WEEKLY
BLOG COMMENTS No. 69
DATES:
2013/06/16– 2013/06/23
ANALYST:
Domingo Trassens
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Dear
Friends:
The previous
week began with the G-8 summit in North Ireland where President Obama and President Putin had a bitter
dialogue about the Syrian civil war.
During
the G-8 meeting, President Putin argued against the European countries and US
for the support they give to the Syrian rebels.
Meanwhile,
the results of the Iran’s voting turned on a small light
of “hope” about the foreign politics of this country. Hassan Rohani - a
moderate clergyman - won the presidency. Mr.Rohani in 2004 suggested a deal
with the western countries about the Iranian nuclear project.
After
that, President Obama traveled to Berlin, Germany. From the Brandenburg Gate, the
American President offered to Russia an agreement to reduce the
nuclear arsenals. Mr. Obama spoke from the same place where before Presidents
Kennedy and Reagan shook the world with famous speeches related to the Cold War
and the Berlin Wall. The President Obama's speech didn't produce the same echo
that the statements of his predecessors.
In other
news of the last days, United Kingdom ordered Google to delete
Internet user data or face criminal proceedings. Through the “Maps” system, the
Internet leader has caught a lot of information that some countries think is
private.
U.S. prosecutors filed criminal
charges against Edward Snowden and asked Hong Kong for his arrest. The former
employee of a NSA’s contractor left the Chinese territory with a temporary stop
in Russia.
Also
during the week, the Immigration Reform generated a lot of debate, in special
because the Republican Senator Marco Rubio has proposed an amendment requiring
immigrants applying for green cards have to be proficient in English and pass a
civics test.
Now I
would like to share with you a series of comments posted by myself in the WSJ
Journal Community and PBS through Twitter during the last seven days about the
top news of the week.
The
comments are organized in the following sections:
- G8 and
Berlin speech,
-
Criminal charges against NSA leaker
- U.S. Immigration Reform,
- United States
- Europe
- The
World (Asia, Africa, Middle East…)
- Latin America
-
Education
-
Economy, Business, Technology.
DAT
June 23, 2013
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G8 SUMMIT ANT BERLIN SPEECH
Sequence
of main comments posted about the G8 Summit and President Obama’s speech in Germany.
Subject: The pictures posted for the media in relation
to the dialogue between Presidents Obama and Putin showed graphic signals of
the differences between both leaders.
Comment: The picture of the story shows
President Obama and President Putin like a couple in the middle of a divorce.
(2013/06/17) 10 Recommendations
Subject: The American and Russian leaders agreed in the
development of a peace conference.
My Comment: This story remarks that “Messrs.
Obama and Putin each said they agreed on the need for negotiations”.
The last
events show that both leaders look uninterested in an immediate solution to the
Syrian civil war. (2013/06/18)
Story:
G-8 Turns Up Heat on Syria
Subject: The main subject among all the participants
of the G-8 summit - U.K. Japan, Germany, France, Russia, U.S., Canada, Italia and EU - was Syria, but they did not achieve common
conclusions.
My Comment: The G8 summit in Northern Ireland finished worse than it started.
It was a waste of time. (2013/06/18) 2 Recommendations
PBS - REPORT AIR
DATE: June 18, 2013 - News Wrap: At G-8Summit, Leaders Press for
Syrian Peace Talks
Subject: Mr. Putin was isolated at the G-8 Summit due
to his position.
My Comment: At the G-8 Summit, Russian
President Vladimir Putin talking about the weapon supplies for the armed Syrian
opposition said “...what will happen with those weapons later?”
He
believes U.S. and Europe do not have the right to provide
weapons to the rebels, but Russia has the right to provide weapons
to the Syrian regime.
With
this attitude Mr. Putin cannot participate in a peace talk. (By TWITTER) (2013/06/19)
Subject: Despite the disagreement in the G-8 Summit,
President Obama proposed a new phase in nuclear-arms cuts.
My Comment: If the others don’t put in the
"trash" their nuclear-arms, and we do, we will be the losers.
When China continues deploying more military infrastructures and North Korea, Iran and others are pushing to be members of the Nuclear Club, any conversation to propose the cutting of nuclear-arms doesn’t make sense. (2013/06/19) 3 Recommendations
When China continues deploying more military infrastructures and North Korea, Iran and others are pushing to be members of the Nuclear Club, any conversation to propose the cutting of nuclear-arms doesn’t make sense. (2013/06/19) 3 Recommendations
Subject: President Obama visited Berlin, where he was received by the authorities of
the country and the city with a lot of honors, but his main activity was the
speech at the Brandenburg Gate.
