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5 more leaders the world would be better off without


Five more leaders the world would be better off without

Xi_Jinping_March_2017

Xi Jinping

Apart from the fact that he apparently can’t speak much English, which is disgraceful for the leader of a world power, Xi Jinping, the president of China appears not to care a fig about human rights and is set on flexing China’s muscle. Like most of the other members of China’s oligarchy he is more likely corrupt than not. Power seems to motivate him much more than any sense of justice or compassion. If the eyes are the window to the soul he looks in bad shape. He must be held largely responsible for the disgraceful treatment of dissidents in China. He also lacks a sense of humour, banning Winnie the Pooh in the nation after associations were made between himself and that famous cartoon character. If Winnie the Pooh were to be equated on any level with Xi Jinping Winnie the Pooh would be the loser.

Najib Razak

Najib Razak

The Prime Minister of Malaysia has done his best to stamp out any and all opposition and to destroy Malaysia’s democracy. His corruption is both gross and obvious. The appearance of almost a billion dollars in his personal bank account he dismissed as a gift from the Saudis. Even the former Prime Minister, Dr. Mahatir, of whom Razak was a protégé, has turned against him. Now out of the PM job and in serious trouble.

Turkey's President

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Another destroyer of any semblance of democracy is the president of Turkey. He is a populist who makes Donald Trump look mild and harmless in comparison. His mission appears to be the destruction of the secular state established long ago by the great Ataturk and the creation of an Islamic state. Ataturk’s wisdom saved Turkey from the excesses and dramas of radical Islam and now Erdogan wants to destroy this. He has used the excuse of the failed coup to gaol many thousands of people and dismiss from their jobs hundreds of thousands more and markedly increase his own power through a narrow referendum result. At the end of the day many people are probably sorry that the coup wasn’t successful.

cambodia-hun-sen-national-assembly-march19-2015

Hun Sen

The president of Cambodia is another leader who boasts a love affair with power. Despite at least one of his children having had the benefit of an education in Australia he hasn’t adopted any principles of democracy or social justice. Closer to his heart appears to be his time as a Kmer Rouge commander. He rules his country with an iron fist and it is most unlikely he will ever be removed by popular will.

Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu

The last in our rogue’s gallery is the present Prime Minister of Israel. Over the years he has been implicated in a number of corruption scandals but has escaped unscathed. His hard line and almost Zionist approach to the occupation of Palestinian lands and encouragement of more and more Israeli settlements on those lands has made the prospect of a meaningful peace deal between the Palestinians and Israel all but impossible.

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Leaders the World would be better off without


 

 

There are a considerable number of world leaders whose influence and action are predominantly negative in the struggle to achieve a happy, just and cohesive world. Here, we look at just some of the more remarkable and prominent ones amongst them. Some are downright criminals of the worst order with innocent blood on their hands. Others are corrupt and/or incompetent and yet others have short sighted attitudes and huge egos which cause them to damage their countries and the wider world around them.

They are not listed in any particular order. While some are indeed horrendous they lead not so powerful countries and their negative effects are limited largely to their own populations. Others, while not being in the same moral league, head much more powerful nations and therefore have a greater effect at large.

 

  1. Kim Jong Un of North Korea

 

 

 

Kim Jong Un stands accused of many crimes and executions and has zealously developed North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile technology undermining the stability of the region and making countries further afield nervous. Despite having the benefit of an education in Europe he seems to be somewhat paranoid and boasts a love of absolute power unhindered by ethical qualms.

 

 

  1. Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe

 

 

 

 

Mugabe has managed to turn one of the most prosperous countries in Africa into an economic ruin and effectively destroyed the country’s democracy in order to maintain an iron grip on power. During the civil war he was one of the rebel leaders whose forces shot down civilian airliners.

He is responsible for a considerable number of deaths and will never step down for fear of being prosecuted for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Zimbabwe and the world are just patiently waiting for old age to remove him. As his country is neither large nor powerful the effects of his rule are relatively limited. Now out of the job.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Bashir Al Assad of Syria

 

 

 

 

Assad has led a murderous war against his own people that has killed hundreds of thousands of civilians including many children, apparently without giving it any more thought than if he was just squashing flies. Right at the beginning of the demonstrations against his rule during the Arab spring he could have simply resigned with all of his wealth intact. It was once reported that his own mother suggested that he do this. Yet he was determined to remain President of Syria no matter what the cost in innocent lives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation

 

 

 

 

