Niger Has A Military Coup

 

Niger has fallen to a military coup. This is another case in a pattern seen in Mali, Guinea,  and Burkina Faso. Public discord, warfare, and regional instability has produced coups throughout the region. General  Abdourahamane Tchiani is now head of state. The African Union and ECOWAS  have  condemned the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum. Questions remain about the return to civilian leadership. The situation become more bizarre when it was relaized that Tchiani stopped a coup attempt in 2021. The constitution has been suspended with no time frame for it being brought back. Other measures have been taken which include curfews and closing the border of Niger. Power transition and democratic government have not been successful in Niger. This is the fifth coup in Niger's history. These coups occurred in 1974, 1996, 1999, and 2010. The biggest source of Niger's challenges are ISIS and foreign influence in the country. The Sahel has seen a dramatic rise in terrorism and various insurgencies. Groups such as Al Murabitoun, Ansar Dine, Katibat Macina, and Boko Haram are local to the Sahel. The Islamic State of West Africa, Islamic State of the Greater  Sahara , and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb have influence from other countries outside the African continent. These groups fight across borders.   Abdourahamane Tchiani stated the reason for the coup was that President Mohamed Bazoum was unable to keep Niger secure. It is uncertain that the military regimes will do any better at fighting rebel groups or terrorist organizations. The excuse of fighting terrorists and insurgents could used to create more authoritarian political structures. Niger could become isolated if the majority of the continent still recognizes Mohamed Bazoum as head of state.  

Hun Sen Will Hand Power To Hun Manet

 

Hun Sen is one of the longest serving heads of state in the world. The longtime Cambodian prime minister made the announcement he will resign. Hun Sen's son Hun Manet will be his successor . This was a surprise considering that the Cambodian People's Party has remained dominant. The election victory has been questioned as many cite the political opposition was unable to operate. A 38 year reign of Hun Sen continued enabled by an autocratic state apparatus. The National Rescue Party was in no position to challenge the rule of the Hun family. Prime Minister Hun Sen will not retire from public life. He will maintain involvement in the government. The National Election Committee has the ability to prevent certain political parties from running. Hun Manet has an advantage coming into office. He is chief of Cambodia's army. This means the military has loyalty to him and can be used to suppress revolts. Cambodia's political system resembles that of Thailand and North Korea. The military has large amounts of influence in Thailand. North Korea has a dynastic system of succession under a one party state. Countries like Syria, Togo, and Chad share this trait even though they are not monarchies. Hun Sen's term is five years, but he did not specify a date for the transfer of power. No specific reason was made public for making the change. Laos and Vietnam are going to have more interest in what happens in Cambodia. Myanmar might find an ally in a Hun Manet regime.   

Protests Against Peruvian President Dina Boluarte

 

Peruvians are showing their frustration with the current administration. Demonstrations have spread across the country. Most of the protesters are either associated with leftist groups and labor unions. The discord is being generated from the ineffective leadership of President Dina Boluarte. The accusation is that her government has become more authoritarian. Legal question remain about the removal of former president Pedro Castillo. Evidence suggest that attempts were made to depose his government by right-wing factions. He could not bring stability and the biggest error was dissolving the congress. Dina Boluarte was not elected. One of the demands of protesters is that she either resigns or new elections to be held. The biggest motivation for public discord is growing poverty and wealth gaps. Peru is a major copper producing nation, but only a few people of benefited from this natural resource. Being a large metal producing country, more Peruvians should see an increase in their income. Rage has grown so much that the demands for a new constitution and the congress to be dissolved are being proposed by activists. Peru's government in response has deployed an estimated 24,000 police officers. President Dina Boluarte is developing a network  of repression to remain in power. If elections were held in the next few months, most Peruvians would not vote for her. Peru since 2017 has developed into an illiberal democracy. A former Free Peru Party member has now become a more conservative president. Dina Boluarte's power comes from the congress, police, and military. All those institutions are being weaponized against the population. Either a coup or uprising will end her presidency if elections do not take place. The only means of defense  the Peruvian public  has are demonstrations and suffrage.     