My Comment: The visit of President Obama to Berlin was only a symbolic visit with a
lot of History behind it, but nothing more.
Now the American President has a lot of problems at home to try to preach “Peace With Justice” in the international arena.
It could be different if from the Brandenburg Gate, President Obama and President Putin talk simultaneously showing a compromise about the nuclear weapons reduction in front the witnesses of that event.
But
after the cold dialogue between the Russian and American leaders in North Ireland, it doesn't look like Mr. Putin
will pay attention to the offer of Mr. Obama from Berlin.
More, we think that the Brandenburg Gate's event was a lost opportunity to take a step ahead. (2013/06/20) 1 Recommendation
More, we think that the Brandenburg Gate's event was a lost opportunity to take a step ahead. (2013/06/20) 1 Recommendation
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CRIMINAL
CHARGES AGAINST NSA LEAKER
Subject: U.S. prosecutors charged Mr. Snowden for the
leaking of secret information of the U.S.
My Comment: Everyone is angry with the
National Security Agency, but the U.S. prosecutors cannot say: “Mr.
Snowden, we will give you a “pardon” because you have unveiled a horrible
secret”.
Meanwhile, we have to learn to fix the problems of our battered democracy through the institutions and instruments that we have. (2013/06/22) 10 Recommendations
Meanwhile, we have to learn to fix the problems of our battered democracy through the institutions and instruments that we have. (2013/06/22) 10 Recommendations
Story:
Snowden Leaves Hong Kong
Subject: The former contractor of NSA left Hong Kong after U.S. asked this Chinese territory for his arrest.
My Comment: Edward Snowden continues playing
the game of “hide-and-seek”. If he goes to Ecuador, probably President Correa has a
place for him next to Julian Assange.
Last year, the founder of WikiLeaks received asylum in Ecuador.
Last year, the founder of WikiLeaks received asylum in Ecuador.
Explanation:
In this case the meaning of the expression “hide-and-seek” implies that when
somebody looks for you in a place, you move to another place in the way that
never they can catch you till you find the best refuge for you. (2013/06/23) 4
Recommendations
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U.S. IMMIGRATION REFORM
PBS -
DEBATE AIR DATE: June 21, 2013 - Should Immigrants Be Required
to Learn English? – Part 1
Subject:
The question
related to learn English proposed by Senator Marco Rubio produced diverse
reactions.
My
Comment: It is
important that immigrants who apply for a Green Card and Citizenship study
English and also they have to learn basic knowledge about American culture and
history. (By TWITTER) (2013/06/23) – 10 Recommendations.
PBS -
DEBATE AIR DATE: June 21, 2013 - Should Immigrants Be Required
to Learn English? – Part 2
My
Comment answering to someone who thinks that normally the non-citizens know
about American culture and history more than the citizens: Thank you for your comment. I
agree that some non-citizens know more than the native citizens about American
culture and history, but this is because these persons have a strong cultural
foundation or put forth effort to learn about America due to different factors:
profession, business, trips, special studies or curiosity.
Nevertheless,
a lot of immigrants who apply for Citizenship don’t know the name of the
capital of the country or basic principles of the American constitution.
American
culture and history has to be a “requisite” in the integration process of a
non-American and its study has to be compulsory for everybody who applies for
citizenship.
About
Americans who are natives of the country and they don’t know about American
culture and history, this is another subject… (By TWITTER) (2013/06/23)
PBS -
DEBATE AIR DATE: June 21, 2013 - Should Immigrants Be Required
to Learn English? – Part 3
My
Comment answering to somebody who thinks the current citizenship test is enough
for citizenship and disagrees with other requirements for the green card: Okay, but some immigrants who
apply for citizenship don’t know the minimum questions to pass the test:
capital of country, capital of the state where they live, the rights of the
First Amendment of the Constitution and other key principles of your nation.
And when they prepare the test, they learn the answers like “parrots”.
It is
not only to repeat an answer of the Civil (History and Government) Questions
for the Naturalization Test as a "parrot".
We don't
need more "parrots" in the United States. We need more "good
citizens" who understand their obligations like their rights.
They
have to understand what implies “democracy” in the United States. Some of the immigrants come
from countries where the concept of “democracy” is a “mask” of a dictatorship
or demagoguery.
