BardPolitikDaily

The Eurozone's Roubini

2011-11-18T14:09:00.011-05:00

Nouriel Roubini, the economic doomsayer who predicted the 2008 financial crisis became one of the most sought-after economic consultants after being able to say "I told you so." Bernard Connolly, Europe's most outspoken pessimist, is confident that he too will end up on the right side of history.

“The current policy of lending plus austerity will lead to social unrest,” Connolly said in the New York Times.

As an Oxford educated economist in the early years of the European Union, he helped oversee the very first designs for European financial integration. When he expressed negative views about a common currency, he was dismissed. In 1998, just before the Euro was introduced, he predicted that Europe's smaller, less financially stable countries would cause problems for the entire region. As Connolly told the Times, Europe will face a "“downward spiral from which there is no escape unaided. When that happens, the country concerned will be faced with a risk of sovereign default.”

Connolly, like Roubini before him, is now profiting from spot-on economic forecasting. The European debt crisis that threatens not only Greece and Portugal, but larger countries like Spain and France has launched Connolly's consulting career. Unlike Roubini, who is now the head of Roubini Global Economics, a consulting firm in New York City, Connolly is an independent analyst. But this doesn't mean he profits less. Connolly reportedly churns out over 20,000 words of analysis per week, and while the price of his opinions is not publicly available, competitors are known to charge as much as $100,000 for complete services that include written reports as well as individualized meetings and phone calls.

When Connolly worked at AIG in 2005, he convinced a small group of investors to buy credit default swaps of the most vulnerable European countries. When Greece, Portugal, and Ireland came to the brink of default around 2008, the value of the swaps increased enormously, which turned the investors a hefty profit and earned him a devoted group of followers.

Today, the Connolly disciples are looking to spread his words of doom for the greater good. As a former colleague at AIG, James Aitken, insisted, “He sees where this is going and is warning against the human tragedy.”

Yra Harris, a trader on Chicago's Mercantile Exchange offered to pay $75,000 out-of-pocket to republish The Rotten Heart of Europe, Connolly's 1997 denunciation of the Euro's predecessor, the European exchange rate mechanism.

Still in the thick of the European crisis, it remains unclear whether Connolly's Eurozone death knell will ultimately ring true. One thing, however is quite certain- as the crisis continues, Connolly's stock continues to rise.

-Rachel

Is Music a Universal Language???

2011-11-15T17:58:00.002-05:00

Throughout the years, America’s image has been getting more and more ugly in the public eyes of Pakistanis. According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center “Roughly six-in-ten (59%) Pakistanis describe the U.S. as an enemy, while just 11% say it is a partner.” This is because of many reasons including the fact that the war the United States has declared in Afghanistan has spread into their territory which has caused many innocent Pakistanis their lives. The image gets even more unattractive since the United States has been strengthening their ties with Pakistan’s archenemy India. Citing the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs of the State Department, Robert Blake, “We recently have begun an effort to try to enhance state-to-state ties between our two countries... because we believe there are quite significant opportunities for individual American states to do more with their Indian counterparts.” Some may even go further and say that America dislikes the Muslim world because of our constant intervention in trying to promote democracy abroad. Even though I do not believe this to be true, America has a reason to try to save face in the region. Because of this, the U.S. embassy has been trying to find informal modes of diplomacy to be used in an attempt to save its unfavorable image. One of the avenues that was used was targeting the younger generations through music.

The U.S. embassy’s cultural diplomacy program in Islamabad, Pakistan has been bringing over multiple musical groups in conjunction to its American Festival of the Arts. This festival, according to the State Department, is meant to promote cultural exchanges between the two countries. Acts that have participated in this Festival have included the Ari Roland Jazz Group and Mary McBride, a country music artist. This week, the State Department has brought over a hip hop troupe from Chicago for a 10 day trip through the region to perform for an educated young audience of Pakistanis. The Chicago troupe, the F.E.W Collective dances, sings, raps and recites poetry. The purpose of this tour through the region is to get the face to face contact of non-governmental Americans, and to try to find a commonality among the two countries through music.

Hip Hop universally looks different but is found everywhere. This form of expressive arts can be used to bring youth from all over together. The target audience for the festival is the youth, the future leaders of Pakistan. This is extremely strategic in my eyes because, as we have seen through the Arab Spring and many other uprisings, that the youth are key in trying to achieve change. Getting through to this group and building the American relationship earlier in their lives, is important an ingredient in the recipe to try and fix Pakistani-American relations. This idea is pretty remarkable to me. Even though I might be a bit biased because I love hip hop, I do believe that even if countries are culturally separated, something that could bring differing communities together is music. This new, cutting edge idea of using music to build relations between the two countries has not been used before on a big scale and I am really interested to see the end result. Whether U.S. officials agree or not if this program is going to work is not important because it is something that could actually blend the two cultures together. It’s this out of the box thinking that could continue to create new waves of building relations. With face-to-face contact with a few could possibly change the perception of Americans and break down stereotypes that the Pakistani youth have of the United States. This would not only strengthen the relations between the U.S. and Pakistan but paint a more positive image of the United States in the region.

Alexis Roe

Al-Shabab recruits Kenyan youths to fight in Somalia

2011-11-15T14:03:00.001-05:00

Al Jazeera interviewed parents of Kenyan youths who were recruited by a terrorist group, Al-Shabab, to overthrow the government in Somalia.

Al-Shabab is an Islamist militant group, an offshoot of the Islamic Courts Union, which was removed from power by Ethiopian troops back in 2006. Al-Shabab, or The Movement of Striving Youth, aims to overthrow the Somali government and it has control over some territories in south Somalia. In these places the group has already imposed its own form of Sharia law, which is even stricter than usual.

Many of the recruited Kenyans come from slums in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, and some estimate their numbers to be in the hundreds. Most of them are not native Somali; they come from other ethnic tribes; therefore, they are more difficult to spot by the authorities. Since the Somali army has been fighting Al-Shabab, the parents fear retaliation.

Several of the recruited youths do not come from Islamic families; they convert to it. However, experts believe the recruitments have nothing to do with religion. It is purely human trafficking for the purpose of jihad.

-Adrienn Szlapak

End of Occupy Wall Street?

2011-11-15T13:32:00.004-05:00

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg ordered to clear Zuccotti Park today, consequently leading to the arrest of around 200 protestors who have been camping in the park for nearly two months on the grounds that “health and safety conditions became intolerable.”

Bloomberg has been torn between whether to take any direct measures against the protests ever since the beginning of Occupy Wall Street. In the time that has passed, he has supported people’s right to protest but in recent weeks, in the wake of growing complaints from neighbours about how the protest has disrupted the neighbourhood and hurt local businesses, the mayor decided to act. Mayor’s sudden decision comes as a big surprise to the American public. The clearance of Zuccotti Park demonstrates fading of the American promise and commitment to democracy. It is never a good sign when non-violence is met with violence. If the citizens of the United States are prohibited in voicing their opinion, and thus are being taken away their freedom of speech by their own governors, how does America plan to maintain its exemplary role as global promoter of peace and democracy? After today’s event, can America still be referred to as democratic? Or is the country simply hiding its less open domestic politics behind a created illusion of worldwide promotion of democracy?

Despite the criticism that Bloomberg is currently receiving from the protestors and the supporters of Occupy Wall Street, the mayor is clever in his approach: He announced that “New York City is the city where you can come and express yourself. What was happening in Zuccotti Park was not that.” The mayor said the protesters had taken over the park, “making it unavailable to anyone else.” Furthermore, by laying the blame on poor health and safety conditions the decision to clear Zuccotti Park becomes an undisputed case as it would indeed be improper of the protestors to argue against public health after the numerous health care debates in the U.S. in recent years. Bloomberg is right in that the Park, initially created for everyone, has for the past two moths been an occupied space, with several access limitations for citizens who do not wish to participate in the protests. Especially, taking into account rumours about lack of health measures, it is not surprising that these conditions prevent ‘visitors,’ apart from the protestors themselves, on the territory of Zuccotti Park. Consequently, it can also be argued that the occupied space is a limitation to freedom for everyone.

Whether this marks the end of Wall Street Protests remains unknown. The possibility for continued protests is high, especially in the immediate aftermath of police’s forceful clearance of the Park. The public in support of the protests is in rage over mayor’s decision. However, Wall Street never sleeps, hence even if protestors relocate, Wall Street will continue to keep its eyes on those who oppose it.

- Inga

Assad is Still in Power (O yea....and he has killed 4,000 of his own people)

2011-11-15T11:08:00.005-05:00

Jordan's King Abdullah told the BBC yesterday that if he were Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, he would step down as president. 'I would step down and make sure whoever comes behind me has the ability to change the status-quo that we’re seeing.' On Saturday, the Arab League suspended Syria and called on its government to stop the violence against protesters. The League said that it will impose economic and political sanctions on the Syrian government and will also meet with opposition leaders in the country. They are also expected to make a similar condemnation this week, along with most Western leaders.

The White House added yesterday that President Assad was increasingly isolated, and said that he had lost his legitimacy to lead. 'It is clear that the Assad regime is continuing to be isolated, that the political pressure on them is building,' said White House spokesperson Josh Earnest.

40 Syrians were reported to have been killed in fighting yesterday between forces loyal to President Assad and anti-government forces.

This all appears to be productive, but is in fact futile. Assad knows that Russia and China will never back similar measures that they did against Libya and he knows that international sanctions can only go so far. The conflict in Libya helped secure, not deter Assad’s reign and condemned four thousand activists to death. With the Euro crisis, 2012 US elections, the wider Arab Spring, Russia and China’s veto and Iran’s nuclear program, world leaders have their plates full and don’t want and in some cases can’t handle and even afford another issue to deal with. As long Assad keeps this now, civil war in his country as a domestic conflict and affair and not let the troubles in his country escalate beyond his boarders, it is pretty clear he will be the Syrian President this time next year – especially if the West has nothing to with it. They can just congratulate each other about a successful Libyan mission.

-Roy.

Korean Bridge in G20

2011-11-10T00:29:00.001-05:00

As the G20 Cannes Summit focuses on bailing out the Eurozone, super powers such as United States, Russia and China gathered all the attention. Among the rest of the G-20 members exist, overlooked yet relatively important, nations such as Korea, Mexico and Indonesia. Though relatively peaceful, these countries can play bigger roles in pushing the global system than their shares in media these days. South Korea, for example, is bridging the developed with the emerging and developing world.

As a heavily export-dependent economy, S. Korea is a beneficial of open market and free trade. It has one of Asia's largest economies, one that survived and thrived from 1997 Asia financial crisis and once again, weathered and resumed strong growth after a brief downturn as a result of the global economic downturn of 2008. In either of the situation, S. Korea was able to avoid deeper recession and move to growth is a result of actively involving in the global market. This experience of South Korea, along with similar ones by other medium-sized G20 countries, makes it an exemplary open markets and a firm supporter of free trade. On G-20 Cannes Summit, as a result, President Lee Myung-Bak promotes the idea of market liberalization in combating economic crisis from spread and stands against protectionism

When it comes to euro zone rescue plan, President Lee states that S. Korea has noticed readiness to help from neighbor countries Japan and China, in an interview with French media, he says "We ourselves are planning to see at the G20 summit how other countries will organize and what resources they will deploy. Discussions are planned. If it's necessary, obviously, (South) Korea is willing to cooperate."

South Korea's willingness to act as a bridge between the advanced, emerging, and developing worlds and its adoption of the "Seoul Development Consensus for Shared Growth." has indicated Koreans efforts in drawing a consensus on an array of agenda issues including development aid and free trade. The exemplary efforts have drawn proclamation by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in his developmental finance report to all G20 leaders.

Posted by Yinan Hu.

G-20: Let's Talk Turkey

2011-11-09T11:50:00.011-05:00

Oh how the times change. This past week's G-20 summit in France proved that there's a new "Sick Man of Europe," and it's certainly not Turkey.

As ArabNews.com reports, The "Sick Man" is actually the "Sick Men-" the consortium of troubled Eurozone economies that includes Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Italy, and perhaps even Spain. The Cannes gathering mainly focused on the European debt saga that just seems to grow worse, and amid the European panic, Turkey played it cool. France's Nicolas Sarkozy met with Turkish President Abdullah Gul to agree on a broad platform of domestic as well as international financial reforms, and it was also announced that Turkey will play host to the G-20 meeting in 2014. The real story however, came after Cannes. Planning for the future, traditionally Westward-looking Turkey has taken note of the tumult in Europe and is now opting to diversify its trading partner portfolio.

The stable Erdogan government boasts the 17th largest economy in the world and at the beginning of 2011, Turkey recorded a 10.3 percent double-digit growth rate while many Western powers stood at the brink of a double-dip recession. And this is likely to continue. Turkey has a robust population of 70 million with the youngest average age in Europe at 29, and its diverse economy remains attractive to foreign investment.

