News from around the globe (Below the Equator),
August 24, 2012…………

Today’s news is from countries that lie South of the equator.

 

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Buenos Aires Moves to Dispose of Plastic Bags

http://www.argentinaindependent.com/socialissues/environment/buenos-aire...

Plastic bags are a severe environment problem in America. Buenos Aires is now moving forward with legislation that will eventually eliminate the use of plastic bags in their stores. It is expected that the rest of the country will follow their example. Isn’t it great to see countries that we (as a nation) once laughed at passing us by on social issues?

 

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Encapuchados clash with Chilean police force in student protests

http://www.santiagotimes.cl/chile/education/25075-encapuchados-clash-wit...

This article, which is written in a Fox and Friends style, condemns the student protests. The student’s protest movement does not appear to be subsiding. The students claim that the best educational opportunities are not equally divided amongst the country’s students. Instead, they say that students from powerful families are taking up a disproportionate share of spots in the country’s best schools. I suppose they have not heard Willard’s advice that they just borrow money from their parents to pay for their schooling.

 

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Dar es Salaam launches major sanitation campaign

http://www.dailynews.co.tz/index.php/local-news/8845-dar-launches-major-...

Tanzania is undertaking an ambitious 4 year sanitation project that will eventually impact move than 1 million people. The project is beginning immediately and is aimed at reducing the number of people hospitalized as a result of diseases linked to water and sanitation.
This is a very interesting article. The total cost of the project in U.S. Dollars is about 30 million dollars. Considering that it is estimated that we spend about 2 billion dollars a week in Afghanistan and Iraq, this four year project, which will impact the lives of over 1 million people, represents about 3 hours of what we will spend this week in Afghanistan and Iraq. Ms. Clinton, I hope you’re reading this today.

 

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Africa africom and US Army bases

http://www.herald.co.zw/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=505...

This is an opinion piece from a Zimbabwean newspaper. I find this essay extremely interesting in that it quite succinctly details American African policy from an African perspective. Note the sarcastic use of the phrase War On Terror. American exceptionalism is a dangerous myth that is only believed by the ignorant jingoists who think that the rest of the world actually needs us.

 

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Government will fight violence in Papua

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/08/24/govt-take-all-necessary-me...

This article is a little confusing but it seems to indicate that government officials are being targeted in Papua. Indonesia is a fascinating country with a long history of violence. (I know that Indonesia is not entirely South of the Equator, but I find it is sufficiently below the equator to be included in today’s roundup).