Global Issues: Austria & Czech Republic

Trolley Cars Coming Back To Saint Louis

noreply@blogger.com (Prime1789) — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:18:00 +0000

It seems in 2011-2012 we may hear the clang clang of the trolley in the West End. This would be a nice addition to the Saint Louis area and a return of trolleys that were present for many years as part of Saint Louis' transportation system. We saw firsthand in Vienna and Prague how efficient these cars can be.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/article_ffdc8b17-fbd2-557d-ac66-0ab80aa675fe.html

Final Thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:52:00 +0000

This course has been for the most part a unique and rewarding experience. The structure of the course I thought was ideally composed with its outline essentially being broken down into three parts: pre travel, travel and post travel. Although I do think exploring and even trying a different approach such as traveling at the very end of the course would be a good consideration. The most significant aspect I got out of the course were the numerous topics we explored and how they all came together in the end to provide a general knowledge of how globalization is impacting the world on many different fronts rendering both good and bad consequences. Another realization I made is that, withstanding all the negative aspects of globalization, every country and all peoples decisively benefit from this new wave transnationalism. Thus, I take the positions that states and people should embrace this paradigm shift and therefore work together toward the goal of channeling this movement in a positive direction. The initial draw to this course was the opportunity to travel aboard and I thoroughly enjoyed adventure overseas. The knowledge of the geographical area and the history of the area as provided by the professors along with all the interactions with the classmates made the trip not just educational but a solid culture broadening experience as well. One aspect of the course I found difficult to get used to was the blogging and Wikipedia stuff…I’ve never used it before and failed to find them extremly useful outside of simply reading and thinking about my classmates thoughts on a particular subject. In fact I found the whole experience of an online class much more difficult in terms of grasping the depth of knowledge of a particular subject within the course because without the face to face interaction, conversation and debate the concepts never really solidified in my mind- in essence a lot of the topics remained simply at the surface level. As I continue to take classes at Webster I don’t think I’ll actually do another online course- unless of course there is an exciting travel abroad component! The good ole fashion teacher and pupil setup is my much preferred method of academic engagement. With that said it still remains another valuable part of my academic journey: the experience in valuing different cultures while at the same time realizing first-hand that the American culture is a global brand, walking through hundreds of years of world history and educating myself on global issues was truly a great experience that I’ll never forget.

Final Course Reflections

noreply@blogger.com (greentechguy) — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 22:41:00 +0000

Over the last few weeks as the hustle and bustle of life at home has gotten back to normal I still have sharp memories of everything that I have learned and I think fondly back on them. Perhaps presumption in saying, of the group I was perhaps the one who was trying to find my place in the study of International Relations, because I tend to jump around so much, figuratively speaking and not focus on a core subject within my study.

That leads me to our discussion with Dr. Greg Weeks at Webster University Vienna. He offered in his short discussion with us all valuable insights and information on a lot, but what I remember was he said and I am gonna paraphrase for him, "If you try to tackle it all, you will inevitably fail." That has kind of been the words I have stuck with in regards to my studies.

The experiences in Austria and CZR can help integrate so well what I have already studied and learned and for that I am grateful to Dr. Tamashiro and Dr. Hanssen for working hard to put together the experience. Also once I began to work on my wikibook chapter I began to truly appreciate and understand the big picture. It was really quite awesome!

I dont think it hit me until I posted the final revision, that we had taken this amazing trip abroad and learned about these cultures. It didn't just stop there we then had the awesome opportunity to produce quality work on the internet for others to see. Another classmate posted in a blog comment that, "we had an opportunity that many others will never have." Somehow I feel glad that we are able to share it with those through Wiki-book.

Rather then being consumers of information, I think we all moved towards producers and it was a nice feeling.

Thanks again to everyone who helped make this opportunity happen.

Přeji Vám vše nejlepší or I wish you all the best!

Source for translation: Dictionary.com

2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 15:26:00 +0000

Hello Classmates,

To help combat poverty and homelessness the EU has dedicated this year to highlight the need to address this problem through and awareness and results oriented campiagn called: 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion.

"Homelessness is one of the most extreme and devastating examples of poverty and social exclusion. Despite Europe being a wealthy society, the issue remains difficult to solve and may even be getting worse in some countries."

