Sanctions in Iran and its Increasing Consequences

         One of the major reasons the US government imposed sanctions against Iran, which also required the rest of the U.N.S.C to follow their steps, is because the I.A.E.A believes Iran has the capability to make nuclear weapons, but does not know if Iran will decide to do so, saying it’s ultimately a matter of Iranian political will. On the other hand, Iran disapproves of the claim and argues that as a signatory to the nuclear NPT and a member of the I.A.E.A, it has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. But the problem is that the US does not know if Iran is going to build a nuclear weapon for sure, thus they decided to cut all sanctions to mainly prevent the import of Uranium and other components, in addition to limiting their oil export. It feels as if history is repeating itself, because a similar threat happened with Iraq (and it turned out that Iraq had no means of possessing High Energy Uranium, due to sanctions, therefore, they could not build their N.W) but the U.N.S.C took it too far through the US engineered sanctions, which is putting the lives of Millions of patients suffering from rare diseases in Iran due to the lack of medications and medical supplies. (My gosh Chemotherapy costs $67,000 there !!!) "The US-engineered sanctions are putting the lives of Iranian patients in jeopardy. Though the US has not imposed any bans on American firms to sell medicine and medical supplies to Iran, exporters have been required to apply for special licenses. In the wake of the sanctions, the impossibility of transferring money through banks has cast its shadow upon medicine and healthcare in Iran, thereby jeopardizing the lives of millions of patients suffering from special diseases such as thalassemia, hemophilia, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and many others." Says Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations- Vitaly Churkin.
I think this conflict has gone way too far. Data released by the US Department of Commerce on February 8, 2013 shows that exports of pharmaceutical products to Iran had decreased by half despite Washington’s claims that ‘punitive measures’ have no humanitarian consequences- Press-TV.
What happened is that due to these sanctions, it has become nearly impossible to transfer money through banks, Which is how exporters make their money when selling their medicine, In addition even those exporters that just want to do it for humanitarian reasons have to apply for special license, thus their numbers have decreased.

I do think however, that using sanctions is better than military tactics which could help persuade Iran for an agreement. Yet I still don't understand why Iran wouldn't just cooperate and abandon their quest for N.W and start using their oil rich economy export to benefit their country and the people. When we think how almost the same situation occurred with Saddam Hussein when he failed to clarify his intentions on the supposed Iraqi Nuclear threat, consequently leading to an unnecessary invasion by the US.
One would argue; if only Iran could at least back-up for now from their claim of "We are only acquiring nuclear technology for peaceful purposes," and make the real peace with their citizens who are suffering due to the immoral actions of their leaders. Imagine how such an oil rich country can benefit its citizens and the rest of the world from exporting it.
According to the Iran Primer, "Iran is the second largest OPEC producer and the fifth largest globally (after Russia, Saudi Arabia, the United States and China). In 2010, it produced some 3.7 million barrels per day." As opposed to currently, Iran exported 1.4 million barrels per day in December 2012. If the Sanctions continues to take place that number will soon reach the thousands.
Analysts said President Ahmadinejad's blunt acknowledgment in his speech that sanctions were devastating the economy is a signal that Iran is seeking a deal. "Iranian officials have concluded that they are at an economic dead end and would really like to negotiate. They just haven't figured out how and where to compromise yet," said Fereydoun Khavand, an economy professor specializing on Iran at Université Paris Descartes. Moreover, President Ahmadinejad said Iran came down to three options in dealing with the West: 1-submit to pressure, 2-continue the Status quo, or 3- embark on major overhaul of its economy. He said the only feasible choice is the third one. How could a president with only six months of term left be able to proceed with such a strategy? (unless he has a successor ally.) It appears that recently Iran has reached a deal on a certain date to restart nuclear talks with the permanent members of the U.N.S.C + Germany. Still,any deal would need approval by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, confusing as their situation is, one can only hope this would reach a practical solution soon.(Improbable)

Note: This article is used for general clarification purposes only. If you have any questions, concerns or comments to make, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Japan Trip

Ten days is how long I will be staying in japan. The trip is mainly Leisure but with each day there will be a log about how fascinating I find the culture( I just know it will be Fascinating) and what I have learned. Oh my god! I am super excited! let's do this...

Semi-day 1:We boarded Singapore airline. I must say, I was amazed by the way the air hostesses were dressed; In a very respectful traditional dress yet elegant and put together. The way they speak to you, is as if they were trained five years for this job.

Day 1: We landed at one of the vastly renovated airports; Tokyo-Narita airport. Wow, I can't believe I am in Japan, I am finally going to use my awesome skills in communicating with people. As soon as we stepped out to the greeting area, there were two hosts waiting for us. A nice old man who helped with our bags and a beautiful tall Japanese lady greeting us  東京へようこそ(Welcome to Tokyo). Then we were escorted to our fancy shmancy car. There was an additional third person who is the driver waiting for us in the car.  I must confess I felt like a queen in shorts and a T-shirt.

