Here are some excerpts taken from an article on New Zealand Herald written by Mike Moore, a former prime minister and Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
'Why is it that countries that should be wealthy, that have resources, have continued to underperform? Poverty is a man-made thing so we can fix it, but how and what works and what fails? What's the common denominator in success and failure?
Open economies always do better. Trade and competition drive up results and help to combat corruption, as well as allocate resources more efficiently. Private ownership, spread through society, works.
The tragedy of large-scale privatisation in countries such as Russia was the brutal insider wealth grabs. A free market without solid, trusted institutions, property rights, independent courts, a professional public service and democracy is not a free market but a black market.
Firm, predictable civil institutions create a vital factor to promote success. Trust. Trust in the courts, in contracts, is a serious issue. Good governance is fundamental.'
The full article.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
How much is pop culture affecting us?
The American party girl, model,actress and singer Lindsay Lohan, 21 has been in the news in the last few years more for news of her escapades from drug rehabilitaion centres.
Now she is in the news for posing nude recreating America's most famous Star Marilyn Monroe whose life was cut short when she died of a drug overdose in 1962. Many may find Lindsay's photos tasteless, but these type of gimmicks sells magazines as New York fashion magazine found out.
The pictures have been so popular that the magazine's Web site crashed, receiving around 20 million daily page views on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The New York Times has joined a raging debate on the merit of this photo shoot calling the images of Lohan-as-Monroe "macabre".
Here's Lindsay singing one of her songs.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Singapore's national pride soars sky high
There was an irresistible urge for the pride of a nation that erupted into celebration when the city state of Singapore was announced on Thursday as winning the right to host the inaugural Youth Olympics in 2010. Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called it a new era for Southeast Asian sport. Singapore beat the only other contender, Moscow, for the Games, which will have around 3,200 athletes, aged 14-18, competing in 26 sports.
It will be the first time that Singapore has hosted a multi-disciplinary sporting event of such a magnitude. “It is a great honour and privilege for all of us,” said Prime Minister Lee in front of thousands of cheering supporters wearing red and white, the colours of the national flag.
Singapore is a real-life working model of Olympic values in practice, said Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan who also launched the Junior Reach Ambassadors' programme. The Junior Reach Ambassadors' programme is a part of the restructured Feedback Unit to gather feedback from various groups of Singapore. “By choosing Singapore, the IOC (International Olympic Council) has declared that it is possible for small young cities like Singapore to host the Olympic movement,” he said.
Singapore with a population of 4.6 million has played its size-is-not-everything card to perfection. Now the hard work beyond the huge buzz has begun in earnest to make the event a success.
Singapore is the wealthiest nation in Asia ex-Japan, with a 2006 Gross Domestic Product of about $29,000 per capita, on par with G-7 member Italy.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
The elderly to get axed first
While most of the capitalistic world celebrates workers day on May 1, in Maldives the Government employees aged 65 and older will be forced to retire on the same day, when the Civil Service Act comes into effect.
While streamlining the bloated and inefficient civil service structure is necessary, the layoffs for older workers come even while there is no pension provisions in place for them. Thus the changes will come hard on a vulnerable segment of our society who are understandably nervous especially because no other opportunity exists for any alternative gainful work.
These forcibly retired civil servants will be completely dissolutioned when they realise that for politicians, the same standard is not applied. This is a debatable point which ought to be debated in parliament to work out a similar retirement age for politicians as well. The political parties need to look into this in the interest of fairness.
As usual our Government, the opposition political parties in parliament and the civil service commission are targeting the older workers first- the soft targets that can be pushed over into despair without the rancour which will come with aged politicians serving their own interest by remaining on public payroll.
As pointed out by the MMA governor Jihad, in addition to the failed monetary policy there is a growing income inequality among Maldivians, and he is calling for greater wealth redistribution through taxation. He believes the bill on business profit tax, currently awaiting parliamentary consideration, would be “a step in the right direction”, but questions whether there is the “political willpower” to pass the bill in an election year.
