Archbishop Desmond Tutu called the refusal of the South African government to grant a visa to the Dalai Lama "a national disgrace" and that " the discourtesy is mind-boggling". It was that and much more, because this is the same Dalai Lama who had vigorously condemned the apartheid that had repressed the black South African for so long.
This was a most shameful act and it was done under pressure from the repressive Chinese government whose 3 trillion + dollars investment fund is being used to bully countries into following its lead. This is the Chinese government that had invaded Tibet in 1950 and impose its rule on it, bringing in millions of Han Chinese in order to destroy the Tibetan culture and identity (cultural genocide). This is the Chuinese government that denies its own citizens their rights, meting out all manner of punishments on them ( national repression). This the Chinese government that is waging internal war on the Falun Gong. This the Chinese government that is warring against ethnic minorities like the Uighurs. This is the Chinese governmentthat uses its huge investment trillions to impose its will on any nation that wants to trade with it .This the same Chinese government whose huge appetite for resources is creating environmental degradtion on a very large scale , whether it be the Tar Sands of Canada, the mines in various African countries, the iron and other minerals in Australia or the forests in the Amazon. Their voraciousness knows no bounds and any who stand in their way face their crushing might.
You can understand some small desperate countries caving in, but South Africa, given its history? When its human rights were being violated and when its people were repressed and exploited, many came forward in protest and sacrifice on its behalf. It has been only 20 years and they have already fotrgotten, cozying up with the likes of Mugabe and the Chinese. They sold out, and cheaply.
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, led a trade mission last week to China and came back with 42.5 billion in agreed invwestment, and soon after the Dalai Lama's visa was denied, with the government spokesman saying that the problem was in processing (the application was made weeks ago) the paperwork and that "South Africa has not said 'no'. The man has decided to cancel the trip." The man? How crude. How appallingly stupid. " This is a morally bankrupt decision aimed squarely at appeasing the emerging economic super-power, China" editorialised the Mail and Guardian newspaper
. Yes it is. They have sold their soul for "thirty pieces of silver"
Let Archbishop Tutu, whose 80th birthday, the Dalai Lama was coming to celebrate have the last words " Mr. Zuma, you and your government don't re[present me. You represent your own interests.I am warning you out of love, one day we will start praying for the defeat of the ANC government"
The Greek Trojan Horse, filled with toxic government Bonds, was forced to adopt "policy of expansionary austerity"...slashing spending, raising taxes, cutting jiobs and social services., by the ultra-conservative European Central Bank, the European Commission and the IMF. It failed and exacerbated the situation ( growth in Greece will be down by almost 8%).
It then offered piecemeal bailouts, for example, after a meeting with Papandreou, Sarkozy and Merkel offer $ 411 billion to banks and countries when debts was over $2 trillion...Italy $1.3 tri and Spain $750 billion with the other PIIGS.....Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain, not counted. Countries (Greece) have to meet certain standards before more is offered, Greece will not meet its goal. What will the Trio do? Allow Greece to go bankrupt, with the banks that iold their notes going belly up or will they fork over more funds, papering over the problem, making it worse.
Expansionary austerity has failed, and now what must be done is to allow for more public spending, lower interest rates to allow the private sector to borrow with confidence, to invest and create jobs, expanding trade. The private sector need assurance and with the help of Trio backing their investment, they can with the public sector spending begin to alleviate the financial situation.
Turkey's Dilemma, Syria.
Turkey has gained tremendous influence in the Arab world with its harsh criticism of former friend Israel and its praise and support of the democratic movement that started with the Arab Spring, as well as its support for the Palestinian Cause.
Its stature has risen to great heights in its former 'empire', that has looked at it suspiciously over the years, since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, and as it developed a close relation, militarily and economically with Israel. All began to change when Israelis commandos boarded the "peace flotilla" and some Turks were killed. Turkey demanded an apology and compensation from Israel and was refused. Relationship rapidly soured between the two countries and Turkey decided to throw its considerable weight behind the demands for change in Egypt, Libya etc and for the rights of the Palestrinians, and offered itself as a model that can be followed..a country with a muslim population but a democratic government.
Syria, however may be a pitfall. At first Turkey tried to get Assad to agree to some changes, but as the state violence increased and more and more were killed and many fled across the border to Turkey, there was a reassessment of policy and now Turkey has taken a hareder position, even to the extent of calling for Assad's replacement. Now here is the problem. Syria is Arab, and so other Arab countries may not like this tough stance. If this is all Turkey does then there is no problem, but if Turkey undertakes any kind of military exercise on the grounds that it is concerned with the border crossings or if Turkey builds a buffer zone on the border for the safety of those who are fleeing, then the dynamics change. The Turks are very aware of thr Kurdish minority living in Syria and neighboring countries and the millions in Turkey itself, which Assad/Syrian Intelligence, could use tio make trouble for Ankarra. This could precipitate military actions on both sides and would put Arabs against Turks.
