Laura Leiva & Horace C. White

Modern Tokyo Times

Jami Laes has been named as the EVP of Games for Rovio Entertainment, the company announced April 18. Laes’ extensive experience in the gaming industry makes him an ideal choice to head the game division and Rovio Entertainment is using Laes’ knowledge and expertise to develop and support the company’s growth in gaming operations. Laes’ lengthy resume creates plenty of growth possibilities for Rovio. During previous stints with Digital Chocolate and Electronic Arts, Laes has worked hard to provide gamers around the world with quality mobile and social games. His international networking, which includes working with Japanese and Chinese studios, will help elevate Rovio Entertainment even further on a global level.

Rovio Entertainment has had its share of success this year by publishing the company’s first free-to-play game and creating an in-game animation distribution channel. With a firm footing in the entertainment gaming industry, Rovio is expected to continue growing and strengthening with the addition of Jami Laes’ background. According to Rovio Entertainment’s CEO Mikael Hed, the collaboration with Laes is sure to be a fruitful one. Hed explains that Laes’ international background, leadership experience and creative knowledge will help propel Rovio into the hands of more gamers.

Rovio Entertainment isn’t the only company entertaining gamers around the world. Nexon, which introduced the first MMORPG, The Kingdom of the Winds, in 1995, is a competitive player in the gaming industry. Games developed through Nexon have reached world records in countries such as China and South Korea and provide users with an innovative experience – playing games for free with the option to make in-game purchases for customization and playing enhancement. Nexon’s assortment of social and mobile games and number of users prove that online games are enjoyed by a vast demographic of people and not just hardcore gamers.

Nexon’s investment in 6waves will advance the company’s influence on even more gamers. Starting through Facebook, 6waves is now the leading publisher of independent games found on mobile platforms and social networks. By teaming up with international developers, 6waves has extended its reach to millions of users in countries such as China, Japan, United States and Russia. 6waves is responsible for developing interactive, entertaining games on multiple devices and platforms such as Mystery Manor, Township and Mafia Farm.

While Rovio Entertainment has garnered international success with the popular puzzle game, Angry Birds, its future is looking even brighter with the addition of Laes. New developments within the company ensure it will be a competitive match to established giants like Nexon.

http://www.rovio.com/

http://www.nexon.net/

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Pierre Leblanc and James Jomo

Modern Tokyo Times

Another important international business survey paints a rather damning view of the role of women within senior management positions in Japan. The survey carried out by Grant Thornton and which involved 6,000 international businesses, confirms other surveys whereby Japan is lagging well behind other leading economic nations and emerging markets. This fact is difficult to understand given the reality that Japan is a very modern nation whereby educational standards rank very highly internationally.

The Russian Federation came out on top in the survey of 40 economies with 46% of women being represented in senior management positions. Italy came out on top within the European Union at 36% and surprisingly Germany was very low along with Denmark. The figure in Germany was 13% and in Denmark it was 15%. Therefore, it would have been interesting if the survey delved more deeply into the cultural factors behind these findings. After all, you have such a huge discrepancy despite the closeness of geography and common shared factors like democracy, secularism, high educational standards, and other important areas.

Other nations which figured highly include Botswana, the Philippines, and Thailand, who all obtained 39%. In Latin America the standard average was 22% and in the United Arab Emirates the figure is now 15% and this highlights the growing maturity of this nation. In the past, the United Arab Emirates had a very low base. However, recent political and social changes in this country are opening up the labor market to women.

In the article by Jennifer M. Freedman which was published on the Bloomberg website, the author comments that “U.S. companies are lagging behind gains in Europe, where female board membership is growing to meet regulatory mandates and corporate governance codes. Representation of women on boards of Standard & Poor’s 500 (SPX) companies declined to 16 percent in 2011 from 16.6 percent in 2010, according to the Bloomberg Rankings annual analysis last year, which gathered data from public company information.”

The findings paint a bleak reality of the business world in Japan because this nation came last at 5%. This figure is alarming given the ultra-modernity of all major cities, high educational standards, and other positive areas. However, just like Germany, it would appear that behind the veneer of modernity is a culture which still prides itself on conservative values. This statement is painting a rather mild view because others would state that discrimination and the corporate cultures of Japan and Germany are to blame for such low figures.

Whatever the truth is, it is clear that the survey needs to focus on social factors, corporate culture, cultural norms, and other important areas. Also, are all companies open to female senior management positions or just a minority of companies? Of course the findings will be complex because it could be based on sexual discrimination, women don’t desire openly to work in senior management positions, educational emphasis on gender stratification, corporate culture, and many other factors.

However, with only 5% of Japanese females being represented within senior management then clearly this is hindering certain areas of the economy. After all, the demographic issue in Japan is a real area of concern because of the declining birth rate. This indicates a lot of “educational and talented wastage” is being lost at a time when people are needed to fill jobs throughout the economy.

If corporate Japan doesn’t change its collective thinking then another female generation will be lost when it comes to senior management positions. Of course, the reasons will be multiple and extremely complex but the best starting point is the corporate culture of this nation and then to focus on other areas. After all, can Japan afford to “throw away” so much hidden talent given the economic and demographic reality of modern Japan in 2012?

Lee Jay Walker gave support to both main writers 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-08/women-fill-fewer-senior-management-positions-in-emerging-markets.html

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Kanako Itamae and Michel Lebon

Modern Tokyo Times

The fashion company Hennes & Mauritz AB (H&M) is going from strength to strength in Japan. This reality means that H&M will introduce two of their brands to Japan within the near future. Currently, it is perceived that the brands Monki and Weekday will be introduced to Japan in early 2014 but this date could feasibly be moved forward.

H&M in 2012 decided on opening up new stores in Japan and this most notably applies to Nagoya. After all, in Tokyo and other parts of Kanto the brand H&M is part of the fashion landscape for many fashion lovers. The other major city which was targeted by H&M was Osaka. However, it is hoped that in the future that this company will further consolidate in other parts of Kansai because of the vibrancy of the entire region.

The vibrancy of fashion in major cities like Tokyo and Osaka is simply amazing. This applies to the intriguing variations of fashion within Tokyo and Osaka respectively. It is more than likely that Monki and Weekday will follow the Tokyo and Osaka route.

Fashion in Japan is an extremely vibrant sector and clearly H&M is raking in the rewards. Sales throughout the first nine months of 2012 in Japan remain vibrant, despite the negative global economy. This reality means that H&M is extremely positive about the future of this company in Japan. Therefore, it is believed that not only will Monki and Weekday enhance the reputation of H&M in Japan; but equally important, this new initiative will preserve the reputation of H&M because both brands will bring a new freshness.

On the following link (http://www.adbrands.net) many fine attributes are stated about H&M. The above highlighted website comments that “H&M is one of Europe’s two leading clothing brands, seemingly immune from the woes than have plagued many other retailers, not least US rival Gap. One key selling point has been an annual collaboration with different star designers.”

In many fashion surveys in Tokyo the name H&M featured highly with regards to ladies who adore the richness of amazing boutiques. Therefore, if the past is to be relied on, it would appear that Monki and Weekday will further enhance H&M in Japan.

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Sarah Deschamps and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The global village is getting smaller but despite this the world is faced with countless problems, therefore, music is a welcome release and can be a force of good. After all, music can transcend political, economic, and religious barriers if given the opportunity. Therefore, this mix is meant to represent the global village but clearly not everyone will agree with the songs selected by the above writers at Modern Tokyo Times.

The first essential tune selected is “Someone Like You” by Adele who was born in London, England.  “Someone Like You” is a very powerful track and was internationally acclaimed. Adele is blessed with a lovely voice and she certainly connected with vast numbers of people with this fabulous track.

In the track by Adele it is clear that the lyrics will connect with many souls. During magic moments everything seems possible but for whatever reason it all falls apart but a grimace of hope remains until the final reality is realized. Therefore, without a shadow of doubt this is an essential track because “Someone Like You” hits the heart.

