sábado, octubre 07, 2006

Varios Blogs que nos hacen reflexionar...

"Para ser competitivo hay que anticiparse. Para anticiparse hay que estar en el futuro. Hay que prospectar el futuro. Y no hay mejor manera de prospectar el futuro que entendiendo el presente y el pasado".

Y algunos Blogs nos ayudan a lograr este entendimiento, veamos pues algunos de ellos :

  • INFONOMIA

  • EDGE

  • TED-TALKS

  • KEVIN KELLY

  • FUTURE NOW

  • OUTSIDE INNOVATION

  • STRATEGIC

  • SOCIATE

  • INGENIERIA Y SOSTENIBILIDAD

  • THE OIL DRUM


  • Ahora voy a resumir aquí lo que se puede interpretar de esta lectura en el ciberespacio. Ya vengo: primero los voy a leer con cuidado. Ahora si: allí se asegura que el futuro es híbrido y que si dudamos de él entonces eso nos hace pensar para tomar mejores decisiones, siempre que se haga de una pasión un buen proyecto, aprendiendo de cada uno de sus pasos. Las mejores innovaciones tecnológicas vendrán de la ingeniería biológica y de nuevas ideas para nuevos negocios.

    The Internet and Politics

    The Internet and Politics
    Politicians must adjust to new realities
    Alfredo Ascanio (askain)

    Published 2006-10-07

    For Google President Eric Schmidt, the Internet will influence the electoral process in the future to a large extent, according to an interview in theFinancial Times of London, a summary of which appeared in Spain's El Pais.

    Schmidt gave assurances that the Internet will affect the outcome of elections.

    "Many politicians do not understand the Internet phenomenon very well. In part this is a function of the generation gap, what we learn of the Internet in general being through acquaintances or our children," he added.

    In the Financial Times interview, the director of the Google search engine indicated that the present generation of politicians has grown up in the context of television cameras and only now are beginning to understand the importance of the Net.

    Even so, he considers that politicians still have to appreciate the implications of the technology. "If television has formed the present generation of politicians, what will the Internet mean for the next generation?" asked Schmidt, who foresees the Net having an impact on the results of elections.

    The electoral impact, he added, will rapidly become evident in the United Kingdom, where the Internet is "exploding" because of the large numbers of people who use the Web.

    Participating in the annual congress of the British Conservative Party in Bournemouth, England, he said that Google is a company without political preferences and stated that its presence there did not imply an endorsement of Conservative policies.

    The Chilean parliamentarian, Fernando Flores, in a conference with businessmen and in interviews with the national press has also said, "Now many politicians and the most important mass media have had to post their blogs or entries on the Internet, conscious of the importance of this new model of information management and its influence on their readers."

    Flores is a legislator involved in the group around Chilean President Michelle Bachelet. In his briefings he reiterates, "The politicians' blogs are now a tool for the promotion of their image in cyberspace. Having become more common, this type of communication will surely gain in significance in the future."

    For example, when reading Bachelet's blog, I noticed many of the advanced theoreticians of Chilean political democracy hold the following beliefs: a) the sovereignty of the people is expressed through the vote; b) they will be respected according to the concepts of liberty and equality; c) accepting democracy means accepting representative, as opposed to direct, democracy, and accepting the division of powers, and d) the main thing is to achieve a better distribution of wealth with the active participation of the Chilean people.

    So far, so good, but we have to foster the establishment of an organic democracy, like that of classical Athens; i.e., "a democracy that assures liberty and a lot more equality," but not equality to the extent of threatening liberty, which would only lead to totalitarianism.

    What has to be balanced then are the individual values of liberal democracy against the collectivist values of social democracy. It would be necessary to ensure that individual relations can be socialized under social democracy, which is the precondition for political democracy; but a gap exists between formal democracy and social democracy, since it is not easy to work toward equality of opportunity while at the same time assuring universal political liberty.

    The ideal is neither classical liberalism nor Marxist socialism -- i.e., neither a meritocracy nor the dictatorship of the working class.

    We will then see if not only President Bachelet's first 100 days but also the remainder of her four-year term will teach her to govern so as to wisely combine growth and economic development with equality of opportunity and the integration of values to achieve a popular consensus.

    It is characteristic that the blogs of the more popular professional journalists are the ones dedicated to political news, e.g.
  • El Blog de Huffington


  • When I first started blogging I saw the awesome potential of it all and saw it as an opportunity for the common person to be heard and make a difference in the world. In fact, I've often been quoted to the effect that blogging would be a publishing revolution comparable to Gutenberg's invention of the printing press.

    A sample of this can be seen here:
  • BLOG de POLITICOS


  • That is why the Internet cannot grow without freedom -- the freedom to expand and explore. This is the precondition for Internet growth. The Internet and Internet freedom are identical. But the necessity for freedom imposes certain obligations, and this is again a basic condition of Internet growth.

    The Internet and politics are, as we all know, capable of being manifested differently. Although fundamental principles must remain the same, practice may vary with the particular development of each nation and its people.

    In the meantime, as the late, great journalist Edward R. Murrow, used to say, "good night, and good luck." Be seeing you in cyberspace.
  • VER MURROW
  • viernes, octubre 06, 2006

    Reporteros sin Fronteras y su Manual

    Un Manual para los que tenemos blog nos lo regala reporteros sin Frontera (en inglés y en PDF).

