going global

Going Global: Museum employees to stand trial for damage to King Tut mask

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Eight employees of the Egyptian Museum will stand trial for negligence after a yearlong investigation into the botched reattachment of a piece of King Tutankhamen’s mask.

The over 3,000-year-old artifact is not only revered historical artifact in Egypt, but is also one of the nation’s biggest tourist attractions.

Though there are differing accounts of how the beard was initially damaged — ranging from loosening with age to breaking off when the mask fell during a routine cleaning — it is agreed that the reattachment process was hasty and reckless, and carried out using excessive amount of the wrong type of glue.

“The (museum) officials dealt recklessly with a piece of an artifact that is 3,300 years old, produced by one of the oldest civilizations in the world,” the Administrative Prosecution said in a statement to Ahram Online.

The cover-up left a noticeable gap between the face and the beard — one that the accused later made four attempt to remedy before the truth came to light.

Prosecutors were quoted in The Daily News Egypt as saying, “Ignoring all scientific methods of restoration, the suspects tried to conceal their crime by using sharp metal tools to remove parts of the glue that became visible, thus damaging the 3,000-year-old piece without a moment of conscience.”

The staffs to face trial include six restorers and two former heads of the museum’s restoration section.

The mask has since been correctly restored by a team of German conservators, and as of the December is back on public display.

Going Global: China revises one-child policy

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On Thursday, October 29, China announced that it would end its decades-old one-child policy, opting instead for a less restrictive two-child limit for married couples.

The communist government explained their decision in a statement released by Xinhua, China’s official news agency.

“To promote a balanced growth of population, China will continue to uphold the basic national policy of population control and improve its strategy on population development,” Xinhua reported.

It continued, “China will fully implement the policy of ‘one couple, two children’ in a proactive response to the issue of an aging population.”

Currently a third of China’s population is over the age of 60, and it is expecting that in less that 15 years the nation could be home to the most elderly population in the world, which could cause an enormous strain on healthcare and social programs.

The decades long one child policy — the enforcement of which often led to fines, loss of employment, and even forced abortions — has resulted in China’s large gender imbalance, as well as speculation of high rates of female infanticide.

The policy change still required approval from the National People’s Congress in March before they government can move forward with its implementation.

China has been gradually relaxing the policy in recent years, allowing certain minorities, and parents who were only children, to have more than one child, but many critics to the policy change have expressed that this minor change is not enough to make a difference.

According to William Nee, a researcher of China for the human rights group Amnesty International, “Couples that have two children could still be subjected to coercive and intrusive forms of contraception, and even forced abortions — which amount to torture.”

“The state has no business regulating how many children people have,” he said.

Going Global: German politician stabbed during campaign rally

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Anti-foreigner motives prompted the stabbing of 58-year-old German politician Henriette Reker during a campaign rally for Mayor of Cologne on Saturday, October 17. One other woman was seriously wounded in the attack, and three other individuals sustained minor injuries.

After sustaining stab wounds to the neck Reker, an independent candidate supported by Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union party, was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where she underwent emergency surgery. She is currently in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

The suspect, a 44-year-old German national, is believed to have acted alone, and later admitted to targeting Reker due to her pro-refugee efforts. A recent psychiatric exam has concluded that he can and will be held criminally responsible for the attack on the politician.

Reker currently heads Cologne’s social affairs and integration department, where she is responsible for setting up refugee housing around the city, and has been a strong proponent for the accepting and housing refugees throughout the migrant crisis.

This incident has highlighted growing concerns about the German population’s response to the massive influx of refugees, particularly in regards to cases of hateful and violent actions. Germany, which has accepted more refugees than any other European nation, is expected to take in upwards of 1.5 million people by the end of this year.  

Though most German are welcoming to the displaced populations, there have been isolated incidents of anti-refugee vandalism (including graffiti and arson) and violence throughout the nation, specifically targeting refugee shelters.

In a statement on the stabbing, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said, “This cowardly attack in Cologne is further evidence of the increasing radicalization of the refugee debate.”

Despite her condition, Reker went on to win the Mayoral election in Cologne — Germany’s fourth biggest city — on Sunday, October 18.

South African Ambassador receives honorary degree from Chatham University

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On Tuesday, October 21, Chatham University welcomed Ebrahim Rasool, South African Ambassador to the United States, as a part of the Global Focus Program.

As stated on the Chatham University website, “The Global Focus program, during which the entire Chatham community spends an academic year exploring in depth the history, culture, and people of a segment of the world, has been a hallmark of the Chatham University experience for nearly a decade.”

