Democracy Lab Weekly Brief, Feb. 3, 2012

Posted By Chloé de Préneuf Friday, February 3, 2012 - 4:55 PM Share

This week, the residents of Wukan, the village in China's Guangdong province that witnessed bold anti-corruption protests back in December, went to the polls in an exceptional first step towards electing their local leaders (see photo above).  Meanwhile, a Western journalism watchdog group concludes that Chinese journalists have a surprisingly high impact on government policy -- even though the government is far from loosening its grip on dissent.

For the first time, the finance minister of Burma (Myanmar) revealed the country's external debt: a cool $11 billion. That news came as the government unveiled its next budget, which includes significant rises in spending on education and health even as the military appears set to retain a large share. Cambodia's war crimes tribunal sentenced "Duch," the Khmer Rouge's notorious prison chief, to life in prison. Meanwhile, Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra appears set to return home from exile.

In South Sudan, journalists are still waiting for a long overdue media bill to receive final government ratification. In the meantime, security forces continue to harass and arrest journalists with impunity.

In Senegal, the opposition took to the streets to protest against the constitutional court's decision to allow President Abdoulaye Wade to run for a third term. Violence escalated on Monday when two protesters were shot dead and dozens injured.

Rioters clashed with security forces in Algeria amid a growing number of strikes and protests. Meanwhile, the leader of the main Islamist opposition party warned of unrest if the upcoming parliamentary elections in May are rigged.

Tunisia forges ahead with its own democratic transition as it struggles to balance the competing demands of democracy and religion. The government, meanwhile, is touting its attractions as an investment destination. Yemen confirmed its intention to set up a stock market.

Fourteen jailed Bahraini dissidents started a hunger strike and Kuwaitis voted for their fourth parliament in six years. Iraq's Sunni leaders ended their boycott of parliament to protest the government's alleged crackdown on Sunni politicians, although most commentators agreed that the crisis was far from over.

Two Egyptians were shot dead by the police and hundreds were injured in protests demanding accountability from the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), Egypt's ruling military junta, over the deadly football riots on Wednesday night. A prominent commentator wrote that these events have the potential to sway both the Muslim Brotherhood and the country's vast "silent majority" against SCAF even as they highlight the urgent need for police reform and civilian oversight of the security services.

Egypt's electoral commission announced the results of the first round of voting for the Shura Council (the upper house of Parliament). The overwhelming victory for Islamist parties was consistent with the earlier results of elections for the lower house (although voter turnout was radically lower).

Violence continues unabated in Syria. In New York, diplomats spent the week revising a UN Security Council draft resolution to get Russia on board. Western governments and Arab states continued to discuss options for the possible exile of Bashar al-Assad. A conference in Iran aimed at rebranding the Arab uprisings as an "Islamic Awakening" backfired, in part because no one from Syria's opposition was invited to the event.

Protests continued in Russia. One influential group of Western analysts conclude that Putin will weather the storm and win the elections. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, however, predicts an Arab Spring-like revolution that will topple the Russian government.

At a Communist Party conference last weekend, Cuban President Raul Castro launched a wide-scale anti-corruption campaign and floated the idea of term limits for high ranking officials, including himself. (He added, however, that a multi-party system is not in the books.) Meanwhile, a report revealed that Cubans paid nearly 20% more for their food in 2011.

A Haitian judge sparked outcry from human rights organizations by recommending that the infamous former Haitian dictator "Baby Doc" Duvalier face trial for corruption rather than abuses of human rights.

Finally, the New York Review of Books launched a blog mini-series about the fate of democracy in different parts of the world.

-- by Chloé de Préneuf

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1:47 PM ET

March 2, 2012

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Message from Mark of the Galactic Federation of Light 2/3/12

As channeled through Greg Giles

Friday, February 3, 2012

ascensionearth2012.blogspot.com

‘Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their party.’ These are very wise words indeed. Today is the day that you come to the aid of others that need, and will need, your calming voice of reason through these challenging times.

Events are now to be set into motion, and the people of your world will now learn once and for all that you are not alone, you have never been alone, and that many others from parts all across this universe are here. Why we are here will be a cause of great speculation. There will be the fear mongers who shout that our presence is for the purpose of invasion. There will be others who will try to use our announcements to further instill fear within the masses to further control you, and there will be those of you such as yourselves who know the truth; that are intentions are strictly honorable and that we are only here to assist humanity make the necessary changes to take a great leap in your advancement, to enter a new age of Galactic partnership.

To reverse the devastating effects your industrialization has had on your planet and to help you rid your world of the parasites that have clung to you and have fed off your labors to feed their unquenchable thirst for more money and power. We are here to assist you with these tasks, nothing more, nothing less.

We of the Galactic Federation of Light are ascended beings, all of us. We come here in service from worlds of plenty. We need or want for nothing, as we have the power to create anything it is that we wish. There is nothing of your world we desire, but to extend our hand in humble service and assist you to join us as a member of our Galactic community. You have been through so much struggle throughout your many incarnations and it is time for you to put all this behind you in the name of spiritual growth and education, and now leave these difficult memories behind you, taking with you only the wisdom you obtained through these difficult lessons.

There will be those who resist our offers of assistance. They will allow fear and distrust to block them from receiving the benefits of our help. We will try to allow all to see our intentions are of the purest of intent, and we ask your assistance in this regard. You, being their fellow brethren, may have a greater chance to break through the walls that have been built through fear and disinformation. We believe in you, and we know you can get the job done.

The people of your world will now learn of our presence through the use of your media that will be anxious to cover this breaking story. From one to another and then to another media outlet, the news of our mission to assist you right the wrongs of your world will spread like a wildfire, and in no time at all complete coverage of this life-changing event will reach everyone in every corner of the globe. This is a crucial period.

This is where it is imperative of you, our trusted ground crew, to launch into action and spread your calming voices over the seas of confusion and distrust. We know you can do it, and we know you will succeed, opening the door to further implementation of the overall plan. This is the point that will begin to get fun for you. This is the point where all of your world will quickly begin to reap the benefits of our assistance. Changes will commence quickly and efficiently, and the obstacles that have been so stubbornly seeded in your paths to a better life will be removed one by one, leaving clear lanes for all of you to proceed on your journey the way you were meant to.

Life does not have to be hard. Your journey does not have to be so difficult, with little reward in the way of happiness. Life is meant to be enjoyed with each day bringing more happiness and excitement. There is a better way for you. Allow us to show you that better way. Allow us the chance to show you what our lives are like. That is all we ask of you. We are confident when you see what your lives can easily be like with just a few modifications to your present set up, we feel you will all agree the time for change had come a long time ago.

You are being called to duty at this time, in service to this planet and her people to help facilitate these changes that will mean so much to so many all across this great land. This is quite a responsibility, is it not? You volunteered your talents for this day, and this day has now arrived. You and others like you, with our assistance, will see these needed changes made manifest, and a new world will shine through from the ashes of the old.

I am Mark from the Galactic Federation of Light, and it was a pleasure to speak with you today. We will speak again, until then, be well and see that your assignments are carried out in good faith.

Thankyou

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Transitions is the group blog of the Democracy Lab channel, a collaboration between Foreign Policy and the Legatum Institute.

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