  • INTERNET Y LA LIBRE EXPRESION
  • Internet y el software libre.Un analisis

    En la hoja que aparece arriba c on el nombre de República de Internet, su autor hace una minuciosa crítica de este asunto de internet y el software libre. El que escribe esto es Carlos Sánchez Almeida. Otro dos enlaces que discuten el asunto son:

  • oonet


  • PHILOSOPHY


  • La libertad, Sancho, es uno de los más preciosos dones que a los hombres dieron los cielos. Con ella no pueden igualarse los tesoros que encierra la tierra ni el mar encubre. Por la libertad, así como por la honra, se puede y debe aventurar la vida, y, por el contrario, el cautiverio es el mayor mal que puede venir a los hombres.MIGUEL DE CERVANTES, El ingenioso hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha

    Internet, en su desarrollo, ha pasado por las mismas fases que muchas creaciones humanas. Surge como una invención de interés militar, es desarrollada desde las élites de investigadores, y finalmente se incorpora al sistema social en el momento que aparece la posibilidad de generar beneficios económicos. El problema es que la Red es simultáneamente un medio de comunicación y un lugar de encuentro. Ni la disciplina del cuartel, ni el esoterismo de las élites universitarias, ni las alarmas de un centro comercial, pueden esgrimirse sin más cuando estamos hablando de un medio de comunicación en el que se ha de garantizar la libertad de expresión, y de un lugar de encuentro en el que juegan el derecho de reunión y de asociación.
    VER:
  • PROHIBIDO OLVIDAR
  • What Is Democracy? Qué es la democracia?

    What Is Democracy?
    Re-examining its basic principles
    Amin George Forji
    Published 2006

    Government "of the people, by the people, and for the people." These words of Abraham Lincoln, are generally considered to sum up the essence of modern democracy. The term democracy itself is a pervasive concept. It is said to denote a form of government where political power rests with the people. That is, the citizenry directly or indirectly make all the state's decisions through a fair and fair electoral process.

    This requirement of a free and fair election is often considered to be the minimum condition to qualify a government as a democratic one. Etymologically, the term has its origin from two Greek words: "Demos" which means people, and "kratos" meaning power or rule. It goes without saying that the term simply means the Rule of the People.

    Freedom is another term that invariably forms the core or nucleus of a democracy. One way of looking at democracy is that it is a set of set of principles and ideas about freedom, or simply put-the institutionalization of freedom. In other words, democratic governments must be characterized by the respect of human rights.

    Since the populace is so paramount, for there to be a democracy, it goes without saying that it is imperative to examine universal principles of the concept.

    Universal Principles of Democracy

    1) Pluralist societies

    To talk of democracy in a monolithic society would be an absolute contradiction of terms. In fact, for there to be a democracy, there must be a pluralist society, wherein there are many organizations and power centers. This is mainly because history has shown that diversity is the best protection against the governmental and social ills of mystification, tyranny, and corruption.

    2) Checks and balances

    Almost every constitution in the world today has provisions for the separation of powers. However, the application of the norm varies seriously as we move from one country to another, depending on whether the government in place is more pro-democracy or more pro-dictatorship. The concept of separation of powers simply means that the various organs of power -- that is, the executive, legislative, and judiciary - are kept separate and very distinct from each other, in a bid to guarantee more mutual restrain and control. The reasoning here is that the concentration of powers is dangerous and susceptible to abuse, for as Aristotle put it, "power corupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

    3) Free and Fair Elections

    Again, this criterion is generally considered to be the barest minimum for a government to classed as a democracy. Other means of accession to power such as coup d'etats and hereditary rights are becoming very, very unfashionable, with elections now conceived as the best available means to periodically control the rulers. It is not just enough to hold elections, because even dictatorial regimes are increasingly doing so. For elections to be qualified as such, we definitely need a good, independent and functional electoral system in place.

    4) The Declaration of Rights and the Guarantee of Freedoms

    The U.S. Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jeffereson in July 1787, has been considered to be the creed of true democracy. In his famous paragraph, he said, "We hold this truth to be self evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights..."

    The people being the hallmark behind every democracy, in fact have the right and even the obligation to overthrow any government or regime that violates these inalienable rights. It is enough to just state the rights and duties in national instruments. Ways and means have to be foreseen for their guarantee.

