A few weeks ago, Tunisian people started an uprising against their leader, a dictator who has been ruling the country for more than 25 years. And surprisingly they succeeded in ousting the president who had to flee with his family to Saudi Arabia. Since then, a lot of changes happened, the most important being the return of democracy. All political opponents, who were in exile in other countries and some in jail, are now free to express their opinions and some of them belong to the government that is organizing transition. Then uprisings started in other Arab countries, such as Egypt and Algeria but also Yemen and Jordan. The later has already taken measures to try to calm Jordan citizens who were angry about how the country was ruled. But the most surprising is Egypt where the people started huge demonstrations against the government and their rulers. And it is still going on. The president is trying to stay but he has already taken measures such as the nomination of a vice president and some reforms that his government will conduct shortly. Unfortunately for him Egyptian people are not satisfied and want him out immediately. As well as other governments, including the US. President Obama asked him to leave quickly in order to let people decide for their future. But as today, Friday February 11th, Egyptian president has not understood his people.
This is history and everyone can follow events in the world in various medias. But what is important is that finally Arab people are voicing their anger against their governments and their leaders who think that the country belongs to them. Arab people are fed up with the way their leaders rule their countries. They are fed up with corruption, poverty and the fact that no freedom exists. Opponents are jailed or in exile. There is no freedom of speech and newspapers and medias are just communicating what the leaders want to say. Will other countries follow? It is probable unless their leaders understand that this is the time for democracy, real democracy.
jeudi 10 février 2011
jeudi 29 juillet 2010
Hi guys
Hi guys. Are you taking advantage of your holidays? It is time to travel and there are some great places to visit. Brazil is one of them. Also because of the coming two huge events (soccer world Cup in 2014 and the Olympics in 2016) the country is beginning to become interesting for a lot of businesses all around the world. Don't hesitate to contact me for more information.
cheers
cheers
vendredi 25 juin 2010
Soccer World Cup
Hi guys,
Did you see how the US team played? Fantastically, having in mind that soccer is not the main sport in the country. Yes some of the players are in European teams, which means that they are well trained. But the will they showed in every game, mainly against Algeria (scoring at injury time), is almost unique for the World Cup. Some teams, seen as weak, have shown the same will to win: Japan for instance, also qualified for next round, didn't stop striking and they have great goals. Not to forget Slovakia that slashed title holder, Italy, in a great game (for both, one has to recognize it) and South Korea. This World Cup underlined that teams coming from Asia and American continent (both north and south) are getting stronger and will not be seen anymore as the weakest in the world. At the same time, it is showing that African teams are in very bad shape. Some of the best players in the world, mainly playing in European clubs (Drogba - E'Too to name the most famous), didn't show their real level. A lot of reasons could be found but what's important is that a team should be and play as a team and not as some individuals who only want to score and/or show their talents. Managing a club or a country team (and it is not only true in soccer but in all other team sports) should also be like managing a company. Maybe that is what some coaches have forgotten. And some country's soccer federations.
At least we had and will have great games. And that is what it is about for us.
Did you see how the US team played? Fantastically, having in mind that soccer is not the main sport in the country. Yes some of the players are in European teams, which means that they are well trained. But the will they showed in every game, mainly against Algeria (scoring at injury time), is almost unique for the World Cup. Some teams, seen as weak, have shown the same will to win: Japan for instance, also qualified for next round, didn't stop striking and they have great goals. Not to forget Slovakia that slashed title holder, Italy, in a great game (for both, one has to recognize it) and South Korea. This World Cup underlined that teams coming from Asia and American continent (both north and south) are getting stronger and will not be seen anymore as the weakest in the world. At the same time, it is showing that African teams are in very bad shape. Some of the best players in the world, mainly playing in European clubs (Drogba - E'Too to name the most famous), didn't show their real level. A lot of reasons could be found but what's important is that a team should be and play as a team and not as some individuals who only want to score and/or show their talents. Managing a club or a country team (and it is not only true in soccer but in all other team sports) should also be like managing a company. Maybe that is what some coaches have forgotten. And some country's soccer federations.
