Alternative Perspective
Issue 1, September 23rd, 2002
Compiled byMadhukar Shukla
Introduction: Alternative Perspective is an attempt to widen our awareness about issues related to business, environment, role and influence of media, geo-politics, religion & culture, etc. It aims to share, on a regular basis, some of those pieces of news and information, which do not find place in the mainstream media.
In This Issue:
Backing Globalisation with Miltary Might
In a 1999 New York Times article Thomas Friedman advocated: ""For globalism to work, America can't be afraid to act like the almighty superpower that it is....The hidden hand of the market will never work without a hidden fist..." This article describes how Economic Globalisation was always backed by military power, and how war is actually a part of doing business. http://www.covertaction.org/full_text_68_03a.htm
The Enron Fact Files
Enron made history from the time it won the "laughable bid" for the Argentinian pipeline in 1989 to Dec 4, 2001, when it filed for bankruptcy. This site - and the links - describe in details Enron's history, its relationship with government and World Bank, how it won the business from Bolivia to energy deregulation in Texas. Very Comprehensive and interesting!!! http://www.corpwatch.org/issues/PII.jsp?topicid=145
Role of Religion in the Palestinian Conflict
Much of what we (I??) know about Israel-Palestinian conflict looks political (Jewish lobby in US, American oil interests in Middle East, etc. etc.), or at a best, a dispute around a piece of land. If at all, there is a mention of religious motivation, it is attributed to the Islamic Palestinians. There is hardly any analysis of the role of Temple Mount/haram-al-Ashraf or Dome of Rock in this potential armaggadoon... or even a mention of the Red Heifa or the Masada Complex. In context of the next article, this is a perpective which is worth appreciating. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/middle_east/2000/holy_places/