New Folk Restaurant in Hungary

Unit 4: Folk and Popular Culture  

1/13/17

Original article can be found here 

Synopsis:

          Recently, in Budapest, Hungary a restaurant named Urban Betyár had its grand opening. However, this isn’t a traditional restaurant that you would see anywhere in Hungary. Instead, it is unique in that it focuses on the folk food of Hungary. They focus on getting the freshest ingredients, and the best recipes in order to provide natives as well as foreigners with a blast from Hungary’s past. Even the way the restaurant and furniture is set up makes it seem very antique and historic. The restaurant has invested a lot into the aesthetic of the restaurant as well as staff training, and of course the food. In their lower level, they also have a folk culture museum that customers can visit. This is something that no other restaurant has even attempted and it is right in the city. The inspiration behind this idea stems from the viewpoint that Hungarian food is greasy and salty. So, the creator decided to create a restaurant that would go back to the roots and the essence of Hungary itself.

Analysis:

          The newly opened restaurant Urban Betyár, focuses on folk food rather than the popular food that other places offer. The name itself has some historical significance. Betyár is a term used to describe Hungarian outlaws that became famous and had folk songs and ballads dedicated to them. They operated outside of what was traditional, which is what the restaurant is doing. It wants to bring back those things that are so essential to Hungarian history. Urban in the beginning of the name represents that they are in modern times in the middle of the city of Budapest, but then Betyár comes into play with the folk significance. The restaurant works with traditional ingredients. They like to be as authentic as possible and true to Hungarian history, however they still find difficulties because it is not the most accessible. One of their most popular appetizers thus far is an artisan cheese platter. The cheese in that dish comes from an authentic Hungarian artisan cheese monger. Another popular dish is the smoked trout. The trout comes from Szilvásvárad (village in northeastern Hungary) and is fresh. The Hungarian wine has also been pretty popular because most people appreciate how vintage it is and that it is from true suppliers. What this restaurant is doing is risky and unique. Venturing off from the status quo and creating a restaurant like this does not happen too often so it is really interesting to see that people like it. In class we learned that in modern day society folk culture isn’t appreciated as much as it used to be, and is often dismissed among the general public. Therefore, this is why it is nice to see this restaurant at the heart of the capital of Hungary. People who have visited have said that the whole atmosphere of the place takes you back to the roots of the country. The folk culture museum in the lower level is especially important as well because this restaurant is giving people a chance to learn. They have a woman’s room where there are items associated with women back then like spindles. They have a traditional “tiszta szoba” which translates to clean room and is representative of the nicest room in a traditional Hungarian peasant house. There are interactive displays all throughout the museum so that people can listen to stories related to the artifacts in front of them. There are writings in both original Hungarian and translations so that people can get a deeper look into the culture. Overall, what this restaurant is doing by exposing people to the folk culture of Hungary is incredibly unique and truly amazing. It keeps the culture alive and stops it from dying forever. By continuing to share these things from the culture, it ensures its diffusion and stops its disappearance.

Decreasing Folk Traditions in Japan

Unit 4: Folk and Popular Culture  

1/6/17

Original article can be found here 

Synopsis:

          Folk culture is found all over the world in different forms. In Japan, the population celebrates its old traditions by throwing festivals and having events. However, recently the number of these events have decreased. People don’t seem to appreciate these celebrations as much as they used to because the new generation isn’t accustomed to them. Over time these traditions are being shared less and enjoyed by a smaller amount of people. Recently, sixty traditional festivals have been terminated due to the aging population and the decline of the number of people in rural communities. Not only are the traditions not being passed because of a lack of people, but in other areas of Japan the population isn’t even interested in learning about them. Overall, folk culture in Japan is not being maintained as well as used to be.

Analysis:

