Let’s stop this talk of crisis
05 29th, 2010Maurice Levy, chief executive of the French communications group, Publicis, argues in the International Herald Tribune that we are going through an unprecedented crisis with a loss of meaning, direction and proper values. This is utter rubbish and lazy thinking.
We live in a more secure and moral world than we ever have. I suggest Mr Levy asks whether he would prefer the values and direction that led to the slaughter of the First World War, the rise of Hitler, Stalin’s purges and Mao’s famines.
India train insurgency
05 28th, 2010The alleged Maoist insurgent attack on an Indian train raises questions about how the world’s biggest democracy is dealing with an uprising claiming to represent the disenfranchised poor. The Indian government describes the Maoist movement as the greatest threat to its internal security, while in his influential blog, http://ridingtheelephant.wordpress.com/ John Elliott writes the government is split on whether the insurgency should be seen as a terror or a developmental problem.
“The government is of course functioning adequately despite all the policy problems, corruption, and lack of prime ministerial drive and authority. From Sonia Gandhi’s and the party’s point of view, keeping the coalition intact is a primary issue till the next general election due in 2014. What a lot India is missing as a result! ”
At issue is whether democratically elected government’s primary role should be to stay in power or solve long-term problems.
A lethal British fashion
05 28th, 2010A 40-year-old man charged with the murders of three Bradford women who worked as prostitutes, is due to appear before magistrates later.
The Bradford murders follow a of trend of serial-killing that stretched from Jack the Ripper, to Dr Harold Shipman, the Ipswich murders and beyond. There is something very British about them, our fascination and the way we solve them.
To find our more Click here: The Magnificent Spilsbury and the Case of the Brides in the Bath
North Korean test case
05 27th, 2010America’s handling of the current North Korean crisis may prove a tipping point in its long-term relations with China. The economic crisis has propelled China into being more assertive on the world stage, while it remains bedevilled by the insecurities and stubborness that have plagued it for years.
In the middle of all this lies North Korea — a nuclear-armed rogue state .
Thailand — which democracy?
05 26th, 2010Karuna Buakamsri, news anchor at Channel 3 Bangkok writes movingly about the 1992 protests in Bangkok when activists were unarmed and filled with ideals. With her then, among the protesters, were young idealists who became leaders of the now opposing Yellow and Red shirt movements — one which ransacked the Prime Minister’s office and occupied the airport, the other which set fire to central Bangkok. Both claim they are fighting for democracy.
“I can’t see any justice or democracy in what they have done,” writes Karuna Karuna Buakamsri who had to flee from her burning television station building.
Low Trust Britain
05 25th, 2010In his book Trust, Francis Fukuyama argues that the higher the trust within a society the further it advances, which is why Japan and the United States have fared far better than low-trust Rwanda and Bosnia. BT, the British telecoms company operates on the extremities of low trust. In order to try to install a broadband line, I have so far rung seven separate numbers, each for a department that is banned from liaising with another and disempowered from solving issues. The departments go under such names as Broadband; Narrowband; Customer Service; Technical Support; OpenZone; BTFon and others. For the record, the numbers were 08001114567; 08006901991; 08456007030; 08000223322; 08081006778; 0800800150; and a 7th I have lost my note of.
The issue remains unaddressed. My bet is that BT’s very senior management will shortly undergo a complete overhaul.
p.s. It turns out that BT boss Ian Livingston was paid a £1.2m bonus last year.
p.p.s And a 9th number 08007830056
Democracy on Trial
05 25th, 2010Michael Portillo, former British Defence Minister, has made a superb BBC 4 radio documentary Democracy on Trial in which he talks to key players such as End of History’s Francis Fukuyama, Neocon’s David Frum and Bottom Billion’s Paul Collier on the record of democracy.
Listen on this link:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sc7yp
Indians Read
05 24th, 2010The new hi-tech website www.Indiansread.com has Democracy Kills on its top ten list, together flanked by Gurcharan Das and Tariq Ali.
Reason to be worried
05 22nd, 2010In the light of the torpedo crisis, North Korea expert, Ruediger Frank, from the University of Vienna offers this analysis.
“A famine, a set of failed economic policies, and Kim’s obvious health issues have created a situation of frustration, insecurity, and nervousness. The Pyongyang elite will be holding their breath and watching closely how Kim Jong Il reacts. What if he does not succeed in creating the impression that sinking the Cheonan was his idea? Even if so, this is a catch-22 since it invites a potentially destructive counter reaction by South Korea and the United States. If it wasn’t done on his command, will Kim Jong Il conduct a major purge of the culprits like his father did in 1956, when a trip to Europe was used to launch a coup against him? If he doesn’t, then the vultures will get more courageous.
However, it is very unlikely that an unfriendly takeover of the top post in Pyongyang would happen quickly, effectively, and peacefully. Chances are much better for the emergence of the chaotic situation that North Korea’s neighbors have tried to avoid for a long time at the economic and political cost of deliberately propping up the Kim Jong Il regime. The potential effects include a humanitarian disaster, a last-ditch effort at a military solution, or the active involvement of superpowers like China.
In short, we have reason to be really worried this time.”
Click here: The Third World War — A Future History Click here: The Third World War — A Future History
North Korean conundrum
05 21st, 2010The North Korean torpedo attack delivers a web of questions on how to handle a rogue state. This from US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, as soon as she began her visit to East Asia.
“We cannot allow this attack on South Korea to go unanswered by the international community. “This will not be and cannot be business as usual. There must be an international, not just a regional, but an international response.”
But what exactly should that response be?
Click here: The Third World War Click here: The Third World War
