Does Michael Jackson deserve the Nobel Peace Prize?

When I first heard that a fan of Michael Jackson has put together a proposal for him to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, my reaction was malevolent. Although I love Michael and his music, consider Thriller the best album ever, I also thought that awarding him with the Nobel Prize would have been somewhat inequitable to those who had received the prize before him. Just consider Nelson Mandela. But then I thought there was indeed an overlapping contribution the two icons have stood up for - human unity. Michael's contribution to this world is immense. Look at the two videos attached below with regular folks in Stockholm and Montreal giving tribute to Michael Jackson. There is no one, not one person who could pride himself on being able to unite blacks and whites, young and old (er), women and men, those more and less fortunate on the same scale as he was able to achieve. He was truly the ultimate brigde-maker. Isn't the Nobel Peace Prize about that?

Change for Iranians in the making?

About 140 Iranian protesters, who took their fervent demand to the streets for the recount of the last month's presidential election results, have been released from the Evin prison. About 200 others, who supposedly are accused of more serious crimes, remain in the prison.

Neda Agha-Soltan was one of the killed during the protest.

Iran's leaders remain under pressure from the world demanding fair conduct towards prisoners. It has been reported by BBC and Reuters that fights between the opposition and police are ongoing and that about 30 people were killed in street clashes. Let's light a candle in memory of those who have sacrificed their lives carving out ways to freedom for others.

Will China's Prosperity Ever Open the Window to Liberty?

So is there a merit in assuming that democracy can generate economic development? Or that economic development can generate democracy? After reviewing some literature relating to a thesis that a strong correlation between economic development and democratization indeed exists, we should name at least five possible theoretical models that discuss what comes first in the priority column when comes to economic development or democracy. First, scholars such as Joseph Siegel, Michael Weinstein, and Morton Halperin argue that democracies consistently outperform non-democracies on most economic and social indicators and therefore establishing a democratic state should be a first step to further development of poor nations. Second, modernizationists, such as Seymour Lipset, argue that economic growth leads to democracy. Third, another scholar Bruce Bueno de Mequita finds that the positive result of economic development may not necessarily lead to democracy and China here leads the perfect example. Fourth, Samuel Huntington argues that economic development without strong institutions could lead to political decay. Fifth, Adam Przeworski argues that the impact of regime type is not significant on economic performance.

Another observation, after the fall of the iron curtain in 1989, there was not one reference study available on what could be the best possible transition for communist countries to become libral democracies. In the case of Poland, for example, its quest to prosperity was therefore unique. Immediately after Poland dissociated itself from communism, it had not only pursued free elections, but also moved its economy from centralized to free market orientation. This accelerated process posed a tremendous hardship on Polish people as their living standard dramatically declined in the early stages of the transition, primarily due to the installment of a national economic policy called “shock therapy.” Furthermore, a few sociology scholars currently have been emphasizing that the hardship and challenges facing some Eastern European countries could place them in a difficult position of choice between free markets or a reversion to communism. It is well observed that during the 20-year span time, deregulation and privatization could not in themselves ensure economic efficiency, political stability, or social welfare.

Well, what about China? Can its prosperity lead to democracy? Does China want democracy? Certainly Chinese people have shown some level of exasperation with their system on many occasions, and many of which have never been known for the obvious reasons. China is desperate to keep the lid closed on their democratization process. But, the Internet could be their silent can opener. Certainly, the government is aware of its potential and continuously closes social networking and free expressions sites. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube went offline earlier this year.

Nevertheless, China still has the world's largest population of Internet users; reportedly there are more than 300 million users now in China. Yet, China also has the world's most extensive system of Web monitoring and censorship. Despite those controls, however, the Internet's role as a platform for sharing unofficial news and opinions has expanded rapidly. For this reason, the Internet has become China’s enemy number one. They fight it with all they got. Therefore maybe not prosperity alone but specifically the Internet may cause the great reclusive walls to fall and the liberal windows to open.

Part 2 on Hopeless Russia...

Russia's officials announced on Wednesday that the body of another Russian human rights activist Andrei Kulagin had been found after he was reported as missing two months ago. Kulagin headed the local branch of Spravedlivost (Justice), a human rights organization about 1,000 km north of Moscow.

Write to President Medvedev on behalf of all Russian human rights activists by clicking on the link attached below.

http://www.kintera.org/c.nlIWIgN2JwE/b.5308039/k.F527/Russia_Justice_for_Killing_of_Natalia_Estemirova/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx

Walesa and Havel write to Obama

Lech Walesa and Vaclav Havel have sent an official letter to the White House pleading not to forget about Eastern Europe. Obama's recent visit to Russia focused on mere Russian needs and not regional needs. The issue of the missile defense system signed during the Bush presidency with Poland and Czech Republic has not be resolved to this day as Russia pressures the United States to abolish the project. It is widely observed that Obama's international politics for the region evolve primarily around the Russian needs and such observation has started to induce serious concerns among Eastern European leaders. Hopefully the White House replies and we get to know their response.

Will there be a utopia in the Middle East?

