Times They Are A-Changin

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/22/us-libya-protests-idUSTRE71G0A620110222?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FworldNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+International%29

Will Libya succeed in overthrowing Gaddafi? Gaddafi is intent on staying in power, relentlessly abusing the protesters. The Libyan riots are different from the Jasmine Revolution in that Gaddafi is not gentle with his attacks. Rather than dispersing the riots, it seems like he is keen on stamping out any form of opposition. Furthermore, Libya is not tied to the U.S., as Egypt was, providing a very different situation for change. The country seems more at "war" rather than calling for change.

Concurrently, China seems to be shaking as pressure from the West increases. The lack of web freedom in China prevents greater solidarity from happening; it is the government's biggest and strongest tool. I don't see a Chinese revolution happening until the people can break the "Great Fire-wall of China."

Finally, as I am on the note of change, Ban-Ki Moon plans to run for his second term as UN Secretary-General. I'm not sure how I feel about this, as he has not established himself as a stellar mediator and fighter for change as his predecessor, Kofi Annan. Ban-Ki Moon has fulfilled his role as a Secretary-General, but I wish he could be seen as a model for trying to make the world better. In my personal opinion, he does not have the fiery passion to applaud good and condemn the bad, not matter which country (as Annan had done in 2003 for the Iraq War).

By Saya