Pentagon report
Pentagon presented a report about Guantánamo today. They believe that the detainee facility do indeed follow the Geneva convention. The report does not speek about if anyone has been subject to torture as according to the amiral that did the presentation this is not relevant since he is not speaking about the past but about the present conditions.
Human rights organizations all over the world has reacted towards this, obviously.
And we all hope that this will open a debate about how telling a report done by the military running the camp can be unbiased. Hopefully an unbiased assesment will be done one day, although I woud'nt put my money on it. It might though be something Obama should think about. How the military works in the state he is running and he might realise that it will be difficult to get them on his side in the closing of Guantánamo. Which we all still hope he will do. And yes, he has said it. But actions speek louder than words.
And therefore I will now stop typing and go and do something active instead. I have a Dublin-trip to pack for!
Human rights organizations all over the world has reacted towards this, obviously.
And we all hope that this will open a debate about how telling a report done by the military running the camp can be unbiased. Hopefully an unbiased assesment will be done one day, although I woud'nt put my money on it. It might though be something Obama should think about. How the military works in the state he is running and he might realise that it will be difficult to get them on his side in the closing of Guantánamo. Which we all still hope he will do. And yes, he has said it. But actions speek louder than words.
And therefore I will now stop typing and go and do something active instead. I have a Dublin-trip to pack for!
The Third World
It's somewhat frightening to read that the Millenium Development Goals will take another 150 years to reach if the current trend continues. I've been sitting reading about poverty, development and hunger for a presentation on the Third World. Just the term is fascinating and a brilliant example of how the Western World sets the standard and sees themselves as the role model for everyone else. The second world is gone though, those countries have now fallen into either the first or the third world. Development wise, mostly the third world.
"People are more likely to experience hunger if they are disable rather than able-bodied, black rather than white, a child rather than an adult, poor rather than wealthy, a rural dweller rather than a town dweller, and an inhabitant of a developing country rather than a developed country."
Seem like such obvious statements. Horrible and scary statements, but obvious. So then the question is, why is it so hard to do something about it? One theory about hunger in the world is called the orthodox, nature focused explanation. When I read about this I was at some places horrified with what they were saying. They believe that the problem of hunger is highly related to human overpopulation. And that it is only with a large disaster of some kind that this can be dealt with, like starvation for instance. Since this will result in large amounts of deaths and thus the population will be adjusted to the food resources available. When I read this I remembered something I studied in geography during my IGCSE's. The corelation between the populatin of lynx and hares, if I remember correctly. It was that as the population of lynx increases the amounts of hares will be reduced since more of them are needed to feed the lynx. As a result of the decreasing population of hares, lynx will find it hard to find food and thus some will starve and the population will decrease. As a result the hare population will increase again. And so it goes. Circle of life I guess. But it is frightening to think of this as the situation for human beings. Especially in a world where it has been proven that there are sufficient food supplies to feed the world population. The problem is not that of too little food. It's that of lack of distribution. And while the developing countries are being encouraged by the developed to open up their markets for free trade they themselves close their own markets and protects them through subsidies and other methods. It is very frustrating to live in a world where the developed world ALWAYS adapt double standards. ALWAYS.
It's just a matter of acting. Putting in a little bit of an effort. A bit of thinking. But are we willing to do that? No. Because we're lazy, and we care about us more than them.
It's an uneven world we live in. And it becomes worse when people won't even acknowledge that.
"People are more likely to experience hunger if they are disable rather than able-bodied, black rather than white, a child rather than an adult, poor rather than wealthy, a rural dweller rather than a town dweller, and an inhabitant of a developing country rather than a developed country."
Seem like such obvious statements. Horrible and scary statements, but obvious. So then the question is, why is it so hard to do something about it? One theory about hunger in the world is called the orthodox, nature focused explanation. When I read about this I was at some places horrified with what they were saying. They believe that the problem of hunger is highly related to human overpopulation. And that it is only with a large disaster of some kind that this can be dealt with, like starvation for instance. Since this will result in large amounts of deaths and thus the population will be adjusted to the food resources available. When I read this I remembered something I studied in geography during my IGCSE's. The corelation between the populatin of lynx and hares, if I remember correctly. It was that as the population of lynx increases the amounts of hares will be reduced since more of them are needed to feed the lynx. As a result of the decreasing population of hares, lynx will find it hard to find food and thus some will starve and the population will decrease. As a result the hare population will increase again. And so it goes. Circle of life I guess. But it is frightening to think of this as the situation for human beings. Especially in a world where it has been proven that there are sufficient food supplies to feed the world population. The problem is not that of too little food. It's that of lack of distribution. And while the developing countries are being encouraged by the developed to open up their markets for free trade they themselves close their own markets and protects them through subsidies and other methods. It is very frustrating to live in a world where the developed world ALWAYS adapt double standards. ALWAYS.
