The big news in Canada today is that Belinda Stronach, former Conservative leadership contender and MP, has crossed the floor to the Liberals, becoming the new Minister of Human Resources. This makes Paul Martin a very happy man, as it makes it much more likely that his government will withstand a confidence vote on the budget this Thursday. I think this is great, as it means a significantly reduced chance at an election, which I don't think anyone wants. I also like how Stephen Harper blamed her crossing the floor on 'ambition.' I would think that the Conservatives might want to come up with a line that doesn't make it sound like your party is going nowhere, if people with 'ambition' have to cross the floor.
As an aside, in listening to a panel interview on CBC Newsworld, the NDP speaker, Brad Lavigne, proved himself to be completely incoherent about the issue, mostly by attacking a government that I think he momentarily forgot his own party was supporting. I'm not sure what type of patronage got him that job, but I think someone in the central campaign might want to deep-six this guy before he does more damage.
Uzbekistan has seen protest and violent government reprisals in the past few days. 4000 protesters who stormed a jail to release prisoners charges with Islamic extremism were shot at by government forces, killing hundreds of protesters and 10 soldiers. The government eventually regained control of the city. The government blames Islamic radicals for the civil disturbance, stating the the soldiers were provoked by the protesters, causing them to open fire. Still, the United States and the world community have expressed concern over the actions taken, as recent reports tell of over 700 people killed. A large group of refugees now fears for their life if they return after crossing the border to escape the violence. The Christian Science Monitor, Der Spiegel and the New York Times all have good overviews of the situation.
Recent American war efforts might have prevented additional terrorist attacks, but they are leading to major defeats in the infamous 'war on drugs.' Afghanistan is plagued by money coming in from its opium fields, a force that "permeates every stratum of Afghanistan's society." Although a new oil pipeline going in will bring some revenue, the sheer lack of modes of economic production in the country will make alternatives to the quick and easy opium money difficult to come by. Iraq has also been named a key drug route for international trafficking, but given that the Americans just announced that they will be in the country for at least another two years, we can assume that they have some time to clean this up. Of course, they will have to deal with the continuing insurgency first, but with recent moves by Sunni leaders to come to a power compromise, this problem might begin to solve itself.
While there is some progress in human rights in the Middle East, a series of stories shows how much there is left to be done. In terms of access to jobs an equal pay for women, a recent survey had Jordon, Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt at the bottom of the list. Canada rolls in at number 7, the United States at 17 out of 58. The top of the list, as would be expected, were all the Nordic countries. Pakistan has been accused, once again, of police brutality after an attempt to break up a mixed-sex road race, enforcing a law banning women from taking part in such activities. Saudi Arabia has recently arrested reformers for collecting signatures for a petition. Iran has announced over one thousand candidates for President, at least before approval from the head clerics. The list includes 89 women, who have automatically been disqualified. The only good news comes from Kuwait, where women have been granted political rights for the first time ever.
Another story also came across my radar this week. It turns out that Pat Tillman, the NFL draftee who was reportedly killed in some sort of glorious action over in Afganistan, thus becoming the poster-boy for the military, actually died in a friendly fire incident. What's worse, is that the government apparently knew this, yet let the story continue unabated, basking in the glory of a dead soldier for their own PR purposes. Aren't the Republicans supposed to be the 'moral' ones?
In Ethiopia, the government arrested election observers before the election last Sunday. The government also outlawed any types of protest around the election time. Still, election day went forward, and as expected, the ruling party has declared itself the winner.
Also:
- NASA's Cassini spacecraft has taken new pictures of Saturn's moon, Titan.
- A Japanese team of scientists have created a fuel cell that runs on blood, representing a leap forward in the production of artificial organs.
- Recent studies in genetics have found that a group in Africa is responsible for modern humans.
- An increase in whales beaching themselves might be due to an increase in solar activity causing disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field.
- More on Republican plans to drill for oil on nature reserves in Alaska.
- The UN is meeting to organize the next environmental agreement after Kyoto.
- The world community is turning up the heat on Iran, as France, Great Britain and Germany all warn the country about the consequences of not suspending their nuclear research.
- The last rebel group in Burundi has reached a peace agreement with the government.
- The Spanish government has been given permission from parliament to engage in peace talks with the Basque separatist movement, ETA.
- Speaking of left-right, is Newt Gingrich talking up Clinton '08?
- Pope Benedict XVI has waved the five-year waiting period normally reserved for sainthood candidates after their death for the beautification of Pope John Paul II.
- Mexico's Interior Minister Santiago Creel has announced his bid for the Presidency under Vicente Fox's National Action Party.
- Perhaps in response to its President's comments about how women naturally do not excel in science, Harvard University is putting $50 million into developing female scientists.
- A recent study has shown that both black and white people show more fear when shown an expressionless black face versus a white face.
- Wal-Mart has had to apologize for running an ad comparing a law preventing it from expanding a store to Nazi book burning.
- Dispite all the trashing I give Wal-Mart, some studies have shown their presence to be a net benefit for the lower classes.
- Illegal immigration heats up as a 2008 campaign issue, especially for Democrats.
- A federal court has struck down Nebraska's anti-same-sex union law for banning any type of legal recognition of their relationships.
- Slate examines the move of pro-life activists to pre-life issues.
- George Lucas hopes that the latest Star Wars film will remind people of how easy democracies can change into dictatorships, especially in the United States.
- Another story about how nuts animal rights activists are.
- The Encyclopedia of Chicago.
- Wired reviews an apparently excellent Firefox extension.
- Remember the self-replicating robot story? Here's a video of the thing itself. (wmv)
- An index of Tibetan regional music in mp3 and wma format.
- A Pew Research project finds considerable rifts in the traditional left and right political spectrum. Now you can test yourself. Not surprisingly, I'm a "Liberal."
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