In a lot
of the Latin American countries, the presidents change their constitutions
every time they want to continue in power (Ecuador, Venezuela, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina...). We find similar cases
across East
Europe,
Africa and Asia. In all these cases, the
president (or executive power) buys the votes of Congress (legislative power)
for an amendment of the constitution through corrupt procedures and also they
change the justices and judges of court when they refuse to follow their
demands.
Our
democracy is not perfect, but in the United States, the president can not continue
in power after his second term. Also the Supreme Court is really an independent
power where frequently we find justices who argue against the executive power.
And in Congress, there are rules about how the majority and opposition have to
work.
Also in
US, you go to jail if after you make a traffic infraction you put 2 dollars in
the pocket of the police officer and you continue making infractions in the
next corner. In Mexico DF, the driver of the company that was my host when I
visited that country solved a serious traffic infraction with 2 Mexican pesos.
And when I complained, he answered me that every time he has traffic problems
solve them in this way.
If we
want to be a better country we have to work in the way that citizenship will be
an “award” for the people who deserve to be named U.S. citizens. We don’t have to
import criminals like the suspected Boston bombers or the 9/11 extremists. (By
TWITTER) (2013/06/23)
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UNITED
STATES
PBS - ANALYSIS
AIR DATE: June 21, 2013- Shields and Brooks on Farm Bill Failure.
Subject: Weekly political analysis between the
journalists Mark Shields and David Brooks, in this case about the Farm Bill
failure.
My Comment: Mark Shields in the weekly
political analysis said the “House is out of control”.
Today
the problem is not only the “gap” between Republicans and Democrats. It shows
also the division among Republicans. The farm bill failure displays again that
Congress is full of "cracks". (By TWITTER) 2013/06/22
PBS – UPDATE AIR
DATE: June 14, 2013 - Six Months AfterNewtown, Battle Over Gun Control Continues
Subject: After the defeat that the gun control bill
suffered in the Senate, again some groups try to revive this project.
My
Comment: The
battle over gun control never will have an end. (By TWITTER) (2013/06/17)
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EUROPE
Subject: Russian authorities are acting against the
non-government organizations that work through the country despite the
complaints of the international community.
My Comment: The “methods” will not change
because the international community shouts and complains. (2013/06/22)
Subject: Finance ministers of the European Union
continue debating about new rules for troubled banks.
My Comment: The EU Finance ministers
continue discussing new rules for the troubled banks without agreement on the
core issues.
According to the news, the crucial point is: “how much discretion to leave in the hands of national authorities”.
The complete group of the euro-zone is very heterogeneous and the majority of the members will not respect rigid rules.
We think a rigid centralized system is more vulnerable than a flexible system where the national authorities have to assume the responsibilities of their decisions.
With
this criterion, when anybody makes a mistake, he has to fix the problem without
crying as an unconscious teenager, asking for assistance from the EU
authorities. (2013/06/22)
Subject: President François Hollande
rushed to Lourdes to see personally the damages of the flooding.
My Comment: The news says that their own
President François Hollande rushed to Lourdes to offer aid from the French
government due to the flooding that damaged the holy shrine that in summer is
visited by millions of Catholic pilgrims.
Will he
rush in the same way for others? (2013/06/21)
PBS - REPORT AIR
DATE: June 17, 2013 - News Wrap: U.K. Government Reportedly Hacked Email, Calls of
Foreign Diplomats
Subject: During the G-8 Summit it was unveiled that
before the organization of this meeting the British intelligence hacked emails
and calls of foreign diplomats involved in the preparation of the event.
My Comment: We don't see the reason why the
host of an international meeting has to spy on its guests.
If this
news is true, British intelligence has to give an explanation why it has hacked
into electronic mails and phone calls of foreign leaders. (By TWITTER)
(2013/06/18)
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THE
WORLD: Asia, Middle East, Africa…
Subject: Ms. Akhter, one of the survivors of the
collapsed Rana Plaza garment-factory, comments about the terrible
experience when she was trapped under the broken concrete of the building.
My Comment: The paycheck of $90 to $100 a
month cannot heal the drama of Ms. Akhter after she was trapped under the
broken concrete of the Rana Plaza garment-factory for many long
days.
All the survivors and dead workers in the collapse of Rana Plaza and the burned factories are victims of cruel reality: poverty. (2013/06/22) 3 Recommendations
All the survivors and dead workers in the collapse of Rana Plaza and the burned factories are victims of cruel reality: poverty. (2013/06/22) 3 Recommendations
PBS -
REPORT AIR DATE: June 21, 2013 - News Wrap: Monsoon Ravages
Northern India
Subject:
A monsoon storm
in India left hundreds of deaths and damage.
