My website will be moving to it's permanent location at www.mikepricewrites.com soon, until then please view it at its temporary space.
Sorry for the convenience, and thanks for viewing my work!
MP
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Philadelphia Neighborhoods--Ludlow
My education at Temple was recently capped by my completion of the journalism department's M.U.R.L. program, which assigns students to work as multimedia journalists responsible for creating content for the Philadelphia Neighborhoods online news-site.
Below are links to articles published during my time there, as well as links to related photo collections.
Philadelphia Neighborhoods--Ludlow
Church Helps Battle Addiction
Youth Baseball Brings the Community Together
Philadelphia Neighborhoods--Ludlow SU09 Photo Collection
Below are links to articles published during my time there, as well as links to related photo collections.
Philadelphia Neighborhoods--Ludlow
Church Helps Battle Addiction
Youth Baseball Brings the Community Together
Philadelphia Neighborhoods--Ludlow SU09 Photo Collection
Clipbook. Downingtown and Coatesville Ledgers, Summer 2007
In the summer of 2007 I interned as a staff writer for the Downingtown and Coatesville Ledger, separate community weeklies published in Chester County. While at the Ledgers, I was responsible for the coverage of local government and public affairs. Please click here to view the full collection of my printed works from the Ledger and the Temple News, or visit www.mikepricewrites.com to view my complete portfolio including links to my full photography collection.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
After 200 year lull, pirates seize US ship
Those pesky Somali pirates have struck again, and this time its personal.
Pirates seized a US ship in the dangerous waters off the Somalian coast this week in a recent wave of hijackings that involved at least six ships. It is reportedly the first time in 200 years a vessel was hijacked while flying the American flag.
While the Somali pirates are far from the beloved swashbucklers of historical lore, it is almost refreshing to see that in a modern world facing complex problems like financial crisis and open-ended military occupations, you still have to worry about good old-fashioned piracy.
BBC Story-http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7990566.stm
Friday, January 9, 2009
Gaza: Two rights make a wrong.
As the latest conflict in Gaza nears the end of its second week, it is becoming clear that neither Israel or Hamas is any closer to achieving their ultimate goals, even as both sides continuously claim personal victory.
With Israeli air-power and ground forces laying siege to Gaza since late December, it seems the regional superpower is dangerously close to repeating the same mistakes it made in Lebanon during its 2006 war with Hezbollah. Hamas, despite being pounded continuously for the better part of two weeks, seems to have achieved one of its apparent objectives in this conflict that both sides seem to have been preparing for for many months.
Once again, as in 2006, Israeli ground forces are beginning the deadly and destructive task of entering Hamas territory on foot, exposing soldiers to deadly street-to-street, house-to-house urban combat. As seen before, this type of conflict has taken its heaviest toll on Gaza's civilian population.
While there is at least mild consensus internationally that Israel was provoked and is acting in defense, the small but powerful nation finds itself in what has become the all-too familiar and difficult position of justifying another military operation that has a produced significant amount of civilian casualties.
It is undeniable that Hamas has been responsible for heinous and deplorable acts that are both illegal and unjustifiable, but casual figures from both sides in this conflict are simply too disproportionate to ignore.
In the 14 days since the conflict began, over 800 Palestinians have been killed by air strikes, artillery barrages, Israeli armor and ground forces. In comparison, according to The Economist, Hamas was responsible for five Israeli deaths throughout 2008. Over 400 Palestinians, a fifth of them civilians, were killed by Israeli strikes last year, not counting those killed in the latest conflict.
Both sides have suffered losses, and both sides should be held responsible, but how far must the scale tip before the struggle begins to seem one-sided?
The United Nations lists Hamas as a terrorist organization, and there is no denying that the group has committed terroristic attacks against the Israeli people. But like its Lebanese counterpart Hezbollah, Hamas is also a legitimately elected political force and an established people's movement. Israel cannot hope to achieve ultimate victory through sheer force alone. Instead it must began to address the factors that have given Hamas influence among everyday Palestinians. Israel must consider the possibility that its harsh policies toward Gazans may be contributing to Hamas' popular support.
