Loomis Chaffee World Bulletin Spring 2011

Spring 2011

The Loomis Chaffee World Bulletin

The Arab Spring

Haitian Elections

U.S.-­‐India Cultural Exchange

The Death of Osama bin Laden

Bringing the World to the Island

R E V O L U T I O N

2 3 1

From the Desk of the Editor-­‐in-­‐Chief

To Our Readers: Pax Arabia

2

As 2010 drew to a close, the world witnessed the peoples of Tunisia and Egypt, excited and empowered by the free forum of social media, take to the streets in nonviolent civil disobedience.

While reminiscent of the Indian independence movement led by Mohandas Gandhi and the American civil rights movement of Martin Luther King Jr., neither the Tunisian nor Egyptian revolutions possessed an identifiable leadership. In fact, the absence of top-down direction has come to define the legitimate, inspired uprisings in Bahrain, Syria, and Yemen, as well as in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Jordan, Iraq, Algeria, Morocco, Oman, and Djibouti’s recent protests.

Moreover, American and European viewers have noticed a steep decline in anti-Western sentiment reported from the region. Not a single image of American flag burning has been published.

Instead, the demonstrators, diverse in religious and social background, marched together, unified by the fundamental human right of selfdetermination, often calling on President Obama’s administration for recognition and support.

Far from over, Tunisia and Egypt’s revolutions continue, vibrant and healthy given the

high volume of political and social discourse unleashed by the resignations of former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, as well as the true yearning of the citizens of Tunisia and Egypt for honest political systems and accountable governments. This explicit embrace of selfdetermination by the Arab people beautifully illustrates the universal human need for a government of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Nonetheless, the Obama administration has deeply struggled in recent months with reassessing and updating decades-old policy towards the region. [As this issue goes to press, we eagerly await the president’s May 19 speech on Middle East policy.]

That said, as the Libyan revolution approached crisis point with Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s troops entering the rebel capital, the eastern city of Benghazi, the international community moved with impressive speed: the UN Security Council passed resolution 1973, authorizing “all necessary measures to protect [Libyan] civilians” terrorized by Gaddafi’s ominous threats to “cleanse Libya house by house.”

However, by dedicating the United States to regime change in Libya, President Obama has set forth dangerous precedents.

Importantly, the President did not receive congressional authorization for the U.S. military action. His disregard for this essential prerequisite of war, a cornerstone of the Constitution’s vital capacity to limit the Executive Office, has

ignited debate and fundamentally undermined the legitimacy of U.S. efforts in Libya.

Moreover, an easy comparison now exists between George W. Bush’s botched Iraq War and Obama’s—noble by design, ignoble in execution—Libyan effort.

Furthermore, serious developments have taken place in Syria over the last couple of months. Elite Syrian military units, loyal to the repressive regime of President Bashar alAssad, have dispersed across the country in a brutal attempt to quash all forms of civil unrest and maintain the status quo of oneparty rule in Syria. With limited means of interference, the international community can only watch from afar, as foreign journalists are not allowed inside Syria. The final outcome for Syria’s protests will likely prove more consequential than the revolution in Egypt. Syria, which has ruled neighboring Lebanon for decades, has a strong relationship with Persian Iran and is a enormous patron of all aspects of Hezbollah: militant, political, and social. Syria’s direction in the coming months will have serious implications for neighboring Middle East states, such as Israel and Bahrain, as well as for distant allies, including Venezuela and Libya.

One can only hope that from this tumultuous and uncertain period will dawn a new day of honest and warm Arab-U.S. relations. Pax Americana may well be making room for Pax Arabia.

Sincerely, Thomas T. Barry ’11 Editor-in-Chief

1 2

2 | To Our Readers: Pax Arabia -Thomas Barry ’11

Europe

Middle East 21 | A Letter to the Crown Prince of Bahrain -Elham Yusuf Ali ’11

4 | The Cult of Putin -Ekaterina Kryuchkova ’13

23 | Interview with James A. Warren, U.S. State Department -Joanna Warren ’11

5 | Radical Bailouts and Unprecedented Elections Rock Ireland -Caroline Dodson ’14

26 | The Juggernaut of Black Gold: An Introduction to OPEC -Samson Chow ’12

5 | Abuse and Misuse: Corruption in Silvio Berlusconi’s Italy -Benjamin Hiskes ’12

The Americas

Africa 7 | A Process, Not an Event: Egypt’s Long Road to Democracy -Viet Phuong Dao ’11 9 | Libya: Q & A -Alexandra Crerend ’11 and Viet Phuong Dao ’11 11 | Ivory Coast: Legitimacy at Last?

-Andrew Sanders ’11 12 | Humanitarian Crisis: Uganda’s Gay Community -Abigail Adams ’12

Asia 14 | The Road to Recovery for a Devastated Japan -Nako Kobayashi ’13 15 | G’day Mate: A Down Under Ambassador for Democracy -Cecelia Coffey ’11

28 | Brazil: More Than Just a Pretty Face -Alexandra Crerend ’11 29 | December 2012: The End of Hugo Chavez?

-Liana Fernez ’12 30 | Haitian Elections -Nathan Harris ’13 31 | Quashing Ignorance: Islam in America -Arianna Calabrese ’13 33 | Battleground Wisconsin: Unions or Education?

-Sterling Luke Stone ’12 34 | Farewell: Remembering Elizabeth Taylor -Laura Iglehart ’11

— 35 | The Death of Osama bin Laden -Viet Phuong Dao ’11 — Back Cover | Also in the News

16 | The Import of Chinese Students to America -Monica He ’12 17 | Rising Anxiety on the Korean Peninsula -Naphisa Senanarong ’13 18 | A Cultural Lesson from Rishika -Audrey Sze ’11 19 | Dispute Over the Preah Vihear Temple -Run Banlengchit ’11

Spring 2011/Volume 2, Number 2 EDITORIAL STAFF: Thomas Barry ’11 Alexandra Crerend ’11 Samson Chow ’12 Liana Fernez ’12

Annabel Hess ’12 Laura Iglehart ’11 Patrick Kennedy-Nolle ’12

ADVISER: Rachel M. Engelke

3

1 2

Europe The Cult of Putin

4

Vladimir Putin has been a prominent figure in Russian politics since the beginning of the century. He was twice elected president, and has occupied the post of prime minister since 2008. And still, his compatriots, as well as some foreigners, continue to KATH recognize him as the KRYUCHKOVA, from actual, current leader of Moscow, Russia, Russia, not President enjoys horseback Dmitry Medvedev. That riding and playing said, journalists have guitar. She is a begun expressing resident of Carter Dormitory, and this suspicions about a Putin is her first article in personality cult. Is it a real the World Bulletin. problem? A myth? A misconception?

When one tries to link the words “Russia” and “personality cult,” Stalin, the red terror, and merciless repressions come to mind. Nevertheless, jumping to conclusions and stereotypes does not truly explain Russia’s current political situation, which significantly differs from bygone events of its communist past.

The halo of “national leader” still surrounds Vladimir Putin, but the people’s trust in his course has certainly decreased in the last few years. When he first took office in 2000, the idea of reconstructing Russia’s former greatness on the world stage, following the instability of the 1990s, proved wildly popular with the Russian people. Putin, practical and young, contrasted with the decrepit and listless former Soviet bureaucrats. Ultimately, he was elected because of the nation’s hunger for change and blind belief in real reform.

But time unveiled, as it has for many politicians, that Vladimir Putin is a politician of broken promises and a huge ego. Nowadays, most of Putin’s followers are either the members of the older generations or officials who directly benefit from his manipulations;

by Ekaterina Kryuchkova ’13 both are accustomed to the benefits of a oneparty-system. Some people believe that the power should be concentrated in strong arms in order to keep the country united, but every year a smaller and smaller percentage of the population sees Putin as the person who should hold that power.

So when popular opinion and trust of Putin began to fade, the Kremlin began manipulating the media to improve his image. Ironically enough, these old school tactics mostly influenced marginal sections of the population, including most foreigners. Governmental organizations continue to find the maintenance of Putin’s hero-image profitable, but they do not succeed in fooling the majority of Russians.

Their failed attempts at brainwashing have resulted in satirical responses in modern art and blogs. The “personality cult” is a myth corroborated by a foolish advertising campaign, its absurdity provoking shock abroad and perplexity in Russia. Even though a 2010 poll showed that 27% of those interviewed confirmed the existence of the notorious personality cult, another poll indicated that 43% do not trust the current government, and 28% fear lawlessness and abuse of power.

The maturing conflict between the pretty image created by the official media and the real state of affairs in the country will least likely result in the development of the cult. The propagandists underestimate the target audience. Putin’s confidence relies not on the nation’s support, but on the weakness of the opposition and on his corrupt government. The “personality cult” is not something to be exposed after his death, post factum, but something to be stopped now. Putin’s cult will collapse when he takes the next political step and realizes his ladder has run out.

1 2

Radical Bailouts and Unprecedented Elections Rock Ireland

by Caroline Dodson ’14 For the past three years the Republic of Ireland has been besieged by banking scandals, bailouts, and rising unemployment rates. The banks caught the eyes of the Irish government as they began granting loans of approximately $9 billion Enda dollars. When the 2008 recession Kenny crushed the world economy, the plans of Irish banks backfired and the Irish property bubble popped. Stock prices of Anglo-Irish banks plummeted. While panic spread across Ireland, the government informed the Irish public that the banking system would be fixed in no time.

Ireland’s national debt, Brian Cowen estimated at $144.1 billion, soon became a pressing issue for the European Union in late 2010. As a member of the EU, Ireland, by its accumulation of massive debts and devaluation of government bonds, put the stability of the euro, the common currency of the European Union, in grave danger. In December 2010, the EU granted Ireland a $122.41 billion bailout.

The bailout’s interest rate, set at 5.8% per year, as well as the strict conditions the EU imposed on Ireland, including large cutbacks in funding towards social programs and pay for CAROLINE DODSON, of Weston, Massachusetts, plays field hockey and lacrosse and lives in Carter Dormitory. This is her first article for the World Bulletin.

government works, as well as impressive tax hikes, all have proven extremely unpopular with the Irish people. And while Ireland’s export rates rose over 9% in 2010, reflecting a slight rebound of the Celtic Tiger, emigration from the island nation has skyrocketed, as the economy continues to widely stagnate during recovery.

The political structure of Ireland has changed since the recession began.

Prime Minister Brian Cowen’s coalition government collapsed on January 23, following the withdrawal of the Green Party. Following that, legislation necessary to the EU bailout was rushed through passage of the Irish Parliament.

Following the bill’s passage into law, which finalized the deal between the by-then minority Irish government and the European Union, the Irish Parliament was dissolved and elections were held on February 25.

Enda Kenny and his centerright Fine Gael party trounced Cowen’s Fianna Fáil party in the largest defeat of a sitting government in the history of the Irish state.

Kenny’s campaign focused mainly on the injustice of the EU bailout conditions and on the absolute necessity for lower interest rates in paying back the EU bailout. Finally, Fianna Fáil had held power in the Irish Republic for 61 of the past 79 years, making their February 2011 defeat all the more remarkable.

Abuse and Misuse: Corruption in Silvio Berlusconi’s Italy

by Benjamin Hiskes ’12 When one runs for a political office, he puts himself at the center of the public eye with the expectation to proceed with utmost propriety.

The international community judges a nation based on the conduct of its leadership. A head

of state should not only reflect the opinions of the public, but should also set an example for the citizenry. These standards highlight the truly wretched nature of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s promiscuous and corrupt

5

4 3

6

conduct. Recently, Berlusconi was indicted for underage prostitution and abuse of power, charges that could earn him a possible total sentence of 15 years in prison, on top of BENJAMIN HISKES, a day a permanent ban student from Storrs, Connecticut, is a member from politics. In of both the cross country Italy, prostitution and track teams. He holds legal status wrote an article for the and the legal age of Winter 2011 Bulletin consent is 18. entitled “Sexual W arfare in the Heart of Africa.”

However, the 74 year-old Berlusconi has been accused of paying a 17 year-old Moroccan girl named Karima el-Mahroug, better known as “Ruby the Heart Stealer,” for sex. Berlusconi also faces charges for misusing his political power to intervene on Ruby’s behalf when the girl was jailed for theft.

Today, Berlusconi ridiculously claims that at the time he believed the Moroccan teenager to be the granddaughter of then Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, denying both the charges of corruption and under age prostitution.

This incident, however, is not Berlusconi’s first entanglement with prostitution or corruption. The Italian Prime Minister has a reputation for hosting many raucous parties with many women in nurse and police “costumes” and also stands accused of using the services of 33 prostitutes from the beginning of 2009 through 2010. Veronica Lario, Berlusconi’s wife of 19 years, threw this scandal wide-open following public moves for a divorce in April 2009. Now legally separated, the couple continues to move through the divorce process.

