Monday, October 31, 2011

New Capital of Southern Sudan..


By Julius N. Uma
October 28, 2011 (JUBA) - Sudan Tribune

Pan-China Construction Group, a Chinese company, has been awarded the lucrative contract to design Ramciel, the proposed location for South Sudan’s new capital, Sudan Tribune understands. The company reportedly beat off stiff competition from several bidders, including a South Korean firm, after they presented design proposals for construction of the new capital, which will be situated about 65 miles (105km) north of Juba, the country’s current capital.

“After months of intensive bidding, the government has finally awarded Pan-China Construction Group the multi-million dollar deal to design the new capital. Both parties are required to sign a memorandum of understanding before work can commence,” an official from South Sudan’s housing and physical planning ministry, who preferred anonymity, revealed.

South Sudan’s decision to relocate its capital, a few months after the country attained its independence on 9 July, resulted from a cabinet resolution. The Chinese company specialises in urban construction, according to its website.

Since its establishment in 1993, Pan-China has reportedly undertaken development, design, construction and project management for many high-profile projects. In Africa, for instance, the company has been awarded contracts in Angola, Tanzania and Nigeria.

In June this year, the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), a state-owned construction company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the southern government to cooperate broadly during the course of the construction of the new capital.

Lee Ji-song, LH’s chief executive officer, said in a statement that the agreement will encompass a broader aspect of cooperation, including mutual technical collaboration on the master plan for the new country’s capital.
http://www.sudantribune.com/Chinese-firm-wins-contract-for-S,40562


OK, Let me talk as an Urban Development Expert..
On 9th Feb 2011, I had posted about the early model developed at the USA for the new Capital at Ramcel.. http://adilsud.blogspot.com/2011/02/capital-at-ramcel.html

Yes, I had denounced the project, considering how huge the required investments, while other priorities are critical to sustain the newly born government and country..
Now, Chinese are coming with tractors instead of smuggled guns..!!
Certainly, they had offered parallel loans to fund the project, while granting back the bid.. Knowing that the profits will not be in the basic contract, but in the generated subcontracts for 10-30 years ahead..!
This is how urban developments works..
This is why it is a troubling job..!
In addition, GOSS has no adequate expertise to align the urban and real estate products to its own goals, nor has a smart mechanism to control the associated bribes and personal gains..

Enthusiasm and self recognition do not justify wasting lots of moneys on project with critical uncertainties: poor soil mechanics, absent regional accessibility, immature ecology management and chaotic sustainability.. Adding to this the required municipal management and services..

My initial calculations tell:
Plot 4,000,000 m2 (It is a Village not a City..!)
Infrastructure cost $ 150,000,000 (Probably the Chinese Contract..!)
Buildings $ 5,000,000,000 (Only value of proposals)
Population 80,000 (20% are GOSS Staff)
Still not talking about Transit, Economic Aggregates, Socioeconomic Patterns. etc..

P.S.; It is never successful to tender design and building a City in 8 months..!!!!

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Shaukat Aziz..


Yes, as an int’l banker, he did a lot on the “Glamorous” economic fronts, but nothing for child-labor, human development, gender suppression and political maturity..

He is a great “Saloon-Speaker”, presentable Statesman and an alien to the commons..!!

As per the Occupy’s terms: He is a 1% guy..!

Therefore, he had gone unremembered..!!

He is one of the rare examples among the 3rd world politicians..

The question goes unanswered: Borders of Reliability and Fascination..?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaukat_Aziz


Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Land Rush in Sudan



Extracts from the 21st century African land Rush

132 Projects
9.8 million acres of Agriculture Land
Share of Domestic Investors 78%
(Not necessarily Sudanese individuals, but companies)

----------------------

Jordan: 60,000 acres to grow crops and livestock
Kuwait: Unknown details of a strategic "Giant" deal
Egypt: Secured land to grow 2 million tons of wheat
Qatar: Unknown details of a joint holding company
Saudi: 2,27 million acres for food stuff
South Korea: 1.7 million acres wheat fields
Arab Emirates: 980,000 acres for food production
USA: Unknown details of a 1 million acres deal


How many Sudanese suffer from poverty, famine and unemployment..?
The domestic shares represent the 1% who controls wealth, government, politics and military
The hidden concession price would certainly pay the Sudanese Public Debt..!!
Yet; my folks keeping smiling; for a better tomorrow..!




In skillful and foxy PPP modeling; countries with food threat got concessions for its corporate to grow lands in countries with surplus argi-land..
These are Open Concessions for 999 years..
It can be a win-win situation, if the donors are capable to design the concessions of it a-must-related CSR programs..
However, no actual production started, and maybe will never be in this decade.. It is a future food security, even USA is involved in it..





If the issue is solely about securing food, I guess no one would mind.. But it is mostly designed to secure commodities production for bio-fuel..!


A Globe of Fires..



During the last 20 years; I had noticed how the people become alert towards their religions (Precisely and correctly religious affiliations).. It is not a matter of getting religious, but fanatic and zealous..

People intentionally use religious attributes (France had banned in 2010); hysterically fest in their traditional occasions, and read extensively on religious verdicts of Crusades (Crusades generally means religious wars, not Christian ones)..!!

I have lots of doubts on the attached Indian map, as how it is illogic, yet understands the linkage between Diwali and Hinduism.. This is no different form Niqab (An ancient Indian custom, which Muslims had mysteriously liked), notable Cross-necklaces (A custom created by the Hippies in times of European uncertainties), or Influential Buddhist cults (The famous providers of alternate mysticism)..

It is on parallel turns violent, with Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Tamil, Jewish and Taoist extremists.. Taoist were replaced by Chinese mafia, while only Buddhists don’t acknowledge the justifications of violence, but everyone else does..

I’m not sure how future would look like..
Maybe instead of the lights across India and the globe, it would be fires..!!

http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/160012/view

Credit: NOAA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Caption: India at night, satellite view. This image is a composite showing the change in illumination over India from 1992-2003. Satellite data from 2003 is coloured red, 1998 is coloured green and 1992 is blue. The three data sets are composited to form the image. Nighttime lights on the map that are white are lights that were present throughout the entire period. Areas that are marked by red have only appeared in 2003. Areas coloured green and blue were only present in 1998 and 1992 respectively but are no longer visible. This image was created by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, USA.







Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Drawing the Future.. Child Agony..!

I have no words to comment.. Have You..??







Fitness of Civilizations..


Someone asked: why I don’t write in Arabic..??



Many years ago; I had used to publish Arabic articles in newspapers and magazines.. Thankfully; I had mastered lots of the difficult Arabic grammar and linguistics.. I wrote poetry and short stories.. Simply; I knew how to (correctly) express myself in Arabic; but not for any Arabic Listener, as many of them already sound as fresh Orientalists..!!

Although how national languages are critical for folklore, domestics and households; they do not fit anymore for education, science and politics.. In today’s world; RAP music, cable TVs and mixed marriages had increasingly made the borders virtual.. Logically; a global culture requires a global language.. This is why international schools, scientific forums and political papers are mostly made in English.. Worldwide; all leaders had agreed and acknowledged how growth and spread of English is unprecedented or challengeable..!

When addressing a local issue; if it has a global reflection or linkage, don’t waste time or interests waiting for translations.. If the issue worth global support and advocacy; avoid pitfalls of transactional expressions.. If the merit is futuristic; don’t waste the chance of early alignment and integration.. Epistemia is a two-way humane activity.. The more you interact across linguistic barriers; the more your concepts and proposals are epistemically elevated..

Worldwide there is an acute deficiency of translators and interpreters.. The more you are linguistically isolated from the world around; the more you are left behind in the epistemic race.. However, it is not anymore how much your translated materials are, but how much your literate ones are linguistically connected to the world.. Despite the scandalized trend; Intellegencia is never a local evolution, but a global one.. Religions, Philosophies and Practices are coming from the same roots.. Therefore, their growth and development is unlikely perfect when entrenched by corrupt politicians and fake Intellegencia.. When you are exposed to the world, your (proud) merits and thoughts will inevitably be challenged, examined and filtered; then you either validate your eligibility or redo your homework..!

This is how the Jasmine Revolution of Tunisia had evolved; when its framework had been widely scrutinized among Tunisian abroad, in their French speaking.. The same had also happened with Libyans and Syrians; which had provided their move with fresh momentums and lifelines.. On the contrary, in Egypt, Yemen and Sudan; opposition groups, civil societies and battling cults could not reach a bottom of agreement; taking their national uncertainties into spiral black holes.. Notably, both global NGOs and Think Tanks could not help either; with barriers from inadequate claims of patriotism..!!

Not only such self-centered (actually unfit and fearful) calls for change were observed among Arabs, but also among peoples of Uyghur’s, Burmese’s, Kyrgyz’s, Somalia’s and Ivoirians.. Nations failed to communicate their strives, and failed to upgrade them as well.. Global communications would support and facilitate sooner solutions, while false entrenching would block any sensible help to truly realize the dreams and logically scrutinize the wish lists..!


This is the ultimate Clash of Civilizations..


Because there are many civilizations which are on the death row;
I would call it:
The Fitness of Civilizations..!!



In Sudan; we regretfully summarize the Unfitness..!!


لياقة الحضارات..!

سأل أحدهم : لماذا لا تكتب باللغة العربية..؟

منذ سنوات عديدة ، كنت أنشر مقالات في الصحف والمجلات العربية.. كان لدي الكثير من اتقان القواعد الصعبة للغة العربية ولسانياتها.. كتبت الشعر والقصص القصيرة.. كنت أعرف كيفية التعبير الصحيح عن نفسي باللغة العربية ، ولكن ليس لأي قارئ عربي ، فالكثيرين منهم يكادوا أن ينسبوا الى المستشرقين الجدد..!

على الرغم من الأهمية البالغة للغات المحلية للحوار الشارع ومفردات الفولكلور والتفاعل الأسري ، فقد لا تناسب لاستخدامات العلم والتعليم والسياسة.. في عالم اليوم ، وبين تزايد التفاعل مع الموسيقى الراب وتلفزيونات الكابل والزواج المختلط ، فان المؤكد ان هذه ثقافة عالمية تتطلب كذلك لغة عالمية.. هذا هو السبب في ان معظم المدارس الدولية والمحافل العلمية والسياسية وأوراق الأبحاث تتشارك في التعامل باللغة الإنجليزية.. في جميع أنحاء العالم ؛ جميع القادة فد وافقوا واعترفوا بكيفية نمو وانتشار اللغة الإنجليزية بشكل لم يسبق له مثيل أو يمكن استبداله..!