Many casual observers around the world are largely unaware of the everyday hardships facing Palestinians in Gaza. Closed borders have led to drastic shortages of necessities like fuel and food. Considering the hardships most Gazans face on a daily basis, mostly as a result of Israeli policies, it is not difficult to see how many ordinary Palestinians are driven to extremist groups like Hamas, which allow young Gazans an outlet for their anger against Israel.
In no way is this an endorsement of Hamas' actions, Israel surely has the right to ensure the safety of its people by confronting threats head-on. However the question is whether Israel has the justification for such a powerful and destructive response. It has been reported that Israel had been planning this operation for some months, waiting for the expiration of a six-month cease-fire before commencing the attack.
Depending on what perspective you choose to identify with, both Israel and Hamas are able to point to legitimate grievances as justification for this latest conflict. However these lines of thinking will never lead to a final settlement to this long struggle. Instead, both sides must realize that each is partially right, but both are ultimately wrong. Until both Israelis and Palestinians realize that all must take responsibility for this long and perpetual exchange of violence, peace will remain elusive in the Holy Land.
With Israeli air-power and ground forces laying siege to Gaza since late December, it seems the regional superpower is dangerously close to repeating the same mistakes it made in Lebanon during its 2006 war with Hezbollah. Hamas, despite being pounded continuously for the better part of two weeks, seems to have achieved one of its apparent objectives in this conflict that both sides seem to have been preparing for for many months.
Once again, as in 2006, Israeli ground forces are beginning the deadly and destructive task of entering Hamas territory on foot, exposing soldiers to deadly street-to-street, house-to-house urban combat. As seen before, this type of conflict has taken its heaviest toll on Gaza's civilian population.
While there is at least mild consensus internationally that Israel was provoked and is acting in defense, the small but powerful nation finds itself in what has become the all-too familiar and difficult position of justifying another military operation that has a produced significant amount of civilian casualties.
It is undeniable that Hamas has been responsible for heinous and deplorable acts that are both illegal and unjustifiable, but casual figures from both sides in this conflict are simply too disproportionate to ignore.
In the 14 days since the conflict began, over 800 Palestinians have been killed by air strikes, artillery barrages, Israeli armor and ground forces. In comparison, according to The Economist, Hamas was responsible for five Israeli deaths throughout 2008. Over 400 Palestinians, a fifth of them civilians, were killed by Israeli strikes last year, not counting those killed in the latest conflict.
Both sides have suffered losses, and both sides should be held responsible, but how far must the scale tip before the struggle begins to seem one-sided?
The United Nations lists Hamas as a terrorist organization, and there is no denying that the group has committed terroristic attacks against the Israeli people. But like its Lebanese counterpart Hezbollah, Hamas is also a legitimately elected political force and an established people's movement. Israel cannot hope to achieve ultimate victory through sheer force alone. Instead it must began to address the factors that have given Hamas influence among everyday Palestinians. Israel must consider the possibility that its harsh policies toward Gazans may be contributing to Hamas' popular support.
Many casual observers around the world are largely unaware of the everyday hardships facing Palestinians in Gaza. Closed borders have led to drastic shortages of necessities like fuel and food. Considering the hardships most Gazans face on a daily basis, mostly as a result of Israeli policies, it is not difficult to see how many ordinary Palestinians are driven to extremist groups like Hamas, which allow young Gazans an outlet for their anger against Israel.
In no way is this an endorsement of Hamas' actions, Israel surely has the right to ensure the safety of its people by confronting threats head-on. However the question is whether Israel has the justification for such a powerful and destructive response. It has been reported that Israel had been planning this operation for some months, waiting for the expiration of a six-month cease-fire before commencing the attack.
Depending on what perspective you choose to identify with, both Israel and Hamas are able to point to legitimate grievances as justification for this latest conflict. However these lines of thinking will never lead to a final settlement to this long struggle. Instead, both sides must realize that each is partially right, but both are ultimately wrong. Until both Israelis and Palestinians realize that all must take responsibility for this long and perpetual exchange of violence, peace will remain elusive in the Holy Land.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
