The Economist: “Venezuela’s leftist president, Hugo Chávez, said that foreigners who publicly criticised him while visiting the country would be expelled. He also said that a new draft constitution would allow indefinite re-election of the president, but not of state governors”
We won’t shut up Mr Chavez. Abroad, or in your country.
But why are we governed by such idiots?
I was recently surprised by the arguments of some Russian friends about the way their country acts at home and abroad. Most of these friends have spent some years in the West, but they were not een close to criticizing their government’s stance vis-a-vis freedom rights. Quite the contrary. They were supporting their motherland. “See, even Berezovsky [the Russian oligarch hunted by the Kremlin but currently living in London] is not safe in England” they said when the oligarch said he had just escape an assassination attempt. “Maybe the Kremlin had sent people after him” I replied. “Well, maybe MI6 killed Litvinenko” they concluded. I am not a fan of conspiracy theories and I thought I had reached some limits in terms of logical argumentation. Maybe next time, I will leave the last word to the Stefan Wagstyl.
Stefan Wagstyl in this past week-end’s Financial Times has a great op-ed: “The citizens of “civilised European countries” do not risk extra-judicial execution if they engage in opposition politics. State officials exist to uphold the rule of law and co-operate with foreign officials in the event of cross-border crimes. Those who want to make Russia into a civilised country must realise that it is not fancy airports, hotels or ski-resorts that will win for Russia a global reputation as a civilised country. It is the rule of law, both at home and abroad”.
Really, why are we governed by idiots? I guess Leterme has reach his term.
Nothing that most people do not know about yet, but always interesting to read this Goldman Sachs Paper Series: “The World’s Urban Future”
For the first time in history, half of the world’s population now lives in cities. In the BRICs, opportunities from urbanization include greater connectivity, financial deepening, infrastructure build-out and higher consumption. Challenges include poverty, environmental damage, strains on public health systems and pressure on commodities markets.
There has been a short-lived uproar in Europe about the following video clip encouraging people to watch European movies. Some Polish conservative MEP still living in the Middle Ages got upset because of the content - all actually taken from European movies.
But the prize for stupidity goes to the Euronews journalist reporting on the clip. The movie ends with a wonderful double-meaning “Let’s come together”. The brilliant analysis by the Euronews reporter concludes this is a call for reunion and togetherness. Pliiiiiize!!! Somebody get that journalist a dictionary!
