Friday, May 30, 2003
BUSH OFF ON ROAD TO EUROPE 'OLD' AND 'NEW'
By Elisabeth Bumiller - from THE NEW YORK TIMES.
WASHINGTON, May 30 — President Bush left today for his first meeting with the leaders of France and Germany since their battles over the Iraq war, but officials on both sides are saying that the three combustible personalities are unlikely to do more than paper over the deep fissures between the "old" Europe and the United States.
Diplomats noted that Mr. Bush had chosen not France or Germany but Poland, a supporter of the American-led invasion of Iraq and a crucial part of what he considers the "new" Europe, as the place to deliver his keynote European address on the future of the trans-Atlantic alliance.
Mr. Bush has also cut short his stay, from two days to one, at a meeting of the world's leading industrialized nations in Évian, France. His reason is that he must leave early for Middle East meetings with Arab leaders and then the Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers.
"When I say something, we actually go do it," Mr. Bush told an interviewer from Nile-TV, an Egyptian network. "And when I say that I'm going to be involved in the peace process, I mean I'm going to be involved in the peace process."
In another interview, he made clear that the United States and France still had a troubled relationship.
He told the French newspaper Le Figaro in an interview to be published today, that he expected to have a "good discussion" at Évian with the French president, Jacques Chirac.
At the same time he warned that French leaders "must work to convince their own citizens and show that France is ready to cooperate with the United States."
Nonetheless, Mr. Bush said that Évian "will not be a summit of confrontation" and that "it will be a pleasure to talk with Jacques Chirac." He added, "Vive la France!"
Mr. Bush has a half-hour meeting on Monday with Mr. Chirac, the host of Évian. The agenda calls for discussions on the Middle East, AIDS, and the reconstruction of Iraq, but foreign policy experts say that the agenda will be overshadowed by the body language as will Mr. Bush's encounter with the German chancellor, Gerhard Schröder, which will take place in a group.
"It could be a Kumbaya-like get-together with everyone holding hands and committed to forgetting about the past," said Ivo H. Daalder, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who was a director of European Affairs on the National Security Council under President Bill Clinton. "But more likely, it will be a schoolyard with bullies on opposite sides glaring at each other and still angry about the fight they just had."
Earlier this month, Mr. Bush acknowledged that the summit meeting would be seen as a gathering of warring egos rather than a triumph of substance when he told a German delegation visiting the White House that he knew that every public moment he spent with Mr. Schröder would be under scrutiny.
"I know that when we meet all the the television crews will be watching to see if we get into a fistfight — and we won't," a German visitor quoted the president as saying. Such is the state of Mr. Bush's relationship with Mr. Schröder that the delegation interpreted the remark as conciliatory.
Officially, the White House says that Évian will be about the future of the trans-Atlantic relationship and that the leaders will work together to combat terrorism and the sagging world economy. The trans-Atlantic split over Iraq is past, they insist — just another squabble, to use Secretary of State Colin L. Powell's favored metaphor, in a marriage that has been in counseling for 200 years.
"I imagine that in marriage counseling the first thing you don't do is, item one, get up and over coffee talk about the fight you had last week," said a senior administration official who briefed reporters on the trip this week. "That probably doesn't strike me as the best way to build the relationship of the future. You talk about the chores you need to do together that day. And the relationship then starts righting itself, so to speak."
Unofficially, administration officials say that Mr. Bush is still angry with Mr. Chirac for working against the United States on the Iraq war and that he will never again trust Mr. Schröder for campaigning on an antiwar — and, they say, anti-American — platform in Germany last fall.
Administration officials now view Mr. Bush's Évian trip as an obligation wedged among the other appearances — the speech in Krakow, Poland, a meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia at the 300th anniversary celebration of St. Petersburg and the three-way summit conference in Jordan.
White House officials say it is no accident Mr. Bush chose Poland. President Aleksander Kwasniewski committed 200 Polish troops to the Iraq war and he will now be the most recent leader to be thanked for supporting Mr. Bush's view of the world.
Scholars note, however, that Poland and other Eastern European nations of Mr. Bush's "new" Europe date back further than nations like Germany, which Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld infamously derided before the Iraq war as part of the "old" Europe, along with France.