Thus, without any regard to build a resilient community through financial security for retirement, the older workers are driven off like sheep to the slaughter house. Maldives is a country that has an expatriate population of 65,000 foreign workers. Surely some of our older workers can be retrained to stretch their work potential and create innovative work opportunities to fit younger workers or replace expatriate labour where Maldivians can be given the training and incentives to step in to the job.
Beyond the benefit of the pension the older workers will get, the Government will need to also provide targeted assistance to those of them who need help to adjust to the increased cost of living conditions.
Our economy needs to be restructured. We should provide a full range of education and training for people to take up work opportunities in the hospitality industry and other indutries like fishing, agriculture and retail business. To spur the growth of innovative enterprises, our Government should provide adequate incentives for people to create new ideas and products. We have the resources and the capacity to achieve these results if the politicians can find the will to do so.
While streamlining the bloated and inefficient civil service structure is necessary, the layoffs for older workers come even while there is no pension provisions in place for them. Thus the changes will come hard on a vulnerable segment of our society who are understandably nervous especially because no other opportunity exists for any alternative gainful work.
These forcibly retired civil servants will be completely dissolutioned when they realise that for politicians, the same standard is not applied. This is a debatable point which ought to be debated in parliament to work out a similar retirement age for politicians as well. The political parties need to look into this in the interest of fairness.
As usual our Government, the opposition political parties in parliament and the civil service commission are targeting the older workers first- the soft targets that can be pushed over into despair without the rancour which will come with aged politicians serving their own interest by remaining on public payroll.
As pointed out by the MMA governor Jihad, in addition to the failed monetary policy there is a growing income inequality among Maldivians, and he is calling for greater wealth redistribution through taxation. He believes the bill on business profit tax, currently awaiting parliamentary consideration, would be “a step in the right direction”, but questions whether there is the “political willpower” to pass the bill in an election year.
Thus, without any regard to build a resilient community through financial security for retirement, the older workers are driven off like sheep to the slaughter house. Maldives is a country that has an expatriate population of 65,000 foreign workers. Surely some of our older workers can be retrained to stretch their work potential and create innovative work opportunities to fit younger workers or replace expatriate labour where Maldivians can be given the training and incentives to step in to the job.
Beyond the benefit of the pension the older workers will get, the Government will need to also provide targeted assistance to those of them who need help to adjust to the increased cost of living conditions.
Our economy needs to be restructured. We should provide a full range of education and training for people to take up work opportunities in the hospitality industry and other indutries like fishing, agriculture and retail business. To spur the growth of innovative enterprises, our Government should provide adequate incentives for people to create new ideas and products. We have the resources and the capacity to achieve these results if the politicians can find the will to do so.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
A crisis of confidence
The Governor of Maldives Monetory Authority Mr. Abdulla Jihad revealed Thursday what many Maldivians knew for a long time. The Maldivian tourist resort owners are keeping their finance outside Maldives and they do it for two reasons.
1) They get better benefits abroad, and
2) Lack of confidence in the Maldives financial system.
In a country that does not have an income tax system, the Maldivian business elites have always enjoyed an unfair advantage over the rest of the population.
Much of the industrial world follows Adam Smith's free market capitalistic theory espoused in 'The Wealth of the Nations' that rests on his explanation of how rational self-interest in a free-market economy leads to economic well-being. Such free markets without certain checks and balances have the tendency to concentrate wealth in the hands of the few as we have seen through out the world, including Maldives. Thus checks and balances are necessary if it is to provide a reasonably equitable distribution of wealth. The fundamentals of economics haven't changed, yet in the face of clear evidence of a growing gap between rich and poor, and with no hope of an escape from poverty for millions of people worldwide, we cannot willingly accept the argument that the economy is best left to market forces.
The maximum amount of wealth of a nation lies in the wealth of its people, everything that the mass of people have. Therefore, it is necessary to structure the economy from the perpective of the consumers. It is important to balance the income gap without giving undue priviledges to the business elites at the expense of the rest of society most of whom are struggling to meet daily demands of life.
1) They get better benefits abroad, and
2) Lack of confidence in the Maldives financial system.
In a country that does not have an income tax system, the Maldivian business elites have always enjoyed an unfair advantage over the rest of the population.
