By Barend ter Haar.

Is it Winston Churchill who once remarked that “The United States can always be relied upon to do the right thing — having first exhausted all possible alternatives”? Can the same now be said about the United Kingdom with regard to the European Union?

For more than two years the British government has looked for alternatives for staying in the European Union. As could be foreseen (see Why Brexit might not take place), the promised advantages proved illusionary, while the predicted problems proved very real.[1]

Brexit is costing the United Kingdom already half a billion pounds a week. Most Brexiteers might be willing to pay that price, but are not willing to risk a new outbreak of the civil war in Northern Ireland by denouncing the Good Friday Agreement that made an end to that war.

That means that the border between Ulster and the Irish Republic has to remain open. One way to accomplish that would be to keep Northern Ireland in the European single market and set up a new border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The alternative would be to keep the whole United Kingdom in the single market. That  would mean that it would be bound by the rules made in Brussels without having a say in them: the opposite of being “back in control”.

It is not surprising that, as it has become clear that Brexit will bring the United Kingdom few benefits and many disadvantages, all polls point to a majority for remain if a new referendum would be held.

However, unless a sufficient number of MP’s dares to put the long term national interest above the interests of their party or faction, Prime Minister May might win her gamble and get her proposal approved by parliament in the next few weeks. But if she does not succeed, a postponement of Brexit is almost certain and a second referendum becomes more likely.

No matter whether the UK will remain in the EU or not, the deep societal divide that the Brexit referendum has brought to light will remain, because the deeper cause of this divide is not membership of the EU, but the uneven consequences of globalization. In this respect Great Britain does not differ from other Western countries such as France and the Netherlands. Half or more of the people of these countries feel that they suffer the disadvantages of Europeanisation while the benefits go mainly to the elites and they fear that the immigration of people of a different culture will disturb the social cohesion of their neighbourhoods.

Governments should address these feelings and fears, not by withdrawing from international cooperation and hiding behind national borders and walls, like populist parties would like them to do, but by intensifying international cooperation to deal with the root causes of these problems.

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[1] https://www.clingendael.org/publication/why-brexit-might-not-take-place

By Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, Head of Mission of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the Federal Republic of Germany

The tourism sector is considered as one of the largest economic sectors in the world. It is also regarded as the most important economic activity in many developed economies of the world due to the opportunities it offers in creating employment and augmenting the foreign exchange earnings of the country.

Pakistan is home to some of the world’s oldest civilizations, i.e. Mehergarh, Gandhara and Indus valley (Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa). It is also endowed with potentially rich tourism attractions, which stretch from the mighty Karakorams/Hindukush in the North to the vast alluvial delta of the Indus River in the South. We are also blessed with a rich and varied flora and fauna. Gilgit-Baltistan, for instance, is one of the most spectacular regions in the world in terms of its geography and scenic beauty. Here world’s three mightiest mountain ranges: the Karakoram, the Hindkush and the Himalayas meet, rendering it a paradise for mountaineers, trekkers and anglers. Besides the numerous peaks above 8,000 meters in these mighty mountain ranges, alpine meadows, the vast Indus plain, the great desert, the coastline and wetlands are an addition to Pakistan’s beauty.

Besides mountain/adventure and Archaeological tourism, Pakistan also offers Religious/faith tourism and conventional/cultural tourism. Pakistan is also home to several places of great attraction for Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh people. Gurdwaras at Nankana Sahib and Hasan Abdal are a great attraction for Sikhs all over the world.

In recent years, Pakistan has largely been unable to attract attention of international tourists to the degree its tourist attractions merit despite its rich history, treasured heritage, impressive landscapes and unique cultural diversity. The key hurdle in the realization of its tourism is the continuous flow of lopsided media reports about Pakistan and lack of information about its tourist attractions.

In last few years, more than 1.7 million foreigners have visited Pakistan annually, which shows a remarkable increase in the ratio of tourists’ influx. By the year 2025, the tourism sector is expected to contribute Pak Rs. 1 trillion, equivalent to approx. US $ 7 billion, to Pakistan’s economy.

With the growing focus on developing Pakistan’s tourism industry, the present government has announced visa on arrival policy, to be implemented in near future, for the citizens of 50 countries which include Austria, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain. Moreover, IATA approved tour operators have also been allowed to bring tourist groups to Pakistan. In order to further facilitate the tourists visiting Pakistan, the government has eased the previous policies which could restrict the tourist’s movements in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu & Kashmir areas.

With the increased efforts by the government, Pakistan’s profile in the global tourism sector is going up fast with various tourism, media organizations, and travelers now figuring it among the world’s top tourist destinations. Be it Forbes, the global media company, British Backpacker Society, solo travelers or bloggers, all are in unanimity to believe Pakistan is fast becoming a tourism hub with its changing geo-strategic situation, improvement in the internal security environment and more importantly the liberalization of tourists’ visa policy.