عند معالجة قضية محلية ، وإذا كان لديك التفكير أو الرابط العالمي ، لا تضيع الوقت أو الفرصة في انتظار الترجمة.. إذا كانت المسألة تستحق الدعم العالمي ، والمشاركة ، فيجب تجنب مزالق التعبيرات والتعاريف المحلية.. إذا كان البحث عن الجدارة المستقبلية ، لا تضيعوا الفرصة المبكرة في التوافق والتكامل المعرفي.. المعرفة الحقيقية هى نشاط إنساني في اتجاهين.. كلما كنت تتفاعل عبر الحواجز اللغوية ، كلما تترقي المفاهيم المشتركة ومقترحاتك الخاصة..

في جميع أنحاء العالم هناك نقص حاد في المترجمين والمترجمين الفوريين.. كلما كنت معزولاً لغوياً عن باقي العالم ، فسوف تتخلف حتماً وراء السباق المعرفي.. الآن ، لم يعد السؤال كم هي مصادرك المترجمة ، ولكن كم لغوياً يرتبط أولادكم بالقراءة والكتابة والتفاعل المعرفي مع العالم.. انها مشكلة عالمية ، فعلى الرغم من ضرورات ومبررات التفاعل اللغوي ، فان النخب المحلية تعترض وتعوق التطور في مجتمعاتها بالاستناد على الخصوصيات الدينية والثقافية والتاريخية.. ان الديانات والفلسفات والممارسات الانسانية تأتي من نفس الجذور.. لذلك ، فان نموها وتطورها من غير المرجح أن يكون على ما يرام مع تسلط النخبويين والسياسيين الفاسدين.. عندما تتفاعل مع العالم ، فاما أن تفخر بأفكار غير قابلة للطعن والتشكيك ، بعد أن يتم بحثها وتصفيتها ، ثم التحقق من صحة أهليتها ، أو ردها من أجل المزيد من البحث والدرس..!

هذا هو ما قد مكن لثورة الياسمين في تونس من التطور ثم الاستقرار ، عندما تم التدقيق فيها (المنطلقات والاهداف والمعايير والبرامج) على نطاق واسع بين التونسيين في الخارج ، والمتحدثين بالفرنسية.. وقد حدث نفس الشيء أيضا مع الليبيين والسوريين ، الذبن انتقلوا مع زخم الثورة وشرايينها المعرفية الى خارج الحدود ، بين أخوانهم في المنفي والمهتمين الآخريين من العالم.. على العكس من ذلك ، في مصر واليمن والسودان ، لم يمكن لجماعات المعارضة ومنظمات المجتمع المدني والطوائف ان ترقى بنضالها بدون ان تتواصل وتصل إلى اتفاق معرفي ، مع استشراء عدم اليقين والثقوب السوداء في طروحات الجميع ، ولا سيما منظمات المجتمع السياسي والمدني التي أخذت في تطوير أفكار هي لا تساعد أحد ؛ وتقدم عراقيل وحواجز من مطالبات غير وطنية..!

ليس هذا فقط ، فالملاحظ أن هذه الأنانية ، بالاضافة الى عدم الواقعية والخوف من التعايش ، ليست فقط بين العرب ، ولكن أيضا بين شعوب الأويغور والبورما وقيرغيزستان والصومال والأيفوريين.. هذه هي دول قد فشلت في مساعي الاتصال بهم ، وفشلت كذلك في الارتقاء بنضالها من أجل التغيير ، حتى الآن.. ان الاتصالات العالمية تدعم وتسهل حلول التغيير ، في حين يعمل رفضها وتكذيبها على عرقلة أي مساعدة معرفية لتحقيق الأحلام الوطنية..!

هذا هو صراع الحضارات الحقيقي.. لأن هناك العديد من الحضارات التي هي في انتظار تنفيذ حكم الإعدام عليها..!

ولذا أود أن أسميها : لياقة الحضارات..!

U-se It..!



CAN YOU..??If you can't, Pls; don't FAKE it.. and ask for HELP..!! It is not a crime or guilt to be incapable..!
90% of our pitfalls are generated from false pride, claims and achievements..
Realize, admit and adher to who you are; not who you want to be.. Then you may act towards being whom you wish to be..!

Good kick off leads to good close-out.. (a PM code..)

YEMEN: A Cookbook of the Hungry



SANA'A, 25 October 2011 (IRIN) - Altaf Abdullah al-Mahdi, 40, has found it increasingly difficult to feed her family in the Yemeni capital, Sana’a, since she and her 19-year-old daughter, Baghdad, lost their jobs as cleaners in a plastic factory, which closed in May amid growing political unrest in the country.

The family live in a two-room house in a Sana’a slum, which they inherited from their father, a casual construction worker who died in a scaffold collapse last year. Al-Mahdi and four of her six children are dependent on the two oldest boys, Jamal, 13, and Yasser, 11, who together make some YR1,400 (US$5.53) a day working in a car maintenance shop.

Both look stunted with thin arms and sunken cheeks, and appeared underweight. “They work more but eat less,” their mother said. “Both started to have anaemia. I am worried about the future of their health. Who else will support us if something bad happens to them?”

The family spends more than 85 percent of its income on food. Al-Mahdi adds water to the beans or yoghurt so that they go further. She and her oldest daughter skip dinner or eat less to leave more food for the children, she told IRIN.
Yemen’s fragile economy has nosedived since February, when protests - which have degenerated into pitched battles on the streets of major cities between an armed opposition and a divided military - began calling for the resignation of President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, one third of the population was chronically undernourished before the political crisis. Close to 40 percent of Yemenis were unemployed, and with only a small fraction of its cereal needs locally grown, the country is extremely vulnerable to rising global food prices.
One kilogram of bread in Sana’a now costs YR250 ($1.10), compared to YR170 in January.
The last time the Al-Mahdi household ate meat was more than two weeks ago when a neighbour brought them half a chicken. It has been almost one month since they have tasted fruit.