Specifically, the 2014-2015 Year of Southern Africa aims to focus on the countries that form the Southern African Development Community (SADC): Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Ambassador Rasool attended various sessions and speaking engagements throughout the day with students, staff, and faculty alike. His day started with an early breakfast conversation with the Chatham Scholars.

He began the discussion saying, “Figure out what you would die for, and then start living for it.” The student driven conversation addressed topics on globalization, community infrastructure, and the younger African populace, which will soon make up more than 50 percent of the continent’s population.

“We are each other’s keepers when it comes to a globalized world,” Ambassador Rasool said. Particularly in South Africa, Ambassador Rasool aims toward the common goal of forming an independent, unitary, democratic and non-racial state.

He referred to the Quran, the religious text of Islam, when saying there needs to be, “a world for all.” Ambassador Rasool’s progressive thinking advocates this is not impossible.

Following a tour of campus, the Ambassador dined with President Barazzone, and prominent members of the Pittsburgh and Chatham communities over lunch. He favored the evolution of Pittsburgh, hoping to model such development in South Africa.

“How do you not get weighed down in what you inherit? The knowledge of the past needs confidence in the future,” Ambassador Rasool said.

Speaking on the topic of diplomacy, Ambassador Rasool takes what he refers to as a triangular approach. This requires a strategic placement between the protagonist and antagonist. An even balance between past and future must be found, too, as the fear of letting go cannot overpower aspiration.

He also addressed the role women play in South African government and politics. Thirty-five percent of women make up the South African cabinet. South Africa is ranked third in the world for most women who sit in parliamentary positions, while the United States of America holds the seventy-fourth spot. Ambassador Rasool projects that the country is just a decade away from seeing a woman as President of South Africa.

A visit to Dr. Finewood’s Global Environmental Challenges course provided Ambassador Rasool with another chance to connect with Chatham students.

“Hearing about the methods the country of South Africa takes to conserve energy, I learned these measures are teaching the people they need to be more concerned about the environment they live in,” Skylar Benjamin, a sophomore student in the course, said.

An honorary degree ceremony awarded His Excellency Ebrahim Rasool with a Doctor of Public Service Degree. Remarks from Dr. Jean-Jacques Sène, Associate Professor of History and Coordinator of the Global Focus Program, and Dan Simpson, Chair of the Global Focus Advisory Board, credited Ambassador Rasool’s role in bringing modern investments to the Western Cape and development of post apartheid South Africa.

Chatham hosts Global Mixer in observance of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival

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On Tuesday, September 9, students from all around the world gathered in Welker Room in the Laughlin Music Hall to meet new people, enjoy food, and listen to music at the Global Mixer in observance of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, which fell on Monday, September 8 this year, is China’s harvest festival that celebrates the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox.  The full moon is believed to bring peace, prosperity, and family harmony.

Welker was decorated for the festivities with red and gold balloons–colors that are usually associated with good fortune and happiness in Chinese culture. Each table was decorated with a sheet of paper which bore words like “happiness,” “harmony,” “music,” and “peace,” and the words’ translation into Chinese characters.

Also available was a photo booth, consisting of a red paper backdrop decorated with gold paper lanterns. Party masks were supplied for students to don while getting their picture taken.

Though the Mixer honored Chinese culture, it differed from a traditional Mid-Autumn festival celebration in China.

“[To celebrate], family members gather together,” said Qian Li, a Chinese student in the Masters of Science in Nursing program.  “At night, if the weather is okay, we go outside to appreciate the moon,” she said.

Food is also an essential part of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

“We eat the moon cake. It’s the most important part,” said Zhing Zhai, a Chinese student in the Masters of Interior Architecture program. “Even if people don’t eat moon cakes, they buy them to send to friends.”

Photo Credit: Ivy Kuhrman

Photo Credit: Ivy Kuhrman

According to Zhai, although there was only one type of sweet moon cake at the Global Mixer, there are more varieties to choose from in China, including those filled with chicken or with ice cream.

Although the artichoke dip and peach cobbler were plentiful, the Mixer’s buffet ran out of moon cakes early on, which left some students disappointed.

“I really wanted to have some moon cakes, but there weren’t many, so I didn’t get any,” first-year student Bethany Bookout said.

Though the Chinese festival was the focus of the Mixer, guests were not limited to Chinese students. According to International Student Services Coordinator Vivian Yamoah, invitations were extended to international students on campus, to all the members of the Laughlin Intercultural Living Learning Community, and to the rest of the Chatham Community. Guests hailed from many countries, including Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Japan, Palestine, South Korea, and Zambia. Approximately 80 people joined in, with 68 official student sign-ins.

