May 8, 2010

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Welcome to the Global Current, your window to the world. Today we have a discussion on the attempted Times Square Bomb plot with Omar Ahmed and Zishan Jiwani, and an interview with student organizers of the Yele Haiti Event on campus today with Heather Martino.

Oil begins washing up on Louisiana Coast

U.S. officials have confirmed that oil from the exploded rig in the Gulf of Mexico has washed up on an island chain off the coast of Louisiana. The uninhabited Chandeleur Islands, part of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge, have been drastically hit. Numerous birds are covered with oil and there are fears that sea life has been severely affected. The wildlife refuge is the second oldest in the U.S. and contains numerous endangered bird species.  Fishing grounds are at risk along with the livelihoods of area fishermen. A giant funnel is being released over the leaking oil well beneath the sea to contain the oil.  The oil has been leaking for nearly 20 days.

Times Square bomb suspect cooperating with police

The man accused of trying to set off a car bomb in New York’s Times Square is cooperating with police, and giving them useful information. The suspect, Faisal Shahzad, was arrested on Monday but has not yet appeared in court.  He has been charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction and attempting to kill and maim. He faces life in prison if convicted.  U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder told the Senate committee that police will follow up on leads and gather intelligence on the attempted attack. Shahzad, 30, is a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Pakistan.  He is from Bridgeport, Connecticut and has a wife and two young children who are believed to be in Pakistan.

Pilot from Dirty War brought to Argentina

A pilot who was arrested in Spain for his role in Argentina’s Dirty War of the 1970s and 1980s has been brought to Argentina. Julio Alberto Poch allegedly flew planes that dumped opponents of Argentina’s military regime into the sea.  About 30,000 people disappeared during 1976-1983 under the military rule. Poch was held in custody in Spain for several months before being released to Argentine officials.  A Spanish court agreed to his extradition after determining that he would get a fair trial in Argentina. An international arrest warrant for Poch was issued by Argentina in March 2009.  It is believed that he was a military pilot at one of the biggest torture centers in Argentina during the military regime.

Black boxes from plane crash found in Atlantic

The black boxes from an Air France flight that crashed in the Atlantic last year have been located within a 3 mile range.  However, it may be impossible to get the black boxes from the bottom of the ocean. The cause of the crash remains unknown.  All 228 people on the June 1, 2009 flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris were killed. The approximate location of the boxes was determined using images from the beginning of the search for the plane, when the black boxes were still emitting a signal. The black boxes record flight data and cockpit conversations and would help investigators determine what caused the crash.

Asia

Japanese officials reject relocation of US Military base

As Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama continues to face widespread criticism, tensions are rising because of his efforts to relocate the US Marine base in Futenma outside of the island of Okinawa.  Hatoyama has been forced to break his campaign promises to close the base entirely, stating that the action would be “impossible.”  His failures have hurt US-Japan relations, putting them at an all time low, and thousands of Okinawans are protesting his actions.  As the prime minister faces parliamentary elections in July, it is likely he could lose his own position within the government.  Despite pleas by Hatoyama to keep part of the base stationed in Okinawa for national security reasons, protests have been staged and his approval ratings continue to plummet.

Peace in Nepal threatened by protests

Thousands of Maoist protesters flooded the streets of Katmandu on Sunday and have initiated a nationwide strike demanding the resignation of the prime minister.  Nepal is being forced to redraft its Constitution by May 28, but Nepalese political leaders including Maoists, have failed to continue negotiations.  In the previous coalition government, Maoists were the largest political party, but have declined to join the next government; instead they want to lead the new government independently.  Nepal faces further political conflict and an increasingly fragile democracy as Maoists seem reluctant to end their protests without reform.

Africa

Somali Islamic Militias Enforce the Death of Music 

 The forceful Islamic militia, Hezb- i- Islami, ordered stations in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, to stop playing music and out of fear, the stations have complied.  After the initial order to stop music from Hezb- i- Islami, the government ordered the stations to continue playing music or shut down.  Stations received a follow up threat from Hezb- i- Islami saying shut down or be bombed.  The stations have ceased playing music, showing the lack of control the government has over the capital and the entire country. 

American Evangelist Lends Hand to Anti- Homosexual campaign in Uganda

An American Evangelist led a rally focused on moral issues last week, such as: homosexuality, witchcraft, violence, and corruption, during a prayer service in Uganda on Sunday.  The Evangelist, Lou Engle, has already created a group called TheCall Ministries, which uses prayer to focus on moral issues that are popular in the United States.  After Sunday’s rally, TheCall has opened a new chapter in Uganda.  Homosexuality is already illegal in Uganda, but the nation is looking to pass a bill that would ban gay rights advocacy and impose the death penalty on any AIDs inflicted homosexuals who engage in sexual relations.

Europe

Greek Law Causes Uproar and Riots

The Greek Parliament passed a package of tough austerity measures on Thursday, aimed at staving off economic collapse. The new measures passed by only a small margin, 172-121 votes, for the $38 billion dollar plan. The move will make substantial cuts to public sector salaries, higher taxes on alcohol and cigarettes, as well as a tightening of retirement rules. The public is in uproar over the new laws and what started as a relatively calm demonstration outside the Parliament quickly turned to violent riots where 3 people were killed. This bill passed just one day before 16 leaders of the Eurozone countries were set to meet in Brussels to decide final details on a rescue plan for Greece.

No clear winner in U.K elections

On Thursday, the United Kingdom voted in one the fiercest, most highly contested elections of the past decades. Early exit polls predicted that the elections would result in a hung parliament for the first time since 1974, in which no party has a clear majority. The final results might not be known for some time. The leader of the largest party traditionally gets the first chance to form the government and become prime minister. But if no party has a majority, the sitting prime minister has the right to stay in office and try to win a confidence motion in parliament.

Middle East

Israel won’t review nuclear policies

Amidst calls from nations at this month’s nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty conference to create a nuclear free Middle East, Israel has declared that they will not adjust its nuclear program. Israel has not signed the NPT, and has stated that peace with its neighbors is a prerequisite for joining the pact. Egypt is currently negotiating with the permanent members of the Security Council to schedule a conference next year on nuclear disarmament in the Middle East.

Iran defiant on nuclear program at UN dinner

Iran’s foreign minister declared that Iran will not stop enriching uranium. The declaration was made to delegates from the UN Security Council at a private dinner, put on by the foreign minister himself. The meeting was the highest level contact between the United States and Iran in years, and represented Iran’s latest attempt to ward off any sanctions against the country.