When the computer says "No!"

Square pegs and round holes...

The development of computer technology has revolutionised my life. Many people nowadays take it all for granted. Wikipedia, Amazon, YouTube, emails... none of this existed when I was a child. If you were not sure whether an elderly author was dead or alive, by the time you found out, he or she probably was!  There is a downside, however. Computer programmes are often inflexible and if they are programmed for round pegs, but you happen to be square, you are well and truly stuck. 

If you missed out because the computer said no, you are not alone  

When listening to the speeches of the representatives of various countries during the UN General Debate, I could not help but chuckle at the one of them. Baron Waqa, the President of Nauru was explaining how he lost out on significant scheme because the UN computer said "No!":

The population of Nauru is a little over 10,000 people. Let me try to capture the challenges of accessing the support available from the United Nations by sharing a story from my days as Director of Education. Eager to participate in an education data tracking programme offered by UNESCO, I logged into their website and began to input the required information for registering my country. The first question was straightforward: number of primary schools. I typed in the number six. Not six-hundred (600). Not six-thousand (6,000). Six (6).
ERROR
I moved to the second question: Number of teachers. I typed in sixty-nine (69).
ERROR
I was not able to register for that promising education programme.

The solution is so simple    

The silly thing is that the problems relating to computers saying "No!" is elementary. All that is needed is an accessible administrator (with common sense), whom one could easily contact in these circumstances. Companies and organisations, however, are often too greedy to bother. They would rather let people lose out on services that they may be entitled to than pay a little extra in order to ensure that this does not happen. Being a typical square peg in a world dominated by round ones, I could write a book full of salient examples. 

Catering for the square pegs may not make financial sense to an company or organisation. Their thinking is often: if the computer cannot deal with it, then tough! Profits come before service. Governments should therefore legislate in order to ensure people are not penalised for not fitting into the dictates of a computer programme. Unless this happens, the situation will only get worse.

Getting stoned in Brunei

George Clooney speaks out...  

Why is it that, so far, the loudest protest against the Sultan of Brunei has come from the world of show business? Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has  adopted a strict interpretation of Sharia Law that will come into force on April 3. Sodomy and adultery will be punishable by whipping and lapidation (stoning to death), while theft will incur amputations. Owing to previous objections the law had been temporally put aside, but the Sultan has just pushed it through with minimal publicity. However, it did not go unnoticed, as he may have hoped. Hollywood superstar, George Clooney, immediately decried the barbarity of the law and called for the boycott of the Sultan's many luxury hotels.

Tokenism is not enough  

Of course, politicians have started to voice their concerns, but often these objections are tame and wish-washy. Few have the courage of Xavier Bettel, the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, for instance. He recently shocked delegates at the EU-Arab League Summit in Egypt by pointing out that he could be legally killed or imprisoned in many of the represented countries. Laws such as these are an affront to the civilised world and a gross violation of human rights.Not only is tokenism not enough, it gives the false allusion that something significant is being done.

Clooney's advice can have limited results  

George Clooney set a brave example and gave concrete suggestions on how to respond. He pointed out that while it is difficult to shame these sort of regimes, it is easy enough to hit them where it hurts, namely their pockets. Unfortunately, it is only rich people who can do this. They can inflict pain on the Sultan's luxury hotels and financial services, while countries and large corporations could perhaps target their oil industry. The Sultan is one of the richest men on earth. His subjects, who consist of less than half a million people, enjoy huge benefits, but at the expense of their human rights. The Sultan seems poised to weather the storm. 

The UN, political and religious leaders must do more...

Gay sex can incur the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, but homosexuality is illegal in 73 countries and of those, only Kenya and Botswana have pending court rulings to decriminalise it. Adultery fares even worse and it is even illegal in some US States. Consensual sex amongst adults is their business, not the state's. Boycotts are not enough. It is time the UN, politicians and religious leaders do more to combat this bigotry and violence. As long as they fail to, they will be part of the problem. 

Space for a better space race!

The scramble for space...

On March 26, US Vice President Mike Pence announced Washington's determination to pursue space exploration. He was speaking to a gathering at the National Space Council. Referring to China and Russia, Pence insisted that the US was now in a space race:

Make no mistake about it, we're in a space race today, just as we were in the 1960s, and the stakes are even higher...

Bases on the moon and manned missions to Mars no longer seem to be far off and the US wants to be ahead of the game. Indeed, so do the Russians and Chinese. China landed a probe on the far side of the moon in January. This was a new milestone in space exploration. Putin, too, has also made his ambitions clear and suggests that Russia will overtake the US. This is all very exciting. Space exploration is not just pie in the sky. Whether you believe in the veracity of the moon landing claims or not, the technology is certainly up to the challenge now. Also, as well as the wealth of information  we can glean form such missions, colonising other planets could one day prove a lifeline to humanity. But...

Getting our priorities right

Is space really a priority? Should the billions of dollars that this would cost not be spent on more urgent issues? Climate Change, the Sixth Mass Extinction (Holocene Extinction) and the current Refugee Crisis are examples of issues that are considerably more immediate and pressing. Our ship is sinking, should we not be bailing water out and fixing the leaks, rather than bird-watching from the decks? 

NASA's current budget is in excess of $20 billion. Figures for Russia and China are harder to gauge, but they certainly cannot be spending much less. Furthermore, the EU, various countries, such as India, and private companies, such as Tesla, are spending heavily on space programmes. The total expenditure would certainly be astronomical!

A win-win solution

The tragedy is the fact that we could have our cake and eat it. Billions of dollars could be saved for urgent issues, while space exploration could continue even more effectively. All that would be needed is for us to abandon our competitive drive when it came to space, and to work cooperatively. Pooling resources together could easily double the amount spent by the highest spender and still leave billions for urgent issues on earth. This would have the added benefit of bringing nations together in joint challenges and spare space our petty parochialism. 

