worldwide opinions

Is lack of trust in politicans eroding our democracy?

2009-09-02T10:49:00.002Z

Interesting post from Tim about the continual erosion of the trust (or what's left of it) between politicians and the UK electorate.

This year, as with every other year has been a constant drip of political cronyism, lies and deceit, eroding trust, connection and communication between political leadership and the electorate.anarchyintheuk.com, Sep 2009

Do read the whole post!

Something Rotten in the House of Commons

2009-05-18T19:25:00.003Z

Watching cross party MPs turn on the Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, was somewhat perplexing. On one hand, his lack of leadership was instrumental in allowing recent expenses scandals to take place. On the other, it is hypocritical of MPs to expect one man to take the blame for something they all seem to have been aware of, if not actively involved in; not dissimilar to seeing a gang of criminals blaming their crimes on the chief inspector of their local police force. If only he'd arrested them before they robbed that bank ...

It is impossible to overstate the significance of today's events. If Mr Martin does resign, he will become the first speaker since the 17th century to be forced to do so, and I'm sure the House hope this will draw a line under the whole affair. He will become a high profile sacrifice to placate a public who have lost all confidence in the democratic process and those who administer it. But will it be enough? Do we really believe the entire blame lies at his door? I think not.

The expenses system was drawn up by the very people who so readily abused it, yet, they seriously expect us to believe with one sacking honesty and transparency will be restored. This belief that we can be so easily hoodwinked smacks of extreme arrogance! These are the people we elected to represent us, they do not seem to be doing that. They appear to be more interested in lining their pockets and advancing their own interests, which really isn't good enough. We deserve better!

Politics used to be seen as a form of public service. That may be an old fashioned idea, and it may not have always been true, but that ideal did set the tone of the House; MPs were there to speak for the interests of their constituents, not to further their own. Unless we return to that old fashioned notion the voting public will continue to feel unrepresented and disenchanted with the political process, and that could have far-reaching and disastrous consequences.

Hazel Blears says 'newspapers no substitute for town criers'

2009-05-03T20:08:00.004Z

Image via Wikipedia

"In a clear reference to the prime minister, who has been ridiculed for his appearance on YouTube, the strongly Blairite cabinet minister says such use of 'new media' by politicians is far less effective than old-fashioned campaigning. 'YouTube if you want to,' she says in an article in today's Observer. 'But it is no substitute for knocking on doors or setting up a stall in the town centre.' "
Hazel Blears savages Gordon Brown over 'lamentable' failures - The Guardian

While I agree with the central point Ms Blears is trying to make - that politicians need to reconnect with voters - I do think she is denigrating the use of new technology unnecessarily. As other politicians have shown, it can be a valuable tool in the political process. And it's one that will only become more so.

Every year thousands of teenagers who don't really remember a world without social media become eligible to vote. Of course, talking to them is incredibly important. At the same time, given the choice between reading a pamphlet handed out in the street, or watching a video on YouTube, they are nearly always going to choose the latter. The same is true of many older people who make up a significant percentage of users on many networks. A leaflet is easily discarded, if someone has gone to the trouble of clicking a link they are likely view at least a small part of the content the page contains.

To dismiss new methods of campaigning as less effective is very short-sighted; in effect it's giving up the chance to reach people who would not have accepted a leaflet, or talked on their doorstep. It would negate their chance to make an informed vote by denying them the opportunity to hear a range of opinions. While some might argue that these people should take advantage of more traditional methods, I disagree. If they expect us to make the effort to vote for them, politicians should reach out to us using the mediums of our choice!

To come back to my earlier statement; I can see Ms Blears' point, but if new media has proved ineffective, it is not because people don't want to engage with it. It's because it has been used ineffectively.With the exception of some governmental and political Twitter accounts and the e-petitions site, Labour-style new media has been all about them talking at us, there is little interaction which is contrary to it's whole ethos. It's supposed to be a conversation, but I haven't noticed much dialogue.

