Opium wars to oil wars

by Domenico Losurdo

The imperialist domination in the wake of the Opium Wars.
"The 'alleged' death of Qaddafi is a historic turning point," the leaders of NATO and the West proclaimed in chorus without even bothering to keep its distance from the media production being portrayed as the barbaric assassination of Libyan leader and the shameless lies the heads of the "rebels" uttered. Yes, indeed it is a turning point. But to understand the meaning of the war against Libya in the context of colonialism is far from accurate ...
When, in 1840, the British warships appear before the back of Chinese cities, the attackers dispose of a firepower of thousands of guns and can sow death and destruction on a large scale without fear of enemy artillery, whose range is very small. It is the triumph of the gunboat policy: the great Asian country and its ancient civilization are forced to surrender and begin what Chinese historiography rightly called "the century of humiliation," which ends in 1949 with the coming to power of the Communist Party and Mao Zedong..... MORE

Source:  Pravda.ru

URL: http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/terror/28-10-2011/119457-Opium_wars_to_oil_wars-0/

Did Arnaiz and Deles err? C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S Jonathan De la Cruz 10/28/2011

Did Arnaiz and Deles err?

C.R.O.S.S.R.O.A.D.S

Jonathan De la Cruz

10/28/2011
Did our friend Negros Oriental Rep. George Arnaiz err in sponsoring and leading the vote on House Bill 4820 creating the province of Nueva Camarines out of Bicol’s biggest province, Camarines Sur?

This question is being propounded almost as a last minute counterpoint to the bill’s passage during the last congressional session before the break by lawyer Joselito Figuracion, Camarines Sur’s Sanggunian Panlalawigan ( provincial board) secretary. We recall that it was Arnaiz as chairman of the Lower House’s committee on local governments who shepherded the bill through committee and later sponsored it on the floor until it was voted overwhelmingly (229-1) on third reading. That smothered the effort of its oppositors led by incumbent CamSur Gov. LRay Villafuerte and the province’s Fifth District Rep. Sal Fortuno to delay its consideration until they have submitted more information to support their cause..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111028com4.html

The unstable future of a world full of men focus 10/28/2011

The unstable future of a world full of men

focus

10/28/2011
NEW DELHI — As the global population hits seven billion, experts are warning that skewed gender ratios could fuel the emergence of volatile “bachelor nations” driven by an aggressive competition for brides.

The precise consequences of what French population expert Christophe Guilmoto calls the “alarming demographic masculinization” of countries such as India and China as the result of sex-selective abortion remain unclear.

But many demographers believe the resulting shortage of adult women over the next 50 years will have as deep and pervasive an impact as climate change.

The statistics behind the warnings are grimly compelling..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111028com6.html

US says military solution vs MILF won’t be supported By Michaela P.del Callar 10/28/2011

US says military solution vs MILF won’t be supported

By Michaela P.del Callar 10/28/2011

True to form, the US government is again meddling in Philippine affairs.

Through its Washington representative, the US yesterday made it clear that it will not support a military solution to the renewed conflict in Mindanao amid violent attacks against government forces by Muslim rebels, stressing that a peaceful negotiation remains the best option for both sides.

Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt, who was in Manila for a stop-over visit, conveyed this message to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario at a meeting Wednesday where he called for restraint and adherence to the ceasefire agreement.

“We fully support the government of the Philippines’ efforts to bring security and stability to the southern Philippines, including through the ongoing peace process,” Campbell said in a statement..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111028hed4.html

Despite doleouts, hunger incidence highest since ’09 10/28/2011

Despite doleouts, hunger incidence highest since ’09

10/28/2011
Despite the vaunted cash transfer doleouts or the social welfare department’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) the pang of hunger among Filipino households was recorded at its highest since December 2009 with one in five households saying it experienced a day going by with nothing to eat, the results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted between last Sept. 4 and 7 showed.

The question posed was “In the last 3 months, did it happen even once that your family expe-rienced hunger and not have anything to eat?” Those who answered in the affirmative were further asked: “Did it happen only once, a few times, often, or always?”