Putin has ruled Russia for a dozen years and has managed to stifle what democracy it had when he came to power. It is obvious that wants Russia to be the power that it once was in the glory days of the Soviet Union and is none too fussy about what means he uses to achieve that end. He apparently is doing all he can to weaken Western Europe and the United States. It seems that he did indeed attempt to influence the outcome of the U.S. presidential election last year. Surprisingly perhaps, Putin is popular with the majority of Russians and also with the Russian Orthodox Church. The church likes his conservative stand against gay rights and the population perhaps fall for the nationalist drivel that so many of the world’s people do. Apart from standing accused of having masterminded several state sponsored murders Putin’s support of Assad’s murderous regime is undoubtedly a crime against humanity. Without Putin’s support the war in Syria may well have ended a couple of years ago and the dreaded ISIS may never have come into existence.

 

  1. Donald Trump of the United States

 

 

Regardless of whether Trump colluded with the Russians during the   election campaign or not, it is becoming increasingly apparent that he simply does not have the ability to effectively govern the world’s most powerful nation. A man with a huge ego and a belief in simple solutions to complex problems is simply not up to the task. Nearly six months into his presidency he seems to be still in campaign mode. His simple “solutions” often appeal to the most selfish and unreasonable side of human nature, marginalising minorities in the process. A person who is addicted to Twitter, especially one in his position, could be fairly described as a twit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Theresa May of the UK

 

 

Theresa May is another leader who appears to have a larger than life ego. Since the Brexit referendum of last year she has been determined to carry out the Brexit regardless of the cost to the nation. Rather than listening to any sensible advice she has made it her mission to achieve a Brexit, no matter what the cost. As one of her own Conservative Party members said during the debate in the Commons about triggering article 50 to leave the EU, “She is leading us down the rabbit hole but with no Wonderland at the bottom.” It is likely that many of the people who voted for the Brexit now regret their decision. Theresa May’s loss of her parliamentary majority at the recent election underlines the fact that many people in the UK do not believe in her foolishly optimistic attitude to the problems that face the nation.

 

 

  1. Jacob Zuma of South Africa

 

 

Jacob Zuma is obviously guilty of gross corruption but has used his power to effectively stifle dissent. Questions of incompetence also arise about his conduct of the presidency. It is almost surprising that he has managed to cling to power.

 

 

 

  1. Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela

 

Nicolas Maduro has done little if anything to fight corruption in his country and has so mismanaged it that it is facing economic ruin, social collapse and civil strife. Certainly the falling oil price has exascerbated the economy’s position but there has been no plan to develop other sources of foreign revenue and no effective measures to deal with the situation. He is clinging to power regardless of popular dissent. The recent helicopter attack on a government building has been widely reported as being possibly stage so he can further clamp down on the country’s freedoms and ensure a virtual dictatorship.

 

 

 

The UK and Europe at the Crossroads


The UK and Europe at the Crossroads

Recent weeks have been momentous in the unfolding of the fate of Western Europe and the Western world generally. Scotland is now clamouring for a second independence referendum. As far as Scotland is concerned the Brexit folly was the last straw. Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, is leading a determined push for another independence referendum and soon.

Nicola Sturgeon

Theresa May’s insistence that such a referendum can only be granted by Westminster is hardly likely to placate the Scots.

British PM Theresa May
A very real possibility of the breakup of the UK is now presenting itself. It would be much simpler and more sensible to have a second Brexit referendum. Such a referendum could simply be the conduct of another vote, without any campaigning since most of the British public now have a fair idea of what Brexit would entail, including many undesirable consequences that they hadn’t even considered at the time of the referendum last June. If Theresa May’s government needs an excuse to hold a second referendum it needn’t look very far.
Further evidence that Putin’s Russia may have not only interfered in the US’s presidential election but may have been involved in the financing of Donald Trump’s business interests (when Wall Street wouldn’t touch him) has presented itself.

Donald Trump

Vladimir Putin

Some British MPs have claimed that Putin’s Russia may have interfered in the Brexit campaign. Even the possibility of this would be a perfectly reasonable excuse for holding a second Brexit referendum vote.
It is quite clear that Putin has been conducting a clandestine campaign to destabilise Western Europe and the EU as part of his aim to make Russia a great power again. “Make Russia great again” has a familiar ring doesn’t it? His bloody and bloody minded support of Assad has cost the lives of countless innocents and created the greatest refugee crisis since WW II. To be accurate the Soviet Union (and Russia) had a lot to do with that refugee crisis too.

