In Tehran, Iran a group of underground rappers were arrested for engaging in and recording illegal rap music for various websites and satellite networks. The police raided the vacant houses the group was using to videotape and record music, arrested the people there, and confiscated “western style” music instruments. No information was given as to how many people were arrested, their ages or the severity of their sentencing. The underground rap groups are accused of “spreading profanity and poisoning young minds.”Although listening to rap and rock music in Iran is not considered that serious of a crime, it is however considered extremely “un-Islamic” and counters many of the traditional Islamic beliefs. Listening to western rap and rock music can lead to jail, accusation of Satan worship and sentencing of flogging.
This article emphasizes the division and structure of the Islam law system. The laws against listening to rap and rock music fall under the Sharia laws, which is a division of the Islamic law pertaining to tradition and religion. The Sharia laws are the sacred law of Islam. It is believed be most Muslims to be comprised of the divine revelations set forth in the Qur’an, and the “sayings and examples set by Muhammad. (It is under these laws that permit stoning and death sentences to women and men who have been accused of adultery.)This article also emphasizes yet again the extremely limited individual freedom and powers the people hold. It is very difficult for Americans to even begin to associate with how little individual freedoms these people have because we are so accustomed to the benefits and protections our country gives us. We believe that it is our natural right, not privilege to have certain freedoms like freedom of speech and property. However, this is not the case in Iran. Iran, which is heavily regarded as one of the most blasphemous countries when it comes to protection of individual rights and humanitarian crimes, monitors what the people listen to, read, and watch. Because the media is largely influenced and controlled by the government, there is not internal pressure for the police or government to follow procedures. The whereabouts of the kids arrested are not known, how many kids, their ages or what they are even charged with is unknown. This displays how little media involvement there is in arrests and crimes, and the small degree of rights the accused are when arrested. This allows immense room for corruption within the police force and government and does not give people accused of crimes very much ability to defend themselves.
The Iranian government cannot afford “western” ideas and costumes to leak into Iran because that is when the people could start getting ideas about more modern, democratic ways of doing things. Although rap and rock music is frowned upon in the Iranian society because it can contain profane lyrics, I believe that more importantly the music over the radio is monitored by the Iranian government because the government cannot afford new thinking to leak into the traditional Islamic system. What happens when young people start wanting to listen to what they want to listen to? When they start to want to do and say things they are not allowed to say? What happens when the youth of Iran starts to want a say in government and start to want more freedom from the corrupted Iranian government? Rebellion against the oppression of government is what is going to start the progression of change in Iran and perhaps lead to greater freedoms for its people in the future.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/11/07/iran.rap.arrests/index.html

Big headlines have been created to Britain’s new austerity plan which aims to get rid of the country’s deficit in four years. The majority of the ministers in the country are accepting of this plan, however main head of state, the Archbishop of Cantebury, strongly disagrees. The Archbishop argues  that the part of the austerity plan which forces people to work, is not going to help the country. Under the new plan, workers would be forced to show up on time and work a full day. There would even be a few requirements of community service or other types of involvment which would force the people to take part in their community. Some argue against these new rules saying that they are going to hurt the peopl.  The ministers of the country strongly disagree with these people, including the Archbishop, arguing that there are too many people who are unemployed and it is their extended unemployment that is going to hurt Britain in the long run. 

This is interesting because it is odd that such a key figure, the Archbishop of Cantebury would argue so much against government. Although the Archbishop has no formal authority, it is interesting to see his strong disagreement against government since he has such an immsense influence over the British people because he is considered to be the ‘first Bishop of England’. The ministers brought up a good point when they recognized that most people cannot find jobs because there simply aren’t any, instead of blaming the lack of jobs on personal incompetence. As of right now, government offers a 65 pound ‘Jobseekers’ Allowance’ to anyone who is part of the workforce, or has been at some time. Now, the govnernment is threatening to take away such a allowance if they people are not maintaining a current job. Though these cuts in social expenditure towards the people is seen as harsh by the people and the Archbishop, government feels that this is extra incentive, not punishment to the people, that will help push the British people in the right direction and rid the country of the overwhelming deficit. The point is also brought up, would the US government ever be able to enforce such strict rules on the people? Would the American people accept being forced to work?