It's just a matter of acting. Putting in a little bit of an effort. A bit of thinking. But are we willing to do that? No. Because we're lazy, and we care about us more than them.
It's an uneven world we live in. And it becomes worse when people won't even acknowledge that.
Pirate Bay day #4: Two different generations
Today we had the 4th day of the Pirate Bay-trial taking place in Stockholm. I must say that I am glad I'm Swedish since it means I can listen to the live streaming of the trial and understand what is going on. Huge advantage! It it much more fun to listen now since the four prosecuted are now being questioned. And that will continue tomorrow aswell since they did not have time today to finish with everyone. The lawyer representing the movie industry (Monique Wadsted) and the one representing the music industry (Peter Danowsky) together with Håkan Roswall are questioning the four men from the prosecuters side and it is difficult to not be struck by the difference in language between the two generations. They are talking about different things, and things that to these computer nerds are obvious doesn't seem to be understood by the older prosecuters. The fact that The Pirate Bay does not have one boss doesn't seem to be understood by them. It is difficult for them to grasp the idea that a large website that is making money does not need someone that is in charge. Håkan Roswall asked several times: "But who is in charge? Someone HAS to be in charge!" The response was "Why?" Which clearly shows the difference in thinking between these two generations. Furthermore they seem unable to understand that they all stick to what they know best. And that they do it because they find it interesting and fun. Fredrik Neij said at one point that he doesn't care about the ideological or legal aspects of filesharing, he just like the technical stuff. And it made me smile when one of the guys said (unfortunately can't remember who) said that they have a few extra computers in their locker that is "just for playing". True computer nerds who doesn't "do that well in furnished rooms" to use Gottfrid Svartholm Warg's words.
As said before, it will be interesting to follow the trial, especially now that it is getting more 'fun' to listen to :)
As said before, it will be interesting to follow the trial, especially now that it is getting more 'fun' to listen to :)
Guantánamo, a new viewpoint, at least for me.
Everyone that knows me, knows of my standpoint in the question of Guantánamo. Today I recieved a link from my brother to an interview with Spc. Brandon Neely, former US Military Police. He was stationed at Guantánamo during its first 6 months in 2002. He gives a clear, horrble picture of life at the detainee camp. Not only the horrible situation of the detainees, but also the horrible situation of the people working there. i believe Guantánamo is a clear example of the Luficer Effect (good people do evil things in evil environments) and the Stanford Obedience Experiment (good people do evil things when authority figures tell them to). Many of the men working there are far from evil. They were manipulated into believing certain things, and in some respects they are just as much victims as the detainees. Not all of them. Because as Spc. Neely describes there were soldiers that would intentionally put on hand cuffs harder than instructed. There were doctors that would laugh their 'paitents' right into their faces while they conduct some painful treatment. How can a DOCTOR do that? I think that was what caught my mind the most while reading the interview. I've always seen doctors as helpers. They are doctors to save lifes and to make life easier and less painful. To get rid of pain, not inflict it. I admit, I am very quick in judging sometimes. I have never thought of the men stationed in Guantánamo as victims before. But we all are, the world as it looks today. We are all victims. Victims to the former US government and their manipulation into making people believe that everyone is a potential terrorist. They have had help, definitely. But I would still like to see George Bush and Dick Cheney held responsible for their actions. So many have suffered due to their choices, their decisions. The world has far from become a better place sine they started their 'crusades' around the world.
I encourage you to read the interview. It is insightful and necessary. We need all sides of the story,.
I encourage you to read the interview. It is insightful and necessary. We need all sides of the story,.