Tokyo downtown is about an hour away from Narita. It was a wonderful ride,  the hostess was telling us some history about Tokyo. As soon as We approached the famous Tokyo bridge, she jumped off her seat to show us Tokyo Disney Land. すごいです is the right word, From my seat the entrance seemed like  an amazing Cinderella palace with lights and fireworks in the Heart of Tokyo. Our hotel was right next to Tokyo's main station. Unbelievably, there is a mall in every train station, HELLO JAPAN FASHION!!!. Shinjuku station is the most ridiculous one, as it has 8 floors up high of shopping.

Day 2: I woke up at 3 am and the view from my hotel's bathroom is amazing. I sat down and drank black tea with honey while waiting for the sunrise! I love it, its a beginning of a New day in a New City. We had a super healthy Japanese breakfast, then started walking our way through the city, First stop is Ginza. WE GOT LOST!! I definitely didn't want to take a taxi. But after 2 hours of "GPS signal lost" we decided to, to my surprise, it was 5 min away from the one direction we didn't take. Ginza, is the most famous Shopping district for elegant and expensive clothes. I certainly did a lot of shopping. Well, Window shopping ! At night the view of Ginza is exquisite, with all the Lights and the famous crosswalk. 

 信じられない！！Its raining, we wanted to visit the famous emperor's palace in the middle of Tokyo with its famous garden. Of course We ended up going there. It was pouring and humid but we still made our way to the beautiful 16th century palace. Most of their sightseeing sites/temples and palaces are free of charge even the palace museum; One more thing to love about this culture.

                                  Lillis Garden in the middle of the emperor's palace

I will keep up the update as soon as possible :) 

Attaining a greater purpose in life before sinking in your own dissolution!

Let's face it we need inspiration, advice and past experience to keep up in this world because no matter what! We are never too old to learn and experience new challenges. If you have never fell in love, you will eventually. If you have never fell ill, you will eventually. If you have never been happy, you will eventually. If you have never been accused, you will eventually etc... and the list goes on! For that I have my own way of helping myself see what others realized before me and refrain from being blind from the left hand of the world !

1-We are nice and smart on our own way, but its not this fact that matters, instead how do we use it;

• "Whatever the mind can conceive and believe the mind can achieve " - Napoleon Hill

• "I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."—Frank Herbert 

• "The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.   We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things. We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete... Remember, to spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person might not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind." —Bob Moorehead                    MY FAVORITE

2-Friendship is great and makes you feel very desirable. The one that last is the most important and we play an important role in keeping it ! don't we ...;

• “Be slow to fall into friendship, but when you are in, continue firm and constant.”― Socrates

• “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.”― Plato 

• “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”― Plato

•  "Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend." —Albert Camus

•   "A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow." — William Shakespeare

 3- Just how thankful are we? sometimes we can't help but being more demanding and selfish and we ought to learn how to control it!;

• "If you don't get what you want, you suffer; if you get what you don't want, you suffer; even when you get exactly what you want, you still suffer because you can't hold on to it forever. Your mind is your predicament. It wants to be free of change. Free of pain, free of the obligations of life and death. But change is law and no amount of pretending will alter that reality.” ― Socrates

4-When you love someone, Don't let them go!! you might even be in love with them at first sight and are a fool to realize it or in other cases in denial. Who in the world invented the dating game and rules? if you like them just say it or else you will regret loosing them;

• "I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close." —Pablo Neruda

•  "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." —Dr.Seuss

•  "The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference." —Elie Wiesel

• "It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not." _ Andre Gide

• "Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up."_ Neil Gaiman

•  "I finally understood what true love meant...love meant that you care for another person's happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be." —Nicholas Sparks 

•  "You may not be her first, her last, or her only. She loved before she may love again. But if she loves you now, what else matters? She's not perfect - you aren't either, and the two of you may never be perfect together but if she can make you laugh, cause you to think twice, and admit to being human and making mistakes, hold onto her and give her the most you can. She may not be thinking about you every second of the day, but she will give you a part of her that she knows you can break - her heart. So don't hurt her, don't change her, don't analyze and don't expect more than she can give. Smile when she makes you happy, let her know when she makes you mad, and miss her when she's not there." —Bob Marley

5- We are originally happy by nature, but when faced with harsh reality we might not sustain it . In that case just choose your own method to overcome hardship, frustration, anger and stress. No need for medication :);

•  “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”― Plato

• "People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway." _ Mother Theresa

• "People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be." —Abraham Lincoln

•  "I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles." —Audrey Hepburn 

6- Selfishness!! You might be too young to realize it and you wouldn't know how to surpass it unless faced with challenges but what if you are in the stage where you truly need to overcome it! We all can and all it takes is patience and justice.

