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Contents contributed and discussions participated by Christoph Zed

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Can India's economy overtake China? - 0 views

news.bbc.co.uk/...8273464.stm markets india china economy globalisation
shared by Christoph Zed on 05 Oct 09 - Cached
  • Can the lumbering elephant overtake the hyperactive dragon?
  • In 2010, the Indian economy may grow faster than that of China.
  • China and India, accounting for roughly 40% of the 6.5bn plus people on Planet Earth, are not merely the two fastest growing major economies in the world at present, but are among the few countries that have continued to expand at a time when the economies of most countries have contracted
  • ...6 more annotations...
  • Economists argue that one reason why India's economy can grow faster than that of China in the near future is simply on account of what statisticians describe as a "base effect"
  • China's economy is roughly three and a half times bigger than that of India - Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measured in US dollars in 2008 for the two countries stood at $4.2 trillion and $1.2 trillion respectively.
  • Two years ago, China overtook the US as India's largest trading partner.
  • World Bank in its Global Development Finance 2009 report projected that in 2010, the rate of growth of India's economy at 8% would be faster than that of China, expected to be 7.7%
  • developing countries could "become a key driving force" in reviving the world's economy
  • it was no longer improbable that India could grow faster than China or that South Asia would expand at a faster pace than East and South-East Asia
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AppleInsider | Apple challenges new Woolworths logo - 0 views

www.appleinsider.com/...enges_new_woolworths_logo.html apple woolworth branding globalisation markets logo
shared by Christoph Zed on 05 Oct 09 - Cached
  • Apple have begun a legal response against the largest supermarket chain in Australia over a logo the electronics company says is too similar to its own iconic trademark
  • The Australian company has steered clear of mentioning apples in relation to its new mark, claiming the stylized 'W' was been paired with "an abstract leaf symbol" to represent fresh food
  • similarity to that particular fruit
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  • At first glance, the chance for confusion between a computer company and a food seller seems remote, but Woolworths' application asked for a blanket trademark extending even to electrical goods and technology.
  • Apple will make its case to IP Australia, the federal agency that governs trademarks in that country.
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Pope warns of 'new colonialism' - 0 views

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shared by Christoph Zed on 04 Oct 09 - Cached
xuejiao lin liked it
  • Pope Benedict has warned that a form of colonialism continues to blight Africa.
  • he said the developed world continued to export materialism - which he called "toxic spiritual rubbish" - to the continent.
  • Pope Benedict praised Africa's rich cultural and spiritual treasures, caling them a "spiritual lung" for the world.
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  • But he said the continent was afflicted by an export of the "so-called 'first world'... [the] toxic spiritual rubbish" of materialism. "In this context, the political colonialism is never finished," the Pope said.
  • He said Africa also suffered increasing religious fundamentalism, in the form of religious groups which "act on behalf of God" but "teach intolerance and violence".
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AFP: Kadhafi calls for 'NATO of the south' at Venezuela summit - 0 views

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shared by Christoph Zed on 28 Sep 09 - Cached
  • pushing for the creation of a "NATO of the South" by 2011 to counter the military bloc of the United States and European powers.
  • Energy infrastructure development and joint oil project cooperation were the central topics of the meeting,
  • Libya is the gateway to Africa for us because it is a country well-known for its socialist policies that plays an important and strategic role for us
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  • no global challenge in the 21st Century that cannot be tackled by Africa and South America, and there is no challenge that can be addressed without
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Gaddafi proposes 'Nato of the South' at South America-Africa summit - Times Online - 0 views

www.timesonline.co.uk/...article6851632.ece nato power-play politics
shared by Christoph Zed on 28 Sep 09 - Cached
  • Colonel Gaddafi proposed an African-Latin American defence alliance yesterday at an intercontinental summit hosted by Venezuela.
  • President Mugabe of Zimbabwe and President Zuma of South Africa were among almost 30 leaders from across the two continents present as Mr Chávez sought to promote his socialist policies abroad, urging a new world order that would confront Western dominance
  • “The world’s powers want to continue to hold on to their power,” said Mr Gaddafi, who had a white limousine flown to Venezuela to meet him at the airport.
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Venezuela bans Family Guy cartoon - 2 views

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shared by Christoph Zed on 28 Sep 09 - Cached
  • Authorities in Venezuela say they will punish TV stations if they continue to broadcast episodes of cult US animation Family Guy.
  • the show should be banned because it promotes the use of marijuana
  • messages that go against the whole education of boys, girls and adolescents
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  • Televen avoided the fine by pulling the show and replacing it with Baywatch.
  • Venezuelan TV is known for filling its schedules with re-runs of old US series and Latin American soap operas
  • Christoph Zed on 28 Sep 09
     