Here is what the family of seven eats on a typical day.

Breakfast: 410 grams of beans (42 US cents); 1kg of bread ($1.10) = 3,110 calories
Lunch: 500 grams of rice (94 cents); 150g of yoghurt (63 cents); 1kg of bread = 2,399 calories
Dinner: 1kg of bread; tea = 2660 calories

The total calorie intake per person per day works out at roughly 1,167 calories. However, the recommended calorie intake per person per day is 1,940 calories for women and 2,550 calories for men. For the average child, the recommended daily calorie intake ranges between 1,715 and 1,970 for boys, and 1,545 and 1,740 for girls.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=94062

Monday, October 24, 2011

They are not kids anymore..


(Thanks to Kathleen Wells)
A friend expresses her worries on how this kid is terrorized..

I see it;

The history always repeats itself..
Lessons Learned are never easy applicable; despite the false claims..
We can't realize how to practice justice or appropriation of actions..
We have deformed genes when it comes to fairness and equality..!

Don’t worry; they are not terrorized anymore..
Neither they are kids anymore..

If they are not the potential terrorists for tomorrow..
If they will not breed and bring-up the terrorists of tomorrow..
They inevitably will have a very dark vision of their world.. !!

Just get ready; we shall have to share their world..!




The Lazy Sudanese..!!


This was triggered by a Suadi reply to an Egyptian article, which was followed by a Sudanese comment, to be found as the 1st comment..
However, this is issue is far byond the Egyptian Sudanese relations; and corsses to the furturistic Arabian states and mind-set..

I share it because it tells about long ignored facts of history and culture.. Maybe it is our pitfall as Sudanese for not making noise of our history among others.. But when Intellegencia is involved, it should explore the others around. Prior to any inappropriate talk.. All neighboring nations should stop their annoying priggism and false claim of distinction.. We all are very vulnerable apart; yet only together; we can draw the future for the same-genetically kids, we have..!

I did not read or know about that Mahmoud Zakaryia, yet will never be surprised for what he would say.. Despite how Egypt and Sudan are geographically close, they are culturally apart and sometimes in hostile state.. The same applies to most relations between Egypt and Arabs.. Unfortunately, many in Egypt don’t realize it, and many more don’t acknowledge the problem..!! Yes, Egypt is and inevitably will always be the center of Arabic Strategic Focus; which should drive its attitude for more integration rather than more priggism..

It is a pity; yet I only blame the Egyptians, with their mighty mass media, strategic interests in Sudan and legions of educated and (supposedly knowledgeable) well versed ones..
On contrary, Khalid Alsuliman and many other Arabic writers, as well as the ordinary people; almost escape no chance; but to praise both sincere efforts and brotherhood; our (lazy, barbaric and humble) Sudanese had offered to build urbanism, knowledge and pride..

It is not the economic or political stresses that suffocates the Arabian Realization; but the false pride and self-destructive solutions they provide themselves..
Ironically, the more celebrated and noisy Arabs are, the more vulnerable they become..

Thanks to Hisham (Moonfleet Eldai) and his friends


Saturday, October 15, 2011

Jimmy Carter on BBC



If you missed once, Don't miss twice..!!


This sold-out event took place at London's Royal Festival Hall on 5th October 2011. The recording will be broadcast on BBC World News on the following dates (all times in GMT):
15th Oct: 04:10 and 17:10
16th Oct: 10:10 and 17:10

Event info:
President Jimmy Carter is a Nobel Prize winner, author, humanitarian, professor, farmer, naval officer and carpenter. In this special Intelligence² interview with Jon Snow from Channel 4 News at the Royal Festival Hall, President Carter will talk about his career as president, and the past three decades as a senior statesman and ambassador for the Carter Center.

Jimmy Carter was U.S. President from 1977 to 1981. His administration's main foreign policy achievements include the Panama Canal treaties, the Camp David Accords, the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, the SALT II treaty with the Soviet Union, and the establishment of U.S. diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. After stepping down, he decided to establish the Carter Center along with his wife Rosalynn in 1982 to wage peace, fight disease and build hope worldwide. He was a pioneer in what has now become the widespread practice of putting prestige and status to good use in the world. The Center’s programmes have operated in 76 countries to resolve conflicts, advance democracy, human rights and economic opportunity, prevent disease, improve mental health care and teach farmers to increase crop production.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from President Carter as he relates some of his stories from a truly remarkable and well-lived life and shares his views of global politics today.

http://www.intelligencesquared.com/events/jimmy-carter



Occupay: An Attempt to Understand..



