Queensland hit by another natural disaster

AUSTRALIA: Thousands of soldiers and police were called in last week after a category five cyclone hit the Australian province of Queensland, the BBC reported. Thousands of area residents were evacuated and efforts to rescue thousands more from their devastated communities were hampered by heavy debris and damaged roads. A ship was dispatched to bring emergency supplies to areas without clean water or adequate food. More than 150,000 homes were without power as of Feb. 4 while rescue coordinators and politicians asked the people of Queensland to remain calm. The north-eastern province also suffered from record flooding in December.

Elections announcement receives mixed reactions

KAZAKHSTAN: President Nursultan Nazarbayev decided last week to forgo a referendum that would have given him 10 more years of uncontested power, Al Jazeera reported. The ex-Soviet leader decided instead to hold snap elections on April 3, a move that was immediately praised by the United States. The U.S. had been strongly opposed to Nazarbayev’s proposed referendum. Many critics believe the change is solely to maintain good relations between Kazakhstan and western nations. The suddenness of the elections will leave little time for political rivals to organize. Kazakhstan has never held elections that were judged as fair by international observers.

’Leaks for Peace?

NORWAY: Wikileaks was officially nominated for the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize last week, though some think its chances of winning are slim, according to the CBC. Though the Nobel Committee usually keeps nominees confidential, Snorre Valen, the politician who put forward the nomination, decided to announce his choice of the whistle blowing website on his blog. The 26-year-old member of the Socialist Left Party in Norway said that Wikileaks furthered the cause of peace by emphasizing the need for transparency in government. Widespread criticism of Wikileaks’ methods could hurt its chances of winning the $1.6 million award. The committee regularly receives in excess of 200 nominations.

Hindu ruins conflict reignites

THAILAND-CAMBODIA BORDER: A clash between Cambodian and Thai forces last week left two Cambodian soldiers and one Thai villager dead, Reuters reported. The conflict was centred around Preah Vihear, a 900-year-old Hindu temple on the border between the two countries. Thai army officials said the fighting was the result of a misunderstanding while the Cambodian foreign minister said a complaint was to be filed with the UN Security Council. A 1962 decision by the International Court of Justice gave the ruins to Cambodia, but ambiguous ownership of nearby forest has resulted in continued conflict.

Antarctic voyages still involve peril

ANTARCTICA: A ship carrying 80 passengers hit an uncharted rock off the coast of Antarctica last week, forcing the ships operators to leave the passengers at the South Shetland Islands before returning to Argentina for repairs. CNN reported that the MV Polar Star, operated by Polar Star Expeditions out of Halifax, was on a sightseeing voyage when the accident occurred. Damage was limited and the ship was able to continue sailing at normal speeds. Alternate transport was arranged for the passengers as a precaution. The Polar Star is one of about 40 ships that bring visitors to the Antarctic, an increasingly popular destination.

Published in Volume 65, Number 19 of The Uniter (February 10, 2011)