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Allan´s Weblog

Never argue with a fool, they will lower you to their level and then beat you with experience

Posts tagged with "Politics"

Thank You, Ireland

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Denmark, my home country, has been a member of EU (European Union) since 1973.

In the beginning, the EU (or the EEC, which was the name back then) was a trade organization aiming to reduce obstacles of free trade between the European countries.

Later on, during the eighties, the Union more and more became a political union aiming at ultimately becoming a constitutional democracy with a president, not unlike the USA. During this process, the individual European countries had to, more or less, loose parts of their autonomy. No surprise, since autonomy and common laws don't play well together.

Many of the common laws and rules constituted by the EU through time have been reasonable in order to gain more efficient corporation between the member states regarding law-enforcement, military and trade.

Now, politicians are a special specie within the human race. They seem to have a drift of their own - which doesn't come as a surprise to me. It's obvious that a politician who sees his line of work as a profession would like to work with a slender, fast and top-tuned organization in order to be able to implement decisions on legislation fast and with as few obstacles as possible. I can understand that.

But democracy will suffer in the process. As an example, my country have had less and less political decisions put out to referendums as time has passed by.

Just as with the Lisbon Treaty, which has recently been ratified by all member countries in the EU in their respective parliaments - without referendums. Except from Ireland - the only country in the entire EU which actually asked their people about the treaty.

Treaties are normally very complex papers to read and understand. But in the Lisbon Treaty it is stated, that in the future the former right for every member-state, namely the right to veto a decision made by The European Parliament, would be lost. Plus that not every country would be allowed a commissary in the EU as a right. Only the largest countries would have a such.

So, the Lisbon Treaty would reduce the countries' autonomy even more - thereby reducing democracy. For that reason alone, I would have voted no, if I had been given the chance. Democracy in the EU apparently already suffered to the extend that I as a citizen wasn't asked for my opinion here in Denmark.

That's why I feel the urge to express my thanks to Ireland and her population for their "No" to the Lisbon Treaty, which apparently means that the treaty will be rejected as such.

Professional politicians will be very disappointed over this. I am delighted, though.

Democracy must remain very difficult. Parliaments should not become similar to corporate organisations. They should rather be like discussion forums where decisions are very hard to reach. That will be the best of ways to secure the rights of the minorities.

Again, thank you Ireland for making democracy difficult to handle. A lot of talking suits will be pissed at you for months to come - but I tell you that you should feel proud of yourselves. You did the right thing.

Suicide Bomb kills at least 6 people in Danish Embassy

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At 1300 hours today in Islamabad, Pakistan a car with red Corps Diplomatique plates rolled up in front of the Danish embassy. Seconds after, the car exploded from what seems to be a powerful suicide bomb.

As I write, media report that at least six people are killed from the explosion. At least 35 others are wounded.

The Danish embassy in Pakistan has been the target of demonstrations multiple times since the controversy about the Danish Mohammad Cartoons a couple of years ago. Nobody has so far taken responsibility for the terrorist attack, so I can't be sure what the exact reason for the attack could be.

My guess is, though, that it's about either the infamous cartoons or the fact that Denmark is a part of the war in Afghanistan.

This is the first time ever that Denmark has been the victim and direct target of militant extreme Islamists.

A spokesman for the Pakistani Community in Denmark says, that these people don't seem to understand that they make life difficult for 50000 Pakistanis living in Denmark. And he at the same time condemns these extreme actions, stating that if they really loved Mohammad and Allah, they would never perform such un-Islamic actions in the first place.

The Danish PM, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, says that these are actions of cowards and vilans - and that Danish politics won't be affected at all by terrorist actions.

This here humble blogger ads, that in my opinion this has nothing to do at all with the people of Pakistan - but it has everything to do with the ongoing battle between the extreme versus the moderate in this globalized world. If I will have my way, the Pakistanis in Denmark can feel absolutely safe.

The picture is made by Anjum Naveed/Associated Press.

Calling for a just war?

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Don't get me wrong, please. I am not in favour of wars - on the contrary.

But sometimes there's a call for a "just" war in the world. Many have described the western "adventures" in Iraq as a just war. I strongly disagree. To me, the war in Iraq is all about defending achieved privileges in the west.

Others have described WW2 as a just war. Maybe so....

That's a long story - I'd rather go straight to the point:

Myanmar. Burma. The situation is horrendous - you know that, I'm sure. People are dying as I write from deceases, thirst and hunger because a government, well, rather a junta can't stand the idea that foreign people bringing life-saving necessities into the country will see and report the misery and maybe even bring "wrong" ideas to the population of Burma just before a scheduled "election".

For that reason tonnes and tonnes of high-energy biscuits and other life-saving stuff is standing idle in airports just outside Burma.

That's obviously absolutely insane. A catastrophe of the present scale should cast all other considerations aside and should allow any help needed to access the country immediately.

Of course. Otherwise I will not hesitate to call the present political situation a genocide.

I have been told that the obvious solution to the problem, namely dropping emergency supplies from aircrafts without permission from the junta, can't be done since it would be an act of war.

This, I think, calls for a just war. I am not in doubt.

International Workers' Day

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Today May Day was celebrated in Aarhus, Danmark - my home town.

This celebration was also a day of protest and demonstration, since several unions in Danmark are on strike at the moment for higher wages and better conditions.

I am to the left politically, that's no secret. So I was glad to be able to participate this may 1st. I brought a camera with me because I thought there would be plenty of photo opportunities at an event like this.

I was right. And I'm happy to share a few.


A stand-up union guy


A future stand-up union guy


We want more, and we want it now


Music is essential at all occasions

A nice day indeed. For me it's like celebrating Chistmas - tradition, dedication and getting together at the same time.

This is my country. Danish Warfairytale Society.

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Denmark, my country, is one of the most affluent countries in the world.

One should think that it´s the fairytale country the government and the tourist organisations want to show the outside world.

That may be true - and then again, maybe not.

Seen from the underprivileged´s point of view, Denmark is not about fairytales but more likely about suppression and violence.

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