| Monks, tourists, villagers mark Asian tsunami PHUKET, Thailand (AP) -- Buddhist monks in orange robes chanted on a Thai beach, an Indonesian mother mourned her children at a mass grave, and a man scattered flowers in now-placid waters Saturday to commemorate the 230,000 killed five years ago when a tsunami ripped across Asia.... hosted.ap.org |
In the next decade, I hope global capitalism will end | Cath Elliott I'd like to see a new international politics, where humanitarian concerns take precedence over greed and self-interestI don't mean to sound like some wise old sage, because let's face it, I'm not one; but if there's one thing life has taught me, it's that there's truth in the adage that the older you get the faster time seems to pass. To a child, 10 years sounds like a lifetime away: but when you get to my age, you know those years will be gone in the blink of an eye. So when I was asked to write about what changes I'd like to see in the world in the next ten years, it didn't take me long to realise that the first responses that sprang to mind just wouldn't cut it.Yes of course I'd like to see world peace and an end to all conflict. Of course I'd like to be able to celebrate an end to global poverty, and to live in a time when everyone, the whole world over, is free to live a life of their own choosing, not one governed by religious or patriarchal dictat. Of course I'd like every child, no matter what their gender, race or country of birth, to have the chance of an education, to have clean water, a roof over their heads, and adequate protection against the preventable diseases that still claim all too many of our young. But all of this within the next 10 years? Much as I'd like to think that all of these things, and more, are achievable in such a short space of time, even I'm realistic enough to know that they're not.So instead, what I would like to see in the next 10 years is a genuine change in attitude towards all of the items on my shopping list. What I would like to see is national governments and international organisations genuinely committed to improving the lot of everyone on this planet, man, woman and child.At the moment we seem to be all but drowning under a massive tide of bureaucracy, with human rights instruments and global treaties drawn up to cover just about every scenario under the sun. Meanwhile those who hold the reins of power convene meeting after meeting, conference after conference, doing deals behind the scenes and spending endless hours renegotiating their way out of doing anything that's ever likely to effect any tangible change. It's all smoke and mirrors: paperwork gets signed, lip service gets paid, and the lives of those this is all supposedly set up to help grind on unchanged.What we need is a universal acceptance that in order for things to improve for the majority, the minority will have to give something up. What we need is an end to rich nations having opt-out clauses that protect their own interests but do nothing to help those beyond their own borders, and a UN or similar such organisation that possesses real clout. We need international laws that are binding and non-negotiable, and, most importantly, we need the privileged elite to somehow wake up to the fact that if this planet is to survive, and to survive in a way that makes it a place worth living in, then its people have to be prioritised over how many riches or how much material wealth they can manage to amass.Ultimately I guess what I'd really like to see is an end to global capitalism and to the corporate power that governs all our lives. What I'd like to see is a new international politics, one where greed and self-interest are discarded and where humanitarian concerns take precedence instead. Of course I don't expect us to have got that far by the end of the next decade, but some genuine commitment, some steps in that direction, surely that's not too much to ask?GlobalisationHuman rightsCath Elliottguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Togo national football team attacked • Portsmouth demand that Fifa guarantees players' safety• Phil Brown says incident raises questions over World CupPortsmouth and Hull City last night called for their players to be brought home from the Africa Cup of Nations after an attack on Togo's team buses in Angola killed one of the drivers and wounded nine members of the squad and backroom staff.The attack by an armed gang in Angola, where the tournament begins tomorrow, sent shockwaves through the Premier League, 12 of whose clubs have players at the event. It is understood Chelsea and Fulham would fully support any move by their players to return to England.Manchester City's Emmanuel Adebayor and Aston Villa's Moustapha Salifou were on the Togo buses which came under machine-gun fire, though neither was injured. Adebayor was described by City as "shaken" and the club, who also have Kolo Touré at the tournament, were in emergency talks last night with the Football Association. Salifou said: "I am OK but extremely shocked and very upset."Adebayor said most of the players wanted to leave and that the team would quit today if they were unsure over security. The organisers of the cup said last night that it would proceed as planned: "Our first priority is the safety of the players but the tournament will go ahead."Portsmouth have four players there – Nadir Belhadj, Hassan Yebda, Nwankwo Kanu and Aruna Dindane – and their chief executive, Peter Storrie, said: "This is a terrible, tragic incident and I am very concerned about this whole situation. The safety of all the players must be paramount and that's why I believe they should all come home as soon as possible."We have four out there and, although they are not with the Togo team, you naturally worry about their well-being in the light of such an awful attack." He said he would ask the FA to contact Fifa, the world governing body, and described it as "common sense to scrap the tournament".Hull's manager, Phil Brown, told the Sun: "I am appalled. This throws a question mark against next summer's World Cup [in South Africa]. You cannot simply put the safety of players, officials and fans at the slightest risk. That is totally unacceptable. I have two players – Daniel Cousin and Seyi Olofinjana – on duty and I want them back home here with us as quickly as possible."Manchester City confirmed they were in talks with the FA "over what may happen next". The FA said it Fifa and was doing "all we can to assist our clubs and those players involved. The FA is currently contacting various organisations, including Fifa."City's manager, Roberto Mancini, said he was "relieved and thankful" Adebayor was not hurt and there was a similar reaction from Martin O'Neill regarding Salifou. There were no immediate plans to recall the 26-year-old midfielder. "I am really shocked to hear about this," O'Neill, Villa's manager, said. "Obviously I am pleased and relieved to hear that Moustapha is OK."It is understood that Chelsea would press the case for Michael Essien, Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou and Mikel John Obi to be allowed to return should the players wish to. Fulham, who have Dickson Etuhu with the Nigeria squad, are believed to have taken an identical stance.The attack on Togo's buses took place in the Cabinda region, where group games involving Togo, a Ghana squad including Essien and Wigan's Richard Kingson and an Ivory Coast squad containing Drogba, Kalou, Dindane, Touré and Arsenal's Emmanuel Eboué are scheduled to take place.Arsenal are believed to be monitoring events. A Wigan spokesman said they were keeping a close eye on developments. He added: "We trust Ghana's football authorities will be taking every possible step to ensure the safety of their players in light of what has happened."Chelsea said: "We are sure the national federations have taken every care and precaution to ensure the safety of our players." Fulham said they expected Nigeria "will do everything possible to ensure the safety of the entire team at all times".Everton said they would not call for Nigeria's Joseph Yobo and Yakubu Ayegbeni to return after getting "assurances about the safety and security".Fifa expressed "utmost sympathy". The African Football Confederation said its president, Issa Hayatou, would meet Angola's president today "to take decisions to guarantee the smooth running of the competition".Africa Cup of NationsTogoEmmanuel AdebayorManchester CityAston VillaPortsmouthFulhamChelseaJon BrodkinDominic FifieldDavid HytnerAndy Hunterguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Footage shows moment quake struck Video footage released on the internet shows a row of houses collapsing as the earthquake struck the country guardian.co.uk |
China economy sees strong growth China's economy grew by 8.7% in 2009, setting it on course to become the world's second-largest, behind that of the US. news.bbc.co.uk |