Monday 31 March 2008

THIS MONTH LAST YEAR - 3

MARCO, foi mesmo ‘Marco Mulher’ por aqui, no ano passado. Para alem da poesia, musica e artigos alusivos, houve tambem um slideshow digno de nota (mas a era dos slideshows neste blog esta’ um tanto ultrapassada, pelo menos por agora).

De efemerides, foi tambem notado o 15 de Marco em Angola e o 50mo. aniversario da independencia do Ghana – a primeira das independencias Africanas, com um artigo sobre Kwame Nkrumah.

Sobre o Zimbabwe, dois posts, talvez de particular interesse a luz dos resultados das eleicoes deste fim de semana.

Sobre a sociedade Angolana actual, dois artigos de destaque, um sobre a indigencia a que sao votados os Mais Velhos em Luanda e outro sobre as falhas do Ministerio da Cultura em relacao a criadores e artistas, com destaque para os Kiezos. Sobre a economia, um post sobre um artigo meu ja’ aqui anteriormente referido, a que recentemente acrescentei um 'podcast' da ex-Ministra das Financas da Nigeria, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a quem faco referencia naquele artigo. Destaque tambem para um artigo sobre a Historia de Angola.

Livros em destaque: “Desenvolvimento e Resiliciencia Social em Africa”, de Joao Milando; “Coracao dos Bosques”, de Jose’ Eduardo Agualusa; “Sona, Desenhos na Areia”, de Unni Skogen e Sonja Skaug, e “Sabores, Odores & Sonho”, de Yours Truly.

Highlights? O inicio das series “Outblogging @ AfricanPath” e “Sunday Posts”.
Et voila! Mais coisa, menos coisa, assim foi Marco do ano passado aqui neste kubiko.
MARCO, foi mesmo ‘Marco Mulher’ por aqui, no ano passado. Para alem da poesia, musica e artigos alusivos, houve tambem um slideshow digno de nota (mas a era dos slideshows neste blog esta’ um tanto ultrapassada, pelo menos por agora).

De efemerides, foi tambem notado o 15 de Marco em Angola e o 50mo. aniversario da independencia do Ghana – a primeira das independencias Africanas, com um artigo sobre Kwame Nkrumah.

Sobre o Zimbabwe, dois posts, talvez de particular interesse a luz dos resultados das eleicoes deste fim de semana.

Sobre a sociedade Angolana actual, dois artigos de destaque, um sobre a indigencia a que sao votados os Mais Velhos em Luanda e outro sobre as falhas do Ministerio da Cultura em relacao a criadores e artistas, com destaque para os Kiezos. Sobre a economia, um post sobre um artigo meu ja’ aqui anteriormente referido, a que recentemente acrescentei um 'podcast' da ex-Ministra das Financas da Nigeria, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a quem faco referencia naquele artigo. Destaque tambem para um artigo sobre a Historia de Angola.

Livros em destaque: “Desenvolvimento e Resiliciencia Social em Africa”, de Joao Milando; “Coracao dos Bosques”, de Jose’ Eduardo Agualusa; “Sona, Desenhos na Areia”, de Unni Skogen e Sonja Skaug, e “Sabores, Odores & Sonho”, de Yours Truly.

Highlights? O inicio das series “Outblogging @ AfricanPath” e “Sunday Posts”.
Et voila! Mais coisa, menos coisa, assim foi Marco do ano passado aqui neste kubiko.

ABOUT THE "BLACK & AFRICAN HISTORY MONTH" 2008

As the month draws to a close, I owe a word to all of you who might have read this post about the "Black History Month (Europe) 2008".
As the group coordinator, our good friend Bill, explains here, the group is well, alive and kicking and working hard on the source materials. These were of such extent that there was a decision to extend the timeframe beyond this month.
Unfortunately, due to other pressing commitments, I couldn’t accommodate this extension within my schedule. So, my belonging to the group ends here, but I certainly remain available for any collaboration with them whenever relevant, and wish all the best success to Bill and the BAHM Europe workgroup.
As the month draws to a close, I owe a word to all of you who might have read this post about the "Black History Month (Europe) 2008".
As the group coordinator, our good friend Bill, explains here, the group is well, alive and kicking and working hard on the source materials. These were of such extent that there was a decision to extend the timeframe beyond this month.
Unfortunately, due to other pressing commitments, I couldn’t accommodate this extension within my schedule. So, my belonging to the group ends here, but I certainly remain available for any collaboration with them whenever relevant, and wish all the best success to Bill and the BAHM Europe workgroup.

Sunday 30 March 2008

DESASTRE EM LUANDA


(...)
Ontem ruiu o edificio da DNIC. Com cerca de 200 pessoas lá dentro. O piquete da policia que eram 14, safaram-se todos porque vieram para a rua assistir na primeira fila.
Os presos, como a própria palavra indica, não sairam e vieram até ao chão dentro do edificio. Dos escombros, já resgataram alguns vivos, alguns mortos e as familias aguardam ansiosas que apareçam os restantes.


(Mensagem de JLA recebida de Luanda)


Luanda - Na madrugada de 29 de Março por volta das 4 horas da manhã, o edificio sede da Direcção de Investigação Criminal, DNIC, de sete andares, foi abaixo depois de dois pilares racharem provocando a quebra de vidros. Os primeiros a aperceberem-se do facto, foram os homens do piquete, que de imediato fugiram para a estrada a solicitar ajuda. Na ocasião, o director provincial de Luanda, Vita Vemba, providenciou a montagem de um posto ambulatorio para prestação de primeiros socorros.

Até ao momento foram resgatadas 82 pessoas do local dos escombros, mas o número de vitimas ainda é incerto. Alguns presos foram transferidos para a Comarca de Viana. Os feridos para o Hospital Militar de Luanda. De recordar que a menos de seis meses a Comarca de Luanda teve uma rebelião. Uma das figuras de destaque que estava no edificio era o antigo jogador de futebol, Tony Estraga.

Levantam-se agora várias hipoteses para o acontecimento, tais como a possibilidade de atentado ou falta de manutenção do edificio.

(Mensagem de KB recebida de Luanda)

MAIS FOTOS AQUI


(...)
Ontem ruiu o edificio da DNIC. Com cerca de 200 pessoas lá dentro. O piquete da policia que eram 14, safaram-se todos porque vieram para a rua assistir na primeira fila.
Os presos, como a própria palavra indica, não sairam e vieram até ao chão dentro do edificio. Dos escombros, já resgataram alguns vivos, alguns mortos e as familias aguardam ansiosas que apareçam os restantes.


(Mensagem de JLA recebida de Luanda)


Luanda - Na madrugada de 29 de Março por volta das 4 horas da manhã, o edificio sede da Direcção de Investigação Criminal, DNIC, de sete andares, foi abaixo depois de dois pilares racharem provocando a quebra de vidros. Os primeiros a aperceberem-se do facto, foram os homens do piquete, que de imediato fugiram para a estrada a solicitar ajuda. Na ocasião, o director provincial de Luanda, Vita Vemba, providenciou a montagem de um posto ambulatorio para prestação de primeiros socorros.

Até ao momento foram resgatadas 82 pessoas do local dos escombros, mas o número de vitimas ainda é incerto. Alguns presos foram transferidos para a Comarca de Viana. Os feridos para o Hospital Militar de Luanda. De recordar que a menos de seis meses a Comarca de Luanda teve uma rebelião. Uma das figuras de destaque que estava no edificio era o antigo jogador de futebol, Tony Estraga.

Levantam-se agora várias hipoteses para o acontecimento, tais como a possibilidade de atentado ou falta de manutenção do edificio.

(Mensagem de KB recebida de Luanda)

MAIS FOTOS AQUI

LOCAL VOICES OFFLINE (11)

Things someone, somewhere in the world, was talking about but you probably weren’t listening…







Free file hosting by Ripway.com



Chopper for the Vice President


[Obs: President Mogae is expected to officially step down tomorrow in favour of Vice-President Ian Khama. Read more HERE]

Things someone, somewhere in the world, was talking about but you probably weren’t listening…







Free file hosting by Ripway.com



Chopper for the Vice President


[Obs: President Mogae is expected to officially step down tomorrow in favour of Vice-President Ian Khama. Read more HERE]

Saturday 29 March 2008

FIELD DAY

WHAT IS THE 'AFRICAN DIASPORA'?




I guess it's high time Africans start seriously thinking and discussing about it.
Suggested places to start:


1.

2.

3.




I guess it's high time Africans start seriously thinking and discussing about it.
Suggested places to start:


1.

2.

3.

REAL 'AFFIRMATIVE ACTION'...

RACISM...


AND CENSORSHIP...




AT WORK!
RACISM...


AND CENSORSHIP...




AT WORK!

Thursday 27 March 2008

COBRANCAS!

{Clique na imagem para a ampliar}


Nisto de deitar contas a vida… confesso que as vezes me apetece mandar cartas destas a alguns familiares e amigos… a quem efectivamente ate’ nem devo nada e… bem feitas as contas, muito provavelmente devem-me mais a mim do que eu a eles!

Anyway, tomo esta oportunidade para deixar esta mensagem ‘to whom it may concern’: Aqui.
{Clique na imagem para a ampliar}


Nisto de deitar contas a vida… confesso que as vezes me apetece mandar cartas destas a alguns familiares e amigos… a quem efectivamente ate’ nem devo nada e… bem feitas as contas, muito provavelmente devem-me mais a mim do que eu a eles!

Anyway, tomo esta oportunidade para deixar esta mensagem ‘to whom it may concern’: Aqui.

Tuesday 25 March 2008

OUTBLOGGING @ AFRICANPATH (IX)

THE RACE DEBATE IN AMERICA: WHAT LESSONS FOR AFRICA?

The current U.S. Presidential contest was marked, during the first few months, by its African-American protagonist’s repeated (re)assurances to the American electorate that his run was all but about race. And, it has to be recognised, for the most part the said protagonist, Barack Obama, has been hugely successful at it. However, developments in the last few weeks, culminating with his memorable speech “A More Perfect Union”, put the race and identity debate firmly back on the agenda and (re)assured us all, in and outside America, that this presidential campaign is as much about race as it is about gender, or about war and peace, or about economic prosperity or decline. In his own words: “(…) race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America - to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality. (…) But the anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races.”

[Keep Reading Here or Here]
THE RACE DEBATE IN AMERICA: WHAT LESSONS FOR AFRICA?

The current U.S. Presidential contest was marked, during the first few months, by its African-American protagonist’s repeated (re)assurances to the American electorate that his run was all but about race. And, it has to be recognised, for the most part the said protagonist, Barack Obama, has been hugely successful at it. However, developments in the last few weeks, culminating with his memorable speech “A More Perfect Union”, put the race and identity debate firmly back on the agenda and (re)assured us all, in and outside America, that this presidential campaign is as much about race as it is about gender, or about war and peace, or about economic prosperity or decline. In his own words: “(…) race is an issue that I believe this nation cannot afford to ignore right now. We would be making the same mistake that Reverend Wright made in his offending sermons about America - to simplify and stereotype and amplify the negative to the point that it distorts reality. (…) But the anger is real; it is powerful; and to simply wish it away, to condemn it without understanding its roots, only serves to widen the chasm of misunderstanding that exists between the races.”

[Keep Reading Here or Here]

A PEACE SYMBOL 50 YEARS OLD


[READ MORE HERE]

[READ MORE HERE]

A COMMENT WORTH NOTING

Three months after its publication, my article at Atlantic Community, "The EU-Africa Trade Relations and The Future of Africa", finally got its first comment...

Duly noted and may others follow!

Three months after its publication, my article at Atlantic Community, "The EU-Africa Trade Relations and The Future of Africa", finally got its first comment...

Duly noted and may others follow!

Monday 24 March 2008

THE NO.1 LADIES' DETECTIVE AGENCY

… Over and done with. Watched the movie yesterday on TV, liked it, but it didn’t make me relieve the mystery and excitement of reading the book while living around the places where Mma Ramotswe unveiled the cases that came to her.
Well, Anthony Minghella himself said something to the effect that “a good book always survives its adaptation, however good the latter may be”…
But, by all means, do watch it if it comes your way and make your own judgment. The late film director and the all set of actors surely deserve it.
… Over and done with. Watched the movie yesterday on TV, liked it, but it didn’t make me relieve the mystery and excitement of reading the book while living around the places where Mma Ramotswe unveiled the cases that came to her.
Well, Anthony Minghella himself said something to the effect that “a good book always survives its adaptation, however good the latter may be”…
But, by all means, do watch it if it comes your way and make your own judgment. The late film director and the all set of actors surely deserve it.

Sunday 23 March 2008

NAVEGANDO COM OS SABORES...


Neste Domingo de Pascoa, queiram deliciar-se com este diversificado buffet...

Ou, se e' apenas um funge de domingo que vos apetece, queiram servir-se deste prato...

Mas se querem um verdadeiro banquete, entao sigam as receitas de kitutes angolanos apresentadas aqui e agradecam (ou culpem) (a)o Helder de Sousa.

Neste Domingo de Pascoa, queiram deliciar-se com este diversificado buffet...

Ou, se e' apenas um funge de domingo que vos apetece, queiram servir-se deste prato...

Mas se querem um verdadeiro banquete, entao sigam as receitas de kitutes angolanos apresentadas aqui e agradecam (ou culpem) (a)o Helder de Sousa.

Friday 21 March 2008

FELIZ PASCOA!


ECOS DA IMPRENSA ANGOLANA (2)

“Pergunto ao vento que passa
notícias do meu país
e o vento cala a desgraça
o vento nada me diz.

Mas há sempre uma candeia
dentro da própria desgraça
há sempre alguém que semeia
canções no vento que passa.”