The rapid rise in economic activity, particularly under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and the consequent enhancement of world’s interest in the country for investment, has also cast encouraging impact on country’s dwindling tourism industry. Based on the improving ranking amid positive observations by various organizations and foreign travellers, we are confident that Pakistan will emerge as a popular international tourist destination in coming years.

By Corneliu Pivariu.

The annual edition of the World Economic Forum took place – at Davos – between 22nd-25th of January, 2019, a global event which we follow closely every year.

This year’s meeting has brought to Switzerland more than 3,000 personalities of the political, economic and financial, and media fields and other or, summing up, the planet’s plutocracy and all the circles connected to it. The fact that around 60% of the participants come from five countries only is interesting, too, a situation we noticed, with similar percentages, during other important international conferences we attended over the years.

As is already customary since several years, the relevant documents went public a short time before the meeting, among them the 14th edition of Global Risks Report, a document not always accepted without objections by the circles of world geopolitical analysis, and which has nevertheless its specificity and represents a useful analysis instrument of global evolutions in the economic, climate, geopolitical, social and technological fields.

According to this report, the most likely five events happening in 2019 are, in an orderly fashion: major climate change; failure of the environment protection policies  and adapting to climate change; natural disasters; data theft and fraud; cyber attacks.

As far as the impact of risks is concerned, we find on the first five places: weapons of mass destruction, failure of the environment protection policies and adapting to climate change; extreme weather events; water crisis; natural disasters.

As compared to the situation ten years ago, we notice that the environment risks replaced the economic ones (in 2009 the global economic and financial crisis was in full swing) while the weapons of mass distruction, which were not placed on the first five places until 2012, are considered in 2019 to be on the first place as far as impact is concerned.

Among the geopolitical risks, the most important and probable ones are the following: profound social instability; failure of national policies; failure of regional or global policies; unforced migration on a large scale.

As evolutionary trends, the most dangerous ones are considered the following: climate change; the deterioration of the environment; an increased polarisation of societies; increased cyber dependency; polarisation and disparity in stockpiling wealth; population ageing and another five tendencies of lesser levels than the aforementioned ones.

We mention among the main factors that marked the Davos meeting agenda:

–  Japan’s prime minister submitted his country’s resolve, as G20 chairman, to launch the agenda for data governance at global level and mentioned that it will take place on the background of the Osake Process and under the WTO auspices;

–  More than 70 countries confirmed their intention of launching negotiations in the framework of WTO for convening the elements pertaining to e-commerce in order to reduce costs and a greater participation to global digital economy;

–  Pursuing the multilateral diplomatic dialogue in order to further peace efforts on the main conflicted global issues, Western Balkans and Syria included. The Forum agreed upon setting up a community of public-private leaders for a special dialogue on the Israeli-Palestinian relations. Worth noticing in this respect is a coming international meeting to take place in Jordan during 6th-7th of April, which may become a global summit for peace and reconciliation;

–  The Center Network for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, set up in 2017, announced its expansion following the adherence of more than 100 governments and businesses, including five G7 members. UNICEF, OHCHR and  WFP are the first international organisations to join it;

–  The Indian State of Andhra Pradesh adopted a platform for the UAVs operators  in cooperation with 10 civil aviation authorities, eight government international organisations and 23 private companies;

–  A range of other measures in the digital and cyber field has been adopted, including setting up higher standards for protecting privacy and interoperability.

We noticed, for the first time since the 1990s, a Romanian participation to WEF, in the person of the vice-prime minister for implementing strategic partnerships -Ana Birchall.

WEF becomes thus more and more a global cooperation platform and less an important international annual conference which may have an ever greater influence on the evolution towards a globalised world.

About the author:

Corneliu Pivariu Military Intelligence and International Relations Senior Expert

A highly decorated retired two-star general of the Romanian army, during two decades he has led one of the most influential magazines on geopolitics and international relations in Eastern Europe, the bilingual journal Geostrategic Pulse.

By H.E. Datin Sarah Albakri Devadason, Head of Mission of Malaysia to Germany.

Tourism has become an important sector for Malaysia’s national growth and economic development. In 2017, tourism revenue contributed 14.9 percent to Malaysia’s economy. The direct contribution of the tourism industry to the nation’s GDP recorded 6.1 percent with a value of €18.3 billion. Despite the vast distance between Malaysia and Germany, tourist arrivals have been encouraging with 128,000 German tourist visiting Malaysia in 2018.

