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50.0%ANMag Issue 25 Public Surveillance
Sexism in the Cedar Land
By Farah Salka, Staff Writer
Beirut, Lebanon – When one attempts at discussing the status of women in Lebanon these days and comparing it with that of women in the Arab world, challengers ignorantly bring about the stereotypes of the women at the forefront of Lebanese media as examples to back their invalid arguments. This includes Haifa, Marwa, Elissa, Melissa and their sound/act/look-alikes. Outsiders believe that the typical seemingly-liberated bodies that are circulated around all the music channels (in an age where Rotana rules), actually do represent the whole of the situation of Lebanese women. Wrong. [More]
2009 U.S. Federal Budget re-asserts Military-Industrial Complex…Again
President Bush Requests $588.3 Billion for Defense Spending in 2009 amid Record High $3.1 Trillion Budget
By Yousef Salama, Staff Writer
Toronto, Canada – Last Monday US President George W. Bush unveiled his 2009 U.S. Federal Budget. This budget, sent to the Congress for debate on Monday, includes more than half a trillion dollars ($588.3 billion) in basic defense spending, and another $70 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is roughly 3.4 percent of the U.S. total output, or Gross Domestic Product. Although these numbers are quite daunting, they do not include the approximately $21 billion the United States spends on its nuclear arsenal, which is allocated under the budget for the Energy Department. Even with such a large amount of defense spending, some contend that more money is needed. [More]
China-Sudan Relations: Roots of Ethnic Conflict
By Vanessa Zuabi, Staff Writer
Orange County, California − Ethnic and religious conflict is a repeating theme in today’s political affairs. Artificial nation-states established by previous colonial powers altered the boundaries of continents and regions, such as Africa and the Middle East but failed to address tribal, ethnic and religious perceptions of identity, which did not translate well into the Western notion of nation-building. Colonial powers such as France and England took advantage of instability caused by tribal, ethnic and religious conflict as a means of maintaining economic, political and social control. For example, while the French in Lebanon did not exhibit direct social control of the Lebanese, they funded religious elite that supported their presence within the country. In return for funding, educational and health resources by the French, several Lebanese elite implemented policies that served the interest of the French in Lebanon allowing them to tacitly continue to maintain control during and after their mandate. This policy created large regional socio-economic discrepancies between religious groups and regions, leading to sectarian instability and violence. [More]
The Big Green Paint Job
By Naseem Javed, Contributing Writer
Toronto, Canada − Suddenly, away from the hundreds of available colors, there is a rush all over the world to paint almost everything green; green paint, green ribbons, green wrappings and green fabrics becoming the top choice, causing shortages of the material, while green logos, green billboards and almost politically-correct green ties and attires are becoming the most fashionable and trendy statements.
Just like a year-round St. Patrick's Day; the big green dress party has started.
As if this process will provide that green-mask, creating the appearance of a fighter, presence of a leader, out fixing the global environment. Oh, Really? [More]
Shariah Law Can Be Modern
By Dr Terry Lacey,
Jakarta, Indonesia − The recent controversy in the United Kingdom when the Archbishop of Canterbury raised the possibility that some aspects of shariah law might be implemented in UK Muslim communities raised cultural and economic issues rather than simply religious questions. Shariah law is not always about backwardness, despite its image in the West.
If shariah banking can be modernized, globalized and in management terms westernized in synergy with a liberal financial system, then why not other aspects of shariah law? Interpretation of shariah law is culturally contextualized in time and space, not universally fixed like concrete. [More]
Burma Crisis Update
By Ricken Patel, Executive Director, Avaaz
Dear Friends,
Three months ago, thousands of Avaaz members donated over $325,000 (225,000 Euros, in just 4 days!) to support the Burmese people's efforts to peacefully protest against their brutal military rulers, and tell the world about their struggle. [More]
Kenya Crisis: Support Kofi Annan
By Avaaz.org
A presidential election tainted by vote-tampering - now Kenya’s future hangs in the balance, with over 600 killed and 250,000 made homeless. We need to act fast. [More]