News

by Lori Keong

It is a common duty for governments to pay for their school teachers’ salaries. Because of Zimbabwe’s struggling times, the government is now contemplating charging parents to pay for their children’s teachers. Aljazeera called this new idea for Zimbabwe “teacher incentives – a stipulated amount of usually between $2 to $5, which is paid by parents directly to teachers on a monthly basis. Many parents say the situation has become untenable and that they can no longer afford to contribute to teachers’ salaries.” This idea for an increase of teacher’s salaries has been made since many are quitting of insufficient payments. Low teacher salaries have led to a shortage of teachers in the school system for Zimbabwe.

Aljazeera quoted a parent, Davison Phiri, who stated that, “We want our children to go to school but it is unfair that we are expected to (supplement teachers’ salaries), which in fact is the government’s obligation.” These newly added incentives have caused many altercations between teachers, parents, and the government. The Progressive Teacher Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) insists that the government has enough money to help bring adequate salaries for teachers. This has led division between teachers, parents, and the government has left parents. Parents who cannot afford these new charges are now optioning into sending their children to private and unregistered schools. Sadly though, the government has closed over hundreds of unregistered schools that operate without licenses.

Some have argued that, “If ministers and legislators can buy themselves luxury cars, they must also have enough for teachers.” On the other hand teachers in Zimbabwe do actually make salaries below the poverty line. They make around $220 per month. Is it really fair for the government to force parents to pay for their children’s teachers? Or is it fair to the teachers since they are being paid below the poverty line? What better solutions could be made for the country’s teachers and parents?

Source: http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/11/2011111124428885858.html

The United Nations’ vote on Palestine’s statehood has been postponed to an unspecified date, but Israel seems to be taking any chance to play politics.

Maybe it’s just me, but Israel’s recent trade of Gilad Shalit in exchange for roughly one thousand Palestinian soldiers looks like a buffer.

It’s smart.

I mean, I would probably try my best to look compassionate too, if all my neighbors and some major world powers were in support of my rival country.  Who wants to be the bad guy that oppresses the underdog?

Well, here’s a solution:  Israel recovers one man in exchange for a HUGE number of enemy captives and highly publicize it so people forget about its militarization for a little bit.  That oughta pull some heart strings….right?

This happened before. In 1985, Israel released 1150 prisoners in exchange for three Israeli soldiers captured in Lebanon.  But doesn’t the timing just seem impeccable?  Negotiations for this swap have been under way for five years, but suddenly everything clears and Israel makes its public move.  Suddenly, a decision is made to sacrifice safety and release dangerous prisoners in the name of humanity.  Then what do we have?  A selfless Israel and a punitive Palestine.

In reality, there’s a little more to it.  Palestine actually backed down on one of their initial proposals for the exchange, which included the release of their more high-profile prisoners.

Amidst all of this, Hamas and Egypt did their best to keep communications clear and prevent any confusion.  The swap itself was a delicate operation with Egypt acting as a third party.  There was a lot of room for error.

Details of Shalit’s capture and other information surrounding the swap can be found here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13628212

So was it coincidence that Israel finally decided to make a swap right after Palestine’s statehood proposal?  I would suspect not.  A little P.R. goes a long way for international relationships.  Even so, some people view the swap as a symbol of Israel’s “surrender”.  I wouldn’t go that far.  Israel knows that as long as it has powerful western countries such as the United States on its side, it will be protected (because, hey, Obama can’t lose that Jewish vote right before 2012).  Benjamin Netanyahu doesn’t have a whole lot to be worried about right now.

I can’t help but feel like Israel’s exchange was done in defiance.  However, this borderline insulting display of mercy still reunited thousands of families, so amidst all the bitterness, we know that there is some good.

Libya’s interim government confirmed this morning that dictator Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi is dead.  Al Jazeera reported his death earlier today as unconfirmed reports swirled around international media outlets and within the embattled nation.

Qaddafi fell from power this September after forty years in power.  His death came shortly after Surt, a bastion of Qaddafi loyalists, fell to revolutionary fighters.  The nature of Qaddafi’s death is not clear, but interim officials say the rebels captured the ousted dictator in a car leaving the Surt region; Al Jazeera broadcasted images of his alleged corpse, shot in the side of the head.

