The Importance of Youth in Politics #4 – Check out our latest video!
Remember to subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Thanks for watching and please do share/comment,
Digestible Politics
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Digestible-Politics/476112109093593?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/Digest_politics
Since Colonel Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011 Libya has been subject to instability and lawlessness. But what is happening now and why is Libya lawless now?
Who is in control of Libya?
This is the issue. At the moment nobody is in control of Libya. Approximately 1700 armed groups, with a variety of different goals, are in combat in Libya at the moment. These groups are mostly looking for money and power, but at the moment the country is in total chaos with all the conflict between these groups.
Were these groups on the same side?
During Gaddafi’s era the groups were united by their hatred of Gaddafi, however that was it. The groups all have slightly differing interests, and no single group ever led the way in opposing Gaddafi. The groups have little knowledge of how politics works and how the rule of law operates, which has led to further political troubles since 2011. This is demonstrated by the fact that there has been 5 different governments in Libya in the past 4 years.
Is any help outside Libya provided?
There is some help provided, but this is minimal. The US government said they would help Libya retrieve any stolen weapons from the Gaddafi era, but not much more than that. Despite this, many of the stolen weapons have not been recovered and most of them have ended up in the hands of these armed groups throughout the country today.
Other African countries are fearful over where these stolen weapons will end up. Many people believe that the stolen weapons could deepen the instability in countries such as Mali and Niger, as well as in Sinai, Gaza and even Syria.
Foreigners
There have been a number of attacks on foreigners, including a number of attacks on diplomats (an official representing a country abroad). This includes the killing of the US Ambassador Christopher Stevens in Benghazi. Furthermore, western oil firms were seized by many groups causing a decline in the global oil market.
Which group is the most dangerous?
Ansar al-Sharia is potentially the most dangerous armed group in Libya, as it is blamed for the death of US ambassador Christopher Stevens and for forming relations with a number of Islamist groups. Colonel Khalifa Haftar also has a powerful militia (armed group), and has a goal of defeating Ansar al-Sharia.
The people of Libya
The troubles in Libya lead many to live in fear, and there is little evidence that change will happen. The government is being controlled by these armed groups, but it is hoped (by the government) that some groups will combine to form a sort of national army for the country to stop the continuance of instability and lawlessness.
What do you think is the solution? How can the government stop these armed forces?
Thanks for reading and please do share,
Digestible Politics
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Digestible-Politics/476112109093593?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/Digest_politics
What are pressure groups?
Check out our latest video explaining pressure groups!
Please like, share, comment and subscribe for more fun, easy to understand, videos 🙂
Thanks,
Digestible Politics
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Digestible-Politics/476112109093593?ref=hl
A woman in Sudan (Meriam Yehya Ibrahim Ishag) is facing death after the court ruled she had committed apostasy because of marrying a Christian man. Apostasy occurs where someone is said to have abandoned their religious faith.
She is said to be 8 months pregnant (although she would not be sentenced to death until 2 years after the birth) and the ruling has been severely criticised by Amnesty International, which called the court’s decision as “appalling and abhorrent”.
In Sudan, the country’s religion is Islam, so her marriage to a christian man was said to be an act of apostasy, which led the judge to sentence her to be “hanged to death” and 100 lashes.
This is a short post we thought you would be interested in! What are your views? Should she have been punished?
Thanks for reading and please do share,
Digestible Politics
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Digestible-Politics/476112109093593?ref=hl
Digestible Politics is back with daily posts helping you understand the world around you in a digestible manner!
Today, we shall be talking about what is happening in Thailand and the political crises currently happening…
The Prime Minister
The court in Thailand decided to get rid of their Prime Minister (Yingluck Shinawatra) because it was found she had illegally repositioned the national security chief of Thailand so he would have a different role in government. A further 9 members of the Thai government were told to resign.
Many people are angry about what has happened, believing the court is biased in favour of the opposition.
What next?
Fears are increasing because it is believed that fights could break out between the ‘red shirts’ (those who support the Prime Minister) and those who are against the Prime Minister.
This political nuisance is nothing new in the country and many protesters have been protesting throughout the Prime Minister’s time in office, by occupying buildings and disrupting elections. So far, approximately 30 people have died during the protests.
Who is the leader of Thailand now?