    5) Democratic culture

    For the masses to fully participate in politics, favorable conditions are paramount. When this is the case, they do not see politics as being reserved for others, Instead they bear in mind that their destiny falls within politics and that the leaders are there on their behalf. The importance of this norm is that leaders in a democracy must not be seen as abstract and foreign. The leaders have to act in good faith, believing in legitimacy. To do this, democracy has to structured as a government of "alterance and alterations", with ins and outs fighting to serve the people and not the leaders.

    jueves, octubre 05, 2006

    Internet puede afectar o afectara las elecciones

    En el Blog del Senador Chileno Fernando Flores aparece este interesante comentario relativo a lo que señaló el Presidente de Google. (Nota: ver el Blog de F. Flores haciendo click arriba) :

    Para Eric Schmidt, presidente de Google, las elecciones políticas del futuro estarán influidas en gran parte por Internet, de acuerdo a una entrevista concedida al diario Financial Times, cuya esencia ofrece traducida el diario El País de España en una nota que transcribo a continuación:

    El presidente de Google asegura que Internet afectará el resultado de las elecciones políticas

    Los políticos aún tienen que darse cuenta del impacto de Internet, que puede llegar a afectar el resultado de unos comicios generales, declaró el presidente y director ejecutivo del buscador Google, Eric Schmidt, al diario Financial Times .
    "Muchos de los políticos no entienden muy bien el fenómeno de internet. En parte por la edad. En general, lo que aprenden de Internet es a través de conocidos o de sus hijos", añadió Schmidt.

    En la entrevista con el periódico, el director del buscador señaló que la actual generación de políticos ha aprendido a desenvolverse frente a las cámaras de televisión y ahora muchos se están dando cuenta de la importancia de la Red.
    Aún así, considera que los políticos aún tienen que entender las implicaciones de la tecnología. "Si la televisión ha creado la actual generación de políticos, ¿Qué hará Internet con la próxima generación de políticos?", se preguntó Schmidt, quien pronostica que la Red tendrá un impacto en el resultado de elecciones generales.

    El impacto electoral, añadió, se manifestará rapidamente en el Reino Unido, donde Internet está "explotando" debido a la gran cantidad de gente que utiliza la web.

    Schmidt, que ayer participó en el congreso anual del Partido Conservador británico que se celebra en Bournemouth, dijo que Google es una compañía sin preferencia política y puntualizó que su asistencia a esa reunión no supone un respaldo a esa formación.

    miércoles, octubre 04, 2006

    Se acuerdan del Referendo en Venezuela ?

    Arriba aparece un enlace que cuenta ese cuento con sus propios análisis.

    Que paso en Mexico al entrar en la NAFTA ?

    El enlace que proviene del Banco Mundial¡, nos cuenta el cuento de los impactos económicos en México al unirse a las economías de USA y de Canadá.

    The link that the World Bank : the story of the economic impacts in Mexico to be join with the economies of USA and of Canada.

    Esto es lo que aparece en ANGUS-REID

    Angus Reid Global Monitor
    Brazil - Alckmin forces Lula into run-off
    October 29, 2006

    Credit: Flag courtesy of ITA’s Flags of All Countries used with permission.

    Election Date: October 29, 2006

    At Stake: President, National Congress

    Background

    The largest and most populous country in the Americas, Brazil boasts a unique cultural and environmental demographic. Accounting for 14 per cent of the world’s renewable fresh water reserves and the world’s largest rainforest, its population is diverse—divided into six major ethnicities—and urban.

    Indigenous Brazilians are thought to be descendants of migrants who crossed the Bering Land Bridge around 9000 BC eventually reaching the southern cone and Brazil some 3000 years later. At the time of European discovery, indigenous Brazilians were represented by a large number of nations diverse in language and culture.

    Discovered by Portuguese explorer Pedro Alvares Cabral in 1500, the indigenous population was first devastated by disease and then enslaved. It is thought that most of the 2,000 nations that existed at colonization died out in this first period. Lacking a readily accessible indigenous population, the Portuguese began to import slaves from Africa in 1550, only abolishing the practice in 1888.

    Administered from Lisbon until 1808, Rio de Janeiro became the centre of Portuguese royalty after Dom Joao VI and his family fled Napoleon’s army. His son declared Brazil independent in 1822, naming himself Emperor Dom Pedro I. The family ruled until 1889 when a military coup led by Deodoro da Fonseca deposed the Emperor.

    A constitutional republic between 1889 and 1930, the presidency alternated between Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais—dominant states at the time—until a revolt installed Getulio Vargas as dictator.

    Overthrown by a military coup in 1945, Vargas was later reinstalled as president via elections in 1951 but with heavy opposition and pressure to resign or again be deposed, he committed suicide in 1954.

    The next six years saw rapid economic reform and growth under the leadership of Juscelino Kubitschek. His successor, Janio Quadros—elected in 1961—spiraled the country into crisis by resigning after just one month. Political instability escalated with Quadros’ successor, vice-president Joao Goulart, fleeing into exile after a military coup in 1964. The ensuing 10-year dictatorial regime eased only in 1974 with general Ernesto Geisel, whose reforms reestablished elections and allowed limited political freedoms.

    The 1980’s introduced a decade of political, economic and social turmoil: Brazil defaulted on its foreign debt—one of the worlds largest—in 1982. In 1985, the country elected its first civilian president in 21 years, Tancredo Neves, who died shortly after being elected. Inflation spiraled out of control reaching 300 per cent in 1985 and 1,500 per cent in 1991, despite fiscal reform, price freezes and the introduction of free market policies.

    Alleviating inflation but implementing restrictive policies on land distribution and indigenous land claims, Fernando Henrique Cardoso’s tenure as president was somewhat controversial in its approach to indigenous issues. The rise of the Landless Workers Movement (MST) introduced an organized force that in March 2002 occupied Cardoso’s family ranch and began to make international news.

