Stuff YOU Should Know
Another Attempt at Peace in Russia
For the past year, btw has brought you stories about the conflict in Russia regarding its relationship with the neighboring Ukraine. The most recent effort to halt the ongoing violence is a series of peace talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and French President Francois Hollande. They are set to meet in Minsk, the capital city of Belarus, a country that borders both Russia and the Ukraine. Diplomats say that the talks are in response to a proposal Putin sent to Merkel and Hollande.
The details of the peace plan have not been released. However, one of Putin’s central demands is for the areas of Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics to be declared independent, which is unlikely to be acceptable to the leaders of the Ukraine. The challenge is to overcome the failures of previous ceasefire deals. The Minsk Agreement, signed last September, was made up of twelve specific measures, including the release of prisoners, determining boundaries for heavy guns, and creating a buffer zone. But both sides continually violated the terms of the deal.
Dig Deeper Continue to follow this story as European leaders meet and negotiate a deal. Read some opinion columns. What do experts believe will be the most successful part of the process? Why? The United States was left out of the talks. How has President Obama responded?
The Internet as a Utility?
While it has likely been around for most or all of your life, the Internet did not come into the general public use until the mid 1990s. Since then, individuals and corporations have worked hard to explore the depths of its possibility. Now, the government is becoming involved. On February 4, the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FCC) announced a proposal to classify the Internet as a utility. The reasoning behind the move is to ensure that Internet providers continue to treat information with network, or “net,” neutrality.
The concept of net neutrality was coined in 2003 by a Columbia Law professor named Tim Wu. The idea is that all of the information contained on the Internet should be treated equally–as it is currently. Some fear that as technology evolves, large and influential companies will be able to create ways to control network traffic and create opportunities for profit. But those who oppose net neutrality say that making the Internet subject to government regulation will hinder the industry’s ability to be innovative.
What Do You Think? Should the Internet become a utility? Make a pro/con list with at least three items on each side and then support your answer.
A National Map of Work
Man with shipment of boxes. Photo Credit: McGraw-Hill Education
The producers at National Public Radio (NPR) created an interactive map to illustrate the evolution of jobs across the United States from 1978 to 2014. They collected data from recent U.S. Census Bureau data as well as the Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS) from the University of Minnesota. The most common job category in 1978 was Secretary. The economy at that time was shifting away from manufacturing goods and toward providing services. In the years since, many of the remaining manufacturing jobs were outsourced overseas where wages are significantly lower. The trend from secretarial work shifted again with the rise of the computer, which allowed people to do much of their own administrative tasks.
In 2014, the most common job reported by NPR was that of truck driver (broadly defined to include delivery personnel in addition to long haul driving). Back in the summer, btw reported about the shortage of truck drivers across the U.S. This could be because this industry is the least likely to be outsourced or taken over by technology. Software developer is another new prominent job, especially in states that headquarter large technical companies like Washington.
Dig Deeper What check out this “job map.” What is the most popular job in your state? Do some research about growing trends in your economy and speculate what the map might look like in another 20 years.
Nearsighted View in China
As China’s economy continues to grow, so does its list of “first world problems.” The Chinese government recently reported that nearly 90 percent of high school students in the city of Shanghai (China’s most populated city) have developed myopia (more commonly known as nearsightedness). In contrast, just two generations ago, the level was between 20 and 30 percent. Experts and others are weighing in on the reason for the dramatic rise.
A new study, published in the journal Ophthalmology, suggests that myopia is occurring in those in the upper class over the middle or lower. It also compared students from Australia who had similar study habits and found the occurrence of myopia in the Australian children to be just 3 percent. A leading researcher in the field believes the growing competitive atmosphere among the Chinese to succeed overachieve is to blame. Researchers in the United Kingdom say people (especially teens) are not getting enough exposure to sunlight, which contains dopamine, a natural chemical needed for growing eyes. Other explanations being offered are an increase in digital screens and genetics.