Macron Prevails…
French Presidential elections have left Macron on top for another term. His most serious challenge came from the right once again. The first round of voting did not give any candidate a majority. Macron was on top with 27.9% of the vote followed by Marine Le Pen with 23.2% and the far-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon with 22%. Three other candidates were left with the remainder. In the French system there is a second round of voting for the two best performers. In this, Macron prevailed with 58.5% over Le Pen’s 41.5%, a significant but narrower victory than when the two faced off in 2017. Mélenchon, despite being locked out of the Presidential runoff, has forged an agreement with the other leftist parties in France ahead of the elections for the National Assembly in June. His “France Unbowed” party is partnering with the Communists, Greens and Socialists. By agreeing on one candidate per district they hope to capture a parliamentary majority capable of blocking Macron’s agenda.
The Brexit Shuffle: Remix
Like a song that’s been remade too many times, we may reach a point where people just don’t want to hear it anymore. Brexit is at the heart of an impasse after recent elections in Northern Ireland. The Irish Nationalist party Sinn Féin, formerly the political arm of the IRA, has won a majority in the Northern Ireland Assembly for the first time ever. Unionist parties, those supporting Northern Ireland being part of the United Kingdom, have ruled since its inception over 100 years ago.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) came in second place. Since Brexit they have objected to the customs checks between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK that allow the border with Ireland to remain open and preserve the Good Friday Agreement that ended years of terrorist attacks and violence. Some of their top ministers have resigned. Leaving Northern Ireland in the EU and separating it from the UK is obviously anathema to the idea of “union.” Furthermore, the party is refusing to meet with the rest of the Assembly to appoint ministers, blocking the inauguration of a new government. The situation has warranted an emergency visit by Boris Johnson but there is no solution which everyone will accept.
Some Reservations
It’s no secret that Chinese companies own vast amounts of natural resources in countries all over the globe. One such asset is the Las Bambas copper mine in Peru. Mining operations have faced difficulties in South America, often due to the land being owned by indigenous peoples living traditional lives. Such groups, taken all together, form a significant voting bloc and many governments depend on their support. Balancing their concerns against the benefits of expanding industry has been difficult.
Initially, Las Bambas was hailed as an example of mutually beneficial compromise. The Fuerabamba community sold their land to allow the mine to expand. Each family was paid between $100,000 and $500,000 (depending on who you believe) as well as being guaranteed 1 job. Also a new town was built, complete with brick homes, electricity and plumbing.
That was 8 years ago. By most estimations the cash is long gone. The modern luxuries also come at a price: water and electric bills come every month, and the ability to live off the land is severely hampered. This has led the Fuerabamba to demand their land back. They have forcibly reoccupied the land around the mine. Attempts to remove them have resulted in injuries on both sides and the mine, which produces over 2% of the world’s copper, has been shut for over a month. The Fuerabamba and the subsidiary of China Minmetals Corporation that owns Las Bambas would each like the government to intervene. The Peruvian government, however, has some reservations about choosing a side.
President Bongbong
With Duterte having reached his term limit, recent elections have installed Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as president of the Philippines. Affectionately known as “Bongbong”, Marcos Jr.’s father ruled the Philippines from 1965 through 1986. Alternately cast as a dictator, strongman, or even hero of a golden age, there can be no question that Marcos Sr. wielded unquestionable authority over two brutal decades. Though ousted by a popular uprising, many Filipinos remember his rule fondly and believe it was more effective than many of the liberal governments that have followed it. This same sentiment has contributed to Duterte’s unequaled popularity. One example is his drug policy. While going far beyond the letter of the law it remains incredibly popular amongst voters. Marcos Jr. ran on a platform that embraced his father’s and Duterte’s legacies. Sara Duterte was also elected as Vice President.
Lasers?
Vladimir Putin has generated headlines by claiming Russia has deployed military lasers in Ukraine. While many have scoffed, the battlefield use of such experimental technologies is not totally out of the question, as the utilization of a hypersonic missile has demonstrated. Nor are lasers a recently pioneered weapons technology. Both the United States and the Soviet Union began experimenting with them decades ago. Many problems with their use have been overcome. The US Navy has conducted several successful tests against both floating and aerial targets in the Persian Gulf. The Army has also tested them in combat simulations, including against missiles and drones. While lasers use significant amounts of electricity they have the advantage of not requiring ammunition, a logistical and cost-saving benefit over the life of the system. Other laser weapons are intended to do everything from blind or destroy satellites to disorient ground forces.
Wars and Words
Pope Francis is as outspoken as ever. In regard to the war in Ukraine, he had a long conference with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. Their leader, Patriarch Kirill, heads the largest flock in Orthodoxy with over one hundred million adherents. During their talk, the Patriarch enumerated Russia’s justifications for the invasion which Francis strongly objected to. In an interview weeks later Francis was asked about the exchange. He replied, “A Patriarch can’t lower himself to become Putin’s altar boy.” While the two denominations are far apart on many issues, the Patriarch’s office expressed regret at the tone Francis had chosen to take. It doesn’t look like the great schism will be patched up anytime soon.
Monkey Pox
The disease was discovered in monkeys in the 1950’s and is related to small pox. What is strange is that it is spreading outside of Africa, something that has only happened a handful of times before. Rodents are thought to be the main hosts, though the disease can be spread by “close contact” with infected monkeys or humans. Cases have been identified in Spain, Portugal, the UK and the US. The UK’s Health Authority Agency has warned that new cases are not related to travel, but have been found amongst men who engage in homosexuality.
India’s Internal Struggle: Hindus vs Muslims
Conflict between these religions has a long history and often flares up inside India’s borders. Prime Minister Modi is supported by a strict Hindu faction. Many Indians resent proselytizing foreigners and consider it an attempt to subvert their traditional culture and take control of their country. The history of the spread of Islam includes many churches and temples that were either converted into mosques, or destroyed and rebuilt as such. Zealous Hindus are now returning the favor. Archaeological evidence is being used to prove that many mosques, some of them large and important, were built over Hindu temples. Services have been halted or attendance limited while the issue is investigated.