 

Assad President of Syria

Putin obviously knew that his support of Assad’s regime would prolong that hideous civil war and send millions of refugees in the direction of Western Europe and the EU.
The Netherlands’ very recent election has resulted in the return of the current Dutch PM. In resisting populist and far right politics have the Dutch people shown themselves to be fundamentally more intelligent and thoughtful than the British and the Americans or is it a case of the Dutch having seen the unfortunate results of the Brexit debacle and the election of Donald Trump?
Although under the American political system it would be very difficult to dislodge Donald Trump now (impeachment seems a very unlikely possibility) and you can just forget about the removal of Putin in Russia, it is very simple for Britain to conduct a second Brexit referendum vote. It would seem that Theresa May wants to rush through the Brexit folly and trigger article 50 as a sign of her power. Perhaps she would also like to go down in history as the person who did the most to destroy the UK and hugely damage Western Europe.

Marie Le Pen (leader of France’s National Front)

If the French, in their coming presidential election can resist the fallacious populist appeal of the far right then perhaps Europe has a chance. However, if they elect Marie Le Pen and France leaves the EU the European Union will be finished and Western Europe will be massively damaged and in a worse situation than it was prior to the Second World War.
The person with the greatest opportunity to stop this disastrous slide is Theresa May. If the British government decides to hold a second vote on Brexit before the French elections are held a clear signal will have been sent that the West will resist the attempts of Putin to bring it to its knees. Hope in a reasonable future could then return.

Populism and the triangle of Folly


Populism, short-sightedness and the triangle of Folly
As the challenges facing humanity grow more and more complex and difficult to overcome it is natural that people look with critical eyes on the ruling establishments and desire a quick fix. However, quick “fixes” generally only exacerbate underlying problems rather than providing a real solution. With the proliferation of possible news sources it is becoming increasingly difficult to know what to believe.

Theresa May 12Ju16

Theresa May
Taking advantage of democracy’s essential weakness (the lowest common denominator factor) populist movements and leaders have sprung into action around the globe. Fear of immigrants had much to do with the foolish Brexit vote. Despite the fact that most of the UK’s voters now have a much clearer idea of what the real costs of Brexit will be, Theresa May and her government seem determined to carry on with this folly rather than offering the people a second referendum. The likely outcome will be the breakup of the UK itself in addition to a very large economic burden.

donald trump

Donald Trump
The election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the USA is another example of voters being so desperate for change that they forget that a disastrous change is much worse than no change at all. With an unpredictable loose cannon in the White House, the USA and the world must surely experience increasing levels of anxiety.

marie-le-pen

Marie Le Pen
The third apex of the triangle hasn’t happened yet. If far right leaders, such as Marie Le Pen succeed in their presidential bids in upcoming European elections the collapse of the European Union would seem all but a certainty. The loss of Britain is a huge blow for the EU but the additional loss of France would be fatal. The collapse of the EU would be disastrous for Europe and the world. The outbreak of more armed conflict in the region would be all but certain.
With Putin’s Russia prepared to assert itself at all costs and China’s determination to steal sovereignty of much of the South China Sea the world is becoming increasingly a much more dangerous place. It is no wonder the Doomsday clock was reset at 2 ½ minutes to midnight after the inauguration of Donald Trump. We haven’t even considered yet that global warming and climate change is increasing all the time and has probably already reached tipping point and that the looney dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong Un is getting ever closer to having nuclear ICBMs. As the main suspect in the recent murder of his estranged half-brother, Kim Jong Un apparently will stop at nothing to maintain his grip on power. While the war in Syria drags on and millions of innocents suffer the power brokers in the world seem much more concerned with their own well-being than with any ethics, altruism or even common sense.

kim-jong-un

Kim Jong Un

We are facing desperate times. Any more short-sighted populist quick fixes are likely to throw us all over the edge.

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Death of Islam


Death of Islam

Islamic state

One might wonder what the Jihadis and Islamic extremists are trying to achieve, apart from sowing mayhem and destruction of life and property. For centuries Muslims around the world have practised their religion peacefully without attacking the “non-believers.” The Koran itself does not call for the killing or attacking of followers of other religions.

