Nation State

                    
        I am realizing that this game is more fun than I thought it would be. I think that it took a while to pick up and get interesting but now I think it is very interesting. I do not like that sometimes we only have a few minutes to come up with laws, I think that having more time is helpful. But I also recognize that Odin is trying to give us more time.
        Personally I think our group is very good at making decisions together. We all very reasonable and hear each other out before making a decision. I really like it because we are able to come to decisions quickly and are all comfortable talking truthfully about our own opinions on the different problems that are thrown at us.
         I think it would be cool to have someone a little more aggressive in the group. It would make things a little more interesting to have more "heated" debates.
         When it comes to others nations or countries we are all have talked about making decisions as a group, presidents opinions come first of course. But overall we work really good together coming to a conclusion that we are all okay with.
Honestly I think that I am proactive as is our whole group. I like  that the whole group comes up with multiply ideas for us to go over. I also think that we all help with the wording and terms of the laws.
         I don't necessarily think we are trying to take after any one nation. But we do have the knowledge of mistakes some nations have made and we do talk about that and sometimes it does weigh on our decisions. I do think that we use that to our advantage.

                                            

Blog Assignment 8

The game is interesting. It makes you look at the hard decisions law makers have to make. Our group works well together to make decisions on how to run our country. We have not had much chance to see how other countries are run or a chance to interact with them other than once. If I was to change something I think it would be to come up with the laws for homework and interact with other countries during class. I think our group is trying to be proactive, but it difficult to think of all the possibilities that could come up.

The Game

My group definitely works together in making decisions for the country and I am very happy with the way my group works. When we meet up in groups, my group always just throws ideas onto the table and we pick and choose the ones we feel fit our country the best. I like the route my country is in and I think it is good where it stands because we have a president that is for war and against war and the creativity just shows. We have not discussed a strategy when dealing with other countries.  Our country is based off original ideas, I guess you can say that growing up in the USA has influenced some of my ideas, but I wouldn’t say our country wants to be like any country that is already existing today.

The game

I think the game is interesting and it's starting to be more fun. Our group seems to agree on a lot which makes decisions easier. It would be nice to have more interactions with other groups so we could get a feel for what it's like to deal with other countries. I like that were making laws that the United States is focusing on right now. Its also interesting to see how other people feel about national issues. We are sort of basing our country off of the United States. Our group has some ideas on how we'll deal with other groups and controversy. However we haven't had that much so it would be interesting to see how things would play out. Our group isn't that aggressive, we're ok with just keeping to ourselves.

For our midterm, I believe our group did very well over all. We all did more than our own fair share of research and all did well presenting the information we found on our topic. Not only did we all take time to meet up but we all helped each other add information to the areas we were presenting but also helped each other pick the most important information so our presentation was direct and to the point. I think we all contributed equally so I would rate myself and the other group members at an 8.

 http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Gr-Int/Group-Dynamics.html

I am very happy with our group. We all get along so well and are able to discuss assignments and come to an overall conclusion very easily. As of right now I would not vote anyone out of our group. I also do not think that we need anyone else added to our group. We work very well together compliment each others work well, so I am pleased with how our group is and would not change it at all.

A.  Showing up :  10
B.  Doing your fair share : 10
C.  Being on time : 9
D.  Responding timely to email and communicating effectively with other members : 8
E.  Handling conflict among group members : 10
F.  Being present in the group -- not distracted by outside cell phone calls or text messages when the group is meeting. : 9

Five Rules for Having an Effective Group:
1)  Communicate effectively
2)  Enjoy each others company
3)  Be open to each others ideas
4)  Take time to meet up collaborate information
5)  Respond quickly to each other

Midterm Reflection Overview

1.  In your group were there people who did more than their fair share, and those who did less?  How did that affect your group's performance?  Where would you put your own contribution, among the most or among the least?  On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, please rate your performance compared to the others in the group (5 would be the average contributor).
         I know that everyone in my group performed spectacular during our presentation. There was little to no problems communicating our presentation to the class. Days before our presentation we had met at a local location to discuss further details of our project, and anything not taken care of then was taken care of through electronic mailing. I would rate my work an 8. I think I did better than I thought I would, but when reading my speech I never looked up from the paper to make eye contact with the class. I also read my paper quicker than I anticipated and I don't think I filled my portion of the time given to each speech even if the time was made up for with questions from the class.

