Comments for http://postwesternworld.com www.postwesternworld.com Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:01:04 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Lula movie fails to impress Brazilians as election nears by Christina Stünkel http://postwesternworld.com/2010/02/17/lula-movie-fails-to-impress-brazilians-as-election-nears/#comment-25 Christina Stünkel Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:01:04 +0000 http://postwesternworld.com/?p=311#comment-25 Good article! Will the film also be shown in other countries? Linguistic comment: I only know the word lackluster as an adjective, can it be used in another sense as well? Good article! Will the film also be shown in other countries?
Linguistic comment: I only know the word lackluster as an adjective, can it be used in another sense as well?

]]> Comment on The 10 Issues to Watch in International Politics in 2010 by Juan de Onis http://postwesternworld.com/2010/01/06/the-10-issues-to-watch-in-international-politics-in-2010/#comment-23 Juan de Onis Sun, 10 Jan 2010 13:22:52 +0000 http://postwesternworld.com/?p=188#comment-23 In political optics, Right and Left are terms that depend on the eye of the beholder. These terms are not helpful in dealing objectively with Latin American realities. If the central problem in these societies is improvement in quality of life (less poverty, greater employment opportunities, more innovative and sustainable use of natural resources, social cooperation to advance education, health and personal security) none of the examples self-described as "Left" (notably Cuba, Venezuela) can meet the test. The improvements in Brazil, Chile, Peru and Colombia are all due to pragmatic economic policies in a context of political liberties and freedom of initiative. In political optics, Right and Left are terms that depend on the eye of the beholder. These terms are not helpful in dealing objectively with Latin American realities. If the central problem in these societies is improvement in quality of life (less poverty, greater employment opportunities, more innovative and sustainable use of natural resources, social cooperation to advance education, health and personal security) none of the examples self-described as “Left” (notably Cuba, Venezuela) can meet the test. The improvements in Brazil, Chile, Peru and Colombia are all due to pragmatic economic policies in a context of political liberties and freedom of initiative.

]]> Comment on The 10 Issues to Watch in International Politics in 2010 by oliverstuenkel http://postwesternworld.com/2010/01/06/the-10-issues-to-watch-in-international-politics-in-2010/#comment-22 oliverstuenkel Sat, 09 Jan 2010 13:57:00 +0000 http://postwesternworld.com/?p=188#comment-22 There is a very interesting article by Alvaro Vargas Llosa which relates to your comment. He predicts a shift to the right in Latin America. Let's see what happens in Chile these days... The link is: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/why-chavez-and-co-are-about-to-lose-clout/article1419987/ There is a very interesting article by Alvaro Vargas Llosa which relates to your comment. He predicts a shift to the right in Latin America. Let’s see what happens in Chile these days…
The link is:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/why-chavez-and-co-are-about-to-lose-clout/article1419987/

]]> Comment on The 10 Issues to Watch in International Politics in 2010 by Ivan http://postwesternworld.com/2010/01/06/the-10-issues-to-watch-in-international-politics-in-2010/#comment-21 Ivan Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:40:40 +0000 http://postwesternworld.com/?p=188#comment-21 Hey, good analysis and I could actually agree on the list, at least from what we see until now. I would like to touch 3 of your points: 1.- Even when it is absolutely clear how important are Brazilian politics for South American stability, we can't forget what is happening in the rest of the region. It is not possible not to realize how South American's governments are moving to a left side. This movement has two fronts: Populists (e.g. Chavez in Venezuela, Evo Morales in Bolivia, Correa in Ecuador) and others that We could call socialists with a capitalist mindset (e.g. Bachelet in Chile, Lula in Brazil and Tabare Vasquez). In a way, these three countries tried to keep under control all the other populists’ goverments in the region. This could change now in Uruguay and Chile. The firsts kept in the government Tabare's party but the new president seems to be as populist as the others (Jose Mujica). By the other hand, Chile has to decide in a couple of days a new president and it is very possible that moves to a right party government after 20 years of the left Coalition. The candidate from the right is Sebastian Piñera, and old collaborator of Pinochet's Dictatorship, who now doesn’t wait to repeat to everybody that he always supported democracy. The little Berlusconi is called in Chile, as he is a powerful rich man, who profited from the dictatorship and has been accused of not having very clean sheets in business, and now he is the owner of one TV Channel and participates in the ownership of the most popular football team in Chile (sounds familiar, isn’t?). Lets see how Chile develops in terms of social improvement, because economically speaking, we shouldn’t see big changes. And we have to see also, how he develops in the relationship with Chilean's three difficult neighbours (Argentina, Bolivia and mainly Peru), and how he relates with Socialists governments. Very important as well is to follow the behaviour of the ambitious Kirchner family in Argentina, and the conflict in Colombia with the guerrilla (that had caused already political problems with Venezuela and Ecuador). 2.- The islam's issue in Europe, is even more complicated than it looks like. If Switzerland started creating laws against them, with a really high support of the population, not having real issues in terms of terrorism and over population, we can easily realize how other countries could react with this kind of referendums if they have real issues with terrorists and Islamic overpopulation like Germany and France. 3.- Just called my attention when you named China, India and Brazil as three new economic monsters, that what they have in common is: Big Countries, huge populations, richs in natural resources and specially, huge social differences, where for every big rich, you have 10000 poor that are working for almost no salary... Hope I didn’t get too boring... :) bye... Hey, good analysis and I could actually agree on the list, at least from what we see until now.
I would like to touch 3 of your points:

1.- Even when it is absolutely clear how important are Brazilian politics for South American stability, we can’t forget what is happening in the rest of the region.
It is not possible not to realize how South American’s governments are moving to a left side. This movement has two fronts: Populists (e.g. Chavez in Venezuela, Evo Morales in Bolivia, Correa in Ecuador) and others that We could call socialists with a capitalist mindset (e.g. Bachelet in Chile, Lula in Brazil and Tabare Vasquez). In a way, these three countries tried to keep under control all the other populists’ goverments in the region. This could change now in Uruguay and Chile. The firsts kept in the government Tabare’s party but the new president seems to be as populist as the others (Jose Mujica). By the other hand, Chile has to decide in a couple of days a new president and it is very possible that moves to a right party government after 20 years of the left Coalition. The candidate from the right is Sebastian Piñera, and old collaborator of Pinochet’s Dictatorship, who now doesn’t wait to repeat to everybody that he always supported democracy. The little Berlusconi is called in Chile, as he is a powerful rich man, who profited from the dictatorship and has been accused of not having very clean sheets in business, and now he is the owner of one TV Channel and participates in the ownership of the most popular football team in Chile (sounds familiar, isn’t?). Lets see how Chile develops in terms of social improvement, because economically speaking, we shouldn’t see big changes. And we have to see also, how he develops in the relationship with Chilean’s three difficult neighbours (Argentina, Bolivia and mainly Peru), and how he relates with Socialists governments.
Very important as well is to follow the behaviour of the ambitious Kirchner family in Argentina, and the conflict in Colombia with the guerrilla (that had caused already political problems with Venezuela and Ecuador).

2.- The islam’s issue in Europe, is even more complicated than it looks like. If Switzerland started creating laws against them, with a really high support of the population, not having real issues in terms of terrorism and over population, we can easily realize how other countries could react with this kind of referendums if they have real issues with terrorists and Islamic overpopulation like Germany and France.

3.- Just called my attention when you named China, India and Brazil as three new economic monsters, that what they have in common is: Big Countries, huge populations, richs in natural resources and specially, huge social differences, where for every big rich, you have 10000 poor that are working for almost no salary…

Hope I didn’t get too boring… :)

bye…

]]> Comment on More than a dream? Obama’s vision of a nuclear arms-free world by KonstantinMiller http://postwesternworld.com/2009/06/20/more-than-a-dream-obama%e2%80%99s-vision-of-a-nuclear-arms-free-world/#comment-7 KonstantinMiller Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:42:54 +0000 http://postwesternworld.com/?p=21#comment-7 Hi! I like your srticle and I would like very much to read some more information on this issue. Will you post some more? Hi! I like your srticle and I would like very much to read some more information on this issue. Will you post some more?

]]> Comment on More than a dream? Obama’s vision of a nuclear arms-free world by Sylvia Rosales-Fike http://postwesternworld.com/2009/06/20/more-than-a-dream-obama%e2%80%99s-vision-of-a-nuclear-arms-free-world/#comment-4 Sylvia Rosales-Fike Sat, 20 Jun 2009 23:25:31 +0000 http://postwesternworld.com/?p=21#comment-4 This article gives us pragmatic reasons why President Barack Obama's plan for disarmament may not work. But I have to commend Mr. Oliver Stuenkel for helping us consider what could be a bottom-line purpose of the new American President. While confronting the various interests of various countries engaged in the nuclear arms race and the weakness of various international treaties to deter this process, Mr. Stuenkel remind us that leadership is now critically needed to bring the debate of leaders and peoples of the world to a level that recognizes our own vulnerability towards extinction. If that is the hidden purpose of President Obama, we can say that at least he will help us grow a bit as human beings and perhaps get us to think about the possibility of a future world without nuclear arms. And maybe his leadership will move us to a real understanding of our interdependence as countries, as human beings, when confronting a future of self-destruction. Excellent article. Sylvia Rosales-Fike President AnewAmerica Community Corporation Berkeley, California This article gives us pragmatic reasons why President Barack Obama’s plan for disarmament may not work. But I have to commend Mr. Oliver Stuenkel for helping us consider what could be a bottom-line purpose of the new American President. While confronting the various interests of various countries engaged in the nuclear arms race and the weakness of various international treaties to deter this process, Mr. Stuenkel remind us that leadership is now critically needed to bring the debate of leaders and peoples of the world to a level that recognizes our own vulnerability towards extinction. If that is the hidden purpose of President Obama, we can say that at least he will help us grow a bit as human beings and perhaps get us to think about the possibility of a future world without nuclear arms. And maybe his leadership will move us to a real understanding of our interdependence as countries, as human beings, when confronting a future of self-destruction. Excellent article.

Sylvia Rosales-Fike
President
AnewAmerica Community Corporation
Berkeley, California

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