At least we had and will have great games. And that is what it is about for us.
jeudi 6 novembre 2008
A lesson to the world
Yes, the USA is giving a lesson to the world by voting for a candidate who is from African descent and electing him to the top job. I am particularly proud of you. In 1968, Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee and exactly 40 years later a Black American has been elected to be the president of the USA. Barack Obama, whose father was from Kenya, was elected on November 4th the 44th president of the US. It is a great day for democracy in the US but also a lesson to the world. Except some countries, such as Great Britain and eventually Brazil are able today to have a Black President. But a country like France is far from ready to cross this line. Actually the president is probably one of the worst one France has, in relation to racism. In any case, France will not for a long time elect a president who would be from African or Arab descent. The French who want to give lessons to the rest of the world in various areas, including in human rights and racism and anti-semitism, are the first who have those feelings toward people who are not WASPs.
I am proud of you Americans.
I am proud of you Americans.
lundi 1 septembre 2008
What a country
Hi all,
I have been in Morocco, in Rabat to be exact, for the whole month of August. We have bought an apartment in the capital because we had some money that came from the sale of an apartment that belonged to the heirs. The apartment itself is quite nice and rather big. We have four bedrooms and a big living room. O good kitchen but only one complete bathroom but only with a shower. The neighborhood is not bad as it is a mid income one. But, but and now we understand that we are in Morocco. First there is a house where are hold weddings and all kinds of events. The problem is that during the whole month we had weddings organized that started at 1 in the morning and stopped at 5 in the morning. And the other problem is that the sound was incredibly bad and loud. It was as if the so called bands were just trying to make as much noise as possible. And when we called the police many times, they didn't do one thing. At a point they even answered that they had the authorization to organize parties. But are the inhabitants of the neighborhood have the authorization to sleep? Apparently no. It is the worst lack of respect of human beings I have ever seen in my life. And this country calls itself civilized and wants to be recognized as so? I'll do anything to denounce this lack of respect of Moroccans for everything. Another more thing that is really boring. There have been some works in some apartments in the building. I think that they were destroying a wall to I don't know what. They are so undeveloped that to tear down a wall in an apartment it took more than 10 days each time. Everything Moroccans do is to avoid spending money to do something well. I have never seen something like that.
My advice to people who want to invest in Morocco: wait until the country is really respecting people because some surprises could be very bad.
The last thing. I have been going to the beach almost every day. But there are all, at least in the Rabat region, dirty. The water looks rather good and clean. But there are always plastic bags and other garbage in the water. How this country can pretend attracting 10 million tourists a year if nothing is done to clean the beaches and to have tourism professionals receiving them the way they deserve? I don't think that Morocco is ready to become part of the international community.
I have been in Morocco, in Rabat to be exact, for the whole month of August. We have bought an apartment in the capital because we had some money that came from the sale of an apartment that belonged to the heirs. The apartment itself is quite nice and rather big. We have four bedrooms and a big living room. O good kitchen but only one complete bathroom but only with a shower. The neighborhood is not bad as it is a mid income one. But, but and now we understand that we are in Morocco. First there is a house where are hold weddings and all kinds of events. The problem is that during the whole month we had weddings organized that started at 1 in the morning and stopped at 5 in the morning. And the other problem is that the sound was incredibly bad and loud. It was as if the so called bands were just trying to make as much noise as possible. And when we called the police many times, they didn't do one thing. At a point they even answered that they had the authorization to organize parties. But are the inhabitants of the neighborhood have the authorization to sleep? Apparently no. It is the worst lack of respect of human beings I have ever seen in my life. And this country calls itself civilized and wants to be recognized as so? I'll do anything to denounce this lack of respect of Moroccans for everything. Another more thing that is really boring. There have been some works in some apartments in the building. I think that they were destroying a wall to I don't know what. They are so undeveloped that to tear down a wall in an apartment it took more than 10 days each time. Everything Moroccans do is to avoid spending money to do something well. I have never seen something like that.
My advice to people who want to invest in Morocco: wait until the country is really respecting people because some surprises could be very bad.