Manuel Alegre






in Jornal de Angola, 20/03/08
[Clique na imagem para a ampliar]


OUTRAS REACCOES:


'O Comerciante Desalmado'
Agostinho Neto guiou o seu povo pelo caminho das estrelas. Que outro poeta na História Universal libertou a sua pátria com poemas e fuzis? A grandeza da obra literária de Agostinho Neto foi reconhecida em todo o mundo por académicos, professores, críticos literários e confrades.
Artur Queiroz, in Jornal de Angola, 18/03/08 (aqui)


'O Marketing Tem Dessas'
Escrevi e repito, que Agostinho Neto foi um extraordinário Poeta. Volto a dizê-lo. O Poeta da Libertação, o fundador com alguns de nós, da UEA, que dele não diz. Sou portanto, inapelavelmente, um total e irrecuperável ignorante de poesia...
Ndunduma, in Jornal de Angola, 21/03/08 (aqui)


'Em Defesa do José Eduardo Agualusa'
Um tal jornalista de nome Artur Queiroz atacou o Agualusa no Jornal de Angola de uma forma tão grosseira que reduz o que deveria ser um debate serio sobre a nossa herança cultural Angolana á uma briga entre bêbados num botequim. Eu admiro bastante o José Eduardo Agualusa que, sem duvida, deve ser o escritor mais serio da nossa geração; a sua capacidade de trabalho e determinação em sobreviver como escritor é impressionante. Lamento é o facto de ele não ter ido recentemente a nossa cidade natal do Huambo aonde tem havido muitas mudanças.
Sousa Jamba, in Semanario Angolense, 22/03/08 (aqui)


'Resposta de Artur Queiroz a Sousa Jamba'
Sousa Jamba quer que eu discuta a herança cultural dos angolanos com quem não tem nada a ver com a cultura ou as culturas de Angola. E Agualusa não tem.
Falta-lhe lastro e memória. Vivência. Estudo. Sentimento. Afinal falta-lhe tudo. É muito grave não é? Os colonialistas usaram sempre a arma da memória para imporem os seus valores e apagarem os nossos. Agualusa aprendeu a lição. Para ele, a Literatura Angolana começou no dia em que foi publicado o seu primeiro livro. Quando muito, o primeiro livro de Sousa Jamba. É uma táctica que os nazis adoptaram e dela abusaram. A Alemanha começou no dia em Hitler subiu ao Poder. O salazarismo fez o mesmo. Angola sem os portugueses nunca existiu.
Artur Queiroz, ao Semanario Angolense, 22/03/08 (aqui)
“Pergunto ao vento que passa
notícias do meu país
e o vento cala a desgraça
o vento nada me diz.

Mas há sempre uma candeia
dentro da própria desgraça
há sempre alguém que semeia
canções no vento que passa.”


Manuel Alegre






in Jornal de Angola, 20/03/08
[Clique na imagem para a ampliar]


OUTRAS REACCOES:


'O Comerciante Desalmado'
Agostinho Neto guiou o seu povo pelo caminho das estrelas. Que outro poeta na História Universal libertou a sua pátria com poemas e fuzis? A grandeza da obra literária de Agostinho Neto foi reconhecida em todo o mundo por académicos, professores, críticos literários e confrades.
Artur Queiroz, in Jornal de Angola, 18/03/08 (aqui)


'O Marketing Tem Dessas'
Escrevi e repito, que Agostinho Neto foi um extraordinário Poeta. Volto a dizê-lo. O Poeta da Libertação, o fundador com alguns de nós, da UEA, que dele não diz. Sou portanto, inapelavelmente, um total e irrecuperável ignorante de poesia...
Ndunduma, in Jornal de Angola, 21/03/08 (aqui)


'Em Defesa do José Eduardo Agualusa'
Um tal jornalista de nome Artur Queiroz atacou o Agualusa no Jornal de Angola de uma forma tão grosseira que reduz o que deveria ser um debate serio sobre a nossa herança cultural Angolana á uma briga entre bêbados num botequim. Eu admiro bastante o José Eduardo Agualusa que, sem duvida, deve ser o escritor mais serio da nossa geração; a sua capacidade de trabalho e determinação em sobreviver como escritor é impressionante. Lamento é o facto de ele não ter ido recentemente a nossa cidade natal do Huambo aonde tem havido muitas mudanças.
Sousa Jamba, in Semanario Angolense, 22/03/08 (aqui)


'Resposta de Artur Queiroz a Sousa Jamba'
Sousa Jamba quer que eu discuta a herança cultural dos angolanos com quem não tem nada a ver com a cultura ou as culturas de Angola. E Agualusa não tem.
Falta-lhe lastro e memória. Vivência. Estudo. Sentimento. Afinal falta-lhe tudo. É muito grave não é? Os colonialistas usaram sempre a arma da memória para imporem os seus valores e apagarem os nossos. Agualusa aprendeu a lição. Para ele, a Literatura Angolana começou no dia em que foi publicado o seu primeiro livro. Quando muito, o primeiro livro de Sousa Jamba. É uma táctica que os nazis adoptaram e dela abusaram. A Alemanha começou no dia em Hitler subiu ao Poder. O salazarismo fez o mesmo. Angola sem os portugueses nunca existiu.
Artur Queiroz, ao Semanario Angolense, 22/03/08 (aqui)

Thursday 20 March 2008

ON OBAMA'S FAMILY


"So there I was, a couple of weeks back, sitting under a mango tree in western Kenya, when Senator Barack Obama’s half-sister Auma says to me:
'My daughter’s father is British. My mom’s brother is married to a Russian. I have a brother in China engaged to a Chinese woman.'
My understanding is that this half brother living in China is Mark. He’s the son of Obama’s father and an American woman named Ruth, whom Obama Sr. met while at Harvard in the 1960s and brought back to Kenya.
That was after his marriage with Obama’s mother in Hawaii ended. Another son from the union with Ruth, called David, was killed in a motorcycle accident. In all, Obama Sr. fathered eight children by four women.
I’ve been thinking about this because not enough has been written about Obama’s family. As Auma suggested, it’s unusual in the extent of its continent-crossing, religion-melding, color-fusing richness. But the Benetton-ad family is less unusual than it may seem. This is the age of globalized, far-flung families. Remittances make the world go round.
More needs to be written because if Obama gets the Democratic nomination, you know the Republican attack machine, through innuendo and otherwise, will go after his identity, just as it went after Senator John Kerry’s in 2004."

{Keep reading here}


"So there I was, a couple of weeks back, sitting under a mango tree in western Kenya, when Senator Barack Obama’s half-sister Auma says to me:
'My daughter’s father is British. My mom’s brother is married to a Russian. I have a brother in China engaged to a Chinese woman.'
My understanding is that this half brother living in China is Mark. He’s the son of Obama’s father and an American woman named Ruth, whom Obama Sr. met while at Harvard in the 1960s and brought back to Kenya.
That was after his marriage with Obama’s mother in Hawaii ended. Another son from the union with Ruth, called David, was killed in a motorcycle accident. In all, Obama Sr. fathered eight children by four women.
I’ve been thinking about this because not enough has been written about Obama’s family. As Auma suggested, it’s unusual in the extent of its continent-crossing, religion-melding, color-fusing richness. But the Benetton-ad family is less unusual than it may seem. This is the age of globalized, far-flung families. Remittances make the world go round.
More needs to be written because if Obama gets the Democratic nomination, you know the Republican attack machine, through innuendo and otherwise, will go after his identity, just as it went after Senator John Kerry’s in 2004."