          Folk traditions in Japan have been decreasing because of a variety of factors. First of all, the younger population just doesn’t appreciate the old traditions as much as the generation before them did. According to the Cultural Affairs Agency, 6,264 events are in a suspended state all across the country. Some specific events that have been discontinued include Kagura which is a Shinto music and dance in the city of Shiroi. Additionally, Shishimai, a lion dance has also been discontinued. The problem is especially more prevalent in rural areas because of the population that is dying off. There aren’t enough people to keep these traditions alive. Many residents across Japan have expressed their feelings of sadness at the end of these traditions but they feel like there is nothing they can do. However, some communities have taken the steps to keep these traditions alive in other parts of Japan by teaching children in school about them at a young age and instilling in them this important part of Japanese culture. Since folk culture spreads very slowly compared to popular culture it is sometimes difficult to continue spreading it. It essentially diffuses from one generation to the next but in the case of the Japanese, the next generation is not receptive to receiving it. Folk culture comes from anonymous hearths so it is important to keep it alive since it can’t be traced back to its original source. If the Japanese do not continue to spread their traditions they will eventually disappear forever. We talked in class about how folk culture is harder to maintain and preserve than popular culture. Therefore, with no one taking these Japanese traditions with them when they relocate, the culture of the separate communities in Japan will not be recorded anywhere and will therefore cease to exist. Overall, if nothing is done about the decrease of folk festivals in Japan the distinctive cultures and traditions of the country will not be preserved. 

Internal Migration in Mexico

Unit 3: Migration

12/16/16

Original article can be found here

Synopsis:

          Many people think that Mexicans only migrate to the US. However, this is just based on what they see on the news and is not really true. Many Mexicans choose to migrate internally rather than internationally to the US. Emigration has actually been declining from Mexico yet the media has only been focusing on the statistics of those coming into the US rather than the increase of the ones who are not. Mexicans do not always find the hassle of moving to the US worth the trouble anymore but they feel like they don’t have any other option. However, recently they have been choosing to migrate internally to more prosperous areas of Mexico. Additionally, since 2009 more than 1 million native-born Mexicans living in the US returned to Mexico. This shows that conditions in Mexico are not the same as the used to be in the 1980’s and 1990’s and that people are now choosing to stay. These changes aren’t really due to more border control but rather due to changing conditions in Mexico and growing opportunities.

Analysis:

          Mexican emigration to the US has begun to decrease in recent years. Instead of internationally migrating more and more people are choosing to look for work and opportunity in other parts of the country. It is much easier to stay in the same country with the same culture and traditions rather than moving to somewhere completely different. Therefore, the consensus is that if people can prevent having to cross the border they would. In the region of Oaxaca in Mexico, internal migration has always existed. A lot of people in that area have found work as itinerant vendors traveling throughout the country and working on coastal plantations during the harvest season. Increasingly, more people have tried to find work within Mexico rather than resorting to migrating to the US. People have started inventing new jobs and it has worked out pretty well. Mexico City has also been on the receiving end of a lot of emigration from the rest of the country. Although it is true that moving to the US would earn people higher wages, migrating within Mexico has been a good alternative and has been improving the country’s economy. People are also okay with lower wages as long as they get to keep their traditions. In my opinion if this immigration is encouraged more it could potentially solve everyone’s problems. It will continue to decrease immigration to the US, which has been very controversial, and will help Mexico as well. The issue of Mexican emigration has been all over the news and has caused a lot of controversy. President-Elect Trump’s whole campaign was based on building a wall between Mexico and the US, however it is important to look into other solutions first before resorting to that. Mexican immigration to the US has already been decreasing (since 2009 1 million Mexicans have left) and in order to keep it that way internal migration should be further encouraged. Right now six million Mexicans are moving within the nation’s borders. Many of these emigrants don’t want to move to a different country anyway, they just want a better life. As we talked about in the class, the biggest pull factor for emigrants is economic. People just want to find a job to support their families and most likely don’t want to change their culture. Therefore, finding opportunities within the country is the right way to go about the issue.

Understanding Unauthorized Immigration

Unit 3: Migration

12/9/16

Original article can be found here 

Synopsis:

          Unauthorized immigration has grown throughout the years. People are migrating more and more throughout the world without legal documentation. This keeps occurring even with the preventive methods of walls, fences, barriers, guards, and patrol ships so it is important to know why. The dynamics of most unauthorized immigrants is the same even though they come from different countries. Most people dismiss the notion of understanding unauthorized immigrants but it is essential in order to try to find a solution that benefits everyone. Being narrow-minded about these immigrants won’t result in anything. Hundreds of thousands of lives are lost in failed attempts at migration so it is an important issue that people need to understand. The global pattern shows that people move from developing countries to developed countries because their home countries can no longer provide for them. This root problem needs to be solved or else the problem of unauthorized immigration is going to continue on.