Day 2: Pirate Bay
A day spent listening to Swedish televisions live stream of the Pirate Bay trial. It's very interesting to listen to. Håkan Roswall, the prosecuter, is putting on quite a show as the specialist within IT-questions since he cannot even start a PowerPoint presentation. After years of preparation.
At this point it is difficult to see that he even has a case.
Live-info from Pirat Partiet together with The Pirate Bay.
At this point it is difficult to see that he even has a case.
Live-info from Pirat Partiet together with The Pirate Bay.
Venezuela and Pirates
Hugo Chávez managed to get through the proposal that there should be no limits to the length or number of terms that a president can sit in Venezuela. Which is frightening because it is a further step toward dictatorship in the country that is closely linked to Ecuador.
And in Sweden today the trial against Pirate Bay started, and apparently the media coverage is spread over the world. You can read about it in all Swedish papers of course (Svenska Dagbladet, Dagens Nyheter, etc) but also in The Times, The Guardian and the International Herald Tribune to mention a few places. It will be interesting how the debate develops and I find it fascinating that some people still refer to the supporters of Pirate Bay as a "small group of people with loud voices." I wonder if they know that that small group of people includes a large majority of young people in Sweden. I've always had a very strong opinion on the subject. If it is okay to record a movie onto a VCR (like we all did before DVD's) or music on a cassette (again, like we all did) then why is it not okay to download something? I can't say that I see the difference. And I have paid for it. Through the TV license.
I will be following the trial closely.
And in Sweden today the trial against Pirate Bay started, and apparently the media coverage is spread over the world. You can read about it in all Swedish papers of course (Svenska Dagbladet, Dagens Nyheter, etc) but also in The Times, The Guardian and the International Herald Tribune to mention a few places. It will be interesting how the debate develops and I find it fascinating that some people still refer to the supporters of Pirate Bay as a "small group of people with loud voices." I wonder if they know that that small group of people includes a large majority of young people in Sweden. I've always had a very strong opinion on the subject. If it is okay to record a movie onto a VCR (like we all did before DVD's) or music on a cassette (again, like we all did) then why is it not okay to download something? I can't say that I see the difference. And I have paid for it. Through the TV license.
I will be following the trial closely.
Alison Des Forges
Alison Des Forges died on the 12th of February. She was the world expert on Rwanda and the genocide of 1994. She had a degree in history and was a human rights activist. She worked for Human Rights Watch for several decades, leading the Africa group since 1990. She is known for her report on the Rwandan Genocide: Leave none to tell the story.
A true role model and proof the one person can make a huge difference.
Thoughts goes to her family and friends. Now it's our time to take over her work.
Child of the Dark: The Diary of Carolina Maria de Jesus
Was reading an article from a Swedish online news paper (Svenska Dagbladet) about the slum areas around the world. Or rather, a long book review of books about the slum areas around the world. This book caught my mind. By a woman that lived in São Paolo. Currently it is in my Amazon Basket, £4.99 for a new paper back copy. I will let you know how it is.
Something new
Finally! Been thinking about this for some time now, and here it is! The world as I see it. A new, seperate blog from my personal one, where I tend to dump everything going on in my life. In Swedish. This will be something different. I hope. Since I'm keeping my old one as well it might actually work. On my other blog I have a category called "Change, improve the world." The plan is to move those entries to this blog. In other words, I will write about what I see going on in the world. Locally, nationally and probably most frequently internationally. I am an International Relations student after all. And with nationally I will focus on Sweden, all though I currently live in the UK.
So whenever I read or hear something that makes me upset, happy or just catches my mind I will write about it here. If it has something to do with what is going on in the world. Be it beauty or destruction. As a university student of international relations my interesets and topics/questions I will write about here will most probably be linked to human rights (or lack of), development, security and political questions.
So, here we go! Hopefully it will work out and I will be frequent in my postings and find something to write about.. And keep my personal life out of it...
So whenever I read or hear something that makes me upset, happy or just catches my mind I will write about it here. If it has something to do with what is going on in the world. Be it beauty or destruction. As a university student of international relations my interesets and topics/questions I will write about here will most probably be linked to human rights (or lack of), development, security and political questions.
So, here we go! Hopefully it will work out and I will be frequent in my postings and find something to write about.. And keep my personal life out of it...
