The American presidential race

OK, you want to talk about the American presidential race. I should probably point out something I forgot to in class. There is apparently no standard way to say "executive president" in Japanese to distinguish it from a ceremonial president, and each political science textbook translates it in its own way. But Japanese doesn't need any standard term for "executive president" or "ceremonial president" either, since there is no president at all in Japan. The African language I studied in graduate school, Hausa, does have standard ways to say them, because Nigeria has had both systems.

We went over some of the background information you need to know, like the Electoral College, today in class. You also need to know the policy positions of the candidates and other information about the race. Barack Obama's official website's location is easy to find, John McCain's is likewise. They both use their full names as the website URL. There is also a non-partisan site with information about all contenders and generally more information than you would want to know. It even has a student center to help students around the world understand the election.

We get thousands of requests from students across the world requesting information on Presidential Elections and Non Partisan Political Information every year.

This particular election seems to be the first YouTube election. I also recommend that you visit Barack Obama's YouTube channel, as well as John McCain's. The Democrats handled YouTube better in 2006, and it was definitely a factor in their winning the Congressional elections. Senator George Allen made a racial slur at a campaign worker for his rival, Jim Webb. The Webb campaign put it on YouTube and Jim Webb is now the Senator from Virginia. Look for more "Macaca moments" on YouTube this year. Speaking of which, I can't resist showing you McCain's plans, together with a response. Americans like political humor, and expect their politicians to have good senses of humor. Jack Kennedy and Ronald Reagan were both popular for their senses of humor. Lincoln's humor was legendary, and many of his jokes are famous.

Article 9 and UN peacekeeping

Regarding our discussion about Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, Wikipedia has an article about it, with text in English and Japanese, including historical background and information about the different ways it can be interpreted.

Advanced English class blog

Hi!! everyone!! I'm yuki.
I'm sorry that I'm late for writing about ODA to China.

I support to ODA　to China.
There are three reasons why I support to ODA to China.
First, I mention that environmental problem.
China is rapid developing. More and more industrialization advance, while environmental destruction is getting serious. Japan has high technique more than China. China has big territory and people, so environmental problem is too difficult to solve China itself. In addition, Japan locates near China. Japan can't help seeing silently such condition. This problem is worldwide problem not only China. Nation include Japan consider about own national interest. Help to China is connecting with profit. Therefore, Japan should help China though ODA.

Second, I mention that gap problem. On one hand Coast is rich, on the other hand inland is poverty.

Finally, I mention that bad image about Japan. During war Japan invades China. Many people were killed by Japanese. ODA to China is one of resource image up about Japan. At first, the purpose of ODA to China is reward that China was abandoned compensation right. But now the more globalization is spread, the more relationship between China and Japan will notice. So image up about Japan is very important.

Now I write my opinion about ODA to China.

I disagree with continuing ODA to China.
First of all, the freeway of China has miritary fuction.
It is used to transport arms and armies.
And not only transportation, one freeway can use as the runway of bomber and its parking area can use as entrance of helicopter of miritary.
Constraction of these freeway is spent Japanese ODA.
ODA is not to reinforcement miritary power.
Second, China helps Ghana, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and so on.
The country of being able to help others doesn't need Japanese ODA.
Third, China makes rapid economic growth, about 10% per a year.
In 2006, GDP was round 2000dollars a person.
And China is second position of keeping foreign currency in the world.
Fourth, ODA budget is deacreasing every year in Japan and
non-supporters of ODA are increasing.
One of the cause is not to clear how to use ODA.
So I think China doesn't need Japanese ODA,
and Japan should help Africa more and more.