The survey showed that severe hunger or those who answered often or always among those
who missed out on daily meals was experienced by 3.5 percent of respondents and moderate hunger or those who answered once and a few times of having nothing to eat reached 18 percent..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111028hed5.html

Witnesses in Tentorio murder stonewalling probers By Benjamin B. Pulta 10/28/2011

Witnesses in Tentorio murder stonewalling probers

By Benjamin B. Pulta 10/28/2011

A Justice official yesterday bared that the government’s ongoing probe into the killing of Italian missionary Faustino Tentorio in North Cotabato is being hampered by witnesses unwilling to cooperate with investigators.

Speaking to newsmen, Undersecretary Francisco Baraan III, chairman of the Department of Justice (DoJ) special task force on extralegal killings said they are set to visit the province next week after the long holiday break to personally talk to Fr. Tentorio’s companions at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish.

“I was told that the community has apprehension toward the local authorities there. They don’t want to talk to the military that’s why they are happy that the DoJ will investigate this case,” Baraan said.

“We don’t have a clear lead yet at this point,” he added..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111028nat1.html

SC voids GSIS employees retirement plan 10/28/2011

SC voids GSIS employees retirement plan

10/28/2011
The Supreme Court (SC) has voided the Retirement Financial Plan (RFP) of the state pension fund agency Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).

This was after the SC upheld the Commission on Audit’s (CoA) ruling that GSIS has no authority to provide chunks of benefits to its employees, especially having a P15-billion actuarial deficiency.

In a 32-page ruling dated Oct. 19, 2011 but was released only on Thursday, the SC, through Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro, said that CoA did not abuse its discretion when it ruled that the GSIS employees who received the benefits under the RFP are liable for the return of their disallowed benefits.

Under its resolutions issued in 2003 and 2004, CoA said that while GSIS has the authority to create a financial scheme for its retiring employees, it is limited only to employees who will avail of an early retirement caused by the reorganization in the agency..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111028nat5.html

Group hits Aquino gov’t ‘No Money’ policy for death row OFWs blood money request 10/28/2011

Group hits Aquino gov’t ‘No Money’ policy for death row OFWs blood money request

10/28/2011
A progressive overseas Filipino workers’ rights group in the Middle East today scored the Aquino administration’s “No Money” policy for death row OFWs’ blood money, saying “it is brazenly insensitive to the plight of OFWs on death row despite numerous appeal from their families, relatives, fellow OFWs and various OFWs organizations.”

“Comparatively speaking, the Aquino government is much more insensitive to the plight of our OFWs on death row compared to the previous administration,” Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) regional coordinator John Leonard Monterona lamented.

Monterona said despite numerous appeals from the death row OFWs specifically from OFW Rogelio “Dondon” Lanuza and his family, relatives, and friends and pressure from the public and various OFWs organizations, the Aquino government is yet to come up its policy on OFWs blood money.

“The Aquino government provided P5 million for the MILF, while it has nothing to contribute for the blood money of OFWs on death row,” Monterona lamented..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111028nat4.html

Fine utility firms overextending repair of major roads — Magsaysay 10/28/2011

Fine utility firms overextending repair of major roads — Magsaysay

10/28/2011
Zambales Rep. Ma. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay yesterday said not only should contractors be fined for substandard works on government projects but also utility firms that have overextended their works on major roads in the country causing traffic that has inconvenienced commuters throughout Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

“Local governments should sit down with these utility firms and put their foot down because this is affecting their constituents. Usual travel time that takes 30 minutes to one hour is doubled and in some cases tripled because many segments of the roads are being excavated,” Magsaysay said.

Magsaysay added local governments should reassess their agreements with the utility firms and review their deadlines for repair and maintenance works as most have abused these agreements and indiscriminately excavated major segments of the roads that have aggravated the traffic situation in these areas..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111028met2.html

Former VP Guingona’s grandson dies after falling from hotel’s 31st floor 10/28/2011

Former VP Guingona’s grandson dies after falling from hotel’s 31st floor

10/28/2011
The Muntinlupa police are conducting an investigation into the death of a grandson of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. who reportedly died after falling from the 31st floor of a hotel in Muntinlupa City before dawn yesterday.

