Meningitis has reached epidemic levels in Nigeria and Niger. So far this year the two countries have reported 1,500 deaths, with 200 in the last week. Meningococcal meningitis strikes an area in Africa known as the Meningitis Belt, every 8 to 10 years during the dry season, from January to June. It is a highly contagious disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis. Meningitis is an inflammation of the protective layer around the brain and spinal cord. This particular bacterial meningitis is very dangerous - without immediate treatment it usually leads to death. The WHO stockpiles meningitis vaccinations, with 13 million for this year. This is not enough. So far 2.3 million doses were released to Nigeria and 1.9 for Niger. What health officials usually do to preserve the medicine is regulate areas, watching for potential outbreaks. When they notice early warning signs, they come in and vaccinate entire areas. The disease is entirely preventable with a vaccination.
The Meningitis Belt goes through parts of eastern Ethiopia, southern Sudan, southern Chad, Nigeria, Niger, Burkino Faso, Mali, and even reaches into Guinea and Senegal. There is a lot of concern over the Sudan, where international aid groups such as Doctors Without Borders were kicked out of the country as a reaction to crimes against humanity charges put on the Sudanese President Al-Bashir. Earlier this month, 100,000 people were to be vaccinated in one of the refugee camps in southern Sudan because there were a few reported cases of meningitis. Before the medicine was administrated the aid group was forced to leave. This is very frightening for everyone in affected areas. Children are dying, everyone is susceptible. I am not sure how the WHO could get their hands on more vaccinations, but it seems this should be a top international priority, especially when it is such a simple way to prevent a terrible epidemic.
There are reports that the Sri Lankan military has killed 15 rebels, although information about the war between the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lanka is filtered through their own networks. No media are allowed into conflict regions. The Tamil Eelam homepage hasn’t posted anything new since 2006. There is fear of a disastrous humanitarian crisis, but Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan Defense Secretary and leader of the offensive, says that the numbers of civilian deaths and people trapped in the battle zones are exaggerated. According to International agencies, such as the Red Cross, at least hundreds have died, and there are around 250,000 people who need to get out of the conflict areas. Although the Tamil Tigers have asked for a stop to the fighting, the Sri Lankan military refuses to allow even a cease-fire, which they believe would give the rebels an opportunity to catch their breath. Right now, Sri Lankan fighters are dominating the Tigers, who have been pushed back into a small area. Not only are they more equipped militarily and financially, but they have been employing the same guerrilla tactics that the Tigers have been subsisting off for years. Where do the people stand? The people seem to disappear with the Tigers when the Sri Lankan forces arrive to take more territory. Without the presence of the media, it is very difficult to ascertain what they are going through.The Tamil Tigers, or the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have been fighting since 1976 to secede from Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon. They want autonomy for the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka, a nation called Tamil Eelam, home to the Tamil people, who have a separate history, culture, and language. Sri Lanka views the Tigers as a terrorist organization that needs to be put down. We have set such a dangerous precedent by using terrorist as a blanket term to mean ‘enemy’. Now any country can play the terrorist card, even against people they are oppressing. And that of course raises the issue - are we oppressing people that we are naming ‘terro
Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon, the same judge who ordered the arrest for Pinochet in 1998, will take the case against six officials linked to alleged illegal torture at Guantanamo Bay. They could be indicted for fabricating legalistic justification for torture. At this point the investigation is only in its beginning stages, it still has to be approved by prosecutors; but the reality of former Bush officials being judged by an international court for human rights abuses has officially been conceived. Lawyers from around the world, particularly Europe, Canada, and the United States, have been looking at the legal issues surrounding the US military’s use of illegal torture techniques. Spain plays a central role in this so far quiet battle for justice because 5 Spanish citizens or residents were actual tortured Guantanamo prisoners. The complaint was filed by Gonzalo Boye at the National Court of Madrid.
