95th Birthday of J. D. Salinger

         This is my tribute to this important writer. His books were the early influence of the called "counterculture movement". This movement wanted broaden popular culture with less censorship, hipocrisy and standards, a more spontaneous, real, natural and human existence.  This post is a summary of five articles. The first published at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._D._Salinger.The second was published at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/01/catcher-in-the-rye_n_4524045.html. The third was published at http://www.gradesaver.com/the-catcher-in-the-rye/study-guide/major. The fourth was published athttps://www.thedailybeast.com/jd-salinger-at-100-forever-young-forever-influential. The fifth was published at https://blog.gale.com/once-upon-an-author-j-d-salingers-100th-birthday/

             Jerome David Salinger ( 1919-2010 ) was an American writer raised in Manhattan and that began writing stories while in high school. After he went to study literature and writing at Columbia University.  In World War II, due to his proficiency in French and German he worked to a counter-intelligence division. After the war his writings started to be published in The New Yorker magazine. By the late 1940s, he become an avid follower of Zen Buddhism. In 1951, his novel  "The Catcher in the Rye" was an immediate popular success. His depiction of adolescent alienation and loss of innocence was influential. The novel remains widely read and controversial. The success of The Catcher in the Rye led to public attention and scrutiny. Salinger became reclusive. Another great success was the short story, "Franny and Zooey" published in 1961. He died at 91 years-old of natural causes on January 2010, at his home in New Hampshire state, USA. He left one son and one daughter. His energetic, realistically sparse dialogue, was revolutionary at the time were published. Salinger identified closely with his characters, and used techniques such as interior monologue and extended telephone calls. Salinger`s writings has influenced several prominent writers: Harold Brodkey, John Updike, Philip Roth and Richard Yates said about his influence. 

             The famous reclusive author, known for penning "The Catcher in the Rye" and  "Franny and Zooey", has been in the spotlight more than he probably would have liked this year, due to the release of a biography, and the leaking of three of his unpublished stories. We would like to revisit why, we cherish the memory of Salinger. Though his most famous work, "The Catcher in the Rye", is often shrugged off as relatable only to angsty, insufferable teens, it is withstood the test of time. Sure, it is the "great American high school novel." Here are five things this novel can teach you about life, even if your prom-going days are far behind you. 1) You are not alone in your frustations - Holden spends the bulk of the book complaining. Still, his frustations and grievances can help readers to understand that they are not the only one coping with problems.  2) Social niceties are not always phony - he feels he must act in accordance with social norms, that they exist for a reason. He does not have the best attitude about niceties, but he acknowledge that, at times, they can be important. 3) Excellent writing can transport you - Holden is a big reader, and he describe the pleasure he takes in reading in the book.  4) Growing up means channeling your frustations towards something productive - when Holden visits Mr.Antolini, he borrows this quote from Wihelm Stekel. "The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one."  5) Beauty is rare, and worth holding onto - though Holden often is unhappy with his interactions with others, he does cherish the company of his chosen mentors, his close friends and his family. He also values books and museums, and other means of preserving special  and beautiful moments.

             Perhaps the greatest theme of the novel involves the relationship between the pain of actual experiences and the equally devastating numbness that comes with shutting down emotions in order to avoid suffering. Holden, it seems, is in the throes of an existential crisis. Another theme is love and sex, Holden is a deep, sensitive soul, but he has this suspicion that every relationship he have eventually deteriorates. Even in the presence of a prostitute, he can not think only in sex, he want to have a conversation in the hope of feeling some glimmer of human affection with her. Loss of innocence is a theme when Holden realizes that maturity entails its loss, greater knowledge of oneself and others and the circumstances all comes with a price. Innocence goes with idealism and a certain inability or unwillingness to accept the harsher reality. Holden labels almost everyone a phony, in his eyes, is a person who embraces the superficial demands of the world and tries to make something out of nothing. Holden understand one of the most profound truths of life: superficial matters little because it will not last.
            

Importance of Teaching Democracy - part II

            This post is a summary of three article. The first with the title above.  Published at.http://www.parents-choice.org/article.cfm?art_id=168&the_page=editorials The second with the title of, "Teaching Democracy." And was published  at http://usinfo.org/enus/media/pressfreedom/freedom2.htm. The third with the title of, "Strengthen communities and civil society." Published at http://www.padf.org/programs/program/strengthen-communities.