Malaysia has 14 states and each offers a unique experience of its culture, nature, varied delicious cuisines and its friendly people and their hospitality. It is a multicultural melting pot of Asia, with strong influence from the Malay Archipelago, China, India and the rest of Southeast Asia. Visitors to Malaysia will be mesmerised by  this fusion of diverse influence. Malaysia hosts five UNESCO World Heritage sites namely, Lenggong Valley, Mulu National Park, Kinabalu Park, Georgetown and Malacca. These sites are known for their biodiversity, archaeological, historical and cultural value.

Malaysia is also the home of exotic wildlife such as the proboscis monkey and orangutan. It is the best place to see these incredible animals in the wild. One can head over to Borneo to see the charismatic orangutan in the jungles of Sepilok, Sabah and the Semenggoh Nature Reserve in Sarawak; trek up Mount Kinabalu for an amazing jungle experience and visit remote villages; view vast green paddy fields of Kedah; and enjoy the unique flora and fauna found in the Belum Forest Reserve, Taman Negara National Park and Kilim Geoforest Park.

Adventure seekers may take up the challenge of exploring the vast caves at the Mulu National Park, trek through the tea plantations of the Cameron Highlands, bungee jump at Sunway Extreme Park, white water rafting at Kuala Kubu Bharu and snorkelling or scuba diving at the many spots off the Peninsula or the coast of Sabah.

Malaysia is also committed to sustainable tourism. Sea turtle lovers can visit the Ma’Daerah Turtle Sanctuary in Terengganu or Melaka’s Padang Kemunting Turtle Hatchery. In addition, one could also visit endangered elephants at the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary or endangered wild cattle at the Seladang-Gaur Wildlife Conservation Center.

Visitors who are interested in agriculture may also enjoy our agricultural tourism. There are farms that share their farming practices and feature tours, activities and accommodations within its compound. For example, Kahang Organic Rice Eco Farm which produces rice, vegetables, fruits, herbs and seafood, offers tours of its rice fields, prawn breeding facility and wild duck sanctuary. It also offers other activities such as mountain climbing, bamboo rafting and boat riding. Visitors can immerse themselves in nature by glamping or staying in floating chalets amid rice fields.

Malaysia is proud to be the Country Partner of ITB 2019. It allows Malaysia to showcase itself globally and reach out to potential tourists from the European region and beyond. Visitors to the Malaysian pavilion would be able to enjoy performances by the national cultural troupe that reflect the beauty and extravagance of the Malaysian culture and heritage.

Visitors would also have the opportunity to sample delicious Malaysian cuisine such as Nasi Lemak, a Malay dish of fragrant rice cooked in coconut milk and screwpine leaves. In addition, it is also highly recommended for one to try our Satay which is skewered and grilled meat, served with flavourful peanut sauce; and roti jala, a lacy pancake, served with curry.

Malaysia is gearing up to hosting 30 million tourists for Visit Malaysia Year 2020. As such many exciting activities and packages for visitors are ongoing and are being planned. It would be all the more opportune for travellers to make the trip to Malaysia and experience the beauty and enchantment of a land that is truly Asia.

By akhtyar Aljaf.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed his resignation, a quiet diplomat and a seasoned politician, one of the soft faces of Iran’s foreign policy, for what is known as a political wisdom who can able to bring Iran an acceptable nuclear agreement. It was enough when the dean of diplomacy of the 20^th century Kissinger given him a copy of his book dedicated with “To my enemy who deserves respect”.

Zarif political independence gave him a margin for political maneuvering, which was rarely had his predecessors from the former Iranian foreign ministers. But the mentality of the revolution seems to be dominating the mentality of the state in Iran. The result is that he announced his resignation on 26.02.2019 and which was rejected from President Hassan Rouhani who is reformer like him.

The possibility of the possibility of the political transformations in Iran is closer to speculation than expected. We can’t analyze about Iran’s foreign policy without Zarif, as long as Iran today seems to not care about the consequences of confrontation with the international community.

President Rouhani himself may be a subjected to a scenario similar to Zarif scenario. Eventual questioning in the parliament and the call of former Iranian President Ahmadinejad to his impeachment and forming a transitional government to continue confrontation with US.

The reformist movement in Iran believes that the conservatives along with the deep state clerical establishment  is convinced that if things continue as they are internally and externally, the character of the next president will be military. The new Leader should be a strategic military figure such as Qasem Soleimani (Commander of the Quds corps) or Mohsen Rezai (former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the current secretary of the Expediency discernment council). General Qasem Soleimani will stay as the key figure among others, because of his relations with the deep state, and even externally with his relations with various political and military movements in the Middle East) Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libanon) connected to Iran.

Despite the many reasons discussed in the background prompted Zarif to resign, this resignation indicate that there is a big dissidence in the Iranian political system. At the time Zarif called for necessity of Iran to deal with European conditions more seriously , the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issued the most critical words to the Europeans, and considered them as partners with the US  in an attempt to destroy Iran.

