All entries for Friday 09 June 2006

BLOG OPEN TO NEW CONTRIBUTORS

The blog is now open for new contributors, even if you are not a member of the society.

What will happen, is that you would be able to post over the summer, but then after 1st October, only members the society will be able to post, with no exceptions.

We've done this because we want to get as many different stories/issues onto the blog, but we realise that nobody is going to join the society at this time during the academic year.

So, if you want to post, please email me (scott.harrison "at" warwick.ac.uk <– sorry, just avoiding any spam programs that often trawl through blogs) and supply me with your university IT user name (ie the one with the letters not your ID number) and I'll add you as a contributor.

: 09 Jun 2006 19:26 |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Aung San Suu Kyi: True Hero

A few weeks back the New Statesman had a poll to find the top, non–deceased, 'Heroes of our time'. How refreshing that such a poll would come up with Aung San Suu Kyi at the top. The link above is one of the articles leading up to the publication. The actual list isn't in their 'free–to–view" section of the website. Hwever, on it is a section on Aung San Suu Kyi, and the justification of nominating her.

Ms Suu Kyi has been under house arrest in Burma (the military junta like to call it Myanmar) for 10 of the last 16 years. Quite horrific when you consider that the initial 'crime' was winning a landslide election victory in 1990.

This week, Kofi Annan and the UN urged the Burmese to release its political prisiners immediately (link), which came after the surprising news that the Burmese authority have released Su Su Nway, an activist, who campaigns against, specifically, the use of forced labour in the country.

According to the UN envoy to Burma:

"[The release of activists] will be critical in facilitating national reconciliation and democratic transition, to which the Myanmar leadership has committed itself"

Commited itself? Hardly. I'm sorry if I'm not so convinced after only last month Aung San Suu Kyi's detention was extended to yet another year.

: 09 Jun 2006 15:37 |  Tags: Burma |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

misconception

Follow-up to Zarqawi dies in Iraq from The International Current Affairs Society

i agree! the most dangerous thing of zarquawi's death is that the bush administration may falsely believe it is doing the right thing and should therefore continue its rather unsuccessful battle in iraq and against al–qaeda. zarquawi's death will not bring any change to the things that really matter in iraq – the personal vendetta of bush & co against osama & co can therefore not be seen as a success!

: 09 Jun 2006 00:45 |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem