Triage

During World Humanities, we watched the documentary “Triage” that featured Dr. James Orbinski. Dr. Orbinski is a humanitarian doctor that once was a doctor for the Doctors Without Borders program. He was a part of it during the conflicts in Sryria and the genocide in Rwanda. The documentary was of him, going back to some of the countries that he was stationed in during that time and of him just recounting some of the events that he remembered and meeting with some of the people there that he encountered. It is also of him giving his thoughts about humanitarianism in general and what to make of the world and how someone could go about trying to change what is happening and actually making a difference in what is going on.

I found the documentary to be very enlightening. Because the doctor was actually recalling the events himself, and traveling to those places that he remembered the events happening, it gave the documentary a more personal and unique feel.

The more we learn about the genocides and wars around the world, it amazes me that I have yet to not be astounded by any of these stories. Dr. Orbinski described in the film a time that he was in Rwanda; they went to a church where they heard there were wounded Tutsis and were soon under fire. A child had come up to him and ushered him to a woman that was severely wounded and in bad shape but was still alive. It was the child’s mother. Even after she was cut up and injured, the child never left. Even though the child probably knew that it was in danger, it never left.

I can’t even imagine the loyalty that that child felt to their mother that would make them stay with her for so long. I wouldn’t even know how to function or what to do if I was put into one of those situations. It shows how no matter what; a mother-child bond is strong no matter where in the world you are. (345)

One Horrific Day Can Cause a Lifetime of Grief

                I know this isn’t an event that happened somewhere else in the world but it was so big and horrible that I should write about it. An article on CNN has a timeline on the day of the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newton, Connecticut. I figured I would just summarize the events for you.

                The twenty year old shooter entered the elementary school at an unclear time and using an unclear method of entry. First he shot the principal, the vice principle, and the school psychiatrist around 9:30 during the school announcements. As soon as everyone heard the shots they hurried to usher students into bathrooms or closets or wherever they thought would be safe for them.

                The shooter then made his way to his mother’s kindergarten classroom. There, he shot her and all of her fourteen kindergarten students. After the shooting of her classroom, he moved to a different first grade classroom and shot the teacher and six of her students that were trying to escape. The authorities arrived at the school at 9:50am and, upon their arrival, the gunman shot himself. CNN.com has an entire page dedicated to stories about the shooting with interviews, more information, and what you can do to help.

                After learning about all of the genocide and killings that occur all over the world during class, this story really showed me how everyone everywhere else in the world must feel when this happens to them; especially in Rwanda where one million people were murdered. I can’t imagine the devastation people felt while they were over there. This shooting is made to be so much more devastating by the fact that most of the victims in the school shooting were only six or seven years old. I then think back to Rwanda where they had victims of all ages as well.

                Sometimes it just really dawns on you how lucky you are, especially after hearing stories like these. (326)

The Historical Barter System Utillized as an Evasion to US Sanctions

           This article from CNN is about a barter system between Turkey and Iran; Turkey is trading gold for oil. This is a problem because the United States placed a ban purchasing goods from Iran in response to their nuclear projects and to their refusal to discontinue their nuclear activities. The ban however, only includes currency which is why Turkey has come up with the bartering method. This is becoming a problem however because it makes the ban less effective and gives the Iranians a new way to generate revenue. The fact that Iranians have turned to the barter method shows that Iran is suffering from the US sanctions.

           Turkey is not actually breaking any international laws by using the oil for gold sanctions and therefore cannot be punished by their actions. They are however, defying the United States wishes and face the potential loss of the United States as both a political and a military ally.

           Stories are circulating about the almost “James Bond” way in which the gold is being transported from Turkey to Iraq. Individuals are transporting the gold using 110 pound bags; the exact limit of how much gold can be taken out of Turkey. The shipments however could not have been due solely to an individual or group. Each bag containing the gold would have had to have been approved by the government in order to even leave the country.

           Obviously the Iranian government has reached an economic hit from the sanctions and needs to find a way out; hence the gold for oil barter system. Given this, the United States needs to find a way to stop the bartering so that the sanctions can deliver the intended punishment for the Iranians. The complicated foreign diplomacy however is understandable. Hopefully the United States can negotiate a deal with the Turks that will benefit both countries and make the Turks reconsider their arrangement with the Iranians. (320)