The Breakdown Of Peace Talks In Yugoslavia (1991)

 

Yugoslavia was facing civil war and ethnic conflict. Around 1991 Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia were on the verge of a massive war. The truce talks broke down between Serbia and Slovenia. The biggest concern was about border crossings into western Europe. Customs fees were the dispute and there was a proposal that Slovenia could run the border on the behalf of the Yugoslav government. Economics was playing a role in the tension and hatreds. Slobodan Milosevic no longer was opposing the break-up of the country, but wanted all Serbs united in a single state. The problem was that Serbs were in enclaves located in Croatia and Slovenia. The European Community and the U.S.S.R came to act as mediators in the dispute. It was clear that the EC was not really trying to stabilize the situation. If that were the case Croatia and Slovenia would not have been given recognition as independent states. A unified Germany wanted influence in the Balkans and recognition of Croatia was the first step. Recognition of Slovenia was to follow. Germany's push to recognize both break away republics in 1992 only exacerbated the conflict. The result was a war on European soil not seen since World War II and ethnic cleansing.  

The Global Heatwave And Concerns About Public Health

 

The world is experiencing a rise in temperature. More potent heatwaves are going to be common as years pass by. The environmental concerns related to flooding and damage to ecosystems tends to be the focus. What is forgotten is the impact on public health. People are going to be at risk for heat exhaustion and poor air quality. It becomes lethal for the elderly and those with respiratory diseases. The people who are in good health could see it decline with exposure to high amounts of particulate matter. Temperatures are going to continue to increase according to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service. Norway, Sweden, and Japan have seen a drastic change in temperature. There is no single factor that explains the global  heatwave. Many countries have experienced heatwaves. The difference in 2023 is that they are occurring simultaneously. Other countries are seeing a reverse. Span, Portugal, Northern Russia, Southern Chile and Argentina are seeing colder temperatures. It remains a mystery if the heatwaves will follow a consistent pattern or fluctuate at random. Numerous countries must make adjustments for global heatwaves. Cooling centers and access to clean drinking water should be a priority. Seeing as it effects most nations across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and North America cooperation is required. Environmental protection should be taken seriously, rather than a cause of just a few organizations. Examining the risks and dangers  in the context of public health would motivate  leaders to act. Global heatwaves eventually could become bigger threats if no policy is developed to combat them.   

The SAG-AFTRA and WGA Labor Strike

 

Economic inequality and shrinking income is hitting all sectors of the economy. Corporate avarice has induced a simultaneous Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strike. The writers and actors are not seeing an increase income, when production companies are generating billions. Considering that streaming services are doing well, there is no reason why income should not increase. This is not the first time writers went on strike. The 2007 strike resulted in some Tv programs falling behind in production. The longer this continues films, TV programs, and radio productions could grind to a halt. The only logical solution is to reach an agreement. Labor unions lost much power over the decades. The problem is that many labor unions across various industries or occupations do not have solidarity. A mass strike across the nation in various sectors has the potential to finally challenge the abuses of corporate power. What prevents this is  class division among the workers. The actors and writers would not be traditionally considered working class like miners or railroad workers. Labor unions for law enforcement are designed to act as a protector for corruption and police brutality. The Teachers Union most likely would not come to the aid of a railroad strike. The limitation of  labor strikes in  America relates to the lack of political and class consciousness. The protestors just want some reforms, rather than revolution. It might take a revolution to stop the abuse of corporations and to improve the status of employees.  It was 1980 went actors went on strike against the film and television industry. The only time writers and actors were on strike concurrently was in 1960. What should be learned is from these events is that both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA should collaborate. Doing so allows them to put more pressure on companies to reach a suitable agreement. Labor strikes are going to be more common as long as corporations continue exploit their workers.   

The UN Reports Growing Food Insecurity

 

The United Nations according to their data shows growing food insecurity. The annual report on nutrition has linked the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, and warfare to the spike. Food insecurity disproportionately effects African and Asian nations. The areas of food insecurity tend to be in war zones and unstable countries. However, the Russia-Ukraine War has not resulted in the starvation of the European population. The reason is that the conflict has not spread to other parts of Europe. What the annual report does not mention is that food prices were going up prior to the pandemic, wars, and dramatic increase in global temperature. Poverty also contributes to food insecurity. If food prices increase with out income getting enough food is not possible. The estimate the UN provided shows a crisis that does not get enough attention. A total 783 million  faced hunger in 2022. The rise of hunger hotspots are low in the West. Certain UN officials asserted  that global hunger could be ended by 2030. The goal is unrealistic considering the environmental  challenges and threat of war zones. While millions face hunger, others are generating food waste. Restaurants and supermarkets dispose of large amounts of unconsumed food. If the United Nations was serious about fighting global hunger, they would try to build an international system of food banks. What prevents this is getting to refugees and having a safe location. Africa has become the worst effected from the global food crisis. That is due to the fact that Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Mali Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and the DRC have experienced conflict. With war comes food insecurity among the civilian population. Solutions are going to require the efforts of farmers, nations, and a number supranational organizations. Otherwise the next report could have larger numbers of people suffering from starvation.    

