February 13, 2006

World Media Watch

by Gloria R. Lalumia

BuzzFlash Note: WMW provides BuzzFlash readers foreign views and perspectives that are not usually available from the media here in the U.S. The presentation of these articles from these international publications is not an endorsement of their viewpoints.

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WORLD MEDIA WATCH FOR FEBRUARY 13, 2006

1//Azzaman in English, Iraq--OIL MINISTRY IMMERSED IN FRAUD, CORRUPTION - SOURCES
(Iraq’s oil ministry is immersed in fraud and corruption, informed sources said. They said major political figures and factions were involved as the ministry’s vulnerability to corruption was seen as "extremely tempting." Iraqi politicians are believed to have set up front-companies in Baghdad which are negotiating oil sales, future oil development and fuel imports and distribution in return for hefty commissions, the sources said. The sources, refusing to be named for fear of retribution, said many of these companies were not even registered with the Trade Ministry and therefore could not be scrutinized by regulators. … . Iraqi oil wells still lack verifiable metering systems and the ministry is reported to be reluctant or unable to have them in place despite U.N. insistence.)

2//Insitute for War & Peace Reporting, UK--BEAUTIFYING BAGHDAD PROVES UNPOPULAR (Efforts to beautify the city are not going down well with residents, who say they won't enjoy the smell of flowers in spring unless they have a functioning sewage system and electricity. The Baghdad municipality this year launched a campaign to smarten up the war-scarred capital with trees, flowers and fountains. The project, which costs 4 billion Iraqi dinars, (about 2.6 million US dollars) includes planting 500,000 flowers and evergreen trees on traffic islands as well as grassy areas in the city's famous public squares. … . But Baghdad residents say the city should get its priorities in order. They complain that the sewage system is a wreck; pools of water constantly accumulate around houses and along roads because there is no drainage; and they often have only four hours of electricity a day. The stench of garbage worsens both in Baghdad's cold, wet winter and its sweltering summer. … . Mustafa al-Masudi, a 30-year-old website designer in central Baghdad, questioned how the government could plant flowers when several areas were flooded with dirty water after recent heavy rains. "Where is the head of municipality? Let him have a look at our houses, which are buried, because the sewage system is blocked," he said. "It's better to fix the sewage and pave the roads before planting trees.")

3//The Toronto Star, Canada--LIBERALS ‘ENERGIZED’ BY HARPER MISSTEPS (Liberals are dreaming about a speedy return to power after watching the disastrous opening week of Stephen Harper's new Conservative administration. Only three weeks after suffering a humiliating defeat, Liberals are musing openly about whether Harper's shaky minority government can survive the year. … . "We are, I would say, reinvigorated and energized," interim Liberal leader Bill Graham said in an interview at the end of Harper's controversy-plagued inaugural week. He said the opening week has stiffened Liberals' resolve to oppose the Conservative agenda, even if it means toppling the government. "We're going to oppose those measures that we find are not in the interests of Canada and Canadians and we'll oppose them all the way," Graham said. … . Harper plunged his fledgling regime into turmoil with some unusual choices for his cabinet which cast doubt on his election pledge to run a more accountable, ethical administration. In particular, he stunned and infuriated his own caucus by appointing Liberal turncoat David Emerson to the international trade portfolio and party organizer Michael Fortier to the Senate and the sensitive Public Works portfolio. Other cabinet choices raised ethical concerns, such as the appointment of erstwhile defence lobbyist Gordon O'Connor to the Defence portfolio.)

4//The Independent, UK--BLAIR SEEKS TO LIMIT DAMAGE OF REBELLION ON THREE FRONTS (Tony Blair will today begin his toughest week since the last election by attempting to rescue plans for a national identity card. His cherished scheme has been savaged in the Lords, where the Government suffered eight defeats. Ministers have bowed to demands to introduce a new parliamentary Bill before ID cards move from becoming voluntary to compulsory and they have promised to update MPs every six months on the cost of the controversial scheme. They hope the moves will take the heat from Labour rebellion. But after the Government's surprise defeat two weeks ago over its Religious Hatred Bill, Labour chiefs are taking nothing for granted. They are mounting a ferocious whipping exercise, ordering MPs home from foreign visits. Even Tony Blair has been forced to cut short a trip to South Africa, where he is meeting left-of-centre national leaders.)

5//Euobserver.com, Belgium--SWEDEN AIMS TO BE WORLD’S FIRST OIL-FREE COUNTRY (Sweden aims to become the world’s first oil-free country by 2020, the Swedish minister for sustainable development Mona Sahlin has announced. "A Sweden free of fossil fuels would give us enormous advantages, not least by reducing the impact from fluctuations in oil prices. The price of oil has tripled since 1996," said Ms Sahlin, according to the Guardian. The idea is to combine tax relief for conversion from oil with a boost for more renewable energy such as geothermal or biomass heating.)