    With poverty, social reform and indigenous issues leading the political debate, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva led the first left-wing government into power in 40 years. A union leader and former shoe-shine boy, Lula began his first term in 2002 promising to address poverty, crime, and hunger. Despite some trepidation regarding fiscal management, Lula’s presidency surprised critics with its orthodox approach in achieving economic stability.

    Seeking another term in office, Lula’s campaign has been marked by corruption allegations. Leaders of the Worker’s Party (PT) have been accused of making illegal campaign donations to coalition partners to secure their support. The hard gains won by Lula and the PT are being tested in the lead-up to the 2006 elections.

    2006 President and National Congress Election

    In June 2005, allegations of corruption were made public by Roberto Jefferson, leader of the Brazilian Labour Party (PTB) and member of the governing coalition. Although himself accused of heading a bribe network, Jefferson claimed that the PTB was offered but refused bribes to secure their ongoing support for Lula’s Worker’s Party (PT).

    On Aug. 12, Lula made a public apology to the nation for the corruption scandal through a televised speech. In asking for forgiveness, he said, "I feel betrayed by unacceptable practices of which I knew nothing. (…) I haven’t changed and I’m certain that the same anger I feel is shared by the population."

    Although leading in the polls, Lula’s popularity fluctuated with ongoing revelations around the corruption scandal. An October survey by Datafolha gave Lula the support of 30 per cent of voters in the first round, down from 34 per cent in July.

    In October 2005, Brazilian voters rejected a ban on the sale of firearms, despite having the highest death rate from gun violence in the world. However, as noted by the ‘No’ campaigners—who were supported by 64 per cent of all voters—the majority of guns are acquired through the black market and not by legal means.

    In November 2005, United States president George W. Bush made a one-day trip to Brazil. The close and amicable relations between the two countries have surprised some, but point to recognition in the U.S. that Brazil is an important ally in a region moving increasingly to the left.

    In December 2005, Brazil announced that it would pay off its entire $15.5 billion U.S. debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) two years ahead of schedule. Borrowed in 2002 to save the country from defaulting on its external debt, Brazil’s strong economic performance since has enabled the early repayment.

    As a result of the corruption scandal brought against Lula’s PT, 11 deputies have been brought before expulsion hearings with two standing down before the process began so that they are able to run in the upcoming election.

    Approval ratings for Lula stabilized and increased in a February 2006 Datafolha poll against prospective rivals Jose Serra and Geraldo Alckmin of the Brazilian Party of Social Democracy (PSDB). At one stage trailing Serra in the polls, Lula picked up six points to reach 39 per cent, with Serra at 31 per cent. Against Alckmin, Lula maintained a 26-point advantage.

    The presidential election is scheduled for Oct. 1. If no candidate garners more than 50 per cent of all cast ballots, a run-off will take place on Oct. 29.

    On Mar. 14, Alckmin was named as the PSDB’s presidential nominee. In his acceptance speech, Alckmin declared, "Brazil can no longer take this wave of corruption, and remain a country without a real project and with a very poor economic growth."

    On Mar. 20, Alckmin proposed a "Chilean-style alliance" in order to defeat Lula in the election, declaring, "The opposition parties have a respectful relationship, and it is up to us to see if we can see this coalition come to fruition." Party of the Liberal Front (PFL) member Jorge Bornhausen agreed with the idea, adding, "We must stop this incompetent government that has been weak in dealing with corruption."

    On Apr. 11, Brazilian attorney general Antonio Fernando de Souza delivered his report on the corruption scandal. The document claims the PT created a "sophisticated criminal organization" to buy the political support of other parties.

    PT member Jose Dirceu—who tendered his resignation as Lula’s chief of staff after the scandal broke in June 2005—once again dismissed any wrongdoing, saying, "There were no bribes, the investigating commission has it all wrong and has no proof."

    On Apr. 13, former president Itamar Franco announced he would seek the PMDB’s nomination, saying, "Garotinho and myself have different methods, but we both want the PMDB to have a single candidate." Franco governed the country from October 1992 to January 1995, after the suspension of Fernando Collor de Mello.

    On Apr. 16, institutional relations minister Tarso Genro complained about the performance of the opposition, declaring, "The attacks on the current president have no parallel in the history of Brazil, not even during the tenure of Getulio Vargas. The government is under siege."

    Polls released in April by IBPS, Datafolha and Sensus put Lula ahead with at least 40 per cent, followed by Alckmin with a high of 31 per cent.

    On Apr. 30, Lula said the country’s finances can withstand more public spending, saying, "Today we can invest more because we created conditions for that, but without putting in danger our fiscal balance and control over inflation."

    Poll released in May by IBPS, Datafolha and Instituto Sensus placed Lula as the frontrunner, with the support of more than 40 per cent of voters.

    On May 23, Lula predicted that Brazil would become "the biggest energy player in the planet," adding, "We have become self-sufficient, in two years we will produce most of the natural gas we consume, and we are the most competitive nation in the areas of ethanol and bio-diesel."

    On May 25, Lula discussed trade during a meeting with French president Jacques Chirac in Brasilia, saying, "We want to find a common denominator, fair and balanced, that allows for ambitious results at the Doha round talks to benefit especially the poor countries and that strengthens multilateralism." The Brazilian president also announced an association to develop "an international ethanol market and to disseminate technology for the production of biofuels in Africa and the Caribbean."

