TresSugar

Biggest Headlines of 2008: Natural Disasters Strike Asia

LibertySugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:00:00 -0800

On May 2, a cyclone hit Myanmar (Burma), marking the worst natural disaster in the country's recorded history. Only days later on May 12, less than three months before Beijing hosted the 2008 Olympics, a deadly earthquake shook China into the international headlines. In the same month, natural disasters hit two Asian countries wary of international intervention. With these pictures, reflect on the human stories spawned by these epic disasters that surely comprised some of the biggest stories of 2008.
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Myanmar Releases 9,002 Prisoners, Plus Democracy Activist

CitizenSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:00:49 -0700

Still reeling from the effects of the cyclone this Spring, rats and all, Myanmar's junta has released 9,002 prisoners in a gesture they say is full of "loving kindness and goodwill," despite the fact that many doubt political prisoners will be in those numbers. One exception, Myanmar's longest serving political prisoner, Win Tin, who has been held since 1989. The 78-year-old spoke following his release from a friend's house saying, "I have to continue with my unfinished task of trying to achieve democracy in Myanmar."

Oddly, that very "democracy" seems to have sparked the release of the 9,002 prisoners as the junta, who have ruled uncontested since 1962, say they released them in order to take part in elections set for 2010 as part of their seven-step "roadmap to democracy." Skepticism on that roadmap, abounds, and that it's nothing but a charade set to cement the military's power.

That military power just earned the country a dubious honor, and a big donation from Brad Pitt. To see what they won, read more.

Myanmar has just claimed the penultimate spot on the new list of most corrupt countries, barely edging out Somalia (the bottom) and tying with Iraq. Transparency International released the new Global Corruption Report, showing that Myanmar has become even more corrupt than it was last year. The spokesperson for TI says it's not just bad behavior, corruption can be fatal, “In the poorest countries, corruption levels can mean the difference between life and death, when money for hospitals or clean water is in play.”

Understanding that need, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have donated $1 million to the charity Human Rights Watch, earmarked for work in Myanmar and Zimbabwe. The executive director of HRW said, "Burma and Zimbabwe are two of the most repressive countries in the world and we need to increase international pressure on them to change. Brad and Angelina's investment in our work at this critical moment will allow intensified efforts by our researchers to expose the repression that these governments try to keep hidden and by our advocates to generate the global pressure needed to improve people's lives." Earlier this month, the couple gave $2 million to fund a children's home in Ethiopia.

Do you believe the release of the 9,002 prisoners is a step toward democracy?

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After the Cyclone, Myanmar Battles 50 Year Rat Problem

CitizenSugar — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:00:07 -0700

Sometimes the news is so bad and so removed from your daily experience that the only thing you feel capable of doing is making sure people know. So here it is: after being decimated by Cyclone Nargis this Spring Myanmar is suffering through a protracted natural disaster that the government had 50 years to prevent. 50 years.

Called the maudam, twice a century the region's bamboo flowers produce a fruit that attracts rats. Hoards upon hoards of rats. Beyond the obvious squeamishness associated, the effect is even greater and long lasting. The rats consume all of villagers' food before turning to the seeds for the crops, ensuring that recovery is lengthy verging on impossible. The last three instances of the maudam, in 1862, 1911 and 1958, were all followed by devastating famine.

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To see what the experience is like, read more.

One villager says this of the current catastrophe, "Last year during the harvest the rats came and ate almost all our rice. Our corn has also been totally destroyed. I have just one bag of rice left for my family. After that there's nothing. People in my village are going into the jungle to find wild vegetables, like leaves and roots to mix with a little rice. Our situation is desperate." A local Human Rights Organization estimates as many as 200 villages are affected by severe food shortages and at least 100,000 people, or 20 percent of the local population, are in dire need of food aid.

Waiting for that aid to arrive isn't possible for some, and the exodus to India is underway. "We love our native land. But we don't know how we can survive here any longer."

Front Page: Cyclone Recovery to Top $1 Billion, Obama in Iraq, Zimbabwe Rivals Near Deal

CitizenSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:01:34 -0700

Cyclone Recovery to Top $1 Billion:
Cyclone recovery efforts in Myanmar are expected to top $1 billion according to a report released this morning by the UN and ASEAN. The aid will cover the still pressing needs for food, agriculture, and housing, and the country still needs everything from clean water to fishing nets and buffaloes. $178 million has been given already. The May cyclone left at least 138,000 dead or missing.

Obama Arrives in Iraq:
Barack Obama met today with Iraqi officials and military commanders about the conflict in Iraq - the ending of which he's made a feature of his campaign. In Basra, Obama met with US, UK, and Iraqi military leaders before traveling to Baghdad, where he is to meet Gen. David Petraeus and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Zimbabwe Rivals to Meet:
The ruling party of Robert Mugabe who won last month's contested and violent election, and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai are expected to sign a deal planning talks to end the political crisis in Zimbabwe. The deal, mediated by South African President Thabo Mbeki includes the formation of a unity government and election reforms. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe has just introduced a $100 billion dollar bill, as the official inflation rate surpasses 2.2 million percent.