Analysis:

          Most people are concerned with stopping unauthorized immigration but they don’t take the time to stop and understand it first. Excluding refugees who are more than 21 million people, there are another 50 million unauthorized migrants. The countries with the largest numbers are the US with 11 million, India with another 10 million, and the Russian Federation at 4 million. On the news a lot, especially in the US, unauthorized immigration is a focus of a lot of political parties. For example, President-Elect Donald Trump’s campaign revolved around building a wall between Mexico and the US to block out these unauthorized immigrants. Everyone talks about it but no one seems to want to resolve the problem by understanding it first. A common way people become unauthorized immigrants is by overstaying their visa. Additionally, based on a recent international survey the number of people who express a desire to immigrate to another country is estimated to be around 1.3 billion. This number shows that people all over the world are not happy with where they live and everyone as a whole should work to solve this. The people wishing to migrate don’t have a legal way to move so they resort to doing so illegally. In class we talked about reasons why people might want to migrate called push and pull factors. Unauthorized immigrants are pushed by high unemployment, low wages, difficult living conditions, separated families, poor governance, human rights abuses, and limited prospects and they are pulled by the opposites. Essentially it is a combination of political, environmental, and economic factors that contribute to their decision. The economic success of the countries they wish to migrate to gives them hope. This corresponds with Ravenstein’s law that “long-distance migrants to other countries head for major centers of economic activity”. They feel like even with the risks of unauthorized immigration it would still be better than their current situation. This shows that even with countries doing so well with a good standard of life, other countries struggle to provide food, shelter, and a good life for their population. It is important to try to help these countries instead of just banning and trying to prevent unauthorized immigration because these methods do not seem to be working. As long as there are unlivable conditions in some countries, people will try to do anything so that they can get a better life. They will risk their lives and travel far to these lands in order to live a better life. The governments of the successful or stage 4 countries need to fix the root cause of unauthorized immigration first rather than simply “building a wall”. Unauthorized immigrants will always find a way unless their home situations are better which is what everyone should work towards. 

Britain’s Focus on Net Migration

Unit 3: Migration

12/2/16

Original article can be found here

Synopsis:

            Britain is currently actively working to reduce their net-migration. This movement has increased ever since David Cameron pledged to reduce it back in 2010 and has received more attention than ever before. Migration is an issue showing up in all of Britain’s politics and media. The goal for the government was to decrease the net migration to be below 100,000 however now it is more than three times as much as that at 327,000 people. Britain however, is the only country in Europe with an official maximum net migration target, and seems to be the most concerned with it. Net migration has been even higher than statistics predicted which is frustrating for the government. However, it still has a lower people to migrant ratio compared to the other European countries. Other countries have recognized how essential immigrants are to their country and economy. Nonetheless, Britain continues to work hard to try to decrease these rates and regards immigration as a huge problem.

Analysis:

          Britain has put a lot of focus on dealing with their migration problem. Their net migration is much more than what they want it to be. Their numbers don’t differ too much from the rest of Europe and are in fact a bit lower but to them it is a bigger issue. Britain has a 6.1 per 1000 people migrant ratio which isn’t that high compared to other countries. For example, in Germany it is 14.1, in Sweden 8.1, and in Luxembourg 19.6. These countries haven’t made controlling migration as much of a priority as Britain has even though their problem is seemingly bigger. They have recognized that immigration is essential for a successful economy and country as we have learned in class. However, in Britain strong public pressure has made the government implement new immigration policies. Currently the international immigrants are coming from four main groups. First, it is from British citizens moving out and into the country. The next group is the people from the European Economic Area (EFA) that they legally can’t limit. The third category is students and skilled professionals on work visas. The majority of migrants are in this category and are helpful to the country. The students provide financial contributions to Britain and the skilled professionals fill vital gaps in the labor market so it wouldn’t make sense to limit them. The fourth category is asylum seekers. These people are only a fraction of the migrants and have come as refugees because of bad conditions in their own countries. They have increased due to the recent issues in the Middle East as well as other places as we learned in class. This type of migration is sometimes voluntary and sometimes forced. However, they are legally protected by the International Human Rights norms so Britain can’t do too much about it. Therefore, Britain has to find some other way to decrease migration because doing so in these four categories wouldn’t make sense. Some say that the Brexit can help lower the rates though however that is falsely so. The push and pull factors that influence migratory flow are beyond legislative control and policies. There isn’t much a government can do about migration without hurting its economy because migrant workers are at the core of any successful country. For Britain however net migration might actually decrease after the Brexit but only because it will no longer be desirable to foreign and domestic workers and could actually end up hurting the country. Overall, Britain is very focused on reducing net-migration rates but I think there are better ways and things to work on to make the country more successful. 