The next track selected is “Say What’s Real” by Drake who is a music artist of great skill because he “sounds real” without the “hype.” Therefore, the lyrics may be a million miles away from “Someone Like You” and harder hitting. However, despite this, the passion is the same and Drake is clearly highly talented.

It was difficult to choose either “Say What’s Real” or “Trust Issues” by Drake because both tracks are inspirational in many ways. Drake, just like Adele, for different reasons, can relate to individuals across the international spectrum. Therefore, Drake who was born in Canada is certainly making waves within the music industry.

In Northeast Asia and throughout the continent the rise of K-pop continues to flourish and gradually this music is impacting on the European, North American, and South American scene. Given this, it was essential to include a K-pop track in this mix and with so many talented artists to pick from the choice was extremely difficult.

However, in this essential mix the selection was “Milestone” by BoA because the lyrics are very beautiful and the track highlights the passion of a very talented individual. BoA is an iconic singer from the K-pop scene who clearly made a huge hit when she focused on the Japanese market during her early period. Therefore, it was great to hear BoA sing “Milestone” in Japan because this elegant lady from South Korea is truly international in outlook.

Turning back to the British music scene and the lovely track called “Come On” by Will Young. In this track you can feel a connection between the adult and memories of childhood. Not only this, the lyrics and backdrop all come together and while this singer reached the top the hard way, he fully deserves the acclaim of this stylish track.

The next track selected is a million miles away from Will Young but Laal who come from Pakistan is a special group. Their track called “Inqalab” is extremely potent and shows the real power of music. This applies to a powerful message which refuses to be silenced because some individuals use their talents for the good of others and this certainly applies to Laal.

Therefore, it is essential that Laal and other groups with powerful messages are heard. Another potent track by Laal applies to “Dehshatgardi Murdabad” (Death to Terrorism) which is focused on the hidden reality of modern day Afghanistan and Pakistan. This applies to the past deeds of CIA involvement and how these two societies were overwhelmed by a “hidden combination of dark forces.” Laal, uniquely, provide their deep message about the brutality of absolute capitalism and other important issues by fusing this with catchy lyrics and stylish musical beats.

In all mixes it is great to focus on a track which hit the heights many years ago therefore “Ghetto Gospel” by 2Pac was selected. This amazing track remains potent today because it shows the “soul of an individual who was a deep thinker.” The track selected features Elton John but the legend of 2Pac dominates because he left a rich legacy and highlighted aspects of America in “the raw.”

Moving to Sweden and the dance track “Penguin” by Avicii which did well throughout Europe. This dance track highlights the diversity of the European house scene because the nature of house music means it is easily transferable and not constrained by language. The future of Avicii looks extremely bright because Tim Bergling is only 22 and this individual should influence the European house scene for many years to come.

The final track is from Pobsky who hails from Greater Manchester in England. His trance track called “Dark Cloud” is full of vitality and throughout you have no weakness. If this track doesn’t get the pulse racing then trance/house isn’t for you.

In this essential mix number two by Modern Tokyo Times we have highlighted artists from America, Canada, Pakistan, South Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLQl3WQQoQ0&ob=av2e Adele

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQwGyDvCUZc Drake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYKhmcNo3C8 BoA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kgd-b8X3meA&ob=av2e Will Young

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtrV6o2fCpI Laal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-l-Ja5ItAY 2Pac featuring Elton John

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7BGxDbH9Zo Avicii

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT9sgi2cYWE&feature=related Pobsky

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y57elLCPFQ4 Laal

http://moderntokyotimes.com/2011/08/23/essential-vibes-1-housetrance-and-hip-hop-mix-to-get-you-chill-in/

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

James Jomo and Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

In 2011 many political convulsions have challenged nations in North Africa and the Middle East. The optimism of the so-called “Arab Spring” remains to be unfulfilled because you have so much uncertainty in nations like Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Syria, and Tunisia. At the same time the death of Osama bin Laden wasn’t the decisive blow to international terrorism because recent events in many nations show that this menace is still potent. This notably applies to the recent slaughter of Christians in Nigeria by Islamists belonging to Boko Haram.

Images of Christians, Muslims, and secularists, celebrating political change in Egypt seems like a distant dream. After all, many Coptic Christians have been killed and a sizeable minority of Muslims supported an Islamic party which seeks to restrict the role of Christians in Egypt.

President Obama, much like the ethical policy of Tony Blair (past leader in the United Kingdom), showed his hand clearly by announcing a huge military deal with Saudi Arabia. Therefore, any notion of democracy and supporting human rights was thrown out the window. In fairness to Obama this is a systematic reality within the body politic of America. However, it makes a mockery of his ethical stances because in the land of Saudi Arabia not one single Buddhist temple is allowed or Christian church and of course all apostates from Islam face death in this nation.

Meanwhile the Euro crisis and the foundations of the European Union have been challenged to the hilt. This applies to one economic crisis after another and monetary issues will continue to be a major issue in the early months of 2012. At the same time political leaders have lost power in Greece and Italy and European technocrats who have been unelected now rule the roost in these two nations. Therefore, the “Arab Spring” appears to be ushering in “a non-democratic new dawn” while in Europe new leaders can obtain power despite being unelected – not a pleasant thought.

On a more positive note you now have a new nation called South Sudan and providing the international community supports this new entity, then some “rays of sunshine” will have happened in 2011. However, the path ahead is fraught with danger because Arab Islamists in Khartoum still desire to rule the many different African ethnic groups which comprise of Sudan. This means that bloodshed will continue in 2012 in places like Darfur and the fear is that the Khartoum government may seek to create instability in South Sudan because of the delicate nature of this new nation. Given this, the international community must develop mechanisms with political leaders in South Sudan in order to help this new nation and to guarantee its future, while major obstacles are being challenged by central forces in Juba.

The Russian Federation and Kazakhstan are entering 2012 with certain levels of uncertainty. This applies to political challenges and outside meddling from international powers which seek to cause mayhem internally. Therefore, the world is waiting to see if Putin can remain all powerful alongside Medvedev or if “the house of cards” will collapse because of external and internal agitation.

The forgotten Serbian Orthodox Christians in Kosovo still face a bleak future because they can’t freely travel around Kosovo. At the same time, power processes are against the Serbian Orthodox Christians of Kosovo and political leaders in Belgrade have to walk a tightrope – but, if the current leaders could abandon their brethren in Kosovo, it would appear that they would do so in order to enter the EU club. However, internal events and a backlash could alter the political landscape in Serbia and this is the main concern of the current political leadership in Belgrade. This means that the ghettoization of an entire religious and ethnic group will continue in the heart of Europe and what does this tell us about the new Europe?

In Myanmar the international media is focusing on current positives because political elites in this nation appear to be opening up. Yet, despite this, many minority ethnic and religious groups are still being persecuted and Free Burma Rangers continues to highlight the reality on the ground. The fear is that these minority ethnic groups will be further abandoned in order to establish short-term goals. Also, if the regime turns away from China – then minorities have much to fear from further abandonment and isolation.

Therefore, the mainly Christian Karen elites and other ethnic groups like the Shan and Chin will continue to face an uncertain future. At the same time, the majority of the international media will give scant coverage outside of issues related to Aung San Suu Kyi and issues related to the current leaders of Myanmar.

Madness sadly hit Norway in 2011 when Anders Breivik killed 77 people in Oslo. The reason for this barbaric attack was then manipulated like a political football but the truth is that this individual was clearly deranged. He was neither a Bible thumping individual nor a regular churchgoer but this didn’t stop the anti-Christian brigade from having a field day. However, the bare fact is that the majority of people he killed were white Norwegians and Christian – this hardly matches the “mad racist” and “devout Christian” image which was being brandished about. Indeed, Breivik stated that  ”I’ve always been very pragmatic and influenced by my secular surroundings and environment.”

