Update: Zimbabwe

Remember Burma? Or Myanmar? Different names, same country. Well, when the monks were protesting late last year the government essentially shut down Burma and it got the world’s attention.

Well, it appears the same thing is happening in Zimbabwe.

According to The Jakarta Post, Robert Mugabe’s regime has “shut down independent media, attacked independent civil society organizations, denied visas to foreign journalists, and has arrested and beaten journalists who nevertheless enter the country.”

I think it’s obvious that there’s a much larger issue here.

Within a year we have two countries shutting down what is essential to a democracy: an independent media.

We have human rights violations all over the world, yet it doesn’t always get the attention of the people of the world. Burma got the attention, but then lost it. Things still are bad in Burma, with the recent cyclones there the government isn’t allowing aid into the country.

It’s issues and times like these that absolutely depress me with the horrible and evil capabilities of the human race.

Don’t Forget Burma.

The Country Formerly Known as Burma…

Buddhist monks are known to many around the world as being a peaceful people. Since they are known as a peaceful people not many would expect people to actually beat and kill them.

The above would probably be in the minds of most people of the world if it was not for the recent events in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Buddhist monks are leading the people of Burma in peaceful protest against one of the most constrictive dictatorships in the world.

The government of Burma responded to the protest by eventually imposing a curfew and later beating and killing its people. The government says that only 10 people were killed in the incidents, but other sources later said the actual number was much higher.

In video clips and pictures that were originally exclusive to Anderson Cooper 360 on CNN there were images of blood soaked streets as well as the Burma military beating both monks and civilians.

Britney Spears is up to her usual stuff and J Lo might be pregnant, but don’t forget about the monks fighting in Burma for democracy.

Ahmadinejad again…

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad went to speak at Tehran University in Iran and was met by protest outside from young Iranian students. Is it not evident that he is not liked in Iran, especially by the younger citizens?

The United States has a great opportunity to reach out to the Iranian youth and talk to them about their president as well as get them on their side. There may be a peaceful way to deal with Iran instead of going into war with them.

As for Columbia head Lee Bollinger inviting and then defiling Ahmadinejad he was obviously in the wrong. You do not invite someone to talk and then label them and insult them before they speak. Let the man talk and make his own labels, it’ll save you some work.