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The World Next Week: Obama Visits Myanmar, Catalonia Votes, and International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Is Marked

<p>Marchers wave Catalonian nationalist flags during a demonstration on Catalan National Day in Barcelona on September 11, 2012 (Albert Gea/Courtesy Reuters).</p>
Marchers wave Catalonian nationalist flags during a demonstration on Catalan National Day in Barcelona on September 11, 2012 (Albert Gea/Courtesy Reuters).

By experts and staff

Published
  • James M. LindsayCFR Expert
    Mary and David Boies Distinguished Senior Fellow in U.S. Foreign Policy

The World Next Week podcast is up. Bob McMahon and I discussed President Obama’s trip to Myanmar; elections in Catalonia, Spain; and the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

[audio: https://www.cfr.org/content/publications/media/editorial/2012/20121115_T…]

The highlights:

For more on the topics we discussed in the podcast check out:

President Barack Obama visits Myanmar: Bloomberg Businessweek writes on the changes in the economic relationship between the United States and Myanmar. Foreign Policy warns that Obama might be visiting Myanmar too soon. The Irrawaddy remarks that ordinary Burmese citizens are generally indifferent to Obama’s visit. ABC News reports that Obama will also visit Thailand and Cambodia, centering his trip around the East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh.

Catalan parliament holds early elections: El Pais writes that Catalan independence is the central issue of parliamentary elections. Bloomberg reports that Catalonia would consider seeking independence even if it could not join the European Union. Reuters points out that while Catalonia makes up one fifth of Spain’s economy, it is also the most indebted region in the country. The Guardian reports that Catalan regional president Artur Mas has identified the Scottish referendum for independence as a model for Catalonia and Spain.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is marked: The United Nations recounts the history of this day and provides statistics on gender violence.  UN Women’s Say No to Violence Campaign has uploaded a YouTube video in which Ban Ki-moon explains the role of youth in eradicating violence against women. The Daily Star describes a 36-month long program put forth by the Tunisian National Bureau for Family and Population in order put a stop to violence against women. Joburg outlines several events taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence.