Change the Guard

ab2476 asked:


There is a lot of organized religion in our society. i need to know examples from world events to illustrate these example.

WorldEconomicForum asked:

http://www.weforum.org/ 21.01.2004
Setting the 2004 Agenda: The World Economy
So far, the world economy could go either way in terms of recovery in 2004.
1) What should be done to ensure that the US recovery is not a jobless one?
2) How will the fortunes of the stability pact affect growth in Europe?
3) Will China’s continued growth become a destabilizing economic force?
4) What can be done to reduce the reliance of the world economy on US consumers?
Jacob A. Frenkel, Chairman, Merrill Lynch International and Chairman, Group of 30, Merrill Lynch, United Kingdom
Fu Jun, Deputy Dean and Department Chair, Peking University, People’s Republic of China
Takatoshi Ito, Professor, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Tokyo, Japan
Stephen S. Roach, Chief Economist, Morgan Stanley, USA
Laura D. Tyson, Dean, London Business School, United Kingdom
Introduced by
Gordon Brown, Chancellor of the Exchequer of the United Kingdom
Moderated by
Martin Wolf, Associate Editor and Chief Economics Commentator, The Financial Times, United Kingdom

Ahmad Rizaev asked:


Today, when you read or listen to profound or contrary analyses of the experts and journalists about the situation in Central Asia, and especially in Uzbekistan, you can catch yourself on an idea that all this already once has happened. Everything has taken place before and it regularly repeats oneself from the end of 1980th are beginnings of 1990th.

Meanwhile the following hypotheses and tactics have been renewed for several times:

- the same alarmist analytical predictions and columnist’s hysteria about inevitable “apocalypse” in Central Asia if the West does not interfere with a situation or ” pro-western reformers” are not able to win in the region;

- the same one-sided and clumsy attempts to give out a desirable as a truth via the “political commercial” of the completely failed “pro-reformatory and pro-democratic” neighboring country as “an exemplary” for Uzbekistan;

- periodic attempts to afflict with hostility the fraternal people of the Central Asia, actively to spread interethnic discord, to create “invented” interethnic problems and phobias among the population of neighboring countries concerning Uzbeks, though in each neighboring country Uzbeks make up from 5 to 25 % of the population;

- impudent interferences to impose unceremoniously “the external managing director” for Uzbekistan not only in the economic issues, but also almost in all other spheres of life in the country: from public health services to TV and radio broadcasting and up to social policies.

And many other deceptions from the slanderous campaign against Uzbekistan repeatedly appeared in the last year. It is noteworthy that “the sources” of the politically motivated orders and the “black PR” campaigns perpetrators represent the same institutions.

These experts and journalists for more than 15 years have been continuing to draw the same conclusions and have filled with articles hundreds of thick magazines and large-format newspapers and published bulk of multipage abstruse reports and books.

However, the question is why those apocalyptic prognoses stated by these “experts” at the beginning of 1990th has not come true even 12 or 15 years later and notwithstanding this fact they continue to repeat them even not on the second or third circle but in 50 or 100 times. What are the experts, whose predictions do not become true even for ten percent!?

These are by no means the rhetorical questions and give the ground to believe that direct agents of the anti-uzbek PR-campaigns are either complete dilettantes in the area or the absolute provocateurs, and most likely both, one and another taken together.

In order to be the trustworthy it is necessary to sight some particularities. The analysis of more than 700 publications on Uzbekistan of the London based Institute for War and Peace Reporting (the IWPR) for last six years has not virtually revealed any positive response, on one issues of development of the country.

«Stringers» of the IWPR, apparently, have so liked to get into «uzbekphobia», or the leadership of the Institute so strongly hates the Uzbek people that they have not highlighted any changes in Uzbekistan even in neutral or impartial tone.

It won’t be right to claim that the IWPR elucidates events in other countries of Central Asia without biases. However, it is necessary to acknowledge that at least one thirds of articles on Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, each second article on Kazakhstan and two thirds of reports about Kyrgyzstan neutrally ascertain the facts and describe events, or give the positive description of the one or another aspect of public policy and public life in these countries.

One may ask: “What are the reasons fort such pathological hatred of the London editors and their local «stringers» towards Uzbeks!?” Or the staff of a department on hiring the personnel of Institute employs reporters only on the basis of a degree of their hatred to the people of our country!?