2. If I was given the ability and the choice to remove someone from the social issues group I would not have anyone removed. I think that we all carry our weight and responsibilities, and I am glad to have picked this group as my group.

3.  How important were basic workplace rules in your group?  Rate on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, how important they were the following:

A.  Showing up - 10
B.  Doing your fair share - 10
C.  Being on time - 9
D.  Responding timely to email and communicating effectively with other members - 8
E.  Handling conflict among group members - 9 There has been very little conflict.
F.  Being present in the group -- not distracted by outside cell phone calls or text messages when the group is meeting. - 10 Although our group has used their cell phones we agreed upon the use as long as it does not interfere with group productivity. It has yet to become a problem.

4.  Please come up with Five Rules for Having an Effective Group.
1. Communications
2. Personal Responsiblity
3. Leadership Responsiblity
4. Teamwork Success
5. Respect for others and their ideas

Midterm Reflection

Everyone in our group did their share of the work for the midterm. However, I would like to recognize Zach for keeping us organized by sending reminders emails and arranging for us to meet so we would be prepared as well as other things he has done. I thought we were well organized which made our presentation flow well. I was happy with my performance. I feel I did my best. The rate I would give myself would be a 5 because, I felt we all did our best.  I would not remove a member of our group. I think we work well together. If I could add someone it would be someone who is willing to do their best.

 

The importance of basic workplace rules in our group:

Showing up - 10

Doing your fair share - 10

Being on time - 10

Handling conflict - 8

Being present in the group - 10

 

5 rules for having an effective group:

 1) Respect others

 2) Communication

 3) Listening

 4) Participation

 5) Be on time

Midterm Reflection

I think that my group spread out the work evenly. I also think we did very well with our presentation. We had organized things well so it worked outn nicely. I honestly think everyone in my group did a great job and we all did an equal amount of work. I would probably rate my performance as an 8. We all did our own research on the specific subjects that we wanted to talk about.
I wouldn't remove any of our group members right now. I think that our group as a good flow to it and we seem to be working really well together. Everyone was able to set aside time to meet out of class and that shows dedication.
Workplace Rules
A. Showing up - 10
B. Doing your fair share - 10
C. Being on time - 9
D. Responding timely to email and communicating effectively with other members - 10
E. Handling conflict among group members - 10, althought there wasn't really any conflict.
F. Being present in the group -- not distracted by outside cell phone calls or text messages when the group is meeting - 8. Some of us still used our phones when we met, but we all focused on what had to get done. It wasn't like anyone took a phone call and ignored what was going on in the group. I know that the project was really important to all of us and that showed.

5 Rules for an Effective Group-
1. Respect and communication giving everyone a chance to have input.
2. Responding to emails and keeping contact outside of class.
3. Everyone needs to be willing to do their own part, and be willing to meet as much as needed.
4. Working together and staying focused on the issue at hand.
5. Having fun and getting along. If you look at the project like a chore, it gets boring! But if your able to have fun and get things done at the same time, it makes it an enjoyable time!

http://www.peernetbc.com/category/group-dynamics

Reflection

http://www.polyu.edu.hk/learn-to-learn/student/html/GroupProject/basicElements.htm

1.  In your group were there people who did more than their fair share, and those who did less?  How did that affect your group's performance?  Where would you put your own contribution, among the most or among the least?  On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, please rate your performance compared to the others in the group (5 would be the average contributor).

Our group was able to meet up over the break and discuss what work we needed to work on and what was working so I believe we all contributed the same. We all had a good amount to say and our presentation went very smoothly. I would rate my contribution an 8.

2.  If you could, would you remove a member from your group at this point?  If you could add someone, what would be his or her characteristics that would add to the ability of your group to do its job?  No need to name names.

I enjoy working with my group so no I would not add or remove a member. Everyone in my group has really good thoughts and insights so I think were good.