Situated at the crossroads of east and west, Turkey has a geographic advantage when it comes to trade. As an Islamic state with a staunchly secular government, Ankara has no problem wooing both the Europeans and its partners in the Middle East. Nearly any any energy deal or pipeline from the Caspian to Europe goes through Turkey, and as an associate member of the European Union with a Customs Union agreement, it runs little risk of falling to Russian political manipulation like the Gazprom shenanigans up north in Ukraine. But with so much drama unfolding to the west with Europe and the east with the revolutions of the Arab Spring, Turkey has turned its eye outside its immediate region and has found a kindred secular spirit in Southeast Asia.

Turkey and Malaysia, while both secular regimes, have strong financial sectors that conform to Sharia law. This particular brand of 'Islamic Banking,' prohibits usury and investment in goods or services that are considered contrary to Islamic principles. Recently, Turkey and Malaysia have signed agreements to increase trade and work together on originating Sukuk, the bonds unique to Sharia-style finance. Malaysia has a dual banking center that trades both Islamic and customary financial assets. Turkey, looking to open up its own financial sector, can look to Malaysia for guidance and support.

At a G-20 rife with gloomy financial woes, Turkey has emerged as one of the few points of optimism, and Ankara's shrewdness predicts its continued success.

-Rachel

France at the G20

2011-11-08T16:39:00.002-05:00

France is the second largest economy in the European Union, which, taken as a whole, is the largest economy in the world. The G-20 this year was an important time for all members of the EU, but was particularly important for the larger economies in the EU such as France and Germany, who were faced with trying to solve the European debt crisis and the possibility of having to bail out countries such as Greece and Italy.

For the President of France, Nicholas Sarkozy, the G-20 summit overcast with politics, as the 2012 elections loom nearer. Sarkozy is faced with the challenges of reducing France's deficit, preserving the country's credit rating while resisting the pull downward from other debt swamped nations in the EU. The debt in the European Union has all but taken over Sarkozy's life when he had to rush from the hospital where his daughter was being born last month to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about the economic crisis.

So what exactly happened for France at the G-20? As a whole, the G-20 members accepted the plan that the EU came up with last month to solve the European debt crisis, and the plea from Sarkozy to implement a tax on financial transactions was turned down. So, nothing too exciting, unless you count that Barack Obama and Nicholas Sarkozy, unaware that microphones were turned on, were caught dissing the Israeli Prime Minister.

- Ysabel Yates

G20: Russia: Medvedev Couldn't Have Done Any Less (Seriously)

2011-11-08T15:56:00.003-05:00

President Dmitry Medvedev started his final round of top level meetings before he to step down as President with the trip to Cannes. The scale of the unfolding disaster is far greater than the pile of debt accumulated by Greece, and the EU leaders are rightly embarrassed by their “model” union as it has become the epicenter of economic disaster – and by their inability to handle the problem. Medvedev however, did not have much to offer, as many hoped. He announced the sum of Russia’s possible contribution to $10 billion, however this was said to be “ridiculously inadequate, barely supporting the point that it is a part of the solution rather than the problem” . He did give unsolicited advice about reducing budget deficits whcih was hardly welcomed, but Medvedev’s argument that Russia was a part of Europe resonated particularly false because European politicians simply had neither the time for nor interest in his opinions and lack of help and leadership by his country.

A development that could have lifted Russia’s seat at the G20 table is the final resolution of the constant problem of its admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO). However, Medvedev was rather cautious and quiet on this issue. The difficult issues with Georgia were resolved by the at the of October, yet Prime Minister Vladimir Putin remained reluctant to give the final word on the deal as he does not like giving up his power to erect protective tariffs and considered that his favorite project to upgrade the Customs Union with Belarus and Kazakhstan would suffer a setback. Another meaningful contribution to calming down the European crisis could have been an agreement with Ukraine on gas trade and transit, but Moscow and kept to exploit the deepening political mess in Kyiv. Amid the turmoil that is the Euro right now, Medvedev arrived to the conference with quite a strong economy behind him.

Lacking serious things to say, Medvedev presented a rather dubious proposal for protecting intellectual property in the Internet but what was even odder was his attempt to position Russia together with “super-emerging” powers like China and apart from the depressed Western economies while claiming Russia was “with” Europe as they are a “part” of it. However, whatever he would have said would have little significance as this was his last global summit and while offering nothing observers believe there is even less he could have done.

- Roy.

G20: CHINA: Europe, We Won't Pay for Your Lunch

2011-11-08T15:18:00.002-05:00

The recent G20 summit was a fiasco from start to finish. The purpose of the meetings was to help the global economy back on its feet after a long period of deterioration, however, the participating nations were unable to reach an agreement.

For once, Washington and Beijing were on the same side, against the common enemy- Europe. Beijing had been approached by the IMF and Europe prior to the summit to contribute money to the bailout fund, but after a number of rumours and speculations about what China would ask for in return and after empty comments from the Chinese vice finance minister Zhu Guan, who said that the rescue fund was an "important tool" with which to address the sovereign debt crisis, Beijing simply refused to help Europe save the Euro.

According to Steven Dunaway, CFR adjunct senior fellow for international economics, the Eurozone crisis “is a European problem…For the United States and for the rest of the G20, there’s only a very limited role they can play.” Both China and the United States are not in a position to strike credible compromises also when it comes to major challenges beyond Europe, like pushing for exchange rate flexibility and macroeconomic balancing, policies that have been at the centre of debate since the U.S. began to argue that an intentionally undervalued Renminbi unfairly supports Chinese exports.

Dunaway adds that taking into account China’s pending leadership transition, no Chinese official wants to “stand out and make a strong policy stance, particularly in terms of needed measures to help rebalance China’s economy.”

The French President Nikolai Sarkozy, called the Chinese President urging him to agree to contribute to his proposed €1tn (£864bn) European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) firewall. However, even prior to G20 summit, doubts were rising as to how willing China would be to produce funds to buy European bonds or capitalise the European firewall fund due to the instability caused by the Greek crisis.

Consequently, with China unwilling to help the Eurozone by lending money to the IMF or by allowing more flexibility in its currency to help ease global trade and investment, Europe and the rest of the global economy continues to struggle.

The G20 summit only brought forth heated debate but the future of the Euro appears to be less certain at this stage than it has ever been.

Furthermore, the summit became a global manifestation of the power presently held by Beijing, and the impact that China has internationally. The fact that Europe needs China to save the Euro illustrates the dependence of the world on the Chinese economy. China’s action -or rather, lack thereof, further indicates that China is not afraid to act independently of international pressures and criticism.

-Inga

Update from the G20 Summit: South Africa

2011-11-08T14:07:00.001-05:00

South African president, Jacob Zuma returned home after attending the G20 Summit in Cannes, France. The G20 Summit was established in 1999 and brought together 20 world leaders, finance ministers and central bank governors in developing economies to discuss key issues critical to ensuring global stability. President Zuma and Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan represented South Africa . Their goals were to promote not only South Africa but all of Africa’s potential for being a vital contributor to global demands - manufacturing and innovation, food security and increased prices for food, and opportunities for investing in infrastructure. This year’s discussion, among other things on the agenda, included fixing the Eurozone financial crisis. This exciting conference was a huge stepping stone for the group because it enabled them to tackle important issues such as employment, growth, International Monetary Fund reform, the situation in Greece and implementing a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT, also known as the Robin Hood Tax). South Africa wanted to make it clear that this summit should not be overwhelmed with the European crisis but "it should attempt to come up with a plan that incorporates bringing about growth in developing countries," says Mac Maharaj, spokesman for the South African President.

At the end of 2010, South Africa’s unemployment rate was 24.9%. Since the country’s unemployment rate is so high, South Africa was happy that the summit would discuss this issue. The finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, urged the summit to tackle this important issue.. "There's a recognition that lack of jobs for young people brings social challenges and a decline in social cohesion. The public around the world has been making clear that these are challenges that require urgent attention," he said. South Africa has implemented programs on its own to try to combat unemployment but needed more help, so the conference gave South Africa more ideas to implement for providing more jobs. South African President Zuma affirmed that “South Africa was pleased with the summit's commitment to renew efforts to combat unemployment and promote decent jobs” and that “The focus on job creation is in line with South Africa's own domestic focus on economic transformation to promote inclusive growth and decent jobs.”

South Africa, the only African country represented at the summit, was a strong supporter of the FTT. The FTT would put a tax on the financial institutions. One very important issue targeting the South African population is HIV. The country has the highest number of people suffering from HIV in the world and today over 5 million people South Africans are diagnosed with the disease. This has led to a decrease in South Africa’s workforce and life expectancy, and higher death rates in the nation. The projected US$81 billion per year that the tax would bring in if all of countries in attendance signed on to such a tax could really help the world community tackle many things including the Eurozone crisis andglobal health issues. More importantly, the money would help South Africa tackle many health problems including HIV treatments to raise the average life span, preventing measles outbreaks, helping treat those who are already diagnosed with diseases, preventing malnutrition in children, etc. Unfortunately, the world leaders failed to reach an international agreement about the Robin Hood Tax even though South Africa, Brazil and Argentina backed it.

The conference also hoped to attract non-Euro zone countries like the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, China, China and South Africa) that could provide some funding for the bailout for the Euro zone. South Africa said that they were not in any position to make a big commitment with Europe until it "[gets] its act together so [they] have a clear picture of what Europe is proposing," Maharaj told The Associated Press. The BRICS weren’t convinced that the three pronged strategy (a) reduce Greece’s debt, b) scale up their European Financial Stability Facility rescue fund and c) create ways to invest that will attract foreign support of bond markets in Europe) that the European countries came up with to combat the financial crisis was going to successful. However, South Africa is keeping an open mind. It was not prepared to dish out the money but as one of the BRICS countries that the summit acknowledged as powerful, South Africa is gaining the recognition that it deserves in a western dominated global affairs arena. Even though the BRICS countries are skeptical that the debt in the Euro zone will have an nefative impact on their economy, they are waiting to hear what the European countries come up with before they offer any funding. However, they did, say they would support the IMF in taking steps to fix and prevent a crisis from happening again.

On the thursday of the summit, South Africa along with 12 other countries signed the Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance. This Convention would combat cross-border tax evasion by allowing nations to share tax information among themselves. "The benefit is that our country ... will automatically have the benefit of exchange of information, simultaneous tax examinations (audits) between revenue administrations of different countries," said a South African spokesperson.

And last but not least on the long list of agenda items is climate change. African countries and other underdeveloped countries have been the hardest hit by climate change, which made it fitting for President Zuma to be the President of the Durban Conference on Climate Change at the G20 summit. In the conference, President Zuma encouraged the developed nations to finance the Green Climate Fund. This fund will promote and implement green projects throughout the world.

Africa is the hardest-hit by climate change. Its vulnerability stems not only from climate change impacts such as the rise in the sea level, severe droughts and floods, but also from the current levels of poverty, which limit their [sic] ability to cope with these impacts... There is no doubt that a global response is the only effective and sustainable answer to this global challenge.”

President Zuma succeeded in this role and got the support of the member nations at the summit to agree to the fund the Green Climate Fund hoping to raise US$100 billion a year. He reminded them that world leaders were “accountable to the global citizens who suffer daily from the impacts of climate change” and that they expect “effective solutions to the threat that climate change presents to their livelihood, quality of life, dignity and in many cases their very survival.” By succeeding, he assured participants in the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that South Africa was prepared to the conference next month while they are moving towards a more ‘greener’ economy.

Alexis Roe

G20: Japan, The Savior

2011-11-08T10:35:00.002-05:00

With the Global economy greatly weakened due to many financial crises, the G20 summit met at a critical time. The main goal was to strengthen the economy and get it back on track. The role Japan will play in these efforts are crucial. Many of the G20 leaders looked to the Asian countries, mainly Japan and China as the two biggest countries to take action and help tackle the economic problems; the G20 leaders expect much from Japan. Mainly, Japan will continue to buy EFSF bonds (aiming at preserving financial stability in Europe these bonds provide financial assistance to eurozone states in economic difficulty) to alleviate the European economic problems.

Japan, although having a strong economy that has bounced back and overcome their own economic woes, doesn't want the rest of the G20 leaders to forget they still have problems of their own. Ballooning debt from a recent $250 billion rebuilding effort due to the recent earthquake and Tsunami has taken taken a toll on Japan. The natural disaster created a nuclear crisi for Japan as well. While Japan is in a better position to help the wounded European Economy, it should be put in perspective with their own problems.

Additionally with an incredibally strong Yen, Japan has already intervened numerous times to weaken the Yen. While many G20 countries side with the decision to devalue the Yen, Japan wants to be careful it doesn't hurt the Japanese people.

-Gabby

G20: Brazil and an attempt at tough love.

2011-11-08T09:56:00.005-05:00

“The Brazilian message will be: ‘You have to get your game together and make some decisions’,” claimed David Fleischer, a political scientist from the University of Brasilia.

