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Emma Bonino the 65 year old Italian politician and Minister of Foreign Affairs and a leading member of the Italian Radicals, a political party that supports economic and social libertarianism, and human rights, has published an article on IPS News Service titled ‘A Federation Could Strengthen Europe’s Magnetism’ in which she states “The recent agreement for the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo has confirmed that the European Union (EU) is still acting as a “magnet”, attracting its external neighbours and transforming and integrating them. Thanks to its prospects for EU membership, the whole Balkan area has become more stable and secure. Unfortunately, this virtuous magnetism no longer exerts the same force of attraction on our own citizens. With every passing day, the founding fathers’ dream of peace and freedom seems to be turning into a nightmare for many. The EU is increasingly being associated with austerity policies that lead to recession, unemployment and social despair. More worryingly, there are signs that the current crisis is not limited to the EU’s economic sphere but also impacts its most fundamental values. Everywhere in Europe we see rising intolerance; growing support for xenophobic and populist parties; discrimination and a weakening of the rule of law; and entire populations of undocumented migrants, virtually without rights, punished for their status rather than their individual behaviour. Our inclusive and open community is threatened by destructive actions pursued by nationalistic and demagogic groups. But they are not the only ones inflicting damage on the Union. …If Europe does not solve its problems of recession and populism, we could lose all that we have achieved since the 1950s, with no estimate of how long it will take to regain the same level of democracy, prosperity and stability as before. But if we adopt a new vision, engage our citizens and unite our governments, we could start a new phase of boosting growth and fostering democratic legitimacy and global influence.”  Inspired by Emma Bonino, IPS News ow.ly/lE457 Image source WEF ow.ly/lE3YP Everywhere in Europe we see rising intolerance (June 21 2013)

 

Emma Bonino the 65 year old Italian politician and Minister of Foreign Affairs and a leading member of the Italian Radicals, a political party that supports economic and social libertarianism, and human rights, has published an article on IPS News Service titled ‘A Federation Could Strengthen Europe’s Magnetism’ in which she states “The recent agreement for the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo has confirmed that the European Union (EU) is still acting as a “magnet”, attracting its external neighbours and transforming and integrating them. Thanks to its prospects for EU membership, the whole Balkan area has become more stable and secure. Unfortunately, this virtuous magnetism no longer exerts the same force of attraction on our own citizens. With every passing day, the founding fathers’ dream of peace and freedom seems to be turning into a nightmare for many. The EU is increasingly being associated with austerity policies that lead to recession, unemployment and social despair. More worryingly, there are signs that the current crisis is not limited to the EU’s economic sphere but also impacts its most fundamental values. Everywhere in Europe we see rising intolerance; growing support for xenophobic and populist parties; discrimination and a weakening of the rule of law; and entire populations of undocumented migrants, virtually without rights, punished for their status rather than their individual behaviour. Our inclusive and open community is threatened by destructive actions pursued by nationalistic and demagogic groups. But they are not the only ones inflicting damage on the Union. …If Europe does not solve its problems of recession and populism, we could lose all that we have achieved since the 1950s, with no estimate of how long it will take to regain the same level of democracy, prosperity and stability as before. But if we adopt a new vision, engage our citizens and unite our governments, we could start a new phase of boosting growth and fostering democratic legitimacy and global influence.”

 

Inspired by Emma Bonino, IPS News ow.ly/lE457 Image source WEF ow.ly/lE3YP

Laurent Fabius the 66 year old French Socialist politician who served as Prime Minister and current Foreign Minister has been forced to deny rumors of tax evasion. In an article published on France24 by Joseph Bamat, titled ‘French foreign minister denies tax-evasion ‘rumour’’, Bamat states “Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius denied … a rumour that he may have a secret bank account in Switzerland. The allegation comes less than a week after former budget minister Jérôme Cahuzac admitted he lied about holding a secret Swiss bank account, in a tax-evasion scandal that has rocked the Socialist government of President François Hollande. There is no “substance or foundation” to the news report, Fabius said in a statement to the press, adding he would take legal action to “stop the diffusion of this false and slanderous information”.  …left-leaning daily Libération reported that the investigative news website Médiapart – which broke the Cahuzac affair – was looking into whether Fabius was also stashing away euros in “one or several” bank accounts across the border. It stated that Hollande’s cabinet is in a state of panic ahead of potentially devastating new revelations. “More than an affair, it’s a potential political bomb. Everyone thinks the same thing: if Fabius really does have a Swiss bank account, the entire government would fall. Immediately,” the newspaper wrote in its Monday edition that headlined, “The nightmare continues”. However, Libération did not publish any information or document proving that one of France’s top government minister’s had an illegal bank account. Left reeling from the Cahuzac affair, France's government attempted to take back the initiative by stating that it was looking into tightening Europe-wide measures against tax evasion. Médiapart chastised the newspaper Libération for publishing the allegations. Contacted by Libération, Médiapart staff journalist Fabrice Arfi said the only news it stood by was “what is published on our site”.”  Inspired by Joseph Bamat, France24 ow.ly/k8WiS Image source Olivier Ezratty ow.ly/k8Wgl Diffusion of false and slanderous information (May 13 2013)

