Massive Public Works Projects As Economic Stimulus Panacea
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Massive Public Works Projects will achieve these direct impacts, benefits, and direct impacts that I speak of. Nigeria must now embark on massive public works!
Here is our chance to alter and change for good, the current sorry state of our public infrastructures! It is an open secret, that our public infrastructures were abandoned and neglected for decades and permitted to decay and remain in most egregious state of decadence!
Here is our chance to build more roads and bridges, highways and byways!
Here is our chance to embark on the constructions and buildings of new schools and educational institutions. These decadences preceded President Obasanjo of course!
But now, we have a chance and the resources and the need to urgently engage in massive rebuilding of our hospitals and equip medical facilities to top notch modern medical facilities comparable to any, anywhere on earth! There qualified Nigerians at home, and, some are in every corner of the world, waiting to join hands in efforts to make Nigeria great.
The people of Nigeria will support massive renovations of public buildings and public structures nationwide. All Nigerians regardless of political, religious and regional affiliations, persuasions and attachments, all Nigerians support the creations of public squares and public playgrounds nationwide. It will create jobs, it will create sorely needed renewal of Nigeria and it will beautify and energize Nigerians and Nigeria.
Nigerian governments at all levels must participate in these renewals.
Below is an article which was originally published on May 11, 2007 soon after the general elections in Nigeria and before the inaugurations on May 29, 2007 and titled:Nigeria Will Be Transformed with: Massive Public Works Projects
NIGERIA! Elections occurred as planned! I am already looking beyond the forthcoming inauguration formalities! These inaugurations already here, in just a couple of weeks!
We have been discussing the elections’ aftermath. We heaved big sighs of relief, we should! There were no major catastrophes in Nigeria. I predicted that the election would not cause the skies to fall on Nigeria. And contrary to expectations by some, in certain quarters, the sky did not fall! And Nigeria’s corporate existence is unchanged, Nigeria, as a nation is unthreatened.
Thank goodness! These elections have been conducted and winners declared albeit, with imperfections or flaws. The best cure for imperfect democracy, remains, more democracy!
After the elections in April, the inaugurations in May, there is a new government in Nigeria. Electioneering grandstanding and posturing would be behind us soon! And the real heavy-lifting to transform Nigeria in reconstructions, rebirth and transformation will begin in earnest. Just as April showers brings May flowers, Nigeria will be in full bloom!
The strategy for our new government must be, among other things, reassurances of all citizens, reassurances, in both actions and pronouncements, on matters of security of lives and properties in our country. There must be a removal of uncertainties and insecurities.
There should be renewed emphasis on national reconciliation and national unity by all and in particular, by the national government. It is noteworthy, that President-Elect YarAdua, has indicated that the Niger Delta imbroglio is his task number one, his job one. The new government must reassure Nigerian citizens, visitors to Nigeria and foreign investors, that Nigeria is safe, even as it continues to bream with boundless opportunities!
Massive Public Works Projects
A public reassurance on public safety and security, reassurances on the planned removal of uncertainties and insecurities, must then be followed by great public works.
In all probabilities, the fear of inflation which might result from massive spending on public works project, and the zeal to pay off Nigeria’s gargantuan and debilitating debts, informed the advices from every eggheads and certified economists to President Obasanjo, not to engage in massive public works projects, that would have had immediate benefits and immediate prompt impacts on the lives of average Nigerian. Which would have in turn clued the “man on the street” into the giant strides in efforts that President Obasanjo’s government was making audaciously, tirelessly and thanklessly, on the behalf of Nigeria!
There were crucially important items with which President Obasanjo busied himself with, during his first and second terms, paying up Nigeria’s national debt, domestic and foreign, were some of such items. Additionally, President Obasanjo was setting up super structures and systems, that will reverse Nigeria unsavory pasts. President Obasanjo has steadied Nigeria for a fresh start. EFCC, ICPC, Department of Due Process etc
And President Olusegun Obasanjo’s enshrinement into Nigerian history will be complete
Now, Nigerians should receive a new release of energy and new leash on life. The consolidation of the reform policies of the preceding 8 years must now translate in immediate direct impact on every Nigerian citizen. Nigerians have waited enough!
Massive Public Works Projects will achieve these direct impacts, benefits, and direct impacts that I speak of. Nigeria must now embark on massive public works!
Here is our chance to alter and change for good, the current sorry state of our public infrastructures! It is an open secret, that our public infrastructures were abandoned and neglected for decades and permitted to decay and remain in most egregious state of decadence! Here is our chance to build more roads and bridges, highways and byways!
Here is our chance to embark on the constructions and buildings of new schools and educational institutions. These decadences preceded President Obasanjo of course!
But now, we have a chance and the resources and the need to urgently engage in massive rebuilding of our hospitals and equip medical facilities to top notch modern medical facilities comparable to any, anywhere on earth! There qualified Nigerians at home, and, some are in every corner of the world, waiting to join hands in efforts to make Nigeria great.
The people of Nigeria will support massive renovations of public buildings and public structures nationwide. All Nigerians regardless of political, religious and regional affiliations, persuasions and attachments, all Nigerians support the creations of public squares and public playgrounds nationwide. It will create jobs, it will create sorely needed renewal of Nigeria and it will beautify and energize Nigerians and Nigeria.
Nigerian governments at all levels must participate in these renewals.
Land demarcations, street naming and numbering, must commence nationwide for easy access, for easy determinations of building addresses by postal service and all door to door delivery services of commerce and sundry transactions. There should be massive constructions of railways and waterways and stations that facilitates these services.
There should be street sweeping that would employ multitudes of Nigerians
There should massive funding for research programs
In order to benefit Nigerians directly, I propose we initiate massive public works projects, aimed at employment of Nigerians, economic growth, healthcare opportunities, and infrastructure expansions. There is a lot of work to do in Nigeria, work by all.
Such projects would include re-opening steel mills, building hydroelectric plants or green energy facilities, Shipyards, bridges, roads, high-rise buildings, tunnels, and renovating existing towns and cities. When government, business and industry start public works projects every business has a chance to capitalize on the increase of productivity.
A good idea or concept would be to start pilot towns nationwide, a deliberate creation of new hometowns in Nigeria, which would be built around the latest technologies such as hybrid and zero emission vehicles, broadband communications, renewable energy sources, mass-transit systems, and other emerging technologies that need to be tested full scale.
Massive Public Works Projects is a useful tool and instrument to create mass employment in great numbers! The Americans used it, during and soon after the Second World War. Perhaps the Kings of Egypt knew this, and hence the building of the monumental edifice the world renowned Pyramid. Ancient civilizations knew this, hence they built the Chinese Great Wall for military defense, while keeping Chinese citizen fully employed in the Great Wall’s construction? Perhaps the Kings of ancient Kingdom of Benin in Nigeria knew this same employment generation through Massive Public Works Projects, hence they build a moat around the ancient Kingdom of Benin for military defense, while keeping the citizens fully employed? There are trickle down effects, food sellers, shoe sellers, all those who cater those all those others, engaged in the physical remodeling of Nigeria.
It is the case, the economy thrives, if you keep your citizens employed and working and the citizens are productively engaged and they in turn have disposable incomes. Nigerian economy will thrive on big and bold ideas, not settling for something small. The new president must sprint, to begin his marathon of leadership of Nigeria. He should begin by ensuring that there full and complete national reconciliation begins immediately.
These Are The Things President Yar’Adua Must Do!
As May 29, 2007 inaugurations schedule is speedily approaching us Nigerians, I feel honestly, as if I am already there! There are lot of things to do. There is work for everyone
All hands must be on deck, Nigerians, friends of Nigeria and investors of all stripes are welcome! Let the heavy lifting begin. Creating the Nigeria that we all want, begins NOW!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Islamophobia in America, Islam And Muslims Under Siege
Islamophobia in America, Islam And Muslims Under Siege
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Refudiate is not a word, refute and repudiate are words of course!
In her hurry to excoriate Islam and Muslims in New York, Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska and former presidential running mate of Senator John McCain, created a new “word” as she demanded that Muslims in New York City should “refudiate” plans to build a mosque, a holy house of worship, which they constitutionally entitled to build
Simultaneously, Rich Lazio, a candidate for governor of New York in stridently demanding the disallowance of the proposed mosque near the so-called ground zero, a part of lower Manhattan in the financial district where World Trade Center stood, before the September 11, 2001 attacks. Rick Lazio went as far as referring to Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, as an incompetent Attorney General, a position he currently occupies even as he runs for governorship of New York as well. Lazio went to the extent of also accusing Cuomo of liberal bias and pandering to liberal voters as reason for not launching a full scale inquiry into the proposed mosque.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/07/20/us/politics/AP-US-Governors-Race-Mosque.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has rightly declared and required all those opposed to the mosque project to submit evidence or data of any wrongdoing to the office of the attorney general for review; and so far, there have been no scintilla or atom of evidence suggesting wrongdoing by anyone Muslim connected to the mosque project in question, and yet, there is an inflamed sentiment within a segment of the New York City public which is bent on preventing the mosque from being erected.
Islam and Muslims are surely under siege in America and particularly here in New York City. There are strong and very vehement opposition to Muslims who have sought building permit to erect mosques on Long Island, and in Manhattan, as well as in Staten Island and Bay Ridge, a part of Brooklyn! And before these stiff oppositions to mosques buildings, there was hurried firing of a female principal of a Muslim school and her firing or dismissal which has since been reversed, was precipitated by scurrilous attacks and criticisms by the same motley crews which have been at the throats of Muslims in New York City
See: NYC was wrong to fire Muslim principal
http://http://blog.beliefnet.com/beliefbeat/2010/03/panel-nyc-wrong-to-fire-muslim-principal.html
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=Principal+of+a+Muslim+school+fired+in+New+York+city&aq=&aqi=&aql=&oq=Principal+of+a+Muslim+school+fired+in+New+York+city&gs_rfai=&fp=d571b3712fffe003
Some of us are now left to wonder about these bigotries directed at Islam and Muslims in New York City. This is particularly so, for a plural and multicultural and multi-religious New York City which proudly refers to itself as the American melting pot. The United Nations Organization is headquartered in New York City, and New York City in name, composition, nomenclature and reality, is microcosm of all nations, New York City is really a mini United Nations of all the nations of the world! But, denying Muslims the right, a fundamental right to erect mosques, places of worship and Islamic community centers, surely cannot be the way to advertise tolerance, diversity and the much vaunted and loudly advertised status as America’s and the world’s melting pot!
As an irreverent Catholic or semi-retired Catholic, I hold all religions in equal awes and equal suspicions . I would also repeat a partial excerpt of a statement below and here it is, “oppose Islam for the same basic reason I oppose all religion: supernaturalism is false, and people ought not believe things that are false
USA Today: Muslims in USA face fears, bias to build, expand mosques
The vast majority of American mosques were buildings built for other purposes,” he said. ... meeting in mid-June to protest the Murfreesboro mosque. Similar resistance helped derail a proposed mosque
http://http://muslimmatters.org/2010/07/05/usa-today-muslims-in-usa-face-fears-bias-to-build-expand-mosques/
By Bob Smietana The Nashville Tennessean
When Muslims want to pray in Rutherford County, many go to an office building on Middle Tennessee Boulevard that houses the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. There’s usually enough room for evening prayers until Fridays when about 100 people gather during the week’s main service. On warm days, it can get uncomfortable. “During prayers, it gets so hot that the air conditioning doesn’t work,” said Saleh Sbenaty, a member of the mosque’s board of directors. “This building was not designed for this kind of use.
Thousands Protest Mega-Mosque Plans at - Gateway Pundit
To put it bluntly, Ground Zero is the one place in America where Muslims .Why do you think there is growing resistance against new mosques being .. But “building a 15-story Islamic center at ground zero Do we need an area for pilgrimage for Muslims in New York?
http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2010/06/thousands-protest-mega-mosque-plans-at-ground-zero/
Do we need a holy mosque on Ground Zero? They will come and pay their pilgrimage right here in New York at the mosque. We have 3,000 dead Americans looking down on us today. They are saying, “We don’t want to hear ‘Allahu Akbar’ any more.”
Mosque planned for (two bocks away from) Ground Zero, jingos aghast —again
Plan to Build Mosque Near Ground Zero Riles Families of 9/11 Victims ... to balance those from 9-11 Families for a Safe and Strong America? A Century and a Half of Protest & Resistance on New York's Lower East Side ...Submitted by Bill Weinberg on Sun, 05/16/2010 - 18:25.
New York City's kneejerk jingos, already aghast that the hubristic "Freedom Tower" name has been dropped from the new skyscraper going up at Ground Zero, have got a new cause to gripe about. Plan to Build Mosque Near Ground Zero Riles Families of 9/11 Victims
http://http://www.ww4report.com/node/8624
Outraged family members and community groups are accusing a Muslim group of trying to rewrite history with its plans to build a 13-story mosque and cultural center just two blocks from Ground Zero, where Islamic extremists flew two planes into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
Outraged family members and community groups are accusing a Muslim group of trying to rewrite history with its plans to build a 13-story mosque and cultural center just two blocks from Ground Zero, where Islamic extremists flew two planes into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
10000 throng to protest Islamic supremacist mega-mosque at Ground ...
Jun 8, 2010 ... Gandhi advised "passive resistance" to the Jews against Hitler, ... some faithful American was to go on the site where the mosque is to be built and .... "Plans to build a memorial to the 333 hostages killed three years ... 10,000 throng to protest Islamic supremacist mega-mosque at Ground Zero 10,000 throng to stop Ground Zero mosque: Group vows to sue federal government: '3,000 good Americans didn't die in vain,'" by Chelsea Schilling in WorldNetDaily, June 7:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/06/10000-throng-to-protest-islamic-supremacist-mega-mosque-at-ground-zero.html
As many as 10,000 protesters from across the country - including family members who lost loved ones on Sept. 11, 2001 - took to the streets in New York City Sunday to fight construction of a 13-story Islamic mosque to be built just steps from Ground Zero where Muslim terrorists murdered 2,751 people in the name of Allah. Now the organizers plan to sue the federal government to designate the site as a war memorial....
New York Mosque Protest « Bartholomew's Notes on Religion
For Geller and her Stop Islamization of America organization (currently on .... reasons — their qualms and resistance need to be respected. ... to protest the proposed building of a mosque on the World Trade Center site. ... http://http://barthsnotes.wordpress.com/2010/06/09/new-york-mosque-protest/
The only Muslim center that should be built in the shadow of the World Trade Center is one that is devoted to expunging the Quran and all Islamic teachings of the violent jihad that they prescribe, as well as all hateful texts and incitement to violence”
Of course, this isn’t a statement made in good faith: a Muslim center with an “expunged” Quran makes about as much sense as a church with the anti-Jewish parts of the New Testament expunged or a synagogue with the more sanguinary passages of the Torah expunged – ancient religious texts may be re-interpreted or contextualized in ways that make them more amenable to the modern world, but they are seldom repudiated by adherents
Free Colorado: Let Them Build the Mosque
Gotham Resistance claims that forbidding the mosque would preserve "decency, ... Let us grant that, in America, we do not punish children for the sins of their fathers. ... Both said they had come to protest the mosque. ...http://blog.ariarmstrong.com/2010/06/let-them-build-mosque.html
oppose Islam for the same basic reason I oppose all religion: supernaturalism is false, and people ought not believe things that are false. In today's world, Islam is a particularly destructive force, in many sectors sanctioning the abuse of women, totalitarianism, mass murder, and terrorism. Thankfully, Islam also has a more enlightened, Aristotelian tradition, and in the modern world at least some Muslims promote political and religious freedom and peace among nations.
Muslim mosque to be built on ground zero - Patriotic Resistance
Muslims are planning to build a mosque on ground zero after they destroyed ... as possible to call the Mayor of New York to protest this build. ... The Post-American Presidency: The Obama Administration's War on America http://http://www.resistnet.com/group/oregon/forum/topics/muslim-mosque-to-be-built-on
Muslims are planning to build a mosque on ground zero after they destroyed the twin towers. We need as many people as possible to call the Mayor of New York to protest this build.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxFzFIDbKpg&feature=player_embedded
Whatever you think about Muslims, they do not like you even if they are friendly toward you. If you think you can be the friend of a Muslim click on the link below.
East Berlin's First Mosque: The Muslims Are Coming! - SPIEGEL ...
"In our experience, the protests stop as soon as we start to build the mosque ... every mosque they've built has met with local protests and resistance. ... 11, 2001, at the invitation of William Timken, America's ambassador to Germany.http://http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,456751,00.html
The Muslims Are Coming! By Michael Scott Moore and Jochen-Martin Gutsch in Berlin
A citizens' group in Berlin turned out this week for a candlelight vigil to protest plans for a new mosque in their neighborhood. It will be the first to be built in the former East Berlin, where almost no Muslims live -- but no one can quite explain why it shouldn't be there.
Anti-mosque Protest | loonwatch.com
But the movement to prevent the building of a Mega Mosque at Ground Zero ... of America', “but we are here today to condemn the kind of mosque that will .... reasons — their qualms and resistance need to be respected. http://www.loonwatch.com/tag/anti-mosque-protest/ The uproar over a proposed mosque near ground zero is predicated around the idea that this specific site was inappropriate for a mosque because of its proximity to the place where Islamic terrorists killed thousands of Americans. The logic is still, not even very subtly, anti-Muslim — it only makes sense if you believe that Muslim-American worshipers are sympathetic to Muslim terrorists. Now a community on Staten Island is opposing another proposed mosque, and without the pretense that it’s motivated by anything but outright hostility toward Muslims.
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Refudiate is not a word, refute and repudiate are words of course!
In her hurry to excoriate Islam and Muslims in New York, Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska and former presidential running mate of Senator John McCain, created a new “word” as she demanded that Muslims in New York City should “refudiate” plans to build a mosque, a holy house of worship, which they constitutionally entitled to build
Simultaneously, Rich Lazio, a candidate for governor of New York in stridently demanding the disallowance of the proposed mosque near the so-called ground zero, a part of lower Manhattan in the financial district where World Trade Center stood, before the September 11, 2001 attacks. Rick Lazio went as far as referring to Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, as an incompetent Attorney General, a position he currently occupies even as he runs for governorship of New York as well. Lazio went to the extent of also accusing Cuomo of liberal bias and pandering to liberal voters as reason for not launching a full scale inquiry into the proposed mosque.
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/07/20/us/politics/AP-US-Governors-Race-Mosque.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has rightly declared and required all those opposed to the mosque project to submit evidence or data of any wrongdoing to the office of the attorney general for review; and so far, there have been no scintilla or atom of evidence suggesting wrongdoing by anyone Muslim connected to the mosque project in question, and yet, there is an inflamed sentiment within a segment of the New York City public which is bent on preventing the mosque from being erected.
Islam and Muslims are surely under siege in America and particularly here in New York City. There are strong and very vehement opposition to Muslims who have sought building permit to erect mosques on Long Island, and in Manhattan, as well as in Staten Island and Bay Ridge, a part of Brooklyn! And before these stiff oppositions to mosques buildings, there was hurried firing of a female principal of a Muslim school and her firing or dismissal which has since been reversed, was precipitated by scurrilous attacks and criticisms by the same motley crews which have been at the throats of Muslims in New York City
See: NYC was wrong to fire Muslim principal
http://http://blog.beliefnet.com/beliefbeat/2010/03/panel-nyc-wrong-to-fire-muslim-principal.html
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=Principal+of+a+Muslim+school+fired+in+New+York+city&aq=&aqi=&aql=&oq=Principal+of+a+Muslim+school+fired+in+New+York+city&gs_rfai=&fp=d571b3712fffe003
Some of us are now left to wonder about these bigotries directed at Islam and Muslims in New York City. This is particularly so, for a plural and multicultural and multi-religious New York City which proudly refers to itself as the American melting pot. The United Nations Organization is headquartered in New York City, and New York City in name, composition, nomenclature and reality, is microcosm of all nations, New York City is really a mini United Nations of all the nations of the world! But, denying Muslims the right, a fundamental right to erect mosques, places of worship and Islamic community centers, surely cannot be the way to advertise tolerance, diversity and the much vaunted and loudly advertised status as America’s and the world’s melting pot!
As an irreverent Catholic or semi-retired Catholic, I hold all religions in equal awes and equal suspicions . I would also repeat a partial excerpt of a statement below and here it is, “oppose Islam for the same basic reason I oppose all religion: supernaturalism is false, and people ought not believe things that are false
USA Today: Muslims in USA face fears, bias to build, expand mosques
The vast majority of American mosques were buildings built for other purposes,” he said. ... meeting in mid-June to protest the Murfreesboro mosque. Similar resistance helped derail a proposed mosque
http://http://muslimmatters.org/2010/07/05/usa-today-muslims-in-usa-face-fears-bias-to-build-expand-mosques/
By Bob Smietana The Nashville Tennessean
When Muslims want to pray in Rutherford County, many go to an office building on Middle Tennessee Boulevard that houses the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro. There’s usually enough room for evening prayers until Fridays when about 100 people gather during the week’s main service. On warm days, it can get uncomfortable. “During prayers, it gets so hot that the air conditioning doesn’t work,” said Saleh Sbenaty, a member of the mosque’s board of directors. “This building was not designed for this kind of use.
Thousands Protest Mega-Mosque Plans at - Gateway Pundit
To put it bluntly, Ground Zero is the one place in America where Muslims .Why do you think there is growing resistance against new mosques being .. But “building a 15-story Islamic center at ground zero Do we need an area for pilgrimage for Muslims in New York?
http://gatewaypundit.firstthings.com/2010/06/thousands-protest-mega-mosque-plans-at-ground-zero/
Do we need a holy mosque on Ground Zero? They will come and pay their pilgrimage right here in New York at the mosque. We have 3,000 dead Americans looking down on us today. They are saying, “We don’t want to hear ‘Allahu Akbar’ any more.”
Mosque planned for (two bocks away from) Ground Zero, jingos aghast —again
Plan to Build Mosque Near Ground Zero Riles Families of 9/11 Victims ... to balance those from 9-11 Families for a Safe and Strong America? A Century and a Half of Protest & Resistance on New York's Lower East Side ...Submitted by Bill Weinberg on Sun, 05/16/2010 - 18:25.
New York City's kneejerk jingos, already aghast that the hubristic "Freedom Tower" name has been dropped from the new skyscraper going up at Ground Zero, have got a new cause to gripe about. Plan to Build Mosque Near Ground Zero Riles Families of 9/11 Victims
http://http://www.ww4report.com/node/8624
Outraged family members and community groups are accusing a Muslim group of trying to rewrite history with its plans to build a 13-story mosque and cultural center just two blocks from Ground Zero, where Islamic extremists flew two planes into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
Outraged family members and community groups are accusing a Muslim group of trying to rewrite history with its plans to build a 13-story mosque and cultural center just two blocks from Ground Zero, where Islamic extremists flew two planes into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
10000 throng to protest Islamic supremacist mega-mosque at Ground ...
Jun 8, 2010 ... Gandhi advised "passive resistance" to the Jews against Hitler, ... some faithful American was to go on the site where the mosque is to be built and .... "Plans to build a memorial to the 333 hostages killed three years ... 10,000 throng to protest Islamic supremacist mega-mosque at Ground Zero 10,000 throng to stop Ground Zero mosque: Group vows to sue federal government: '3,000 good Americans didn't die in vain,'" by Chelsea Schilling in WorldNetDaily, June 7:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/06/10000-throng-to-protest-islamic-supremacist-mega-mosque-at-ground-zero.html
As many as 10,000 protesters from across the country - including family members who lost loved ones on Sept. 11, 2001 - took to the streets in New York City Sunday to fight construction of a 13-story Islamic mosque to be built just steps from Ground Zero where Muslim terrorists murdered 2,751 people in the name of Allah. Now the organizers plan to sue the federal government to designate the site as a war memorial....
New York Mosque Protest « Bartholomew's Notes on Religion
For Geller and her Stop Islamization of America organization (currently on .... reasons — their qualms and resistance need to be respected. ... to protest the proposed building of a mosque on the World Trade Center site. ... http://http://barthsnotes.wordpress.com/2010/06/09/new-york-mosque-protest/
The only Muslim center that should be built in the shadow of the World Trade Center is one that is devoted to expunging the Quran and all Islamic teachings of the violent jihad that they prescribe, as well as all hateful texts and incitement to violence”
Of course, this isn’t a statement made in good faith: a Muslim center with an “expunged” Quran makes about as much sense as a church with the anti-Jewish parts of the New Testament expunged or a synagogue with the more sanguinary passages of the Torah expunged – ancient religious texts may be re-interpreted or contextualized in ways that make them more amenable to the modern world, but they are seldom repudiated by adherents
Free Colorado: Let Them Build the Mosque
Gotham Resistance claims that forbidding the mosque would preserve "decency, ... Let us grant that, in America, we do not punish children for the sins of their fathers. ... Both said they had come to protest the mosque. ...http://blog.ariarmstrong.com/2010/06/let-them-build-mosque.html
oppose Islam for the same basic reason I oppose all religion: supernaturalism is false, and people ought not believe things that are false. In today's world, Islam is a particularly destructive force, in many sectors sanctioning the abuse of women, totalitarianism, mass murder, and terrorism. Thankfully, Islam also has a more enlightened, Aristotelian tradition, and in the modern world at least some Muslims promote political and religious freedom and peace among nations.
Muslim mosque to be built on ground zero - Patriotic Resistance
Muslims are planning to build a mosque on ground zero after they destroyed ... as possible to call the Mayor of New York to protest this build. ... The Post-American Presidency: The Obama Administration's War on America http://http://www.resistnet.com/group/oregon/forum/topics/muslim-mosque-to-be-built-on
Muslims are planning to build a mosque on ground zero after they destroyed the twin towers. We need as many people as possible to call the Mayor of New York to protest this build.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxFzFIDbKpg&feature=player_embedded
Whatever you think about Muslims, they do not like you even if they are friendly toward you. If you think you can be the friend of a Muslim click on the link below.
East Berlin's First Mosque: The Muslims Are Coming! - SPIEGEL ...
"In our experience, the protests stop as soon as we start to build the mosque ... every mosque they've built has met with local protests and resistance. ... 11, 2001, at the invitation of William Timken, America's ambassador to Germany.http://http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,456751,00.html
The Muslims Are Coming! By Michael Scott Moore and Jochen-Martin Gutsch in Berlin
A citizens' group in Berlin turned out this week for a candlelight vigil to protest plans for a new mosque in their neighborhood. It will be the first to be built in the former East Berlin, where almost no Muslims live -- but no one can quite explain why it shouldn't be there.
Anti-mosque Protest | loonwatch.com
But the movement to prevent the building of a Mega Mosque at Ground Zero ... of America', “but we are here today to condemn the kind of mosque that will .... reasons — their qualms and resistance need to be respected. http://www.loonwatch.com/tag/anti-mosque-protest/ The uproar over a proposed mosque near ground zero is predicated around the idea that this specific site was inappropriate for a mosque because of its proximity to the place where Islamic terrorists killed thousands of Americans. The logic is still, not even very subtly, anti-Muslim — it only makes sense if you believe that Muslim-American worshipers are sympathetic to Muslim terrorists. Now a community on Staten Island is opposing another proposed mosque, and without the pretense that it’s motivated by anything but outright hostility toward Muslims.
Monday, July 19, 2010
China Bashing & Foreign Investments in Africa
China Bashing & Foreign Investments in Africa
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Who exactly defines, asserts, defend and protect continental Africa’s best interests? Why are too many Africans aping, and regurgitating acerbic criticisms of China by America and European nations, western nations who have in fact, had 600 years of dominating Africa? Western nations which have enjoyed unbridled and unmitigated monopoly of African human and material resources?
China has in recent years increased her presence globally, and more particularly so, on the African continent. China as a matter of fact, recently invested $28 billion dollars in several nations on the African continent, and this full-swoop investing of billions of dollars by the Chinese, went unheralded by westerners and surprisingly unsung by Africans as well.
There is a cut-throat stiff competition between America and Europe on the one hand and China on the other, and there is no secret in the revived scramble for the resources on the African continent, especially, resources of the hydrocarbon type. An economic and industrial resurgent China is in dire need of sustained and uninterrupted energy supply, and as a consequence, China has, in pursuit of her national interests, as she should, entered bilateral agreements with the nations of Angola, Nigeria, the Sudan, and Venezuela etc. The African nations which have received an upsurge in investment from China have hydrocarbon in common.
A great number of African intellectuals, academic and public policy commentators, journalists etc, have stridently criticized China, these Africans are quick to adopt the self-serving arguments of the United States and European nations, the Africans seemingly ignorant and blissfully unaware, that Africa’s best interests is never what motivates or inspire and animate the scathing criticisms by America and Europe against China’s investments and sundry forays into the African continent. Recently, a commentator on this important battle between American, Europe and China for Africa wrote a very keen observation which I found prescient, profound and quite astute.
In a fine analysis which was written by Antoaneta Becker and titled
China-EU Rivalry in Africa Sharpens http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51831
“If China needed another prompt that the European powers have finally woken up to the fact they were losing the competition for the Africa pie, it came with France’s bid to recapture lost ground this month.”
“French President Nicolas Sarkozy presided over the 25th Africa-France summit in Nice where for the first time he tacitly acknowledged the success of China’s expansion in Africa by calling on French businesses to emulate it.”
“Without mentioning China by name, Sarkozy declared it was time for Europe to use infrastructure investment along with development aid and fight to increase its influence in Africa once again.”
"Africa is our future... the African continent is asserting itself more and more as a major player in international life," said Sarkozy. "We cannot govern a 21st century world with a 20th century institution".
It is quite astonishing that too many Africans seem to always adopt definitions of issues and supporting arguments of same, as outlined by Americans and Europeans, but without a worry or requisite circumspection as to the motives of Americans and Europeans for engaging in those definitions and arguments in support of their position on such issues.
It is quite amazing to often find so many Africans aping adopting a regurgitations of American and European definitions and arguments about a plethora of issues affecting continental Africans and peoples of African descent!
There seems to be too many Africans who naively and childishly hold tenaciously to the belief that Americans and Europeans are seeking the best interests of continental Africans and peoples of African descent, as these Americans and Europeans define issues and set the arguments about African issues. This occurs in annoying regularity, whether the issues are cultural, religious, economic, or the matter of democracy and good government.
Africans who have criticized China investment models in Africa have been quick to accuse China of not asking African nations’ political leaders about political institutional developments, respect for human rights etc. The truth is, American and Europeans have been present in on the African continent unchallenged, and without a scintilla of competition for 600 years during which they inflicted slavery, colonialism and apartheid on Africa. America and Europe also imposed their Christian religion and languages, which includes English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish etc. President Obama visited China and he forgot or neglected to badger and chastise China’s record on Human Rights, the rule of law, due process, democracy and inequalities etc even as America demand that excoriate and badger African governments over Human Rights, the rule of law, due process, democracy and inequalities etc!
America and Europe have badgered Africans with foreign concepts and ideas which have not taken root and have simply put these concepts and ideas have failed Africa in abysmal and dismal ways in the most abject sense! The presence of America and Europe during these several hundred years, has not bettered the lives and fortunes of Africans!
History clearly indicates that African peoples have been left in the lurch by foreign powers from America and Europe and the pathetic underdevelopment, the abject poverty and the desperate human conditions on the African continent has zero input from China and Chinese corporation. The nadir economic and political conditions in Africa are directly related to slavery, colonialism, apartheid etc and China have had zilch role in all of these!
Sometimes, one is left to just wonder, whether African intellectuals, commentators and journalists etc, are naïve, oblivious, or are part of a paid conspiracy against the continent, or why else, would anyone adopt definitions of issues and supporting arguments, which are contrary the evidence, the facts and Africa’s best interest, both short term and long term. Whose side are these Africans on?
There is a raging debate which has persisted for a while now. And it is of concern to me in a triumvirate sense. The outcome of this debate will have tremendous ramifications for Africans. Such outcome will reverberate throughout Africa for hundreds of years.
Foremost, is the impact any outcome of this debate, or contest, between America and Europe on the one hand, and China on the other, what the consequences on Africa will be? Secondly, what effect will this pressure being applied on China, have on China’s forays into Africa. But most urgent of all my concerns here, is whether African public intellectuals are attentively, following this debate or contest wills or spheres of influence between these superpowers , and whether we are seeking to influence the debate-contest and the eventual outcomes.
On August 11, 2009, an uproarious and rancorous event occurred in the Republic of Congo during public questioning of Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Rodham Clinton of the United States time in that central African country. Madam Secretary of State was said to have bristled testily, when the questioner appeared to have asked her, what her husband, the other world famous Clinton, thought of a reported meddling by the World Bank, in a contract or loan from the Chinese, which is reportedly being frustrated and truncated, because the World Bank has been pressuring the government of the Congo. I regret that Madam Secretary of State appeared to have faced what probably was a sexist questioning or mindset, or what is now said to be a mere misunderstanding arising from misinterpretation of a question rendered in French.
But here are the crucial questions which ultimately should be addressed by Washington in connection with the questioner‘s concerns. Why should any foreign institution or foreign government interfere in the internal affairs of the Congo? And why should the World Bank or the United States government or any of its departments or agency, be remotely connected in any way, to the reported attempt to thwart contracts between the Congo and China, two politically independent and sovereign nations?
In recent times, there have been these sorts of contracts and loan twists and turns in Nigeria-China interactions, so perhaps, we now know the sources? And is Nigeria’s open dealing with China really the reason for the snub of Nigeria recently? But why must Nigeria, nay Africa, let Westerners have monopoly of doing “business” or exploiting Africa?
History is our witness, and the evidence establishes and demonstrates incontrovertibly that America and Europe do not have clean hands regarding the human conditions in Africa. History bears the facts of America and European horrid brutalities in Africa. How is it therefore, America and Europe are shouting the loudest about China’s forays into Africa. It is often said that those who seek equity or those who come to equity should come with clean hands. Regarding Africa, Americans and European hands are soiled most putridly. The preachments which we now are hearing from America and Europe, are mere pretentious and farcical preachments. America and Europe, are pots, and if anything, China is kettle, and it is oxymoronic to find pot calling kettle black.
For starters, America and Europe have been in Africa for almost a thousand years! And evidences about of how America and Europe have pauperized Africa by stripping the continent of tangible and intangible resources. Ranging from human beings during slave trade, to raw materials during industrial revolution and since. And more recently, stripping of Africa of gold, diamond, petroleum and cheap labor.
China was not involved in slave trade of Africans, China was not involved in colonialism of Africans, China was not involved in imposing foreign religious on Africans. China was not involved in imposing foreign languages, such as English, French and Portuguese on Africans. China has not been involved in the assassination of African political leaders. China has so far been doing business in Africa, in ways, not any way as egregious as Union Carbide in Bhopal India or Pfizer in Nigeria
The West does not brook competition for resources or business or hemispheric influence, and there lays the West scurrilous attack on China’s foray into the African continent. Only the gullible will believe that this is about Human Rights or Labor Practices or Best Business Practices, history has abundantly borne this out. In Nigeria, environmental pollution degradation by oil companies from America and Europe who have engaged in unbridled oil spillages and gas flaring. And Pfizer pharmaceuticals, which experimented its toxic concoctions on the innocent lives of Nigerian children in Kano City Nigeria, a thing Pfizer would never do in America or Europe! China so far, at least, has not engaged in the egregious practices for which many American and European companies in African and most of the developing world are infamous.
Africa did not benefit from Western slave trade and colonialism in Africa and Westerners can be sure that Africans are no retards unaware of Africa's best interests. On the other hand, African public intellectuals and of course, by what is African political leadership, should make it abundantly clear and certain to the Chinese that Africa need partners, friends and investors, but not re-colonization by anyone, from the west or east! The Westerners should hands off Africa. Let Africa chart her own course and path to progress, development and advancement. Africa have been stifled with strictures endlessly.
As for labor practices and pollution, oil exploration and exploitation in Nigeria and elsewhere has not shown that companies and corporations run by Westerners are interested in Best Business Practices or Corporate Responsibility and Corporate Good Citizenship. Persistent oil spillages in Nigeria. Ruinous medical experiment in Kano Nigeria by Pfizer and activities of such as the ones by Union Carbide in Bhopal India are clearly indictments against phony and pretentious claims by Western business in the Africa and the rest of the developing world! Westerners have not laid any good precepts, and China cannot do any worse than Westerners have done. It certainly better to have a wider pool of options of Foreign Direct Investments in Africa.
China invest wads and wads of dollars in America. China in effect underwrites a great deal of American public debt and why then is it, that America does not tell China to go stuff her dollars elsewhere, because of her infamous record on democracy and human rights?
And I will say it a million times if I have to. Africans should be very wary of persons, such as umbrella sellers who also doubles as meteorologist in the habit of always predicting or forecasting rains
Africans including Nigerians of course, should want to know why America accepts money from China without even a whimper or murmur inclination to hinge such on and about China ‘s political economic systems and without raising issues about democratic forms of governance and human rights etc
Essentially therefore, Africa has nothing to show for a thousand years of Africa’s contact with America and Europe, unless of course Western Imperialism is considered a benefit to Africa. History does show, that Africa’s contact with America and Europeans, have only brought to the average African, endless sorrows, tears and shedding of bloods. Weapons of conflicts in African nations are not supplied by China.
The scramble for Africa, the white man conquest of the African continent had no Chinese input or participation. And lest the world forgets, China was not invited to the so-called Berlin Conference in which Western powers “shared” African amongst themselves, as if pirates dividing illegal loots. The Irish-Anglo historian, Thomas Pakenham wrote a book which he recounted the scramble for Africa. He detailed interventions in African affairs, encapsulates the horrors and brutalities meted upon Africa by Westerners, still evident today!
China was not invited to it, and China played no roles when Victorian England, Germany and rest of Europe partitioned Africa. And arbitrarily assigned African peoples to different European so-called mother countries of Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain etc
And now, it is China, Russia and the United States ate scrambling anew, for needful resources to oil their economies, all puns intended! And Africa remains a great source of plethora of resources for industrial powers. Africans should determine their own fate; apologies to President Obama. America and Europe must hands off Africa and allow Africans to determine who are worthy and meaningful partners. Africans are able to determine who are the true friends and partners of the continent.
