Kermit and the Hearts and Minds of Afghan Children

There are plans to bring Sesame Street to television screens across Afghanistan in an attempt to reach children before their brains are "hard wired" with the baggage of decades of war. It is hoped that the emphasis on fair play, ethnic tolerance and the value of education will send the message that revenge is not the answer. The television programming available to Afghani children so far has included World Wrestling Entertainment matches and Tom and Jerry cartoons in which the characters are "searching for ever more elaborate ways to pummel one another." It is hoped that Sesame Street's subtle humor can have a positive effect.

Of course, there will have to be some accommodation to local customs and religious outlook. (In class we referred to this as "glocalization.") Will Kermit have facial hair and wear a prayer cap? Will Elmo have to wear clothes? How will Afghanis view the feisty Miss Piggy? Will she be covered from head to toe? Will she go to school? The producers of Sesame Street have had some practice with the process of glocalization after adapting the program for airing in Northern Ireland, Kosovo, South Africa, and Bangladesh.

Kermit has the potential to pick up where the coalition forces leave off. Hooray for Sesame Street!

"Trumpeting Catalan on the Big Screen"

Catalonia is a prosperous region in the northeast of Spain that has been granted a great deal of autonomy by the Spanish government. Approximately one million of the 7.3 million living there are immigrants, and the Catalonian government is taking measures to protect its culture and language.
By law children are required to receive their eduction in Catalan, and the local government is expected to pass a bill that will require at least half of the copies of every film from outside of Europe to be dubbed in Catalan.

Rwanda adopts English as its official language

Connectafrica reports that in an effort to join the English-speaking East African Community, Rwanda has adopted English as its official language. All education is to be conducted in English rather than French. Relations between Rwanda and France have been cool because of the belief that the French had supported the Hutus who carried out violent acts during the genocide of the mid 1990s. Some are hoping that that this will also help to build a sense of unity in Rwanda.

Quasi-states

The January/February '10 issue of Foreign Policy Magazine has an interesting article on quasi-states. These are breakaway republics that have established the trappings of government--bureaucracies, government officials, flags, and official seals--in the hopes that if they act like independent states, international recognition will follow. Are we looking at a new phenomenon--a sort of permanent second-class state?

These quasi-states seem to arise where there is a weak state and where the international community finds it easier to look the other way than to push for some kind of resolution to the situation. The country from which they have broken away is too weak to do anything or finds it easier to allow the status quo to continue. Their existence is problematic in that they embolden other secessionists.

Several examples are discussed in the reading:

Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia in the early 1990s. Thousands were killed on either side and 100,000 ethnic Georgians and Mingrelians were forced from their homes. Russia has recognized Abkhazia's independence, issued passports, and opened up trade. (As a tie to the language unit--the Abkhaz language has 67 consanants and only one vowel.)

Somaliland claimed independence 20 years ago. It has not been recognized by the international community, but Ethiopia has offered support and has gained access to ports. Somalia is a failed state, and Somaliland is at leas trying to establish a viable and legitimate state.

Kurdistan--The stated goal is independence, but the Kurds have come to accept their current situation. They are doing relatively well for themselves and ultimately see no need to put that new-found prosperity in jeopardy.

The June 1, '09 issue of Newsweek suggests other examples of quasi-states in an article entitled "When is a country not a country?"

South Ossetia: Located in Georgia, South Ossetia has been functioning as an independent country. Russian incursions into Georgia in 2008 were in support of South Ossetia.

Nagorno-Karabakh: Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a war over Nagorno-Karabakh in the early 1990s. The population is ethnic Armenian, but it is claimed by Azerbaijan. Nagorno-Karabakh uses Armenian currency, but does not have official recognition from any country.

Northern Cyprus: The southern part of Cyprus has full UN and EU membership. The northern part of the island has declared independence and Turkey is the only country that supports its sovereignty.

Kosovo: Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and within days the U.S. and others announced recognition. Russia still considers Kosovo a part of Serbia and is blocking its membership to the United Nations.

Western Sahara: This is made up of the coastal region between Morocco and Algeria. Some think it should be a part of Morocco, but no one wants to irritate Algeria.

Transdniestria--This is a tiny strip between Ukraine and Moldova that declared independence in 1990. It is governed by Moldova, but it has its own constitution, parliament, military, postal service, currency, flag, and national anthem.