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BIE iNews Views 8.25.13
Chemical weapons appear to have been used in Syria and resulted in 3,600 hospital admissions
with nerve-gas symptoms. The deaths of 355 men, women, and children in addition to the
civil war's previous death toll of 100,000 have heightened calls for a robust, U.S.-led
response to the 2-year-old conflict. Russia remains Syria's main ally and has consistently
blocked U.N.-sponsored calls for intervention. Military options include elimination of Syrian
units responsible for the chemical attacks or Syrian ballistic missile sites.
Everland was opened in 1976 and cumulative attendance at the popular theme park in Gyeonggi
Province has now reached 200 million. Among the world's 400 major theme parks, Disneyland
and Universal Studios are the top destinations while Tokyo Disneyland and Everland are first
and second in Asia. Everland's T Express wooden roller coaster is the world's steepest with
a 77 degree drop. Riders pull 4.5g during the 3-minute, 104kph ride. I'm not getting
on that thing.
Harrowing, first-hand testimonials from escapees at the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on human
rights in North Korea include widespread orphanage deaths, public executions, and starving children
eating tree bark, cabbage roots, lizards, snakes, and rats. It's been 60 years since
hostilities officially ended so some defectors feel South Koreans have become immune to the
plight of political prisoners and defectors from the North. The U.N. Commission is seeking
to confirm abuses by North Korea and obtain evidence of crimes against humanity.?
A Japanese woman set fire to herself and two others in Gapyeong, the Unification Church's
headquarters. The reason for the self-immolation remains unclear. The woman and one man suffered
third-degree burns and a bystander had second-degree burns. This is the one-year anniversary of
the death of the church's founder Sun Myung Moon and more than 25,000 members are expected
to convene to mark the occasion.
Hyundai Motor's labor strike is being viewed harshly by the public. The eight-hour shutdown
resulted in an estimated loss of 4,000 cars worth around $75 million. The 180 demands
by the labor union include an $8,800 subsidy for union members' kids who don't go to college
to help them acquire job skills and a total cash bonus of $2.4 billion or 30% of the car
maker's 2012 net profit. Production rates at Hyundai are significantly lower than for
workers at General Motors and Toyota.
High-tech robotic suits could help astronauts and construction workers perform like Tony
Stark in Iron Man. The exoskeleton was developed by NASA to assist surface exploration tasks
in reduced gravity environments like on asteroids. The device may also provide assistance to
people having difficulty walking on Earth.