{Keep reading here}

PHILIP JONES GRIFFITHS (R.I.P.)

[Photo of Philip Jones Griffiths by John Giannini]

In a week when the world marked the 40th anniversary of the My Lai massacre, the most prominent photojournalist of the Vietnam War, Philip Jones Griffiths, passed away today.
In a statement the current president of Magnum Photos, of which Griffiths was a distinguished member, said: "Philip enriched all our lives with his courage, his empathy, his passion, his wit and his wisdom; and for many he gave to photojournalism its moral soul."

[Read and see more about Griffiths work here, here, and here]
[Photo of Philip Jones Griffiths by John Giannini]

In a week when the world marked the 40th anniversary of the My Lai massacre, the most prominent photojournalist of the Vietnam War, Philip Jones Griffiths, passed away today.
In a statement the current president of Magnum Photos, of which Griffiths was a distinguished member, said: "Philip enriched all our lives with his courage, his empathy, his passion, his wit and his wisdom; and for many he gave to photojournalism its moral soul."

[Read and see more about Griffiths work here, here, and here]

Wednesday 19 March 2008

THE WAR ON IRAQ 5 YEARS ON



Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:13:44 -0400
To: "Ana Santana"
From: "Barack Obama"
Subject: Five years later

Dear Ana,

Five years ago today, President George W. Bush launched a war that should never have been authorized based on faulty premises and bad intelligence.
This war has now lasted longer than World War I, World War II, or the Civil War.
Nearly four thousand Americans have given their lives. Thousands more have been wounded. Even under the best-case scenarios, this war will cost American taxpayers well over a trillion dollars.
And where are we for all of this sacrifice?
We are less safe and less able to shape events abroad. We are divided at home, and our alliances around the world have been strained. The threats of a new century have roiled the waters of peace and stability, and yet America remains anchored in Iraq.
I am running for President because it's time to turn the page on a failed ideology and a fundamentally flawed political strategy, so that we can make pragmatic judgments to keep our country safe.
That's what I did when I stood up and opposed this war from the start and said that we needed to finish the fight against al Qaeda. And that's what I'll do as President of the United States.
Please take a few minutes to read my strategy for ending the war in Iraq and making America safer.
Senator Clinton says that she and Senator McCain have passed a "Commander-in-Chief test" -- not because of the judgments they've made, but because of the years they've spent in Washington.
She made a similar argument when she said her vote for war was based on her experience at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.
But here is the stark reality: there is a security gap in this country -- a gap between the rhetoric of those who claim to be tough on national security, and the reality of growing insecurity caused by their decisions.
It is time to have a debate with Senator McCain about the future of our national security. And the way to win that debate and keep America safe is to offer a clear contrast -- a clean break from the failed policies and politics of the past.
Nowhere is that break more badly needed than in Iraq.
The judgment that matters most on Iraq -- and on any decision to deploy military force -- is the judgment made first.
If you believe we are fighting the right war, then the problems we face are purely tactical in nature. That is what Senator McCain wants to discuss -- tactics. What he and the Administration have failed to present is an overarching strategy: how the war in Iraq enhances our long-term security, or will in the future.
That's why this Administration cannot answer the simple question posed by Senator John Warner in hearings last year: Are we safer because of this war? And that is why Senator McCain can argue -- as he did last year -- that we couldn't leave Iraq because violence was up, and then argue this year that we can't leave Iraq because violence is down.
When you have no overarching strategy, there is no clear definition of success.
Success comes to be defined as the ability to maintain a flawed policy indefinitely. Here is the truth: fighting a war without end will not force the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future. And fighting in a war without end will not make the American people safer.
When I am Commander-in-Chief, I will set a new goal on Day One: I will end this war. Not because politics compels it. Not because our troops cannot bear the burden -- as heavy as it is. But because it is the right thing to do for our national security, and it will ultimately make us safer.

Here are the core elements of my strategy to address our critical national security challenges in the 21st century:

• End the war in Iraq, removing our troops at a pace of 1 to 2 combat brigades per month;
• Finally finish the fight against the Taliban, root out al Qaeda and invest in the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan, while making aid to the Pakistani government conditional;
• Act aggressively to stop nuclear proliferation and to secure all loose nuclear materials around the world;
• Double our foreign assistance to cut extreme poverty in half;
• Invest in a clean energy future to wean the U.S. off of foreign oil and to lead the world against the threat of global climate change;
• Rebuild our military capability by increasing the number of soldiers, marines, and special forces troops, and insist on adequate training and time off between deployments;
• Renew American diplomacy by talking to our adversaries as well as our friends; increasing the size of the Foreign Service and the Peace Corps; and creating an America's Voice Corps.

Please take a minute to show your support for this plan:
http://my.barackobama.com/fiveyearslater

We are at a defining moment in our history.
This must be the election when America comes together behind a common purpose on behalf of our security and our values.
That is what we do as Americans. It's how we founded a republic based on freedom, and faced down fascism. It's how we defended democracy through a Cold War, and shined a light of hope bright enough to be seen in the darkest corners of the world.
When America leads with principle and pragmatism, hope can triumph over fear. It is time, once again, for America to lead.

Thank you,
Barack Obama


Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:13:44 -0400
To: "Ana Santana"
From: "Barack Obama"
Subject: Five years later

Dear Ana,

Five years ago today, President George W. Bush launched a war that should never have been authorized based on faulty premises and bad intelligence.
This war has now lasted longer than World War I, World War II, or the Civil War.
Nearly four thousand Americans have given their lives. Thousands more have been wounded. Even under the best-case scenarios, this war will cost American taxpayers well over a trillion dollars.
And where are we for all of this sacrifice?
We are less safe and less able to shape events abroad. We are divided at home, and our alliances around the world have been strained. The threats of a new century have roiled the waters of peace and stability, and yet America remains anchored in Iraq.
I am running for President because it's time to turn the page on a failed ideology and a fundamentally flawed political strategy, so that we can make pragmatic judgments to keep our country safe.
That's what I did when I stood up and opposed this war from the start and said that we needed to finish the fight against al Qaeda. And that's what I'll do as President of the United States.
Please take a few minutes to read my strategy for ending the war in Iraq and making America safer.
Senator Clinton says that she and Senator McCain have passed a "Commander-in-Chief test" -- not because of the judgments they've made, but because of the years they've spent in Washington.
She made a similar argument when she said her vote for war was based on her experience at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.
But here is the stark reality: there is a security gap in this country -- a gap between the rhetoric of those who claim to be tough on national security, and the reality of growing insecurity caused by their decisions.
It is time to have a debate with Senator McCain about the future of our national security. And the way to win that debate and keep America safe is to offer a clear contrast -- a clean break from the failed policies and politics of the past.
Nowhere is that break more badly needed than in Iraq.
The judgment that matters most on Iraq -- and on any decision to deploy military force -- is the judgment made first.
If you believe we are fighting the right war, then the problems we face are purely tactical in nature. That is what Senator McCain wants to discuss -- tactics. What he and the Administration have failed to present is an overarching strategy: how the war in Iraq enhances our long-term security, or will in the future.
That's why this Administration cannot answer the simple question posed by Senator John Warner in hearings last year: Are we safer because of this war? And that is why Senator McCain can argue -- as he did last year -- that we couldn't leave Iraq because violence was up, and then argue this year that we can't leave Iraq because violence is down.
When you have no overarching strategy, there is no clear definition of success.
Success comes to be defined as the ability to maintain a flawed policy indefinitely. Here is the truth: fighting a war without end will not force the Iraqis to take responsibility for their own future. And fighting in a war without end will not make the American people safer.
When I am Commander-in-Chief, I will set a new goal on Day One: I will end this war. Not because politics compels it. Not because our troops cannot bear the burden -- as heavy as it is. But because it is the right thing to do for our national security, and it will ultimately make us safer.

