Recently, amid all of the current tensions with Iran, a nuclear scientist (Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan) was assassinated by a small explosive device placed on his vehicle in Tehran. The blast also injured two other people, the driver of the vehicle died later of injuries sustained in the blast. TIME cites an unnamed source that Israel's Mossad was behind the assassination, and has been performing these types of murders out for two years now. The reason I chose this for my social/political issue, was because this eventually may affect us all. Our economy is crippled already, and as tensions between the United States and Iran escalate, I fear it will erupt into the third world war. Russia has openly stated that any attack on Tehran (Iran), will be viewed as an attack on Moscow. The implications of that are very severe, and I admire Russian officials for trying to deter the escalation by such a bold statement. An interesting point to think about is that absolutely no US presidents have lost a secondary election during war time, and I view this whole Iran situation as a larger agenda. How far will the United States and Israel push Iran until a war breaks out? As far is it takes, but hopefully I am wrong. The US cannot afford any more wars, its time to take a back seat for a while and rebuild our own nation from the inside out. Maybe people have too much pride for that to happen, but pushing ourselves to the brink of collapse is not a better alternative.
Current Art Scene
Elfwood
Elfwood was something I happen to come across a few years ago while browsing the web. Its a website dedicated to fantasy and science fiction art, something I enjoy creating from time to time. The site is full of inspiring and creative material contributed from people just like you and me, just looking for a place for feedback and criticism. It was founded by Thomas Abrahamsson in 2007, and although the website DeviantArt.com is more popular and well known, Elfwood is an excellent alternative, or you could use both as I do. The website itself isn't the most advanced by any means, and is sometimes confusing to navigate, but once you figure it out, it can become a valuable tool in your development as an artist. I mainly use it for inspiration and themes other artists present. The website has over four hundred thousand works, and over thirty thousand members, and is growing every day. Its free to join and easy to use, and hopefully some of you will find some use out of it in your career's as artists.
Ethical Issue
Flouridation of Tap Water
Have you ever thought twice about fluoride? We know its in most of our drinking water, and in toothpaste, but why? It prevents tooth decay, but are there any side effects we should be concerned about? Fluoride is considered a level 4 poison by the CDC, defined by their rating chart as “life-threatening; major or permanent damage may result from single or repeated exposure”. Based on this very basic data about fluoride, do you think its right to force citizens to drink fluoride with their water? I think we should have a choice of the water we drink. While most of us do have a choice because we can buy filtration systems or buy bottled water, but what about those who cannot afford these alternatives? Another source of fluoride is toothpaste, but you're not constantly ingesting toothpaste. I don't deny fluoride doesn't have positive effects for your teeth, but to jump from having it in toothpaste that you are meant to spit out, to just dumping it in our water supply is not at all ethical in my opinion. People of all socioeconomic backgrounds deserve a choice of the water they drink, and what that includes, even if it is provided for free or from the government. I don't believe water, an essential part of our lives, should be laced with a poisonous substance in the guise of preventing tooth decay.
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