Brazil is prepared to aid the EU through monetary contributions to the IMF, but needs to see a more detailed report on the intended implementation of resources before committing specific figures. Brazilian authorities and other BRIC country officials held a meeting prior to the beginning of the G20 summit to discuss a coordinated aid effort to the IMF, which would be of substantial help to the IMF. Although Brazil has $350 billion in foreign reserves, China has an estimated $3.2 trillion. China has thus far committed $100 billion, the equivalent of which for Brazil would be $11 billion.

Between the financial crises erupting in Europe and the United States, and the economic slowing of China, Brazil’s greatest trading partner, the concern of impending shockwaves is legitimate. With all this success, it is growing fears of recession “contagion” that has emphasized the need for Dilma’s attempt at tough love.

The Brazilian economy faired the 2008 financial crisis fairly well, dropping from a relatively low level of economic damage and a quick recovery (real GDP growth dropped in 2008 from a fairly steady 5.1-5.7 down to -0.7 in 2009, but then rapidly climbed up to 3.5 in 2010 and continues to grow).

Economically, Brazil’s near future is even brighter: the poverty rate in Brazil has halved over the last two decades, and economic disparity among Brazilians, measured by the Gini coefficient, is continuing to drop. This is largely due to economic and social reforms set forth during former President Lula da Silva’s term, where he expanded the size of the middle class by 29 million people.

GDP per person has been growing steadily, and according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, Brazil’s economy is expected to exceed Britain’s economy this year to become the sixth largest economy in the world this year.

For Brazil, avoiding falling south the way of Europe, encouraging growth of global markets, and improving economic and social conditions at home are of the utmost importance. Although negotiations at the G20 could be said to have produced less-than concrete results thus far, Brazil is willing to give aid where it can, and is in a considerably better position than many of its fellow G20 participants.

- Liana Mitlyng Day

will IMF oversee prevent European sinkhole?

2011-11-08T09:45:00.000-05:00

To read these articles click here and here

“In an interview on the sidelines of the summit, Ms. Lagarde said that ‘friendly pressure’ had been placed on Italy to accept the I.M.F. as a monitor. Because Italy is not under an I.M.F. bailout, the only way the fund could act as a monitor was if Italy invited it to do so, she added.”

In an attempt to stop the European financial crisis from spreading to Italy, Italy announced that it would allow the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to “monitor” their books every three months to make sure Italy follows its austerity plan.

Hopefully this overseeing will help reinvigorate Italy’s listless economy. There are fears that an economically lost Italy would pull Europe into a mudslide from which there is no escape.

Italy’s debt is about $2.5 trillion. However, inhabitants of the country are trying to see it in a brighter light than the rest of Europe as “a manageable projected deficit of 3.9 percent of the gross domestic product for 2011 and dropping; an economy that is growing, albeit anemically,” according to the New York Times. This difference of opinion is the basis for the rift between the rest of the EU and Italy. Italy does not see itself in debt; however, viewed as a whole, Italy’s problems affect the rest of the EU.

With the pressure to allow the IMF in, Italy is admitting its identity crisis. If Italy has been seeing itself as healthier than in reality, then the IMF could not come at a better time. It would probably not take long for Italy to become the next Greece.

The overseeing is slightly embarrassing and speaks to mistrust of Italy to follow its own plans; though Italy tried to play off the IMF oversee as its own choice “friendly pressure” behind closed doors indicates hesitance on Italy’s part.

If Italy is so pivotal to the rescue of Europe, then this IMF oversee is totally necessary to help keep the stagnating economy above water.

-Rosie Limbug

G20: Germany

2011-11-08T08:38:00.001-05:00

The G20 summit held in Cannes, France was dominated by talks on the European financial crisis. As President Obama said to reporters on the first day of the meeting, finding a solution to the Eurozone crisis was at the top of the agenda. It is needless to say that Germany had a central role in the discussions.

Angela Merkel and Nicholas Sarkozy summoned George Papandreou, the Greek Prime Minister, to an emergency meeting before the G20 kickoff to discuss the proposed referendum on the Greek bailout. The talks resulted in the Greek PM repealing the referendum.

France, Great Britain and the U.S. suggested that national gold reserves and Special Drawing Rights, an international reserve asset based on international currencies, should be contributed to boost the financial firepower of the euro zone. However, Steffen Seibert, the Merkel government’s spokesperson, announced that German gold reserves are off limits.

The idea was that the central banks of the member states should have contributed €50 to 60 billion worth of SDRs.

The reason behind this proposal is that G20 countries do not want to invest any more money in the European Financial Stability Facility, a special purpose vehicle created to provide financial assistance to euro zone countries; therefore, Europe has to look somewhere else to find funds.

An article in the Irish Times claims, however that “all roads lead to Frankfurt,” meaning it will come down to Germany having to choose between debasing the European Central Bank or breaking up the euro zone.

Even though the European Central Bank has €3 trillion war chest that could be used for buying bonds as the Fed did in the U.S., the consequence of which was inflation, the ECB cannot directly buy the bonds of its member states. This is because the ECB is modeled on the German Bundesbank and its policies are aimed at keeping inflation down.

G20 members cannot accept Germany’s reluctance to let the ECB buy national bonds. Their argument is why should any of them risk investing more in something Germany fears investing in.

Therefore, Germany was under pressure to abandon its veto on the proposed ECB rescue package, when all the finance ministers of the Eurozone countries with the exception of Germany demanded a full-scale ECB intervention at the crisis talks in Brussels last night.

-Adrienn Szlapak

G20: The Standpoint of Saudi Arabia

2011-11-07T23:43:00.001-05:00

Europe’s economy is too significant to let it sink and entail a global whirlpool. This was the main reason why the world’s largest economies gathered in Cannes, France on Thursday, 3 November 2011. The main focus of the G20’s agenda was to find a long-term solution for Europe regarding its debt crisis and to lead back the global economy on the right track with the help of other G20 countries.

Finance Minister, Ibrahim Al-Assaf, represented Saudi Arabia in the summit accompanied by Gov. Mohammed Al-Jasser from the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency. According to an article, French and Saudi bilaterals were expected to take place on the sidelines of the summit. Al-Jasser stated in an interview that in order to solve the problem of the Eurozone, the role of every country is very important including Saudi Arabia.

The presence of Saudi Arabia in the G20 summit is essential because Saudi represents the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Although Saudi’s participation in global economic affairs has been increasing (its stake reaches 2.8 percent in the IMF), during the summit the Kingdom made it clear that it does not desire to take too much part in the bailout.

The Central Bank in Saudi Arabia declared that it does not want to buy “distressed or speculative assets” including European debts and gold. It is clear that the OPEC member’s bank will not suffer from the euro zone crisis because they are too well positioned.

-Barbara H.-

Occupy Wall Street Protestors: Dedicated or Crazy?

2011-11-03T10:10:00.002-04:00

Zuccotti Park, NY, Oct. 11— Jason Ahmadi, a recent graduate of Berkeley, is one of the young protesters in Manhattan with a serious dedication to the Occupy Wall Street movement and a cohesive message.
“I’m here because of the wars, environmental devastation, and this nasty bailout. I am here to take the institutions back for our people, resist the 1 percent,” he says.
Jason, one of the organizers of the protests, first became involved through his role as a national committee member of the War Resisters League. The League is the United States’ oldest secular pacifist organization. Established in 1923, the War Resisters work towards nonviolent revolution, trying to stop war abroad and at home.
As Jason explains, the War Resisters League was a perfect fit and the right avenue to voice his beliefs. Already an active participant in hunger strikes, banner drops, marches, and tree-sits during college, when the Occupy movement began to form, the League trusted that Jason would be the right representative for them to send out.
“I go wherever I am needed,” says Jason. “I came out to support my brothers and sisters. I am representing the 99% that is left out of our economy.”
Jason’s commitment to the Occupy Wall Street movement provides much needed inspiration to others. His type of drive and passion transforms ideas into real changes, if only all members of the movement were as motivated and clear-headed as Jason. Thus, its not surprising when asked who his major influences are he lists Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X. Having already been arrested numerous times for protesting on Wall street,
As media coverage of the movement has increased, Jason has become a recognized face for the Occupy movement. Videos capturing several of his arrests can be found on YouTube, as well as interviews he has given to different media outlets, including NPR. When talking of his new found notoriety among the movement, Jason seems to get a little shy but concedes that any attention he gets ultimately helps the movement and elevates the cause.
“The love I have received from my supporters has been one of my greatest reserves to continue in the face of injustice and oppression,” he says.
With the protests having begun on September 17th, the question on everyone’s mind is whether the Occupy movement will generate any significant change. In exploring the possibility of protests dying out with no revisions made to the current system, Jason expresses no fear.
“This movement is growing, this movement is building. This is the future, this is the people power, this is the way we are going to change our society.”
Despite his arrests and the criticisms the movement has attracted, Jason is not backing down. Jason has been here since day one and says he will continue to be until the people are heard, “ this has empowered me to be here because this is more than our government being taken by the banks and exploiting all of us, this is about our First Amendment rights, our right to assemble and really just taking back our government for the people."
While Jason represents the devoted and committed activist, presenting the movement with the hope it needs to continue on in their fight, Blandon Blood symbolizes a more eccentric and, apparently, not quite lucid protester. At nineteen, Blandon hails from Transylvania, Romania. Normally when protesting Blandon can be found wearing his “V” mask which stands for the hacker collective Anonymous. The group, spread throughout the Internet, initiates active civil disobedience while trying to maintain their anonymity. “The mask,” as Blandon explains, “gives me freedom yet terror.”
Blandon was recruited to the Occupy protests by a letter, he claims, he received in the mail.
“They told me I had come out here right now, they needed my help.” When asked to clarify who “they” were Blandon couldn't quite elaborate.
However, regardless of how he got here the important part is that Blandon managed to get himself to Zuccotti Park and join the growing movement. For Blandon the protests are all about freedom and greed, “we all hate the greed.”
Having been camped out in the park for over 12 days now, Blandon doesn’t plan on going anywhere, “I will be here for as long as it takes, forever if I have to.” Police confrontation hasn’t deterred Blandon either. By his count he has already been arrested eight times since he’s arrived. Currently, Blandon is sporting a fresh bruise under his left eye that was the result of his latest arrest.
Like Jason, Blandon is definitely committed to the movement. He’s here speaking up for the same 99 percent that Jason seeks to represent. Although, when the conversation extends to broader topics such as international terrorism, Blandon’s beliefs become a little more controversial and radical. Blandon is thoroughly convinced the World Trade Center attacks were carried out by the Bush administration.
“I saw pictures of the explosion and video. You can see the C4, the explosive stuff, and it shows it was all the United States government.” Blandon also believes that car bombs should be put in cop cars in retaliation of their unjust treatment of protesters, “I am for the use of force.” Interestingly enough Blandon wears several stickers on his shirt that claim “love not war”.
Blandon is quite an interesting character and in spite of some of his contradictory messages he wants to be heard, he deserves the right to be heard. Blandon might not be as cohesive and organized as Jason, but both are defending their beliefs and supporting the 99 percent that want to regain control, as they see it, of a failing system.

-Gabrielle Melton

Wall Street: Hope and Bread in Abundance

2011-11-02T12:21:00.002-04:00

NEW YORK - There is something despondent about the Occupy Wall Street headquarters on a dark Tuesday evening. A large group of people meditate quietly near Church Street, small groups of people converse quietly near ledges and stairs. Lazing bodies litter the tarps on the ground, conjuring images of an oddly adult slumber party or makeshift outdoor hospital.

Not all of the occupiers subscribe to the grunge or hipster scene, though. Michael Benko doesn’t quite seem to fit with the majority of snaggle-haired, comrades standing in line for food. Small, well dressed, with glasses and a haircut hearkening to Clark Kent, he looks a little too well pressed to have been sleeping there for over a week.

“No, no, I’m not sleeping here, I just got here about an hour ago. Today, I mean. A lot of us come and go as we can,” he explains. Michael is one of the New Yorkers working their nine-to-five, and then joining the party for an hour or two after they’ve finished. “I just got off work, figured I should check out what’s changed since the weekend. Grab some food, too. It’s really good.”

He’s welcoming and warm on a chilly dark night, sharing his “table” with insistence. The food is better than expected – freshly delivered pizzas arrive in boxes just as Benko’s finished passing through the line. With the pile of food on his plate, he’s nonplussed. For good reason – kale salad with tomatoes, a spicy Middle-Eastern spiced lentil, bean, and rice mixture, spaghetti, baked ziti, glazed carrots, piles upon piles of bread, with an assortment at the end of fruit, hummus, and “vegan foie gras”. One gaunt man with matted hair and military fatigues even strolls around the courtyard with a large sack of loaves, offering free bread to whomever he spots nearby.

At the ripe age of 24, Michael lives in Astoria and works at a well-known publishing company in Manhattan.

“I got it through a temp agency, it was great,” he explains, in response to surprise of such a great placement at such a young age in this company. A former film student at Boston’s Emerson College, Benko graduated just as the stock market crashed to the floor.

“I have money in the stock market. People don’t know how to use the stock market, a lot of people our age think they should buy when stocks are high, but actually now would be a great time.” He continues to explain stocks for another few minutes, proving some of the protestors have indeed done their homework. Trailing off, he adds quietly “I just wish I felt like Wall Street worked for us. I wish some of them would come down here and actually see what’s going on.”

“There’s an intrinsic value in some ways more so than making a statement. It’s very therapeutic – some of the people here are students, some of them aren’t, some are just walking around taking pictures, some of them have just lost their jobs and have nothing better to do.”

The atmosphere is definitely different than the extreme anger, jubilation, drama, and parting that much of the media seem to present. “It’s a little weirder tonight,” Benko ponders, “A little angrier, maybe.” There is definitely a sinister mien that whispers about, lurking the occasional Guy Fawkes masks on faces and the backs of heads. But there are neither signs of rage, nor of violence – Benko hadn’t seen any, even with the close quarters and the menace of police batons.

Some protestors look somewhat wounded, some just exhausted. Many are cheery enough, but beneath a subdued air, as if hanging upon the park is something heavier than a big block party, but harder to qualify than the impassioned fever of a movement with a mission.

Indeed, one of the most frequent criticisms of the Occupy Wall Street movement is that it is a protest lacking clarity: no substantial demands, too many broad objectives, and a rhetoric that borders on absurd in its attempt at being provocative.

The sense of community created by the gathering is palpable, and everyone has something to talk about. Benko emphasizes the importance of having a place to go, calling it a “good social utility”. Movement, then, is a far better description than protest.

“I’m sure a few out there think it’s cool,” he says of the men on Wall Street, positing how they might perceive the movement. “I don’t think they get it. I think they’re too removed.”

The movement has progressed in a number of contradictory ways, swelling bandwagoners eager to be a part of something exciting, creating a demographic that changes daily. Without central clarity within the group, it has made it fairly amorphous.

The social network aspect of the “occupy movement” has added to its shifting, uncertain (albeit rapidly growing) structure. According to a recent Economist article, Twitter activity over the Wall Street protests has been manic, and new online programs such as “We Are The 99 Percent” have appeared and flourished rapidly. “We Are The 99 Percent” is a tumblr blog inviting anyone to write and post pictures about economic hardships, creating a community as well as visible, real examples of how the economic crisis is plaguing the country.

Predictably, if Benko had to use one word to describe the emotion of the movement, it would be hopeful. Countered with “forlorn”, or “despairing”, he adamantly shakes his head, with the strongest conviction he’s displayed thus far.“No, hopeful. Definitely hopeful.”

A sense of hope, or at the very least expectation, pervades. For every action a reaction should loom, and that seems to be what the movement wants. The financial crisis is something tangible and easily felt, but with a source that feels distant to those who suffer. The movement may move in many directions, but it aims to make this connection, and its clear there’s a sizable group of people who feel the need to move something.

When asked how long he expects the occupation to last, he takes a pause. Smiling thinly, he admits in a reluctant voice, “I think when the funding goes…ironically, when the money goes, so will it.”

By Liana Mitlyng Day

Leaders of the 99 Percent: A Profile of 'Occupy's' Most Dedicated

2011-11-02T11:06:00.004-04:00

NEW YORK - After the weekend rallies come to a close and the crowds of thousands slowly disperse, a select hundred or so return back to the encampment at Zuccotti Park, where Occupy Wall Street continue more than a month of protests against Wall Street excess, uneven income distribution, environmental degradation and a dozen other complaints of the political left.

Some media outlets have characterized the movement as an activist pastime for elite college students. In fact, a recent visit to the tiny part found that the the self-proclaimed “99 percenters” who eat, sleep and breathe the protest everyday are a varied bunch, similar only in their commitment to the various causes that unite them.

Most are young, either in college or in their mid-twenties, that is true. David G., an unemployed graduate at the University of Florida volunteers at the supplies tent, busying himself everyday sorting donations and distributing blankets and tarps to the protesters. Many of the protesters, fearing retaliation from employers or family, asked that their last names remain anonymous.

“I came with a friend and decided to stay. We're just starting to build a movement, and I wanted to be part of it.” David said.

Sophie, a 23 year-old Brooklyn native volunteers with David and shared a similar story.

“My boss is abroad, and he said that I could come down here instead of work at his juice bar in Brooklyn”, she said. “I started volunteering after I saw that they were short on hands. I've been here for about two weeks now.”

Occupy Wall Street started on Sept. 17 with a march through New York’s Financial District. Since then, protesters have camped out in Zuccotti Park, a privately managed plot situated just a block away from the World Trade Center Memorial. The spot was chosen strategically; because it is privately owned, police cannot kick out sleeping protesters for violating city laws that prohibit loitering.

Many of the volunteers and protesters took advantage of this loophole and decided that the goals of “Occupy Wall Street” were important enough to put their current lives on hold. Unlike the students who only come down for the weekends, protesters like Rebecca Borrer, a freshman at the New College of Florida, made a commitment to stay, even if that meant taking a semester away from school.

“I grew up in Manhattan, so I felt like it was my duty, in a way, to mobilize support. My dad comes down every once and a while to join the protest too. I wouldn't say it's inconvenient. It's worth the sacrifice.”

But not everyone can commit to sleeping in the park indefinitely. Older protesters, like Gene Wagner, 45 year-old artist, stays with the protesters for the day, then returns to his New Jersey studio. After Gene lost his job, he decided to contribute to the movement with his art. Selling his paintings at Zuccotti, Gene donates all of his profits to the movement at large.

“I donate this money because I find the protests so important. We live in a society where we are told what we want. We are pushed into most jobs, and a lot of the time, they’re not even worth it,” he said. “ When you get to the end of the rainbow, somebody has stolen your pot of gold.”

Occupy Wall Street, however, is not just for students or the unemployed. Dustin, a 26-year old college grad, finds steady employment as a freelancer in marketing. Nonetheless, he comes to the park every evening after work to protest.

“Things need to change,” he said. “I'm here because I think our country is just going to get worse, if no one does anything. If corporations are people, they should be in prison,” he said.

Brian Gotteman, a 23 year-old student and intern also used to spend all his time at the protest, but now has to cut back since finding employment. He now comes out in the evenings to show his continued solidarity. As a political science major, he feels particularly close to the cause and thinks he could offer constructive solutions.

“I think that because companies now have so much power, they should be determined by election. America would also benefit from proportional representation, but I’m less optimistic that this could actually happen.”

After graduating from Bard College in 2002, Bridget, who did not wish to share her last name, expected a much more lucrative career, but after living in Manhattan for 8 years, she has only managed a series of low-paying jobs. While she felt lucky to have a job, she explained that it was not enough. She held a sign that read, “I can’t even afford bootstraps,” a refernce to the old taunt that the jobless should just stop complaining and help themselves out of distress. Bridget embodies the college-aged protesters who fear they have trained for an economic future that has disappeared.

“I’m not quite sure why I’m here,” she remarked, as if the question surprised her. “I’m here for the general support of the movement. I feel like I need to express myself. I really do feel a discomfort, a dissatisfaction with the lack of bootstraps.”

Protesters also claimed diverse ethnic backgrounds. Native Americans, one of the most marginalized groups in American society also showed support. Before a sign that read, “Are you sure you can trust the Government? Just ask an Indian,” a Seneca group sat in the middle of the crowd. Terry, an elder in the tribe, was much less political in his reasoning for attending the protest. He drove from the tribal lands near Lake Erie in Western New York for a more spiritual purpose.

“I felt I had no choice but to be here,” he says, “I felt a basic call to consciousness. I was led here by the Spirit. Mother Earth has been sick for a long time.”

On a more tangible level, Terry, also known as Gadagey, meaning “on top of the chimney,” explained that he was also there for his 14 and 17 year-old daughters.

“I want the future to be different for them.” he said.

Although Terry has been coming to the protests daily since the beginning of October, he is a union ironworker and expects to be back at work within the next week.

“I’ll still come whenever I can, though. After work and on weekends.”

Terry was surprised to find out that he seemed to be part of a minority that was there on a more spiritual rather than political mission, but explained how the protest fit with his tribe’s beliefs.

“My ancestor, Handsome Lake prophesized decades ago that this would happen, that the people would rise up, as a sign of things to come.”

In Terry’s opinion, “healthy minds want to live in harmony,” and while he was impressed by the peaceful atmosphere and cooperation at the protests, he has a bleak outlook for the future.

“I think the situation is only going to get worse. I am worried that the government wants one world order, one currency, but I’m more concerned about maintaining diversity,” he stated.

The diversity of the Occupy Wall Street protesters holds both benefits and risks. The general sentiments expressed by the protest has resonated with many people, prompting Occupy movements across not only America, but in Europe and Asia as well. It voices a basic concern about wealth inequality across the world, but it also lacks a solid agenda to address it. Critics argue that Occupy Wall Street, while an excellent tactic to garner attention, cannot hope to achieve real change without developing a cohesive plan of action.

The future of Occupy Wall Street remains unclear. It has certainly succeeded in mobilizing a generation whose apathy many critics thought unshakable. While the protest has unified a such a diverse group around Zuccotti Park, Washington D.C., and elsewhere, the fragmentation of their solutions threatens to render their efforts politically impotent.

By Danielle and Rachel

The Race for the 2012 Republican Candidate Runs Right Through Crazyville

2011-11-01T16:29:00.003-04:00

This post is in response to the controversial Herman Cain 2012 campaign advertisement, available for viewing here.

Herman Cain's campaign advertisement featuring his chief of staff smoking a cigarette has sparked a flurry of public outrage, political analysis, spoofs, jokes, and inquiries into the mental health status of Mr. Cain. Despite all the Cain controversy, however, he has twice polled in as the lead contender of the GOP political race. How did this happen?

In defense of this ad, Cain said that it showed "Mark Block being Mark Block" and that his campaign was centered around "letting people be people, and letting Herman be Herman". But many are angered over the use of cigarette smoking to convey this. Although some may point out that President Obama is on and off smoker (according to a recent doctor's visit he is now apparently off), Obama never used this practice to try to get elected by publicizing it in any way comparable to this campaign ad.

But enough about the ad, the problems and critiques of it are too obvious to analyze. The real story here is: How can "Herman being Herman" be so popular? The scary thing about Herman Cain, from saying that he will admit to not knowing the name of the leader of "Uz-beke-beke-beke-bekistan", to his joke/idea of an electrified border fence, is that he isn't even close to being the only questionable contender. Michele Bachmann, for example, wants a "double border fence" (because two is always better than one!), and Rick Perry gets applause in debates for the amount of people he has executed in his state.

The United States is arguably the world's leading superpower, but our current state of political affairs threatens to undermine this status. The race for the 2012 Republican candidate only demonstrates a portion of how crazy things have gotten in politics. From fighting never-ending wars, to heavily subsidizing dirty industries, and never being able to agree on sound fiscal policy, Mr. Obama was right in the phrasing of his job's speech to call it "the political circus".

As political divisions in this country grow wider, elected officials move farther away from representing the interests of the American voters who put them in office. With a disaster of an economy, the American people are hurting. The let down of the past four years has shown the American people that change (or the lack of it) has less to do with who is President, and more to do with political divisions. The two party system may ultimately be our downfall as the world's leading superpower if differences cannot be met in the middle.

- Ysabel Yates

the inevitable question: to publish or not to publish?

2011-11-01T14:21:00.002-04:00

To view this article click here

(the reason why part of this is highlighted is because I wrote it for something on our website and I can't get it to go away, but be assured, it is my writing)

“They had kidnapped a geek with backup — a respected member of the hackers collective known as Anonymous. … ‘You have made a great mistake by taking one of us,’ said the video’s masked figure. ‘Release him.’ … Or else, the message said, the names of government officials, taxi drivers and journalists who worked with the Zetas would be published online. The goal, they said, was the arrest of these suspected collaborators, but was there a possibility they might be killed by a rival cartel? Yes, said self-identified members of Anonymous, acknowledging the danger. Beyond that, might the hackers also be targeted?”

This article is about a group of hackers fighting against a Mexican drug cartel for kidnapping a fellow hacker. The hackers are threatening to publish a list of people involved in the cartel. No one knows how the list was obtained and it may even have been tainted by sources.

Drawing on the strong imagery and implications of a Guy Fawkes in the video, the hackers have created a YouTube video, which is how they chose to warn the drug cartel that Anonymous is gunning for them.

The hackers now face a dilemma similar to that of Wikileaks: do they publish and risk the lives of the people on the list and their own? There are many who clamor for and against the publication. The consequences of going forward may lead to murders of the cartel members, which Anonymous says is not the goal; they want the agents to be punished justly. But, if they publish and there are assassinations, are they responsible? They have aired what their intention is, are they responsible for unintended results?

This is a fabulous example of online media being used to influence life in countries beyond the US and larger European ones. Technology being used for something other than entertainment, indeed something quite grim is common enough, but this instance is more; it asks for action and appeals for recognition. A “don’t tread on me” banner as it were.