African public intellectuals and political leadership, must insist that only Africans may rightly determine where Africa’s interests will be served and served with commitment and dedication, and above all, with respect. Westerners have for centuries sought prestige, strategic resources at Africa’s expense. For centuries, Africa has served Western expediencies, and needs in human cargoes, gold and diamond now, petroleum oil, to lubricate Westerners’ economic engines, while leaving Africa in poverty, and worse, actually ridiculing Africa for being poor and backward.
A thousand of years is proof enough of the abysmal and dismal effects of appalling methods used by Westerners in Africa and Westerners’ interventions in Africa have had no measurable beneficial effects and the Chinese have never been involved nor played any roles or parts in the nefarious activities by Westerners which have degraded and dehumanized Africans and the human conditions on the African continent. I therefore do not see the why Africans must allow Westerners, these same Westerners, of whom we are thoroughly familiar.
Westerners with blood in their hands; Westerners who now pretend to be acting in Africa’s best interests, be warning Africa against the Chinese “invasion and takeover” of Africa! The truth of the matter is that, Africa have in the past been bullied and stampeded into plied for Westerner health, wealth and happiness for far too long, and if the relationship between Westerners and Africa were a marriage, Africa should have had or demanded for divorce or separation long ago. Africa should be free to have “an affair” with the Chinese! Westerners have taken Africa for granted for hundreds of years. So perhaps it is time for Africa to tell Westerners that papa got a brand new bag!
Why is China being criticized for having no political views, on local matters in African nations in which the Chinese are making some inroads? Put conversely, why does the United States accept money from China to finance American public debts without a whimper or murmur about China’s Human Right records or and Chinese non-adherence to the fine ideals of democracy, freedom, liberty and the rule of law? But instead, President Obama upon assuming office and inheriting the economic meltdown; actually singled China out and appealed to China to continue to have faith in the resilience of the American economy. As he urged China keeping the tap of more dollars flowing into the American economy; this, even though, China already has more than a trillion dollars invested in purchase of American public debt.
Why would Westerners ignore all the “evils” reeking off China’s clothes, when the bell tolls for Westerners? But, the same Westerners are trepidations and stampede to warn Africa off, of, Chinese pungent undemocratic ways, and perverse-putrid human rights abuses, only now, because China is giving the Westerners a run for their money in Africa? Western self-interests of course! In China’s forays into various African nations, Westerners finally have a fidelity challenge. Let the competition begin, I’ll say!
1. http://www.lesafriques.com/en/news/international/china-wants-to-go-even-farther-with-africa.html?Itemid=35?articleid=0065
2. http://www.google.com/search?client=gmail&rls=gm&q=China%20invest%2028%20billion%20dollars%20in%20Africa
3. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/business/worldbusiness/28iht-yuan.3.19745865.html
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Who exactly defines, asserts, defend and protect continental Africa’s best interests? Why are too many Africans aping, and regurgitating acerbic criticisms of China by America and European nations, western nations who have in fact, had 600 years of dominating Africa? Western nations which have enjoyed unbridled and unmitigated monopoly of African human and material resources?
China has in recent years increased her presence globally, and more particularly so, on the African continent. China as a matter of fact, recently invested $28 billion dollars in several nations on the African continent, and this full-swoop investing of billions of dollars by the Chinese, went unheralded by westerners and surprisingly unsung by Africans as well.
There is a cut-throat stiff competition between America and Europe on the one hand and China on the other, and there is no secret in the revived scramble for the resources on the African continent, especially, resources of the hydrocarbon type. An economic and industrial resurgent China is in dire need of sustained and uninterrupted energy supply, and as a consequence, China has, in pursuit of her national interests, as she should, entered bilateral agreements with the nations of Angola, Nigeria, the Sudan, and Venezuela etc. The African nations which have received an upsurge in investment from China have hydrocarbon in common.
A great number of African intellectuals, academic and public policy commentators, journalists etc, have stridently criticized China, these Africans are quick to adopt the self-serving arguments of the United States and European nations, the Africans seemingly ignorant and blissfully unaware, that Africa’s best interests is never what motivates or inspire and animate the scathing criticisms by America and Europe against China’s investments and sundry forays into the African continent. Recently, a commentator on this important battle between American, Europe and China for Africa wrote a very keen observation which I found prescient, profound and quite astute.
In a fine analysis which was written by Antoaneta Becker and titled
China-EU Rivalry in Africa Sharpens http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=51831
“If China needed another prompt that the European powers have finally woken up to the fact they were losing the competition for the Africa pie, it came with France’s bid to recapture lost ground this month.”
“French President Nicolas Sarkozy presided over the 25th Africa-France summit in Nice where for the first time he tacitly acknowledged the success of China’s expansion in Africa by calling on French businesses to emulate it.”
“Without mentioning China by name, Sarkozy declared it was time for Europe to use infrastructure investment along with development aid and fight to increase its influence in Africa once again.”
"Africa is our future... the African continent is asserting itself more and more as a major player in international life," said Sarkozy. "We cannot govern a 21st century world with a 20th century institution".
It is quite astonishing that too many Africans seem to always adopt definitions of issues and supporting arguments of same, as outlined by Americans and Europeans, but without a worry or requisite circumspection as to the motives of Americans and Europeans for engaging in those definitions and arguments in support of their position on such issues.
It is quite amazing to often find so many Africans aping adopting a regurgitations of American and European definitions and arguments about a plethora of issues affecting continental Africans and peoples of African descent!
There seems to be too many Africans who naively and childishly hold tenaciously to the belief that Americans and Europeans are seeking the best interests of continental Africans and peoples of African descent, as these Americans and Europeans define issues and set the arguments about African issues. This occurs in annoying regularity, whether the issues are cultural, religious, economic, or the matter of democracy and good government.
Africans who have criticized China investment models in Africa have been quick to accuse China of not asking African nations’ political leaders about political institutional developments, respect for human rights etc. The truth is, American and Europeans have been present in on the African continent unchallenged, and without a scintilla of competition for 600 years during which they inflicted slavery, colonialism and apartheid on Africa. America and Europe also imposed their Christian religion and languages, which includes English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish etc. President Obama visited China and he forgot or neglected to badger and chastise China’s record on Human Rights, the rule of law, due process, democracy and inequalities etc even as America demand that excoriate and badger African governments over Human Rights, the rule of law, due process, democracy and inequalities etc!
America and Europe have badgered Africans with foreign concepts and ideas which have not taken root and have simply put these concepts and ideas have failed Africa in abysmal and dismal ways in the most abject sense! The presence of America and Europe during these several hundred years, has not bettered the lives and fortunes of Africans!
History clearly indicates that African peoples have been left in the lurch by foreign powers from America and Europe and the pathetic underdevelopment, the abject poverty and the desperate human conditions on the African continent has zero input from China and Chinese corporation. The nadir economic and political conditions in Africa are directly related to slavery, colonialism, apartheid etc and China have had zilch role in all of these!
Sometimes, one is left to just wonder, whether African intellectuals, commentators and journalists etc, are naïve, oblivious, or are part of a paid conspiracy against the continent, or why else, would anyone adopt definitions of issues and supporting arguments, which are contrary the evidence, the facts and Africa’s best interest, both short term and long term. Whose side are these Africans on?
There is a raging debate which has persisted for a while now. And it is of concern to me in a triumvirate sense. The outcome of this debate will have tremendous ramifications for Africans. Such outcome will reverberate throughout Africa for hundreds of years.
Foremost, is the impact any outcome of this debate, or contest, between America and Europe on the one hand, and China on the other, what the consequences on Africa will be? Secondly, what effect will this pressure being applied on China, have on China’s forays into Africa. But most urgent of all my concerns here, is whether African public intellectuals are attentively, following this debate or contest wills or spheres of influence between these superpowers , and whether we are seeking to influence the debate-contest and the eventual outcomes.
On August 11, 2009, an uproarious and rancorous event occurred in the Republic of Congo during public questioning of Secretary of State, Mrs. Hilary Rodham Clinton of the United States time in that central African country. Madam Secretary of State was said to have bristled testily, when the questioner appeared to have asked her, what her husband, the other world famous Clinton, thought of a reported meddling by the World Bank, in a contract or loan from the Chinese, which is reportedly being frustrated and truncated, because the World Bank has been pressuring the government of the Congo. I regret that Madam Secretary of State appeared to have faced what probably was a sexist questioning or mindset, or what is now said to be a mere misunderstanding arising from misinterpretation of a question rendered in French.
But here are the crucial questions which ultimately should be addressed by Washington in connection with the questioner‘s concerns. Why should any foreign institution or foreign government interfere in the internal affairs of the Congo? And why should the World Bank or the United States government or any of its departments or agency, be remotely connected in any way, to the reported attempt to thwart contracts between the Congo and China, two politically independent and sovereign nations?
In recent times, there have been these sorts of contracts and loan twists and turns in Nigeria-China interactions, so perhaps, we now know the sources? And is Nigeria’s open dealing with China really the reason for the snub of Nigeria recently? But why must Nigeria, nay Africa, let Westerners have monopoly of doing “business” or exploiting Africa?
History is our witness, and the evidence establishes and demonstrates incontrovertibly that America and Europe do not have clean hands regarding the human conditions in Africa. History bears the facts of America and European horrid brutalities in Africa. How is it therefore, America and Europe are shouting the loudest about China’s forays into Africa. It is often said that those who seek equity or those who come to equity should come with clean hands. Regarding Africa, Americans and European hands are soiled most putridly. The preachments which we now are hearing from America and Europe, are mere pretentious and farcical preachments. America and Europe, are pots, and if anything, China is kettle, and it is oxymoronic to find pot calling kettle black.
For starters, America and Europe have been in Africa for almost a thousand years! And evidences about of how America and Europe have pauperized Africa by stripping the continent of tangible and intangible resources. Ranging from human beings during slave trade, to raw materials during industrial revolution and since. And more recently, stripping of Africa of gold, diamond, petroleum and cheap labor.
China was not involved in slave trade of Africans, China was not involved in colonialism of Africans, China was not involved in imposing foreign religious on Africans. China was not involved in imposing foreign languages, such as English, French and Portuguese on Africans. China has not been involved in the assassination of African political leaders. China has so far been doing business in Africa, in ways, not any way as egregious as Union Carbide in Bhopal India or Pfizer in Nigeria
The West does not brook competition for resources or business or hemispheric influence, and there lays the West scurrilous attack on China’s foray into the African continent. Only the gullible will believe that this is about Human Rights or Labor Practices or Best Business Practices, history has abundantly borne this out. In Nigeria, environmental pollution degradation by oil companies from America and Europe who have engaged in unbridled oil spillages and gas flaring. And Pfizer pharmaceuticals, which experimented its toxic concoctions on the innocent lives of Nigerian children in Kano City Nigeria, a thing Pfizer would never do in America or Europe! China so far, at least, has not engaged in the egregious practices for which many American and European companies in African and most of the developing world are infamous.
Africa did not benefit from Western slave trade and colonialism in Africa and Westerners can be sure that Africans are no retards unaware of Africa's best interests. On the other hand, African public intellectuals and of course, by what is African political leadership, should make it abundantly clear and certain to the Chinese that Africa need partners, friends and investors, but not re-colonization by anyone, from the west or east! The Westerners should hands off Africa. Let Africa chart her own course and path to progress, development and advancement. Africa have been stifled with strictures endlessly.
As for labor practices and pollution, oil exploration and exploitation in Nigeria and elsewhere has not shown that companies and corporations run by Westerners are interested in Best Business Practices or Corporate Responsibility and Corporate Good Citizenship. Persistent oil spillages in Nigeria. Ruinous medical experiment in Kano Nigeria by Pfizer and activities of such as the ones by Union Carbide in Bhopal India are clearly indictments against phony and pretentious claims by Western business in the Africa and the rest of the developing world! Westerners have not laid any good precepts, and China cannot do any worse than Westerners have done. It certainly better to have a wider pool of options of Foreign Direct Investments in Africa.
China invest wads and wads of dollars in America. China in effect underwrites a great deal of American public debt and why then is it, that America does not tell China to go stuff her dollars elsewhere, because of her infamous record on democracy and human rights?
And I will say it a million times if I have to. Africans should be very wary of persons, such as umbrella sellers who also doubles as meteorologist in the habit of always predicting or forecasting rains
Africans including Nigerians of course, should want to know why America accepts money from China without even a whimper or murmur inclination to hinge such on and about China ‘s political economic systems and without raising issues about democratic forms of governance and human rights etc
Essentially therefore, Africa has nothing to show for a thousand years of Africa’s contact with America and Europe, unless of course Western Imperialism is considered a benefit to Africa. History does show, that Africa’s contact with America and Europeans, have only brought to the average African, endless sorrows, tears and shedding of bloods. Weapons of conflicts in African nations are not supplied by China.
The scramble for Africa, the white man conquest of the African continent had no Chinese input or participation. And lest the world forgets, China was not invited to the so-called Berlin Conference in which Western powers “shared” African amongst themselves, as if pirates dividing illegal loots. The Irish-Anglo historian, Thomas Pakenham wrote a book which he recounted the scramble for Africa. He detailed interventions in African affairs, encapsulates the horrors and brutalities meted upon Africa by Westerners, still evident today!
China was not invited to it, and China played no roles when Victorian England, Germany and rest of Europe partitioned Africa. And arbitrarily assigned African peoples to different European so-called mother countries of Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain etc
And now, it is China, Russia and the United States ate scrambling anew, for needful resources to oil their economies, all puns intended! And Africa remains a great source of plethora of resources for industrial powers. Africans should determine their own fate; apologies to President Obama. America and Europe must hands off Africa and allow Africans to determine who are worthy and meaningful partners. Africans are able to determine who are the true friends and partners of the continent.
African public intellectuals and political leadership, must insist that only Africans may rightly determine where Africa’s interests will be served and served with commitment and dedication, and above all, with respect. Westerners have for centuries sought prestige, strategic resources at Africa’s expense. For centuries, Africa has served Western expediencies, and needs in human cargoes, gold and diamond now, petroleum oil, to lubricate Westerners’ economic engines, while leaving Africa in poverty, and worse, actually ridiculing Africa for being poor and backward.
A thousand of years is proof enough of the abysmal and dismal effects of appalling methods used by Westerners in Africa and Westerners’ interventions in Africa have had no measurable beneficial effects and the Chinese have never been involved nor played any roles or parts in the nefarious activities by Westerners which have degraded and dehumanized Africans and the human conditions on the African continent. I therefore do not see the why Africans must allow Westerners, these same Westerners, of whom we are thoroughly familiar.
Westerners with blood in their hands; Westerners who now pretend to be acting in Africa’s best interests, be warning Africa against the Chinese “invasion and takeover” of Africa! The truth of the matter is that, Africa have in the past been bullied and stampeded into plied for Westerner health, wealth and happiness for far too long, and if the relationship between Westerners and Africa were a marriage, Africa should have had or demanded for divorce or separation long ago. Africa should be free to have “an affair” with the Chinese! Westerners have taken Africa for granted for hundreds of years. So perhaps it is time for Africa to tell Westerners that papa got a brand new bag!
Why is China being criticized for having no political views, on local matters in African nations in which the Chinese are making some inroads? Put conversely, why does the United States accept money from China to finance American public debts without a whimper or murmur about China’s Human Right records or and Chinese non-adherence to the fine ideals of democracy, freedom, liberty and the rule of law? But instead, President Obama upon assuming office and inheriting the economic meltdown; actually singled China out and appealed to China to continue to have faith in the resilience of the American economy. As he urged China keeping the tap of more dollars flowing into the American economy; this, even though, China already has more than a trillion dollars invested in purchase of American public debt.
Why would Westerners ignore all the “evils” reeking off China’s clothes, when the bell tolls for Westerners? But, the same Westerners are trepidations and stampede to warn Africa off, of, Chinese pungent undemocratic ways, and perverse-putrid human rights abuses, only now, because China is giving the Westerners a run for their money in Africa? Western self-interests of course! In China’s forays into various African nations, Westerners finally have a fidelity challenge. Let the competition begin, I’ll say!
1. http://www.lesafriques.com/en/news/international/china-wants-to-go-even-farther-with-africa.html?Itemid=35?articleid=0065
2. http://www.google.com/search?client=gmail&rls=gm&q=China%20invest%2028%20billion%20dollars%20in%20Africa
3. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/28/business/worldbusiness/28iht-yuan.3.19745865.html
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Nigeria Disbands Sports Team, Cameroon Banish Beggars, Fixations at Outcomes, & Neglects of Causes?
Nigeria Disbands Sports Team, Cameroon Banish Beggars, Fixations at Outcomes, & Neglects of Causes?
Written by Paul I. Adujie
During these past several days, there were newsworthy events in Nigeria and the Cameroons, two events with national and international consequences, including adverse publicity for both nations with common borders.
First, it was the disbandment of the Super Eagles, the premier member and arrowhead of Nigerian Football Association. The Super Eagles was Nigeria’s representative at the ongoing World Cup fiesta in South Africa, in which the Nigerian team had an embarrassingly lackluster demonstration of soccer or football prowess. The Super Eagles did not even show a scintilla of cohesion and determination to score goals and win matches.
At the end, the Super Eagles of Nigeria were quickly and rapidly eliminated without fanfare. The Super Eagles were famously predicted and forecast for failure by Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike. Upon the elimination of the Super Eagles, the government of Nigeria promptly “banned” the Super Eagles as Nigeria football club and future representative in future football/soccer efforts by Nigeria in international arenas.
In the Cameroons, the local council in Yaonde abruptly and arbitrarily engaged in arresting and rounding off beggars and panhandlers off the streets and off of major roadways intersections, this in an effort to curb what the city council described as a public nuisance and an inconvenience. Some Cameroonians who publicly commented on the city council actions, supported the council, arguing that most of the children are witches with ability to cast spells and sundry ill-wills, bad-luck and unspecified evils. Others commented that the begging phenomenon was an eyesore, a public nuisance with, again, unspecified debilitating effects on public morality and decency etc
Rectitude and moral certainty of a religious type was pervasive and permeated all the comments.
And yet, in both Nigeria and the Cameroons, there were convergences and confluences in both events, the effects and reactions with moral exactitude, but without reticence and or zilch of concerns for the root causes of failures in football/soccer competition by Nigeria and the phenomenon of begging in the Cameroons. The incidences of beggars engaged in public begging or panhandling, is incidentally, very common in Nigeria as well.
These two events in the Cameroons and Nigeria were the results and outcomes of failures by the governments to have long term public policies in place which should have dealt with both circumstances. The failure to have long term plans and policies to address social circumstances, which produced outcomes which were clearly unpleasant, and therefore quite embarrassing to both governments and peoples of the Cameroons and Nigeria, respectively. But instead of seeking answers through thorough examinations of the root causes of both outcomes in the Cameroons and Nigeria, the governments chose knee-jerk reactions. Governments in both nations seem to want to design and build their jet planes as they fly such planes or design and sew their shirts as they travel on public buses!