Additionally, Berlusconi appeared in a Milan courtroom on March 28th for preliminary court hearings to decide whether he should face charges regarding money laundering and tax evasion, of which Berlusconi’s media company Mediaset, the largest commercial broadcaster in Italy, stands accused. Berlusconi has faced similar charges in the past, having been

indicted for tax fraud in 1999, but each time has managed to avoid punishment. However, this time is different, as Italy’s highest constitutional court trashed the law granting the Prime Minister immunity from prosecution while in office, thus paving the way for the current cases now facing him.

Yet despite his sullied record and latest blunders, Berlusconi’s personal approval ratings, while having declined in recent months to 35% in January, still stand steadily in his own party, the conservative People of Freedom Party, at about 30%, and, for that matter, are noticeably higher than the main opposition, the center-left Democratic Party’s 25%. Explanation for this lack of umbrage perhaps lies in the fact that Berlusconi owns much of Italy’s media.

The channels and newspapers within his empire have either down played the scandal or ignored it completely. But a much darker explanation for the public’s lack of indignation lies in the sexual standards and classic machismo of Italy.

The fact that prostitution remains legal in Italy speaks for itself.

Nevertheless, thousands of Italian women have taken to the streets in recent months to protest Berlusconi’s transgressions.

Many in Italy and throughout the international community hope and speculate that the “Rubygate Trial” and the Prime Minister’s other court proceedings will bring further outrage and attention to the corrupt leadership Berlusconi has held over Italy throughout his terms in office. The Berlusconi government has done nothing to mend the deep structural issues plaguing the Italian economy. What’s more, the contempt held by Berlusconi for the laws and principles he is sworn to protect undermines the legal, political, and cultural fabric of Italian society. So while the people have elected Silvio Berlusconi as Prime Minister three times, his reign now appears to be ending. Truly disgraced by the Berlusconi government, Italy will hopefully see rightful justice.

1 2

AFRICA A Process, Not an Event: Egypt’s Long Road to Democracy

by Viet Phuong Dao ’11

On February 11, 2011, the thirty-year-old regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak fell with his resignation. The people of Egypt rejoiced, as they, VP DAO, from Ho Chi Minh and most of the City, Vietnam, is an RA in world, marked Warham Dormitory. A two-­‐ that day as year m ember of the Foreign another milestone Policy Association and Model for the history of United Nations, VP also serves on the Student democracy.

A Council. He is the recipient of three-decade-old both the Junior and Senior dictatorship Departmental P rizes in crumbled after History and Social Science, three weeks of and has contributed to the World Bulletin since its protests and inaugural issue. sporadic clashes.

A political order entrenched since 1981 collapsed under the unyielding will of the Egyptian people. The success of the revolution in Egypt sent a tremor across the region and around the world, igniting fervour for democratic change from Bahrain to Libya, Algeria to Syria. The history of Egypt, and indeed of the Arab world, turns a page.

The work for democracy, however, still lies ahead. As former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said in an event held by the National Democratic Institute in June 2010, “democracy is not an event, but a process.” Deposing the dictator marks the completion of just the first stage in this long journey. The Egyptians now have to build a civil society that has existed only in the bare minimum for the last thirty years. They have to establish a system of government that ensures their newly won liberties.

They have to find an appropriate, preferably non-political, role for the military, the dominant

player in Egyptian politics since its independence, in this new republic. And they have to determine the role of religion in this new Egypt.

All of these tasks present the Egyptian people with more perils than the protests against Mubarak. The only thing that has united Egyptians in the last four months is their opposition to the detested former president. Aside from that, the country splinters into dozens of different groups, each with its own vision of Egypt’s future.

The largest and best-organized political faction at the moment is the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist organisation. The Brotherhood, accused of terrorism and banned by the Mubarak regime, spends its resources on charity and community welfare—providing unemployment assistance, building schools and health centres—filling the void left by the inadequacies of the government.

The organization, as a result, enjoys wide grass-root support across the country. Any plan for Egypt that precludes the participation of the Muslim Brotherhood is unviable.

The secular opposition, the alternative to the Islamist Brotherhood, however, appears weak, disorganised, and unappealing. Leftist and liberal parties lack real support outside the major urban centres of Alexandria and Cairo.

They have yet to build political credibility, to gain the trust of the Egyptian people. The lay of the political landscape, therefore, favours the Muslim Brotherhood.

Despite its stature, however, throughout the events of the last four months, the Brotherhood has kept a low-key posture, preferring the revolution to be portrayed as reformist instead of Islamist, fearing a

7

4 3

8

backlash from the West, and from certain parts of Egyptian society. It has refrained from adopting an Islamist tone, and has even declared that it would not seek a parliamentary majority. In fact, it will not even contest in the election, creating the administratively independent “Freedom and Justice Party” to run in its stead. The fear that the Brotherhood will fight to establish an Islamic republic (similar to Iran) is therefore unfounded, at least in the short term.

Despite the self-imposed moderation of the Islamists, the debate on the role of religion in the new Egypt will most likely still occur. Will the country have an official religion? Will sharia play a part in the judicial system? Will religious minorities have adequate representation and protection (especially in light of recent violence against Coptic Christians)? All of these questions about the character of the new republic need answers, the answers to which may become quite heated and maybe even violent.

The second, and slightly more pressing, issue for the people of Egypt to deal with lies with the role of the military. The Army has played a dominant part in Egyptian politics since the founding of the republic. Its actions,

or perhaps inaction, have contributed to the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. However, a hallmark of a true democracy is the subordination of the military to civilian authorities. The generals of Egypt must come to accept a less dominant role in Egyptian life. They must also learn to accept that some governments eventually elected by the people will not share their viewpoint. They must learn to respect election results, and serve any democratic government elected, even an Islamist government. The intentions of the Army at this point remain as obscure as the intentions of the Muslim Brotherhood. And if its generals do intend to retain a dominant role in politics, Egypt might see itself going down a very bumpy and winding road.

In the months and years to come, the land of the pharaohs will face multiple tests of both its resolve and its commitment to democracy as the whole world watches. Given its weight in the Arab world, Egypt’s success in establishing a truly democratic republic will present massive implications for the region. So will its failure.

With the military already cracking down on protests, leaving dozens killed and wounded, Egyptians, and people around the world, have reason to worry. Egypt cannot stop at one event. It needs to complete the entire process.

2 1

Libya: Q & A

By Viet Phuong Dao ’11 and Alexandra Crerend ’11

Q – What is the source of this conflict? Who is involved?

VPD – In a nutshell? Inspired by the revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia, the Libyan people rose up in protest of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who has been in power since 1969 after a coup d’etat. Peaceful demonstrations turned into violent clashes, after Gaddafi’s security forces cracked down on the protesters. The situation deteriorated, and now Libya is embroiled in a civil war between the Benghazibased rebels (who call themselves the National Transitional Council of the Libyan Republic) in the east and the Tripoli-based pro-Gaddafi forces in the west.

ACC – Despite countless eyewitness accounts from Libyans and journalists alike describing the brutality of Gaddafi’s troops, in his interview with Christiane Amanpour, Gaddafi insisted, “They love me. All my people with me, they love me...They will die to protect me, my people.” Furthermore, the UN Security Council acted exceptionally quickly in drawing up and passing a resolution regarding the situation in Libya. The resolution, UNSCR 1973, calls for a number of actions, including: an immediate ceasefire; institution of a no-fly zone; an asset freeze; enforcement arms embargo; and international flight restrictions for flights both departing from and destined for Libya. Moreover, the resolution authorizes the contributing nations “to take all necessary measures...to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, including Benghazi, while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of Libyan territory.” As of April 10, 17 countries were involved in enforcing UNSCR 1973: Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Canada, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, U.A.E., the U.K. and the U.S. Q – Who is in charge of the mission?

VPD – The mission started out as a coalition

led first by France and then the U.S. under UN supervision. From the beginning, however, the U.S. has tried to hand over its leadership to NATO as soon as possible. After lengthy debates about the scope of the mission (i.e., whether strikes on Gaddafi ground troops are permissible), as of 27 March, NATO was in charge of the UN-mandated mission in Libya.

Q – What is the role of the French?

VPD – The French have taken a very eager role. France was the first nation to recognize the rebel National Transitional Council as the legitimate government of Libya. Its planes were the first to strike Gaddafi forces under the mandate of UN Security Council Resolution 1973. At the moment, France has the second highest number of airplanes committed to the mission in Libya.

ACC – Some believe that France is committing itself to this mission because it has major interests in Libya. France imports about 15% of its oil from Libya and would likely be forced to dip into its oil reserves if the conflict prevents Libya’s oil industry from proceeding with routinely scheduled exports.

The argument that oil drives any intervention in the Middle East and northern Africa is shortsighted given the fact that many countries intervened in these regions prior to the discovery oil in Syria in 1908. Rather, I would argue that religion has – historically – sparked more conflicts than the above-mentioned natural resource.

Q – Should the U.S. intervene?

ACC – We already have, but the U.S. is not alone and did not spearhead the intervention.

Rather than reverting to our old tendency to play the role of international interloper, the U.S. waited patiently (in comparison to past conflicts) for the Arab League to request foreign intervention before moving into Libya to help enforce a UN-mandated no-fly zone.

However, some argue that the U.S. should

9

4 3

10

not intervene, that it should not spend millions of dollars and jeopardize the lives of American soldiers because of the lack of a clear resolution to this conflict. Some might even pose the question: is there a solution? One could argue that the obvious solution is to oust Gaddafi and reform Libya’s political structure. However, past experience in the Middle East tells us that this is easier said than done. In fact, the U.S. is still dealing with the fallout of such an approach to foreign intervention in Iraq.

VPD – Had the coalition not intervened, a blood bath would have taken place in Benghazi as Gaddafi forces try to take over the rebel capital. The UN-mandated intervention was necessary to prevent a repeat of Rwanda or Darfur on a smaller scale. The question at this point, then, is not whether the U.S. should intervene, but rather what should the extent of this intervention be. By limiting its involvement to air strikes and missile strikes, the U.S. tries to steer clear of an Iraq-like fiasco. However, the effectiveness of the no-fly zone and airborne attacks on Gaddafi forces, in terms of bringing an end to the Colonel’s regime, is questionable. And if the UN-mandated mission cannot effect a regime change, then what is the goal of the mission? How will we measure its success or failure? When will it end?

Q – What is the Arab response to the situation in Libya?

ACC – The Arab response is difficult to summarize. In Resolution 1973, the UN “Recognizes the important role of the League of Arab States in matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security in the region, and…requests the Member States of the League of Arab States to cooperate with other Member States.”

Although the Arab League asked the UN to institute a no-fly zone (among other things) and accepted that some violence would ensue, the Arab League is beginning to revoke its support of UN intervention because it believes that the collateral damage (i.e. rebel forces and civilians being accidentally attacked) is avoidable and a result of the U.S. and France’s reckless strategies. The head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, has condemned the allied bombing outside of Benghazi, saying the action “differs

from the aim of imposing a no-fly zone,” and what he wants is “the protection of civilians and not the shelling of more civilians.”

VPD – We should note also that of the two nations that have formally recognized the rebel National Transitional Council, one, Qatar, is an Arab state. The Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council have also announced that they recognize the rebel council as the true representative of the Libyan people. As of 31 March, Qatar and the UAE were participants in the NATO-led mission in Libya.

Q – How are Libyans reacting?

ACC – By April 5, NATO had eliminated 30% of Gaddafi’ s forces. Nevertheless, more than 400,000 people fled Libya in March and April, headed to Tunisia, Egypt, Niger, Algeria, Chad and Sudan.

VPD – The intervention by the international coalition has been welcomed by the rebels.

When a USAF F-15E Eagle came down outside of the rebel capital of Benghazi, its crews were rescued by the rebels. One man, Younis Amruni, told the Telegraph: “I hugged [the pilot] and said ‘don’t be scared, we are your friends.’” Given the several mistaken strikes on rebel forces by the coalition so far, however, discontent towards the NATO-led mission might emerge in Benghazi.

Q – Effects and implications?

VPD – The decision of the UN to intervene marked a monumental shift from the reluctance that allowed the atrocities in Rwanda and Sudan to take place. After the authorisation of the mission in Libya, the UN Security Council, in UNSCR 1975 regarding the situation in Côte d’Ivoire, “stresses its full support given to the UNOCI (United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire), while impartially implementing its mandate, to use all necessary means to carry out its mandate to protect civilians under imminent threat of physical violence.” As fighting in the main city in Côte d’Ivoire intensified, UN peacekeeping forces and French troops accordingly fired on the forces of the incumbent (but internationally unrecognised) President Laurent Gbagbo, and eventually arrested him. The coalition mission in Libya has been cited by the UN as the precedent for its actions in Côte d’Ivoire.

2 1

Ivory Coast: Legitimacy at Last?

Ever since its independence from France in 1960, the Ivory Coast has struggled politically.

The first president of DRU SANDERS, from the sovereign nation, Scotland, Connecticut, is Félix Houphouëta recipient of the Morris Boigny, was named H. Brown Senior Theater by the French to & Dance Prize, he’s co-­‐ govern the fledgling editor of The Loom, the republic. He quickly school’s literary magazine, and is a eliminated all other resident in Batchelder political parties and Dormitory. He makes his forced elections that World Bulletin writing resulted in his debut this spring. victory. In 1993, he grew sick and died, naming Henri Konan Bédié his successor. In 1995, Bédié was challenged by Alassane Ouattara. To marginalize support for Ouattara, however, Bédié focused his campaign on the concept of true “Ivorianism,” as Ouattara was from northern Ivory Coast, a predominantly Muslim region. Labeling Muslims as “the other,” Bédié highlighted the strained relationship between Christians and Muslims in the country. Bédié won the 1995 election, but four years later was overthrown by popular General Robert Guéï’s military coup on Christmas Eve 1999. Perhaps seeking legitimate electoral support for his military reign, Guéï ran for president in October 2000 against Laurent Gbagbo and (almost) Alassane Ouattara. Again challenged by “Ivorianism,” Ouattara could not run because he was allegedly not born in the Ivory Coast. Gbagbo won the election, but Guéï refused to recognize the loss. A Laurent civil uprising ensued, Guéï fled Gbagbo the country, and Gbagbo took the presidency. Was there democracy at last?

In 2002, Guéï attempted to overthrow Gbagbo in an armed coup. This uprising was shut

by Andrew Sanders ’11

down rather quickly, as Gbagbo responded with military force: burning down thousands of houses in poor neighborhoods, attacking civilians, and ultimately calling for the assassination of Robert Guéï. Nevertheless, a civil war erupted across the West African nation. After five long years of civil conflict and failed foreign intervention led by the French, Laurent Gbagbo and Guillaume Soro, leader of the New Forces rebel group, signed a peace treaty in March of 2007.

In the 2010 presidential election, Laurent Gbagbo, who draws his base from the Christian majority south, ran against opposition leader Alassane Ouattara (he’s back!) of the Muslim majority north. The United Nations, which, since 2007, has been working in Ivory Coast at disarming civil war combatants and providing security for civilians, monitored the elections and certified that Ouattara won. Nevertheless, following the highly contested November 28th second round vote, Gbagbo refused to cede power. As a result, conflict between Ouattara’s and Gbagbo’s supporters erupted across Ivory Coast with an intense focus on the commercial capital Abidjan, headquarters for both the rival leaders. And following the taking of the city by pro-Ouattara forces, Gbagbo was arrested on April 11th by Ouattara’s troops, in coordination with United Nations and French forces.

There are many different ways to examine this messy conflict: a religious divide that splits the country between Muslims and Christians or the hand of France meddling in the affairs of her former colony.

This is a country of people who truly want a democracy, who truly want to be heard; yet their government gives them nothing but thinly veiled totalitarianism.

As a resident of Abidjan, stated,

11

4 3 1 2

“We need food, but the streets are full of bodies.” Both sides openly committed atrocities. The UN has been working to Alassane investigate alleged crimes against Ouattara humanity, but came up against countless roadblocks while the violence persisted. As heard in the words of a pro-Ouattara mercenary, “I killed people. I burned villages.” The UN and, in turn the United States, have strongly backed Ouattara.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that United States support will “send a strong signal to dictators and tyrants throughout the region… [that] they may not disregard the voice of their own people in free and fair elections, and there will be consequences for those who cling to power.”

But have the actions toward the Ivory Coast by the international community over the past five months truly sent that message? Defending one murderous warlord-politician in his battle to topple another equally violent leader does not send that message at all.

It is, in fact, positive messages that do the most good for fledgling democracies.

George Washington set the most important precedent of all, by handing over his position quickly and without hesitation. Because of this, American presidents come and go without warfare or second thoughts. In the Ivory Coast, the precedent set by HouphouëtBoigny is very different. The leader holds onto power until death. The environment of political violence in the Ivory Coast has led the Ivorian people down a dangerous path.

Former president Laurent Gbagbo has been arrested and Ouattara will be inaugurated on May 21, with Hillary Clinton and French President Nicolas Sarkozy among those expected to be in attendance. Let us hope, for the sake of the Ivorian people, that Ouattara will set aside his militia influence and, instead, govern in an era of justice and reconciliation for the Ivory Coast.

Humanitarian Crisis: Uganda’s Gay Community

by Abigail Adams ’12

12

In March of 2009, a group of American evangelicals traveled to Uganda with an agenda: to indoctrinate the largely Evangelical Christian African nation into a conflict against absolutely equal rights for ABIGAIL ADAMS, from homosexuals.

Feeding Hills, Presented as experts Massachusetts, is by their Ugandan president of the Phage hosts, the visitors held Club. Abby is also a seminars on “the gay member of the Arab World Affiliation, the agenda”: discussing Foreign Policy how gays sodomized Association, and she is young boys and the recipient of Junior presented an Departmental P rizes in immediate threat to both Theater and History. Abby wrote an traditional families. article about Soon after, the AntiAfghanistan for the Homosexuality Bill of Winter World Bulletin.

2009 was drafted,

which, if enacted, would introduce the death penalty as punishment for “aggravated homosexuality,” targeting a wide swath of the Ugandan population, including gay individuals—both in and out of the closet—and those citizens living with HIV-AIDS. While the bill has not yet passed into law, the country is far from safe for gays. In fact, early this April, anti-homosexuality activists presented a petition to the Ugandan Parliament, urging the bill’s passage. Signed by two million people, the bill represents the countrywide prejudice facing gays. Should this bill be signed, both gays and their supporters would risk incarceration and even death.

Facing widespread international condemnation from the United States and the European Union, as well as from organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights

4 3

Watch, Avaaz, and Allout, demanding the proposed law be dropped given its clear violations of human rights, the bill’s supporters have caved only slightly. In an attempt to maintain the millions in foreign aid the country receives, the bill’s supporters, who come from Uganda’s ruling National Resistance Movement, dropped the proposed death penalty punishment to an equally brutal and dangerous sentence of life imprisonment.

Nevertheless, some offenses, such as having gay sex while HIV-positive, would merit a death penalty conviction, under the legislation.

Today, Uganda’s gay community lives in constant fear in a reality of beatings, death threats, and targeted assassinations. David Kato, one of the African nation’s premier gay rights activists, was murdered in his home on January 26 this year. Not long before, Kato’s picture appeared alongside the identifying photographs and home addresses of 100 other prominent Ugandan homosexuals in the national tabloid David newspaper, Rolling Stone Kato (not to be confused with the popular American music magazine with the same title), under the banner headline “Hang Them.” Kato openly sued Rolling Stone successfully, claiming the paper violated his constitutional right to privacy. This lead to a judge’s injunction, banning the publication of the identities and personal details of alleged homosexuals. Enock Nsubuga Balibagga was arrested on February 2 for the murder of Kato, with Nsubuga claiming that he killed Kato in self-defense after the Kato had tried to sexually force himself upon Nsubuga.

For the first time, the United States has formally proposed a decrease in funding based on the persecution of gays. Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA) introduced the legislation calling for the aid cut to countries deemed to be persecuting people on the basis of sexual orientation, including Uganda. Citing a pattern of human rights violations, including persecution and execution, Congressman Frank called for the United States to use its influence to prevent the hate crimes: “The United States has a fairly influential voice in the development area,” Frank said in March. “And we should not be supportive of providing multilateral bank development funds going to the governments of countries which engage in the physical persecution of people because of their religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or gender identity.” On the last day of the legislative session in mid-May the Ugandan Parliament resumed debate on the anti-gay bill, but it failed to pass—at least for this legislative session—thanks to the loud complaints from the international community, the U.S. State Department, and Rep. Frank.

The United Nations Human Rights Council released a Joint Statement entitled “Ending Acts of Violence and Related Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.” The statement included calls for more attention to be paid towards LGBT issues.

Such language on the part of the United Nations hopefully foreshadows further UN involvement in countries such as Uganda, where persecution based on sexual orientation exist so dangerously unchallenged.

13

2 1

ASIA The Road to Recovery for a Devastated Japan

by Nako Kobayashi ’13

14

I first heard about the Japanese earthquake from Ms. Tomlinson, while traveling with a group of Loomis NAKO KOBAYASHI, is students and faculty from Yokohama, through Rajasthan, Japan. She runs cross India on a spring break country, is the community service trip. sophomore class I didn’t take much president and a concern in the news at member of the Model UN group, and resides the time. “Oh, just in Harman Hall. This is another earthquake,” I her first article for the thought to myself, World Bulletin. shrugging it off. Later, sitting under a tree, using the limited wi-fi on my Blackberry, I received an email from my mom in Tokyo.

“Japan was hit with a magnitude 8.9 earthquake,” it read, “don’t worry, we’re safe, but it was really scary. I don’t know when your dad’s coming home, the train’s stopped.”

It took me a while to process the information, but when I did, I panicked. Not only did a horrific earthquake hit my homeland but, also, I was far away in India when I should have been suffering and worrying alongside my friends and family.

Facebook provided me a cyber-bridge from India to Japan. I felt alarmed by the statuses that appeared on my Facebook homepage. “Is it the end of the world?” was quite popular. I watched as family members

assured each other of their well-being. And I read with morbid curiosity the announcement of displacement and relocation. As all this was happening, only one thing repeated over and over in my head, “Is everybody okay?”

Overcome with panic, I tried, failed, and tried again to phone my parents. No words of reason from travel companions would calm my shaken nerves. I started to imagine how my hometown, Tokyo, the city I know and love, might look at this moment. I hoped that my imagination had not become Tokyo’s new reality.

On the 11th of March at 2:46PM JST (1:46AM EST), a magnitude 9.0—the earlier figure of 8.9 magnitude was later revised— earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Japan’s main island, Honshu, triggering evacuation alarms along the east coast and a tsunami alert throughout the Pacific Ocean. The quake’s epicenter lay sixty-one miles from the nearest major city, Sendai.

The earthquake lasted six minutes and has, to date, resulted in more than six hundred aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or more.

Within minutes of the quake, Japan was struck by a tsunami with waves up to 124 feet in height. As of April 10th the National Policy Agency of Japan reported that 27,621 people are either missing or confirmed dead as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. Some 166,600

4 2 1 3

people were advised to tremors of magnitude 6.0 on evacuate from the areas March 11th, and has been affected by the Fukushima included in the planned Dai-Ichi nuclear power plant periodic power outages for explosion. the next four months to Truly the worst thing to save electricity. happen to Japan after World “It’s like this isn’t War II, the earthquake and Japan,” my mother told me. resulting nuclear crisis have “I go to the supermarket proved absolutely devasting and there’s a lack of food, I to the archipelago nation. go to the gas station and The Bank of Japan has there are huge lines for a estimated the costs of limited amount of gas, and rebuilding at $309 billion, six percent of there’s just panic everywhere.”

Japan’s GDP. Moreover, the seemingly endless Japan will have its plate full for at least series of aftershocks continue to frighten the next few months, while the nation struggles residents, while fear of through recovery and radiation from the reconstruction. I believe, The F ukushima Dai-­‐Ichi nuclear plant Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear though, that if any country crisis convince many to stay can do it, it is Japan. I have indoors, avoiding certain faith that Japan will be up foods, and keeping children and running in no time, and home from school. Food, that, like everything else, water, gas, and electricity are Japan will use this as a lacking. Japan is facing an learning experience to extreme energy crisis. prepare the nation for future Yokohama, where I live, lies disasters. approximately three hours from Sendai. It suffered

G’day Mate: A Down Under Ambassador for Democracy

by Cecelia Coffey ’11 When one thinks of Australia, it’s usually of koalas, kangaroos, and phrases such as “the outback” and “down under,” in addition to the numerous luminaries of the film world who call the island home.

CECE COFFEY, is a However, both day student from Australia’s colonial West Hartford, history and its presentConnecticut. She day government have competes on the contributed greatly to the varsity swimming and water polo development of one of teams, and plays the world’s preeminent trumpet in the Jazz models of economic Improvisation stability and social group. This is her leadership.

Fiscally, debut article for the World Bulletin.