Tony Benn to BBC "If you won't broadcast the Gaza appeal then I will myself"

2009-01-26T11:21:00.001Z

Unlike the BBC I don't have to be impartial, so here's the appeal address:

Disaster Emergency Commitee (DEC)
Gaza Crisis
PO BOX 999
LONDON
EC3A 3AA

Sustainable Communities Act launched today

2008-10-14T10:03:00.001Z

"The Sustainable Communities Act gives new powers to communities and their elected councils to drive government policy to tackle local economic, social and environmental issues. It was supported by 80 national organisations, 300 local organisations, over 1000 parish and town councils and thousands of individuals."

Today sees the launch of the Sustainable Communities Act which was brought in to give local councils and communities to find and implement local resolutions to local problems. The effects of the act could be quite wide-ranging, but could include initiatives to tackle crime, unemployment and housing; the protection of post-offices, shops, police stations and other other important services; plans to improve or implement local transport systems. You can read more about the act here and here, you will also find sample letters you can send to your local councillor if you wish to ask your council to get involved.

UK government use anti-terror laws against Icelandic bank

2008-10-13T14:02:00.000Z

When I first saw this news story I thought I'd misread the headline, but no, it's true. Obviously, people who have invested in Landsbanki would dearly like to get their money back, but still, this seems pretty harsh.

I am Vlad! Hear me roar!

2008-10-12T10:53:00.001Z

There's a humorous piece about Vladimir Putin (aka Pootie Poot) by Barbara Ellen in today's Observer - you need to scroll down some way to find it.

Say what you like about Bush and Brown, at least neither man has ever resorted to assailing our eyes with his nekkid flesh or tramping around jungles like a diminutive Ernest Hemmingway.

If you were Sarah Palin's child . . .

2008-10-11T15:21:00.000Z

what would your name be? I'd be Dust Chinstrap Palin. Hmm. That's got quite a ring to it, much better than boring Kate, I may take it up. Look out for posts from Dust Chinstrap in future.

Foreign policy of US presidential candidates

2008-10-10T18:19:00.000Z

Wondering what a new administration in Washington will mean for the rest of us? Me too. So, I went in search of the foreign policies of both Barack Obama and John McCain.

Mr Obama seems to have a very well developed foreign policy which covers several pages of his website. You can find it here, and if you (like me) live in Europe here are his plans for us.

I couldn't find a definitive foreign policy for Mr McCain - I'm sure he has one, I just couldn't find it, maybe it's secret - but I did this transcript on his website.

As ever, share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.

Enjoy your weekend!

Local councils request guarantees for Icelandic investments

2008-10-09T17:23:00.000Z

The Times has published a list of local councils which may lose money invested in the Icelandic banking system. I notice my own local authority is among them - is yours?

What are your thoughts about the situation? Are you concerned about possible rises in council tax and/or loss of services. Would you support a government rescue package? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Bored of the US elections?

2008-09-17T08:04:00.000Z

Pop over here and read Pete's thoughts about our own beleaguered leader who probably wishes dodgy friends and rebellious teenagers were all he had to worry about.

Creationism in science lessons?

2008-09-15T09:38:00.001Z

Once again the thorny issue of teaching creationism in science lessons has been raised. This time, unusually, in the UK media and by a British scientist, Michael Reiss. Although, Mr Reiss is actually suggesting science teachers discuss creationism with students who raise the subject, the debate, inevitably, has turned to whether or not it should form part of the science curriculum. And, once again, the same arguments are being used by advocates, namely that evolution isn't a fact, it is just a theory. Please people stop it! The word theory has more than one definition, and in a scientific sense it is used thus:

"A well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world; an organized system of accepted knowledge that applies in a variety of circumstances to explain a specific set of phenomena"
Definition courtesy of WordWeb

On the other hand, creationism could be more accurately described as a hypothesis,

"A message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence"
Definition courtesy of WordWeb

To get back to the subject - do I think the creationism hypothesis should be taught as part of school science lessons? No! Most definitely not! Creationism has no more place in a science class than astrology - and that has a far larger following. No science teacher worth the title would even consider teaching a module about the effects of being born on the cusp of Libra and Scorpio with Pisces rising and the same should apply to other forms of belief and superstition.

