THAILAND PRIME MINISTER CANCELS CHINA VISIT DUE TO THE STRONG FLOOD

The flood crisis in Thailand forces PM Yingluck Shinawatra to cancel her visit to China due from Oct 19 to 21. China was the first country to donate financial support to Thailand after the flood. This visit was meant to seal already strong relations between the two countries but this cancellation comes in wake of a serious diplomatic push by China for a more serious investigation into the murders of 12 Chinese crewmen of cargo vessels captured by drug smugglers on the Mekong river (this river runs through China´s Yunnan province, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam established the Mekong River Commission (MRC) in 1995 to assist in the management and coordinated use of the Mekong's resources. In 1996 China and Burma became "dialogue partners" of the MRC and the six countries now work together within a cooperative framework).

"Investigation of the incident and the search for the missing crewman are still going on. “The Foreign Ministry and the government of Yunnan province are coordinating with the governments of Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) and Laos to guarantee the safety of homebound Chinese vessels and crewmen and provide convenience for a Chinese police patrol ship for escort," said Ms. Liu. China has demanded these three countries to give active assistance for the investigation by arresting and punishing the perpetrators according to the law and provide protection and ensure safety of the crew and ships. Thailand, Burma and Laos were also urged to take effective measures to strengthen protection of Chinese crew members and ships plying on Mekong River to prevent similar crimes. The diplomats of the three countries were willing to fully cooperate with China to actively carry out investigation and provide full assistance to properly handle the aftermath, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry´s website.

It is difficult to say whether the role of the Thai Government regarding this issue would be a response, taking into account their powerful situation within the Mekong River, or a quiet claim for more help. We all know that in international relations, it is all about favors, alliances and interests so I think that no matter what Thailand actual response or capability to do something within this situation is, they should try their best to keep allies “happy”. China is nowadays one of the most powerful and best allies a country can have and given the recent situation in Thailand after the flood disasters with the bad consequences it has caused to Thai industry and economy, they should keep this good relationship by helping them in all the different matters they have position to do so, because the reward is highly beneficial for them too.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/261353/pm-cancels-china-visit

Canada travels to Lybia.

On Tuesday 11^th October, the Canadian Foreign Affair Minister, John Baird, traveled to Tripoli.

During his visit to Libya he attended to a ceremony for the reopen of the Canadian embassy and to announce that Canada will contribute with $10 million to help to secure the 23,000 shoulder-to-air missile launchers in circulation, discarded riles and other guns and stockpiles of chemical weapons, which were part of Gaddafi’s arsenal, before they get in the wrong hands. Baird also focused on the role that the Libyan women are playing on the revolution, so he hosted a round table with Lybian women’s rights advocates. He also met with representatives from non-governmental organizations; Libya’s social affairs minister Anwar Abu Shagur and oil Minister Ali Tarhouni.

In my opinion, the trip of John Baird to Tripoli can be seen as a step towards the improvement of the Libyan situation, but more than a clear impact, it has a symbolic meaning. I mean that even if is important, it is not a key element for the Libyan population right now. The money that Canada and other countries are going to invest to secure the weapons, it is necessary, of course, to protect the international security. But for me, if they are going to invest that much money on the weapons, why they do not spend a little bit more in helping the civilian population. I might have an idealistic point of view, but I go over the idea, that protecting those weapons is key for the world security, but protecting and helping the population is a main point to achieve the peace that the world desperately claims for.

Canada reopens embassy. The nation.

http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/International/12-Oct-2011/Canada-reopens-embassy

Irene Izquieta Garcia.

East meets West : Germany visits Mongolia for the first time

Merkel will visit Ulan Bator during her trip to Asia from the 10th to the 13th of October. Germany seeks to sign a deal on rare-earth elements that would assure them access to the so-called ‘oil’ of the 21st century, at a good price. In return, Mongolia will benefit with investments towards infrastructure and clean energy from German companies.

Rare-earth metals are the key components of new technologies; China, as the largest producer of rare earth elements, has recently cut its exports to the world. Such a reduction in exportations has meant that Germany is now looking for other sources and is therefore willing to come to an agreement with the Mongolian authorities so that Europe will not be as dependant on China’s exportations in the future.

