I had, admittedly, not listened to Martin Luther King's speech "Why I Oppose the War in Vietnam," before today. It is worth 23 minutes to hear in its entirety.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
The Belgian version of "intercultural"
An amusing (?) note from the Economist's EU blogger:
2008 is the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. As such, the website highlights national projects done in each of the EU member states. There are 27 member states, and 29 projects. Why 29 projects? It seems that 26 member states have one project each, and Belgium submitted three--one intercultural project from the Flemings, one intercultural project from the Walloons, and one intercultural project from the tiny German-speaking community of Belgium. That's the true meaning of multiculturalism.
Guess we shouldn't read too much into it. After all, six months after their elections, they did finally manage to form a provisional government...
Update: I changed the title of the post, just because its dripping sarcasm is hard to pick up through a computer.
2008 is the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. As such, the website highlights national projects done in each of the EU member states. There are 27 member states, and 29 projects. Why 29 projects? It seems that 26 member states have one project each, and Belgium submitted three--one intercultural project from the Flemings, one intercultural project from the Walloons, and one intercultural project from the tiny German-speaking community of Belgium. That's the true meaning of multiculturalism.
Guess we shouldn't read too much into it. After all, six months after their elections, they did finally manage to form a provisional government...
Update: I changed the title of the post, just because its dripping sarcasm is hard to pick up through a computer.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Serbia: second round, as expected, on high turnout
Radical Party candidate Tomislav Nikolić and current president/Democratic Party candidate Boris Tadić have finished 1-2 in the Serbian presidential election first round, as was widely expected. The greater surprise here was turnout, which was around 60 percent, well up from the last presidential poll in 2004 and roughly equivalent to turnout in last year's parliamentary poll.
Compared to the previous election, both leading candidates took higher shares of the vote (Nikolić at 39 percent and Tadić at 35 percent). A key question will be where supporters of the third-place candidate, Velimir Ilić of New Serbia (an ally of PM Vojislav Koštunica) decide to put their second-round votes.
If one assumes that Tadić takes most of the votes of Cedomir Jovanović (a liberal) and Ištvan Pastor (the Hungarian minority candidate) this gives him 43.2 percent; Nikolić gets the support of Milutin Mrkonijć (from Milosević's Socialists) for 45.4 percent. It therefore seems that much will turn on those who voted for Ilić, who took 7.6 percent in the first round. Note that in 2004, turnout for the second round was almost identical as for the first round.
RFE/RL has coverage. The numbers I have seen come from Wikipedia, and I am not sure of the original source.
Compared to the previous election, both leading candidates took higher shares of the vote (Nikolić at 39 percent and Tadić at 35 percent). A key question will be where supporters of the third-place candidate, Velimir Ilić of New Serbia (an ally of PM Vojislav Koštunica) decide to put their second-round votes.
If one assumes that Tadić takes most of the votes of Cedomir Jovanović (a liberal) and Ištvan Pastor (the Hungarian minority candidate) this gives him 43.2 percent; Nikolić gets the support of Milutin Mrkonijć (from Milosević's Socialists) for 45.4 percent. It therefore seems that much will turn on those who voted for Ilić, who took 7.6 percent in the first round. Note that in 2004, turnout for the second round was almost identical as for the first round.
RFE/RL has coverage. The numbers I have seen come from Wikipedia, and I am not sure of the original source.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
The day's other big election
While on Saturday, January 19, many people were paying attention to the caucuses in Nevada and the GOP primary in South Carolina, there was of course another earth-shattering election taking place. I refer, of course, to the general election in the Danish dependency of the Faroe Islands.
Interestingly, (and of more interest than this year's outcome), the Faroe Islands appear to have reached an equilibrium between four parties in their proportional-representation system, despite their minuscule size. Note that the Faroes have not just traditional left-right divisions, but also cleavages between pro-independence forces and pro-union (with Denmark) forces. The same four parties have been the largest in parliament since 1950 in this small island group of under 50,000 people (see Wikipedia for background).