Of course people are free to believe anything they like, and on the whole the rest of society should respect that. However, we don't have to agree with them, nor should we make allowances for their views if it means compromising valid teaching practices.

Further Reading:

Mr and Mrs Palin should feel like a pair of Bristols

2008-09-12T21:41:00.000Z

OK, I've been sitting on my hands to avoid posting about this, but I can't hold off any longer. Bristol Palin - imagine if she had been born this side of the Atlantic. The poor girl would have spent her school days with the nickname 'tit'.

Sorry, cheap shot, I couldn't resist. Having said that, you'd think her parents would have checked. I mean, no one likes to give their offspring a name which might raise eyebrows if they go abroad.

The Story of Thanet's Water

2008-09-10T15:51:00.001Z

Thanet. It's in Kent which itself is just south of London. Here in this sleepy and largely mismanaged corner of the UK a storm is brewing.

Something called the China Gateway is being proposed. Allegedly the local district council (TDC) are invested in it as are county council (KCC) but it is a privately run venture backed with borrowed money to convert farm land into a warehouse site for Chinese companies.

The two big players are EKO LLP which is a project funded and run by the County and District councils and CGP the private firm that will make most of the money. This has raised more questions than answers and local bloggers are wondering if the authorities are able to keep interests separate. More interesting the company was established only to obtain the Thanet site (and one other) and obtain planning permission on it. If the planning permission fails the company goes bust.

But this build were it to go ahead will bring little or no work to the area. Nor will it bring inward investment from the building work and yet there is strong favour at all official levels. Meanwhile the pubic have an altogether different view.

The proposals involve turning 175 acres of countryside into a huge warehousing development for Chinese electronics on Manston business park.

To start with this project will be housed on top of the islands drinking water. People are upset about this. All the same the project leaders are trying their hardest to not spend money to protect the water supply.

There is a suggestion of increased flooding risk which itself threatens the water supply for the 130,000 people that live there.

A criminal investigation is under way because lost documents that turned up in a TESCO carrier bag show that councillors may have lied bout funding for trips to China. (Indeed other scrutiny suggest other minor misdeeds in this case indicating people not being honest). Word is that local newspapers refused to touch a story that hurt their biggest paying advertiser (the local council). So poor was the local paper's handling of the story that it led to an Assistant Editor at the Telegraph Media Group in London declaring journalism dead in Thanet but for a few blogs in quite earthy language on his blog.

Planning information is still being withheld although public opion is yet to deicide if this is incompetence or deliberate corruption. Vital reports seem to be missing. This is from a local planning committee that is no stranger to suggestions of misdeeds.

The planning application is going to go before the entire District Council by the slim difference of one person's vote on the planning committee.

The roads can not handle the traffic: China Gateway has over 4,000 car parking spaces and 566 HGV parking spaces so they obviously expect considerable extra traffic, the airport has capacity for 400,000 tonnes of freight and 1,000,000 passengers per year, they will have to invent a new word gridlock doesn’t get anywhere near it. says Local Businessman, Michael Child.

The local search engine Thanet Finder has set up a special page on it's blog portal to track the topic of the China Gateway.

Local environmental groups are worried The Kent branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England is against plans for a large industrial estate at Manston, which it believes will eventually expand and encroach on the countryside. says Kent News. Indeed many think it may already be too late after the hugely disruptive "Thanet Earth" project slipped though almost unnoticed only to start causing harm that was somehow not reported anywhere before.

Even Private Eye had a pop at our council over the Tesco Carrier bag mess. Yet despite all signs of back handers and misdeeds (not least of which is the failing to inform the public properly about planning) things continue apace.