Those ministers in cabinet who remain are currently leading the country with a caretaker Prime Minister (Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan) – Digestible Politics loves this name!
After disruption at a previous election earlier in the year, a new election is being held in July. However, there are fears that there will be even more protests to come in these elections.
The latest crises
A controversial amnesty bill (an amnesty is where you give a pardon to someone) was passed by the government, which could potentially lead to Thaksin Shinawatra (a former leader and also Yingluck’s sister) returning to politics without ever setting foot in jail.
Many thousands of people have showed their opposition to the bill, which was eventually dropped, but anti-government protests remain.
What are your thoughts on the protests in Thailand? Should they have ousted their Prime Minister?
Thanks for reading and please do share,
Digestible Politics
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Digestible-Politics/476112109093593?ref=hl
Here is our first video! It describes the First Past The Post electoral system… Please like, share and comment!
We would love to hear feedback on how to improve or what you liked 🙂
Thanks,
Digestible Politics
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Digestible-Politics/476112109093593?ref=hl
Why are there protests?
The citizens are greatly concerned about the direction their country (Ukraine) is heading. It is not yet known whether Ukraine will be a country that will adhere to the rule of law or will be a country that is run like Russia in a very closed fashion.
The original trigger for the protests was the result of the President, Viktor Yanukovych, rejecting the possibility of a stronger relationship with the European Union in favour of closer links with Russia, last year. A majority of the country’s population wants to integrate with Europe (as Ukraine is currently not a member state), so this was a major upset.
2014
This week violence is at an all time high in Ukraine, however it is uncertain whether it started as a result of the government’s actions or the action of the people. Things were believed to be going well, especially as a deal had been made between the protesters and government that their parliament would discuss plans to alter the constitution to limit the president’s power. However, the speaker of the Ukrainian parliament rejected this, which subsequently lead to the protesters becoming increasingly violent.
Who is protesting?
Most protests have occurred in Western Ukraine and Kiev as these areas have people who most want to be part of the EU. Although there has been protests in the East many citizens are Russian speaking and not concerned. Although the opposition parties have been trying to direct the protesters, they do not seem to be very successful in gaining the trust of those protesting.
What is in it?
Russia wants to be a country that can challenge the large global economic powers, such as China, the USA and the EU, so seeks to create a close tie with Ukraine so the country can work towards that goal. However, alternatively, if Ukraine were to be part of the EU it is believed that their economy would rapidly grow.
Will Ukraine be divided?
Some say it will, due to the clear divide in those speaking Russian and those who do not. And as a result of the clear voting divide – where those in the East are voting for the current president who wishes to tie with Russia and those in the west who vote for the opposition.
Thanks for reading and please do share,
Digestible Politics
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Digestible-Politics/476112109093593?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/Digest_politics
http://www.youtube.com/user/DigestiblePolitics
This September, the people of Scotland will be able to exercise their votes to determine whether or not Scotland should become an independent country
When?
Thursday 18th September 2014.
This date was chosen as to avoid any potential events that may disrupt the voting e.g. bad weather. This year Scotland is already set to hold the Ryder Cup (golf tournament) and the Commonwealth Games. It is also the 700th Anniversary of the famous battle of Bannockburn, where Scotland was then fighting for independence.
Who?
Unlike in many countries where only those over 18 are able to vote, Scotland is allowing all people over the age of 16 to vote.
The chart below (Source: BBC) is interesting as it shows how 800,000 Scots will be unable to vote, despite being born in Scotland. Whilst, 400,000 non-Scottish people will be eligible to vote
What?
The question: “Should Scotland be an independent country?”
The Electoral Commission rejected previous drafts of the question, as it was believed that the way the question was worded was biased in favour of a yes vote. One example was “do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?” because it was believed this would make people vote ‘yes’.
Who’s campaigning?
The campaign FOR Scottish independence is called ‘Yes Scotland’, whilst the campaign AGAINST Scottish independence is called ‘Better Together’.
The political parties have also been choosing their sides. The SNP and the Scottish Greens back independence, whilst Labour, the Conservatives, and the Liberal Democrats all oppose independence.
Scottish Independence
The 1707 Act of Union led to Scotland losing its independence resulting in its unification with England. Almost ever since this date Scotland has been fighting for independence.
