Malawi working for Zimbabwe

"Malawi government has sent a top three man national intelligence experts to Angola to look at ways of helping Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe clear the weapons aboard the beleaguered Chinese ship that has docked in Luanda, Angola, Nyasa Times has learnt." This is from a local newspaper in Malawi (Article from Nyasa Times).

Supposedly the team from Malawi has gone to South Africa with the intention of trying to clear the weapons so it looks like they have been donated to Malawi by China. The article claims that Zimbabwe approached Malawi to clear the arms if they could get the ship to dock in Angola.

"China and Zimbabwe want to clear the weapons as a donation to Malawi under recently signed US$4 million China-Malawi defence cooperation. The weapons are further to be smuggled into Zimbabwe. The plan is to clear the arms as if they are to be used by Malawi while in real sense they will be passed over to Zimbabwe using trucks ferrying maize being sold to Zimbabwe by the president," added the source."

The source for the article is supposed to be someone in Malawi's government who spoke under secrecy. I cannot believe something like this is being published. I was really surprised. Its like DUH if this gets out and Zimbabwe ends up with the weapons it will be obvious how he got them!

CHINA...What are you doing??

China recently sent out a ship full 'o weapons bound for Zimbabwe. Right in the middle of the disputed election results...fishy. Mugabe has been accused of torturing citizens believed to have voted for the opposition party leader Morgan Tsvangirai. The last thing he needs is a ship load of ammunition. China's foreign ministry spokes person says, "The consignment was "part of the normal arms trade between China and Zimbabwe," she said. "The relevant contract was signed last year and has nothing to do with the latest developments inside Zimbabwe." China claims the arms deal is just an ordinary business deal, but it comes at a very odd time...When Mugabe is trying desperately to hang onto power. Also, I would think that the last thing China would want to do would be arm ANOTHER African country. They are already receiving enough negative attention for the violent suppression of protests in Tibet, and their monetary involvement in the conflict in Darfur. China...What are you doing? Luckily dock workers in South Africa refused to unload the ship, and other countries ports have turned the ship away. "The weapons were scheduled to be offloaded at the South African port of Durban and transported overland to landlocked Zimbabwe. However, a Durban court prohibited the shipment from being landed, and dockers said they would refuse to handle it." (From article on allAfrica.com) It is now being reported that the ship is being sent back to China without being unloaded.

Zimbabwe Elections

I'm sure everyone has heard, well I hope at least, about the disputed elections in Zimbabwe. Current President Robert Mugabe has seemingly lost the popular vote at the recent election, but he is trying to hold onto power. Recently, the state run newspaper, The Herald, ran an editorial urging a government of natinal unity that would be run by both Mugabe and the opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. I do not think this is a good idea. The election recount results that have been released point to Tsvangirai as the winner. Mugabe needs to step down and release power, not try to hold onto it through violent means. I last thing Africa needs is another civil war and more violence. He should realize that his stepping down is the best thing for the country and for the continent...to show people that a democratic election can be held and a winner announced without violence.

Boycottong Olympics

The Chief of the United States Olympic Committee said that the US would only boycott the Olympics if the safety of the athletes was in question. Which I think is a good thing! Here is the Article. The article does not go into the opening ceremonies, but the President has made it clear that he is going to the Olympics, which I find really frustrating. I think we have a great opportunity to stand up for human rights and the President won't take it. UH.

Jane Olsen

Today I went to a talk given by Jane Olsen who is the Chair of the Human Rights Watch board of directors. She spoke to us mainly about her experience with HRW and the ongoing conflicts that they are dealing with in Africa. Some of the stories she told were truly horrific and very hard to listen to, but what I really liked about her talk was her message of hope. She shared the gruesome, but also the happy and truly touching stories, that through pain there is still compassion. She also spoke about the upcoming Olympics and how HRW is involved. She was adamant that countries not boycott the Olympics, she stated that the Olympics are good for the international community and for international relations. However, HRW's position is that heads of state should not attend the Opening ceremonies. China has invited many heads of state from around the world to showcase China's coming of age, and by not attending the heads of state could show China that they do not approve of their politics. I think this is the best position to take because it does not harm the athletes or the games.
Here is a Letter from UNHCR to Heads of State urging them not to attend the opening ceremonies.

Semi-Corny Chain Email

So, My mom just sent me this forwarded email, and I wanted to share it. I appreciated the message and I hope people can take it for what it is, the bottom line is to be thankful for what we have...we are all very lucky...

I AM THANKFUL:


FOR THE WIFE
WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.




FOR THE HUSBAND
WHO IS ON THE SOFA
BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER
WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM EMPLOYED .


FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE
BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.


FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE


FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING
I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH
WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I CAN HEAR.


FOR THE PILE OF
LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS
I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.


FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES
AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN
CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.


FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.


AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

SEND THIS TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT. I JUST DID.

Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart!

Olympic Torch

When I saw the news video of the protests in London and Paris of the Olympic Torch, all I could do was shake my head. People were arrested in both cities for starting violence while the torch was passing through, and at one point the torch had to be extinguished and bused away. People, violence is not the answer to violence! That is totally the wrong message to be sending. I was all in favor of people peacefully protesting the torch's route, but by trying to sabotage it the protesters sent the wrong message, and I think disgraced what the Free Tibet movement is about. Today the torch made its way through San Francisco, and prior to the run, one torch carrier had dropped out for security concerns. The city had to change the route locations and trick the protesters so they would not know where the torch was, (See AP article.) This really upset some people who had come out to see the historic torch go through their city, "That upsets me," Dummer said. "My back hurts from standing around on this lumpy sidewalk. ... This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and other people messed it up by protesting." (AP) I wish the well meaning protesters would have thought twice about their intentions for protesting the torch, and would have decided that peace is the best and only answer to violence.