The main reason behind this resignation is the nature of dealing with Iran’s foreign policy. The bilateralism that has characterized Iran’s foreign policy since 1979. The Iranian political divergence has caused a lot of paralysis And raise the skepticism of the international community.  When Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif uses the language of diplomacy with others, we find the generals of the Revolutionary Guard and the advisers of the Supreme Leader use the language of threats and intimidation

Despite Zarif’s continuous attempts to prove an independent foreign policy away from the conservative and reformist conflict in Iran, he did not succeed in that either. Each faction has a particular view on Iran’s foreign priorities, which in turn restricted many of Zarif’s foreign efforts. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards try to return back the nuclear negotiations to the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, and withdraw the file from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

The Supreme Leader and the Revolutionary Guards want the end of the Trump’s presidency term, without any concessions. Any succeeded foreign minister cannot change anything. As long as the Advisers of Khamenei are the planners of Iran’s foreign policy, the military diplomacy will be the shape of Iran’s foreign policy.

Zarif wrote in his memoirs published in 2013, entitled “Mr. Ambassador” says “in diplomacy, you have to always smile  … but never forget that you are talking with the enemy.” He was very realistic and regarding the nuclear agreement he thinks that the agreement cannot be perfect, and an ideal deal for a party, it will be catastrophic for the other party.

Zarif who was continued attacked from the both sides (Conservatives in his country and some US officials)

Iranian conservatives described Zarif as a coward because he was studying in the United States rather than defending his country during the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988.

US Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican who opposes the nuclear deal, wrote a tweet about Zarif in 2015, in which he twitted “you hid in U.S. during Iran-Iraq war while peasants & kids were marched to die”.

Zarif’s answer was by congratulating Senator Cotton on the birth of his son!

An experienced diplomat will be missed not only in Iran but in all global diplomacy and how much we need like him in our world today.

About the author: Bakhtyar Aljaf , is the Director of IFIMES (International Institute of the consultative status with the UN)

China’s emerging metropolitan region around the Pearl River Delta continues to merge: the two special administrative regions Hong Kong and Macao together with nine municipalities of Chinas most populated Province Guangdong jointly form the “Greater Bay Area”.

The consolidation of the three regions to one large economic hub is part of the infrastructure milestones the Chinese government is pursuing in conjunction with the Road and Belt initiative. As this cooperation also encompasses the tourism sector, the three partners are looking forward to their first-ever joint presence at ITB Berlin from March 6 to 10 (Hall 26A, Stand 119).

Cities united by infrastructural mega projects

A core of the new infrastructure improvements in the Greater Bay Area is the 55 kilometres long bridge, connecting Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai. The world’s longest sea bridge reduces the travelling time from Hong Kong airport on Lantau Island to Zhuhai to 45 minutes from four hours previously needed. The new route includes one tunnel and several bridging elements. It is about 20 times the length of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

Another milestone is the completion of the Hong Kong Section of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, connecting the Hong Kong train network to the one in Mainland China. Travel time from the newly built Hong Kong Kowloon West station to Guangzhou North was halved to 48 minutes.

Together with the new Liantang/Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point, connecting Hong Kong and Shenzhen, the new sea bridge and the Express Rail Link form an “one-hour living circle” between Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao, laying a solid foundation for the development of the Greater Bay Area. The new border control point, including new highways and overpasses, is set to open in 2019.

Chinas economic driver to flourish

Role model for the new economic hub Greater Bay Area are other delta regions like San Francisco with its neighbouring communities Oakland and San José/Silicon Valley or Tokyo Bay and Greater New York. To surpass its global competitors, Guangdong’s Greater Bay cities (i.e., Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Foshan, Huizhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen and Zhaoqing), Hong Kong and Macao are to intertwine their individual strengths much closer than ever before. The Greater Bay Area already offers the largest worldwide network of airports and seaports. Almost 70 Million inhabitants live in the Pearl River Delta – about five percent of the Chinese population. At present about twelve percent of the annual GDP of the People’s Republic of China is generated here on 0.6 percent of Chinas land mass. The plan foresees an even bigger increase.

New chances for tourism

The tourism sector is set to greatly benefit from this regional merger. Anthony Lau, Executive Director, Hong Kong Tourism Board explains on behalf of “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Tourism Marketing Organization”: “We are at the beginning of a golden age of opportunity that will make the Greater Bay Area a destination of choice for tourists from every corner of the world. By working together, we can steer the region’s tourism industry towards exciting new horizons.”