The Virtue of Trees

When I think of the different lifeforms that grace the earth, trees and plants (most of them, anyway) always come up on top. They give so much and yet they only take a little of what flows freely from nature: the air, the rays of the sun, the rain and the earth. Though exposed, trees give shelter; though maltreated, they are at peace; though still, they seem to contemplate the furthest horizons. They predate us by millions of years and yet not a drop of blood has ever stained their dignity. Their nature is their wisdom and their virtue. But I wonder, do they think? If they did, I would dread to know what they would think of us. 

Trees

By (Alfred) Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.


A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;


A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;


A tree that may in Summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;


Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.


Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Polly Higgins: A Quest to Eradicate Ecocide

Polly Higgins is a lawyer and environmentalist. Her father had worked as a meteorologist and she grew up in a milieu of environmental awareness in the Scottish Highlands. Noting how the earth was being ravaged and endangered by human greed, she decided that it too needed an advocate. From then on she began to dedicate her life to save the planet. She has since worked tirelessly for this and has written some powerful books, such as Eradicating Ecocide (which is also the name of her website) and Earth is our Business. This article from The Guardian, by George Monbiot, covers her work beautifully and includes a Ted Talk given by this remarkable woman. I strongly recommend it!

Caveats on the EU Directive on Digital Copyright

The EU directive on digital copyright  

The new directive by the European Union on digital copyright material has caused a good deal of controversy. The European Union Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market, aims to protect artists, by ensuring that they do not loose out on revenue. Too often, third parties, who use material without authorisation, make a profit at the expense of the author. 

Article 13 is particularly contentious because it makes service providers, such as Google and Facebook, responsible for policing their platforms for copyright violations. Per se, this is not bad. The problem is, as the saying goes, "the road to Hell is paved with good intentions."

What will go wrong  

The problems are manifold, but more may creep out of the woodwork as the directive is put into practice. First, the directive will certainly limit the sharing of information and artistic creations like music and film. People like Sir Paul McCartney and Debbie Harry, who supported the move, may become richer because of it, but for the millions of people who have to prioritise food and rent before art, it will constitute a great loss.

Second, the directive will inhibit creativity. Picasso had said that "good artist copy, great artists steal." People will be limited with regards what material they can and cannot use. Even the News Links section of this site could be at risk, because the headlines that lead to the links may be considered a violation. Another example could be filming part of an event, such as a football match, since the filming rights may have been sold.

What could go wrong  

Third (and fourth), the only way these providers will be able to monitor their platforms is through expensive filter programmes. This may adversely affect smaller providers and lead to the big players becoming bigger still. However, what is even more dangerous is that these filters are brainless. When Tumblr took the ridiculous decision to ban nudity on its site, its filter proved to be a total nightmare. Anything vaguely resembling a nude was obliterated. This included abstract art and even certain landscapes. Michelangelo did not stand a chance! Memes, GIFs and parodies could be exempt, but how will the filter decide? We can expect another Tumblr debacle. And how will it work for authors who are happy to have their material shared? 

Conditioning  

Whether we like it or not, these programmes alter the way we operate. They bully us to put commas after every "so" that we write, or to spell according to the default language of the computer, which often keeps reverting back to US English, whether you like it or not. More sophisticated checkers will wrap you on the knuckles if your sentences or paragraphs are considered too long, or your use of the passive voice, too frequent. This directive will be implemented according to the interpretation of each member state. Only time will tell what sort of homogenising effect it will have on how we create and share information. The best we can do is to stay alert...

The climate changes as we look on...

Cyclone Idai and untold suffering  

Cyclone Idai, which ravaged South-Eastern Africa over the last few weeks has left hundreds of people dead. Many are still missing; many more are struggling to survive. The situation desperate, with widespread lack of food, shelter and clean water. Waterborne diseases and malaria are likely to make matters a lot worse. The countries worse hit were Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe. Aid is starting to trickle in, but the task of easing the distress is overwhelming.

Idai will not be exceptional for long!  

Idai is one of the worst storms to have hit the Southern Hemisphere since records began. No doubt, climate change will be brewing up many more. The bitter irony is that while the richer nations pollute and upset the balance of nature, it is often the poorer areas to suffer the consequences. Trump's Tweets mock climate change; others pay lip service... a few try to do something about it, like the children that have been protesting recently. None of this is enough. Drastic action is needed, but sadly, it is unlikely to be taken. When richer nations start to feel the pain, then perhaps attempts will be made to stop these doomsday scenarios. By then it may be too late.

Putin flexes his muscles... again

Putin to Maduro's rescue  

Last Saturday, two Russian air force planes landed in Caracas carrying a senior defence official and troops. Washington complained. Yesterday, Trump tweeted that he was completely exonerated by the Mueller Report. This is not actually true. On the one hand, Mueller did not find evidence that Trump had conspired with Russia, but on the other he did not have enough evidence to prosecute him with regards to obstruction of justice. The details are sketchy, because most of the available information has come from, Trump appointee, Attorney General William Barr. Only when the report is made public, will we have a clearer idea. In the meantime, Maduro can breathe a sigh of relief.

Trump uncharacteristically cautious   

Trump is treading very carefully around issues involving Russia, such as its annexation of Crimea, its involvement in Syria and now this provocation in the so called "back yard" of the US. It is hard to imagine any other Republican President being so laid-back about these imperialistic moves by a Russian leader. Perhaps we just need some more time to see whether Trump is actually in Putin's pocket or not. One thing is certain, if he is, the charges of treason should not rest with him alone. Anyone guilty of trying to cover up the betrayal of the people of the US are equally culpable.  

Thai elections amidst its shackled democracy

Thai elections: Free and Unfair 

The Thai elections that are being held today, offer a perfect case-study of elections that are free, but anything but fair. Ever since the first military coup that wrested power for the lawfully elected Thaksin Shinawatra in 2006, the military have cast a grim shadow on Thai politics. They have done so under the aegis of the monarchy and have behaved as an edgy driving instructor that keeps taking control of the steering wheel at every turn.

