2250.
From the Blog Aliens are green because they eat spinach.: 2250. - Bow, bitchezz. I have recently come to the conclusion that I would rather just get an internship at Amnesty International and start saving the world, rather then go to university. Why waste time. Applied yesterday. Letxx seeeee naoo. A part of me just wants to leave it up to, I don’t know, fate? If I get the AI internship I’ll take it. If I get into The Right University (The New School- New York? I’m SO fickle I should just DIE) I’ll go there. Which ever offer comes first, maybe. Right now I need a break, and six months in London. . Read Full Post
A silent revolution in Turkey
From the Blog PkColumnist.com: A silent revolution in Turkey - Turkey is witnessing a quiet revolution. The manifestations are everywhere. A wave of dynamism is sweeping across. A confident and assertive Turkey is emerging. Its economy is booming and its stock in the international community as an influential interlocutor between the West and the Middle East has received wide recognition and respect. The architect of this new Turkey is Tayyip Erdogan, leader of the Development and Justice Party (AKP) which is the dominant political force in the country. It is amazing how a country beset with economic crisis, rampant inflation, Kurdish violence and frequent military interventions until the 1980s has emerged as a development model and a key regional player. AKP has changed the face of Turkey during the last decade with its bold policies and good governance. The most significant achievement has been in the economic field; the Turkish economy is now among the top 15 of the world. Trade has diversified with 25 per cent to Asia as against 14 per cent in 2006 and reflects the political orientation of the country. In the realm of foreign policy, the accomplishments have been equally impressive. Balanced and proactive foreign policy aimed at reducing the tensions in the region has raised the profile of Turkey and helped it emerge as a key regional player promoting reconciliation and mediation. Turkey's policy of economic interdependence as a basis for regional peace has been subscribed by its neighbours. Turkey's role in defusing Iran's nuclear crisis and its engagements with Syria have opened a new chapter in Turkey's relationship with its neighbours. Erdogan has emerged as the most credible leader of the Muslim world and, after Mahatir Mohammed of Malaysia, is looked upon as the spokesman of the 'World of Islam'. The bold manner in which Turkey has chastised Israel's inhumane policies in Gaza has earned Erdogan great popularity in the entire Muslim world. Turkey's negotiations for European Union (EU) membership have not made much headway. However, the membership quest has been leveraged subtly and cleverly to bring provisions of the Turkish constitution in accord with EU standards and in the process succeeded in making them more democratic. The 26 point referendum seeking reforms to the 1980 constitution held on September 12, 2010 is a watershed in the constitutional history of Turkey. It has further limited the army's role in Turkish politics through over hauling of the Constitutional Court. The Kurdish problem that has plagued Turkey since 1984 is accordingly showing signs of abetment. Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), has shown inclination for dialogue and peace and asked PKK militants to extend a unilateral ceasefire. Efforts are afoot to ensure that peace will continue until June 2011 when general elections are scheduled. Turkey is likely to maintain its march towards peace and progress with the AKP' sure to win in the next elections. . Read Full Post
Change in Myanmar
From the Blog PkColumnist.com: Change in Myanmar - After 20 long years, Myanmar is witnessing a change, even though it is hardly the dawn of democracy. The horizon is still clouded with uncertainty. General elections were held on Nov 7 by the military junta which had seized power in 1988 and annulled elections held in 1990. A week after the new elections, it followed up with the release of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest after seven years. Soon after coming to power, the military junta had declared martial law. Two years later elections were held for a legislative assembly to draft a new constitution. The overwhelming victory of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) under the leadership of Aung San Suu Kyi upset the generals. The results were annulled. Suu Kyi was put under house arrest and the military intensified its stranglehold over the country and its institutions. These developments led to international outrage. Economic sanctions were imposed on, which resulted in the meltdown of economy and infrastructure. Today Myanmar is one of the poorest nations in the world with a per-capita income of $300 per annum. The international pressure, coupled with the worsening economic situation, forced the military leader to hold the Nov 7 elections. The development, welcome in itself, has put a great question mark on the future of Myanmar and the role of Suu Kyi. In an interview with BBC Suu Kyi said that she sought a "non-violent revolution" and offered an olive branch to the military, stating that "I do not want to see the military failing; I want to see the military rising to dignified heights of professionalism and true patriotism." The equation she develops with the military and the newly elected political leadership will determine the future of Myanmar. After her incarceration for 15 years in the past 21 years, Suu Kyi has stepped into a changed country. The military has created a new parliament, a new constitution, a new capital – Naypyidaw, 400 kilometres north of the old capital Rangoon, now called Yangon – a new flag and a new national anthem, as well as the new name for what was Burma. The elections for a bicameral national parliament and 14 regional assemblies were anything but free and fair. They were widely denounced by the international community and the United Nations. The military-backed Union, Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) won the majority of seats. The elections were designed to institutionalise the present order. Twenty-five per cent of the seats in the new parliament will be appointed by the military and reserved for generals. This means an army-backed party only needs to win 26 per cent of the seats to control the national legislature. Myanmar has a long road to travel towards democracy, because the present outcome is anything but a transition from military to civilian rule. In the words of former British prime minister Gordon Brown: "Myanmar's elections were an exercise in public relations, not an exercise in public participation. The constitution brought in by the generals enshrines the idea that the president, who is not accountable to parliament, must be either a former or serving solider and head of government, which need not include a single elected MP. The decision to free Suu Kyi shows the junta realises that having a single iconic focus for resistance is counterproductive but we have no evidence that they have any intention of weakening their own position or allowing genuine democratic reform." . Read Full Post
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