“Russian Journalist Beaten in Moscow”

Another Russian journalist was attacked this week.

30-year-old Oleg Kashin, writer for popular local paper Kommersant is now in a coma, after an attack left him with, “a concussion, a broken jaw, fractures in both legs and broken finger,” with reports stating that at least one of his fingers was torn off completely, severed at the joint.

Oleg Kashin

Many are making the obvious connection, saying that the extreme brutality and emphasis that was put on the journalist’s hands and fingers were meant to convey a message not only to Kashin, but to other journalists as well.

Kashin, who was assigned a piece on political movements and protest on the day of his attack, is of numerous media members who have been targeted in the last few years:

Although government’s response to this particular incident was swift due to the attention it received because of Kommersant’s notoriety, the perpetrators of the attacks will likely be unidentified and thus no trial will ensue, such as has been the case with most of these types of incidences.

The attack on Oleg Kashin is being related back to the growing Pro-Kremlin movement in Russia, a youth-based organization that centers on nationalist beliefs and has been responsible for many demonstrations against foreigners, popularizing the phrase, “Russia for the Russians.”

Members of the Pro-Kremlin Group

Along with a full-recovery, members of the media and human rights groups hope that Kashin’s attackers will be punished, indicating that such brutality will not continue to go unpunished.

Why Russian Journalists?

This is a question that can be met with a variety of answers.

On the surface, and surely in some cases, media exposure of corruption or criticism of particular groups is what seems to warrant violence in the minds of the attackers. However, this generalized notion doesn’t take into account the instances of relatively un-provoked violence, in which the victim, apart from their occupation, seems to be chosen at random.

Map indicating highest concentrations of media-related violence

To get to the heart of this phenomenon, one must delve deeper into the Russian state.

As has been noted previously, the multiethnic Russia has been embroiled in a struggle to achieve a sense of collective identity, causing an influx in extremist, nationalist youth movements, that have been linked to violent attacks on journalists like the Pro-Kremlin groups involvement in the attack on Oleg Kashin. This rising attitude has been responsible for an increase in an “us vs. them,” mentality, which, while typically aimed toward foreigners, has been carried over to any group or individual who shows sympathy toward “non-Russian” groups. Russians that align themselves with minorities are viewed by factions like the Pro-Kremlin movement
as traitorous, an offence just as bad if not worse than being a foreigner.

Though this helps explains why the problem seems to be worsening, one must take a more in-depth look at the operations of the state to understand how the problem initially came to be.

The root of the problem is the incapacity of the state to provide political goods to its citizens.

Russian citizens are not provided with basic security. This is thought to be one of the main reasons for the occurrence of violence in Russia, with perpetrators consistently escaping punishment for their crimes. In a country such as the United States, having security and knowing that those who try to infringe upon it will be punished is a luxury that is taken for granted. People in countries like Russia are not afforded such security, with violent demonstrations constantly happening without any repercussions or serious pursuit from the state. Also, the formation of these young, dissenting movements are largely the result of having had no education and having little prospects for the future, which stems back to the incapacity of the state to provide political goods.

Unfortunately, it is likely that attacks on journalists and other media-based organizations will continue to frequent Russia as long as its government fails to provide for its citizens.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/world/europe/07russia.html?ref=russia

Committee to Protect Journalists
Statistics and how you can help
http://journalists-in-russia.org/

Other stories of violence against Russian Journalists:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/world/europe/18impunity.html?_r=1&sq=Khimki%20and%20journalist&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=1&adxnnlx=1289224857-2Ga6LL1iTsTf7BlrBZvdAw

Despite President Calderon’s efforts to end this war on drugs, the drug traffickers are inventing new ways to transport their illegal products across borders, continuously undermining the authority of the government. The United States and Mexican police recently discovered a tunnel used to smuggle drugs across the California-Mexico border. Police seized about 25 tonnes (equivalent to 1,000 kg) of marijuana. This was a highly sophisticated tunnel equipped with ventilation, lighting and a pulley-system, and happened to be 1,800 feet long and only waist high. The tunnel connected a warehouse in the United States to Tijuana, the main entry for the majority of drugs that are imported to California. The police believe that the tunnel had been in operation for less than a month. The Mexican police have been cracking down on the export of marijuana in Tijuana, seizing about 134 tonnes. This is not the first tunnel to be discovered and used to import drugs. In the past four years, about 75 tunnels have been discovered. This should have been deemed a sign of success. Mexican and United States authorities in coordinating their efforts seized the illegal drug and closed the tunnel; however, in the large scope of the problem this is such a minimal success as compared to the paramount problem that has been occurring for the past four years.

