Christianity is presented to the world today in many different colors in this 21st century that are not scriptural, biblical or bible-based in their origins or presentations. Christianity as it is preached and promoted from the satellite cable television channels, radio stations, Internet websites, Church pulpits, Christian meetings, Christian books, Christian magazines or pamphlets in most cases do not reflect the Bible-revealed, grace-oriented and the faith-rooted saving grace of God that is based on the person and the finished work of Jesus Christ.
Christianity or the Christian faith as it is seen and defined in the Bible must be 'based and rooted in the complete trust and total reliance on the finished work and the person of Jesus Christ the Lord". The Bible remains the one, the only final authority and the divine guidance for the entire Christian faith, beliefs or mandates. The central personality of this saving grace of God that is made available to all members of the human race is the Lord Jesus Christ.
Any teaching, doctrine or a belief that promotes church denominations, prosperity gospel, personal philosophies of men, teachings of men, their persons or personalities, human deeds and abilities above the supreme deity of Jesus Christ and the Scriptures undermine the power of the cross of Jesus Christ and the whole essence of the grace of God.
A group of Christians in a town of Berea in the Early Church represented Christianity to the entire world forever in its true light and nature. Berean believers stood out forever as unique examples of Christians in the Early Church for many reasons. The Bible called them "noble believers" which means "spiritual nobles or first-class citizens of God's kingdom" in Koine Greek, the original language of the Bible.
Berean believers were teachable, lovers of the Bible and were excited daily and were always ready to learn from the Word of God and its divine truths or revelations. Their Christianity or their Christian faith was built on the sound Bible doctrine, the teachings and the words of Jesus Christ and never on the dogmas and teachings of men. They put the Word of God above the teachers of the Word of God. They hated heresies and were ready to challenge false teachings and false teachers with the biblical truth.
What is your Christianity or your Christian faith built upon? Are you a true follower of Jesus Christ in all reality or you follow the men of God? Why are you a Christian? Do you see Christianity as a means to your financial goals in life? Do you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour? Are you an example of a Berean Christian in today's world? Do you have the hope of eternal life? Do you practice the truths of the Scriptures or you follow heresies of men and organizations? Do you put heresies and heretic teachers above the sound biblical doctrine of the Bible?
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
"THE EGYPTIAN REVOLUTION AND THE FUTURE OF THE MIDDLE EAST"
Now that the Egyptian revolution has resulted in the removal of President Hosni Mubarak from power. The biggest questions left unanswered are: What is left now for the Egyptians to make or mar? What are the present and the future consequences of the Egyptian revolution in Arab World and Middle East in particular, and the whole world in general? Below are the possible aftermath effects of what just happened in Egypt today.
(i) The Muslim Brotherhood which is the largest Islamic opposition party in Egypt today and a major force behind the Egyptian revolution could end up in power in Egypt. This development may result in the establishment of the largest Islamic government in the Middle East.
(ii) The new government that will emerge in Egypt at the end of this political transition that started today may break the peace treaty that Egypt signed with Isreal in the 1970s. This singular development could set the entire Middle East region of the world into the biggest crisis in this 21st century.
(iii) Egypt is the America's biggest ally in the Arab World for the last few decades and the second biggest recipient of the United States foreign aid of about $1.5 billion yearly in military assistance. The emerging government in Egypt may not respect this age long American-Egyptian diplomatic relationship that is the key to the peace in the Middle East for many decades now.
(iv) The Suez Canal in Egypt is strategic to the world oil supply. About 2.5 million barrels of oil flow daily through those pipelines under the canal to the international oil market. Any government that emerges in Egypt must respect and support the free movement of oil tankers in the Suez Canal. If there are any disruptions, this could shoot up the prices of oil in the international markets.
(iv) Today's revolution in Egypt that forced Hosni Mubarak to step down from power could encourage similar uprisings and protests by ordinary people in the entire Arab World against their sit-tight rulers, dictators and monarchies. This may also be the biggest game changer of the 21st century in the Arab World that could change the entire political landscape of the whole Middle East for many decades to come.
(i) The Muslim Brotherhood which is the largest Islamic opposition party in Egypt today and a major force behind the Egyptian revolution could end up in power in Egypt. This development may result in the establishment of the largest Islamic government in the Middle East.
