The French are sending a peacekeeping mission to the Central African Republic after reports of escalating violence in the capital city of Bangui. The violence is occurring between rival groups, Muslim and Christian, over control of the potentially rich country. The violence has been going on for a very long time, but the central government has been unable to control the rival groups and the number of civilian deaths seems to be rising dramatically. The French are clearly uncomfortable in sending troops to a former colony, and this intervention follows a similar French intervention in Mali earlier this year. Unfortunately, the forces of the African Union are still unable to maintain order in many areas of the continent.
Shanghai is a beautiful city with a breathtaking skyline. It also has been relatively free of the smog that has plagued the city of Beijing since Shanghai is so close to the ocean. But, reminiscent of the early days of industrialization in London and Los Angeles, it, too, has been effective by industrial pollution. Zero Hedge has some unbelievable photographs of how bad the pollution has become in the city–it is at levels that are undeniably serious health hazards.
Japan has passed a law, the Bill on the Protection of State Secrets, that sits uneasily with its liberal constitution. In this sense, it is quite similar to the USA’s Patriot Act. but also akin to the growth of state power in other liberal societies since 9/11. But Japan’s law goes much further in restricting many freedoms. For example, Article 12 of the bill defines terrorism as “an activity that forces ‘political and other principles or opinions on the state or other people.'” People within liberal societies who cherish freedoms should begin to take note of the global erosion of legal protections for basic freedoms such as the freedom of speech.
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