Much of the industrial world follows Adam Smith's free market capitalistic theory espoused in 'The Wealth of the Nations' that rests on his explanation of how rational self-interest in a free-market economy leads to economic well-being. Such free markets without certain checks and balances have the tendency to concentrate wealth in the hands of the few as we have seen through out the world, including Maldives. Thus checks and balances are necessary if it is to provide a reasonably equitable distribution of wealth. The fundamentals of economics haven't changed, yet in the face of clear evidence of a growing gap between rich and poor, and with no hope of an escape from poverty for millions of people worldwide, we cannot willingly accept the argument that the economy is best left to market forces.
The maximum amount of wealth of a nation lies in the wealth of its people, everything that the mass of people have. Therefore, it is necessary to structure the economy from the perpective of the consumers. It is important to balance the income gap without giving undue priviledges to the business elites at the expense of the rest of society most of whom are struggling to meet daily demands of life.
Forcing more competition in the supermarkets
Supermarkets in UK could be forced to sell land to allow rivals to open in areas where there is not enough competition.
The United Kingdom is dominated by four supermarkets, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons that control 75 percent of the market share of the 120 billion pounds grocery market.
The Competition Commission, the industry watchdog has recommended a new “competition test” under which authorities would have to take account of how many outlets a supermarket already has in a particular area.
Other measures included the creation of a new independent ombudsman or ‘shopping czar’ to oversee a code of practice between supermarkets and their suppliers.
The regulator wants an ombudsman to protect food suppliers against any dispute with the four major supermarkets.
More on BBC Business News.
The United Kingdom is dominated by four supermarkets, Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons that control 75 percent of the market share of the 120 billion pounds grocery market.
The Competition Commission, the industry watchdog has recommended a new “competition test” under which authorities would have to take account of how many outlets a supermarket already has in a particular area.
Other measures included the creation of a new independent ombudsman or ‘shopping czar’ to oversee a code of practice between supermarkets and their suppliers.
The regulator wants an ombudsman to protect food suppliers against any dispute with the four major supermarkets.
More on BBC Business News.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
A touching goodbye
Tragedy struck the Singapore zoo's primates a second time in a week, when a young female orang utan died of a dislocated neck in a freak accident yesterday. At mid-day, Atina, aged two-and-a-half years, caught her neck in a hanging noose, which was part of a hammock in the apes' enclosure.Her mother Anita and other orang utans, in their haste to free her, tugged at her neck, dislocating it. She died instantly, said a zoo spokesman. Zookeepers could not reach Atina on time because her mother kept pushing them away.
The tragedy comes less than a week after Ah Meng, Singapore's famous orang utan died of old age. Ah Meng has appeared in more than 30 travel films and was the only non-human to receive a special award from the Singapore Tourism Board in recognition for her contribution towards tourism in Singapore.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Concern over increasing sex crimes
Ministry of Justice has amended sentencing guidelines on Monday to jail sex offenders instead of banishment after facing public outrage and criticism from rights groups who were enraged that four men who raped an under-aged girl were sentenced to two years banishment.
The mandatory prison sentencing for sex predators comes about at a time when the number of sexual crimes has increased in recent years. It is felt that evidence of such crimes that may have gone unreported in the past is now being brought to light because of public awareness.
In the international community, it has been commonly assumed that sexual disorders leading to various sexual crimes are caused by some kind of mental illness. While researchers are attempting to answer causes of perverted and sadistic behaviour that leads to heinous sexual offences, every society will need to work its own method to deal with deviant sexual behaviour and sexual offences with punishments that will include treatment of the repressed conditions.
If Maldives doesn't have the mental health experts to undertake such treatment immediately, we have to start asking the hard questions in order to find out what is going wrong with our society. In a close-knit society like Maldives with a 100 per cent Muslim population, why are we seeing gang rape of young girls?
The mandatory prison sentencing for sex predators comes about at a time when the number of sexual crimes has increased in recent years. It is felt that evidence of such crimes that may have gone unreported in the past is now being brought to light because of public awareness.