These sorts of behaviors are of course not peculiar to the Cameroons and Nigeria or to only African nations. Here in the United States, it has often amazed and baffled me when city and state governments in the New York and in other states in the United States engage in destruction through demolitions of public housing edifices in senseless efforts in the fights against narcotics trade. So that in the past twenty-five, I have often been witness to the demolition of major public housing projects in California, Illinois, New York etc by the various local and state governments, which hinges these senseless demolitions on the so-called wars against substance abuse. It can be gleaned from these perhaps, that, stupidity by governments is international.
It quite obvious and exceedingly clear to anyone, even with a cursory examination, that the buildings are not the problems. The problems are clearly caused by persons with anti social behaviors, who are motivated by greed for quick profits from trade in narcotic substances, are too willing to subvert their neighborhoods, towns and country as they engage in narco-trade. The problems are clearly caused by persons who are affected and afflicted by the lopsidedness of the economic and political structures of the American society, whereby, these persons are desperate enough, and so, employing any and every means are considered fair by these desperate perpetrators.
So, it is the case that various levels of governments in the United States have frequently resorted to demolishing chunks and chunks of sizable real estate in American major cities in the name of decimating hiding places for drug dealers and peddlers of narcotic substances. However, the phantom wars on drugs in America have continued unabated despite these wanton wastes of real estate space and the squandering of several hundreds in billions of dollars by the Americans in drug wars of more than four decades long! All told, the buildings go down in these demolitions, and the peddlers of death remain in the communities
Nigeria and Cameroon have demonstrated similar bents with the two actions in reactions to policy failure events as described above; that is, the spate of football tournament failures and the increased incidents of street beggars.
The Americans, the Cameroonians, and the Nigerian governments in all these instances, have reacted in some sorts of ad hoc manners. These sorts of nervous and squirms reactions in embarrassment to failures of public policies, are certainly no substitute to well thought out and well reasoned policies.
There seem to failures on the part of these governments to realize that some eggs have to be broken to make or create omelets, while the eggshells do not amount to much thereafter. The government of the United States changed the name of Mineral Management Service, MMS to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement or BOEMRE as if the name MMS was why the MMS employees were engaged in corruptions including engaging in sexual intercourse and narcotic and substance abuses with employees of oil companies which MMS were supposed to supervise or act as oversights. MMS demonstrate incredulity and exceeding ineptitude in the aftermath of the BP gusher of oil catastrophe and disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
And one of the reactions by the United States government was to swiftly change the inept and inefficient and bungling blunder of a nomenclature known as the MMS to BOEMRE as if the ineptness, the inefficiency, the ineffectiveness of MMS was in the name! And yes, I am aware the Super Eagles were formerly the Green Eagles.
I am also familiar with arguments which opposed the elephant logo of the now comatose Nigeria Airways, they argued that ineptness, inefficiency and ineffectiveness of our then national airline was as a result of the logo which portrayed an elephants with wings, as after all, they insisted, elephants really do not fly! All reasonable persons can disagree as to factors which led to hemorrhage of the Nigeria Airways as a national and international carrier, but the elephant with wings logo is certainly not one of those factors to be considered, except by person who believe in the Unidentified Flying Objects or UFOs
First, these governments need to thoroughly examine, evaluate and analyze the causes of naro-trade, street begging and failures in sports outing respectively. Upon examining, evaluating and analyzing these causes, there should be formulations and implementations of remedies and solutions which will endure and stand the tests of time. A regimens of solutions which will prevent future failures, hence the attendant unpleasantness and shameful recoils in embarrassments.
But instead, what we have frequently and repeatedly witnessed from these governments, are efforts at window-dressing , facing-saving whitewash and meaningless perorations and hastily assembled spin doctoring for public consumption. These are usually undertaken without sanguine and thoughtful clear eyed view of the root causes and permanent policy resolve which tackles phenomena, once and for all times. Retrofitting a building or demolishing it, does not eliminate drug trade or the habits of residents and occupants and squatters of the building. Just as name change for an energy agency would not curb ineptitude, and banning a football club does not address the lack of confidence and cohesion or training by such team. Arresting and arbitrarily banishing beggars and panhandlers does not address their destitution, their abject poverty and the source of their decision to become beggars as “profession”
Demolishing buildings nationwide, buildings in which narcotic trade take place has not stopped or slowed the persisting sales and consumptions of crack cocaine heroin marijuana angel dust, ecstasy, pcp and other illegal chemical substances or poison pills in America ,with which some Americans get high or induce self stupor, and make some other American rich in the process. Demolishing buildings to stop or stem drug dealing, peddling or drug trade is similar to demolishing school buildings because the students have failing grades; It is probably better to hire a new headmaster or principal and teachers with dedication etc
Banning and Banishing the Super Eagles of Nigeria surely cannot be substitute in policy in ensuring a that there are robust provision of resources and manpower for a national football-soccer team with vigorous trainings and profound sense of mission and determination to conquer every opponent it encounters. The Nigerian Football Association, the Super Eagles and the government of Nigeria and all Nigerians should begin this process through, first examining the cause of failures in competition by national sports teams from Nigeria. All Nigerians should begin with having self confidence and adjusting national attitudes from inferiority complexes and damaged psyches … to exuding confidence for which Nigerians were formerly known.
Nigeria, and the other five African nations which were present at the World Cup fiesta in South Africa, all had something in common, inferiority complex imbued and encrusted in the idea that, only a FOREIGN coach could lead an African nation to victory, and now, where the heck is that victory? Victory? Why shall we even broach the vexing matter of victory, when none of the African nations with foreign coaches and all, even got to the semi final matches in the football-soccer fiesta? The United States, the newest convert to the world of football or soccer, has demonstrated such self confidence and exceptionalism, and does not hinge her World Cup success and soccer growth and development on foreign coaches and foreign managers!
African nations have great footballers-soccer players in America and Europe, but, somehow, these Africans cannot be excellent coaches and managers of their national and continental ball clubs? Mr. Stephen Keshi did well in Togo, did he not as coach-manager? Emmanuel Okala, Siasia, Segun Odegbami cannot make good coaches and managers? Why do Africans give the impression through certain actions, that Africans are inferior to all others? Nigeria was among 32 best soccer playing nations out of the more than 200 nations on earth. Nigerians do not need foreign coaches and managers
African footballers-soccer players as excellent, hence six African teams were amongst the world’s thirty-two best teams which got to the World Cup fiesta in South Africa through global eliminations in series. These African footballers-soccer stars, have interacted with all the ball clubs on earth, but, still, we hear arguments which insists that African teams need coaches and club managers from Europe who are “exposed” world teams outside of Africa!
Cameroon banished and carted street beggars off of its metropolis, because these fellow citizens are a public nuisance and eyesores, embedded with witchcraft and all manners of evils, at least, according to the ignorant comments made on BBC radio by some Cameroonians! But, none of their self-righteous indignation addressed the root causes of street begging and the beggar phenomenon, such as abject poverty and destitution! The attitudes towards these abjectly poor members of the Cameroonian society is identical with the sorry and ignorant attitudes in Nigeria, by some elitist and misguided Nigerians regarding street beggars and Almajiri. Nigerians and Cameroonians have refused to address the cause, but instead, they are fixated on the effect, and in arbitrary and most highhanded manners, they seek to dislodge the abjectly poor, from their own pristine elitist sight and public views!
These Nigerian and Cameroonian ignorance, begs the questions, why do we have street beggars? Why do we have abject poverty and why does destitution persists in our societies? Or put in other ways, why is it, that doctors, lawyers, pharmacists and social workers and bankers in Nigeria and the Cameroons are not among the hated street beggars? Could there be a reason why the poor and the afflicted actually resort to the enviable profession of panhandling as beggars of alms in our metropolis? There must be no reasons!
We humans, but in particular, we Africans, must learn to associate causes with effects. We must learn to decipher raison d’etere of failures and the consequent unpleasantness and world stage embarrassments.
It is often said that those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Therefore, nations which fail to have well thought out and well reasoned public policies which formulates, implements policies, policies which are in turn supported with adequate human capital, superb intellects and available resources, are doomed to humiliating failures knee jerk ad hoc and arbitrary actions in reactions to such failures, are no substitutes to excellent planning, planning ahead and mapping a game plan for glory.
Brazil and Argentina do not start preparing for the World Cup when there a mere thirty days to the fiesta, and these nations do not hire foreign coaches either! Argentina and Brazil were projected and over-forecast to get to the finals, but, both nations are out, but no one doubted their self confidence, or whether their preparations were thorough and supplied with adequate human capital and material resources, both nations are out, but not down, embarrassed or squirming in unpleasantness.
Brazil and Argentina failed, unbowed, as they exited with dignity. Uruguay is a nation of three and half million people, and she was the first to host and win the World Cup in 1930 and Uruguay is doing well in the current World Cup fiesta in South Africa, better than Britain, France, and even the new kid on the bloc, the United States!
We must eschew shortsightedness and failures to plan ahead and worse, we must stop hand wringing when the consequences of our lack of vision and passion for success stares us in the face. Failures bears unpleasantness and public embarrassments, success elicit admiration and adoration. We must have confidence, and confidence in our ability as individuals and as a collective in a national entity.
The difference between successful entities and failing entities, is frequently that the successful entities are willing to do often, what the failing entities are only willing to do occasionally. We can do better and we should!
Written by Paul I. Adujie
During these past several days, there were newsworthy events in Nigeria and the Cameroons, two events with national and international consequences, including adverse publicity for both nations with common borders.
First, it was the disbandment of the Super Eagles, the premier member and arrowhead of Nigerian Football Association. The Super Eagles was Nigeria’s representative at the ongoing World Cup fiesta in South Africa, in which the Nigerian team had an embarrassingly lackluster demonstration of soccer or football prowess. The Super Eagles did not even show a scintilla of cohesion and determination to score goals and win matches.
At the end, the Super Eagles of Nigeria were quickly and rapidly eliminated without fanfare. The Super Eagles were famously predicted and forecast for failure by Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike. Upon the elimination of the Super Eagles, the government of Nigeria promptly “banned” the Super Eagles as Nigeria football club and future representative in future football/soccer efforts by Nigeria in international arenas.
In the Cameroons, the local council in Yaonde abruptly and arbitrarily engaged in arresting and rounding off beggars and panhandlers off the streets and off of major roadways intersections, this in an effort to curb what the city council described as a public nuisance and an inconvenience. Some Cameroonians who publicly commented on the city council actions, supported the council, arguing that most of the children are witches with ability to cast spells and sundry ill-wills, bad-luck and unspecified evils. Others commented that the begging phenomenon was an eyesore, a public nuisance with, again, unspecified debilitating effects on public morality and decency etc
Rectitude and moral certainty of a religious type was pervasive and permeated all the comments.
And yet, in both Nigeria and the Cameroons, there were convergences and confluences in both events, the effects and reactions with moral exactitude, but without reticence and or zilch of concerns for the root causes of failures in football/soccer competition by Nigeria and the phenomenon of begging in the Cameroons. The incidences of beggars engaged in public begging or panhandling, is incidentally, very common in Nigeria as well.
These two events in the Cameroons and Nigeria were the results and outcomes of failures by the governments to have long term public policies in place which should have dealt with both circumstances. The failure to have long term plans and policies to address social circumstances, which produced outcomes which were clearly unpleasant, and therefore quite embarrassing to both governments and peoples of the Cameroons and Nigeria, respectively. But instead of seeking answers through thorough examinations of the root causes of both outcomes in the Cameroons and Nigeria, the governments chose knee-jerk reactions. Governments in both nations seem to want to design and build their jet planes as they fly such planes or design and sew their shirts as they travel on public buses!
These sorts of behaviors are of course not peculiar to the Cameroons and Nigeria or to only African nations. Here in the United States, it has often amazed and baffled me when city and state governments in the New York and in other states in the United States engage in destruction through demolitions of public housing edifices in senseless efforts in the fights against narcotics trade. So that in the past twenty-five, I have often been witness to the demolition of major public housing projects in California, Illinois, New York etc by the various local and state governments, which hinges these senseless demolitions on the so-called wars against substance abuse. It can be gleaned from these perhaps, that, stupidity by governments is international.
It quite obvious and exceedingly clear to anyone, even with a cursory examination, that the buildings are not the problems. The problems are clearly caused by persons with anti social behaviors, who are motivated by greed for quick profits from trade in narcotic substances, are too willing to subvert their neighborhoods, towns and country as they engage in narco-trade. The problems are clearly caused by persons who are affected and afflicted by the lopsidedness of the economic and political structures of the American society, whereby, these persons are desperate enough, and so, employing any and every means are considered fair by these desperate perpetrators.
So, it is the case that various levels of governments in the United States have frequently resorted to demolishing chunks and chunks of sizable real estate in American major cities in the name of decimating hiding places for drug dealers and peddlers of narcotic substances. However, the phantom wars on drugs in America have continued unabated despite these wanton wastes of real estate space and the squandering of several hundreds in billions of dollars by the Americans in drug wars of more than four decades long! All told, the buildings go down in these demolitions, and the peddlers of death remain in the communities
Nigeria and Cameroon have demonstrated similar bents with the two actions in reactions to policy failure events as described above; that is, the spate of football tournament failures and the increased incidents of street beggars.
The Americans, the Cameroonians, and the Nigerian governments in all these instances, have reacted in some sorts of ad hoc manners. These sorts of nervous and squirms reactions in embarrassment to failures of public policies, are certainly no substitute to well thought out and well reasoned policies.
There seem to failures on the part of these governments to realize that some eggs have to be broken to make or create omelets, while the eggshells do not amount to much thereafter. The government of the United States changed the name of Mineral Management Service, MMS to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and Enforcement or BOEMRE as if the name MMS was why the MMS employees were engaged in corruptions including engaging in sexual intercourse and narcotic and substance abuses with employees of oil companies which MMS were supposed to supervise or act as oversights. MMS demonstrate incredulity and exceeding ineptitude in the aftermath of the BP gusher of oil catastrophe and disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
And one of the reactions by the United States government was to swiftly change the inept and inefficient and bungling blunder of a nomenclature known as the MMS to BOEMRE as if the ineptness, the inefficiency, the ineffectiveness of MMS was in the name! And yes, I am aware the Super Eagles were formerly the Green Eagles.
I am also familiar with arguments which opposed the elephant logo of the now comatose Nigeria Airways, they argued that ineptness, inefficiency and ineffectiveness of our then national airline was as a result of the logo which portrayed an elephants with wings, as after all, they insisted, elephants really do not fly! All reasonable persons can disagree as to factors which led to hemorrhage of the Nigeria Airways as a national and international carrier, but the elephant with wings logo is certainly not one of those factors to be considered, except by person who believe in the Unidentified Flying Objects or UFOs
First, these governments need to thoroughly examine, evaluate and analyze the causes of naro-trade, street begging and failures in sports outing respectively. Upon examining, evaluating and analyzing these causes, there should be formulations and implementations of remedies and solutions which will endure and stand the tests of time. A regimens of solutions which will prevent future failures, hence the attendant unpleasantness and shameful recoils in embarrassments.
But instead, what we have frequently and repeatedly witnessed from these governments, are efforts at window-dressing , facing-saving whitewash and meaningless perorations and hastily assembled spin doctoring for public consumption. These are usually undertaken without sanguine and thoughtful clear eyed view of the root causes and permanent policy resolve which tackles phenomena, once and for all times. Retrofitting a building or demolishing it, does not eliminate drug trade or the habits of residents and occupants and squatters of the building. Just as name change for an energy agency would not curb ineptitude, and banning a football club does not address the lack of confidence and cohesion or training by such team. Arresting and arbitrarily banishing beggars and panhandlers does not address their destitution, their abject poverty and the source of their decision to become beggars as “profession”
Demolishing buildings nationwide, buildings in which narcotic trade take place has not stopped or slowed the persisting sales and consumptions of crack cocaine heroin marijuana angel dust, ecstasy, pcp and other illegal chemical substances or poison pills in America ,with which some Americans get high or induce self stupor, and make some other American rich in the process. Demolishing buildings to stop or stem drug dealing, peddling or drug trade is similar to demolishing school buildings because the students have failing grades; It is probably better to hire a new headmaster or principal and teachers with dedication etc
Banning and Banishing the Super Eagles of Nigeria surely cannot be substitute in policy in ensuring a that there are robust provision of resources and manpower for a national football-soccer team with vigorous trainings and profound sense of mission and determination to conquer every opponent it encounters. The Nigerian Football Association, the Super Eagles and the government of Nigeria and all Nigerians should begin this process through, first examining the cause of failures in competition by national sports teams from Nigeria. All Nigerians should begin with having self confidence and adjusting national attitudes from inferiority complexes and damaged psyches … to exuding confidence for which Nigerians were formerly known.
Nigeria, and the other five African nations which were present at the World Cup fiesta in South Africa, all had something in common, inferiority complex imbued and encrusted in the idea that, only a FOREIGN coach could lead an African nation to victory, and now, where the heck is that victory? Victory? Why shall we even broach the vexing matter of victory, when none of the African nations with foreign coaches and all, even got to the semi final matches in the football-soccer fiesta? The United States, the newest convert to the world of football or soccer, has demonstrated such self confidence and exceptionalism, and does not hinge her World Cup success and soccer growth and development on foreign coaches and foreign managers!
African nations have great footballers-soccer players in America and Europe, but, somehow, these Africans cannot be excellent coaches and managers of their national and continental ball clubs? Mr. Stephen Keshi did well in Togo, did he not as coach-manager? Emmanuel Okala, Siasia, Segun Odegbami cannot make good coaches and managers? Why do Africans give the impression through certain actions, that Africans are inferior to all others? Nigeria was among 32 best soccer playing nations out of the more than 200 nations on earth. Nigerians do not need foreign coaches and managers
African footballers-soccer players as excellent, hence six African teams were amongst the world’s thirty-two best teams which got to the World Cup fiesta in South Africa through global eliminations in series. These African footballers-soccer stars, have interacted with all the ball clubs on earth, but, still, we hear arguments which insists that African teams need coaches and club managers from Europe who are “exposed” world teams outside of Africa!
Cameroon banished and carted street beggars off of its metropolis, because these fellow citizens are a public nuisance and eyesores, embedded with witchcraft and all manners of evils, at least, according to the ignorant comments made on BBC radio by some Cameroonians! But, none of their self-righteous indignation addressed the root causes of street begging and the beggar phenomenon, such as abject poverty and destitution! The attitudes towards these abjectly poor members of the Cameroonian society is identical with the sorry and ignorant attitudes in Nigeria, by some elitist and misguided Nigerians regarding street beggars and Almajiri. Nigerians and Cameroonians have refused to address the cause, but instead, they are fixated on the effect, and in arbitrary and most highhanded manners, they seek to dislodge the abjectly poor, from their own pristine elitist sight and public views!
These Nigerian and Cameroonian ignorance, begs the questions, why do we have street beggars? Why do we have abject poverty and why does destitution persists in our societies? Or put in other ways, why is it, that doctors, lawyers, pharmacists and social workers and bankers in Nigeria and the Cameroons are not among the hated street beggars? Could there be a reason why the poor and the afflicted actually resort to the enviable profession of panhandling as beggars of alms in our metropolis? There must be no reasons!
