A team of international mediators led by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan lobbied the Basque separatist militant group Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) to put down its arms. After more than 40 years trying to shoot and bomb its way into an independent state out of Spain and southwestern France, ETA announced on October 20, 2011 a definitive cessation of its armed activity and said it now backs only peaceful means for achieving its goal. On November 11th, the Basque newspaper Gara, quoted two unnamed ETA members as saying that the group is prepared for the first time to negotiate over its arsenal. The members asserted that ETA has not renounced its goal of an independent Basque state; the people of the Basque region have the right to decide between independence and remaining part of Spain and it is now up to pro-independence parties to pick up where the ETA left off. The Spanish constitution has no clause that would allow the Basque country to break away and form a sovereign country. General elections are scheduled for Nov. 20 and many saw this as a way to plug a pro-Basque independence coalition, Amaiur - that is fielding candidates. Ramon Jauregui, outgoing Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s chief of staff, said disarming would be a “definitive verification” that ETA has renounced violence, but said the action was clearly aimed at reaping an “electoral premium” for Amaiur. The conservative Popular Party, expected to win the elections, has ruled out any negotiations with the ETA.
A 32 year old Norwegian farmer and veteran with grievances against the government became part of an anti-Muslim group. He bombed Oslo and 2 hours later went on a shooting spree dressed as a policeman; the incidents (Utoya Youth Camp and bombing) totaled at least 76 dead. He may be charged with acts against humanity which has a maximum 30 years sentence and they’re questioning whether or not he is sane. I believe the penalty should equal at least one year for each person killed and in my opinion, anyone that plans an act is not insane but sane as it takes calculated thought to make plans.
A Dutch citizen was charged with helping to ship aircraft parts from the US to Iran. Canadians rioted in Vancouver because their hockey team lost the Stanley Cup. A 50 year old Australian businessman, Paul Douglas Peters, was responsible for placing a fake bomb collar on William Pulver’s teenage daughter; it was a failed extortion plot. There’s talk about a tunnel from Russia to Alaska and I do wonder what the Russian and North Korean talks were about since North Korea is not an ally of the US.
Because of the austerity plan implemented a couple of years ago, the United Kingdom this year had outbursts over tax and tuition increases. They also had riots with people as young as 9 years old destroying property and setting fires. The Greeks and Italians have also rioted because of tax increases and decreased benefits. My problem with riots is that it hurts your neighbors. The government is already hurting you, your family, friends and neighbors and you should not add to the frustration. If you have a beef with the government take it to them via the news media, demonstrations or the courts. This is what the world-wide Occupy movements are all about. And, on October 19th, the UK police moved in, burning down the barricades, to evict some 400 Travelers of Irish Extraction from a campsite that has been subject to a decade-long legal battle.
On October 15th, the President sent about 100 troops to Uganda. Per Time magazine, the troops are noncombat military advisers to aid Uganda in its fight against the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a notorious rebel group. The LRA’s messianic leader, Joseph Kony, is wanted for crimes against humanity, including the raping, mutilating, killing and kidnapping of thousands of civilians.
It appears the world has been and is still going mad. I really wish that everyone would put their beliefs aside and realize that our individual truths are not as important as people. We do not have to agree with one another to live side by side and attain world peace.
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