Sadly, the gruesome murder of innocents was lost and the massacre committed by Anders Breivik was clearly aimed at a political party he detested. The events of this day will never be forgotten in Norway because it highlighted the weakness of security agencies because one individual managed to throw the entire nation into deep shock. Hopefully, Anders Breivik will never be released from prison and different ethnic and religious communities will work more closely together in order to show the real spirit of Norway.

Natural disasters hit many nations, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, and many others. Therefore, tens of thousands of people died because of natural disasters. The March 11 tsunami which hit Japan was felt all over the world because of the harrowing scenes which were caught on camera. Also, Japan became the first nation in history to be hit by a devastating earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis, at the same time.

The reverberations of the nuclear crisis can still be felt today in Japan and throughout the world. Therefore, the nuclear energy issue became a hot topic and nations like Germany did a u-turn without much thought, irrespective if individuals agree with Germany or not. Ironically, this u-turn will not stop Germany utilizing the nuclear power stations in France but this is a different issue. Meanwhile, the government of Japan is caught between realism, business issues, energy concerns, the green movement, power shortages, a general public which is still divided, and other important factors related to the nuclear sector.

The March 11 earthquake which unleashed the tsunami was truly devastating because tens of thousands of people died. Also, the speed of events shocked people because the tsunami literally destroyed towns and villages that were in its path. Therefore, even today many people are still missing and vast numbers of people are without proper homes in areas hit by the tsunami.

Residents who reside (and who resided) near the Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima continue to face a bleak future. Also, the tourist industry, fisheries, and other important areas which created jobs have been hindered by the devastating events of March 11. Given this, the central government needs to work closely with local governments and various agencies in order to get the region back on its feet.

It isn’t all doom and gloom because many communities have started to fight back and rebuild and this also applies to attracting new investment. Therefore, the picture is very mixed but clearly all positive mechanisms need to work together in order to resolve the major obstacles which people and the local business community still face.

2011 isn’t only based on negative events but clearly the political, economic, and natural disasters, have all unleashed convulsions which still can be felt. In this sense, the early period of 2012 will be a natural continuation. After all, the nuclear ill wind in Japan remains unresolved when it applies to radiation and its impact on the natural environment and on local people. The economic crisis in Europe remains and the same applies to other parts of the world but some positive signs can be felt in some nations. Also, the so-called “Arab Spring” may turn out to be truly democratic in the long-term or it may be a false dawn where Islamists take control and new despots emerge – it is impossible to say either way with confidence.

Nations like Nigeria and Somalia will continue to face the menace of radical Sunni Islamic terrorist attacks and attacks against central forces will continue. Issues related to democracy in China will be monitored more deeply given the current political climate and North Korea will probably remain on the same footing. However, North Korea may implement some economic reforms and the new leader may turn out to be more independent minded. Meanwhile, the political merry-go-round will continue in Japan whereby political leaders in the two main political parties will face internal struggles.

The Olympics in London in 2012 offer a positive note because this event will be watched by billions of people. Also, you have signs that China and Japan will focus on greater economic initiatives which will strengthen cooperation between these two powerful neighbors. Overall, 2012 looks like another stuttering year whereby economic issues and political convulsions will continue to create new major problems.

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Vojin Joksimovich, PhD

Modern Tokyo Times

Germany has lost two world wars but has won the peace to become the dominant power in Europe. Until the reunification in 1990 Germany was an economic giant but a political dwarf. With reunification Germany started flexing its muscles. As early as 1991 it dismembered Yugoslavia, a creation of the Versailles Treaty which terminated World War One. The Maastricht Treaty (Treaty on EU—TEU) was signed in 1992. TEU created the eurozone: an economic and monetary union of now 17 members. Single currency euro came into existence in 1999. Germany became the primary beneficiary of the euro experiment and used it for its economic and political power. Two thirds of the German economic growth over the last decade can be attributed to the euro. 40% of German exports have been flowing into the eurozone and 20% into the non-euro EU countries. Germany was a violator of the Maastricht convergence criteria. As of the 2011 third quarter, the German debt amounted to E2.028 trillion or 80% GDP vs. the criterion of 60%.

In four of my articles published by the Modern Tokyo Times, I have discussed the role of the arrogant German Chancellor Merkel in managing/mismanaging the eurozone crisis. Merkel, a Lutheran brought up in communist East Germany, has designed the EU’s “save the euro” approach so that Germany does not have to bear most of the bailout costs of economically weak eurozone members. Merkozy (Merkel plus Sarkozy) couple has humiliatingly scolded the former Greek PM, George Papandreou, by sending him home from Cannes to withdraw his offer of a referendum and resign. Greece has been demonized as the cause of the eurozone crisis. Silvio Berlusconi, the longest-serving PM in postwar Italy had to resign as he was portrayed as a symbol of European financial woes.

Merkel is the principal driver in this worst European crisis since World War Two. What should have been a relatively small and solvable problem at the margin of the eurozone became a full-blown crisis of confidence in the entire eurozone. Her commitment to 50 years of European integration is questionable. In the process, is she converting the German economic hegemony into the Fourth Reich or is she indeed committed to do whatever it takes to save the euro? Many experts have argued that a eurozone bond is the only solution. However, Merkel has rejected that solution. As a result some experts are putting odds of a breakup of the eurozone at 50:50.

The articles I wrote are the EU Treaty Change to Save the Euro: Watch German Inaction and Power; Germany Must Decide How Much it is Willing to Pay to Save the Euro; Greece and Eurozone: Greeks Should Behave as The Swabian House-Wife; and Eurozone Crisis: Bail-Outs, Haircuts and Pandemonium/Papandemonium. Since the last article predated the December 8-9 EU summit in Brussels, upshots from that are addressed first.

In addition to the eurozone crisis, I will use another example to illustrate chancellor Merkel’s arrogant style of leadership: phase-out of nuclear power in Germany.  The German Balkans dictates would be yet another good example. This will be addressed subsequently.

EU December Summit

The December 8-9 EU summit was built as the best opportunity to save the euro. The crucial words were “complete and conclude.” Taken at face value, they raised expectations that the EU will find a definitive solution to the sovereign debt and financial sector. The big Bazooka was in the making. The Merkozy couple bargained, bullied and blustered members, other than Great Britain, into yet another German style deal with some input from France. Needless to say the July and October summits were built much the same way, but didn’t produce much.

Despite this buildup the big Bazooka did not happen. The summit may have been the most underwhelming yet as the financial markets have not been convinced. Instead of restoring market confidence, Merkozy couple, or maybe only Merkel, have created even more political uncertainty by giving birth to an unwieldy intergovernmental treaty. The decision to go outside the EU legal framework may eventually produce a split in the EU.  After the British veto, president Sarkozy already announced two Europe’s. The implication might be that the only way to save the euro is to destroy the EU. This intergovernmental treaty will take months of negotiations with the national parliaments at a time when anti-euro sentiment is peaking. Even in the triple rated Holland, 50% of the Dutch agreed “we never should have joined the euro.” Already in recession, the Dutch GDP is expected to shrink 0.5% in 2012. In triple rated Austria, signatures were collected for a referendum to drop out of the EU. The EU despotism leading to dictatorship was one of the key reasons. At least 25% is the estimated probability for a Greek default by March 2012. The Royal Bank of Scotland director announced expectation that a small country would be leaving the eurozone. 80% Norwegians do not wish to join the EU, while 87% Swedes do not want to join the eurozone.

This new intergovernmental treaty will enshrine austere budgetary rules aimed at preventing so called profligate “Club-Med” countries from spending themselves to deaths. The term used is “fiscal compact” rather than the fiscal union, which exists in the US’ 50 states. This fiscal compact might prevent another forthcoming crisis but will do little to provide solution for the existing one. The E440bn European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), enforcing discipline all around, was supposed to do the trick, but obviously it did not. In 2012, the eurozone has to repay or roll over more than E1.1 trillion. According to German Spiegel, between November 29 and April, France has to come up with some E178bn in debt service, Italy with E180bn, and Spain with E67bn. The interest rates on their bonds have not come down since December 9.

