The World as Seen from Mt Everest
EDITORIAL, 25 Feb 2013
#260 | Johan Galtung, 25 Feb 2013 - TRANSCEND Media Service
The Weekly Mirror—www.weeklymirror.com.np–published Mondays in Kathmandu is a remarkable mirror of the world seen from above. Prem Kumari Pant, the editor, is a Nepali in the country where Buddha was born in Lumbini. Buddhism, now 9% as against hinduism-brahmanism 80%, migrated to India, and was forced south to Sri Lanka where 5th century buddhist monks invented the Mahawamsa doctrine. They were the “chosen people”, by the Buddha, to make Sri Lanka a home for buddhism. They had not only the right but the duty to eliminate Tamil claims on a part of the land: Go home to where you came from; Sri Lanka is our homeland, language, religion; no buddhist nonviolence and compassion.
She is also chairperson of the Nepal-China society. Tibet is seen less as suppressed part of China and more as home of Tantric buddhism–a strong link to the giant neighbor to the North. Nepal’s majority is India-oriented, but the Weekly Mirror takes a world view from high up, and that highest peak, Mt Everest, is closer to China. Somebody once climbed it, “because it is there”, to get a closer look at China.
Look at some samples from articles, with as little guarantee for the veracity as for the mainstream media down there in the plains:
* Latin America’s economic stability aroused the envy of EU at the CELAC (33 members)-EU (27 members) summit meeting–Spain shrank 0.6% in 2012, Chile grew 5.5%, “Latin Americans–do not face contradictions of the sort between Merkel and Rajoy”;
* Chilean president formally handed the CELAC presidency to Castro: “You will have the total and absolute support of everybody here”. Castro pledged that he would work to fulfill the dream of Simon Bolivar of unity within diversity. Next summit in La Habana in 2015″;
* The dispute over the ownership of the Senkaku-Diaoyu islands reignited in 2012 when the Japanese government purchased three of the islands from the private Japanese owners”;
* “What is the eventual outcome of putting society’s basic human needs last? Poor mental and physical health, poor educational opportunities, a poorly trained work force, underemployment, drug use, hopelessness, suicidal, homicidal, addictive behavior, domestic abuse, street gangs, prostitution–a desire to retaliate against a system of government and corporate control.” And, “Wasteful war industry jobs cost twice as much to generate as jobs in health care, education, infrastructure repair”;
* China’s foreign trade was sluggish in 2012, up only 6.2%–exports 7.9%, imports 4.3%, trade surplus 49.2%–but the trade structure changed. EU is still no. 1 and USA no. 2 for export, but more growth with emerging economies; much more export from mid-Western regions of China, more growth for export of mechanical and electrical products, more import increase in resources other than energy, reforms coming;
* Japan’s LDP-Liberal Democratic Party policy is “the military unshackled from constitutional restraints matched by a unilateral monetary policy aimed at weakening the yen and expanding exports–expanding the inflation target from 1 to 2 percent in line with US Federal Reserve’s “quantitative easing”–read printing money–“in 2012 Japan experienced the largest ever trade deficit–exports plunged 5.8% overall and 15.8% to China amid sharp tensions–import increased, particularly of energy after Fukushima”;
* in Mali, according to researcher Christopher Bollyn, the much desired gold mines are the property of the unavoidable Rothschild–the French soldiers basically defend the interests of Areva, the French nuclear crumbling giant” and “the Areva uranium production in Niger”;
* “The Gulf war and the US bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade jarred China. Military technological research and development, which mainly started after the 1990s, are witnessing a sudden surge.”;
* Indian farmers, with a noose of debt around the neck, takes his or her life on the average every thirty minutes, 300,000+, the largest in human history, with 400 attempts daily on the average”;
* Evo Morales’ Bolivia is “pluri-national”, with equal rights for all;
* “In short, apart from not having solved a single diplomatic issue, Hillary Clinton leaves the diplomatic arena far worse off than it was when she took office”;