(ii) The new government that will emerge in Egypt at the end of this political transition that started today may break the peace treaty that Egypt signed with Isreal in the 1970s. This singular development could set the entire Middle East region of the world into the biggest crisis in this 21st century.
(iii) Egypt is the America's biggest ally in the Arab World for the last few decades and the second biggest recipient of the United States foreign aid of about $1.5 billion yearly in military assistance. The emerging government in Egypt may not respect this age long American-Egyptian diplomatic relationship that is the key to the peace in the Middle East for many decades now.
(iv) The Suez Canal in Egypt is strategic to the world oil supply. About 2.5 million barrels of oil flow daily through those pipelines under the canal to the international oil market. Any government that emerges in Egypt must respect and support the free movement of oil tankers in the Suez Canal. If there are any disruptions, this could shoot up the prices of oil in the international markets.
(iv) Today's revolution in Egypt that forced Hosni Mubarak to step down from power could encourage similar uprisings and protests by ordinary people in the entire Arab World against their sit-tight rulers, dictators and monarchies. This may also be the biggest game changer of the 21st century in the Arab World that could change the entire political landscape of the whole Middle East for many decades to come.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
"EGYPT THE CRADLE OF ANCIENT CIVILIZATION FACES AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE"
The pro-democracy protests that have shut down the national life and the state economy of Egypt is now 18 days old. The protests are growing daily in numbers across the nation of Egypt, the demands of the protesters are very loud and clear to the Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak and to the rest of the world. "Mubarak, your time in power is up, the game is over and you must step down from power" the protesters demanded for almost three weeks now. Hosni Mubarak responded to the demands of these protesters in his televised addressed today refused to resign, but promised to delegate his presidential powers to his self appointed Vice-President.
Now this political stalemate has reached the climax tonight and the next moment could be a major explosion that will do no one any good in Egypt and in the Middle East. There must be a way forward now, in order to avoid this volatile moment in the Egyptian history. The Egyptian military remains the strongest institution in Egypt. So far the military has remained neutral in this political conflict. They can no longer continue to sit on the fence at this critical point in Egypt's political crisis, it is time for the Egyptian military to take sides now and act right now and be on the good side of Egyptian nation and her people.
Tomorrow may be the mother of all protests. Organizers of these protests are calling on 20 million people to be out tomorrow all over Egypt to give their full support to these political reforms and regime change. Workers in Egypt are now on strike and are also backing these protests. The battle line is now drawn tonight. It is President Hosni Mubarak versus the people of Egypt with the Egyptian military playing the role of a referee. The military has a primary responsibility to make these genuine demands of the people of Egypt a reality now or fold their arms for a national catastrophe that has the power to tear Egypt apart.
Now this political stalemate has reached the climax tonight and the next moment could be a major explosion that will do no one any good in Egypt and in the Middle East. There must be a way forward now, in order to avoid this volatile moment in the Egyptian history. The Egyptian military remains the strongest institution in Egypt. So far the military has remained neutral in this political conflict. They can no longer continue to sit on the fence at this critical point in Egypt's political crisis, it is time for the Egyptian military to take sides now and act right now and be on the good side of Egyptian nation and her people.
Tomorrow may be the mother of all protests. Organizers of these protests are calling on 20 million people to be out tomorrow all over Egypt to give their full support to these political reforms and regime change. Workers in Egypt are now on strike and are also backing these protests. The battle line is now drawn tonight. It is President Hosni Mubarak versus the people of Egypt with the Egyptian military playing the role of a referee. The military has a primary responsibility to make these genuine demands of the people of Egypt a reality now or fold their arms for a national catastrophe that has the power to tear Egypt apart.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
"THE INTERNATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF A DEPLETED SAUDI ARABIAN OIL RESERVES"
The online encyclopedia the Wikipedia says that"Saudi Arabia has the world's largest oil reserves and is the world's largest oil exporter. Oil accounts for more than 90% of exports and nearly 75% of government revenues, facilitating the creation of a welfare state". The global economy of the 21st century is powered and driven by oil. All advanced economies, emerging economies and the developing economies are all oil dependent for their national growth and survival.
