Now, with Michael Jackson unexpectedly dead, the world has been confronted with the feelings of loss. My first reaction was... well, unlike the majority. Then, my sense of analysis kicked in, and here I am, finding a correlation between the "Michael Jackson phenomenon," the situation of our global society and the ever deepening economic crisis the world quietly continues to dive in.
Some might wonder, what on Earth is she speaking about? Well, let's see my issues at hand one by one.
What I call the "Michael Jackson phenomenon" is simply the mirror of our societies, nowadays increasingly more and more permissive by not providing a solid base of education and a set of values set on steel, and which we should have been the custodians of, to hand to our younger generations.
Instead, materialism took over. as we silently witnessed and in many cases were the acomplices of mothers leaving the homes to become the second breadwinner in their families. With that, naturally, children were left at the hands and -lack of- common sense of so-called nannies who barely in most cases were able to speak the language.
Young American children, especially in the big cities, like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and so on, have been raised in an environment lacking family values and in general human values.
The amount of drugs in middle and high school has been rampant, alcohol and sex, are not far beyond, and a total absence of values such as solidarity, compassion, understanding, are no longer in the vocabulary of our spoiled young brats.
In this picture, fits perfectly the image of a man, gifted but conflictive, who had a very promising, pure and augurious beginning, but someone who somewhere along the road of his life got lost -and I am still trying to figure out what happened to that young and adorable kid from his infancy. Something happened, someone did something to him and no one was there to protect him.
So, while many fans want to forget the dubious moments seeing Jackson in court defending himself of accusations that he had had special moments with young little boys in his house, I simply cannot forget it.
I feel sorry for him and, as my son says, sorry that he did not have a mother like I.
But, I just wanted to paint for you the sad story of our society, because in reality, Michael Jackson's dark side as much as Madoff pitiless side, and so many of those, are the result of what
our society is producing.
Part of our society is our economic system. So, the lack of vision of our financial leaders, is completely understandable if we consider the social picture depicted above.
And, the world, as much as it may have disliked the United States, has indiscriminately copied our style. They did not copy the best of us, but the worse.
And the way up will be long and painful. And, hopefully we will get there before it's too late.
28 June 2009
New York
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
ELIANA'S THOUGHTS ON IRAN....
Many have been asking me what I think about what's going on in Iran.
Well, for the record, having been at the head of Benador Associates, means that after my experience and our experience with what happened in Iraq and how poorly the Bush Administration handled the whole operation, as a personal conclusion I drew the line there. Since then, I stopped my involvement in politics, especially in the US, as nothing ever changes there. And, most importantly, I do not want to go into any other war unless there is an uncontested success in sight and immediate, non-negotiable withdrawal planned.
Current events in Iran are, in fact, showing exactly what I was hoping for and expecting all along: that the wonderful people of Iran are able to revolt themselves, show the world that it is they and no one else who will take care of letting know their leaders loud and clear what they want or not.
And, with the courage Iranians are showing, it is a lesson for the world, a lesson from a population of roughly 65875223 who is able and willing to let their manipulating leaders that there are boundaries.
I know we all are hoping these protests will be fruitful. But they may just end without provoking any major change. However, the fact that those voices have been forcefully heard throughout the whole world, sure thanks to Twitter and Facebook and so on, is simply amazing.
Times are changing. For the best.
And, it ain't over yet.
Well, for the record, having been at the head of Benador Associates, means that after my experience and our experience with what happened in Iraq and how poorly the Bush Administration handled the whole operation, as a personal conclusion I drew the line there. Since then, I stopped my involvement in politics, especially in the US, as nothing ever changes there. And, most importantly, I do not want to go into any other war unless there is an uncontested success in sight and immediate, non-negotiable withdrawal planned.
Current events in Iran are, in fact, showing exactly what I was hoping for and expecting all along: that the wonderful people of Iran are able to revolt themselves, show the world that it is they and no one else who will take care of letting know their leaders loud and clear what they want or not.
And, with the courage Iranians are showing, it is a lesson for the world, a lesson from a population of roughly 65875223 who is able and willing to let their manipulating leaders that there are boundaries.
I know we all are hoping these protests will be fruitful. But they may just end without provoking any major change. However, the fact that those voices have been forcefully heard throughout the whole world, sure thanks to Twitter and Facebook and so on, is simply amazing.
