War or peace? U.S. faces a choice in the Georgia-Russia conflict and beyond
Georgia, in a geo-political sense, is an outpost of the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) that sits directly on the border of Russia on one side and close to the Middle Eastern theater of war and Central Asia on its other side. South Ossetia, which Georgia invaded, is at the crossroads of strategic oil and gas pipeline routes.
Beijing Olympics showcase harmony concept
The Beijing Olympics opening ceremony began at 8:08 a.m., on the eighth day of the eighth month of 2008. The exact time was picked by organizers because of the meaning of the number eight to the Chinese. It represents luck, prosperity and wealth. It was an appropriate number, apparently, as the opening ceremony and the Olympics in general have painted a picture of the new China: increasingly prosperous, powerful, harmonious and open.
One more pothole
BERLIN — A former top leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) has been saved from expulsion and possible disgrace and Germany’s oldest party, founded in 1863. Wolfgang Clement, 68, has huffed and puffed its way out of one more pothole. Clement, once the powerful economics minister in the cabinet of Gerhard Schroeder, now on the board of one of Europe’s most powerful coal, atom and energy giants, can continue sniping at any attempt by the party to look leftward. But more pitfalls on its hurtling downhill drive are undoubtedly in the offing.
Remembering the 1968 Olympic Games
Forty years ago at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their black-gloved fists in protest against racism and injustice. Students at San Jose State University, Smith won the gold medal and Carlos won the bronze medal in the 200-meter race. As the American flag rose and the National Anthem played, the two sprinters bowed their heads, closed their eyes and raised their fists.
American youth witness greening of Cuba
HAVANA — July 14 — A group of 41 tired Americans walked across the International Peace Bridge connecting Canada and Buffalo, NY. These were not your everyday Niagara Falls tourists — when they arrived in Buffalo, banners, people and cheers awaited them. These Americans had just traveled to Cuba with the Venceremos Brigade, against US travel restrictions.
Chavez trip builds Russian alliance, worries Washington
The main story from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’ recent tour to Belarus, Portugal, Spain and Russia was his visit to Moscow July 22-23. Chavez and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed on banking cooperation, joint energy ventures, arms sales and trade. But stories surfaced suggesting that close ties between the two nations represent a possible security threat to the United States.
World Notes: August 2
United Kingdom: Unions pressure Labor Party South Korea: Labor actions sweep country South Africa: Unions look at safety, wages & prices Occupied West Bank: New settlement coming Mexico: Monopoly has advantages Cuba: U.S. stonewalls prisoners’ wives
In the shadow of NASDAQ, Dominican Americans decry gas speculation
NEW YORK—A group of Dominican American and other Latino elected officials with dozens of community members protested petroleum speculation here in Times Square July 30. Called by the League of Dominican American Elected Officials and hosted by New York State Assembly Member Adriano Espaillat, the protest was held outside the headquarters of NASDAQ, which trades oil futures.
Zimbabwe negotiates on power-sharing
In a triumph for African diplomacy, the ruling and opposition parties of Zimbabwe are in the midst of negotiations toward a power-sharing agreement. Despite Zimbabwean opposition calls for his replacement as mediator, South African President Thabo Mbeki succeeded in bringing together President Robert Mugabe and his opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), for their first face-to-face talks in a decade.
