bayano
24th September 2008, 17:19
I should preface this by saying that I hate the United Nations and do not uphold it as either a great mark of internationalism or as an institution known for progressive and honorable action.
But, I think it's a testament to US arrogance that the news media barely covers the annual week of speeches by most of the world's heads of state that occurs right in New York. But I always like watching this stuff. Sure, you can't trust what the rulers say too far, but there's always something funny or of particular defiance or arrogance.
So far, I really liked Bolivian President Evo Morales' speech, which is no surprise. He ostracized the United States for being one of the only major states in the Americas or Europe to not speak out against the anti-democratic secessionist revolts and massacres by east Bolivian elites. He also talked about how nationalizations in his country had already proven through their effects that socialism is a better path than capitalism. "That was the historical fight of Bolivians - the fight between rich and poor, and socialism and capitalism. " "There are uprisings against a capitalist economic model around the world and if no one understood that capitalism was destroying the planet, then major problems would go unresolved. ... So much is being said about climate change and if we continue the way we were, we will all be responsible for destroying the planet, and therefore, humanity, he said, adding that it was not enough to raise problems with addressing solutions."
I like Evo.
Panama's President Martin Torrijos (who sucks) talked poverty and climate change, and tried to set his legacy by talking UN reform. The climate change part is interesting, because a good number of Global South rulers have mentioned it so far, and yet the US often claims the onus is on the large poor countries to cut carbon emissions. Of course, the US doesn't touch regulating itself with a ten foot pole. Argentina's Christina Fernandez Kirchner said some fucked up things, but also spoke about a treaty her country put forth on disappeared persons and put the claims of rich countries about the food crisis on their heads, arguing that the crises had begun in the rich countries thanks to Washington Consensus policies.
There's still several days to go. What are your favorite moments?
More to come...
But, I think it's a testament to US arrogance that the news media barely covers the annual week of speeches by most of the world's heads of state that occurs right in New York. But I always like watching this stuff. Sure, you can't trust what the rulers say too far, but there's always something funny or of particular defiance or arrogance.
So far, I really liked Bolivian President Evo Morales' speech, which is no surprise. He ostracized the United States for being one of the only major states in the Americas or Europe to not speak out against the anti-democratic secessionist revolts and massacres by east Bolivian elites. He also talked about how nationalizations in his country had already proven through their effects that socialism is a better path than capitalism. "That was the historical fight of Bolivians - the fight between rich and poor, and socialism and capitalism. " "There are uprisings against a capitalist economic model around the world and if no one understood that capitalism was destroying the planet, then major problems would go unresolved. ... So much is being said about climate change and if we continue the way we were, we will all be responsible for destroying the planet, and therefore, humanity, he said, adding that it was not enough to raise problems with addressing solutions."
I like Evo.
Panama's President Martin Torrijos (who sucks) talked poverty and climate change, and tried to set his legacy by talking UN reform. The climate change part is interesting, because a good number of Global South rulers have mentioned it so far, and yet the US often claims the onus is on the large poor countries to cut carbon emissions. Of course, the US doesn't touch regulating itself with a ten foot pole. Argentina's Christina Fernandez Kirchner said some fucked up things, but also spoke about a treaty her country put forth on disappeared persons and put the claims of rich countries about the food crisis on their heads, arguing that the crises had begun in the rich countries thanks to Washington Consensus policies.
There's still several days to go. What are your favorite moments?
More to come...