News Headlines (57) 31 October 2012

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The Forgotten People - Burma



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Inside Story - What is behind Myanmar's ethnic unrest?

What is happening in Burma is not just the Muslims Cleansing, but also the Buddhist leansing. According to international observers, those who become the victims are not only Muslim and Buddhist communities, but also a clash of civilizations in Myanmar.

There's a certain corporate game in collaboration with Myanmar's military junta. America's hands are in many parts of the world.

What is interesting from the military regime in Myanmar from Ne Win era until today, apparently it involves the foreign companies such as Chevron (U.S.) and Total (France), whereas the both countries are --on the surface-- to raise the issue of human rights. Obviously, there is the fight business that playing through the back door of Myanmar military regime. Target : oil and natural gas.

Arakan is storing a large oil and gas resources. With that basis, oil and gas exploration became the target of not only China but also the United States. Moreover, Chevron also play there, there are also PetroChina, China Petroleum, Petronas of Malaysia and others. The troublesome thing is the military regime to protect through The Union of Myanmar Foreign Investment Law. China and some countries outside the U.S. and Western Europe seem to be more superior. What is interesting is the issue of Muslims in Arakan is likely to provide a space for Bill Clinton's symmetric approach adopted by Obama and Hillary Clinton. On the basis of that, "The conflict region needs to advocate for human rights, NGOs need to go."

From this door, they entered the arena of interest by using the conflict between Islam and Buddhism. Their strategic goals are the same: oil and natural gas.

What ought to be pitied in the military regime is - from Ne Win until now - as if it is the Socialist, but basically it is the Capitalist.

Indeed, with the presence of Union of Myanmar Foreign Investment Law then basically Myanmar is leading the market, but under the state control. And it protects the corporations to collaborate with authorities, of course with all the Social Payments.

Incidentally, the corporate minds there such as Chevron, Total, PetroChina and so on is not just a company, as well as Freeport. These corporates mind is like the state's.

So when determining the location - such as the Arakan - the calculation is not a feasibility study for a business area alone, but the geopolitic is calculated as well, such as the population composition.

If still within such limits, I think it's still reasonable, because it must be managing. But what is in the evil mind of corporation is "What can be played" from the facts there. Roughly, "If they are played off, how do we play it?"

Well, these compositions are calculated by them. In addition to the political need for site selection, what must also be seen is the Winning Coalition of corporation.
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(CZ-Lacalifusa103112)

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► Superstorm Sandy. Sandy, a massive storm described by forecasters as one of the largest to ever hit the United States, is thrashing the East Coast, flooding towns and leaving millions without power. 
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► Venezuela prioritizes 'happiness' in its national budget. President Chávez's administration announced its budget last week, allocating nearly 40 percent of funds for 'supreme happiness.' The budget's ambiguous nature, however, has made some distinctly unhappy. - By Andrew Rosati | Christian Science Monitor –  Mon, Oct 29, 2012

  The idea to create an index of happiness has long appeared in the study of development, and already many written by various researchers since the seventies era. For example, an economic researcher from India -- Amartya Sen --  has created this idea.

One on One - Amartya Sen



The example for this index could explain the phenomenon of successful development in developed countries, which is not only based on individual aspects, but rather on the group. For example, in Singapore which has a high suicide rate data, the research about it has been based on the community aspect.

The Chinese communities are vulnerable to suicide, but the Malay communities are the lowest. This explains the cultural character of communities in the country. There is a tradition of maintaining high expectations and targets, and vice versa.

I think it's necessary for preparing the happiness index, given its current international discourse will continue to strengthen. This index can explain how inadequate ability of communities to access a range of facilities such as capital, jobs, public space, and freedom of expression. UNESCO is also being drafted regarding this happiness index.

It reminds me of one of my favorite books, The Geography of Bliss written by Eric Weiner.

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The Geography of Bliss - Moldova


Eric wanted to see the world, especially with funding from other parties. So, he became a journalist, carrying backpacks and notebooks, and explored the world. The result was  The Geography of Bliss. Eric takes the reader cross the globe to many countries, from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Bhutan, to Qatar, Iceland, India, and America, to find out what makes the people there are happy or unhappy. This book is a strange mix of travel writing, psychology, science and humor.

Are the people in Switzerland happier because they are the most democratic country in the world? Are the Qatar finding happiness in immersed dollar from their oil? Is the King of Bhutan a dreamer just because he takes the initiative to put the People Happiness indicator known as the Gross National Happiness as a National Priority?  Why are people in Iceland -- a country where the temperature is very cold and far from everywhere -- is also a country with the happiest people in the world? Why is happiness and misery in India can coexist?