The last thing. I have been going to the beach almost every day. But there are all, at least in the Rabat region, dirty. The water looks rather good and clean. But there are always plastic bags and other garbage in the water. How this country can pretend attracting 10 million tourists a year if nothing is done to clean the beaches and to have tourism professionals receiving them the way they deserve? I don't think that Morocco is ready to become part of the international community.
samedi 9 août 2008
Summer in the city
How I love summer. Sun and heat are energizing. At least to me. I am in Morocco now for holidays. Well it is really because we have a few things to do more than by choice. The country is nice but not really to spend nice holidays. Recently when I arrived in Rabat I heard that the authorities have taken a decision that is exactly against what the tourists are looking for. Imagine in a city all bars and restaurants have to close at 1 AM. I was told that it is because of a murder that had been committed in a bar that they had taken this decision. It is only in Rabat but how do you want to attract tourists in this city? And the country's plan is to attract 10 million tourists per year starting in 2010. It is absurd and stupid. Plus for businesses it is a loss, a financial loss that can be devastating. And it also send a false message to tourists and the professionals: someone can always punish all businesses for real or false reason. It looks like non liberal governments that punish a whole economical sector because one person (and in this case it wasn't a restaurant or bar's owner guilt) makes a mistake or commit a crime. It sends a wrong message to visitors to be. Well unfortunately it doesn't surprise me. But it is a stupid decision and I do hope that the authorities will cancel it quickly
Otherwise, the weather is beautiful in Rabat: not too warm nor too humid. In fact the perfect climate for people who are looking for nice holidays
Thank you for reading me.
Otherwise, the weather is beautiful in Rabat: not too warm nor too humid. In fact the perfect climate for people who are looking for nice holidays
Thank you for reading me.
vendredi 18 juillet 2008
What a month!
This July has been awful. There was almost no sun at all. Well like that Paris is not as beautiful as it should be. However, there are plenty of tourists visiting the French capital. And I haven't seen that many Americans for a long time. They are coming back even though their currency, the Dollar, is very low. I have seen a lot of Brazilians as well.
So what is happening in our planet those days? Mandela celebrated his 90th birthday this July 18th. He really is one of the greatest man of this century, the 20th and even the 21st. I have met with him briefly when I was living in Washington. He was invited to speak at the National Press Club. I went there with Sayuri who as a member took me with her. He was president at the time. But the main room, with tables and food services, was full so we had to go to the gallery. It was good because we were above him and the guests so we had a clear view of the table where he was seated. Then when the lunch-press conference finished, we left the gallery to go out of the NPC and we took stairs that were going to the main entrance. Suddenly, as we were almost down the stairs, some secret service men arrived and asked us to wait because for safety reasons we had to let Mandela leave the club first. Then he arrived smiling and looked at us on the stairs. We were the two of us plus another person who said "Vive Mandela". Mandela looked at us and came to us to shake our hands and said thank you. Then he left followed and preceded by the secret service officers. I was full of emotion afterward. That moment will stay forever in my head. To have approached one of the greatest men of the 20th century and shook his hand: I felt lucky.
So what is happening in our planet those days? Mandela celebrated his 90th birthday this July 18th. He really is one of the greatest man of this century, the 20th and even the 21st. I have met with him briefly when I was living in Washington. He was invited to speak at the National Press Club. I went there with Sayuri who as a member took me with her. He was president at the time. But the main room, with tables and food services, was full so we had to go to the gallery. It was good because we were above him and the guests so we had a clear view of the table where he was seated. Then when the lunch-press conference finished, we left the gallery to go out of the NPC and we took stairs that were going to the main entrance. Suddenly, as we were almost down the stairs, some secret service men arrived and asked us to wait because for safety reasons we had to let Mandela leave the club first. Then he arrived smiling and looked at us on the stairs. We were the two of us plus another person who said "Vive Mandela". Mandela looked at us and came to us to shake our hands and said thank you. Then he left followed and preceded by the secret service officers. I was full of emotion afterward. That moment will stay forever in my head. To have approached one of the greatest men of the 20th century and shook his hand: I felt lucky.
Inscription à :
Articles (Atom)