For decades nobody ever doubted the true estimates of the oil reserves of the Saudi Arabia. But the international whistle blower, the Wikileaks in 2011 released a classified United States diplomatic cable report about the Saudi Arabian oil reserves. The cable says that "First it is possible that Saudi reserves are not as bountiful as sometimes described and the timeline for their production not as unrestrained as Aramco executives and energy optimists would like." The cable's reports were published in the The Guardian newspaper of the United Kingdom in 2011 also. The cable cited the opinions of one Sadad al-Husseini who directs the exploration and the production at the Saudi Arabian government owned state oil company Aramco for 12 years until 2004.
The American diplomatic cable leaked by the Wikileaks shows a serious doubt about the actual oil reserves that the world's largest oil producer and exporter truly have in its reserves. The Saudi Arabian government for many years claimed to have about 716 billion barrels of oil in its reserves. Many oil experts around the world say the actual reserves may be 40% lesser or around 300 billion barrels of oil left untapped. This development is of a great concern to the American government in particular that relies on the oil from the Arabian desert and is the largest buyer of the Saudi Arabian oil as well as the whole world's largest buyer and consumer of oil.
The actual amount of the oil that is left in the reserves of Saudi Arabia is the primary factor that will determine the true price of oil in the international market and what we will pay for oil around the world at the pumps in the gasoline or petrol stations. Downgrading the size and the amount of the oil reserves that are left in Saudi Arabia oil fields will send the price of oil skyrocketing around the world. The more oil that is pumped out daily from the Saudi Arabian oil fields to the international oil market, the cheaper the oil will be worldwide.
The nations of the world today in this 21st century human universe are all oil addicts. A serious depletion in the oil reserves of Saudi Arabia will translate into a global oil crisis around the world. The international implications of this development cannot be underestimated. The nations around the world may face political crises, economic hardships and social uprisings if the price of oil rises sporadically in the nearest future. The economies of the many nations will likely collapse or grind to a final halt leading to high unemployment and inflation. The prices of goods and services around the world will also shoot up rapidly with less oil to buy at a higher price internationally.
For decades nobody ever doubted the true estimates of the oil reserves of the Saudi Arabia. But the international whistle blower, the Wikileaks in 2011 released a classified United States diplomatic cable report about the Saudi Arabian oil reserves. The cable says that "First it is possible that Saudi reserves are not as bountiful as sometimes described and the timeline for their production not as unrestrained as Aramco executives and energy optimists would like." The cable's reports were published in the The Guardian newspaper of the United Kingdom in 2011 also. The cable cited the opinions of one Sadad al-Husseini who directs the exploration and the production at the Saudi Arabian government owned state oil company Aramco for 12 years until 2004.
The American diplomatic cable leaked by the Wikileaks shows a serious doubt about the actual oil reserves that the world's largest oil producer and exporter truly have in its reserves. The Saudi Arabian government for many years claimed to have about 716 billion barrels of oil in its reserves. Many oil experts around the world say the actual reserves may be 40% lesser or around 300 billion barrels of oil left untapped. This development is of a great concern to the American government in particular that relies on the oil from the Arabian desert and is the largest buyer of the Saudi Arabian oil as well as the whole world's largest buyer and consumer of oil.
The actual amount of the oil that is left in the reserves of Saudi Arabia is the primary factor that will determine the true price of oil in the international market and what we will pay for oil around the world at the pumps in the gasoline or petrol stations. Downgrading the size and the amount of the oil reserves that are left in Saudi Arabia oil fields will send the price of oil skyrocketing around the world. The more oil that is pumped out daily from the Saudi Arabian oil fields to the international oil market, the cheaper the oil will be worldwide.
The nations of the world today in this 21st century human universe are all oil addicts. A serious depletion in the oil reserves of Saudi Arabia will translate into a global oil crisis around the world. The international implications of this development cannot be underestimated. The nations around the world may face political crises, economic hardships and social uprisings if the price of oil rises sporadically in the nearest future. The economies of the many nations will likely collapse or grind to a final halt leading to high unemployment and inflation. The prices of goods and services around the world will also shoot up rapidly with less oil to buy at a higher price internationally.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
"POLICE BRUTALITY IS RISING IN AMERICA IN THIS 21ST CENTURY"
American society is the most policed state in the whole world. The online encyclopedia Wikipedia says this about the American Police Union. "The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is an organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. It claims a membership of over 325,000 members organized in 2100 locals chapters (lodges), organized into local lodges, state lodges, and the national Grand Lodge. The FOP calls itself "the voice of our nation's law enforcement officers."