    Interesting move, I guess the "localization" process overlooked a few issues. Personally I think "the family guy" does quite often cross lines that should not be crossed, (eg: when making fun of pedophilia) The show highlights a trend in western society to ridicule any value and/or anything "sacred".
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Terrorists in the Making?: Egypt Pursues Europeans Taking Arabic Classes - SPIEGEL ONLI... - 0 views

www.spiegel.de/...0,1518,651318-2,00.html islam multiculturalism terrorism egypt usa faith
shared by Christoph Zed on 26 Sep 09 - Cached
  • It is not the first time the Egyptian security service claimed to have rounded up a cell of jihadist European students.
  • After just over a week of questioning, they were deported. There was no evidence. Back in Europe authorities saw no reason to hold the students.
  • the Egyptian security service often keeps surveillance on specific foreign students at the request of European secret services.
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  • The West often accuses Egypt of being a breeding ground for fanatics, but in actuality we are getting extremists from Europe.
  • Agents treat the foreign students who are arrested terribly." He says this has an adverse effect. "This way you create an enemy you might not have had before."
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Terrorists in the Making?: Egypt Pursues Europeans Taking Arabic Classes - SPIEGEL ONLI... - 0 views

www.spiegel.de/...0,1518,651318,00.html islam multiculturalism terrorism egypt usa faith
shared by Christoph Zed on 26 Sep 09 - Cached
  • Many deeply religious students from Europe come to Egypt to learn Arabic. The question is: are these European Salafists coming to study the language of the Koran or to prepare terrorist attacks?
  • Young men with downy beards, caps, kneelength a traditional Arab galabeyas and sandals sat chatting in a McDonalds' restaurant in Nasr City, a large middle class district in the eastern part of Cairo.
  • In the neighborhood Egyptians, the European Salafists - Sunni religious fundamentalists - are outsiders.
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  • Ashraf, a 26-year-old Dutchman of Moroccan descent, came to Cairo a year ago. "To learn Arabic," he says, "the language of my religion."
  • "We aren't hurting anyone," says Ashraf, whose apartment was recently searched. "We only come to study and pray."
  • "Religious fanatics want to be taken seriously," says Walid al-Gohari, founder and director of the Al-Fajr institute, one of the many language schools in Nasr City. "But Salafists who don't even know Arabic are not considered credible."
  • The Egyptian security service is concerned about the situation. It therefore keeps a close eye on fundamentalist visitors with a European passport.
  • As a precaution, the security service picked up hundreds of foreign students in a few days time, among them a few from the Netherlands.
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BBC NEWS | Business | Emerging economies 'get new role' - 0 views

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shared by Christoph Zed on 25 Sep 09 - Cached
  • The G20 group of leading and emerging economies will take on a new role as a permanent body co-ordinating the world economy
  • more power to emerging economies, rather than to the developed powerhouses of the G8 group.
  • Senior EU officials later announced a deal to shift the balance of voting in the International Monetary Fund to benefit growing economies like China.
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  • police fired rubber bullets at protesters
  • The G20 is going to be the new body counsel that will be the coordinating body for international economic cooperation
  • financial regulatory reform was the most important agenda item for summit, but that addressing global economic imbalances was also a priority
  • US proposal calls on economies such as China, Brazil and India to boost domestic consumption
  • US and Europe would encourage more saving
  • That's not a sustainable financial situation for the US and that's why we're in the process of adjusting
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BBC NEWS | Asia-Pacific | Suu Kyi 'welcomes US engagement' - 0 views

news.bbc.co.uk/...8272931.stm US Asia hegemony politics government
shared by Christoph Zed on 25 Sep 09 - Cached
  • San Suu Kyi says she welcomes US plans to engage with the country's military rulers
  • Suu Kyi also wanted the US to engage with the political opposition.
  • direct engagement is good
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  • sanctions remained an important part of US policy but that "by themselves they have not produced the results that had been hoped for on behalf of the people of Burma"
  • US would be looking to employ both sanctions and engagement to "help achieve democratic reform" in Burma.
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Nigeria 'offended' by sci-fi film - 0 views