Please visit the site below to learn more about it:
http://www.2010againstpoverty.eu/about/topicofmonth.html?langid=en

Overall Reflections on the Course

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Lunney) — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 09:27:00 +0000

Greetings everyone! I hope this posting finds all of you well into enjoying your summer. I’m leaving Prague today to join my new classmates at the Leiden, Netherlands campus, where we’ll have a week-long study tour much like the one our class did here in Central Europe. I enjoyed everything about this class very much, and while I’m excited to join my next study group, I will miss this experience we shared, and I’ll always remember it!

It’s fitting that I write this as I leave today. Contrary to what you all might think, it hasn’t really been like a vacation to stay here an extra three weeks. I’ve seen the inside of my hotel room for most of the time, both because of the work I’ve been doing for my two summer classes and because I’m alone here, so going out is not as enjoyable. As much of a shame as that may sound, it makes me appreciate the wonderful time I had during the week we were all here together. Reflecting on it now makes me appreciate both the educational and cultural elements I experienced during this class even more. Here is a brief overview of what I’ve learned, and what I’ll take with me into my educational and professional careers.

It’s admittedly an unfair advantage that I’m still in Europe, but I must say that I’ve learned it takes at least two weeks to begin to really soak up the new culture. The week that our class experienced was a whirlwind of new sights, sounds, and tastes. Even now, I’m still dissecting our study-tour. As I do so, I’m realizing the profound effect the visits to the IOM in Prague and to the Webster Vienna campus had on me.

It really is invaluable to me that I’ve been privileged enough to meet professionals in the fields of migration and human trafficking studies because I want to go into these fields myself. By contacting the IOM office in Prague, I hope to start networking with these dedicated people to learn more about their fieldwork. I’ve become very interested in migration studies, especially in my current research area of human trafficking, and I will follow the work of the IOM to learn what professionals in the field are doing to address migration issues worldwide. I may even apply to work at an IOM field office for an internship or professional position when I start my career.

Likewise, learning about Webster Vienna’s involvement with human trafficking research is inspiring. I’ve been in contact with Dr. Weeks about my research in human trafficking, and he has put me in contact with a previous Webster scholar who is working on a doctorate in human trafficking studies at Kent. Opportunities to meet other researchers like this would not have been possible if it weren’t for this class, and I feel very grateful to Professors Hanssen and Tamashiro for planning this study-tour and introducing me to the wider world of global scholarship.

Overall, this class has been an eye opening start to a life changing experience. I’ve only just begun my study abroad journey, and I can’t think of a better start to it than I had in this class. As I prepare to go on studying human trafficking as a global issue at the next two Webster campuses, I know I’ve received a strong foundation in this class that I can build on with my ongoing research efforts. Aside from the academic aspect, the education I’m getting from being immersed in other cultures is dually invaluable to both my scholarly and personal growth. I will continue on from here with an open mind and a curious spirit, and I hope the rest of this journey will be even more wonder filled than the beginning.

Best wishes to you all!

-Jenn Lunney

Austria victims of Nazi oppression?

noreply@blogger.com (Prime1789) — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:16:00 +0000

One of the topics that came up several times while visiting Austria was the issue that many Austrians see their country as a victim of World War II. While clearly some groups of Austrians were victims it is interesting that the issue of support for Adolf Hitler in Austria seems to have gone unrecognized by many even today. I wonder what Freud's take on the issue would be?

http://www.austriantimes.at/news/General_News/2010-06-29/24634/Study_shows_many_Austrians_see_country_as_victim_of_Nazis

Economizing in Austria

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:12:00 +0000

Austria has to save money. There is no doubt about that. It appears as if the Austrians have an interesting way to do it.

http://www.austrianews.co.uk/2010/06/22/economizing-suggestions-from-citizens-in-austria/

Why doesn't Blogger update us when there are new comments?

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Lunney) — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:25:00 +0000

This is quite annoying to me. Some of the blog postings are very provocative, and some interesting comments are attached to them, but blogger won't send us updates to let us know that: (a) someone has commented on your blog, or (b) someone commented on your comment.

I think some of the interesting discussion is written in the comments, and I've contributed to them with my own thoughts. But how can people respond if they don't know anyone commented on their post? If you want to read comments, you have to go back and search in blog postings you've already read, and no one is doing this it seems. What a shame.