The United States of America is the cradle of democracy, human rights, freedom, justice and equality. The oldest democracy in the world. On the other hand, it is also a country of law and order and the most policed nation under the sun in this 21st century. America's police organisation is very localized, extensive in its operations and coverage networks. The police organizations are formed at all levels and they cover varied jurisdiction areas, such as the city police, the campus police, the county police, the state troopers and the Federal Police unit known as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Incidents of police brutality are on the rise in America. Cases of police brutalities are reported regularly by our news media with victims either physically injured, molested, permanently disabled, killed in the process or died in a medical facility. The United States Congress passed the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act into law without the needed funding made available. The legislation does not require local police organisations to keep or document records, nor does it criminalize police brutality and excessive use of force as human rights violations.
Ethnic minority groups are major victims of most cases of reported police brutalities in America. Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization wrote this about police brutality in America in the Baltimore Chronicle: "evidence shows that racial minorities are systematically victimized, without cause, in public, when driving, at work, at home, in places of worship, and traveling, often violently".
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in its August 2009 annual report titled, "The Persistence of Racial Profiling in the United States" quoted Rep. John Conyers (D. MI) saying "Since (9/11), our nation has engaged in a policy of institutionalized racial and ethnic profiling," although, as an African-American, he knows the problem goes back generations, most recently in the "war on terrorism" against Blacks, Latinos, and Muslims for their faith, ethnicity, activism, leading to arrests, some violently, bogus charges, prosecutions, and imprisonments often compounding the injustice.
The United States of America is the cradle of democracy, human rights, freedom, justice and equality. The oldest democracy in the world. On the other hand, it is also a country of law and order and the most policed nation under the sun in this 21st century. America's police organisation is very localized, extensive in its operations and coverage networks. The police organizations are formed at all levels and they cover varied jurisdiction areas, such as the city police, the campus police, the county police, the state troopers and the Federal Police unit known as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Incidents of police brutality are on the rise in America. Cases of police brutalities are reported regularly by our news media with victims either physically injured, molested, permanently disabled, killed in the process or died in a medical facility. The United States Congress passed the 1994 Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act into law without the needed funding made available. The legislation does not require local police organisations to keep or document records, nor does it criminalize police brutality and excessive use of force as human rights violations.
Ethnic minority groups are major victims of most cases of reported police brutalities in America. Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization wrote this about police brutality in America in the Baltimore Chronicle: "evidence shows that racial minorities are systematically victimized, without cause, in public, when driving, at work, at home, in places of worship, and traveling, often violently".
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in its August 2009 annual report titled, "The Persistence of Racial Profiling in the United States" quoted Rep. John Conyers (D. MI) saying "Since (9/11), our nation has engaged in a policy of institutionalized racial and ethnic profiling," although, as an African-American, he knows the problem goes back generations, most recently in the "war on terrorism" against Blacks, Latinos, and Muslims for their faith, ethnicity, activism, leading to arrests, some violently, bogus charges, prosecutions, and imprisonments often compounding the injustice.
ACLU wrote further in its 2009 annual report that "The practice of racial profiling by members of law enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels remain a widespread and pervasive problem throughout the United States, impacting the lives of millions of people in African American, Asian, Latino, South Asian and Arab communities".
Brian Airman eHow a contributor to the website eHOW wrote about the ways that American citizens can stop police brutality in America. He recommended that "police brutality can be stopped by you and those in your community. Know your rights and stand up for yourself, even if that means getting an attorney. Document all instances of brutality and collect all evidence and witness information. Be active in your community and participate in protests and educational events. An informed citizen is a safer citizen".
In conclusion, if there are no serious legal consequences against these police officers who intentionally engage in all forms of racial profiling and brutalities against their victims, then these evil and wicked practices will continue to increase yearly and this may eventually destroy the public trust, confidence and respect for our police officers, and the worst cases unaddressed may continue to lead to a complete breakdown of law and order, as well as the destruction of lives and properties in the affected communities.
"THE GLOBAL IMPACTS OF BLOGS AND BLOGGERS IN SHAPING THE WORLD'S OPINIONS"
The blogosphere which is the online digital communities of bloggers is growing daily all over the world and it is also cutting across the national borders, racial lines, religion affiliations and cultural identities. According to the online blog search engine Technorah, 112 million blogs existed worldwide in December of 2007. Bloggers and their activities online have continued to shape the world's opinions on the most important issues of our 21st century.
Blogs have shaped and changed the directions of today's burning issues in almost all areas of human endeavours in every part of the world from politics to economic issues to social issues to religious matters to family challenges and to the personal matters that affect the bloggers themselves. More blogs are opened all over the world daily and the global impacts of bloggers around the world in this 21st century will continue to increase and inflence our world's opinions.
Blogging has many advantages that make it very popular worldwide and this is also responsible for its rapid growth around the world in this 21st century. Firstly, membership is free and there are no subscriptions attached to opening or owning a blog. Secondly, blogs and its contents are globally accessible and visible anywhere there is an Internet access in the world. Thirdly, bloggers do not need offices and its operating costs or facilities to blog. They only need an Internet connection, a desktop computer or a laptop computer, or a palmtop computer or smartphones to operate. Fourthly, bloggers are mobile, blogging can be done anywhere under the sun in any conditions or geographical locations around the world.
Fifthly, blogging promotes international platform for the promotion of free speech, independent opinions and commentaries on the important and volatile issues of today from the bloggers. Personalized viewpoints of the bloggers can be openly expressed on all issues instead of the age long conventional, official and governmental opinions or the editorial opinions of governments of nations, organisations and news media on the most important issues of the day. Blogging is also available in the major languages of the world and many bloggers do not need to blog in the world's major languages of today, such as, English, French, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese.
Blogging contains graphics and video, thereby making it possible for bloggers to upload pictures and video clips about events around the world for their followers and visitors to blogging sites to be kept updated and abreast on the developing issues around the world. Blogging is interactive in its nature, visitors and followers of bloggers can comment freely and leave their personal comments on issues that are written about or promoted by those bloggers.
Because of the growing influence of bloggers around the world, government establishments, news media, organisations and corporations around the world now have their own blogs and bloggers for outreach purposes, marketing, public relations and to shape public opinions on issues that affect them. Finally, bloggers have broken the monopoly of the news organisations when it comes to investigative journalism, news gathering and dissemination of news around the world. The roles played recently by those Arab bloggers gave birth to the political revolutions in the Arab world in 2011 that cannot be neglected or belittled.
Countries that are under the rulership of dictators, despots and corrupt politicians are strongly against free speech, democracy and the rule of the law around the world are trying daily to silent and to reduce the political influence and power of the bloggers in their nations. The bloggers of today will continue to shape and to direct world's major and minor opinions on a number of important issues of today and the many evolving issues of tomorrow in this 21st century.
Blogs have shaped and changed the directions of today's burning issues in almost all areas of human endeavours in every part of the world from politics to economic issues to social issues to religious matters to family challenges and to the personal matters that affect the bloggers themselves. More blogs are opened all over the world daily and the global impacts of bloggers around the world in this 21st century will continue to increase and inflence our world's opinions.
Blogging has many advantages that make it very popular worldwide and this is also responsible for its rapid growth around the world in this 21st century. Firstly, membership is free and there are no subscriptions attached to opening or owning a blog. Secondly, blogs and its contents are globally accessible and visible anywhere there is an Internet access in the world. Thirdly, bloggers do not need offices and its operating costs or facilities to blog. They only need an Internet connection, a desktop computer or a laptop computer, or a palmtop computer or smartphones to operate. Fourthly, bloggers are mobile, blogging can be done anywhere under the sun in any conditions or geographical locations around the world.
Fifthly, blogging promotes international platform for the promotion of free speech, independent opinions and commentaries on the important and volatile issues of today from the bloggers. Personalized viewpoints of the bloggers can be openly expressed on all issues instead of the age long conventional, official and governmental opinions or the editorial opinions of governments of nations, organisations and news media on the most important issues of the day. Blogging is also available in the major languages of the world and many bloggers do not need to blog in the world's major languages of today, such as, English, French, Spanish or Mandarin Chinese.
Blogging contains graphics and video, thereby making it possible for bloggers to upload pictures and video clips about events around the world for their followers and visitors to blogging sites to be kept updated and abreast on the developing issues around the world. Blogging is interactive in its nature, visitors and followers of bloggers can comment freely and leave their personal comments on issues that are written about or promoted by those bloggers.
