Evo Morales Wins Bolivian Elections

Evo Morales, the candidate for the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) party, became the first Bolivian of indigenous origin to win the presidency of said country with approximately 50.5% of the vote. Evo Morales and his leftist MAS party will have a predominant rule in Parliament as well which should bode well for their policies and ideas to become laws. After all, the people that voted for them - most of them some of the most poor among the poor in Bolivia - will be awaiting results and change. Evo Morales did promise in his speech that the private sector would not be preyed upon by the government and its social movement. You can read more about it here: http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/internacional/38081.html

Since Chile's elections went to a second round of voting, Bolivia becomes the first Latin American country to turn left in this round of elections. Will this start a perhaps worrying tone for the rest of the countries up for election in 2006? Or will Latin American find a centre left to bring them to 2010?

Tags: Current events, International, In the News, News and Politics, Bolivia, Latin America, Evo Morales

Sydney Race Riots

Fall in France has seemingly repeated itself now at the doorstep of winter thousands of kilometers away in the pictoresque city of Sydney. More specifically at Cornulla beach on December 11, Sydney had its very own and shameful "Sydney race riot" . This time the instigators were presumed white supremacists who protested in this disorderly and illegal way their discomfort with Australia's multi culturalism (and/or the Muslim community) and immigration policies.

The Aussie Prime Minister John Howard was quick to condemn the racist attacks saying that any attack on a person "on the basis of their race, their appearance, their ethnicity is totally unacceptable". He also quickly pointed out that these images being broadcast all around the world do not represent the mayority or "mainstream" opinion on race issues of ordinary Australians. Nevertheless, it has been sad to see that being now Wednesday 14th (Thursday 15th in Sydney) the race motivated violence continues and has even escalated. Two Catholic churches, a mosque and a school have been the targets of threats, violence and even shootings. Luckily the heavy police presence in Sydney has still been without incidents of abuse or violence, only arrests and mediation.

What's worrisome, just like in France, is that sometimes the real causes of such violence are ignored. And if Sydney's riots are really about race, then it should worry all Australians that there is fear in other places such as Melbourne and Adelaide, where these riots might spread. Seeing the violence spread beyond Sydney, would truly cement the image that there are large race issues brewing up in Australia.

Australia has always been known to be a lovely country with some of the friendliest and most tolerant people on Earth. That is the Australia I knew and I hope that's the real Australia that lies underneath these riots.

Read what others have to say:
- A good recount of the Race Riots in Australia
- Details of the first day of Anti-Arab Violence in Sydney, Australia
- An excellent discourse about the Cornulla Community and the riots: White Australia Returns

Tags: Current events, International, In the News, News and Politics, Australia , Sydney, Cronulla

Saddam's Trial Postponed Again

Saddam Hussein's trial in Iraq didn't last too long after it started once again this week. Today, the trial was suspended again until December 21 (article in Spanish) and once again puts another obstacle and casts a shadow on this "trial of the century" in Iraq.

The day started off on the wrong foot as Saddam followed through on his threat to not attend trial as a sign of protest against the mistreatment he received as a prisoner of the U.S. and to claim that the tribunal was illegitimate. Saddam's and his lawyers have made this claim before since the tribunal was set up by a provisional Iraqi government during a period of time where Iraq was under occupation. The defense team has also pointed out the lack of security for its members (2 have been killed) which is a worry shared by UN Human Rights watchers who also condemn the possibility that the "death penalty" might be the outcome of the trial.

If you add to this, that witnesses have given lackluster testimony and that Saddam's been allowed to freely rant against the U.S. and the tribunal, and you have a trial under a lot of difficulty. Martin Asser of the BBC news agrees that this trial has great difficulties in his article titled: Rocky Road to Justice in Iraq.

Perhaps postponing the trial until the U.S. pulls out would give it that extra bit of legitimacy it requires? For I believe we can all agree that Saddam did do some horrible things during his reign.

Read what others around the world have to say:
- Saddam keeps manipulating and has succeeded in pausing the trial.

Tags: Current events, International, In the News, News and Politics, Iraq, Saddam Hussein

World AIDS Day

Today was World AIDS day and all over the world countries reaffirmed their vows to continue to fight AIDS with diverse prevention strategies. Today was also a day to remind all the individuals (and educate some others) about the disease and the ways they can prevent it while still having a healthy sexual life.

The World Health Organization (WHO) also gave out their press release titled "HIV infection rates decreasing in several countries but global number of people living with HIV continues to rise".

As the title says, there is optimism specially in First World countries, Kenya, Zimbabwe and in the Caribbean where AIDS has been dropping over the last years. Meanwhile, in East/Central Asia and Eastern Europe the numbers of AIDS related illness have grown. Latin America is mentioned as well in the report as a place where AIDS infections are still on the rise but is fortunately not included in the trio of regions before mentioned as those with the highest growth rate.

As I mentioned before, countries will continue to reinforce their efforts to show progress again. This progress has been aided by the availability of treatment but also to the increased use of condomns, delay of the first sexual experience and fewer sexual partners have made a difference.

This shows that a correct government & world health programs combined with responsible personal choices can make things better.

Read what others have to say:
- Blogging World AIDS Day, a complete summary of the day by the AIDS Combat Zone.

Tags: Current events, International, In the News, Health, AIDS, World AIDS Day