Hugo Chavez's cheeky diplomacy has reached new heights recently; standing the US's policy of global intervention on its head, he has launched an aid campaign to reinvigorate the New York Bronx.
In 2006 Venezuela's maverick Premier visited the poverty ridden district. Citing his infamous, "affinity with poverty," he mocked feeble domestic attempts to regenerate the area. Chavez cites the US's famed billion dollar spending on the global War on Terror and says the US clearly has no budget left for domestic social issues. He has now seized the opportunity to lend a hand, his Ambassador to the US commenting, "What is the difference between a US poor and an equatorial or Venezuelan poor? Our way of thinking is that you help with what you have." What the Venezualans have is oil and oil money. One hundred million barrels of subsidised oil will be offered to the US's poorest this year, and millions of dollars will be poured into social and environmental regeneration schemes. Social activist Tony Archino is enthusiastic, "I understand the issues surrounding Venezuelan money, but it's very successful." The Bush administration is keen to downplay the success of the scheme citing it as “crude propaganda,” but for Chavez, this is a hugely symbolic victory right on Uncle Sam’s doorstep.
SBS
(Ref: 3940)
Belgium - Belgium Divided
- 9 min 30 sec [28 April 2008]
As the divide between Flanders and Wallonia keeps growing, Belgium faces an unprecedented political crisis. How do you reconcile two cultures, two languages and two identities within one state?
The streets of Stavelot are crowded for the Walloon procession. Walloons may be celebrating their identity but this is one of Western Europe’s poorest of regions. Unemployment is double that in the Flemish North. As politicians try to find a power sharing formula, many in the North would prefer an independent nation of Flanders. Peter Busyrogge of the Flemish Separatist Party pushes for independence: “Wallonia and Flanders are two totally different countries. They are two parts of a state but they are completely different cultures”. For nationalists, the lack of common values has made today’s Belgium obsolete. Will Belgium emerge from this crisis reformed and united or is the divide too deep to bridge?
ABC Australia
(Ref: 3920)
Bosnia - The Unwinnable War
- 9 min 26 sec [12 May 2008]
Between 1992-1995, Muslims were systematically raped and murdered by Serbian forces in the Bosnian War. Now, many could face deportation, separated from homes and family on the alleged grounds of terrorism.
Throughout the Bosnian War, volunteers from all over the Middle East came to avenge atrocities committed on Muslim civilians. They were known as the Mujahadin. With extremist politics, many came with plans to establish an Islamic state, “We did not come to Bosnia just to help… we had our own goals,” says former fighter Ali Hamad. After the war, a peace agreement decreed the Mujahadin should return home, but many settled and led ordinary lives. They have been stigmatised for the past eighteen years. “All I know is that the EU requested our government to look into all foreign nationals,” says journalist Esad Hecimovic who believes the deportation plans are a farce to keep the EU happy.
ORF
(Ref: 3941)
India - India's Free Lunch
- 15 min 28 sec [12 May 2008]
Since 2001 all Indian primary schools have provided pupils with a free midday meal. Seven years on truancy rates have been slashed, and child health is soaring. Western governments are taking note.
“Compared to ours, today’s generation is better off,” explains a cook at one school we visited. Vijay Bhaskar agrees, he is the food administrator in Karnataka, and reveals, “the number of children out of school has reduced from 1 million to 70,000.” The scheme has also seen off the junk food industry, as Bhaskar comments, “any person who has seen children eating a hot meal knows that no cookie can substitute.”
SBS
(Ref: 3952)
Uganda - Death Row Choir
- 13 min 58 sec [12 May 2008]
22nd May Supreme Courts Decision on Death Sentence
Inmates of Luzira Prison in Kampala are literally singing for their lives. This choir of death row prisoners has recorded a unique album of songs to publicize their fight against capital punishment.
“Do not kill us, we are so sorry”, sings Susan Kigula. In the first legal case of this kind, inmates are battling the government to abolish hangings. The prisoners are convicted of serious crimes, yet human rights groups claim 30-40% of inmates are innocent. There have been no executions since 1999. But with the gallows just behind the prison wall, the idea of death is close by.
Joe Sinclair
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