The death of Muammar el-Qaddafi marks the end of the Libyan revolution.  Interim government officials believe the search for Qaddafi and the fight for Surt distracted them from the work of re-building their nation, yet the fate of the new Libyan government is still undetermined.  The Obama Administration has not yet commented on the news, whose military intervention in the nation with NATO forces was met with some criticism within the United States.

The revolutions in Libya and Egypt, along with other revolts across Arab nations, began during the grips of the Arab Spring, a movement that vastly re-cast the political map in the Middle East.  Doubts about the Libyan rebels’ ability to forge a coherent governing body remain, especially viewed against recent sectarian violence in Egypt, a nation under military rule since its citizens overthrew former President Mubarak this spring.  Yet, the rebel forces remain jubilant, and spirits run high among the ranks of the rebellion.

Sources: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/world/africa/libyan-fighters-say-qaddafi-stronghold-has-fallen.html?_r=1&hp

A new light has evolved in the country of Libya. As reported on CNN October 12^th, Libya has now begun a new launch of newspaper distribution. During the civil war in Libya, the newspapers found in the country were a very small amount. Now that the disputed war is over it has been estimated that over “120 independent newspapers [are now found] in the city of Benghazi alone, according to local journalists.” Almost 3,000 copies are being sold a week across Libya which is a dramatic change for the country. While Gadhafi controlled Libya, newspapers were controlled by the tyranny of the government, which led many Libyans no access to newspapers. Now engineers, doctors, and students run these newspapers.

Now that Gadhafi no longer has power in Libya, newspapers do not only focus on the government. In the city of Benghazi, over 80% of people are beginning to start newspapers. Journalists in Libya are becoming eager to write for newspapers and bring their input for the country to hear. The eagerness from young journalists is slowly growing into a new kind of era of developing journalism.

Libya has found a new establishment of freedom in press. Although the government is still trying to gain control of the newspapers, journalists are aiming to bring change. Will Libya ever get the chance of ever being completely free of government tyranny? Will Gadhafi’s administration allow the Libyan’s voice to be heard? What is expected to come for Libya?

Sources:

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/12/world/meast/libya-new-newspapers/index.html?hpt=iaf_t3

A horrifying display of violence shook Egypt yesterday during what was meant to be a peaceful protest by Coptic Christians in Cairo.  Protesters gathered to condemn the burning down of a church in the southern Aswan province when unidentified individuals in plain clothing suddenly assaulted them.  Shortly afterward, security forces arrived and attacked the demonstrators.  It was an extremely brutal display as soldiers opened fire into the crowd and tanks crushed Coptic bodies.  25 people were reported dead.

The Copts, members of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, make up the largest ethnoreligious group in Egypt and the largest minority in the region.  They strongly oppose violence and even welcomed the few Muslims that came to support their cause.

Since the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, sectarian tensions have increased in Egypt, with radical Muslims wreaking havoc against Christian organizations and churches.  Many Copts believe that the army sympathizes with Islamic extremists, and grow increasingly concerned by the gaining power of radicals in Egypt’s vulnerable political state.

The state of Egypt only recognizes conversions from Christianity to Islam, but not vice versa.

As of now, a parliamentary election is scheduled for November 28^th.  It will be the first official election since the fall of Mubarak.  But will a new political power really be the solution to sectarian conflicts within Egypt?  Or is a civil war inevitable despite official peace efforts?  It’s easy to be skeptical about the future of Egypt when seemingly every peace effort ends in tragedy.

As Hosni Mubarak’s reign ends, Egyptians has found a new place in their government. On September 27, 2011, Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) announced that Egypt would start its first elections after Mubarak was forced out of office. This is a very positive change for the country of Egypt. Mubarak, a corrupt leader who killed many, was removed from Egyptian politics. This gives Egypt the chance to progress and develop as country.