 

Laurent Fabius the 66 year old French Socialist politician who served as Prime Minister and current Foreign Minister has been forced to deny rumors of tax evasion. In an article published on France24 by Joseph Bamat, titled ‘French foreign minister denies tax-evasion ‘rumour’’, Bamat states “Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius denied … a rumour that he may have a secret bank account in Switzerland. The allegation comes less than a week after former budget minister Jérôme Cahuzac admitted he lied about holding a secret Swiss bank account, in a tax-evasion scandal that has rocked the Socialist government of President François Hollande. There is no “substance or foundation” to the news report, Fabius said in a statement to the press, adding he would take legal action to “stop the diffusion of this false and slanderous information”.  …left-leaning daily Libération reported that the investigative news website Médiapart – which broke the Cahuzac affair – was looking into whether Fabius was also stashing away euros in “one or several” bank accounts across the border. It stated that Hollande’s cabinet is in a state of panic ahead of potentially devastating new revelations. “More than an affair, it’s a potential political bomb. Everyone thinks the same thing: if Fabius really does have a Swiss bank account, the entire government would fall. Immediately,” the newspaper wrote in its Monday edition that headlined, “The nightmare continues”. However, Libération did not publish any information or document proving that one of France’s top government minister’s had an illegal bank account. Left reeling from the Cahuzac affair, France’s government attempted to take back the initiative by stating that it was looking into tightening Europe-wide measures against tax evasion. Médiapart chastised the newspaper Libération for publishing the allegations. Contacted by Libération, Médiapart staff journalist Fabrice Arfi said the only news it stood by was “what is published on our site”.”

 

Inspired by Joseph Bamat, France24 ow.ly/k8WiS Image source Olivier Ezratty ow.ly/k8Wgl

Michel Am-Nondokro Djotodia the 63 year old Central African politician, military leader and President of the Central African Republic has been profiled by Farouk Chothia in an BBC Africa article titled ‘Michel Djotodia: Central African Republic rebel leader’. Chothia states “A Soviet-trained civil servant who turned into a rebel leader, Michel Djotodia has finally achieved his long-held ambition of becoming leader of the Central African Republic (CAR). …Djotodia - some seven years after playing a key role in the launch of the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) rebel group - is now in power. …Djotodia led the UFDR into a coalition with other rebel groups last year to form Seleka, which spearheaded the offensive to overthrow Mr Bozize. For Mr Djotodia, this was sweet revenge: Mr Bozize's rebel forces had toppled his political boss, then-President Ange Felix-Patasse, in 2003. Mr Djotodia had served in Mr Patasse's government as a civil servant in the ministry of planning after studying economics in the former Soviet Union. ... As Mr Bozize fled to Cameroon, Mr Djotodia announced that elections would be held in three years, suggesting, in an interview with Radio France Internationale, that he would run for the presidency to legitimise his rule. "I did not say that in three years I will hand over power. I said that in three years, we are going to organise free and transparent elections," he said. It is a remarkable change in the fortunes of a man who had been jailed in Benin in November 2006, for using the country as a base for his rebellion against Mr Bozize. According to rights group Amnesty International's 2009 report on CAR, Mr Djotodia and another rebel leader Abakar Sabone were detained without trial in Benin for more than a year, before being released at Mr Bozize's request as part of yet another regionally brokered peace initiative to end the conflict. It was probably Mr Bozize's biggest political mistake, as it opened the way for Mr Djotodia to shrewdly play the dual role of peace-maker and rebel leader until he finally seized power in Bangui.”  Inspired by Farouk Chothia, BBC ow.ly/jArOT Image source Facebook ow.ly/jArMd Dual role of peace-maker & rebel leader (April 19 2013)

 

Michel Am-Nondokro Djotodia the 63 year old Central African politician, military leader and President of the Central African Republic has been profiled by Farouk Chothia in an BBC Africa article titled ‘Michel Djotodia: Central African Republic rebel leader’. Chothia states “A Soviet-trained civil servant who turned into a rebel leader, Michel Djotodia has finally achieved his long-held ambition of becoming leader of the Central African Republic (CAR). …Djotodia – some seven years after playing a key role in the launch of the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR) rebel group – is now in power. …Djotodia led the UFDR into a coalition with other rebel groups last year to form Seleka, which spearheaded the offensive to overthrow Mr Bozize. For Mr Djotodia, this was sweet revenge: Mr Bozize’s rebel forces had toppled his political boss, then-President Ange Felix-Patasse, in 2003. Mr Djotodia had served in Mr Patasse’s government as a civil servant in the ministry of planning after studying economics in the former Soviet Union. … As Mr Bozize fled to Cameroon, Mr Djotodia announced that elections would be held in three years, suggesting, in an interview with Radio France Internationale, that he would run for the presidency to legitimise his rule. “I did not say that in three years I will hand over power. I said that in three years, we are going to organise free and transparent elections,” he said. It is a remarkable change in the fortunes of a man who had been jailed in Benin in November 2006, for using the country as a base for his rebellion against Mr Bozize. According to rights group Amnesty International’s 2009 report on CAR, Mr Djotodia and another rebel leader Abakar Sabone were detained without trial in Benin for more than a year, before being released at Mr Bozize’s request as part of yet another regionally brokered peace initiative to end the conflict. It was probably Mr Bozize’s biggest political mistake, as it opened the way for Mr Djotodia to shrewdly play the dual role of peace-maker and rebel leader until he finally seized power in Bangui.”