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shared by Nadeem Uddin on 21 Sep 09 - Cached
  • Nigeria's government is asking cinemas to stop showing a science fiction film, District Nine, that it says denigrates the country's image.
  • she had asked the makers of the film, Sony, for an apology.
  • the film portrays Nigerians as cannibals, criminals and prostitutes.
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  • a gang leader with the nickname of Obasanjo, also the surname of former Nigerian President
  • The name our former president was clearly spelt out as the head of the criminal gang and our ladies shown like prostitutes sleeping with extra-terrestrial beings.
  • Nigeria's Nollywood film industry was also being pressed to help portray Nigeria in a better light.
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To climb Uluru or not? Up, down or all over | Ayers Rock - 0 views

www.theage.com.au/...or-all-over-20090910-fiyc.html culture identiy faith belief clash indigenous uluru australia
shared by Christoph Zed on 17 Sep 09 - Cached
  • Standing 348 metres above its surrounds, this 400-million-year-old loaf-shaped object is easily one of the most recognisable on Earth.The question is whether I should climb it.
  • The traditional owners have asked us not to because of its spiritual significance.’’
  • ‘Human footsteps are eroding the surface and idiots peeing on the top are polluting the waterholes.’’
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  • ‘because it’s there”,and his partner in crime Mr Patriotic because ‘‘it’s a national icon and a rite of passage’’, are already planning their assault on the summit the next morning.
  • ‘That’s areally important, sacred thing that you are climbing,’’ continues the sign. ‘‘You shouldn’t climb. It’s not the thing to do.’’
  • ‘I understand the traditional owners’ connection to the land,’’ the Birthday Girl says. ‘‘But what about my need to connect with the land?’’
  • photographer Ken Duncan, who said to me recently: ‘‘No person should own copyright on creation.
  • ‘Please allow us to have our own beliefs and experiences, too.’’ And there lies the rub.
  • From our group, two chose to climb it and loved the experience; some didn’t climb because they respected the traditional owners’ request not to; others stayed on the ground because they were either afraid of heights or didn’t think they were fit enough to make it. But, we all had the choice and that’s what matters. A better question is: should our right to make that choice be taken away?
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Obama's Kanye West comment sparks debate - 0 views

www.theage.com.au/...arks-debate-20090917-fsqz.html social media obama twitter press etiquette
shared by Christoph Zed on 17 Sep 09 - Cached
  • President Barack Obama's candid thoughts about Kanye West are provoking a debate over standards of journalism in the Twitter age.
  • But he said it is broadcast tradition that such pre-interview chatter is considered off the record until the formal interview begins.
  • The incident is reminiscent of past "open-mic" incidents involving politicians
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  • "If you're sitting there with a microphone on, you don't have a reasonable expectation of privacy,
  • "The president calling Kanye West a 'jackass' is perfect information for a tweet," she said. "In fact, that's the ideal format. You can do it in 140 characters. There's not much else to say."
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Melbourne's tepid brown river: it's coffee - 0 views

www.theage.com.au/...-its-coffee-20090916-frm0.html coffee identity australian
shared by Christoph Zed on 17 Sep 09 - Cached
  • coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee. Can't we celebrate something else? Canberra is the political capital and Sydney is the economic capital and Brisbane is the lifestyle capital and Melbourne, we're the capital of brown boiled bean-juice that gives you morning-breath and loosens your stools with colonic laxativity
  • And I'd chosen the coffee machine because, as a resident of this city, I felt it was my municipal duty.
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BBC NEWS | Technology | Call to use more government data - 0 views

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shared by Christoph Zed on 08 Sep 09 - Cached
  • One of President Obama's campaign promises was to make the US government more open and transparent.
  • "It's a great opportunity to redefine how government works," said Mr O'Reilly
  • "We've got to recognise that we can't treat the American people as subjects but as co-creators of ideas. We need to tap into the vast amounts of knowledge... in communities across the country.
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  • "We have gotten into this model of thinking the government is like a vending machine. We pay taxes and get roads and schools, police and armies and whatever else.
  • "The new model is about participation. It's about the government saying we will provide you with these services that you can build upon.
  • One of the most cited examples of how government-as-a-platform works best can be seen at a site called Apps for Democracy.
  • Apps for Democracy which aimed to "engage citizen technologists to build the perfect technology solution to meet their needs".
  • "With the help of these home-grown innovators, we're engaging the community in government and building a digital democracy model for governments everywhere,"
  • Mr O'Reilly warned that "going back to politics as usual" was not an option and that in the midst of the government's willingness to open up its data, there were some pitfalls to look out for.
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BBC NEWS | South Asia | Slumdog child actors in new movie - 0 views

news.bbc.co.uk/...8243459.stm
shared by Nadeem Uddin on 08 Sep 09 - Cached
  • The child stars of the hit film Slumdog Millionaire are set to star in another film, possibly sharing a screen with British actor Anthony Hopkins.
  • "Lord Owen's Lady".
  • The children and their families recently moved to new housing. The accommodation was arranged by the government and a trust formed by Slumdog's British director Danny Boyle.
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  • We have been given a new house and our condition is improving but Azhar's father did not live to see the good days,"
  • Christoph Zed on 08 Sep 09
     
