Category: Politics

#Syria: Just a Civil War? 0

#Syria: Just a Civil War?

Trying to understand, and above all, make sense of what is happening in Syria for the last few weeks is like a rollercoaster in zero gravity. Nothing makes sense. The carts could go either way, up or down. Suddenly, Putin is the one using diplomacy (source: The New York Times), while Obama is thinking of aiding a known subsidiary of al-Qaeda. Hell has officially frozen over. What is going on, and why? This blog post is going to try to make sense of it all. Trying, because it is THE...

Snowden Requests Asylum in 21 Countries, but why? 2

Snowden Requests Asylum in 21 Countries, but why?

Edward Snowden, the current most famous whistleblower on this blue pearl drifting along the universe, has requested asylum in 21 countries across the globe. Some Latin-American, like Bolivia, Brazil, Nicaragua, Venezuela and Ecuador. Some are major global, antagonistic to the United States, powers, like China, India and Russia. But, he also requested asylum in certain European Union-member countries: Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Poland (source). Why? Some of these requests seem unrealistic. He also requested a safe passage to Iceland, Switzerland, Cuba and Ecuador, countries which...

New Books, or, How To Look Smug While At The Pool 0

New Books, or, How To Look Smug While At The Pool

In a month’s time, I’ll be travelling to Italy with (probably) my brother-in-law-to-be to where my parents are supposed to be (a campsite just south of Florence, Tuscany). I’ll bring my electronic toys (tablet, phone, etc), but I will finally have some peace and quiet time to read some books. I’ve had a few on my list already, but I’ve just added these on there as well. Some of these have to do with my current assignment (I’m writing a paper on Anonymous as a social movement), some are purely...

‘Project Democracy’ Almost At An End, Winners Will Soon Be Decided 0

‘Project Democracy’ Almost At An End, Winners Will Soon Be Decided

To the left: people protesting the banking sector. To the right: people protesting Monsanto, the assumed winner of Project Democracy   The long running experiment called ‘Democracy’, which has run for over 200 years now, is soon to be ending. The longest running social experiment, outliving other experiments like ‘Big Brother’, ‘Germany’s Next Fascist Leader’ (famously won by Adolf Hitler) and ‘Marxism: Who Can Starve The Most People’ (won by Mao Zedong) by a mile. The project has seen some ups and downs through the times, but the world leaders...

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Peter Singer – One World (Summary)

Here is another summary of a book. This time, it’s Peter Singer’s “One World”, which I had to study for part two of “Democracy & Justice” (Democratie & Rechtvaardigheid). Again, I’m sharing it with the world, free of charge. If you want to thank me, click one of the innocent advertisements right on the bottom of this website just once. Google will give me a few cents for a click, which I can use to pay for hosting. Click here to continue to the summary (on Scribd)

Robert A. Dahl – On Democracy (Summary) 0

Robert A. Dahl – On Democracy (Summary)

This is a summary of Robert A. Dahl’s book ‘On Democracy’ (1998). It is written in English, due to possible translation issues, but, for full disclosure, my native language is Dutch. 23 pages long. Follow this link to opend the .doc (office 2003 compatible) If you like this post, you might also be interested in my other summary of Peter Singer’s One World. Both summaries are available free of charge, but if you like them, feel free to click on a harmless google-advert such as the one below, it greatly...

Putin is visiting Amsterdam, Amnesty jumps on the Bandwagen 0

Putin is visiting Amsterdam, Amnesty jumps on the Bandwagen

I noticed these pictures on my facebook-feed, made an Imgur-album of them and they are currently featuring on the frontpage of Reddit, just below the news of Thatcher’s death. All credit on these pictures are to Steven for making them, and bringing them to my attention – and subsequently to the attention of the world.

A Eulogy for Chavez 0

A Eulogy for Chavez

Our good friend, the great leader of the magnificent people of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, has passed away. A day of mourning for all of us, but if you’re one of those pesky American pigs, you’ll probably be out in the street celebrating, unshackled of the fear brought upon you by the defiance that was symbolized in this great person, who will be remembered eternally.