 

Inspired by Farouk Chothia, BBC ow.ly/jArOT Image source Facebook ow.ly/jArMd

Yiannis Boutaris the 71 year old Greek businessman, politician and current mayor of Thessaloniki has given Greece’s second city, Salonika a well needed shake up after succeeding the former mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos a former sprinter and medical student nicknamed the Flying Doctor. On his taking of office, Boutaris accused Papageorgopoulos of providing inaccurate financial figures, resulting in an investigation. Niki Kitsantonis for the New York Times has published an article titled ‘Ex-Mayor in Greece Gets Life in Prison for Embezzlement’ highlighting how the subsequent convictions have prompted a frenzied response in the news media and on blogs, where many hailed the unusually severe sentences. Kitsantonis states “The former mayor of Greece’s second city, Salonika, and two of his top aides were sentenced to life in prison …after being found guilty of embezzling almost 18 million euros, or $23.5 million, in public money — a rare conviction in a case involving the political corruption that has contributed to the country’s dysfunction and economic decline. A court in Salonika, a northern port city also known as Thessaloniki, found that the local authorities had set up an “embezzlement machine” and that Vassilis Papageorgopoulos, a prominent conservative who served two terms as mayor from 1999 to 2010, had been “aware of the whole plan but had stayed on the sidelines, feigning ignorance.” …Two other former treasury officials were given terms of 15 and 10 years, and 13 other former employees were acquitted after a five-month trial that began after an estimated shortfall of $68 million was found in the city’s coffers. The court said there was proof that $23.5 million of that sum had been swindled. In trial testimony last month, Mr. Saxonis admitted that the cash transactions had taken place in his office in “flimsy carrier bags” and said he had been taking orders from his superiors.”  Inspired by Niki Kitsantonis, New York Times ow.ly/iuuk3 Image source Γιάννης Μπουτάρης ow.ly/iuuVi Salonika gets a well needed shake up (March 25 2013)

 

Yiannis Boutaris the 71 year old Greek businessman, politician and current mayor of Thessaloniki has given Greece’s second city, Salonika a well needed shake up after succeeding the former mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos a former sprinter and medical student nicknamed the Flying Doctor. On his taking of office, Boutaris accused Papageorgopoulos of providing inaccurate financial figures, resulting in an investigation. Niki Kitsantonis for the New York Times has published an article titled ‘Ex-Mayor in Greece Gets Life in Prison for Embezzlement’ highlighting how the subsequent convictions have prompted a frenzied response in the news media and on blogs, where many hailed the unusually severe sentences. Kitsantonis states “The former mayor of Greece’s second city, Salonika, and two of his top aides were sentenced to life in prison …after being found guilty of embezzling almost 18 million euros, or $23.5 million, in public money — a rare conviction in a case involving the political corruption that has contributed to the country’s dysfunction and economic decline. A court in Salonika, a northern port city also known as Thessaloniki, found that the local authorities had set up an “embezzlement machine” and that Vassilis Papageorgopoulos, a prominent conservative who served two terms as mayor from 1999 to 2010, had been “aware of the whole plan but had stayed on the sidelines, feigning ignorance.” …Two other former treasury officials were given terms of 15 and 10 years, and 13 other former employees were acquitted after a five-month trial that began after an estimated shortfall of $68 million was found in the city’s coffers. The court said there was proof that $23.5 million of that sum had been swindled. In trial testimony last month, Mr. Saxonis admitted that the cash transactions had taken place in his office in “flimsy carrier bags” and said he had been taking orders from his superiors.”

 

Inspired by Niki Kitsantonis, New York Times ow.ly/iuuk3 Image source Γιάννης Μπουτάρης ow.ly/iuuVi