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Mongolia is a landlocked country, sharing its borders with two global giants: China and Russia. However, that has not stopped it from being an important ally for western powers sending troops to Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as being an example of democracy in Asia. Mongolia certainly has an active ‘third neighbour policy’. Germany will visit Mongolia for the first time since the two countries established diplomatic relations after being invited by the Mongolian Prime minister.

Negotiations are expected to go well between the two countries, especially after Bat Khurt’s, the head of Mongolia’s National Security Council, unexpected release from a German prison only three weeks before his trial.

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Source: Stefan, Nicola. "Merkel Aims to Sign Rare Earths Deal With Mongolia Next Week."

October 6, 2011. Bloomberg

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-07/merkel-aims-to-sign-rare-earth-deal-with-mongols-official-says.html

*For those of you who wish to know more about Bat Khurt, here’s an article from The Economist.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2011/09/murky-mongolian-saga

Second Post

Dear students:

You can begin to post your second blog. The blog will close on Tuesday, October 18, 2:30PM.

Dr. Fuentes

The end of shark fin soup

An increasing number of organisations such as WildAid, that protect the rights of the animals worldwide, have started a campaign to stop with the cruel practice of cutting shark fins, which are then used to produce shark fin soup. This soup is a very popular item in the Chinese cuisine, to the point that it is even considered a luxury product (it can cost around $100).This organisation attempts to make the Chinese population aware of the impact of their consumption, and end with the myth that the fins will end up regenerating. To obtain their objective they have counted on the support of a famous sportsman, Yao Ming, in their advertising campaigns. There is also an exhibition that shows pictures of fishermen cutting their fins.

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I think this is a really positive iniciative, that shows that the importance of issues such as the environmental protection is increasing in the country. However, although it is having a positive response among some of the population, there are many who are still reluctant to stop their consume of this product, especially because it is a sign of wealth. The fact that materialism is so deeply rooted in the Chinese society might be the biggest barrier to hold back this practice.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15007841

Mystery surrounds deadly explosion in Argentina

Last Monday, there was an explosion in the locality of Monte Grande in Argentina, just two days after a more than- 5- ton NASA satellite plummeted to earth. This terrible event caused the death of a Peruvian woman and eight other people were injured. It is uncertain which the cause of the explosion was but the residents of the area where the explosion took place have commented that they saw a “powerful flash” and a strong noise; they even speak of a fireball fall from the sky. A resident explained to the Media that it was like a horror movie, all the people running away from their houses, cars everywhere turning around and window glasses exploding.

Experts don’t know yet what it exactly was, some say that it was a piece of meteorite, others that it was a satellite or a piece of it but they are still investigating so we can just wait until they find out the answer.

I don’t really know what it exactly was what caused the explosion because I am not an expert on this matter but what I can tell is that lots of social and natural disasters are happening in earth lately. It seems to me that not only the social crisis all over the world but also natural disasters and this kind of events are making us realize that ,we, as human beings are not as powerful as we think we are and that we are very vulnerable. We have been abusing of earth and we have to think that the resources are limited so if we don´t respect earth more, we will reach a point where there won’t be a turning back.

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/lifestyle/2011/09/26/mystery-surrounds-deadly-explosion-in-argentina/

Ethiopia and Egypt agree on new chapter in relations

In order to open a new chapter on international relations, Egypt and Ethiopia agree that the Nile basin is a bridge and not a barrier. The future is a new relationship between Ethiopia and Egypt based on a win-win strategy. The past is an old relationship based on a zero-sum game. That is gone. There is no going back. Under the Mubarak regime, Ethiopia took the lead in the campaign against Egypt -- for whom the Nile is just about the only source of water -- but Sharaf's government has repeatedly stressed its intention to resolve the dispute. Sharaf, Egypt’s Prime Minister, said that both countries’ main and ultimate goal is to develop an integrated development plan that benefits both. And they have agreed on the establishment of a political dialogue mechanism at the level of foreign ministers to ensure regular meetings. On the contrary, Ethiopia confirms that they won’t make a move and that they will wait for the Egyptian side to make its decision in the regard.

Setting the Nile basin as a bridge and not as a subject of conflicts is the beginning of a new relationship between two neighbor countries based on confidence and friendship, leading to an example of fraternity for other African countries.