Times are changing. For the best.
And, it ain't over yet.
FOR IRAQ OIL, FINALLY BACK TO BUSINESS...
Since the liberation of Iraq, turned the long invasion period, it is only now that Iraq is able to finally get back to the oil business. Due to my involvement in the political arena prior to the military intervention in March 2003, I got to meet many key figures among Iraqi exiles, such as Kanan Makiya, Ahmed Chalabi, Prince Sharif Ali bin Al-Hussein, Jalal Talabani and his son Qubad, Barham Saleh, Mohammed Mohammed, and so on. Chief among them was a man whose sense of mission struck me from the beginning, the Iraqi nuclear scientist, Hussein al-Shaharistani. Hussein is the current minister of oil. Being his usual self, a man of integrity and commited to the well-being of his country, at the end of his tenure in 2010, he will reportedly move on to head the Iraq Academy of Sciences.
Meanwhile, next week, roughly over 30 foreign oil companies have been selected to participate in the auction of oil contracts.
To be followed....
BIG OIL BACK TO IRAQ?
By Anna Aulova
24 June 2009 (CBS) --- Thirty five companies are qualified to bid on foreign oil contracts with Iraq starting next week, the Wall Street Journal reports. The government decided to auction off foreign oil contracts in an attempt to boost up its war torn economy.
The auction is taking place for the first time since Iraq nationalized its oil industry more than 30 years ago. Among top potential bidders are Exxon Mobil Corp., Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Italy's Eni SpA, Russia's Lukoil and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. If all goes according to plan, the new contracts with foreign companies will help Iraq to stabilize six developed fields which have suffered because of the war.
Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani has expressed his commitment to staying on the deal despite lawmakers' concerns of legality of the contracts - believed by the parliament to have highly favorable terms for the foreign companies.
According to Wall Street Journal, the oil deal could be key to stablizing Iraq's economy and to its proposed plans to boost oil output from the current 2.4 million barrels a day to 4 million. The companies themselves, are also reported as being eager to receive the contracts due to Iraq's relativly unexplored reservoirs, with some considering the nation as the most important opening of petrolium fields in years. Only about 20 out of the known 80 oil fields have been developed.
Al-Shahristani has stated that the companies with the lowest rates and highest potential profit for Iraq will receive the contracts, according to the article.
Approximately 120 companies were interested in bidding. The contracts will last 20 years and the winning companies will begin work in November.
Meanwhile, next week, roughly over 30 foreign oil companies have been selected to participate in the auction of oil contracts.
To be followed....
BIG OIL BACK TO IRAQ?
By Anna Aulova
24 June 2009 (CBS) --- Thirty five companies are qualified to bid on foreign oil contracts with Iraq starting next week, the Wall Street Journal reports. The government decided to auction off foreign oil contracts in an attempt to boost up its war torn economy.
The auction is taking place for the first time since Iraq nationalized its oil industry more than 30 years ago. Among top potential bidders are Exxon Mobil Corp., Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Italy's Eni SpA, Russia's Lukoil and China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. If all goes according to plan, the new contracts with foreign companies will help Iraq to stabilize six developed fields which have suffered because of the war.
Oil Minister Hussain al-Shahristani has expressed his commitment to staying on the deal despite lawmakers' concerns of legality of the contracts - believed by the parliament to have highly favorable terms for the foreign companies.
According to Wall Street Journal, the oil deal could be key to stablizing Iraq's economy and to its proposed plans to boost oil output from the current 2.4 million barrels a day to 4 million. The companies themselves, are also reported as being eager to receive the contracts due to Iraq's relativly unexplored reservoirs, with some considering the nation as the most important opening of petrolium fields in years. Only about 20 out of the known 80 oil fields have been developed.
Al-Shahristani has stated that the companies with the lowest rates and highest potential profit for Iraq will receive the contracts, according to the article.
Approximately 120 companies were interested in bidding. The contracts will last 20 years and the winning companies will begin work in November.
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This legislation failed the newly installed Iraqi Parliament instead the Iraqis opted to maintain control of their Oil and put production contracts out to bid.
This one fact that completely failed is evident that the President Cheney and Bush along with the Republican Party used US Tax $Dollars (Socialism) to have the Military invad and occupy Iraq to steal their OIL.
Iraq never needed the US, and still doesn't because ultimately they have the OIL.