Luis Barcenas Gutierrez the 55 year old Spanish politician and Treasurer in the People's Party (PP) who has been embroiled in political corruption scandals, has shaken the ruling conservative party as the damaging corruption scandal spreads. The Economist magazine has published an article titled ‘Another Blow’ stating “…The pivotal character in the scandal is Luis Bárcenas, a party administrator for two decades, whom the party made a senator in 2004 and Mr Rajoy [Spanish Prime Minister] himself promoted to treasurer in 2008. Courts began investigating Mr Bárcenas four years ago amid allegations that he was among the beneficiaries of a backhander scheme run by local party members in Madrid and Valencia. Mr Rajoy stood by his man and the PP paid for his defence. But Mr Bárcenas eventually stood down, as both treasurer and senator. Rumours spread that he had taken away incriminating documents. The bombshell came last month when court investigators discovered that Mr Bárcenas had a €22m Swiss bank account. He also admitted to using a tax amnesty last year to declare €10m of hidden money. The 14-page ledger, published by El País, is said by some handwriting experts to be in Mr Bárcenas’s hand. It appears to show that much of the PP’s secret fund came from construction magnates who received public contracts and helped inflate Spain’s disastrous real-estate bubble. Regular cash-in-hand payments to the PP’s leaders supposedly carried on even while they held public office, continuing until 2009, five years after Mr Rajoy became leader. Some recipients of loans and other payments acknowledged having received money, but said that they were entirely legal. They include Pío García-Escudero, the senate president. …Certainly, Mr Rajoy and the rest of his party deny it all. The prime minister’s denial of self-enrichment deserves credence, as this is the first suggestion that he is anything less than squeaky clean.”  Inspired by The Economist ow.ly/hMvun Image source periodistadigital ow.ly/hMvr3 Among the beneficiaries of a backhander scheme (February 25 2013)

Luis Barcenas Gutierrez the 55 year old Spanish politician and Treasurer in the People’s Party (PP) who has been embroiled in political corruption scandals, has shaken the ruling conservative party as the damaging corruption scandal spreads. The Economist magazine has published an article titled ‘Another Blow’ stating “…The pivotal character in the scandal is Luis Bárcenas, a party administrator for two decades, whom the party made a senator in 2004 and Mr Rajoy [Spanish Prime Minister] himself promoted to treasurer in 2008. Courts began investigating Mr Bárcenas four years ago amid allegations that he was among the beneficiaries of a backhander scheme run by local party members in Madrid and Valencia. Mr Rajoy stood by his man and the PP paid for his defence. But Mr Bárcenas eventually stood down, as both treasurer and senator. Rumours spread that he had taken away incriminating documents. The bombshell came last month when court investigators discovered that Mr Bárcenas had a €22m Swiss bank account. He also admitted to using a tax amnesty last year to declare €10m of hidden money. The 14-page ledger, published by El País, is said by some handwriting experts to be in Mr Bárcenas’s hand. It appears to show that much of the PP’s secret fund came from construction magnates who received public contracts and helped inflate Spain’s disastrous real-estate bubble. Regular cash-in-hand payments to the PP’s leaders supposedly carried on even while they held public office, continuing until 2009, five years after Mr Rajoy became leader. Some recipients of loans and other payments acknowledged having received money, but said that they were entirely legal. They include Pío García-Escudero, the senate president. …Certainly, Mr Rajoy and the rest of his party deny it all. The prime minister’s denial of self-enrichment deserves credence, as this is the first suggestion that he is anything less than squeaky clean.”

 

Inspired by The Economist ow.ly/hMvun Image source periodistadigital ow.ly/hMvr3

Barry Blyth Holloway the 78 year old former Australian and former Papua New Guinean politician has been remembered on his passing in an article by Mark Baker in The Age titled ‘An affair to remember’, highlighting how more than any other Australian, Barry Holloway was instrumental in the making of modern Papua New Guinea, a country he loved and made his own. Baker states “…It [his journey] began with a teenage cadet patrol officer trekking through the remote and untamed territory of New Guinea and ended with a distinguished political career, a knighthood and the deep affection of a generation of Papua New Guineans. ...He was one of the first expatriates to advocate independence for the Australian trust territory in the 1960s. He helped found Pangu, the country's first political party, and ran the numbers that saw a brash young journalist named Michael Somare become its first leader. He chaired the committee that drafted the constitution and, at independence in 1975, he was one of the first white men to take citizenship of the new nation, happily surrendering his Australian passport. He became speaker of the first parliament after independence, then a senior minister in several governments. …''Barry never saw himself as merely a catalyst for change,'' says Tony Voutas, who left PNG on the eve of independence. ''For him, it was his country. He was one of the few in those colonial days who looked at Papua New Guineans as equal human beings. The planters called them bush kanakas and some right-wingers regarded them as a different evolutionary stream. ''But Barry was one of those people who did not see race. And the Papua New Guineans regarded him as one of them. And once you are accepted into their society it is as if you were born into their society.''  Inspired by Mark Baker, The Age ow.ly/hHQgn Image source PNGAttitude ow.ly/hHPtY Accepted as if you were born into their society (February 18 2013)

Barry Blyth Holloway the 78 year old former Australian and former Papua New Guinean politician has been remembered on his passing in an article by Mark Baker in The Age titled ‘An affair to remember’, highlighting how more than any other Australian, Barry Holloway was instrumental in the making of modern Papua New Guinea, a country he loved and made his own. Baker states “…It [his journey] began with a teenage cadet patrol officer trekking through the remote and untamed territory of New Guinea and ended with a distinguished political career, a knighthood and the deep affection of a generation of Papua New Guineans. …He was one of the first expatriates to advocate independence for the Australian trust territory in the 1960s. He helped found Pangu, the country’s first political party, and ran the numbers that saw a brash young journalist named Michael Somare become its first leader. He chaired the committee that drafted the constitution and, at independence in 1975, he was one of the first white men to take citizenship of the new nation, happily surrendering his Australian passport. He became speaker of the first parliament after independence, then a senior minister in several governments. …”Barry never saw himself as merely a catalyst for change,” says Tony Voutas, who left PNG on the eve of independence. ”For him, it was his country. He was one of the few in those colonial days who looked at Papua New Guineans as equal human beings. The planters called them bush kanakas and some right-wingers regarded them as a different evolutionary stream. ”But Barry was one of those people who did not see race. And the Papua New Guineans regarded him as one of them. And once you are accepted into their society it is as if you were born into their society.”

