It is worth noting that it is only in the UK and Commonwealth countries that one ever even hears about the Mugabe regime (the US media completely ignore it) and it is not clear what distinguishes this regime from the previous white ruling establishment with respect to human rights violations or what distinguishes it from countries today supported by Commonwealth nations such as Pakistan. In fact, it would seem, the only fact that does distinguish Zimbabwe is that the those who should be ruled took power—i.e., the problem isn’t human rights, but that the blacks said “Fuck you!” to the Privy Council. I remember I went to see a documentary on the crisis there in Edinburgh (a real crisis, I have not doubt). Following the film was a “discussion”--really a bullying session by the event organizer—where a member of the audience, a man actually from Zimbabwe, stood up and said, “Wait a minute, what about corruption in this country? Why aren’t you discussing that?” From that point on, my illusions about the sincerity of the Britain’s (mainly rhetorical) crusade against the regime, which I had held hitherto, I admit, were shattered.*
The situation is surely a terrible one in that country and if any of us come from countries that are supplying arms we have an obligation, “under God”, to do everything we can to stop this just as we in the US have an obligation to, e.g., stop supplying Israel with weapons used to terrorize the Palestinians. On the other hand, no government is going to “press democracy”; internal conditions can only be improved by the citizens not by outside pressure, assuming such pressure could possibly be enacted without ulterior motive.
I found the petition offensive on a number of levels. In particular, for its hypocrisy but also for the childishness of it. Whatever may or may or may not get us out of the mess we’re in, it is sure we’ll have to become a damn sight more mature and willing to look at unpleasant facts than at present the majority of us are prepared to.
*This regardless of whether this man had an ax to grind, which perhaps he did. He was still right—we need to focus on our own problems and fix them.
***ORIGINAL POST***
Dear friends,
Trade unionists, church groups, and legal organisations across South
Africa are joining to block arms shipments to Zimbabwe. Help show
their leaders that the world stands with them--sign the petition now:
CLICK TO ADD YOUR NAME!
CAMPAIGN UPDATE
In ten days, 155,000 people worldwide signed an Avaaz petition urging
South Africa's Thabo Mbeki to press for democracy in Zimbabwe--and
then flew a massive banner over the United Nations headquarters. The
flight grabbed the attention of world media, from South African radio,
newspapers, and TV to CNN and the BBC... and the next day, South
Africa shifted its position.
Click here to see coverage, and take the next step!
Even as the Zimbabwe crisis worsens, an extraordinary solidarity
movement has taken hold across Southern Africa--sparked by a South
African dock workers' union that refused to unload a Chinese shipment
of Zimbabwe-bound weapons.[1]
Their refusal to facilitate Zimbabwe's crackdown has ignited a
wildfire that is spreading across the continent. Now, as pressure
builds, China is publicly wavering--and might decide to bring the arms
home.[2] Click below to sign a petition to keep arms away from
Zimbabwe. The petition will be launched at a press conference in
Johannesburg before the end of this week, and used to lobby key
leaders until the crisis ends. Join the call now:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/no_arms_for_zimbabwe/5.php
Three weeks on, the results of the March 29 elections have still not
been released, and Zimbabwe's crisis is getting worse. Mugabe's
government has unleashed a brutal campaign to retain power. The
opposition says that ten have died, and hundreds have been injured;
now, a "human wave" of refugees is fleeing to South Africa and other
neighbouring countries.[3]
But even as the political emergency deepens, an African-led upswell
of resistance has begun to turn the tide. In the last ten days:
• More than 150,000 Avaaz members worldwide signed the petition or
democracy in Zimbabwe, including citizens of 53 of Africa's 54
countries. The goal: prod South Africa's president Mbeki to pressure
Mugabe. To make sure the message got through, Avaaz hired a small
plane to fly a 280 square metre (3000 sq ft) banner over the United
Nations.[4] The next day, amidst pressure from other governments and
worldwide media coverage of the Avaaz stunt, South Africa finally
shifted its position on Zimbabwe.[5]
• Last week, a Chinese ship carrying 77 tonnes of Zimbabwe- bound
weapons and ammunition docked in Durban, South Africa--but, refusing
to aid Mugabe's crackdown, the dockworkers refused to unload it.