Australia has not

experienced a recession in the last twenty years, an even more impressive feat considering the scale of the widespread economic downturn that swept across international markets following the collapse of the sub-prime loan industry in the United States. This was due, in part, to effective financial regulation. Moreover, Australia’s role as one of the major suppliers of raw materials to manufacturing giant China certainly served as a buffer against the global depression of stock values. As many of the world’s leading countries attempt to regain both their strength and their financial balance, Australia’s low unemployment rate (5.1% in 2010) and relatively stable GDP pave the way for future generations to establish the country

15

4 2 1 3

as a world power.

Politically, however, Australia still faces many of the problems that its ally, the United States, still struggles with. Despite its humble beginnings as a British penal colony, both mining and agricultural success helped introduce not only prosperity, but also parliamentary democracy to the people. While this system has served Australia well for over a century, foreign policy has recently become hotly debated in both local and national elections, including the reelection campaign of Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Australia’s first woman to hold the position. Hot-button issues include the nation’s role in the Middle East, including how to proceed with its involvement in aiding antiTaliban efforts in Afghanistan, as well as the more domestic dispute over immigration laws.

As an ally of the United States since World War II, the Australian government will need to act carefully to protect not only its citizens’ best interests, but also its relationships with foreign nations.

Before any elections occur, however, Ms.

Gillard must serve out the remainder of her term during the tumultuous months of political unrest and civilian rebellions in many Middle Eastern countries.

Libya, in particular, has come to the forefront of global news in recent weeks, as its citizens assembled militias and arm themselves against their dictator, Muammar Qaddafi.

So as NATO war planes patrol the skies of Libya enforcing United Nations Resolution 1973, Prime Minister Gillard has chosen to position Australia “shoulder to shoulder,” with the United States, as President Obama stated at the White House March 7th, following a meeting with the Prime Minister that same day.

No longer neutral, Australia has now assumed the role that many nations aspire to and that the United States knows well: protector of the small and promoter of democratic governance worldwide. As Australia’s leaders look toward the future, they continue to foster strong and healthy relations with the United States, while advancing Australia as a promoter of democracy and free markets across the globe.

The Import of Chinese Students to America

16

Whether it is a tank top from Hollister, or a stuffed animal from Build-A-Bear Workshop, or even a mirror from CVS, MONICA HE, from Hangzhou, China, is a member of the chances are Foreign Policy Association, is a many of the prefect in Harman Hall, and products sold in serves on the Student Council. malls or Her article, “All Blame on supermarkets China?,” appeared in the Winter Bulletin. Monica is a are made in recipient of the Junior China. With the Departmental Prize in History. advantage of lower prices for decent quality, Chinese products always surpass the numbers produced in other foreign countries. In recent years there has been another mainstream import from China to the United States: college undergraduates.

According to a newly released 2010 report issued by the Institute of International

By Monica He ’12

Education, of the 691,000 foreign students who enrolled in American universities in the 20092010 academic year, nearly 128,000, or 18%, were Chinese. With the One-Child policy, more and more middle-class Chinese parents want to provide their kids with a better education. Unlike twenty years ago when Chinese students only applied for math or science related programs in graduate schools, now Chinese students appear to be more wellrounded and desire an even earlier education abroad. Five years ago, most wealthy Chinese parents considered sending their children to England for further education; increasingly, the destination is now the United States. By browsing top colleges’ websites or attending reception meetings arranged by American colleges’ admission officers, Chinese families started to learn more about U.S. schools and developed a strong interest in applying.

4 2 1 3

Another significant change for the potential international students throughout the years is a broader choice of schools. Before the Chinese families knew about the unique opportunities provided by U.S. liberal arts colleges, all they could think of was attending a big, well-known research university like Princeton, Yale or Harvard.

Nowadays, however, with the developing awareness of other great liberal arts schools such as Williams, Middlebury, or Swarthmore, many prospective undergraduates begin to research a wider range of schools before they make their decisions.

At the same time, because of Chinese students’ growing desire to earn a better education in the U.S., most colleges welcome international students, especially during recent years of economic recession. Realizing that these students can afford to pay full tuition and an extra amount of international student fees, many universities have started to place more emphasis upon enrolling students from overseas. Allen E. Goodman, the president of the Institute of International Education, said recently, “International education is a domestic economic development because they shop at the local Wal-Mart, rent rooms and buy food.

Foreign students bring $17.8 billion to this country.” As the U.S. continues to recover from the economic crisis, many college admissions officers are more willing to recruit

Chinese students than domestic students who demand financial aid. In order to fill their potential spaces and attract more overseas applicants, college admissions representatives schedule a series of trips to China as well, arranging reception meetings in big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. The enrollment of Chinese students also adds more diversity to campus cultures, a plus that most U.S. colleges have obliged to and become aware of.

In this globalized world where communication and travel have become so convenient, and with the increasing knowledge of the outstanding American university system, more and more Chinese students have demonstrated a stronger interest in pursuing higher education in the U.S. Though the recession might have affected some American students’ ability to study abroad, it seems that the reverse is not true, at least not with regards to China. Furthermore, according to a majority of students’ feedback, a lot of current Chinese students really enjoy their academic experiences in the United States and are happy with their decisions to study overseas. Such positive feedback influences many potential international students back home as well, allowing them to feel more confident and determined to transport themselves to America in the years to come.

Rising Anxiety on the Korean Peninsula On February 9th, 2011, a North Korean delegation convened with officials from South Korea to discuss a recent escalation of tensions on the peninsula. Two major incidents received much focus during the summit: North Korea’s sinking of the South Korean warship, ROK Cheonan, and the North Korean bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island. On March 26th, 2010, the ROK Cheonan, was torpedoed near Baengnyeong Island.

Consequently, the destroyer sunk and over forty South Korean

by Naphisa Senanarong ’13

sailors died. On November 23rd, 2010, the North Korean military suddenly bombarded Yeonpyeong, an island situated near the tension-filled border between the two Koreas.

The shelling resulted in the deaths of fifteen South Korean servicemen, two South Korean civilians, and astounding damage across the island.

Following the two attacks, the South Korean government, assisted by the international community, investigated the tragedies and

17

4 3 1 2

discovered that neighboring North Korea was responsible, as the shelling of the torpedoes matched perfectly with PIM SENANARONG, North Korean from Bangkok, weapons. Despite the Thailand, was a evidence, North Korea playwright in the has vehemently denied NEO’s Spring One-­‐Acts its involvement. At the Festival. She is also February 9th summit, the recipient of the Carling Prize for her North Korean officials outstanding essay on accused its southern the emergence of neighbor of fabrication democracy in the New and fraud, firmly World. This article stating that their marks Pim’s World Bulletin debut. military had no part in the sinking of Cheonan.

They also declared the accusations from the South Korean government as a deliberate effort of the U.S.-South Korean alliance to set up an invasion of North Korea, with the ultimate goal of overthrowing dictator Kim Jung Il’s tyrannical regime. In typical North Korean style, Kim Jung-Il’s representatives walked out of the important talks before the conclusion.

This is not the first time North Korea has acted so belligerently. During April 2009, North Korea engaged in disarmament talks with the international Group of Six (U.S., Japan, South Korea, Russia and China). However, a month later, the rogue state conducted underground atomic weapons tests. And although North Korea agreed to shut down its graphite gas reactor at the Six-Party conference, the country announced in September 2009 that it was in the “final stages” of uranium enrichment. Thus, the

North Korean delegation warned the world of a possible nuclear retaliation against the United States for attempting to incite another Korean War. And again, North Korean diplomats repeated the claim that the United States’ longstanding involvement in Korean affairs demonstrates an “imperialistic” threat not only to North Korea, but also to other Asian countries.

While much of North Korea’s rhetoric is quite familiar to observers, North Korea’s actions have, nonetheless, unsettled the typically unshakable resolve of the South Korean people. Although Yeonpyeong has recovered quickly from the bombing, many of the inhabitants of Yeonpyeong continue to talk about the constant fear and uncertainty that hangs over the island even after the bombing.

Moreover, the larger South Korean economy, home to global companies such as Samsung and Hyundai, cannot withstand prolonged uncertainty in an environment of heightened tension. There are no long-term scheduled talks scheduled between North Korea and the international community for the foreseeable future. That said, the intractable attitude of the North Korean government, coupled with the discontinuation of constructive dialogue between the two Koreas, provides ample reasons for the U.S. government and the international community to be worried about the outcome of the ongoing antagonism between North and South Korea.

A Cultural Lesson from Rishika Growing up, I never gave a second thought about the things I owned and the things I wanted.

Toys, scooters, colored pencils…all the things I wanted, I would ask my parents for (politely, of course) and they almost never said no. I AUDREY SZE, from Hong Kong, is an RA in Ammidon Hall, an active community service volunteer, and a delegate to the Model United Nations. Her article “Feng S hui 101” appeared in the W inter Bulletin.

18

by Audrey Sze ’11

thought my lifestyle was typical of all children.

However, my recent trip to India has helped me reevaluate my materialist desires and open my eyes to a lifestyle of pride and joy that does not center on Western consumerism.

After a tedious sixteen-hour bus ride, the group composed of sixteen Loomis students and two faculty members arrived at the village of Bali, in the state of Rajasthan, situated in the Great Indian Desert bordering Pakistan. We had done some sightseeing at the Taj Mahal

4 1 3 2

and the Agra Fort in the two days prior, and were eager to start our community service: to interact with and teach the kids at the Fabindia School about American culture.

Waking up at dawn to our buzzing smart phones, we got to the school on time, just as the kids were about to settle in for their morning assembly.

I remembered Ms. Tomlinson reminding us that since most of the kids at the school belonged to the Kashtriya caste of warriors they were naturally proud, and we should not, in any way, seem as if we were pitying them.

I was assigned to a sixthgrade English class and upon walking into the classroom, was greeted by a swarm of friendly faces, keen on shaking my hand and introducing themselves. “Hi, Ma’am,” they said, “what is your name? Where are you from? What is your favorite food? Who is your best friend?” I was taken aback by their affection, and felt guilty for thinking that they’d be hostile to and even feel ridiculed by strangers from America coming to observe them. I immediately bonded with Rishika, one of the twelve-year-old girls that I sat with. As the class continued, kids sitting in all corners of the room would run over and give me their stickers. I’d shake hands, ask for names, and thank them. This happened about twenty more times before I saw that in Rishika’s pink notebook she kept a large collection of stickers, realizing that these girls were not begging their parents for new phones, but rather for stickers. Rishika was flipping through her notebook when she found her largest sticker, one of Hannah Montana; she tore it out, and handed it to me. “Audrey,

ma’am, take it.”

I didn’t want to take Rishika’s sticker, as I felt it was too large a gift to give. I didn’t want to tell her that I did not really need a sticker, and that it doesn’t mean as much to me as it probably does to her. “Please, ma’am, please,” she urged, and I took it, though I was still convinced she was wasting it.

When I was twelve, I probably would not have given my favorite toy to a friendly stranger. Heck, I’m pretty certain I won’t give you my Apple Macbook laptop now.

Even though a computer costs a lot more than a sticker, the point is not the price we pay, but our willingness to share it.

It hit me, during the first hour spent with these kids, that I’m pretty selfish and greedy. My mind constantly echoes “want, want, want” and never “share, share, share.” I had witnessed a beautiful thing, their having so little, yet so willing to give. I’ve come to recognize that since we are so spoiled by luxury, we feel a constant need for ownership, even for the things that we really don’t need. By giving me stickers, these kids were trying to build a link between our world and their world.

Currently, that Hannah Montana sticker, along with roughly seventy other stickers, lie peacefully in a folder in the first drawer of my desk. Every time I open that drawer, I am reminded of the lesson I learned from these kids in India. They have taught me something valuable about Indian culture that I won’t forget. I believe that sometimes, we all just need to leave our sphere of material desire to understand something much greater: the importance of humility and giving.

Dispute Over the Preah Vihear Temple The Prince of Siam first discovered the Preah Vihear Temple in 1899. When France colonized Laos and Cambodia, it made a treaty with Thai King Rama IV in 1904 to determine the borders between the French colonial

by Run Banlengchit ’11

territory and Thailand. The document stated that the drainage divide would be used as the border, setting the temple in Thai territory. In 1908, without the acknowledgement of Siam, the French government constructed a new

19

4 3

map, in which the temple was situated in Cambodian territory. Interestingly, Thailand did not debate the new map at the time.

Soon after becoming an independent state from French colonial RUN BANLENGCHIT, rule in 1953, lives in Nakhon Pathom, Cambodia took the Thailand. A member of Preah Vihear Temple the math team, he also dispute to the participates in International Court community service, and is an avid tennis player. of Justice in 1959.