It is unlikely that criminal charges will ever be filed against the former President and Vice-President, but some pretty high profile ex-administration officials are sitting on the scales of justice on this one. They are fall-guy extraordinaire, ex-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales; John Yoo, a former Justice Department lawyer - he made up legal opinions so Bush could avoid the rules of the Geneva Conventions. Also the former undersecretary of defense for policy, Douglas Feith; former general counsel for the Department of Defense, William Haynes II; John Yoo’s boss, Jay Bybee; and Dick Cheney’s chief of staff and legal adviser, David Addington. How far this case will go is still in question. If it is accepted, and the men are summoned to court, would they ever be arrested? Does it really matter, or is it enough to have this issue of torture really brought to a courtroom? To this day Bush denies that the US ever tortured anyone. The truth remains, many men have died of ‘heart attacks’ while in US custody, and many who have since been released have spoken out about what happened to them, men who are now presumed innocent. It is gravely important that when leaders violate international law that the illegal actions are addressed. We have an international criminal court system to protect people from governments, from people who abuse their wealth of power. When human rights violations are left unchecked, they are only being set up to happen again, and again. They system of justice must be respected by everyone, and that includes western nations with a history of imperialism. No wonder Al-Bashir, the fugitive President of Sudan, is scoffing at his arrest warrant.
I wrote earlier this month about the planned Pyongyang launch of a satellite, some time in the beginning of April. The satellite will be launched with Taepodong-2 , a long-range missile, believed to be capable of reaching either Alaska or Hawaii. Japan, the US, and South Korea are on edge over the launch, which according to South Korean sources could be set off earlier then expected. Leaders from all three countries will meet in Washington tomorrow to discuss what should, and should not be done.
Japan is most concerned with such a strong show of force in their region. They also have to worry about debris that is likely to fall over Japan, or at least Japan’s waters. So far Tokyo has plans to deploy 2 Aegis-equipped destroyers with Standard Missile -3 interceptors from Japan’s coast. They would of course try to shoot down a missile that was aimed at their own territory, but right now the concern is intercepting the potential debris. South Korea has the economy to worry about, as the Pyongyang’s satellite will shake Korean markets, but hopefully only for a short time. The United States has announced they could potentially, possibly, most-likely shoot down the satellite if they needed to, but the American innuendo is probably nothing more than a routine response. North Korea has said that if the US interferes with Taepodong-2, then it will be considered an act of war. Also - how would the US military appear to the world if they missed? Since no one outside of North Korea known when exactly the missile will launch, it is impossible for anyone to coordinate an accurate missile defense.
As worried as Japan, South Korea, and the US are, Russia has pointed out that the aging Kim Jong-il is only making a necessary show of force - for his own country, and that the wisest move would be to leave him alone. And what about China, the emerging superpower and closest thing that North Korea has to an ally? They are remaining on the side lines for this one, promoting everyone to take a calm approach. That is all anyone can do at this point. We’ll wait and see how far Kim Jong-il will go to prove whatever it is he is trying to prove to the world, to his people, or maybe just to himself.
Another US drone attack in the Pakistan border area killed 7 militants, including ‘foreign guests”, which is a term for foreign fighters. This makes the seventh aerial bombing since Obama took office just two months ago. Despite Obama’s campaign aura of being the antithesis of former President Bush, Obama’s role as commander-in-chief has evolved into the contrary. The missile strikes in Pakistan and Afghanistan have been a consistent part of both regimes, with 30 over the past year. Pakistan warns that the American bombs are only serving to create more support for the Taliban - which may be true, considering Taliban fighters are becoming a bigger and bigger problem in the area, re-taking more areas in Afghanistan and now parts of Pakistan. As the drones fly over Waziristan or the border areas of Afghanistan, the Taliban fighters come to defend and support the land of their people. At the same time, the stronger Taliban presence attracts more violence by the US military. So what came first, the chicken or the egg?