Here are the core elements of my strategy to address our critical national security challenges in the 21st century:

• End the war in Iraq, removing our troops at a pace of 1 to 2 combat brigades per month;
• Finally finish the fight against the Taliban, root out al Qaeda and invest in the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan, while making aid to the Pakistani government conditional;
• Act aggressively to stop nuclear proliferation and to secure all loose nuclear materials around the world;
• Double our foreign assistance to cut extreme poverty in half;
• Invest in a clean energy future to wean the U.S. off of foreign oil and to lead the world against the threat of global climate change;
• Rebuild our military capability by increasing the number of soldiers, marines, and special forces troops, and insist on adequate training and time off between deployments;
• Renew American diplomacy by talking to our adversaries as well as our friends; increasing the size of the Foreign Service and the Peace Corps; and creating an America's Voice Corps.

Please take a minute to show your support for this plan:
http://my.barackobama.com/fiveyearslater

We are at a defining moment in our history.
This must be the election when America comes together behind a common purpose on behalf of our security and our values.
That is what we do as Americans. It's how we founded a republic based on freedom, and faced down fascism. It's how we defended democracy through a Cold War, and shined a light of hope bright enough to be seen in the darkest corners of the world.
When America leads with principle and pragmatism, hope can triumph over fear. It is time, once again, for America to lead.

Thank you,
Barack Obama

Tuesday 18 March 2008

"A MORE PERFECT UNION": BARACK OBAMA ON RACE IN AMERICA

ANTHONY MINGHELLA (R.I.P.)

A mere couple of days ago, I reported here how I was gobsmacked by finding out all about "The Nr 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency" being put on screen by Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella.

That included seeing him that day on TV, in an interview recorded while he was still filming in Botswana, defending his movie and Alexander McCall Smith's book and explaining why in his view it should not be considered "patronising".

Today, the first news I got was that he died, aged only 54, in the aftermath of a surgical procedure he underwent a few days ago.

Just like that.

Now his film about Mma Ramotswe will go down in history as his last oeuvre. And I suspect I will always think of it as spooky.
A mere couple of days ago, I reported here how I was gobsmacked by finding out all about "The Nr 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency" being put on screen by Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella.

That included seeing him that day on TV, in an interview recorded while he was still filming in Botswana, defending his movie and Alexander McCall Smith's book and explaining why in his view it should not be considered "patronising".

Today, the first news I got was that he died, aged only 54, in the aftermath of a surgical procedure he underwent a few days ago.

Just like that.

Now his film about Mma Ramotswe will go down in history as his last oeuvre. And I suspect I will always think of it as spooky.

Monday 17 March 2008

PAX LATINA

CONCERTO PAZ SEM FRONTEIRAS
NA PONTE SIMON BOLIVAR (COLOMBIA/VENEZUELA)

GUERRA AMERICANA

MASSACRE DE MY LAI 40 ANOS DEPOIS

Sunday 16 March 2008

LOCAL VOICES OFFLINE (10)

Things someone, somewhere in the world, was talking about but you probably weren’t listening…






Free file hosting by Ripway.com



Cuba: Celulares

Obs:There were news this week that the sale of a number of electronic devices has finally been officially authorised in Cuba, but I'm not sure if cellphones are included...

Things someone, somewhere in the world, was talking about but you probably weren’t listening…






Free file hosting by Ripway.com



Cuba: Celulares

Obs:There were news this week that the sale of a number of electronic devices has finally been officially authorised in Cuba, but I'm not sure if cellphones are included...

MMA RAMOTSWE ON SCREEN!

It came as a shock to get to know about it all at once yesterday: not only that there was the idea for a movie based on The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, but also that the movie is already done, ready and out, and that it is directed by Anthony Minghella, and… that it stars Jill Scott! But there is more: the film is already getting a hard time from critics calling it “patronising”… And all this I got to know only yesterday!
My, where have I been in the last few months? Well, not in Botswana, that’s for sure.

Anyway, of course I can only reserve any personal opinion on the movie for after I’ve seen it (it will be on BBC on March 24). What I cannot avoid to point out now are these two things: this exchange where I expressed my view on the book, and this comment where I mention how much Jill Scott’s “Beautifully Human” and, specially,
“Golden”, marked my wonderings on the roads of Botswana… Now, how did it happen that it's exactly Jill Scott that ends up playing Mma Ramotswe, that beautifully human woman? I’m really gobsmacked!

Ah, before I forget: just found out that Mma Ramotswe also has a blog!


Related Posts:

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Anthony Minghella (R.I.P.)
It came as a shock to get to know about it all at once yesterday: not only that there was the idea for a movie based on The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, but also that the movie is already done, ready and out, and that it is directed by Anthony Minghella, and… that it stars Jill Scott! But there is more: the film is already getting a hard time from critics calling it “patronising”… And all this I got to know only yesterday!
My, where have I been in the last few months? Well, not in Botswana, that’s for sure.

Anyway, of course I can only reserve any personal opinion on the movie for after I’ve seen it (it will be on BBC on March 24). What I cannot avoid to point out now are these two things: this exchange where I expressed my view on the book, and this comment where I mention how much Jill Scott’s “Beautifully Human” and, specially,
“Golden”, marked my wonderings on the roads of Botswana… Now, how did it happen that it's exactly Jill Scott that ends up playing Mma Ramotswe, that beautifully human woman? I’m really gobsmacked!

Ah, before I forget: just found out that Mma Ramotswe also has a blog!


Related Posts:

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Anthony Minghella (R.I.P.)

Saturday 15 March 2008

TIBET

Two days ago, I stayed up late into the night watching an episode of a new BBC documentary series, “A Year In Tibet” , whose advert, featuring an excerpt from the song “Ordinary People” by John Legend, I had been seeing in the last few days.

According to its producers, “the documentary follows a calendar year inside the secret confines of a Tibetan monastery and charts the lives of those living in Gyanste, the small town which surrounds it and surrounding villages. The series examines the reality of life today for Tibetans living under Chinese rule. The filming crew has gained unparalleled access to one of the most isolated and spiritual parts of the world and their cameras were the first ever allowed to follow members of the community, offering the Western audience a rare insight into their lives, religion, servitude and family.”

Yesterday, as I started following reports of the protests in Lhasa and other locations in Tibet and India, all I could think of was whether the people – the woman and her three husbands who, after being refused a state student loan, partly thanks to the year’s bumper crop of barley still managed to make their son the first person from Gyanste to be sent to a University in “China proper”; the young 11-year old student monk who, during his home holiday, finally learns to drive his father’s tractor, having crashed it on his first go; the mother who could only smile at her daughter’s uncontrollable crying all the way to her new husband parent’s home for a wedding she was not supposed to know anything about beforehand; the monks who had a special day out to indulge in gambling, a little beer and bathing in the river - all those ordinary people, part of whose lives I had followed in the previous day, could have been involved in the protests, or victimised by the brutal repression that ensued.

Is any of them in these pictures?

Could any of them be among the now dead?

Is any of them dreaming about this year’s Olympic Games?

Is any of them praying for next year’s crop?

Two days ago, I stayed up late into the night watching an episode of a new BBC documentary series, “A Year In Tibet” , whose advert, featuring an excerpt from the song “Ordinary People” by John Legend, I had been seeing in the last few days.

According to its producers, “the documentary follows a calendar year inside the secret confines of a Tibetan monastery and charts the lives of those living in Gyanste, the small town which surrounds it and surrounding villages. The series examines the reality of life today for Tibetans living under Chinese rule. The filming crew has gained unparalleled access to one of the most isolated and spiritual parts of the world and their cameras were the first ever allowed to follow members of the community, offering the Western audience a rare insight into their lives, religion, servitude and family.”

Yesterday, as I started following reports of the protests in Lhasa and other locations in Tibet and India, all I could think of was whether the people – the woman and her three husbands who, after being refused a state student loan, partly thanks to the year’s bumper crop of barley still managed to make their son the first person from Gyanste to be sent to a University in “China proper”; the young 11-year old student monk who, during his home holiday, finally learns to drive his father’s tractor, having crashed it on his first go; the mother who could only smile at her daughter’s uncontrollable crying all the way to her new husband parent’s home for a wedding she was not supposed to know anything about beforehand; the monks who had a special day out to indulge in gambling, a little beer and bathing in the river - all those ordinary people, part of whose lives I had followed in the previous day, could have been involved in the protests, or victimised by the brutal repression that ensued.

Is any of them in these pictures?

Could any of them be among the now dead?

Is any of them dreaming about this year’s Olympic Games?

Is any of them praying for next year’s crop?

Tuesday 11 March 2008

MARTIN AMIS: "A WRITER FOR OBAMA"

Well, I’m sure Martin Amis is far from being the only “writer for Obama” around the world. However, what makes his support for Obama peculiar to me is the fact that he has been dogged by accusations of racism over his stances on Islam and multiculturalism in the post-9/11 world…
You can watch the full BBC show where, last Thursday, he expressed his views on the American presidential race here, but I will just summarise some of the things he said:


"We all have visceral reactions to both Hillary and Obama. (...) It is partly because of identity politics staring one in the face as it hasn't in many years. (...) Of the three remaining candidates only Barack Obama has an aura of freshness and regeneration and the chance to redeem, restore and repositioning America's image in the world. (...) He is the 'Pope of Hope' who speaks to a need both of America and of the World."

“One has to remind everybody that women are not a minority even though there have never been one in the White House. (…) I think that part of the problem is that when a woman candidate gets near power, or embraces power, they become more masculine than men, they’re toxic with testosterone just to get there, they have to show that they’re tougher than anyone. (…) By the way, Hillary Clinton terrifies me with her egoism – I mean, you feel her ambition from here! And if she fails, I’ll tell you one thing that’s gonna happen: she’s going to divorce Bill Clinton!”


Well, I’m sure Martin Amis is far from being the only “writer for Obama” around the world. However, what makes his support for Obama peculiar to me is the fact that he has been dogged by accusations of racism over his stances on Islam and multiculturalism in the post-9/11 world…
You can watch the full BBC show where, last Thursday, he expressed his views on the American presidential race here, but I will just summarise some of the things he said:


"We all have visceral reactions to both Hillary and Obama. (...) It is partly because of identity politics staring one in the face as it hasn't in many years. (...) Of the three remaining candidates only Barack Obama has an aura of freshness and regeneration and the chance to redeem, restore and repositioning America's image in the world. (...) He is the 'Pope of Hope' who speaks to a need both of America and of the World."

“One has to remind everybody that women are not a minority even though there have never been one in the White House. (…) I think that part of the problem is that when a woman candidate gets near power, or embraces power, they become more masculine than men, they’re toxic with testosterone just to get there, they have to show that they’re tougher than anyone. (…) By the way, Hillary Clinton terrifies me with her egoism – I mean, you feel her ambition from here! And if she fails, I’ll tell you one thing that’s gonna happen: she’s going to divorce Bill Clinton!”


GREAT PICTURES!

Just one of a great lot to be found here...
Just one of a great lot to be found here...

Sunday 9 March 2008

LOCAL VOICES OFFLINE (9)

Things someone, somewhere in the world, was talking about but you probably weren’t listening…



Both protagonists of the story behind this speech made the news headlines this week in the UK. Francis Pym passed away this Friday, aged 86. On the same day, Mrs. (now Lady) Thatcher, aged 82, spent a night in hospital for ill health.
As we just celebrated International Women’s Day, a question springs to mind: was the Iron Lady ever taken as an icon by any female gender activist around the world?

FRANCIS PYM was pitchforked into the post of Foreign Secretary during the Falklands crisis. During the election he expressed some doubts about the value of large majorities; and when the Tories won with the largest majority they’d ever had, he was sacked by Mrs. Thatcher. His departure was leaked, probably by Number Ten. Speaking as a backbencher for the first time for 21 years, he did not disguise how much it hurt. He warned Mrs. Thatcher to tackle unemployment and unite the people. (29/6/83)
Things someone, somewhere in the world, was talking about but you probably weren’t listening…



Both protagonists of the story behind this speech made the news headlines this week in the UK. Francis Pym passed away this Friday, aged 86. On the same day, Mrs. (now Lady) Thatcher, aged 82, spent a night in hospital for ill health.
As we just celebrated International Women’s Day, a question springs to mind: was the Iron Lady ever taken as an icon by any female gender activist around the world?

FRANCIS PYM was pitchforked into the post of Foreign Secretary during the Falklands crisis. During the election he expressed some doubts about the value of large majorities; and when the Tories won with the largest majority they’d ever had, he was sacked by Mrs. Thatcher. His departure was leaked, probably by Number Ten. Speaking as a backbencher for the first time for 21 years, he did not disguise how much it hurt. He warned Mrs. Thatcher to tackle unemployment and unite the people. (29/6/83)

Saturday 8 March 2008

ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY...


