26. september 2002

Rafto Prize Brings Attention to Forgotten Hero Since 1987, the Thorolf Rafto memorial award has helped bring attention to forgotten struggles for human rights and democracy around the world. A number of previous awards, like the one to Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma (Myanmar) in 1990 and to the People of East Timor in 1993, has helped bring the world's attention to unsung heroes and victims of brutal oppression. Both these awards lead to the more well-known Nobel Peace Prize being awarded similarly later. The 2002 award goes to Sidi Mohammed Daddach, of Western Sahara. The committee says: "Sidi Mohammed Daddach is a strong symbol for his suffering and their struggle for independence. He stands out as a moderate voice who builds bridges for the future. In spite of having spent more than half his life as a prisoner of conscience, Daddach has never given up the struggle for human rights and dignity." In 1975, when the colonial power Spain left Western Sahara, it was invaded and occuppied by Marocco. Maroccos's claim to the former colony was dismissed, first by the International Court of Justice in The Hague and later by the UN Security Council (resolution 690). The UNs demand for a referendum in Western Sahara has been denied by Marocco, with no serious consequences. The people of Western Sahara is still subject to human rights abuses. Sidi Mohammed Daddach of the Saharawi has spent 24 of his 45 years in prison. He keeps struggling for independence and democracy for the people of Western Sahara.  8:08:06 PM    comment []

My favourite Quotation "If a cluttered desk signs a cluttered mind, Of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?" — Albert Einstein. I made a poster out of this quotation, with that picture of Einstein next to it, and hung it over my desk at three successive workplaces. I never received any further comments about my desk, or the lack of a visible desktop. The sad part is that I have never seen it confirmed anywhere that Einstein uttered the great line above. If you can confirm he did, please drop a comment. If you know somebody else, less dignified, said it, please allow me to live in ignorance. My skepticism and desire for myth-bashing only goes so far. 8:13:19 AM    comment []

Mighty Duck The Guardian, one of my favourite online newspapers (and I haven't been to Britain for more than a decade — ouch!), has just announced the Best British Blog 2002. The prize went to Scaryduck. Congrats! Oh, if you come from a country where football is played mainly with your hands, most of the duck's commentary may well be lost on you. PS: I just discovered: Two headlines in a row, mentioning three different birds. A coincidence, I swear! 7:53:41 AM    comment []

Scott Ritter — From Hawk to Dove After years of working as the toughest Iraq arms inspector, Ritter has surprised the world by denouncing Bush's hard policy against Iraq and more and more appears like an apologist for Saddam Hussein. An interesting article by Michael Crowley in Slate magazine looks at various explanations for this (apparent) about-face, and comes up with what I agree may well be a good explantion: "He may feel a genuine concern for Iraq that makes him want to see it restored to economic and political health. In interviews Ritter has spoken of the "warmth" of the Iraqi people, the beauty of the country's mosques and ziggurats, and the suffering of children who he says are victims of economic sanctions." It is perhaps difficult for us in the west to fully empathize with the suffering the Iraqi people will go through if the US launches a full-scale war to remove Saddam Hussein. If we had been there in person and met the future cannon fodder face to face, we might be less eager to let the bombs fly. 5:08:48 AM    comment []

Kazaa 1, RIAA 0 The file sharing service Kazaa keeps making it difficult for the record companies to sue it out of business, like they did with Napster. Kazaa seems to be safe so far in Oz, but according to Wired News it keeps setting up subsiduaries in a number of other contries in what can be interpreted as a preemptive move. One of the countries are Holland. Considering that a Dutch appeals court ruled that file sharing software does not infringe on copyright laws, there should be no lack of safe havens. Consumers can be glad there exists countries rejecting the industry's attempts to pass draconian laws like the US' DMA. Hey, RIAA! If you want us to buy more music, use your energy to give us something else than boy bands and bimbos! PS: Irony of the day. Look at the Napster home page. It says "work in progress." I don't think so... 1:10:19 AM    comment []

You're not saying... "A plunge in share prices poses a serious threat to world economic growth, the International Monetary Fund warned today." (Guardian) 12:54:43 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2002 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.10.02; 02:19:50.