I’m working on how I feel about the situation, I feel as divided about this as I do about Wikileaks. Added to this is the general crackdown on the cartels by both American and Mexican governments, how will this list change their approach or will it shatter their advance?

-Rosie

Richard Goldstone Has Somthing To Say (Bard)..

2011-11-01T14:16:00.006-04:00

In Yesterday's New York Times. Richard Goldstone, author of the controversial "Goldstone Report" and former justice in the South African Constitutional Court wrote an editorial titled: "Israel and the Apartheid Slander".

Goldstone was responding to The Russell Tribunal on Palestine (a London based NGO) efforts to hold a “hearing” on whether Israel is guilty of the crime of apartheid in Cape Town this week. Justice Goldstone claims that “It is not a "tribunal. The "evidence" is going to be one-sided and the members of the "jury" are critics whose harsh views of Israel are well known.”

Goldstone writes:

“While "apartheid" can have broader meaning, its use is meant to evoke the situation in pre-1994 South Africa. It is an unfair and inaccurate slander against Israel, calculated to retard rather than advance peace negotiations.”

“I know all too well the cruelty of South Africa's abhorrent apartheid system, under which human beings characterized as black had no rights to vote, hold political office, use "white" toilets or beaches, marry whites, live in whites-only areas or even be there without a "pass." Blacks critically injured in car accidents were left to bleed to death if there was no "black" ambulance to rush them to a "black" hospital. "White" hospitals were prohibited from saving their lives. “

“In assessing the accusation that Israel pursues apartheid policies, which are by definition primarily about race or ethnicity, it is important first to distinguish between the situations in Israel, where Arabs are citizens, and in West Bank areas that remain under Israeli control in the absence of a peace agreement.”

He concludes his article by stating: “Of course, the Palestinian people have national aspirations and human rights that all must respect. But those who conflate the situations in Israel and the West Bank and liken both to the old South Africa do a disservice to all who hope for justice and peace.”

Israel is at war with Palestine, Palestine is at war with Israel until, this is resolved Palestinians will never be given the rights they deserve by neither their authorities nor the Israeli government. “Hearings” such as this are unproductive and only result in slander, nothing will be gained from this effort. The biased Russell Tribunal should seek to resolve the situation of inequality in the area and not just point figures where we all know that they have been pointed before. The tribunal will not conclude anything new and it will not contribute to the peace process only attempt to hamper it. I am sure the people involved in the Russell Tribunal are well intentioned, well educated and nice people and I even more certain that they think what they are doing is more important than anything - but its not and its a waste of all their time.

It is almost like they want to change the a certain country's (or even the world's) economic policies and instead of doing anything about it, they sit in a park all day long - imagine.

- Roy

Libya's Arms Stockpile

2011-11-01T13:49:00.002-04:00

Read article here:

With Gaddafi removed from power and a new chapter beginning for Libya, there are still many questions left to be answered that could hamper the country's new future. The biggest question of all, and a major concern for the UN Security Council is what to do with the massive weapons stockpile amassed under Colonel Gaddafi. With many arms being looted due to the chaos that ensued during the recent uprising, the Security Council is worried these weapons could fall into the hands of Al-Qaeda or other violent militant groups. While many of the weapons were destroyed by NATO, it is unknown how many of Libya's arms are still in circulation.

A resolution put forth by the council calls on neighboring countries to "stamp out the proliferation" of arms and called on the new Libyan government to destroy their chemical weapons. The council is mainly worried about Libya's "shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles" that pose a direct threat to passenger aircraft's.

The proliferation of Libya's weapons comes at a crucial time because although Gaddafi has been overthrown, the country is in transition, and this is when a country is at its weakest. Smuggled and looted arms in the hands of terrorist and militant organizations is very dangerous. Libya may be rid of a corrupt leader, but they still have a long way to go to achieve their desired peace.

Security Council President Joy Ogwu: "When people disarm, peace follows."

-Gabrielle Melton

Subliminal Messages

2011-10-31T22:07:00.002-04:00

This weekend I went to go see In Time with Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried. The movie, to me, was great to say the least. In the film, the message was quite clear, “in order for few to be immortal, many must die”. The movie represented a life as if wage was literally paid in time. The the amount of time people were paid was the amount of time they had left to live. The movie shows the realities of people living day to day (paycheck to paycheck) and people literally dying because they didn't have enough time. The poor continued to struggle and die because the upper class continued to raise the standard of living, the rich continued to live forever controlling the system. The movie that transparently showed the separation between classes is speaking subliminally about injustices around the world. The message that was repeated, “for few to be immortal, many must die”, is a phrase that is just like the one sung at Occupy Wall St. “We are the 99%.” The protestors see that the system is constantly setting people up for failure. People can not find jobs, so that means no income; people graduate from college and can not find jobs in their fields, which means no income while interest is building on student loans; there is a lack of universal healthcare; along with the standard of living continuing to rise. This system that we live in has a lot of faulty aspects, but it’s not just us in the United States that is suffering from a system where only a few are thriving. Look at Sao Paulo in Brazil for example. The wealth disparity is clear. There are hundreds of slums literally right next door to multi-million dollar condos with private pools on every deck. Even in India where a husbands family kills the bride because the dowry for the wife’s family raises, and they are unable to pay the increased wage. The grooms family kills her to be able to marry another bride whose family can afford to pay the new dowry. Even the fact that widows can’t remarry in certain parts of India making them result to beggars adds on to the system that does not properly support their citizens. This movie, even if not intentionally, is presenting many problems not just in the United States, but all over. The standard of living is getting extremely expensive and people can not even provide the basic necessities for their families. It is a very sad reality that ‘for few to be in the 1% many must struggle to survive’ living paycheck to paycheck. In the movie, they went to extremes to change the situation they were in. I wonder what it will take to change the world system so that everyone who wants it, will be able to live a prosperous and fruitful life. Lets not let our time run out!!!

Alexis Roe

Pakistan is in!

2011-10-31T19:02:00.002-04:00

On 21 October 2011 the General Assembly in the United Nations’ Headquarter in New York, held an election about filling five empty posts in the Security Council. Nine countries ran for five non-permanent seats in the Council. Those who win have their position for two years. This year, Azerbaijan, Guatemala, Morocco, Pakistan, and Togo won the chance to become involved in the work of the UN Security Council (UNSC).

Certainly, opinions are divided about Pakistan’s membership especially because India, its main “enemy”, has been member of the Council since June this year. The tense situation between the two countries inspired me to do a small research on them, how experts see Pakistan’s positions and what they expect from her in the Security Council.

First of all, this is not the first time India and Pakistan are members of the Security Council at the same time. It was the year of 1977 when they were both part of the Council. The countries had three wars since they gained their independence from Great Britain in 1947. I’ve read in several articles, diplomats in the UN do not think the membership of Pakistan will cause any tension in the Security Council. The only possible problem will be if Russia, China and Pakistan decide to vote against US and EU supported sanctions regarding Syria and Iran.

According to Abdul Ruff’s article, specialist and analyst of International Affairs, there are plenty of expectations towards Pakistan in the UNSC. First of all, it has to facilitate peace and prosperity in Pakistan. As Abdul Ruff stated, Pakistan has to be deliberate not to become trapped by Islamic states that might want to use the country for their own interests neglecting the interest of humanity. Pakistan is expected to fight against “illegal terror war” as well and with a truthful fight it could end the “US led NATO wars” said Mr. Ruff.

As a conclusion, there are many hopes and expectations Pakistan has to face within the upcoming two years in the UNSC.

The ten non-permanent seats are rotating between different regions. This year, the African, Asian, Latin American, Caribbean and Eastern European regions fell vacant. For the Asian region, originally Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Fiji ran but Fiji withdrew its campaign in favour of Pakistan.

-Barbara Hanis-

Variables for Future Stability in Saudi Arabia after New Crown Prince Announced

2011-10-31T14:54:00.004-04:00

http://eurasia.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/10/28/saudi_succession_starts_to_gel

The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Sultan bin Abdelaziz Al Saud, 80, died on October 22^nd 2011 in a New York hospital after a series of illnesses. He held the position as defense minister for almost five decades, and was a committed ally to the United States. Prince Sultan is succeeded by his brother, Prince Nayef, 78, who served as the interior minister for 35 years and who was chosen as the heir through a historic vote by the Allegiance Council, a body set up by King Abdullah to ensure transparent successor procedure. Nevertheless, many argue that the successor procedure was far from democratic even within the Council as Prince Nayef was appointed second deputy prime minister already in 2009, a role that would only have been given to King Abdullah’s successor to the Saudi throne.

The appointment of Prince Nayef poses several questions for Saudi Arabia’s future.Prince Nayef is believed to be more socially conservative than his predecessor- he oversaw a tough crackdown on the opposition in the wake of the Arab Spring and he opposes women to be given the right to vote and to drive. On the other hand, he has also shown progressive tendencies such as when he supported the move to issue women identity cards with their photographs, a legislation which consequently gave women more freedom in financial and legal transactions as they were previously reliant on being registered under their fathers’ or their husbands’ cards.

The immediate political risk and the stability of the country will depend on the person who will take over after Prince Sultan as Saudi Arabia’s next Defense Minister. The overall future stability of Saudi Arabia rests on the extent of conservatism in Prince Nayef’s rule and the possible implications it will have on U.S.-Saudi partnership.

While speculations of Prince Nayef’s conservatism are circulating among media sources, it is also wrong to claim that King Abdullah is a reform-minded monarch taking into account the current state of Saudi Arabia’s affairs: women are not allowed to drive and are not permitted to leave the house without a chaperone in the form of a household representatives: their father, brother or husband. The current King Abdullah, 87, is frail after having gone through three back surgeries in 2011 alone. Nonetheless, while King Abdullah is in charge, the status quo in Saudi Arabia is expected to maintain.

- Inga

7 Billionth Baby in Today's Crowded World

2011-10-31T13:23:00.008-04:00

The baby marking a world population of seven billion was born today. The Guardian announced that Danica May Camacho, born in Manila, Philippines, was chosen by the UN to represent the crossing of the threshold to seven billion people. It appears to me that this symbolic act on behalf of the UN is not simply a celebration of a growing global population, but it highlights the pressuring burdens on the horizon of the world community.

In order to accommodate the current population, it is necessary to increase food production. However, increased food production damages and eventually erodes the soil. In other words, we are caught in a vicious circle in which our population continues to grow (higher birth rates and higher life expectancy) while the capacity of the Earth is unable to keep up with the population growth.

When Danica May Camacho grows up, she will learn about the symbolic meaning of her birth. That she became the UN symbol of a crowded world and the vast inability of the world to support its population. This is a heavy burden to carry for a young girl. Which leads me to wonder whether the UN has ever thought of the consequences from their symbolic crowning. Just like the permanent seats of the UN Security Council are outdated, perhaps this symbolic marking is too: I understand that it was a global celebration when the first-, second-, third-, fourth-billion person entered the world, however, aware of the world’s inability to sustain a population of six billion, perhaps this symbolic marking targeted on one specific individual, can lead to increased personal problems for the chosen baby when she grows up. The possibility of psychological problems from being the symbol of a population of seven billion is not excluded as the person might feel that her existence was marked by the UN not as a celebration but as an indicator of the inevitable: “the challenges of the world’s growing population.”

In this article, the previous children who marked both the six billion population and the five billion population complain that the UN first chose them as someone special but later simply forgot about them. The parents of Danica May Camacho received some money to cover the initial costs of starting up a small shop as well as an education scholarship for their newborn. It will not come as a surprise that baby Camacho too, in a few years time, will feel ‘abandoned’ by the UN. A realistic outlook, perhaps, presents the best explanation to why the UN ‘forgets’ these children who become global symbols: with so much on their plate, and now more than seven billion people to sustain and support, the UN simply does not have the time to follow up on individual cases.

Collectively, we have been on earth for around three million years, yet in this long time we have been unable to implement a world order in which every individual has access to basic necessities and to human rights. Today, there are still numerous places where women are not treated equally with men, there are lands where women are not allowed to drive, not allowed to leave their homes without a chaperone in the form of a male family member. Today, in the ‘better’ multilateral world compared to the block system which existed until the end of World War II, countries continue to intervene in domestic politics of other countries, killing thousands of innocent civilians for political causes. The seven billionth baby further emphasizes the endless challenges of the world and the unlikely possibility of a harmonious life on Earth.

One of the ways to pinpoint the challenges this growing number presents, is by choosing a baby born in the Philippines. The UN could have chosen from many other babies in different countries born more or less at the exact same time as Danica May Camacho to mark the seven billion population, but no, it had to be a baby in Manila, a country in which 40 percent of its population lives below the poverty line, a nation in which 600, 000 of 1.5 million Filipinos born yearly are born to poor parents (data from 2001). It remains uncertain how much real action this UN effort of marking the baby that represents global population of seven billion will lead to.

We could not provide sufficient lives to our six billion people yesterday, how can we possibly provide sufficient lives to the seven billion population today?