"They're all old — Europe is old," Mr. Daalder said. "In that sense, it's nonsensical. There are countries that are now members of the `new' Europe that predate countries of the `old' Europe. Germany was unified and became a single state long after Poland was an independent country."
Jean-David Levitte, the French ambassador to the United States, said on Thursday that Mr. Bush and Mr. Chirac had a "positive, relaxed" 10-minute phone conversation this month in preparation for Évian, and that they "want to go beyond the bitterness of the past."
Mr. Levitte said that France did not see its role as serving as a check on American power in the world.
"Our problem is that there is not enough European military capacity," he said. "It has nothing to do with the supposed desire of France to limit American power."
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Templarium comments the issue: as per the words of Mr. Levitte, from France, Europe (western and eastern) does not actually have enough military capacity..."; although does have (western - mainly) far much more history, education, sense of justice, democracy and respect towards the differences on human beings in a free and civilised world - that the neo-emperor George Bush insists on labelling 'old'. By the way, it still seems that one of the middle-class american dreams is "to spend a night in Paris"...
Thursday, May 29, 2003
WHITNEY HOUSTON STRIKES AGAIN -THE WRONG WAY!
Whitney recently travelled to Jerusalem in order to visit members of the religious sect "black jews", who promised to help her stop taking drugs. The sect members live in a city called Dimona, in the desert. The leader is an ex-american pastor named Ben Ami, whose original name is Gerson Parker!. Mr. Parker believes to be the incarnation of the 'lost tribe of Israel'. The 'point' is that Israeli Government does not acknowledge the sect members as actually 'jews', and manage to limit their movements inside Israel. The sect approves polygamy and is vegetarian. Originally, in the US, sect members are well known as 'racists'. Bobby Brown, Whitney's husband, travelled with her. Source: site terra.com.br, in Brazil - quotting Mr. Roger Friedman, foxnews.com, in USA.
Templarium comments the issue: first, Whitney desperately needs treatment - obvious! Would anyone think she might get treated in Dimona, desert of Israel, within racists, who think to be the 'lost tribe of Israel'? Secondly, Gerson Parker, wacky leader of this sect, should never, ever be considered an 'ex- pastor' - not at all! True pastors would not forsake the truth of Jesus Christ.
Whitney recently travelled to Jerusalem in order to visit members of the religious sect "black jews", who promised to help her stop taking drugs. The sect members live in a city called Dimona, in the desert. The leader is an ex-american pastor named Ben Ami, whose original name is Gerson Parker!. Mr. Parker believes to be the incarnation of the 'lost tribe of Israel'. The 'point' is that Israeli Government does not acknowledge the sect members as actually 'jews', and manage to limit their movements inside Israel. The sect approves polygamy and is vegetarian. Originally, in the US, sect members are well known as 'racists'. Bobby Brown, Whitney's husband, travelled with her. Source: site terra.com.br, in Brazil - quotting Mr. Roger Friedman, foxnews.com, in USA.
Templarium comments the issue: first, Whitney desperately needs treatment - obvious! Would anyone think she might get treated in Dimona, desert of Israel, within racists, who think to be the 'lost tribe of Israel'? Secondly, Gerson Parker, wacky leader of this sect, should never, ever be considered an 'ex- pastor' - not at all! True pastors would not forsake the truth of Jesus Christ.
DO I HAVE THE RIGHT KIND OF FAITH ? - PART I
Is it possible to have the wrong kind of faith? Or is it enough just to believe in something? And if that's the case, isn't one religious idea just as good as another? After all, many people say "Everybody believes in something"!
However, if you claim to be a true-christian, you ought to know what the Bible says about this matter. Templarium wants to answer these questions and prove that there is only one faith that will stand the test of time.
Scientists say that the universe is billions and billions of years old and that it all started with a 'Big Bang'. They endeavour to explain and show many interesting facts. Millions of people believe in scientists. When they say that the world was created by some "Big Bang", this is just a belief for which they have not any scientific proof!. This is 'faith' in 'assumptions'.
Young lady stands patiently along the road. She tries to sell flowers to uninterested drivers as they stop for a red light. She smiles and without complaint she spends the whole day - trying to sell flowers in order to attend a leader that told her that he is the Messiah. She has 'faith' in her 'leader'.
Millions of people bow reverently and humble toward their holy city. Fanatically devoted to the religion of their ancerstors, these people of Middle East heritage pause three times every day to pray to one they call Allah. They have 'faith' in "Allah'.
Candles light the room like miniature lanterns, casting some glow over the tiny religious figurines on the shelf. Day after day, the elderly woman devotes herself to rituals she was taught many years before. She prays for her husband's soul. She has 'faith' in her 'religion'.
The man gets into his car, put the key into the ignition, and turns it. He starts the car. He goes home, but he decides to stop at the grocery store and buy something: two loaves of bread, a package of hot dogs, cans of tomato soup etc. Back home he picks up the phone and dials, never thinking that it might not work... He performs hundreds of acts like that every day. He has 'faith'.
The rightness of wrongness of faith is determined by its object - by what you believe in: a) right faith is not just a warm, secure feeling; b) right faith is not a blind, wild, irrational hope; c) right faith is not an end in itself; d) right faith is not based on one's imagination.
Conclusion: the rightness of faith is determined by its object! Your faith is right if you put your trust in the right thing-person.
Is it possible to have the wrong kind of faith? Or is it enough just to believe in something? And if that's the case, isn't one religious idea just as good as another? After all, many people say "Everybody believes in something"!
However, if you claim to be a true-christian, you ought to know what the Bible says about this matter. Templarium wants to answer these questions and prove that there is only one faith that will stand the test of time.
Scientists say that the universe is billions and billions of years old and that it all started with a 'Big Bang'. They endeavour to explain and show many interesting facts. Millions of people believe in scientists. When they say that the world was created by some "Big Bang", this is just a belief for which they have not any scientific proof!. This is 'faith' in 'assumptions'.
Young lady stands patiently along the road. She tries to sell flowers to uninterested drivers as they stop for a red light. She smiles and without complaint she spends the whole day - trying to sell flowers in order to attend a leader that told her that he is the Messiah. She has 'faith' in her 'leader'.
Millions of people bow reverently and humble toward their holy city. Fanatically devoted to the religion of their ancerstors, these people of Middle East heritage pause three times every day to pray to one they call Allah. They have 'faith' in "Allah'.
Candles light the room like miniature lanterns, casting some glow over the tiny religious figurines on the shelf. Day after day, the elderly woman devotes herself to rituals she was taught many years before. She prays for her husband's soul. She has 'faith' in her 'religion'.
The man gets into his car, put the key into the ignition, and turns it. He starts the car. He goes home, but he decides to stop at the grocery store and buy something: two loaves of bread, a package of hot dogs, cans of tomato soup etc. Back home he picks up the phone and dials, never thinking that it might not work... He performs hundreds of acts like that every day. He has 'faith'.
The rightness of wrongness of faith is determined by its object - by what you believe in: a) right faith is not just a warm, secure feeling; b) right faith is not a blind, wild, irrational hope; c) right faith is not an end in itself; d) right faith is not based on one's imagination.
Conclusion: the rightness of faith is determined by its object! Your faith is right if you put your trust in the right thing-person.
Wednesday, May 28, 2003
IDB (INTERAMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK) WILL FINANCE USD 500 MILLION TO PRIVATE ENTERPRISES IN BRAZIL.
Mr. Enrique Iglesias, president of the bank, declared yesterday 27.5.2003, that the bank will offer USD 500 million credit to private enterprises in Brazil - emphasis on the foreign trade. Out of these USD 500 million, an amount of USD 110 million will be directed to BRADESCO - biggest brazilian private banking corporation. Mr. Iglesias also affirmed that, within two monthes, other two brazilian banks will have their shares - possibly ITAU and UNIBANCO. Additionally, Mr. Iglesias commented that the brazilian banks will have to pay to IDB an interest rate of just 3,0 per cent / a year.