The December summit also came away with an agreement to provide up to E200bn in bilateral loans to the IMF to build a “firewall” of rescue funds the EU can use to fight off attacks on sovereign bonds and banks. E150bn were supposed to come from the eurozone members. The UK refused to contribute E30bn unless it was part of a wider international effort. Several countries like China, Russia and Brazil indicated they might participate but only through the IMF. Russia is prepared to offer E10bn after it sees the EU’s survival plan. UK chancellor, George Osborn, reiterated that the IMF’s mission was to protect “countries—not currencies,” and that Britain believed the eurozone members should take more decisive action to tackle the crisis themselves. From Merkel’s viewpoint, the more IMF is involved, the more the risks are spread across the membership, and thus leading to increase in Germany’s benefit/cost ratio.

The date that the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), successor to the EFSF and capped at E500bn, operation was pushed up, while the haircuts, to involve private sector involvement, in any future bailout were scrapped. This Merkel idea triggered investor alarm.

Draghi Shoring up the Banks

According to the European Banking Authority (EBA) in London, the EU banks needed E115bn in fresh capital. With E230bn of eurozone debt falling due in the first quarter of 2012 alone and funding increasingly hard to come by for a number of banks, the ECB president Mario Draghi (less than two months on the job), came to their rescue by flooding the financial system with funds. However, he signaled that the sovereigns would have to look for themselves for salvation. The ECB’s big Bazooka capability remained in reserve.

On December 21, the ECB has launched two new refinancing operations, which will last three years and provide huge provision of liquidity to the EU lenders. The collateral requirements banks must meet have been relaxed. More than 500 banks borrowed a total of E489bn in three-year loans, equivalent to 5% of the eurozone GDP. Draghi has achieved the following objectives: minimize the risk of a damaging bank collapse, prevent “credit crunch” plunging the eurozone into even deeper recession, and, in turn, relieving stress in government debt markets. Presumably, the banks will use the ECB funds as a substitute for the E230bn mentioned above. Previous largest ECB liquidity operation provided banks with E442bn in one-year loans in June 2009 after the Lehman Brothers default of $450bn. There was a hope that the banks would use cheap loans to purchase higher yielding peripheral government bonds, helping to ease the debt crisis. This hope was misplaced. Instead the funds are being used to shore up balance sheets ahead of refinancing needs discussed above.

Italy

Italy’s 10-year bond yields remained at unsustainably crucial 7% mark after the auction. The Italian PM Mario Monti, whose approval ratings fell substantially, has called for an enlarged European bailout fund, EFSF, to help stem the crisis after the Italian bond auction failed to raise the targeted amount of E8.5bn. E7bn was raised. A deep recession is expected in Italy. Resentment towards the government is growing and may go hand-in-hand with resentment towards the EU. One of the most Europhile countries could turn eurosceptic.

It continues to be true that if Italy fails, the eurozone fails. However, it is not true that if Italy is saved the eurozone is saved. The structural flaws remain and it cannot be solved until the Greek mess is sorted out. The only way to do that is for Greece to leave the eurozone.

Great Stagnation

The eurozone economy is in recession with possible exception of Germany. The uncertainty about the outlook is extremely high. Europe’s economic prospects are deteriorating fast. A credit-crunch is looming grinding EU economy to a halt because of it. This is making the twin crises, bank and sovereign, harder to resolve and is hitting the emerging market economies whose export markets are withering. The whole world needs Europe to grow, but Europe is more likely to enter into a “great stagnation.”

Christian Lagarde, new IMF chief, raised the specter of 1930s-style economic and political morass. Mario Draghi, who probably has the key to a solution, sees a euro breakup as a real danger. He breached the taboo as the ECB president. His predecessor, Jean-Claude Trichet, viewed it as “absurd.” Draghi however warned that “struggling eurozone countries that quit the currency bloc would face still greater economic pain.” According to him the countries that left and devalue their currency would create a “big inflation” and fail to escape from structural reforms that still must be implemented “but in a much weaker position.” The ECB’s sovereign bond purchases are viewed by many as the solution.

Nouriel Roubini, professor of economics at New York University and chairman of Roubini Global Economics, said: “For three years, the US, eurozone and China have lived up to the infuriating euphemism so beloved of policymakers ‘kicking the can down the road.’…It will become clear in 2012 that they are playing a zero-sum game….In 2012; it will be harder to kick the can down the road. A few eurozone members may need to coercively restructure their debts and even consider exiting the currency union. China risks a hard landing; Markets in the US may become more concerned about the political gridlock that perpetuates unsustainable twin deficits. …the can will become heavier and eventually hit a brick wall. By 2013 at latest, we could face a double-dip recession in the US, a disorderly scenario in the eurozone and a hard landing in China.”

Exodus from “Profligate” Countries

In 2011 tens of thousands of Portuguese, Greeks and Irish left their homes looking for a better life elsewhere. There was also an exodus from Italy and Spain but to a lesser degree. Chancellor Merkel helped them make decisions by claiming that the tough times are coming comparable to those of WWII. Migrations have been taking place on distances Lisbon-Luanda, Dublin-Perth, Barcelona-Buenos Aires. About 50,000 Greeks have left for Australia and the US. 75.000 are expected to leave in 2012. About 10,000 Portuguese left for oil-reach Angola. In Brazil, the number of two-year work visas given to Portuguese nationals more than tripled in the first nine months of 2011 from the 2010 levels. Germany has been also a popular place for the immigrants.

Merkel’s Nuclear Phase-out

Geologically stable Germany, with lack of leadership from Merkel, reacted as if the Fukushima nuclear accident had happened in the heart of Germany rather than thousands of miles away. This writer has characterized the Fukushima accident as tsunami induced but man-made disaster. Obviously there is no potential for tsunamis in Germany. The Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) knew that a tsunami larger than 10m could hit the plant but failed to take obvious preventive measures, operators badly mishandled the emergency cooling system at Unit 1 causing early core-melt, the plant manager didn’t know about it for some 6 hrs, the fire trucks had been dispatched late, the containment venting system failed, etc, etc. It would be insulting to postulate that the German utilities, with their excellent safety record with no serious accident, would respond as incompetently as TEPCO did.

Nonetheless, only four days into the accident when it was unclear what happened, Chancellor Merkel declared a three-month moratorium on nuclear power, in which eight nuclear power plants had to be shutdown immediately. An indiscriminate rationale was used: those that began operation in 1980 or earlier irrespective whether they were boiling water reactors (BWRs), like Fukushima reactors, or pressurized water reactors (PWRs). 8336 MW of generating capacity was removed from the German grid overnight amounting to 41% of total nuclear generation and 4.6% of total generating capacity. Merkel’s overreaction was politically motivated because Germany’s anti-nuclear Green party made strong headway at state elections.

In 2001 a Social Democrat/Green government coalition limited power nuclear plant lives to an average of about 34 years. This phase-out policy was revised last year by the Merkel’s Christian Democrat/Free Democrat coalition with the effect of giving some reactors an extra eight years of operation and others extra 12 years. In return, the nuclear utilities were to pay a tax of E145 per gram of nuclear fuel used a total of about E2.3bn per year. Subsequently, Chancellor Merkel made a U-turn by and made an irrational statement: “Japan, like Germany, is a developed nation with strict safety rules, but nevertheless there was a chain of events that wasn’t expected. While Germany isn’t prone to quakes and tsunamis, it could fall victim to events we didn’t previously view as likely or possible.” As a physicist, Merkel should have been able to understand that nuclear accidents, even as bad as Fukushima which is the worst accident in the 50-yr history of commercial nuclear power, result in minimal public impact from radiation. This was demonstrated by the 1979 Three Mile Island (TMI) accident in the US. According to the UN Chernobyl Forum showed 50 victims of acute radiation but was confined to the plant workers. Chernobyl was designed as a dual purpose plant: plutonium producer for the Soviet nuclear weapons program and electricity generation. It was not built to satisfy the western nuclear safety standards and thus would not be licensable in the west like the TMI and Fukushima were.