A view of the Royal Palace, Bangkok

Shackled democracy 

Thaksin Shinawatra and his sister, Yingluck, who was also ousted form power, in May 2014, are both living in exile now. They are accused of corruption and irregularities, respectively, and could face prison sentences should they return home. Their successors have not had an easy time, either. Even King Maha Vajiralongkorn's sister, Princess Ubolratana, who tried to stand for the Thaksin-linked Thai Raksa Chart Party, was bullied out of it. That order came directly form the king. One of the criticisms levied against the Shinawatras and parties linked to them is that they buy votes. This is because they supported Thai people in poor and rural communities. The same could be said of any programmes that benefit voters. Whoever is elected the dice are loaded in favour of the military, so we cannot expect full democracy to move in very quickly. This clip is worth watching as it explains the situation clearly and concisely:

Nikki Haley, Fake News and Flawed Logic

Mrs. Haley, nice curriculum, but...

Nikki Haley decided to engage in Tweet warfare with Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Haley, who may one day take a shot at the presidency herself, was Governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017 and US Ambassador to the UN from January 25, 2017 to December 31, 2018. Towards the end of next month, shareholders of troubled Boeing will be voting on her nomination to the board of directors. With a curriculum like hers, one would expect more lucidity...

Start by getting your facts right

Haley came under fire for attacking a Tweet by Bernie Sanders, who asked why the cost of having a baby in Finland was a fraction of that in the US. Haley's response revealed a complete ignorance of the facts:

Health care costs are too high that is true but comparing us to Finland is ridiculous. Ask them how their health care is. You won’t like their answer.

Now, if she criticised Sanders for comparing the US with Finland because of their very different circumstances, such as the vast difference in size, she may have had a point. However, to pick on Finnish health care, which is one of the best in the world, is truly pathetic. So, it was Haley who ended up not liking their answer. 

And then, some common sense please...

Still, what I found even more ludicrous was the other part of her response:

Alright @BernieSanders, you’re not the woman having the baby so I wouldn’t be out there talking about skimping on a woman when it comes to childbirth. Trust me! Nice try though.

Is she trying to say that because Sanders is not a woman, he cannot comment on financial matters relating to childbirth? This is a typical example of ignorance trying to silence truth. She might as well chastise Rushkin for commenting on Italian art, or Marx for discussing factory workers. Besides, when she was UN Ambassador, she had plenty to say about issues she had no direct experience of; Palestine for instance. One could throw her: "Nice try, though!" back at her. Although it generally was not that nice at all! In fact, while Bernie Sanders knows exactly what he is talking about, Haley often has not got a clue.

Trump loses the plot over the Occupied Golan Heights

Trump's shock announcement

Spring smiled on the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, yesterday as Trump gave his friend an election boost. Unsurprisingly, it came in the form of a Tweet:

After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel's Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical Strategic and secutity importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability! 

Earlier, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, had pointed out that the Word "occupied" had deliberately been left out of a report referring to the Occupied Golan Heights. 

Reactions

Netanyahu's reaction was to praise Trump and to claim that he had made history. Indeed he had: as the most ignorant, self-serving and callous president in US history. Putin was one of the first to react, condemning the illegality of the move. A fine one to talk! In fact, by legitimising invasion and annexation, Trump actually did Putin a favour. However, condemnation was widespread and include the European Union. Syria, to whom the Heights lawfully belong, is furious and vowed to regain its territory. Damascus has at least two UN resolutions on its side: 242 and 497. The latter states that:

the Israeli decision to impose its laws, jurisdiction, and administration in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights is null and void and without international legal effect.

Likely consequences

By promoting Israeli sovereignty over the Occupied Golan Heights, Trump is condoning the acquisition of territory by war. This is clearly against international law and is an extremely dangerous position. Putin already indicated a free for all and "might is right" attitude with his annexation of Crimea. Now, the other superpower, and Security Council permanent member, is following suit with its green light to these belligerent and unlawful acts. Either Trump is too stupid to realise the danger of his stance, or he simply does not care.

The western two-thirds of the Golan Heights were occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six-day War. Israeli forces occupied the West Bank at the same time. So, is Trump waiting for another opportune moment to recognise Israel's sovereignty over that? He has already jeopardised the peace process between the Palestinian State and Israel by moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem. He seems bent of wrecking it completely. The problem with the "might is right" doctrine is that eventually a stronger force will emerge. And as they say: Karma is a bitch. 

Bayer and the Agrochemical Threat

Bayer and Monsanto

Exactly a year ago today, the European Union approved the $66 Million takeover by the German company Bayer of Monsanto. The US gave its go-ahead two months later and the deal was sealed on the 7th June. Monsanto had started off as a small saccharine business in Missouri in 1901 and developed into one of the biggest agrochemical companies in the world. Its trajectory was so seeped in unethical practices, that one of Bayer's priorities was to drop the toxic name. Erasing the name alone, however, will not absolve the damage that has been done, nor will it guarantee a change in a better direction. 

Roundup killing more than weeds

Roundup weedkiller, one of Monsanto's signature brands, has been in the news lately because of its alleged links to cancer. This week a jury in San Francisco ruled that Roundup weedkiller was indeed a substantial factor in a California man's onset of cancer. Last August, another California man was awarded $289 million in a similar case, though that sum was subsequently reduced and is now on appeal. There are about 11,200 cases still pending. More may spout following these developments. 

Bayer still maintains that glyphosate, the main ingredient, is safe to use. Indeed, since Monsanto's patent expired, it is used in many weedkiller products around the world. It is not just the farmers that are at rick. Many of the genetically modified (GM) seeds Monsanto produced were made to make them Roundup-resistant. So, much of the food and cotton produced in this way grew up shielded by glyphosate. 

Agent Orange and other sins

Monsanto was also one of the main producers of Agent Orange, a herbicide and defoliant that was used widely by the US during the Viet Nam conflict. The results were devastating, not only to the forests, but to millions of human and animal lives, many of which are still suffering the consequences. 