On the one hand, such impudence, at least, causes objections and fastidiousness about those people who have chosen on the professional base to fabricate slanders about the millions of people. From other side, it becomes clear that foes slandering so furiously inadvertently are proving all our actions have been done correctly. The fidelity of the axiom proves: the more praise you get from the outside observers, the advantage from your actions is somebody’s interest, and vice versa.

It was the same about Russia of “the Yeltsin’s epoch” in the 1990s, when it was praised for the withdrawal of more than hundred thousand Army from Europe to the plain steppe, it was praised for reformation (consider decay) Army, it was praised for transformation (consider collapse) of economy and etc. As a result, as president Vladimir Putin has stated, “comrade Wolf knows whom to eat, it eats without listening and it’s clearly not going to listen to anyone.”

Besides, the IWPR for last few years very harshly criticizes activity of the Russian government, showing a “special interest” to the situation in the Northern Caucasus, first of all in the Chechen Republic. Probably, this “special interest” embodies “unselfish aspiration” of the gentlemen from the banks of Thames “to promote normalization of a situation in the region and to the settlement of conflicts” at the same extent as the well-known group of military sappers of the British “humanitarian organization”. The Federal Security Service investigation has found out that instead of the clearing the territory from mines, these above-mentioned specialists-mine-layers from «humanitarian» organization were engaged in instructing of the Chechen insurgents on the diversionary-blasting. An activity of this “commissary” was terminated soon after its disclosure.

However, the ethical aspect is important. Therefore, here are some questions: Why does the IWPR so **** Uzbeks!? Whether is it a result of “the editorial” policy of this institution or its owners – the grant issuers!? Or is the uzbekphobia of the IWPR connected with an employment at the Institute of a contingent of the unbalanced and hostilely inclined to uzbeks “stingers” from among citizens of Uzbekistan?

If the answer to the last question is positive, why the head of the Central Asian branch of IWPR Mr. John MacLeod, in the past the employee of the BBC and of a number of the British governmental agencies, tolerates such one-sided approach at selection of the employees!?

In general and as a whole, it is interesting to observe the world’s events, and especially when it concerns questions of «prevention of war and saving a peace», in what the IWPR should ostensibly be engaged. The idiocy of a number of publications and imaginations, born in the sick heads of Uzbekistan’s stingers does not have limits. In order somehow to justify an official web-site of London based Institute, since August of this year this “Internet rubbish heap” of the local marginals has again begun to function. It still will be possible to read and learn much about the psychological deviations of “patients” from coast of Thames.

It has been proved by a decree of nature that the moral degradation not only some of individuals, but also the whole states and civilizations begins with “devastation” in the minds. It is very important that infectious metastases the fervent uzbekphobia, inherent to the IWPR, must not infect minds in government agencies in the United Kingdom.

It would be wrong to think that a delirium of sick marginals is a truth of the last instance. Taking into account all the aspects of the matters under the discussion it is necessary to find the thoroughly and well-considered approach on the basis of mutual account of interests of the people and the states, but not a small group of foolish “journalistic-analytical fraternity”.

WeCan08 asked:

Congratulations, Mr. President.

-Lyrics-

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.

Yes we can heal this nation.

Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics…they will only grow louder and more dissonant ……….. We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea –

Yes. We. Can.

Guest appearances -

will.i.am - 0:01
Scarlett Johansson - 0:05
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - 0:21
Common - 0:23
John Legend - 0:32
Bryan Greenberg (guitar) - 0:37
Kate Walsh - 0:44
Tatyana Ali - 0:44
Harold Perrineau, Jr. - 0:49
Aisha Tyler - 1:01
Samuel Page - 1:03
Enrique Murciano - 1:07 “Si, podemos” - 1:17
Maya Rubin - 1:08 “?? ??? ?????? (Qen Annu Yecholim)” (Hebrew)
Esthero - 1:10
Eric Balfour - 1:23
Nicole Scherzinger - 1:30
Taryn Manning - 1:40
Amber Valletta - 1:52
Auden McCaw (in Valetta’s arms) - 1:52
Kelly Hu - 1:52
Adam Rodríguez - 1:56 “Sí se puede”
Eric Christian Olsen - 2:02
Sarah Wright - 2:02
Shoshannah Stern (American Sign Language) - 2:05
Ed Kowalczyk (guitar) - 2:19
Fonzworth Bentley (violin) - 2:38
Amaury Nolasco - 3:24
Hill Harper - 3:27
Nick Cannon - 3:36
Herbie Hancock (piano) - 3:41
Johnathon Schaech - 3:45
Austin Nichols - 3:50
Tracee Ellis Ross - 4:00
Fred Goldring (guitar) - 4:03
Anson Mount
Alfonso Ribeiro
Cliff Collins
Vera Farmiga

