SAVE BURMA

The Burmese government has turned against its people yet again, and this time, only days after promising UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon that all foreign aid workers would be let in to the country.

 

The latest stunt from the regime is rumoured to be, evicting starving Burmese cyclone victims from government run emergency camps. Apparently, the greedy regime generously gave the cyclone victims bamboo poles and tarpaulins and told them to go and rebuild their lives.

 

Terje Skavdal, head of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, could not confirm the closure of the camps, but stated: “People need to be assisted in the settlements and satisfactory conditions need to be created before they can return to their place of origins…Any forced or coerced movement of people is completely unacceptable.”

 

We seem to be hearing these statements from UN representatives a lot lately, but still there doesn’t seem to be much progress and improvement in the lives of the Burmese people. 2,4 million cyclone victims are still homeless and lacking sufficient food supplies.

 

But then again, it must be hard negotiating with this irrational regime, particularly as long as the Burmese government is unwilling to ‘realise’ the reality and consequence of this natural disaster.

 

The Burmese- language daily, Myanma Ahlin said: “cyclone survivors could get by without bars of chocolate from the international community.” 

 

The cyclone caused the death of at least of 78,000 people, 56,000 are still missing and 2,4 million people are homeless. I say, ‘chocolate bars’ from the International community is exactly what the Burmese people need, and the International community should step up and pressure the Burmese government harder than ever before, as everyday that goes by more and more people are at the risk of dying. We have been keeping our eyes closed for too long…

BRAVERY MAKES A DIFFERENCE

The bravery of the mother, who reported her two sons to the police for attacking and beating up a man on a night out, proves that justice can prevail even in though situations.

 

The brothers now jailed for two years, attacked a father of two outside a takeaway shop on a night out, and left the man forever blind in one eye. When the attackers mother, found out about her sons criminal and abusive behaviour, she made the difficult decision to report her own sons to the police.

 

Carol Saldinack explained today to the BBC, that if the situation was reversed: “I would want to know why or who did this and for what reason and to be punished for what they have done…We can all turn a blind eye to situations in our lives and that’s what’s wrong with everybody now. We are teaching our children that it’s ok to do this and it’s wrong.” She also said that by keeping quiet that would make her just as guilty as her sons were. 

 

This brave mother clearly has made sacrifices and even received threats from her oldest son, saying: “Mother, if you say anything else to the police, it won’t necessarily be me, but you might not wake up in your bed one morning.”

 

But this woman isn’t selfish, and she did what she did out of love for her children who clearly needed some moral guidance, and a lesson teaching them that violence is never acceptable. But unfortunately Carol Saldinack is right in saing that no one really cares anymore.

 

We are living in a self-centred society where we are only looking after our self, and turn a blind eye to everything that happens around us because we don’t want to get involved. But things can only change if we all get involved. It is about time someone put their foot down and proved that it is possible, even for parents to take a stand against the violent ‘youth’ culture in Britain. Just because you love your child doesn’t mean you have to accept everything they do!

A NEW RUSSIA?

The Russian Presidential change did not portray itself to the West as a hopeful occasion, and questions were asked about the legitimacy of the newly appointed Prime Minister’s position which Putin now hold.

 

However, it might appear like President Medvedev might be the man to improve Russia’s relationship with the West after all. And most importantly, restore justice for the Russian people after he openly admitted the need for change in relation to the Russian justice system.

 

Medvedev spoke last week of the need to make Russian’s courts independent and described the current legal system as one which decisions were reached after pressure and for money. This is a gutsy stand by the newly elected President.   

 

What thus might be worrying the West and particularly Russia’s old enemy, USA, is Russia’s increasingly tight relationships with China, and how they seem to be creating a new super alliance, jeopardising the US place as the one and only super power.

 

But things could be worse and Medvedev’s interest in furthering talks with the EU in relation to trade agreements seems like a step in the right direction for EU to achieve a closer relationship with this powerful and slightly unpredictable nation.

UN FAILS TO PROTECT

 

The grotesque revelation about UN peacekeepers raping young children who they are suppose to protect really makes a person lose all hope in humanity.

 

As the cruelties happening around the world (most recently witness in relation to the Burmese regime’s reaction to Cyclone Nargis) are a reality of human behaviour, we would not expect that same behaviour from peacekeepers who dedicate their life to work against such cruelties.

 

How any human being can exploit and abuse a young, defenceless child is so grotesque I can barely stand thing about it.

 

Nick Birnback, a UN spokesman said in relation to the revelation, that it was impossible to ensure zero incidents within an organisation that has up to 200,000 personal serving around the world. But to me, that is a cowardly approach and unless zero incidents can be assured, the UN should not be allowed to portray themselves as peacekeepers, as peacekeeping is about protecting vulnerable people from injustice, not inflict it!

 

The cruel incidents came to light through a report issued by ‘Save the Children’ which has proposed an international watchdog to be set up. The report also found out that also aid workers have been sexually abusing young girls and boys.

 

Jasmine Whitbread, executive Save the Children UK, said: “In recent years, some important commitments have been made by the UN, the wider international community and by humanitarian and aid agencies to act on this problem. However, all humanitarian and peacekeeping agencies working in emergency situations, including Save the Children UK must own up to the fact they are vulnerable to this problem and tackle it head on.”