Moral vote to regain self respect

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Meripa Weir to samoaobserver

show details 4:12 PM (17 hours ago)

Dear Editor,

Fetu Saunders letter ' Samoa's loss of self respect' (Samoa Observer 09/12/09), is a timely reminder that the voters ought to think seriously about who should be the leaders of Samoa at the March 2011 elections. The big challenge though is whether it is the will of the people to regain Samoa's self respect from the enemies of democratic processes (domestic and international) reiterated by Saunders and many others in this media.

It is time for all voters to look into the faces of their children and grandchildren as they will be the bearers of all debts and global-driven decisions by the current leaders of Samoa.

It is time for the voters to look into and ask questions like: How will Samoa's debt be paid back to the money lenders? If all our moneys is spent on interest for the overseas loans, will Samoa's customary lands be targeted for global-driven investments like dumping nuclear waste? How can agriculture for domestic consumption be improved to encourage a revaluing of farming, planting skills so not to rely excessively on imported stuff? Is our water being managed from overseas? There are many questions that challenge the current leadership. The voters need to have the will to act.

It is time for voters to remember that Samoa was once colonized as do many parts of the world. The colonization process has not disappeared. It has come back in a more fierce economic form called neo-liberal economic globalization. If voters are willing I suggest to find out what is happening at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen. Already African representatives are calling the dynamics of the conference, "the colonisation of the sky". Lord Curzan, viceroy of India over a century ago said that "countries are pieces on a chessboard upon which is being played out a great game for the domination of the world". Moving into a new status of being "a developing country" reinforces that Samoa will still be a pawn on the chessboard of global domination.

It is time for voters to push for Samoa to be a leader in strengthening the regional approach for pacific island nations. Samoa needs the other Pacific nations just as the other Pacific nations need Samoa. It is well documented that conflicts in democratic states can be instigated as part of the great game for world domination. It could be very well the situation in Fiji and the Solomon Islands. Voters ought to learn from the Coconut Revolution of the people of Bougainville who fought and won.

It is time to think the future of Samoa. It is time for a moral vote at the 2011 Elections.


Ma lo'u fa'aaloalo lava


Meripa Weir

Keen Samoan Watcher from Abroad
meripaweir@gmail.com