"Outbreak of Fungus Threatens Tomato Crop"

Moskin, Julia. "Outbreak of Fungus Threatens Tomato Crop." New York Times 17 Jul. 2009:
A16.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/nyregion/18tomatoes.html?_r=1&hpw

The tomato plant is in serious danger right now as reported by the New York Times. A very contagious fungus has spread to the states of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. It is said that the weather will now serve as the deciding factor in whether these tomato plants will survive or succumb to their death. A strain of this same fungus happens to be identical to one that caused the Irish potato famine. William Fry, a professor of plant pathology at Cornell has said, "I've never seen this on such a wide scale." While a box of locally grown tomatoes usually sells for about $20, farmers are now talking about selling them for $40 a box. The experts are not sure of the source of the fungus and some believe that there could be multiple epidemics. Experts have also said that hot, sunny weather could slow or eliminate this fungus over the next couple of weeks. Now it is just a waiting game for farmers to see if the weather cooperates.

Agriculture a critical sector of the economy throughout the world and especially in the United States. Agriculture has evolved into a close partnership with the economy. This fungus that is plaguing the tomatoes on the east coast surely will affect the rest of the country significantly, Agricultural problems are nothing new to the world, as was indicated with the Irish potato famine. If the the tomatoes do become seriously infected it will start the slippery slope. First, farmers won't be able to produce enough healthy tomatoes. Second, farmers will have to charge much higher prices to make up for the lack of tomatoes. Third, consumers will not purchase as many, if any tomatoes as a result of the dramatic increase in price. This cycle demonstrates the interconnectedness that agriculture has with the economy.

Blog Post #2- "House Passes Bill to Address Threat of Climate Change"

Broder, John. “House Passes Bill to Address Threat of Climate Change.” New York Times 26 Jun. 2009.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/us/politics/27climate.html?fta=y

About a week ago the House of Representatives passed important legislation that could have a profound effect on America’s future environmentally and economically. The bill’s passage, by 219 to 212, marked the first time that Congress approved a bill that will attempt to curb heat-trapping gases that scientists have linked to climate change. The bill sets a limit on overall emissions of these gases yet allowing companies to trade pollution permits amongst themselves. However, as time goes on the amount of emissions allowed will decrease thus making industries find cleaner methods of making energy. The bill also puts forth billions of dollars for new energy products and subsidies for low carbon agricultural practices. President Obama noted about the bill, “[it is] a bold and necessary step.” While the bill is seen as a momentous advancement in the United States, many European governments don’t believe it addresses enough of the energy issues that affect global warming.

In this scenario Washington D.C. is the hearth of the United States commitment to address the climate change. This political center of the United States just passed legislation that will have a ripple effect that will expand from the origin (Washington D.C.) to all part of the United States of America and that ultimately will influence the entire world. This shows how humans have a profound effect on the environment in terms of hurting it or helping it. The attempt here is to take away certain things from the landscape. Heat-trapping gases are used extensively by companies and this is a form of exploiting the land and air just as father countries did with their colonies. Instead of allowing these companies to hurt the common people and help themselves by polluting the planet, Congress is enacting legislation to make change to benefit the environment and its patrons that originated from the hearth in Washington D.C.

Blog Post #1- Beijing Adds Curbs on Access to Internet

Bradsher, Keith. "Beijing Adds Curbs on Access to Internet." New York Times 25 Jun. 2009: A4.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/world/asia/26china.html?_r=1&hpw

The Chinese Health Ministry acting as a part of the Chinese government is cracking down once again on specific kinds of internet usage. The restrictions are being enforced heavily on those writing medical research papers that have a focus on sexual subjects. However, it appears the Chinese government is expanding this to more of an anti-pornography campaign throughout all of China. Starting July 1, the Chinese government is trying to require that a filtering software be pre-installed on all new computers bought. While Google is working tirelessly to aide China in whatever it desires; there are many dissenters in China that think this act prevents their freedom of expression. Even Chinese lawyers who have offered to defend the dissidents have lost their licenses. The US has sent a letter to the Chinese explaining their disagreement with their filtering software position. Regardless, this is another case of the Chinese governement enforcing very strict sanctions on its people.

This article relates to human geography most closely with regards to place and sovereignty. To begin it is evident that the sense of place that the people of China have is way different than other countries such as the United States. The Chinese do not have a democracy and lack the many freedoms that people have in other countries, therefore their sense of place is more restricted. Place is unique and the Chinese government is imposing their idea of place which includes many sanctions and restrictions on their people. In terms of sovereignty, the Chinese government is showing how they have the power and control to dictate what happens within their state boundaries. The Chinese have supreme law making authority to restrict what the Chinese people view on their computers, regardless of whether it is morally correct or not.