The events unfolding in Burma this week are tragic. Inspired by the courage of a handful of Buddhist monks, people hungry for change- for something even remotely close to freedom-are taking to the streets. And like many people, I can’t help think this is going to end badly. Nine people have already died. Here’s hoping we don’t see a repeat of 1988, when thousands of pro-democracy protestors were shot down in the street.

I have two quick thoughts on this. First, most news outlets are reporting that internet access has been blocked in Burma, severing the stream of photos, videos and reports on the protests. Techno-optimists are always touting the transformative democratic potential of the web. But ultimately, media is only as free as the society in which it operates. The military junta controls everything in Burma. In that context, the Internet is next to useless as a democratizing tool.

Second, world leaders have been quick to condemn the crackdown. Said George W. Bush:

Americans are outraged by the situation in Burma, where a military junta has imposed a 19-year reign of fear. The United States will tighten economic sanctions on the leaders of the regime and their financial backers. We will impose and expand a visa ban on those responsible for the most egregious violations of human rights, as well as their family members.

And Gordon Brown:

The first thing that can be done is that the UN envoy should be sent to Burma and I hope he is in a position to go, and make sure the Burmese regime directly is aware that any trampling of human rights that takes place will have the whole eyes of the world upon them and will not be acceptable in the future.

Strong language for sure. Still, you’ll notice there’s not a lot of talk about direct intervention. The world stood idly by in 1988, and there’s little to suggest any difference today. And of course, there are always nations more than happy to turn a blind eye. Said Russia:

We consider any attempts to use the latest developments to exercise outside pressure or interference in the domestic affairs of this sovereign state to be counterproductive. We still believe that the processes under way in Myanmar do not threaten international and regional peace and security. We expect the country’s authorities, as well as the participants in protest marches, to exercise mutual constraint not to allow further destabilisation of the situation.

Yeah, because it’s the responsibility of the protestors not to destabilize the situation. Weak. And China had this to add:

China has consistently implemented a policy of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs. As Burma’s neighbours, we hope to see stability and economic development in Burma. We hope and believe that the government and people of Burma will properly deal with the current problem.

With friends like these, the people of Burma don’t need enemies. China’s position, while regrettable, is understandable. If I’d shot hundreds of people in Tianamen square, I’d be relcutant to condemn another nation’s massacre. If a 1988-esque crackdown comes, you can bet the international community will be hamstrung by nations all too willing to tolerate oppression at home and in their backyard.

And can someone please explain to me what I should call it? Is it Burma or Myanmar? Leave it to Junta to #%#@# up their country’s name.

The US Navy announced plans today to mask the shape of a Coronado, California barracks complex that looks suspiciously like a swastika.

The Navy has budgeted up to $600,000 for new walkways,  special landscaping, and rooftop solar cells to obscure the buildings’ unfortunate shape. Said Navy Spokesman Scott Sutherland:

“We don’t want to be associated with something as symbolic and hateful as a swastika.”

Good call. The nazi-esque shape of the buildings wasn’t a problem in 1967 when they were built. However, in this magical age of Google Earth, the swastika shape is apparent to anyone with a computer. While no one is sure who first noticed the swastika-barracks, pressure has been mounting for the Navy to do something about the appearance of the Coronado complex since 2006.

Here’s my question. It’s 1967. World War II is barely two decades old. How did the architect not know? And how did his Navy supervisors not catch it? It’s a 500 ft wide freakin’ swastika. Unless the Navy doesn’t use blueprints. Or have airplanes. Or pay attention to anything.

Reuters is reporting that Chinese media watchdog State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) is cracking down on sexually suggestive programming.

Said SARFT:

“Sexually suggestive advertisements and scenes showing how women are influenced into a life of crime are detrimental to society. Commercials containing sexually provocative sounds or tantalizing language as well as vulgar advertisements for breast enhancement and female underwear are banned, effective immediately.”

Ouch. While underwear ads are not necessarily forms of free expression vital to a healthy democracy, I feel a bit bad for the people of China. How will they know? How will they know which brand of underwear is better? How will they be able to judge their own sexual utterances relative to a televised fascimilie? Ah, the cruel face of censorship.

Seriously though, I’m glad no organization in Canada, for any reason, can impose blanket bans on anything in the media. I wouldn’t miss the underwear ban, but I’d sure as heck miss the news story on government malfeasance. Like everything in a democracy, you need to take the crunchy with the smooth.

Interesting article in the MediaGuardian today on how Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez uses TV to govern.

Chavez spent a record-setting 8 hours on the air this past Sunday, hosting his weekly show Alo Presidente. Says Venezuelan Political Scientist Arturo Serrano:

“Chávez governs from Aló Presidente. It is on this show that ministers find out if they have been fired or hired; it is here where mayors and governors are reprimanded for anything they have done wrong.”

No doubt, an interesting experiment in direct governance. Too bad he doesn’t let opposition politicians have the same access to TV he enjoys.

Sotheby’s Auction House has announced it will be selling a 710-year-old copy of the Magna Carta. Start saving your pennies: acquiring the big MC will set you back $20-$30 million.

Various cranky and/or rebellious Barons forced King John (0f England, where all good stuff comes from…at least until 1850) to sign the Magna Carta in 1215. The document guarantees freemen (read: the Barons) would not be imprisoned or deprived of property without due process, and had a right to a speedy trial before a jury. As such, it is the foundation of many of the civil rights we enjoy today. Bush Administration notwithstanding.

Also for sale is King John’s shopping list. Although not expected to fetch as high a price, it is an interesting glimpse into the past. Like, how much mutton can you eat? Seriously.

 Not the kind of introduction you’d want at a speaking engagement.

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad got the worst into ever from Columbia University President Lee Bollinger:

“Mr. President, you exhibit all the signs of a petty and cruel dictator.”

He went on to attack Ahmadinejad’s moronic views on the holocaust, saying that they only appeal to the illiterate and ignorant. He added:

“When you come to a place like this it makes you simply ridiculous. The truth is that the Holocaust is the most documented event in human history.”

And this is during his introduction. I mean, I respect Bollinger for taking a stand against a dangerous, bigoted and homophobic theocrat. But you’ve got to wonder why he would agree to intro Ahmadinejad if he hated the guy so much. Really sets the tone for a great speech.

Oh well. I guess he had a chance to speak his mind, and took it. It would’ve been awesome/awkward/awesome again to watch Ahmadinejad talk his way out of that lead-in. Ouch.

As it turned out, Ahmadinejad took a bad start and made it worse. During his speech, he claimed that gay people ‘don’t exist’ inside of Iran. Never mind the 4,000 or so gay men and women executed by the Ayatollahs since 1979.

So, right on, Bollinger. Way to make the idiot squirm.

UPDATE [25/09/07]: Al Jazeera provides a fairly balanced summary of Ahmadinejad’s US visit so far.

Ah, science. Humanity’s most attractive offspring. Your pantheon of horrors never ceases to amaze.

Exciting news today- scientists sent a bunch of salmonella germs into space to see how they change. Turns out, they get a whole lot more deadly. Mice given the space bugs were three times more likely to get sick and died faster than mice given normal earth germs.

Upon closer inspection, the trip into space caused 164 of the salmonella bacterium’s genes to change. Why? Something crazy called ‘fluid sheer’. Apparently zero gravity makes salmonella DNA go nuts.

Next up for modern science: send Britney Spears into orbit and see if she comes back any crazier. Or more annoying. If that’s even possible.