Final blog

So we finally are at the end of this class and I can admit I learned a few things along the way.  A lot of it I had learned in previous classes but a few subjects were new to me.  I had never really thought about how the bicycle or hammer could result in inequalities.  Given the world design is focused on innovation and growth, it will probably never be completely equal.  Some inequalities are intentional, others are not.  For example, Robert Moses’ bridges in New York are a clear case of discrimination (although in class we were able to claim its defense).

 

We are in a time where technology runs the world.  It is now business as usual.  Inequalities are inevitable but we can try to limit them in the advancements and innovations of technology.  We can do this by putting people first, business/money etc., second.

 

 

Crystina Riffel

JUS494

Week 13 blog–china

JUS494 Week 13 Blog China

Crystina Riffel

 

 

            This week’s discussions included the topic of reform processes in countries such as China and Vietnam.  In the China article, they “summarize knowledge of what is happening in the reform process in general, how the role of some key institutions are changing and what added complexity springs from the current state of provincial municipal relations in the fields of science and technology”.

            In the post-Mao period, there was a major conference, the National Conference on Science and Technology of 1978.  This conference “Marked the beginning of the S&T reform process”.  It attempted to set a broad and ambitious research agenda for basic science and high technology. It attempted to reverse the low status of science.

            The old system provided for no effective mechanisms of accountability; therefore there was a switch to new orientations that required major reforms.  Different reforms began in the 1980s.  Most importantly were S&T reforms that were “a series of measures intended to change to challenge the ways research was funded”. 

            China attempted a new approach to research management.  They encouraged new multichannel approaches to funding due to increasing exposure to foreign government and corporate models for organizing and managing S &T.  In 1985 China also established their own patent system to “place a value on knowledge and to clarify and protect the ownership rights of this commodity”. By the mid 1980s China was seeing efforts to “commercialize technical knowledge through the establishment of new companies”.

            In the early 1990s, China’s S&T system changed dramatically.  The reforms changed policies not only in S&T areas but also the economy, law and social-security arrangements.  In 1993 new initiates in S&T and the economy were developing as China prepared for the “Ninth Five-Year Plan”.

            The reforms in S&T were adjustments to global forces.  China attempted and is attempting to adjust to globalization of industry and technology “while continuing the still incomplete process of reforming its old S&T system”.

week 12 blog–urban development

This week’s reading was about urban development in Curitiba.  The main idea is about making choices with the pragmatic application of the principle of recycling.  In the case of Curitiba this relates to solid waste, buses (mobile schools), houses (refurbishment) and people (low-income people being employed in the garbage separation plant and environmental education) (Rabinovitch 72).  

            For urban development planning, the author suggests to establish close relationships between the public transportation system, the land use legislation and the hierarchy of the urban road network.  Not all cities are need metro underground systems and light rail systems.  Rather, the planning should be the people living in the development.  For example, total priority should be given to public transport rather than private cars and to pedestrians rather than to motorized vehicles.  Cities have come to be built around highway systems and cars, often neglecting the cities’ natural structure and excluding the public who cannot afford a car or motorized vehicle.  

 The author suggests that cities should turn problems into resources.  In this case, public transportation, solid waste and unemployment can become generators of new resources and employment (73).  Some of these resources could be substitutes for capital intensive technologies, saving money for the city.

election blog**

Crystina Riffel

JUS494

November 9, 2008

Election Blog

 

 

            The 2008 Presidential election was an exciting adventure to say the least. 

 

PRESIDENTIAL RACE Needed to Win: 270   |   Electoral Votes Remaining: 11     Obama Electoral Votes 364 Popular Vote 53% 65,431,955   McCAIN Electoral Votes 163 Popular Vote 46% 57,434,084   » Full Presidential Ballot Roll over map to view live state results *Maine and Nebraska each award two Electoral Votes to the overall statewide winner and one for the winner in each of their congressional districts.