However, in 2011 it was announced (after the Nationalists gained power for the first time) that there would be a referendum on whether Scotland should be independent or not.
Devolution
When the Scottish Parliament was created in 1999, the Scottish Nationalist Party knew they had an opportunity to push for Scottish independence. Although the potential for a party pushing for independence it was believed no party would do so unless the nationalists gained power. However, one commentator said that devolution would “kill nationalism stone dead”. Yet, in 2011 the nationalists did get power and they began their campaign for independence from the off.
What do the people of Scotland want?
It is difficult to be certain. Although, in one poll last year it was found only 23% of the 1229 people surveyed wanted Scotland to be independent.
The outcome of a yes or no vote
Yes vote = Scotland would be officially independent in March 2016. Before this date many complicated constitutional issues must be resolved. After this date, issues of the EU and NATO must be dealt with.
No vote = the SNP will struggle to get into power again and Scotland will remain part of the UK. One situation the no-voters want to avoid is the one that has occurred in Quebec (Canada) where a series of independent referendums has occurred over the past few years. As a result, some people have called Quebec’s referendums ‘neverendums’.
Thanks for reading and please do share,
Digestible Politics
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Digestible-Politics/476112109093593?ref=hl
It has been a phenomenal three year since India’s last reported polio case. This is seen as one of India’s greatest health successes as a result of its expansive inoculation programme, with India’s health minister calling it a “monumental milestone”.
Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan are three countries where there is still cases of Polio, but India was removed from the list of polio-endemic countries in 2012. The graph below shows how cases of polio in India have declined since the 1980s:
The confidence of this success has led India with a new goal of eradicating measles in the coming years. Health in the country is improving at an astonishing rate with 741 cases of polio in India in 2009 declining down to just a single case in .
Previous health success in India includes the eradication of Smallpox in the 1980s after a similar inoculation process. Approximately 170m children under 5 years old had been given the vaccination and a similar process had been carried out for polio, and is expected in the fight against measles.
However, there are fears by some experts that where there is war and fighting polio may come back into existence. For example, in Syria and Somalia polio levels were the highest out of any other country. The interesting thing about this is, these two countries had been free from polio. Other experts fear that there is also a chance of polio spreading from Pakistan into India if there is a lack of care.
Thanks for reading and please do share,
Digestible Politics
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Digestible-Politics/476112109093593?ref=hl
Tomorrow Bangladesh holds its 5th national election. The main two parties are the Awami League (Leader Sheikh Hasina) and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP Leader Khaleda Zia). These elections have come under the media spotlight after the BNP and its allies have decided to boycott the election.
What is the risk?
– The Awami League is expected to win by a huge majority as a result of the opposition’s boycott. This will certainly undermine the credibility of the election. Violence is also expected to be an issue tomorrow as political workers from the parties clash.
Why has the Bangladesh Nationalist Party decided not to take part?
– The country has previously held elections with a neutral caretaker government to ensure that the election process is fair. But, in this election, the Awami League have refused to create a neutral caretaker government. This is believed to undermine the fairness of the election.
Impact of the boycott
– 154 out of the 300 seats are uncontested, which means the Awami League would win without trying. However, it is believed that continued protest and violent clashes will result from the election.
The main people
– The leader of both the Awami league and the BNP have been rivals for the past two decades as power shifted between the two parties. This election is likely to increase this tension dramatically. The third party’s (JP) leader H M Ershad has declared that the JP will also not be participating in the election furthering the complications.
What other issues are there?
– Violence, unemployment and poverty is high and afety and wage levels are low, which is not being helped by political instability. It is reported by The Asia Foundation that 75% of voters would like a neutral caretaker government during the election, so it will be interesting to see whether voter turnout will be on the same level as previous elections.
World Political implications
– Countries including the USA and the UK have refused to send observers to Bangladesh. This has weakened relations geopolitical and dented Bangladesh’s global image.
The election
– In the previous election there was a 70% voter turnout, but this is expected to be much less tomorrow. Although in 2008 the results were announced within 24 hours, the announcement of tomorrow’s results will depend on how peacefully the election is carried out.
What are your views on the elections? Should the Awami League set up a neutral caretaker government to maintain the peace?
Thanks for reading and please do share,
Digestible Politics
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Digestible-Politics/476112109093593?ref=hl
Digestible Politics 