The Emigration Problem in Lithuania

Unit 3: Migration

11/18/16

Original article link can be found here

Synopsis:

           The country of Lithuania is the opposite of the rest of the world on its issue of emigration and immigration. Right now, it is most concerned with its rising emigration rates rather than immigration ones. Most of what you see on the news is countries worried about how many people they have coming into their country and their fear of terrorism, however, that is not the case with Lithuania. Its population has been steadily declining since 2000 and the government is now focusing on turning that around. A declining population as such has a huge effect on the economy and how the country functions as a whole. The country is projected to shrink by another 40% between now and 2080 if nothing is done about the problem. Lithuania needs to find a way to promote staying in the country and a way to get people to want to move there. Overall, this is a unique problem that not a lot of countries have.

Analysis:

          Lithuania is a country in Europe that currently has a problem with emigration. Too many people are leaving the country and its population is declining rapidly with each year. The growing concern right now is that the population is starting to consist of more of the elderly and not enough young people of working age to support the population. They are starting to have a higher dependency ratio which puts pressure on the people who do work.  A recent survey showed that people in Lithuania have less of an authoritarian populist view than other countries like Germany, UK, and France. As a result, there was a recent surprise in Lithuania’s parliamentary election. The Lithuanian Peasant and Greens Union party, which is founded by farmers, unexpectedly won the most seats in the parliament against all the other more popular parties. They took 54 out of the 141 seats which is more than the other parties. Prior to this election, this party only had one seat. Therefore, jumping from one seat to 54 shows that there is a lot of change happening in the country. This party campaigned on the fact that they can help stop emigration and keep people in. Since 2000, the country has been shrinking at a rapid rate and holds the title for the fastest decline in population in the EU. One reason for the mass emigration is Lithuania’s low wages. Also, most people move to other places in Europe due to the easiness of travel in the EU. Lithuania joined it in 2004 and since then its population has dropped by 500,000 because of the ability to travel freely within the countries in the union. All of the country itself is just three million people so half a million is a significant number. Right now Lithuania has a negative net-migration because more people are leaving than coming in. It is really struggling to support its shrinking and aging population and its prospects are even less compelling for young people because it seemingly has no opportunities. Currently, the country is projected to shrink by another 40% from now until 2080. Overall, this is very alarming for Lithuania and maybe with their new elected officials in the parliament they will be able to help solve the emigration problem.

Health in Africa

Unit 2: Population and Health

11/4/16

Original article can be found here

Synopsis:

          Currently, life in Africa is not the same as it used to be. Health has especially changed in the past hundred+ years. The diseases that used to do the most damage are not doing so now. This is because Sub-Saharan Africa is actually undergoing an epidemiological transition. So as the continent development increases, the most dangerous diseases become the non-communicable diseases rather than the communicable ones. Therefore, there are now more chronic diseases than those being passed down from one person to the next. In 1980 it used to be that tuberculosis and measles were some of the leading killer diseases but now it is mostly malaria and pneumonia. Sub-Saharan Africa has also underwent an improvement in life expectancy and lowered their Infant Mortality Rate as one would as they go through the demographic transition model. Preventable diseases are starting to occur less often because the continent is progressing.

Analysis:

           Africa has underwent a lot of changes in the past hundred+ years. Many factors of life, including disease and health has been changed. Right now, the problem has moved from communicable diseases to non-communicable ones such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. These diseases are causing a lot of deaths because they cannot be controlled, however, there has been an improvement in the preventable ones. As a result, the life expectancy has risen from 52 years old to 62 in just the last 15 years which is incredible. This was largely because of the decrease in deaths caused by diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and vaccine preventable ones like measles, and pneumonia. There are variations of that number throughout the different regions of Africa. These characteristics are that of a Stage 3 in the epidemiologic transition. Additionally, life expectancy was previously drastically affected by the Ethiopian drought and famine in the 1980’s as well as the Rwandan genocide in 1994 and the HIV epidemic. So Africa is now slowly but steadily recovering from these catastrophes. Another improvement has been the lowering of the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in Africa. It was reduced by over half in some regions from the previous 850,000 children in 1990. This improvement has been steady in the last 15 years. This information from the study is instrumental because it shows Sub-Saharan Africa the areas that they need to work on in order to make life better. Health has changed and availability of treatment needs to be a reflection of that. Overall, Africa is going through an epidemiological transition and climbing up the development scale. Consequently, there has been progress in the health of Africa but it needs to go even further in order to catch up with the rest of the world.