This is Run’s Bulletin Using the map drawn debut.

by France in 1908, Cambodia argued that Thailand should return the Preah Vihear Temple. In the end, Thailand lost the case.

Despite Cambodia’s triumph, Thailand contested that the International Court of Justice did not have authority to make a judgment about the border of Thailand and Cambodia. The conflict regarding Preah Vihear Temple was triggered again between the two countries when Cambodia petitioned to have the temple recognized as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2005.

Despite the strong objection from Thailand, UNESCO accepted Cambodia’s request in 2008.

On December 29, 2010, Veera Somkwamkid, a member of the House of Representatives of Thailand, along with six House members, traveled to the CambodianThai border to examine the area. Locals on the Thai side had reported that Cambodian soldiers were encroaching on Thai territory. Eventually, Cambodian soldiers arrested Somkwamkid and his companions in the disputed region.

Cambodian authorities claimed that the place, where the Thai government members were arrested, was far from the border and deep inside Cambodia. This event resulted in huge tension between the two countries’ governments.

Negotiations between the Cambodian and Thai Foreign Affairs Ministers proved unsuccessful. The group of six was bailed out of jail this January. But Somkwamkid remained in prison. As the leader of Thai Patriots Network, 20 a political faction of Thai Prime Minister

Abhisit Vejjajiva’s ruling Democrat Party, Somkwamkid was charged by Phnom Penh with espionage. In February, a Cambodian court found five of the seven Thais guilty of illegal entry. Those five were freed and allowed to return to Thailand after the court suspended the remainders of their sentences.

However, Veera Somkwamkid and his assistant Ratree Pipatanapaiboon have been found guilty of espionage and sentenced to eight and six year prison terms, respectively.

They are currently serving their sentences in Cambodia, as their families in Thailand continue protesting for their release.

The situation between Thailand and Cambodia worsened on February 4th when the two armies exchanged gunfire for five hours along the disputed border, resulting in several casualties and both countries claiming the other as the belligerent. As a result, both Phnom Penh and Bangkok have sent more troops to the border. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen urged the United Nations Security Council to send UN troops into the area, accusing Thailand of damaging the Preah Vihear Temple. At the same time, Thai media has published photographs showing Cambodian soldiers using the temple as a stronghold to bombard Thai soldiers. Ultimately, the Security Council rejected Prime Minister Sen’s appeal, instead asking Thailand and Cambodia to peacefully negotiate with each other. Nevertheless, the conflict persisted. Ultimately, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) decided to send Indonesian troops to both countries as observers of the conflict.

A mutual conference between Thailand and Cambodia looks likely to be held this year in Indonesia, the head of ASEAN. However, the conference is still tentative, as Phnom Penh and Bangkok want to keep this conflict away from the third party as much as possible.

Therefore, the dilemma of the Preah Vihear Temple remains uncertain even as Thailand and Cambodia move forward into the twentyfirst century.

1 2

Middle East A Letter to the Crown Prince of Bahrain by Elham Yusuf Ali ’11 Dear Crown Prince of Bahrain, Your Royal Highness Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh In your recent interview on Bahrain National Television you so eloquently stated that “Many nations have experienced civil wars and civil divisions, only because its most sensible ELLIE YUSEF ALI is a thinkers did not step up native of Bahrain. She is founder of the and say enough.” This Loomis Arab W orld letter is a humble Affiliation, a member acknowledgment of this of the Student Council statement from a and JV Girls Hockey Bahraini scholar. In this Team, and a resident in Palmer Dormitory. tragic moment, I express my profound grief as well as my hope for the future of my beloved country.

I am writing to you with the utmost respect.

As I set off around the world to renowned institutions of learning, I strive to be a worthy young ambassador of Bahrain.

I strive to represent my homeland in all its diversity and rich heritage, and gain knowledge, experience and wisdom for the advancement of my country and my people.

While my endeavors are supported, in the past few months the lives and dreams of other Bahrainis were tragically cut short.

The revolution in Tunisia ignited a fight for civil rights particularly over unemployment and corruption, sparked by the suicide of a young man who could not find a job and was banned from selling fruit without a permit. This revolution drove the president of Tunisia, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, out of office. Similarly, governing neighbors Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Yemen, and Bahrain followed. The situation in Egypt led by mass youth protest in the

beginning of 2011 ended the tyrannical suppressing ruling of President Hosni Mubarak after serving thirty years. After weeks of angry protests by Egyptian protesters, Mr. Mubarak resigned and turned all power to the military.

The Egyptian people’s historic fight for democratic changes, better employment, economic prosperity, justice against embezzlement, and fraud committed by Mubarak and his allies for his self-interest, has been a popular uprising that has transformed human rights and politics in Egypt and around the Arab world.

The recent events that have unraveled in Bahrain over the past three months have shocked me. The foundation of the peaceful protestors’ method to seek pure means for pure sought ends is faith, love, and hope for this country’s future. Many have been killed and kidnapped, more than 200 were injured, a curfew was imposed from 1600 (1300 GMT) to 0400, as was a ban on all demonstrations.

Reports surfaced of suspending work at the main hospital, universities and educational institutions.

Opposition leaders said dozens were detained like Ebrahim Sharif, secretary General of Waad, National Demographic Action Society, who was shot by government security forces and national guards, and sprayed with tear gas. Political leaders tortured and interrogated others in areas unknown to the public. Pearl Square, an historic monument where the protestors peacefully gathered to demonstrate, is completely demolished. Is that just?

I express my sorrow and mourning at recent events. Innocent civilians were killed, and many others injured whilst peacefully protesting. I join the people of Bahrain and the numerous national and international organizations who have condemned the

21

4 3

22

violence inflicted by the riot police and armed forces.

Many reputable regional and international news outlets have been witness to these deaths, their circumstances and the overall peaceful non-violent nature of the ongoing protest. Like you, your Royal Highness, numerous organizations and groups have expressed deep concerns about the violence that has occurred, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay who “voiced deep regret for the deaths of protestors in Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Libya and Yemen, adding that she was particularly troubled by targeted attacks by security forces on certain professions.” I have learned through this scholarship that the right to freedom of thought and expression is crucial to my fulfillment as a human being and active citizen.

These rights, however, seem to have been ruthlessly repressed to many of my brothers and sisters. I have no doubt that you are well on your way to reinstating these rights that were denied to many of our fellow countrymen and women.

I wholeheartedly support your calls to stop violence and to launch a national dialogue that will pave the way towards a national and sustainable resolution. Like you, I will never accept sectarianism and war in this country.

Like many others, I took relief in your words and your promises as Bahrain’s light of hope. I look upon you, as the most avid proponent of Bahraini youth, to lead the way in facilitating change and justice for a better future for Bahrain and re-address this grave injustice and do what is necessary to facilitate a constructive dialogue.

Thus, I support the people’s urgent demand to review the 2001 National Charter and referendum that have been challenged by the Bahraini citizens in regards to freedom of speech, media, and press, in particular.

I encourage direct action against biased treatment in favor of naturalized citizens from Sunni origins that grants higher benefits in

employment, housing, salaries, education, and superiority in the hierocracy because they are Sunnis, while natural born Bahrainis—Sunnis or Shiites—are treated less justly than the latter because of religious and perhaps political beliefs. Isn’t segregation a betrayal of an illicit interaction between injustice and immorality?

I highly question the nationalization of too many foreign citizens and the use of foreign intervention from Saudi Arabia to control the peaceful demonstrations.

There is an even greater concern of an imbalanced sectarian demographic and retaining national identity as a Bahraini people.

I am extremely alarmed about the destruction of the sea and depletion of fish livestock. Many Bahrainis rely on the sea for livelihood and with the destruction of the sea, the impact is twofold. No fish means no sales and, consequently, no cash on the family income side of things. On the quality of life side: raising the prices of seafood livestock means that a large proportion of the country cannot afford it.

I am concerned about red tape and glass ceilings in employment opportunities, education, and health care reforms. Should a national examination for each profession be initiated so that one must pass it before being considered for a job? On an economic note, Bahrain has immense problems. People are driven from their jobs as employers are forced to shut down, while businesses are relocating on a mass scale. Our economy is too fragile to take this beating any longer.

At this critical moment, I stand ready to contribute to any efforts in helping my country, Bahrain. I will do everything in my power to bridge any divides that may have been created between the people of Bahrain these past months. In these difficult times, I seek to be the agent of change that you inspire me to be.

My thoughts are with you and all of Bahrain’s citizens.

Kind Regards, Elham Yusuf-Ali

1 2

An Interview with James A. Warren, U.S. State Department

by Joanna Warren ’11 James A. Warren, my father, has been a United States Diplomatic Officer since 1990. He has worked in eight countries, and can speak several languages fluently. Born and raised in Sacramento, California, he holds a BA from San Francisco State University and an MA from San Jose State. To further understand what his job entails and what the State Department does, I decided to interview him for the spring issue of the LC World Bulletin.

What is the purpose of the State Department? The State Department handles interactions with foreign governments, either between the U.S. Embassy or the State Department and the JOANNA W ARREN was government of the born in Thailand and has country it is in. lived around the world How do you as the daughter of U.S. define diplomacy? diplomat parents. She is One definition of a member of the Foreign Policy Association, the diplomacy is the Model UN, and is a process through resident in Palmer which a country Dormitory. Joanna wrote pursues its goals, an article about Mexican short of war.

It drug cartels for the Winter 2011 Bulletin. consists of traditional diplomacy through which governments try to influence other governments directly to do what they want them to do – allow American investment into the country, vote a certain way in the U.S., support U.S. foreign policies, etc. Through public diplomacy, governments try to influence other governments indirectly by influencing their public, who then influence government officials to do what the U.S. wants it to do.

What is the role of a U.S. diplomat?

Diplomats represent their country in its dealings with other governments and international organizations whose members are representatives of countries, such as the United Nations and the Organization of American States. In the U.S. Foreign Service diplomats work in one of six different types of jobs: 1) Political Officers, who interact with the leadership and Foreign Ministry of the government of the country they are posted to.

They support the daily interactions between the two governments, support visits by senior USG

officials, and monitor political developments; 2) Economic Officers monitor economic developments in the country, and negotiate economic, trade, or investment treaties; 3) Public Diplomacy Officers work mostly with the people of the country rather than government officials. They work with the media to generate positive coverage of USG actions and policies and Embassy activities; 4) USAID Officials work with the host government on development projects, usually in less developed countries; 5) Consular Officers issue visas to those who want to visit the U.S. and support American citizens abroad; 6) Other officers provide internal support for the Embassy in the areas of administration, personnel, finance, computers, and security. In addition, officials from other agencies, such as the Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency, the FBI, or the Treasury Department, work at larger embassies to handle relations between the two governments in those areas.

What does it require to be a diplomat and how do you become one? Diplomats need wide and general knowledge of the rest of the world, the history and culture of other societies, and the nature of diplomacy. They also need more in-depth knowledge of a specific subject, such as trade and investment, or of a specific region, such as Southeast Asia. Many State Department Officers studied in foreign affairs programs, such as those at Georgetown, American University, or Johns Hopkins.

Diplomats in the more senior jobs have Master’s Degrees before joining the Foreign Service.

But a degree or degrees in this field is not a requirement. What is required is passing the Foreign Service Exam, which tests an applicant’s knowledge of world history, diplomacy, geography, etc. Those who pass that test (about 15%) are invited to attend an all day assessment that includes interviews and role playing exercises. About 15% pass that step. Those who have passed both steps are then subject to medical and security checks,

23

4 3

24

and those who pass them are placed on Hiring Registers, and are hired as positions become available. However, because new applicants are placed on the Hiring Registers all the time, usually only those placed on the top half are actually hired.

Why did you decide to become a diplomat?

My background was different than most other people. I wanted to play in a symphony orchestra, and did; however, even while a music student and musician I had a strong interest in history and world events. After I realized that I would not make it to the top of the music world, and thus probably not be able to buy a house or support a family, I decided to change careers. I took the Foreign Service Exam and passed and was eventually hired.

I scored high enough to be placed on the Hiring Registers for all Foreign Service Cones: Political, Economic, Public Diplomacy, Consular, Admin, General Services, and the Foreign Commercial Service. I wanted to be hired by the PD cone, and was fortunate enough to be offered a job by that cone before any of the others called.