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Celeb "Burma" Campaign: Condescending or Commendable?

CitizenSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:45:25 -0700

Though this Spring's cyclone brought Myanmar crashing into our consciousness, the front page ink is drying - and along with it awareness for what is an extended situation for the Burmese to bear. Ah but first, is it Burma or Myanmar? The military regime changed the name from Burma to Myanmar (a short version of the name of the country in the local language) in 1989.

The change is recognized by the UN and France and Japan, among others, though officially the US and UK don't. It's a question of does one let the country dictate the name, or does accepting the title bestowed by an undemocratically elected junta become a tacit approval of the regime? Even newspapers vacillate on what to call the country - the AP Stylebook uses the M-word, though it seems locals when writing use the formal Myanmar, but when speaking say Burma.

That said, there are still movements out there trying to call attention to the human rights abuses in Myanmar. Chief among them, this: a celeb-filled ad on behalf of the USCampaignForBurma. I don't know quite what to make of this campaign, but I will admit, initially it got under my skin. Sarah Silverman pointing at a map telling me what the cue card says she should say I should know about, and Tila Tequila teaching geography amid her own mountain range? At least Sylvester Stallone cops to his previous ignorance about the problem and seems sincere. But watching it again, the ad does highlight vital info about the jailed prodemocracy leader, and the need to care long after the the initial glut of info following the cyclone. But something about it seems so unnervingly casual and flip. Honestly, what do you think? Is this a great ad?

Which Countries Are Most Corrupt? Not New Zealand, Denmark

CitizenSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:00:59 -0700

Money could very well be the root of all evil - though in the latest study of corrupt countries, it's actually the lack of money that sparks trouble. The new report by Transparency International found that in two-fifths of the world's nations, corruption continues to intensify - a trend that can be traced to economic realities. In the countries found to be the most corrupt, 40 percent are classified by the World Bank as low income.

Transparency International's rankings range on a scale from 10 (on the up-and-up) to 1 (rampant corruption). How common is corruption? Of the 180 countries surveyed, 132 of them had scores below a 5. Other factors that contribute to a cloudy ethical picture are weak governments and conflict. The chairman of Transparency International says, "Countries torn apart by conflict pay a huge toll in their capacity to govern. With public institutions crippled or nonexistent, mercenary individuals help themselves to public resources, and corruption thrives."

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Another troublesome mix? Weak government plus plentiful natural resources, like in Equatorial Guinea where 30 percent of the newly discovered oil profits go straight to government officials' wallets. To see which countries ranked where, read more.

The Top Three Least Corrupt: New Zealand (pictured), Denmark (not corrupt and happy!) , and Finland win with scores of 9.4 out of 10. Wealth, stable economies, and a removal from international controversies keep them corruption-free.
The Two Most Corrupt: Somalia and Myanmar. With scores of 1.4 out of 10, the armed conflict, political oppression, and troubles from Mother Nature (Myanmar's horrific cyclone) and pirates (Somalia) corruption is undeniable.
Third and Fourth Place: Iraq and Haiti, respectively. Afghanistan comes in at #7.
Three Countries in Africa Who've Improved: Seychelles, South Africa, and Swaziland all made gains from six to 37 places.
Five Countries Out of Africa With Improvements: Croatia, the Czech Republic, Macedonia, Romania, and Italy. Transparency International points to the European Union accession process on the fight against corruption.

I don't know, but if Denmark keeps winning prizes for being great, they better expect a lot of visitors. What do you think is the biggest contributor to corruption?

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Front Page: World Embraces Obama, Aid Leaving Myanmar, Economy Adds Jobs

CitizenSugar — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:00:59 -0700

World Embraces Obama: Just after Barack Obama secured the delegates needed to win the Democratic nomination, favorable reaction to the news came in from around the world. An editor of the Times of London said of the historic event, “In 220 years a country that has steadily multiplied in diversity, where ethnic minorities and women have risen to the very highest positions in so many fields of human life, has chosen a succession of 42 white men as its leader. For good measure, the vice presidency, the only other nationally directly elected position in the US government, has been held by a succession of 46 white males. But last night, in a tumultuous break with this long history, the ultimate realization of the American dream moved a little closer, and a black man became his party’s nominee for the presidency.” In addition to focus on that historic detail, news sources in China, and Pakistan also gave favorable reactions, and many European outlets gave the story the same amount of attention in garnered in the US.

Aid Leaving Myanmar: US Navy ships carrying aid for the victims of the Myanmar cyclone are due to leave the coastline after continued refusal of the government to allow them to help. After 15 failed attempts to convince the regime to let them in, the Navy said it would withdraw the four ships, carrying helicopters and landing craft. French and British navy ships have also been withdrawn after being refused permission to operate. Recent estimates show the cyclone left more than 133,000 people dead or missing.
Economy Adds Jobs: The US private-sector job market added 40,000 jobs in May, surprising analysts who had predicted a drop of almost that many. The news of growth comes after April saw the addition of 13,000 new jobs. All figures are according to a private report by ADP Employer Services released today.

Front Page: Ted Kennedy In Surgery, Mugabe at UN Food Summit, Gates to Myanmar "Criminal Neglect"

CitizenSugar — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 07:00:04 -0700

Ted Kennedy In Surgery: Ted Kennedy is at the Duke University Medical Center this morning undergoing surgery for his cancerous brain tumor. The surgery comes after the 76-year-old senator was diagnosed last month with a malignant glioma, an especially lethal type of brain tumor. He's being operated on this morning by one of the nation's top neurosurgeons, Dr. Allan Friedman, and the surgery will be followed by chemotherapy and radiation. Kennedy will recuperate in NC for a week, before moving to Massachusetts General for the rest of his treatment. Kennedy said of the support he's received, ''I am deeply grateful to the people of Massachusetts and to my friends, colleagues and so many others across the country and around the world who have expressed their support and good wishes as I tackle this new and unexpected health challenge. I am humbled by the outpouring and am strengthened by your prayers and kindness.''

Mugabe at UN Food Summit: Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe presence at a United Nations food summit has raised eyebrows and hackles and is being called "obscene". Australia's foreign minister said of the embattled leader's arrival, "this is the person who has presided over the starvation of his people." It's Mugabe's first visit to Europe since the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) won a majority in parliamentary elections in March. He still faces a presidential run-off on June 27 against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
Gates to Myanmar, "Criminal Neglect": US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said yesterday that Myanmar was guilty of “criminal neglect” for blocking international aid to cyclone victims, and warned that more civilians would perish unless the military regime reversed its policy. Because of the stonewalling, he said it was probably a matter of days before the Pentagon withdrew four Navy ships carrying supplies that have been “steaming in circles” for days in the waters off Myanmar’s coast, waiting for permission to unload their cargo of aid. Gates said, “it’s becoming pretty clear that the regime there is not going to let us help. I’d say that unless the regime changes its approach, changes its policy, more people will die.”

Front Page: Crane Collapses in NYC, Myanmar Evicts Relief Centers

CitizenSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 06:49:32 -0700

Crane Collapses in NYC: A crane at a construction site tipped over and crashed into another building at East 91st Street and First Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan just after 8 a.m. this morning. At least two people were pulled out of the wreckage as Fire Department trucks and emergency medical workers responded. One person is confirmed dead at this time. “The crane operator is the only confirmed dead at this time. He was still in the cab of the crane” when it came down, said an official at the scene. No news yet on the second person said to be most seriously injured. Rescue workers continue to remove people from the affected buildings. The crane's top portion apparently broke off striking the building across the street.

Myanmar Evicts Relief Centers: Myanmar's junta has begun evicting stranded families from government-run cyclone relief shelters today, concerned that the 'tented villages' might become permanent. A government official says, "it is better that they move to their homes where they are more stable," At one camp people were told to clear out by the end of the day. The official said, "here, they are relying on donations and it is not stable." Local residents and aid workers said 39 camps are being cleared out as part of a general eviction plan. A 21-year-old trishaw driver said as he was leaving the camp with his five brothers and sisters, "we knew we had to go at some point but we had hoped for more support."

To see pictures of the crane collapse, read more.

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Front Page: Myanmar Accepts All Aid, McCain Rejects Hagee, Italy Goes Nuclear

CitizenSugar — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:56:21 -0700

Myanmar Accepts All Aid: Myanmar's junta agreed this morning to admit cyclone aid workers "regardless of nationalities" said UN officials. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reached the agreement with junta supremo during mission to help 2.4 million left devastated by the storm three weeks ago. The move is positive, if not late. Disaster experts say that unless the doors to aid were opened, thousands more people would die of hunger and disease, adding to the nearly 134,000 reported killed or missing.
McCain Rejects Hagee: US presidential candidate John McCain rejected the backing of Rev. John Hagee after an audio recording of the preacher saying that God sent Hitler to help Jews reach the promised land was published on the Huffington Post. Rev Hagee then withdrew the endorsement, saying he had been misrepresented and did not want to figure in the presidential campaign. McCain faced criticism for seeking the endorsement - he's now described Hagee's comments as "crazy and unacceptable."
Italy Goes Nuclear: Italy announced yesterday its five-year plan includes resuming the building nuclear energy plants. A public referendum resoundingly banned nuclear power and deactivated all its reactors 20 years ago. Growing concern over energy contributed to the decision. The minister of economic development said, "by the end of this legislature we will put down the foundation stone for the construction in our country of a group of new-generation nuclear plants. An action plan to go back to nuclear power can not be delayed anymore. Only nuclear plants safely produce energy on a vast scale with competitive costs, respecting the environment.”