The first elections are scheduled to take place November 28, 2011. They are to be held in three stages across different districts. The second round is to be held on December 14 and the third on January 3. The new assembly is supposed to convene on March 17. The election announcement should be on January 10, 2012. With this change in Egypt’s politics, a new constitution will be written as soon as the results are revealed. Many protestors that have been devout to ousting Mubarak from office have “stressed that the military must secure the polls to avoid violence and allow a mechanism for Egyptian living abroad to participate.”

This change in Egypt allows the end of military ruling. In the process of this modification in the government, Parliament is expected to grow productively and efficiently. Candidates representing two thirds of the political seats will have their parliamentary seats reserved from the total 498. The rest of the seats will be for unaffiliated candidates. These alterations are meant to bring an abundant move of prosperity for Egypt. The election will hopefully bring great uplift for the Egyptian people. Will these elections convey an optimistic outlook on Egyptian politics? Will there be a final end in the customs of the reign of Mubarak? How will this change affect Egypt as a whole country?

The trauma facing the Somali people is no steady movement. This has been the worst drought in over 60 years. Somalia, located in the Horn of Africa, has been hit hard with no rain and 310,000 people left malnourished. Thousands of people have escaped Somalia because of the drought and lack of food. It has been estimated that more than 100,000 individuals have fled the country since May. These tens of thousands are now residing in Kenya and Ethiopia for help. The statistics sadly show that one in 10 children in Somalia are at risk of starving to death. Eastern Africa is in a destructive state of time.

This drought has depleted Somalia’s food supply. The high risk involved with this famine is it’s possible spread to the rest of the Horn of Africa. All the pastures and crops have dried out leaving no supply of food. Animal livestock are now deceased because of the lack of water. To top it off, food prices are mounting leaving so many Somalis no hope in survival. Families walk desperate measures to reach Kenya or Ethiopia for a possible sign of aid. Along the way though, many people die, especially children.

The two most affected regions are southern Bakool and Shabelle. The militant group, Shabab, controls these two regions.  Bakool, Shabelle, and the other regions of Somalia are in high risk of deadly diseases such as measles and cholera. These diseases are what are going to cause severe deaths in the nation of Somalia.

Conflict, drought, and poverty have all surmounted the devastation of the famine. In Somalia, 10.7 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. The fear of this famine is the rate at which it will spread to other countries. According to The United Nations, “Stage 5, or famine, means that acute malnutrition rates are 30% or more, people do not have adequate calorie or water intake and mortality rates are greater than two adults or four children per day per 10,000 people.”

The famine in Somalia will not disappear on its own. It requires a great amount of aid and support for the country in order for progress to arise. What can we do to help? We do not have to wait for the world to change. What can we do in order to bring transformation and make a difference for the people of Somalia?

The recent Palestinian bid for statehood is sure to be charged with tension this week as the United Nations Security Council meets to vote on the territory’s legal status.  Whether or not Palestine becomes an official state depends upon support from 9 out of the 15 members of The Council, with no vetoes from any permanent members.  However, President Obama has promised to use his veto power against the bid.  This comes as a surprise to many in the Middle East, as just a few months ago the President proudly declared support for the recent chain of uprisings in the region.

The United States’ hesitation is attributed to its close relationship with Israel, who is also opposing the bid.  The two countries have urged Palestine to drop its request for fear of the political unrest it may cause; Palestine is demanding territories be drawn according to the pre-1967 Six Day War boundaries, which would put East Jerusalem under Palestine’s control.  Roughly half a million Israelis live there.

Jerusalem is currently divided up into “zones,” with Israel controlling some areas and Palestine controlling others.

Analysts are saying that Palestine’s new recognition would mostly be symbolic, although it is likely that statehood would increase the amount of wielding power Palestine uses in its negotiations with Israel.  The main problem seems to be that Palestinians feel oppressed by their lack of full state status, not that they will stop negotiations if they receive it.

Technically, by attempting to apply for statehood, Palestine is not violating any previous negotiations with Israel.

Many of the yellow countries have supported Palestine as early as 1988; some have joined as recently as July of this year.

