Blog 4: Walmart stops carrying Amazon's Kindle

     As of Thursday, September 20, 2012, Walmart dropped Amazon's popular product, the Kindle, from stores world wide.  Although, Walmart has failed to disclose information as to why it has stopped marketing this commodity, analysts say that it is not hard to figure out as Walmart will continue selling similar e-reader devices.  Walmart feels that customers will use the available Kindles on display to test the device and proceed to buy it from online competitors, leaving Walmart high and dry.  Now the tables are turned as Amazon needs the in-store displays in order to stay profitable.  The Kindle will be sold in many other stores including Best Buy, Radio Shack, Staples, and Office Depot, but Walmart is bigger than all of these stores put together.  As the holiday season rolls around, Amazon will definitely begin to feel the affects.  Customers want to try out a product before they buy as it is difficult to get a full sense of it from just a description and measurements online.

     As Amazon will slowly begin to wither, it's competitors have already begun to prosper.  With Apple going strong due to the release of the iPhone 5 this week, the iPad is sure to get more attention and therefore, more consumers.  While rumors spread that Barne's and Noble's Nook is coming out with a newer, more technologically savvy e-reader/tablet.  The future is not looking good for Amazon's Kindle.  How will this affect the world?  With Amazon currently employing over 15,000 people, the damage could be severe if Amazon does in fact loose business thanks to Walmart.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/21/business/wal-mart-stores-dropping-amazon-kindle-tablets-and-e-readers.html?ref=technology

Blog 4

I chose an article this week which highlights a very important aspect of human rights—if not the basis for it—human rights education. A short documentary film, which is supported by the United Nations, titled “A Path to Dignity – The Power of Human Rights Education”, is sparking quite a fire. It demonstrates the basis of human rights education and how applying, as well as teaching, this basis can have a huge impact on the development of humans. It also goes into how this system and ideals can help affect victims of abuse. It was released this Wednesday of this week, and the U.N. has already had stories coming in about how the film is helping change the education of people, and the realization of human rights.

Many stories have come in from undeveloped countries as well as many countries which are very fast evolving. Formerly “untouchable” children in India, Southern Australian police, and abused Turkish women are just a few of the groups of people who have identified with the film, and say that it is making a positive change on their life. Many children in undeveloped countries are saying that they are being treated better by their superiors, (mainly teachers) and are not being abused. The Southern Australian police force claims that their human rights training and watching this film have opened their eyes on how they treat people. Overall, the film has had a great impact, not only on these individual groups, but on the world throughout.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay quotes that the start of the film is “Full realization of human rights requires all human beings to be aware of their and other people’s rights and of the means to ensure their protection.” Many other U.N. members have responded to the film in a positive way and have embraced the idea of more human rights education. They believe that if one single person can start a change – or a single film – that this can be a new pioneer in the global society. Kimiaki Kawai, a programme director for Peace Affair also quoted on the film, and the single person change idea by saying, “If the single person stands strongly, determined, then something can happen with an impact to the society. So, in that sense education is something like empowerment – to giving knowledge, giving understanding, to sharing wisdom. So that somebody can stand firm to contribute to society,”

Overall, the comments from around the world, and about the film, are extremely positive and are helping with the advancement of human rights. By educating individuals on the treatment and development can help lead our future to a more tolerant and accepting future.

Caleb Hanke, blog 4; 131 Prisoners Tunnel Out In One Mexico's Largest Jailbreak

A huge prison break occurred in Piedras, Mexico a few days ago. 131 cellmates escaped through an underground tunnel ten feet deep. The end of the tunnel was right nest to the base of a watchtower, where three guards were bound and gagged. This was the second biggest escape in Mexico’s recorded history. Although it was reported that it wasn’t much of a surprise. Mexico’s been battling organized crime for the past six years, and this escape is indefinite to organized crime connection. 50 guards are being questioned, and warrants are out for the prison director, the shift supervisor and the chief corrections officer. High suspicion is in play with this prison because It is unlikely that 131 prisoners could succeed in escaping right under their noses. Although, stated the prison in Piedras is understaffed and lack security cameras, which should be vital to a prison. Given the benefit of doubt, the under staff is probably due to a cleaning up system that fire anyone who fail lie detector test to weed out corruption.

I have known for awhile about Mexico’s huge gang violence and drug problem. I have such pity for illegal immigrants because of that. Also, with America having drugs illegal were only supporting the crime and violence in Mexico. I digress; Mexico’s crime is at an all time high, with the illegal drug trafficking and organized crime. It seems very plausible that the escape was due to inside information and largely due to gangs. They even mentioned in the article that the city of Piedras is run by a gang called the Zetas. I have researched somewhat about recent Mexican crime and the things I come across are sickening, such as beheading people that disobey drug lords “regulations”. It seems frightening to know that Prisons are not even kept well funded and safe from civilians, especially with it being so close to the American border.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/19/world/americas/131-prisoners-tunnel-out-of-mexico-jail.html