No party, since that same year of 1950, has taken more than 27.5 percent of the vote; no party has ever held an absolute majority in parliament; and no party has even held more than 10 seats in parliament (26 to 33 seats total) since the 1946-47 period. From 1958 through 1980, the Social Democrats were marginally larger than the other parties (enjoying a 1- or 2-seat advantage after each election compared to their largest competitor), but this advantage no longer exists.
For this year's election, the electoral system was changed slightly, to eliminate regional constituencies which had resulted in slight disproportionalities. The system used this year allocates seats based on open lists for the entire territory.
Perhaps the biggest story in this year's uneventful election was the gain of almost 6 percent of the vote, and 2 seats, combined for the other two small parties in parliament. Other than that, the Social Democrats lost one seat, and all other parties remained even in terms of seats: Republic 8; Union Party 7; People's Party 7; Social Democrats 6; smaller parties 5. Summary in English is available at Parties and Elections.
Interestingly, (and of more interest than this year's outcome), the Faroe Islands appear to have reached an equilibrium between four parties in their proportional-representation system, despite their minuscule size. Note that the Faroes have not just traditional left-right divisions, but also cleavages between pro-independence forces and pro-union (with Denmark) forces. The same four parties have been the largest in parliament since 1950 in this small island group of under 50,000 people (see Wikipedia for background).
No party, since that same year of 1950, has taken more than 27.5 percent of the vote; no party has ever held an absolute majority in parliament; and no party has even held more than 10 seats in parliament (26 to 33 seats total) since the 1946-47 period. From 1958 through 1980, the Social Democrats were marginally larger than the other parties (enjoying a 1- or 2-seat advantage after each election compared to their largest competitor), but this advantage no longer exists.
For this year's election, the electoral system was changed slightly, to eliminate regional constituencies which had resulted in slight disproportionalities. The system used this year allocates seats based on open lists for the entire territory.
Perhaps the biggest story in this year's uneventful election was the gain of almost 6 percent of the vote, and 2 seats, combined for the other two small parties in parliament. Other than that, the Social Democrats lost one seat, and all other parties remained even in terms of seats: Republic 8; Union Party 7; People's Party 7; Social Democrats 6; smaller parties 5. Summary in English is available at Parties and Elections.
Still life with food
These still life photographs entirely made out of food are pretty crazy. They kind of remind me of the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, especially the end where everybody gets onto the food boats and leaves (see photograph #8, also notable for creative use of salmon).
Tadić looking for a second term in Serbia
Serbia goes to the polls tomorrow to elect a president. Expect current president Boris Tadić and Radical Party leader Tomislav Nikolić to advance to the second round. Interestingly, it looks like ultranationalist Nikolić is running a slick campaign (reportedly helped by a Western PR firm) while the pro-EU Tadić is showing the Serbian flag whenever he can. A good sign, at least, that the two are trying to appeal to crossover voters. PM Vojislav Kostunica is backing a small-party candidate to gain more leverage in the second round (he probably will back Tadić in the end).
The question is whether Serbia has an alternative to Europe (answer: no, unless it becomes a Russian puppet state). Russia has reportedly been trying to pressure the Serbs, but they only want a relationship on their terms (read: Russian control over gas, Russian economic/political ties, in return for Russian support on Kosovo).
Picking Nikolić would be a throwback to the old days. If Tadić can win over most of the Serbs who want continued economic growth (the #1 issue despite all the talk about Kosovo), he should squeak by in the runoff which is almost certain to come.
See the Economist or RFE/RL (and an analysis from RFE). Wikipedia entry here.
The question is whether Serbia has an alternative to Europe (answer: no, unless it becomes a Russian puppet state). Russia has reportedly been trying to pressure the Serbs, but they only want a relationship on their terms (read: Russian control over gas, Russian economic/political ties, in return for Russian support on Kosovo).
Picking Nikolić would be a throwback to the old days. If Tadić can win over most of the Serbs who want continued economic growth (the #1 issue despite all the talk about Kosovo), he should squeak by in the runoff which is almost certain to come.
