Blog Post # 11: FIFA, "Asia", and World Cup Qualification



Asian Football Confederation (full size image is better!)



             The map above is how FIFA, the governing body of soccer, divides up the “Asian” region of the world. I have had many arguments with my soccer buddies about how to divide up the world, but this region always draws the most criticism from all sides. Personally, I think that FIFA should divide up the region into the Asian and Middle East regions with the dividing line being Pakistan and India (for political reasons). I think that there are way too many nations for the region to only get 4.5 qualification spots. I know the book, and most of the rest of the world, divide up the world into the regions we studied throughout the semester, but my mental maps are based on how FIFA divides up the world. As of now I have a discrepancy with FIFA’s “Asia”, but I guess I will have to complain, moan, and cry to FIFA until they take charge and change it themselves. That is how it works right?

Side note: There is an Oceania region, but somehow Australia got itself grouped with Asia instead...I still have no idea how that played itself out.

Blog Post # 10: Africa, To aid or not to aid?

            Do I really want to get into this? For the sake of the field of geography I will suck it up and brave sharing my opinion for the harsh words of the critic. I think the problem we have with Africa is the same problem we have back home in America. We give people everything they want without that person ever having to work for that item. I think we are doing the same thing with the African nations we give aid to. We feel so bad for them that we give them everything without thinking about the repercussions for our actions. I think we should still provide aid and relief for those who have proven that they will use it without becoming dependent on it.

            I think we should help build up the African countries like what the British did when the United States was in its own infancy. I think all of the more developed countries around the world should adopt a less developed country and raise it as its own. I know there are obvious drawbacks with this system, but at the very least the less developed countries (especially the African countries) will improve in most aspects of life. Yes, certain countries can exploit the system, but there can be a system in place implemented by the U.N. to monitor the productivity of the mother country and the progress of the infant country. In the end as a collective world we can help spread the wealth a bit from person to person from country to country.



Just a small amount of work that has to be done!



Blog Post # 9: Oh, Man Yemen is screwed!

             I do not think it would be fair to say that the people of Yemen disagree with the current presidency. I think one would be correct in saying that the people of Yemen despise their governmental system and the choices made by those in power. The people of Yemen have been protesting against President Ali Abdullah Saleh, railing against poor economy, widespread corruption and rampant unemployment. To sum the situation up would be to say that money is an issue and the president aint doing his job too well.

            The map I found takes an interesting look at what is going on with the protests. Most of the major protests are taking in the capitol of Sana’a. Two points of contention being discussed is the separation of the eastern half of the country and the obvious stronghold the Al-Qaeda have in the central part of the country. Some people claim that there are civil war-like activities (as pointed out by the orange) happening to the north-western part of Yemen. Although there are not many reports that back up this claim.

            Overall, Yemen looks like it is headed for revolution. The economy is piss poor and the leadership is just as bad. I would like to see some more media attention attached to Yemen, but since they do not supply us oil no one really cares that much about it.