Enemies

"Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much."
- Oscar Wilde

Africa vs. Asia

When one hears the word “poverty”, the first thing that comes into mind is Africa. Yet, more than half of the people in the world who live below poverty line are in Asia today. So why is there so little international effort towards poverty eradication in Asia?

It is difficult even to imagine that poverty in Asia may rival the one in Africa. After all, most of the least developed countries today are in Africa, with only a handful in Asia. China and India, which are a home to over half of the world population living below poverty line ($2 per day), are considered an emerging economic threat to the Western Nations.

Most of the Asian countries are considerable economic powers with high growth rates, whereas African nations are often the most impoverished and indebted. But according to some accounts, economic growth in Asia has not contributed to the alleviation of poverty – it has only widened the gap between the rich and the poor.

My question is not “why Africa?” It is “why not Asia?” Is it because there are other, more important, issues to discuss with countries, who have functioning economies and high export levels? Or is it because in the Asian case, non-intervention in the internal affairs of sovereign nations is an issue, whereas in Africa, it’s not quite so relevant?

My point is that Asian nations are sometimes confusing the right of a state to economic growth and prosperity with the right of their people to a decent living. Despite the many national efforts, they have not managed to deal with poverty at a level due to growing economic powers.

A story without an ending

What an irony! As the demonstrations in Belarus have ended without any positive changes, Ukraine goes into their first truly free and democratic elections after the Orange revolution.

Watching the news from Belarus has turned into a painful experience over the last few days. I could not believe that the scenes were broadcasted from usually so calm and complacent Belarus. Seeing police chasing, beating and arresting the protesters made me regret the joy I had felt over the mere fact that protests had finally started in Belarus. Yet the worst of all is the cruelty, hypocrisy and arrogance of the authorities.

A day in the history of (post)-Soviet Belarus

I cannot say that the presidential elections in Belarus last Sunday were a disappointment to me. Such an outcome was predictable – it was another boring day in the history of post-Soviet Belarus.

Yet, the glimmer of hope has not completely faded. True - the protests on the streets of Minsk cannot match those in Ukraine and Georgia, and most of the analysts do not see how they can result in the change of regime in Belarus. But they have happened – thousands of people have come out to protest... in a country which has been living in fear for the last decade.

The only thing that does disappoint me, is how unbelievable is the prospect of any changes in Belarus. Is this country condemned to the next 7 years of stagnation, isolation and mute oblivion?

What would make me happy

This Sunday, Belarus will hold presidential elections. Most commentators expect the current president, Lukashenko, to win his third term in the office. I have little doubt that this will be the case.

Yet, I still have a faint hope that the times will change for Belarus. May be the opposition candidate Milinkevich will get considerable support. May be the Belarusians will dare to go out on the streets and protest the authoritarian regime… There have been examples in recent history – why not Belarus? That is what would make me really happy.

Alas, it will probably be another boring day in the history of Europe’s last dictatorship.

Here you can read about my Impressions of Belarus.

Crossroad

	"One day Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. Which road do I take? she asked. Where do you want to go? was his response. I don't know, Alice answered. Then, said the cat, it doesn't matter." - Lewis Carroll

I am studying to be... II

"The word 'politics' is derived from the word 'poly', meaning 'many', and the word 'ticks', meaning 'blood sucking parasites'."
- Larry Hardiman

Home

This is my new home, and I am so pleased to call this new flat a 'home'.

Inter-galactic travel

And some people believe that dreams are the way our subconscious talks to our conscious…

Last night, I flew to a different galaxy. My shuttle landed on a space station and I could vividly see all the elaborate devices, like in a Sci-Fi movie.

I was hanging out on that space station with people from different planets. The strange thing is that they named their planets and I seemed to know what they were talking about. We were drinking red wine, and this is how I know that the dream was about me – the red wine actually left stains on a white carpet.

Then, I decided that I cannot just hang out on a space station doing nothing, and I should find a job. The dream ended quite abruptly. I suddenly said: “May be I should just go back to Earth and find a job there – I am a European, after all!”

I woke up thinking of why labour mobility in Europe does not compare to that of the USA, despite all the efforts towards a single European market.

I am a European, no doubt. And the Sci-Fi may be explained by the fact that I share a flat with geeks. What worries me is that if it is all true, how can I afford sparing the time for such a serious undertaking as inter-galactic travel besides my post-grad studies?

Sovereignty

Sovereignty means the supremacy of power. In the current international discourse, it means that no one can interfere into the matters of sovereign states, as they are the supreme power on a given territory and over a given nation. Although the question of eroding sovereignty is highly contested, it is certainly true that in the beginning of the 21st century, the authority of states and their supremacy of power are somewhat transformed. What I want to say is that there are many new actors on the international arena that affect the ability of states to take autonomous decisions – big multinational corporations, international organizations, civil society, and the internet to mention a few.

However, when we talk about a church or a religious institution, their sovereignty on planet Earth is hardly contested, as the only supreme power above such organizations, they claim, is the God himself. Who would want to compete with that.

This, inevitably, brings me back to 1648 and the Treaty of Westphalia, which established the current international order of sovereigns (in those days, it could be a state, or a monarch, or a dynasty), and the logic of non-interference. More remarkable however, is that the treaty separated religion from the state, in the European context of course. Blessed be that day! I like the idea that we, mortals, can now challenge supremacy, i.e. sovereignty of states. Imagine living in a state where a religious organization claims supremacy – I wouldn’t like to try challenging the only institution above such sovereign – God.

Spring moods again

I don’t know how to explain it, but every time I’m in London, I think of New York. This last weekend, when I was visiting a friend in London, I realized that I really miss New York. I miss Greenwich Village, Times Square, Central Park, the people, the diversity and multi-nationality, street performers, subway, fire escapes, and Mimosas for brunch.
I guess it’s time to go back…

Memories of winter

No matter how much I like winter, it is so exciting to think that it is finally over. Nothing compares to spring. Spring gives joy and hope. Spring is the beginning of everything what is good. Good bye winter! Here’s the last memory of your beauty…