 

Inspired by Mark Baker, The Age ow.ly/hHQgn Image source PNGAttitude ow.ly/hHPtY

Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton the 65 year old American politician, wife of the 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton, leading candidate for the Democratic 2008 presidential nomination, and the US Secretary of State, has been the focus of an article by David Rohde on Reuters titled ‘Clinton: International portfolio, domestic concerns’ referring to her potential candidacy for the 2016 presidential nomination. Rohde states “…She [Clinton] has been a very good but very cautious secretary of state, who kept her distance from Afghanistan and other seemingly intractable conflicts. Clinton established a strong relationship with President Barack Obama, was innovative and worked tirelessly, but her position as a potential 2016 presidential candidate clearly influenced her performance. One State Department official praised Clinton’s tenure, but talked about looking forward to the arrival of her presumed successor, Senator John Kerry. …After promising a sweeping break with the approaches of President George W. Bush, the Obama White House has proved just as insular and controlling of foreign policy as the Bush administration. …Obama’s first-term foreign policy was marked by cautious, political calculation. Members of his foreign policy team rightly point to the president’s re-election as proof that their approach worked. A more decisive Obama approach in foreign affairs, though, may have helped him at the ballot box. …The lesson of Iraq is that American invasions are not the answer. But neither is isolation. Traditional American diplomatic engagement is needed in the Middle East, including efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At the same time, new means of diplomacy – what Clinton called “smart power” – should be carried out as well. U.S. trade, technology and private investment – not simply drones – should be used to counter militancy. Clinton deserves credit for restructuring the State Department and embracing innovative new forms of diplomacy.”  Inspired by David Rohde, Reuters ow.ly/hhRPd Image source Kai Mork ow.ly/hhRIm Embracing innovative new forms of diplomacy (February 9 2013)Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton the 65 year old American politician, wife of the 42nd President of the United States Bill Clinton, leading candidate for the Democratic 2008 presidential nomination, and the US Secretary of State, has been the focus of an article by David Rohde on Reuters titled ‘Clinton: International portfolio, domestic concerns’ referring to her potential candidacy for the 2016 presidential nomination. Rohde states “…She [Clinton] has been a very good but very cautious secretary of state, who kept her distance from Afghanistan and other seemingly intractable conflicts. Clinton established a strong relationship with President Barack Obama, was innovative and worked tirelessly, but her position as a potential 2016 presidential candidate clearly influenced her performance. One State Department official praised Clinton’s tenure, but talked about looking forward to the arrival of her presumed successor, Senator John Kerry. …After promising a sweeping break with the approaches of President George W. Bush, the Obama White House has proved just as insular and controlling of foreign policy as the Bush administration. …Obama’s first-term foreign policy was marked by cautious, political calculation. Members of his foreign policy team rightly point to the president’s re-election as proof that their approach worked. A more decisive Obama approach in foreign affairs, though, may have helped him at the ballot box. …The lesson of Iraq is that American invasions are not the answer. But neither is isolation. Traditional American diplomatic engagement is needed in the Middle East, including efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At the same time, new means of diplomacy – what Clinton called “smart power” – should be carried out as well. U.S. trade, technology and private investment – not simply drones – should be used to counter militancy. Clinton deserves credit for restructuring the State Department and embracing innovative new forms of diplomacy.”

 

Inspired by David Rohde, Reuters ow.ly/hhRPd Image source Kai Mork ow.ly/hhRIm

Otto Fernando Pérez Molina the 62 year old Guatemalan politician and retired military officer who has been President of Guatemala for the past twelve months has been the subject of an article published by Mike Allison on Aljazeera titled ‘Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina's first year in office’. Allison states ‘Otto Perez Molina of the Patriotic Party stepped onto the international stage in February 2012, after announcing to Guatemala and to the world that he would support the decriminalisation of marijuana and other illegal drugs. While his proposal brought accolades abroad, his first year in office has been much more of a mixed picture, at best, for the people of Guatemala. Upon his inauguration on January 14, 2012, President Perez confronted a challenging environment following four tumultuous years under Alvaro Colom. Fifty-four percent of the population lived in poverty, a three percentage point increase from the start of Colom's term. …For the last few weeks, all the Guatemalan newspapers have been running stories about social unrest throughout the country over land conflict, mining, and indigenous rights. The massacre in Totonicapan, the earthquake and devastation in San Marcos, repression against civil society, tensions surrounding the poorly conceptualised, planned and executed end of the world celebrations, and Otto Perez Molina's military history make for poor relations between a large number of Guatemalans and the government. These are real concerns about the situation here as Guatemalans head into 2013 and the second year of this administration. I'm afraid that adverse decisions with regards to the prosecution of human rights violators and the increased reliance on the military to resolve problems that do not have military solutions will only stoke the flames of discontent which is unfortunate and dangerous for the people of this beautiful country.”  Inspired by Mike Allison, Aljazeera ow.ly/gXCq5 Image source Twitter ow.ly/gXCpm President Otto Perez Molina’s first year in office (January 28 2013)

