Pen/Insular_Notes

Video time:

UPDATE:
Both Gord Sellar and Matt have some intelligent commentary on the current protests over the relaxation of controls on US beef imports.

It’s my theory that political and social events in Korea often take the form of a magnified version of events that are taking place in Europe, and recently the country that has been most similar to South Korea in its political trajectory is France. So a case in point would be the dramatic fall in the popularity of Sarkozy since he was elected last year and the even more dramatic fall suffered by Lee Myung-bak since he came into power a few months ago:

Sarkozy - came to power just under a year ago - current popularity rating: 38%

2MB (Lee Myung-bak) - came to power two and a half months ago - current popularity rating: 28%

By the way, it’s interesting to note just how upset the Grand National Party are by Democratic Labour Party lawmaker Kang Ki-gap’s recent election victory in the GNP stronghold of South Kyongsang and the key role he has played in the current popular revolt over US beef imports. They’ve now decided to go after him on supposed election violations. As if that wasn’t enough of a sign of panic among the conservatives now running the country, they’re hastily making all sorts of noises about prosecuting anyone they don’t like “spreading rumours on the internet” or holding candlelight rallies with “political slogans and placards”. I have a feeling they’ll soon realise that it’s not so easy to turn the clock back…

No Ordinary Sun brings us exclusive pictures of the May Day rally in Tokyo:

(I do like the way that Japanese activists manage to use cute cartoon characters even on their union banners.)

While Pressian was on the scene for today’s events in Seoul:

(It’s interesting to note the difference between the events held by the two Korean union federations on May Day - while the more radical KCTU held a big rally against the privatisation and pro-conglomerate policies of the Lee Myung-bak government and promoted the rights of the casual workers who now make up the majority of the South Korean workforce, the conservative FKTU organised a May Day marathon… which will surely do much to promote the rights and livelihoods of its members.)

Meanwhile, here in London we just went to vote with heavy hearts… Not even the anarchists managed one of their attempted riots.