Isocracy Newsletter 15: May 20, 2010
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"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Attributed to Margaret Mead
Changes in Government
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British Labour defeated
The British general election of May 6 resulted in a hung parliament, with the three-term incumbent Labour Party receiving 258 seats (down 91) of 649 and 29.0% percent of the vote (down 6.2%), the Conservatives with 305 seats (up 96) and 36.1% of the vote (up 3.8%) and the Liberal Democrats receiving 57 seats (down 6) and 23.0% of the vote (up 1.0%). The election was conducted with a controversial first-past-the-post system was fraught and 149 MPs did not seat re-election. As no party received a majority, a coalition government has been formed between the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats. Electoral reform is considered a priority.
Philipine Elections
Presidential elections, legislative elections and local elections in the Philippines were held on Monday, May 10, 2010. The first-past-the-post Presidential election has resulted in Noynoy Aquino of the centre-left Liberal Party winning with 40.19% of the vote. The Vice-President's position has been won by Jejomar Binay of the centre-left Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan with 42.51% of the vote. In the House of Representative's election, the centrist ruling Lakas Kampi CMD won 104 seats (down 33) with 38.93% of the vote, the centre-right Nationalist (NP-NPC coalition) received 60 seats (up 23) with 27.14% of the vote with the Liberals winning 43 seats (up 23) with 19.93% of the vote.
News
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Red Shirts in Thailand
Protests against the regime led by the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship ("Red Shirts") in Thailand have resulted in an military intervention on the protest camp; more than 80 civilians have been killed (over half in the last week) and 2100 injured. On 13 May, Khattiya Sawasdiphol ("Seh Daeng"), a security advisor to the protesters, was shot in the head by a sniper whilst giving an interview to The New York Times and subsequently died because of these injuries. The government expanded the existing state of emergency to 17 provinces, declared the protest area a "live fire zone", and banned medical persons from entering the zone. On May 19 the protest site was invaded by the military, leading to leaders to surrender.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/thai-pm-holes-up-as-clashes-erupt-2010051...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8682122.stm
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/thailand/7739025/Thailand...
Naxalite Rebellion Continues
Maosist Naxalite rebels are believed to behind a land mine attack that killed between 31 to 44 in central India on May 18. This follows attacks on a village on May 16 that killed six.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/05/17/india.maoist.attack/inde...
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Six-civilians-two-Maoists-killed-in-Chhatt...
Iraqi Insurgency
A series of some twenty bomb attacks across Iraq on May 10 in the wake of the disputed general election killed over 100 and injuring 350. The recount, ordered on April 19, has resulted in no change to the results, suggesting that the Iraqi National Movement (91 seats) will govern over the State of the Law Coalition (89 seats). The suspected belligerents are Al-Qaeda In Iraq.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article7122359.ece
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/11/world/middleeast/11iraq.html?ref=world
European Debt Crisis
A debt crisis has risen in the sovereign countries of the European Union, including Greece, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Spain and Portugal. This has lead to wide risk insurance and credit default swaps between these countries and more financially secure countries such as Germany. On May 2, the Eurozone countries and the International Monetary Fund agreed to a €110 billion loan for Greece, conditional on the implementation of harsh Greek austerity measures. On May 9, Europe's Finance Ministers approved a comprehensive rescue package worth almost a trillion dollars aimed at ensuring financial stability across Europe. It has been discovered that the Greek government has deliberately falsified records of official statistics to keep inline with the monetary union guidelines, including paying Goldman Sachs et al, hundreds of millions in fees for transactions that hid the actual level of bribery.
The combination of the austerity measures and the falsification led to a nationwide strike on May 5 and confrontations with state forces, leading to the deaths of three.
http://preview.bloomberg.com/news/2010-05-02/greece-faces-unprecedented-...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8671632.stm
http://www.businessinsider.com/henry-blodget-greece-paid-goldman-300-mil...
Actions
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International Landmine Ban
Last week, 68 U.S. Senators wrote to the President to support the ban and Avaaz has launched a campaign to encourage the Obama administration to sign the treaty. The United States has not used landmines since 1991, has had an export ban in place since 1992, and has not produced any since 1997. Since 1999, 156 countries have signed the global treaty banning their use and production. The U.S., China and Russia have not, and without the U.S. there's little chance of a comprehensive global ban, crucial to eliminate these indiscriminate killers.
http://cdn.avaaz.org/en/obama_ban_mines/?cl=582542990&v=6333
International Law for Animals
Care2 have launched a petition to establish an international law that outlines the basic standards of humane animal treatment.
Take action link: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AFWI9/zkwB/bD3iW