"Pressure mounts on Tanzanian government following Maasai evictions"

Here is a great article ( http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/4974 ) covering the threats to the Maasai in Loliondo, Tanzania. The article was published by Survival International. As you can tell from the article many countries worldwide are becoming involved in the land struggle in Loliondo. The Tanzanian government is being investigated for infringing human rights, after many have witnessed rape and beatings from the Tanzanian police authority.

Threats to the Maasai Tribe

Throughout their history, the Maasai have been a nomadic tribe. They move around so their cattle can graze and the grass will regrow, this was possible with communal land and water agreements, many of which are no longer valid. Because the Maasai are being forced to settle, because their grazing lands are being turned into game parks and safari reserves, the tribe is subjected to dry soil with improper conditions for raising cattle. The Maasai near Loliondo, in Tanzania are in immediate danger, game hunters are burning down the Maasai villages and evicting many to make room for game hunting companies like Otterlo Business Corporation Ltd.

A Worldwide non-profit called Survival International seeks to preserve tribes around the world, Maasai being one of them. While the organization does not send workers into the area, they help the Maasai people fight against the authorities for grazing rights and land. On my trip to the Ngorongoro Crater, I saw a Maasai herdsman with his livestock. One successful mission of Survival International was in the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. Although, it is a Safari Park now, the Maasai have grazing rights here once again. Linked is a video of a land struggle in Kenya with the Massai people, you can see the posters that Survival International helped create to protest with the Maasai, for their land. The posters read "One Mob, One Voice, One Land"

Globalization : a Response to Barber and Gray

John Gray in his article, "From the Great Transformation to the Global Free Market," comments on the growth of a free market. Gray first addresses how the free market has lead to social degradation especially in the United States. He states, "Free markets, the desolation of families and communities and the use of the sanctions of criminal law as a last recourse against social collapse go in tandem." He makes these huge claims but doesn't back them up. How does he know it is only the free market that is to blame for this social breakdown? While I do not see his sources for his claims above, he does rightly discuss the levels of inequality in America created by this unregulated economy. Gray also makes a strong case by stating the global free market, "presupposes that economic modernization means the same thing everywhere." He then goes on to say a global economy is not an extension of western economy which I think is a crucial distinction.

Benjamin Barber wrote, "Jihad vs. McWorld" he discusses two drastically different ideas. The Jihad refers to the Islamic religious battle. McWorld refers to a world driven by American consumer culture. While there are obvious differences between these two topics, I found the sections addressing contradictions of foreign governments trying to resist the McWorld to be the most interesting. He mentions the French government's distain for "franglais" but he also points out the French government's support of Disney-Paris, certainly an aspect of the McWorld. I am not judging the French government for funding the creation of this theme park, however, it seems to me if it is helping French economy and employing French people then it is hypocritical for France to hold the McWorld in contempt. After all there are positive and negatives to all things.

The Importance of Cattle

The Maasai culture revolves around cattle. They believe all cattle were given to them by their God, Ngai. This religious belief causes tension between Tanzanian people because today the Maasai still steal cattle. Social status and condition are centered on the amount of cattle each man owns. While the men own the cattle, it is their wives responsibility to care for the animals. This can be a large task for one women, so polygamy is encouraged and accepted by both sexes because it creates less work for each woman. Stealing cattle and polygamy are both accepted social norms to the Massai people. While these are uncommon practices, their diet often consists of drinks made from cow's blood and milk. This blood and milk is mixed in a gourd that has been coated in urine. The urine prevents the mixture to spoil. This is a traditional mixture made purely from cattle ingredients, an animal that truly defines their culture.

Pictures from Tanzania

Here are pictures of Maasai, from my trip to Tanzania in 2008. In one picture you can see the men's shoes made out of tire. The other pictures are of Maasai women and children, in their traditional clothing.

Ferguson - Sinking Globalization

Nial Ferguson discusses the 19th and 20th century globalization period, represented by unregulated money, free trade, limited restrictions on migration, and inflation was low. This globalization period brought about many technological advances, such as the U-20 Submarine. This advancement in technology, however, brought catastrophic damage to the Lusitania. This is his first example of a fall or crash after a technologic advancement. He claims history repeats itself, yet every time it does we are shocked by the collapse. He also points blame at the "great illusion" many Americans possess, that movements like the Iraq war would be over quickly. We tend to think irrationally. Ferguson discusses the savings rate of .2% of disposable income in 2004, to 7.7% percent 15 years ago. With these low savings rates, investment is also down, creating the government to be more reliant on foreign countries for aid. With China buying much of our country's debt, it is dangerous because they will have a role in our government, he calls this relationship the "great-power rivalry." Ferguson, discusses the stakes of economic globalization.

The Film Avatar Is Offensive to the Maasai?

Blogs and newspapers this month have been buzzing about the box office hit "Avatar," but some questions it's racial undertones. In the movie it is a typical struggle over land between an indigenous tribe and white men. The critics have said the film was offensive to the Maasai people because the indigenous population wore jewelry and hair styled after the Maasai tribe of Eastern Africa." "Avatar" has a nauseatingly patronizing racist subtext, says Will Heaven at the Daily Telegraph." I have not seen the film yet, but I am intrigued by this link to todays box office.

Mahbubani

Mahbubani claims the West is the source of the world's problems, because they are unwilling to accept that the "Asian Century" has come. I think in this article he raises valid arguments like it is ignorant for our nation to assume our government will work in problem areas, such as Iraq; however, Mahbubani himself is Asian and appears biased and spiteful throughout his article. He claims," Every time there is a major flare-up in the Middle East.... few of them doubt the problem's origin: the West." He makes bold statements such as the one above with out providing sources to the claim. Despite his bias he makes some strong claims, the West cannot deny. By going into Iraq without UN permission, the United States lost the right to ask Iran and other nations to follow Security Council resolutions. This was a rookie mistake. He also highlights the west failing to accept global warming, when they have created the majority of the pollutants. He admires Al Gore and admonishes George Bush. This article was focused on the shortfalls of President Bush not the "West" as Mahbubani titles it.

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