What exactly does your job involve? A large part of my job is developing good relations with the media—with editors, reporters, TV anchors, etc.—in order to get positive coverage of the U.S. and its actions and policies, and the Embassy and its activities. I also work with educational institutions, usually at the university level, but sometimes at the high school level, to support American Studies programs, to train English teachers, and to ensure that what is said about the U.S. in classes is accurate and favorable to the U.S. I also organize cultural programs, such as concerts, dramatic performances, art or poster shows, etc. to create a good impression among foreign publics about the U.S. More specifically, I open and manage American Centers that provide information about the U.S. to younger and broader audiences, organize seminars and conferences at which American experts interact with people working in the expert’s field, including professors, government officials, NGOs, etc.

Recent programs have been in the areas of U.S. foreign policy in South Asia, the role of the

military in a democracy, and the importance of a legal system to support economic development. And, my section, the Public Affairs Section, sends many Pakistani experts to the U.S. for visits of 2-3 weeks to meet their professional colleagues and to get a first-hand look at the U.S. Journalists in these programs visit American newspapers and TV stations, politicians visit federal, state and local governments in the U.S., NGO folks visit American NGOs, etc.

I also manage the Fulbright Program that provides scholarships for study in the U.S. in order to increase mutual understanding through academic exchange.

What do you consider to be the best aspect of your job? I like the educational aspects of the job the best – bringing in American professors to teach at universities, selecting bright young students for further study in the U.S., organizing conferences and seminars, and opening and managing the American Centers.

What are the countries you’ve worked in?

Bangladesh (1990-91), India (1991-93), Nigeria (1993-94), Thailand (1994-97), Malaysia (19972001), Laos (2002-06), Vietnam (2007-10), and Pakistan (2010-present).

How do you pick which country to live in and work in? One year before my current assignment in the U.S. or another country ends, the State Dept. publishes a list of all positions that will be open at the time I will be ready to move to another country or return to the U.S. I then bid on those that are in my field, Public Diplomacy, and at the right level for an officer with my experience. Then, I lobby for that job by contacting people who make hiring decisions, and try to convince them that I am the best officer for the job. I have been fortunate in getting my first choice for my last four assignments (before Pakistan). But early in my career, when I was new and nobody knew me, one time I got my 27th choice, Nigeria.

Tell me about your current post in Karachi.

Pakistan is not one of the safest countries to live in at the moment. On February 11, the State Department warned, “U.S. citizens of the risks of travel to Pakistan. The presence of al-Qaeda, Taliban elements, and indigenous militant sectarian groups poses a potential danger to U.S. citizens throughout Pakistan. Terrorists

6 5

and their sympathizers regularly attack civilian, government, and foreign targets.” Bombs go off several times a month, killing and injuring numerous amounts of people, and gun shots can be heard throughout the country every day.

What training did you have to go through before you moved to Pakistan?

Before coming to Pakistan, I had to take a special course designed for those going to three especially dangerous countries— Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq. That course involved learning defensive driving techniques to escape an attack on our car, learning to fire weapons, and learning how to spot people monitoring my movements.

Did the bombings in Lahore affect your job? Of more direct concern in Karachi than the bombings in Lahore, is the ongoing violence between political groups. Last week more than 100 people were killed, mostly by gunfire as groups shot at each other, but some also from bombs planted in marketplaces.

Because of the ongoing violence, the number of places we can visit—schools, universities, NGOs, etc., is quite limited. And when we are able to visit, we have to travel in an armored vehicle with an armed guard who stays with us all the time.

That violence is usually in part of the city outside of where the Consulate and government buildings are located. However, a few months ago a major police station, the CID building, not far from the Consulate was blown up. Many windows at the hotel next door to the Consulate were broken. However, in January we moved to new Consulate, which is much more secure and in an even safer part of Karachi.

How did Raymond Davis affect the U.S. consulate’s relationship with the Pakistani people? The arrest of Raymond Davis after he shot and killed two Pakistanis affected all USG operations in Pakistan. Even though he shot them in self-defense as they approached his car with weapons, and even though he had

diplomatic immunity, he was arrested and tried in the Pakistani courts.

This was probably because Pakistanis were already uneasy with the U.S. because of its large military involvement in the war in Afghanistan, next door.

The Embassy took special security precautions after he was arrested because groups who don’t like the U.S. used the incident to organize protests against the U.S.; however, now that he was been released and left Pakistan, the bilateral relationship is going back to normal.

But there is ongoing misunderstanding of U.S. activities in Pakistan, which is shown by a picture I saw in the art studio at the country’s best high school last week. The picture had two panels, with captions below them saying “Illegal” and “Legal.” The first showed a terrorist blowing up a building. The second showed an American plane bombing the same building. What the student who drew the pictures does not recognize, and what many Pakistanis do not recognize, is that the U.S. is not attacking Pakistan or its people or buildings; rather it is attacking the terrorists who are deliberately trying to blow up buildings and kill people. Yes, sometimes innocent people are killed in U.S. military actions to get the bad guys, but the U.S. takes extraordinary care to avoid civilian casualties.

Conclusion: Reflections by Joanna I love being a child of a diplomat. Although at times it is difficult, with constantly having to move countries every two to four years, overall, it is amazing. I have lived in seven countries and have visited even more. I have seen many wonderful things around the world such as Angkor Wat and the Emerald Buddha. The exposure to the many different cultures and types of people around the world is priceless. Travelling around has also given me the chance to make friends from various countries, with whom I keep in touch. A certain sense of pride also comes with being the daughter of a diplomat. I am proud of the work my father does, and although I know the work is not always easy, it will hopefully benefit the U.S. as it strengthens its relationships with countries of the world.

[Editor’s Note: This interview was conducted before the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan on May 1, 2011.]

25

1 2

The Juggernaut of Black Gold: An Introduction to OPEC

By Samson Chow ’12 As the Middle Member Countries,” which emphasized the East erupted in “inalienable rights of all countries to exercise political turmoil in permanent sovereignty over their natural recent months, resources.” Through nationalization of oil global markets reserves, OPEC nations warded off these have been greatly western corporations from their countries. The affected by the establishment of OPEC proved significant to clashes between American diplomacy during the 1960’s, as the dictators and institute ushered in an era of oil-oriented revolutionary centrally planned economies, particularly the forces. As indexes Soviet Union, which focused its economic all over the world policy on governmental acquisition of fossil have fluctuated considerably, politicians and fuel. entrepreneurs have been scrutinizing the price On the other hand, the membership of of oil, a commodity crucial to many sectors of Venezuela and the fact that the country is also the global market. Oil also holds much an OPEC founder highlights the role of noninfluence over international diplomacy, since it Middle Eastern countries in influencing can be viewed as a foreign policy tool wielded international oil prices. In subsequent years,

by Middle Eastern countries. In order to Qatar, Libya, Algeria, Angola and the United understand the political and economic Arab Emirates (UAE) joined OPEC’s roster. importance of oil in the Middle East and its The organization’s power grew. In 1973, OPEC impact on other countries, one must flexed its muscles, imposing the Arab Oil acknowledge how oil prices are established.

Embargo on the United States for supporting The Organization of Israel in the Yom Petroleum Exporting Kippur War. The Countries (OPEC) embargo thrust the holds that crucial United States into a position. period of financial Since its inception fiasco. That said, OPEC fifty-one years ago, also has proved crucial OPEC has come to to global economic signify the transforming recoveries, as witnessed role of Middle Eastern by its roles in the 1980’s countries in global oil crisis as well as the affairs. In September 2008 financial crisis and 1960, Iran, Iraq, global recession, in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia which OPEC lowered OPEC leaders Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, Hugo Chavez and Venezuela prices, helping to bring of Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah convened at the the world market back Baghdad Conference to on track. The exclusive discuss the presence of the “Seven Sisters,” a organization has, thus, become a center of group of foreign, western companies reigning attention of American diplomacy. over the oil monopoly in the Middle East. The Dubbed by Foreign Policy as the most summit eventually led to the creation of OPEC. “powerful cartel in modern history,” OPEC In 1968, the Founding Five adopted the holds great sway on the stage of international “Declaratory Statement of Petroleum Policy in politics and finance. Controlling one-third of SAMSON CHOW, a native of Hong Kong, is a member of the Foreign Policy Association and is a resident of W arham Dormitory. A devotee of the NEO stage, Samson is the recipient of a Junior Theater Prize. His article about the BRIC nations appeared in the winter issue of the World Bulletin.

26

4 3

global oil production and 77% of the world’s oil reserves, OPEC, has also held crucial positions in recent Middle Eastern conflicts. According to a Deutsche Bank analysis, OPEC has had 80% success in defending the oil market from swerving into chaos, yet its present actions continue to raise doubts about the organization’s efficiency. With 90% of Libyan oil in rebel territory, Europe, particularly Italy, has suffered from an economic downturn because oil companies have been forced to shut down operations in Libya due to the conflict.

However, as rising oil prices thrust the global market in turmoil, Saudi Arabia’s oil minister Ali al-Naimi, the cartel’s de facto leader, recently announced that the oil market is in a “happy situation.” But despite that rosy outlook, OPEC’s current spare capacity, the amount of extra oil member nations are able to produce, may not be enough to cover the increasing production losses caused by the Libyan conflict.

Moreover, OPEC nations are facing problems of their own. Saudi Arabia’s richest oil fields are controlled by the country’s Shiite

minority, which in turn has substantial cultural ties with Bahrain. Moreover, according to U.S. diplomats, Saudi Arabia’s regional rival, Iran, intends to destabilize Bahrain and, in turn, create chaos in the Saudi oil industry. Despite the pandemonium erupting throughout the Middle East of late, energy analysts assure that oil fields are generally well-defended and far from population centers. Nevertheless, the interruption of supply lines and decline in foreign investments may cause considerable damage to the Middle Eastern oil market. With oil production and exports at almost 90% of their GDP’s, OPEC nations face a crucial challenge: balancing the price of oil, while responding to the geopolitical changes in the region.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was created in 1960. Its 12 current member nations are: Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.

(Indonesia left OPEC in 2009.)

27

1 2

The Americas Brazil: More Than Just a Pretty Face by Alexandra Crerend ’11

28

“Brazil is no longer an emerging country, it has emerged,” says the U.S. ambassador to Brazil, Thomas Shannon. With a new president and new outlook on foreign affairs, the country hopes to enter into the next decade equipped with the tools to embed itself in foreign affairs and become a household name in world trade.

Newly-elected President Dilma Rousseff can look forward to an eventful term in office as she will supervise preparations for the ALEXANDRA CREREND, of New Canaan, 2012 Rio Plus 20 Connecticut, is a c aptain global environmental of the varsity lacrosse summit, the 2014 team and a two-­‐year FIFA World Cup, member of the Foreign and the 2016 Policy Association. Her Summer Olympics, article “Walmart in Africa” appeared in the in addition to Winter 2011 Bulletin. fulfilling her regular presidential duties.

Of course, President Rousseff has some big shoes to fill as her predecessor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, garnered an approval rating just under 90% in his final month in office.

The world’s fifth most populated country is attracting the attention of superpowers such as the U.S. and China. Brazil and China, in particular, have become fast friends on the international stage, with China surpassing the U.S. as Brazil’s top trading partner in 2009. In 2000, Chinese exports to Brazil amounted to $1.2 billion, but this number swelled to $25.6 billion in 2010. In the same time period, Brazilian exports to China surged from $1.1 billion to $30.8 billion. While this relationship is a positive one for both countries, the lack of diversity (84% of Brazilian exports are commodities, while 98% of Chinese exports are manufactured goods) in exports irks Brazil. As Rousseff embarks on a trip to China on April 10, one of her goals is to convince China to import more than just iron ore and other natural resources from Brazil. The unofficial entourage of 250 Brazilian executives

accompanying Roussef to China highlights Brazil’s eagerness to foster this growing economic relationship. Belonging to BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) has only improved Brazil’s economic reputation; Goldman Sachs anticipates that BRICs will contribute twice as much to global growth as the G3 (U.S., Japan, Europe) will in the next decade. Indeed, Brazil further established itself as a stable and organized economic power by emerging from the economic crisis ahead of the pack. By 2010, according to the CIA World Factbook, “consumer and investor confidence was restored and GDP growth returned to positive…boosted by an export recovery,” whereas most countries still lagged behind at the time. Moreover, the country’s high interest rates, growing economy, and rapidlyappreciating currency have all contributed to a significant increase in foreign investment.

In November 2007, Petrobras, Brazil’s stateowned oil and gas company, discovered the largest light crude oil field in 30 years. The field, named Sugar Loaf, could produce up to 40 billion barrels of oil and thus provide Brazil the world’s eighth-largest oil and gas reserves.

However, if Petrobras wants to take advantage of these reserves, it will have to dramatically increase its refining capacity in order to keep up with demand. In response to this necessary investment in refinery development, Petrobras launched a multi-year program that will devote $40 billion to the development of refineries, and plans on increasing output to 3.6 million barrels per day by 2015, up from 1.9 million in 2010. Thanks to its groundbreaking discovery, Brazil is no longer dependent on foreign oil.