"If you think only of yourself, if you forget the rights and well-being of others, or, worse still, if you exploit others, ultimately you will lose. You will have no friends who will show concern for your well-being. Moreover, if a tragedy befalls you, instead of feeling concerned, others might even secretly rejoice. By contrast, if an individual is compassionate and altruistic, and has the interests of others in mind, then irrespective of whether that person knows a lot of people, wherever that person moves, he or she will immediately make friends. And when that person faces a tragedy, there will be plenty of people who will come to help."_ Dalia Lama

•    "Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live."—Oscar Wilde

•   "We can also allow our Soulmate to pass us by,without accepting him or her,or even noticing. Then we will need another incarnation in order to find that Soulmate. And because of our selfishness, we will be condemned to the worst torture humankind ever invented for itself: loneliness."—Paulo Coelho

•  "Now, there's one thing you might have noticed I don't complain about: politicians. Everybody complains about politicians. Everybody says they suck. Well, where do people think these politicians come from? They don't fall out of the sky. They don't pass through a membrane from another reality. They come from American parents and American families, American homes, American schools, American churches, American businesses and American universities, and they are elected by American citizens. This is the best we can do folks. This is what we have to offer. It's what our system produces: Garbage in, garbage out. If you have selfish, ignorant citizens, you're going to get selfish, ignorant leaders. Term limits ain't going to do any good; you're just going to end up with a brand new bunch of selfish, ignorant Americans. So, maybe, maybe, maybe, it's not the politicians who suck. Maybe something else sucks around here... like, the public. Yeah, the public sucks. There's a nice campaign slogan for somebody: 'The Public Sucks. F*ck Hope." —George Carlin

Decisons or taking a chance?

          Everyday, As we wake up -that is if we didn't pull an all nighter- we are ready for a day with plans made and good to go, of course they do change throughout the period which is normal and natural if it's not exaggerated.

          Now, do we really think of everything we do, or why we do it specifically, or is it just out of a habit? For instance getting up and going to the shower, it is one of our main habits/routine that we don't have to plan the day around it. Surprisingly even though we don't plan it, IT does! -our little machine called the brain- The details, Everyone is able to control their brain but sometimes IT too likes to control us. So then when it comes to big decisions making, Who does what? and what is the "we" control it referring to besides the brain itself? Well to answer that it refers to the conscience and the unconscious.

          If we let our unconscious control us, God knows where we would be now. And again without it we will be so stressed out due to every analysis we would need to make. Thankfully the little dudes called the neurons help map out and organize our thoughts process. For that we are who we are today! We want to make sure that when a big decision making comes our way, we are able to process the idea thoroughly, because based on that we choose the path that directs our present and future.

          Every time we try to decide, we plan it out accordingly, even without pen or paper. We visualize the path successfully and decide on our goal with precision without even knowing whether we will be able to reach it. That is the process of taking a chance! Everyday, we do so without realizing it fully. Hence, when a plan does not turnout as expected or a goal is not achieved in a timely manner, we cannot try to blame it on the others because after all it is US who decided to take the chance to compile the idea, we can only hope for our mind to stay focused and direct when it comes to future plans because IT is the boss and without the boss the company wouldn't be running and neither will we!

The Ides Of March

       So, tonight I have watched the Ides of March, of course the decision to watch this "drama" movie was made solely because Ryan Gosling was the Lead. I am honestly not a fan of George Clooney and especially a movie that was directed by him. Anyways the plot was overall good . Music pretty straight forward. Story could be better but again its a drama with no action in it. Since As we know, its Elections time and as George Clooney is a democrat he ought to make a movie to pass a message that favors democracy through this movie, In my opinion it was more of the behind the Election scenes which is mainly the under the table bribes and lies that needs not to be discovered in order for the candidate to remain a Saint ! so far so Good, The future married president "George Clooney" cheated on his wife with an inter who is 20 and got her pregnant , unfortunately the director had to make it more dramatic by having her commit a suicide, which -was not necessary- but it is still unclear why she did that As he had to end the movie very BADLY not only he killed the movie by its ending but he suppressed its existence .... why did he do that? well he either didn't know how to end it or he passed his "vote for the democrats " message and didn't really care about the big finale. So that's how the movie was, pretty good until that moment where the screen blackened and had The End which made it horrible as I had my mouth wide open and eyes couldn't stop from blinking due to my shock. So watch it if you wanna shake your head from disappointment at the end , don't get me wrong ! the beginning was worth watching.