Weekly Two Cents #2

First off just letting you know I will be moving this to Saturday for anyone interested.

1. www.bbc.com/news/world-us-cana… This is an important step for equality in my opinion.  America is better than a lot of countries but it's not perfect and that's no lie.  I think this is an important step in the right direction because will things like this help America on the whole get more used to and more understanding of different religions and cultures, but things like this will lend it's self to people assimilation into American society.  If they come here knowing that they will experience great religious and cultural acceptance they will be more likely to assimilate into American society, compared to remaining culturally divided, which only creates problems.  When I say assimilation I should make it clear that I do not mean the complete loss of cultural, I mean adoption of the wider cultural norms, value, and practices of another.  Now that might sound like a bad thing to some people and I would basically have to right a book to properly explain it so take it form the poli-sci student that this is a very good thing in the sense I am implying. (Here is some info on the Sikh's they are actually a pretty interesting group and have a very interesting history too. Sikhs summary)
2.  www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-ch… Now I have actually been to Beijing and seen it for myself.  The smog hangs over the city like a great heavy cloud.  It caps the tops of the buildings and only ever clears up when it rains.  Obviously this is a health risk, and on average Beijing pollution is many many many magnitudes above safe limits.  This is an environmental and health issue that needs to be addressed, but part of the problem is the huge industrial overhaul that is needed to correct the problem.  They don't want you to think of them this way, or themselves for that matter, but china is a developing country still and the government is reluctant to do anything that they perceive as compromises their ability to develop.  Somethings got to give though.  The only question is which one will first, China, or the ozone layer.
   
3.  www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-38… This is an interesting and potential important step in whats happening in Asia.  Despite a lagging economy Japan is upping it's defense spending.  This very well might be one of the first step in the remilitarization of the country.  After World War II it's military capacity was severally handicapped and they have kept it that way ever since.  Many believe it was only a matter of time before they started to rearm.  Whether it was inevitable or not, what's going on in North Korea, as well as China's rising military power, and presence in the South China Sea, seems to be forcing that course and I think we might very well see this.  Now this scares a lot of people, china most of all because Japan used to be, and could again, be one of the worlds major military powers, an the last thing China wants is a direct competitor in the region Allied and backed by one of the only countries with equal military might.  In the years to come Asia might be a hotbed.
   
4.  www.bbc.com/news/business-3845… Another piece on Japan.  Despite having one of the worlds longest life spans it also has very high suicide rates.  Now a lot goes into this (and this one piece is by no means the whole reasons) but Japan basically has a culture of overwork.  In Japan you go the extra mile, you work the extra hours, you sacrifice your weekends, and you probably do it for free.  This isn't just in work but in school to and a lot of other aspects of life like NEETs and freeters.  In my opinion this resignation by this boss might signal the beginning of an important, but very hard cultural shift in Japan, as Japanese culture attempts to eliminate the problem by modifying the causes to minimize it.  It will be interesting to watch for Japan followers like me if I'm right.
5. And now for something completely different 10 Creatures From Celtic Myth You Don't Want to Meet
   

Honorable Mentions

• RIP Carrie Fisher, we will remember thy fondly youtu.be/ipwwnMBTfdQ.
• Some good news for the elephants!  www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-ch…