It had started with the (Finance Managers) structuring a bigger and wider role, equivalent to the sums of moneys they process daily. (Multinational and Cross-border Companies) did not satisfy both greed and hanger for wealth. Brilliantly; CAPEX were subdivided into (IPOs), for the founders to restore their investments, reduce their risks and widen the base with many smaller shareholders (The 1%). The shares bought by (Sovereign and Pension Funds) had added virtual and practical powers; making the Corporates bigger than failure. On parallel, the (Financial Products) were effectively created to accelerate the wealth making and fortune cooking. During the last 10 years, everything around was applauding the (Apprentices); who are capable to succeed despite the moral attachments. The early alarm was triggered in early 2000th, with the astonishing collapse of (Enron), but no one could figure the (Octopus) within the financial system. The league of financial centers employs (Physicists, Mathematicians and Psychologists) to master their Products and Clients. Finance became too complex to understand, unless a (Financial Expert) is hired. Within the formula of (Capital, Debt and Interest); our humane future was already merchandized and traded..!!
Therefore, the economic confusion is a product of people not the system.. It is a conflict of policies not governance.. It is principally, a (moral) meltdown, not a macro-economic.. Certainly, it came down to the ingredients of practice; which no reform would be able to address.. We may suggest techniques to enhance instrumental performance, control and audit; but no way to rule intentions, personal integrity and professional mind games..
In this issue; there is no demise between Rightdoing and Wrongdoing..!!
Therefore, (Occupy) does not provide answers, but screams that (maybe) would echo within the ears and the consciousness of those in financial control..
When (Islamic Bonds or Sukuks) had been introduced, they effectively shock the financial markets.. Yet, the model did not receive the adequate promotion and support, despite how it changes the framework of all categories of business worldwide..
Why..?
It changes the roles of the game; to be in favor of the true beneficiaries not the managers.. Now; the financial professionals who read the above are furious.. I do not blame them.. Just asking them to review the wisdom of their professional forefathers..
Does it worth applaud or scrutinize..?

This is an answer and a road map from a non-Financial Professional..

Friday, October 14, 2011

A drinker's guide to Islam..



I need to disagree on the closing paragraph of this excellent essay:
“Regardless of whether this is the case or not, devout Muslims have every right to consider alcohol haraam and not part of Islam the religion. But they must also accept that alcohol has always been an integral and largely tolerated aspect of Islamic culture..”
Yes, I had witnessed the relaxed ban on Alcohol in many Muslim societies, but it was among the Urban Muslims, rather than all Muslims..
Urbanism usually comes with its own set of global and broader morals and trends; which does not reflect the common national culture.. This a worldly phenomenon not a Muslim one..!
Maybe the comments are more interesting than the article itself.. It tells the perceptions of both Muslims and non-Muslims about the Islamic culture and implementations..


guardian.co.uk,

A Palestinian beerfest is not as bizarre as it seems. Alcohol has long been a tolerated aspect of Muslim culture

To add to the bizarreness of the situation, this Oktoberfest, the seventh of its kind, took place not in hip Ramallah but in the remote village of Taybeh, perched picturesquely at 850m above sea level and with a population of just 1,500. Moreover, readers in western countries may wonder why thousands upon thousands of revellers had trekked all that way to attend a beer festival with only one beer on tap.

Secular Palestinians, expats and even leftist Israelis equipped with glasses of Taybeh beer wandered around food and handicraft stands, watched traditional Dabke dancers, modern music, comedy and theatrical performances.

If I said that we went to an Oktoberfest last weekend, readers may wonder why I am writing about it. If I added that the beer festival in question was in the West Bank and there we encountered a couple of self-deprecating young Germans dressed in lederhosen, some may start asking themselves what I've been drinking, or perhaps smoking.

For more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2011/oct/08/drinkers-islam-palestinian-beerfest-alcohol

Between Hope & Fear

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Refugees’ Insurgency..!!


in 2010; 52 UN staff were killed, and 30 of NGOs..!

If those displaced people will continue keeping a blind eye on their native insurgents attacking the aid workers; they should also be ready for the day to be left alone..!!

Frankly; I don’t “buy” the advocacy that people can’t stand against the insurgents..  

If they share both will and belief that those are on the wrong side, they will defeat and neutralize them.. Actually, these “suffering” people are sharing the views of their insurgents, and deliberately block the attempts to confront them.. They share gains and euphoria of actions..
Actually; they are much dangerous, as they hide their true feeling towards their “foreign” savors.. This is the dilemma in Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere..!!
If they are widely described as Muslim victims; a Muslim is neither a liar nor a cheater..!!
Aid workers seized near Somalia
At least two foreign aid workers in Kenya are kidnapped near the border with Somalia, taken from the world's largest refugee camp...

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

It's a wild world..!


The same media machine; which had created the justifications for shocking Pearl Harbor, adventurous Cold War, disgraceful Nam-war, cub-alike communist Afghanistan, stubborn Iran, confusing 9/11, executed Saddam Hussein, beaten Euro Zone, resilient Hamas, faded Darfur, destructed Somalia, and lately the dizzy Arab Spring; is the same taking over the emotions of both Occupy and 99% of USA; to be replaced by a hidden counter initiative by the Capitalist Lobbyists..!

Capitalism is much much much much much bigger to fall..!!
($ 180,000,000,000,000 value of global assets excluding opex)
Capitalism in not evil, but the principle motivation for human activity.. It is the people who turn it ugly.. If a correction is needed, it is in the system we had carelessly invented to protect the interests of some few against the 99%..
The same brilliant techniques, smart visual & audio effectives, wizard script creators, amazing art directors and ultra professional executive producers.. It is an industry no particular “Goddess” to worship; but the ivory professionalism and astronomical earnings..!!
I condemn no one for being misled by these mass media communiqués..
I feel pity for who would build dreams on advocated visual realities; developed by guru technicians, behavior analysts and psychology simulations..
It is a bigger game than everyone, apart from who play it or pay for it..!
I only recall the oldie of Yusuf Islam or Cat Steven: “It's a wild world..!!”

