POLARIZATION INTENSIFIED
It seems polarization is increasing within each nation state of the world system. In the world of the rich, this has become quite pronounced, as can be witnessed in the countries of Western Europe. In those core countries where economic wellbeing is gradually receding, conditions for harmonious collective existence are deteriorating. In the early years of this 21st century, Empire’s position in the world system is also weaning. Brexit and the future of the UK might well become one of the most important happenstances in this generalized decline of the west. The United Kingdom, alias the ‘British Empire’ (of the 19th century) seems to be on its way to becoming the ‘Disunited Kingdom’ of inconsequential significance. Polarization within the current hegemon/USA is also in the ascendance. The behavior of its ruling elites has also taken a twist towards the comical and is becoming quite the entertainment!
The components of the current global polarization in play include, not only the familiar culprits of economics and politics, but also the increasingly dangerous one of culture! Obsessive cultural essence, the rhetoric goes, is delineated by the words ‘us’ and ‘them’! Obviously, the ‘them’ connotes otherness. The word preferred by the Americans is ‘aliens’! Be that as it may, these two words are not used interchangeably, by no means. The world of alienation is not completely detached from the world of ‘aliens’. The dangerous outcomes arising from the notions of ‘us’ and ‘them’ are obvious. Late modernity is playing with this social fire and consequences can be unforgiving!
From the vantage point of learned analysis, one can describe the “Yellow Vests’ movement of France as trying to challenge comprehensive polarization. The movement wants to redress more than mere economic grievances. The unspoken hidden truth is; the French activists are demanding good governance via ‘direct democracy’! Electoral democracy, they reckon, has outlasted its stay. Elected officials, almost invariably, renegade on their campaign promises once they are in office. They are quick to engage in activities that have been neither mandated nor warranted by the populous. These officials, in collaboration with the unelected bureaucracy, can decide to wage wars or implement economic policies detrimental to the welfare of the people. This, the ‘Yellow Vests’ reckon, is an abrogation of the critical element of democracy! Brexit, to some extent, is the manifestation of such sentiment by the forgotten deplorable, to use a word coined by the privileged politicos. By and large, ‘Trumpism’ is also a repudiation of old politics as played by traditional politicos!
In the world of the poor, polarization between the haves and the have-nots continues to create disturbances in modern existence. Failing to satisfy the basic necessities of organized life, the politicos of the poor seem to have resorted to the externalization of their shortcomings on to others and otherness. This tendency is already giving rise to the more dangerous element of cultural polarization! In the global south, particularly on the continent of South America, where situations tend to be more topsy-turvy than anywhere else, including Africa, conditions seem to have dangerously deteriorated. Ecuador, after going through turbo neoliberalism in a very short period of time is now in chaos. Rioters, demanding the ouster of the government, are now in charge of the uprising. Brazil’s hard right government, pathetically posed to fulfill the interests of dominant transnational capital is throwing people in jail so that they cannot run for elections. The former president Lula is one such victim. In South America economic, political and cultural polarization has increased since the progressives‘socialists were overthrown by the machination of entrenched interests. Venezuela is suffering the massive sanctions imposed on it by empire. By empire we usually mean the triad; the USA, EU and Japan. Nonetheless, Venezuela is trying to hold its own, despite the various blatant aggressions and subtle offensives targeting it! Like Cuba, and unlike the likes of Brazil, Argentina, etc., the notion of sovereignty, independence and self-worth seems to have taken a deeper root.
This was first published in October 2019
ESL’s ultramax on pace to dock in mid June
The recently swapped ultramax vessel is expected to dock its anchor mid this month at Djibouti, Ethiopia’s sea harbor hub, for the first time. The Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics (ESL) newly received huge vessel is currently on its voyage to Europe.
It can be recalled that the effort of ESL to swap its two tankers with a huge vessel was successful with the handing over to the state owned logistics enterprise transpiring on April 25 at a port in Shanghai, China.
According to Demissew Benti, Public Relation Head at ESL, the vessel called MV Abbay II hit the ground running with operations having commenced on May 12, with a voyage to South Korea.
“On its second trip, the biggest vessel ever to be owned by ESL set sail to transport cargo to Vietnam,” the Public Relation Head added.
As Demissew informs Capital, the vessel has now left the Vietnam Phu My Port with steel cargo to the Baltic Sea. Despite ESL not having a regular fleet to Europe, he cited that it has seldom trips when it has a charter cargo.
About two decades ago, the shipping enterprise had a line to Europe, but now its regular fleet flows to Asia.
ESL has taken cross trade business as one of the major source of revenue besides transporting cargo for Ethiopia. In the past and this budget year in particular, cross trade has become expansive and one of the major source of foreign currency for the company.
Recently, ESL disclosed that it has a target to expand its destination for its vessel while the logistics giant has currently 345 international ports destinations.
“We have a target to expand our destination ports to 375,” Demissew said.
The coming of the ultramax vessel is also stated as a key to expand its destination. The enterprise is also on the final stage to order brand new two ultramax vessels from a company in China. As per the deal, the new coming vessels will be a dry carrier with an ultramax type carrying capacity of over 63,000 DWT. In reference, Abbay II has a loading capacity of 65, 000 DWT.
Currently, the nine dry carriers that ESL owns are ‘handysize’ vessels with about 28,000 DWT.
ESL is using other ultramax vessels to transport bulk cargos like fertilizer, coal and wheat to Ethiopia.
“Our new vessel will carry huge bulk cargos like steel, wheat and fertilizer,” the Public Relation Head elaborated.
According to Demissew, Abbay II’s next destination will be Baltic Sea northern Europe with the steel cargo that is loaded at Vietnam.
“We expected that the vessel with 28 crew members will be at the berth in Djibouti on June 15, which will be the first time for the new vessel to come to ESL’s home port,” he said.
“The operation of Abbay II is very promising. It shows that we will attain the goal to expand our port destinations for Ethiopian flag carriers,” he explained, adding, “When we expand the capacity in terms of owning such kind of vessels we will be able to stretch.”
Experts said that the incoming big vessels shall support huge local cargos besides supporting the east African coast up to South Africa and the Indian Gulf, which has a gap on container feeder service.
The vessel that was owned by US company, with a German operator, and registered at Marshall Islands has been stated to be in good condition and was managed by good operator prior to its acquisition. Demissew clarified that if it was bought today, its market value would be at more than USD 28 million.
“Actually the vessel is possessed through the swap of Bahir Dar and Hawassa tanker vessels,” Demissew cited while explaining how the huge cost of purchase was evaded.
Abbay II is seven years old and is fairly a young carrier as experts on the sector explain.
In related development, the management of ESL celebrated the achievement of the long serving former CEO of ESL, Roba Megersa in a warm farewell ceremony held on June 2.