Subsequently Merkel said that 2022 is a good time to completely phase out nuclear power in Germany based on so called “ethics” report. The government has since decided that none of those plants shutdown for three months may restart, while the remaining ones will close progressively to 2022. Merkel said that the end date is fixed, and there will be no review clause in the legislation sent to the Federal Council of Germany’s 16 states, and that there was no need to go to parliament. The German Nuclear Society called the 2022 exit date a “sham” based on lack of clarity to replace nuclear power plants that provide 25% of the nation’s electricity. The Nuclear Safety Commission had reviewed safety of German plants in light of the Fukushima accident and found them to be safe.

Investments of more than $280billion will be needed to enter the age of renewables over the next decade to build wind turbines, coal and gas plants. The fossil fuel plants remained untouched, despite that Germany wants to cut its carbon dioxide emissions by 40% compared to 1990 levels. Many U.S. utilities consider renewables as electrically and economically inefficient. The offshore wind farms require high voltage transmission and thus heavy expenditures.

A study commissioned by the Economic Ministry has estimated an E32bn household and industry price tag associated with the policy reversal. The principal utilities: RWE, EOn, Vattenfall, and EnBW have announced major losses and writedowns. The RWE operating profits were 30% down year-on-year, while the EOn’s were down 39%. Despite the enforced closure, the utilities are still required to pay a tax on nuclear fuel. The German Constitutional Court and the European Court of Justice have not ruled yet on the fuel tax legality. The funds collected are intended to be used for the development of renewable energy.

Former German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt said the following about Margaret Thatcher: “She’s a b…., she is tough, she lacks scope, and cannot lead.” While this statement was inappropriate for the “Iron Lady,” it is fully applicable to Merkel.

Vojin Joksimovich, PhD is the author of three books and over 100 articles

By Vojin Joksimovich, Ph.D.

Modern Tokyo Times

This is my third article on the subject of debt-driven economic crisis of the leading capitalist economies. In the first one published on July 21, titled EU, US, & Japan: Dysfunctional Leaderships are Gambling with leading Capitalist Economies, for the first time in my life I referred to Karl Marx’s prophesy on self-destruction of capitalism. In the second one published on August 8, titled US On the Road to Greece: Armageddon After Debt Ceiling Deal, I commented on the debt-ceiling deal between President Obama and Congressional leaders which avoided the debt default but economic Armageddon took place after the S&P rating agency downgraded the long term US debt from AAA to AA+ for the first time in US history. The deal boiled down to the spending cuts of $917 bn over 10 years (only $25 bn in the coming fiscal year). It established a new 12 member congressional panel powered to identify a further cut of $1.5 trillion by Thanksgiving. If the panel fails to reach an agreement automatic spending cuts will be instituted by Christmas to the tune of $1.2 trillion. The issue of unfunded liabilities of some $66 trillion was not even debated.

While the troubled nation continued to wonder: How did we get mired in 9.2 % unemployment (this is the official figure, the unofficial one is probably about 15%), 0.9 % growth, and an economic outlook so bad that the Federal Reserve pledged to keep the interest rates at zero through mid-2013, both the President and the Congress decided to go on vacation. President Obama needs to digest the fact that during his presidency the debt has risen by $4 trillion. His rating sank to a new low as the markets have obliterated $6.8 trillion in global market capitalization between July 26 and August 15. Prior to departing he attributed these miserable statistics to bad luck: Japanese earthquake, EU debt problems, Arab Spring, spikes in oil prices. The Congress needs to digest the facts that the deficit in 2011 has reached $1.3 trillion and growing by $3 million every minute. Sharma, the S&P president, is stepping down to be replaced Douglas Petersen, a “seasoned Wall Street banker,” who will help S&P to “repair relations with Washington.”

On the positive side billionaire investor Warren Buffet criticized the fact that his tax rate was lower than his secretary’s. Subsequently 100 CEO’s threaten to deny campaign contributions unless the debt issue is seriously addressed. There was also a similar response in France. 16 executives and wealthy investors have signed a petition calling for “exceptional contribution” from the country’s richest citizens.

Fears of second great recession have been prevalent in the August jittery behavior of the markets. The investors have come to the conclusion that huge debt burdens of the leading capitalist economies, i.e. US, EU and Japan, will be choking the economic growth for years to come. Didier Saint Georges of Carmignac Gestion, a French fund manager, said:” The simple truth the market is coming to terms with is that a big debt reduction is going to impair growth, which is going to make debt reduction take longer, which impairs growth and so on.”

Numerous meetings of eurozone leaders including summits between the German chancellor Merkel and the French president Sarkozy took place attempting to save the euro. This article is confined to the second Greek bailout. The eurozone growth rate was just 0.2% in the second quarter. The French economy was flat while Germany’s growth rate was 0.1%. In the first quarter the growth rate was 0.8%.This sluggishness is attributable to austerity measures the eurozone members are collectively pursuing. The consumer optimism has plummeted in August to the fastest rate for 20 years.

Out of many articles I have read, two are singled out. One authored by macro-economist Geoffrey Sachs, known for economic shock therapy during the transition from communism to a market system, which provides an explanation for the root causes of economic crises in the US and Europe. The other by Jim O’Neill, the Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, who warned that panic measures in the US and the EU may ruin the recovery from BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China).

Second Greek Bailout

On July the 21^st at a momentous summit in Brussels, the EU and the IMF announced the second bailout package for Greece worth Euro (E) 109 bn. In addition Greece will get voluntary loans from the private sector contributing a target figure of E 37 bn to help cover the financial gap. The package was built up as a Marshall plan for Greece to ensure sustainability of its debt and prevent the euro crisis from spreading. It included a commitment to support Athens until it is able to return to financial markets. In order to counteract the market fears, an overhaul of the eurozone E 440 bn bailout fund was announced. All three bailout countries—Greece, Ireland, Portugal—will see rates cut to about 3.5% and will not have to repay the loans up to 30 yrs. The deal was declared as a political victory for the German chancellor Angela Merkel. I have no confidence in Merkel, in particular after deciding to shutdown indiscriminately all pre-1980 built nuclear power plants amounting to 8336 MW of generating capacity four days after the Fukushima nuclear accident with subsequent phase-out of nuclear power by 2022. In view of that I have instantly concluded that this “political victory” may not be a solution in the long run. In other words I viewed it as yet another band aid.

Greek Rescue Faces Hurdles

Finland, one of the six triple A rated eurozone members, has for months demanded collateral in return for its support of bailouts. The Finnish Social Democratic party campaigned against the second Greek bailout during April national elections. It agreed to join the governing coalition after Jurki Katainen, Finnish PM, agreed to make such collateral arrangements a prerequisite for Finnish support. The July 21 summit tacitly allowed such deals. Jutta Urpilainen, the Finnish finance minister, announced that Greece agreed to make a cash deposit into an account that would be invested into triple A assets. These would have a face value sufficient to collateralize Helsinki’s exposure. The deal has been structured as a bilateral agreement and may not require eurozone approval.

Subsequently two more eurozone triple A members, Austria and the Netherlands, announced that their backing for bailout loans might also be contingent on securing similar collaterals from Athens. The Dutch government then questioned the legality of the Finnish-Greek arrangement and announced their intent to block the Finnish-Greek deal because of the cash involved, which would come directly from the bailout loans. Jan Kees de Jager, the Dutch finance minister said: “It is not compatible with the principle of equal treatment of all euro countries.” A Dutch veto could halt the bailout as all 17 eurozone members must approve both the second Greek bailout and the Finnish side deal.

Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia want similar deals. So much for the eurozone solidarity! Moody’s Investor Service said that sudden proliferation of collateral requests could sap Greece of financial resources.