A major focus for international markets lies in the development of multi-destination travel packages. For this, the respective unique selling points and existing resources are to be matched, harmonized and jointly promoted. A “144 hours Convenient Visa” is already enabling tourists an easy border crossing from Hong Kong or Macao to Guangdong. The cruise industry is also looking with great interest into developments in the Pearl River Delta, as the region offers multiple appealing ports of calls within a short distance. At ITB, the world’s largest tourism and travel fair happening in Berlin from March 6 to 10, the three partners will present themselves as one travel destination. In addition to various advertising during the fair a Greater Bay Area Showcase event is planned for trade partner and media on Wednesday afternoon.

Overview on the regions of the Greater Area Bay

Guangdong Province is both the southern gateway of China and beautiful starting point of Maritime Silk Road. Located on the South China Sea coast, and adjacent to Hong Kong and Macao, Guangdong Province is one of the most culturally and economically vibrant regions in China. It spans from bustling international metropolises to simple and unsophisticated villages; from amazing natural sceneries to millennium-old cultural heritages; from modern and stylish theme parks to, relaxing hot springs and resorts; and from romantic beaches to fascinating customs of ethnic minorities. Nowadays, Guangdong has become one of the most prominent tourist source markets, travel destinations and tourism industry clusters in China and even Asia Pacific region.

Recently named the world’s most visited city, Hong Kong presents itself as a cosmopolitan mega-city full of contrasts, including an impressive skyline bordering world famous Victoria Harbour. Eastern traditions meet western lifestyle, unforgettable culinary experiences ranging from fine-dining to finger food, as well as intoxicating art and sport events enrich the Living Culture of the seven million metropolis. A city where contrasts, variety, trendiness and excitement live side by side. More than 200 mostly uninhabited islands make up a tranquil green backyard to Hong Kong’s skyscrapers and enable exciting outdoor experiences such as hiking, mountain biking or rafting just a few minutes from the bustling downtown skyscrapers.

Macao has undergone a remarkable transformation in the tourism arena and celebrating its’ 20th anniversary as a Special Administrative Region this year. “The Historic Centre of Macao”, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a well preserved living testament to the glorious past as a trading post and cultural exchange platform between Asia and Europe. Centuries of dynamic interaction between the east and the west inherently created a distinctive culture and architectural heritage. One of the world’s earliest forms of fusion cuisine was created here, refined over centuries of blending Chinese and Portuguese ingredients together with exotic spices that came from the trading past, is perhaps the perfect way to sample the rich flavours of the distinctive cultural heritage of this UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. An abundance of tourism resources, from fully integrated mega resorts, fine dining and unique shopping experience to the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge, seamlessly connects Macao with the cities in the Greater Bay Area.

For further information:
Discover Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Bay Area: http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/beyond-hk/bay-area/index.jsp
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/about-hktb/structure-and-management/executive-director.jsp

A statement by Joumana El Zein Khoury, Director of the Prince Claus Fund.

Greetings from the Netherlands. It is midwinter here, so our part of the earth is aimed away from the sun, which means we have long, dark nights. The darkness I worry about, though, isn’t a matter of seasons and it’s not limited to the Northern Hemisphere. In talking with you, with our partners from all over the world, I hear similar messages: a sense that the world is getting darker. People everywhere are facing challenges: worries about a backlash where we thought there was progress in achieving social justice; the imminent dangers of climate change; campaigns to exclude minorities and migrants. There seems to be a political trend of silencing diverse voices, erecting barriers, looking inward, blaming ‘the other’. These developments aren’t happening quietly. They are being extensively measured. The world has become obsessed with numbers which are often used to frighten. Disasters are measured in statistics of displaced and dead. Poverty is quantified in numbers of homeless and unemployed. I believe when society is focused on numbers, it is missing the full picture.

IT IS THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE NUMBERS THAT SHOULD COUNT

We should be flooding the world with their faces and stories. Society needs stories to see beyond the abstractions, prejudices, fears and stereotypes. Let me just take my own story as an illustration of what I mean: I was born in Lebanon, but my family fled the war when I was a year old, so I grew up and was educated in other countries. I’ve been fortunate to lead a privileged life in which I have absorbed the habits and values – pieces of the cultures – of each place I’ve lived. I’m as blunt as any Dutch native, my intellectual approach is largely French, but I’m completely Lebanese when it comes to hospitality.So how does my story fit into this world of numbers? You could say that I am one of the world’s 68.5 million displaced people. You could say that I am one of three million migrants living in the Netherlands, or narrow it down to one of the approximately 60,000 Arab immigrants here. But what does that tell you about who I am or what I can contribute?I believe when people and nations are so focused on counting, obsessed with accumulating more wealth but only in concentrated pockets, using money to build walls and bolster already extraordinary military defense, we need to take another path. We need to invest in culture. Culture enriches in an important way. It amplifies different perspectives and critical voices. It challenges ideas and opens minds. It connects people with each other, with their past and with our collective future. Culture interrogates and influences the established order. It offers possible solutions.