    On May 27, Helena officially launched her presidential bid. In her acceptance speech, the senator urged her supporters to fight the "betrayal" of Lula, who expelled her from the PT after she criticized the government. Helena picked economist Carlos Benjamin—another former PT member—as her running mate.

    In May, magazine Veja and newspaper O Globo reported alleged irregularities in Garotinho’s campaign finances. The PMDB contender denied the reports, went on a hunger strike and alleged a conspiracy to prevent him from becoming a presidential candidate. In the end, the party could opt to support Lula’s candidacy.

    On May 29, the Party of the Liberal Front (PFL) finalized an alliance with the PSDB. The accord includes the nomination of PFL senator Jose Jorge as Alckmin’s running mate.

    On Jun. 11, Alckmin vowed to reduce taxes in the South American nation, saying, "I am committed to send Congress a project on the first week of my mandate, to simplify the fiscal system, stimulate investment and increase efficiency. Last year in Latin America, Brazil only grew more than Haiti, a small country devastated by war."

    In June, Alckmin’s running mate Jorge said a PSDB-led government would close several ministries to cut spending, adding, "Our administrative structure will be much smaller. We need to shrink the size of the public sector in order to cut public costs."

    On Jun. 26, Lula officially launched his candidacy in Brasilia. The president declared, "I am here to tell you that I have humbly decided to submit my name and my government to the judgment of my Brazilian brothers." Current vice-president Jose Alencar will once again be Lula’s running mate.

    On Jul. 10, Alckmin criticized Lula’s relationship with other leftist governments in South America, saying, "If elected, I will not sacrifice the country’s interests for the interests of a particular party."

    In an interview published on Jul. 13 in the Financial Times, Lula discussed the nationalization of Bolivia’s oil and gas industry—which is expected to affect some Brazilian companies—saying, "The Brazilian conservative right wanted us to start a war with Bolivia. I preferred to negotiate and start looking for a solution. I never was nervous about the crisis. We need each other. Bolivia needs to sell gas to Brazil and Brazil needs to buy gas from Bolivia."

    On Jul. 13, Lula vowed to continue taking care of Brazil’s workers, saying, "For us, social policy and economic policy are two sides of the same coin. Millions of Brazilians have left poverty behind during my government, and have joined the middle class."

    Polls conducted in late June and early July by Vox Populi, Instituto Sensus and Datafolha put Lula in first place, but below the 45 per cent-mark.

    On Jul. 21, Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez jokingly endorsed Lula during a conference in Caracas, saying, "I cannot voice anything because they accuse me of interfering in a country’s internal affairs. Lula win! Lula win!" The Brazilian president replied, "We must remember that (Chávez) has more time than me to campaign, because he speaks twice as much as I do."

    On Aug. 1, Lula hinted at establishing a constituent assembly during his second term, saying, "I’m quite fond of the idea. I have doubts that the National Congress can approve political reforms that meet the expectations of society." Alckmin disagreed with the president, declaring, "It does not make sense."

    On Aug. 11, Lula acknowledged in a televised interview that he asked chief of staff Jose Dirceu and finance minister Antonio Palocci to tender their resignations, saying, "I asked Dirceu and Palocci, and other public servants, to step aside, and I will keep doing so. (…) This does not tarnish the image of the PT, but only the image of a few people."

    On Aug. 14, the candidates participated in a televised debate. Lula was not present. Helena criticized the president, saying, "I cannot accept his arrogance, nor the fact that he think is he is better than the other candidates, which he is not. He fled the debate. He was scared to debate."

    On Aug. 18, Alckmin criticized Lula’s relationship with other leftist South American administrations, saying, "Brazil should not become subject to the interests of others. My government will defend the interests of Brazil."

    On Aug. 23, Buarque—a former PT member—expressed concerns over the possibility of a first round victory for Lula, declaring, "If he wins outright, he will be able to start governing beyond Congress, and dealing directly with the people. Lula could end up using his charisma, aided by a weak Congress, to rule by decree."

    On Aug. 29, Alckmin presented a new set of television advertisements that question Lula’s commitment to legality. The spots claim that the government "has never taken so much money from the hands of Brazilians," and asks: "Have you stopped to think about the harm corruption does to the country?"

    On Aug. 30, former Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso criticized Lula, saying, "He has taken Brazil to its lowest ethical and moral level in history. (...) He has changed, and now is doing everything he fought against when he was a union leader."

    On Aug. 31, Lula expressed confidence in his reform plans, saying, "I’m not sure if we will be able to achieve all that needs to be done, but it will not be due to lack of effort, commitment and loyalty to the principles that made us reach the presidency. If we can’t deliver, it will be because of extraterrestrial factors."

    Also on Aug. 31, Helena presented a television spot, which questions why Lula is leading in the polls. Helena appears on the ad, saying, "I cannot believe that the honest Brazilian people would elect political bandits."

    Polls conducted in late August by Ibope, Datafolha, Instituto Sensus, Vox Populi and Zogby International placed Lula as the frontrunner, with the support of at least 49 per cent of respondents.

