Monthly Archives: June 2010

Canada’s summit experience

By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn

WHEN I landed in Toronto two weeks ago I was told that the city was in the grip of summit fever. Canada was to play host to two international conferences back to back — the G8 and G20.

Last weekend these conferences were held amid much brouhaha. The media was in a frenzy, raising all kinds of questions. Was it wise to hold such a summit in downtown Toronto, when such meetings traditionally act as a magnet for protesters? Was such a massive attendance warranted — the number had swollen to 34 as some leaders were invited as observers only to be seen, not heard? Was the price tag on security — a hefty $1.1bn — justified?
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The Chashma deal

By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn

PAKISTAN`S nuclear programme is once again under fire. This time the legality of its deal with China for two nuclear reactors ostensibly for civilian purposes is being questioned.

The US has demanded an explanation from Beijing and has asked for details of the accord it concluded with Islamabad three months ago. It wants to be sure that China is not violating the international obligations it undertook when it joined the 46-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The NSG is a regulatory body to oversee trade in nuclear fuel and technology to ensure that material for civilian energy is not used for manufacturing weapons.
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Ecological disasters

By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn

BP (or Beyond Petroleum as British Petroleum branded itself after its merger with Amoco in 2000) has been in the news practically every day in the British and American media since April when its Deep-water Horizon rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico killing 11 people.

Since then a massive amount of oil is being spilled into the sea making it one of the worst ecological disasters of its kind in the world.
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Champion of haris’ rights

By Zubeida Mustafa
Source: Dawn

IN today`s post `end of history` era, someone demanding an end to the oppression of factory labourers and the tillers of the soil risks being called a misfit.

But how can one turn a blind eye to the fallout of capitalism and the inequities that have brought new exploitation and oppression for urban and rural workers whose ranks seem to be swelling? There is the need for someone to champion their cause.
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