Picture from my dear friend Sailor Girl's blog to whom I specially dedicate this post.

Picture from my dear friend
Sailor Girl's blog to whom I specially dedicate this post.

Wednesday 5 March 2008

OBAMA VS. CLINTON: THE MOTHER OF ALL BATTLES! (Take 10-b)

Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
[Martin Luther King, Jr.: "I Have a Dream"]



'NOW'S THE TIME!'

Date:
Wed, 5 Mar 2008 04:31:52 -0500
To:
"Ana Santana"

From:
"Barack Obama"
Subject:
What happened today

Ana --


We may not know the final outcome of today's voting until morning, but the results so far make one thing clear.
When the dust settles from today's contests, we will maintain our substantial lead in delegates. And thanks to millions of people standing for change, we will keep adding delegates and capture the Democratic nomination.
We knew from the day we began this journey that the road would be long. And we knew what we were up against.
We knew that the closer we got to the change we seek, the more we'd see of the politics we're trying to end -- the attacks and distortions that try to distract us from the issues that matter to people's lives, the stunts and the tactics that ask us to fear instead of hope.
But this time -- this year -- it will not work. The challenges are too great. The stakes are too high.
Americans need real change.
In the coming weeks, we will begin a great debate about the future of this country with a man who has served it bravely and loves it dearly. And we will offer two very different visions of the America we see in the twenty-first century.
John McCain has already dismissed our call for change as eloquent but empty.
But he should know that it's a call that did not begin with my words. It's the resounding call from every corner of this country, from first-time voters and lifelong cynics, from Democrats and Republicans alike.
And together you and I are going to grow this movement to deliver that change in November.
Thank you,
Barack


***


Barack,

A few weeks ago, a friend wrote this to me: “In regards to the young junior senator from the Great State of Illinois, Barack Hussein Obama, don't get too excited yet and get your hopes up too high and everything. The road to the White House is a very long way and it is treacherous beyond anything you can imagine.”

To which I replied: “As for my being carried away by "hurricane Obama": who isn't? Of course I also have my doubts about his ultimate chances, but his game is all about hope and dreaming – imagine he is promising to pass "The DREAM Act" so that everyone can have access to proper education! So, I'm just allowing myself to hope and dream for as long as the rough world of real American politics doesn't wake us all up.”

Well, I guess “Now Is The Time!” (exactly in the sense Martin Luther King and Charlie Parker meant to give to it), for ALL of us, including you Mr. Obama, to wake up from the dream…

Yes, the game turned tougher (isn’t it incredible how an advert can scare people away from their dreams?), and tough games require tough tactics…


First of all, when you have two opponents at once, as you have in both Hillary and McCain (and that's already incorporating Bill, as in 'Billary'... and discounting the fact that they've already started stealing from your winning campaign, as in "Yes She Can!"...), you cannot afford to take too much of a defensive stand – as you did yesterday in San Antonio. Just come completely clean about your posture on the Nafta issue and on the allegedly “dodgy business” surrounding your estate agent, and on whatever else might be thrown as dirt at you, and come out with a better grounded offensive…

You need to spend less time justifying your dream and whether or not it is empty, as you did last night, and more on casting it against specific issues and more pragmatic measures to tackle them – just leave the dreams and hopes for us…

You need to talk less about your past as a “community organizer” – yes, it’s the foundation upon which you built your political career, but I guess everybody knows all about it by now. What not so many people is likely to know much about is your record as a Senator – so, why not talk more about that?

You need to put more emphasis on your worldly experience – the sort of experience you so cogently put before us in your “Dreams from My Father”. That’s what will make you the best commander-in-chief of them all: because, unlike your opponents, you know better about the diversity and the nature of the human condition in a world where America is still the most powerful nation; in a world where both the American people and the people of the World are, to say the very least, “sick and tired” of misunderstanding each other – the people of a world which has made you its “global candidate”!

And you need to do it, as you express in the picture, with THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW!

That's my humble opinion as a citizen of the world.

With best wishes,

Ana.

******

Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:59:35 -0400
To: "Ana Santana"
From: "Barack Obama"
Subject: Victories and attacks


Ana --

It's tough to think of two states more different than Wyoming and Mississippi.

But we won Wyoming on Saturday, and we just learned that we won Mississippi by a large margin tonight.

Between those two states, we picked up enough delegates to erase the gains by Senator Clinton last Tuesday and add to our substantial lead in earned delegates. And in doing so we showed the strength and breadth of this movement.

But just turn on the news and you'll see that Senator Clinton continues to run an expensive, negative campaign against us. Each day her campaign launches a new set of desperate attacks.

They're not just attacking me; they're attacking you.

Over the weekend, an aide to Senator Clinton attempted to diminish the overwhelming number of contests we've won by referring to places we've prevailed as "boutique" states and our supporters as the "latte-sipping crowd."

I'm not sure how those terms apply to Mississippi and Wyoming -- or Virginia, Iowa, Louisiana, or Idaho for that matter.

I know that our victories in all of these states demonstrate a rejection of this kind of petty, divisive campaigning.

But the fact remains that Senator Clinton's campaign will continue to attack us using the same old Washington playbook. And now that John McCain is the Republican nominee, we are forced to campaign on two fronts.

It's up to you to fight back.


Thank you,

Barack


Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.
[Martin Luther King, Jr.: "I Have a Dream"]



'NOW'S THE TIME!'

Date:
Wed, 5 Mar 2008 04:31:52 -0500
To:
"Ana Santana"

From:
"Barack Obama"
Subject:
What happened today

Ana --


We may not know the final outcome of today's voting until morning, but the results so far make one thing clear.
When the dust settles from today's contests, we will maintain our substantial lead in delegates. And thanks to millions of people standing for change, we will keep adding delegates and capture the Democratic nomination.
We knew from the day we began this journey that the road would be long. And we knew what we were up against.
We knew that the closer we got to the change we seek, the more we'd see of the politics we're trying to end -- the attacks and distortions that try to distract us from the issues that matter to people's lives, the stunts and the tactics that ask us to fear instead of hope.
But this time -- this year -- it will not work. The challenges are too great. The stakes are too high.
Americans need real change.
In the coming weeks, we will begin a great debate about the future of this country with a man who has served it bravely and loves it dearly. And we will offer two very different visions of the America we see in the twenty-first century.
John McCain has already dismissed our call for change as eloquent but empty.
But he should know that it's a call that did not begin with my words. It's the resounding call from every corner of this country, from first-time voters and lifelong cynics, from Democrats and Republicans alike.
And together you and I are going to grow this movement to deliver that change in November.
Thank you,
Barack


***


Barack,

A few weeks ago, a friend wrote this to me: “In regards to the young junior senator from the Great State of Illinois, Barack Hussein Obama, don't get too excited yet and get your hopes up too high and everything. The road to the White House is a very long way and it is treacherous beyond anything you can imagine.”

To which I replied: “As for my being carried away by "hurricane Obama": who isn't? Of course I also have my doubts about his ultimate chances, but his game is all about hope and dreaming – imagine he is promising to pass "The DREAM Act" so that everyone can have access to proper education! So, I'm just allowing myself to hope and dream for as long as the rough world of real American politics doesn't wake us all up.”

Well, I guess “Now Is The Time!” (exactly in the sense Martin Luther King and Charlie Parker meant to give to it), for ALL of us, including you Mr. Obama, to wake up from the dream…

Yes, the game turned tougher (isn’t it incredible how an advert can scare people away from their dreams?), and tough games require tough tactics…


First of all, when you have two opponents at once, as you have in both Hillary and McCain (and that's already incorporating Bill, as in 'Billary'... and discounting the fact that they've already started stealing from your winning campaign, as in "Yes She Can!"...), you cannot afford to take too much of a defensive stand – as you did yesterday in San Antonio. Just come completely clean about your posture on the Nafta issue and on the allegedly “dodgy business” surrounding your estate agent, and on whatever else might be thrown as dirt at you, and come out with a better grounded offensive…

You need to spend less time justifying your dream and whether or not it is empty, as you did last night, and more on casting it against specific issues and more pragmatic measures to tackle them – just leave the dreams and hopes for us…

You need to talk less about your past as a “community organizer” – yes, it’s the foundation upon which you built your political career, but I guess everybody knows all about it by now. What not so many people is likely to know much about is your record as a Senator – so, why not talk more about that?

You need to put more emphasis on your worldly experience – the sort of experience you so cogently put before us in your “Dreams from My Father”. That’s what will make you the best commander-in-chief of them all: because, unlike your opponents, you know better about the diversity and the nature of the human condition in a world where America is still the most powerful nation; in a world where both the American people and the people of the World are, to say the very least, “sick and tired” of misunderstanding each other – the people of a world which has made you its “global candidate”!

And you need to do it, as you express in the picture, with THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW!

That's my humble opinion as a citizen of the world.

With best wishes,

Ana.

******

Date: Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:59:35 -0400
To: "Ana Santana"
From: "Barack Obama"
Subject: Victories and attacks


Ana --

It's tough to think of two states more different than Wyoming and Mississippi.

But we won Wyoming on Saturday, and we just learned that we won Mississippi by a large margin tonight.

Between those two states, we picked up enough delegates to erase the gains by Senator Clinton last Tuesday and add to our substantial lead in earned delegates. And in doing so we showed the strength and breadth of this movement.

But just turn on the news and you'll see that Senator Clinton continues to run an expensive, negative campaign against us. Each day her campaign launches a new set of desperate attacks.

They're not just attacking me; they're attacking you.

Over the weekend, an aide to Senator Clinton attempted to diminish the overwhelming number of contests we've won by referring to places we've prevailed as "boutique" states and our supporters as the "latte-sipping crowd."

I'm not sure how those terms apply to Mississippi and Wyoming -- or Virginia, Iowa, Louisiana, or Idaho for that matter.

I know that our victories in all of these states demonstrate a rejection of this kind of petty, divisive campaigning.

But the fact remains that Senator Clinton's campaign will continue to attack us using the same old Washington playbook. And now that John McCain is the Republican nominee, we are forced to campaign on two fronts.

It's up to you to fight back.


Thank you,

Barack


OBAMA VS. CLINTON: THE MOTHER OF ALL BATTLES! (Take 10-a)

'THE DOERS!'


No, it wasn't "die day" for her; it was "turnaround day"! She did it in Ohio, Texas, plus Rhode Island for good measure!
Obama “only” managed to do it in Vermont…
As for McCain it was just "confirmation day".
So, congratulations where due!
'THE DOERS!'


No, it wasn't "die day" for her; it was "turnaround day"! She did it in Ohio, Texas, plus Rhode Island for good measure!
Obama “only” managed to do it in Vermont…
As for McCain it was just "confirmation day".
So, congratulations where due!

Monday 3 March 2008

OBAMA VS. CLINTON: THE MOTHER OF ALL BATTLES! (Take 9)

'ON THE EVE OF "DO OR DIE" TUESDAY'...

First, I would like to express my sincere vote of all the best to Hillary Clinton, because looks like it's literally a case of her doing it tomorrow in Texas or her campaign dying for good.

Then, let's just listen to the "AMIGOS DE OBAMA"!


INTERROGATING THE BLOGOSPHERE (IV)


SO, WHAT’S THE WORD ON SOUTH AFRICA?

Gil Scott Heron put the question to the world, in what seems now a long while ago, in relation to Johannesburg. I started asking it myself in the last few days as I got news of what has been reported as the most talked about story in South Africa in recent times.
In my search for answers I found this article, which to me seems a good example of “as close as the (good) media can get to objectivity”, whatever that is…
Probably, mainstream media, in this case AFP, at its best!

No, not simply because they seem to be “sympathetic” to the “black cause”, whatever that is, if that’s what you’re thinking… But because they approach the subject from different perspectives, using various illustrative cases and, while highlighting the case of the humiliating video in question, also mention the case where white journalists were barred from a meeting between black journalists and Jacob Zuma, and all they have as “opinion”, placed against a brief, yet accurate, historical background, is gathered from relevant voices in the country on the issues at stake.

Now, I must say that my praise for this particular article is not completely unrelated to the fact that I couldn’t find a single word on the video story in my “much loved GVO”… Why was it? Where have all the bloggers always so keen on pointing the finger at, or forcefully acting upon, what they perceive, rightly or wrongly, as “black racism” been in the last few days? Or was it GVO that didn’t notice their presumable posts on the issue?

SO, WHAT’S THE WORD ON SOUTH AFRICA?

Gil Scott Heron put the question to the world, in what seems now a long while ago, in relation to Johannesburg. I started asking it myself in the last few days as I got news of what has been reported as the most talked about story in South Africa in recent times.
In my search for answers I found this article, which to me seems a good example of “as close as the (good) media can get to objectivity”, whatever that is…
Probably, mainstream media, in this case AFP, at its best!

No, not simply because they seem to be “sympathetic” to the “black cause”, whatever that is, if that’s what you’re thinking… But because they approach the subject from different perspectives, using various illustrative cases and, while highlighting the case of the humiliating video in question, also mention the case where white journalists were barred from a meeting between black journalists and Jacob Zuma, and all they have as “opinion”, placed against a brief, yet accurate, historical background, is gathered from relevant voices in the country on the issues at stake.

Now, I must say that my praise for this particular article is not completely unrelated to the fact that I couldn’t find a single word on the video story in my “much loved GVO”… Why was it? Where have all the bloggers always so keen on pointing the finger at, or forcefully acting upon, what they perceive, rightly or wrongly, as “black racism” been in the last few days? Or was it GVO that didn’t notice their presumable posts on the issue?

REVISITING 'A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AFRIKA'

An elegant islander visits his son's general store on São Tomé, the former Portuguese island colony in the Gulf of Guinea.
© 2002 Benoit Gysembergh from a Day in the Life of Africa
An elegant islander visits his son's general store on São Tomé, the former Portuguese island colony in the Gulf of Guinea.
© 2002 Benoit Gysembergh from a Day in the Life of Africa