    On Sept. 6, Lula criticized the opposition, saying, "There are people who make a serious campaign, and there are others who choose to make a despicable campaign. (...) Democracy sometimes has these things that make us anxious, that make us angry, but we have to know how to face them."

    On Sept. 7, Helena harshly criticized the president, saying, "Lula is a gangster who heads a criminal organization capable of stealing, killing, defaming and eliminating any person who threatens their project."

    In August, Alckmin referred to the recent inclusion of Venezuela as a full member of the common trade block of southern South American countries known as Mercosur, saying, "No one doubts the importance of Venezuela, but we should verify several things. We defend a market-driven economy and now we have a president (Venezuela’s Hugo Chávez) who vows for a different type of economic model." Alckmin also said he was confident the presidential election would be defined in a run-off, declaring, "I have no doubt there will be a second round, and then candidate Lula won’t have the chance to run away."

    On Sept. 8, former president and PSDB member Fernando Henrique Cardoso criticized his own party for "failing to be tough enough in denouncing the corruption" in Lula’s government, adding, "While we may not win, we have the moral duty to remain vigilant."

    On Sept. 13, Alckmin, Helena and Buarque took part in a televised debate. Alckmin criticized Lula for failing to show up, saying, "It’s a pity that candidate Lula, who made enormous promises four years ago, most of which haven’t been fulfilled, and who had five cabinet members indicted or charged by police, didn’t come to the debate just so that he won’t have to explain these issues."

    Polls conducted in September by Datafolha and Ibope suggested a first round victory for Lula.

    On Sept. 15, lawyer Gedimar Passos was arrested in Sao Paulo in possession of $790,000 U.S. in cash. Passos, who works for Lula’s campaign, allegedly was going to use the money to acquire documents that would implicate two PSDB members—Alckmin and Serra—in a corruption case.

    On Sept. 18, Lula discussed the situation, saying, "As president, I can do just one thing: order a full investigation to discover, regardless who may be hurt, all those who are involved."

    On Sept. 21, Lula dismissed allegations that his party was involved in dirty campaign practices, saying, "Why would my campaign be interested in such business? I’m in a highly favourable position. It’s not part of my political past—and I’ve done four elections—to dig through people’s lives in order to campaign."

    On Sept. 22, Lula said he was not concerned about recent criticism, declaring, "It’s the Brazilian people who will judge me. If the Brazilian people give us a second term, we will give the economy much more solidity and will make things work much better."

    On Sept. 25, Helena challenged Lula to participate in the final televised debate, scheduled for Sept. 28, saying, "I hope that Lula comes down from his putrid throne of corruption, arrogance and cowardice. The president may look great in the campaign events, but he has not been willing to meet face to face with the other candidates."

    Also on Sept. 25, Lula predicted a first round victory, saying, "If anyone thinks the election will reach the run-off, they will have to wait for 2010, because this election will be finalized on Sunday. I never said I would win on the first round out of modesty, out of respect, but I want you to know that we will win on Sunday."

    On Sept. 27, arrest warrants were issued against six PT members in connection with the alleged plot to implicate two Alckmin and Serra in a corruption case. Buarque declared, "If the federal police does not clear this before these people can be captured, it will lose credibility and Brazilians will be left with the impression that it has been manipulated because of the election."

    On Sept. 28, the campaign officially drew to a close. Lula declared, "Four years ago, we found a country in crisis that is very different now. If with problems and lack of experience we were able to do so much, think of what we’ll be able to accomplish now." Alckmin urged voters to support him, so he can "wipe out corruption" and deliver a government "with its feet on the ground, its eyes on the future and its heart on those who need the most."

    Polls released in late September by Vox Populi, Datafolha, Instituto Sensus, Ibope and Zogby International suggested a first round victory for Lula.

    Voting took place on Oct. 1. Incumbent president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva of the Worker’s Party (PT) got 48.61 per cent of the vote, while PSDB candidate Geraldo Alckmin received 41.64 per cent. Since no contender garnered more than 50 per cent of all cast ballots, a run-off was scheduled for Oct. 29.

    As he was voting early on Sunday near Sao Paulo, Lula declared, "The country has to continue growing. (...) The life of the people has to continue improving." After hearing the good news of his performance in the ballot, Alckmin said, "Brazil can be better. It can have an ethical government."

    Political Players

    President: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT)

    The president is elected by popular vote to a four-year term.

    Legislative branch: The bicameral Congresso Nacional (National Congress) has two chambers. The Camara dos Deputados (Chamber of Deputies) has 513 members, elected to four-year terms by proportional representation. The Senado Federal (Federal Senate) has 81 members, elected to eight-year terms—with one third elected after a four-year period, and two thirds elected after the next four-year period.

    Economía y Política

    El enlace de arriba trata ,en su sección de publicaciones, varios artículos sobre la economía y su relación con la política. Vale la pena leer el artículo de Mark Weibrot and Luis Sandoval sobre la elección en Brasil y los asuntos económicos de ese país. Es interesante porque se parte de la hipótesis de que el voto de Heloisa Helena le restó a Lula el 6,85% que habría votado por el Presidente-Candidato y que además el crecimiento per capita de PIB (a valor real) en estos ultimos años, o sea 2000-2005, en Brasil ha sido muy bajo (3,5%) cuando había logrado el 8% entre los años 1980-2000. Y ello tiene repercusión en la campaña.