The Great Failure of Globalization

This is the title of Jeffrey Sachs’ article published by the Financial Times on August the 18^th. Sachs, who is now director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, blames governments in Europe and the US for being “unable to cope with the realities of global capital markets and competition from Asia—and deserve the lion’s share of the blame…Neither the US nor Europe has even properly diagnosed the core problem, namely that both regions are being whipsawed by globalization.”

Sachs argues that the path to recovery is in upgraded skills, increased exports and public investments in infrastructure and low carbon energy. “Instead, the US and Europe have veered between dead-end, consumption-oriented stimulus packages and austerity without a vision for investment. Macroeconomic policy has not only failed to create jobs, but also to respond to basic social values too. Good social policy does not mean running big deficits. Public debts are already too large. But it does mean a completely different balance between cuts to social services and tax increases to the rich. The simple fact is that globalization has not only hit the unskilled hard but has also proved a bonanza for the global super-rich. They have been able to invest into new and highly profitable projects in emerging economies….In the end the poor are doubly hit, first by global market forces, then by ability of the rich to park money at low taxes in hideaways around the world.”

Sachs argues that three realities need to be addressed: 1. Expansion of investments in human and infrastructure capital; 2. Cut wasteful spending, for instance in misguided military engagements in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen; 3. Balance budgets in the medium term, in no small part through tax increases on high personal incomes and international corporate profits shielded by loopholes and overseas tax havens.

Many respondents to Sachs’ article have assumed that he was opposing globalism. He clarified, in a letter to the Financial Times that he was calling for its proper management. “Globalization has raised very serious adjustment challenges for the high income world, and most high-income countries, notably the US, have failed to meet those challenges. The challenges include the loss of jobs and income of lower-skilled workers, a shift of manufacturing sector investments away from the transatlantic toward the emerging economies, a rise in energy costs occasioned by rapidly growing energy use in Asia, and an explosion of income and political power at the top of the income distribution, stoked by international tax havens and tax competition between jurisdictions.” Sachs is praising Scandinavian countries for addressing best these challenges.

Panic Measures will ruin the BRIC Recovery

This is the title of Jim O’Neill’s article published by the Financial Times in August. He pointed out that demand in BRIC economies is now more important to the world economy than the US and Europe. In the decade that ended in 2010, the BRICs added around $8 trillion to global GDP, equivalent to ~80% of that of G7. The BRICs will probably add ~$12 trillion over the coming decade, double the US and eurozone combined. China is obviously the most important among the BRICs.

What happens to the Chinese inflation rate is a topic of great significance. O’Neill also says that in the coming decade other developing economies, such as South Korea, Indonesia, Mexico and Turkey, will also grow rapidly. For China and these countries what really matters is reduced inflationary pressures helped by lower commodity prices. Export to the US and Europe matter much less. “G7 policymakers must think carefully about the consequences of any fresh monetary stimulus and other forms of stimulus.”

Dr. Vojin Joksimovich is the author of several books and a specialist in the nuclear field and other important areas.

The Revenge of the Prophet by Dr. Vojin Joksimovich is another classic book which gives great insight and knowledge about the Balkans, radical Islam, US foreign policy and other important areas.

Dr. Vojin Joksimovich wrote an in depth book called Kosovo is Serbia and please check this at http://www.gmbooks.com/product/Kosovo-GM.html – it  is a must read if you want deep knowledge about this complex topic.

http://moderntokyotimes.com/2011/07/22/eu-us-japan-dysfunctional-leaderships-are-gambling-with-leading-capitalist-economies/ - 

http://moderntokyotimes.com/2011/08/08/us-on-the-road-to-greece-armageddon-after-debt-ceiling-deal/

Two other articles related to this important topic by Dr. Vojin Joksimovich related to the ongoing economic crisis.

http://moderntokyotimes.com

The Tragedy in Norway

By Patrick Dunleavy

Special to IPT News

Investigative Project on Terrorism 

On Friday morning the world was confronted with the evil madness of Anders Behring Breivik, the man accused of killing 76 people in Norway.

Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

Homosexuals hanged under Islamic Sharia law in Iran

Many individuals and writers who are rather timid in responding to homosexuals being hanged in Iran, amputations in Saudi Arabia for minor crimes, raped women being stoned to death in Somalia and then linking this with Islamic Sharia law, appears to be not on their agenda. However, the same writers who ignore this then link one individual called Anders Behring Breivik in order to lambast Robert Spencer, Pamella Geller and a host of other writers or organizations who support democracy. However, the same individuals fail to link either Islamic institutional discrimination which kills apostates in the name of Islam or when individuals did September 11 and stated openly that it was their Islamic duty.

Eugene Robinson, Opinion Writer at the Washington Post, is just one of the multitudes of hypocrites.  Did the same Eugene Robinson put emphasis on Muslim religious leaders who said that “Islam is a religion of peace” after September 11?

Also, Osama bin Laden was clearly inspired by the Koran and Hadiths and if Eugene Robinson and the same so-called progressives are going to imply the same logic; then do they support pressure being put on people who read the Koran and support Islamic Sharia law?

Yes, many individual Muslim religious leaders may support peace but institutional discrimination in accordance with the teaching of Islamic Sharia law is a fact in many Islamic nations which are ruled by Islam.

Minority Muslim groups like the Alevi in Turkey and Ahmadiyya in Pakistan face Sunni Islamic persecution and if Sunni Islam took power in Syria then the Alawites have much to fear.  Muslims are not a monolith and many individuals will think differently just like Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and non-religious people.  However, Islamic Sharia law is a monolith and it threatens non-Muslims and moderate Muslims like the Ahmadiyya.

Eugene Robinson and a multitude of so-called progressive writers who are now lambasting democrats who understand the threat of global Islamic jihad desire to apply one rule. This applies to hypocrisy and ignoring the greater terrorist threat which kills frequently in nations like Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Somalia, Thailand and other nations. 

If Eugene Robinson and others are trying to silence Robert Spencer, Pamela Geller, and a host of others; then what about the multitude of Islamic terrorist attacks whereby non-Muslims and minority Muslim groups are being killed and sometimes beheaded by the followers of radical Sunni Islam……will Eugene Robinson and other so-called progressives denounce Islamic religious leaders who are inciting violence based on the Koran and Hadiths?

Eugene Robinson and the so-called progressives are so politically correct that it makes you wonder what planet they reside on.  After all, in modern day Saudi Arabia all Sunni Muslim apostates face the threat of death and not one single Buddhist temple, Christian church or Hindu temple is allowed.

Shia Muslims are also treated like second-class citizens in Saudi Arabia and clearly the Shia face massive discrimination in Bahrain, Yemen, and other Sunni Muslim dominated nations.  Even in moderate Malaysia the Shia faith is illegal and Sunni Muslim converts to Shia Islam face persecution.

Other Islamic nations implement the death penalty for apostasy but can Eugene Robinson mention one non-Muslim nation in the modern world which supports killing apostates? 

Of course religious discrimination exists in other nations but we are talking about killing apostates or the death penalty for non-Muslim men for marrying a Muslim female.  Which non-Muslim nation allows this under its legal code?  

In Iran two young homosexuals were hanged and remember apostates and homosexuals are not being killed by deranged individuals who kill innocents, which was the case in Norway whereby Anders Behring Breivik massacred innocent individuals and who will pay for his evil crime against humanity.

On the contrary, Islamic Sharia law is killing these homosexuals and apostates because of state sanctioned discrimination which is based on the Koran and Hadiths.  Also, just imagine, what do you think would happen to a Buddhist/Christian/Hindu male who married a Muslim female in Saudi Arabia?

Yes, for an act of love the Buddhist/Christian/Hindu male would face the death penalty.  Again, note that they would be killed for committing no crime apart from being deemed subhuman under the legal code of Islamic Sharia law. 

