4 I April 10, 2015
The Guilfordian
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India
Adnhra Pradesh State
Police ore accused of using excessive force
after a battle with red sandalwood smugglers
killed 20 suspects, according to the BBC. Red
sandalwood (prized in furniture making) was
banned from sale in 2000, but the wood sells
for tens of thousands of dollars per tonne, so
smuggling is rampant/According to police, they
confronted over 100 smugglers Tuesday, who
refused to respond and hand over the logs.
There has been an outcry over the shooting, as
the smugglers did not have firearms (although
they may have attacked with axes and sticks).
USA
North Charleston, SC
C
Michael Slager, a white police officer, has
been charged with murder after shooting 50
year old Walter Scott, who is black. Slager
pulled Scott over due to a broken tqillight,
according to Vice news. Scott fled, and
Slager pursued him, using his Taser to no
effect. He then fired eight shots at Scott,
killing him. Slager claims that Scott took his
Taser, but a video of the incident apparently
shows Slager dropping something by Scott's
body, possibly his Taser, before radioing in
the incident.
Germany
Berlin
Dimitris Mardas, the Greek deputy finance
minister, has asked Germany for 278.7 billion
Euro's as reparations for damage to the country
during World War II, according the Guardian.
Sigmar Gabriel, Germany's economic minister,
labeled the reparations as 'stupid.* Many
people hove remarked that Greece owes various
countries in the European Union, but mostly
Germany, 240 billion Euro's after being bailed
out during the economic crisis. The opposition in
Germany did consider paying out a 10.3 billion
euro 'forced loan' that Germany compelled
Greece to pay in 1942.
Pakistan
Islamabad
C
Obama's Trans Pacific Partnership
gains limited nationai backing
A high court in Pakistan has charged Jonathan
Banks, the former head of the ClA branch
in Islamabad, with murder and waging war
against the country, according to The Guardian.
The court pointed to a drone strike in December
of 2009 that killed at least three people. Banks
was ousted after charges were brought against
him in 2010 by a Pakistani tribesman named
Karim Khan, whose brother and son were
killed by a drone. He is now residing in the U.S.
and unlikely to appear for his court date in
Islamabad, making the charges more symbolic
than practical.
BYABEKENMORE
World & Nation Editor
Photos Courtesy of Commons.wikimedia.org
BYAMOLGARG
Staff Writer
The Trans-Pacific Partnership is the triumph of President
Obama’s economic agenda. In discussion since 2005, this
negotiation incorporates Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile,
Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the
United States and Vietnam.
“I feel that one of the reasons this deal is being so heavily
pursued in other nations, especially Asia, is because the U.S.
wants to remove some of the barriers involved with trade and
make trade around the world easier,” said Chinese national
and Early College student Jeffery Li.
With the signing of the treaty, not only would U.S. products
be increasingly sold abroad but also more jobs would be
created in order to supply the demand of products, according
to the organization Trade Benefits America.
In addition, the treaty could provide a counterbalance to
China’s growing economy and aid in making the United States
less dependent on the Chinese market by allowing increased
trade between the 12 nations.
Although the details of this treaty have not been shared,
drafts provided by WikiLeaks and speculations about the
contents of the deal have given rise to concerns regarding
lawsuits and workers’ rights.
“If it goes through, which I’m not sure it will, it will allow
for-profit companies to sue if they think that any kinds of laws
are infringing on their ability to freely trade, and that could
potentially include environmental regulations,” said Maria
Rosales, chair and associate professor of political science.
It is possible that environmental and working condition
legislation would be considered a barrier to free trade.
Therefore, the U.S., which has set high standards in areas such
as the environment, food, safety and worker rights, could be
forced to revise such xtandards or face legal action.
“(The Trans-Pacific Partnership) will allow foreign
corporations to sue the United States government for actions
that undermine their investment ‘expectations’ and hurt their
business,” said Jonathan Weisman in The New York Times.
The trade deal may or may not help the economy, but the
damage to environmental and labor laws may not be worth it
no matter the result.
"I feel this is another way to market free market capitalism
and to give breaks to Southeast Asian countries,” said Assistant
Professor of Political Science Robert Duncan. “I don’t think it
is going to help the U.S. worker at all, and I don’t think it is
going to help U.S. industry at all.
“This is probably going to be another way to encourage
development in Asian countries; the payoff will be the loss
of environmental protections with nothing in return for the
United States.”
Considered as one of Obama’s last chances at shaping the
economy and building a legacy as president, the Trans-Pacific
Partnership is also alienating other Democratic leaders.
"The opposition to the trade agreement comprises unions,
environmental and consumer groups — in other words, the
entire Democratic base,” said Lori Wallach, director and
founder of Global Trade Watch, in The Guardian.
In stark contrast. Republicans are the main supporters of
the negotiation. They argue that the Trans-Pacific Partnership
is similar to other free trade deals, such as the North American
Free Trade Agreement, implemented before.
However, despite the Republican backing, it is unclear if
President Obama will be able to pass the treaty. This is mainly
because, without full support of Democrats and limited
backing of the Republicans, the negotiation of the treaty
would take a long time.
That is why President Obama has requested fast-track
authority from Congress. If approved. President Obama would
then have the ability to fully negotiate the deal and present
it to Congress for a yes or no vote. Congress would have a
maximum of 90 days to decide if the treaty would be approved
or rejected without any changes or filibusters.
This power, however, does not come without a price.
“The fast-track procedure is designed to limit public
scrutiny,” said Republican Rosa DeLauro. “It gives up
congressional constitutional authority to review the Trans-
Pacific partnership.”' ;
Despite the controversy and the split regarding the treaty.
President Obama believes that the trade agreement would
inherently be the best choice for Americans and he remains
intent on having the negotiations pass.
Until the deal is made public, its eventual content and fate
will remain unknown.
Study
PHOTO III WEEK
Abroad
Baliyvaughan, Ireland
Natalia Petkov '16 is currently studying abroad in Ireland this semester and took this photo of a horse that lives in her backyard.
Each week we will feature a picture from students' experiences abroad. Whether you have or are currently abroad, we would love to see photos
from your trip. Please email photos to Sara Minsky at minskysJ@guilford.edu with information about the subject and where & when you studied.