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CLARIN

Argentine University Curriculum On Organized Crime

A drug bust in Buenos Aires
A drug bust in Buenos Aires
Ezequiel Viéitez

BUENOS AIRES — A bit bored by that class on basic accounting? How about a course instead on money laundering? Or maybe one on how to stop transnational mafia groups?

Some Argentine students will soon have access to just that kind of course material because certain universities, concerned about the expansion of organized crime in the country, are looking to target their curriculum accordingly.

Universities believe graduates are heading out into a world that is more "criminal," and therefore should be better prepared, especially those who go on to become entrepreneurs. There is so much "dirty" money in circulation, they reason, that people studying business or hotel and catering, for example, should be taught to detect money laundering and other suspicious transactions.

Ten of the country's private universities are introducing a seminar on "how to stop the advance of drug trafficking." The event, also broadcast to other Argentine schools, is the first in a series of seminars the universities are organizing to promote the issue both for public debate and as potential academic content.

"We want this to become a part of extracurricular activities for students as of next year," says Avelino Porto, a dean from Belgrano University, a private school in Buenos Aires.

Porto and his colleagues reportedly have the blessing of the Catholic Church. Another organizer of the seminars, Guillermo Marconi, says that Pope Francis himself supports the program.

"This series of proposals we are launching came from a request made by the Pope in an audience given to academic authorities," Porto says.

Pope Francis, an Argentine native, became the pontiff in March 2013. A year later, the Argentine Bishops' Conference publicly expressed concern about the advance of drug trafficking in Argentina. Regional crime organizations have shown growing interest in the South American country, which they view as both a relatively safe haven for their activities and a discreet hideout.

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Society

Is Disney's "Wish" Spreading A Subtle Anti-Christian Message To Kids?

Disney's new movie "Wish" is being touted as a new children's blockbuster to celebrate the company's 100th anniversary. But some Christians may see the portrayal of the villain as God-like and turning wishes into prayers as the ultimate denial of the true message of Christmas.

photo of a kid running out of a church

For the Christmas holiday season?

Joseph Holmes

Christians have always had a love-hate relationship with Disney since I can remember. Growing up in the Christian culture of the 1990s and early 2000s, all the Christian parents I knew loved watching Disney movies with their kids – but have always had an uncomfortable relationship with some of its messages. It was due to the constant Disney tropes of “follow your heart philosophy” and “junior knows best” disdain for authority figures like parents that angered so many. Even so, most Christians felt the benefits had outweighed the costs.

That all seems to have changed as of late, with Disney being hit more and more by claims from conservatives (including Christian conservatives) that Disney is pushing more and more radical progressive social agendas, This has coincided with a steep drop at the box office for Disney.

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