Unsurprisingly it was a bit cramped in the hall when a local film maker Christine Tongue called a public meeting on the subject. Even non bloggers are getting a word in and that word is largely "no thanks".

Planning stories like this happen every day in every part of the world. Many go unnoticed by the press and when the press do notice they often say nothing because they don't want to offend the biggest source of money. What will scare you is that just 30% of the people voted in the last election and the suggestion sit that the current power in Thanet was put there by just 18% of the people or 23,500 people which is about the size one would expect for the political party's paid up membership (and their friends and family).

The budget in Thanet is in and it shows that even if those on benefits are treated most roughly the council will have a hard time covering the over spend. The truth is that the local council is not skilled enough to run the area - councillors from other councils point at Thanet's council and laugh. Yet even in more able districts of the UK the story is similar - businesses and authorities silently getting on with developments that any right minded local would oppose.

So what's the answer?

The story of the Tesco carrier bag was broken because a blogger was handed what the paper's refused to touch. Even the Assistant Editor at the Telegraph Media Group in London suggests in his blog that the blog format is the only way forward. Informed and insightful local blogging could be the only power on earth able to slow down the damage the current system is doing. It costs nothing but a little time to blog and you area needs you.

Please note I blog about Thanet but much of my information is sourced from other blogs and news sites and is only as accurate as my sources. I add this now because one or two of Thanet's rich types have got a bit trigger happy with the legal team, as it were.

A Mandate for the Malicious

2008-08-19T10:09:00.002Z

The Register are covering the story of John Pinnington, a former headmaster who has lost his job because an enhanced security check revealed unsubstantiated rumours about him.

"A recent landmark ruling by the High Court takes the UK one step closer to becoming an “informant society” along the lines of the former East Germany or Soviet Union."

I have no idea about the veracity of the allegations against Mr Pinnington, but the idea that someone's life can be ruined by little more than tittle tattle is not only shocking, but against everything the UK legal system is supposed to stand for. I have children at school so of course I agree with security checks, but I'm more concerned about dedicated and talented teachers leaving the education system only to be replaced by those who are squeaky clean but otherwise second rate.

Teaching is a poorly paid occupation with, in many cases, a high level of stress and responsibility. At the time of writing, the profession finds it hard to recruit graduates with good degrees. Adding yet another disincentive will only serve to further deter the very people who would be of most benefit to young minds. Why on earth would these people want to teach when they can earn considerably more doing a job which does not expose them to the risk of public humiliation and ruin!

What is (or should be) of concern to us all is the idea that an individual is no longer considered innocent unless proven guilty - a system which has served us well for centuries - instead gossip and spite are seen as proof of guilt. In an ideal world, no one would ever make false allegations against another person. However, out here in the real world people do, even children. The law should serve to protect the innocent from such claims, not to give a mandate to the malicious.

David Davies resigns on point of principle

2008-06-12T12:23:00.004Z

David Davies, Conservative MP and shadow home secretary has resigned following the government victory in the 42 day detention vote.

"He told reporters outside the Commons: 'I will argue in this by-election against the slow strangulation of fundamental British freedoms by this government.'"

Read the full story

Flames of Hate

2008-05-21T12:35:00.001Z

Warning, this video involves GRAPHIC scenes of recent violence on South Africa streets:

http://multimedia.thetimes.co.za/photos/2008/05/flames-of-hate/

There is no unlimited

2008-05-20T07:38:00.001Z

Lots of UK ISPs offer ADSL (Broadband) packages that have an "unlimited bandwidth" option but this is nowhere near realisticly unlimited. As I have mentioned in "iPlayer and BitTorrent: The truth about so-called unlimited broadband" you are likely to get the same throughput (bandwidth) as a cheaper "limited" package but with a decreased quality to stretch it out over the month. New technologies are exposing this "unlimited" bandwidth and showing us that simply is not there.

