Nigerian Anti-War Protests Leave 200 Dead

Fidelis

http://www.rte.ie/news/2001/1014/worldreax.html

The Gopher

How come 200 nigerians being slashed and burnt to death made the news in brief section if lucky,whereas if one protestor is shot dead in Pakistan its top of the pile?

Fidelis

The thing is that every so often, a bus load of Indians perish on the road side due to the weather or some such, it makes maybe 2 lines in the corner of the Irish Times and wouldn't blink an eye in the tabloids. Similarly, overloaded civilian boats in Asia capsize and no one is ever seen again, still it's not deemed worthy for the Western news agencies.

It's horrible to think that a single life should mean more to us than a few hundred, simply because it's closer on the map.

The Gopher

And if my estimations are correct Nigeria is actually closer to here than Pakistan.

Magwitch

It is kind of a regular thing in Nigeria. A large Islamic majority in northern Nigeria have suceeded in presuring the government into allowing them to impose Sharia law in their provinces, this effects Christians in these provinces and makes them answerable to Sharia law. The Nigerian government backed down and allowed this "Islam-o-facist" element to have its way, but all they have suceeded in doing is delaying, not preventing, a civil war. The current blood shed is small in comparison to previous disturbances.

As to why we do not hear about it? The same thing is happening in southern Sudan, and our penny for the poor box allows the church (Concern etc) to look after civilian welfare so as to free up the Southern Christian government to combat the Khartom Islamic government. Or did you not realise we have been covertly supporting a religious wars for decades? Surely thats a story?

Theres alot we don't hear about, and more we choose not to add up for ourselves Reading between the lines is important, plus one can follow the most remote conflicts around the world if one reads the margin stories in newspapers and has a good memory. The biggest mistake that we in the west have ever made was allowing the media to convince us that they know what they are talking about - or what is real news.

As a good place to start I would suggest:

Institute for War and Peace reporting

and of course

Janes Information Group

These sites and other sources like them are where Journalists become "Suddenly informed" about world events after the fact. Keeping up to date with them makes reading tabloid and broadsheet journalists more amusing as you can pick holes in their stories or spot their source.

Perhaps others folk have some souce material suggestions?