Mexican Media and the Drug Cartels

For decades, there has been a deadly drug war going on in Mexico between the various cartels based in the country. One ramification of this war has been that journalists have been caught in the crossfire. Not only that, media has come to play an instrumental role on both sides of the war.

For the drug cartels, media has been their main means of instilling fear and promoting their executions. Since 2006, drug cartels have been accused of kidnapping and murdering over 100,000 people! Media outlets pay a price, however, if they report negatively on the cartels. From 2000 to 2013, 88 journalists have been murdered with another 18 vanishing (Kirchner)! 

If any Mexican newspapers cover a cartel's violent endeavors along the US-Mexico border, then that cartel will respond by injuring or killing a member of that newspaper. It got so bad that El Diario de Juarez published an editorial imploring the cartels to stop and that the newspaper would do whatever was necessary to make the violence against them end. The cartels never responded (Kirchner).

Under current Mexican president, Enrique Pena Nieton, media coverage of cartel action has gone down tremendously. President Pena Nieto's crackdown attempts against the cartel actually prompted them to commence their murdering sprees (Tuckman). Since taking office, Pena Nieto has spoken out less and less against the cartels and on TV the words "organized crime" and "cartel" have all but vanished (Tuckman). 

Part of the diminishing coverage of the drug cartels is that the shock value is gone. People are not horrified when they find out about a journalist who was executed or that five media members were killed via fire squad because they spoke negatively of the cartel. As it turns out, some people actually seek out these horrific murder videos and photos via social media (Kirchner).

Even though journalists bare the brunt of the cartels' wrath, that does not mean that local citizens who bash the cartels via blogs are safe either. In 2011, two Mexican bloggers were found dead in Nuevo Laredo with notes on them accusing them of being "Internet snitches" (Kirchner). This has put many Mexican citizens on edge as people censor themselves on Twitter as a means to avoid cartel retaliation (Kirchner). The people are afraid, and with the media reporting less and less on cartel activity and journalists disappearing and dying, it appears that the cartel will be going nowhere anytime soon.

Sources:

          Kirchner, Lauren. "Media as Both Weapon and Defense in the Mexican Drug War." 11 Mar. 2014. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. <http://www.psmag.com/health-and-behavior/media-weapon-defense-mexican-drug-war-76243>.

          Tuckman, Jo. "Journalists on Front Line of Mexico Drug War: 'Fear Is Terrible and Well Founded'" 9 Apr. 2013. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/apr/09/mexico-drug-war-journalists-fear>.

Media In The Soviet Union

For 69 years, the Soviet Union dominated all of Eastern Europe. It was a brutal empire that was held together by the prevalent idea that Communism was the best form of government. In the Soviet Union, everybody was told what to think and feel. There was no freedom of thought or speech. If the people tried to absorb any media not approved by the state, then they would face grave consequences ("Life in USSR under Stalin.").

When Josef Stalin was in charge, he made sure that all expressions of him through the media were positive ones. He was glorified in all forms of art and writings and portrayed as a Russian hero and savior. Some artists were so distraught that their works always had to extol Stalin that they preferred to either kill themselves or emigrate to other countries ("Life in USSR under Stalin.").

Education was tightly run by the state. Kids were encouraged to join groups that promoted social/communist values. They had a very limited amount of books to read as the government monitored what books were and were not allowed in Soviet schools. Churches were attacked and preachers were arrested as Stalin wanted no one worshipping God over himself ("Life in USSR under Stalin.").

A prominent ideology of the Soviet Union was the Soviet Media Theory. This theory stated that the government would seize control of media as a means to benefit the interests of the working class. There was no private ownership of media whatsoever. The rationale behind this was that making the media an instrument of solely the state's would produce a more educated general public. It would also encourage the public to give responses which would foster media interests ("Soviet Media Theory.").

This media theory came under fire from critics who pointed out four flaws and just one strength. The first flaw is the prohibition of private media ownership. The second flaw is that this theory allows national interests to dominate what is regulated rather than personal interests. The third flaw is that journalists in this system appear more as state sympathizers than watchdogs. The final flaw is that if the leadership is bad, the whole country is doomed. The one strength of this system is that the communication system is two-way and allows feedback, which is not found in an authoritative media system ("Soviet Media Theory.").