    Y casi lo mismo fue en América Latina como Región. En cambio entre loa años 1960-1980 la región creció en un 82% (4,1% al año en promedio). pero Barsil había crecido en esos 20 años al 6,15% en promedio. Pero el asunto es que el crecimiento no señala que ha habido una buena distribución de la riqueza, pues en Brasil y también en Venezuela sigue el 50% de gente muy pobre e incluso en Brasil esos pobres tienen que vivir con US$ 1,50 diario o sea con una entrada al mes de apenas 45 dólares (Bs. 96.750), el 19% menos del sueldo mínimo de Venezuela de US$ 230 al mes.

    The upper link treats, in its section of publications, various articles on the economy and its relation with the politics. Is worth while to read the article of Mark Weibrot and Luis Sandoval on the election in Brazil and the economic matters of that country. It is interesting because splits of the hypothesis that the vote of Heloisa Helena could be votes for Lula and that besides the growth per capital of GDP (to real value) in these ultimos years, that is to say 2000-2005, in Brazil has been very low (3,5%) when had achieved the 8% among the years 1980-2000.

    And almost the same thing was in Latin America as Region. On the other hand among praises years 1960-1980 the region grew in a 82% (4,1% al year on the average). but Barsil had grown in those 20 years al 6,15% on the average. But the matter is that the growth does not indicate that there has been a good distribution of the wealth, therefore in Brazil and also in Venezuela continues the 50% of very poor people and even in Brazil those poor have to live with US$ 1,50 newspaper that is to say with an entrance al month of barely 45 dollars (Bs. 96.750), the 19% less than the most minimum salary of Venezuela of US$ 230 al month.

    lunes, octubre 02, 2006

    Who has in his hands the re-election of Lula?

    Brazil: Reelecting the President
    An alliance with Buarque will give Lula the majority needed to win
    Alfredo Ascanio (askain)

    Published 2006-10-04 13:42 (KST)

    The second round of elections in Brazil may be quarreled over as recently happened in Mexico. But if Luiz Inacio Lulá da Silva obtained 48.63 percent of the votes and Cristovam Buarque 2.65 percent, then an alliance between them would give Lula 51.28 percent, which would be sufficient for him to be reelected president of Brazil.

    Heloisa Helena will not give her votes (6.85 percent) to Lula for two basic reasons: (1) because she was expelled from Lulá's Workers' Party (PT), and (2) because being the alternative candidate for the left (to Lulá), she would not be able to negotiate with Geraldo Alckmin, who is considered a social democrat of the Brazilian right.

    Buarque was first the rector of the University of Brasilia, then governor of the capital (Federal District), and finally a minister under Lula. He was disappointed with Lula's poor educational policies and other projects and left the PT. His Democratic Labor Party can negotiate with his 2.65 percent, but surely with the condition that his educational projects and other projects be accepted finally by Lulá's party.

    I began to analyze all the books published by Buarque, and I am going to intersperse some concepts and ideas that this economist and politician formed in one of the better French universities in the '90s.

    I will begin by citing the main ideas from The Revolution of the Priorities (technical modernity and ethical modernity). Buarque says that although a stable distribution between salaries and business benefits is a good aspiration, the invisible hand of the market cannot solve the high priority global problem of poverty.

    Civil society's main role is its own future development so that the population can be consolidated as a nation with its own ethical values (a homogeneous assembly of principles and of interests). The three essential values for progress in Brazil are (1) democracy with sovereignty, (2) social integration and (3) raising the quality of life for all.

    In The Collapse of the Brazilian Modernity, Buarque asked why economic growth has not been able to solve the problem of poverty?

    Even after continuous economic growth, the country is faced with a well-known truth, that for every 1,000 Brazilians born, barely 90 of them transcend the difficulties of their situation and are able to survive and be educated to the second degree of grade school. Besides, almost 100 million people live in poverty. And 20 million of them are indigent people.

    The country has privileged an archaic modernism that must be changed, charged with new objectives. The future depends on a population that is healthy, competent and content.

    In The Revolution of the Left and the Invention of Brazil, Buarque recalls that Brazil lives with a "social apartheid" that excludes 100 million people from the economy without even the possibility of becoming true citizens:

    Due to the disorder of progress, economic growth is also impacting the natural middle and producing an ecological disaster that will not permit sustainable progress.

    Brazil is considered one of the 12 gifted megadiverse countries of the world. Together, these countries shelter 70 percent of the total biodiversity of the planet. Nevertheless, 398 species of low terrestrial animals exist on the brink of extinction in Brazil, among them mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and insects, without counting the aquatic fauna, threatened by the construction of dams and by the pollution of rivers and coastal areas.

    Besides, the indicator on the investment in research and development shows a fall in the volume of resources for the federal government from 1996 (3.6 billion reais) to 2002 (2.9 billion reais).

    Brazil should invest almost 7.2 trillion reais (U.S.$2.7 billion dollars), the equivalent total gross domestic product of more than four years, to reach in 2020 the standard of living of the industrial countries. But this it is not being done.

