So it is a very very dark time in Myanmar–with tens of thousands dead from Cyclone Nargis, which made landfall on May 2nd.
Along with all the dark truth about how this is going to very negatively affect rather a lot of people in Burma, which is #132 out of 177 on the Human Development Index, especially in light of the current developing world food crisis, as well as some truth about the extent to which such a storm is a result of climate change, I think there’s a lot of puzzle pieces which point to hope:
See for instance, this list in the International Herald Tribune, with pledges of US$12 million and lots of logistical aid from 15 different nations. Here’s the really crazy thing. The population of Burma in 1900 was 10 million. Now it’s 55 million. If the disaster had taken place in 1900:
I don’t have the beginnings of an answer to any of these questions (ask someone with an appropriate Ph.D.). But I have a strong suspicion that the changes between the answers for “In 1900″ and “In 2008″ are solid grounds for a little joy and hope in the midst of heart-wrenching disaster.
A good friend recently wrote to me, in the context of a discussion of the ongoing violence in Tibet with regards to the upcoming Olympics in China
Imagine the international goodwill if they [the Chinese] decided to give Tibet back and allow the Dalai Lama to return when the Olympics start
This struck me as such an absurdly hopeful idea that I decided he must be a Christian or something. (as a general lack of hope is part of what keeps me from still being a Christian).
And it led me to ponder: What could Americans do to generate a similar amount of international good will? Or the Jews? Or the Palestinians? Or the Russians? Or the French, or the British, or the Aussies (whose new prime minister, I must say, is doing a bonzer job along these lines). (Why is it I mostly think of the powerful (apart from the Palestinians, I guess)–I suppose because it’s the powerful who seem to generate the most ill will?)
But mostly, I’m thinking about America, I guess, since I’m from here. I honestly couldn’t think of anything. I can feel my mind tickling at the edges of some ideas, but my refusal to hope, I think, shuts them down. What do y’all think?
Your top three ideas for generating international good will?
Top answer gets a free Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier (as soon as we can find a spare US$8 Billion)
Posted in Good News, Hope | 7 Comments »On 1 April 2002, Maajid Nawaz was arrested in Egypt. Although a member of a vocal Islamic movement called Hizb ur-Tahrir, which calls for a totalitarian society, Maajid had not been engaged in violence in Egypt but was studying part of his Arabic degree.
He was sentenced for four years for his crime of membership of Hizb ur-Tahrir. During three years of captivity, Naajid Nawaz had time to reconsider his position and his ideology. After release, he continued in an active and high profile position within the organisation, but after a year renounced his beliefs and left the organisation.
So what happened? Partly Naajid was changed due to his interactions with a British group from Amnesty International and in particular an individual person, John Cornwall. A man who stood against all that Naajid Nawaz stood for, yet campaigned tirelessly for his release. In contrast to Hizb ur-Tahrir, which saw him as a bit of an embarrassment, John Cornwall wrote regular letters to the prison in Egypt about the campaign and if there was nothing to report, his personal family news.
His interaction with ‘the other’, the ‘enemies’ of his religion who refused to allow someone to rot in jail led Naajid to change his mind.
Posted in Good News | 2 Comments »In stating what Human Rights mean to me I say: Human Rights as practically demonstrated by very good people such as John Cornwall is what helped deliver me from the fringes of hatred and paranoia, to an appreciation for my fellow human beings. I continue to be inspired by a good man from Buckinghamshire.
According to a report last month in the Washington Post, the total number of abortions performed in the United States dropped to 1.2 million in 2005, the lowest figure since 1976. And the proportion of women ending their pregnancies with an abortion dropped 9 percent between 2000 and 2005, hitting the lowest level since 1975. Both “pro-choice” and “pro-life” groups have welcomed this news, though they offer differing explanations for the change.
Gazan Palestinians took actions into their own hands yesterday as militants blew 17 holes in the fence between Gaza and Egypt, perhaps the only useful thing that has ever been done with their explosives. Tens of thousands swarmed into Egypt to purchase essentials, visit relatives and experience freedom.
The day before, attempts to force entry via the official Rafah crossing were rebuffed by Egyptian police wearing riot gear and water cannon. A there are agreements in place, presumably nobody could actually cross the Rafah Gate, but when the walls came down, the Egyptian police stood back and watched the whole area turn into an impromptu bazaar. Israel and the USA immediately threw all their toys out of the pram, having lost their only bargaining chip and there is uncertainty about how long the situation will continue.
But for today, the pictures are only of people power regaining an element of relative freedom and sanity to their broken lives.
Posted in Good News | 1 Comment »Hey–George Bush got it right!
So 2 days ago President Bush fixed things up for his pal Lewis “Scooter” Libby, who lied under oath and was about to have to report to jail for a 30 month stay. Now he doesn’t have to go to jail. Some people think that’s really unfair, since lots of normal people who commit jail worthy crimes and don’t have powerful rich friends just have to do the jail time, bummerola for them.
And those people are right–it is unfair. But getting upset that Mr. Libby doesn’t have to go to jail is the wrong response. It mega rocks that he doesn’t have to go to jail. Jail sucks. Period. I bet he just feels this unbelievable sense of relief. That’s awesome for him.
The right response, in my opinion, is to rejoice with Mr. Libby, and work toward more pardons, more commutations, more mercy, and fewer people in jail. Jail is pretty much a stupid idea most of the time, IMNSHO. Let’s work toward getting more people out of there, and sending fewer people in. In fact, let’s cut the military budget in half, and take the money we save and spend it on programs to reduce crime from the front end. There’s an idea.
My enormous congratulations to Mr. Libby. He got exactly what I’d want if I were in his position. He got out of the punishment. I sincerely and honestly hope that I manage to get out of facing all the consequences for all the stupid, horrible things I’ve done. Good on ya, Mr. President. Today, you rock!
Posted in Good News | 6 Comments »Today the U.S. State Department released their Annual Human Rights Report for 2006. It includes detailed, lengthy reports on human rights violations in 193 countries, and is actually fairly fascinating reading if you have the time to wade through it (IMO).
Conspicuously missing from the list of countries reported on–The United States!?!
Mentioned, in the report, as the first (and perhaps most) hopeful example of progress on Human Rights was Liberia
I remember being in Liberia in 1999 during Charles Taylor’s 6 year reign as president (between the first 10 years of civil war and the second 4 years of civil war). The people I met were completely terrified to talk about politics at all. I guess they feared Taylor, but they feared resumption of the civil war even more.
The people of Liberia were beautiful and very engaging. I remember sitting around the campfire one night with four ladies who were washing the cooking utensils. They sang a lovely melodic song, in English–I couldn’t understand a word. So they translated for me into an English I could understand. The lyrics were “Jesus you are so bright like a beautiful flower and you shine like the morning star”. Read the rest of this news item »