The Office of International Affairs hosted the event in hopes of enriching students’ global awareness.

“Our idea is to welcome the new international students and make them feel at home,” said Study Abroad Coordinator and Acting Director of International Affairs Karin Chipman.  “We want them to mix together and get to know other perspectives outside of just those in Pittsburgh.”

Many students chose to attend the event in hopes of achieving Chipman’s goal.

“I wanted to try out delicacies from different parts of the world and talk to other international students,” said Komal Kooduvalli, who has come from Bangalore, India to obtain a Masters in Sustainability.

“It’s interesting to get to know other people,” said Jenny Wittann, from Berlin, Germany, who is also in the Masters in Sustainability program. “I don’t know much about the Chinese culture, and I hope to learn more about it.”

“My favorite part is the food,” said American graduate student Dayna Van Fleet.  “The company is pretty good, too,” she said, chuckling, when reminded by her tablemates Kooduvalli and Wittann.

To encourage further intercultural communication, the Office of International Affairs will hold smaller Global Mixers on the third Thursdays of October and November in Café Rachel from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Going Global: Timeline of Israel-Gaza Conflict

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In June, the Israel-Gaza conflict erupted into all-out fighting over the disappearance of three Israeli boys who were later found murdered in Gaza. This led to one of the bloodiest chapters of the conflict, claiming more than two thousand lives.

June 12:  Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaer, and Eyal Yifrah disappear while hitchhiking in the West Bank, which is part of Palestine. Hamas is blamed for their abduction (and, later, deaths). Operation Brother’s Keeper is launched in an effort to find the missing teens.

June 17:  Operation Brother’s Keeper enters the fifth day. 800 Palestinian civilians are arrested by IDF troops without due process. 40 alleged terror suspects are arrested in connection with the kidnappings, and Palestinian weapons caches are seized.

June 25:  Israeli police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld admits in a public statement that the kidnappings did not occur with the knowledge or consent of Hamas officials and the actions were of a lone cell not in line with Hamas policies. (This backs up a statement made by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, that no evidence had surfaced connecting Hamas with the kidnapping. Rosenfeld retracted his use of the words “lone cell” a few days later.)

June 30:  The bodies of the three missing teens are found in a field north-west of Hebron.  Prime Minister Netanyahu vows to launch a “tough response” to the killings.

Over the course of two weeks, over 1000 areas are raided by IDF forces looking for the missing teens. Claims arose of abuses perpetrated by IDF soldiers, including theft, looting, and destruction of property. Eight Palestinian civilians die during the searches. The homes of two of the kidnapping suspects are bombed by the IDF.

July 1:  Gilad Shaer’s call to an Israeli emergency line is leaked to the public, causing outrage over the fact that the call was not treated with proper care.

Crowds delay the funeral for all three teens over an hour.

20 rockets are fired from Gaza, and the IDF responds with an aerial attack on 34 locations. A Palestinian teen is shot by IDF troops who allege that he threw a grenade; the teen’s family say he was carrying eggs.

July 2:  A Palestinian teen is abducted and murdered by Israeli nationalists. The families of the Israeli teens denounce the kidnappers’ actions.

July 25:  Alleged Hamas member Hussam Qawasmeh is arrested and charged with orchestrating the murders of all three teens; interrogated by Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security service) until he confessed.

July 4 – 30:  Operation Protective Edge is carried out, with the majority of hostile actions perpetrated by IDF forces.  Numerous areas of Palestine are bombed or face Israeli troop movements. The buffer zone around Palestine is extended, reducing the area of safe movement by almost two miles. 25 IDF soldiers are killed in Palestine.

Allegations of the use of DIME bombs (Dense Inert Metal Explosive; typically filled with tungsten, nickel, cobalt, and/or iron) by the IDF arise at a UN hospital at a Gaza refugee camp.

August 20:  Salah al-Aruri, a Hamas official living in exile in Istanbul, blames one of Hamas’ armed wings for the kidnappings and murders (al-Aruri’s statement is considered suspicious, as he may be exaggerating his own role in Hamas in an effort to appear relevant).

August 26:  A ceasefire agreement is reached between Israel and Palestine, with talks to be held in Egypt.

Casualties on the Israeli side of the conflict include 66 soldiers and six civilians (one child was killed); 450 soldiers and 80 civilians are wounded.

Casualties in Palestine (from UN OCHA sources): 2131 dead (1662 are civilians, 490 are children) and 10895 are wounded (3000 of them are children).