We humans, but in particular, we Africans, must learn to associate causes with effects. We must learn to decipher raison d’etere of failures and the consequent unpleasantness and world stage embarrassments.
It is often said that those who fail to plan, plan to fail. Therefore, nations which fail to have well thought out and well reasoned public policies which formulates, implements policies, policies which are in turn supported with adequate human capital, superb intellects and available resources, are doomed to humiliating failures knee jerk ad hoc and arbitrary actions in reactions to such failures, are no substitutes to excellent planning, planning ahead and mapping a game plan for glory.
Brazil and Argentina do not start preparing for the World Cup when there a mere thirty days to the fiesta, and these nations do not hire foreign coaches either! Argentina and Brazil were projected and over-forecast to get to the finals, but, both nations are out, but no one doubted their self confidence, or whether their preparations were thorough and supplied with adequate human capital and material resources, both nations are out, but not down, embarrassed or squirming in unpleasantness.
Brazil and Argentina failed, unbowed, as they exited with dignity. Uruguay is a nation of three and half million people, and she was the first to host and win the World Cup in 1930 and Uruguay is doing well in the current World Cup fiesta in South Africa, better than Britain, France, and even the new kid on the bloc, the United States!
We must eschew shortsightedness and failures to plan ahead and worse, we must stop hand wringing when the consequences of our lack of vision and passion for success stares us in the face. Failures bears unpleasantness and public embarrassments, success elicit admiration and adoration. We must have confidence, and confidence in our ability as individuals and as a collective in a national entity.
The difference between successful entities and failing entities, is frequently that the successful entities are willing to do often, what the failing entities are only willing to do occasionally. We can do better and we should!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
BP Equals Big Polluter Equals British Pensioners = Big Problem=Bankruptcy Probability
BP Equals Big Polluter Equals British Pensioners = Big Problem=Bankruptcy Probability
Written by Paul I. Adujie
It is good news that President Obama is demanding and insisted that BP establish an escrow account for the clean up and compensation in the aftermath of BP disaster which BP inflicted on the American Gulf Coast. It is exceedingly good news that BP did not resist the escrow account idea and so, $20 billion dollars may be set aside for the clean up.
The mammoth clean up as a consequence of BP sloppy oil drillings in the Gulf of Mexico without regard for human and environmental safety. And the trillion dollars question to be asked is why does the energy industry spend so little in research and development to meet safety demands in the high stakes offshore oil drilling game? BP committed blunders. It is therefore almost refreshing that BP finally heeded demands to suspend dividends payments in the face burgeoning environmental and financials disaster brought upon millions by BP itself. There should be no tears from anyone for BP, none.
BP drilled for oil without mandatory precautions for the safety of persons, flora and fauna. It is a delight that BP is getting pummeled from all sides for its deliberate ineptitudes. BP is receiving a beating of its stocks on trading floors and the people and government of the United States are making sure that BP hears displeasures loud and clear. BP made a calculated decision not to invest in necessary research and development and requisite technology in disaster prevent and disaster management as BP was fixated on profits and fixated on cutting corners on matters of safety. BP wanted to avoid the overhead costs of doing oil drilling at the depth of the oceans now, BP has a trillion times expenditure to clean up, to compensate for damages BP caused as it skimped on safety. There is hell to pay in cash and damage to BP’s image!
BP is still fumbling and bungling and foundering, 8 weeks or precisely 56 days after the BP oil spillage catastrophe of April 20, 2010. More and more have been revealed BP’s poverty of ideas and BP’s extreme neglect to undertake preventive measures to avoid what is now an oil spillage disaster-catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, which is now determined to be 10 times more than the Exxon Valdez oil spillage in 1989 on Prince William Sound in Alaska. Big Polluter is reeling from self inflicted injuries which could see BP into bankruptcy and that will be a great lesson for all corporate wrongdoers!
More and more revelations continue to surface, as to how BP’s fixation on the bottom line, profits and greed, as BP neglected necessary precautions, at the expense of human lives, at the expense of the environment and now, the consequences have come to bite BP. And sadly, the rest of us, are adversely affected both in the short term, medium and long term. BP’s failure to have disaster preparedness plan or disaster and crises management arrangement is egregiously offensive and outrageous! BP and the other oil giants and corporate behemoths merely had archaic and antiquated ideas about drilling safety. Most of these oil conglomerates actually listed the name of a long dead disaster consultant as their go to person in case of accidents
The latest and newest of these revelations actually comes from major oil corporations as they testified under oath before the United States Congressional Hearings as President Obama and the people and government of America investigates the blunders and bungling committed by BP, which resulted in this monumental poisoning of the waters and wetlands in and around American Gulf Coast
BP made five specific shortcuts … carelessness, recklessness, confirm BP failed to follow industry standards, design standards and industry norm, most other oil companies said they would not have drilled the way BP did.
Walruses have not been seen in Gulf of Mexico for 3 million years and yet, oil companies included such useless information on their disaster plan… oil companies merely copied and Xeroxed an Alaskan plan for all locations
BP had all opportunities to make decisions to avoid high risks, but chose the cheap option, BP also misrepresented the barrels per day in the spillage which is now put about 70, 000 barrels per day and that does not even include the natural gas which is also being spewed into the waters of the American Gulf.
It is the case, and it now public knowledge, that BP took the least costly least expensive option, BP did not conduct requisite test and it was horribly negligent on the part of BP, they tried to cut costs and BP became criminally negligent. BP had choices and other members of the oil industry states this… and it has become obvious that BP put profits before safety hence the extraordinary disaster which is now unfolding
According to The New York Times, in an article titled “Oil Executives Break Ranks in Testimony” and written By JOHN M. BRODER “ The chairmen of four of the world’s largest oil companies broke their nearly two-month silence on the major spill in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday and publicly blamed BP for mishandling the well that caused the disaster. This may seem self-serving, but their blames for BP are consistent with what the public now knows. Here are excerpts of statements by big oil ““We would not have drilled the well the way they did,” said Rex W. Tillerson, chief executive of Exxon Mobil. “It certainly appears that not all the standards that we would recommend or that we would employ were in place,” said John S. Watson chairman of Chevron. “It’s not a well that we would have drilled in that mechanical setup,” said Marvin E. Odum, president of Shell.
All the oil companies have identical disaster plan such as what BP has applied and which has been unsuccessful. There are now back up plans and disaster management plan A and plan B
More than 5 million feet of booms or oil flow stopper or containment booms have been deployed in the American Gulf Coast, but thunderstorms and hurricane have increase ocean waves and booms are not effective and spilled oil have not been kept out of wetlands, animal habitats or even the waterfront beaches. Boom will not be the best defense or methods to clean up the spillage the size of BP oil spill disaster. BP continues to jump hoops in worth than useless efforts to pretend that it is tackling or fixing the spillage disaster, but the truth remains, that until a relief well is eventually drilled and completed in about two months, perhaps at the end of August 2010, the BP oil spill into the Gulf Coast waters will continue and oil will most probably spread into the Atlantic Ocean via Florida
Experts from national laboratory, scientists from academia, and sundry public interest experts to tackle the millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, what is necessary, and will make BP pay.
President Obama in his Oval Office address to Americans recounted the huge efforts his administration has so far invested in efforts to stem the BP mess. Mr. Obama describe the immense size of persons, equipment and other resources so far committed to remediation. This has involved thousands of federal and state personnel. President Obama has also assured that no efforts and expense will be spared in order to restore the American Gulf Coast to its erstwhile pristine state. Such restoration will enable residents of the currently affected states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida respectively, return to their ways of life, including, seafood hunts, restaurant businesses and travel and tours to the waterfront and beaches which are the mainstays of these coastal states, apart from the oil industry, which constitutes a major employment source in the American Gulf Coast.
President Obama has expressed his commitment to dedicate resources and assistance to all Gulf States, vowing that BP will ultimately bear the expense of clean up. Mr. Obama however explained that, even the best efforts notwithstanding, there will be more oil and more damage before oil spillage is fixed. He also clearly standing his understanding of all the issues, including the fact that the way of life of the people in the Gulf Coast is in jeopardy. In this regard, he specifically referred to the adverse or negative impact of the BP oil disaster on restaurants/shops/hotels/fishermen/oyster men/way of life altered
Mr. Obama reassured Americans that every step will be taken and no stone will be left unturned to compel BP to clean up its mess and to face the natural consequences which have arisen from the BP spillage. He announced that he was set meet BP helms people and would demand that BP set aside a substantial and significant amount of money in escrow, which will be administered by independent entity, free of BP manipulations and interference.
President Obama repeatedly and incessantly, through the Oval Office speech, assured and reassured Americans, that the beauty and bounty of Gulf Coast must be restored. And a step in such direction is Mr. Obama decision to immediately appoint the former governor of Mississippi, to manager the long term efforts, of both the clean up and the compensation procedures and processes. Mr. Obama reiterated over and over, that BP will pay for impact on region. President Obama also used disaster as reason for necessity for all Americans to clamor for reasoned national policy on energy, especially, clean energy, which he described as the long term policy and the best way to prevent a recurrence or a way to ensure that there no repeat of a similar disaster, such as the current one inflicted by BP
The need for reexamination of offshore drilling approvals was also stressed; Mr. Obama insisted that all necessary precautions will now be taken and back up plans must be in place, hence his imposition of a six months moratorium on offshore drilling which he had approved prior to the Gulf of Mexico spillage by BP. Mr. Obama’s 6 months moratorium, may be reduced or may end earlier, but he did emphasize the need to know all the facts as soon as possible, such as what caused accident and how to avoid. He insisted on this requirements as preconditions for any further offshore drilling, while expressing his knowledge and awareness of the fact that many Americans are heavily reliant on the jobs in the oil industry subsector.
President Obama also used the speech to describe and chastise former employees of the Mineral Management Service or MMS, who allowed oil companies to be self-policing and self regulating. He further announced his rededication to revamp MMS, and a reborn MMS will not engage in the corruption ridden cozy relationship with oil companies. There will be no more self policing for MMS, oil companies showered MMS with gifts in corruption and influence peddling and thereby allowing companies to write regulations. Mr. Obama vowed new leadership at MMS, to rebuild industry watchdog, new regulation and enforcement. He restated the fact that offshore drilling is known to be inherently risky, it a drilling for energy source, one mile beneath the ocean waters, it is dangerous
President Obama reminded all Americans that it is time to reconsider actions and public policies which will curb addictions to oil which he sees as the cause of this risk taking drilling. Mr. Obama reminded Americans that the BP oil spillage is a poignant pointer to the consequences of inaction now in plain sight in this spillage, which he explained as the crude oil which is now a tragedy still unfolding in proportions and magnitude. President Obama concisely stated his mission as a national mission to seize control of US destiny in clean energy. Clean energy he said , is way to go and it must be accelerated.
BP seem to be at end its ropes, the deliberate obfuscations are perhaps finally over. The lessons are quite spectacular in nature. Consider the fact that BP engage half-truths and retailing of facts in its dealings with the government of the United States and the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, as well as the American press and media.
It is quite easy to imagine, what BP or any other oil corporate giant would have done, were the spewing in the Gulf of Mexico to have occurred in a less powerful nation, with less powerful and assertive government, scientists, environmentalists, press and media and vibrant public such as we have here in the United States. There have been vigorous reactions throughout the USA, and reactions have not been limited to the Gulf Coast states. Denouncing BP has been by every American and as such, it has been an equal opportunity event.
The BP disaster-catastrophe is speedily and quickly laying a precedent and the reactions by the American government, the oil industry, nongovernmental organizations, scientists, sundry experts and environmentalists etc and the world is acutely observing and keenly watching and the implications, the reverberations are substantial and significant, these are matters for global considerations.
Written by Paul I. Adujie
It is good news that President Obama is demanding and insisted that BP establish an escrow account for the clean up and compensation in the aftermath of BP disaster which BP inflicted on the American Gulf Coast. It is exceedingly good news that BP did not resist the escrow account idea and so, $20 billion dollars may be set aside for the clean up.
The mammoth clean up as a consequence of BP sloppy oil drillings in the Gulf of Mexico without regard for human and environmental safety. And the trillion dollars question to be asked is why does the energy industry spend so little in research and development to meet safety demands in the high stakes offshore oil drilling game? BP committed blunders. It is therefore almost refreshing that BP finally heeded demands to suspend dividends payments in the face burgeoning environmental and financials disaster brought upon millions by BP itself. There should be no tears from anyone for BP, none.
BP drilled for oil without mandatory precautions for the safety of persons, flora and fauna. It is a delight that BP is getting pummeled from all sides for its deliberate ineptitudes. BP is receiving a beating of its stocks on trading floors and the people and government of the United States are making sure that BP hears displeasures loud and clear. BP made a calculated decision not to invest in necessary research and development and requisite technology in disaster prevent and disaster management as BP was fixated on profits and fixated on cutting corners on matters of safety. BP wanted to avoid the overhead costs of doing oil drilling at the depth of the oceans now, BP has a trillion times expenditure to clean up, to compensate for damages BP caused as it skimped on safety. There is hell to pay in cash and damage to BP’s image!
BP is still fumbling and bungling and foundering, 8 weeks or precisely 56 days after the BP oil spillage catastrophe of April 20, 2010. More and more have been revealed BP’s poverty of ideas and BP’s extreme neglect to undertake preventive measures to avoid what is now an oil spillage disaster-catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico, which is now determined to be 10 times more than the Exxon Valdez oil spillage in 1989 on Prince William Sound in Alaska. Big Polluter is reeling from self inflicted injuries which could see BP into bankruptcy and that will be a great lesson for all corporate wrongdoers!
More and more revelations continue to surface, as to how BP’s fixation on the bottom line, profits and greed, as BP neglected necessary precautions, at the expense of human lives, at the expense of the environment and now, the consequences have come to bite BP. And sadly, the rest of us, are adversely affected both in the short term, medium and long term. BP’s failure to have disaster preparedness plan or disaster and crises management arrangement is egregiously offensive and outrageous! BP and the other oil giants and corporate behemoths merely had archaic and antiquated ideas about drilling safety. Most of these oil conglomerates actually listed the name of a long dead disaster consultant as their go to person in case of accidents
The latest and newest of these revelations actually comes from major oil corporations as they testified under oath before the United States Congressional Hearings as President Obama and the people and government of America investigates the blunders and bungling committed by BP, which resulted in this monumental poisoning of the waters and wetlands in and around American Gulf Coast
BP made five specific shortcuts … carelessness, recklessness, confirm BP failed to follow industry standards, design standards and industry norm, most other oil companies said they would not have drilled the way BP did.
Walruses have not been seen in Gulf of Mexico for 3 million years and yet, oil companies included such useless information on their disaster plan… oil companies merely copied and Xeroxed an Alaskan plan for all locations
BP had all opportunities to make decisions to avoid high risks, but chose the cheap option, BP also misrepresented the barrels per day in the spillage which is now put about 70, 000 barrels per day and that does not even include the natural gas which is also being spewed into the waters of the American Gulf.
It is the case, and it now public knowledge, that BP took the least costly least expensive option, BP did not conduct requisite test and it was horribly negligent on the part of BP, they tried to cut costs and BP became criminally negligent. BP had choices and other members of the oil industry states this… and it has become obvious that BP put profits before safety hence the extraordinary disaster which is now unfolding
According to The New York Times, in an article titled “Oil Executives Break Ranks in Testimony” and written By JOHN M. BRODER “ The chairmen of four of the world’s largest oil companies broke their nearly two-month silence on the major spill in the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday and publicly blamed BP for mishandling the well that caused the disaster. This may seem self-serving, but their blames for BP are consistent with what the public now knows. Here are excerpts of statements by big oil ““We would not have drilled the well the way they did,” said Rex W. Tillerson, chief executive of Exxon Mobil. “It certainly appears that not all the standards that we would recommend or that we would employ were in place,” said John S. Watson chairman of Chevron. “It’s not a well that we would have drilled in that mechanical setup,” said Marvin E. Odum, president of Shell.
All the oil companies have identical disaster plan such as what BP has applied and which has been unsuccessful. There are now back up plans and disaster management plan A and plan B
More than 5 million feet of booms or oil flow stopper or containment booms have been deployed in the American Gulf Coast, but thunderstorms and hurricane have increase ocean waves and booms are not effective and spilled oil have not been kept out of wetlands, animal habitats or even the waterfront beaches. Boom will not be the best defense or methods to clean up the spillage the size of BP oil spill disaster. BP continues to jump hoops in worth than useless efforts to pretend that it is tackling or fixing the spillage disaster, but the truth remains, that until a relief well is eventually drilled and completed in about two months, perhaps at the end of August 2010, the BP oil spill into the Gulf Coast waters will continue and oil will most probably spread into the Atlantic Ocean via Florida
Experts from national laboratory, scientists from academia, and sundry public interest experts to tackle the millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, what is necessary, and will make BP pay.
President Obama in his Oval Office address to Americans recounted the huge efforts his administration has so far invested in efforts to stem the BP mess. Mr. Obama describe the immense size of persons, equipment and other resources so far committed to remediation. This has involved thousands of federal and state personnel. President Obama has also assured that no efforts and expense will be spared in order to restore the American Gulf Coast to its erstwhile pristine state. Such restoration will enable residents of the currently affected states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida respectively, return to their ways of life, including, seafood hunts, restaurant businesses and travel and tours to the waterfront and beaches which are the mainstays of these coastal states, apart from the oil industry, which constitutes a major employment source in the American Gulf Coast.
President Obama has expressed his commitment to dedicate resources and assistance to all Gulf States, vowing that BP will ultimately bear the expense of clean up. Mr. Obama however explained that, even the best efforts notwithstanding, there will be more oil and more damage before oil spillage is fixed. He also clearly standing his understanding of all the issues, including the fact that the way of life of the people in the Gulf Coast is in jeopardy. In this regard, he specifically referred to the adverse or negative impact of the BP oil disaster on restaurants/shops/hotels/fishermen/oyster men/way of life altered
Mr. Obama reassured Americans that every step will be taken and no stone will be left unturned to compel BP to clean up its mess and to face the natural consequences which have arisen from the BP spillage. He announced that he was set meet BP helms people and would demand that BP set aside a substantial and significant amount of money in escrow, which will be administered by independent entity, free of BP manipulations and interference.
President Obama repeatedly and incessantly, through the Oval Office speech, assured and reassured Americans, that the beauty and bounty of Gulf Coast must be restored. And a step in such direction is Mr. Obama decision to immediately appoint the former governor of Mississippi, to manager the long term efforts, of both the clean up and the compensation procedures and processes. Mr. Obama reiterated over and over, that BP will pay for impact on region. President Obama also used disaster as reason for necessity for all Americans to clamor for reasoned national policy on energy, especially, clean energy, which he described as the long term policy and the best way to prevent a recurrence or a way to ensure that there no repeat of a similar disaster, such as the current one inflicted by BP
The need for reexamination of offshore drilling approvals was also stressed; Mr. Obama insisted that all necessary precautions will now be taken and back up plans must be in place, hence his imposition of a six months moratorium on offshore drilling which he had approved prior to the Gulf of Mexico spillage by BP. Mr. Obama’s 6 months moratorium, may be reduced or may end earlier, but he did emphasize the need to know all the facts as soon as possible, such as what caused accident and how to avoid. He insisted on this requirements as preconditions for any further offshore drilling, while expressing his knowledge and awareness of the fact that many Americans are heavily reliant on the jobs in the oil industry subsector.
