Monthly Archives: August 2005

Seeing Green

Since king what’s his face of Saudi Arabia just died, Portuguese artsy-fartsy television aired a documentary about the history of Saudi Arabia, and my initial reaction is …goddam! How is it that Americans (including myself) are put through school without ever hearing about this nation that is so completely attached to and influencial on the US!

Saudis Everywhere Among the crazy things I learned from this documentary, the first Saudi king, back in the early 1900’s, actually struck a deal with one of the most extreme and powerful group of nomads ever, who believed in the strict enforcement of what they called the Mulsim religion. But here’s the catch — after the king and the nomads gained control of the entire state, with the blessing of the religious authorities, the King turned on the nomads and slaughtered many of them. Those who survived swore revenge and have periodically carried out attacks (bombs, etc) against the Saudi state well over the last 50 years. And they want to talk about Alqeada, try looking into a lil history and it becomes clear that everything we’re seeing is a repeat of the last 100 years.

The other thing I noted was the presence and the manipulation of the US government on the Saudi Kings. They’ve kept em rich, drunk, and armed since the nation was first founded. and those kings have, in turn, subjugated the entire country, squandered national wealth, and helped to create many generations of terrorists. And man is it alarming to see the amount of times the different american presidents have betrayed the Saudi government when it comes to Palestine! Talk about two currupt kingdoms in bed together… this documentary was an eye opener to a situation we already knew was bullshit.

Mostly unrelated – I think it’s a conspiracy that all the headlines about this plane crash read “Airbus Crash” instead of the flight number or the name of the airline! Seriously. think about it. Ok now stop and go watch TV.

ps — happy birthday busblog.

Still Watching Horror

I would love to try and yell about John Bolton becoming nominated undemocratically as UN embassador to the US, but why bother, it goes with the overarching theme in washington. Who needs accountability and qualifications, we got the good ol’ boys.

So lots of exposure to Portuguese news on television actually means lots and lots of international news. Maybe more than in Holland, and thats usually a pretty good amount. And I have to repeat the frustration and rediculousness of the situation in DARFUR. Sudan in general; is on the verge of civil war, genocide… let’s just say MASS DEATH, that could be stopped and we are all sitting around watching. Yes, even first world me sitting in a McDonalds parking lot on my powerbook using their expensive wi-fi.

But its not enough to say something should be done. I’d like to suggest and discuss what action would be best to take. Ill get more into it in the coming days. But to begin with, I send in the blue helmets – on a peacekeeping mandate. None of this crazy shoot first ask questions later strategy, but heavily equipped and supported military personel accompanied by NGO workers. Just go in and stand between the parties in conflict. Despite the risks, despite the unclear situation, despite all of that — put trained and professional international forces on the ground, to show beyond a shadow of a doubt, that what happens in Sudan DOES matter and we CAN act when the situation calls for it.

Now what I havent thought out yet, and Ill work on, is what do to from there.

North of Lisbon

Nothing of world-wide substance has been discussed in the last week here at the communique. It’s no excuse, but thats what vacation adventure often brings. Tonight I sit in Caldas da Rainha, using dial-up; which is terrible, but slightly less terrible if you’re on a powerbook listening to the Sloeries, as I am. This city is one hour north of Lisbon, and it’s where moma and papa hang their hats every summer. Today I discovered the upstairs neighbors are Portuguese from Switzerland, and across the hall, from Canada. Very cool, to be surrounded by OUR PEOPLE.

Taking a bus, since the train is still diesel and slow, north of lisbon lets me see alot of the changes in both the urban and provincial landscape. As I listened to the few podcasts I could salvage from my random wifi adventures, I watched the landscape and all the surprising developments, two of which I’ll share with you:

1 – On the way out of Lisbon, even though it might have been there for years, I re-noticed a golf course in the middle of the city. My verdict: What a terribly stupid thing to have. In a city that lacks a field for children to play soccer or ULTIMATE FRISBEE, you have an enormous piece of green reserved for fat white men and the occasional token black guy. I spit in your general direction golfcourse, and the hypocracy you represent. Take those gates down and let everyone in, then I might like you.

2 – Wind Power is everywhere! All those familiar rolling green hills, now yellow from the drought, are now dotted with packs of wind generators! I for one, love this! Generators are beautiful to look at, they are so quiet and peaceful, they remind me of birds flapping their wings. There are lots of punits who argue theyre a waste of money and generate nothing, but as a portuguese ctitizen, I’m impressed and pleased. Especially when compared to the idea of running around trying to figure out where to hide nuclear waste.

those are my reviews for today, we shall tackle world events in depth, this week, I swear. I’m also headed to Porto.. home of port wine, insane soccer fans, and a shiney new metro I want to ride.