Ironically, Bayer, which was founded in Germany in 1863, was also guilty of supplying its government with chemical weapons. It supported the Nazis during the WWII and supplied the regime with the gas used to exterminate Jews in the death chambers. Of course, the US does not consider Agent Orange a banned chemical weapon. Judge J.B. Weinstein, who presided over a compensation claim in 2005, pointed out that the British had already set a president. The British had, in fact, used similar tactics to deal with insurgency in the Malay jungles. This is a rather odd way of judging ethical conduct, particularly when one goes into the gory details of British history.

Goodbye to good old crop farming

Some of those issues are history and we can hope that others will be so too. After all, it does not feel like that long ago when I was using an asbestos toaster! However, what is likely to linger, is the impact this agrochemical industry is having on traditional crop farming. Monsanto was linked to many suicides in India, when, for instance, farmers would pay over the top for miracle seeds that would sometimes fail. 

However, the main problem with farmers buying these seeds, is that they are designed in such a way as not to reproduce. So the traditional way of saving some seeds for the next crop is no longer possible. Farmers have to keep going back to the suppliers who call the shots. Apart from the expense to farmers, irrespective of the previous yield, what other consequences can these sterile seeds produce? If healthy ones start to go out of business and circulation the consequences could be apocalyptic.

Damage limitation is our responsibility 

These are just some of the issues relating to Bayer/Monsanto. There are others, such as pollution and endangering the earth's insect populations. When Bayer first suggested taking over Monsanto, Friends of the Earth was terribly alarmed. In November 2016 it announced:

Bayer the Bee-Slayer and Monsanto the Butterfly-Killer are trying to merge into one HUGE corporation. We must stop them! If these two companies merge, it would create the biggest seed and pesticide company in the world — giving it unprecedented control over our food supply. Take Action: Tell the DOJ to stop Bayer and Monsanto from merging now!

Of course it is too late for that now. Nevertheless, as I mentioned in yesterday's post, we must make sure that the damage such companies can cause is as limited as possible. 

We, the people... must take responsibility

Money Speaks... But we are not always bound to listen

Universities, museums and all sorts of organisations often bow to philanthropic cheques, ignoring the red blots they sometimes come with. Thankfully, not all of them. This week the National Portrait Gallery in London turned down a £1,000,000 grant from the Sackler family. Sacklers is synonymous with philanthropy. They have donated millions of dollars to noble causes. The problem is that they are also identified with one of the worst pharmaceutical scandals in US history. The Sacklers own Purdue Pharma, which produces OxyContin. This painkiller is a key player in the opioid crisis in the  US. It resulted in many deaths and addictions owing to it deliberate mislabelling and aggressive marketing, which included bribing doctors with complementary trips to international conferences. 

The National Portrait Gallery is a gem of a museum. It is somewhere where the visitor can enjoy art while learning about history at the same time. Now, it can add another feather in its cap. It is the first major art institution to turn down a grant from the Sackler family. Only bold actions such as these can take away that aura of respectability from names such as these. A respectability that makes it easier for brands to continue in their unethical methods of making money. Nestlé and Monsanto are such names. Last Friday, Monsanto was ordered to pay $289 million in damages relating to its carcinogenic weedkiller Roundup. They had kept their research hidden for trade secret reasons. I will discuss Monsanto tomorrow, because their unsavoury practices spread much wider.

Scanning beneath the tip of the iceberg

The obvious link between all these companies, like all criminal activity, I guess, is that we only find out about the dangers after they are caught. And even then, only after there is irrefutable proof. How many more companies are screwing us up and destroying the planet in the process? That is what sound government is for: the identify the risks and protect people and environments. But how many of them really care? Trump is a prime example: selling arms to Saudi Arabia, denying climate change and undermining all sorts of regulations and safeguards. 

It is up to us to act. Research, whistle-blowing, activism, the ballot box are a good start, but there are plenty of other ways too. How we shop and where we go on holiday are less obvious  examples. The National Portrait Gallery just gave us another one.  

UN in need of reform

A recurring theme at UN debates

Anyone who has followed the speeches of the United Nations General Debate over the last few years would be aware of a recurring theme: the reform of the UN. Unsurprisingly, the Security Council is the biggest bone of contention. The five permanent members and their power of veto, make a mockery of the institution, particularly in the 21st century. These countries are: the UK, the US, France, Russia and China. Their privileged status stems from the fact that they were prominent as victors of the World War II. China (PRC) replaced the Republic of China (see previous post), while Russia took over from the Soviet Union after it disbanded in 1991. The current structure of the Security Council is outdated. Unless the United Nations evolves, it risks becoming as ineffectual as the League of Nations it replaced after the war.

The Security Council

The Security Council is made up of 15 members. Ten are elected for a two-year term, the five are there in perpetuity. The most important functions of the UN are carried out by the Security Council. These include approving military interventions, the imposition of sanctions and the deployment of peace-keeping forces. There are three main problems with the existence of the five permanent members.

Far from true representation

The first and second problems concern the number and the choice of representatives. The five members are (together with Germany) the most militarised nations in the world. They are self-serving to the extreme and in the case of Russia, China and the US, are led by ruthless and dangerous people. Morally, they are hardly representative of the nations of the earth. Nor are they geographically. More than half the continents on earth do not have a permanent representative, nor could they all have, as long as the number remained at five. 

Current members are not going to relinquish their position and trying to add others would make Brexit negotiations seem smooth by comparison. Contenders for an extended permanent block include Brazil, Germany, India and Japan. These are vehemently opposed by other nations, such as Pakistan and South Korea for the last two, respectively. The fact is that a limited number will always be unfair to the nations that are left out.

The veto

The other serious problem concerning the five permanent members is the veto. Russia, China and The US are the worse offenders. They would veto eternal paradise for earth and its mother if it meant jeopardising their greedy self-interest, or that of their allies. We need only consider the veto power of the big five to understand why there has been little progress in issues concerning Palestine, Syria, Crimea and Taiwan. Proposals had been made by France and others to at least ban its use in extreme cases, such as those concerning genocide. These suggestions, however, were shot down by Russia. The Russian Ambassador to the UN, Vitali Churkin, had this to say when the proposal was being discussed a few years ago:

"We see it as a somewhat populist proposal. If France wants to limit its own veto, they are welcome." 