My
Comment: The
news says that “nearly 600 people have died in Northern India as a result of a monsoon.”
The toll
of deaths is high but we have to remember that normally natural disasters that
hit India produce big losses in human
beings due to the misery of the poor population of this country. (By TWITTER)
2013/06/22
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LATIN AMERICA
Subject: The protests of the middle-class in Brazil are a hard lesson for the people who believe
in leftist populist leaders of Latin America.
My Comment: This is the lesson that we have
to learn from the Marxist and terrorist leaders when they become the
government.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, former Marxist guerrilla and member of leftist Workers Party, is expending a huge amount of money for the World Cup and the Olympics, while the people claim their taxes don’t result in schools and hospitals.
The case of Ms. Rousseff is not unique. Across Latin America we have other similar cases. All these leaders work for the own benefit and "personal glory" without a care for the people they represent.
Again this is a fake image of ideals that only remain in dusty pamphlets of the political campaigns. (2013/06/19)
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, former Marxist guerrilla and member of leftist Workers Party, is expending a huge amount of money for the World Cup and the Olympics, while the people claim their taxes don’t result in schools and hospitals.
The case of Ms. Rousseff is not unique. Across Latin America we have other similar cases. All these leaders work for the own benefit and "personal glory" without a care for the people they represent.
Again this is a fake image of ideals that only remain in dusty pamphlets of the political campaigns. (2013/06/19)
Subject: Brazilians claim against the government negligence about the needs of the population.
My Comment: When Dilma Rousseff became
Brazilian President, she lost the opportunity to work for the people.
She knew that a huge country like Brazil needs more schools, hospitals and social infrastructures to continue growing in a balanced way. But she used the money of the government for fantastic and corrupt projects.
She knew that a huge country like Brazil needs more schools, hospitals and social infrastructures to continue growing in a balanced way. But she used the money of the government for fantastic and corrupt projects.
Now she
has no arguments to go against the people because they are complaining against
corruption and bad politics like when she was the opposition. (2013/06/22) 3
Recommendations
Subject: Some polls show the illegal immigration of
Mexicans to the U.S. declined recently due to some economic improvements of this country.
My Comment: Mexico is a country with potential to
become a great nation due to its strategic geopolitical location and the
richness of its natural resources, but it has serious chronic sicknesses:
- A big poor social class
- A big poor social class
- Extended corruption in its government and security institutions
- Dangerous gangs in the dealing of drugs, guns and human beings.
During
decades, the massive illegal immigration to the U.S. was the consequence of the high
level of criminality (including corruption) and the serious social gap for the
Mexicans. (2013/06/21) 1 Recommendation
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EDUCATION
PBS -
CONVERSATION AIR DATE: June 19, 2013 - Report Argues U.S. Is Neglecting, Undervaluing
Education in the Humanities
Subject:
A report argues
about the undervaluing education in the humanities.
My
Comment: The
education of the humanities is very important to "carve"
the personality of political, business and social leaders but it doesn’t generate direct incomes.
the personality of political, business and social leaders but it doesn’t generate direct incomes.
The
humanities don’t give specific tools to produce immediate economic results.
For this
reason, in general, the current world undervalues this kind of education. (By
TWITTER) 2013/06/22
PBS - ANALYSIS
AIR DATE: June 18, 2013 - Are Teachers Being Adequately Trained for
the Classroom? Study Says No
Subject: A study of the National Council on Teacher
Quality says the training of the new teachers is low, but the methodology used
for the analysis was only partial.
My Comment: The National Council on Teacher
Quality says the new teachers are not adequately trained for class after a
study of 600 American schools across the country.
First question: Is 600 schools, a large enough sample to make conclusions about all the American schools?
Second
question: What are the evaluations made to determine that a teacher is or not is
trained for in class?
The
report says that the members of the Council “didn’t go to campuses, they didn’t
sit in on classes, they didn’t have participation.” They only read course
catalogs and syllabi.
Education is a very complex subject. We cannot make negative statements through partial views of the whole universe with this kind of methodology. (By TWITTER) 2013/06/22
Education is a very complex subject. We cannot make negative statements through partial views of the whole universe with this kind of methodology. (By TWITTER) 2013/06/22
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ECONOMY,
BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY
Subject: United Kingdom prosecutors are forcing Google to delete
user data that they consider private.
My Comment: Probably, Google knows more
about us than the data the National Security Agency has in its databases.
