Skip to content

Archive

Tag: president
An ethical duty to support the Syrian people (September 22 2012) An ethical duty to support the Syrian people (September 22 2012)

Mohamed Morsi Isa El-Ayyat the 61 year old President of Egypt and a leading figure in the Muslim Brotherhood. He became Chairman of the Freedom and Justice Party when it was founded by the Muslim Brotherhood in the wake of the 2011 Egyptian revolution. In an article published on Aljazeera by Hamid Dabashi titled ‘Morsi in Tehran: Crossing the boundaries’, Dabashi states “When during his speech at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Tehran the Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi declared it an “ethical duty” to support the Syrian people against the “oppressive regime” of Bashar al-Assad in Damascus suddenly, for a clear moment, he became the messenger of the Egyptian Revolution for the Syrian people, and by extension for the rest of the Arab and Muslim world – that Egyptians as a liberated nation stand with them. The utterance, in and of itself, suddenly placed Egypt as the leader of the potentially free and democratic Arab and Muslim world – dismantling the old cliché of the US as the self-designated “leader of the free world”. Morsi spoke with a presiding authority that stems from no religious conviction, but from a moral imperative that only a liberated nation can momentarily invest on their elected officials. …Egypt has emerged as a moral voice from the heart of its revolution and as such it is a force that Morsi’s speech in Tehran made abundantly clear. Beyond anything that any other country or political figure could do, President Morsi’s speech dismantled the entire propaganda machinery of the Islamic Republic, forced its official news agencies deliberately to mistranslate his words, replace the “Syrian government” for where Morsi had said “Syrian people”, and prompted a walkout by the Syrians delegation.”

 

Inspired by Aljazeera ow.ly/dEq6a image source Press TV ow.ly/dEq1N

What can we do? What is the next step? (June 30th 2012) What can we do? What is the next step? (June 30th 2012)

Mario Draghi the 64 year old Italian banker, economist and President of the European Central Bank has told European politicians that they should do a lot more to tackle the debt crisis, according to an Aljazeera article. The article states “He says the current setup is unsustainable and has urged member states to take immediate action towards developing a clear vision for the next few years. …warn[ing] that the structure of the euro currency union has become unsustainable and criticised political leaders, who, he said, had been slow to respond to a European debt crisis now well into its third year. “Can the ECB fill the vacuum or lack of action by national governments on the structural front? And again the answer is no, structural reforms don’t have much to do with monetary policy,” Draghi said, adding: “Can the ECB fill the vacuum left by the lack of euro area governance? And the answer is no. So, let’s ask: What can we do now? What is the next step? The next step is basically for our leaders to clarify what is the vision for a certain number of years from now.” …All of this has taken a toll on the value of the euro currency. It fell to its lowest level in almost two years against the dollar.”

 

Inspired by Aljazeera ow.ly/bJhPY image source World Economic Forum ow.ly/bJhwz

Small-donor base that was Greenpeace-proof (June 27th 2012) Small-donor base that was Greenpeace-proof (June 27th 2012)

Joseph Bast the president and CEO of the climate-change denial Institute ‘The Heartland’ is seeking to re-grow his sponsorship base following the effective campaign against his organization by conservation groups. Bill McKibben in an article for Toms Dispatch titled ‘The Planet Wreckers – Climate-Change Deniers Are On the Ropes — But So Is the Planet’ states “…Joe Bast, complained that his side had been subjected to the most “uncivil name-calling and disparagement you can possibly imagine from climate alarmists,” which was both a little rich — after all, he was the guy with the mass-murderer billboards — but also a little pathetic.  A whimper had replaced the characteristically confident snarl of the American right. That pugnaciousness may return: Mr. Bast said last week that he was finding new corporate sponsors, that he was building a new small-donor base that was “Greenpeace-proof” …it’s a hard fight, up against a ton of money and a ton of inertia. Eventually, climate denial will “lose,” because physics and chemistry are not intimidated even by Lord Monckton. But timing is everything — if he and his ilk, a crew of certified planet wreckers, delay action past the point where it can do much good, they’ll be able to claim one of the epic victories in political history — one that will last for geological epochs.”

 

Inspired by Tom Dispatch http://ow.ly/bJbGR image source whoami-whoareyou ow.ly/bJb7N

Anthony Kapel “Van” Jones the 43 year old USA lawyer environmental and civil rights advocate, and president co-founder of Rebuild the Dream, a platform for bottom-up, people-powered innovations to help fix the US economy. Jones has published an article on The Nation titled ‘The 99 Percent for the 1 Percent’. Jones states “The “99 percent versus the 1 percent” argument falls short in a lot of ways. The vast majority of Americans do not oppose their fellow Americans, simply because they are rich. To the contrary: more than perhaps any other people on this Earth, Americans admire success. What we detest is greed. We like economic winners; we hate economic cheaters. We cheer economic innovation; we despise financial manipulation. Like most people, I don’t hate rich people who buy yachts. (The workers who build those yachts are happy.) We don’t mind when wealthy Americans buy expensive toys; we do mind when they try to buy governors and Congresspeople. …We need everyone in our country to be involved in healing our economy and fixing our democracy. …A movement of the 99 percent for the 100 percent—powered by a deep love of working people and laying claim the best of our nation’s values—could yet transform our nation.”

Inspired by The Nation http://ow.ly/aEdzh image source Wikipedia http://ow.ly/aEdjC

Otto Fernando Pérez Molina the 61 year old Guatemalan retired military officer and now President, has proposed in a radio interview to legalize the transportation of drugs through Guatemala. Pérez Molina will be meeting with other Central American leaders at a regional meeting and anticipates providing further details of his proposal at this time. Pérez Molina concluded the escalating violence and crime rate attributed to the US ‘War on Drugs” indicates the war with the drug cartels has failed. Although the US provides aid to Central American governments to fight the drug trafficking on their behalf, the aid is insufficient to offset the extensive loss of life and the burgeoning crime rates of the region. Pérez Molina stated, “I want to bring this discussion to the table … It wouldn’t be a crime to transport, to move drugs. It would all have to be regulated.” It is expected the US will pull out all stops to prevent Pérez Molina from instigating such a move via pressure publically and privately, the outcome at least will generate greater US attention to resolving the underlying issues Pérez Molina raises.

 

Inspired by Ralph Espach http://ow.ly/9m8Ib image source http://ow.ly/9m8Sb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jorge Mario Pedro Vargas Llosa the 75 year old Peruvian-Spanish writer, essayist and Nobel Prize laureate has been invited by the Spanish government to head up the leading Spanish language and culture institute. The Cervantes Institute has responsibilities for promotion of Spanish Culture throughout the world though its seventy seven locations in forty four countries. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo, extended the invitation for Llosa to take on the new role as president of the institution, and has not set a deadline at this stage for his acceptance. The role as president is a non-executive role, with the day to day operations of the institute’s centers undertaken by an executive board. Llosa’s rise to fame occurred in the 1960’s with several high profile novels across an array of genres including comedies, mysteries, historical, criticism and political; winning the 2010 Nobel Prize for Literature with his works ‘Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter’ and ’Death in the Andes’.

 

Inspired by France24 http://ow.ly/8BMYN image source Daniele Devoti http://ow.ly/8BNdt

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

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf the 73 year old President of Liberia has been awarded the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Tawakel Karman of Yemen and Leymah Gbowee also of Liberia. The prize recognized the women “for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work”. Sirleaf is the first and only elected female head of any state in Africa. Thorbjorn Jagland, a former prime minister of Norway, leads the Nobel committee that chose the winners released the citation for the award stating “We cannot achieve democracy and lasting peace in the world unless women obtain the same opportunities as men to influence developments at all levels of society”. During her term Sirleaf signed into law a Freedom of Information bill, the first of its kind in West Africa.

 

  1. Inspired by France24 http://ow.ly/6ZmuC image source Agencia Brasil http://ow.ly/6Zm3r
William Joseph “Bill” Bratton the 63 year old US law enforcement officer considered an expert on gang culture, appointed as an advisor on law enforcement by the UK government, has angered British police following the Prime Minister David Cameron’s planned 20 percent cut to the police budgets. Bratton initially applied for the Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s position but was blocked on the grounds the Commissioner must be a British national. Police smarting over criticisms of their initial response to the UK riots believe the cuts will hamper their future efforts to maintain law and order. Hugh Orde the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers has been outspoken, stating “I am not sure I want to learn about gangs from an area of America that has 400 of them”. Inspired by Jessica de Grazia ow.ly/65gPN image source Wikipedia ow.ly/65gKD Not sure I want to learn about gangs (August 25 2011)

William Joseph “Bill” Bratton the 63 year old US law enforcement officer considered an expert on gang culture, appointed as an advisor on law enforcement by the UK government, has angered British police following the Prime Minister David Cameron’s planned 20 percent cut to the police budgets. Bratton initially applied for the Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s position but was blocked on the grounds the Commissioner must be a British national. Police smarting over criticisms of their initial response to the UK riots believe the cuts will hamper their future efforts to maintain law and order. Hugh Orde the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers has been outspoken, stating “I am not sure I want to learn about gangs from an area of America that has 400 of them”.