Because it is written with deep insight and hilarious, this book takes the reader to places and meet strange people who look familiar. This is its rarity. It's a light reading which also evokes the intellect of its readers.
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► 31 October 2012 - US counts cost as Sandy recedes

At least 40 people have been killed, millions are without power and transport across the north-eastern US has been severely disrupted as storm Sandy heads north for Canada.
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► 30 October 2012 - Bahrain government bans protests amid violence

► UN: Burma opium cultivation rises 

Opium cultivation has increased in Burma - the world's second largest grower - for a sixth year running, a United Nations report says.
* Burma cracks down on poppy farms - VIDEO
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► 31 October 2012 - Will China fall flat on its face just like Japan? By Laurence Knight Business reporter, BBC News 

► 31 October 2012 - Bananas could replace potatoes in warming world | By Matt McGrath Science reporter, BBC World Service ( Haaa .. Bananas! It has long been my main meal... nom nom nom)

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Banana Wars - Caribbean

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Superstorm aftermath: Video of damage, flooding in New York in Sandy's wake || Frankenstorm Sandy: First video of giant waves hitting US coast


►
'Sandy could spark Obama-Romney vote count row'



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Belgian Muslim State? Islamists vow campaign after election win

The number of Muslims in Brussels are expected to continue to grow, even predicted to be in the majority in just 15 to 20 years.

In 2007, sociologist Jan Hertogen published the statistic showing that Moroccan immigrants has replaced Italy as the largest group of immigrants in Belgium by January 1, 2004. Meanwhile, Turkish immigrants are in third place. In general, the Muslim population in Belgium is increasing.

The study population published by Belgian media said the proportion of Muslims in Belgium today is a 5.8 percent of  Belgium total population.

This increase could be influenced by the immigrants waves from Muslim countries to Belgium that began in the early 1960s, when the migration agreement signed with Morocco and Turkey, and then in the late 1960s with Algeria and Tunisia.

Unlike the Netherlands, Belgium does not have a relationship with Islamic world during the colonial period. In 1974, Belgium implemented strict rules for the entry of foreign workers, but it remains one of the most liberal countries in Europe for the family reunion policy. The wave of immigrants is clearly a difference in the culture and religion of its inhabitants.
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► Belgium's Immigration Policy Brings Renewal and Challenges - By Marco Martiniello and Andrea Rea |  Ovtober 2003 

► PDF file 

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£200 'burqa bounty' being offered in Belgium || Identity vs Integration: Radical Islamists 'freak out' Belgian community

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'Clinton and Al-Qaeda on one side of Syrian war barricades'



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Bahrain bans protests after cops tear gas & fire on rally

  The tension of the upheaval in the Middle East heats up, although some people are in a phase of "post-crisis", what is left for them just for the program's future. But some news in the Middle East have recently confirmed that Middle East is entering a new era of the "arena of competition" for three essential components of the world power.

Three forces are not only representing a military force, but also the power of ideology and mass. Every Shia, Al-Qaeda and the West (including Israel of course, the rulers and cronies who have not collapsed), they are the most potential power to control the Middle East after crisis. Therefore, interesting to analyze what would be the Middle East in 10 or 20 years from now.

Previously, I assumed that the task of overthrowing the Arab regimes (mostly), would be completed in 2012. But, what will happen after that? Who can tell? We as human beings can only analyze of the current reality and from what we have experienced in the past.

The West and Israel are always in a position to support any regime that rule in the Middle East as long as two conditions are met, namely, the regime does not support the "terrorism" (read: Jihad) and cooperate in selling oil to the West (the point is subject to the West rules). They basically do not feel bothered by the repressive attitude of a regime against its people. Even if they are voicing the criticism or condemnation, it is nothing more than "lip service", as a high-level political nonsense.

The West had long been known Hosni Mubarak's authoritarian attitudes, Gaddafi and other tyrants against their own people. They had been hostile to Muammar Gaddafi regime just because he ordered the bombing of a plane belonging to the West in Lockerbie. That was not at all related to his actions against his people. After Gaddafi "apologized" to the West, the West was able to embrace Gaddafi, as if there was no problem before. It stood to reason, because Gaddafi was a co-operative in the country to sell oil to the West, and more importantly, Gaddafi was strongly anti Al Qaeda and "terrorism". But when he began to be abandoned by his people and marginalized, the West did not hesitate to throw him. In fact, this pattern became the standard attitude of the West towards every Middle Eastern regime and any country against it.