* “CIA’s secret prison: Poland dragging out investigation”;
* “Nepal links China with 1.3 billion with South Asia with 1.5 billion for trilateral coordination with great opportunities for all three”;
* “Thousands rally against Munich Security Conference”;
* “US Dollar Collapse: Where is Germany’s Gold?–Germany wants 50% o its total gold reserves back in Frankfurt–including 300 tons from the US Federal Reserve. The Fed refused to submit to an audit of its holdings. The popular explanation: the same bullion is earmarked as collateral for a host of different lenders–. And don’t forget China. Once the biggest purchaser of US bonds, it is now a net seller of Treasuries, while simultaneously gobbling up gold”;
* “Do US war-makers want their wars to end? Perhaps if they can end without slowing the flow of war spending, and can end violently”;
* “Remembering Stalingrad victory–claiming nearly 2 million lives”;
* “China unveils reform guidelines for a more transparent, fair and reasonable income distribution–for people to share the development”;
* “Two thirds of India’s 1.1 billion live on less than one dollar a day”; “Globalization: Stealing wealth and health in India”;
* “America’s foreign policy: Have war lovers learnt anything?”;
* “Nuclear test: What follows Pyongyang’s dangerous atomic gambit”;
* “US-Saudi funded terrorists sowing chaos in Pakistan-Baluchistan”;
* “Austerity can’t solve crises of capitalism–most dangerous are cuts in federal spending, including cuts to Social Security benefits”.
Did you learn something? Not unknown but not up front. Add, say, International Herald Tribune for mainstream views and a reader becomes well informed. The world becomes more transparent, seen from high up.
____________________
Johan Galtung, a professor of peace studies, dr hc mult, is rector of the TRANSCEND Peace University-TPU. He is author of over 150 books on peace and related issues, including ‘50 Years-100 Peace and Conflict Perspectives,’ published by the TRANSCEND University Press-TUP.
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This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 25 Feb 2013.
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[…] Originally published here. […]
Thanks for this interesting analysis. The title is rightly matching.
Dear Prof. Johan Galtung
The Weekly Mirror has a long history in the field of journalism in Nepal. It was early 70’s -Ms. Prem Kumari Pant started it -facing many hardships/challenges and ups and downs. But T W M always remained as high as Mt. Everest for the cause of democracy and the nation. I appreciate that you have chosen T W M in your prestigious editorial column. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and sincere thanks for inspiring a senior and hard working journalist from Nepal.In this issue of your extraction, you have covered the whole world and major issues the world is facing today. T W M has a good team led by Ms.PK Pant. Since I am the next door neighbor from T W M and Nepal China Society offices, I am in frequent contact with the team and I am a regular reader of T W M since a long time. Your kind words and analysis has encouraged us, because, I also work with Ms. Pant as Advisor to the Nepal China Society.
Best Regards
Dr.Bishnu Hari Nepal
Former Ambassador of Nepal to Japan and vigya Member of the Foreign Policy Draft Sub-committee, dissolved Legislative Parliament of Nepal
Dear Sir
Now-a-days, The Weekly Mirror is published Fridays in Kathmandu.
Best Regards
Dr. Bishnu Hari Nepal
Dear Johan,
Just back from Kathmandu and having heard your brilliant analysis of Nepal politics, I am more than ever impressed by the clarity and astuteness of your comments. My Chinese friend Lily agrees with me. Would love to hear more about your experiences and views of your visit to Nepal and your 20 hours of mediation with the government.
Your interview in the TWM on the Monday after your talk was the most enlightening I ever read. ( Will try to visit you in September in Basel, should you be there at that time.)
Warmest wishes and many thanks,
Ingrid Kepler-May
Reply from Prof. Galtung:
How nice of you, dear Ingrid. Yes, it went well, 22 encounters, some big some small an very high up–and much effect, it seems.
Warm regards–this fall I am almost 3 months in the USA so Berkley is no problem!
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