President Obama also used the speech to describe and chastise former employees of the Mineral Management Service or MMS, who allowed oil companies to be self-policing and self regulating. He further announced his rededication to revamp MMS, and a reborn MMS will not engage in the corruption ridden cozy relationship with oil companies. There will be no more self policing for MMS, oil companies showered MMS with gifts in corruption and influence peddling and thereby allowing companies to write regulations. Mr. Obama vowed new leadership at MMS, to rebuild industry watchdog, new regulation and enforcement. He restated the fact that offshore drilling is known to be inherently risky, it a drilling for energy source, one mile beneath the ocean waters, it is dangerous
President Obama reminded all Americans that it is time to reconsider actions and public policies which will curb addictions to oil which he sees as the cause of this risk taking drilling. Mr. Obama reminded Americans that the BP oil spillage is a poignant pointer to the consequences of inaction now in plain sight in this spillage, which he explained as the crude oil which is now a tragedy still unfolding in proportions and magnitude. President Obama concisely stated his mission as a national mission to seize control of US destiny in clean energy. Clean energy he said , is way to go and it must be accelerated.
BP seem to be at end its ropes, the deliberate obfuscations are perhaps finally over. The lessons are quite spectacular in nature. Consider the fact that BP engage half-truths and retailing of facts in its dealings with the government of the United States and the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida, as well as the American press and media.
It is quite easy to imagine, what BP or any other oil corporate giant would have done, were the spewing in the Gulf of Mexico to have occurred in a less powerful nation, with less powerful and assertive government, scientists, environmentalists, press and media and vibrant public such as we have here in the United States. There have been vigorous reactions throughout the USA, and reactions have not been limited to the Gulf Coast states. Denouncing BP has been by every American and as such, it has been an equal opportunity event.
The BP disaster-catastrophe is speedily and quickly laying a precedent and the reactions by the American government, the oil industry, nongovernmental organizations, scientists, sundry experts and environmentalists etc and the world is acutely observing and keenly watching and the implications, the reverberations are substantial and significant, these are matters for global considerations.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Israel In Lawlessness Defies The World Again! Murders Innocent Humanitarians
Israel In Lawlessness Defies The World Again! Murders Innocent Humanitarians
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Israel has again, lawlessly massacred defenseless protesters; Israel’s culture of lawlessness is her default position in Israel’s blockade against Palestine, the same lawlessness with which Israel resort to arbitrary demolition of properties of Palestinians as Israel also frequently undertakes confiscation of properties of Palestinians. Israel is allowed to indulge in lawlessness while the entire world looks the other way, always!
Israel has fully embraced a culture of lawlessness and Turkey is right in her recent description of Israel as “a state terrorist.” and Israel as inhumane. Turkey has correctly, properly and rightly described Israel high handedness in reaction to Israel’s shooting to death, activists who were acting merely to bring world attention to the sufferings, hardships and desperation of the people in Palestine
There were all sorts of things which Israel could have and should have done, and actions which Israel should have taken to avoid needless deaths, the flotilla was planned and known to Israel, it was not a violent or clandestine military aggression on the part of the activists. Israel engaged in a well advertised, plan to “resist” the flotilla which were bearing humanitarian supplies and basic goods for the long suffering people of Palestine, Palestinians blockaded for so long by Israel, the flotilla was not an invasion!
The nation of Israel has, as usual, attacked and murdered unarmed persons unprovoked, this, even though these persons were merely engaged in civil disobedience and were in fact on international waters and this is has occurred so soon after Israel stole identities and passports of many nationals and Israel thereafter forged passports for its citizens who brazenly accosted and murdered a member of HAMAS, this victim of Israel’s targeted assassinations, whatever his sins, was not accorded due process and the rule of law.
The nation of Israel regularly engages in acts of lawlessness, murder, maiming and leaving too many people dislocated and displaced in Palestine. Israel engages in all these, both within its borders and outside as exemplified by the assassination in Dubai in which Israel stole passports of various nationals and forged a plethora of documents, while violating international laws and violating rules, regulations and all known protocols, including those of Dubai. Israel received mild criticisms, despite these flagrant violations of laws, rules, regulations, conventions and diplomacy etc
Israel frequently and regularly engages in murderous adventures and Israel escapes censure and condemnation, all these, despite the extremely opprobrious and egregious behaviors of Israel! One can imagine the outrage and shouts of condemnations were these conduct by Israel committed and inflicted by say, Venezuela, or China or North Korea or Cuba or Libya and for that matter, just any other nation on earth, other than Israel itself!
What other nation will engage in frequent demolition and confiscation of properties as Israel regularly inflicts on Palestinians? What other nation on earth would engage in actions which imposes hardships, sufferings and desperation on a mass scale, as Israel has inflicted on Palestine and sometimes on Lebanon? What other nation apart from Israel have frequently demonstrated such contempt, disdain and disregard for the United Nations and its subsidiaries? What other nation has refused to declare whether or not it possesses nuclear weapons or not and further refuse inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency? What other nations engages in modern day colonialism and apartheid as Israel does, and escapes criticism from mainstream press all across western nations?
9 people ended up dead or KILLED… USS liberty with American flag was attacked and an American killed and several other Americans injured and this is coming after another innocent American Rachael Curries was bludgeoned to death by Israel and her only offense was that she was protesting nonviolently against Israel behaviors toward Palestinians
Israel is using the blockade as weapon to overthrow HAMAS which was legitimately elected by Palestinians but which Bush rejected and which Obama now follows as American policy
Humanitarian aid organizations are prevented from delivery goods and no rebuilding of hospitals, clinics and schools years after Israel destroyed them. US fund Israel, and receives military armament and technologies, US has not put its foots down or demonstrate any leadership by way of ensuring Israel comply with the countless United Nations resolutions passed over the years against Israel. Israel does whatever it wants as it persists in unnecessarily exacerbating the abject human conditions in Palestine. This is obviously not the way to peace and the so-called two state solution, of Palestine and Israel at peace and living side by side as free, independent and sovereign nations. How is it that the US has no modicum of influence over Israel’s domestic and foreign policies? Despite the well touted “special relationships, of being allies and Siamese twins joined at the hips? Why is it that this advertised symbiotic relationship only works in Israel’s favor?
British former Ambassador to the United Nations Jeremy Greenstock says United States should prevent itself from being seen as an unthinking supporter of Israel. Unbearable situation in Palestine due to the occupation. Israel is the sole surviving political power usurper and colonial power in the world and Israel remains oblivious of the pains, misery, suffering and hardships which Israel inflicts, even as Israel is entrenched in her sour attitudes of land grabs and settlement expansion in Palestine. Israel has a permanent siege mentality and Israel and her supporters and allies, continue to use this stance by Israel, as poor excuse, why Israel must have no duty, obligations and responsibilities
Former Israel ambassador to Turkey says Israeli government has too much self confidence and tend to ignore the whole world and instead sees every criticism as a matter image management or media event. Israeli seem blissfully unaware that the entire world is opposed to Israeli colonialism and occupation of Palestine
UN ambiguous language... it did not directly condemn Israel for killings... US Ambassador says they trust Israel to conduct impartial investigation... independent? Why have the United Nations and the United States acquiesced and conceded to Israel to investigate herself after the massacres of 9 defenseless activists? Again, I am quite unaware of any precedent in which another nation, other than Israel, murders so many citizens of other nations, including the US, and yet, Israel is allowed to investigate her massacres? Perhaps we should have allowed North Korea to investigate whether or not, North Korea was responsible for the sinking and torpedoing of South Korean ship which led to the deaths of 46 South Korean sailors? Israel remains the only nation on earth which refuses or at other times dictate terms of UN forces to serve as buffer neutral forces, between Israel and Palestine
Many in Israel are condemning the killings by Israel, and yet, the United States is not able to and quite unwilling to condemn Israel. And yet, in the United States, condemning Israel’s aggressions, egregious criminalities and murders is liable to earn anyone and everyone, the unfair label of being anti Israel or even worse, of being an anti Semite! But what would Israel have done, if another nation massacred 9 Israelis in one full swoop, while those Israeli citizens were merely protesting the wrongheaded blockade of another nation, similar to the one Israel has inflicted on Palestine? A blockade by Israel, which by all measure and by all accounts, is not motivated by security concerns, but as punishments for HAMAS and the Palestine population, to compel and force HAMAS out of Palestine political equation
Israel massacres 10 and refuses independent investigation and Israel is above the law
Israel did not demonstrate any restraint. Israel could and should have vigorous inspection of ships arriving on its shore. Israel as the world knows, is the colonial power in Palestine. Israel is the occupying power in Palestine with absolute power over Palestine land, sea and air space and channels
Israel is held to a lower standard of behavior and the whole world watches these repeated double standards in which Israel is allowed to possess nuclear weapons and Iran must not. Israel is allowed to massacre 9 innocent and defenseless activists from Turkey just as Israel have done in the past in the murder of a young American peace activist Rachel Corrie who was mowed down by Israel with a bulldozer!
Israel is an ally the US cannot use military in Iraq, or Afghanistan and Israel is such an ally which always brings monumental embarrassments to the US, despite US financing of Israel with money and equipment. Israel have been caught several times spying on the United States, Israel’s ally, which defends Israel even against American own national and strategic interests, short, medium and long terms!
In January 2009, Israel killed 1400 Palestinians, and that is merely about 15 months ago and in the face of all 1400 Palestinian deaths in the hands of Israel, there world offered not even a murmur or tepid response. Again, we only have to imagine, what the United States and others would have done or have said, if the killing 1400 people anywhere, was by another nation, other than Israel, an American client state, a bad client, as Israel is, a client without manners, a client which listens only to herself, and not to the US and the UN!
Israeli commando have not shown flotilla had contraband and even if there were contrabands, it will be no reason still, to shoot and kill nine defenseless activists. Turkey was attacked by Israel, even though Turkey is a nation which has been very friendly towards Israel, Turkey must feel like an orphan now. Israel’s aggressive militaristic policies towards Palestine, Persians and all Arabs have always been predicated on Israel repeated tautology, that its neighbors wish to annihilate her or drive her into the seas, but, this usual hollow argument by Israel is now shown for what it really is, a mere pretext by Israel to strangulate and emasculate Israel’s neighbors with Israel’s “security” as camouflage. Turkey is not hostile to Israel, and yet, the world is now witness to the massacres of 9 citizens of Turkey by Israel, Israel the peace-loving, and rule of law and the “only democratic nation” in the Middle East?
Turkey now reviews relations with Israel and understandably so. Turkey must now feel embarrassed before its neighbors, who behind the scenes and even without gloating, must be by now chuckling “I told you so” to Turkey regarding Israel’s siege mentality and paranoia in connections with Israel’s neighbors which Israel seeks to dominate.
HAMAS is unfazed as Israel defends its illegal blockade and Israel’s latest aggressions have the potentials of making things in the Middle East become incredibly worse. Israel and her allies have sought to emasculate, strangle and suffocate the government in Palestine which organized by HAMAS. Israel have since sought to pull the carpet from under HAMAS feet through a senseless and inhumane economic blockade. And through all of these, Israel pretends that it all about a search for arms. The truth of the matter is, Israel has banned sweets, spices, and caramels as goods Palestinians cannot import into Palestine territories. Now the world knows that sweets, spices and caramels are security threats to Israel! And now the world knows that sweets and spices are parts of the essential ingredients in HAMAS bomb and Katusha Rockets endeavors
Israel literarily and metaphorically dictates American foreign policy towards Israel, Arabs, Persians and the entire Middle East, Persian Gulf Region. And American entanglements in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and to a large extent, Afghanistan, are inspired and motivated by America quest to support and “defend” Israel at all costs and even when it is not in America’s best strategic interests, measured whether in both short and long terms. The unthinking rush to support Israel at all costs, have resulted in the squanders of blood and treasure by America and that seem to continue without vigorous public debate by a plurality of Americans
A few months ago for instance, Vice President Joseph Biden was on an official visit to Israel, and upon his arrival there, Mr. Biden promptly announced that US policy on Iran and nuclear is because nobody can come between the US and Israel safety and security. And as if on cue and following a script, Mr. Biden, a sitting American vice president received a crude undiplomatic slap in the face; even Israeli press and media were caught off guard in surprise as Israeli government announced the start of construction of additional 1600 houses in East Jerusalem. Israeli Newspapers reported in screaming headlines, “Israel Slaps America In The Face Again And Embarrasses Vice President Biden
The question which should be asked is, but why is America smiling? Only a fool or buffoon would smile upon being slapped in the face, and America is no fool or buffoon, so why is America still smiling and encouraging Israel’s truancy, intransigence and recalcitrance in dealings with Palestinians, Arabs and Persians?
A few months after Vice President Joe Biden disrespected and embarrassed by Israel, in most undiplomatic way, and the wrong way to treat a guest, an ally and friend, now comes a fence mending visit by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of Israel, while he was in Canada on the way to Washington DC, he had to skip DC and went home to Israel because of the massacres of 9 multinational activists by Israel, it is noteworthy that one of the activists, is an American and from right here in New York.
Israel announced ahead of time that it would interfere with the activists and in the aftermath, the US pressured the UN to have a reaction to Israel’s misconduct in a less than tepid response! The clamored for condemnations of Israel’s murderous actions on the high seas on international waters was hijacked and stopped by supporters of Israel and in particular, the United States.
Obama tepid response to fatalities caused by Israel shows and demonstrates the stranglehold, the clout and extraordinary power of the AIPAC an other American Jews lobby groups on American political leadership, it is almost always irrelevant and insignificant, whether the occupant of the White House is Republican or Democrat, and as we now know, whether the US president white or black or whether he is a change agent such as Mr. Obama, or Mr. Bush who gave Israel everything Israel ever wanted, whims and caprices, kitchen sink and all.
The murders of 9 persons by Israel on the flotilla from Turkey, is heinous, this is particularly so, in view of the fact that these persons were unarmed, and yet, they were met with special forces on international waters, instead of custom service inspectors or other
There is just too much kid gloves treatment reserved for Israel by a cross spectrum of the American Media. Imagine if Iran, North Korea, or Venezuela had killed ten unarmed persons protesting an egregious blockade such as Israel has inflicted on Palestine for far too long... and here.... there are platitudes being written and spoken?
The United Nations could not even make declarations or pronouncements against these needless killings without UN choice of words being dictated?
It should surprise all reasonable persons around the world, that Israeli press is more critical on Israeli government than the American press/media.... go figure! It speaks volumes that the press/media in Israel is more forthright about the misconduct of the Israeli government and military... this the American press/media and government are quite unwilling to do! wow! Another massacre by Israel, another affront by Israel and Israel does not receive even a rebuke from the US, and US actually pressures the UN in arm-twisting, to offer Israel a backslapping for Israel’s opprobrious killings of 9 innocent citizens.
Why is Israel allowed to engage in aggressions and murders like no other nation on earth? And why does the United States continually shield Israel from the natural consequences of Israel murderous aggressions?
Why is there never the courage to censure Israel? Who protects Palestine? Who protects Persians? Who protects the Arabs?
And why would, and why does anyone then still pretend about the source of all the troubles and violence in the Middle East?
Written by Paul I. Adujie
Israel has again, lawlessly massacred defenseless protesters; Israel’s culture of lawlessness is her default position in Israel’s blockade against Palestine, the same lawlessness with which Israel resort to arbitrary demolition of properties of Palestinians as Israel also frequently undertakes confiscation of properties of Palestinians. Israel is allowed to indulge in lawlessness while the entire world looks the other way, always!
Israel has fully embraced a culture of lawlessness and Turkey is right in her recent description of Israel as “a state terrorist.” and Israel as inhumane. Turkey has correctly, properly and rightly described Israel high handedness in reaction to Israel’s shooting to death, activists who were acting merely to bring world attention to the sufferings, hardships and desperation of the people in Palestine
There were all sorts of things which Israel could have and should have done, and actions which Israel should have taken to avoid needless deaths, the flotilla was planned and known to Israel, it was not a violent or clandestine military aggression on the part of the activists. Israel engaged in a well advertised, plan to “resist” the flotilla which were bearing humanitarian supplies and basic goods for the long suffering people of Palestine, Palestinians blockaded for so long by Israel, the flotilla was not an invasion!
The nation of Israel has, as usual, attacked and murdered unarmed persons unprovoked, this, even though these persons were merely engaged in civil disobedience and were in fact on international waters and this is has occurred so soon after Israel stole identities and passports of many nationals and Israel thereafter forged passports for its citizens who brazenly accosted and murdered a member of HAMAS, this victim of Israel’s targeted assassinations, whatever his sins, was not accorded due process and the rule of law.
The nation of Israel regularly engages in acts of lawlessness, murder, maiming and leaving too many people dislocated and displaced in Palestine. Israel engages in all these, both within its borders and outside as exemplified by the assassination in Dubai in which Israel stole passports of various nationals and forged a plethora of documents, while violating international laws and violating rules, regulations and all known protocols, including those of Dubai. Israel received mild criticisms, despite these flagrant violations of laws, rules, regulations, conventions and diplomacy etc
Israel frequently and regularly engages in murderous adventures and Israel escapes censure and condemnation, all these, despite the extremely opprobrious and egregious behaviors of Israel! One can imagine the outrage and shouts of condemnations were these conduct by Israel committed and inflicted by say, Venezuela, or China or North Korea or Cuba or Libya and for that matter, just any other nation on earth, other than Israel itself!
What other nation will engage in frequent demolition and confiscation of properties as Israel regularly inflicts on Palestinians? What other nation on earth would engage in actions which imposes hardships, sufferings and desperation on a mass scale, as Israel has inflicted on Palestine and sometimes on Lebanon? What other nation apart from Israel have frequently demonstrated such contempt, disdain and disregard for the United Nations and its subsidiaries? What other nation has refused to declare whether or not it possesses nuclear weapons or not and further refuse inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency? What other nations engages in modern day colonialism and apartheid as Israel does, and escapes criticism from mainstream press all across western nations?
9 people ended up dead or KILLED… USS liberty with American flag was attacked and an American killed and several other Americans injured and this is coming after another innocent American Rachael Curries was bludgeoned to death by Israel and her only offense was that she was protesting nonviolently against Israel behaviors toward Palestinians
Israel is using the blockade as weapon to overthrow HAMAS which was legitimately elected by Palestinians but which Bush rejected and which Obama now follows as American policy
Humanitarian aid organizations are prevented from delivery goods and no rebuilding of hospitals, clinics and schools years after Israel destroyed them. US fund Israel, and receives military armament and technologies, US has not put its foots down or demonstrate any leadership by way of ensuring Israel comply with the countless United Nations resolutions passed over the years against Israel. Israel does whatever it wants as it persists in unnecessarily exacerbating the abject human conditions in Palestine. This is obviously not the way to peace and the so-called two state solution, of Palestine and Israel at peace and living side by side as free, independent and sovereign nations. How is it that the US has no modicum of influence over Israel’s domestic and foreign policies? Despite the well touted “special relationships, of being allies and Siamese twins joined at the hips? Why is it that this advertised symbiotic relationship only works in Israel’s favor?
