by Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, Philippines
The year is ending and a new one is just around the corner. For those who are able, for the most part, to take control of their lives, having set out with clear-cut goals and being conscious of making progress in the achievement of these goals, the end of the year is usually a time for taking stock. All the better to welcome the new year with renewed hope for a better time to come, with a reinvigorated spirit to address life’s challenges or travails, depending on one’s circumstances and outlook.
What of ordinary folk? What does the unique juncture of an old year, fast fading away, and a new one, to be welcomed with the customary fireworks and cheerful greetings, mean for them?
I asked Lorie, a forty-year-old cook in a middle class family that she has loyally served for the some twenty-odd years, how life was for her and what she looked forward to in the coming year.
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by Carol Pagaduan-Araullo, Philippines
On top of everything else – the lying, stealing, cheating and murdering spree against those her regime has demonized as “enemies of the state†– Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today takes the cake as super toady to the Superpower bully, the United States of America. In the process she has managed to stir up latent nationalist sentiments that have been all but smothered by ubiquitous propaganda about “globalization†and the hype about a borderless “war against terrorism†fought with the mighty US war machine. (more...)
by Jerry Harris
. S. Korean president hits US
President Roh Moo-hyun hit out at the US in strong language saying that S. Korea was “clinging to the crotch of the US’s pants and hiding behind the US’s ass.†Polling extremely low perhaps Roh is returning to his leftist roots that got him elected in the first place.
. China keeps growing
China’s growth is replacing the US as the engine of the world economy. China is the world’s largest consumer of steel, cement, copper, aluminum and zinc and the second largest oil consumer. Says Robin Bhar of UBS, “The fact that growth in the developing world will offset the decline in demand from the US represents a turning point for commodity markets, which have been historically tied to the expansion and contraction in the US economy.†
by Chris Hedges
The drive by the Christian right to take control of military chaplaincies, which now sees radical Christians holding roughly 50 percent of chaplaincy appointments in the armed services and service academies, is part of a much larger effort to politicize the military and law enforcement. This effort signals the final and perhaps most deadly stage in the long campaign by the radical Christian right to dismantle America’s open society and build a theocratic state. A successful politicization of the military would signal the end of our democracy. 
By Kayode Komolafe, Nigeria
by Jerry Harris
.Saudi Arabia blackmails the UK
Just how far has the British empire fallen? The great colonizers are now cowered by threats from Saudi Arabia fearing the loss of jobs and defense contracts. It appears that the UK defense giant BAE set-up a multi-million dollar slush fund for Saudi princes in order to obtain multi-billion dollar defense contracts. When the Serious Fraud Office threatened an investigation the Saudis hit back threatening to cancel a $79 billion deal for Typhoon fighter jets and move work to France. Prime Minister Tony Blair stepped in and told Lord Goldsmith, the attorney-general, to drop the case. As Blair stated: “Had we allowed things to go forward, we would have done immense damage to the true interests of this country, leaving aside the fact that we would have lost thousands of highly skilled jobs and very, very important business for British industry.†