              When you go to the polls and vote, the best thing you could do is to bring your sons and daughters with you. Explain to them what you are doing and why this is important to your life and theirs as well. It is the first step in establishing a family tradition of civic responsibility. Politics affects everything we do: the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the kind of education our children receive, just to name a few. By not participating, we are leaving it to others to decide important components of our lives. Civic responsibility, is a learned social behavior. The founding precept of our public education system was to preserve and promote a democratic society. Students can not be expected to develop a sense of civic responsibility if they do not understand the institutions that preserve democracy. There are some schools that take democracy seriously. They provide events which students learn about our democratic process. Students must learn about the power to influence changes in government. They need to see how citizen activism can change a nation. Don Laws, a political science professor believes helping students understand politics is important to the basic survival of democracy. Civics instruction create a citizenship of informed and civic-minded community members. We must remember that the responsibility of teaching civics and democracy to our students is not left exclusively to our education system. Parents need to be held accountable for such contributions. This year`s presidential election provide a wonderful oportunity, sit down with your sons and daughters and tell them who you will be voting and why. Let them ask questions, even argue. We have taken our demoracy for granted. This presidential election finds us at a crossroads, one at which our values and our role as the Latin America superpower will be tested.

               Democracy is in demand around the world. It even seems contagious. If the ideals that fueled the popular struggles against oppression are to be realized and remain secure over time, people must come to understand and appreciate what democracy is, what life in a free society means, and what institutional arrangements and personal behavior are necessary for such a society to endure and prosper. They must develop the habits, attitudes, and values that make democracy possible, and the commitment and enthusiasm necessary to nurture and sustain it. In its purest  form, democracy affords citizens the opportunity to participate directly in the decision-making process. This is called direct democracy.The absence of a totalitarian government does not magically give rise to a strong and effective democracy. Unfortunately, despite its current vogue, "democracy" is a term that is often misunderstood and misused. For example, in countries emerging from totalitarianism, where oppression has been the norm for decades, there may be a tendency to view democracy simplistically. Since democratic government derives its authority from the consent of the governed, the people have the capacity to change governmental decisions peacefully when they lose confidence in it. And they need not fear a bullet if they try. In constitutional democracies, all citizens possess certain fundamental rights, and the exercise of those rights by minorities does not depend upon the goodwill of the majority. Education for democracy is no quick fix. Creating the educational infrastructure and the sorts of formal and informal programs crucial to good democracy education will require hard work and a long-term commitment on the part of the government and the citizenry. These programs, like the recent democratic revolutions, have helped to reawaken the interest in civic education. We are now entering an exciting period when, through the sharing of information, all societies can develop civic education that ensure the growth and health of democracy.

                Throughout Latin America grassroots democracy has expanded in the last two decades, often bringing significant reforms. Today, an important decentralization from national to municipal governments is occurring, strengthening ties between local government and communities and encouraging the development of civil society. We believe that addressing community needs and increasing citizen participation in civic matters are fundamental for a healthy democracy. Encouraging greater learning about human rights and democratic values through initiatives that include arts, social media and other interactive opportunities to promote discussion and collaboration. Also the work of citizen journalists and professionals to foster better journalistic practices, promote objective media coverage of critical issues, develop innovative media outlets and increase awareness of the importance of the role of free media. Actively strengthening NGOs to combat human rights abuses, promote media freedom and address other issues. This approach has develop leadership and improved local capacity to tackle community challenges. This helps communities tackle problems with efficiency, effectiveness, enabling grassroots democracy to grow.

Importance of Teaching Democracy

        This post is a summary of four articles. The first published at http://www.abc.net.au/civics/democracy/. The second was published at https://www.un.org/en/globalissues/democracy/human_rights.shtml. The third published at http://www.usaid.gov/what-we-do/democracy-human-rights-and-governance. And the last and fourth was published at http://www.humanrights.gov.au/violence-harassment-and-bullying. The title above was created by me.

