Brazilian President Postpones Meeting Over NSA Spying

NEWS IN SOUTH AMERICA

The major news for us here at Four Flags Journal is the recent meeting at the U.N. and the attitudes of our South American presidents. We have reviewed the full text of President Obama’s speech, which left us with many questions. If it is strictly unacceptable to use chemical weapons, what about the depleted uranium that the U.S. has been using in the Middle East? In previous times, depleted uranium was only used in emergency situations because of birth defects and other problems that result. Now it is used as a matter of course. And for that matter, what about Agent Orange? Also he said he is working diligently to shut down Guantanamo. Now, let’s see. How long has he been president?

For those who are not familiar with the book by Machiavelli entitled The Prince, we suggest you put it on your reading list. It will make a lot of the contradictory statements of politicians make a lot more sense. The Prince is a treatise for politicians on how to manipulate the public. If you read Machiavelli’s philosophy and also know the political history of some of these people, you will feel certain that they themselves have used it as a textbook.

The full text of the U S. President’s speech is at President Obama Speaks at the United Nations.

 

Next, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is still expressing righteous anger over the alleged industrial spying of the United States into Brazil’s oil and other industries. In fact, she has now declined to keep her appointment in October with the U. S. President, an action that some consider an “embarrassing snub.” She wants apologies, assurance that it will never happen again, and some kind of regulation about use of the Internet to be passed by the U.N. You can read about her speech at Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff speaks at the United Nations.

 

Then we have the President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, demanding that the United Nations headquarters be moved outside of the United States, claiming that the presidents of certain countries could be in danger there. You will remember that Morales plane was diverted and forced to land in Austria in July of this year because it was suspected that whistle blower Edward Snowden could be on board. He was not. You can read for yourself about President Morales here Bolivia President Evo Morales speaks at the United Nations.

 

Next, we have Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro who claims that he was warned that his life could be in danger if he attended the U.N. meeting so he proceeded from Canada back to Caracas. Bolivian President Nicolas Maduro skips United Nations meeting after warning.

We have no other unusual reports about our South American presidents except that Uruguay President Mujica is standing up to the United Nations in his decision to allow marijuana in his country and a few other minor issues. Being on the ground, with various news sources, observing the reactions of several countries and peoples rather than only one, is not just interesting. It is an education in itself.

 

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EVERYDAY LIFE IN ARGENTINA

You will remember when we had no Internet here for three months. Well we received a note from the administrator of our building last week that we would be without gas on the 20th to make repairs on the pipes. The 20th came and went and we did not notice the absence of gas. the stove worked fine, we had heat and hot water. I thought well, it must have been an easy fix, I didn’t even notice it was off.

That’s because it wasn’t. But surprise! On the 23rd–no gas. No gas on the 24th either. And no gas on the 25th. No cook stove, no hot water, no heat. It is spring here but we have had outside temperature of 46 degrees on one occasion in the early morning. So yesterday I asked our “portero” when we would have gas.

Answer: In three months. Three MONTHS? He had to be kidding . . . .

He was not! Fortunately I already planned a three months visit to Chile. I am just waiting for my passport to be delivered. Then I’m off! I don’t need the passport to go to Chile. It’s just that once I get it I can check that second passport off my list of goals.

Hurry on down and join us. We’re waiting!

Thanks for getting together with us today. It’s always fun! We hope our next epistle will come to you from the lovely country to the west–Chile. See you next week!

Arlean