The Vienna Declaration

noreply@blogger.com (greentechguy) — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:30:00 +0000

In 2009, member of the media gathered in Vienna along with NGOs to create a declaration on press freedom. They eventually declared that state secrets in the 21st century only hurt those trying to stop terror groups. Complete open access to government information helps promote a free society which hurts the goals of non state actors who seek other solutions.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/magda-abufadil/vienna-declaration-press_b_376579.html

Spanish Riding School News

noreply@blogger.com (Prime1789) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 23:36:00 +0000

It appears tough times have caught up to the famous Austrian institution "The Spanish Riding School".

http://www.austriantimes.at/news/Business/2010-06-22/24400/Spanish_Riding_School_%27gallops_towards_bankruptcy%27

Things That I Really Enjoyed During Our Visit-My Short List

noreply@blogger.com (Prime1789) — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:41:00 +0000

Visiting the different cafes of Vienna and realizing there is something important in slowing life down.
"Mayerling" normally not something that I would look forward to but I thoroughly enjoyed both the orchestra and the ballet. It gave a sense of clarity to the story of the Habsburgs.
Old Town Prague and its activity and vibrancy.
The beauty of Vienna and how well it works its green areas into its city planning. Parks range from Prater with its family atmosphere and numerous activities to the Vienna Woods with its vineyards and its panoramic vistas to the Volksgarten where people could relax, read a book or just retreat from city life for a while.
How efficient local transportation was ranging from trolleys to subways to buses.
The vast array of historic buildings and different styles of architecture. I enjoyed walking the Ringstrasse at night and being surprised how active it was even at midnight.
Seeing the many different perspectives of our group and witnessing that each of us have our own passions and motivations.
Talking to some of the residents of Vienna and hearing the pride in their voice about Viennese culture.
Being amazed by The Czech Republic and their recovery from a system that stifled a very creative culture. They have historically been caught in the middle of other peoples conflicts and still managed to have their own unique way of life.
Returning to the US and realizing I was very lucky to have such an opportunity that many others will never know.

Day Five: Friday, 11 June 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Lunney) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 23:03:00 +0000

The visit to the Prague office of the IOM today was my favorite during this week. Lucie Sladkova gave a wealth of information about the IOM in general, her administration, and the current projects her office is working on in Czech Republic. I was very inspired by her talk, and I have a newfound interest in the IOM because of it.

Before our visit, I had the idea from previous research that IOM was not directly involved in efforts against human trafficking, but worked through other NGOs instead to combat trafficking. I learned that this office does support human trafficking research, however. Upon further research after our visit, I found an immense amount of information through the website of the Ministry of the Interior, where reports on human trafficking dating back almost 10 years can be accessed in English. The IOM facilitated many of these reports. I plan to use them to inform my research for this class.

If anyone is interested, here are the web addresses to the IOM, Prague, website and the Czech Republic Ministry of the Interior website:

http://www.iom.cz/

http://www.mvcr.cz/mvcren/

Day Four: Thursday, 10 June 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Lunney) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:09:00 +0000

Upon arrival to Prague today, I was struck by the immediate difference in things like infrastructure and cleanliness in contrast to Vienna. It really hit home that this city so recently came out of the Velvet Revolution, yet at the same time I realized how far they’ve come in only 20 years.

Our Lonely Planet guidebook says that the city developed rapidly once it was free, but there are still plenty of rough edges to this place. And I like them. Vienna to me now seems almost too clean, too orderly. I like the street art on the buildings here, and the grittiness of the streets. In a way, it almost makes the better-kept tourist areas of the city seem inauthentic, but I must admit that I’d rather see a clean Prague Castle than a graffiti covered one.

The oldest parts of the city we visited today, around the Prague Castle grounds, were like an outdoor museum. Here are some pics… (and one of the street art at the bus station).

Day Three: Wednesday, 9 June 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Lunney) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:07:00 +0000

Today was my favorite day on our itinerary so far. I very much enjoyed the discussion on human trafficking we had at Webster Vienna. Even though Marion Mansberger could not be there to give her presentation, I was happy to give a short one to our class. Hopefully, it was informative to everyone.