Ever since December 2006, President Calderon called for a “war on drugs,” launching a crackdown on the cartels that control the routes for trafficking drugs into the US market.  Despite the fact that Calderon has deployed the police and federal army to the borders to fight off the cartels on the major drug routes, the body count keeps on adding up. The evidence of 28,000 deaths in the past four years due to the cartels is proving that the government is not able to protect its citizens. Essentially, the power of the cartels remains the same. The consequences of this “war” put Mexico on the verge of becoming a failed state. Calderon has failed for numerous reasons. This is a multibillion dollar industry and there are huge profits to be made. Mexico is next door to their largest consumer: the United States. As long as the demand is high, there will be a supply. Another failure is Mexico’s inability to contain the violence within the state because the cartels have disregarded the authority of the government. The cartels are willing to use violence to prevent people from challenging them. Corruption has inundated the federal police force and Mexican army. Poverty and unemployment are major social factors that have demised the power of Mexico.  “Assassins are paid $45 a week by the local drug gangs … ‘not to become rich, simply to put food on the table.’”  Cartels move to new areas and find new ways, like tunnels to smuggle their products across borders, to keep the business growing. There is also a lack of confidence among the citizens in the Mexican government.  Ironically, in the United States this past Tuesday, November 2, California denied the legalization of marijuana. If this had been passed, maybe the illegal drug dealers would have little or no business. Even in the United States, when Americans are worrying about kidnappings, murders, and drugs penetrating the border, the guns are supplied by the States.

Tijuana's Location

A 600 yard underground tunnel fromTijuana, Mexico to Otay Mesa (in San Diego) was being used to smuggle Marijuana under the Mexico-California border; authorities intercepted this act while in progress on Tuesday. Authorities were watching the Otay Mesa warehouse on Tuesday, and noticed a trailer leave and authorities immediately followed. Authorities searched the truck at Border Patrol; 26 tons of Marijuana was found in America and 4 tons were found in Mexico. This is not the first time Marijuana has been intercepted. Authorities have cracked down since the 1990s, and have gained strength to the point where these drug cartels can only transport drugs through underground tunnels. Since the 1990s authorities have started to count the number of tunnels found, and it comes out to a whopping total of 125 tunnels. These tunnels are usually abandoned when found, but in this case the criminals were busted while in the act of transporting the drug. Even though Mexican and U.S. authorities were able to intercept this action, they were not able to pin point exactly which cartel was behind it. Cartels are getting busted more and more lately; Mexican authorities found 105 tons of Marijuana in Tijuana last month. These cartels have led to a growing relationship between Mexican and U.S. authorities; the two share information with each other which makes their job that much easier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dC6LyJk6E78
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As authorities start to crack down on drug cartels, multiple topics could begin to shape Mexico: collective consensus might occur once these cartels lose power, the freedom of the drug market, and the special relationship that is being created between the U.S. and Mexico. Now that authorities have been able to gain some power with these drug cartels and smugglers, Mexico will have to start to think of its people. Even though there is not a civil war in Mexico right now, these cartels have caused vast amounts of violence, which always leaves devastation. Once these cartels are completely shut down for good, will there be a movement by the Mexican government similar to the Collectivist consensus movement that occurred in Great Britain in the late 40’s – 70’s? It’s not easy to give a simple yes or not to this question, but I believe this will help the Mexican people come together. The people need goods and services; many of the cartels have ruined these services for the citizens. Not only are the Mexican people in need of basic goods and services, the cartels have essentially formed a laissez faire market which makes it difficult for the Mexican government to provide for the people. It is ironic since laissez faire involves little government as possible because the Mexican government is trying to get involved with this drug market. The government wants this free market to end. Through this market that has caused such uproar in Mexico and the U.S., (especially California) a special relationship has formed. These two countries have joined forces to stop these cartels; they share information, and help each other as much as possible. There is a possibility this special relationship could carry on after the drug cartels lose power.