Mr. Guido Mantega - planning minister in Brazil - went further and asked for more financing (bigger ones!) from IDB in order to expand the 'private enterprises in Brazil - emphasis on the foreign trade). Mr. Mantega wishes to improve the infra-structure of the exporting companies. The so-called "agri-business" might be preferably focused-privileged. Source: Gazeta Mercantil - Brazil.
Templarium comments the issue: brazilian banks get big loans from abroad (IDB - in this particular case); pay just 3,0 per cent a year to them, and charge the scandalous rate of 12,0 per cent a year from brazilians;or far much more! Banking in Brazil is an enormous source of "easy money"... - Needless to say that, in Brazil, the most profitable business is, yes!, banking. Thousands of small and medium size companies have gone bankrupted here because of the extremely high interest rate charged by the banks.
Mr. Enrique Iglesias, president of the bank, declared yesterday 27.5.2003, that the bank will offer USD 500 million credit to private enterprises in Brazil - emphasis on the foreign trade. Out of these USD 500 million, an amount of USD 110 million will be directed to BRADESCO - biggest brazilian private banking corporation. Mr. Iglesias also affirmed that, within two monthes, other two brazilian banks will have their shares - possibly ITAU and UNIBANCO. Additionally, Mr. Iglesias commented that the brazilian banks will have to pay to IDB an interest rate of just 3,0 per cent / a year.
Mr. Guido Mantega - planning minister in Brazil - went further and asked for more financing (bigger ones!) from IDB in order to expand the 'private enterprises in Brazil - emphasis on the foreign trade). Mr. Mantega wishes to improve the infra-structure of the exporting companies. The so-called "agri-business" might be preferably focused-privileged. Source: Gazeta Mercantil - Brazil.
Templarium comments the issue: brazilian banks get big loans from abroad (IDB - in this particular case); pay just 3,0 per cent a year to them, and charge the scandalous rate of 12,0 per cent a year from brazilians;or far much more! Banking in Brazil is an enormous source of "easy money"... - Needless to say that, in Brazil, the most profitable business is, yes!, banking. Thousands of small and medium size companies have gone bankrupted here because of the extremely high interest rate charged by the banks.
Monday, May 26, 2003
PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL, MR. LULA, SALUTES MR. NESTOR KIRCHNER, PRESIDENT OF ARGENTINA.
The brazilian president, Mr. LULA, was applauded in the Argentine Congress, during the taking over of Mr. Nestor Kichner, just elected president of Argentina - last May 25, 2003. Vividly showing strong feeling of emotion, Mr. LULA, was the 'big star' in the ceremony - apart from obviously president Kirchner himself.
Mr. Lula had to shake hands of ordinary people who wanted to see - and touch - the 'ordinary working man' who inched his way up to the presidency of the biggest country in Latin America.
Mr. Fidel Castro - dictator and murder of innocent political adversaries in Cuba (total of over 17.000 - according to cuban free press - outside Cuba, of course!), was also present to the ceremony of democratically elected president, Mr. Kirchner.
The brazilian president, Mr. LULA, was applauded in the Argentine Congress, during the taking over of Mr. Nestor Kichner, just elected president of Argentina - last May 25, 2003. Vividly showing strong feeling of emotion, Mr. LULA, was the 'big star' in the ceremony - apart from obviously president Kirchner himself.
Mr. Lula had to shake hands of ordinary people who wanted to see - and touch - the 'ordinary working man' who inched his way up to the presidency of the biggest country in Latin America.
Mr. Fidel Castro - dictator and murder of innocent political adversaries in Cuba (total of over 17.000 - according to cuban free press - outside Cuba, of course!), was also present to the ceremony of democratically elected president, Mr. Kirchner.
POLITICS IN BRAZIL
After the leftist party took office in Brazil, last Jan 1st, 2003, we have been facing a continuous growth of dependability (credibility - someone would say) from the international investors towards the brazilian economy. Would it be a miracle? No, this is just the same old economic policy of ex-president Fernando Cardoso being implemented by the adversary Mr. Luis Inacio LULA da Silva ... - In fact, investors have just been 'searching and searching ' a safe (?) place to put their money on... Brazil offers 12,0 (or more!) per cent a year - on average (yes, this is the 'miracle')... while other countries in the so-caled 'first world' just offer 4 - 6 per cent a year! so, where to put your hard-earned little money? Yes - in Brazil! Come and enjoy this leftist party - before it comes to an end!