Otto Fernando Pérez Molina the 62 year old Guatemalan politician and retired military officer who has been President of Guatemala for the past twelve months has been the subject of an article published by Mike Allison on Aljazeera titled ‘Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina’s first year in office’. Allison states ‘Otto Perez Molina of the Patriotic Party stepped onto the international stage in February 2012, after announcing to Guatemala and to the world that he would support the decriminalisation of marijuana and other illegal drugs. While his proposal brought accolades abroad, his first year in office has been much more of a mixed picture, at best, for the people of Guatemala. Upon his inauguration on January 14, 2012, President Perez confronted a challenging environment following four tumultuous years under Alvaro Colom. Fifty-four percent of the population lived in poverty, a three percentage point increase from the start of Colom’s term. …For the last few weeks, all the Guatemalan newspapers have been running stories about social unrest throughout the country over land conflict, mining, and indigenous rights. The massacre in Totonicapan, the earthquake and devastation in San Marcos, repression against civil society, tensions surrounding the poorly conceptualised, planned and executed end of the world celebrations, and Otto Perez Molina’s military history make for poor relations between a large number of Guatemalans and the government. These are real concerns about the situation here as Guatemalans head into 2013 and the second year of this administration. I’m afraid that adverse decisions with regards to the prosecution of human rights violators and the increased reliance on the military to resolve problems that do not have military solutions will only stoke the flames of discontent which is unfortunate and dangerous for the people of this beautiful country.”

 

Inspired by Mike Allison, Aljazeera ow.ly/gXCq5 Image source Twitter ow.ly/gXCpm

Largest marine protected area in the world (July 8th 2012) Largest marine protected area in the world (July 8th 2012)

Anthony Stephen ‘Tony’ Burke the 42 year old Australian politician and the current Minister for Sustainability and Environment announced that Australia is to create an enormous network of marine park reserves to protect waters from oil and gas exploration and limiting commercial fishing. In an article on Aljazeera, Burke states “The Coral Sea marine national park … combined with the Great Barrier Reef area, becomes the largest marine protected area in the world”. The article states Australia’s marine reserves will increase from 27 to 60 under the new scheme, covering more than 3 million sq km, or one third of the island nation’s waters. The announcement of the network was made a week before more than 130 heads of state and government will gather in Rio de Janeiro for the United Nations’ sustainable development conference as part of global efforts to curb climate change, one of the biggest conferences in UN history. … The protection plan will ban oil and gas exploration in all marine national parks, including across the Coral Sea and off Margaret River, a popular tourist and wine-growing area in the southwest. Burke acknowledged the plan would also have an impact on the fishing industry. The plan attracted immediate criticism from some environmental groups, as well as independent and opposition politicians and lobby groups.”

 

Inspired by Aljazeera ow.ly/bWcnW image source Adam Carr ow.ly/bWcnb

UK's most senior minority-ethnic politician (July 3rd 2012) UK’s most senior minority-ethnic politician (July 3rd 2012)

Sayeeda Hussain Warsi the 41 year old British Baroness solicitor and politician who was created a life peer in 2007 has been defended by Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari of The East London Communities Organisation, in an article he published on Aljazeera. Bari states ” Media and political pressure has been piling on Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the Conservative Party co-chairman and minister-without-portfolio in the coalition government. Unpopular with the Tory Right, the guns have turned on her following the Conservative Party’s dismal electoral performance in last month’s local elections. … There is barely a week that goes by without someone, usually a Tory, calling for her head. The Labour Party has seized upon her plight and called for her to step down. … Lady Warsi is the UK’s most senior minority-ethnic politician. She was initially seen as a shining light in the Conservative Party, long-struggling to recruit from the black and minority ethnic (BME) communities. Is she going to be a scapegoat for the sliding unpopularity of the Conservative Party? …Lady Warsi is not a political maverick. She is sharp, charismatic and she speaks her mind. As such, she has brought a distinctive appeal to the Conservative Party, traditionally viewed as led by a white middle (or upper) class elite.”

