Who owns the Worlds treasures??

Some of the world's countries have been blessed with a rich wealth of history and archaeological items. These countries have recently been fighting to reclaim their treasures, and asking for the countries that currently hold them, to give them back.

However, should we? These countries are often the most explosive and unsafe locations for these treasures. These other countries (Egypt, Greece, Turkey... etc) dispute this argument and claim that in our modern era, that they are ready to hold responsibility for their history.

I would suggest, that it is not the readiness of their intellectual communites that should be judged, but the readiness of the common man of the country. For it is those commoners that will either respect their own history or they that will destroy it.

This past weekend, an example that cannot be ignored has taken place. The riots in Egypt have caused harm and damage to the treasure kept in the Cairo Museum. Items have been smashed, damaged, and stolen as apart of the violence that was taking place.

Yes, the intellectual community of the region, may be ready and willing to take on the important responsibility of caring for their past, but this is a fine example of how the common man does not respect their own history. Its better to the leave those items that are in Germany, France and Britain and etc where they currently are. Maybe someday they will be ready. But I do not think it is right now.

A copy of this story can be found online at the Time website HERE. Below is another reporting directly from the Egyptian news reporting agency, Al Jazeera.

Dozens dead in Russia

Today, January 24th, Russia was attacked at their International Airport. The original article can be found HERE.

Several Terrorists (exact number unknown) blew themselves up at a cafe near the exit for the international customs at Domodedovo Airport (Moscow's busiest airport). At least 35 are dead and up to 140 were injured.

The Russian President had this to say:

"From the preliminary information we have, it was a terror attack," Medvedev told officials in a televised briefing. He offered condolences to the families of the victims and ordered that security be stepped up at Moscow's two other commercial airports and other transport facilities, including the subway system, the target of past terrorist attacks.

As members of the international community we bear a responsibility to protect the right of those around us. These repeat attacks are not acceptable. We absolutely should do all we can to stop them. I honestly don't know if the best solution would be a kind and gentle one or further military action. I'm not a expert in the subject. But I do believe that we should act on this. All those people who died are leaving behind them loved ones who cherished them. That love deserves respect and action.

Npr, Obama and Hu Emphasize "Mutual Respect"

Today, in NPR was an article about the relations between China and the US. It can be found HERE. In the meeting between Obama and Hu, they agreed to further ties between the two countries that would allow us to continue to peacefully work together.

Just as the summit got under way, the White House announced a slew of trade deals with China, including an announcement that Beijing has agreed to buy $45 billion in U.S. exports — including $19 billion for 200 Boeing airplanes. However, at least some of those orders date back to 2007.

Other companies that will benefit from the package include General Electric, Honeywell and Navistar. The White House said the deals will support up to 235,000 jobs in the U.S.

Britains Embarrassing Libel Law

NPR ran a story today about the status of Britain's libel laws. Apparently, for many years Celebrities and other artists from all over the world, when they can, would always bring their Libel suits in British Courts. This is because the burden of proof is on the defendant, and not the plaintiff (which is opposite of what is normally found in other countries). Below is a quote from the original article:


Libel laws in many countries, including the U.S., generally require plaintiffs to prove a published article was both false and written maliciously. In Britain, the burden of proof falls on the defendant to demonstrate what it published was true.

That has led celebrities and corporations to sue in British courts, even when the case has only a tenuous connection to the U.K. — a form of "libel tourism" the government has vowed to curb.

However, not all authorities on the subject agree. it was suggested in the article that bringing this issue to the front was only a ploy to try to improve the approval polls for the current politicians, which are currently very low, which is attributed to the threat to raise university student's tuition levels.

"The U.S. is not the world, and the fact that they do not like our libel laws should not be interpreted as meaning they are an international laughing stock," said Rod Dadak, head of defamation at law firm Lewis Silkin.


The source for this article can be found HERE.

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This blog is being set up for my International Business course @ UVU. Don't expect anything too thrilling here. :)