CULTURE HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM AND TO MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE

That is what culture can do. That is what you all do. And in that sense you have become radical in our time, daring to be different in your thoughts and actions. You dare, through your work and your support, to show the inescapable human consequences of the numbers. At the Prince Claus Fund, that is the commitment we see in our network, the commitment that we all share. By actively supporting radical and creative thinkers, the Fund stands behind those who dare to challenge the status quo. Through creative and peaceful means, you change perceptions, raise debates, connect across difference and improve realities. For many of you, that commitment entails great risks. Just one example was the arrest in August of photographer and social activist Shahidul Alam in Bangladesh. It brought an immediate response. The solidarity was breath-taking! Our partners all over the world launched creative protests. Underlining the global nature of the risks, around the same time, Chinese photographer Lu Guang went missing in China and multi-media artist Tania Bruguera was arrested together with other artists in Cuba. As of this writing, Tania is out of jail, Shahidul is free but his case is still pending and Lu Guang is reportedly still in police custody. The international outcry that threw an uncomfortable spotlight on Bangladesh may not sway all governments. Incidents of repression will continue, but solidarity in culture has been proven strong.

CREATIVITY WILL HAVE TO BE ENDLESSLY ADAPTABLE AS NEW CHALLENGES ARISE

Culture also has to prepare us for the future, and it is important to engage the people who will be most affected. It’s essential to be working with and for young creatives and providing them with the organisational skills they will need to take part confidently in shaping a more inclusive world. Younger artists have the energy, optimism and commitment that will help bring light to this darkness. With them, we are enlarging our circle. Congolese choreographer Faustin Linyekula calls this circle of Prince Claus Fund partners a ‘guerrilla network’, working stealthily for change. I like that imagery. I see us all as a global movement, but one that works locally. We are not a ‘one size fits all’ response, but a vast network of individuals who reinforce each other in our individual work, who resist pressures to accept divisions and conform to a single story. We are listeners who hear many voices, share many stories. We put ears to the ground and hear the tremors that are coming. Spread all over the globe, we share the belief that culture is essential everywhere to change the world for the better. Artist and architect, co-funder and collaborator, new media wizard and old weavers – we are all part of a movement that we can be proud of. For further informationhttps://princeclausfund.org/awards

Ancient Theatre, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

A variety of entertainment events awaits the guests of Plovdiv – European Capital of Culture 2019

Тhe Bulgarian city of Plovdiv was named “European Capital of Culture 2019” inheriting the title from Leewaurden-Friesland, the European Capital of Culture 2018.

Plovdiv – one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, which is also the second largest city in Bulgaria, integrates an abundance of cultural events, a well-developing business sector and a rich history. With its striking cultural heritage, architecture and archeology it takes its visitors on a journey back in time.

Populated successively by Thracian, Romans, Byzantines, Slavs and Bulgarians, Plovdiv is currently a cosmopolitan city – a home of different nationalities, cultures and religions. The heart of Plovdiv is the famous Old town – the most picturesque part of the city with quite an impressive architecture.

The jewel of the Old town is the Ancient theatre, built in the 1st century A.D. and one of the best preserved in the world. Another ancient treasure of Plovdiv is the Bishop Basilica and the roman mosaic of Philipoppolis from V-VI century. The visitors of Plovdiv can also find here a lot of Orthodox churches, Muslim mosques, Catholic cathedral, Armenian church, Evangelist church.

The longest pedestrian zone in Europe is also located in Plovdiv and it includes everyone’s favorite – the creative art district Kapana. The fascinating artefacts in combination with the modern art make Plovdiv a must see town in your bucket list.

Plovdiv is celebrating its year in the spotlight with a reach programme of nearly 500 cultural events, which will enable you to enjoy quality music performed live by world-famous artists as well as delicious food, fascinating exhibitions and diverse spectacles.

The very opening of the initiative Plovdiv – European Capital of Culture 2019 was remarkable. Over the weekend of 11^th to 13^th of January a series of events kicked off, with the most exciting and large-scale of them all – the spectacle We Are All Colors”. It combined music, lights and dance, and with over 1500 participants from Bulgaria and abroad, it recreated on an open-air stage a sweeping and colorful metaphor presenting all the main themes in the programme of ‘Plovdiv 2019’ and their unification under the slogan ‘Together’.

If you are a music enthusiast, regardless of which your favorite genre is, Plovdiv will be the place to experience unforgettable moments in 2019. Opera Open, for example, will bring together the greatest talents from all over the world, and the event atmosphere will be remarkable. The audience will be entertained with 10 spectacles under the open sky and will take place on the stage of the Ancient theatre.