Because of the growing influence of bloggers around the world, government establishments, news media, organisations and corporations around the world now have their own blogs and bloggers for outreach purposes, marketing, public relations and to shape public opinions on issues that affect them. Finally, bloggers have broken the monopoly of the news organisations when it comes to investigative journalism, news gathering and dissemination of news around the world. The roles played recently by those Arab bloggers gave birth to the political revolutions in the Arab world in 2011 that cannot be neglected or belittled.
Countries that are under the rulership of dictators, despots and corrupt politicians are strongly against free speech, democracy and the rule of the law around the world are trying daily to silent and to reduce the political influence and power of the bloggers in their nations. The bloggers of today will continue to shape and to direct world's major and minor opinions on a number of important issues of today and the many evolving issues of tomorrow in this 21st century.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
"THE INTERNATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE WIKILEAKS' REVELATIONS"
Wikileaks is an international non-profit organisation that publishes secret, classified and private documents from undisclosed informants and news sources on its website for all that have access to the Internet to see freely. In November 2010, Wikileaks shocked the whole world when it began to publish over 250,000 foreign diplomatic cable documents of the United States Department of State.
That singular decision to reveal these highly sensitive and classified official documents of the American foreign policy objectives dealt a very big blow and a permanent damage to the American foreign policy goals since the end of the second world war around the world. Advocates of free speech, public accountability and openness in democratic governance around the world hailed this development as a victory for constitutional rule and unlimited free speech.
The United States government officials saw it in a different light for a number of reasons. Firstly, they think that these revelations from Wikileaks will promote anti-American tendencies around the world. Secondly, they believe that the information that was released that showed the official secret dealings of the American foreign diplomats around the world with other foreign governments will promote suspicion, mistrust and a permanent dent to the American diplomatic relationships around world. Thirdly, they believe that it will endanger the national security of American nation and her foreign interests and citizens around the world.
The advocates of free speech around the world saw this singular development differently for many reasons also. Firstly, they argue that democracy and constitutional rule in an open society requires our governments, elected public officials and the agents of those governments to practice openess in governance instead of secrecy, insincerity, and cover-ups about their actions and activities they carried out on behalf of the voters who elected them into power. Secondly, the government runs daily on the tax payers' monies, so these tax payers need to have faith, trust and confidence in their governments instead of mistrust from members of the public about their governments. Thirdly, they see this as a global victory in this 21st century for free speech, freedom of the press and censorship of vital state information by the governments of the nations and their media organisations.
WIKILEAKS AND THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR PEACE IN 2011
Yesterday the whole world stood still in bewilderment when Snorre Valen, 24, a member of the Norwegian Socialist Left Party, announced his submission to the Nobel Committee Wednesday on his blog. Snorre Valen nominated Wikileaks founder Julian Assange for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, saying his publication of thousands of secret government documents has helped to promote human rights, democracy and freedom of speech.
He wrote further on his blog about the reasons why he nominated Wikileaks founder Julian Assange for the world's most prestigious peace prize: "Wikileaks have contributed to the struggle for those very values globally, by exposing (among many other things) corruption, war crimes and torture -- sometimes even conducted by allies of Norway,"
"Most recently, by disclosing the economic arrangements by the presidential family in Tunisia, Wikileaks have made a small contribution to bringing down a 24-year-lasting dictatorship."
WIKILEAKS' REVELATIONS AND THE REST OF THE WORLD
These documents released by Wikileaks in November of 2010 also dealt a powerful blow to many of the governments over the nations of the world from Africa to the Middle East to Asia to Europe and to the South America. The citizens of these nations were shocked to learn about the secret activities of their leaders and government officials that were not in the best interests of those nations that they govern and were hidden from public eye and ordinary citizens of those affected countries.
This singular development in this 21st century has changed the whole world permanently in the way information is shared or censorship by the governments of nations around the world. The Internet technology, the creation of the social media and the blogs have ushered the whole world into an era of free speech and unlimited access to information. The age of information censorship by governments and news media may be nearing its final end. The common and the ordinary peoples around the world now have a loud and effective voice given to their voiceless speech. The world will definitely be changed politically, economically and socially in this age of Information Technology.
That singular decision to reveal these highly sensitive and classified official documents of the American foreign policy objectives dealt a very big blow and a permanent damage to the American foreign policy goals since the end of the second world war around the world. Advocates of free speech, public accountability and openness in democratic governance around the world hailed this development as a victory for constitutional rule and unlimited free speech.
