What does everyone think of the on-going Arabic uprisings?
Looks like Libya's Gaddafi is next, thank God.
http://blogs.aljazeera.net/sites/def...mages/kick.jpg
I'm interested to hear what everyone thinks of intervention? Should the UN, the Arab League, or Western powers (NATO, or perhaps a US-led coalition) intervene to prevent violence, topple governments?
Personally, no I don't support intervention, apart from the humanitarian kind, and only from the UN. These protests are perfect examples of what Iraq could have been without intervention, without invasion. It is an example of peaceful people power, where the military cannot justify force. We saw it in Egypt: the army refused to fire on crowds of people who consisted of their friends, family and fellow Egyptians. We are seeing it in Libya, with (disparate) sections of the military defecting, rather than supporting Gaddafi. I heard today of bombers who flew to a neighbouring country (forget which one), rather than following orders - orders to bomb civilians.
Long live the Jasmine Revolution!
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In more local news for me, there has been a devastating earthquake in Christchurch, NZ, about six hours ago. It was 6.3 on the Richter scale, but very shallow, and the epicentre was very close to the CBD. To make it worse, it struck at about 1pm, when people were at lunch, at school, and at work - that is separated. The damage is worse than the 7.3 earthquake that struck the same city in September 2010, because that one was deeper, further away, and struck at 4am, when families were together in the suburbs.
Iconic buildings have collapsed. There are reports of two buses being crushed. Whole office buildings have tumbled. The sewerage system has failed, and water is undrinkable. So far, 65 confirmed deaths, without much rubble being cleared at all.
Devastating.
http://www.mkiwi.com/New+Zealand+pic...athedral+1.jpg
http://images.brisbanetimes.com.au/2...420c-420x0.jpg
Should point out that there are actually bodies in that rubble. People were in the spire when it collapsed.
Christchurch, New Zealand, Earthquake Pictures, Photos
It's sobering:
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