(2013/06/23)
Subject: During the last few days, Samsung Electronics
introduced a reduced version of Galaxy S4 named S4 Mini and two digital tablets
running Microsoft Windows 8.
The new smart-phone
S4 Mini runs over the Android operating system.
My Comment: Samsung looks very nervous and
worried because Galaxy 4 doesn’t generate the expected revenues before its introduction.
But its small brother– S4 Mini – is a “double edge knife”. Probably it will cut
sales of their own Galaxy 4. (2013/06/22)
Subject: In an aeronautical exhibition held in Paris, France, the Russians military aircrafts were the
main attraction.
My Comment: It is natural that the people from
the Western World want to know more about the current Russian technology for
war.
In the last years of the Cold War, a lot of literature from the West said the Russians were behind U.S. and Europe in technology despite the advanced knowledge of their universities in mathematics and sciences.
In the last years of the Cold War, a lot of literature from the West said the Russians were behind U.S. and Europe in technology despite the advanced knowledge of their universities in mathematics and sciences.
After that, we learned that during the last decades, the Russians bought advanced computers and developed huge information systems across all the country. Frequently IBM comments details of the recent implementations. (2013/06/21) 2 Recommendations
Subject: The Federal Aviation Administration is
relaxing rules for electronic gadgets used in flight.
Comment: Security is very important, but
the authorities have to relax rules that are possible and stop treating
everybody as a criminal. (2013/06/21) 3 Recommendations
Subject: Recently, some famous American bridges were
repairing with steel made in China due to its cost is less than the American.
My Comment: The news says that the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge was repaired with steel made in China.
Now we
will have a new argument when our bridges made with Chinese steel collapse.
(2013/06/20)
Subject: Microsoft is exploring the acquisition of
Nokia, Finnish mobile company that continues with a lot of financial problems.
My Comment: Microsoft has to focus on its
own business and doesn't pretend to resuscitate other companies with a lot of
financial problems. (2013/06/20)
PBS -
CONVERSATION AIR DATE: June 17, 2013 - Should the Government Pay for Information
It Collects About Its Citizens?
Subject: Janon Lanier -author of “Who Owns the
Future?” - criticizes the way that the digital networks take as their own data,
the data of the real creators and owners of contents.
He also suggests
that the government pays for information it collect about its citizens.
Mr. Lanier is a guru
of the technology industry.
My Comment: The book “Who Owns the Future?”
shows a cruel reality. The digital networks have positive and negative effects.
It is
true that the digital networks concentrate power in the hands of the owners of
the networks and frequently destroy the value of the effort of the small
creators and independent professionals, killing the real intellectual minds.
The
concept associated with some massive digital networks that all the information “for
free” is only good for lazy people who want to live off others, stealing
computer programs, information, music, videos, knowledge and ideas.
Specially,
we have to revalue intellectual work if we don’t want our "brains" to
die starving. (By TWITTER) (2013/06/19)
Subject: Now a microchip is used for the testing of
asthma drugs instead of rats.
My Comment: We have to see if the new asthma
drugs don’t have negative side effects. We don’t believe a microchip will solve this
problem.
In
general, the most effective medicines for asthma attacks help to surpass the
crisis but generate other problems in your body. Also they produce a deep
depression and you feel sad, unhappy and deplorable.
The best
way to reduce my asthmatic disease is through the systematic practice of
physical activities like swimming, bicycle and also hiking. We have to
re-educate our body and live a disciplined life.
The
medicines should be used only for emergencies or chronic asthma attacks!
(2013/06/18)
My Comment
answering to another member who says her asthma problems are different to the
others: Each
body is different and asthma attacks are produced by the combination of a
series of internal and external factors that vary depending on the asthmatic
person.
For this reason, we cannot expect magic solutions through lab experiments with rats or microchips.
Every
asthmatic has to manage their asthma to prevent their asthma from driving their
life.” (2013/06/18)
Subject: Huawei Technology is introducing new
smart-phones in London, UK with the intention to spread its market
share across the world.
My Comment: Huawei Technologies is a very
aggressive company that knows what it wants and it has the capability to defeat
rivals with a long trajectory in the industry.
For this reason, this announcement of the new Ascend P6 in London will produce a buzz across the world.
Apple
and Samsung have to protect their “backs” if they don’t want Huawei jump over
both to achieve the top of the hill. (2013/06/17) 1 Recommendation
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SOURCES:
1)
External Sources: Wall
Street Journal, The New York Times and PBS NewsHour.
2)
Own Sources: My
own research for previous publishing projects like TTT of Comlab Corp, Spanish
English Club online and others.
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