         Few concepts are as basic and as misunderstood as democracy. Fundamental to a robust democracy are active and informed citizens. Why is it necessary to teach democracy? This text addresses issues considering the process and nature of democracy. In the modern world the most common form is the constitutional democracy. The constitution outlines who will represent the people in a democracy. A constitution profide fixed limitations on the exercise of power by assigning certain specific powers to different structures of government. In a democracy the old traditions of deference and subordination have been replaced by a sense of equity among all the people. Every person  has an equal right to be respected and listened to. Students must be taught to value democracy as a concept and a way of life. Schools have a vital role to play in nurturing the moral and ethical development of young people and their capacity to participate in civic life. In a healthy democracy, citizens questions the motives of their politicians, and scrutinise the activities of governments, the prevalent belief is that no government is perfect, no ruling doctrine or ideology unquestionably. The population should have an awareness of civic matters to ensure that the integrity of the chosen leaders is maintained. If voters are politically ignorant, how can they be confident that they will be fairly represented. By learning about the principles of democracy, the workings of government, and the various plights of groups throughout history, students are being taught how they can become actively involved in making democracy work. Effective education for democracy involves the inculcation of values and attitudes. In order to sustain democracy we must ensure that it is protected against challenges that may offer.

         The values of freedom, respect for human rights and the principles of periodic and genuine elections are essential elements of democracy. In turn, democracy provides the natural environment for the effective realization of human rights. Democracy deficits, weak institutions and poor leadership are among the main challenge to the effective realization of human rights and democratic governance, as supported by the U. N. Emphasizes the role of individuals and people, all of them, without any exclusion, in shaping their human growth and the development of societies. But individuals can only make such contribution when their potential is unleashed through the enjoyment of human rights. 

         By helping societies protect the basic rights of citizens, it is possible prevent conflict, spur economic growth and advance human dignity. Countries with democratic freedom are more just, peaceful and stable, and their citizens can fulfill their potential. Through its democracy, human rights and governance programs, the USaid remains comitted to protecting and advancing our most cherished values.

         Violence, moral harassment and bullying are human rights issues that profoundly affect the lives of many people. We all have the right to feel safe and respected. We all have the right to live our lives free. Violence, moral harassment and bullying can violate these rights. They can also impact on others rights, such as the right to education and the right to health. Victims can experience significant social isolation and feel unsafe. Bullying can lead to emotional  and physical harm, loss of self-esteem, feelings of shame and anxiety, and concentration difficulties. These are not issues that concern only young people. Violence, moral harassment and bullying can occur in a number of different places and can affect people of all ages. Bullying can also take place in cyberspace. New technologies enable the spread of information and images to large numbers of people very quickly. We all have a responsibility to create a safe environment by standing up against violence, moral harassment and bullying, we can all be a part of the solution.

              Moral harassment - a person or a group of individuals that treats another in a manner that is hostile, whether through actions, words or in writing, and if those actions affect the dignity or phychological well-being, as well as causing a deterioration in their relationships and activities or even jeopardizing the employment. Differences between moral harassment and bullying - Moral harassment is an action that is meant to or happens to cause discomfort for the victim. Bullying is when one individual or more, socially degrades the victim either for the purpose of increasing their own self-comfort or for the enjoyment of others.

Inter-American Court of Human Rights

            This post is a summary of three articles. The first was published at http://hrea.org/. And the title is above. The second was published at http://oglobo.globo.com/, on November, 9th 2013.  With  the  title  of, "Brasil responde a 361 denúncias por violação de direitos humanos." The third was published at http://tst.jus.br/, on November, 12th 2013. With the title of, " Colômbia reconhece violações de direitos humanos perante Corte Interamericana."

            The Inter-American Court was established in 1978. It hosts seven judges who are each nominated and elected for six years terms. The court has its permanent seat in San Jose - Costa Rica. The court jurisdiction is limited. It may only hear cases where the state involved has: 1) Ratified the American convention on human rights.  2) Has a accepted the court jurisdiction.  3) The Inter-American Commission on human rights has completed its investigation.  4) The case was referred to the court either by the commission or the state involved in the case within three months of the release of the commission report. 