Maybe not but this does not mean the world should stop trying to create one. Making efforts is obviously a better option than giving up only to witness a global hell. I thought the report attached below was interesting - it insinuates that the US media covering the conflict between Palestine and Israel is not only biased but also hurtful to the peacemaking process. Let's pray for all children in the Middle East who are exposed there to so much hate. Peace!

Joe Biden Visits Ukraine and Georgia

If you had heard or read somewhere that Ukraine could not always be a safe place to visit, I can confirm that. My husband and I recently attempted to visit Ukraine but decided to drive back to the border from our en-route toward Kiev after noticing some suspicious activities on the highway. Well, we were crossing the Ukrainian border from Slovakia after cross-country driving first through Poland, then Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Hungary and finally through Slovakia. We were driving a hot red Toyota and someone at the Slovakian-Ukrainian border had given us a hint that we, as tourists, with our car could become a prey to organized crime. That someone advised us to never stop on the highway even if a "policeman" would make an attempt to stop us, or if we saw someone who would appear lying on the road lifeless. The person said this could be an act with a goal to steal our car with all possessions in it.

Ukraine needs help in all areas of development - political, social and economic. Its disadvantaged geopolitical placement certainly isn't helpful as Russia only waits to swallow Ukraine's remains if it fails to build a sound and democratic state. Sadly, it looks like Ukraine has a long way to go.

I am happy to see Vice President Joe Biden visiting Ukraine. Biden is scheduled to meet with Ukraine's President Victor Yushchenko tomorrow. On Wednesday, Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to travel to another troubled country, Georgia, where he is scheduled to meet with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili.

Go, Hilary Go!

The US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has begun her visit in India this weekend with hopes of straightening political and economic relations between India and the US, a task rather grand considering recent events in the region. As reported, the US had underlined its strong alliance with Pakistan numerous times, the endeavor which of course does not necessarily sit well with India. However, if there is anyone who could make any patches in the relationship between India and the US - it is Hilary.

It’s been seven months since Obama has been sworn to presidency but every time I see Hil I wonder what if? Hilary entered her campaign as a driven, persistent and most importantly savvy politician. Well, it is well known that people are not really fond of politicians, so Obama won our hearts for being an activist. But in order to win political games, it is important to know the game.

Happy 91st Birthday, Mr. Nelson Mandela!

Artists organized a festive birthday celebration for the Nobel Peace Prize winner in Madison Square Garden today. Mandela was too weak to travel to New York but connected with everyone via satellite. Among those performing was Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Josh Groban, many artists from abroad and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy whose brother died of AIDS in 2006. Happy Birthday, Mr. Mandela!

Foreign Student Exchange Program in Relation to Public Diplomacy

When pursuing my degree in International Relations at NYU, I had taken a course called Public Diplomacy taught by a wonderful professor, who was also one of the ambassadors at the United Nations. So during our coursework, we had covered Soft and Hard Tactics in Public Diplomacy and agreed to list the foreign student exchange program under essential soft tactics for a country to maintain a positive image.

What a disturbing story has been circulating in the media this week about 12 foreign exchange students! Those exchange students, who lived in the United States for a year and just returned to their homes abroad, were heavily malnourished, resided in appalling conditions, and on top of that some were placed to live with ex-convicts!

The students mentioned in the report were placed in the United States by a non-profit organization based in California. The foundation received over a million dollars from the State Department to coordinate the program. In addition, the exchange students have also made their own payments to the organization.

Their major disappointment with the poor experience in the United States, the country considered by many as the greatest in the world, will reverberate throughout their lives. Note to the State Department - this is an example of extremely poor public diplomacy.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jxERKSqMjpws3LyimDxcwLbWtE6wD99FQ05G1

Hopeless Russia?

Truly devastating news spread out across the world yesterday with the death of a Russian prominent human rights activist Natalia Estemirova. This kind of news certainly gives chills, especially when there is a noticeable string of successive killings of other Russian human rights activists.

In 2006, Anna Politkovskaya, a prominent activist and journalist was murdered in the elevator of her apartment building in Moscow. In January of this year, Stanislaw Markelov, another human rights activist and lawyer was assassinated after giving a press conference in Moscow. Now, Natalia Estemirova was killed in Chechnya.

The murder of Natalia Estemirova vociferously demands proper protection of Russian human rights activists who during their assignments in Russia or Chechnya put their own lives on the line in order to save others.

Will Russia be ever rescued from their own militias who at all cost want Russia to remain totalitarian?

Human Rights Watch
TEL: (1) 212 290-4700 (USA, New York)
E-mail: hrwnyc@hrw.org

Memorial (NGO where Natalia Estemirova was assigned)
TEL: (7) 495 650-7883 (Russia, Moscow)
E-mail: info@memo.ru

The Power of Words

Words can be as powerful and effective as any hard tactics. Look how President Obama's speech in Egypt affected Iranians and their election. The President instilled courage in their hearts. There was an impelling moment during his speech when he looked straight into the camera saying that the most power lies in people's actions. Let's hope they further unite in the fight against their oppressors who now only give bad name to Iranians. Or that hopefully their oppressors engage in a dialogue that can pave the way for future peace.

News that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been re-elected ignited angry clashes
on the street of Teheran as supporters of Mir Hossein Mousavi believe
he was cheated of victory.