"The Ofcom Consumer Panel has called on regulators to pull their fingers out and demand that ISPs are more honest with us about the limitations of broadband.

"The group wants a new mandatory code of practice to force providers to qualify their dodgy 'up to' speed claims, which accompany virtually all broadband marketing. The slowdown effects of contention, distance from the exchange, and network status should be made clear, it argues."

Your "up to" 8 Meg line might run effectively at 4 Meg, or maybe only 64 Kbps and this is within the product description. That "up to" is a way of ISPs promising you everything but then not having to give you anything. If you try to complain that the speed is not as advertised they will tell you that your speed is reliant on the conditions of the cable and your distance from the exchange. What they do not tell you is that if they are unable to provide what they offered you will need a damn good solicitor to sue them for breach of contract because the terms and conditions say that whatever they offer you get whatever you get. Sorry.

The full truth is even more shady. You have no actual way of knowing how fast an effective speed (after network errors, throttles, shaping, resets, delays and network lag are taken into account) you get. Your ISP can choke the effective speed down to save the budgeted bandwidth for business users (who pay better).

In "The truth about so-called unlimited broadband" I examined how the BBC had braught this issue to a head:

If you live in the UK you will be sure to be aware that the BBC (known fondly as Aunty) has launched it's own peer-to-peer media player. The BBC's iPlayer uses software called Kontiki (similar to BitTorrent) which also powers "Sky Anytime" and "4od". This enables the BBC to off set the massive requirements of distributing it's "free" media by having the consumers take part in providing the stream.

Kontiki is basically a peer-to-peer system and so like BitTorrent and other peer-to-peer programs it sends lots of data accross the network.

Plusnet, according to Bob Pullen from plusnet (see my blog post for more on that), tells me that plusnet do not offer an unlimited package and that they use a "quality of service" system to give priority to things like Aunty's iPlayer while thier site says peer-to-peer traffic is down at the bottom of the priority list. Take from that what you will.

ISPs have to transmit the packets through their networks and they do not really like it. The issue here is that the previous monopoly (BT) charge ISPs in a bizzar way. When ISPs get connected to the BT network the only cost to BT is the man power and connection equipment. Once it is set up it is effectively cost free but for the ISP the cost is just starting as they are charged for every packet of data that passes through that connection.

This increase in bandwidth usage is not so sudden and should have been easily predictable by the ISPs but they have been caught with their pants down. What they should have been doing is investing heavily in scalable solutions so that as the demand increased so could they. Woops no - they are worried that if you use what you paid for they will go bust.

What ISPs see as an answer is called "traffic shaping" - they throttle the bandwidth so that the connection speed might be 7.5 Mbps but your effective speed is sometimes likely to be more like 0.4 Mbps. When it comes to peer-to-peer they get even more aggressive and attempt to block your use of such services (such as peer-to-peer services iPlayer or BitTorrent) using a range of techniques that can include data fraud and spying. Some ISPs may actually "spy" on every packet of data you transmit through their network and when they see peer-to-peer packets they inject extra data into the steam as it passes through which is a "reset signal" that disconnects you from peers.

This inspection is not so different to automated wiretapping and definitely threatens your privacy. This may or maynot be against the law but this has never been tested. One answer is to use an encrypted connection whenever you can but not all sites have https support and not all peer-to-peer clients support it but as the ISPs get more aggressive in not giving you what they promise so to the users are getting smarter.

This is not an issue that is going to go away and without strong calls for increased transparency over the methods used to "shape traffic" ISPs will do whatever they like. Where does this leave us?

Well... it leaves us asking more questions and seeing few answers. I'm going to quiz Bob as he has stepped up to join in so keep an eye on me here and else where as the answers start to arrive (or fail to).

Obama the winner!

2008-05-18T22:00:00.001Z

Time magazine has declare Barack Obama the winner of the Democratic race. Sort of...