This hatred is institutional therefore innocents in some Islamic nations which are based on Islamic law are punished or killed for acts of love or thinking freely.  Also, while Islamic religious leaders in these nations continue to support hatred, bigotry, and rampant discrimination by quoting from the Koran and Hadiths; it is abundantly clear that some Islamists believe that one day they will subvert democratic nations and install this hatred.

Eugene Robinson should also note that while every single Muslim apostate to Christianity faces being killed in Somalia it is not a distant problem. Therefore, maybe Eugene Robinson and other so-called progressives believe that killing African Christians in Somalia or homosexuals in Iran is fine or not a problem because the country is distant?

After all, when two million African Animists/Christians/Muslims were being killed by the Arab regime in Khartoum I don’t recall the trendy brigade in the United Kingdom saying much.  Instead it was all about Israel and even the enslavement of Africans in Sudan did not raise much of a shout and today African Muslims in Darfur still face the threat of Arabization.

However, radical Islamists from Somali backgrounds in America and the United Kingdom have actually gone back to Somalia in order to spread Islamic jihad and install Islamic Sharia law.  Therefore, Christians are being beheaded and a raped girl was stoned to death but these barbaric ways are being supported by elements within the Somali community in America and the United Kingdom – this blows away the assimilation theory of Eugene Robinson and surely he understands what Islamic kitman means?

Irrespective of what people may think about Robert Spencer or Pamela Geller they both support democracy, liberty, and the rule of law whereby all individuals are equal.

Is Eugene Robinson going to claim that Islamic Sharia law supports equality and that the testimony of a non-Muslim is equal in court cases involving a non-Muslim and a Muslim?  Is Eugene Robinson going to link the Koran and Muslim religious leaders who have incited violence against non-Muslims and minority Muslim groups?  Is Eugene Robinson going to stand up and denounce institutional hatred against homosexuals who face the death penalty and state that this hatred is inspired by Islamic law?  Is Eugene Robinson going to stand up against Islamic Sharia based nations which support killing non-Muslim men for merely marrying a Muslim female?

It is abundantly clear that Islamic Sharia law, the Hadiths and the Koran support massive discrimination against non-Muslims.  Therefore, the so-called progressives like Eugene Robinson appear to be sleep-walking or they are being extremely selective.

The simple reality is that Anders Behring Breivik will be locked away for the evil he did.  However, when women are being stoned to death, homosexuals are being killed and apostates face the death penalty; all this is being done in accordance with Islamic Sharia law. 

This is state sanctioned hatred in the name of a religion which does not tolerate equality when in power.  Therefore, why are Eugene Robinson and the rest of the so-called progressives so noisy about one deranged individual with no political power but then say little about the daily reality of nations like Saudi Arabia?

Also, note the “Islamic victim card” once more but clearly nearly everyone killed by Anders Behring Breivik were either Christian or secular. 

Not that it matters who Anders Behring Breivik killed because his actions were pure evil and he should never see the outside world again.  In Norway non-Muslims and Muslims are equal in law unlike the institutional discrimination of nations like Saudi Arabia.

Clearly, the sad fact is that Anders Behring Breivik is being brushed aside by so-called progressives and instead it is an opportunity to attack individuals who are democratic and support liberty.

More important why the clear double-standards and not only this, what about progressives boycotting goods from Saudi Arabia because of state institutional hatred whereby apostates face the death penalty and homosexuals also face the same brutal system. This is all being done under Sharia Islamic law.

Clearly, this will never happen because of energy factors but progressives should not concern themselves with the motives of capitalists.  Also, is Eugene Robinson going to claim that the Koran and Hadiths did not inspire the individuals who did September 11 and that state institutional hatred towards all non-Muslims and homosexuals in Saudi Arabia is not based on the Hadiths, Koran and Sharia Islamic law?

THIS ARTICLE IS BASED ON THE LINK BELOW

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/anders-behring-breivik-and-the-influence-industry-of-rage/2011/07/25/gIQASd2WZI_story.html

These links either show discrimination or the nature of Islamic Sharia law

http://somalisforjesus.blogspot.com/2009/01/mansur-mohamed-sfj-martyr-of-year-2009.html – Islamists beheading a convert from Islam to Christianity. 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7708169.stm – Raped woman stoned to death in Somalia

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10190389 – Massacre of Ahmadiyya Muslims

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/1992027.stm – Amputations and flogging in Saudi Arabia

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5417393,00.html – Persecution of the Alevi

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5417393,00.html – Islamic groups who hate the United Kingdom

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article2859606.ece – Iran Minister supports killing homosexuals and based on Islamic Sharia law

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

Lee Jay Walker

Modern Tokyo Times

The image of Norway is one of tranquility and a society embedded with liberal and democratic principles.  However, before the recent killing spree by Anders Behring Breivik it was apparent that the changing nature of places like Oslo, Drammen, and others, because of increasing immigration was leading to tensions within parts of society.

In Oslo the immigrant population is now 27% and in the past Anders Behring Breivik had spoken negatively about Marxism, Islam, and multiculturalism. However, it is also clear that many Europeans in many nations are worried about immigration. Therefore, liberal societies like Holland are seeing a powerful shift to movements which are fed up with elites who appear to be intent on destroying the social fabric.

The speed of immigration is clear for all to see in many major cities and it matters not if you are pro-immigration or anti-immigration; the point is that it is causing many individuals pain, anguish, suffering and leading to confusion. 

Obviously, for others they welcome multicultural societies and believe in the vibrancy that it creates.  However, political leaders in nations like Germany have stated that it is a failure and this “failure” is being hidden because clearly some cultures assimilate and others do not. 

At the same time radical Islam is gaining ground in many major cities and on the one hand you have a British government establishment which is introducing equal laws for homosexuals which were needed; but on the other hand is bending over backwards to elements within the Islamic community.

The contradictions are clear because under Islamic Sharia law it supports killing homosexuals.  Also, many Muslims support killing all apostates from Islam in the United Kingdom and in recent times the English Defence League is demonstrating against stealth jihad.

The liberals and trendy left are hypocrites.  Would the overwhelming majority of Muslim families welcome their Muslim daughter marrying a white/black Christian male or a Hindu male?  Of course not, therefore, where is the real discrimination coming from?

It appears that the dominant culture must tear itself apart in order to bow down to a more militant threat and in this confusion was created Anders Behring Breivik.

This does not excuse Anders Behring Breivik nor vindicate his thinking. Obviously killing innocents like he did is a crime against humanity and the law will clearly deal with him and never allow him to see the outside world again.

Yet the white elites who have allowed massive immigration without any democratic vote on this being passed in many European nations are creating problems. If Oslo is 27% immigrant today, then what will the size be in a few decades time and in one hundred years?

When will enough be enough? Or is it fine for Oslo to one day be 40% immigrant and then 60% immigrant and so forth?  If endless immigration is allowed then clearly nations with small populations like Norway will see a ticking time bomb.

Of course, people will point out and say look at America, Australia and Canada. 

However, you have two problems with this because firstly immigrants shared an overwhelming “Christian European home” in this period and the real crisis in Holland is aimed at the growing power of Islam. After all, if immigration to America had been 30% Christian, 30% Muslim and 40% from Buddhist and Hindu backgrounds; then do you really think that it would have worked to the same extent?   

Secondly, in order for America, Australia and Canada to grow then massive immigration altered the ethnic make up for ever.  This meant that indigenous people were victimized, had their land stolen and in time their culture was destroyed.  Therefore, will the Dutch become like the Native Americans in 100 years time or 200 years time?

Geert Wilders, a leading politician in Holland, stated in a speech before the Dutch Parliament the following:

“Islam is the Trojan Horse in Europe. If we do not stop Islamification now, Eurabia and Netherabia will just be a matter of time. One century ago, there were approximately 50 Muslims in the Netherlands. Today, there are about 1 million Muslims in this country. Where will it end? We are heading for the end of European and Dutch civilization as we know it. Where is our Prime Minister in all this?”