The United States government officials saw it in a different light for a number of reasons. Firstly, they think that these revelations from Wikileaks will promote anti-American tendencies around the world. Secondly, they believe that the information that was released that showed the official secret dealings of the American foreign diplomats around the world with other foreign governments will promote suspicion, mistrust and a permanent dent to the American diplomatic relationships around world. Thirdly, they believe that it will endanger the national security of American nation and her foreign interests and citizens around the world.
The advocates of free speech around the world saw this singular development differently for many reasons also. Firstly, they argue that democracy and constitutional rule in an open society requires our governments, elected public officials and the agents of those governments to practice openess in governance instead of secrecy, insincerity, and cover-ups about their actions and activities they carried out on behalf of the voters who elected them into power. Secondly, the government runs daily on the tax payers' monies, so these tax payers need to have faith, trust and confidence in their governments instead of mistrust from members of the public about their governments. Thirdly, they see this as a global victory in this 21st century for free speech, freedom of the press and censorship of vital state information by the governments of the nations and their media organisations.
WIKILEAKS AND THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR PEACE IN 2011
Yesterday the whole world stood still in bewilderment when Snorre Valen, 24, a member of the Norwegian Socialist Left Party, announced his submission to the Nobel Committee Wednesday on his blog. Snorre Valen nominated Wikileaks founder Julian Assange for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, saying his publication of thousands of secret government documents has helped to promote human rights, democracy and freedom of speech.
He wrote further on his blog about the reasons why he nominated Wikileaks founder Julian Assange for the world's most prestigious peace prize: "Wikileaks have contributed to the struggle for those very values globally, by exposing (among many other things) corruption, war crimes and torture -- sometimes even conducted by allies of Norway,"
"Most recently, by disclosing the economic arrangements by the presidential family in Tunisia, Wikileaks have made a small contribution to bringing down a 24-year-lasting dictatorship."
WIKILEAKS' REVELATIONS AND THE REST OF THE WORLD
These documents released by Wikileaks in November of 2010 also dealt a powerful blow to many of the governments over the nations of the world from Africa to the Middle East to Asia to Europe and to the South America. The citizens of these nations were shocked to learn about the secret activities of their leaders and government officials that were not in the best interests of those nations that they govern and were hidden from public eye and ordinary citizens of those affected countries.
This singular development in this 21st century has changed the whole world permanently in the way information is shared or censorship by the governments of nations around the world. The Internet technology, the creation of the social media and the blogs have ushered the whole world into an era of free speech and unlimited access to information. The age of information censorship by governments and news media may be nearing its final end. The common and the ordinary peoples around the world now have a loud and effective voice given to their voiceless speech. The world will definitely be changed politically, economically and socially in this age of Information Technology.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
"VOICES OF THE VOICELESS IN THE AGE OF THE INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA"
The age of the Internet and the social media have changed the political landscape of the Arab World in particular and the entire world in general in this 21st century. These technologies have empowered the voiceless, marginalized, ordinary and oppressed peoples of the world with political education, political power, information, knowledge, avenues for interactions, unity and mobilization forum to organize themselves toward their desired political goal or a common cause.
This political education is the power that is producing the current political revolution that is sweeping across the Arab World in this 21st century unabated. These leaderless revolutions are powered by common people in the Arab World. The whole world was taken by a big surprise recently with the revolts that started in the social media in the small Arab nation of Tunisia and then became an open political movement supported by the masses of the people, and it then grew larger and larger by the day and finally claimed its first victim from power, Mr. Ben Ali the then President of Tunisia after almost 24 years in office.
These revolution has now reached the biggest Arab country in the Middle East and has shaken the political power that be in Egypt for the last 30 years violently. The outcome is still unpredictable or unknown for now. But no matter what happens in Egypt at the end of the day, it will affect the whole region politically, economically and socially at the end of the day. The impacts of these revolutions in Tunisia and in Egypt have now reached the other Arab nations of Yemen, Jordan and Sudan.
These political developments in Tunisia and also in Egypt have forced the King Abdullah of Jordan to bow to the public protests by ordinary Jordanians calling for political and economic reforms in the country. The King immediately sacked all the members of his entire cabinet and appointed a new Prime Minister Al-Bakhit.
