Resistance is Futile

By the world's reaction to the protests in Burma you wouldn't think that a military junta had been in power there for 45 years. During their long reign of terror the military junta has murdered tens of thousands ethnic minorities and political opponents. Burma's vast natural resources have been plundered by corrupt generals and foreign companies. Why all of a sudden is the Burmese military junta public enemy number one, at least in western eyes?

There are echoes of Iraq with what is happening in Burma now. Saddam Hussein was in power for 30 years but suddenly in 2001 he became the biggest threat to world security. Will history repeat itself? No, there will be no international military intervention in Burma. Instead the world has called for "restraint". The west has applied targeted sanctions but this is a futile gesture as only a tiny fraction of Burma's trade is with the west.

Only Burma's neighbours can make a difference but they have been deafening in their silence. The streets of Burma are flowing with blood as Burma's neighbours protect their economic interests. As long as Burma's neighbours, particularly China, act selfishly and do nothing the Burmese military junta will stay in power and continue to do whatever it likes.

So many of the world's tyrannies survive only thanks to the patronage of powerful neighbours: South Africa in Zimbabwe, China in North Korea and Burma. These tyrannies can only be ended if the world takes a firm stance against their protectors. Will the world stand-up to China? Will the world boycott next year's Olympics if China doesn't stop protecting the Burmese military junta? Will these protests achieve anything? Will there ever be democracy in Burma?

No. Viva the mighty dollar.

9 out of 10 Celebrities Prefer Tesco

Question: What organisation can buy all these famous people: Cilla Black, Emma Bunton, Naomi Campbell, Ronnie Corbett, Paul Daniels, Barry Davies, Frankie Dettori, David Dickinson, Noel Edmonds, Bruce Forsythe, Jane Horrocks, Bob Hoskins, Martine McCutcheon, John McEnroe, Jimmy Nail, James Nesbitt, Graham Norton, Prunella Scales, Timothy Spall, Alan Titchmarsh, Tommy Walsh, Julie Walters, Barbara Windsor, Kevin Whately, Alan Whicker, Richard Wilson and Terry Wogan?

Answer: Tesco.

All of the above have appeared in or done voice overs for Tesco's TV adverts in the UK. But they aren't the only ones. The world wide web isn't big enough to name all the celebrities who have sold out to Tesco. The latest to to fall prey is Bjorn Borg. Is there no stopping this monster?