This week Work and Pensions Secretary, Iain Duncan Smith will be announcing a new program to implement cuts in welfare, a program which should be expecting about 7 billion pounds in cuts under the new spending review.  This program is being issued in an attempt to streamline welfare by creating a single universal payment to replace the several separate benefits in the current system.  To begin, Duncan Smith and other Conservatives working on the program want to require those receiving Jobseekers Allowance to do up to 30 hours of manual labor a week.  Those who refuse or show up late to their duties would be barred from the allowance for at least three months.  Duncan Smith is hopeful that this would get rid of those who are choosing to live on welfare and are not being proactive about finding a job.  Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Liberal Democrat, Danny Alexander says that this community service work will get people in the routine of a normal work day and prepare them to enter the work force.  As number two to Chancellor George Osborne he has had a lot to do with recent cuts.  But many people have spoken out against this new program.  The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams is worried that this will be a source of despair for welfare claimants across the country.  Many criticize the Tories for making the 5 million people on welfare out to be villains when in fact they are the victims.  For every 5 people seeking work, there is one job in the UK and it is clear that jobs need to be created to fix problems of unemployment.  This is considered to be one of the biggest reforms on welfare in 70 years and it is no wonder that it is causing debate among political leaders.

This new program highlights the enormous amount of power that Ministers have to create and pass legislation.  Because of parliamentary sovereignty, Ministers are able to implement such programs without dissent from a judiciary branch or directly from the people.  In America, a program like this could be stopped or heavily delayed, but in the UK it looks as if it will be put in place very soon.  This streamlining of welfare is certainly characteristic of the Conservative Party.  Like former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, it seems that David Cameron and his government are attempting to decrease the welfare state as shown by the various spending cuts and the addition of these requirements for receiving Jobseekers Allowance.  It will be interesting to see the result of these and other welfare cuts and what they will do for Cameron’s popularity.  As of June 30^th, Cameron was at a respectable approval rating of 54%, but if he angers the 5 million people receiving welfare, this could take a dive.  The next few months will be telling of Cameron’s success as new programs are announced to satisfy the recent spending review.

Recently, the current Nigerian President, Umaru Yar’Adua has died. This leaves the current vice president, Goodluck Johnson, to be risen to power of Presidency. Johnson is currently running for the position of president in the election, but because of the death of the president he was moved to presidency. However, the major dispute going on in Nigeria is the legitimacy of the agreement that every two terms the presidency should rotate from the south to the north. It has been previously viewed as an unwritten agreement from the two religious groups, the Islam in the north and then Christianity in the south . The new information present in this article says there was an official vote where it was decided that this rotation would continue. Some say that this vote took place and that the rule should be followed, others say that this was simply an unofficial agreement and it should not be enforced. Mr. Abubakar said that he was present the day the late president assured the northerners that the presidency would swing back to the north in the terms after his. The major problem is that this system began in 1999 with the return of the civilian rule and the power of the People’s Democratic Party . Because this is a very new system of government, with just one southern president, there is no past support for the northerners for the rotation. The accession of Johnson to presidency recently was not argued by the public, but what is being argued is Johnson’s run for presidency for the next term. The ideal government of the country would be a perfect blend of religions, brought forth by the rotation of presidency. However, obviously it is hard for anything to be perfect and the fact that this is such a problem in Nigeria shows that everywhere, even in Nigeria, being the best candidate is not always good enough to earn a victory.

The noun repeatedly used in this article is “zoning”. This refers to the agreement that the presidency should rotate from north to south. An interesting part of this article to note is the view point of the women on this issue. Most women, when interviewed, thought that the presidency’s religious whereabouts should not be considered when voting in the election. Most women said that as long as the president is a good candidate, intellectual and gives the people enough power. Not all people agree that zoning is the best way to determine the presidency. Some believe that zoning “is not democratic. It’s manipulative”, says a woman. What is not stated in the article is if these women are from either the north or the south. These women could be from the north and truly believe that the best candidate should win and religion should not be involved in the politics. However, they could be from the south and defending their choice for Johnson as the president by going against the zoning of Nigeria. The fear after reading this article is, how far will the northerners go to get what they want in the elections? This shows the strength of ethnicity triumphing over the idea of national identity. Ethnicity is what sets a group of people apart from another. National identity is what binds people together through a strong sense of common political, aspirations. In this case, it is clear that people are slowly grouping back towards their ethnic groups because of the fight going on and the dispute over where the presidency should be from. Nigeria has over one hundred and fifty billion residences and each is divided in the religious differences between north and south, making it extremely difficult for democracy to grow.