Love the asterisk. I wonder if Time is behaving in a responsible manner by declaring that Obama will win the race.

Although Hillary is not out, the media (and it would seem the majority of voters [um... except in West Virginia]) have turned against her completely.

It would seem America isn't ready for a female candidate for President, let alone President (sorry, Condi!)

But Obama has to be feeling happy that until the convention, the media is going to make everyone feel warm and fuzzy about his seemingly inevitable nomination.

Why I Must Learn French

2008-05-16T18:07:00.006Z

I am thinking that I must learn to speak french. I don't just mean "Bonjour" and a spattering of phrases I'm talking chattering away in french as if there was nothing to it.

I feel I must because I want the option to get the hell out of the UK when it completes it's transformation into a nazi state.

They can fingerprint me and record personal data about me if I commit a crime but not otherwise. I do not see a good reason to hand over every form of data about me to a group that can not even keep my name and address a secret.

Let me tell you about that.

When I wrote "Open Letter to The British Government Regarding the Loss of Sensitive Personal Information on every household with a child under 16 years old." it was with the hope that I would be able to show just how badly the govenment does not understand IT.

I pointed to a free peace of technology that would allow me to store whatever I felt on a hard drive tot he point that all of MI5 with the help of the CIA, the FBI or any number of 1337 script kiddies would never be able to break into with plausible deniability to it's existence in the first place. I officially have no encrypted volumes and I do not store notes in them.

Meanwhile as regular power users are able to store our data so safely that even if you steal our computers you will find nothing at all the Government idea of secure is text based password. Even vista has disk encryption as standard (if you switch it on).

So let's talk about your password protect file that I (in theory) have on my theoretical hard drive.

A dictionary attack will open most files inside six minutes - that's just enough time to fix a cup of coffee. Failing that if I know what some of the locked text says (or if I can see the encrypted password) a rainbow table attack will break most very quickly.

Let's talk password locks for a moment. Not all password protected files are unreadable it is just that the software asks you to give the password. All I need to know is the file format (or a good guess at it) and I'll have half the content out of the file while you were scratching your head.

Let me remind you that a dedicated attacker with access to criminal “botnets” (used by many kinds of “cyber criminal” for activities such as blackmail, spamming, Distributed Denial of Service attacks or “brute force” password attempts) or other large co-operative systems might be able to make the work of years in to the work of a few days. With access to a modern Mainframe computer this can be done many times quicker still.

So while the UK govenment does not even understand how to make safe use of passwords I know how to make my files unfindable forever - forget trying to break in - you have to find it first.

No let us talk network security. Most networks are secured using passwords. All I need to break in is (a) to guess your password, (b) trick the password out of you, (c) steal the password using a virus, keylogger or other malware or (d) use "smart" brute force methods to systematically guess a password. If I don't fancy any of that lot I can look for an exposed computer that is not up to date and exploit it or I could get a job (I have no criminal record) or pay someone else to get a job working inside or I couldblackmail a junior worker, line manager or similar. Frankly there are more ways into a govenment network than there are people working on that network.

If I'm good I might even set up some back doors to the system and document all flaws for next time.

There is no way that a system so badly set up that disks are sent in the post with nothing more than a human generated password to "lock them" is secure. I would bet money that there are right now over one hundred ways into every file the government keeps.

So when they indicate that they want to keep track of enough data that someone with half my skills could get at and then use to pretend to be me I know it is time to give up my citizenship and move out.

Don't even get me started on the privacy and human rights side of the debate...

Xenophobia in Alex: Another shame of South Africa

2008-05-16T08:16:00.001Z

Last night I was having dinner with great friends, and afterwards over coffee, in the tradition of the chattering classes, we got down to talking about the ethical bankruptcy of our civic society. That South Africans as a general rule are lawless and lack empathy or respect for the lives and integrity of other human beings, this explains our high violent crime rate, and the taking of lives for things worth no more than a few pounds.