just amanda asked:


who else thinks that we seem to be heading towards another depression?
with the gas prices going up at a steady pace, products are going to become more expensive and people are going to start buying less putting us into another economic crisis.
am i the only person thats worried about this?

Andrew Abraham asked:


Many in the financial world believe that Emerging markets and to a lesser degree Europe will be able to maintain the momentum to keep the Global Economy on track. The question is “Will there be decoupling of world economies this time or will the contagion spread through out the worlds economies”? The background and the current realities make the later seem more plausible. The gyrations in the worlds markets have been nothing less than stomach-turning. The US Stock markets have fallen more than 200 points and then up 200 points. We have witnessed both US banks and international banks writing off Billions of mortgage losses. There is a growing reluctance to lend and tightening standards both domestically as well as internationally. Nurinchukin bank in Japan a fishing and agricultural cooperative just announced a $358 million write off due to mortgage losses. How can banks all over the world from Europe to Asia write off bad loans and not affect both their balance sheets and their propensity to lend? Historically when there existed careless cheap money the effects of liquidity were profound. Why should this not happen this time?

Are in we in the throes of a Global Credit Crunch!

It is rather disturbing at best that Citigroup after years of providing liquidity and loans to individuals as well as businesses throughout the world needed an external source of capital (Abu Dhabi government $7.5 Billion). Cititgroup is paying a 11% annual yield until (if) equity units are converted into stock. It is very probable that Citigroup is not alone on Wall Street seeking additional sources of capital and that greater losses then detailed are prevalent on the street.

Another example in our thesis of a potential global slowdown (at best) is what has been lately transpiring in the Baltic Exchange Dry Index and Global Shipping rates. The Baltic Dry Index is an index covering dry bulk shipping rates of such commodities such as coal, iron ore and grains. The index provides an assessment of the price of moving the major raw materials by sea. They have fallen by approx 10% in the last 2 weeks (Less demand and lower prices).

The issues of the world’s economies are extremely correlated .For example if China does not accept the US dollar and the debt, she could experience massive capacity. China needs to keep exporting in order to maintain their economic engine running. If China reduces their exports this action could easily lead to China’s own recession or worse. The Chinese stock market as well as real estate market could be greatly impacted. Due to Chinese massive and cheap exports the US got addicted to cheap Chinese credit and China got used to tremendous US Treasuries. This symbiotic relationship built over many years is hard to break. Many other emerging markets live by exporting. The caveat is that they are sensitive to global credit and as discussed prior the banking sector has been pulling back not just from the mortgage debacle but from the merger & acquisitions that were prevalent over the last years. Please tell me how the economic contagion has not spread or will spread? To me it is very clear how inter related all of our economies.

James asked:


How did other administrations address foreign policy? Describe foreign policy events, positions, or ideas that took place during Thomas Jefferson’s and James Madison’s administrations.

????? asked:


I have to summarize two articles about recent world events, such as the mine collapse in China, etc…I’m having trouble finding interesting world events portrayed into articles. I also need to find two based on the presidential campaign (preferrably one for each party.)

Could you please help me out?

ChickenLadyLovesLife asked:


I keep hearing that Barack Obama came from a working class background and was raised by a single mother. Why, then, did he title his book Dreams from my Father? If his father didn’t help raise him, shouldn’t he give his mother more props? Or he just fabricating the single Mom story for a working class audience?

softbagel14 asked:


Please no remarks about how little experience he has, just answer the question I’m getting mixed answers from searching on the internet and just need a list of some places he has visited and if he visited with leaders. Im writing about his Foreign policy plan.