If something as simple and obvious as that cannot pass, what hope is there of reform?

Change will have to come from outside the UN.

UN-Aligned is an new organisation that will be launched soon. Its aim is to have a parallel UN without all the power-politics and anomalies of the current one. It will be virtual at first, like an inspiration that will then materialise into the real world. The website is still under construction, but you can already access some of its material here. If you would like to be a part of this amazing project please get in touch via our contact page.

Taiwan's unacceptable Limbo

What Taiwan has in common with Great Britain

While Great Britain (GB) is trying hard to break away from Europe with Brexit, Taiwan is struggling to keep away from China (PRC). For both GB and Taiwan, the first beak took place about 10,000 years ago. It was the end of the last ice age. The melting ice caps raised the sea levels making islands of both land masses. The early 1970s was also a crucial time for both entities. The UK joined the European Economic Community (EEC), the precursor to the European Community (EU), in 1973. In 1971 the United Nations (UN) abandoned Taiwan with Resolution 2758. This decision left Taiwan at the mercy of the Mao's China and his successors. While Britain has much to lose form tearing away from Europe, Taiwan has even more at stake with an opposite scenario. If the People's Republic were to take control of Taiwan, it would not only be the end of its self-determination, it would spell the loss of many of its human rights. One of the main problems for Britain is its leader, Theresa May. The danger for Taiwan, on the other hand, is the leader of the PRC, Xi Jinping. 

Taiwan's historic ties to China

Until the fifteenth century, Taiwan contained populations of indigenous chiefdoms. The natives followed primitive pursuits, such as fishing and headhunting. By the time the Dutch arrived in the seventeenth century, there were only a few Chinese outposts. The Dutch lasted less than 40 years as they were ousted by Koxinga, in 1662. He was a Ming "loyalist" fleeing form the newly founded Qing Dynasty. In 1683 the Qing invaded the island and put it decisively under Chinese control. After the loss of the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895, however, the Chinese formally surrendered Taiwan to Japan. The situation only changed after World War II. The surrender did not formally cede the island to China. Nevertheless, the fact that the USA went out of its way to ferry representatives form there for the formal surrender suggests that that was the consensus. 

Taipei, Taiwan

The UN betrays the Republic of China

Complications started in 1949 with the civil war in China. The Republic of China (ROC), the legitimate government, was being swept away by the communist forces of Mao Zedong. The government forces under the leadership of  Chiang Kai-shek were being being ousted from one stronghold to another. The situation was going from bad to worse, so the government of China (ROC) fled to Taiwan, taking many of China's treasures with them. This left Mao in control of most of mainland China and shortly after, the whole of the mainland, including Tibet. So, mainland China became the People's Republic of China (PRC), while Taiwan was all that remained of the Republic of China. Both claimed sovereignty over the other and of course the UN recognised the ROC, which was the legitimate government. Then, almost out of the blue, the UN passes Resolution 2758:

Ouch! Chiang Kai_shek was no sweetie. In fact he was a ruthless tyrant who was responsible for the White Terror that cost the lives of thousands of people. Mao's policies, we must not forget, resulted in the death of millions. Resolution 2758 left Taiwan in Limbo. It is a country that is not a country. It is unrepresented and excluded from international politics to this day. It is a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation, which I spoke about on the 16th March. 

A statue of Mao Zedong in Chengdu, China

Things need not be so bad

Just as the UK has so much to gain from being a part of Europe, Taiwan could be enriched by union with China. It could, but certainly not in Xi's China. Just look at what is happening in Hong Kong, where a commitment by China to respect HK's liberties is being gradually eroded. Dend Xiaoping, who was China's leader until 1989, had started the momentum for a freer and more open society. Since then it has flourished. Sadly, Xi seems bent on dragging it back from some of its newfound liberties. It is not the system that is letting China down, it is its leader. Xi's stance on Taiwan is also intransigent; and aggressive. He threatens to use force if Taiwan tries to officially distance itself from the PRC and punishes any mention of it as a separate country. Beijing has been bulling or bribing the few nations that still recognise Taiwan to abandon it, with a fair amount of success. Currently only 16 UN countries, plus the Holy See recognise it. 

Taiwan has been stepping back from its claim to the sovereignty of mainland China. However, it is in a difficult position. The PRC never had jurisdiction over Taiwan, but if Taiwan formally renounces its claim to the whole of China, things may change quickly. As the continuation of the ROC, Taiwan has a certain foundation in history. Take that away and where does it stand? It would be as good as declaring full independence from China as a new nation. This means that China would have a pretext to invade Taiwan. So, ironically, Taiwan's claim to sovereignty over the whole of China, (the PRC as well as the ROC) is more acceptable to China (PRC) than its agreeing to forego that claim. A ridiculous situation that works to the advantage of China (PRC). 

The way forward

The only way forward, then, is for two enlightened leaders to sit together and find a mutually beneficial solution. This, of course cannot happen until the PRC changes its imperialistic attitude and need to dominate. A fairer and more impartial UN could also help by acknowledging the absurdity of the situation and trying to do something about it. This too is unlikely while nations fear to incur the wrath of China. The more time passes, the more the countries will drift apart, but the will of the people of Taiwan is not high up on Beijing's priority list.

Five things Brexit can teach us about referendums

Despite the chaos and confusion surrounding Brexit, there is plenty it can teach us. A case study on Theresa May's handling of the issue, for instance, could speak volumes about government and how not to go about it. Today I just want to list five lessons we can learn regarding referendums.