In the international community, it has been commonly assumed that sexual disorders leading to various sexual crimes are caused by some kind of mental illness. While researchers are attempting to answer causes of perverted and sadistic behaviour that leads to heinous sexual offences, every society will need to work its own method to deal with deviant sexual behaviour and sexual offences with punishments that will include treatment of the repressed conditions.
If Maldives doesn't have the mental health experts to undertake such treatment immediately, we have to start asking the hard questions in order to find out what is going wrong with our society. In a close-knit society like Maldives with a 100 per cent Muslim population, why are we seeing gang rape of young girls?
Monday, February 11, 2008
Smoking will kill 1 billion people
One billion people will die from tobacco-related causes by the end of the century if current consumption trends continue, according to a global report released Thursday by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Read more here.
WHO report has outlined six tobacco control policies. It calls it MPOWER: They are:
1)Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies
2)Protect people from tobacco smoke
3)Offer help to quit tobacco use
4)Warn about the dangers of tobacco
5)Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
6)Raise taxes on tobacco
The report also breaks down tobacco consumption and prevention efforts country by country.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
What happened to the rights of 'Vakarugay Kudhin'?
An artice on haveeru online reads,"Increasing vakrugay kudhin in Maldives." Vakarugay kudhin is a derogatory term referring to children who were naughty, indisciplined and did not go to school. Haveeru article writes about a 14-year old boy who dropped out from primary 5 and is now lurking around the streets in Male looking for work. The boy says his parents know what he is doing. There are many more kids like him loitering around in Male and in other islands. These kids are not only wasting their time but often they get invovled in gang fights. Where are the parents? And why has the state abdicated its responsibility to provide opportunities for their education?
In a speech given to the special session of UN general assembly, an important point was made by our Minister of Women's Affairs. "Although we have never had gross violations of child rights in the Maldives, the CRC (convention on the rights of the child) has brought to our attention issues that need to be systematically addressed if the rights of all children are to be fulfilled. In fact. it has provided us with a yardstick against which our progress can be measured."
If what is reported on Haveeru is accurate, then the Minister's statement to the UN is false. There are gross violations of the rights of children in Maldives and it is appalling that our politicians are trying to gloss over and paint a rosy picture to the international community. Since Maldives has signed the UN convention on rights of the child in 1990 and ratified it in 1991, what steps have been taken to protect children and provide them with the nurtering environment they need. United Nations Children's Fund or UNICEF plays an important role in supporting the government to achieve better childcare and development. So we have plenty of help available to avoid the situation we are facing. Our country is rich enough to provide good healthcare and education to our children and it is a gross violation of their rights when they are deprived the basic necessities.
In a speech given to the special session of UN general assembly, an important point was made by our Minister of Women's Affairs. "Although we have never had gross violations of child rights in the Maldives, the CRC (convention on the rights of the child) has brought to our attention issues that need to be systematically addressed if the rights of all children are to be fulfilled. In fact. it has provided us with a yardstick against which our progress can be measured."
If what is reported on Haveeru is accurate, then the Minister's statement to the UN is false. There are gross violations of the rights of children in Maldives and it is appalling that our politicians are trying to gloss over and paint a rosy picture to the international community. Since Maldives has signed the UN convention on rights of the child in 1990 and ratified it in 1991, what steps have been taken to protect children and provide them with the nurtering environment they need. United Nations Children's Fund or UNICEF plays an important role in supporting the government to achieve better childcare and development. So we have plenty of help available to avoid the situation we are facing. Our country is rich enough to provide good healthcare and education to our children and it is a gross violation of their rights when they are deprived the basic necessities.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Appeasing the trouble makers
Male’ Municipality is opening up the artificial beach for entertainment. Municipality has said that necessary permits will be given upon registration of interest at the General Services Section of Municipality. Municipality further revealed that events are to be held during week end nights.
In a flash of inspiration, Municipalty has realised that violence and criminal activities in the jam-packed Male' is due to lack of entertainment especially during the weekends. Municipality notes many young people are seen mindlessly wandering around during night time.
Few years back, there were music shows staged during weekends at an open space in Maafannu. The young revelled while the neighbours found the music blast too loud to bear.
The strength of the Maldivian entertainment industry is anchored in the natural talent of artists such as singers and live bands. Concerts that feature both local and international talent can attract individuals from all socioeconomic classes. In order to promote arts and cultural activities, governmnet can offer various incentives to artists.
