Boxer Muhammed Ali is a fighting Irishman

ENNIS, Ireland: Former heavy-weight boxing champion of the world, Muhammad Ali, visited the ancestral home of his great-grandfather in County Clare, Ireland. Ali’s great-grandfather on his mother’s side resided in Ennis until he emigrated to the United States in 1860, marrying an emancipated slave and settling in Kentucky. Ali discovered his Irish ancestry when genealogists charted his family tree in 2002. Thousands of residents came out for Ali’s visit, lining the streets and hosting events in Ali’s honour, reported CNN. In August, the town voted unanimously to make Ali the first Freeman of Ennis. Ali stopped in Ireland as part of a nine-day tour in support of Parkinson’s disease and his Ali Center.

Men’s suits source of power shortages

DHAKA, Bangladesh: In an effort to save power, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed civil servants to abandon wearing suits and formal business attire to work. The decision will hopefully assist in cutting down the use of air conditioning in government offices. The country frequently experiences daily power outages due to power plants not being able to meet the electricity demands. The government will be spending $6 billion on new power plants to deal with the energy problems. The operation of the power plants will be handled by private companies. According to BBC News, government ministers have even been ordered to simplify their work wardrobes and the private sector may soon follow suit. Daylight savings time was established in June of this year in a further attempt to cut energy usage.

Germans stocking up on light bulbs

BERLIN, Germany: Germans are buying up energy-sucking incandescent light bulbs while the EU enacts a union-wide phase out of the bulbs. GfK market research agency observed a 35 per cent increase in sales of the common light bulb. Reuters reports some German retailers have seen a 600 per cent hike in sales of 100-watt bulbs since the end of July. The European Union announced it will phase out energy-inefficient light bulbs in its effort to combat climate change and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. By 2012, the EU will ban the sale and import of incandescent bulbs, saving an estimated 25 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

Suspension from the Commonwealth is no big deal

SUVA, Fiji: Fiji is not offended by its suspension from the Commonwealth. Last week the Commonwealth decided to defer the South Pacific nation’s membership after it failed to meet certain democratic conditions. Fiji has been under military leadership since 2006 when Commander Frank Bainimarama seized power in a coup. Ratu Epeli Ganilau, Fiji’s acting prime minister, commented that the suspension is unfortunate but that is the price the country must pay for governmental reform. In July, the Commonwealth, comprising the United Kingdom and its former colonies, requested Fiji’s government resume dialogue with the opposition and hold democratic elections within a given amount of time, reported the Associated Press. If Fiji fails to meet these requests it could result in the termination of financial aid and it could be barred from the 2010 Commonwealth Games. The current government does not plan to hold elections until 2014.

Published in Volume 64, Number 2 of The Uniter (September 10, 2009)