Not the Michael Jackson farewell

While Mrs Traps and a billion people around the world watched the Michael Jackson Memorial Service, I was giving consideration to the events taking place around the world which the media, in their wisdom, had decided to put on the backburner. Undoubtedly Jackson was an immense talent worthy of extensive coverage but surely not to the virtual exclusion of what I set out below.

In Moscow the US President Barack Obama has been meeting with Medvedev the Russian president and Vladimir Putin the prime minister. Among other things there has been agreement on nuclear arms reduction and a reassessment of US-Russian relations. While this was taking place China found itself at the centre of world media attention as a result of the ethnic violence between the Han and Uighurs.

In Italy preparation was being made for the G8 Summit with the Pope calling on representatives to change the way they do economics and to base their calculations on a measure of love. In Honduras the exiled President Zelaya was given Obama’s backing and will be meeting with Hillary Clinton. France was warning Iran that they had best release a student while further clerics stood up to the Ayatollah.

In Afghanistan, US forces continue to carry out their operation in Helmand province with very little resistance coming from the Taliban. The only fatality on the day was a British troop who was killed in a helicopter crash.

In the Middle East speculation is mounting as to whether Israel will strike at Iranian nuclear facilities while in Asia the US is planning to furnish South Korea with missiles in order to ward off North Korean aggression.

There were bombs in Pakistan, the Philippines and Chechnya while 200 000 people were displaced as a result of fighting in the Somali capital.

In South Africa we had the resignation of Cope’s second deputy president Lynda Odendaal (who?), the DA criticising the ANCYL’s views on nationalisation, the ANC confirming they are happy to debate the subject and the build-up to more strikes.

The above is merely representative of some of the major events that took place yesterday.

In light thereof I would suggest that even though Michael Jackson was the “King of Pop” and an incredible performer the decision by the media to sideline world events to cover the memorial service was, at best misguided.

I’m sure that those who wished to follow the service could have switched to the music and entertainment channels leaving the mainstream news coverage on world events.

That is called putting things into perspective.