In a flash of inspiration, Municipalty has realised that violence and criminal activities in the jam-packed Male' is due to lack of entertainment especially during the weekends. Municipality notes many young people are seen mindlessly wandering around during night time.
Few years back, there were music shows staged during weekends at an open space in Maafannu. The young revelled while the neighbours found the music blast too loud to bear.
The strength of the Maldivian entertainment industry is anchored in the natural talent of artists such as singers and live bands. Concerts that feature both local and international talent can attract individuals from all socioeconomic classes. In order to promote arts and cultural activities, governmnet can offer various incentives to artists.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Lock up the child rapists
The case of gang raping a child in Kurendhoo which happened recently has been widely reported in Maldives. The rapists were first handed an eight month banishment which was increased to two years banishing and fifteen lashes of whipping by a higher court. The Human Rights Commission has criticised the banishment of the convicted individuals, as they will have a negative influence on the communities they are banished to.
This is a very disturbing story with profound consequences for families living in very small communities. In the recent past people who were charged with drug related offences were sent to various islands where they continued the drug habits and introduced it to the island community as well. Now we have a ready market for consumption of drugs across all the islands.
Gang rape is considered a very serious offence and the convicted individuals should be given lenghty prison sentences and professional counselling, so that when they eventually come out they will control the mad fantasies and be productive citizens. It is time for legislators to revise the sentencing guidelines.
This is a very disturbing story with profound consequences for families living in very small communities. In the recent past people who were charged with drug related offences were sent to various islands where they continued the drug habits and introduced it to the island community as well. Now we have a ready market for consumption of drugs across all the islands.
Gang rape is considered a very serious offence and the convicted individuals should be given lenghty prison sentences and professional counselling, so that when they eventually come out they will control the mad fantasies and be productive citizens. It is time for legislators to revise the sentencing guidelines.
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Liberal imam assaulted
Dr.Afraasheem escaped unhurt with police protection when a group of men assaulted him outside the mosque where he led the Friday prayer.Is Afraasheem being attacked by the radical conservatives because of his liberal views? Where has the tolerance and respect of peace-loving Muslims gone?
This also proves that our Government and Mathee Majlis are not only inapt but they have demagogued our religion as well.
Friday, February 01, 2008
A pilgrimage for humanity
A British man has started a walk to India without using money, relying on the goodwill of people along the way or working for bed and board, he said Wednesday.
Former dotcom businessman Mark Boyle, from Bristol, aims to end up at Mahatma Gandhi's birthplace after the 9,000-mile trek, which he reckons will take him about two and a half years.
"I've got some sunscreen, a good knife, a spoon, a bandage... no Visa card, no travellers' cheques, no bank accounts, zero. I won't actually touch money along the way," the 28-year-old told BBC radio.
Walking between 15 and 45 miles a day, he plans to work his way down through France, Italy, eastern Europe, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan before reaching Gandhi's birthplace of Porbandar on India's west coast.
Boyle describes himself as a 'freeeconomist'- a movement which began in United States and aims to create a moneyless society. On his blog, Boyle said he will also account for how it feels physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually to walk to India - the highs and the lows, the good days, the non-so-apparently good days and the days when he is on the edge of despair!
Former dotcom businessman Mark Boyle, from Bristol, aims to end up at Mahatma Gandhi's birthplace after the 9,000-mile trek, which he reckons will take him about two and a half years.
"I've got some sunscreen, a good knife, a spoon, a bandage... no Visa card, no travellers' cheques, no bank accounts, zero. I won't actually touch money along the way," the 28-year-old told BBC radio.
Walking between 15 and 45 miles a day, he plans to work his way down through France, Italy, eastern Europe, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan before reaching Gandhi's birthplace of Porbandar on India's west coast.
Boyle describes himself as a 'freeeconomist'- a movement which began in United States and aims to create a moneyless society. On his blog, Boyle said he will also account for how it feels physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually to walk to India - the highs and the lows, the good days, the non-so-apparently good days and the days when he is on the edge of despair!
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