See the Economist or RFE/RL (and an analysis from RFE). Wikipedia entry here.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
New Spanish anthem lyrics rejected...again
Yet again, Spaniards are unable to agree on an anthem. This time the idea was propelled by Spain's Olympic Committee, with the hope of having lyrics for Spain's athletes to sing in time for the next Olympics. Lyrics by a self-described unemployed "loser" from La Mancha were chosen by the panel of experts. Paulino Cubero said that "I wrote the anthem for the fatherland of the average people, of those that take the metro to go to work."
Apparently, the objections mainly came from the left, and wisely, Zapatero doesn't seem to have said much at all. Rajoy apparently didn't comment, while the leader of the small United Left, Gaspar Llamazares, was quite critical. However, there's been enough objections that the Committee has shelved the proposal, which was supposed to be debuted by Placido Domingo.
Honestly, if they can't agree on these lyrics, which ones will they agree on?
Apparently, the objections mainly came from the left, and wisely, Zapatero doesn't seem to have said much at all. Rajoy apparently didn't comment, while the leader of the small United Left, Gaspar Llamazares, was quite critical. However, there's been enough objections that the Committee has shelved the proposal, which was supposed to be debuted by Placido Domingo.
Honestly, if they can't agree on these lyrics, which ones will they agree on?
- ¡Viva España!
- Cantemos todos juntos
- con distinta voz
- y un solo corazón
- ¡Viva España!
- desde los verdes valles
- al inmenso mar,
- un himno de hermandad
- Ama a la patria
- pues sabe abrazar,
- bajo su cielo azul,
- pueblos en libertad
- Gloria a los hijos
- que a la Historia dan
- justicia y grandeza
- democracia y paz.
Selig's contract extended again
A couple days after being called out at Congress, Bud Selig's contract as commissioner has been unanimously extended again (through 2012). In his statements, Selig said: "By the time I leave, you won't recognize the sport." Not sure which is sadder: (1) that Selig thinks not recognizing the sport would be a good thing or that (2) he doesn't realize this is already the case. He's already done quite enough.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Voting in Poland
Poland has voted today, two years ahead of schedule, after corruption scandals brought down the coalition between conservative/nationalist Law and Justice (PiS), left-populist/xenophobic Samoobrona and the right-Catholic/xenophobic League of Polish Families. The Kaczynski government has been notable for its lack of foreign-policy acumen, and its perhaps overzealous prosecution of the "removal of ex-communist influence" from government bodies, as well as the corruption issues which have generally involved Samoobrona.
Recent polls showed the more classical-liberal Civic Platform (PO) of opposition leader Donald Tusk leading PiS by a couple of percentage points. Either way, a coalition would be necessary, with the most likely partner for PO being Left and Democrats (LiD), a grouping of the former ruling Democratic Left Alliance as well as splinter parties from that party, the Social Democratic Party and the Democratic Party, and another center-left party, the Union of Labor. LiD lags in the polls and will take under 20 percent in any event, but shares with PO the trait that they are pragmatic and not insane ideologues. Hence the two groups seem the most natural partners.
So far, turnout through 16.30h is far ahead of the 2005 turnout--nationwide, 38% compared with 27% two years ago. The Kaczynski government (yes/no) is a clear wedge issue. Whereas in 2005 abstention was 60%, it appears that more than 50% will probably turn out this time.
Results as they come.
Recent polls showed the more classical-liberal Civic Platform (PO) of opposition leader Donald Tusk leading PiS by a couple of percentage points. Either way, a coalition would be necessary, with the most likely partner for PO being Left and Democrats (LiD), a grouping of the former ruling Democratic Left Alliance as well as splinter parties from that party, the Social Democratic Party and the Democratic Party, and another center-left party, the Union of Labor. LiD lags in the polls and will take under 20 percent in any event, but shares with PO the trait that they are pragmatic and not insane ideologues. Hence the two groups seem the most natural partners.
So far, turnout through 16.30h is far ahead of the 2005 turnout--nationwide, 38% compared with 27% two years ago. The Kaczynski government (yes/no) is a clear wedge issue. Whereas in 2005 abstention was 60%, it appears that more than 50% will probably turn out this time.
Results as they come.
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