To read the article that this is based off of, click here. Also, to read more information on the zoning in Nigeria and the religions, click here.

“Nigeria: Election equipment contracts signed”

by Jon Gambrell

Click here to read the article!

As stated in previous blog posts, the Independent National Electoral Commission in Nigeria is up against many challenges to make an election happen. Initially, the Commission sought to have this massive feat completed by December to hold elections in January. However, they realized that would be impossible in September, and pushed back the election date to April. The biggest challenge the Commission faces is the creation of a new voter’s registration list that includes around 70 million people. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been busy cleaning out the corrupted, old, greatly criticized, voter’s lists, and spending $230 million to do so.

This weekend, they caught a major break by signing contracts with major technology companies to supply Nigeria with the equipment they need to perform this big of a registration drive. Avante International Technology Inc., Haier Electrical Appliances Ltd., and Zinox Technologies Ltd. are the said companies supplying the INEC with the equipment they need within 35 days. Laptops and other technology will help them obtain a clean voter’s list, and take photographs and fingerprints of all the eligible voters (70 million). With Nigeria’s history of voter intimidation, vote-rigged elections, and this election being “ethnically and religiously charged” means the INEC has more pressure than ever to hold, for the first time, an election with credibility and plausible results. The signing of these contracts means they are one step closer to the completion of a fraud-free voter’s registration list.

Nigeria is known for being practically a “failed state” in transitional democracy, but this article shows the progression of efforts to gain legitimacy and a true democracy. Jenga, the president of the electoral commission, is holding true to his word that he will produce a clean election. Being the most populous country in Africa makes Jenga and the INEC’s job harder, but here we see them get a break. This is one step closer to a clean democratic election! With any luck, this election will instill nationalism, end corruption at all levels, and create a more happy, stable Nigeria. In months to come, it will be exciting to see how much this hopefully clean election will evolve the country away from a corrupt transitional democracy.

Read here to learn more about the initial challenges this election was up against and the technology/ money needed to pull it off.

This video explains the importance of this 2011 election and the crucial role technology and the media play in it.

More interesting reads on related topics…

Same subject: http://www.timeslive.co.za/africa/article749935.ece/Nigeria–Election-equipment-contracts-signed

A blog: http://www.nigeriahealthwatch.com/2010/08/voter-registration-vs-immunization.html

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/j4/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4341:how-i-got-my-inec-card&catid=30:mobolaji-aluko&Itemid=183

Dependence on China: The indispensable economy?

Forbes.Com Powerful People 2010:

This week when Forbes recognized the President of the People’s Republic of China as the most powerful person in the world, they recognized China’s development as an economic powerhouse. Hu Jintao met all four of Forbes’ defining criteria of power:

1.       Whether the person has influence over a lot of people

2.       Whether they have significant wealth compared to their peers

3.       Whether they are powerful in more than one sphere

4.       Whether they actively wield power

Apart from ruling over 1.3 billion people, 1/5 of the world’s population and controlling the world’s largest military, Jinato heads the world’s second largest economy. China’s economy has continued to grow, unharmed as the US (the world’s largest economy) struggles through a recession. Its second place status shouldn’t foul you: it is estimated that in 25 years China will dethrone US and take the place of the world’s largest economy. This year, China will account for approx. 20% of the world’s growth.  China is transforming from “the world’s factory” to “the world’s consumer”. The world is becoming more and more economically dependent on China. China’s “ups and downs” whether through trade or demand impacts the world: whether a big city or small. China’s ripple effect is demonstrated by the $7.5 billion that a Chinese state owned mining and metals corporation is investing in a small (400 people) Australian town. China plans to build Australia’s biggest coal mine and a large railway for easy transportation of the goods to China. This has generated much interest in Australia to develop the mining and railway industry. This is just one example demonstrating China’s increasing impact on the world. As economies like South Korean, Taiwanese, and Philippine become dependent on China rather than the US. Now if China’s economy grows by 1% in a year, “it would boost the rest of the world’s GDP by .4% (about $290 billion) after five years”. China gains more and more “gate keeping” power. China is becoming the orchestrators of the world’s economy. When business men around the world are going to the Chinese government for money, it is clear why Forbes named the leader of it all, Jinato, the most powerful man in the world.