Opera Open’s diverse programme can be enjoyed from June 14 to July 31. Its kick-off will be the premiere of ‘Orpheus and Eurydice’- a spectacle put together by the leading opera director Stefano Poda. In the Ancient theatre, a large-scale coproduction will be held in partnership with Teatro Regio di Parma– namely, Verdi festival – for all those who are fans of classical music. The placard also includes a ballet spectacle with solo performers from the superb Bolshoi Theatre.

For the fans of heavier music, the festival Hills of Rock – for the third consecutive year – will offer three days of euphoria. Hills of Rock will take place from July 19^th to 21^st at the Rowing Base (Regatta Venue), in the center of the largest park in the city – the Recreation and Culture Park – and will attract world-class performers. 

A delicious complement to the plethora of music events will be Plovdiv Jazz Fest, which will take place in November 2019. This international festival brings together the best performers of the genre and immerses the audience in this type of culture. In addition to the main programme, there are various attendant events – craft workshops, jam sessions, exhibitions. A prestigious award for overall contribution to jazz music and a Youth Competition have also been set up. 

With so much music, it would be impossible to miss out on dance. Love Swing Dance Festival will take place from 26^th to 29^th of September. In parallel to that – from September 19^th to October 13^th – ONE DANCE WEEK 2019 will be held. The festival will present the most significant performers in the field of contemporary dance practices from Europe, Asia and America.

NIGHT/Plovdiv is one of the most prominent annual city initiatives in Plovdiv. This year it will be held from September 13^th to 15^th.  More than 100 participants will join in and an extensive and diverse programme of events will be held in over 70 different spots in the city. NIGHT also offers a free entry to museums, galleries, the workshops of Plovdiv artists, cultural institutions, community centers, reading clubs as well as many open spaces. In 2019 NIGHT will incorporate specially designed projects by authors from Germany, Sweden, Austria Turkey, France, Israel, the USA and other countries as well as many initiatives developed in partnership with the cultural institutes inside the country. The youngest viewers will also be catered to: the programme ‘The Small NIGHT’ will be especially designed for them.

In order to experience the cultural diversity of Plovdiv and exhibit their art, 13 creative companies from Belgium, France, Italy and Switzerland will take to the road. They will arrive in the European capital of culture on June 1^st, coming on foot, on horseback, by bicycles, trailers or trucks. In the city this multitude of over 200 creative artists and their collaborators will set up three art camps. They will share their art with the public over the course of 10 days. 

The Week of Contemporary Art is also a large-scale international exhibition project with an over 20-year-old history and content of the highest standard of quality. In 2019, the Week of Contemporary Art will be held from September 1^st to October 1^st.

One of the distinctive features of Bulgarian culture is the language – complex, but rhythmic and beautiful. The written expression of the language is the Cyrillic alphabet – recognized as the third official alphabet of the European Union. The city of Plovdiv is the first European capital of culture which uses the Cyrillic alphabet.

Plovdiv – the European Capital of Culture 2019 is already welcoming its guests with a wide range of events, meeting places and breath-taking views. With some appetizing food and Thracian wine, you will get a taste of the contemporary feel of a Bohemian life. You can enjoy unique cuisine, including a number of food festivals, influenced by the many cultures that live in harmony under the Plovdiv hills. More about the programme you can find on the website of Plovdiv 2019 Foundation (www.plovdiv2019.eu) and the official pages of the initiative on social media platforms.

By Paul săndulescu.

PLUTOCRACY – Noun

1.    Government by the wealthy.

2.    A controlling class of the wealthy. (Wiktionary)

PLUTOCRACY – A plutocracy or plutarchy is a society that is ruled or controlled by people of great wealth or income. (Wikipedia)

PLUTOCRAT – Noun

Someone who rules by virtue of his or her wealth. (Wiktionary)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – Noun

1. The branch of computer science dealing with the reproduction or mimicking of human-level intelligence, self-awareness, knowledge, conscience, thought in computer programs.

2. The essential quality of a machine which thinks in a manner similar to or on the same general level as a real human being.

3. A computer system or software package which is artificially intelligent.

4. An intelligent, self-aware computer or computer program. (Wiktionary)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Artificial intelligence is intelligence demonstrated by machines, in contrast to the natural intelligence displayed by humans and other animals. (Wikipedia)

On November 17, 2018, street demonstrations began in France, which proved to be the most extensive and serious of the past decades, even for a country where such movements have a tradition of hundred-years. It is important to keep in mind that they did not have a leadership and were not stirred up by trade unions or opposition political parties. The spark was kindled by the rise in fuel prices (sic!) and the taxes to be introduced from January 1, 2019, but behind them is the general impoverishment of the population, predominantly of the workers and of the middle class, especially in rural and peri-urban areas. The magnitude and violence they came to (including the dead and seriously injured) denote that the roots are deep and spread, although the protests seem to drop in intensity for now. The protesters adopted as distinctive sign the yellow jackets that the law compels the car workers to wear.