- Inga

Surviving the Protest Lifestyle

2011-10-27T11:59:00.001-04:00

NEW YORK, Oct 11 –To the mixed smells of fumigant and marijuana, the sounds of enigmatic buzzing and drum solos, hundreds of young people revel in peace in Zuccotti Park, a small strip of Manhattan real estate given over to twilight candles and talk of peace and reform.

“It’s like Woodstock!” an anonymous voice exclaimed.

Of course, this is not 1969. These people have been assembling in New York City, Zuccotti Park as participants of the Occupy Wall Street, a series of demonstrations. The protesters say they represent the 99 % of the American society unemployment or job insecurity while the top 1% prosper. As the protesters tell it, the “1 percenters” are represented best by the rich, greedy and corrupt banks bailed out by taxpayers in the financial crisis of 2008-2009.Call it an “American Spring,” even if it is taking place in autumn: The protesters cite the uprisings of the Arab Spring as their inspiration.

“People of many colors, genders and political persuasions…” the official website of the demonstration says.

“The Wall Street Occupation has made New York City the physical and spiritual capital of a great people’s awakening,” says a flier making the rounds from former New York Congressman Major Owens, , Entitled a “Call for Coalition and Solidarity,” Owens declared “ it is a magnificent movement and hope it goes on until it has an impact.” He definitely would like to come back and involve all the New Yorkers.

On a recent Tuesday evening, Owens took part in the movement’s nightly “General Assembly, held from 7 am till 9.30 pm every evening. Due to city prohibitions on the use of megaphones or other amplified sound, protesters employ a ”human microphone;” that is, they inform the rest of the park of the Assembly’s decisions by whispering information from one person to another until it has reached everyone in the protest.

While the Assembly helps protesters to organize and plan their next moves, the mundane realities of life in a small, crowded and exposed place go on. A volunteer is quietly sweeping the area and sanitary men are picking garbage, while, on the other side of the park, a girl is selling her graffiti pictures for $100 each.

Jay Sullivan has been giving away pirated movies for 7 years at Union Square. He has now decided to “encourage everyone who thinks it’s a good idea to do it themselves. Conversations would grow out of it and then people would start thinking about these issues. ” said

Next to them, Yoga classes are held where everyone can participate and relax for a while. A few feet away, there is the kitchen where free food is served. Nearby pizzerias offer them meals but also people from the neighborhood cook them or let them use their kitchens.

The movement also launched its weekly newspaper entitled The Occupied Wall Street Journal. People can read in two languages, English and Spanish, news of the sympathy demonstrations have garnered as they spread to other parts of the country and all over the world. On the back of The Occupied Wall Street Journal there are “Five Things He Can Do Now” to help the movement, including: Bring instruments, food, blankets, bedding rain gear, and your friends, Spread the Word, Donate, Follow the Occupation or Educate Yourself.

“People are out here and they are happy. There is free massage, medical supply, library where we can have free conversations,” said Molly McCartney , a 21-year-old young lady, who was very determined why they need to be on Wall Street. Everyone has their own stories how they ended up being among the protesters. Molly said, her father passed away in April and he had hoped that a movement like this would happen. Besides supporting the political reasons for the protest, she also came to represent her father.

While city authorizes have largely left the protestors alone (with some important exceptions), they have made life harder for the movement. Some days ago, the electricity was shut off in the park. Later, someone donated a solar power truck, and since then, it serves the protesters’ needs. Participants are not allowed to use tents in the park, so they are covering their belongings, including their donated sleeping bags, with plastic wrap.

The area is under supervision by the New York Police Department. Protesters believe the presence of the NYPD is totally unnecessary because the movement is peaceful and always will be. According to Molly, instead of having the NYPD in the neighborhood of Wall Street, they should provide more support in other areas of New York.

“The NYPD should be in Brooklyn to protect defenseless women who might become victims of the serial rapist who threatens the public nowadays,” she said.

Some people do decide to leave the park around midnight so they can sleep at home. Rob, audio engineer, has been at the protest since Wednesday last week, chose this option. He has an apartment where he also lets people crash and use the shower. Generally, people are very welcoming with the protesters. The nearby McDonalds, and pizza places have let individuals use the restrooms.

While many have offered help for the protesters as they seek to survive the elements and other challenges, others see the seamy side of letting them settle in the park. Patrick, a student of finance, said that, “No way of human being to live like that. They are selling drugs and having sex in their shelters. Yesterday, they helped to hide someone from the police. Today, the guy got arrested.”

Ruwan Meepagola, 24 years old sales manager, does not believe in protests and thinks they will never achieve their goals and should get a job. His friend, Giancarlo Alvarez, 27, agrees with the cause but not the means. “The protest is incorrect because it is very localized. This case is present across the country. There are other means of mass communication.”

No matter what some think of this protest and its fulfillment, these people are practicing two out of the five fundamental rights. They speak and assemble for one common goal and try to live by the words of Mahatma Gandhi: “Be the change you want to see in the world!”

-Barbara Hanis-

Time for Fresh Eyes on Occupy Wall Street?

2011-10-26T12:42:00.000-04:00

NEW YORK, October 11 – Occupy Wall Street, a completely leaderless movement that claims to represent 99% of the population against the greedy 1%, staked a claim on a small piece of New York real estate known as Zuccotti Park in September 17.

Employing a range of tactics for media publicity, the movement has gathered thousands of people to occupy Zuccotti Park (private) near in the Wall Street vicinity and staged protesters all over the Manhattan, inspiring solidarity movements globally in 71 cities and drawing disdain from those opposed to their political views.

The unorthodox approach of the Occupy movement—deliberately avoiding sharp, limited demands in favor of a democratic-cum-anarchic call for change—has prompted speculation on the movement's potential success.

In spite of the vagueness of its message, this amorphous structure has proven successful. The undefined mission and intentional disorganization have allowed the movement to be inclusive, drawing people from all different walks of life –from former Wall Street traders to union organizers to professional left-wing activists.

While no one can deny that Occupy Wall Street (OWS) has been quite successful in drawing media attention and attracting solidarity movements worldwide, the ultimate effectiveness of its media strategy remains uncertain, due to the lack of defined message and an apparent absence of internal consensus.

The widespread media coverage won by the movement is so far regarded as one of the biggest successes, something that even the initiators did not expect.

“No one knows what’s going to happen the next day,” admitted Throine Peace, one of the media coordinators on the #OWS Media Team, an internal working group based in the middle of the park. “We are carefully letting people grow; now you can’t take it down,” he added during an interview, “the movement is meant to redefine itself everyday with the changes” and indeed no one has predicted the wild attention they have raised so far.

Another member of the Media and the Press Teams, Jason Ahmadi, believes their communications strategy has succeeded particularly well on the Internet.

“We are attacking all fronts” he said. He considers the movement’s website and the relationship it has developed with LiveStream as their biggest success, a place where anyone who is interested can follow what is happening even if they cannot be there.

The spread of “Occupy” protests nationwide triggered also attests to this success; the #Occupy movement in Seattle and Washington D.C. are prime examples of this. In addition, numerous organizations plan to incorporate the idea of #Occupy movement into their own campaign causes. Recently, the idea of bringing Occupy Wall Street together with the Tea Party even surfaced briefly. No matter criticism or support, cooperation or skepticism, the attention #Occupy achieved in just four weeks far outstrips the track record of recent such movements.

Turning this success of media attention into real changes, however, remains a challenge. #Occupy has yet to define a consistent message that can be condensed down to pragmatic political changes. Though everyone in the movement wants a fairer economy and to live a better life, their suggestions for changes vary widely. There are people asking for stricter governmental regulations, while others are urging for smaller government, if not an anarchic society. Some protest against job outsourcing to developing countries, while others hold signs for a truly globalized planet. The only common idea all protesters seem to share is solidarity in belonging to the “99 percent”.

People came to the Park to voice their opinions through the existing publicity, become part of the movement and help expanding the spread with their own outreach efforts. In this case, to reach a consensus among people holding conflicting opinions, if at all possible, and come down to certain specific policy options means to block out a certain group of people, who are part of and have been helping to expand the movement. If Wall Street is facing a protest, the protest is facing a dilemma.

Not surprisingly, this dilemma has caught attention from media, NGOs, scholars and politicians, including former US President Bill Clinton. In a Chicago talk show last Wednesday night, Clinton, who has sympathized with OWS, urged the protesters to come down to more specific political goals and work with people who have the knowledge and power to implement these changes.

“To make the change, eventually what it is you’re advocating has to be clear enough and focused enough that either there’s a new political movement which embraces it or people in one of the two parties embrace it,” Clinton said.

Though it is hard to predict what OWS is heading towards, a growing number of case studies in campaign, advocacy movements or NGO management have discussed lessons learned from the movement. Most of these articles focus on its successful strategy in outreach, while warning future movements to develop a more defined message.

Responding to this debate, Throine argued that a more open approach amplified the movement’s appeal. “If you say this is about one thing at the beginning, lots of people would not have come,” he said. #Occupy is a progressing movement.

Two clear but conflicting efforts to redefine OWS are in the air: one to address their weakness and, as Clinton suggested, “work with a political party” or “form their own.” This allows OWS more space to come down to real changes from the top down. The other would seek to maximize the advantages of an undefined message, or even broaden it. To make any real changes this way, #Occupy would need to influence individuals spiritually from the bottom up.

Still, some common ideas exist in either of these directions: they all recognized #Occupy’s inclusiveness as comparing to the previous protests or revolutionary movements, while at the same time even #Occupy admitted that it is not the same as those organized and targeted campaigns in many ways. This comparison of #Occupy with something it is fundamentally different from reveals a stereotype in the understanding of the movement.

The stereotype about protest movements is that they should have a central message and an organized, effective structure; therefore, when there is no defined consensus within, people think there is something wrong. The premature self-comparison with the Arab Spring may have made the situation even worse as people constantly refer back to it, while forgetting about the progressive redefinition and adaptation of the movement.

What if it is not meant to be a unified movement? What if it is not meant to carry one channeled message? What if it is just “an open resource project”, as they like to call themselves, which hosts an amalgam of ideas from everybody who is willing to contribute, but which has no defined message as a whole? Rather than asking whether this could be the third direction #Occupy could turn towards, it appears “a platform for voices” is what really defines the movement right now.

In this case, debates on #Occupy’s problem based on the ground of “campaign theory” do not shed much light on the future of the movement. If they need to make a decision for their future, it seems they already had made one. The question is, how should the world view OWS from a different perspective. Just as software programmers need to maintain the server, how can OWS keep their momentum and advantage of existing publicity and turn that to the advantage of people and groups who need a place to speak their mind.

- Yinan Hu and Adrienn Szlapak

The Return of Warlordism in Afghanistan

2011-10-26T10:53:00.003-04:00

After a decade of involvement in Afghanistan, it appears the United States hasn't learned a critical lesson. Warlordism has been a critical component in driving the country's vicious cycle of violence. Yet as the drawdown of US and NATO troops proceeds, American policymakers are one again turning to warlord-led militias to fill security gaps.

“It is enormously short sighted to turn to these militias for stability. It all looks good on paper, but what matters is security and that's not happening,” said Rachel Reid, a researcher for Human Rights Watch and adviser on Afghanistan for the Open Society Institute. Reid and other activists participated in a recent discussion panel on human rights in Afghanistan at New York University.

The history of warlordism in Afghanistan is a long one, stretching back over thirty years to the Soviet conflict with the Mujahedin guerilla fighters. Organized in small groups, normally along ethnic or clan lines, the Mujahedin successfully overthrew the Communist government, but failed to restore stability after the conflict ended. Warlords at regional outposts promoted corruption and violence in the early 1990s, which fueled the rise of the Taliban as a force for stability. Today, with US support, disparate militia groups have once again emerged as regional power brokers and with similarly chaotic results.

“We react as if Afghan violence is something shocking and foreign when in fact we are directly responsible for the way things have unfolded,” said Matthieu Aikins, a journalist whose article on one of the most notorious Afghan militia leaders, Abdul Raziq, just appeared in the November issue of The Atlantic.

Abdul Raziq, like many of the U.S.-backed militia commanders in Afghanistan, has a record of drug trafficking and murder, but has received US support and funding for counterinsurgency operations in Kandahar Province. Since becoming involved in the U.S. fight against the Taliban in 2001, Raziq has been connected to hundreds of cases of torture and murder involving innocent civilians.

“We knew Raziq's human rights record, and this conscious decision to fund him was made. Human rights is not taken into account in Afghanistan,” he said.

Shunting justice in favor of security has become the norm in Afghanistan, but this tactic has produced neither justice nor security.

“It's been underestimated for far too long how much these abuses have actually fueled the insurgency,” explained Anand Gopal, a reporter who has written extensively about the war in Afghanistan. “US strategy is incentivizing insecurity.”

Men like Raziq have learned how to profit from US military contracts and to keep the contracts flowing in, patrols need to prove that they are still needed to maintain security. Often, innocent families wrongfully targeted as insurgents turn against the United States, and some even look to the Taliban for protection.