 

 

 

After almost two years of campaigning, Obama won the election. Obama took the lead with 364 electoral votes and 53% (65,431,955 votes) of the popular vote, and McCain with 163 electoral votes and 46% (57,434,084 votes) of the popular vote.  The night was historical, with America electing the first African American as president.  This election was the most important election of our times.  With a troubled economy, Americans were looking for a change, and kept hope that Obama would be the one to do that for them.  Obama’s campaign went from a campaign to a movement.

This election was the largest turnout percentage since 1964.  One hundred twenty three million voted, 73 million voted for Obama.  More people voted for Obama than any other President in the United States.  This election had the second highest youth turnout since 1972 (ratification of the 26^th Amendment) **.

The McCain campaign assumed the campaign was about Obama.  The reality is that it was about the people.  They assumed only Black people would vote for Obama.  This was a huge miscalculation of the capacity of the American people.  More white people in real number voted for Obama than anybody else in the United States ever.  It’s quite compelling that Indiana, the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan, and Virginia, the capital of the Confederate, voted for Obama **.

This election was quite moving.  When Obama gave his acceptance speech, cameras panned to faces in the crowd, showing the excitement and joy they felt.  The most moving were the tears running down the faces of African Americans.  To them, this was an even more historic.  From slavery to President of the United States, African Americans have come a long way.  People try to shy away from the race issue but the fact is that having elected the first African American into Presidency is an unprecedented event.  It seems Americans, too,  have come a long way. 

 

 

*Map from cbsnew.com

**Other sources from Professor Quan, ASU, November 6, 2008.

Election Blog

Crystina Riffel

JUS494

November 9, 2008

Election Blog

 

 

            The 2008 Presidential election was an exciting adventure to say the least. 

 

 

Crystina Riffel

JUS494

November 9, 2008

Election Blog

 

 

            The 2008 Presidential election was an exciting adventure to say the least. 

 

PRESIDENTIAL RACE Needed to Win: 270   |   Electoral Votes Remaining: 11     Obama Electoral Votes 364 Popular Vote 53% 65,431,955   McCAIN Electoral Votes 163 Popular Vote 46% 57,434,084   » Full Presidential Ballot Roll over map to view live state results *Maine and Nebraska each award two Electoral Votes to the overall statewide winner and one for the winner in each of their congressional districts.

 

 

 

After almost two years of campaigning, Obama won the election. Obama took the lead with 364 electoral votes and 53% (65,431,955 votes) of the popular vote, and McCain with 163 electoral votes and 46% (57,434,084 votes) of the popular vote.  The night was historical, with America electing the first African American as president.  This election was the most important election of our times.  With a troubled economy, Americans were looking for a change, and kept hope that Obama would be the one to do that for them.  Obama’s campaign went from a campaign to a movement.

This election was the largest turnout percentage since 1964.  One hundred twenty three million voted, 73 million voted for Obama.  More people voted for Obama than any other President in the United States.  This election had the second highest youth turnout since 1972 (ratification of the 26^th Amendment) **.

The McCain campaign assumed the campaign was about Obama.  The reality is that it was about the people.  They assumed only Black people would vote for Obama.  This was a huge miscalculation of the capacity of the American people.  More white people in real number voted for Obama than anybody else in the United States ever.  It’s quite compelling that Indiana, the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan, and Virginia, the capital of the Confederate, voted for Obama **.

This election was quite moving.  When Obama gave his acceptance speech, cameras panned to faces in the crowd, showing the excitement and joy they felt.  The most moving were the tears running down the faces of African Americans.  To them, this was an even more historic.  From slavery to President of the United States, African Americans have come a long way.  People try to shy away from the race issue but the fact is that having elected the first African American into Presidency is an unprecedented event.  It seems Americans, too,  have come a long way. 