Monday, October 10, 2011

Jagjit Singh..



The world will never be the same for all “Ghazal Lovers..”

Jagjit Singh was an Indian Ghazal singer, composer, music director, activist and entrepreneur, popularly known as "The Ghazal King"..!

He was the last factual unity across the Subcontinent..!


The Main Pitfalls of Egyptian Intellegencia (2)


Maspero: the School, the Best and the Students:

Over the centuries, Egypt was a magnet for the minds and muscles from all over the Middle East, and this was the basis for its military, bureaucratic and intellectual elites.. But, unfortunately, during the last forty years, particularly since the Six Days War, targeting and attacking all civil structures of social and cognitive ways obscene or twisted, and with the use of illegitimate approaches, to crash and violate the religious structures, while the affiliation of many of these speakers is questioned. Simply; this had led to the structural distortion of the nation's cultural..

Egypt has always been a center of intellectual gravity and forces in the Middle East, blend within Sunni Islam, traditional Christianity, Arab moderation and inclusiveness in a manner that is stable.. The Egyptian regime during the last thousand years was fully aware of the need to preserve these sensitive roles.. Aware that this is what had built armies, economies and politics in Egypt.. Thus, most of the Levant, the Nile Valley, the shores of the Red Sea and eastern Libya had lived a steady stability in the context of the structural Egyptian politics.. During the past hundred years, Egypt was not known for being arrogant, while the Egyptians were ruling the Hejaz, the Sudan, while fighting the famine and the limited resources and obstacles to the modernization.. This tolerance and coexistence is why the families of mixed marriages, races, and titles since the age of Khedives.. Since then, the Egyptian culture, not race.. authenticity, not an ethnicity..!

Although the credibility of the campaign of Gamal Abdel Nasser's Arabism, Egypt was transformed gradually toward chauvinism, which is inevitable with the complexity and conflicting trends of self-realization and love of the homeland .. The following Rulers have deepened this trend, for different political gain; which was not accompanied by a mature political culture.. The greatest achievement of Nasser is the curse of Egypt today: State Media.. Or "Monster Maspero".. He had created a monster without a sustainable mechanisms for political and civil governance, which would enable a coup by officials and managers, regardless of the will and interests of the people.. Often this “Monster” had made the events of Egyptian political change, without a national mandate or a clear agreement on the plan.. The Controlling this Monster were and still in the hands of its senior executives, who became the absolute powers..

The Egyptian bureaucracy and media industry had provided the life lines of to this Monster; Maspero.. Perhaps the race to adopt the standards of Western Media has led to repetition of its intellectual-issues as well.. The media feeds on the daily life of Egyptians, aspirations of their future, dreams of the simple man, and in addition to the psychological factors that shape overlapping of public opinion and public mood and public taste as well..

Arteries of the giant media are extended to Egyptian universities and institutes with thousands of graduated young people; who are competing for media jobs; The media professionals who carry on artistic innovations without any reference of thought. The hidden and twisted budgets across overlapping networks media audio, visual and print; Also, the people who flee from the pressure of life to the attention-grabbing and innovative media to kill time.. Perhaps the deteriorated consumers’ values, standards of moral excellence, and contradictions of intellectual and practical dealing are some indicators of forced change.. The final outcome of these dynamics and the huge alien and unjustified may have led to distortion of the rules dealing, relationships and morality among the components of the Egyptian people themselves.. And so was everyone, including the Egyptians themselves, ask:

Why Egyptians are not much of what they were before ..?

Egyptian media giant was the first school of the media in the Arab world since the first film, the first broadcasts, and the first printed newspapers, and ending with developed applications for communications and technology.. The momentum of population and social inequality and professional led to a broad base. Also, the typical experiences and applications on the incentives and disincentives together.. Thus, Egypt was a pioneer in the media, confirming the momentum of quantity not quality of restrictions.. Perhaps this does not contradict with the Academic who is seeking a degree and not a science, with the Executive, who is seeking the wealth of any source, with the Military, which lacks the qualifications of leadership, with the Public planner, which is seeking the sound of success, not its effect, especially as media messages prey on the intellectual life by the momentum, not by governance or choice..!

Certainly with this historical scenario, spreading confusion among all components of the society, from pre-school to professional work.. Nourished people in Egypt, mentally and emotionally from the effects of their loved ones who know how to read and write; and especially those who have received the famous "D" (which is a shortcut to the holder of a PhD).. In contrast, the academic clusters support its members, especially those with the ability to address the public, in order to achieve a balance with the religious establishment; which its members are the imams in the mosques and the media, addressing the public, without convulsions and without announcement, and sometimes without thinking..!

The poverty of many of the imams had led to the empowerment and growth of intellectual and moral extremism, the poor PhD holders will lead to confuse Egyptian minds.. Perhaps this is happening now in the Tahrir Square..!