1. For a referendum to be meaningful and ethical, voters must be given an informed choice. In Switzerland, for example, where referendums are important feature of democracy, ballot papers are accompanied by information booklets. These include explanations, arguments for and against, and government recommendations. In Britain, people did not have a clue what they were voting for. Of course, no amount of booklets would help if the people have no civic education from an early age.
2. Without safeguards, referendums can be exploited by unscrupulous politicians. This is what David Cameron did when he promised a referendum regarding Britain's EU membership. Another politician could offer a people's vote on whether they wanted free public transport. This, just to get elected, without any consideration at all as to where the funds would come from.
3. The government has a duty to protect its citizens from lies, disinformation and meddling by third parties with a vested interest in causing harm. The Conservative government failed in its duty to protect the people from falsehoods.
4. If the government makes a mistake in its handling of a referendum, then it should readdress the wrong and consult the people in a second vote. Mrs. May prefers to plough ahead and lead the nation to a cliff's edge and possibly over it. 
5. Apart form education, information and choice, voters need moral integrity. Perhaps only a small proportion of those voting to leave the EU may have done so for racist of xenophobic reasons. Nevertheless, their vote may have tipped the balance. Referendums should never be held about choices that discriminate against minorities. And the same can be said about choices that could ruin the livelihood of thousands of people.

With the rapid advancement of modern technology, people participation by referendums could become much easier. It is therefore essential that lessons are learned from past mistakes, but also that the process is regularly reviewed and perfected.

The Little Known Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation

Distinguishing identities 

There are many reasons why a group of people may feel that their specific identity distinguishes them from the national powers that dominate them. Or, as in the case of Taiwan, would like to dominate them. These sentiments are not always ethnic, cultural or noble. The Northern League in Italy, now part of the coalition government with the Five Star Movement, is a prime example. It wanted to break away from southern Italy for reasons of superiority and snobbery. Though their stance has somewhat changed in recent years, their extreme right wing views and xenophobia has not. This is clear in their policy towards immigrants and migrants. More often than not, however, the reasons are related to a cultural diversity that contrasts with others who would impose their will upon them.

Finding Representation

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) is where many of these people find a voice in international fora. UNPO was founded in 1991. It introduces itself in its website as a democratic and nonviolent movement. 

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) is an international, nonviolent and democratic membership organisation. Its Members are indigenous peoples, minorities, unrecognised States and occupied territories that have joined together to defend their political, social and cultural rights, to preserve their environments and to promote their right to self-determination.

Currently, UNPO has 44 members. Nevertheless, the chances are most people would not have heard of more than a very few of these. The reason for this is that mainstream media tends to ignore their issues. I will try to learn more about them myself and I will aim to write about them periodically. In the meantime here is some more information on the history and purpose of the organisation:

"IT TOLLS FOR THEE"

History may repeat itself, news does not

Old news is not only what happened years, months or weeks ago. Sadly, it is often what is similar to it. If one happens to read about ten migrants drowning in the Mediterranean, one may wonder why they bothered to report it at all. A hundred? Well, still more of the same. 500? Maybe. A thousand? Ah, now you're talking. Sometimes, powerful reporting may succeed in adding new pathos into the story. A photograph of a Syrian boy washed up on a Greek coast, an Ai Wei Wei take on the subject, an excellently written article... Even then, how long will the effect last?  The problem is, as Kohelet states, "There is nothing new under the sun." We have heard it all before, and so, we have become rather immune to it. The problem is that, though history may repeat itself, news does not. The ten people are different individuals in a different tragedy. So is the famine. So is the abuse.

Compassion Fatigue

Susan D. Moeller discussed this immunity to suffering in her 1999 book, Compassion Fatigue. The problems are not only the "been there, done that" attitude. There are others too. For instance, Hollywood.

A CBS producer who covered the War in Lebanon in the early 1980's observed, "You've got a TV audience that's used to war movies. Real explosions have to look almost as good. There's almost a boredom factor." If the news isn't up to Hollywood caliber, indifference can steal in.

News worthiness is another issue and this is linked with our sense of tribalism. As the Brooklyn Eagle had once put it: "A dogfight in Brooklyn is bigger than a revolution in China." We are more likely to care for people close to us in space (as well as time). Wars and disasters in distant lands are too remote to dwell upon much. Moeller's answer is twofold. The first is excellent journalism that brings the story to life without the need for sensationalism. The second is consistency in foreign reporting, as this will reduce the division between "us" and "them". Twenty years on, and perhaps we are we closer, thanks to the increasing influence of the Internet. Or at least could be more easily. But even if one does make an effort to keep informed, it is often through a barrage of headlines. These create a new form of aloofness.  

Yesterday's news is easily buried by today's news

Finally, news is buried so easily. Milan Kundera put it nicely in The Book of Laughter and Forgetting.

"The bloody massacre in Bangladesh quickly covered over the memory of the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia, the assassination of Allende drowned out the groans of Bangladesh, the war in the Sinai Desert made people forget Allende, the Cambodian massacre made people forget Sinai and so on and so forth, until ultimately everyone lets everything be forgotten."

"Rage, rage against the dying of the light"

My answer is different. Yes, sound journalism and more international news coverage is important. However, I believe that we, as readers, have to take more responsibility. It is up to us as individuals to keep the stories that matter alive. Not simply for an emotional fix. Rather, we need to feed our sense of outrage so that we are spurred to do something about the evil and injustice that plagues the world. For indeed, most of our problems are man-made. We must make it our moral duty to remember, and our duty to act for a brighter and fairer future; in any way we can.  

"Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee."

Venezuela on the Brink

Guaidó and Maduro seem to be in extra time

It has been several weeks now since Juan Guaidó declared himself Acting President of Venezuela. Much has happened since then, but the balance of power seems to have tottered one way, then the other, without leaning decisively either way. As I pointed out in an earlier post, it is up to the people to decide which way it is going to go. 

Trumps starving the people with sanctions on the one hand and offering aid on the other is not helping the situation. Nor is Guaidó's recognition by the USA and some of its (former?) allies. Foreign interference will, no doubt, rouse additional Venezuelan citizens against President Maduro, but it is also likely to entrench others. It may even inspire indignation amongst people who had joined the insurgency or were considering doing so. The odds seem evenly stacked. Guaidó keeps throwing the gauntlet, while Maduro refuses to take the bait. The status quo favours Maduro since he is already in power. While Guaidó knows that he can only push so far. Still, as is the case in such situations, the slightest spark can trigger a conflagration.

