Earth Tiger: Wood Season: 2b

25 Feb ~~ 28 Feb

The people intrude upon the political arena. Popularity counts! Popular expressions of discontent are strongest here -- riots and strikes. Loss of popular figures is highlighted -- the death of someone famous, perhaps? Political intimidation over these days may be orchestrated for populist reasons or to test the nerve of an opponent or for the lowly goals of rape and pillage.
Weather: the pulse of warmer weather reaches its maturity.
The Fulfilment:
China: Final memorial service today for Deng Xiaoping, ending the week of mourning, but no peace as bombs explode in rebellious Xinjiang. "The people intrude upon the political arena. Popular expressions of discontent are strongest here".
S.Korea: President Kim issues solemn apology to the nation for the bribery scandal. He vows to banish one of his own sons from political life. "Loss of popular figures is highlighted ... The people intrude upon the political arena. Popularity counts!" This is obviously a last resort -- Kim was unable to save any face at all.
Europa: Amsterdam: Thirty nations gather for two days to draft an int'l convention treaty to define child labour and to outlaw its most hideous forms. Altruistic populism -- political action to help people who can't vote.
Poland: Someone tried to firebomb Warsaw's only surviving synagogue overnight. Damage kept to the minimum by alert passersby. Govt expresses moral outrage. "Popular expressions of discontent are strongest here -- riots and strikes."
USA: Govt slaps fees of $100000 per ship per port stop on most Japanese freighters as a way of protesting Japanese harbour regulations and to force change in these policies. "Political intimidation over these days may be orchestrated for populist reasons or to test the nerve of an opponent or for the lowly goals of rape and pillage."
USA: Comments by the Federal Reserve Bank on the price of stocks knock 120pts off the Dow.
Israel: Govt unveils plans to build 6500 new homes for Jews on a pine-covered hilltop in East Jerusalem, plus another 3000 new homes for Arabs. This will not be well-received! "The people intrude upon the political arena. Popularity counts!" The government is using residential homes as a political weapon! "Political intimidation over these days may be orchestrated for populist reasons or ... for the lowly goals of rape and pillage."
China: Stalemate over fate of North Korean bureaucrat holed up in the South Korean embassy.
S.Korea: Whole government cabinet resigns today, voluntarily, so that President Kim can shuffle them liberally and restore public confidence. He's still trying to save face in the wake of the bribery scandal. "Popularity counts! Political intimidation over these days may be orchestrated for populist reasons ... Loss of popular figures perhaps?"
Thailand: Ethnic war in Burma by the government against the Karen people and rebels has prompted a massive exodus into Thailand, but the Thai army is pushing them back. "The people intrude upon the political arena."
Australia: Someone sets off a chlorine gas bomb in the midst of a shopping complex and many people end up in hospital.
UK: Tories lose key by-election test vote only two months before an election call. John Major now heads a minority government and must secure support from smaller parties if he is to evade an humiliating vote of non-confidence. "The people intrude upon the political arena. Popularity counts!"
Austria: After 154yrs, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra votes to admit women as full members. They bowed to intense political pressure and the loss of financial subsidies. "Political intimidation over these days may be orchestrated for populist reasons" -- the musicians bowed (pun: violin bows and bows for applause) to political intimidation orchestrated to shame them into it. And I should be ashamed to have made such a pun! Even if I did write this in early February..... :-)
France: Govt assembly preparing to pass law requiring visitors from other lands to report their comings and goings to the police. Anti-immigrant measures. "Political intimidation over these days may be orchestrated for populist reasons or to test the nerve of an opponent or for the lowly goals of rape and pillage."
Canada: Eaton's files for bankruptcy protection from its creditors -- 40 stores will close. Eatons has been a Canadian institution since 1869!
Zaire: Govt and rebel leaders hold secret talks in South Africa chaired by Mandela in an effort to find peace. Very little progress.
Israel: Jerusalem: The situation is tense after yesterday's announcement, but Arafat is doing his best to keep a lid on it. This housing project will complete the encirclement of Old Jerusalem and render its annexation into Jewish Israel a fait accompli. "Political intimidation over these days may be orchestrated for populist reasons or to test the nerve of an opponent or for the lowly goals of rape and pillage."
China: Xinjiang: Police sweep countryside in search of explosives after still more terrorist bombings in this Muslim province. Many arrests. Hmmm ....
Romania: New government welcomes home King Michael after an exile of fifty years. His citizenship is resotred and he visits former royal palaces. "Popularity counts! Political intimidation over these days may be orchestrated for populist reasons".
UK: New gun control law (the "Dunblane Law") goes into effect today. Some 200000 weapons will be gathered up and destroyed over the coming months. A very popular law on which the people insisted!
USA: Los Angeles: Heavily armed bandits rob Hollywood bank and the whole shoot-out with police is captured live on video. Police are outgunned, but win the battle. Several deaths and injuries, including the bandits.
Zaire: Another refugee camp town falls to the rebels -- at least 170000 Hutus flee the scene. "Political intimidation over these days may be orchestrated for populist reasons or to test the nerve of an opponent or for the lowly goals of rape and pillage."
Korea: President Kim begins the work of putting his house in order. Many men replaced. Not intimidation, but orchestrated nonetheless. Kim needs to demonstrate a sincere effort and a clean sweep to win back popular affection in the wake of scandal. "Popularity counts!"
Israel: Yet another Hezbollah attack on soldiers in Lebanon. One dead and three hurt.
Peru: Hostage talks drag on. Many hostages are now very ill with local diseases.
Australia: Another chlorine gas bomb in a shopping mall -- 12 hurt this time and hundreds hurriedly evacuated.

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