 

Inspired by Jessica de Grazia http://ow.ly/65gPN image source Wikipedia http://ow.ly/65gKD

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

Masataka Shimizu the president of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) the world’s fourth largest electric power company based in Japan, was heckled by Japanese politicians as he apologized for causing so much trouble for residents near the Fukushima complex resulting from the crippled nuclear plant’s radiation leak. Shimizu was putting forward TEPCO’s plan for dealing with the plant’s radiation, which was not well received by the lawmakers, nor from public polls. Kirsten Anderberg in her Indymedia blog claims Shimizu has “sold out his own people for personal profits and is now hiding like a damned coward under a rock. It is time we held individuals responsible for the corporate nightmares they create. You are a criminal and you should be publically shamed for what you have done via the Fukushima Daiichi Plant.” Inspired by Kirsten Anderberg ow.ly/4FPhN image source indymedia ow.ly/4FPeo Should be bowing your head in apology (April 27 2011)

Masataka Shimizu the president of the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) the world’s fourth largest electric power company based in Japan, was heckled by Japanese politicians as he apologized for causing so much trouble for residents near the Fukushima complex resulting from the crippled nuclear plant’s radiation leak. Shimizu was putting forward TEPCO’s plan for dealing with the plant’s radiation, which was not well received by the lawmakers, nor from public polls. Kirsten Anderberg in her Indymedia blog claims Shimizu has “sold out his own people for personal profits and is now hiding like a damned coward under a rock. It is time we held individuals responsible for the corporate nightmares they create. You are a criminal and you should be publically shamed for what you have done via the Fukushima Daiichi Plant.”

 

Inspired by Kirsten Anderberg ow.ly/4FPhN image source indymedia ow.ly/4FPeo

Václav Klaus the 69 year old President of the Czech Republic on a Latin American visit has been recorded on video during a press conference with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera stealing a ceremonial pen encrusted with semi-precious lapis lazuli stones renowned for their intense bluish colours. While the Chilean President was addressing journalists at the conference, Klaus is seen opening the pen box and removing the pen, he examines the pen then moves it down under the bench at which he is seated, appears to button up his jacket then returns his empty hand to close the pen box, hardly skipping a beat as he smiles at the warm welcome he is receiving from his counterpart. His spokespersons later claimed the pen only had the logo of the state on it. Inspired by Ben Quinn http://ow.ly/4DcQn image source Wikipedia http://ow.ly/4DcP1 It is not a pen but just a stylus (April 21 2011)

Václav Klaus the 69 year old President of the Czech Republic on a Latin American visit has been recorded on video during a press conference with Chilean President Sebastián Piñera stealing a ceremonial pen encrusted with semi-precious lapis lazuli stones renowned for their intense bluish colours. While the Chilean President was addressing journalists at the conference, Klaus is seen opening the pen box and removing the pen, he examines the pen then moves it down under the bench at which he is seated, appears to button up his jacket then returns his empty hand to close the pen box, hardly skipping a beat as he smiles at the warm welcome he is receiving from his counterpart. His spokespersons later claimed the pen only had the logo of the state on it.

 

Inspired by Ben Quinn http://ow.ly/4DcQn image source Wikipedia http://ow.ly/4DcP1

Stephen Elop the 47 year old Swedish president and chief executive officer of Nokia Corporation Standing on a burning platform (February 14 2011)

Stephen Elop the 47 year old Swedish president and chief executive officer of Nokia Corporation in a speech posted on an internal blog identified significant concerns at the world’s largest manufacturer of smart-phones, which is quickly being overrun for market share by Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS. Elop using a North Sea analogy warned the company was “standing on a burning platform” and needed to act swiftly to implement radical change to survive, claiming competitors weren’t just taking market share with devices but with an entire powerful enclosed ecosystem which including developers. Elop suggested the battle of devices has now become a war of ecosystems, resulting in Nokia having to decide how to either build, catalyse or join an ecosystem.

 

Inspired by Charles Arthur ow.ly/3WD5m image source lucasartoni ow.ly/3WD16

Rss Feed Tweeter button Facebook button Technorati button Reddit button Myspace button Linkedin button Delicious button Digg button Flickr button Stumbleupon button Newsvine button Youtube button