Hong Kong Polytechnic University - Site of Protests

Year of Contestation

You know something is afoot when a South American country completely cancels its soccer season. Hours before I compiled this blog Chile did just that, citing insecurity because of anti-government protests. So this is 2019. What a contentious year. Hong Gong and the demonstrations in favour of democracy have been in the headlines since mid-summer. Mainland China seems unwilling to live up to its one country two systems agreement to allow democratic freedom in Hong Gong until at least 2047 when the negotiated agreement technically comes to an end. As Brazil and Bolivia set fire to their Amazon resources in the name of exploiting the freed up terrain for mining and livestock the cost born by the indigenous peoples and the rest of the world as our lung chokes is enormous. Long live the protesters who oppose Bolsinaro. In Ecuador meanwhile riots in the streets because of opposition to fuel price increases and austerity have led to chaos. France has its yellow jackets who paralyzed the transportation routes for days. Brexit: well Britain has been in turmoil for three years. Venezuela and Syria have been the world's most fragmented societies for a considerable time. Then there is the situation of Yemen, proxy wars between Iran, the USA and Saudi Arabia. Speaking of Iran no less than 7000 are reported arrested in anti-government contestation in the last week. How about Sudan where it seemed an Arab Spring would up set the apple cart? Iraq has had hundreds die in the streets this Fall. Wow, bring on the new year.