Ironically, Brazil is also a worldwide leader in the production of ethanol, committing millions of dollars to ethanol research and, as a result, it has enacted laws that demand that every car sold in Brazil must take at least a 25% ethanol 75% gasoline mixture. Likewise, 90% of all new cars sold in Brazil are flex-fuel capable. On

4 3 1 2

March 8, the 10 millionth flex-fuel vehicle was sold in Brazil. The adoption of ethanol has boosted the farming sector in Brazil, creating jobs and opportunities that would otherwise belong to oil rigs.

Brazil, a country once characterized exclusively by its remarkable soccer team and

striking supermodels, has proven it has more to offer than recreation and beauty. 50.1% of Brazil’s estimated 191 million people are 29 years of age or younger and ready to boost the GDP, attract direct foreign investment, and foster long-term relationships with the world’s economic powerhouses.

December 2012: The End of Hugo Chavez? by Liana Fernez ’12 Venezuela will hold its next election in December 2012, pitting current president Hugo Chavez against the opposition.

Who exactly is the opposition? Venezuela isn’t sure yet. Sometime between November 2011 and March 2012 the opposition will hold a primary to elect one candidate to face off against Chavez, who was elected in 1998. One current contender is Leopoldo Lopez, former mayor of Caracas, who suggests, “we must have a presence in every corner of the country,” a need to capitalize on the discontent of the anti-Chavez population.

Unfortunately for Lopez, polls still show support for Chavez. When asked, 26% of randomly selected Venezuelans answered that if the election were in a week, they would vote to keep their current president in office, 28% said that they would vote for the opposition, but 34% said that they were undecided—if any of them swing toward the populist, left-leaning Chavez, the President is looking at another six-year term.

Hugo Chavez has made a point to ally himself with the downcast and downtrodden.

His denouncement of the political elite has gained him major support from this group throughout the years, and his populist platform has kept his approval ratings high. A man of the people, Chavez has always looked to support the poor in need before aiding the LIANA FERNEZ, from Bolton, Connecticut, is a member of the Foreign Policy Association and a 3-­‐ year veteran of the NEO Theater. A peer counselor and resident of P almer Dormitory, Liana’s article “Concord is Key” appeared in the Winter 2011 Bulletin.

wealthy statesmen. However, his opposition argues that his presidency has been marked by extreme authoritarianism.

The anti-Chavez men are in dire need of obsequious unity to defeat his powerful, common-man electorate.

With a long history of doing so, Chavez has most recently supported Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi and his government. This Venezuelan president, whose platform claims popular democracy, takes a hit to his political credibility in the democratic western world with his reinforcement of the Libyan leader, only emboldening the opposition’s determination to remove him from office. Not only does Chavez support Gaddafi, but he also backs Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

In addition to Chavez’s verbal encouragement of questionable African dictators, he also refers to the United States as “the empire.” A term that has nothing but negative connotations, Chavez warns that “later the Yankees will come to bomb the people to save them,” sarcastically referencing the United States’ recently established “No Fly Zone” over Libya.

While Chavez’s known socialist tendencies and noticeable authoritarianism exemplify the kind of corrupt government the United States normally sees fit to interfere with, the bad blood between Chavez and his view of the U.S. is glaringly evident. If the U.S. were to be involved in next year’s election, never mind to mediate the undesirable friendship between Venezuela, Syria, and Libya, many influential toes would be stepped upon, even broken, and these are not issues the United States has the time, the energy, or potentially the money, to weigh in on.

29

1 2

Haitian Elections In the past few years, Haiti has dealt with a massive earthquake, cholera outbreaks, and tremendous poverty, as well as corruption in the government. Now they have just finished a presidential election that portends of democratic change, but may NATHAN HARRIS, from not realize it longCanaan, New Hampshire, term. After some is a m ember of the trouble and Conservative Club and the corruption in the Fly Fishing & Hunting Club. He lives in Longman first round of Dormitory. This is elections on Nathan’s third article for November 28th, the World Bulletin, h aving the second round written previously about concluded on Iraq and China.

March 20th, and although delayed slightly because of concerns about voting fraud, Michel Martelly won with nearly 68% of the vote. The election pitted former Haitian first lady Mirlande Manigat against Martelly, a popular musician and political outsider. Manigat would have become the first female president of Haiti.

Perhaps she was the best choice because of her political experience, but Martelly brings an enthusiasm and youth to the job—Manigat is 70 years old—despite his inexperience. Martelly, 49, enjoys terrific support from Haitian youth, but is considered to be a political neophyte by many who question his ability to resolve the nation’s many problems. Already, a few sources are heralding his win as a “victory for democracy,” according to PJ Patterson, a former Jamaican Prime Minister.

Even former U.S. President Bill Clinton, declared, “The democratic transition of power, to anyone who understands the history of Haiti, is a cause for celebration.”

30

by Nathan Harris ’13 However, Clinton’s and Patterson’s optimism may come too soon. After violence wracked the country concluding the November elections, one must question whether this really will be a peaceful transfer of power.

The accounts of fraud, however, are disturbing, and reveal the corruption and tension still present in a struggling country that was ruled by a dictator, Jean-Claude Duvalier, for twenty-seven years. And indeed, adding fuel to the political tension in the country was the January return of Duvalier, which begged the question: did he come back for his own financial gain, or because he truly wants to help the people of Haiti? Because he was exiled to France in 1980, the younger generation of Haitians may not be as aware of his past crimes, and several groups see him as a voice for the poor. There is significantly less opposition to Duvalier now, and he hopes to reform the country, although how he will do it with Martelly as president is unclear.

In all, people around the world wait with angst to see if democracy will prevail in Haiti, despite all the chaos and corruption. People are anxious to determine whether or not the poorest country in the western hemisphere will be able to move forward, past its recent hardships and troubles.

Undoubtedly, Michel Martelly will have a huge role to play in this process. Many question how exactly he will achieve the ambiguous “reconciliation” promised to the Haitian people, especially considering his relative political inexperience. For a country suffering so much right now, he will need cooperation and support from the people and politicians of Haiti to achieve both short and long term change in the country.

1 2

Quashing Ignorance: Islam in America True or False: 1. At Loomis Chaffee, we embrace tolerance and diversity.

2. At Loomis Chaffee, we do not discriminate on basis of gender, sexual orientation or religion.

3. At Loomis Chaffee, we encourage and celebrate freedom of expression.

4. At Loomis Chaffee, every student is a friend.

Now let’s take a step back. True or False: 1. 1 in 5 Americans think that President Obama is a Muslim.

2. Only 24% of Americans correctly identify Obama as a Christian.

3. 28% of Americans believe that Muslims should not be allowed to serve on the Supreme Court.

4. 1/3 of the population believes that Muslims should be barred from running for President.

5. Only 55% of the population believes that most Muslims are “patriotic Americans.”

6. 62% of Americans claim that they do not personally know a Muslim American.

7. 6 to 8 million Muslims are currently living in the United States.

8. 4 in 10 Americans have an unfavorable view of Islam.

9. 6 in 10 Americans believe Islam is very different from their own religion.

10. 5 in 10 Americans believe Islam is more likely than any other religion to encourage violence.

How did you fare? How do all of us fare in a nation where every single statement above is true? It shocks us when we see the facts. It is shocking to learn of the “culture wars” currently waged against Muslim Americans across the country. Fear mongering and slander serve as the basis of many contemporary arguments regarding Islam in America. Many Americans, directed by right wing, Evangelical propaganda, claim that Muslims are dangerous, ARIANNA CALABRESE, of Vernon, Connecticut, plays field hockey and lacrosse, and is a resident of Harman Hall. This article marks her World Bulletin writing debut.

by Arianna Calabrese ’13

threatening to turn communities into theocracies, to promote violence and discrimination. Non-Muslims point fingers and make claims regarding supposed intolerance of the Muslim community in America, unaware of their own hypocrisy, as American culture is itself inherently intolerant. Our society, which once espoused the importance of tolerance, the equality of men, and the centrality of philanthropy, now tolerates public burnings of Islam’s holiest text and misrepresents our president’s faith for political gain. What has become of us?

The United States began as a land for free religious expression, yet, while the Constitution guarantees religious freedom, today most Americans equate Islam with terrorism. On 9/11, fear and apprehension overwhelmed the American people’s extraordinary standards of openmindedness, patience, and understanding.

Today politicians and the media highlight Islam’s differences, rather than appreciating the unifying principles of the world’s largest religion. As a result, Muslim Americans have been subjected to derision and discrimination.

As Ben Fulton of the Salt Lake Tribune so aptly observes, “Economic turmoil, the fatigue of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus heightened awareness of home-grown terrorist attacks all contribute to a climate where Americans feel they can dump their fears and anxiety onto Muslims.”

On March 20, 2011, Reverend Terry Jones of the World Dove Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, held a mock trial for the Koran, finding it guilty of the training and promotion of terrorism, the worldwide death, rape, and torture of people who do not belong to the Islamic faith, and the promotion of prejudice and racism against those who are not Muslim. As punishment, Reverend Jones publically burned the Koran and organized an “International Judge the Koran Day,” publicizing it through Facebook. Under the aegis of free speech and free expression, Reverend Jones proclaimed, “We will burn the Koran. We know that there are people in this

31

4 3

32

room and around the world who are not in agreement with our action. That, for us, is absolutely no problem. We live in America, it is a free country. You have every right to agree or disagree.”

This declaration sparked deadly rioting, particularly in Afghanistan. While both U.S. President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai condemned the act, protestors throughout the Middle East broadly criticized America for not preventing the book burning.

Twenty-two people have died as a result of the riots, and more than 120 have been wounded.

Most protests have taken place in Afghanistan, where, following Friday prayers, protestors roared through the streets, burning U.S. flags, chanting “Death to America! Death to the slaves of the infidels!” The urban mob violence poses new dangers to U.S.-led efforts against the Taliban and to the unstable, embattled Afghan government. The Taliban insurgents have exploited the burning of the Koran, now gaining support by directing their violent efforts against the internationals. One young student concisely expressed Afghan public sentiment, lamenting, “We cannot see the difference between that man in Florida and the American soldiers here. They are killing our people here while in the U.S. they burn the Holy Koran. America just wants to humiliate the Muslim world.” Many Muslims around the world now share the perception that all Americans share the same beliefs as Terry Jones, especially in countries where the majority of the populace is illiterate, lacks regular access to reliable, unbiased news sources, and, thus, relies on local rumors rather than facts.

Unfortunately, such misrepresentation of the facts occurs right here at home in the United States, as plans for Park51, an Islamic community center proposed to be built two blocks from Ground Zero, have sparked outrage and condemnation throughout rightwing media sources. Officially Park51 plans to promote moderate Islam and provide a bridge to other faiths through its YMCA-type facilities.

The Mother Mosque of America/Islamic Cultural and Heritage Center in Iowa.

Nonetheless, bloggers based in the United States continue to falsely claim that the “9/11 Monster Mosque” will open on the 10 year anniversary of 9/11. Moreover, as mainstream media and national politicians took on the issue, commentators slandered Imam Abdul Rauf, leader of the Park51 project and a respected international figure, who strives in his work to foster relationships between the Muslim world and the West, denouncing him a supporter of terror. As a result of the widespread misrepresentation of facts, two-thirds of Americans now oppose the Park51 proposals.

So how does one transform ignorance into insight? How does one work to develop tolerance in the face of blind fear?

The best hope for the future lies in our willingness to look beyond extremism and into the heart of moderate Islam. Those who attack Park51 and set fire to the Koran give substance to Al Qaeda’s claim that the U.S. is waging war on Islam. However, Muslims represent the third largest and the single fastest growing religious community in the United States. Since the Founding Fathers, the United States has always held fast a rich civic tradition of tolerance and religious freedom.

Reza Aslan, author of the international bestseller, No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam, claims that the best way to preserve our nation’s tradition of religious freedom does not rest in education but in fostering relationships between Muslims and non-Muslims. Activists propose that this should be done on a grand scale. As students at Loomis Chaffee, we know that this can be done on a small scale. We sit together in the SNUG during the all-school frees, pound against the glass wall together at ice hockey games, and stress over tests as one. Here at Loomis we live together and come to know each other as friends, teammates, confidants, neighbors. And upon graduation we go forth into the greater world, spreading a messaging of acceptance and understanding to a nation so desperately in need.

1 2

Battleground Wisconsin: Unions or Education?

by Sterling Luke Stone ’12 The union dispute in Wisconsin earlier this year created a firestorm of debate throughout the nation.

Shortly into his governorship, Republican Scott Walker attempted to balance the state’s deep deficit by slashing public sector union costs.