“Raziq represents a new generation of warlords- those who have been formed by the logic of the international contracting market,” noted Aikins, “These guys are completely new creatures, and in Southern Afghanistan, they are the ones in power.”

The return of warlordism has also stymied attempts to establish an Afghan Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Karzai government, filled with former warlords from the Mujahedin era have put forth little effort to address the nation's bloody history since 1979. In 2007, Afghanistan's parliament even passed a law granting amnesty to those involved in conflict before 2001.

With the power vacuum growing larger, the panel's consensus delivered a bleak outlook for the future of Afghanistan, especially if the US doesn't change its strategy.

Denouncing the militia policy, Reid advocated for greater U.S. oversight of Afghanistan's top authorities.

“Don't break up the monopoly of violence through the use of militias, break up the monopoly on power. We should want the Afghan government to stop milking the opportunity for all it's worth before the money's all gone.”

Unfortunately, current United States policy appears to continue along the same trajectory. If the United States continues to fund militia warlords like Raziq, their power and the abuses they promote will only grow as U.S. troops become more scarce.

-Rachel

Ironic

2011-10-25T18:09:00.003-04:00

Read article here.

With the death of Gaddafi, another despotic leader has been brought down. Another clear sign the Arab Spring Uprisings continue to barrel through the Middle East. No where are these uprisings more evident than in Syria. While Assad still clings to power, revolts have spread across the country. With the revolts have come the violence and bloodshed. Over 3000 Syrians have been killed since March and another 15,000 have been arrested or "disappeared".
However, the most outspoken critic of Syria's repression of its people has come from Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Ironic since Iran has some of the highest corruption rates and human rights abuses in the world. In criticizing Syria's violent crackdown on dissent in the country, President Ahmadinejad said, "Nobody has the right to kill others, neither the government nor its opponents." This is surprising since Iran was much criticized for its crackdown of the green movement that formed due to what many called a skewed re-election of Ahmadinejad in 2009. Additionally, Iran has suppressed many of its own uprisings since the Arab Spring movements began.
It is also shocking because Syria and Iran hold close ties; Syria is Iran's biggest ally in the region. The Iranian President has even gone so far to suggest that Syrian President Al-Assad listen to the protesters and "be accountable to his people's legitimate demands".
Iran's stance on Syria's problems are almost comical. The exact solution Ahmadinejad is suggesting is one he has completely disregarded in his own country. Mr. Ahmadinejad should take his own advice and limit his commentary on abuses he is guilty of himself.

Gabrielle Melton

U.S. ambassador to Syria safer in Washington

2011-10-25T00:10:00.002-04:00

Facebook can be life threatening, as Robert S. Ford, the U.S. ambassador to Syria had to realize. Mr. Ford, who among other things, openly denounced Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Facebook, had to return to Washington, D.C. because of “credible threats to his personal safety”.

According to an article on Aljazeera, Mr. Ford returned to Washington this weekend; however, he has no intentions of staying there long and giving up his post in Syria.

Robert S. Ford became ambassador to Syria this year, filling a post that has been vacant since 2005. Ever since the uprising started in March, he has expressed his negative views on the Assad government and has also been openly supporting anti-government groups. He visited Hama, a stronghold of the opposition, and attended the funeral of an activist as well. As a result of such deeds, demonstrators threw rocks and tomatoes on him and his company in Damascus. However, he decided to stay in the country after that incident.

This time something more serious must have happened if he had to leave to stay safe. A New York Times article refers to an incitement campaign carried out by the Assad regime against Mr. Ford. As soon as the ambassador left Syria, Imad Mustapha, the Syrian ambassador to the U.S., was recalled too.

However, the Syrian regime should not get too excited about Ford’s departure, as Haynes Mahoney, the charge d’affaires, will act on his behalf while he is gone, and the Obama administration is determined to send him back soon.

The question is whether Syria, or the Arab world in general, will ever be a safe space for a U.S. ambassador, as resentment towards Israel and its allies is getting stronger.

-Adrienn Szlapak

Buy a House, Get a Visa: New U.S. Immigration Proposal

2011-10-23T19:09:00.005-04:00

An article in the Wall Street Journal this week overviews a bill two senators are preparing to introduce to help solve the U.S. housing crisis. The bill would give a residency visa to foreigners who spend at least $500,000 on houses in the United States.

Although the bill would not give work visas, this proposed immigration measure provokes the inevitable comparison to the immigration measures that currently prevent undocumented workers from obtaining visas. In addition, it also raises the point that with the amount of foreign investment, the United States is quickly becoming "owned" by other countries, such as China, Japan, and Brazil.

On the one hand, the bill would help the lagging U.S. housing market. If U.S. citizens cannot afford to buy houses, or are unwilling to take the risks of investing in a slumped market, why not provide foreign investors with incentives to invest? The bill is particularly attractive because it would not cost the federal government anything to implement. On the other hand, however, shouldn't the United States government be prioritizing its own citizen's needs? It is certainly a sign of a severely damaged economy when our government, seeing our reluctance to jump into the housing market to either buy or sell, is turning to the rest of the world for help on an issue it should be able to contain.

This proposal does seem unfair to those undocumented workers who are fighting to stay in this country to work. Is it right to allow a class of people to effectively buy their way into this country? We are in the era of globalization, of more and more immigrants living and setting up their own localities within the global city, but globalization never meant equality. Although it may seem unfair, the fact of the matter remains that international buyers already account for around $82 billion in U.S. residential real-estate sales. If we are already relying on foreign investors to help boost our housing market, it seems logical that we should also allow immigrants to live in the homes they purchase, especially if it will provide an incentive for further investment at such dire economic times.

The measure will get introduced on Thursday, and it remains to be seen where it will go from there.

- Ysabel Yates

International Law Revisited

2011-10-18T12:48:00.003-04:00

In a previous post I discussed the controversy of Cheney visiting Canada. Because Canadian law permits the country to arrest people suspected of war crimes, activists suggested that it was necessary for authorities to detain the former vice-president upon his arrival.

Now, with an upcoming visit on October 20 to British Columbia scheduled by former President George W. Bush, the same type of calls to action are coming out.

Bush has admitted, sometimes proudly, to the use of (under his authorization) waterboarding and other forms of torture that are illegal under international agreements. Due to this reasoning, Bush previously cancelled a trip to Switzerland due to calls for his arrest and rumours that victims would file complaints against him.

According to Human Rights Watch, Canada can charge Bush for torture even without his presence in the country because one of the victims was a Canadian citizen. However, his presence in the country gives authorities even more reason to detain him.

In the previous post I questioned what would become of Canadian-American relations if they were to bring charges against such prominent American political figures. Although I still believe this to be one of the most key issues, I have also now noticed the polarization on the topic. Most of the official statements as well as comments on the online news articles are either calling for authorities to take action or claiming that the activist organizations have lost their minds.

For example, Immigration and Citizenship Minister Jason Kenney suggests that Amnesty International (one of the groups calling Canada to take action), “cherry picks cases to publicize based on ideology." He questions why the group did not seek a court order barring Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

This sort of dialectic makes me wonder why more more moderate action isn't just taken such as barring Bush's entry into Canada. I suspect that this still would not be an ideal solution and would still hurt Canadian-American relations, but is a strong compromise.

This story is gathering even more attention in light of the "Occupy" protests. A group in British Columbia posted on their Twitter page:

"When WAR CRIMINAL Bush comes to Surrey October 20th, we will meet him with a FLASH OCCUPATION. Expect us"

I question whether this sort of issue really relates to the Occupy movement, but also, doesn't a "flash occupation" imply surprise and spontaneity? Not days of advanced notice? I wonder if this visit is being called out by various organizations simply to bring attentions to themselves.

More reasonably, the Occupy group asked the Mayor to cancel Bush's visit.

I think that the strong oppositions in this controversy highlight the fact that there is no easy compromise. An interesting article in the Canadian newspaper The National Post, sets up a question and answer format discussing what options Canada truly has and the contentions related to Bush's visit.

- Danielle Foster

bureaucracy in its worst form

2011-10-18T12:39:00.001-04:00

To view this article click here

“‘It was so stressful and so frustrating to try to fit our family into those forms when so clearly it wasn’t going to fit,’ said the student, who is now a senior at a university in Illinois and wanted to remain anonymous to keep her family’s financial affairs private.”

This article is mainly about the hurdles that students with same-sex parents face while filling out FAFSA forms, as well as how gay students struggle to be recognized as independents to fill out the forms.

However, I am much more interested in the idea that the bureaucracy involved has yet to create a separate form or in some way acknowledge these issues. The only suggested FAFSA had for the students was to fill out the form as if their parents were divorced.

That is sick. Is a student has a healthy family why should they need to pretend that it’s not? This technique promotes stereotypes against same-sex parents who manage to have a family. I do not understand how an organization could be that insensitive to the struggle that these families go through just to survive in a world that is still adjusting to same-sex marriage.

I would have expected another form to exist or an add-on or something in these situations.

The world is changing, how long will it take bureaucracy to do the same? At the same time, what does lack of these changes mean?

Is it just that no one has gotten around to facing the issue or is that a backlash somewhere up in the hierarchy of all those horrendous forms?

-Rosie Limburg

UN Report: Iran's Secret Executions and Human Rights Abuses

2011-10-18T11:56:00.005-04:00

A new UN Report detailing Human Rights abuses in the Islamic Republic has come out saying that over 300 secret executions have been conducted in Iran in 2010, and at least 146 secret executions have taken place to date in 2011 (in contrast to the 200 official executions). Reportedly neither the inmates nor their families or their lawyers were informed prior to the secret executions.

In addition, the author of the report, Ahmed Shaheed, found that a hundred of the death-row members were below the age of 18, more than a hundred executions were for drug-related offenses, and an unbelievable four percent of executions stipulated no charges whatsoever. Murder, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking, and adultery are among the listed crimes punishable by death in Iran. Individuals convicted of crimes are convicted and sentenced to death more often in Iran than any other country excluding China.

The Report, which details a number of other human rights abuses being conducted in Iran will be presented to the UN General Assembly Wednesday, October 19. Although the content of the Report is of heart-stopping atrocity, criticism of the manner in which the Report was created could be a possible point of contention. Shaheed was unable to travel to Iran while compiling the report, and thus was forced to use materials gleaned from local organizations in Iran.

- Liana

Spain's Stolen Babies

2011-10-18T11:13:00.004-04:00

Read full story here.

General Franciso Franco, leader of the right-wing, authoritarian regime in Spain from 1939 until his death in 1975, was a ruthless leader. Despite his political oppression and extensive killing of political opponents, the most shocking story that has come to light is the recent discovery of the trafficking and theft of thousands of babies by priests and nuns.

The story became greatly publicized after two men discovered they were bought from a nun when they were babies, by their father on his deathbed. Extremely hurt, the two men went to the media and the story has spread like wildfire. Suddenly people from all over Spain were coming forward with similar stories.

After months of no response from the Spanish government a spokesperson, Angel Nunez, was finally presented from the Ministry of Justice to discuss these horrific accusations. When asked about the validity of the story, if babies were really stolen, Nunez declared "without a doubt."

Lawyers and goverment officials estimate that up to 300,000 babies could have been taken and sold. The practice apprently first started under Franco in the 30's, with babies beeing removed from parents who were deemed "undesirable" and put with "approved" families. Reports put the practice as continuing all the way up until the early nineties.

With the scandal closely linked to that of the Catholic Church, nuns and priets would make lists of suitable, adoptive families, with doctors lying to mothers about the fate of their newborn children; they were told they their babies were dead with no information on why or where a funeral would be held. All the mothers were told was that their babies had been killed and immediately taken away.

Many across Spain have begun to dig up graves in order to conduct DNA tests, only to find a pile of stones or adult remains. Spaniards have begun to call for investigations to be set up to uncover the truth behind the baby trafficking, as they see it as a national crime against hummanity. However, due to Spain's amnesty laws after the death of Franco to help smooth a transition to Democracy, the government won't set up any type of inquiry.

While the Spanish governments policy is to not look back it is much more difficult for those mothers whose babies were stolen and sold, "It's not something you forget, it's with you for the rest of your life."

-Gabrielle

A Lopsided Deal For Peace?

2011-10-18T10:53:00.003-04:00

“I hope this deal will promote peace between Israel and the Palestinians,” said Gilad Shalit, the man of the day today. After being held five years in Palestinian custody, the Israeli soldier was returned to Israel in an exchange for over 1000 Palestinian soldiers in Israeli custody. Referred to as the “most lopsided prisoner swap in Israeli history”, 497 Palestinian prisoners were released today, and another 550 are expected to be released in two months. Shalit was captured in a June 2006 raid where Palestinian soldiers tunneled beneath the Israeli border.

Wild celebrations met the Palestinian homecoming soldiers, many of whom had been sentenced to death. The feeling of the day is one of jubilant nationalism and relief, as well as a continued encouragement to resist occupation. Controversy abounded when the deal was in preliminary talks, and families of Palestinian terrorist victims rallied outside the Israeli High Court in an attempt to block the deal on Monday. Israelis overwhelmingly supported the 1,000-1 swap for Shalit, though, with an estimated support of 4 out of 5 Israelis.