After the leftist party took office in Brazil, last Jan 1st, 2003, we have been facing a continuous growth of dependability (credibility - someone would say) from the international investors towards the brazilian economy. Would it be a miracle? No, this is just the same old economic policy of ex-president Fernando Cardoso being implemented by the adversary Mr. Luis Inacio LULA da Silva ... - In fact, investors have just been 'searching and searching ' a safe (?) place to put their money on... Brazil offers 12,0 (or more!) per cent a year - on average (yes, this is the 'miracle')... while other countries in the so-caled 'first world' just offer 4 - 6 per cent a year! so, where to put your hard-earned little money? Yes - in Brazil! Come and enjoy this leftist party - before it comes to an end!
Saturday, May 24, 2003
VIOLENCE IN RIO DE JANEIRO - BRAZIL
Luis Fux, 50, one of the judges of the Justice Supreme Court in the city of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, had his house invaded and robbed yesterday, Friday, 23.5.2003. Mr. Fux lives in a middle class suburb called "Copacabana" - by the seashore. Being a jiu-jitsu fighter, Mr. Fux reacted and struggled against the gangsters. All in vain. He is at the hospital along with son Rodrigo and daughter Marianna. They will survive - declared the physician.
Rio de Janeiro has actually transformed itself in a 'neo-Medellin or neo-Cali' (famous colombian cities ruled by gangsters, narco-guerrilas etc). Every single day, Rio Gangsters - coming down from the guettos, up in the hills around the city of Rio - fight against police forces. Most of the times, gangsters declare a 'solemn holiday' in a 'bunch' of suburbs ... citizens gently obey: offices, stores, schools, etc., are all 'shut down' by the orders of the Lords of Terror.
LULA new anti-gangsters policy is to better train police forces and equip them with faster vehicles, guns, etc. Maybe it is going to work - in the long run; yet, in the short, we will definitely have more innocents murdered.
Luis Fux, 50, one of the judges of the Justice Supreme Court in the city of Rio de Janeiro - Brazil, had his house invaded and robbed yesterday, Friday, 23.5.2003. Mr. Fux lives in a middle class suburb called "Copacabana" - by the seashore. Being a jiu-jitsu fighter, Mr. Fux reacted and struggled against the gangsters. All in vain. He is at the hospital along with son Rodrigo and daughter Marianna. They will survive - declared the physician.
Rio de Janeiro has actually transformed itself in a 'neo-Medellin or neo-Cali' (famous colombian cities ruled by gangsters, narco-guerrilas etc). Every single day, Rio Gangsters - coming down from the guettos, up in the hills around the city of Rio - fight against police forces. Most of the times, gangsters declare a 'solemn holiday' in a 'bunch' of suburbs ... citizens gently obey: offices, stores, schools, etc., are all 'shut down' by the orders of the Lords of Terror.
LULA new anti-gangsters policy is to better train police forces and equip them with faster vehicles, guns, etc. Maybe it is going to work - in the long run; yet, in the short, we will definitely have more innocents murdered.
WELCOME TO TEMPLARIUM!
Fortaleza - Brazil, May 24, 2003
Hi Folks!
Welcome to "Templarium"!
I aim to provide you with best possible information about this wonderful and multicutural country of Brazil.
This is my first time on 'blogs', therefore, may I - in advance - beg your excuses for the mistakes I might certainly make - mainly in the use of the English Language!
Welcome to "Templarium" - once again!
Sincerely,
Paulo Cesar Sampaio - Editor
Fortaleza - Brazil, May 24, 2003
Hi Folks!
Welcome to "Templarium"!
I aim to provide you with best possible information about this wonderful and multicutural country of Brazil.
This is my first time on 'blogs', therefore, may I - in advance - beg your excuses for the mistakes I might certainly make - mainly in the use of the English Language!
Welcome to "Templarium" - once again!
Sincerely,
Paulo Cesar Sampaio - Editor
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