Goodluck Jonathan, '11

President Goodluck Jonathan

On April 16, 2011, Nigerians will go to the voting polls to either re-elect incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan or choose a new leader, most likely former head of state Muhammadu Buhari. Of these two, the one I believe to be the best suited for the job would be Goodluck Jonathan. The third of the civilian leaders that Nigeria has been under since independence in 1960, Jonathan is also the only one not to have gained power through election or through a military coup. Jonathan had formerly been governor of the Bayelsa state in southern Nigeria, where he had required a good reputation for honesty. In 2007, he was chosen by People's Democratic Party to be the running mate of presidential candidate Alhaji Yar'adua. Goodluck only came to the presidency after the death of his predecessor last year. This shows that Goodluck, unlike other leaders of the nation, can be trusted with power as he did not seek it originally.
 Though he may be vague on his campaign pledges (which politicians aren't?), I believe that his re-election is crucial to the democratization of Nigeria. If Nigeria were to be ruled once more by a former military dictator, it would be a signal that Nigeria is not ready to fully embrace democratic principles. A return to dictatorship would be a bad blow to stability in the region, which is shaky enough due to the conflict over the nation's oil. A peaceful re-election is needed to ensure that Nigeria continues on the path toward an improved democratic government.

Sources:
http://www.goodluckjonathanfor2011.com/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=4
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/20/world/africa/20nigeria.html

Corruption in Nigeria

The most substantial problem that has plagued Nigeria for decades is widespread corruption among the country's public officials. Like many third world-countries, particularly in Africa, corruption is inherent in Nigeria's culture ever since it gained independence in 1960. Bribery, graft, extortion, and nepotism are norms among government officials, bureaucrats, and police officers. Taking advantage of their position of power, these officials will take bribes to look the other way or for a share in an illegal practice.

Corruption in the country has a number of root causes. Nigeria, being primarily a tribal nation, lacks a strong sense of national community and affinity. Though the official language English is a unifying factor, many Nigerians feel more loyalty toward their own ethnic group then towards a central government. Nigeria's economic boom because of oil drilling has only inflated corrupt practices. The sudden affluence of Nigeria due to its valuable oil depots ushered in a culture of excess and fragrancy by the elite class and government officials, many of whom directly profit off of the oil business.

Nigeria as a nation will continue to suffer even more due to such massive corruption. Though Nigeria is experiencing good economic times, continued government corruption will only hamper further economic progress. Benefits for Nigerian citizens will continue to be swiftly eroded by corruption and graft by government officials. This will only cause greater resentment toward the government and spread more instability across the country. As seen in the 2007 presidential elections, electoral tampering will greatly damage the people's faith in their government, and may even persuade them not to be involved in a democratic process they see as rife with corruption.

Sources:

http://www.africaeconomicanalysis.org/articles/gen/corruptiondikehtm.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_Nigeria
http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/bribe/2009/04/nigeria-the-hidden-cost-of-corruption.html

Made In Japan: 20 Japanese Comodities

1) Toyota

2) Honda

3) Mitsubishi

4) Nissan

5) Mazda

6) Subaru

7) Acura

8) Lexus

9) MP3 Players

10) Game consoles (eq. Playstation)

11) Golf Balls

12) Kitchen Hardware and utensils

13) Computer Monitors

14) Air conditioning filters

15) Pokemon™ Cards

16) Tuberware™

17) Microscopes

18) Samuraii Swords

19) Fish

20) Computer software

Top 10 Core American Values

1) Hard Work

2) Patriotism

3) Individual Freedom

4) Family

5) Happiness

6) Capitalism

7) Freedom of Speech

8) Freedom to practice religion

9) Democracy

10) Equality

Japan: Aftermath of a Tsunami

In what was the second act of a trilogy of disasters to strike Japan, the island nation felt the effects of a massive tsunami along its eastern coast line on March 11. The tsunami was caused by a sudden 8.9 magnitude tremor, that struck 250 miles northeast of the capital Tokyo, on March 10. The tsunami soon spread out, moving at a rate of 500 mph toward the Japanese coast and also Hawaii and the West Coast of the United States. All three of these areas were hit, but the worst damage, however, has been in Japan. Throughout northern Japan, coastal communities and cities were immediately flooded by tremendous walls of ocean water.

The first reports of casualties were that 350 people were dead, with around 500 people missing. The tsunami has not only destroyed thousands of homes, but caused fires to break out, disrupted the country's rail system, explosions to happen at an oil refinery and petrochemical plant, and, most seriously, damages to nuclear reactors along the eastern coast of Japan.

On Sunday, March 27, the National Police Agency, the central coordinating agency of Japan's police force, reported that 10,804 people are believed to be deceased while 16,244 are still missing or unaccounted for.  The Japanese government has responded to the crisis by authorizing search and rescue operations for those stranded and missing because of the tsunami. There have also been massive relief missions to bring stability to regions that have suffered terrible damage. The international community has also been offered tremendous support to the government to aid in its relief efforts.

Sources:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709598
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/world/asia/12japan.html
http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/03/27/2681s628828.htm

5 Questions on North Korea

1) How is North Korea experiencing an increase in the standard of living if the country continues to suffer from widespread poverty?

2) Is North Korea still in the midst of a famine? If so, how severe is it?

3) When did North Korea start its nuclear program?

4) How many people defect from North Korea every year?

5) How long is it predicted that North Korea will have a fully functional nuclear weapons program?

North Korea Conducts Nuclear Test

Three years after successfully detonating a nuclear weapon, North Korea once more was able to detonate yet another nuclear device. It was carried out in the northeastern part of the country, where it had performed its first such test, in an underground labratory. The magnitude of the explosion was reportedly a 9.3 nuclear explosion.