UN - a puppet for the big boys to play with!

Côte d'Ivoire Children. By United Nations Photo. Under a Creative Commons Licence.

This 28th of November, and the days after it, saw a repetition of the mess left after Côte d'Ivoire's presidential elections ten years ago. In 2000, just as it happened this time, two people called themselves president. Both of them, separately, sworn themselves in as leaders of the nation.

Seeing this situation repeat itself brings many questions to our western heads. If we were certain big European or American corporations we would be more than concerned with the instability in the largest cocoa producer in the world. Back in 2000, there were two choices for a president: was it going to be Robert Guéï, then head of the governing junta put in place after 1999's coup, or was it going to be Laurent Gbagbo, famous for being the only candidate to stand against Houphouët-Boigny (arguably the most popular and loved president in the history of the country) back in 1990. There was obviously not much of a choice for people during the 2000 election, as a couple of other candidates were banned by the junta. The people still decided to raise against the head of the junta, who they thought was not capable to bring the country back to order, like in those days under Houphouët-Boigny. Mass street protests forced Robert Guéï to stand aside and let Gbagbo rule. It sounds simple and democratic, but in reality it was bloody and devastating.

Today we see a new chapter. Gbagbo is once again trying to remain in place. Ouattara, one of those banned in the 2000 election, is the contestant. Unfortunately for Gbagbo, it doesn't seem it will end as well for him as it did ten years ago. The general sentiment in the streets is that Gbagbo has had ten years to bring the country back to its peaceful ways and thriving economy, and yet not much seems to have been accomplished. Even with a strong UN presence in the country, and with their leader Guillaume Soro as Prime Minister since 2007, rebels in the north -the so called "New Forces"- seem not too eager to drop the guns.

The UN is once again trying to bring this back into control. Whose control is not the matter, as long as it is under control. When the major cocoa producer goes into chaos, the west sees it as an annoyance that needs to be kept in order. This time the UN vouches for Mr. Ouattara. In fact, it so strongly supports it that it won't stop until the Security Council sends a clear -and very intimidating- message to Mr. Gbagbo: We recognise only Mr. Ouattara, remove yourself or be removed. Even if it isn't with those words -nothing coming from the UN is ever so direct and clear- that's their message.

But, is it really a threat? I remember when a certain Security Council called on the US to not invade Iraq. Did that help in any way? Sorry, what did you just say? Oh yes! The US didn't agree back then to the resolution. This time is different. In fact, it is the US -not the Security Council itself- who says Mr. Gbagbo has to leave. Apparently, only when the US agrees things need to be taken seriously and the UN can function as it should. Russia thinks differently and has decided to veto that message to Côte d'Ivoire. They say the UN should not intervene in internal affairs of countries in that way. Hasn't Russia intervened in other countries' internal affairs too?

As it seems, everything in this world turns around what the big boys (Russia, China, the US and the EU) think is best. Unfortunately it is not always what's best for a certain country or region, but what's best for their own interests. The UN is the puppet they play with, while in reality, if they want a certain outcome all they need to do is call in their secret services, or send in their military. Who cares, in reality, what the UN says? Even more importantly, who cares what really happens to the people back down there in the little countries? All that matters is that they keep their production for the west, so that big corporations are happy and can continue making -in Côte d'Ivoire's case- the chocolates we all enjoy!

86 days and counting

Mapuche flag. By Patricio. Under a Creative Commons Licence.

It's been 86 days since Mapuche political prisoners in jails across Southern Chile started a hunger strike. All I can say is my heart, my mind, my love is with them.

Since young I've had this idea of Chile as one of the most developed countries in Latin America. I proudly announce I am Chilean when someone asks where I come from, and I eagerly tell stories about my beautiful country. I am sure most Chileans abroad do the same. Certainly, we all share this patriotism. Maybe it's the fact that so many Chileans left the country in the 70's to live in exile. When someone leaves his/her home, city, country for reasons beyond their control, with fear of prosecution, knowing that many of your friends have been taken to prison, some of them murdered or forcibly dissapeared, then it's understandable that you feel such passion and love when you remember your land.

As a child of the exile, I always grew up hearing stories about Chile, about its beautiful fjords, its green hills and its arid desert. Little I heard of Mapuche. Little I was told that my dark skin might as well be some gene I have inherited from my Mapuche ancestors. Little I was told of the terrible circumstances of their existance.

When I moved to Chile still being a child things didn't change much. I had to wait until just a few years ago, living in Europe, to understand what Mapuche people have had to endure. Since before the Spaniards arrived in what is now Chile, the Mapuche nation managed to keep away even the mighty Inca empire. The Spaniards themselves could do little to conquer the lands inhabited by the Mapuche. Only after the independence from Spain, and after many dubious treaties signed between the newly created Chilean State and some Mapuche chiefs during the Pacification of Araucania, did the Mapuche people fell to the armies of a foreign nation.

Today, their struggle continue. The Chilean government continues to deny the fact that they have stolen the land of the Mapuche. Hydroelectric plants have been built in the Bío-Bío river which have created an artificial lake destroying ancient Mapuche land. Farmers have taken even more, and the Mapuche have found themselves exiled on their own soil. They live in extreme poverty, while the government signs international treaties to promote and defend indigenous cultures. Treaties that are not more than pieces of paper in a country where Mapuche language is endangered, yet not given any status or protection in any way, and where Mapuche children can't afford to attend school or have access to proper health care.

I am sad to see, read and hear their suffering. I am sad to know that during 20 years after the dictatorship ended, having had presidents who were themselves tortured and exiled during such hard times, little has been done to recognise the rights of people that still today are neglected and tortured. I'm sad to know that last year, president Michelle Bachelet opened a museum of Human Rights violations, in order to never forget what went on during Pinochet's regime, yet Human Rights violations still happen in Chile in a regular basis while no one seems to care.

I hope one day soon we will look at the mirror and realise that we're not that different from those who inflict pain, from the dictators that kill and destroy families. We are the same because we do nothing to stop a situation such as this, and many more that happen throughout the world, in the name of development and economic growth. In reality this is all a game of greed and power, regardless of consequences to our people, our land, our planet.

Bhutan: Happiness should be our goal

Bhutan Dec 07. By Brentolson. Under a Creative Commons License.

This week in New York the 65th Session of the UN General Assemby is taking place. The Millenium Development Goals is high on the agenda, with only five more years to go to the deadline in 2015.

You can listen to the head of state or representative of your country and many more at the UN Webcast website. I highly recommend you to, if you have the time, listen to as many different speeches as possible. This will give you an idea of the points of view of the governments around the world and their achievements so far in erradicating poverty, reducing children's mortality rates and more.

The best speech, in my opinion, was that of the Bhutanese Prime Minister. It didn't include an over-optimistic account of their achievements, such as that given by the Chilean President and others, for example. It also didn't spend time pointing fingers or blaming other countries on conspiracy theories, such as the speech of Mr. Ahmadinejad, President of Iran. It instead raised questions about what are the governments of the world doing to enhance the quality of life of their citizens. It asked what are we doing as a global society to stop neglecting the environment while pursuing more economic development. It raised issues such as ecological, economical and social sustainability. More importantly it made us question what governments are doing to secure the happiness of their people.

Needless to say, I agree one hundred per cent or more with the Prime Minister of Bhutan and his views on what we, as a united world, should be doing in order to lead a sustainable, peaceful and happy life. What is the purpose of development, if not to assure that people live as fully and as freely as anyone could imagine? I leave you with his speech, but if instead of reading it, you prefer to listen to it, here's the direct link of the video on the UN webcast site.

We Can End Poverty 2015,
Millennium Development Goals UN Summit,
20-22 September 2010, New York High-Level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly MDG Debate,
statement by H.E. Jigmi Yoezer THINLEY, Prime Minister of the KINGDOM OF BHUTAN

"Mr. President, Mr. Secretary General, distinguished Heads of States and Governments, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

"Ten years ago we pledged to galvinise a partnership of rich and poor countries to erradicate extreme poverty, hunger and disease. To these, my delegation shall humbly propose the inclusion of a ninth goal.

"I'm happy to report that my country is well on its way to fulfill the MDGs with most goals to be achieved before the deadline of 2015. For this, I wish to express our deep appreciation to our development partner countries, the UN and other multilateral agencies for their generous assistance. The World Bank and the ADB are to be thanked particullarly for their focuse on MDGs through such windows as that of the IDA.