I also feel fortunate to have briefly met Dr. Weeks, who gave a talk about human trafficking and the University’s symposium on the topic with the UN. I plan to contact him regarding his work in the area of human trafficking research, and for any resources he knows of that can inform my own research for this class. Also, I am a bit envious of the access the students at the Vienna campus have to the UN. It would be very exciting to be a student at Webster Vienna, and organize talks at the UN headquarters. Just the same, I feel privileged to be part of our class because of the access I’ve gained to the people and places we’ve visited during this course.

To see the UN.GIFT write-up of the symposium, please go to:

http://www.ungift.org/ungift/en/stories/university-students-learn-about-human-trafficking-at-united-nations-in-vienna.html

Day Two: Tuesday, 8 June 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Lunney) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:06:00 +0000

Visiting OPEC wasn’t as informative as I thought it would be. The speaker was welcoming to our group, however, and her discussion was thought provoking. I was left with more questions than answers about OPEC’s ethical stance on issues related to the oil industry’s impact on the global economy, the environment, and peak oil.

My biggest concern with our meeting was how the speaker kept saying that OPEC has nothing to do with the price of oil, and can’t influence it. Instead, according to her, the governments of the oil importing countries are responsible for the price of gas from crude oil. While the governments are, in part, responsible, it is of course ridiculous to say that OPEC doesn’t have an effect on gas prices, no matter how large or small a percentage of the price. During the embargo of 1973, gas prices soared because of OPEC’s actions. After the embargo ended, OPEC then chose to increase oil prices by 10% according to Wikipedia. Obviously, OPEC can take direct action in influencing the price of oil in any way it chooses.

My second concern with our meeting was the claim that there are 300 years worth of oil reserves existing in the OPEC countries alone. If it’s true, why is there so much talk in the scientific community about peak oil and an upcoming oil crisis? Somehow, I get the feeling that the statistics presented to the public from OPEC may be slanted in their favor.

Finally, though OPEC is clear that their mission is hands-off when it comes to environmental issues, such as oil spills, I feel that there is a moral responsibility to humanity and the earth that must be met by oil producers. Without an ethical stance that supports the utmost care and attention to providing “clean oil,” the world will continue to struggle with exponentially increasing rates of pollution. With great power comes great responsibility, and it falls upon the OPEC countries to meet that responsibility through ethical decisions related to our environment.

Day One: Monday, 7 June 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn Lunney) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:00:00 +0000

Today’s visit to the UN broadened my perspective on the issues related to the Vienna headquarters. What was most interesting to me was how closely UN Vienna is associated with the UNODC. This correlates with my topic of human trafficking because the international protocol for dealing with trafficking criminals and aiding victims falls under the UNODC.

It is currently an ongoing issue, and a growing concern, that criminal activity related to human trafficking is increasing rapidly all over the world, yet there is a struggle getting all countries to ratify the most recent international protocol against trafficking. The protocol to “prevent, suppress, and punish trafficking in persons” was issued in 2003 by the UNODC. Applicable to this course, the Czech Republic has not ratified the protocol. Austria has.

To view the protocol, along with the signatures, please see:

http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XVIII-12-a&chapter=18&lang=en

Also with our visit, it became more clear to me how Webster Vienna is at a great advantage being so close to this UN headquarters. The symposium on human trafficking that was organized by Webster Vienna is testament to this. I feel very lucky to be a student at a school with such great resources.

Anthony Bourdain in Prague

noreply@blogger.com (greentechguy) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:04:00 +0000

Why is Recycling So Popular in Austria?

noreply@blogger.com (greentechguy) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 20:07:00 +0000

I just finished reading through an OECD Environmental Performance Review of Austria that was produced during 2001-2002. It essentially was a report card for how the country was doing and gave 44 recommendations on how they could become even stronger in the environmental record.

During our time in Austria it was brought up that Austrians are very aware of recycling. In Vienna when the excess trash gets thrown away it gets taken to the incinerator (which has a scrubber) and that powers the majority of the city.

The OECD report states that in 1989 Austria levied a tax on the use of landfills which created a huge disincentive for individuals, especially businesses to dump trash. It might have taken upwards of 20 years to have achieved its full benefit but it was certainly a wise decision. In restaurants we were served water in glass bottles. While that might have been simply the best option to buy, I have a hunch it was a glass bottle because its easier to recycle, rather then plastic, which in the United States and other places we often enjoy.