British former Ambassador to the United Nations Jeremy Greenstock says United States should prevent itself from being seen as an unthinking supporter of Israel. Unbearable situation in Palestine due to the occupation. Israel is the sole surviving political power usurper and colonial power in the world and Israel remains oblivious of the pains, misery, suffering and hardships which Israel inflicts, even as Israel is entrenched in her sour attitudes of land grabs and settlement expansion in Palestine. Israel has a permanent siege mentality and Israel and her supporters and allies, continue to use this stance by Israel, as poor excuse, why Israel must have no duty, obligations and responsibilities
Former Israel ambassador to Turkey says Israeli government has too much self confidence and tend to ignore the whole world and instead sees every criticism as a matter image management or media event. Israeli seem blissfully unaware that the entire world is opposed to Israeli colonialism and occupation of Palestine
UN ambiguous language... it did not directly condemn Israel for killings... US Ambassador says they trust Israel to conduct impartial investigation... independent? Why have the United Nations and the United States acquiesced and conceded to Israel to investigate herself after the massacres of 9 defenseless activists? Again, I am quite unaware of any precedent in which another nation, other than Israel, murders so many citizens of other nations, including the US, and yet, Israel is allowed to investigate her massacres? Perhaps we should have allowed North Korea to investigate whether or not, North Korea was responsible for the sinking and torpedoing of South Korean ship which led to the deaths of 46 South Korean sailors? Israel remains the only nation on earth which refuses or at other times dictate terms of UN forces to serve as buffer neutral forces, between Israel and Palestine
Many in Israel are condemning the killings by Israel, and yet, the United States is not able to and quite unwilling to condemn Israel. And yet, in the United States, condemning Israel’s aggressions, egregious criminalities and murders is liable to earn anyone and everyone, the unfair label of being anti Israel or even worse, of being an anti Semite! But what would Israel have done, if another nation massacred 9 Israelis in one full swoop, while those Israeli citizens were merely protesting the wrongheaded blockade of another nation, similar to the one Israel has inflicted on Palestine? A blockade by Israel, which by all measure and by all accounts, is not motivated by security concerns, but as punishments for HAMAS and the Palestine population, to compel and force HAMAS out of Palestine political equation
Israel massacres 10 and refuses independent investigation and Israel is above the law
Israel did not demonstrate any restraint. Israel could and should have vigorous inspection of ships arriving on its shore. Israel as the world knows, is the colonial power in Palestine. Israel is the occupying power in Palestine with absolute power over Palestine land, sea and air space and channels
Israel is held to a lower standard of behavior and the whole world watches these repeated double standards in which Israel is allowed to possess nuclear weapons and Iran must not. Israel is allowed to massacre 9 innocent and defenseless activists from Turkey just as Israel have done in the past in the murder of a young American peace activist Rachel Corrie who was mowed down by Israel with a bulldozer!
Israel is an ally the US cannot use military in Iraq, or Afghanistan and Israel is such an ally which always brings monumental embarrassments to the US, despite US financing of Israel with money and equipment. Israel have been caught several times spying on the United States, Israel’s ally, which defends Israel even against American own national and strategic interests, short, medium and long terms!
In January 2009, Israel killed 1400 Palestinians, and that is merely about 15 months ago and in the face of all 1400 Palestinian deaths in the hands of Israel, there world offered not even a murmur or tepid response. Again, we only have to imagine, what the United States and others would have done or have said, if the killing 1400 people anywhere, was by another nation, other than Israel, an American client state, a bad client, as Israel is, a client without manners, a client which listens only to herself, and not to the US and the UN!
Israeli commando have not shown flotilla had contraband and even if there were contrabands, it will be no reason still, to shoot and kill nine defenseless activists. Turkey was attacked by Israel, even though Turkey is a nation which has been very friendly towards Israel, Turkey must feel like an orphan now. Israel’s aggressive militaristic policies towards Palestine, Persians and all Arabs have always been predicated on Israel repeated tautology, that its neighbors wish to annihilate her or drive her into the seas, but, this usual hollow argument by Israel is now shown for what it really is, a mere pretext by Israel to strangulate and emasculate Israel’s neighbors with Israel’s “security” as camouflage. Turkey is not hostile to Israel, and yet, the world is now witness to the massacres of 9 citizens of Turkey by Israel, Israel the peace-loving, and rule of law and the “only democratic nation” in the Middle East?
Turkey now reviews relations with Israel and understandably so. Turkey must now feel embarrassed before its neighbors, who behind the scenes and even without gloating, must be by now chuckling “I told you so” to Turkey regarding Israel’s siege mentality and paranoia in connections with Israel’s neighbors which Israel seeks to dominate.
HAMAS is unfazed as Israel defends its illegal blockade and Israel’s latest aggressions have the potentials of making things in the Middle East become incredibly worse. Israel and her allies have sought to emasculate, strangle and suffocate the government in Palestine which organized by HAMAS. Israel have since sought to pull the carpet from under HAMAS feet through a senseless and inhumane economic blockade. And through all of these, Israel pretends that it all about a search for arms. The truth of the matter is, Israel has banned sweets, spices, and caramels as goods Palestinians cannot import into Palestine territories. Now the world knows that sweets, spices and caramels are security threats to Israel! And now the world knows that sweets and spices are parts of the essential ingredients in HAMAS bomb and Katusha Rockets endeavors
Israel literarily and metaphorically dictates American foreign policy towards Israel, Arabs, Persians and the entire Middle East, Persian Gulf Region. And American entanglements in Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and to a large extent, Afghanistan, are inspired and motivated by America quest to support and “defend” Israel at all costs and even when it is not in America’s best strategic interests, measured whether in both short and long terms. The unthinking rush to support Israel at all costs, have resulted in the squanders of blood and treasure by America and that seem to continue without vigorous public debate by a plurality of Americans
A few months ago for instance, Vice President Joseph Biden was on an official visit to Israel, and upon his arrival there, Mr. Biden promptly announced that US policy on Iran and nuclear is because nobody can come between the US and Israel safety and security. And as if on cue and following a script, Mr. Biden, a sitting American vice president received a crude undiplomatic slap in the face; even Israeli press and media were caught off guard in surprise as Israeli government announced the start of construction of additional 1600 houses in East Jerusalem. Israeli Newspapers reported in screaming headlines, “Israel Slaps America In The Face Again And Embarrasses Vice President Biden
The question which should be asked is, but why is America smiling? Only a fool or buffoon would smile upon being slapped in the face, and America is no fool or buffoon, so why is America still smiling and encouraging Israel’s truancy, intransigence and recalcitrance in dealings with Palestinians, Arabs and Persians?
A few months after Vice President Joe Biden disrespected and embarrassed by Israel, in most undiplomatic way, and the wrong way to treat a guest, an ally and friend, now comes a fence mending visit by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu of Israel, while he was in Canada on the way to Washington DC, he had to skip DC and went home to Israel because of the massacres of 9 multinational activists by Israel, it is noteworthy that one of the activists, is an American and from right here in New York.
Israel announced ahead of time that it would interfere with the activists and in the aftermath, the US pressured the UN to have a reaction to Israel’s misconduct in a less than tepid response! The clamored for condemnations of Israel’s murderous actions on the high seas on international waters was hijacked and stopped by supporters of Israel and in particular, the United States.
Obama tepid response to fatalities caused by Israel shows and demonstrates the stranglehold, the clout and extraordinary power of the AIPAC an other American Jews lobby groups on American political leadership, it is almost always irrelevant and insignificant, whether the occupant of the White House is Republican or Democrat, and as we now know, whether the US president white or black or whether he is a change agent such as Mr. Obama, or Mr. Bush who gave Israel everything Israel ever wanted, whims and caprices, kitchen sink and all.
The murders of 9 persons by Israel on the flotilla from Turkey, is heinous, this is particularly so, in view of the fact that these persons were unarmed, and yet, they were met with special forces on international waters, instead of custom service inspectors or other
There is just too much kid gloves treatment reserved for Israel by a cross spectrum of the American Media. Imagine if Iran, North Korea, or Venezuela had killed ten unarmed persons protesting an egregious blockade such as Israel has inflicted on Palestine for far too long... and here.... there are platitudes being written and spoken?
The United Nations could not even make declarations or pronouncements against these needless killings without UN choice of words being dictated?
It should surprise all reasonable persons around the world, that Israeli press is more critical on Israeli government than the American press/media.... go figure! It speaks volumes that the press/media in Israel is more forthright about the misconduct of the Israeli government and military... this the American press/media and government are quite unwilling to do! wow! Another massacre by Israel, another affront by Israel and Israel does not receive even a rebuke from the US, and US actually pressures the UN in arm-twisting, to offer Israel a backslapping for Israel’s opprobrious killings of 9 innocent citizens.
Why is Israel allowed to engage in aggressions and murders like no other nation on earth? And why does the United States continually shield Israel from the natural consequences of Israel murderous aggressions?
Why is there never the courage to censure Israel? Who protects Palestine? Who protects Persians? Who protects the Arabs?
And why would, and why does anyone then still pretend about the source of all the troubles and violence in the Middle East?
Friday, June 11, 2010
Spill Baby Spill; Of Private Profits Public Burdens And Liability?
Spill Baby Spill; Of Private Profits Public Burdens And Liability?
Written by Paul I. Adujie
British Petroleum or BP now stands for Big Problem! BP has ineptly inflicted immense environmental disaster and extreme catastrophe on every living beings in the world and as a consequence, BP has also inflicted financial pains on its shareholders as well as its corporate self! BP is understandably getting pummeled in many stock trading places now.
Human error and disregard to safeguards and failures to have back up plans are the reasons for this outsized and extraordinary environmental catastrophe which is still unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico in the United States. There were failures by BP to make backup plans in this high risks adventure of offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere and the chickens are coming home to roost and there should be no surprise to anyone. This inestimable damage was foreseeable and quite preventable by BP, with proper planning, investments and commitment of adequate resources, BP, just like other oil giants, chose to do otherwise.
BP have for years engaged in a blitzkrieg and blitz of advertisings in which BP prided itself of being “Beyond Petroleum” while in fact, BP evidently failed to undertake the necessary research and development for disaster prevention and disaster management and appropriate industry technologies, and in the face of this environmental cataclysm, BP is actually a Beastly Polluter and with fitting names which should be such Bastardized Puerile oil company or Base Putrid oil drilling. BP publicity and image laundry over the years, now amounts a mere camouflage and window dressing. There is clearly no substitute for best business practices, with due regard for safety for persons, flora and fauna
It is good thing that BP is suffering from the consequences of its environmental ineptitude. BP shares are being battered in American and European stock exchanges, and even amidst of these pummeling, BP is declaring 10 billion dollars in dividends for shareholders and spending millions on public relations advertising while the house is on fire?
I billion dollars spent by BP already, and the US federal government has just sent 69 million dollars in partial bill to BP. And 10 billion dollars in dividends for shareholders gas been announced by BP, these are all clear indications of the deep-pockets of BP and other oil giants. It must therefore be made clear to BP, that it must not attempt to obfuscate and confuse and out-lawyer claimants who are affected and afflicted by BP’s unwarranted environmental degradations and pollutions in the Gulf of Mexico, which in particular have had dramatic adverse effect on the ecosystem in and around the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida
The whole world should be asking BP why it failed to back up plans? And why it did not sufficiently invest money and other resources into its Blowout Preventers and the so-called relief wells in the Gulf of Mexico and every where else where BP is engaged in offshore drilling and oil prospecting and explorations? BP was engaged in cost cutting and skimping on resources, even though, BP in 2009 made an after tax profits in excess of $25 billion dollars!
BP has continuously and dramatically understated the magnitude of spill
BP should be taken over in receivership as done to GM and Chrysler and AIG etc
BP never contemplated risks and accidents… BP told regulators in Canada that relief wells are unnecessary because of current modern technology…. Same season relief well capability BP argued was not necessary, because of technology, methodology and modalities, two barriers, drilling relief wells and Blowout Preventers and relief wells. BP argued that relief wells unnecessary, because of modern technologies, BP argued this before Canada regulators barely one month before the spillage in the Gulf of Mexico! Oil companies know the apparent, obvious and inherent risk in oil drilling
The world now knows, through the Oil Flow Technical Committee, an independent body made up of college professors and plethora of scientist, that the true volume of BP spillage in the Gulf of Mexico is in excess of 40,000 barrels of crude oil daily, since the occurrence of this preventable avoidable disaster in American Gulf Coast. This despite BP’s wayward efforts in deceit, as BP pretended all along since April 20, 2010, as it insisted that the spillage was a mere 5, 000 barrels a day!
Blame BP for not have disaster management plans and back up plans and disaster relief plans blame BP contractors and subcontractors for not being whistle blowers against BP as BP sought to cut corners skim on overhead cost, then blame the Republicans for their idiocies also known as deregulation regimes in banking and financial industry, which in effect brought about the Wall Street crash, the financial meltdown and the global economic crises via securitization of mortgages and for inventing the too clever by half financial floozy, also known as derivatives!
It takes equal measure of courage to put blames where such blames belong instead of blaming the wrong persons. Obama should stop blaming himself for the spillage by BP, BP made $25 billion dollars after tax profits in 2009 and that is no chump change and BP and other oil companies do know the deal. Oil giants and oil conglomerates are keenly aware of the inherent danger in offshore drilling, particularly so, when such drilling is done 5,000 below sea water. Someone should inform Mr. Obama that BP is aware that there are risks in offshore drilling and that BP and other oil companies know the risks and rewards therein, hence these oil companies are not in the agro-business of the vegetable planting and harvesting business!
Mr. Obama should stop blaming himself for BP’s blunders! Obama is not the one who brought about deregulation in the United States whether in particular reference to the oil industry or the banking and financial industry. I think that there are civic lessons is in oil spill, coal mining deaths and financial crises
It is the case that BP is resisting capture and contain measures which have worked in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere such as experiments already measured in Norway, BP disregarded slowly winding down drilling as recommended by subcontractors
In a sarcastic way, I must say that President Barack Obama is the luckiest man on earth, he had to clean up after Bush and Republicans in the financial industry, oil industry, two foreign wars, and a scandalously comatose domestic economy and yet, Mr. Obama gets pounded by the Republicans and the ubiquitous and boisterous Tea Party charlatans!
It is the case that so much of what Obama is confronted with, by way of public policy debacles, are what Mr. Obama inherited from Bush-Cheney dumped on Americans. Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana who famously criticized Obama for having big government … now says he want Obama federal government to clean up Louisiana and free it of soothe and plumes… some Americans seek to have it both ways, vigorous and robust regulations by government on the one hand and less government on the other. This is similar to demand a million persons army to fight various battles, while advocating the elimination of the department of defense and national army in the first place
Americans and citizens of the world should blame BP for the environmental catastrophe which BP has wrought on the Gulf of Mexico. BP and other oil companies are keenly and acutely aware of the sacrosanct fact that oil drilling is inherently dangerous and fundamentally risky, oil drilling business without thinking of and planning for accidents and plans to clean up… what was the back up plan? BP in 2009 made an after tax profits of $25 billion dollars a year, there is price to pay for misconduct.
An American regulatory agency, Mineral Management Service, MMS has been in bed metaphorically and literally with oil industry. Deregulation is what caused the trouble in the financial industry and now, the same deregulation which caused the spills in Gulf of Mexico. And again, it bears repeating that, all these shenanigans came about and were fostered and festered during the deregulation atmosphere of the Republicans and the Bush-Cheney.
Obama’s pandering is what has got him in trouble… he knew deregulation is bad, he knew offshore drilling is dangerous for the environment, but, in expedient manner and in the name of bipartisanship, he joined the drill baby drill chorus by Republicans. After one month of the catastrophe and mammoth disaster, it is apparent that magnitude of BP spill is unmatched in American history
BP is shading the information and controlling information and action and response, Obama could and should have put a coalition of the state governments of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi and the American military to work and put BP under them… we seeing dead birds and plumes of oil
BP is out of its depths! There is nothing BP can do cannot do without the input of the federal government, the United States government is exercising effective oversight and the world have noticed the various Admirals of the US Coast Guards who have been overseeing these BP clean up efforts
The world is not equally oblivious of the continued presence of Secretary Salazar of the Department of the Interior and representatives of Energy, Mineral Management Service etc, all Agencies/Department of the US Govt. which have maintained presence in the Gulf Coast/Gulf of Mexico all along and for over a month now... since the explosion, deaths and spillage by BP
No one should be forgiving of BP made $25 billion dollars in profits last year, BP Should be able to clean up after itself! BP does not need anyone or Obama to hold BP's greedy corporate hands! And those like Karl Rove call it Obama’s Katrina are merely seeking to make political hays out of a gargantuan mess caused by BP. Mr. Obama’s political enemies, those same persons who made drill baby drill a famous mantra of theirs, are the same ones engaging in the melodrama of calling BP mess an Obama Katrina?
Obama has been on top of things, Obama has visited the Gulf Coastal states more than three times since April 20, 2010 when this BP spillage disaster was inflicted on the Gulf of Mexico. Obama is going there again soon, he was there first week of the oil spill. It must be recognized that this a disaster one mile under water and it is impossible for Mr. Obama to go under water to inspect the disaster. What does the world expect Mr. Obama to do?
It is the case that in this BP inflicted environmental disaster and mammoth catastrophe in American Gulf Coast, chickens come home to roost, both onshore and offshore drilling has consequences and Nigerians have been dealing with these adverse effects for so long, longer than 50 years! As a consequence of the catastrophe in America’s Gulf Coast, the world have had to learn first hand, the stories of fishermen, oyster men, and assortment of restaurants and travel and tours operators in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida etc. The world has been compelled to learn about brown swans and endangered birds and turtles and wetlands in America’s Gulf Coast states, and yet, the BP spillage in the Gulf of Mexico is quite MINOR in comparison with the extreme degradation of the environment in Nigeria’s Niger Delta which has gone on for fifty years. The world does not know or does not care about the stories of Niger Delta women who have had to endure miscarriages, stillbirths and children with deformities, and adults with skin lesions and more adults with eye diseases and all types of infections, diseases and afflictions, all, as consequences of oil drilling in the Niger Delta! This disdain and contempt by oil corporate giants is not peculiar to the Niger Delta, it is identical in Angola, Ecuador etc.
Additionally, this pattern of contempt and disdain, is actually not peculiar to the oil industry, pharmaceutical companies and all types of multinational conglomerates are known to engage in these complete disregard for peoples outside the America and Europe. Union Carbide was such example in Bhopal India and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals is another example of American and European egregious corporate misconduct in Nigeria. Halliburton for instance, was known to have inflated and engaged in over-billing in its no-bid contract in Iraq, with the United States Armed Forces, just as the same Halliburton has pleaded guilty to bribing its way into contracts in Nigeria, despite Nigerian laws and despite laws in the United States which prohibits and proscribes such conducts, such as American companies offering inducements or bribes to foreign public officials. It is the case that too many corporations are too focused on profits, and these American and European corporations frequently engage in bribes, corruption, blackmail, spying and intimidation in search of profits and lucre, as was the case of the now bankrupt ENRON which lied and bribed its way into extinction in America, Asia and Nigeria
The US agency known as Mineral Management Service is now leaderless because of the sudden departure of the head of that agency in the wake of BP mess and tepid response, and besides, MMS have been rife with corruption and have been scandalized with revelations that its officials were too frequently in cozy relationships, both metaphorical and physical.