Even though the West may condemn China’s ideology, there’s one problem: China is on a role, gaining control over the world. One thing is definite: money is power. As the US fights and stalls through the gridlock of democracy, China is soaring by. Jinato has knocked Obama to the world’s second most powerful person. Since when has anyone surpassed the power of the President of the United States? More importantly this outcome leads to a bigger answer: what will happen to the world now that a communist dictator wields the most power? How will the US be able to compete with China? This economic battle between democracy and communism will shed light on whether a communist economy or a liberal economy is the most efficient and prosperous. As an authoritarian regime, the People’s Republic of China finds justification in their oppressive ways through the success of their economy. It will be interesting to see just how long economic prosperity will satisfy their citizens as well as how long they can actually sustain such great prosperity. However as of now, China is in the driver’s seat, determining the world’s prosperity.
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Gorbachev Says Putin Obstructs Democracy

One of Putin’s predecessors, Mikahil Gorbachev, is now openly voicing his opinion of Russia’s current leader, saying that Putin has had a negative effect on Russia’s road to democracy. While in office, Gorbchev, the last leader of the Communist party in the Soviet Union and last president of the USSR, introduced many economic, political, and social reforms. He feels that his reforms advanced the state and that he led Russia into the right direction toward becoming an efficient democracy, but that Putin has prevented this from happening. Gorbachev believes that Medvedev and Putin rely on authoritarianism, referring to Russia as an “unmanageable” country. “He thinks that democracy stands in his way.” He also said that Putin has weakened opposition. In 2004, Putin abolished elections for the mayors of St. Petersburg and Moscow. Instead, Kremlin appointees were selected to fill these positions. Last month, Medvedev dismissed Moscow’s mayor, a position now held by a Putin supporter. Dmitri Pesko, Putin’s spokesman, responded to Gorbachev’s criticisms by saying that unpopular leaders and unappealing policies are to blame for the lack of power of opposition parties in Russia.

“He [Putin] thinks that democracy stands in his way.”

“”I just don’t think my voice makes a difference…What can I say? This is Russia.”

This is just another example of Russia’s tough path to democracy and brings the question to mind: is Russia even headed towards democracy? The elimination of several elections, only to have those positions filled by Kremlin and Putin supporters eradicates all governmental opposition. If Russia is not on the path toward democracy, are they on the path toward becoming a failed state or authoritarian democracy? Recent actions taken by the government and Gorbachev’s criticism of Russia’s leaders certainly point in this direction. Putin’s respective party, United Russia, has immense power in Russia, which worries many people. Some were even blacklisted for not agreeing with United Russia, such as Viacheslav Trofimov. The majority of articles published about Russia today are harsh criticisms of its government and leaders. In previous current events, Putin and Medvedev were blamed for their late response to the forest fires; Putin’s leading party was rumored to have rigged elections; and Russia illegally used Microsoft to suppress opposition. More and more evidence points to Russia as a failed state, or in the direction toward becoming one. Alcohol is a major problem in Russia, and nearly one third of all deaths are alcohol related. Russia has one of the highest alcohol consumption rates in the world. Russia also has a very high number of orphans, whose state-funded care expires at age 16, leaving these children on the street with nowhere to go. 40% of these now homeless orphans will become drug users, another 40% will commit crimes of some sort, and 10% will commit suicide. In the early 2000s, Russia’ population was decreasing by 700,000 a year. There have been countless terrorist attacks in recent years, killing innocent civilians. Russia also has a major taxing problem, always failing to collect taxes from all citizens. A government cannot exist without this major source of revenue. These many examples, along with Gorbachev’s criticisms, demonstrate a powerful government when it comes to eliminating opposition, but a weak state when it comes to securing and providing for the people. A state will cease to exist if they fail to provide for their people.

Watch at 3:02