Article on the Torture Memos

Here is a pretty good article by Peter Brooks on the reasoning behind the torture memos--how is it that they were regarded as legal and made to comply with the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment ?

http://www.slate.com/id/2113314/

Also, if you are interested in reading some of the memos yourself and seeing the chronology of their writing and the events surrounding them, check this page out from the American Civil Liberties Union

http://www.aclu.org/accountability/olc.html

A Question About Precarious Life

As I read Judith Butler's article I got a little confused as she tried to explain the relationship between sovereignty and governmentality. But there is one quote in page 56 that I find the most confusing.

"But my point is that precisely because our historical situation is marked by governmentality, and this implies, to a certain degree, a loss of sovereignty, that loss is compensated through the resurgence of sovereignty within the field of governmentality."

What do you think Butler is trying to say here?

the norm of "masculinity"

"...we have to start to question what the relation is between complying with gender, and coercion."

- Judith Butler


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLnv322X4tY

The question one asks upon viewing this poignant clip is why it is that we have this need for conformity to gender norms. And when the "feminine" or "masculine" is not displayed in the way society expects, why does this illicit so much anxiety? In the extreme it leads to violence as in Butler's story or the murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming. But there are also many ways in which one is made to "comply" and thus go against oneself...simply to avoid discrimination or alienation.

Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving?

The other day in lecture we discussed a few points from this article. Particularly, how the "war on terrorism" can often be justified by the claim that our occupation is an attempt to liberate and safe Aghan women. We also talked about the politics of the Muslim veil and the controversy it created for American women who wanted to rid off this "sign of oppression."

However, there was something in the article that stuck with me and was not really discussed in lecture. That is, the idea that "liberation" and "social change" are situated ideas. I had never thought about this before but it may be the case that not all women may want to be "freed" from their supposed "oppressors." As Lila Abu-Lughod, asks, "Are emancipation, equality, and rights part of a universal language we must use?" Any other day, I would have answered yes, because of my own situated knowledge. I grew up with the conception that liberty and freedom were optimal ways of life. However, that was based on how I defined liberty-one aspect being the right to wear whatever I please. This article, consequently, made me more critical of universal wants. Perhaps, not everyone wishes to live in a democratic society where life, liberty, and property are the social norm.

Did any body else find that aspect of the reading interesting?

Spatial Ambiguities & Charter Cities

Talking about Guantanamo in class reminded me of something I came across recently. It's not directly related but it does kind of speak to the idea of spatial ambiguity and rethinking governmentality/sovereignty.

Economist Paul Romer (not related to Christina Romer) has proposed this idea of charter cities. The idea is that a lot of developing countries do not have the political legitimacy bc of histories of political/economic instability. SO his great plan is to have developed, First World countries, primarily those in the West (ie former colonizers), to rent unoccupied lands in "undeveloped" countries for contracted periods up to 99 years. During their lease, the FW tenants will set up what Romer believes are better rules of governance and lend their political legitimacy to attract foreign direct investors/transnational corporations.

When I first read this, I thought "Wow, what neocolonial bullshit!" It's problematic in more ways than I want to discuss in this post. But the scary thing is, the former president of Madagascar was in serious talks with Romer and potential tenant countries to implement this. However, he was overthrown by a coup-- a good example of how no matter how much you try to naturalize/neutralize ideas of free market capitalism, you can't remove the political from economics.

Crazy interview: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/07/the-politically-incorrect-guide-to-ending-poverty/8134/

( Excerpt of interview: Are the sweat shops in special economic zones desirable?
That is something you should ask the people who flock to places like Shenzhen. Charter cities would have to provide a lot of low-cost jobs in industries like garments and light manufacturing. Those jobs don’t look attractive to you and me, but to poor people struggling to make a living in rural areas, things look different. )

Article from The Atlantic: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/07/the-politically-incorrect-guide-to-ending-poverty/8134/

Cultural Politics in the UC: Terrorism

Hi Geography Community,

This is the second round draft of proposed changes to the UC-wide Student Code of Conduct. I received this document through the ASUC with request to give feedback to UC Office of the President (UCOP). These three policy changes claim to be addressing "Hate Crimes" at UC, and I ask you to read these over and email me your feedback to the language: e.goldstein@asuc.org or reply to this blog post.

REVISED: Proposed Policy Changes to Address Hate Crimes

1. Terrorizing Conduct

The following new language would be added to the Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline (section 102.00 Grounds for Discipline):

“[The following is prohibited:] Conduct, where the actor means to communicate a serious expression of intent to terrorize, or acts in reckless disregard of the risk of terrorizing, one or more University students, faculty, or staff. ‘Terrorize’ means to cause a reasonable person to fear bodily harm or death, perpetrated by the actor or his/her confederates. ‘Reckless disregard’ means consciously disregarding a substantial risk. This section applies without regard to whether the conduct is motivated by race, ethnicity, personal animosity, or other reasons. This section does not apply to conduct that constitutes the lawful defense of one’s self, of another, or of property.”

2. Sanction Enhancement for Violations Motivated by Hate

The following new language would be added to the Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline (section 104.00 Administration of Student Discipline):

“Sanctions [for any violations of the Grounds for Discipline] may be enhanced where the victim was selected because of the victim’s race, color, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, sex, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, ancestry, service in the uniformed services, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer related or genetic characteristics), or perceived membership in any of these classifications.”

3. Discipline for criminal convictions

The following new language would be added to the Policy on Student Conduct and Discipline (section 102.00 Grounds for Discipline):

“[Students may be subject to discipline, i.e., discipline is possible, not mandatory, on the basis of] A conviction under any California state or federal criminal law, when the conviction constitutes reasonable cause to believe that the student poses a current threat to the health or safety of any person or to the security of any property, on University premises or at official University functions, or poses a current threat to the orderly operation of the campus.”

A Description of the different Initiative Committees

Specific requirements for Operational Excellence intiative design teams

Procurement

Sponsors: Mark Schlissel, Dean of Biological Sciences and Ron Coley, Associate Vice Chancellor, Business and Administrative Services

The procurement initiative comprises two broad goals. The first is to determine the optimal organization structure for procurement as a campus function (not limited to the central office). The second is to assess the campuswide spending base in key categories, and identify methods for reducing spending in those categories. In reaching both goals, significant change management will be required.

Requirements for design team members:

• Deep expertise in relevant procurement functions, such as vendor management, contract negotiation, or procurement accounting, as well as familiarity with online procurement systems, or
• Experience purchasing one or more of the high-volume categories such as lab equipment, travel and entertainment, or IT.

Organizational Simplification

Sponsors: Keith Gilless, Dean of the College of Natural Resources and Frank Yeary, Vice Chancellor

This initiative will examine the core business processes related to human resources, finance, and information technology, to develop an analysis of the most appropriate roles and responsibilities to achieve these functions in the most effective and efficient ways. The initiative also includes direct outreach to campus units to determine the most appropriate organizational structures for their operations, and will provide support to achieve those structures.

Requirements for design team members:

• Significant expertise in managing one or more of these functions: HR, IT, and Finance, or
• Experience as a customer of HR, IT, and/or Finance services in a distributed unit

Information Technology

Sponsors: Andrew Szeri, Dean of the Graduate Division and Shel Waggener, Associate Vice Chancellor-IST and CIO

The goal of the IT initiative is to optimize information technology across campus by focusing on five key areas: IT organizational structure, infrastructure management, application development and application management, IT procurement, and outsourcing.

Requirements for design team members:

• Deep expertise in relevant IT functions, such as application development, system administration, or desktop support, or
• An understanding of the IT needs of a diverse user group (.e.g., research faculty, undergraduate and graduate students, etc.)

Energy Management

Sponsors: Jennifer Wolch, Dean of the College of Environmental Design and Chris Christofferson, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Physical Plant and Campus Services

The goal of this initiative is to reduce campus-wide energy consumption by analyzing opportunities for infrastructure improvements and developing an incentive system to reward reduced consumption.

Requirements for design team members:

• Deep expertise in utilities and energy infrastructure projects, or
• An understanding of the energy needs of a diverse user group (e.g., research units, non-academic units, data centers, etc.)

Student Services

Sponsors: Cathy Koshland, Vice Provost of Academic Planning and Facilities and Harry Le Grande, Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs

This initiative will examine the portfolio of student services offered across UC Berkeley, including both undergraduate and graduate constituencies, as well as student services provided by individual departments. The critical objectives of this initiative are 1) to align the relevant organizations around effective student services delivery, and 2) to evaluate opportunities to resize services, improve productivity, and/or eliminate redundancies.

Requirements for design team members:

• Deep expertise in one or more areas of student services, such as academic advising, student life advising, residential programs, or
• An understanding of major student services expense categories (e.g., RSSP, Advising)

High-Performance Culture

Sponsors: Rich Lyons, Dean of the Haas School of Business and Jeannine Raymond, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Human Resources

This initiative will strengthen UC Berkeley’s operating culture by identifying pan-university opportunities within talent management, unit performance, communication, decision-making, and performance management. Extensive coordination with the Organizational Simplification initiative is expected.

Requirements for design team members:

• Deep expertise in talent management, unit performance management, communications, performance appraisal and management, or organizational behavior

Financial Management Model

Sponsors: Paul Gray, former Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost and Erin Gore, Associate Vice Chancellor, Budget and Resource Planning

This initiative will redesign UC Berkeley’s financial management model to enable pan-university resource allocation, greater financial discipline, and improved common goods funding.

Requirements for design team members:

• Deep expertise in finance and budgeting, or
• Extensive experience navigating the current financial processes.

Parallels Between Roosevelt and Nazism

One aspect of this reading that really jumped out at me was how similar many of Roosevelt's beliefs were to those of the Nazis in the 1930's. Ideas of the perfect society, racial purity, competition and the necessity of expansion that are present in Roosevelt's writings were also present in much of Nazi propaganda. Also, ideas of the family and the importance of female fertility to the nation as a whole that were frequent in Roosevelt's "No race suicide here" was also present in Nazism. I guess I just found it interesting how we despise the Nazi idea of society, at the turn of the century (and perhaps even longer after that), our leaders wholly endorsed these principles as well. Thoughts?

Manliness and Civilization

I just wanted to comment on a few points that got my attention as I read Manliness and Civilization.

I found it interesting how the media has always played a major role in distributing and re-enforcing a certain image, view or opinion. In pg 170 it says how newspapers called TR nicknames that criticized him for not being manly enough. What is shocking to me is how although, back then, information did not flow as fast as it does today with the help of the Internet, a single person's comment could still become so big as to make it to the newspapers, which then causes TR to take action into trying to change the image people had of him.

Also, Bederman states that "Teedie learned that male power was composed of equal parts kindhearted manly chivalry and aggressive masculine violence" (172). This reminded me a lot about the "rules of behavior" of a knight. I think I was reminded about this from Don Quixote, who insists that a knight must protect women and children and be able to undergo arduous fights while being full of good virtues. If a man does not behave this way he is not considered a knight... in this case, a man.

Other idea presented in this piece is how being manly is linked to power and thus to civilization.
This idea is somewhat new to me. How wars between races was considered by TR to be part of nature and seemed to be inevitable. He refers to "nature's quest to develop the most perfect men and women" (180) to justify the wars between Indians and white Americans. The purpose was for the races to compete and determine which race had the most powerful men. The most powerful men would be those who were involved in situations that tested their strength, courage, and their intentions to protect the weak; they showed their masculinity. Thus "the race that could best achieve a perfect civilization was by definition, the one with the most superior manhood" (184).

Then, as I read how TR, as a kid, found the dead seal and thought of the experience as an adventure because he felt he had the chance to be like the boys in his favorite books, it became an interest to me how children today are introduced to gender roles. But for the purpose of this article, how are children introduced to masculinity today? In TR time, he was introduced to masculinity by reading books that talked about the adventures of boys. Today, it seems that in the case of baby's most of the differentiation between boy and girl is simply shown by colors (ex: blue vs pink). But as they grow up the idea of masculinity in toys becomes stronger. I briefly looked at children's toys online and under toys for boys 2 yrs old include items for "pretend and dress-up"which include a "mini- work bench" that includes a hammer, screwdriver and other plastic tools. There also are, trucks, and trains. Under 3-4 yrs of age there are toys with more realistic colors such as a construction helmet with a lamp. Simple versions of superhero action figures are also introduced. Under 5-7 yrs old there are actions figures with more defined characteristics such as: big strong muscles, they carry complex technology, they carry some kind of weapon, they wear some kind or armor... From 8-11 yrs old, video games are more common and they depict the image of masculinity that we are already familiar with. Under this section there is also the appearance of toy guns. From 11 on, I strongly believe, the child has a good idea of how masculinity is portrayed by society, thus making them build an idea of how they should behave and who they should become.

Memorial Stadium meets Homeland Security

Gender-bending, sex, and science

Today in class we talked a lot about gender tropes and gender policing. There were several things that popped into my head that we didn't quite have time to touch on or spend much time on so I thought it'd be best to leave a few bullet points/questions to see what you all thought.

1. Many people see gender bending through cross-dressing as a way of resisting gender norms in society. And on an every day basis they are often harassed/policed for those forms of resistance. But what do we make of drag shows or even transsexual sex shows in which gender-bending is more accepted because it is seen as a spectacle, fantastical, or exotic? Is this still resistance or is it an unappealing kind of voyeurism where the subject is consumed for the spectator's pleasure?
2. I was really taken aback when we discussed how something so seemingly objective such as teaching about reproduction could be incredibly gendered. Obviously, teaching sex-ed in a more balanced way (i.e. not talking as though the sperm is on a dangerous mission to conquer the egg) is one way to resist or counteract these gendered ways of teaching. What are other ways to resist mainstream gender narratives (whether in science or other arenas of society)?
3. In line with our study of cartography, how has anatomy or the "mapping of the body" not an entirely objective concept? How does it reproduce gender and what are some counter-maps to challenge mainstream ideas of dualistic male/female identity?

Also, I know there are a lot of great gender/queer identity blogs out there but I don't know how to access them. Does anyone have recommendations?

Thanks and happy learning/discussing :)

Operational Excellence

http://berkeley.edu/oe/

http://pro24.sgizmo.com/survey.php?SURVEY=PDILRR3Q2QMCFOAR7306TJOM6E0MFG-388034-132380382&pswsgt=1287075783&sg_r=http%3A%2F%2Fberkeley.edu%2Foe%2F&sg_g=924550b5adbc149882d1724a40cc68dc&_csg=34eQlD.QxhTJI&notice=DO-NOT-DISTRIBUTE-THIS-LINK

The Panama Deception - TRAILER

Wasteland Wealth: Natural Mineral Deposits in Afghanistan and the Making of War

Published: June 13, 2010

By JAMES RISEN

Tyler Hicks/The New York Times

A bleak Ghazni Province seems to offer little, but a Pentagon study says it may have among the world’s largest deposits of lithium.

Beneath the feet of this nomadic shepherd sits vast mineral deposits of Lithium, the backbone of the modern economy.

TimesPeople

June 14, 2010
	Recommend
Copyright 2010 The New York Times Company

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/asia/14minerals.html

“There is stunning potential here,” Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of the United States Central Command, said in an interview on Saturday. “There are a lot of ifs, of course, but I think potentially it is hugely significant.” (replace significant with "profitable")

"At the same time, American officials fear resource-hungry China will try to dominate the development of Afghanistan’s mineral wealth, which could upset the United States, given its heavy investment in the region. After winning the bid for its Aynak copper mine in Logar Province, China clearly wants more, American officials said.


Questions to Consider:

1) How does the presence of mineral deposits in Afghanistan effect the US war strategy? Do you think these mineral deposits (known since the 1980's by USSR geological surveys) was a reason we went into Afghanistan?

2) How does the field of Geography and Geology place into the US military-industrial complex?



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/asia/14minerals.html

any thoughts on this? i was looking through our class syllabus, and i was reminded of this film.

how else can we analyze this film using the themes that we discuss in class? i want to know what you all think about this.

The Quest to Discover Human Nature

What is human nature? That seems to be the big question. Is it good? Is it bad? Is it both? Or nothing at all?

In the 9th grade i came to this "realization" that the whole point of human existence was just to make babies and everything else people did was just to fill the time in between, except the whole eating, sleeping and pooping part, which is necessary to living (unless you've miraculously evolved beyond that). But anyhoo, maybe 9th-grade me was right, or at least as right as anyone else theorizing on the nature of humans. Maybe "human nature" is simply our base functions (eating, sleeping, pooping, fucking--not necessarily in that order, & hopefully hygiene is in there, too, somewhere), and everything else is up to chance. How we go about fulfilling our basic needs and otherwise occupying our time is determined by the conditions of our environment.

But maybe not, since that would basically be saying that we're all nurture, pretty much, and that's just as false an assumption as saying we're all nature. However, i do think that there is a benefit to the wholly nurture argument, because it leaves the possibility open for change. If circumstances made me one way, then it stands to reason that different circumstances can make me another way. I'm not stuck the way I am forever. Which is good because if i turnout like an incompetent ass-hat it's nice to know that i don't have to be that way until my dying days. Whereas the nature argument does just that, it naturalizes whatever characteristic it defines as "natural." And nature has this connotation of constancy, of immutability, like a mountain that can't be swayed. If it is my nature to go around being an incompetent ass-hat then i'm stuck that way. I can't help it anymore than that tree outside can help growing blossoms in the spring and loosing all its leaves in the winter. We're both just a part of nature, living out our existence in the preordained manner that "nature" has determined that we should.

On somewhat of a side note, though, this is obviously as false conclusion, because nature is constantly changing. We have relatively short lives, so to us our environment may appear as a constant. But that mountain out there, even the very continents that we live on once looked very different and may do so again in not too very long. The Atlantic grows as the Pacific shrinks, and mountains rise and fall as time goes by. Nature is constantly evolving, changing. So to say that something is natural can actually be taken to mean that it is constantly evolving.

But back to human nature, more specifically. What is it? Between the eternal dichotomy of good and evil where do we lay?

Hobbs would say that we are the latter and without a strict authority the world would descend into chaos, anarchy, or whatever you want to call it. Heart of Darkness, which we kicked off the semester with, reiterates this theme. And in doing so, lays the groundwork for imperialization.

But can't civilization be just as evil as its uncivilized counterpart? It all depends on how you define it, what discourse you use. (situated knowledges and all that jazz) After all, just as we define Iraqis as violent and evil, do not they define us in just as unsavory terms? So isn't t just as likely that it is society that begets evil in people, not what staunches it? That would be what Marx and other structuralists say.

So whose right? What is human nature? You tell me.

D.R.E.A.M Act: Is DREAM Act a Solution for Millions of Undocumented Youth or a Funnel for Military Recruitment?

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the California DREAM Act Tuesday night for the second time in two years, barring hundreds of undocumented UC students from scholarships and university funding.
http://www.dailycal.org/article/102897/amended_dream_act_vetoed_by_governor

In light of this most recent veto I think it is relevant to discuss the national DREAM Act and the debate surrounding it:

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death

I found this poem to be pertinent to the readings about war-making--what drives people into war both private and publicly, as well as Orwell's comment about the "utter silence" imposed upon him and every other English officer. I think it may also relate to our discussions this week on the supposed necessity of war.

An Irish Airman Foresees His Death by W.B. Yeats

I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above;
Those I fight I do not hate
Those that I guard I do not love;
My country is Kiltartan Cross,
My countrymen Kiltartan's poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight;
Nr public men, nor cheering crowds,
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind
In balance with this life, this death.

US Military bases around the World.