It would be a terrible thing if the US presence was to blame for the expansion of the Taliban, but it is likely the reality. Extremist groups and views thrive in times of war and invasion, while more moderate voices lose their validity. There are many leaders, both religious and civil, in Pakistan and Afghanistan who do not want the Taliban to over take their country, who only want peace, and a strong, sustainable nation for their people, and they don’t ‘hate’ America. But how long can they defend American practices and presence while drones are flying overhead?
Ehud Barak’s Labor Party has officially joined Netanyahu’s coalition. The Labor Party has been split over the decision, not wanting to become a token left-centrist part of the new more conservative Israel government, which is still in the works. 57% voted to join on Tuesday, which will give Netanyahu’s government a softer face that will ideally engender more support from President Obama. Netanyahu needed Labor to balance out his coalition, which has already enlisted the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu Party ( giving its leader, Lieberman the post of foreign minister) as well as the Orthodox Jewish Shas party. Tzipi Livni’s party, Kadima will not join unless her requests are met - a commitment to Palestinian statehood and a rotation government, putting her as Prime Minister for part of the term (her party won the majority of seats in the election).
Barak believes that his party and ideals will balance the right-wing government, that he will have an active voice in affairs. He will continue in his post as Defense Minister, and represent the cause of possible Palestinian statehood and head the push towards a sustainable peace. Ironically, he is the man that led the invasion into Gaza just a few months ago.
So is there hope with the new right-of-center Israel administration? Likud and Labor promise to abide by all international agreements that Israel has made in the past, including an agreement with the United States under the Bush administration to pull back on Jewish colonization of the West Bank. The former centrist government made no move to do this, and in fact colonization only continued. Can a more nationalist, conservative, hawkish government somehow miraculously make greater strides towards peace? Logically, it doesn’t seem likely, leaving a fragile situation to depend on limited verbal intentions. Netanyahu has said he is interested in working on the Palestinian economy, not on Palestinian statehood, something that the Palestinians desperately want on the table. Meanwhile the Palestinians themselves are also trying to figure out their own power structure. The different Palestinian factions will conduct talks in Cairo in April to try and develop their own consistent government. What a strange mirror-phenomena of the Palestinians and the Israelites.
On the shores of Hamelin Bay in western Australia around 80 whales and bottlenose dolphins became stranded over the weekend. Already 67 have died, but rescuers and volunteers are doing their best to revive the remaining whales so they can return to the sea. The first whale was discovered on Saturday. A tissue sample was taken connecting this whale with a previous pod that washed up on King Island in Tasmania at the beginning of March. Then 194 whales and 7 dolphins were found - just over 50 survived.
As strange and contrary to logic this seems, mass whale beachings occur regularly on Australian and New Zealand shores. The reasons behind this phenomena are unknown, although some believe it is because of disturbing sounds from human activity, military use of sonar, or changes in their echo-location. Whales use magnetic fields to orient themselves, so when there is any deviation they could become confused. Anton Van Helden, an expert on whale beaching believes it is due to sea mammals’ close social bonds. One creature may find itself stranded. Others in the whale’s pod are responding to the distress call, but ended up getting stranded themselves.
He was arrested in China for having paraphernalia in his room - Tibetan paraphernalia. Earlier this month he helped to take down a Chinese national flag and replace it with a Tibetan one at the prayer hall of his monastery. According to the Central Tibetan Administration he committed suicide by jumping into the Yellow River to avoid being arrested. Tashi himself was a Tibetan monk from the Tagya monastery. He was only 27. The Chinese police claim that he disappeared after he asked to use the bathroom, and they have no idea where he went. Tashi Sangpo’s death was enough to incite a riot. Around 4,000 monks and supporters gathered outside the police station in western China, shouting out for Tibetan independence and for the Dalai Lama.