“In reply to my questions in the House he said, without batting an eyelid, that there is no question of our country being Islamified. Now, this reply constituted a historical error as soon as it was uttered. Very many Dutch citizens, Madam Speaker, experience the presence of Islam around them. And I can report that they have had enough of burkas, headscarves, the ritual slaughter of animals, so‑called honour revenge, blaring minarets, female circumcision, hymen restoration operations, abuse of homosexuals, Turkish and Arabic on the buses and trains as well as on town hall leaflets, halal meat at grocery shops and department stores, Sharia exams, the Finance Minister’s Sharia mortgages, and the enormous overrepresentation of Muslims in the area of crime, including Moroccan street terrorists.[62]”

Apparently Anders Behring Breivik admired Max Manus and this would appear to refute his links with far-right organizations to any major degree.  After all, Max Manus was a legendary anti-Nazi war hero.  Therefore, the patriotism of Max Manus may have appealed to Anders Behring Breivik and also the bravery that this individual showed in fighting against Nazism.

It could just be that Anders Behring Breivik believes that the new Nazism is called Islamism which supports killing apostates, enforcing dhimmitude on non-Muslims, killing homosexuals and other draconian laws.   

Interestingly to note, Max Manus was from a mixed background and this applies to his mother being Danish and his father being Norwegian.  Therefore, again the far-right angle is clearly being over-used by major agencies who desire quick answers or overtly simplistic statements in order to meet their aloof thinking.

Anders Behring Breivik may have linked the thinking of Max Manus with the reality of modern Oslo where immigration is changing the nature of society.  This does not imply that immigration is right or wrong; however, the speed of change is overwhelming many people who fear the loss of their identity.

Also, immigration is complex because it would appear that Anders Behring Breivik feared radical Islam.  After all, his hero Max Manus was mixed blood and clearly some immigrant communities assimilate much easier than others and the same applies to people from different religious backgrounds.

Therefore, in the world of Anders Behring Breivik he may have seen himself to be patriotic and protecting Norway from the failed policies, in his eyes, of Islamic immigration and the changing nature of major cities like Oslo.

It is known that Anders Behring Breivik admired Geert Wilders and it must be stressed that Geert Wilders is democratic and desires to preserve a culture which supports freedom, equality and the traditional ethics which created a modern society.  However, Geert Wilders fears, like many others, that Islamization is waiting in the wings and this applies to the demographic change and stealth jihad.

The world of Anders Behring Breivik will be like the world of Osama bin Laden.  After all, Osama bin Laden wanted to keep western culture out of Saudi Arabia and to preserve the Islamic identity of this nation.  Anders Behring Breivik appears to have shared the same logic but with the need to keep draconian Islamic Sharia law out of Norway.

It would appear that his killing spree was aimed at what he perceived to be the enemy in his eyes.  Therefore, he killed innocents at random and without emotion or passion.

He certainly deserves to never see the light of day again because all extremism is a danger to society.  However, to claim that he is “mad,” a neo-Nazi or whatever is false.

Also, aspects of his thinking about Islamic immigration and the threat of Islamization are held by many individuals throughout Europe.  The elites can close their eyes and the mass media can rebuke people for not sharing their liberal agenda but for Islamists their agenda is not liberal and it is scary and barbaric.

It is easy to scoff about people who fear but what is the difference between 40% Han Chinese in Tibet and how the Tibetans fear losing their culture and identity and the thinking of Anders Behring Breivik? After all, Oslo is changing quickly?

The Tibetans in the last few years have killed innocent Han Chinese in brutal ways during tensions because they fear being overwhelmed by an outside culture.  Anders Behring Breivik killed innocents because he felt that he couldn’t take much more. Also, he believed that the elites in Norway should wake up to the internal crisis which will grow in time because of the demographic time bomb.

His methodology was barbaric and to kill like he did is a crime against humanity.  However, if Norway closes the door on the reasons behind his thinking and just claims that he is a madman then nothing will be learnt.

Clearly, one hundred per cent of all people will condemn the barbaric and brutal actions of Anders Behring Breivik in Norway.  Yet aspects of his thinking are not so alien to others when it applies to rampant immigration and Islamization. 

At the moment the mass media is clutching at straws because information about Anders Behring Breivik remains patchy.  However, the psychology behind his thinking is much deeper than people are commenting on and to claim that he was a far-right nationalist is too simplistic and clearly not based on real facts.

After all, Anders Behring Breivik admired an anti-Nazi war hero, he also admires Geert Wilders who is a democrat and elected Member of Parliament in Holland and he quoted John Stuart Mills shortly before he massacred so many innocents.

The quote he gave from John Stuart Mills, the famous British philosopher, was that

“One person with a belief is equal to the force of 100,000 who have only interests.”

He clearly appears to be articulate and like Osama bin Laden he is cold bloodied. 

However, unlike the Norwegians who are reviled by his actions and disgusted it must be stated that many Muslims celebrated when thousands of people were killed during September 11 in many nations.  Therefore, how much of his hatred was based on fear?

leejay@moderntokyotimes.com

http://moderntokyotimes.com

PartyM8: Interactively helps creative people by Creative Elv8ion

PartyM8 (mate) interactively helps creative people organize events, parties and other projects in an entertaining and stylish way. It creates user value by combining structured event planning capabilities with entertaining 3D-graphics and intelligent content-based tips, direct Facebook upload & integration included.

Unlike other planning apps and software, PartyM8’s 3D- environment has exciting graphics, music and animations, which otherwise can only be found in high-end computer games.

PartyM8 instinctively guides the user step-by-step through the planning stages, and helps organizing and prioritizing key tasks. Budgets can be set up and graphically allocated to various categories, such as food, beverage and entertainment. PartyM8 will alert the user about budget breaks or missed deadlines. With PartyM8, your event will be a success.

In future versions, PartyM8 can even order taxis, take-away food and provide tips for concerts, events and entertainment in the city you’re in or visiting for the moment.

http://www.creative-elv8ion.com/bilder-lanseringsfest/#more-260

PartyM8 is the first of the “AppM8s” series of interactive apps for a simpler, smarter and fun way of organizing and planning your private life and career. The next AppM8s releases will be launched in the course of 2011 and 2012, and of course they will all include PartyM8’s innovative features and design.

One of the originators of the idea, David Tivemark, says:

“From my experience both as a sales coach and from hosting large events,
I have learned that the key to reaching great goals and successfully managing projects, is to always keep an overview and execute the right tasks at the right time. For exactly that purpose were PartyM8 and all other AppM8´s created. They make it easy for us to follow through and build excitement.”

Prashant Sharma, one of the founders, says:

“We wanted do deliver a platform worldwide where it’s easy to find local services needed while organizing your event. People in general want the information as fast as possible, and with this organizing tool, I believe we have achieved, just that. By helping people finding the services acquired in a simple way, we have the means to create a new marketplace for small & large businesses around the world.”

PartyM8 is the result of a unique Scandinavian collaboration of companies based in Oslo, Copenhagen and Malmo. These are 7m Consulting, Sharma Consulting, By Glantz and Frost Software. Oslo-based Frost is one of the up-and-coming software developers in Northern Scandinavia, having released several highly rated iPhone and Android games. The three others project members have significant experience with arranging big events, career coaching, education and sales.

We encourage local businesses & distributors to sign up for more information on our website www.creative-elv8ion.com

The current version of PartyM8 is available for iPhone and iPad only, but will soon be available for Android.

See the teaser: http://www.youtube.com/user/creativelv8ion#p/u/1/A090B80VUds

Tutorial here:

For more info please contact:

Creative Elv8ion                                                Creative Elv8ion
David Tivemark                                                 Prashant Sharma
+46 70 777 66 33                                             +47 46 92 25 58 
d.tivemark@creative-elv8ion.com                p.sharma@creative-elv8ion.com

New party app makes it fun and simple to organize events & parties in 3D, with direct Facebook upload.

Please visit http://www.creative-elv8ion.com/ for more information.