The Protests Lebanon

Economic crisis and political turmoil have forced the citizens of Lebanon to the streets in protest. The government caused the demonstrations due to imposing new taxes and refusal to move ahead on reforms. These demonstrations are probably going to continue with major impacts on the political culture of Lebanon. The country seems to be slipping into instability and memories of the civil war remain fresh in the minds of the older generation. So far, these protests are becoming more effective with the resignation of  Saad Hariri. The fear as that the country could become more erratic if he left office. However, his inability to solve basic problems related to Lebanon have damaged his political career. The question remains whether or not the Future Movement will remain a political force in the country. Growing unemployment, fiscal austerity, and a network of government corruption has caused mass public discord. Political factionalism and sectarianism could tear the country apart. This further complicates matters when the civil war in Syria is active and Israel seeks to challenge Hezbollah. When it was announced that ex-finance minister Mohammed Safadi was going to run for Prime Minister , this only vexed the public more. Protests in Tripoli and Beirut erupted with the announcement of his nomination. Safadi withdrew his nomination, yet there still is no prime minister. The next government faces the challenge of meeting public demands and programs of reform.    

President Evo Morales Resigns

President Evo Morales has resigned and departed to Mexico. It appears that he has sought asylum in the country amid protests in  Bolivia.  Once more, another leftist government has been removed in Latin America and a wave of far-right reactionary politics will sweep across Latin America. The protests in La Paz have not ended. Now rivals and supporters of the government are in direct conflict. There is reasonable suspicion that US involvement had a role in removing the Morales government. Similar to Venezuela, the United States seeks regime change to have a government more compliant with its foreign policy in the region. Jeanine Anez will be sworn in as interim president during the political transition. The following events may unfold just like in Brazil, when Dilma Rousseff was removed. What has happened in Bolivia could be classified a coup. The opposition denies the accusation that the events that transpired were part of a conspiracy. The accusations of electoral fraud were met with protests in 2019. President Morales offered new elections. This was ignored and then the police joined in the protests. The military then started supporting the idea of President Evo Morales' removal. Latin America has a long history of military coups and far-right authoritarian governments coming to power. Events that have occurred in Bolivia demonstrate South America may be reverting back to these regimes of the 20th century.     

The Iraq Protests Escalate

Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein has become more unstable. The population has finally reached a point in which it can no longer tolerate deteriorating economic and political conditions. The protests against corrupt government and worsening economic conditions started in 2018, with no end in sight. If the government cannot provide for the average Iraqi, it is possible it could slide back into an authoritarian system. Elements of the the authoritarian system still remain with the illusion that democracy is working in Iraq. It has been reported that security forces are using deadly force against protesters. The demonstrations are increasing in size in many cities, with Baghdad becoming a major focus. Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi could not handle or meet the demands that the citizens of Iraq had long wanted. Jobs, security, and a sustainable future seem out of reach. The tension with Iran and Gulf states also is a factor. Lebanon is having similar issues, with protests becoming more frequent. Iraq has the challenge of  ISIS, US interference, Iran, and a divided population based around both ethnicity as well as religion. Prime Minister Abdul-Mahdi has agreed to step down, but this will not satisfy a disgruntled public. The hope is that the demonstrations will remain peaceful and that security forces will not engage in anymore human rights abuse. If Iraq's government collapses, this could mean possible civil war.       

Gabon Invests in Satellites to Save The Rain Forests (2015)

African nations are doing their part to prevent further damage to the environment. Humanity's rapid technological advancement has created a situation in which deforestation and pollution have become major concerns.  Gabon has been proactive in its approach. The country has some of the most bio-diverse rain forests. The rain forests extend to the beach, which few in the world do. Palm oil production and mineral extraction has been the culprit of rain forest destruction in places such as the Congo. There are about an estimated 10,000 species of plants that exist in the rain forest. Technology has been utilized in preserving Gabon's rain forests. Satellite technology has been used to monitor the rain forests with the assistance of France and Brazil. Gabon has in comparison done better than Brazil in rain forest protection .  Brazil has seen some of the worst devastation in the Amazon, which got international attention. The partnership began in 2015 and hopefully there will be more in the following years. Climate change, pollution, and deforestation are potential threats to human survival. Only in the last few years a revitalized international environmentalist movement  has brought such concerns to public attention.