          An individual may not independently bring a case to be considered by the court in the event that the commission brings a case to the court of human rights, it notifies the original petitioner. At this point, the petitioner has the opportunity to request necessary measures, including precautions for witnesses and protection for evidence. If the court rules that a right has been violated, it will order that the situation be rectified. It may award compensation for the victim for actual damage, emotional harm and litigation costs.               Almir Muniz da Silva had 40 years-old when disappeared in June of 2002, his tractor was founded with marks of gunshots. The day after his family did the record of occurrences. In April of 2009, his case was filed, and the relatives stayed without explanation. Unresigned NGO sended petitions to Inter-American Commission of Human Rights. This is one of the 361 complaints of human rights violations that contained against Brazil in this organism. In this statistic there are also situations of freedom of expression violations. The petitions are the first step of the proceeding in the ICHR, and as the cases are still in analysis they are confidential. O Globo founded some of them, because NGOs, like Global Justice and Conectas, supports some families in this endeavor. The complaint against the Brazilian state in the case of Almir was made in 2009, for violations of state`s agent and omission in investigations. Engaged in the struggle for land in Paraíba, Almir denounced to the state assembly about the formation of militias. The NGOs says that there is evidence the he was dead by a policeman. Besides cases about prison and police executions, there are petitions until against the construction of Belo Monte dam. All the petitions run along a path. First of all, the commission verified if the petition has all the requirements need for proceeding, like for example, if all appeals were depleted  in the country of origin. If meet all criterias, the case begin to proceed. The ICHR, includes a Brazilian judge. The court will hold next week a extraordinary session in Brazil. It will be an attempt to approach to citizens and to show how the court works. In Brazil they will try a case from Colombia. In the ICHR, Brazil has four convictions. The last one, in the end of 2010, when the judges blamed Brazil for the disappearance of 62 people in the Araguaia  guerrilla in the 1970s years, during the military dictatorship. The court also defend judicial punishments for abuses committed in that time. Also in 2010, the STF confirmed the amnesty law prevents proceeding against violations from that time.         

              In public hearing of ICHR hold in Brasilia, Colombia recognized its partial responsability for human rights violations occurred in the operation of resumed of the courthouse, in 1985. The trial was hold in two days at TST, take part besides members of the court, members of the commission inter-American of human rights, members of Colombia government and relatives of the victims. The case is called Rodriguez Vera and others against the Colombia, the court analysed the disappearance of 13 people during military operation in the courthouse in Bogota. Colombia admited omissions for violations in many rights of the people disappeared. The lawyer of the government of Colombia read the statement of recognition of responsibility, and in the name of the Colombian state asked forgiveness to relatives of the victims. She said, "the wounds still did not heal and the state mourn their pain, we express our absolut respect for the victims and their relatives." For them, however, the recognition was partial and late and regard that after 28 years, the reparation can not be restricted to the compensation. The president of ICHR, judge Jesús Orozco, did caveats to the recognition that not reflect what really happened with the victims nor the true reach of the state international responsability of the government.                                                    

Seven News to Remember 2013 Forever

    This post is a summary of seven articles. They are in chronology order. They made us to reflect. They have something in common. They can teach us something. The first published at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_nightclub_fire. The second article was published at http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/14/world/asia/bangladesh-building-collapse-aftermath/. The third was published at http://www.businessinsider.com/whats-the-matter-with-brazil-2013.The fourth was published at
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/2013/oct/15/snowden-right-about-danger-nsa-surveillance/.The fifith was published at http://world.time.com/2013/06/30/cairo-protestors-demand-new-egyptian-revolution/.The sixth was published at http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/16-typhoon-haiyan-aid-begins-trickling-into-desperate-philippines-communities. The seventh was published at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/pro-eu-rally-in-ukraine/

           The Kiss nightclub fire started around 02:00 AM on 27 January, 2013 in Santa Maria, RS, killing 242 people and injuring at least 168 others. It is considered the second most-devastating fire disaster in the history of Brazil, surpassed only by the Great North American Circus fire of December 1961, which killed 503 people in Niterói, RJ. It is also the third deadliest nightclub fire in history, behind the Luoyang fire, China in 2000 and the Cocoanut Grove fire, USA in 1942. Police stated that the fire began when a band ignited a pyrotechnic device on stage. According to the authorities, reasons for the high death toll include the lack of emergency exits and the fact that the number of people inside exceeded the maximum capacity by hundreds. The incident result in the inspection of safety features of thousands of nightclubs all over the country.

             Across from the detritus of Bangladesh dealiest industrial disaster, stands a erase board that marks, in neat black handwriting, each life a nine-storey building claimed when it pancaked to the ground. And so, after 20 days of non-stop digging, the army-led effort to pull out every last body from the ruins in Dhaka came to an end. The tally stands at 1,127 dead and 2,438 rescued alive. But nobody knows exactly how many occupants were inside the building when it came tumbling down on April 24. There were five garment factories housed in the building. People gathered and gawked, their anger was directed at Sohel Rana, the building owner who dismissed concerns that the cracks on the building made the structure unsound. a day before the collapse, he said the building will stand a hundred years. Rana, who fled after the disaster but was arrested trying to cross into India, is in police custody.

            Brazil is pouring approximately $15 billion dollars into the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. Last month, Brazilians took the streets over high costs around its events. Protestors have largely become tired of poor public services, corruptions, and rising costs. For many the idea of Brazilians protesting football is hard to wrap their head around. "It is not the game itself that they have forsaken, but rather the kind of game that football has become: billion-dollar business, a prestige object for plutocrats, and an extravagant showpiece for corrupt governments and sporting organizations."  Said Ian Buruma, Professor of journalism at Bard College. Major fiscal policy changes are unlikely ahead of the presidential election. Monetary policy will likely be tightened to curb inflation and boost real income. To boost economic growth, the government will have to do more to attract investment. Brazil has one other problem to contend with. Major sporting events have often had a negative longer-term economic impact on the host country.

             Edward Snowden, former contractor for NSA and whistleblower, revealed to the world that the NSA is spying not only on USA`s enemies but also on USA citizens. He revealed that mass surveillance program tracks phone calls, internet use, website acces. He also said that this information, if it is ever in the wrong hands, could be a direct threat to the public. He said that the government could one day use this information against its own citizens. President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, has called for an end to American domination of the internet. If she is successful, the result could be an internet in which there is even less privacy as local government take control. Former Texas congressman Ron Paul called Snowden a hero, and believes that NSA operations are a direct attack on our right to privacy. Any form of illegal spying by government directly violates our civil liberties and privacy. Snowden`s actions, legal or illegal, are bringing to light the reasons why any form of spying by government agency must have congressional oversight.

              "We swear to the blood of the martyrs," the marchers chanted as they moved toward the presidential palace. "A new revolution from the start!" That, as much as anything captured the mood of wave of national protests against President Mohamed Morsi. After a year under Morsi, preceded by a generally unhappy 15 months of postrevolutionary military rule, the protesters, angry about a weak economy, deteriorating security and rising Islamism, want a reset. In terms of sheer numbers, anti-Morsi demonstrators had to be pleased with the turnout, in the hundreds of thousands. The figures equaled and exceeded some of the highest peaks of the original revolution against deposed dictator Mubarak Morsi have repeatedly claimed that he ha not been given a fair chance to rule and that one year is too short for this kind od backlash. But the sheer size, scope and diversity of protests reveal a widespread dissatisfaction with his rule.

             International aid began to trickle into the hardest-hit areas of the typhoon-ravaged phillippines, more than a week after the most powerful storm ever to hit land devasted the islands. Survivors were still through the wreckage of the storm, hoping to salvage anything to help them rebuild their lives, as UN estimate homeless to nearly 2 million. The UN said that the death toll from the typhoon had reached 4,200. The Phillippines government has an official tally of 1,179 people missing and 3,633 deaths. UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said that she acknowledge that aid should have been quicker in coming and been widely distributed. Meanwhile, workers have been struggling to clean up a grim mess, burying bodies in hastily dug mass graves before even their families can identify them.

              At least 200,000 pro-European demonstrators began a mass rally in the Ukrainian capital in a show of force against President Viktor Yanukovych after his failure to sign a key EU agreement. Yanukovych is under pressure to decide whether to align his nation with the West by signing a deal with the EU, or to join a Moscow-led customs union. He is set to travel to Moscow to meet Putin for talks expected to centre on a proposed free trade deal with Russia fiercely opposed by the demonstrators. Opposition leader Vitaly Klitschko had said ahead that, " all Ukrainians must go to the streets to voice their aspirations to live in a modern European country." Protesters have been camped out on the square where the Orange Revolution unfolded in 2004 for more than three weeks since Yanukovych failed to sign the Association Agreement with the EU.