The point is, they see the potential of Middle East and North Africa in only two strategic considerations : How much of their natural resources can be utilized, and how far the distance between the rulers and the movement of "terrorism" as an attempt to protect Israel. The problem is, the West -- led by the U.S. --  is being pestered by a lot of problems and prolonged. Increasingly the acute economic crisis, and the moral corruption of their forces fighting on all fronts (to not want to admit their defeat) makes the West choose to be careful in handling them.

This means, it's a little late for the U.S. and the West to play in the uprisings in Middle East in general, because they have fallen in Afghanistan and Iraq, which makes them no longer able to move swiftly. Earlier, when America was still strong, such an upheaval would be a golden opportunity, because there was no competition. But today, there are already a lot of competition. But this does not mean that the West is paralyzed. They are still powerful and dangerous, but no longer the sole player in taking advantage of the momentum of such upheaval (revolution), not to mention in an area as important as the Middle East, which is the main theater of the world's "turmoil".

When Hosni Mubarak was still in power, behind the atrocities to the people, there is a geopolitical interest in the unconscious, and it is the hatred of Iran. Since Iran managed to overthrow the tyrannical regime -- Reza Pahlavi in 1979; and the country's direction turned into a purely Shi'ite state -- the Egypt never allowed Iranian ships to pass through the Suez Canal. But after the Egyptians ousted Hosni Mubarak, for the first time the Suez canal was traversed by Iranian warships.

Riots also erupted in Bahrain. The protesters were Shia, they fought against the Sunni regime. Saudi Arabia was in a dilemma if it made the possibility of Bahraini regime would be overthrown by Shiite demonstrators. That means, the Sunni regime - which obviously is Saudi Arabia's friend - will disappear. It was clear, Saudi Arabia was in danger because of the Shiite's threat closer to the border.

Although it would invite skewed responses from the international community, Saudi Arabia felt the need to send the troops to Bahrain directly, in an effort to curb the Shiite progress.

Not much different from Oman, Kuwait and Yemen all hold considerable potential of the Shiites. If the upheaval of these people can be played well by Iran, it is not likely that Saudi Arabia will be more and more desperate by the progress of Iranian Shiite's  influence in region. Even before the riots broke out, the Houthi rebels in Yemen had disrupted Arabia, coupled with Saudi domestic upheaval. They are concentrated in the cities of the Saudi Arabia eastern part, such as Hofuf, Qatif and Awamiya. Sunni Saudi regime is being battered by a popular movement organized by the Shiite.

If this development must be sustained, it will make the Middle East is in danger. It is true, the history will always spinning on the same axis. If in the past, there was latent rivalry between Arabs and Persians, then today  the history is being repeated. Now the Arabs are represented by Saudi Arabia and the Persian are represented by Iran.

Iran's developments could really be an inspiration for the Saudi rulers and other regimes. When they were really concerned with the Shiite progress, the best partner to hold it was Al-Qaeda and global jihad activists. Unfortunately, the Saudi regime can not afford to stay away from the U.S.. (The point is, the Middle East actually need Al-Qaeda and global jihad activists, but they have "gone too far".)

Statistical data between July 2011 to July 2012 showed there was a surge in gun purchases dramatically by the Arab countries around the Persian Gulf, particularly in Saudi. In this report also mentioned about the tough competition of European companies, the U.S. and Israel to sell the weapons and military equipment to countries around the Persian Gulf. In other parts of the report said that Saudi purchased 7 drones of Israeli companies.

United States and the West turn a blind eye as anti-human events and anti-democracy in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, but their response is different to what is happening in Syria. In the name of humanity and democracy, the U.S. and Western support the terrorist groups to topple a legitimate government in Syria. Western countries such as the U.S. and the UK show their full support to Syrian opposition and even provide financial and military aid, arguing to uphold the values ​​of democracy in Syria.

In contrast, the West fully supports the absolute monarchy in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in crushing the popular protests demanding democracy and freedom. They turn a blind eye to the demands of people who want to uphold the values ​​of democracy.  The West even just silence against the violance conducted by Bahrain and Saudi military.
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(CZ-LA)

► Hurricane hammers NY: 10 dead, houses destroyed by fire, freak floods in subway (PHOTOS, VIDEO). Published: 30 October, 2012 -Edited: 30 October, 2012 
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►
Inside Story Americas - Obama: Under surveillance



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Attack hits northern Nigeria church



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►
Inside Story - Ukraine's elections: An uneven playing field?



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