Southern Police District-Public Information head Chief Insp. Jenny Tecson identified the victim as Martin “Marc” Guingona Lamb, 20, 4th year student of De La Salle University and residing at 29 San Antonio St., Magallanes Village, Makati City.

Martin was a son of Sen. Teofisto Guingona III’s sister Marie Guingona Lamb.

Tecson quoting a report from case investigator SPO2 Rodel Torres said around 2:45 a.m., Martin fell to his death from the 31st floor of the Vivere Suites (formerly Richville Regency Hotel)..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/metro/20111028met3.html

Wagging the dog EDITORIAL 10/27/2011

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Breaching a constitutional mandate FRONTLINE Ninez Cacho-Olivares 10/27/2011

Breaching a constitutional mandate

FRONTLINE

Ninez Cacho-Olivares

10/27/2011
Defending the Republic’s territorial integrity is the President’s primordial duty, but this important constitutional principle is being breached by the very President and Commander in Chief when he grants armed rebel groups, such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front part of the Republic’s territories to control them, even euphemistically calling these areas in Mindanao controlled by the Moro rebels as “Areas of Temporary Stay” (ATS), as well as allowing these rebels to even carry their arms publicly and worse, put up checkpoints, with government troops banned from entering these MILF-controlled areas to search for fugitives without first seeking the permission of the MILF.

It is fact that Noynoy made his displeasure and dismay of the MILF attack on the Special Forces unit near the rebels’ lair in Al-Barka, Basilan, where 19 soldiers were not only killed but disemboweled by the rebels, instead of making those rebels pay for what they had done to the Republic’s soldiers..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111027com2.html

The worst airport in the world NO HOLDS BARRED Armida Siguion-Reyna 10/27/2011

The worst airport in the world

NO HOLDS BARRED

Armida Siguion-Reyna

10/27/2011
The latest rating of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Terminal 1 (NAIA-1) came out the day this lola was to check out of the hospital the previous week, and nobody seemed surprised. “The Guide to Sleeping in Airports” had already ranked it fifth worst in 2010, so what would have really jolted all 92 million of us is if it suddenly zoomed up to best airport. And yet, the question remains. Why is our NAIA-1 the worst airport in the world?

Despite my increasing frailty, I never traveled as much as I have this year. From spending the last New Year in Hong Kong, to the Aawitan Kita sa Amerika 12-show, nine-state concert tour last May in the United States, the 14-day July/August family vacation in Rome and Florence in Italy, now again to do what’s become Aawitan Kita sa Buong Mundo, Nov 3 to 8 in Australia, Nov. 22 to Dec. 3 in Bahrain, Qatar, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and I am slated to greet 2012 in Bangkok..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111027com4.html

Japanese tsunami debris drifting toward Hawaii focus 10/27/2011

Japanese tsunami debris drifting toward Hawaii

focus

10/27/2011
LOS ANGELES — The discovery of a fishing boat and other debris in the Pacific suggests flotsam from Japan’s killer tsunami is drifting east faster than expected, researchers say.

The tsunami washed up to 20 million tons of debris off the Japanese coast on March 11, and researchers in Hawaii have developed computer models to forecast its movement and predict where and when it could come ashore.

They had predicted that the first landfall would be next spring on the Midway Islands, about 1,300 miles (2,100 kilometers) northwest of Honolulu on the main Hawaiian islands in the the northern Pacific ocean.

But their calculations have been revised after a Russian ship traveling from Hawaii to the Russian Far East last month spied tsunami debris in the northwestern Pacific, including the 20-foot (six-meter) boat from Fukushima, near the the site of the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111027com3.html

Clarification LETTER 10/27/2011 Dear Editor:

Clarification

LETTER

10/27/2011
Dear Editor:
We write to you regarding a photo of Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin published in The Daily Tribune’s Oct. 25, 2011 issue with a bolded caption “Defense chief on retreat.”

We would like to take the opportunity to clarify some points regarding the secretary’s perceived silence in light of the recent ambush incidents in Mindanao and the Defense chief’s “retreat.”.... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111027com7.html

Human life VIEWPOINTS Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz 10/27/2011

Human life

VIEWPOINTS

Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz

10/27/2011
Without human life, what for is human dignity, what for are human rights? Without human life, what is there in the whole world that has intrinsic significance, lasting value or inherent purpose? Without human life, what for is progress and development? In other words, human life is the reason and the finality of everything else here and now. The conclusion is obvious! Human life is only invaluable but also irreplaceable. When it is lost, lost it remains — with everything else being but things.

No wonder that among but the 10 Mandates of the Law of Nature, there is one that clearly and expressly says: “You shall not kill.”

It is quite significant and revealing that the command to respect human life is preceded by the imperative of honoring parents who are the source of life. More: It is also followed by the demand of respect specifically for the relationship between men and women with their combined potential of bringing life about..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/commentary/20111027com6.html

AFP: Coup talks baseless By Mario J. Mallari, Angie M. Rosales and Virgilio Bugaoisan 10/27/2011

SENATOR SAYS NOY MADE BIG MISTAKE IN DEMORALIZING TROOPS

AFP: Coup talks baseless

By Mario J. Mallari, Angie M. Rosales and Virgilio Bugaoisan 10/27/2011

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday quickly branded as “baseless” the reported brewing coup plot against the administration due to the reported demoralization in the military ranks following the “weak” position taken by President Aquino against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The AFP leadership, however, failed to explain why it claims that the brewing coup plot is without basis when it was Malacañang that had started the coup talks with its statement on “efforts” by an unidentified group to destabilize the Aquino government.

At a chance interview during a book launching in Camp Aguinaldo, AFP chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. admitted that the issue of demoralization in the ranks was among the discussions he had with military field commanders in Mindanao during his visit on Tuesday, but claimed that the morale of the troops is high and that the AFP is focused on its mandate..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111027hed1.html

Hong Kong court junks bid to suspend maid ruling 10/27/2011

Hong Kong court junks bid to suspend maid ruling

10/27/2011
A Hong Kong court rejected a government bid Wednesday to suspend the processing of residency applications by foreign maids after a key ruling last month paved the way for them to settle in the city.

Foreigners can apply to stay in Hong Kong after seven years of uninterrupted residency, gaining access to voting rights, benefits such as public housing and the right to live in the Chinese city without a work visa.

But until the landmark High Court ruling last month, immigration laws had excluded the city’s 292,000 foreign maids from settling in the territory.

The High Court judged the law unconstitutional in a decision that has sharply divided opinion and prompted a government appeal..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111027hed5.html

Catholic radio station in Mindoro set on fire By Gina P. Elorde 10/27/2011

Catholic radio station in Mindoro set on fire

By Gina P. Elorde 10/27/2011

A radio station being run by the Catholic Media Network in Occidental Mindoro was set on fire by unidentified men before dawn yesterday.

Chief Supt. Artemio Hicban, Mimaropa regional director (Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) said that the incident took place around 1 a.m. at the dzVT located inside the Catholic seminary compound in Barangay Labangan in Poblacion San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. The fire was put under control at 4 a.m.

Reports show that unidentified men poured gasoline at the place and set it on fire while the caretaker was sleeping in his quarters.

Luckily, no one was hurt during the fire..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111027nat6.html

Legarda backs RP’s campaign on decent work for domestic workers 10/27/2011

Legarda backs RP’s campaign on decent work for domestic workers

10/27/2011
Sen. Loren Legarda yesterday expressed support to the Philippine campaign on decent work for domestic workers, particularly on the swift ratification of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 189, otherwise known as “Domestic Workers Convention, 2011.”

Legarda, chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations, said that house helpers are one of the lowest paid workers and are usually subjected to poor working conditions such as longer hours of work but no overtime pay and lack of social benefits.

The ILO Convention 189 promotes and protects rights of domestic workers and sets out measures to ensure fair terms of employment and decent working and living conditions..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/nation/20111027nat4.html