 

 

*Map from cbsnew.com

**Other sources from Professor Quan, ASU, November 6, 2008.

 

 

After almost two years of campaigning, Obama won the election. Obama took the lead with 364 electoral votes and 53% (65,431,955 votes) of the popular vote, and McCain with 163 electoral votes and 46% (57,434,084 votes) of the popular vote.  The night was historical, with America electing the first African American as president.  This election was the most important election of our times.  With a troubled economy, Americans were looking for a change, and kept hope that Obama would be the one to do that for them.  Obama’s campaign went from a campaign to a movement.

This election was the largest turnout percentage since 1964.  One hundred twenty three million voted, 73 million voted for Obama.  More people voted for Obama than any other President in the United States.  This election had the second highest youth turnout since 1972 (ratification of the 26^th Amendment) **.

The McCain campaign assumed the campaign was about Obama.  The reality is that it was about the people.  They assumed only Black people would vote for Obama.  This was a huge miscalculation of the capacity of the American people.  More white people in real number voted for Obama than anybody else in the United States ever.  It’s quite compelling that Indiana, the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan, and Virginia, the capital of the Confederate, voted for Obama **.

This election was quite moving.  When Obama gave his acceptance speech, cameras panned to faces in the crowd, showing the excitement and joy they felt.  The most moving were the tears running down the faces of African Americans.  To them, this was an even more historic.  From slavery to President of the United States, African Americans have come a long way.  People try to shy away from the race issue but the fact is that having elected the first African American into Presidency is an unprecedented event.  It seems Americans, too,  have come a long way. 

 

 

*Map from cbsnews.com

**Other sources from Professor Quan, ASU, November 6, 2008.

Nov. 6th Class Blog… Technology in Education

Crystina Riffel

JUS494

November 9, 2008

This past Thursday in class we discussed the inequalities of technology in regards to students and education in the classroom.  We explored the four generations and how they are different from each other.  The “Silent Generation”, from about 1925 to 1942, having characteristics described as grave, fatalistic, expecting disappointment. The “Baby Boomer Generation”, 1943-1960, was in the era of the civil rights movement, feminism and had visions of lifelong prosperity.  “Generation X”, 1961-1981, was described as being economically conservative.  Lastly, “Generation Y”, 1982-2001, is generally more liberal, hyper-structured, overscheduled and technology plays a big role in their lives (computer age). 

Today, student’s lives are deeply embedded into technology.  Computers, iPods, cell phones, internet, videos, etc. are used everyday.  It would be hard to get away from any of these technologies.  Today, technology is embedded in our education system.  We rely on computers, the internet, overhead projectors, microphones, etc. for everyday class room experiences.  And it is expected that students have or have access to these technologies.  On one hand these could be regarded as positive, but we need to look at the consequences as well. 

Reliance on technologies creates dependence.  Today we have moved away from traditional ways of teaching.  Where there were chalkboards there are now computers with Power Point.  Online resources are preferable to going to the library.  Technology has made it easier for us to obtain knowledge faster and at greater ease.  But technology has also made social contact a distant memory.  Nowadays, people are more distant, cold and less socially engaged in part due to the use of newer technologies.

Latin America and technology inequalities

Crystina Riffel

November 2, 2008

JUS494 blog

 

 

This weeks’ topic was about inequality in regards to research agendas in Latin America.  Innovative, developed countries have taken advantage of underdeveloped countries.  They set up their heavy polluting industries in poor countries without regard to the people’s and environment’s health.

  Sutz states that technology should be viewed as a tool to fight inequality, but the roots of inequality seem to be too strongly established to challenge by technology (55).   He suggests that research agendas are biased.  Some research objectives may be presented in a way that differs from what is really intended to fit the agencies’ priorities.  They present agendas in a “more favorable light in terms of social relevance” (Sutz 57).  

 Sutz states that in countries that are undeveloped lack technical solutions due to structural weaknesses in the region’s national systems of innovation (63).  They lack knowledge, research, allies, policies and funds.  These types of countries need policies to “assist the integration of research, innovation, production and diffusion” in order to create more equality (65).  “Equality-oriented knowledge is only important insofar as it creates opportunities for innovation” (Sutz 65).