This balance would end the union’s rights to collective bargaining, lock-in compensation for teachers at their current rates, and prohibit unions from pressuring the government into increasing wages.

Scott Walker The fight in Wisconsin questions how the union system can work properly within a failing economy.

While teachers possess a legitimate right to fight for appropriate wages and representation, the scale of these rallies seems almost inappropriate. Many teachers abandoned their jobs for one to three days, attending rallies outside of the capital building, fighting for their supposed rights.

Many doctors also sat at these rallies, handing out sick forms to teachers, perpetuating the demonstrations, allowing the teachers to ignore their primary task as educators.

The age-old dispute surrounding public sector worker compensation lies in social security. Since its inception, social security has not provided benefits for many professions, like those in the public sector, prohibiting the workers from receiving a pension.

Therefore, teachers and LUKE STONE, a day student from Farmington, Connecticut, is a member of the football team, the Model United Nations, and the Conservative Club. Luke writes for the LOG, but this is first article for the World Bulletin.

other public sector unions are fighting for not only higher wages, but also comprehensive pension plans.

Along with this pension provided by the state, schools need to match teachers’ 401K’s, causing what many consider unwarranted spending of taxpayers’ dollars.

Moreover, the majority of teaching jobs throughout the U.S. have adapted a “Closed Shop” policy, restricting positions to union teachers only, forcing teachers to pay their way into a position through union dues. These public sector unions possess great power, able to shut down their respective business unless their demands are met. The Wisconsin state senate’s decision now allows teachers to opt between being a union or non-union worker, and the law will aid in maintaining pension funds, spending that has increased the budget one billion dollars over the past 5 years alone.

The union system has drastically exacerbated spending, which only drastic legislation can combat.

The state of Wisconsin, with a rich history of union support, has over $22 billion dollars of debt. With their growing demands, the demonstrators need to understand the reality of the deficit. No company would be willing to add to a deficit of such magnitude, let alone increase wages. Although the union workers’ bill may be unfair, those fighting the legislature must comprehend the immense debt of the state, understand the faults in the union system, and work towards fixing the deficit.

33

1 2

Fa rewell: Remembering Elizabeth Taylor by Laura Iglehart ’11 Men will remember Elizabeth Taylor for her undeniable beauty and brilliant violet eyes.

Women will remember her for her dazzling diamonds and array of handsome companions.

But the victims of AIDS will always remember Taylor for her numerous contributions to the battle against the disease.

In the mid 1980s, with LAURA IGLEHART, from Charlotte, North Carolina, is courage and founder of the LC Fashion compassion, Club and is a m ember of the Elizabeth Taylor Confluence staff. Laura’s publicly voiced article about the Milan and her concern Paris Fashion Weeks appeared in the W inter 2011 about the severity Bulletin. of AIDS, a subject frequently avoided in American conversation.

In an age when celebrities were solely known for their contributions to the film industry, Ms. Taylor’s support for the cause attracted much media attention. Craig Thompson, executive director of AIDS Project Los Angeles, said, “It wasn’t just as if she took the risk of attaching her celebrity status to a cause. She picked the most controversial cause at the time.” Her motivation for bringing the disease into the spotlight: her friends. Taylor’s personal connection with the epidemic furthered her desire to spread awareness.

In 1985, she became an AIDS activist and began to raise money for the cause, something she continued to do for the rest of her life.

With nurses and doctors afraid to treat patients with AIDS, Taylor and other activists stepped in and founded the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR). It is said that Taylor is responsible for raising at least $50 million in funds for amfAR. In 1990, Taylor met Ryan White, a young teenager who had been expelled from his

34

Indiana high school for being HIVpositive. White had contracted the disease while receiving an untested blood transfusion; he was a hemophiliac.

Taylor traveled to Capitol Hill to demand Congress to support the Ryan White CARE Act. Congress passed the act, which later became a law supporting lowincome HIV patients. According to the AIDS Alliance, the Ryan White CARE Act is now “the largest federal program dedicated to providing care and treatment for people living with HIV.” Ms. Taylor also established her own foundation, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF), in 1991. The foundation’s mission is “to raise funds and awareness to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS, and to provide assistance for those living with the virus. With its focus on direct care and prevention education, ETAF provides funding to AIDS organizations throughout the world, providing support services to populations in need.”

At the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Awards in 2000, Taylor’s acceptance speech earned her a standing ovation. Saying, “there is no gay agenda, it’s a human agenda...why shouldn’t gay people be able to live as open and freely as everybody else? What it comes down to, ultimately, is love.

How can anything bad come out of love? The bad stuff comes out of mistrust, misunderstanding and, God knows, from hate and from ignorance.” Taylor’s fight for respect and honor in the LGBT community won her tremendous respect and admiration.

Undeniably, Elizabeth Taylor will be remembered as the diamond-dripping icon with distinct violet eyes and seven husbands.

But as her affinity for luxury and lust fades, Ms. Taylor and her contributions to the battle against AIDS will live on forever.

1 2

The Death of Osama bin Laden Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world, the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who's responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children. (U.S. President Barack Obama, Address from East Room of the White House, 1 May 2011)

Almost ten years after the attacks that shook America and the world, the U.S. government authorized a mission that killed the alleged mastermind of those attacks, Osama bin Laden.

On May 1, a group of elite soldiers, reportedly members of the United States Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), commonly known as the U.S. Navy’s SEAL Team 6, stormed a fortified compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, killing bin Laden and four others. They then “took custody” of the terrorist mastermind’s body, conducted DNA testing to confirm his identity, and flew him to an aircraft carrier where he received a burial at sea.

President Obama authorized the mission without any iron-clad confirmation that bin Laden was indeed in the compound. The operation, called Neptune Spear, was kept tightly under wraps, with only a handful of toplevel officials knowing about its existence and execution. The President did not even inform some of his very close aides, nor did he alert the Pakistani government.

Among the chief uncertainties was the reaction of the local and federal Pakistani governments. Unsure of what to expect, President Obama “insisted that the assault force hunting down Osama bin Laden […] be large enough to fight its way out of Pakistan if confronted by hostile local police officers and troops.” The President’s decision underscores his determination to capture or kill bin Laden.

The fact that Washington kept Islamabad in the dark while preparing its special operations troops for a possible confrontation with Pakistanis also highlights the shakiness of the U.S.-Pakistani alliance. Strained over the years by the U.S. drone strikes in the tribal areas and by accusations that Pakistan was not doing enough to aid American efforts against the Taliban and al-Qaeda, relations between the two countries took a heavy blow after

by Viet Phuong Dao ’11

Operation Neptune Spear.

To the U.S., the compound’s proximity (0.6 miles) to the Pakistan Military Academy, its equivalent of West Point, showed that the Pakistani government, or at least its intelligence agency, was not at all serious in its attempts to locate the terrorist mastermind. To Pakistan, the raid was a public humiliation. Allegations that Islamabad was complicit in hiding bin Laden only added insult to injury. On May 2, the Pakistani Prime Minister called such allegations “absurd,” and decried the CIA-led mission as a “violation of sovereignty.”

In an effort to calm bilateral relations, the U.S. dispatched Sen. John Kerry, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to Pakistan. Kerry emphasized that his goal was “to talk [about] how we manage this important relationship,” not “to apologise for what I consider a triumph against terrorism.”

The chances that Washington and Islamabad will publicly see eye to eye on this issue seem slim. However, pragmatism dictates that both sides resume their cooperation, given the strategic importance of Pakistan to the United States, and the dependence of the former on aid from the latter.

Whether the death of bin Laden changes the circumstances on the ground in Pakistan and Afghanistan remains to be seen. While the terrorist boss remained in spiritual and operational command of his organization at his death, al-Qaeda cells still operated with a great deal of independence. His death would therefore come as a blow in terms of morale, but not in terms of operational capability for terrorist groups in Yemen or Iraq.

Osama bin Laden’s demise holds great symbolic meaning for Americans and the world. However, as of now, it changes little on the ground in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and in other unstable areas. The U.S. still finds itself engaged in a very volatile region, with perils waiting in every direction. May 1 was a cause for a little pause, to reflect, to remember, and perhaps to find cause to move on. It was not the end. The work remains, and violence continues to take innocent lives.

35

Also in the News United States – Dominique Strauss-Kahn, President of the International Monetary Fund and potential Socialist Party challenger to Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2012 French presidential elections, was arrested on May 14th while attempting to flee the U.S. on an Air France flight from New York to Paris, after allegedly assaulting a chamber maid at the luxury Sofitel Hotel in Manhattan. Strauss-Kahn, widely known by his initials “DSK,” heads the IMF, a Washington D.C. based international organization that works to encourage and maintain stability in mostly developed markets. The IMF currently plays a prominent role in the bailout of the struggling Eurozone countries. The 187-nation, global lending agency has provided much of the financing for the bailouts of Greece, Ireland, and, now, Portugal and Spain. On May 17th United States Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said in remarks at the Harvard Club in New York that Strauss-Kahn “is obviously not in a position to run” the IMF any longer. On May 18, Strauss-Kahn resigned. With the largest number of votes at the IMF, the United States will play a considerable role in deciding the organization’s next chief. Many voices are calling for a president from an emerging market nation, something that has not been seen in the IMF’s sixty-six year history.

United Kingdom – The wedding of Great Britain’s Prince William and commoner Catherine (Kate) Middleton took place on Friday, April 29th at Westminster Abbey in London amidst great fanfare. An estimated 2 billion viewers watched the wedding live on television, while another 400 million followed the ceremony on radio or live streaming online video. The young, handsome couple has been the focus of much media attention since the pair announced their engagement in mid-November after an eight-year courtship. People around the world have gladly welcomed the royal wedding coverage as a relief from more serious and somber world events.

Japan – The network Sony, maker of the PlayStation game console, was attacked by unknown hackers between April 16th and April 19th, during which time the intruders gained access to the personal information, including credit card numbers, of over one million PlayStation Network users. The gaming network was offline until this early May, as Sony had been not only repairing and reinforcing the network, but also investigating the attacks. Sony continues to accuse an internet vigilante group called Anonymous, most well known for its connection for WikiLeaks and that organization’s founder Julian Assange.

Anonymous denies Sony’s allegations. The FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice have opened investigations into the case, while the Attorney General of New York issued subpoenas Friday May 6th to Sony. It has been reported that the PlayStation Network had no firewall protection, which would have made hacking the network all the more easier.

Nigeria – Violence and fraud have marred recent nationwide elections in Africa’s most populous nation, as the nation’s Independent National Electoral Commission ordered that a new vote be held for the governor’s race in the oil-rich state of Imo, following vote rigging in the original election. Moreover, after winning reelection against his main rival, ex-military ruler, Muhammadu Buhari, President Goodluck Jonathan remains unable to regain control of his country. The vote took place April 16th and Jonathan was declared the winner three days later. That said, rioting in the Muslim majority north, Buhari’s political base, remains unabated. Though a southern Christian, President Jonathan has pledged an “all-inclusive” government for Nigeria.

Nonetheless, with more than 800 people dead, according the New York based group Human Rights Watch, President Jonathan has ordered the military to return order to the unruly and dissatisfied regions of northern Nigeria.

Contact Us via email at: lcwbeditors@loomis.org Check out The Loomis Chaffee World Bulletin page on Facebook Visit us on the web at: www.loomischaffee.org/worldbulletin IMAGE SOURCES: (lonelyplanet.com) (dailymail.co.uk) (xenohistorian.faithweb.com) (arabnews.com) (thomaswhite.com) (topnews.in) (irpmail.com) (flashnewstoday.com) (mabryonline.org)(newonlinetravel.net)(forgetthebox.net)(newsone.com) (libya.embassyhomepage.com)(zimbio.com) (travel.state.gov) (bakkevej5.dk) (voafanti.com) (nydailynews.com) (travel.state.gov) (endtimesrevelations.files.wordpress.com) (tokyoezine.com) (catastrophemonitor.com) (3.bp.blogspot.com) (geology.com) (asianews.it) (studyamerica.com) (topnews.in) (nimg.sulekha.com) (gemselect.com) (i.telegraph.co.uk) (hotslive.com) (australiansforpalestine.com) (images.mirror.co.uk) (latimesphoto.files.wordpress.com) (cargurus.com) (priceofcrude.com) (24worldnews.net) (ametia.files.wordpress.com) (media-­‐3.web.britannica.com) (youreasynews.com) (cdn.wn.com) (newsrealblog.com) (media.nowpublic.net) (3.bp.blogspot.com) (s3.amazonaws.com) (m2mtas.com) (lh3.googleusercontent.com) (d.yimg.com) (time.com/Platon)