Israel Attacks The West Bank

 

Israel has engaged in military operations in the West Bank. The violence has gotten so extreme that the IDF has attacked Jenin refugee camp. The raids the government asserts is designed to fight militants. What is ignored in this current conflict is that Jewish settlers are getting more aggressive in land seizures. The motivation is clear. The desire for more farmland and real estate are major factors. A Likud Party policy of settlement expansion has disturbed the peace. Combined with the abuses in the Gaza Strip another large Intifada could be on the way. The last one was in the year 2000 and ended in 2005. If such violence is directed at the Arab population, then they might have to fight for an independent state. Fighting a war of independence would be difficult to accomplish. The amount of causalities would be immense. According to reports the groups fighting in Janin include Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and the armed wing of Fatah. The speculation is that most of them are now operating under an umbrella organization known as Janin Brigade. Overtime, the majority of the Palestinian population will revolt. The pervasive anti-Arab racism, discrimination, and murder continues to produce discord in the population. The more abusive the Israeli government becomes the more isolated it will be internationally. Within the region the Arab states and Iran might become closer. Jordan has expressed its frustration with the current status of the West Bank. King Abdullah II issued a warning regarding Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa Mosque. Another intifada would possibly involve Syria, Iran, and Jordan. Such an escalation could expand into a wider regional war . The Netanyahu government is causing more instability in the Middle East and increases the chances of more ethnic conflict. As long as he is power, a Palestinian state will never come into existence. The Arabs are faced with  Israeli aggression and a Palestinian Authority too weak to protect them.        

Canada's Wildfires

 

Canada is experiencing a more powerful series of wildfires. The result of this is that the smoke has spread to the United States. Air quality has been poor with haze visible in America. The particulate matter present could be a public health risk. New fires are emerging and firefighters scramble to extinguish them. Canada has a policy of letting fires in remote areas burn out on their own. The problem with that is it still could negatively impact ecosystems. Wildlife living in those habitats might not recover. Currently, there is a total of 584 fires. The total number might not be precise. Analysts assert this is one of the worst fire seasons in Canada's history. Climate change is the culprit in the environmental disaster in Canada. A combination of drought and high temperatures make wildfires more likely. Rain would aid in putting out some of the fires, but the weather forecast does not predict this. Dry and hot weather conditions are going to remain and the government has limited resources. Each province of Canada has to fight fires within its own borders. This is an inefficient and dangerous emergency response plan. A nation wide federal force should be established to handle environmental emergencies. The cause of wildfires include industrial activity, lightening, or some form of human environment interaction. Climate change can no longer be ignored in this equation. Canada must take a different approach to emergency preparation and environmental protection. Other nations have come to assist in fighting the fires. South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, France, Span, Costa Rica, Mexico, the United States, and Portugal have sent firefighters.    

A New Wave Of French Protests And Riots

 

A new wave of protests and riots have spread across France. The murder of Nahel Merzouk by police  was the catalyst. The murder highlights the discrimination and racism directed at the Arab and immigrant populations in France. The Arab and African population are segregated in the suburbs. The disturbing amount of police brutality directed at immigrants, Africans, Arabs, and the workers show that France is descending into a quasi-authoritarian state. European countries can no longer claim they are models of liberal democracy, with a number of social and economic problems. When action is not taken, sometimes the frustration projects itself in riots. France has yellow vest demonstrations and protests against pension reform. The more discord grows the more society becomes unstable. The Arab and Muslim community is facing isolation and targeted violence. Islamophobia gradually is becoming government policy. The growth of xenophobic nativist nationalism only has exacerbated matters across Europe. The riots and protests are reminder little has changed since the events of 2005. The response now is more repression. According to the Interior Ministry a total of 45,000 police officers have been deployed. Racism and xenophobia are getting worse at a time when economic challenges are not being addressed. What cannot be denied is that France is racially segregated. The former empire colonized countries in Africa and Asia. The imperial legacy continues in the form of racial hatred and an arrogant  sense of cultural superiority. The protests and riots in France certainly will damage the nation's image around the world.