World News Today + Commentary

Gaza Waste Flooding Kills Five

A northern Gaza sewage reservoir collapsed yesterday, sending rivers of human waste into a village, killing five people and destroying 200 homes.

The dead include two elderly women, two young children and a teenage girl, while hospital officials report 35 other injuries.

According to the Associated Press, rescue crews and Hamas gunmen scoured the flooded areas with paddle boats, in search of anyone that may have been buried. Others waded through the dirty water up to their hips.

Interior Minister Hani Kawasmeh visited the village of Umm Naser but was welcomed by angry mobs and gunfire.

Gaza City Mayor Majid Abu Ramadan blamed residents of stealing dirt around the sewage basins so they can sell it to builders. However, with the population producing almost four times as much waste as treatment centers can treat, a large open sewer was built.

Here, mosquitoes breed and water-borne diseases develop. UN officials fear a public health disaster if more flooding occurs.

Iraqi Police Revenge Killings

Shiite militants and Iraqi police raided Sunni neighborhoods and homes in a northeastern part of Tal Afar Wednesday, killing around 60 people.

These acts of revenge come after insurgents blew up two trucks in Tal Afar yesterday killing at least 55 people and injuring 25 more. One bomb was hidden in a truck arriving at a market with a full load of food supplies. BBC reported.

According to hospital officials, the dead were men between the ages of 15-60 and shot in the back of the head.

According to the Associated Press, army troops have moved into the Sunni areas to stop the violence and a curfew was put on the town.

Dead Sea Media Commentary

In total over 100 people were killed in these cases of international death. Whether it be by a small village disaster caused by the flooding of human feces or large scale attacks on rival religious groups, many people have died.

Major news agencies in the world do not pay enough attention to these cases. The BBC article of the Iraqi attacks reads " Gunmen kill dozens in Iraqi town". The word "dozens" does not draw interest or read IMPORTANT. CNN tagged the story "Police accused in sectarian revenge killings" but does not stress how many people got killed. They are simply reporting it under the mask of an objective lens.

Sure international news coverage may not have the impact like local news stories will. In order for this "ideal" world of "peace and unity" to be reached people must develop their knowledge in the news around the world. Globalization of companies have made international relations more important than ever, so a unity of profit-making solutions are on most organization's agenda. Not a unity of peace.