The majority of burgundy countries are United States allies.  It appears that President Obama’s opposition is based in fear of losing a large voting population in the next election.

Palestinian citizens have expressed frustration with the low chances of recognition.  After years of failed peace negotiations, people see it as a way of taking action into their own hands.  The Palestinian government is urging supporters for non-violent demonstrations, which have been successful so far.

Israel is pointing to the Jerusalem Basic Law that was passed in 1980, which declared the entirety of Jerusalem to be under Israeli control.  However, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 478 declared this law “null and void”.  The Council stated that the attempt violated international law and so would not be recognized officially.  It seemed a way for Israel to force the issue.

Still, critics say that is exactly what Palestine is attempting to do now.  President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, have both made it clear that they want Palestine to continue negotiations for Jerusalem and the West Bank, rather than writing it into their proposal for statehood.

Palestine is asking for control of East Jerusalem, which is home to a greater majority of Christians and Muslims.  West Jerusalem contains a greater Jewish population, and would remain under Israeli control.

Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, is calling the bid for statehood the beginning of the “Palestinian Spring”.  Nationalism in Palestine has been ignited since the announcement last week.

Negotiations so far have focused on a “two-state solution”, which is in accordance with the Palestine statehood proposal.  The World Bank has declared that Palestine is ready to enjoy an official title, but the clashes over Jerusalem and its surrounding areas have hindered peace negotiations the most.  People all over the world are left wondering: what is a fair way to divide Jerusalem, and how will the Palestinian people react if they are denied?  How do U.S. citizens feel about Obama’s opposition to the proposal as a political tactic?  And what about Israeli citizens, who have watched Palestine’s struggle for recognition over the years? There is a long list of questions to consider as heads around the globe turn toward the Middle East and wait.

Regions opposing or not opposing Palestinian statehood:

Two American hikers returned to the United States on Sunday, the 25^th of September, after being detained by Iranian authorities in July of 2009.  The two hikers, Josh Fattal and Shane Bauer, spent 781 days in jail.  A third hiker, Sarah Shourd, was released in September 2010 on $500,000 bail.

Fattal, Bauer, and Shourd were arrested on the Iran-Iraq border after straying from an unpaved road in the Kurdish region of Iraq.  Their return was heralded in the U.S. after Iranian courts sentenced Fattal and Bauer to eight years in prison for allegations of espionage.  The two men described their imprisonment as a “total sham.”  Court procedures were held behind closed doors in Iran.  During a news conference in New York this week, the hikers stated that their charges were based upon “ridiculous lies that depicted us as being involved in an elaborate American-Israeli conspiracy to undermine Iran.”

Their arrest came at a moment of elevated tension between the United States and Iran, whose strained diplomatic relations have generated hostility between the two countries for the last thirty years. “We were convicted of espionage because we are American. It’s that simple. No evidence was ever presented against us,” said Bauer of the court’s ruling.  A rift in trust centering around Iran’s nuclear capabilities and uranium enrichment has worsened its relations with America in the last two years.  Many believed the hikers to be political bargaining chips against the U.S.  Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York days after their release, and President Barack Obama said last week the hikers should never have been detained. “Sarah, Josh and I have experienced a taste of the Iranian regime’s brutality. We have been held in almost total isolation from the world and everything we love, stripped of our rights and freedom,” said Shane Bauer during the news conference.  When the American prisoners complained of conditions in the prison, they say, Iranian guards remarked about conditions of Guantanamo Bay and secret CIA prisons.

The men spent the first three months of their detainment in solitary confinement before being moved to an 8 by 13 foot cell.  Fattall described solitary confinement as “the worst experience of our lives.”  They were allowed one visit from their mothers and only fifteen minutes of phone during their imprisonment.  The hikers are recovering with their families at an undisclosed location, but they intend on speaking and writing about their experiences in the future.  They appealed to the media for privacy in the coming months.

Sources: < http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/26/us-iran-hikers-idUSTRE78N2JW20110926>

< http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/robert-levinson-hikers-release-us-pressures-iran-missing/story?id=14591649>

< http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/20/us-hikers-iran-sentenced_n_932090.html>