Trump is still playing games

The people are are in the dark (literally!) as to what could happen next. Maduro blamed US sabotage for the power cuts that have plunged much of the nation into darkness. This may be true, but what is certain is that Trump is giving mixed messages. He declared that the US would not use military force to ensure that the aid gets through, but has nonetheless shut the US Embassy in Caracas as a signal that it is prepared for anything. 

Mediation must be the absolute priority 

The situation is indeed precarious. What is needed is ways to ease the tension, not to aggravate it. The problem is finding the right mediator to help broker constructive dialogue. With many parties from the international stage, including the UN, taking sides, it is difficult to gauge who could be trusted by both contenders. Because of its ambivalence, a possible candidate could be the Catholic Church. Even though bishops in Venezuela had called Maduro's inauguration illegitimate, Pope Francis still sent a representative to his inauguration. The Pope could now delegate a representative to try to bring Guaidó and Maduro to the negotiating table.

More of the same in the Brexit debacle

Another crushing defeat for May's Brexit deal

Tonight the Prime Minister's Brexit deal fell short of a 150 votes. This was not as spectacular as the historic 432-202 defeat in January. Nevertheless, there is something even more absurd and humiliating about it. As Albert Einstein once said, insanity is "doing the same thing over again and expecting different results." For almost three years now, May had bulldozed ahead with her red lines and "no deal" threats. She has consistently failed to make any meaningful progress with parliament, mistaking stubbornness for resilience. Her mantra, throughout this process, has been: "we must respect the result of the referendum." If not, she assert, democracy in Britain would be threatened. 

Irony and Dishonesty

There is irony and dishonesty in  all of this. The irony is that while May claims to be acting in line with her democratic principles, she is flouting them on the other. If she were truly democratic, she would consult and take into consideration the views of the whole of parliament. All she has been doing, instead, is trying to appease the the hard Brexiteers within her party. This faction does not only include Conservative backbenchers, but also the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). The DUP only have ten members of parliament, yet, because they are the coalition partners propping the Conservative government up, they wield power. Ironic too, is the fact that 55.78 of voters in Northern Ireland wished to remain in the EU. Indeed, a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will cause much hardship for businesses, farmers and commuters. Many fear a hard border might ignite the sort of sectarian tensions that existed before the Good Friday Agreement. The DUP are not representing the wishes of the people of Northern Ireland. 

Whilst the irony may be the result of ineptitude and pressure, the dishonesty is not. There is no excuse for it. The Prime Minister knows full well that the referendum was flawed in a number of ways. First, the people were not clear on what they were voting for. There was no informed choice. Indeed, three years on, and parliament itself hasn't got a clue what Brexit means. Second, it is well documented that there was an aggressive disinformation campaign by the Pro Leave supporters. The promise of an extra £350,000,000 a week for the National Health Service is a notable example. Third, there were irregularities and cases of foreign interference, such as those relating to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. So, why should a second referendum be anti-democratic? The people could vote for her deal, no deal or to opt out of Brexit, now that the electorate is clearer regarding what it would entail. Calling that scenario "undemocratic" is absurd.

What happens next?

Judging by May's post-defeat speech, it seems as though the British people are in for more of the same. As the French say: plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose. Even though she agreed to have a vote on a 'no deal' Brexit, this means nothing unless there are other options on the table. A 'no deal' exit from the EU would be a disaster for Britain and very bad for the EU. It is, nevertheless, the default scenario if no deal is reached by the end of March deadline. May knows this and made it clear in her speech. She also reiterated that her deal was the only possible one. In other words, by refusing to put the vote to the people, she is exactly where she has always been. "My deal or no deal." Totally insane!  

Algeria: a time for cautious celebrations

Promising signs

At last, there are positive signs in Algeria. With a delay of eight years, Spring has finally sprung. I am referring to the Arab Spring in Algeria. But as the good old English saying goes: Ne'er cast a clout till May be out! True, the fact that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced that he will not run for the contested fifth term is a good sign. As is the fact that the Prime Minister has been replaced. Equally reassuring is the fact that the people will be offered a new constitution, which they will be able to vote for. It was thanks to constitutional changes implemented by Bouteflika that allowed him to cling on to power for so long, in the first place. The problem is, however, that there are still too many grey areas and we do not know who is calling the shots. Several questions need to be answered before we can start celebrating freedom of political choice in Algeria.

Immediate concerns

First, the elections have been postponed. How long for? Bouteflika's last concession, some days ago now, was that he would only serve a year, if elected. This was widely seen as a ploy to buy time in order to cover up corruption. Or, equally concerning, a way of grooming a successor of the same mould. An election without Bouteflika could achieve the same results if held months from now. Second, the promise of a new constitution is all well and good, as long as the proposal is meaningful. Much will depend on who will be involved in drafting the new constitution. The electorate will not be duped into voting on insignificant changes dress up as progressive reform. Finally, will there be interference in the political process by Bouteflika's cronies or the army? If so, there will be little hope of progress.

These questions must be answered in next few days and elaborated in the coming weeks. The reaction of opposition parties will be an indication of the sincerity of these moves. Even more revealing, however, will be the transparency of the current regime in facilitating the process of change.

                                            The 1966 Masterpiece by Pontecorvo on Algeria's Fight for Independence

Consolidation the gains

Apart form the dangers of tokenism, there are even more serious hazards ahead. These can be summed up in one word: Egypt. Almost nine years ago exactly, Hosni Mubarak's resignation led to free and fair elections. Morsi was elected President in June 2012. The event only ushered in a period of further unrest resulting in a military coup a year later. Now, the situation regarding Human rights in Egypt are dismal by any standards. Routine killing and torture of dissidents, detention of journalists, persecution of LGBT+ people, violence against women... The list is long and gruesome and spares no one the regime considers a threat. The brutal murder of the Italian PhD student Giulio Regeni, is a case in point.


So far the protests and developments in Algeria have been peaceful. There are reasons to be cautiously optimistic. Recently a similar revolution took place in Armenia. If Algeria plays its cards right it can pave the way to a future of peace and prosperity for its people. What's more, it can offer a message of hope to a world that is sorely in need of positive examples.

Metropolis: a not so silly masterpiece

The best "silly" you may ever come across!

Fritz Lang's 1927 film, Metropolis, is considered by many film enthusiasts a masterpiece of the silent film era. It certainly is towards the top of my list! Nevertheless, the film has received a fair amount of criticism. The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction refers to its story-line as "trite" and its political message as "ludicrously simplistic". Even the great H. G. Wells, one of the pioneers of science fiction literature, dismisses the film as silly. Whilst the symbolism can seem "silly" at times and the acting exaggerated, I find the imagery and overall effect quite overwhelming and addictive. Fine, if you are only looking for an intricate story or a subtle political message, then perhaps the film is not for you. If, on the other hand you are open to a surreal and overpowering assault on your senses, then I believe you will not be disappointed. The dance scene, for instance is so addictive, I cannot say how many times I have watched it. It is as compelling as chocolate: when you are in the mood for it nothing else will do!

                                                                      The Dance Scene

The bad news and the good news

The bad news is that part of the criticism levied against the film concerned its running time. This resulted in cuts that reduced its length considerably. The good news, however, is that an almost intact version was discovered in Argentina in 2008. So now, one can indulge in a two and a half hour delight, which is not far short of the original version. Metropolis was the first film to be inscribed in  UNESCO's Memory of the World Register. This honour, which was bestowed in 2001, is a vindication of its worth. Here is the restored version with English title card texts.

Scratchingdeeper.com

Today I would like to announce the completion of my new website Scratchingdeeper.com. Whereas this blog covers culture and politics in the same pages, topics are divided into three main pages in the website: the Blog, a News Section and a Scrapbook for posts relating to culture and entertainment. The Blog focusses on political issues, often with a global slant and offers readers the opportunity of submitting material for publication on the blog pages, as well as an opportunity for debate. The News Section provides headlines and links to news articles from around the world and will ensure that all countries will receive regular coverage. International news outlets tend to hover around the same turf: the big players like the US, the EU, Russia and China, or countries that happen to be in the spotlight due to wars or revolutions. The chances are that unless you are from or near a country like Suriname, Botswana or Uzbekistan, you would not have read or heard a story relating to them in years (if ever). This will involve much research, but the hope is that volunteers will spring up from the four corners of the earth to contribute useful information. The Scrapbook will be similar to Blog, but it will focus on culture: films, books, music, art... As well as reviews, there will be links and attachments. This section will become more and more vibrant with increasing contribution from readers. The overall appearance and functionality of the site will improve too, in pace with my web-building techniques. Please have a look and contact me if you would like to get involved!

Male greed is not the only force holding gender equality back

On International Women's Day, it is worth celebrating the progress that has been made with regards to gender equality, while not losing sight of the huge issues that still remain. Gender equality is one of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These followed on from the Millennium Development Goals in 2015 and they too have a 15 year implementation period. Discussing gender equality, which is Goal 5, the UN highlights some the challenges women and girls still face:

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Unfortunately, at the current time, 1 in 5 women and girls between the ages of 15-49 have reported experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner within a 12-month period and 49 countries currently have no laws protecting women from domestic violence. Progress is occurring regarding harmful practices such as child marriage and FGM (Female Genital Mutilation), which has declined by 30% in the past decade, but there is still much work to be done to complete eliminate such practices.

Sadly some of this abuse is linked with culture and religion and progress will be slow, until people of all creeds and nations acknowledge the fact that what may have been acceptable hundreds of years ago, need not necessarily be the right thing now; just as some things that were acceptable for us as small children are not necessarily so now that we are adults. When inspired people spoke, they spoke to the people of the day, and of course they too belonged to that day. Religious and leaders that have faith in the past, but lack faith in the future are flawed. Humanity is developing and religions and cultures that do not develop with it will be left behind while causing much hardship in the process. Men have been slow to act, but as more and more women take control, the chances are that progress too will speed up. 

The Law that is the Crime: The Vagrancy Act

The Guardian newspaper in the UK revealed that hundreds of homeless people in England and Wales are being persecuted by local authorities. The Vagrancy Act was introduced in 1824, as a big THANK YOU to many of the war veterans who found themselves homeless after the Napoleonic Wars. Their recompense was simply being hounded out of existence by the law. Having a home is like having a cabin on board a ship; being homeless is like being forced to live on deck at the mercy of the elements, but - as if that were not enough of a hell - the peak of human depravity decreed that sleeping on deck would be illegal. Now, even the dimmest person can work out this logic... There are three possible spaces: a) the cabin b) the deck and public places c) the sea. If 'a' is denied by circumstances and 'b' by the law, what is left if not the sea? At least, since 1961, suicide is no longer illegal in the UK, so now the poor wretch can jump upright into that ocean. 

Homeless in a Big City

There are few things in this world that are more sinister and despicable that this law and the authorities that make use of it to hound people who should be the focus of our assistance, not our contempt. The penalties can include hefty fines and imprisonment, as well as harassment. The Guardian article discussing the findings, pointed out that: 

Cases include a man jailed for four months for breaching a criminal behaviour order (CBO) in Gloucester for begging – about which the judge admitted “I will be sending a man to prison for asking for food when he was hungry” – and a man fined £105 after a child dropped £2 in his sleeping bag.

The good news is that Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon has presented a Bill to repeal the Act. Its second reading is well overdue, but with Brexit on the horizon, it may be a good while yet before her amendment is voted on. Writing in The Guardian last January she highlights the shame of the current situation. The shocking thing is that she had already presented the Bill last year, only for it to be "halted" in its progress by Conservative MPs. 

Apart from the fact that there is no excuse for a country like England to be witnessing a rise in homelessness, mistreating those people, on top of neglecting them, is what is truly criminal.