Turkey has to tread very carefully or else risk losing its newly won influence/stature in the Arab world.
This was a most shameful act and it was done under pressure from the repressive Chinese government whose 3 trillion + dollars investment fund is being used to bully countries into following its lead. This is the Chinese government that had invaded Tibet in 1950 and impose its rule on it, bringing in millions of Han Chinese in order to destroy the Tibetan culture and identity (cultural genocide). This is the Chuinese government that denies its own citizens their rights, meting out all manner of punishments on them ( national repression). This the Chinese government that is waging internal war on the Falun Gong. This the Chinese government that is warring against ethnic minorities like the Uighurs. This is the Chinese governmentthat uses its huge investment trillions to impose its will on any nation that wants to trade with it .This the same Chinese government whose huge appetite for resources is creating environmental degradtion on a very large scale , whether it be the Tar Sands of Canada, the mines in various African countries, the iron and other minerals in Australia or the forests in the Amazon. Their voraciousness knows no bounds and any who stand in their way face their crushing might.
You can understand some small desperate countries caving in, but South Africa, given its history? When its human rights were being violated and when its people were repressed and exploited, many came forward in protest and sacrifice on its behalf. It has been only 20 years and they have already fotrgotten, cozying up with the likes of Mugabe and the Chinese. They sold out, and cheaply.
Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, led a trade mission last week to China and came back with 42.5 billion in agreed invwestment, and soon after the Dalai Lama's visa was denied, with the government spokesman saying that the problem was in processing (the application was made weeks ago) the paperwork and that "South Africa has not said 'no'. The man has decided to cancel the trip." The man? How crude. How appallingly stupid. " This is a morally bankrupt decision aimed squarely at appeasing the emerging economic super-power, China" editorialised the Mail and Guardian newspaper
. Yes it is. They have sold their soul for "thirty pieces of silver"
Let Archbishop Tutu, whose 80th birthday, the Dalai Lama was coming to celebrate have the last words " Mr. Zuma, you and your government don't re[present me. You represent your own interests.I am warning you out of love, one day we will start praying for the defeat of the ANC government"
The Greek Trojan Horse, filled with toxic government Bonds, was forced to adopt "policy of expansionary austerity"...slashing spending, raising taxes, cutting jiobs and social services., by the ultra-conservative European Central Bank, the European Commission and the IMF. It failed and exacerbated the situation ( growth in Greece will be down by almost 8%).
It then offered piecemeal bailouts, for example, after a meeting with Papandreou, Sarkozy and Merkel offer $ 411 billion to banks and countries when debts was over $2 trillion...Italy $1.3 tri and Spain $750 billion with the other PIIGS.....Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain, not counted. Countries (Greece) have to meet certain standards before more is offered, Greece will not meet its goal. What will the Trio do? Allow Greece to go bankrupt, with the banks that iold their notes going belly up or will they fork over more funds, papering over the problem, making it worse.
Expansionary austerity has failed, and now what must be done is to allow for more public spending, lower interest rates to allow the private sector to borrow with confidence, to invest and create jobs, expanding trade. The private sector need assurance and with the help of Trio backing their investment, they can with the public sector spending begin to alleviate the financial situation.
Turkey's Dilemma, Syria.
Turkey has gained tremendous influence in the Arab world with its harsh criticism of former friend Israel and its praise and support of the democratic movement that started with the Arab Spring, as well as its support for the Palestinian Cause.
Its stature has risen to great heights in its former 'empire', that has looked at it suspiciously over the years, since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, and as it developed a close relation, militarily and economically with Israel. All began to change when Israelis commandos boarded the "peace flotilla" and some Turks were killed. Turkey demanded an apology and compensation from Israel and was refused. Relationship rapidly soured between the two countries and Turkey decided to throw its considerable weight behind the demands for change in Egypt, Libya etc and for the rights of the Palestrinians, and offered itself as a model that can be followed..a country with a muslim population but a democratic government.
Syria, however may be a pitfall. At first Turkey tried to get Assad to agree to some changes, but as the state violence increased and more and more were killed and many fled across the border to Turkey, there was a reassessment of policy and now Turkey has taken a hareder position, even to the extent of calling for Assad's replacement. Now here is the problem. Syria is Arab, and so other Arab countries may not like this tough stance. If this is all Turkey does then there is no problem, but if Turkey undertakes any kind of military exercise on the grounds that it is concerned with the border crossings or if Turkey builds a buffer zone on the border for the safety of those who are fleeing, then the dynamics change. The Turks are very aware of thr Kurdish minority living in Syria and neighboring countries and the millions in Turkey itself, which Assad/Syrian Intelligence, could use tio make trouble for Ankarra. This could precipitate military actions on both sides and would put Arabs against Turks.
Turkey has to tread very carefully or else risk losing its newly won influence/stature in the Arab world.
