Globalaffairs

Issue 19/February- March 2010
By Alexandre Calvo Cristina

The North Korean regime devalues its currency, forcing the population to exchange their savings. Each North Korean family can only exchange 100,000 Won (around 50 Euro), the remainder being confiscated. The decision is a major step back for the budding economic liberalisation of the country.

Devaluation of the North Korean currency

North Korea is in the news once again, and as usual the news is not good. This time, however, the news is not about nuclear testing, the interception of a shipment of non-conventional weapons or a border incident, but rather it is about an economic policy. On November 30, without any official warning through the conventional channels, the government used its Orwellian video system that gives them access to all homes in order to announce that all old bank notes will be replaced by new notes, thus devaluating the currency by 100. That is to say, 100 old Won will be converted to 1 of the new official monetary units. One day later, the small diplomatic body accredited in Pyongyang was informed.

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Issue 19/ February- March 2010
By Franco D. Bonaro

Without highlighting the technical details that are common knowledge, I would like to focus on the ideological debate that the much discussed plans for the new Health Act proposed by the Obama administration.

Is the US society prepared for a change of this scale?

The answer is not clear cut as yet, however, it is apparent that a large part of the contributors do not favour the politics of inclusiveness that the democratic government wants to implement. The US economy albeit one of the largest in the world fails to meet the basic health needs of its inhabitants.

The model of a Welfare State, following Sping Andersen, adopted by the USA characteristically focuses its social politics on those sectors of the population that show a need (1).Within this scheme of a liberal state, social help is only aimed at the “losers” of the system, generating a negative effect of stigmatization of the poor. These people receive health coverage through a system of medical assistance called Medicaid. Whereas, senior citizens of 65 years and older receive medical care through Medicare.

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Issue 19/February-March 2010
by Erica L. Green

The scope of need has changed for the survivors a month after Haiti’s January earthquake. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that this new wave of need includes postoperative care, rehabilitation, and mental health services [1], only to name a few of the service needs.  Some sources on the ground recruiting personnel also note the high need for orthopedic and anesthesiology specialists. The United Nations Association of USA, Greater Chicago Chapter (UNA Chicago) is planning to be apart of this new wave of relief.

Coordinating a tactical relief effort at this stage can be quite complex.  The first waves call for military and trauma care for boulder removal and building collapse related injuries. The people with injuries are also centralized around the epicenter. Now, a month later health care workers are now confronted with infection, sanitation, and mental health issues on top of the chronic diseases that existed prior to the quake such as malaria and HIV. This means there are many more volunteers needed to pull off such an endeavor.  This writer, the coordinator of UNA Chicago’s relief effort finds the number of those willing to help encouraging. Whether is it military, government agencies, area hospitals or faith based organizations, support pledges have been steady. Assessments are currently being conducted to obtain a more accurate account of need but a challenge is the range of preexisting need. Access to health care was an issue long before the January quake.

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