"As all nations rise above the threats of basic survival, what will our collective endeavour be as a progressive society? Must we continue to believe that human life is to be spent labouring for higher income, so as to be able to consume more at the cost of relationships, peace and ecological stability? Could we not find a way to steer ourselves from the self consuming fire of greed, that is fueled by the media and paid for by the industry and commerce which thrive on reckless consumerism? Has human civilisation not reached the time and moment to aspire for a higher goal as individuals, as nations and as a society? And should we not hope that the pursuit of such a state of being would be more of the kind that refines the mind, disciplines the body and conserves the life-supporting environment?

"Enough thoughts and knowledge has been generated by those who care, in recent years, to convince us that humanity needs to get off the perilous path on which the wrongful use of GDP has set it. We need to understand that endless pursuit of material growth in a fine-eyed world, within a delicatedly balanced ecology is just not sustainable. The evidence of the limited capacity of nature to tolerate abuse is there for us to suffe as we comfront the rising frequency and fury of the multiple calamities. I refer not only to the natural and man-made disasters, such as those that stroke the innocent millions in Pakistan and the one that destroyed much of a way of life in the Gulf of Mexico. I refer also to the economic calamities, such as the current recession, which reminded us that much of the so-called wealth we have created are in fact illusory and, that being unreal, they disappear often without a trace, like jobs, homes, savings, investments and more. The only things real are the psychological, emotional and environmental costs.

"The good thing is that there is an increasing number of people who acknowledge the futility of our way of life and are pleading for an alternative way to live a good and decent life. The MDGs are one such set of indicators or contributions for which I commend the Secretary General and his advisor Prof. Jeffrey Sachs for their vision and commitment.

"It was some four decades ago, in Bhutan, that on its path it chose not to be lead astray by conventional development practices. Having pondered the meaning and purpose of development and being dissatisfied with the aimlessness of prevaling models, our King's understanding of the inner-most yearning of his people, inspired him into conceiving the development philosophy of Gross National Happiness. It is based on the belief that since happiness is the ultimate desire of every citizen, it must be the purpose of development to create the enabling conditions for happiness. His understanding of happiness is a state of being that is realised through a judicious equilibrium between gains in material comfort and growth of the mind and spirit in a just and sustainable environment. It is not about asceticism and denial. Consequently, our small success in balancing the needs of the body with those of the mind, with visible ecological benefits, have raised a level of interest in GNH as a holistic development paradigm.

"With these in mind, and as it is likely that the relevance of the 8 MDGs will remain beyond 2015, my delegation would like to propose that we include happiness as the ninth MDG.

"-I heard some laughter and I see a lot of smiles. Thank you.

"It is a goal that stands as a separate value while representing as well, the sum total outcome of the other eight. Its relevance goes beyond the poor and developing member states to bind all of humanity, rich and poor, to a timeless common vision. I believe, it will be in the conscious of happiness that the very best in the nature of human race will flourish. Through the pursuit of such a goal we will find the reason and genius to moderate and harmonise our otherwise, largely material wants with the other, equally important, human needs and nature's limitations. It is what will make life on Earth sustainable. And the way on which our nations pursuit this goal will be a measure of its devotion to the promotion of its people's true well being. We must not lose time and opportunity to work in concert at all levels of society for the collective pursuit of this ultimate value through public policy, plans and programmes.

"The inclusion of happiness as the ninth dimension of MDG would confirm that we are concerned with the quality of life, of adding meaning and value to life. Its inclusion would be a broader outcome indicator of life to which all the other elements of MDGs contribute. Above all, it would enhance the visibility of moving toward a more responsible and human endeavour that bears the promise of meaningful pursuit, fulfillment and happiness. Based on the set of elaborate and precise metrics developed by Bhutan and others, we could leave the task of adopting or developing indicators for uniform application to the experts.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, hope has prevailed against cynicism to bring us to the United Nations today. Let us go forth from this summit not only rededicated to the eight goals to banish hunger, disease, and extreme poverty, but also to the new ninth voluntary goal, to achieve a world that can sustain happiness for all its people, today and for generations yet to be born.

"I thank you for your patient hearing. Tashi Delek."