This total failure to empathise, to care about other human beings, is finding itself manifested in the criminal and violent attacks on foreigners in the Alexandra township in Johannesburg. But can we really be surprised?

In a society were violence goes unpunished by the government, the authority figures appointed by the people, and there is no common sense of dignity for one's fellow man, how can we be surprised when mobs rise up and lash out at those who are different.

This is surely a criminal act, but it speaks to a deeper issue in society. It speaks to the complete absence of avenues for change. South Africans will continue to turn to violence to resolve civil issues - the tools of the violent criminals that terrorise our nation are to become the tools of the abused society that government has failed in its duty to protect.

The first cause of a government is security for the people. Secondary concerns such as education and health, and tertiary concerns such as diplomacy and financial regulation are all out of whack in the ANC government.

And let us not forget that the South African government belongs to the ANC. The cadres who now fight and drink and swear at conferences around the nation, who support Zuma and his 'change' are the same people who have done NOTHING for the last 10 years as South Africa's government and infrastructure turns to dust; and the ones who suffer the most, the poor, go unfed, insecure and uncared for.

South Africans are not secure. And now they are venting their rage, in a criminal and inhumane way, against foreigners who don't deserve their violence. But it is a stark reminder that South Africa is no haven from violence : yes, the violence of African conflicts does not exist in South Africa yet, but a far more insidious violence dominates South African society, it is a violence and criminality that goes unchecked by South African leaders. They DO NOT CARE! No member of the ANC can say that they care about the man in the street when they are complicit in the greatest crime of all: the death of empathy and dignity in the South African nation.

The South African Liberal Constitution is a fiction. Because the people, and the government South Africans choose DOES NOTHING to ensure the rights and freedoms entrenched in it, are delivered by the government. A South African's right to health care, education, housing, safety and security ARE NOT PAID FOR BY HIS TAXES. Therefore if he doesn't have the means to pay for these services and rights privately, he would not have those things, the government wouldn't keep its end of the social contract.

That is a failed society.

South Africa is a society to be ashamed of.

South Africa is a society which must be renewed.

Bring of the elections of 2009, so that The People can decide on the ANC's policy of self enrichment and oppression of the poor.

The Quiet Revolution in South Africa

2008-05-12T10:01:00.001Z

I was reading the Time 100 recently, and it included Jacob Zuma, the President of the ruling ANC party.

A very important point was made. Zuma, for all his faults (which are numerous, and will hopefully be found out in the South African courts in August) succeeded, despite his seemingly impenetrable traditional veneer, to conduct a very unafrican process in South Africa: the taking down of an entrenched and established centralised autocrat from within (Thabo Mbeki); without bloodshed and without civil war.

As this weekend's tripartite summit proves, Mbeki is a lame duck president. This may have more to do with Mbeki's atrocious handling of this country, and less to do with the enigmatic yet flawed Zuma.

But there is a glimmer of hope. As was stated previously to me at a dinner party, all politicians are on some level crooked; I agree. And Jacob Zuma might be as bad as any, again I'd agree. But the real victors in the impending removal of Thabo Mbeki from the high office in this country is that it sends a strong message to all future presidents, first and foremost Zuma, that civil society in South Africa, especially amongst the black majority, will not tolerate an autocrat.

Now that is a very interesting and powerful thing; and a true sign that the African renaissance is taking place - but not in the way Mbeki had suspected it would.

Clinton's ideologue tells her to throw in the towel.

2008-05-08T09:29:00.001Z

George McGovern, the former Senator and Democratic Icon, has told Clinton she should give up in her race against Barack Obama.

His 1972 campaign inspired Clinton to get into politics. She's a hard woman, and I doubt the personal nature of the denouncement will cut her to the core, I suspect it will give her some pause as to whether or not continue with her campaign.

More on this story at the NYT and Washington Times

Literacy and communication

2008-04-23T09:39:00.001Z

Google's blog is highlighting today the importance of World Book Day and The Literacy Project.

Its shocking to think that 1 in 5 adults is illiterate. But as I reminded someone at a party on Saturday night, even if the WHOLE world was literate, a world without books is useless. And Google is doing good by joining UNESCO is attacking the nexus of the problem, books spawn literacy and vice versa, and that is often forgotten.

When I was in High School, I remember going to debate in township schools, and invariably the debate would happen in the 'library'. I use this term partially, since most of these rooms had few if any reading materials, let alone books. Generally there were government sex education comics, a couple of bibles, and possibly a few donated books; but the sheer LACK of books shocked me, and reminded me that literacy without something to read is useless; it becomes nothing but a perfunctory aspect of government action, and not the development of a educated civic collective.

Couple that shock of a LACK of books, with the abundance of books and bookshops in the UK. I never fail to be amazed at how much reading is going on in the UK. It's great for the health of that nation, as an outsider, and surely provides them with a national competitive edge far beyond Monty Python sketches and good television.

Literacy with books leads to better communication. And in an increasingly globalised and competitive world driven by information, and subsequently knowledge, we can't ignore the VITAL nature of good communication (and therefore literacy) in the battle for competitiveness.

Literacy, like the free market, is not a zero sum game. Like trade, the more literate actors in the 'market' of ideas communicated in local communities and the world, comes to benefit all communities in ever greater extends.

Considering this then, should we not be considering the inclusion of literacy as a basic human right. To deny someone access to the well of human ideas, is no different to the denial of good drinking water to the thirsting man. He might be able to survive on muddy waters, but he will only thrive if he has access to the true benefits of the written word, and the education that provides.

The revolution of the printing press cannot overthrow the dangerous ideas in the third world until populations are literate and educated.

It then is a great fear that governments hide their populations from truth by keeping them in a perpetual uneducated, yet partially literate (i.e. no books - such as in many [sadly most] schools in South Africa) state, so as to ensure a fearful and sheepish populace which can be stretched, beaten and oppressed without the knowledge that a better existence awaits them should they strive for freedom and the removal of despots and tyranny.

Obama and Hillary in Pennsylvania

2008-04-22T10:35:00.001Z

The Obama/Clinton machine rolls onto a much sought pugilistic moment, the April 22 Primary in Pennsylvania.

Could Clinton have ever imagined having to fight this hard, so late in the race for the Democratic candidacy? She thought she was a lock, and would have it all wrapped up by Super Tuesday if not before.

Could Obama have imagined that he would get soft soaped by the media just long enough for his inspirational message to resonate with American voters?

And even now, as the two candidates twist and turn, name calling and underwriting why one another are not capable of holding the highest political office in the world (which is why this is relevant for people like myself, an African), one has to ask: has it been worth it?

Has the Democratic Party of the United States done itself any favours by allowing this battle to rage on?

Admittedly the media exposure has been great, and the campaign war chest has been phenomenal, probably far larger than anything a single candidate could have raised in battling John McCain.

But with the race and fight turning bitter (there is THAT word again) and nasty to ever increasing degrees by the day, will either candidate be able to present their platforms as something fresh and positive come election day in November?

All this time, the Republican election machine is able to study and collect 'mind bullets' to fire at either candidate once one is chosen. Is it still too late to ask for a compromise candidate, like, let's say (since its Earth Day and all...) Al Gore? To really throw this election into the cement mixer of chaos?

Democracy is a funny thing, and American democracy is a very 18th century version at times. Perhaps the Democratic candidates have engorged themselves too much on the blood and fat of the cable news channels. Americans think that they know John McCain, as they think they know the Democratic candidates, but only once the two party race begins, after the Democrat horse trading has ended, will the true dirt get dug up on all sides.

As for today... the polls say Clinton has it.

I can't help wishing there is a surprise on the day, if for no other reason then to end this primary race by letting Obama take it. I'm tired of the opening comedy act, someone please bring on the band!