Nearly 100 were arrested or surrendered today, and now face Chinese interrogation, which traditionally involves violence against Tibetan detainees. Meanwhile, another man has died because of Chinese oppression - the nation that holds all the cards today as the entire world is competing for Chinese loans.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader and definitive voice of Iran, spoke out today against President Obama’s empty words, accusing the new administration of using potential improved relations with the Islamic Republic as a campaign slogan, and nothing more. While many hawks at the Pentagon have kept an aggressive stance towards Iran on the table, with the international community worried about a secret Iranian nuclear arsenal, and the Jewish lobby, representing 1% of the American population, being just as powerful as ever, Obama can hardly reach out with anything but his own clenched fist. In all honesty, how is Iran supposed to react?
Khamenei has said that Obama insulted his nation right after taking office, although what he did or did not do to make the offense is unknown. After making his televised speech, the chant ‘Death to America’ rose from the crowd. President Ahmadinejad, as harsh as he may be is likely to be re-elected in June. Iran clearly has its own grievances against the United States. What exactly would inspire Iran to a more friendly relationship? Ahmadinejad has asked for an apology, calling US actions towards Iran since 1979 as crimes - economic sanctions, support of Saddam Hussein during the Iran-Iraq War, military support of Israel, an uncomfortable military presence next door, and of course the nuclear arms accusations. And why is the United States angry with Iran? Because of threat, speculation, words. Bush called Iran part of the axis of evil. We in America believed it. Our government has been saying that Iran is building a bomb and may want to destroy us and Israel. We in America believe it. Iran supports the Palestinians, including Hamas and Hezbollah, and doesn’t recognize Israel as a state - many Americans view this as an act of supporting terrorism. Funny that Iran accuses America of supporting terrorists as well in the border areas of Pakistan. With a mountain to move before Iran and America can come to agreeable terms, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to take the first steps. Ideally, we as Americans should learn ourselves about Iran, as opposed to writing the Islamic Republic off as evil, and it wouldn’t hurt for the Iranians to do the same. I don’t know where the truth lies, but I do know it is difficult to trust the onslaught of media rhetoric that has convinced an entire people with access to all the knowledge in the world to do many horrible things, and look the other way all to often. If the Obama administration truly has the intention of building a positive friendship with Iran, then they should actually do something about it. So far Obama has wished them a Happy New Year.
The dust is still settling for Israel’s new coalition government. Prime Minister - designate Benjamin Netanyahu has until the start of April to form his coalition. He has had no trouble winning over the members of the right-wing, and could continue joining with them with no problem, but Netanyahu promised a balanced government. He needs either the Likud party or the Kadima party to do that.
The centrist Kadima party, headed by Tzipi Livni is out of the question. They won the most seats in February’s election, with 28. Kadima wants to pursue peace talks with the Palestinians, with a two state resolution on the table. Ehud Barak’s Labor party wants the same thing. Although Labor only managed to gather 13 seats, this is the center-left camp that Netanyahu is trying to win over. Barak himself seems poised to join, arguing that their presence could help facilitate peace talks, but others in his party have no interest in joining Netanyahu. Probably for the same reason that Kadima doesn’t want to - they would be a nominal part of a passive attempt at a peace process made by a hawkish government. Netanyahu’s Likud party favors diplomacy with the Palestinians, but has no intention of offering them sovereignty. His focus would be on their economy and security force. Considering this is not a viable option for the Palestinians, everything is at stake here with Netanyahu’s government. If he can’t win over Labor, and is forced to take more members from the right, then prospects for peace are dim. The far-right party, Yisrael Beiteinu won 15 seats in the election. Netanyahu already offered the post of Foreign Minister to the party’s leader, Avigdor Lieberman. With such a nationalist stronghold, could Labor have any influence at all if it chose to jump into the new coalition, or would they just serve their purpose of appearances? The other issue at stake here is Tehran. Israel feels that Iran is a serious threat. They will have elections in June. We will have to see if Ahmadinejad takes the office of President again, or if a more moderate leader can overtake him.