    Bollywood meets Hollywood
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BBC NEWS | Programmes | Newsnight | The rise of Israel's military rabbis - 0 views

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shared by Christoph Zed on 08 Sep 09 - Cached
  • Military rabbis are becoming more powerful. Trained in warfare as well as religion, new army regulations mean they are now part of a military elite.
  • One of their main duties is to boost soldiers' morale and drive, even on the front line.
  • The 19-year-olds I spoke to at the seminary told me religious soldiers like them can make the army behave better and become "more moral".
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  • The settlement issue could well tear the army apart, he told me, adding that most of his officers were settlers these days.
  • "The morals of the battlefield cannot come from a religious authority. Once it does, it's Jihad. I know people will not like that word but that's what it is, Holy War. And once it's Holy War there are no limits."
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McCurry wins row with McDonald's - 0 views

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shared by Christoph Zed on 08 Sep 09 - Cached
  • The American fast-food giant McDonald's has lost an eight-year legal battle to prevent a Malaysian restaurant calling itself McCurry.
  • McDonald's argued that the use of the "Mc" prefix infringed its trademark. But the Federal Court in Kuala Lumpur ruled that there was no evidence to show McCurry was trying to pass itself off as part of the McDonald's empire.
  • The owner of McCurry insists its "Mc" prefix is an abbreviation for Malaysian Chicken Curry.
  • Christoph Zed on 08 Sep 09
     
    interesting outcome of this 8 year-long legal battle
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Aids ist ein Massenmörder: Campaign - 0 views

www.aiem.de/...index.php
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  • The "AIDS is a mass murderer" TV and cinema advert
  • The new campaign, designed by Regenbogen e.V. in conjunction with the advertising agency das comitee, speaks in clear terms: its slogan is "AIDS is a mass murderer". It features the greatest mass murderers in recent history having sex. TWITTER PROFIL 
  • The "Adolf" poster The "Saddam" poster The "Stalin" poster
  • Christoph Zed on 08 Sep 09
     
    Content Warning: Male and Female Nudity. The Germany made "Aids is a mass murderer" campaign has caused quite some stir, interestingly more outside of Germany than in Germany. It not only depicts Hitler, but also Saddam and Stalin in a poster AD campaign, as well as (very graphic) video. The controversy around the campaign raises a few questions, in regards to contemporary understanding of the holocaust (and other brutal mass-murdering regimes), ethics and contemporary sexual behaviour as well as acceptance depiction of sexual imagery in popular media and advertisement.
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War Profiteers?: Study Reveals Germany Is World's Third Largest Defense Exporter - SPIE... - 0 views

www.spiegel.de/...0,1518,553755,00.html economics germany export defense military EU Europe globalisation markets
shared by Christoph Zed on 30 Aug 09 - Cached
  • Germany Is World's Third Largest Defense Exporter
  • Once one of the world's most aggressive powers, Germany today likes to project a pacifist image
  • a report released yesterday by the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC), a German think tank, reveals a different side of Germany's relationship to war.
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  • Germany, it turns out, exports nearly a billion euros worth of military goods each year ($1.55 billion) to developing countries.
  • That makes Germany the European Union's biggest military goods exporter, and worldwide it's behind only the US and Russia,
  • The BICC's annual report, guest-authored by former UN Chief Weapons Inspector Hans Blix, focused on the rise of military spending all over the world, a development that the end of the Cold War was supposed to reverse. Instead, global spending on weapons and armies rose by 15 percent between 2001 and 2006. Today it tops €650 billion ($1.1 trillion). A third of that is spent by the US.
  • "We see a revival of Cold War politics without the Cold War -- a Cold Peace, if you will."
  • "Apart from America there are a number of fast-growing countries -- like China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan, not to mention Russia -- where the global trend towards militarization is showing itself most clearly,"
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