Pesident of Syria

Islam has been one of the world’s major religions since its founding. The actions of the current crop of “Jihadis” would seem to suggest that they are either following an ideology of violent nihilism or wish to see a world-showdown between religions, a showdown that Islam would surely lose. This nihilistic madness certainly has economic, political and social aspects. The failure of the Islamic Spring and the failure of the establishment of widespread social justice in the Middle East has only added fuel to the lunacy.

putin_2836730b

It is up to all the Imams and Islamic authorities to absolutely condemn any and all acts of Islamic terrorism and the belief system that lie behind them as an anathema and un-Islamic. Failure to do so on their part is likely to lead, in the long run to the death of Islam as a major and respected religion in the world.

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A virtually unknown killer that can take the life of your child in an instant


A virtually unknown killer that can take the life of your child in an instant.
SUDC (Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood) is rarer than SIDS and strikes children over 1 year of age. Learn about this in a new video. Click the link below.

https://sudc.org/sudc-facts/explaining-the-unexplained

 

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Brexit Lunacy in the UK still in Play


Brexit Lunacy in the UK still in Play

 

Global economic markets have recovered, at least temporarily, from the shock of Donald Trump’s election victory. However, the Brexit madness in the UK is still in play. The British High Court offered some sanity by ruling that any triggering of Article 50 (to formally leave the EU) must be voted on by Parliament after debate and not just left to the PM, Theresa May.
Theresa May has appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn this ruling. However, it is quite likely that the Supreme Court will uphold the ruling of the High Court and the final decision will be left to the parliament.
In this case it would be wise for each MP to poll the opinions of his or her electorate. If the majority of voters in an electorate wish to remain in the EU then that MP should vote accordingly and likewise if the majority of voters in an electorate wish to leave then that MP should vote for the triggering of the article 50 and the leaving of the EU. In this way, voters who had initially supported the Brexit but now have changed their minds get a second chance.
The principles of democracy are still thus being followed but an unwise and short sighted referendum (that followed a largely negative and dishonest campaign) vote can be ignored.

The Brexit Trilogy – Anger trumps common sense


The Brexit Trilogy – Anger trumps Common Sense

Firstly, there was the Brexit vote in June’s UK referendum and we have seen what a disaster that has been, even for most of those who voted for it. Then came the Columbian referendum, which refused a peace deal with the FARC. Those who voted against the peace deal were the ones least affected by the civil war in that country.
Finally we have the final playout in the trilogy; the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the USA. The anger against the political establishment is understandable as millions, in the USA and around the world, have been ignored and marginalised. Yet, these angry people in America seem to believe that a billionaire who is part of the economic establishment although not the political one, will somehow empathise with them and improve their lot. Not only that but they also believe he will be able to help them, despite a massive lack of experience in dealing with global politics.
The poor and dispossessed all too often fail to realise that in any economic showdown that promotes instability they are the ones who lose first. The wealthy and the elites are the last to suffer. So it is in the UK and so it will be in the USA. People, all too often forget the selfishness and greed that is endemic in human nature. Narcissistic and aggressive type A personalities tend to rise to the top. Every time one elite is wiped out another one emerges.
Getting back to Donald Trump. If he behaves like he promised he would during the election campaign we will have horrible world disasters. If in power he acts in a measured and reasonable way, as suggested by his gracious and conciliatory acceptance speech, then what he said during the campaign was simply populist bullshit. Either way those who voted for him have been deceived.
Hilary Clinton’s loss, although partly due to the US voters’ hostility towards political dynasties, is also largely her fault. If she had appointed Bernie Sanders as her Vice Presidential running mate she probably would have won the election.
It would seem that we are all in for a rocky ride. Is the apocalypse just one step closer?

BREXIT – LIKE A BITTER, EXPENSIVE AND UNNECESSARY DIVORCE WHERE EVERYBODY LOSES


Marriage counselling would have been better for the UK and EU. A hasty divorce will hurt the children (Scotland, Northern Ireland and London). Who knows which parent (the UK or the EU) each child will live with?

Theresa May 12Ju16

Theresa May

The decision to continue with the likely disastrous Brexit process on the result of the flimsiest and most careless of referendums is strange to say the least. The pound continues its slide and the future looks extremely uncertain. The current situation with the incoming PM, Theresa May, preparing to press ahead willy-nilly is analogous to a lengthy, acrimonious, expensive and unnecessary divorce.

Sure, there are problems with quite a few of the EU arrangements. However, to refuse to deal with these within the existing structure is like a refusal to accept marriage counselling. It seems that the British government is determine to press ahead with a hasty divorce that will hurt the children, Scotland, Northern Ireland and London. The expense will be massive and both the UK and the EU will be seriously damaged as a result for little actual, positive gain.

