Mexico relations with Canada

Mexico is angry that Canada refused to lift a visa requirement for all visitors from Mexico to start a movement in "false-refugee claims". However, Mexico and Canada's beef goes back, way before the visa issue. When Canada did was hesitant to sign the NAFTA, and joined to protect the access to the trade market of America. Canada has always chosen to secure deals with the US and leave Mexico as it's redheaded stepbrother in the family of North America. It seems that Mexico and Canada have always been competing for affection from the US ever since. The Mexican ambassador to Canada however, has described relations between the two countries as having "post-NAFTA old age with flaws, limitations and increasing wrinkles". 

In 2011 there was a survey conducted in Canada regarding attitudes toward Latin America. A whopping 48% had negative views of Mexico. There were only 16% of respondents who believed that Mexico was vitally important to Canada! When they were asked the same questions about the US, 70% believes the US is vitally important to their country. 

Shows what kind of light Mexico is under for the Canadians!

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Ch. 8 India

Just like their former colonial masters, India's political power is vested in the hands of a Prime Minister. Jawaharlal Nehru, the reason why India's PM position is so powerful, should have set a great example for the future PM's and other ministers. However, in the news article I found, it is said that Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar is accused of vote-rigging! He asked supporters to vote twice for his party in elections which are to start in April. Urging the voters to wash off the ink which would be marked on their fingers after voting was probably not the smartest idea although he claims he was only joking. This just gave his opponents fuel! Now Minister Pawar is being slammed with comments that his actions were a "blatant contravention" of Election commission's code of conduct. Although his party reps backed him up in stating he was not serious about his comments, the Agriculture Minister is now given a deadline to explain himself, and is found to be in violation by the Election commission themselves.

I guess people need to think before they speak!

the link to this story

                                            "WELL I THOUGHT IT WAS FUNNY."

China becoming more Urban!

According to Roskin, every year there are about 13 to 21 million rural Chinese who move to cities for work. Historically 90% of the population live in the countryside and it seems that this number will continue to decrease. On March 16th 2014, the proportion of permanent urban residents of China's entire population is going to hit a whopping 60% by the year of 2020. (This info is in accordance to an unveiled urbanization plan by the central government) 

This ratio is comparable to developing countries with similar per capita income levels as China. Apparently, urban household registration in itself will incase to 45% in 2020, which will be a 10.7% increase from 2013. This means about 100 million migrants will settle in the urban areas! Something to keep in mind: many of China's best entrepreneurs actually fled from rural poverty for urban opportunities. 

Who cares about the hukou now?! 

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