The Soviet Union had a tight grip on its media and made sure the people only received information that the state wanted them to hear and see. Even though the Soviet Union has been gone for almost 25 years now, its presence still lingers in Eastern Europe. The media in Eastern Europe is predominantly free, but these nations still have trouble moving past a system that heavily influenced their way of life for so many years.

Sources:

          "Life in USSR under Stalin." Web. 24 Mar. 2015. <http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/Stalins Russia.htm>.

          "Soviet Media Theory." Communication Theory RSS. Web. 24 Mar. 2015. <http://communicationtheory.org/soviet-media-theory/>.

Propaganda In Nazi Germany

From 1933-1945, Germany saw one of the most evil regimes come to light in the Nazi Party. Apart from promoting large-scale genocide and world domination, the Nazis did all they could to control the media and sway the German people's thoughts and opinions.

The leader of Nazi propaganda was Joseph Goebbels. In his role as propaganda minister, Goebbels hailed Hitler and the Nazi Party while painting all Jewish people as enemies of the state. He had all "un-German" books burned and produced multiple posters and films promoting the Nazi agenda. Goebbels made sure that any opinions that differed from the Nazis were snuffed out and never broadcasted. As important as it was to Goebbels to advocate Nazi superiority, his main priority was to degrade Jews and beat it into the Germans' heads that the Jews were the root of Germany's problem and the cause of the ongoing war ("Joseph Goebbels.").

Goebbels was completely pledged to Adolf Hitler. As the tide of the war shifted and the Nazis' defeat to the Allies became more and more inevitable, Goebbels goaded the German people to engage in an all-out war. He reasoned it was better for Germany to be completely wiped out if they were going to lose the war. By this point of the war, Nazi propaganda had lost its effectiveness and the Germans were preparing to surrender ("Joseph Goebbels.").

In addition to anti-Semitism, Nazi propaganda played on hatred towards the Bolsheviks in the Soviet Union. Hitler began this promotion after cunningly convincing the German people that Great Britain had been subjugated in 1941, which was not entirely true. Germany had indeed decimated Great Britain with air raid after air raid, but the great island nation was not at all under Nazi control (Welch).

Nevertheless, Hitler wanted the Soviet Union and knew he needed the German people's support if he was to undertake such a daunting task. By targeting Communists (and of course blaming the Jews), Hitler's anti-Bolshevik propaganda garnered him the support he wanted for a full-scale invasion of Stalin's USSR in June. He would need as much support as he could get because this move would eventually backfire tremendously (Welch).

Propaganda in Nazi Germany was used to promote Adolf Hitler, the Nazi Party, and the war effort. It suppressed all opponents and constantly painted the Jews as scapegoats. The effectiveness of this propaganda network was embodied in minister Joseph Goebbels, who held unquestionable loyalty towards Adolf Hitler. The Nazis' 15 years of power and influence in Germany show how valuable and influential the media can be. By controlling what the people see and hear, governments can shape their respective countries for better or worse. Unfortunately for the world and millions of people, Germany chose the latter.

Sources:

          "Joseph Goebbels." History.com. A&E Television Networks. Web. 18 Mar. 2015. <http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/joseph-goebbels>.

         Welch, David. "Nazi Propaganda." BBC News. BBC. Web. 18 Mar. 2015. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/nazi_propaganda_gallery_06.shtml>.

Joseph Kony 2012

In March 2012, a video went viral on the Internet. The result was the introduction of Joseph Kony to the Western world. Working primarily out of Uganda, Kony led a militia known as the Lord's Resistance Army. He was notorious for abducting children and brainwashing them as a means to enslave and enlist them into his army ("Joseph Kony | Biography - Ugandan Rebel." ).

Besides the issue of enlisting child soldiers, Kony's Lord's Resistance Army was brutal towards innocent citizens. They went through villages defiling, murdering, and butchering countless people! Over two million Africans were left homeless after Kony and his army came through ("Joseph Kony | Biography - Ugandan Rebel.").

By 2005, Kony's death toll had reached 10,000 with child subjugations reaching 24,000. Warrants were issued for Kony's arrest, and the African Warlord preceded to go into hiding. In 2008, Operation Lightning Thunder was launched against Kony and the LRA, but this military offensive failed to stymie the LRA or capture Kony ("Joseph Kony | Biography - Ugandan Rebel." ).