Source: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/6/50/19631516.pdf

Thoughts on Service and Minimum Wage in Europe

noreply@blogger.com (Prime1789) — Sun, 20 Jun 2010 13:02:00 +0000

One of the questions that always comes up when traveling is the custom of tipping in the country that you are visiting. In the US wait staff rely heavily on tipping, with tips often ranging from 10% to 25% depending on the level of service. Many Americans in Europe are either unsure of how much to tip or follow guidelines that they would follow back home. The theory behind different tipping guidelines is that US workers make next to nothing and therefore rely on tips for their income and in turn provide a high level of service in an attempt to keep the customer happy. In Europe it is believed that wait staff receive a livable wage and do not rely on tips therefore tipping as a custom reflects this premise. Tips in Europe are often rounded up rather then based on a percentage of the total bill with the thought being the tip is essentially already factored into the bill by the price being charged for the meal.

So the question is what was my experience with service in restaurants, cafes, etc. versus similar venues in the US. I had heard stories before I left that service can be extremely poor in Europe because tips are not something that wait staff expects. First, I would have to say service in the US can be hit or miss with a new restaurant and often part of the decision making process about where to dine out is based upon past experience or word of mouth. Overall, if you consider these two factors you generally will have a positive experience in the US. My experience with service in Europe was all over the board ranging from establishments that I would have preferred to walk out of all the way to places that I will remember in a positive way for a long time. I think some of the big contributing factors were the degree of professionalism of the server in other words this was not just a temporary job until the next opportunity came along coupled with the likelihood that you might return as a customer. Both of these factors are present in the US as well, so to answer the question my experience was that if you went to a venue in Europe without a sense of professionalism and the belief that you were a tourist who was not likely to return you are pretty much assured that your service will reflect this because the incentive of the tip has been taking out of the equation.

I did some research to find out exactly how much minimum wage is in Europe and I was surprised that there is no set guideline for Europe to follow and even more surprising was the fact that there is a huge disparity between European countries. Luxembourg provides one of the highest minimum wages in Europe at approximately $13. an hour versus $7.75 an hour in Austria, $2.50 an hour in The Czech Republic, $2.37 an hour in Slovakia respectively. This is a fairly significant range of minimum income rates across different EU members and I think it would be difficult to provide an argument that these are livable wages.

Returning to the subject of waitstaff in Europe clearly many employees are making well above the respective countries minimum wage however this may explain service at some establishments where the employees are making minimum wage and the opportunity to make extra income based on tips has been removed by custom. Look out and avoid these types of establishments because there is little incentive to keep the customer happy. The next question is why is there no standard minimum wage within the European Union? The link provided below lists the range of minimum wages across a variety of EU members. I have also listed a wikipedia site that lists by country what minimum wage is in a global comparison.

http://www.fedee.com/minwage.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_minimum_wages_by_country

IOM Plays Role In Stopping Sex Trafficking During World Cup

noreply@blogger.com (greentechguy) — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 14:53:00 +0000

IOM has backed the campaign and helped support the collaborative organization created to stop trafficking while the World Cup is being held in South Africa.

The following is a press release from IOM's website

"An international campaign aimed at preventing trafficking in persons during next month's football World Cup in South Africa was launched last week in Italy, Brazil, Botswana and South Africa.

The campaign, which is initiated by Talitha Kum, an international network of religious sisters from 19 different congregations, is backed by IOM and the International Union of Superiors General (UISG by its Italian acronym).

As part of the campaign, Public Service Announcements will be broadcast on radio and TV channels and flyers featuring IOM's Helpline number 0800555999, will be distributed in high visibility areas and transport hubs such as bus stations and at the Johannesburg international airport.

Participants will also seek to address community leaders to enlist their support in raising awareness among football supporters in partnership with the Southern African Catholic Bishop's Conference (SACBC).

"While there is no empirical evidence linking an increase of trafficking in persons to such events, the Talitha Kum campaign aims to take advantage of the momentum built around the World Cup to increase awareness of trafficking and the need for adequate protection mechanisms," says IOM's Stefano Volpicelli.

