The purpose of almost all of my articles is to direct public attention to the seemingly irrelevant events in the world that actually matter a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. It is not a secret that mass media plays a huge role in the way popular thinking is formed. Politicians know how to play this game very well, and those who do not pay a big price. Many scholars in the academic world have come to the conclusion that the media is the unofficial fourth pillar of power. It is able to control the way people perceive the world and the events around them. It is a tool that cannot be controlled and is the most effective for both good and sinister purposes.

It is not to say that the information is not there. There are many things going on around the world and some of the most important events are highlighted in the headlines and are discussed by news anchors and experts on the evening news. However, other less important events are pushed by the wayside and only a small fraction of the population finds out about this.

For example, when a disaster strikes, the first order of business is to rebuild the executive resorts, villas, hotels and foreign owned business. While hundreds of millions of units of currency are pumped in for that specific task, the general population waits for the relief trucks to arrive with food and other necessary supplies. When the headlines read that a certain organization from a major country is sending aid, barely a few columns on the back pages tell the story about the fact that the main effort of rebuilding the disaster stricken region is aimed at foreign-owned hotels and corporate buildings.

The essence of this article will be to point out the things that are generally left by the wayside in each important region of the world.

Europe

The European Union is a prominent force in the world today. Many of the member states have risen above their differences and have created a confederation that has a large population, huge economic potential, and security. Some of the things that are left unheard are the meddling of Europe in the major regions of the world to assure resource security from Africa and the Pacific Rim. Seemingly small affairs.

However, for those that remember reading something in the tabloids earlier in November about a group of mercenaries convicted of organizing a failed coup against the Equatorial Guinean government being released, the affair was more than just a personal attempt to make a hefty buck. The Spanish and the French intelligence services were involved in helping to organize the coup by helping with planning and transportation. These EU member states don’t have the necessary amounts of oil and gas on their territories or along their shoreline.

Their interests in the operation were buried deep and never surfaced even when Simon Mann and Mark Thatcher (yes, Margaret Thatcher’s son) were put on trial. National integrity is above all. The news of the coup and the events that followed were buried deep in the news about US and NATO operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and mainly Middle Eastern affairs. Considering that Equatorial Guinea’s known oil and gas deposits are very large, that definitely played a role in the suppression of the coverage.

Pacific Rim

The Pacific Rim is a huge playground for most major powers that are found in the G8. China has interests in the Spratly Islands. However, so do Vietnam and the Philippines. The Spratlys have large untapped reserves of gas and oil and there is a lot of political haggling going on between the sides interested in the disputed territory. There are infrequent exchanges of fire between military vessels of the respective countries and that goes under radar. The events in Pakistan, North Korea, and occasional terrorist attacks overshadow this important struggle that can potentially become a large conflict in the region and that US is actually very interested in.

Central Asia

The struggle for influence between Russia and the West in Central Asia is huge; in fact, I have written about this before when some tabloids actually addressed the Nabucco and South Stream projects. The politics behind this goes unnoticed or dismissed as very small news that is irrelevant. Considering that the outcome of politics in Central Asia is huge and will affect Western interest in the Caspian and therefore oil and gas prices, the news should be delivered on a greater scale and with more attention. For many political players and companies, the fact that this goes in the editor’s “not really news” pile gives some the opportunity to play foul games.

Africa

World interest in Africa has increased dramatically. The potential for the continent to become a large exporter of many raw materials and cheap labor is great. Many investors from all over the world would be glad to invest in this risky, but potentially enriching, land. However, the coverage of the events is so minute that only a select caste of investors with special connections gets a go at this gold mine.

Politicians jump with excitement and publicists bombard newspapers with press releases when something happens in Somalia, South Africa, or Zimbabwe. These are the parts of Africa that are prospering because of the publicity they get, but they are only a small portion of the overall picture. China and the West battle for dominance of the region because they know that there is potential for huge profits. That goes unnoticed and unheard of by the general public. Some things that may surface could well decide the next election and future policy decision of many countries.

Latin America

Latin America is one of the most interesting places in the world today with regard to politics. The United States struggles to convey that it is still relevant in the region and the political situation there is much underreported. South America is a goldmine: vast natural resources, huge potential for manufacturing, farming, and raw material markets to develop and rival that of most of the developing world. Nevertheless, many things go unnoticed on the continent by the decision-making public around the world for that fact that certain events create better ratings – a coup in Honduras, Hugo Chavez’s speeches, Cuban politics, and Columbian and Brazilian drug wars. All of that makes interesting headlines but only scratches the surface of what the public in the G8 countries should know in order to make clear and fair decisions when electing leaders.

Conclusion

The most important pattern that I am trying to show here is that the fourth pillar is the greatest tool for diverting public attention away from what really matters. As readers and interested citizens of the world, we should strive to learn about those events that are pushed to the back pages. That small news may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and unleashes a new war, or a chain of events that costs some leaders their roles in the government and subsequently credibility. It is understandable that mass media is just like any business. Ratings are the name of the game. However, there is a degree of responsibility. That responsibility is to make clear the events of the world so that the public can reward the leaders and companies that deserve respect, and drive under those that have been unjust and unfair in conducting their affairs.

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.