As I stated earlier, a viral video was released via social media that described Kony's atrocities and why he needed to be brought to justice. The video was lauded for bringing awareness to the pressing need to capture Kony, but also criticized for implying that Africa needed the people of the West to step in and take care of a problem that really pertained to them only ("Joseph Kony | Biography - Ugandan Rebel." ).

The Kony story is a good example of how social media can raise awareness for a cause that is miles away in another country. Although the campaign died out and did not lead to Kony's capture, it helped bring light to an ongoing social issue. This shows how powerful social media can be and, when used for the right purposes, how much positive impact it can truly have on the world around us.

Sources:

          "Joseph Kony | Biography - Ugandan Rebel." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 26 Feb. 2015. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1017670/Joseph-Kony>.

          https://vimeo.com/37119711

The Outbreak and Rise of ISIS

The Middle East has always been in conflict and the new big threat of late has been ISIS (Islamic State of Iran and Syria). ISIS knows no bounds and considers itself the all powerful ruler of the Muslim world. The group has been constantly crossing boundaries and has a presence in over 10 Middle Eastern countries. 

ISIS is a very extremist group whose main goal is to create a pure Islamic state by any means necessary. It advocates jihad, which is "religious war", and has committed many crimes against humanity.  ISIS has beheaded a plethora of journalists and has broadcasted these killings worldwide as a means to intimidate other countries.

Their inhumane acts do not stop there. In their most recent killings on February 16th, ISIS beheaded 21 Egyptian Christians in Libya (CNN Staff). As is custom with a majority of their murders, this was captured on video. ISIS's ruthless executions have prompted many nations from NATO, the EU, and the CCASG to speak out and condemn the organization. 

ISIS's weapons are mostly old stockpiles left behind by Saddam Hussein and have played a major role in its territorial occupation up to this point. ISIS does have nuclear materials, but has not transformed them into any sort of atomic bomb at this point.

ISIS mainly utilizes social media in its propaganda and recruiting tactics. Until August 2014, Twitter was ISIS's main means of communicating and sharing its agenda and propaganda. The group also has an online magazine titled Dabiq, which exists in a variety of languages including English. ISIS has actually succeeded in recruiting some radical Americans to join their cause.

Even with its Twitter account shut down, ISIS continues to broadcast and boast in the many atrocities it has committed. Some of ISIS's infamous crimes include:

• Killing over 9,347 civilians and wounding over 17,386 ("'Terrifying' UN Report Details ISIS War Crimes in Iraq.").
• Execution of over 1,500 Iraqi soldiers ("'Terrifying' UN Report Details ISIS War Crimes in Iraq.").
• Horrendous treatment of women that has resulted in 150 single girls and women being sold as sex slaves ("'Terrifying' UN Report Details ISIS War Crimes in Iraq.").
• Destruction of various cultural and religious locations that ISIS's doctrine condemns ("'Terrifying' UN Report Details ISIS War Crimes in Iraq.").
• The displacement of over 1.8 million Iraqis who have fled from their homes ("'Terrifying' UN Report Details ISIS War Crimes in Iraq.").

This report was written in October of last year, so this list does not even include what ISIS has done in the last three and a half months. There are also a majority of other accusations against ISIS that have not yet been verified. 

ISIS may not be an imminent threat to the United States, but I feel that something is in the works. If the USA continues to let ISIS operate in the Middle East without punishment, then another attack of 9/11 proportions may be on the rise. ISIS has claimed it wants to raise the flag of Allah over the White House and it is only a matter of time before somebody makes a move.

ISIS will definitely not take over the world due to the fact that is has angered so many countries. The group does not have the manpower to essentially take on the whole world in what would be a World War III type of scenario. The group adheres to no law and strongly believes that its violent actions are what the Islam religion calls it to do. Honestly, these radicals have taken Islam to the ultimate extreme and will not be around much longer to see their "world domination" if they keep messing with the wrong countries, especially the United States of America.

Sources:

         CNN Staff. "ISIS Releases Video Claiming Beheadings of Egyptian Coptic Christians - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network. Web. 18 Feb. 2015. <http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/15/middleeast/isis-video-beheadings-christians/>.

          "'Terrifying' UN Report Details ISIS War Crimes in Iraq." - RT News. Web. 18 Feb. 2015. <http://rt.com/news/192692-un-isis-war-crimes/>.

India's Particpation In World War II

When World II struck, the world was thrown into turmoil. For most colonies, the undertook the responsibility of fighting for the nations that controlled them. For India, a nation that had been under British rule since 1849, their allegiance would be with the Allies. Despite being right next to Japan's gigantic Pacific Empire and the Soviet Union, India never faced the threat of invasion. India's biggest conflict, instead, would be fighting for the very same people who oppressed them for years.

For most Indians, they asked no questions and suited up to fight for the Allies. Over two and a half million Indians fought in Africa and Italy during World War II. 36,000 Indian troops were lost in these battles with another 64,354 obtaining injuries. Many were honored for their valiant efforts as 31 soldiers received Victoria Crosses (awarded by the British) with 4,000 troops receiving other awards (Sherwood).

However, there was a dark side to the Indian National Army. Some radicals were not happy that they had to fight for the British after all these years of oppression. This faction split off and formed a lesser Indian National Army, which had no significant impact on the war as a whole despite having Japanese support. It is, although, responsible for a very egregious act in India's history (Sharma).

In 1942, 40,000 Indian soldiers were taken as prisoners of war (PoW's) and told to join the radical Indian National Army or face imprisonment. 30,000 joined while the other 10,000 stayed true to their nation. What happened to the 10,000 is nightmarish for me to even think about! Basically, they were beaten constantly, starved, used for target practice, humiliated on a daily basis, and some of them were eaten! That is right, the Japanese ate some of the Indian prisoners! 5,500 Indian soldiers came out alive and even then they still remained true to their country (Sharma).

In 1947, India would get its wish and become independent of British rule once and for all. Although not discussed too much in the history books, India did play an important part in World War II and unfortunately was victim to some of the many horrors that occurred throughout it.

Sources:

          Sharma, Manimugdha S. "Japanese Ate Indian PoWs, Used Them as Live Targets in WWII - The Times of India." The Times of India. Web. 13 Feb. 2015. <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Japanese-ate-Indian-PoWs-used-them-as-live-targets-in-WWII/articleshow/40017577.cms>.

          Sherwood, Marika. BBC News. BBC. Web. 13 Feb. 2015. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/colonies_colonials_01.shtml>.

Internet Censorship In China and North Korea

Both China and North Korea are notoriously known as communist/militant nations that have tight grips on all media systems within their respective countries. In addition to the heavy censorship of all news outlets, the Internet in both nations is subject to major governmental control.

I'll begin with China. In China, if one was to look up terms like "tiananmen", "Tibet", "Tawain", or "toilets", there would be no search results. This is because these words paint a negative image of China that the government does not want its people to know about. In addition to censoring search terms, social websites like Facebook, Twitter, Wordpress, Flickr, and Google are blocked in China. Even G-Mail is not allowed! The reason none of these sites are allowed is because they are all blocked by China's "Great Firewall" (Jacobs).

To the east of China lies North Korea, a country that is even more controlling of its Internet than the Chinese. North Korea owns every media entity within its borders and allows limited Internet usage to only a select few. North Korea has even gone as far as to create its own "Intranet" that is limited to certain groups and also subject to censored content. Every piece of literature, media, or cinema is utilized as a means to promote the stature of the Kim family (Sedaghat).

Both examples of China and North Korea make me appreciate the freedom I have to access any site on the Internet here in the United States. I could not imagine living in a country where I could not blog or research any topic I was interested in. I do feel, however, that China is getting a bit more lax with its Internet restrictions and should be making progress towards a more accessible Internet for its people in the years to come! For North Korea, I see no unrestricted Internet access in the imminent future as long as the Kim family retains power and the country remains totalitarian.

Sources:

          Jacobs, Andrew. "China Further Tightens Grip on the Internet." The New York Times. The New York Times, 29 Jan. 2015. Web. 5 Feb. 2015. <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/30/world/asia/china-clamps-down-still-harder-on-internet-access.html?ref=topics&_r=0>.

          Sedaghat, Nouran. "North Korea Exposed: Censorship in the World's Most Secretive State | CJFE." North Korea Exposed: Censorship in the World's Most Secretive State | CJFE. 17 Mar. 2014. Web. 5 Feb. 2015. <https://cjfe.org/resources/features/north-korea-exposed-censorship-world’s-most-secretive-state>.