King Abdullah ordered Al-Bakhit to "undertake quick and tangible steps for real political reforms, which reflect our vision for comprehensive modernization and development in Jordan."
"Economic reform is a necessity to provide a better life for our people," the king said in the statement. "But we won't be able to attain that without real political reforms, which must increase popular participation in the decision-making."
Jordan's most powerful opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, dismissed the changes as cosmetic.
"We reject the new prime minister and we will continue our protests until our demands are met,"
In Yemen, the sit-tight leader of that troubled and divided nation also bowed down to the political pressures and protests from the opposition groups and protesters. Thousands of Yemenis took to the street all over the country last week and demanded for a change in government. President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced today that he would not seek a re-election in 2013 when his current term would end, and he also said that he will not also transfer the presidential power to his 32 years old son who heads the elite Republican Guard. The opposition politicians and groups in Yemen responded to this announcement from President Ali Abdullah Saleh with skepticism.
Big political protests were also reported in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan by opposition groups calling for a change of government in Sudan. The Sudanese authorities came against these protesters with the state power to suppress it for now. These uprisings may appeared to be dead in Sudan for now, it will soon come back with a bigger force for change. From the accounts of political history, the collective will of the people is always superior, supreme and victorious over the will of any dictator that ruled in history.
If these protests in Egypt succeeded and resulted in the removal of the President Hosni Mubarak from power, then the aftermath consequences will reverberate so much in the corridors of power of the entire Arab World and the Middle East in particular and the world in general. This may also be the biggest game changer of the 21st century in the Arab World that could eventually change the entire political landscape of the whole Middle East for many decades to come.
This political education is the power that is producing the current political revolution that is sweeping across the Arab World in this 21st century unabated. These leaderless revolutions are powered by common people in the Arab World. The whole world was taken by a big surprise recently with the revolts that started in the social media in the small Arab nation of Tunisia and then became an open political movement supported by the masses of the people, and it then grew larger and larger by the day and finally claimed its first victim from power, Mr. Ben Ali the then President of Tunisia after almost 24 years in office.
These revolution has now reached the biggest Arab country in the Middle East and has shaken the political power that be in Egypt for the last 30 years violently. The outcome is still unpredictable or unknown for now. But no matter what happens in Egypt at the end of the day, it will affect the whole region politically, economically and socially at the end of the day. The impacts of these revolutions in Tunisia and in Egypt have now reached the other Arab nations of Yemen, Jordan and Sudan.
These political developments in Tunisia and also in Egypt have forced the King Abdullah of Jordan to bow to the public protests by ordinary Jordanians calling for political and economic reforms in the country. The King immediately sacked all the members of his entire cabinet and appointed a new Prime Minister Al-Bakhit.
King Abdullah ordered Al-Bakhit to "undertake quick and tangible steps for real political reforms, which reflect our vision for comprehensive modernization and development in Jordan."
"Economic reform is a necessity to provide a better life for our people," the king said in the statement. "But we won't be able to attain that without real political reforms, which must increase popular participation in the decision-making."
Jordan's most powerful opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, dismissed the changes as cosmetic.
"We reject the new prime minister and we will continue our protests until our demands are met,"
In Yemen, the sit-tight leader of that troubled and divided nation also bowed down to the political pressures and protests from the opposition groups and protesters. Thousands of Yemenis took to the street all over the country last week and demanded for a change in government. President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced today that he would not seek a re-election in 2013 when his current term would end, and he also said that he will not also transfer the presidential power to his 32 years old son who heads the elite Republican Guard. The opposition politicians and groups in Yemen responded to this announcement from President Ali Abdullah Saleh with skepticism.
Big political protests were also reported in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan by opposition groups calling for a change of government in Sudan. The Sudanese authorities came against these protesters with the state power to suppress it for now. These uprisings may appeared to be dead in Sudan for now, it will soon come back with a bigger force for change. From the accounts of political history, the collective will of the people is always superior, supreme and victorious over the will of any dictator that ruled in history.
If these protests in Egypt succeeded and resulted in the removal of the President Hosni Mubarak from power, then the aftermath consequences will reverberate so much in the corridors of power of the entire Arab World and the Middle East in particular and the world in general. This may also be the biggest game changer of the 21st century in the Arab World that could eventually change the entire political landscape of the whole Middle East for many decades to come.
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