The K Experience

Just 11 hours for Los Angeles (where I am at the moment) to go until 2008. This, a joyous occasion, should be followed by celebrations, memories of the 364 days gone by and the bright prospects for the 365 to come. Unfortunately, time waits for no one, and misfortune cares not of which holidays we choose to observe. Already over 120 140 300 500 800 have been killed in Riots in Kenya, and Pakistan is wondering what to do over the recent death of their former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. It is this news which brings us into 2008. What else do we have in store?

On Thursday 27th December, Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto (top left of picture) was murdered moments after she addressed thousands of supporters in a political rally, and only days before she was expecting to be elected as Prime Minister at the January 8th elections. The Bhutto family name is not one unfamiliar with killings, as her father Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, himself a former Prime Minister, was hanged in 1979 by a military dictator who overthrew him. Also Bhutto's two brothers died in what was said to be "mysterious and violent circumstances".

Bhutto's son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari (left) was chosen to lead the Pakistan People's Party along with his father Asif Ali Zardari, taking the place of the late former Prime Minister. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who is only 19 years old is still a first year student at Oxford University, and has little current political knowledge of his country, and no previous experience of leadership of this sort. One fears for what lies ahead for him when considering the previous four deaths in his family. This will not only affect the future of Pakistan, but also the future of neighbouring countries and others with close ties to Pakistan. The future for Pakistan in 2008 is a bleak one.

At the same time, word of rioting in Kenya in the wake of a somewhat dubious election result has hit current news. The re-election of Mwai Kibaki (Top picture on the right) has shocked many and driven the country to violence, as during the election Kibaki was shown to be trailing and never took the lead. Now to hear that he has won the election has brought about allegations of vote rigging, and widespread anger.

This is very much a tribal issue in Kenya. Kibaki is from the Kikuyu tribe, which has largely controled the Kenyan government since independance from Britian in 1967. Whereas the opposition leader Raila Odinga (right) is from the Luo tribe. Kenya has been plagued with corruption in recent times, calling for a change in government from many, which would have been addressed by Odinga if he would have come to power. This is still a possibility however, as Odinga has rejected the results and is planning his own inauguration ceremony to declare himself president. The future of Kenya is uncertain, and even during the time I have written this, the estimated death toll has risen from 120 to 140.

These are just a few examples of instability in the world we live in. Trouble in Iraq is still alive and kicking; North Korea has just missed their imposed deadline to disable its main nuclear plants and declare all its nuclear programmes and weapons; Petrol prices are going up around the world, making it more difficult for people to afford to live; Issues with the subprime loans in the United states are causing people to lose their homes; Not to forget the current US election campaigns which have invaded the media US media. The current US elections doesn't really qualify as instabilty as do the other examples, but it can be taken for granted that whatever decision is made regarding this will have widespread effects worldwide and may well cause instabilty in other countries, just like the election of George W. Bush in 2001 had an effect on Iraq.

It's New Years Eve. This should be a time of reflection, happiness, throwing out the old and bringing in the new. But no one said we wouldn't have to worry about worldly turmoil. While you're celebrating with your family, out partying at Time Square or Trafalgar Square or just having a quiet night in, spare a thought for the world we live in.

Have a happy new year.

See the following for more information on Pakistan (The Washington Post ; Time ; The Telegraph) and Kenya (The Telegraph ; CNN ; BBC)

Comments

Add New

+/- Comment Form Write comment

Name: Email:  do not notifynotify Website: Title: UBBCode:         -color-aquablackbluefuchsiagraygreenlimemaroonnavyolivepurpleredsilvertealwhiteyellow -size-tinysmallmediumlargehuge   Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.

Powered by !JoomlaComment 3.25

3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."