RELATED ARTICLES:

//The Local, Sweden--SWEDEN “TO BREAK OIL DEPENDENCY BY 2020”

//The Guardian, UK--SWEDEN PLANS TO BE WORLD’S FIRST OIL-FREE ECONOMY

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1//Azzaman in English, Iraq February 12, 2006

OIL MINISTRY IMMERSED IN FRAUD, CORRUPTION - SOURCES
By Nidhal al-Laithi

Iraq’s oil ministry is immersed in fraud and corruption, informed sources said.

They said major political figures and factions were involved as the ministry’s vulnerability to corruption was seen as ‘extremely tempting.”

Iraqi politicians are believed to have set up front-companies in Baghdad which are negotiating oil sales, future oil development and fuel imports and distribution in return for hefty commissions, the sources said.

The sources, refusing to be named for fear of retribution, said many of these companies were not even registered with the Trade Ministry and therefore could not be scrutinized by regulators.

Corruption was rampant in fuel distribution licenses, the sources said.

The country’s oil export arm, SOMO, was involved, since it is the body in charge of both domestic and external trade in fuel and crude, they added.

Iraq imports nearly $250 million worth of fuel every month and there is no transparency at all in the granting of the licenses to distribute the fuel, they said.

Despite the surges in fuel prices and the removal of fuel subsidies, the country still faces chronic shortages despite being the world’s second largest in oil reserves.

Iraqi oil wells still lack verifiable metering systems and the ministry is reported to be reluctant or unable to have them in place despite U.N. insistence.

(MORE)

2//Insitute for War & Peace Reporting, UK (ICR No.163, 10-Feb-06)

BEAUTIFYING BAGHDAD PROVES UNPOPULAR
Residents want basic services before greenery.

By Yasin al-Rubaii in Baghdad

Efforts to beautify the city are not going down well with residents, who say they won't enjoy the smell of flowers in spring unless they have a functioning sewage system and electricity.

The Baghdad municipality this year launched a campaign to smarten up the war-scarred capital with trees, flowers and fountains. The project, which costs 4 billion Iraqi dinars, (about 2.6 million US dollars) includes planting 500,000 flowers and evergreen trees on traffic islands as well as grassy areas in the city's famous public squares.

Garbage, which is only sporadically collected in the capital, is strewn across the squares. Traffic islands are dirty and often hold private generators serving local shops.

"Baghdad was the number one city for green space in the Middle East until the late eighties," said Sabir al-Isawi, head of the Baghdad municipality.

"Now Baghdad is last. It has desert-like areas and a shortage of services. We need to work to change this image to better protect people and the environment."

But Baghdad residents say the city should get its priorities in order.

They complain that the sewage system is a wreck; pools of water constantly accumulate around houses and along roads because there is no drainage; and they often have only four hours of electricity a day. The stench of garbage worsens both in Baghdad's cold, wet winter and its sweltering summer.

"Our neighbourhood is not suitable for living anymore," said Um Manar, a 50-year-old housewife who did not give her full name. "It's unbearable, because the trash piles up in the alleys and streets, and many dogs roam everywhere."

(SNIP)

Al-Isawi said the municipality has a 100 million dollar budget for 2006, up 15 million on last year, and that efforts would also be made to improve the capital’s sewage system and drinking water supply. Bridges would also be built and streets paved.

He admitted that they are small projects and will not solve Baghdad's problems, but said the council of ministers turned down the municipality's 800 million dollar budget request.

Notwithstanding the need for more funds, many residents believe the focus on greenery rather than basic services is wrong.

Mustafa al-Masudi, a 30-year-old website designer in central Baghdad, questioned how the government could plant flowers when several areas were flooded with dirty water after recent heavy rains.

"Where is the head of municipality? Let him have a look at our houses, which are buried, because the sewage system is blocked," he said. "It's better to fix the sewage and pave the roads before planting trees."

3//The Toronto Star, Canada Feb. 12, 2006. 06:08 PM

LIBERALS ‘ENERGIZED’ BY HARPER MISSTEPS
Joan Bryden, Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Liberals are dreaming about a speedy return to power after watching the disastrous opening week of Stephen Harper's new Conservative administration.

Only three weeks after suffering a humiliating defeat, Liberals are musing openly about whether Harper's shaky minority government can survive the year.

And Liberal officials are being urged to hasten the selection of a new leader so that the party can be ready as soon as possible for an election.

"We are, I would say, reinvigorated and energized," interim Liberal leader Bill Graham said in an interview at the end of Harper's controversy-plagued inaugural week.

He said the opening week has stiffened Liberals' resolve to oppose the Conservative agenda, even if it means toppling the government.

"We're going to oppose those measures that we find are not in the interests of Canada and Canadians and we'll oppose them all the way," Graham said.

"And if that leads to the government falling, it's going to lead to the government falling. And the way they're making their decisions it's clear that could happen earlier rather than later just given the nature of what they're doing."