 

Inspired by Muhammad Abdul Bari ow.ly/bWajK image source UK Cabinet Office ow.ly/bWagu

Muhammad Nazaruddin the 33 year old Indonesian businessman and politician serving as General treasurer of the Democratic Party in 2010, has been jailed for corruption. The Corruption Eradication Commission investigated bribery allegations in the development of athlete’s houses for the 26th SEA Games. Nazaruddin left Indonesia before the investigation was finalized and informed the media a number of other party officers including the Chairman were also involved. Nazaruddin was finally apprehended in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, and now convicted of corruptly receiving $500,000 for helping the development company to win the project. Nazaruddin was sentenced to under five years imprisonment, below the seven years sort by the prosecution. Darmawati Ningsih informed the anti-corruption court “The defendant was convincingly proven guilty of committing criminal activities under the corruption law, [and] tainted the image of the government, which is trying to combat corruption”. Matt Brown of the ABC reports that “Indonesia’s anti-corruption court has put some of the country’s most senior corrupt officials behind bars and has close to a 100 per cent conviction rate. The corruption eradication commission, which investigates and prosecutes graft cases, reported more than 20,000 complaints from the public last year.”

 

Inspired by Matt Brown http://ow.ly/awT1l image source Equal Life http://ow.ly/awTuq

Willard Mitt Romney the 65 year old US businessman, politician and 2012 Republican Party presidential candidate and likely nominee has been profiled by Bob Abeshouse on Aljazeera on the likely effect of his being Mormon on his race for the White House. Abeshouse states, “…a significant minority say that they would think twice about voting for a Mormon as president. Evangelical Christians are especially concerned, with some believing that Mormonism is more a cult than a mainstream Christian creed. Others fear a Romney administration would be unduly influenced by the church’s attitude to such matters as polygamy, gay rights and abortion… Evangelical Christians in the US have had a long competition with Mormons for converts. Evangelicals regard the idea that humans can progress to godhood as blasphemous, and take issue with many Mormon practices and doctrines, such as so-called endowment rites. In these temple rituals Mormons pass between rooms representing different stages of the eternal progression they believe all humans participate in – from the Garden of Eden to the earthly world to celestial heaven… Romney has done his best to avoid all discussion of his Mormon faith in the 2012 race. …his Mormonism could be “the x-factor” that costs him the election in a tight race against Barack Obama for the White House in November.”

 

Inspired by Bob Abeshouse http://ow.ly/ahSNs image source Gage Skidmore http://ow.ly/ahSFr

Enrique Peña Nieto the 45 year old Mexican politician former governor and member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party that held power for 71 years before its dramatic decline, is surging in the polls in the lead up to the Presidential election to be held mid this year (2012). Peña Nieto’s surge is at the expense of current incumbent President Felipe Calderon’s conservative National Action Party, being held accountable for the 50,000 killed in Mexico in the current Drug Wars. In an Aljazeera report, a Latin American analyst Rodolfo Pastor stated, “The PRI made sure that there was order and progress, even if it was relative, even if it was also linked to profound inequality and poverty and, of course, pacts had to be made. I think that besides the wonderful discourse that Pena Nieto as a fresh face, as a telegenic candidate is making right now, there is this off-the-record message by the PRI to the Mexican people: ‘Listen, we may be corrupt, we may be authoritarian, but we’re going to take care of things, we’re going to make sure things work again’.” A third candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of leftist coalition parties missed out on winning the last election by only 1%.

 

Inspired by Aljazeera http://ow.ly/afV5Q image source Edgar Alberto Domínguez Cataño http://ow.ly/afV4a

Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond the 57 year old Scottish politician and current First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) has begun campaigning for the 2014 referendum on Scottish independence. Salmond in an interview with Sir David Frost stated, “I think the case for independence is a fundamental one. It is about Scotland as a nation and nations have a right to self-determination. [They] usually are better to govern themselves as opposed to let somebody else do it for them.” In the interview Salmond discussed the practical economic issues related to a Scottish independence including the lucrative oil and gas fields located in the North Sea off the coast of Scotland. The final date for the referendum is still to be confirmed for the small nation with a population of only five million people, with several October dates under consideration. Salmond and the SNP won a landslide election in 2011 with an overall majority, giving him the ability to call the referendum on Scottish independence.

 

Inspired by Simon Johnson http://ow.ly/9m78I image source http://ow.ly/9m6aG

Imran Khan Niazi the 59 year old Pakistani politician and former cricketer has announced he will be running for president of Pakistan at the next national election. In an article Professor Akbar Ahmed the former Pakistan High Commissioner to the UK and Ireland questions which direction Khan would take Pakistan “After a decade as ally in the US’ “War on Terror” and the devastating social, political and economic impact…The hopes of a nation now rest on one man. Pakistan history is replete with examples of Pakistanis depending entirely on the savior figure only to be disappointed afterwards. Even Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, who remains so revered in Pakistan, died one year after creating the country. … There are already danger-signs as some old faces who have done the rounds with different parties have now jumped onto Imran’s bandwagon. The balance between making deals in order to chip away at the power base … and maintaining his integrity will be crucial.