3.  How important were basic workplace rules in your group?  Rate on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, how important the were the following:

A.  Showing up - 10

B.  Doing your fair share - 10

C.  Being on time – 10

D.  Responding timely to email and communicating effectively with other members - 8

E.  Handling conflict among group members – 10

F.  Being present in the group -- not distracted by outside cell phone calls or text messages when the group is meeting. – 9

4.  Please come up with Five Rules for Having an Effective Group.

1) Communication is key

2) Resolve conflicts quickly and fairly

3) Assign members of the group primary areas of responsibility

4) Have group meetings along the way to check your progress

5) Listen to each others thoughts

Article 3 Human Trafficking & the world.

Countries that are under-developed are a common place where Human Trafficking starts. These people are more vulnerable due to the lack of development of their country, laws, rights, and enforcement. They are then smuggled into places that have a higher demand for whatever future purpose they may be used for. Places that have high demand are commonly Asia, Russia, and America. However that is not to say that people are not being trafficked to or from these larger countries. There is not a country on this earth that has not had a citizen trafficked.

International Human Trafficking has its perks to criminal organizations over those involved in domestic human trafficking. For instance a citizen of the United States is kidnapped, sold, and relocated to another part of the United States. This victim will have a better chance of survival because they are still within their country, they know the language and perhaps even landmarks they can use to help their escape. However say when a victim is moved from Asia to Russia the chance of escape is less likely due to many factors. The victim doesn’t likely know the Russian language, and will make communication near impossible and will have a huge mental impact. The victim will be afraid of law enforcement because of not knowing how the foreign nation deals with persons involved in prostitution. Should the person be rescued and returned to their country of origin they could be ridiculed, and classified as an outcast for their role in prostitution.

Human Trafficking brings in several global threats:
First of all when persons are being transported from one country to the next the integrity of borders and border control is being contested. Whether or not illegal immigrants are being stopped at border checkpoints does not stop a person entering the country under false pretenses. Many Human Traffickers will gain the victim afflicted with poverties consent when in their country of origin. Offer them a polished dream. A job working as a waiter, model, or dancer, and enter a country on a work visa. But once inside their liberties are stripped away, passports taken, beaten and abused or controlled under the affects of drugs.

The next is the world wide spread of STDs such as AIDS, Chlamydia, Gonnorrhea, and Syphilis. Persons that have been trafficked and sold into sexual slavery are at a greater risk to receive some form of STD in their short life time. In some cases when a sexual slave is given an STD they will be killed. But for those that aren’t they contribute to the global spread of diseases. A slave is also likely to not remain in one permanent location. They will be transported from country to country until they are no longer deemed an asset. The STDs this victim involuntarily spreads will usually make their way into households, spread from spouse to spouse, spouse to neighbor, neighbor to student depending on the factors at play.

The last of these three are the threats to national and international populations through the use of revenue from Human Trafficking to fund criminal activities such as terrorism. The suicide vest provided to the man that plans to blow up Blue Bull Casino could have been funded by a United States business man who cheated on his spouse with an enslaved woman.

Article 2 Human Trafficking in California

Human Trafficking is a worldwide problem but it is also an ongoing problem here in California. California is actually the top destination for human trafficking. Sharing a border with Mexico is a big contributor to our local human trafficking problems. In 2005 California enacted its very first anti-trafficking law which finally made the crime a felony. The people of California have enacted a proposition (Prop 35) which makes people who are convicted of these crimes register as sex offenders. Which means they have to not only register with their names and addresses but also register their online screen names, internet service providers, and e-mail service with the local law enforcement. It also requires them to let law enforcement know when they leave any types of comments or blogs online. The prop also increases fines and prison sentences for these human trafficking convictions. Prop 35 is being debated currently as to whether it is violating the sex offender’s 1^st amendment rights.  

