: Iran is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude; Iranian women are trafficked internally for the purpose of forced prostitution and for forced marriages to settle debts.
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