Learning from Disaster!

Whispering in the Wind (WITW 29) May 13, 2014

Making sense out of this troubled world is not an easy task and for me it always comes down to sorting out a semblance of reality from the propaganda spewed out by politics. 

Putin’s Strategic Attacks on the Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin has only one vision for his Mother Russia, a reconstituted Soviet Union. The president of the Russian Federation feels that by absorbing Ukraine into Russia’s sphere of influence he will destabilize Western Europe’s influence in a number of other countries where ethnic Russians have gained a relevant foothold. 

In a questionable “referendum” held last March in the autonomous region of Crimea, the vote was in favor of annexation by the Russian Federation.  Mr. Putin was able to absorb the Crimea without any major disturbance in large part because that’s what the people of the Crimea wanted.  A reputable international survey firm estimated that only 12 percent of Crimea residents wanted to be part of a united Ukraine. 

A week ago, the Ukrainian districts of Luhansk and Donetsk voted in questionable referendum – no, it has to go further; an illegal, fraudulent, stacked referendum.  The result of the so called vote suggests that over 90 percent of the population in Luhansk and Donetsk want independence from the central government in Kiev.  The rebel leaders in control of the Luhansk and Donetsk districts are now asking that their districts become a part of the Russian Federation – the rebels are also saying they will not allow for the Ukrainian presidential elections scheduled for the last week of May.  The Pew research group is estimating that in the 11 most eastern provinces of the Ukraine:  45 percent of the population are Russian speaking, 70 percent are in favor of remaining united within Ukraine and 67 percent are unhappy with present government in Kiev.  How President Putin reacts is going to be critical – if he doesn’t take control of the rebels and allow for voting in the presidential there will be civil war – if he allows the “uncontrollable” rebels to maintain control, there will be civil war.  Guess what, there is going to be civil war in the eastern provinces of the Ukraine.

Nigeria, Disgraced and Rightfully So!

The news that close to 300 school girls were taken hostages and held for ransom, if not being sold as wives, slaves or sex objects can only be described as one of the most heinous crimes ever to be documented.  Perpetrated by the extremist Islamic group, Boko Haram is now negotiating “some” of the hostages for the release of imprisoned terrorists.  What is equally disturbing is that Amnesty International is reporting that Nigeria’s president, Goodluck Johnathan could have prevented the hostage taking if the president had taken action earlier.  Surely something has to be done to identify and deal with political leaders that are clearly unfit for office.

Canada Can Learn a Thing or Two

So what can Canada’s political leadership learn from the actions and events as they are unfolding in the Ukraine, Russia and Nigeria?  In my view Canada has a democratic governance system that is second to none in the world, but that does not mean things cannot be improved through more cooperative political leadership in Ottawa and elsewhere – Canada’s future depends on it.