Recently, here in Eldorado County, we had someone from our community end up a victim of human trafficking. I personally went to school with this girl and it was a big shock to me when I read that she was missing. Apparently she was approached outside of a drug treatment center. She had been on drugs and going through a lot dealing with the losses of two of her best friends. She was at an all-time low in her life when she was contacted. These people promised her many things for her services. Once she was in they did not let her stay in contact with her family or friends and seemed as if she had dropped off the face of the earth to the outside world. Her family was missing her, looking everywhere they could think of. Her mother finally found an organization whom helped her find her daughter. She has now been rescued from the horrible situation and hopefully on the way to recovery. She has a young daughter and hopefully soon she will be able to get back in her life once she is able to put this terrible incident behind her.

Human trafficking is not only happening here in California but also here in our little community. I think we all need to be aware of how close to home this is and that this is affecting all of our right to live. These people running these rings will do anything to control the victims. They pump them full of drugs, force them to do heinous things, starve them, and make them truly believe they can never leave. They even make them feel like they will be in trouble if they personally reach out for help

There was also a case recently in Long Beach, California for which two men were arrested. They would use sites for up and coming models to recruit women along with propositioning them to be a part of an upscale escort service. The two men would even get romantically involved with some of the women and force them into prostitution. They offered financial help for their families, immigration status, and many other things under false pretenses. They were all secluded from their friends and families to guarantee as much control as possible from the men.

There has been so many cases over the years all over the world but countless here in California. People are being not only forced into prostitution but also for labor. Forced labor is actually a lot more common than prostitution. This next case is about a women (Matul) who was brought to California from another country, under false pretenses about a full time nanny position. When she got here she was stripped of all her personal belongings, physically and verbally abused, and forced to do housework 18 plus hours a day. Matul was terrified to come out and try and leave this horrible situation. Until finally when she decided to reach out to the neighbors nanny who ended up helping her escape. Finally the women that had been doing this to her was charged and Matul was free. This is a quote from the victim Matul, reaching out to others that may be in a similar situation and lending her words of wisdom. "Don't be afraid to come out, because I was afraid, I was afraid that nobody out there could help me," said Matul. "I didn't know, I was afraid, so if you are still in that situation, don't be afraid. There's still hope for your life."

Article 5 The Effects of Human Trafficking

 

Everybody has the right to life, at least that's what is stated in our constitution. What happens to those people who's rights and freedom are stricken from them and they are hidden away from society and treated worse than animals? For victims of human trafficking, the only right they have is to silently obey or suffer the consequences. There is no question on whether these victims have the right to life or not. They do not. Period. Human trafficking deprives people of their human rights and freedom. They are taken, abused, ignored and become just another face in the crowd, when everything in their appearence screams "help me". Human trafficking affects everything and everyone, around the world. It is your next door neighbor. Innocent lives are being taken away everyday.

 Trafficking goes beyond the victims and is carried around the world. Human trafficking spreads disease and illness all around the world. Victims are made to have sex with upwards of 30 people a day. Many victims get sexually transmissted diseases and then pass it on to the next person. It is a vicious cycle causing a global health risk. Human trafficking feuls organized crime and makes more money than the drug trade. It is passed along border to border and is here right in our home country. In 46% of the cases of human trafficking the victim knew the recruiter. Is anyone really safe from human trafficking? It is a danger that all people should be aware of, and cautious about. People need to be careful who they put themselves around, because like it said, nearly half of all cases, the recruiter knew the victim.

The victims of human trafficking have to deal with the emotional, physical and psychological effects of it for the rest of their lives. These victims suffer all types of abuse from emtional to sexual, physcial to psychological and then deal with living in fear for years to come. Raids as an anti-sex trafficking meauser also severly impact sex trafficked victims. Victims may experience physical violence from law enforcment during raids. The victim then has to deal with emotional trauma from confusion and fear. Law enforcement are supposed to help the victims but sometimes things go wrong and victims are seen as the captors. This makes vitims hide from law enforcement and not trust them when they say their there to help. Once a victim is taken it is almost impossible to escape that captivity they are held in. Many women struggle with drug and alcohol addiction during and after they are in the trafficking ring. The are so physcially abuse that they end up with broken bones, brain injuries, burns and unconciousness. Many women become pregnant while they are in the trafficking ring and miscarry the baby from all of the abuse or are forced to get an abortion. It takes most women months, even years, to get over a miscarry or the guilt of an abortion even if they are not victims of trafficking. For a woman who had no choice in anything that she has to do with her body, this guilt and pain will last a lifetime. The victims will be dealing with psychological effects forever. They experience mind and body seperation, they have to live with shame, guilt, fear, distrust, self hatred, and post-tramatic stress disorder. PTSD causes anxiety, depression, insomnia, self loathing and more.

Try taking a person who is dealing with all of this, and putting them right back in society and asking them live a normal life, as if none of it has happened. That is what happens to many of the victims of human trafficking. There are starting to be more and more safe houses were women go to after they are saved, and are taken care of, given counseling and as much support and help that they can get. However, living with these serious psychological effects can destroy someone's life, and they may never fully recover.

The link below is just one of the stories of human trafficking and how it works. Traffickers tend to seduce young women or children that have a troubled home life and offer to make it better. Once the offer is accepted, the victim has a hard time escaping from their grasp. 

http://www.polarisproject.org/what-we-do/client-services/survivor-stories/352-brittany--escort-service-sex-trafficking

Article 4 Laws on Human Trafficking

America has seen an increase in the rate of human trafficking over the years. Due to the protection of American citizens right to live, many laws have been enacted towards human trafficking. There have also been plenty of assembly bills that have been talked about but the laws that have been enacted are ones that will protect us citizens. The California legislation, specifically, has focused on criminalizing sex and labor trafficking, encouraging training for peace officers on human trafficking, providing financial assistance to victims, and much more.

Recent legislative actions fall into four categories:

(1) penalty provisions catagory

Abolition of Child Commerce, Exploitation and Sexual Slavery Act of 2011 – Enacted July 11, 2011

This act requires individuals convicted of procuring sexual services from a minor prostitute to pay an additional fine (up to $25,000) to fund programs for sexually exploited children.

Assembly Bill 17 Amendments to the California Control of Profits of Organized Crime Act – Enacted October 11, 2009

Increases the maximum amount of additional authorized fines to $20,000 for any person convicted of procuring a child under 16 years of age.

(2) in the asset forfeiture category;

Senate Bill 1133 – Enacted September 24, 2012        

Expands the scope of property subject to forfeiture in human trafficking cases and provides a formula to redirect those resources to community groups that aid victims of human trafficking. 

Assembly Bill 90– Enacted October 4, 2011    

   Expands the definition of criminal profiteering to include abduction or procurement by fraudulent inducement for prostitution.                                   

(one more law in that category.)

(3) civil nuisance catagory

Assembly Bill 2212– Enacted September 7, 2012  

Expands red light abatement law to include instances of human trafficking.       

Senate Bill 677 – Enacted September 30, 2010                      

Authorizes real property used to facilitate acts of human trafficking to be declared and treated as a nuisance, allowing the property to be seized.

(4) Victim Resources Catagory

Assembly Bill 1956 – Enacted September 29, 2012 

Expands the California Voluntary Tattoo Removal Program to serve individuals, between 14 and 24, who were tattooed for identification in human trafficking or prostitution.        

Senate Bill 1193 – Enacted September 24, 2012 

Requires businesses, transit hubs, and other locations that are most likely sites of sex and labor trafficking to post notices publicizing human trafficking resources.                                                                                                      And there are three more laws in that category as well.

For police training…

The Human Trafficking Collaboration and Training Act– Enacted January 1, 2006

This act required the Commission on “POST” (Peace Officer Standards and Training) to establish a training course and guidelines for law enforcement in responding to human trafficking. POST produced a 2-hour training DVD and curriculum and recently updated it for distribution to all California law enforcement agencies.

The number of federal prosecutions against traffickers has increased significantly since the passage of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 – allowing the federal government to better prosecute traffickers and protect victims. Though trafficking is extremely illegal the fact that people’s freedom is being taken from them is the biggest problem our citizens face. Violating a human’s right to live is by far the worst part about human trafficking and makes us all feel that even though we have the government and we are “protected” no body is safe in this world.