A Coup In Burkina Faso

 

Burkina Faso has fallen to a military coup. This is part of a political trend happening across the continent . This is not the first time the country has experienced military takeover or attempts. An attempted coup happened in 2015. The leader of the takeover is Paul Henri Damiba . Gunfights had taken place in the capital of Ouagadougu. Monday it was reported the military was removing the civilian government. The group of soldiers are part of a political  organization  known as the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration. Burkina Faso faces challenges from terrorism, French interference, and ineffective government. President Kabore who was deposed in the coup failed to address the issues regarding the anti- government protests. Since 2014 Burkina Faso has struggled to be stable after the fall of Blaise Compaore. Roch Kabore was elected president in 2015. He did not make changes required to have a stable political atmosphere. Frustration grew among the citizens and the military. Now the parliament and constitution are dissolved.      

The Microsoft Corporation Set To Purchase Activision Blizzard

 

The Microsoft Corporation is in the process of buying Activision Blizzard. This purchase could change the nature of the video game industry. Popular franchises such as the Call of Duty, World of Warcraft , and Fall Out would come under their ownership. The two companies have yet to finalize transactions. Microsoft has been reported to pay $68.7 billion dollars for Activision. The two corporations will continue to operate independently until a final deal and price of purchase is made. The concern is that games that are available on multiple platforms will stop. Microsoft is responsible for the Xbox system and might wnat to have an edge on its competitors. Another possible problem is that creativity could be effected by a change in ownership. If one company has too much dominance, consumers have very little options. The video game industry does not need a monopoly. A industry crash similar to 1983 would be worse if  electronic entertainment  functioned on such a model. Activision Blizzard was not failing by business measures. The sale comes at a time when Activision Blizzard  faces allegations of a hostile work environment and CEO Bobby Kotick being subpoenaed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The reason for the sale could be more public relations related, rather than business acumen.     

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Being Maladjusted ( 1967)

 

Maladjusted is a term used by psychology to describe being unable to function in a normal social environment. Martin Luther King stated he was proud to be maladjusted to the ills of society. Racism, economic inequality, religious intolerance,  and war  are not attributes of a normal social environment. American society made these defects  seem like normalcy. Maybe it is not so much about  people having maladjustment,  rather a  sick society. The United States has failed to protect the rights of it citizens or ensure racial equality. Corporate capture of government has disempowered the voters. Martin Luther King had to fight racial discrimination, militarism, and the oppression of the working class. The movement for freedom and rights is a normal response to a country in dysfunction . By the late 1960 civil unrest, racial tension, and aggression in Southeast Asia escalated. The vision of a peaceful America that King wanted has not come to fruition. Being maladjusted is to response  to a nation that creates discord and despair among its population.  

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Wants The Olympics To Be An Instrument of Peace

 

UN Secretary-General expressed " the Olympic Games must be an instrument for peace in the world." International sports competition is an extension  of rivalries among nations. Also the Olympic Games have been used to demonize certain countries. Russia remains banned over allegations of a state sponsored doping program. Other nations have athletes that have taken substances, but were never subject to a ban on competition. The tension between the US and China can be seen with the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing winter Olympics. The Olympic Games show how divided the world is becoming. While it would be ideal to use sports competition as a means of reducing tension, they encourage a dogmatic nationalism. The United Nations has not been able to make the world more peaceful. Failure to confront Israel, authorizing  military force in Libya, and the conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo demonstrate its ineffectiveness. Major world powers are not subject to the same rules as other nations. Antonio Guterres' statements suggest a general lack of understanding of what leaders use international sports competition for.  The UN Secretary-General will be attending the opening ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. This is more of a symbolic gesture, rather than diplomatic outreach. 

Eswatini's Demonstrations Against The Monarchy

 

Eswatini ( known as Swaziland until 2018)  has been seeing demonstrations against the monarchy since 2021. The country has been described as an absolute monarchy. These growing protests are the most recent challenge to the rule of King Mswati  III. Political parties are banned and the nation struggles with poverty. These protests are sporadic and do not have a single leader. Teachers have been very active in the demonstrations with the desire for higher pay. The public seems to be leaning toward more democratic reforms, rather than a total revolution in the political system. The economic decline Eswatini has faced has caused more discord among the public. Previous protests were organized  by student movements and trade unions. The difference  in the current demonstrations is various cross sections of the population are getting involved. Disagreements among the protesters are present. Some want  the monarchy abolished and others desire a constitutional limit on the king's powers. A portion of citizens do not want to see change in the system at all. Msawti III has been king since 1986 and it is unlikely he would abdicate the throne. Reforms could be possible under enormous political pressure, but a change in government would take years to form. 

Unrest in Kazakhstan

 

Protests broke out across Kazakhstan. This was in response to fuel price increases. There are other grievances that have been articulated. Frustration with the government has grown over the years. The protest caused a large number of cabinet resignations and a state of emergency to be declared. The removal of price controls on liquefied petroleum gas. It has been reported that former President Nursultan Nazarbayev will no longer be on the Security Council. This was expressed as one of the complaints coming from demonstrators in the cities. There is a feeling that Nazarbayev still holds political influence even though he resigned in 2019. This is the first real challenge to current President Kassym-Jomart  Tokayev. The fear of the leaders of the Kazakhstan is the people are going to demand more freedoms and a limit on the powers of the presidency. President Tokayev has asked for military assistance from Russia, Belarus, and Kyrgyzstan. While there has been violence, little evidence exists that external actors are active in sabotage . The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) might intervene to prevent a Central Asian spring. Kazakhstan has only had two presidents since becoming an independent nation in 1991. The demand for a new system of governance could be evolving.