    Brazil has to generate more than 56 million new jobs in the next 15 years, that is to say 3.5 million each year, in this country of 182 million inhabitants. But the government believes this is an impossible task.

    Without hardly any social investment, Brazil runs the risk of having worse socioeconomic conditions in 15 years than at the present, aggravating the difficulties of governing the country.

    If the goal is to arrive at 2020 with the standard of living of rich countries like the Republic of Korea or the most advanced countries of Europe, it will be necessary to invest per year 27.6 percent of the gross domestic product.

    With an annual investment of only 14.5 percent the present conditions of intermediate countries would be reached, like Greece.

    What is required is a "drastic change" in present policies.

    These reflections of Buarque serve to show his political thinking. As a presidential candidate, he was supported only by a little more than two million voters (2.65 percent), but that would be enough to allow Lula to continue being president.

    In politics, to govern without problems, one needs dialogue and alliances. We'll see what Oct. 29 brings.

    ©2006 OhmyNews
    Other articles by reporter Alfredo Ascanio

    Quién tiene en sus manos la re-elección de Lula?
    Cristovam Buarque puede hacer que Lula pase la frontera del 51%

    La próxima segunda vuelta de las elecciones en Brasil serán tan reñidas como lo que sucedió recientemente en México. Si Lula obtuvo 48,63% de los votos y Cristovam Buarque el 2,65%, entonces esa alianza sumaría el 51,28%, porcentaje suficiente para que Luiz Lula Da Silva sea reelegido presidente de Brasil.

    Ya se sabe que Heloísa Helena no aceptará darle a Lula su porcentaje de votos igual al 6,85% , por dos razones básicas: a) porque ella fue expulsada del partido de los trabajadores (PT), y b) porque siendo la opción de la izquierda (PSOL) no podría negociar con Alckmin que sería considerado un voto social demócrata de la derecha brasilera.

    Pero Buarque, que primero fue el Rector de la Universidad de Brasilia y luego Gobernador de esa capital y Senador por el partido de Lula, para militar posteriormente en el PT, desilusionado de la pobre política educativa de Lula, entonces es evidente que su partido pueda negociar su 2,65% de sus votos, pero seguramente con la condición de que su proyecto educativo para los excluidos sociales, sea aceptado definitivamente por el partido de los trabajadores.

    Yo me puse a analizar todos los libros publicados por Buarque, que conservo en mi biblioteca privada, y de esta lectura voy a intercalar algunos conceptos e ideas que este economista y político formado en una de las mejores universidades francesas, había formulado en la década de los noventa y en año 2000, sin presentar lo que dijo en su primera novela del año 1981 cuando relataba allí la resurrección del General Sánchez.

    Comencemos pues con una cita extraídas de su libro : La Revolución de las Prioridades (la modernidad técnica y la modernidad ética):

    “A procura de uma saída não se dará apenas por uma melhor distribuição da renda, entre salários e lucros, deixando ao mercado a solução de problemas públicos globais, através de uma revolução nas prioridades.”

    En su libro : El colapso de la Modernidad Brasileira, Buarque dice lo siguiente:

    “Alguns,comprometidos com a modernidade arcaica que implantaram, continuam defendo os mesmos objetivos, mudando agora os meios. Propõem mudar as técnicas para não mudar a sociedade. Fazem condomínios, para não fazer a igualdade que evitaria a violência.”

    Más tarde en : La Revolución de la Izquierda y la invención del Brasil, Buarque recuerda lo siguiente:

    “O Brasil vive um apartheid social, que mantém 60 milhões de pessoas alijadas do consumo, excluídas da economia e, na práctica, da cidadania”


    En otro libro: El desorden del progreso, Buarque se angustiaba al decir:

    “Durante a década de 70, cada vez que sobrevoava uma das grandes cidades da América Latina, como México e São Paulo, tinha a mesma sensação que alguns físicos descreveram depois de sobrevoar Hiroshima e Nagasaki, no final de 1945. Frustração ,indignação e parte da responsabilidade com a desastre ecológico que o desenvolvimento econômico estava provocando.”

    Estas cuatro citas sirven para conocer el pensamiento político de un candidato presidencial ilustrado, que aunque sólo fue apoyado por un poco más de dos millones de electores (el 2,65% de los votos totales), podría orientar la balanza del candidato Lula hacia el lado en que podría seguir siendo presidente.

    Esperemos entonces el día 29 de octubre próximo y vamos a ver si esta hipótesis se concreta o por el contrario no fue la que podíamos esperar.
  • EL BLOG DE JONATHAN SCHWARTZ

  • EL BLOG DE JAMES GOSLING


  • El primer BLOG es del profesional de CEO y del Silicon Valley dedicado a Sun Microsystems. Y el segundo BLOG es es del hombre que creó el lenguaje de programación Java. Entonces, que más queremos ver ? Estos son extraordinarios blogs de expertos en el mundo digital. Que se deleiten con su lectura.

    The first BLOG is of the professional of CEO and of the Silicon Valley dedicated to Sun Microsystems. And the second BLOG is is of the man that created the programming language Java. Then, that more we want to see? These they are extraordinary blogs of experts in the digital world. Please: delight with their reading.