The prisoner deal was conducted through Egyptian negotiators due to a refusal of direct communication by both Hamas and the Israeli government; the swap itself and the various steps composing it was aided by Egyptian officials and the Red Cross. Although talks have been conducted between the two governments through both Egyptian and German negotiators, it is the effort and desire of both sides to create friendly ties with the new Egyptian government that helped solidify the deal.

While it is understandable that there is significant coverage of Shalit, considering his prominent position in the deal and his hero-figure status in Israel, it is surprising that the release of one particular man is so widely covered by the media as opposed to the after-thought of the release of over four hundred Palestinians on Israeli death row, and the promise for the eventual release of twice that.

- Liana

Gilad Shalit Freed! (Is it now all good in the hood?)

2011-10-18T10:04:00.010-04:00

Yesterday, Gilad Shalit, an Israeli solider who has been held hostage in the Gaza strip for five years was finally released and reunited with his family. Shalit, a 19 year old tank crewman, was kidnapped during a Hamas border raid in 2006. This is a huge moral victory for all Israelis young and old, because every family has been affected by this saga. Israel has a policy of conscription and every man and woman are expected to serve in the army and every mother and farther must send their children to serve in the army. The Israeli government promises to protect all its soldiers fighting for their country and if actions speak loader than words, freeing Shalit surely proves the governments commitment to this pledge right? Yes and No.

Yes:
-Israel has been given a very hard bargain. The government has agreed to free Shalit in exchange for freeing over 1000 convicted Palestinian terrorists. This agreement alone demonstrates Israels commitment to protecting those serving in their armed forces. The terrorists Israel is releasing all have Israeli blood on their hands and although, Shalit's family are over joyed to have Gilad back in the their life's, there are many families today in Israel grieving over this swap. The murderers being released are not paying the full price for killing peoples sons, daughters, mothers, fathers etc. Many of these terrorists targeted and killed Israeli civilians, some being children. This is such a controversial move by the Israeli government that the swap prompted the Prime Minister to send a letter to each a the suffering families. The letter assured that family that it was a hard bargain to make, that he understands their sacrifice and ends the letters saying that 'Israel will continue to fight terrorism". This kind of swap is nothing new in Israeli politics, but this time there is so much more to it.

NO:
- Gilad Shalit has been in captivity for FIVE YEARS. Two different governments have tired to secure his release and have failed until now. In fairness, all involved have worked tirelessly to secure a deal on Shalit's release, Prime Minister Olmert was very close before he resigned. However, this weeks "swap" is all political. Prime Minister Netanyahu is more unpopular than ever in Israel and Hamas have been suffering since Abbas ignored their objections and went to the UN. This Netanyahu- Hamas switch is as much a moral victory for both groups and it is a PR victory.
Netanyahu will be remembered as a hero who went against impossible odds to protect one of the most famous Israelis. Hamas have proven to be the most effective collation partners as its seem that Abbas's push to become a state at the UN appears to have backfired with the current resolution making them only an observers state. This swap could have happened anytime in the last five years and similar proposals have been on the table many times before. It is important to ask Mr Netanyahu why he decided to ratify the agreement last week.

The release of Gilad Shalit is a good thing, Israel soldiers should know the lengths their government will go to protect them and bring them home. The Israeli government has proved this commitment over and over again in the past. The risk is whether this exchange means that Hams will seek a new policy of actively kidnapping Israelis to conduct similar swaps and whether or not the over 1000 released terrorists will resort to return to the type of terrorism and even murder they were arrested for. I think not, or not so quickly. The negotiations were brokered by Egypt. Egypt has new leverage over Hamas, Hamas is moving its headquarters for Damascus to Ciro due to dissatisfaction with the way Assad (their former Allie) has dealt with the uprising. For the time being, Egypt will seek to keep Hamas at bay, while Hamas themselves try to gain political momentum from this swap both domestically and internationally. The terrorists may attempt of return to their previous occupations, but have no doubt that every man and woman released is going to be watched like a hawk by the Israeli security forces.

- Roy

America, land of the free!!!

2011-10-16T19:02:00.002-04:00

I work a few days of the week at a high school in Brooklyn. On October 11, 2011 when I got to work, I was in for a big surprise. I discovered that it was National Coming Out Day. Not that the day was the surprise, but how I was reminded of the holiday. The secretary of the school came through the loud speakers, “Good morning students, today is National Coming Out Day. To celebrate this day, everyone make sure to stop by the Gay Straight Alliance table today at lunch and get your GSA bracelets.” I started thinking, in all of my years throughout school, I never felt that someone being apart of the LGBT community was acceptable in public schools. In my high school it was, but then again, I went to a performing arts high school that was a lover of creativity and being who you are, so this was very interesting to me. I felt so overwhelmed because I never thought I’d see the day that a school administration would be so open to students. Showing that we accept our students was a beautiful thing. At the GSA table, they not only gave out bracelets that they made themselves, but they also gave name tags where people, if they volunteered, could say that they are apart of the LGBT community or an ally of the group.

I remembered how so many people told me that in other countries, it is illegal to be considered a homosexual so I did a little research. In over 80 different countries, most of which are in Africa and western Asia, homosexuality is illegal. This includes: same-sex sexual activity, recognition of same-sex relationships, same-sex marriage, allowing gays to serve openly in the military, anti-discrimination, and laws concerning gender identity/expression. Some cases even show that in some countries, homosexuality is considered to be punishable by death or an extended prison sentence if their is evidence that proves someone is LGBT. To think that their are so many people having to hide a part of who they are in fear that they may be murdered, face jail time, be discriminated against and possibly not be able to marry someone that they love because it is outlawed, is completely ridiculous to me.

Even though some states in the United States of America are closed minded and legally don’t except same-sex marriage, etc., we are becoming, slowly but surely, more accepting of people regardless of their sexual orientation. We can see signs in this gradual change through things like legalizing same sex marriage in New York on June 24, 2011. This is big considering that New York is considered one of the most globalized cities in this county that has a lot of international influence.

I know people feel the stress of discrimination that comes with being homosexual. Everyone can see that with opening up a newspaper and seeing how many people committed suicide because of the torment and the abuse that sometimes comes with ‘coming out’ and being open with ones sexuality, or because their was a video recorded of someone engaging in sexual acts with the same sex on camera and they felt ashamed because it was not accepted. Going back to my school that I work at, it makes me so happy that the school is so openly accepting of the LGBT community especially when the school is in a predominately caribbean majority neighborhood in brooklyn. It shows that people are willing to except others for who they are no matter their orientation. With having such a welcoming environment to ‘come out’ in, this provides a safe space that the students can function being themselves and have one less thing to worry about. I guess this really might be America, land of the free. :)

Alexis Roe

Slavoj Zizek at Liberty Plaza

2011-10-16T11:58:00.002-04:00

I want to share with all of you the talk by Slavoj Zizek at Liberty Plaza--obviouslhttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8241132299898523568y related with Occupy Wall Street. The video recording and partial transcript can be found here.

When I first read this in English-Chinese version, I thought it was written by a Chinese American in exile or someone else "escape" from old-time communist countries. I can't say I agree with all he says, but certainly there are several points out there that I think are different from American values, as far as my understanding of American culture. There are several brilliant jokes/ examples from the communists that I believe worth thinking.

I understand it as more a talk to the people protesting out there and to shape the movement to a more effective and practical direction, and even though I were not there, I can imagine people being provoked by his realistic talk.

From Wikipedia: Slavoj Žižek is a Slovenian philosopher and critical theorist working in the traditions of Hegelianism, Marxism and Lacanian psychoanalysis. He has made contributions to political theory, film theory, and theoretical psychoanalysis....Žižek uses examples from popular culture to explain the theory of Jacques Lacan and uses Lacanian psychoanalysis, Hegelian philosophy and Marxist economic criticism to interpret and speak extensively on immediately current social phenomena, including the current ongoing global financial crisis.

Just to attract you read/ listen to his talk, I chose out some quote below:

1. The true dreamers are those who think things can go on indefinitely the way they are. We are not dreamers. We are awakening from a dream which is tuning into a nightmare. We are not destroying anything. We are only witnessing how the system is destroying itself.

2. This is how we live. We have all the freedoms we want. But what we are missing is red ink. The language to articulate our non-freedom. The way we are taught to speak about freedom war and terrorism and so on falsifies freedom. And this is what you are doing here: You are giving all of us red ink. (read the communist joke if you want to know what is the red ink :)

3. There is a danger. Don’t fall in love with yourselves. We have a nice time here. But remember: carnivals come cheap. What matters is the day after. When we will have to return to normal life. Will there be any changes then. I don’t want you to remember these days, you know, like - oh, we were young, it was beautiful. Remember that our basic message is: We are allowed to think about alternatives. The rule is broken. We do not live in the best possible world. But there is a long road ahead. There are truly difficult questions that confront us. We know what we do not want. But what do we want? What social organization can replace capitalism? What type of new leaders do we want?

Remember: the problem is not corruption or greed. The problem is the system that pushes you to give up. Beware not only of the enemies. But also of false friends who are already working to dilute this process. In the same way you get coffee without caffeine, beer without alcohol, ice cream without fat. They will try to make this into a harmless moral protest.

4. If communism means the system which collapsed in 1990, remember that today those communists are the most efficient ruthless capitalists.

5. The only sense in which we are communists is that we care for the commons. The commons of nature.

Last note: Human microphones there are awesome in repeating what he said! Watch the video!

Enjoy.

---Yinan Hu

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=8241132299898523568

Eurasian Union, the Return of the USSR

2011-10-11T17:08:00.002-04:00

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/russias-putin-says-wants-build-eurasian-union-222139037.html

Less than a week after Russia's current Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, announced that he will be running for Presidential elections in 2012, he has already proposed his first foreign policy objective: to bring together former Soviet states into a "Eurasian Union," with primary aim to coordinate "economic and currency policy" among its members.

Putin, who previously called the collapse of USSR in 1991 "the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century," asserts that this initiative is not an attempt to recreate the Soviet Union. Instead, he criticizes the inefficiency of the World Trade Organization, pointing out that it will be more effective for Russia to form a Customs Union that will remove all barriers to trade, capital and labour movement than to join the WTO. Belarus and Kazakhstan have already agreed to be on board with Putin. In order for other countries to join, Russia can offer incentives such as cheap natural gas, which might be the exact attraction needed for Ukraine to become a member.

In order to distinguish the Eurasian Union from the Soviet Union, Putin welcomes other new nations to join. According to Putin, the Eurasian Union will become European Union's partner in creating a common economic space: "Membership in the Eurasian Union, apart from direct economic benefits, will enable its members to integrate into Europe faster and from a much stronger position."

There is no doubt that due to the debt crisis in Europe which has occupied the mind of European Union for the past year, Putin's proposal comes as a 'solution' for other nations to join Russia in a more stable Union than the one Europe has today. While the European Union ignores the Eastern periphery due to its internal problems, Putin seizes his chance. The fact that this opportunity to reconstruct the Russian sphere comes at a vital time in Putin's career, right before he is to emerge on his third term, will further encourage Putin to push for its creation. It seems that the troubles of the EU can become the main contributing factor to the revival of Russian dominance- even if only regional (at least for now.)

Despite the convincing echo of the aims of Eurasian Union, Putin's plan resembles former USSR more than he admits. Even the newspaper where he proposes the establishment of Eurasian Union, Izvestia, was once the official Soviet government newspaper. The creation of this body would be regarded by the entire global community as a major threat for peace and stability.

-Inga

immediacy of the moment

2011-10-11T12:44:00.002-04:00

I had never really given much thought to what a stutter could mean. It just seemed to be something that people lived and dealt with. As far as I can tell, a stutter just makes understanding someone a little more difficult, but patience is all that is required.

I do not like the idea that a professor basically shut this kid down. If he, Philip, has an interest in the subject and is willing to contribute then the teacher should be supportive. Part of college is growing up and becoming comfortable with self expression; professors are the moderators of this process, their nudging and commitment to their subject should help the student rather than hinder.

To read this article click here

-Rosie Limburg

Philip is sixteen, to be taking college level classes; he’s probably intelligent and advanced. He does not let his stutter stop him. Having a professor in one of his advanced classes restrict him, sent a very negative message that no one needs in that stage of self discovery. Other student’s in the class said that Philip did not take much more time than other students, so why did Professor Snyder respond in such “harsh” fashion?

Ms. Snyder’s behavior disgusts me, that is about where this article left me. True, I suppose she tried to leave an avenue open for Philip, writing down questions to ask before or after class, but her actions alienated him from other students and his interests. What could she possibly hope to accomplish be dealing with the situation in such a botched manner? The teacher was getting in the way of a student’s education; the reason that we ask questions during class is to address the immediate issue. When the issue loses it immediacy, it is no longer of interest and that moment of learning may be lost.