Harper plunged his fledgling regime into turmoil with some unusual choices for his cabinet which cast doubt on his election pledge to run a more accountable, ethical administration.

In particular, he stunned and infuriated his own caucus by appointing Liberal turncoat David Emerson to the international trade portfolio and party organizer Michael Fortier to the Senate and the sensitive Public Works portfolio.

Other cabinet choices raised ethical concerns, such as the appointment of erstwhile defence lobbyist Gordon O'Connor to the Defence portfolio.

All last week, disappointed Tory MPs voiced muted disapproval while disgusted Conservative bloggers across the country railed against the cabinet choices, particularly the perceived hypocrisy and opportunism of Emerson's defection only days after winning re-election as a Liberal.

"The fact that (Harper) has had such a terrible week, obviously encourages Liberals," said party president Mike Eizenga.

While he acknowledged there are always "ups and downs in politics" and the Tories could recover, Eizenga said Harper has demonstrated that he "can't be trusted" to deliver on his promises, a charge that will "stick with him" into the next election.

At a reunion late last week of current and former Liberal parliamentary aides, Liberals could barely contain their glee over the chaos in Tory ranks.

(MORE)

4//The Independent, UK Published: 13 February 2006

BLAIR SEEKS TO LIMIT DAMAGE OF REBELLION ON THREE FRONTS
By Nigel Morris, Home Affairs Correspondent

Tony Blair will today begin his toughest week since the last election by attempting to rescue plans for a national identity card.

His cherished scheme has been savaged in the Lords, where the Government suffered eight defeats. Ministers have bowed to demands to introduce a new parliamentary Bill before ID cards move from becoming voluntary to compulsory and they have promised to update MPs every six months on the cost of the controversial scheme. They hope the moves will take the heat from Labour rebellion. But after the Government's surprise defeat two weeks ago over its Religious Hatred Bill, Labour chiefs are taking nothing for granted.

They are mounting a ferocious whipping exercise, ordering MPs home from foreign visits. Even Tony Blair has been forced to cut short a trip to South Africa, where he is meeting left-of-centre national leaders.

Tonight's main flashpoint is likely to be the requirement for all people to agree to their biometric details being added to a national database when they apply for a new passport. The move was rejected by the Lords by a majority of 44 last month, but ministers insist it is fundamental to the ID Cards Bill.

Labour whips are aiming to limit the rebellion to 20 MPs, which could cut the Government's majority to little more than 20. The numbers are likely to be even tighter on Wednesday, when MPs debate plans to ban the "glorification" of terrorism.

MPs approved the proposals by one vote in November, and they have been overwhelmingly rejected by the Lords. Ministers privately believe they could losing when they ask the Commons to overturn the Lords defeat.

Tomorrow's vote on outlawing smoking in all pubs and clubs looks likely to be passed. Although it is a free vote, such an outcome would be embarrassing for the Government which supported a compromise banning smoking in pubs that only serve food.

But the Government has backed off from a fourth controversy this week. It had considered publishing its education White Paper, setting out plans to create more city academies and give new freedoms to school trusts, on Thursday.

Following signs that recent compromises had failed to satisfy enough rebels to avert a major rebellion, it has delayed publication in an effort to buy more time.

(MORE)

5//Euobserver.com, Belgium 10.02.2006 - 09:42 CET

SWEDEN AIMS TO BE WORLD’S FIRST OIL-FREE COUNTRY
By Lisbeth Kirk

Sweden aims to become the world’s first oil-free country by 2020, the Swedish minister for sustainable development Mona Sahlin has announced.

"A Sweden free of fossil fuels would give us enormous advantages, not least by reducing the impact from fluctuations in oil prices. The price of oil has tripled since 1996," said Ms Sahlin, according to the Guardian.

The idea is to combine tax relief for conversion from oil with a boost for more renewable energy such as geothermal or biomass heating.

A group of experts and stakeholders are to present a detailed plan to the Swedish parliament in a few months' time.

Sweden took the decision to phase out nuclear power in 1980, and today renewable sources account for 26 percent of Sweden’s total power supplies.

A new energy era
The European Commission is also preparing new strategies for future EU energy policies. A green paper will be presented on 8 March and discussed among EU heads of state and government at their spring summit.

The EU is the largest importer and second largest consumer of energy in the world.

The 25 member states currently import about 50 percent of their oil and gas needs. But this could rise to 70 percent by 2030 with most supplies originating in "geopolitically uncertain" zones, the commission predicts.

(MORE)

RELATED ARTICLES:

//The Local, Sweden
http://www.thelocal.se/article.php?ID=2200&date=20051002

SWEDEN “TO BREAK OIL DEPENDENCY BY 2020”

//The Guardian, UK
http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,1705315,00.html

SWEDEN PLANS TO BE WORLD’S FIRST OIL-FREE ECONOMY

Copyright 2006, Gloria R. Lalumia