Unions, churches, and legal groups throughout Southern Africa quickly
mobilized; the ship was forced to leave the harbour, and other ports
in the region are vowing to block the weapons as well.[6]
• As the grassroots outcry has grown, political officials have begun
to press their case. Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa urged other
African leaders not to allow the weapons to reach Zimbabwe.[7] United
Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and former UNSG Kofi Annan have
called for democracy. And more and more other leaders in Africa and
worldwide are joining in.
The Chinese arms ship is now sailing up the Western coast of Africa.
Union officials tell Avaaz that it could stop in Namibia to refuel,
but is probably headed towards Angola.[8] Time is short. A strong
international outcry now can help support the groups in both
countries--dockworkers, NGOs, and church leaders--who are working to
block the weapons and support Zimbabwean human rights.
There is more at stake here than the weapons in this ship. Together,
we can build a consensus that Zimbabwe should not be sold ANY weapons
in this time of crisis--and in the longer term, we can build momentum
for a strong international Arms Trade Treaty[9]. Moreover, stopping
the flow of weapons provides a concrete, immediate step that leaders
in the region can take on Zimbabwe--paving the way for stronger
actions in coming days and weeks.
Add your name to the petition, and then send this link to friends and
family:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/no_arms_for_zimbabwe/5.php
The situation in Zimbabwe is dire. But because of people power--the
courage of ordinary workers and community members, standing on
principle--the political currents are shifting, and hope is emerging
for change. And in the global media, a new strain can be heard amidst
the grinding stories of brutality and chaos.
This crisis has many layers, and raises issues that range from the
legacy of colonialism to the uncontrolled international arms trade. At
the heart of it is the simple idea that every human life is equally
precious, and that every person has rights. The people of Zimbabwe
took their stand in the voting booth. The dockworkers of South Africa
took their stand at the harbour. Now, even if we can only offer a
click, it is time to do our part as well.
With hope,
Ben, Ricken, Graziela, Galit, Paul, Iain, Pascal, and Veronique--the
Avaaz.org team
Sources:
1 Business Day: "South Africa: Unions Bid to Halt Zimbabwe Arms
Ship." http://allafrica.com/stories/200804220109.html
2 New York Times: "China Says Shipment of Arms for Zimbabwe May turn
Back."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/world/africa/23zimbabwe.html?
_r=2&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
3 New York Times: "Human Wave Flees Violence in Zimbabwe."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/21/world/africa/21zimbabwe.html?
ex=1366516800&en=0378560da461b30a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
4 SW Radio Africa: "Mbeki put under pressure at the UN over
Zimbabwe"
http://www.swradioafrica.com/news170408/mbekipressure170408.htm
5 Globe and Mail: "South African leader forced to speak up after
long keeping quiet on Mugabe."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/
LAC.20080418.ZIMBABWEANALYSIS18/TPStory/TPInternational/Africa
6 Associated Press: "Zimbabwe's neighbors unite to block arms
shipment"
ALeqM5i4kT7pJlnuzY_vpKdTACcQYIPcvQD9077G780
7 Reuters: "Zambia asks African states to bar Chinese ship"
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnBAN223066.html
8 Ibid.
9 See http://controlarms.org.
________
ABOUT AVAAZ
Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning
organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the
world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in
many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or
corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in London, Rio de
Janeiro, New York, Paris, Washington DC, and Geneva.
Don't forget to check out our Facebook and Myspace pages!
To contact Avaaz, please do not reply to this email. Instead, write to
info at avaaz.org. You can also send postal mail to our New York office:
260 Fifth Avenue, 9th floor, New York, NY 10001 U.S.A.
If you have technical problems, please go to http://www.avaaz.org.
Get the name you always wanted with the new y7mail email address. www.yahoo7.com.au/y7mail
___________________________________ http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk