Issues of Global Import

2 June 2003


Peru's President Uses Troops on Teachers, Nurses and Farmers
For the second time since he came to power, President Alejandro Toledo of Peru has declared a state of emergency. It reminds one of a Brecht poem -- "The people have lost the faith of the government. Perhaps the government should dissolve the people and elect a new one." When military force has to be used against the population twice in two years, the government must go. Click here to read Kensington's Opinion.

French Strike Over Pensions
France, like much of Europe, has a problem, and for those Americans who are glad of any suffering by their former ally, this is serious enough to forgive the past unpleasantness. The French have too many people headed for retirement and too few people to fund the "pay-as-you-go" pension system. The government's efforts to address the problem only achieved a strike called to protest any changes. Click here for more.

Saudi Prince Calls for Reform
Talal bin Abdelaziz is not the twentieth hijacker, nor is he in the deck of cards portraying the most wanted of the Saddamite regime in Iraq. Rather, he is a liberal member of the Saudi royal house (he is King Fahds's half-brother) who has called for reform. Specifically, he has said the Shura, an unelected advisory council with no real authority, should have the power to question the government, review the budget and amend the constitution. He is both realistic and right. Click here to read why.