Despite all the sun and fun… my focus remains on Lebanon and this disaster of humanity.
bmtv14 Heatwave Reflections 2006
Dogs and Cats, Living Together
Precedent:
Function: noun
1 : an earlier occurrence of something similar
2 a : something done or said that may serve as an example or rule to authorize or justify a subsequent act of the same or an analogous kind b : the convention established by such a precedent or by long practice
3 : a person or thing that serves as a model
Since the beginning of the farce called the war on terror, the practice of invading other countries for the sake of another nation’s security has become widely accepted. Obviously if you read this blog, you know I don’t agree with such a theory or practice, as the long term and short term results are both filled with death, destruction, and vengence. Yet the reality is, I am only a blogger/podcaster/vlogger… and it would seem my values are fringe-minority and considered naïve.
So now we sit back and watch; those of us who aren’t being blown up or recruited to blow someone up. Today I’m reading about Somalia, where you may have heard a more fundamentalist type muslim government has surfaced from what was once a stateless state. So Ethiopia, which shares a boarder with Somalia and has a rather capable military force, has reportedly crossed into the country in order to stop this government which they believe will cause problems, on various levels.
Now of course, many will shout at me and say — WELL SOMETHING MUST BE DONE BM! Expressing their support for this type of preemptive military invasion.
Yet while I agree that all nations should view one another as neighbors and work to ensure no one is subject to murder or suffering carried out on a national scale, where I don’t agree with these voices – is on the idea that the use of violence… that bombs and guns and killing to teach not to kill.. this will somehow ensure a peaceful future.
There is always debate whether or not the world is a safer place after such action. Or then again… what debate can there be? If nations continue to see their neighbors as a threat and invade them out of fear… how can such a perpetual cycle end?
Like a Heat Wave, Burnin Through Europe’s Heart
Well.. another successful day without spontaneously combusting. I’m sure you probably heard, here in the Europe, there’s another one of those heatwaves where everything gets messed up and some people even die.
Believe what you want about global warming. But I’m telling you Amsterdam can’t handle this, so something must be up.
If you wander through the usually green and lovely Vondelpark, which is like our Central Park.. it is now one big cloud of dust. It is as if thousands of pigpens have ascended on the park and kicked up as much dirt as possible. After a leisurely jog through there Im sure my face turns a shade of brown.
But nevermind the surface details. This heatwave really slows down the normally bustling pace of life in the netherlands. At work these days, we’re told to go home at four oclock, because the hot weather and lack of air-co is considered dangerous for our health. Whenever I hear this I think of all the little chinese children in factories who make my clothes… they would probably find this policy amusing or simply.. hard to believe.
Fortunately almost no one has airconditioning anyway, and a majority of this city’s citizens ride their bikes as the primary mode of transport. So at the very least, we’re not responding to a temperature crises by putting extreme strain on the power grid ala France or Florida. Oh wait.. we probably are anyway.
Tonight at the vlogger meetup, Gabe B spoke of rain tomorrow night. Rain, I laughed, it will never rain in Amsterdam again… thats so pre-global warming.
While They Point Fingers, People Die
It’s very hard to consider blogging about anything else when every hour that goes by, so many people’s lives are being destroyed. Of course that can be said for everyday that goes by, but the present situation involving Lebanon, Occupied Palestine, and Israel is just dark with seemingly no light at the end of no tunnel.
On hardtalk last night, the only program on BBCWorld that is truely exciting, the chief negotiator for the Palestinian Authority was on. I thought the man was going to break down crying. He threw up his hands and admitted all hell had broken loose. When questioned as to why the PA had lost control, he used an anecdote, saying: “It is as if, I tie your hands, I cut off your legs, I throw you in the water and then ask – why can’t you swim.” Saddest of all, as an old man, he talked about how he has lived most of his life under the occupation and he would most certainly die in it, and that in his life he had never seen it THIS BAD.
A quick look at the latest developments features lots of finger pointing. Lots of people will most certainly buy into it. The equations and connections that they point to: Syria this, Iran that, Lebanon this, Hezbollah that, Israel this, North Korea that…. how the hell did they manage to tie North Korea into it? Seems like anything goes these days. All the evangelical politicians who never have to pull a trigger or even get any blood on their suits, are rushing to attain their beloved armageddon.
Seriously though, the one thing I keep thinking about his how history will view this. Considering the death tolls, the bombings, the missiles, the refugee camps, the starvation and psychological trauma… could you imagine how this compares to other moments in history when large amounts of people were suffering or under attack, and other nations stood by and did nothing? It feels like one of those moments. A Rwanda. A Khmer Rouge. Yes, I don’t mind saying it, a holocaust. No its not the same. Its never the same. It has a different look, a different story, and naturally, it never seems like it is comparable. But in the end, the results are not so different. Large numbers of innocent people are murdered by the use of conventional weapons or driven from there homes en masse, in the name of some political or military objective, while in the wealthier part of the world, we go to work, take a vacation, or if you’re me- ride around in a little red boat all evening.
A Brief BBC Appearance de Moi
Not that I think you should have to hear MORE “me” than you already hear/read/see. But since I still hope to please my mom and make her and dad extra proud, I would just like to announce that I was one of the call-in guests on the BBC worldservice program “World Have Your Say” .. which can be a little crazy as anytime the world has its say… someone inevitably talks over someone. *
I’d like to say it was no big deal and I played it cool, but I was pacing around my room half angry, half nervous, hoping I wouldn’t suddenly contract tourette’s sydrome. (sorry if you’ve got it… ) When my turn came I was determined to leave no spaces in my speech for someone to interrupt. It worked well for about 45 seconds, then – oddly enough – my last words got stepped on by one of the panelists complimenting my statement. Go figure.
Then I think an Israeli guy mistakenly accused me of spreading misinformation. Which would be exciting but I wasn’t the guy he meant to accuse. Ah well.
–READ The TEXT, and from there you can hear the recording (I’m around minute 18.30).-
Lastly tonight, and actually something I mentioned on the programme, I’ve been reading up about the history and present situation of the UN peacekeeping operation UNIFIL in southern Lebanon. I had not realized that these 2,000 troops have been there, along the blue line, since the late 70’s. Troops from France, Ireland, Norway, Ghana, India, Nepal, Italy (and more) are part of the mission. The mission, by the way, was to ensure that Israel fully withdrew from the region and enable Lebanon to regain control of the territory. Neither really ever TRUELY occurred. The saddest part, reading all this, is that all the parties involved have repeatedly disrespected the peacekeepers by crossing the line or firing at each other over that line. (over 200 killed) I have to say, I’m not that surprised that Hezbollah disrespects the authority of the UN – they’re not known for embracing international law or peace. But it’s a bit odd that Israel, a signatory of the UN charter, has disrespected, overtaken, and even shot in the direction of this UN mandated peacekeeping force.
In conclusion, and what I didn’t get to finish saying on the BBC, is that this mission must be seriously re-enforced with troops from all continents… especially North America and Europe, to ensure that they are taken seriously, and that neither side dare to cross a well trained, well equipped, and very high profile mission. (see Kosovo, Bosnia, and to a lesser extent – East Timor, for references)
(*Special thanks to Matt for suggesting me for the programme!)
bm142 Discussing Lebanon with a Lebanese Friend
When seeking info about Lebanon, in order to transcend the media filters in North America and around the world that give us their government(s) approved, we must speak directly with people whos lives are connected to what happens there. In this program I speak with my friend Ramzi, who has lived in Amsterdam for the past few years. Together we discuss the different sides in the conflict, and where things might go from here.
Democracy Now’s Coverage from Friday