Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Minority targeted in Iraq bombings

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6947716.stm

Al-Queda is suspected to be behind a bombing killing 200. The attack was targeted at non-Muslim people, "Once a mosaic of religious and ethnic groups who mostly coexisted peacefully, Iraq is increasingly falling prey to sectarian intolerance."

First I wonder if Al-Queda is really behind this or the US is just blaming them because they want to detract from what kind of genocide they are committing in Iraq.
The quote describes how war and the so called "liberation" of the country in Iraq has become a war that pits people against people. There is no organization by the people in the country. I think these groups need to step back and look at who they should really be fighting against, and that is the institution that is trying to "liberate" them. Maybe one day they will be able to live together in peace again.

Chavez seeks support from Russia trip

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6245984.stm

Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela, is really being proactive in his fight for the people. His socialist activities may be frowned upon by the western world, but South America and other developing countries are beginning to trust this type of development rather than what we see in the west;

"While at home Mr Chavez has concentrated on building a socialist republic, when it comes to international relations his main objective has been to push for a multi-polar world."

I really like his whole approach when it comes to building alliances with other countries, he is addressing countries that are being marginalized by the west. I wonder if Latin America will one day represent something like the European Union.

The United states feels very threatened by Hugo Chavez, they attempt to demonize him and his country:

"Washington sees Mr Chavez as the main source of instability in Latin America, a role previously assigned to Fidel Castro's Cuba."

As far as the relationship that Russia and Venezuela are building has to do with a fight agianst neo-libralism:

"Russia, like Venezuela, believes in a multi-polar world and is seeking ways to curtail the influence of the US."

Monday, August 13, 2007

Chavez signs Ecuador oil accord

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/09/ap4006755.html

Hugo Chavez is looked is an outcast in the United States eyes. He believes in socialism, therefore he is a threat. Ecuador and Venezuela have a wealth of oil, that for years has been exported by US companies. For a country like Ecuador, they don't contain the cappabilities to refine their oil, therefore they depended on the US. Hugo Chavez is offering aid in order to create refineries in ecuador. The indegenous people and the mestizos alike agree that this is a good plan. Kicking American oil companies out of ecuador and venezuela would be a huge step for these countries of south America. The question on everyones mind is, will this agreement lead to a socialist ecuador? I personally don't see chavez as a political influence on ecuador, I see his visit rather as a statement toward forigen oil companies who have exploited these resources for too long. Helping another south american country gain independence from the exploitation of capitalism.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Sierra Leone ready to vote

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2007/08/09/dougherty.us.china.trillion.cnn

This piece addresses the current state of affairs in Sierra Leone regarding upcoming elections. The reporter illistrates how the 2002 elections followed a civil war, and how this upcoming election is peaceful, she believes this is attributed to democracy. She says that the country looks like a carnival,

"It is proof that democracy is taking root."

I love that to further emphasize her point CNN shows a clip of the Hollywood movie, "Blood Diamond," as if this were some sort of evidence. I watched the movie, as did many Americans, but this should not be used as News. I was really irritated with this whole story, I felt that this story showed how democracy is the best system, by marginalizing any other form of development.

U.N. votes to expand Iraq role

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/08/10/iraq.main/index.html

The Bush administration and UN officials are trying hard to establish peace in Iraq. I feel that this is always important, but for some reason peace has to be established after a war. I do not see why war has to lead to peace. The other thing that bothers me, is now that there is peace talk, the people who have the most say in the matter are outside forces. If peace talk started before war, the agendas of many outside officials would not be satisfactory. The new development of Iran's influence in the war is leading to threats from the US,

"President Bush on Thursday said Iranians who smuggled bombs to insurgents in Iraq would face "consequences" if they continued."

What kind of consequences? Is he threatening war?

Development from the west imposed on other countries can be compared to McDonald's. America goes into a country to develop it and because Americans are so drivin by fast results, in the end we see results, but they are not good quality outcomes for the people in the country such as Iraq. We fail to see the production process, and the people who benefit are the consumers in the west, not the people who are living in a McDonald's built world. A world that was built in a year, rather than 100. How is westernization different from imperialization?

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Aid workers hustle as South Asian villagers rush home

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2007/08/08/flood-aid-south-asia.html#skip300x250

This article addresses foreign aid in the case of the floods in northern India, Bangladesh and Nepal. I think it is good that foreign aid is providing drinking water, matches and other necessary supplies for these people. I think it is interesting how often we use technology to try to aid foreign countries like dropping things from helicopter,

"Authorities stopped dropping water pouches from helicopters after complaints they broke upon landing, said R.K. Singh, who is co-coordinating the relief work there."

I think the best way to aid a country in times of disaster, is rally together those in the country who were fortunate enough not to have their lives devastated by the disaster with those foreigners who want to help. Together all the people can help each other instead of relying on foreigners. I still think providing basic needs is essential, but I think rebuilding of these areas needs to be approached from the people residing in it.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

63% of Iraqis Oppose Privatizing Nation's Oil Resources

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/08/07/130246

The majority of Iraqi's feel that the oil company should not be privatized. The bill that US is pushing to be passed by September would allow foreign multinational corporations to be allowed a share in the countries natural resources. Many Iraqis do not feel adequately informed on the bill, and most feel that they should not consider it until US is out of the country.

I think it is very interesting how this war was "not based on oil," but it just seems so obvious that it is about oil. I think the Iraqi people recognize this too. If the Iraqi people, and the American people who oppose this war banned together to fight this injustice, would we see the nationalization of oil companies in Iraq?

My favorite quote pushing this bill comes from a representative of the International Crisis Group,

"The Shiites and the Kurds do not want to cede power to people they don't trust. But if they don't, there won't be reconciliation. Then all we can look forward to is civil war."

Is this some sort of threat to the Iraqi people? Do you agree that this is the only way to bring development and peace to the country, to cede power to people they don't trust!? What a ridiculous request.