Crisis in Egypt, deeper than any road map, and who is charged with developing the road map of Egypt, is unable to determine the real substance of the Egyptian people, present and future.. It's not a nation on the edge of fire, but still crying the bleeding hearts of the Egyptians brains who are sunken in the political games with unprecedented vigor..!
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Previous:
1. Secular Salvation from Religious Distress

Next:
3. Butter-Flying the Public service
4. Techno-Military vs. Technocrats
5. Cult Affiliation Replaces Elite Syndrome






الاخفاقات الفاضحة للنخبة المصرية – 2
ماسيبرو المدرسة والوحش والتلاميذ

على مدار عدة قرون ، كانت مصر نقطة جذب للعقول والعضلات من جميع أنحاء الشرق الأوسط ، وكان هذا هو الأساس الذي قامت عليه النخب العسكرية والبيروقراطية والفكرية المصرية.. ولكن ، وللأسف ، تم خلال السنوات الأربعين الماضية ، وتحديداً منذ حرب الأيام الستة ، استهداف ومهاجمة جميع الهياكل المدنية الاجتماعية والمعرفية بطرق فاضحة أو ملتوية ، ومع الاستخدام الغير مشروع للمناهج النقدية ، والتطاول على البنيوية الدينية ، في حين ينتسب العديد من هؤلاء المتحدثين الى مدعي الثقافة والآصالة ، مما آدي لتشويه البنيوية الثقافية للأمة..

مصر كانت دائما مركزاً للثقل والقوى الفكرية في الشرق الأوسط ، يتمازج داخلها الإسلام السني والمسيحية التقليدية والاعتدال العربي والشمولية الثقافية على نحو مستقر.. كان النظام المصري خلال الألف سنة الماضية على وعي تام بضرورة الحفاظ على هذه الأدوار الحساسة.. مدركاً بان هذا هو ما كان قد بنى الاقتصاديات والجيوش والسياسة في مصر.. وهكذا ، كانت معظم بلاد الشام ووادي النيل وشواطئ البحر الأحمر وشرق ليبيا تعيش الاستقرار المضطرد في إطار البنيوية السياسية المصرية.. خلال السنوات المائة الماضية ، لم يكن المصريون معروفون بالغطرسة بينما يحكمون الحجاز والسودان ، بينما يحاربون المجاعة ومحدودية الموارد وعقبات التحديث.. هذا التسامح والتعايش هو السبب في العائلات المختلطة الزواج والأعراق والمسميات منذ عصر الخديوية.. ومنذ ذلك الحين كانت المصرية ثقافة وليس عرق.. أصالة وليست فصيلة..!

على الرغم من مصداقية حملة جمال عبد الناصر للعروبة ، كانت مصر تتحول تدريجياً نحو الشوفينية ، التي لا مفر منها مع تعقد وتضارب الاتجاهات لتحقيق الذات وحب الوطن.. ولقد عمد الحكام التاليين الى تعميق هذا الاتجاه ، لتحقيق مكاسب سياسية مختلفة ؛ الأمر الذي لم ترافقه ثقافة سياسية ناضجة.. كان أعظم إنجاز لعبد الناصر هو لعنة مصر اليوم : وسائل الإعلام التابعة للدولة.. أو "وحش ماسبيرو".. لقد خلق وحشاً عملاقاً بدون أليات مستقرة للحوكمة السياسية والمدنية ، مما حعله قابلاً للانقلاب على صانعيه ومديريه ، بغض النظر عن إرادة الشعب ومصالحه.. كثيراً ما قد صنع هذا العملاق أحداث التغير السياسي المصري ، دون وجود تفويض أو اتفاق واضح على المخطط القومي.. كانت ولازالت عناصر التحكم في هذا العملاق في أيدي كبار المسؤولين التنفيذيين فيه ،الذين أصبحت سلطتهم مطلقة..
 
ان بيروقراطية وصناعة الاعلام المصرية قد وفرت خط الحياة لهذا الوحش الاعلامي في ماسبيرو.. لعل التسابق لترديد المعايير الفنية الغربية قد آدي لترديد معاييرهم الفكرية كذلك.. العملاق الاعلامي يتغذي على مفردادت الحياة اليومية للمصريين وطموحات الحياة لديهم وأحلام المستقبل للانسان البسيط ، وبالاضافة للعوامل النفسية المتداخلة التي ترسم الرأي العام والمزاج العام والذوق العام كذلك..

تمتد شرايين العملاق الاعلامي المصري من الجامعات والمعاهد التي تخرج آلاف الشباب المتنافسين على فرص العمل الاعلامية ، والتنفيذيين الذين يأخذون بالابتكارات الفنية دون أية مرجعية فكرية ، والميزانيات الخفية والملتوية عبر الشبكات المتداخلة للاعلام المرئي والمسموع والمقروء ، والشعب الذي يفر من ضغط الحياة الى ابتكارات اعلامية تشد الانتباه والوعي وتقتل الزمن.. لعل القيم الاستهلاكية المستحدثة ، ومعايير التفوق الغير أخلاقي ، والتناقضات الفكرية والتطبيقية في التعامل هي بعض مؤشرات التغيير القسري.. النتيجة النهائية لهذه الديناميات الهائلة والغريبة والغير مبررة قد أدت الى تشويه قواعد التعامل والعلاقات والاخلاق بين مكونات الشعب المصري أنفسهم.. وهكذا كان الجميع ، بما في ذلك المصريون أنفسهم ، يتساءلون :

لماذا المصريين تغييروا كثيراً عما كانوا عليه من قبل..؟

كان العملاق الاعلامي المصري المدرسة الأولى للاعلام في العالم العربي ، منذ الأفلام السينمائية الأولى ، الحلقات الاذاعية الأولى ، والجرائد المطبوعة الأولى ، وانتهاءاً بالتطبيقات المستحدثة للاتصالات والتكنولوجيا.. الزخم السكاني والتفاوت الاجتماعي والمهنى أدى الى وجود قاعدة علايضة واسعة ونموذجية للتجارب والتطبيقات على المحفزات والمثبطات معاً.. هكذا كانت مصر رائدة اعلامياً ، تؤكد على زخم الكم وليس على قيود الكيف.. لعل هذا لا يتناقض مع الأكاديمي الذي يسعي للدرجة وليس العلم ، مع التنفيذي الذي يسعى للثروة من أي طريق ، مع العسكري الذي يفتقد مؤهلات القيادة ، مع المخطط العام الذي يسعي لدوي النجاح وليس تأثيره ، لا سيما والرسائل الإعلامية تقتات على الحياة الفكرية بواسطة الزخم ، وليس عن طريق التحكيم أو الاختيار..!

بالتأكيد مع هذا السيناريو التاريخي ، ينتشر الارتباك بين جميع مكونات المجتمع ، من مرحلة ما قبل المدرسة وحتى العمل المهني.. يتغذى الناس في مصر ، عقليا وعاطفيا ، من تأثيرات ذويهم ممن يعرفون القراءة والكتابة ؛ وخصوصا الذين قد حصلوا على "د" الشهيرة (وهو اختصار لحامل درجة دكتوراه).. وفي المقابل ، تعمل التكتلات الأكاديمية على تأييد أعضائها ، وخاصة ذوي القدرة على مخاطبة الجمهور ، من أجل تحقيق التوازن مع المؤسسة الدينية ؛ التي يستطيع أعضاؤها من الأئمة في المساجد ووسائل الإعلام مخاطبة الجمهور بغير اختلاج وبغير اعلان ، وبغير فكر أحياناً..!

كما أن فقر كثير من الأئمة قد أدي الى تمكين التطرف الفكري والاخلاقي من النمو ، فان فقر حملة الدكتوراه سوف يؤدي الى ارتباك العقول المصرية.. ولعل هذا يحدث الآن في ميدان التحرير..!

الأزمة في مصر أعمق من أي خريطة طريق ، وبات الذين يعهد اليهم رسم خارطة الطريق المصري ، غير قادرين على تحديد المضمون الحقيقي للشعب المصري وحاضره ومستقبله.. انها ليست أمة على خطي النسيان ، حيث لازالت قلوب المصريين تبكي النزيف الفادح للعقول الغارقة في اللعب السياسي ، بحماس غير مسبوق..!

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Sky is never the limit..!


Who to Blame..?

Academic degrees and actives would feed the brains.. Not the bellies..!!

It is the unregulated Universal Media-Lobby; which deliberately disturbs all settled relations and aspirations of peaceful living..

The mixed roles ruin our world, not the injustices..
Civilizations were built despite dictatorships, distress and atrocities..
When freedom became a justification for rebellious delivery, unrest spread in all institutions, societies and merits as well..

Sky is never the limit..!
Spirits are never free..!
People are never equal..!

It is all about Order, Substance and Regulations..!

A Typical Management Mistake..!!


In today's management world, it was admitted how the role of "Brokers" is indispensible for business development and contracts’ formalization.. To meet the codes of transparency, governance and quality, it was initiated few years by CorporateUS, then legislatively endorsed; to formalize such a role in what became familiar:
"A Communications Advisor.."

Many officials in governments and corporations still unable to accustom to such new defined role; which more frequently blow up in noisy political and business scandals.. They can't incorporate it in SOW, MoR, Contracts, KPIs, etc..
A typical mindset barrier..!! 

Maybe this recent big one would support the seriousness to enhance, engage and formalize that easy-to-manage role.. yet; very fatal to do business..!!

 
Fox apologises for giving 'impression of wrongdoing' over relationship with friend as pressure mounts over business meetings in Dubai and Sri LankaAllegations that Fox went ahead with arms deal meeting WITHOUT an MoD official.
Role of Fox's 'friend' Werritty to come under close scrutiny.
Variation in accounts he gave point towards minister hiding something.
New video shows Werritty attending meeting with Fox and Sri Lankan president in London last year.
Fox had previously said his friend never attended formal meetings with overseas dignitaries.
Werritty ran health consultancy firm when Fox was shadow Health Secretary - and then ran a defence consultancy when as Fox was Defence Secretary.

By Simon Walters and Glen Owen
Last updated at 6:07 PM on 9th October 2011

Liam Fox has apologised this evening after conceding that his relationship with former flatmate Adam Werritty 'may have given an impression of wrongdoing'.
In a statement released on his return to London, the Defence Secretary also admitted it was a 'mistake to allow distinctions to be blurred between my professional responsibilities and my personal loyalties to a friend'.
The beleaguered Tory also accepted that their close ties my have given outsiders the 'misleading impression that Mr Werritty was an official adviser.'
'At no stage did I or my department provide classified information or briefings to Mr Werritty or assist with his commercial work - let alone benefit personally from this work,' he said.
'Nevertheless, I do accept that given Mr Werritty's defence-related business interests, my frequent contacts with him may have given an impression of wrongdoing, and may also have given third parties the misleading impression that Mr Werritty was an official adviser rather than simply a friend.
'I have learned lessons from this experience.'
Dr Fox delivered his apology to David Cameron who is expected to make a decision on his future tomorrow after receiving a report on the controversy.

More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2046929/Liam-Fox-allegations-Defence-minister-pressure-Adam-Werrittys-job.html