 

Inspired by Akbar Ahmed http://ow.ly/8lLdX image source twitter http://ow.ly/8lLkY

François Gérard Georges Hollande the 57 year old French politician has won the Socialist Party’s presidential primary, entitling him to challenge Nicolas Sarkozy as the Party’s nominee in the 2012 presidential elections. Hollande considered a moderate won nearly 57% of the vote beating his rival Martine Aubry, who is largely credited with the introduction of the 35 hour working week. Hollande is the former partner of Ségolène Royal with who he has four children. Royal was defeated by Sarkozy in the 2007 French presidential election, and within a month of the defeat the couple separated over a relationship between Hollande and a journalist. Dominique Strauss-Kahn until his imprisonment in the US on rape charges alleged by a New York hotel maid, had been the front runner for the Socialist Party nomination.

 

Inspired by aljazeera http://ow.ly/75Z4l image source Margaux L’Hermite http://ow.ly/75Z5L

Leopoldo López Mendoza the 40 year old Venezuelan Economist and Politician has attained a ruling from the Costa Rica-based Inter-American Human Rights Court, that the Chávez government violated his political rights by denying him from holding office. López was one of 400 Venezuelans barred by Chávez from running in the 2008 elections due to alleged corruption investigations. López claims he was banned because Chávez knows he can win. López is seeking to run against Chávez in Venezuela’s 2012 presidential election. The court ordered the Venezuela electoral council not to prevent López from running in a future election, however the Chávez government plans to contest the order before the Venezuela Supreme Court. According to the Wall Street Journal, six of the seven Supreme Court justices “are sympathetic to the president”.

 

Inspired by Martin Delfin http://ow.ly/6FWyG image source http://ow.ly/6FWxc

Marine Le Pen the 42 year old French politician and president of the Front National (FN) party, the youngest daughter of the renowned Jean-Marie Le Pen founder of the FN, and likely 2012 French presidential candidate has come out on top of several polls indicating that she would beat the incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy if an election was to be held now. Le Pen has taken over her retired father’s role as the European face of bigotry and emblem of right wing extremism. Le Pen maximizes the simplicity of populist politics to garner support for her resurging party’s popularity within the electorate. Anti immigration and vilification of the Muslim community are central policy planks of her party’s platform, utilizing headline grabbing Nazi occupation rhetoric when describing Muslim cultural aspects. Role as the European face of bigotry (July 5 2011)

Marine Le Pen the 42 year old French politician and president of the Front National (FN) party, the youngest daughter of the renowned Jean-Marie Le Pen founder of the FN, and likely 2012 French presidential candidate has come out on top of several polls indicating that she would beat the incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy if an election was to be held now. Le Pen has taken over her retired father’s role as the European face of bigotry and emblem of right wing extremism. Le Pen maximizes the simplicity of populist politics to garner support for her resurging party’s popularity within the electorate. Anti immigration and vilification of the Muslim community are central policy planks of her party’s platform, utilizing headline grabbing Nazi occupation rhetoric when describing Muslim cultural aspects.

 

Inspired by Russell Shorto http://ow.ly/5wLAT image source National Front http://ow.ly/5wLHI

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, known as DSK, the 62 year old French economist, politician and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following his arrest in New York on allegations of sexual assault, has now been indicted by a grand jury to face charges relating to the allegations. Strauss-Kahn was believed to be on the verge of announcing his intention to stand for election to the French Presidency as the Socialist Party candidate, against the incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy.  The majority of French believe the allegations are a smear campaign to stifle his candidacy, however a 32 year old maid at his hotel suite claims Strauss-Kahn emerged naked from the bathroom to chase her about the spacious suite and began sexually assaulting her, including forcing her to perform oral sex. Inspired by NYDaily News ow.ly/4UQ07 image source Wikipedia ow.ly/4UQ4S Nicknamed “the great seducer” stands accused (May 19 2011)

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, known as DSK, the 62 year old French economist, politician and Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following his arrest in New York on allegations of sexual assault, has now been indicted by a grand jury to face charges relating to the allegations. Strauss-Kahn was believed to be on the verge of announcing his intention to stand for election to the French Presidency as the Socialist Party candidate, against the incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy.  The majority of French believe the allegations are a smear campaign to stifle his candidacy, however a 32 year old maid at his hotel suite claims Strauss-Kahn emerged naked from the bathroom to chase her about the spacious suite and began sexually assaulting her, including forcing her to perform oral sex.

 

Inspired by NYDaily News ow.ly/4UQ07 image source Wikipedia ow.ly/4UQ4S

Reynaldo Dagsa a Filipino politician and member of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team Inadvertently took the picture of the killer (January 4 2011)

Reynaldo Dagsa a Filipino politician and member of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team, was killed by a gunshot wound to the head in a New Year’s Day shooting assassination while Dagas was taking a photograph of his family outside of his family home.  In the photograph Dagas took moments before the shooting, he inadvertently captured in the frame of the image the faces of his two assassins behind the victim’s smiling family, including the actual shooter braced against a motor vehicle aiming his weapon seconds before the shot being fired. The two assassins were indentified from the photograph after the image was published in a front page piece of a major newspaper.

 

Inspired by ABC news ow.ly/3EzR Image source ow.ly/3EzRv

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