IOM's work in South Africa aims to address such gaps, particularly as they relate to the most vulnerable, specifically women between the ages of 16-30 who come from broken homes, single parents, the unemployed and destitute, including men who are trafficked for forced labour.

"Talitha Kum will allow for coordinated prevention activities and the creation of necessary linkages between religious personnel, community leaders and the public at large," says Stefano Volpicelli.

Since 2004, IOM and UISG, with funding from the US Department of State – Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), have provided training on prevention and assistance to victims of human trafficking to more than 500 religious personnel in 48 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America.

An IOM study on human trafficking and the 2006 World Cup in Germany found inconclusive evidence of an increase in trafficking for sexual exploitation.

It recommended that future event organizers and host cities widen the scope of counter-trafficking activities to include forced labour, particularly within the construction industry, criminal activities and begging, and advocate more strongly for adequate reporting by the media on the true nature and scope of human trafficking. "

Source: http://www.iom.int/jahia/Jahia/media/press-briefing-notes/pbnEU/cache/offonce?entryId=27388

UNODC-Vienna Report on Global Organized Crime

noreply@blogger.com (Prime1789) — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 12:40:00 +0000

UNODC report released on June 17, 2010 with several interesting findings. Organized crime syndicates increased their impact and influence globally posing a greater security threat . Europe remains the largest market for heroin in the world with Russia being the number one consumer of over 70 tons of heroin. Illicit firearms trafficking estimated between 170-320 million dollars in revenue for organized crime. 3 billion in revenue from human trafficking of more then 140,000 persons in Europe alone (over 6.6 billion dollars in revenue globally for smugglers). Wordwide the two main routes for smuggling migrants were Latin America to the US and Africa to Europe.

http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/pressrels/2010/uniscp618.html

Human Trafficking Gang Goes To Trial

noreply@blogger.com (Prime1789) — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 12:14:00 +0000

Article on human trafficking involving several European countries in an attempt to shut down one network. Twenty four gang members rolled up in Austria, Hungary, and Romania in an example of cooperation between governments.

http://www.austriantimes.at/news/General_News/2010-06-18/24341/Human_traffickers_on_trial_in_Romania

Overall Reflections

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 11:30:00 +0000

As a global citizen I must admit that I have not been a very good one. Never before have I been challenged with so many thoughts that really went beyond the U.S. Borders. Honestly, I thought these issues were just interesting but not to a point where I would consider myself being prompted to action. This trip really opened my eyes to so many things that I really never considered. I'll start with Immigration policies.
When visiting the IOM (International Organization for Migration) I was surprised with all the issues that have occurred with elimination of borders. Many people have left their country in search of work only to find themselves being exploited economically and sexually. I was impressed with the services this organization offered in regards to helping people return to their homes. The director of this organization was very impressive and passionate.
I was also struck with an interesting concept. That concept is that the U.S. does not do everything thing in the best manner. A prime example is our use of the world's resources. I was informed while at OPEC that we are only about 20% percent of the population but yet we consume 80% of the world's resources. Honestly, I was a bit embarrassed at those statistics. As Americans, at times I think that we think that we can do whatever we want with very little thought as to the global impact.
The visit to the UN also raised some thoughts about the use of atomic energy. different perspectives are always challenging to incorporate into you thinking process.
I have definitely been challenged in my thinking process and my awareness of global issues have definitely increased as a result of this trip.

Run In With Royalty

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 11:07:00 +0000

The museums, palaces, and culture in Vienna were absolutely breath taking. I don't think that I have ever been in a palace before. The tour of the Vienna Hofburg apartments was probably my favorite place. The Hapsburgs were definitely living large!! Their apartments were unbelievable. The sad history of the queen was intriguing. I'm not even sure if I can put it all into words but to have all that wealth and to be so unhappy was very difficult to understand. Well, at least from my perspective. While viewing the articles that royalty used I was in awe. From the elaborate dinner settings to the "chamber pots" that were by our standards quite nice. Maybe I should have been born a royal.

Interesting Reminders

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 10:56:00 +0000

These were two of my first monument ever seen in Vienna. I thought initially what nice gift from the Russians. But after being explained the history I was in shock. Here it is in a nutshell. Vienna was occupied by Germany. The Russians credit themselves with liberating the country after raping and pillaging Vienna. Hmmm... I'm not sure if I would want that constant reminder.