Volume 91, Issue 5 | February 23, 2011
the
Charger Bulletin The official student newspaper of the University of New Haven since 1938.
www.ChargerBulletin.com
Bahrain Protesters Seek To Overthrow Royal Family
By HADEEL AL-SHALCHI & BARBARA SURK ASSOCIATED PRESS
–––––––––––––––––––––––––– MANAMA, Bahrain – A group of young protesters camped out in Bahrain’s capital Monday called for the ouster of the entire ruling monarchy as part of sweeping demands to call off a weeklong uprising in the tiny, but strategically important Gulf nation. The call stakes out the most uncompromising demands of protesters to date, most of whom have only called for weakening the powers of the monarchy and it was impossible to determine how much weight they have in the country as a whole. Tensions are still high in Bahrain after seesaw battles that saw riot police open fire on protesters trying to reclaim landmark Pearl Square last week. At least eight people have been killed and hundreds injured in the clashes since the unrest spilling across the Arab world reached the Gulf last week. Abdul Redha Mohammed Hassan, 32, who was shot in the head by security forces while trying to march to the square Friday, died in a hospital Monday, his relatives said. Bahrain holds particular importance to Washington as the host of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which is the main U.S. military counterweight to Iranian efforts to expand its military influence into the Gulf. A manifesto Monday from a group calling itself “Youth of Feb. 14” — after the day of the first marches — apparently seeks to raise the stakes of demands ahead of possible talks between the opposition and the
monarchy. “We demand the overthrow of the oppressive Al Khalifa regime,” the manifesto said, referring to the ruling royal family. “The people will choose the system they will be subjected to.”
To underline their contempt for the monarchy, the protesters set up a chair resembling one belonging to a royal with a sign beneath it that says in Arabic “And does the throne of the oppressor stay?” It was not clear what their relationship is with the official Shiite opposition that includes 18 members of the 40-member parliament who resigned in protest Thursday. But their manifesto shows the range of demands among the opposition, from the all-or-nothing youth group to others who would let the monarchy survive but with many of its powers and
Artificial Retina Helps the Blind See
Drug Administration to determine the test needed to secure –––––––––––––––––––––––––– the implants approval in the United States. Currently, the imUntil a year ago, Eric Selby plant is only intended for people had been completely blind for with specific types of sight probtwo decades and was dependent on a guide dog to get around. However, after getting an artificial retina implanted into his eye, he can now detect shapes and shades of black, white, and gray. While only 40 people have gotten this treatment so far, it is a small step to bringing sight to the blind. How the artificial retina works and what it can do for the patient is equally interesting. A U.S. based company called Second Sight, who AP Photo is currently waiting to see if Dutch regulators will accept their request to mar- lems, whose optic nerves are ket the device in the European still working, and have previousUnion, designed the artificial ly been able to see. This means retina. They are also in nego- that people who are born blind tiations with the U.S. Food and See RETINA page 5 By SARA J. DUFORT STAFF WRITER
privileges turned over to parliament. The week-long unrest has already affected Bahrain’s economy. An international rating agency has cut the government’s credit ratings because of concerns about political turmoil as the crown prince was deciding on the fate of the March 13 season-opening Formula One race, the kingdom’s biggest international event it has hosted annually since 2004. Standard & Poor’s cut the ratings Monday for Bahrain’s long and short-term sovereign credit ratings, as well as those for the island nation’s central bank and the country’s sovereign wealth fund. Hundreds of protesters spent the AN AP PHOTO night at the square, and thousands of government opponents have gathered at the site by the afternoon. The mood was upbeat and many appear to be camped there for the long haul, with makeshift kitchens serving meals to those who live in the small tent village. At several stalls, demonstrators queued for hot tea and joked about the weather, which turned windy and whipped up sand and trash. In the statement, the youth group called for authorities to be put on trial for attacks on protesters last week and demanded an elected government. They said See BAHRAIN page 6
Libya: Protesters, Security Clash in Capital
By MAGGIE MICHAEL & HAMZA HENDAWI ASSOCIATED PRESS
–––––––––––––––––––––––––– CAIRO – Libyan protesters celebrated in the streets of Benghazi on Monday, claiming control of the country’s second largest city after bloody fighting, and anti-government unrest spread to the capital with clashes in Tripoli’s main square for the first time. Moammar Gadhafi’s
the multiple state-run satellite news channels, witnesses said. During the day Monday, a fire was raging at the People’s Hall, the main hall for government gatherings where the country’s equivalent of a parliament holds its sessions several times a year. The pro-government news web site Qureyna said flames were seen leaping from the building, and that the headquarters of the Olympics Committee was also
AN AP PHOTO
son vowed that his father and security forces would fight “until the last bullet.” Even as Seif al-Islam Gadhafi spoke on state TV Sunday night, clashes were raging in and around Tripoli’s central Green Square, lasting until dawn Monday, witnesses said. They reported snipers opening fire on crowds trying to seize the square, and Gadhafi supporters speeding through in vehicles, shooting and running over protesters. Before dawn, protesters took over the offices of two of
on fire. Protesters were calling for a new protest at sunset Monday in Green Square, setting up the likelihood of new clashes. Already, armed members of progovernment organizations called “Revolutionary Committees” were circulating in the streets hunting for protesters in Tripoli’s old city, said one protester, named Fathi. The city on Monday was shut down, with schools, government offices and most shops closed
See LIBYA page 4
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Warren Buffett Speaks about Financial Crisis class to borrow against, it created probably the biggest bubble –––––––––––––––––––––––––– in our history. What he meant by this was that people kept borrowThe world’s third richest man ing money for houses that they does not get that wealthy by not could not afford, and then banks knowing anything about finances. Someone like this knows how to play the market, and Warren Buffett is no exception. With a net worth of 47 billion dollars, it is clear that he has figured out how to invest his money properly. Therefore, when Buffett has something to say about a financial crisis in the United States, people tend to take notice. Last week, several hours of audio were released from a May 2010 interview with the Berkshire Hathaway boss himself, Warren Buffett. While he touched upon many different topics, the most important were about what caused “the bubble,” when he saw it coming, and who contributed the most to continued to give these people it. money. The problem arose when When asked about the origins it finally came time for those of the bubble, Buffett explained people to pay their mortgages, that people began to believe that realizing they did not have the housing prices could not fall sig- means to do so. nificantly. He explained that it Sadly, even one of the richwas the biggest asset class in the est men in the world could not country, and as the easiest asset see the financial collapse comBy SARA J. DUFORT unh today
ing before it was too late. When asked about when he realized the crisis was coming, he simply said, “not soon enough.” He explained that Berkshire Hathaway talked about it at their yearly meetings, and at one point, they called it a “bubblette.” It was so small at the time that they did not even consider it a problem. He said that while he was aware of the internet bubble, he did not go out and “short the stocks.” If he had done something like that, it could have caused even more problems with the amount of personal wealth that he has. However, AP Photo when it comes down to who actually caused the crisis, Buffett said, “every aspect of society contributed to it, virtually.” The interviewer asked about rating agencies, bank management, and regulators, and each time, he believed that they all had a hand See BUFFETT page 5