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David Cameron 12Jul16

David Cameron

Outgoing PM, David Cameron appears like a shell shocked husband and father who has suddenly been served divorce papers from out of the blue. The shock seems to have caused him to meekly accept the catastrophe and impending disaster rather than fight against it.
It is interesting to note that the architects of this divorce, Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson and his double crossing sidekick (analogous to greedy, self-seeking divorce lawyers), have removed themselves in one way or another from dealing with the mess.

The British parliament is the only body than can introduce Article 50 and begin the process of leaving the EU. There is no legal compulsion for them to do this. Nigel Farage (in a recent interview with Australian 60 Minutes) claims that there is however a moral one.

In view of the entire situation, just about any reasonable person would surely claim that, in light of the facts that have appeared since the Brexit vote, there is a moral imperative that they do not introduce Article 50 to a vote and pass it. Whether they decide to hold a 2nd referendum or not, Article 50 should be left alone and considered as a virtual atomic bomb. There will be no turning back once this missile is launched and the button should NOT be pushed.

The Brexit a disaster for the World


Will the decision of a bunch of ignorant people, predominantly in the north of England, lead to the dissolution of the UK, the destruction of Europe and a global depression of horrific proportions?
The ramifications suggest disaster for most of the world

Will the decision of a bunch of ignorant people, predominantly in the north of England, lead to the dissolution of the UK, the destruction of Europe and a global depression of horrific proportions?

The ramifications suggest disaster for most of the world

 

Will the decision of a bunch of ignorant people, predominantly in the north of England, lead to the dissolution of the UK, the destruction of Europe and a global depression of horrific proportions?

The ramifications suggest disaster for most of the world

 donald trump

The dangerous Scream

This illogical decision will expose the UK to likely breakup as Scotland and Northern Ireland will likely call for further independence referendums. It will also cause more nations to attempt to exit from the EU. A further political and economic collapse across Europe is likely.

The domino effect is likely to spread across world financial markets. Considering the lengthy time frame for Britain’s exit from the EU continuing uncertainty will most likely cause massive damage across the world’s markets. It is almost probable that, together with all the other challenges facing the world, this will lead to a colossal global depression.

Overnight, I personally lost more than ten percent of the value of my life savings and I currently live in Australia. Presumably those ignorant voters who opted to leave the EU will within a few weeks see the price they will have to pay for their decision. It is true that the EU has its problems and that around the world people are disillusioned with the political establishment but it is always the ordinary people and the poor who are hurt first and worst by instant and drastic political decisions. I think we can say hello to President Trump in November.

The only sensible solution is for the UK to hold a second and final referendum on its membership of the EU within a month or two.

This illogical decision will expose the UK to likely breakup as Scotland and Northern Ireland will likely call for further independence referendums. It will also cause more nations to attempt to exit from the EU. A further political and economic collapse across Europe is likely.

The domino effect is likely to spread across world financial markets. Considering the lengthy time frame for Britain’s exit from the EU continuing uncertainty will most likely cause massive damage across the world’s markets. It is almost probable that, together with all the other challenges facing the world, this will lead to a colossal global depression.

Overnight, I personally lost more than ten percent of the value of my life savings and I currently live in Australia. Presumably those ignorant voters who opted to leave the EU will within a few weeks see the price they will have to pay for their decision. It is true that the EU has its problems and that around the world people are disillusioned with the political establishment but it is always the ordinary people and the poor who are hurt first and worst by instant and drastic political decisions. I think we can say hello to President Trump in November.

The only sensible solution is for the UK to hold a second and final referendum on its membership of the EU within a month or two.

The Scream
This illogical decision will expose the UK to likely breakup as Scotland and Northern Ireland will likely call for further independence referendums. It will also cause more nations to attempt to exit from the EU. A further political and economic collapse across Europe is likely.
The domino effect is likely to spread across world financial markets. Considering the lengthy time frame for Britain’s exit from the EU continuing uncertainty will most likely cause massive damage across the world’s markets. It is almost probable that, together with all the other challenges facing the world, this will lead to a colossal global depression.
Overnight, I personally lost more than ten percent of the value of my life savings and I currently live in Australia. Presumably those ignorant voters who opted to leave the EU will within a few weeks see the price they will have to pay for their decision. It is true that the EU has its problems and that around the world people are disillusioned with the political establishment but it is always the ordinary people and the poor who are hurt first and worst by instant and drastic political decisions. I think we can say hello to President Trump in November.
The only sensible solution is for the UK to hold a second and final referendum on its membership of the EU within a month or two.