This BP mess, has once again brought to sharp focus, the futility of Mr. Obama’s fixation on bipartisanship! So much for Mr. Obama’s focus on bipartisan focus! See how Republicans are slamming and lambasting Obama and the Republicans sees political opportunity in the unfolding mess by BP! The Republicans are engaging in acts of overkill as they tackle Mr. Obama over an essentially private disaster brought about by BP an oil conglomerate!
After more than one month, BP is still unsure of the quantity of crude oil being spilled into the Gulf of Mexico and the US federal government does not have better technology than BP, does Nigeria, Ecuador and other nations where there have been pollution, do have better equipment and technology than the United States.
An oil spill is a result of private enterprise for private profit... BP, Halliburton and TransOcean are responsible for the spillage and the consequences and the US government. Oil spillage is not like municipal garbage, state or federal garbage requiring government removal... this catastrophe was brought about by private companies, which should have had more contingency plans, by way of relief wells, and other disaster management plans.
George W. Bush's administration knew the forecast of Hurricane Katrina and after it happened... Bush praised Michael Brown for doing a "darn good job!" conversely, Barrack Obama went to the Gulf of Mexico promptly as the accident happened...No one should forget how Bush-Cheney co-wrote American energy policies with oil industry executives... but now, Tea Party and Republican critics of Mr. Obama wants to dump all these at Mr. Obama's doorsteps? He has been there for ONLY sixteen months and has written no energy laws!
Should Mr. Obama have been more aggressive and be accused of being a Socialist/Communist? Or be accused of trying to nationalize private properties and private companies? Similar to the unfair accusations against President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who sought to make multinational oil companies accountable in their drillings in Venezuela and he was quickly branded, labeled and excoriated by these oil giants of America and Europe! Should Mr. Obama and his White House become the sanitation department or agency of BP? NO!
No one should forget how Bush-Cheney co-wrote American energy policies with oil industry executives... but now, Tea Party and Republican critics of Mr. Obama wants to dump all these at Mr. Obama's doorsteps? He has been there for ONLY sixteen months and has written no energy laws!
Conservatives, Republicans and Tea Party are looking to make this an Obama administration mess! Even though, it was these same conservatives, republicans and Tea Party persons who were advocating "Drill Baby Drill" hence we now have "Spill Baby Spill" Some are eager to compare this to Hurricane Katrina which was mismanaged by FEMA... but the ... See More oil spillage in the Gulf of Mexico was caused by the activities of private companies BP, Halliburton and TransOceans etc and for their own private profits... BP alone made a profit of $25 billion dollars in 2009!
Why should we clean up after oil companies? they should curb their dogs... it is not the duty of the mayor of a municipality to clean up the mess of your dog on public space or sidewalk... only if you do not clean your dog's mess, then, you may be punished! The mayor should not confiscate your dog and Mr. Obama should not nationalize or seize BP, but make BP clean up, or bear the cost of clean up
The focus of critics should be on the activities of the oil companies who always fail to plan for foreseeable accidents and spills and catastrophes... even as these companies are singularly focused on profits! Deployment and response plans within 72 hours of accident… this is contingency by BP was to curb 450 barrels of oil per day in the event of accident but this never materialized when the accident occurred
It should be agreed that if you drive your car into a shop, in an accident, the ensuing property damage is on you and you are liable. As it is here, BP ruined an estuary, BP ruined the pristine wetlands in the American Gulf Coast, BP has hell to pay and BP is liable, BP ruined restaurant businesses, fishermen businesses, and oystermen business etc and BP is must take responsibility for the damages BP has caused.
BP dictated to its contractors as to speed of work and quality of materials, BP was known to complain to its contractors about cost overruns etc. BP is right now dictating to the US Coast Guards as to how to proceed in this mess clean up, because BP has control of its oil drilling wells everywhere, including the site of the giant mess in the Gulf of Mexico. BP brought this environmental catastrophes about and the focus should singularly be on BP.
It is BP which did not make contingency plans and back up plans and it is BP which underestimated the risks which are in any case well known to BP. It is BP which made $25 billion after tax profits in 2009 from oil exploration and prospecting, and yet, BP and other oil giants have not felt it important to invest in research and development in connection with disaster prevention and disaster management. BP and other oil companies are too frequently singularly focused and fixated on the bottom-line, which is profits, profits and more profits without requisite attention to safety for employees and talk much less about care the ecosystem and worldwide environments where oil giants reap billions of dollars yearly!
Written by Paul I. Adujie
British Petroleum or BP now stands for Big Problem! BP has ineptly inflicted immense environmental disaster and extreme catastrophe on every living beings in the world and as a consequence, BP has also inflicted financial pains on its shareholders as well as its corporate self! BP is understandably getting pummeled in many stock trading places now.
Human error and disregard to safeguards and failures to have back up plans are the reasons for this outsized and extraordinary environmental catastrophe which is still unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico in the United States. There were failures by BP to make backup plans in this high risks adventure of offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere and the chickens are coming home to roost and there should be no surprise to anyone. This inestimable damage was foreseeable and quite preventable by BP, with proper planning, investments and commitment of adequate resources, BP, just like other oil giants, chose to do otherwise.
BP have for years engaged in a blitzkrieg and blitz of advertisings in which BP prided itself of being “Beyond Petroleum” while in fact, BP evidently failed to undertake the necessary research and development for disaster prevention and disaster management and appropriate industry technologies, and in the face of this environmental cataclysm, BP is actually a Beastly Polluter and with fitting names which should be such Bastardized Puerile oil company or Base Putrid oil drilling. BP publicity and image laundry over the years, now amounts a mere camouflage and window dressing. There is clearly no substitute for best business practices, with due regard for safety for persons, flora and fauna
It is good thing that BP is suffering from the consequences of its environmental ineptitude. BP shares are being battered in American and European stock exchanges, and even amidst of these pummeling, BP is declaring 10 billion dollars in dividends for shareholders and spending millions on public relations advertising while the house is on fire?
I billion dollars spent by BP already, and the US federal government has just sent 69 million dollars in partial bill to BP. And 10 billion dollars in dividends for shareholders gas been announced by BP, these are all clear indications of the deep-pockets of BP and other oil giants. It must therefore be made clear to BP, that it must not attempt to obfuscate and confuse and out-lawyer claimants who are affected and afflicted by BP’s unwarranted environmental degradations and pollutions in the Gulf of Mexico, which in particular have had dramatic adverse effect on the ecosystem in and around the states of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida
The whole world should be asking BP why it failed to back up plans? And why it did not sufficiently invest money and other resources into its Blowout Preventers and the so-called relief wells in the Gulf of Mexico and every where else where BP is engaged in offshore drilling and oil prospecting and explorations? BP was engaged in cost cutting and skimping on resources, even though, BP in 2009 made an after tax profits in excess of $25 billion dollars!
BP has continuously and dramatically understated the magnitude of spill
BP should be taken over in receivership as done to GM and Chrysler and AIG etc
BP never contemplated risks and accidents… BP told regulators in Canada that relief wells are unnecessary because of current modern technology…. Same season relief well capability BP argued was not necessary, because of technology, methodology and modalities, two barriers, drilling relief wells and Blowout Preventers and relief wells. BP argued that relief wells unnecessary, because of modern technologies, BP argued this before Canada regulators barely one month before the spillage in the Gulf of Mexico! Oil companies know the apparent, obvious and inherent risk in oil drilling
The world now knows, through the Oil Flow Technical Committee, an independent body made up of college professors and plethora of scientist, that the true volume of BP spillage in the Gulf of Mexico is in excess of 40,000 barrels of crude oil daily, since the occurrence of this preventable avoidable disaster in American Gulf Coast. This despite BP’s wayward efforts in deceit, as BP pretended all along since April 20, 2010, as it insisted that the spillage was a mere 5, 000 barrels a day!
Blame BP for not have disaster management plans and back up plans and disaster relief plans blame BP contractors and subcontractors for not being whistle blowers against BP as BP sought to cut corners skim on overhead cost, then blame the Republicans for their idiocies also known as deregulation regimes in banking and financial industry, which in effect brought about the Wall Street crash, the financial meltdown and the global economic crises via securitization of mortgages and for inventing the too clever by half financial floozy, also known as derivatives!
It takes equal measure of courage to put blames where such blames belong instead of blaming the wrong persons. Obama should stop blaming himself for the spillage by BP, BP made $25 billion dollars after tax profits in 2009 and that is no chump change and BP and other oil companies do know the deal. Oil giants and oil conglomerates are keenly aware of the inherent danger in offshore drilling, particularly so, when such drilling is done 5,000 below sea water. Someone should inform Mr. Obama that BP is aware that there are risks in offshore drilling and that BP and other oil companies know the risks and rewards therein, hence these oil companies are not in the agro-business of the vegetable planting and harvesting business!
Mr. Obama should stop blaming himself for BP’s blunders! Obama is not the one who brought about deregulation in the United States whether in particular reference to the oil industry or the banking and financial industry. I think that there are civic lessons is in oil spill, coal mining deaths and financial crises
It is the case that BP is resisting capture and contain measures which have worked in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere such as experiments already measured in Norway, BP disregarded slowly winding down drilling as recommended by subcontractors
In a sarcastic way, I must say that President Barack Obama is the luckiest man on earth, he had to clean up after Bush and Republicans in the financial industry, oil industry, two foreign wars, and a scandalously comatose domestic economy and yet, Mr. Obama gets pounded by the Republicans and the ubiquitous and boisterous Tea Party charlatans!
It is the case that so much of what Obama is confronted with, by way of public policy debacles, are what Mr. Obama inherited from Bush-Cheney dumped on Americans. Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana who famously criticized Obama for having big government … now says he want Obama federal government to clean up Louisiana and free it of soothe and plumes… some Americans seek to have it both ways, vigorous and robust regulations by government on the one hand and less government on the other. This is similar to demand a million persons army to fight various battles, while advocating the elimination of the department of defense and national army in the first place
Americans and citizens of the world should blame BP for the environmental catastrophe which BP has wrought on the Gulf of Mexico. BP and other oil companies are keenly and acutely aware of the sacrosanct fact that oil drilling is inherently dangerous and fundamentally risky, oil drilling business without thinking of and planning for accidents and plans to clean up… what was the back up plan? BP in 2009 made an after tax profits of $25 billion dollars a year, there is price to pay for misconduct.
An American regulatory agency, Mineral Management Service, MMS has been in bed metaphorically and literally with oil industry. Deregulation is what caused the trouble in the financial industry and now, the same deregulation which caused the spills in Gulf of Mexico. And again, it bears repeating that, all these shenanigans came about and were fostered and festered during the deregulation atmosphere of the Republicans and the Bush-Cheney.
Obama’s pandering is what has got him in trouble… he knew deregulation is bad, he knew offshore drilling is dangerous for the environment, but, in expedient manner and in the name of bipartisanship, he joined the drill baby drill chorus by Republicans. After one month of the catastrophe and mammoth disaster, it is apparent that magnitude of BP spill is unmatched in American history
BP is shading the information and controlling information and action and response, Obama could and should have put a coalition of the state governments of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi and the American military to work and put BP under them… we seeing dead birds and plumes of oil
BP is out of its depths! There is nothing BP can do cannot do without the input of the federal government, the United States government is exercising effective oversight and the world have noticed the various Admirals of the US Coast Guards who have been overseeing these BP clean up efforts
The world is not equally oblivious of the continued presence of Secretary Salazar of the Department of the Interior and representatives of Energy, Mineral Management Service etc, all Agencies/Department of the US Govt. which have maintained presence in the Gulf Coast/Gulf of Mexico all along and for over a month now... since the explosion, deaths and spillage by BP
No one should be forgiving of BP made $25 billion dollars in profits last year, BP Should be able to clean up after itself! BP does not need anyone or Obama to hold BP's greedy corporate hands! And those like Karl Rove call it Obama’s Katrina are merely seeking to make political hays out of a gargantuan mess caused by BP. Mr. Obama’s political enemies, those same persons who made drill baby drill a famous mantra of theirs, are the same ones engaging in the melodrama of calling BP mess an Obama Katrina?
Obama has been on top of things, Obama has visited the Gulf Coastal states more than three times since April 20, 2010 when this BP spillage disaster was inflicted on the Gulf of Mexico. Obama is going there again soon, he was there first week of the oil spill. It must be recognized that this a disaster one mile under water and it is impossible for Mr. Obama to go under water to inspect the disaster. What does the world expect Mr. Obama to do?
It is the case that in this BP inflicted environmental disaster and mammoth catastrophe in American Gulf Coast, chickens come home to roost, both onshore and offshore drilling has consequences and Nigerians have been dealing with these adverse effects for so long, longer than 50 years! As a consequence of the catastrophe in America’s Gulf Coast, the world have had to learn first hand, the stories of fishermen, oyster men, and assortment of restaurants and travel and tours operators in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida etc. The world has been compelled to learn about brown swans and endangered birds and turtles and wetlands in America’s Gulf Coast states, and yet, the BP spillage in the Gulf of Mexico is quite MINOR in comparison with the extreme degradation of the environment in Nigeria’s Niger Delta which has gone on for fifty years. The world does not know or does not care about the stories of Niger Delta women who have had to endure miscarriages, stillbirths and children with deformities, and adults with skin lesions and more adults with eye diseases and all types of infections, diseases and afflictions, all, as consequences of oil drilling in the Niger Delta! This disdain and contempt by oil corporate giants is not peculiar to the Niger Delta, it is identical in Angola, Ecuador etc.
Additionally, this pattern of contempt and disdain, is actually not peculiar to the oil industry, pharmaceutical companies and all types of multinational conglomerates are known to engage in these complete disregard for peoples outside the America and Europe. Union Carbide was such example in Bhopal India and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals is another example of American and European egregious corporate misconduct in Nigeria. Halliburton for instance, was known to have inflated and engaged in over-billing in its no-bid contract in Iraq, with the United States Armed Forces, just as the same Halliburton has pleaded guilty to bribing its way into contracts in Nigeria, despite Nigerian laws and despite laws in the United States which prohibits and proscribes such conducts, such as American companies offering inducements or bribes to foreign public officials. It is the case that too many corporations are too focused on profits, and these American and European corporations frequently engage in bribes, corruption, blackmail, spying and intimidation in search of profits and lucre, as was the case of the now bankrupt ENRON which lied and bribed its way into extinction in America, Asia and Nigeria
The US agency known as Mineral Management Service is now leaderless because of the sudden departure of the head of that agency in the wake of BP mess and tepid response, and besides, MMS have been rife with corruption and have been scandalized with revelations that its officials were too frequently in cozy relationships, both metaphorical and physical.
This BP mess, has once again brought to sharp focus, the futility of Mr. Obama’s fixation on bipartisanship! So much for Mr. Obama’s focus on bipartisan focus! See how Republicans are slamming and lambasting Obama and the Republicans sees political opportunity in the unfolding mess by BP! The Republicans are engaging in acts of overkill as they tackle Mr. Obama over an essentially private disaster brought about by BP an oil conglomerate!
After more than one month, BP is still unsure of the quantity of crude oil being spilled into the Gulf of Mexico and the US federal government does not have better technology than BP, does Nigeria, Ecuador and other nations where there have been pollution, do have better equipment and technology than the United States.
An oil spill is a result of private enterprise for private profit... BP, Halliburton and TransOcean are responsible for the spillage and the consequences and the US government. Oil spillage is not like municipal garbage, state or federal garbage requiring government removal... this catastrophe was brought about by private companies, which should have had more contingency plans, by way of relief wells, and other disaster management plans.
George W. Bush's administration knew the forecast of Hurricane Katrina and after it happened... Bush praised Michael Brown for doing a "darn good job!" conversely, Barrack Obama went to the Gulf of Mexico promptly as the accident happened...No one should forget how Bush-Cheney co-wrote American energy policies with oil industry executives... but now, Tea Party and Republican critics of Mr. Obama wants to dump all these at Mr. Obama's doorsteps? He has been there for ONLY sixteen months and has written no energy laws!
Should Mr. Obama have been more aggressive and be accused of being a Socialist/Communist? Or be accused of trying to nationalize private properties and private companies? Similar to the unfair accusations against President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who sought to make multinational oil companies accountable in their drillings in Venezuela and he was quickly branded, labeled and excoriated by these oil giants of America and Europe! Should Mr. Obama and his White House become the sanitation department or agency of BP? NO!
No one should forget how Bush-Cheney co-wrote American energy policies with oil industry executives... but now, Tea Party and Republican critics of Mr. Obama wants to dump all these at Mr. Obama's doorsteps? He has been there for ONLY sixteen months and has written no energy laws!
Conservatives, Republicans and Tea Party are looking to make this an Obama administration mess! Even though, it was these same conservatives, republicans and Tea Party persons who were advocating "Drill Baby Drill" hence we now have "Spill Baby Spill" Some are eager to compare this to Hurricane Katrina which was mismanaged by FEMA... but the ... See More oil spillage in the Gulf of Mexico was caused by the activities of private companies BP, Halliburton and TransOceans etc and for their own private profits... BP alone made a profit of $25 billion dollars in 2009!
Why should we clean up after oil companies? they should curb their dogs... it is not the duty of the mayor of a municipality to clean up the mess of your dog on public space or sidewalk... only if you do not clean your dog's mess, then, you may be punished! The mayor should not confiscate your dog and Mr. Obama should not nationalize or seize BP, but make BP clean up, or bear the cost of clean up
The focus of critics should be on the activities of the oil companies who always fail to plan for foreseeable accidents and spills and catastrophes... even as these companies are singularly focused on profits! Deployment and response plans within 72 hours of accident… this is contingency by BP was to curb 450 barrels of oil per day in the event of accident but this never materialized when the accident occurred
It should be agreed that if you drive your car into a shop, in an accident, the ensuing property damage is on you and you are liable. As it is here, BP ruined an estuary, BP ruined the pristine wetlands in the American Gulf Coast, BP has hell to pay and BP is liable, BP ruined restaurant businesses, fishermen businesses, and oystermen business etc and BP is must take responsibility for the damages BP has caused.
BP dictated to its contractors as to speed of work and quality of materials, BP was known to complain to its contractors about cost overruns etc. BP is right now dictating to the US Coast Guards as to how to proceed in this mess clean up, because BP has control of its oil drilling wells everywhere, including the site of the giant mess in the Gulf of Mexico. BP brought this environmental catastrophes about and the focus should singularly be on BP.
It is BP which did not make contingency plans and back up plans and it is BP which underestimated the risks which are in any case well known to BP. It is BP which made $25 billion after tax profits in 2009 from oil exploration and prospecting, and yet, BP and other oil giants have not felt it important to invest in research and development in connection with disaster prevention and disaster management. BP and other oil companies are too frequently singularly focused and fixated on the bottom-line, which is profits, profits and more profits without requisite attention to safety for employees and talk much less about care the ecosystem and worldwide environments where oil giants reap billions of dollars yearly!
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