Dissatisfaction is general on the global level, not only in France, so the symbol of the yellow vests appears more and more rapidly and more often in the protest movements starting from Europe and reaching North Africa, Middle East and North America, although the claims do not seem to be always the same. Not yet. So, what is it about?

Whether you are aware or not, you are contemporaries to two enormous global currents that feed each other and whose effect you have been feeling for a long time, but for which you are continually intentionally induced to find side causes. It would be great, however, to know the real ones, because they will determine the future of your existence and the course of the events you will be facing.

These two currents are: the ultra-concentration of wealth and the disappearance of the need of people.

In 2014, in New York, plutocrat Nick Hanauer made at the TEDSalon NY2014 the presentation “Beware, fellow plutocrats, the pitchforks are coming“. I invite you to watch it!!! The title itself is suggestive. Note that this warning comes from a plutocrat!

Just three years before, on September 17, 2011, due to social and economic inequality, corruption and the undue influence of corporations on the US government — particularly from the financial services sector, appeared the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement. The OWS slogan, “We are the 99%”, refers to the income inequality and wealth distribution in the U.S. between the wealthiest 1% and the rest of the population.

It is true that after nearly two months, on November 15, 2011, the protesters were forced out of Zuccotti Park, which they occupied, and 2,000 were arrested in New York and 6,000 in the rest of the US. It is true that the movement has lost breath, is true that in 2016 the businessman Donald Trump was elected president, but that does not mean the reasons were not real or have disappeared. On the contrary, they are getting deeper with every day passing.

 Nick Hanauer pointed out in 2014 that in 1980 the top 1% of Americans held 8% of the country’s wealth, while the 50% of the lower half of their compatriots shared 18% of it; that in 2010 the top 1% owned 20% of the wealth, while the bottom 50% owned 12% of it; and if this trend persists in 2040 the 1% will own 30% of the wealth, while the 50% bottom will have only 6%. Forbes magazine outlined that in the 1950s a typical US CEO made 20 times the salary of his average worker. In 2018, the ratio rose to 1: 361, but there are cases where it reaches 1:4.987!!! Nick Hanauer has warned that this evolution will transform the modern capitalism into an eighteenth century neo-feudalist rentier society. That the things are much worse on the entire planet, and that the things are accelerating results too from the reports Oxfam presented in two consecutive years to the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2016 and 2017.

 In 2016, Oxfam warned that compared to 2010, the wealth of the poorest half of the world fell by 1 trillion USD, which means a 38 % reduction (!!!), while the world’s population grew by 400 million over the same period. In the same 6 years, the wealth of the richest 62 people in the world grew by more than half a trillion dollars, so they held half of the world’s wealth in 2016. In 2010, the number of the rich people who owned half the wealth of the world was 388, but it fell steeply from year to year: 177 in 2011, 159 in 2012, 92 in 2013, 80 in 2014, and 62 in 2015! So, wealth is concentrating very fast! This is in the conditions of the great global financial depression, which started in 2007!

 In its January 2017 report, Oxfam outlined that, although the previous year’s calculation may have been badly misplaced because it did not have all the data at its disposal (so instead of 62, the rich were probably only 9) the number of those concentrating the wealth of the world narrowed further: early last year only 8 people (Bill Gates, Amancio Ortega, Warren Buffett, Carlos Slim Helu, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, Michael Bloomberg) owned as much as 3.6 billion people. Meanwhile, the number has probably narrowed even more. I do not intend to address the issues of equity, but the question arises for itself: what is the social utility of this accumulation for it to be allowed?

 In his turn, former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, in a 2015 presentation in Geneva entitled “Capitalism will eat democracy – unless we speak up“, showed that in the democratic process appeared a split: democratic decisions include only the political factors, while the financial and corporate ones, which really influence the lives of the populations of the planet, were totally left on their own. And they finally came to acquire such power that a rumor is circulating that the “Democracy would be banned if it ever threatened to change anything.”

 As early as 1923, the Freemason Count Richard Nikolaus von Coudenhove-Kalergi, recognized as the “father” of the European Union constitution, stated that: “Today, democracy is a facade for plutocracy: because the people would not tolerate naked plutocracy, the nominal power is left to them, whilst the actual power rests in the hands of plutocrats. In republican as in monarchical democracies the statesmen are puppets of capitalist masterminds: they dictate the guidelines of the policy, they control voters through the purchase of public opinion, thorough business and social relations controls the Minister” …. “The plutocracy of today is more powerful than the aristocracy of yesterday: because nobody is above it in the country which is their tool and accomplice“.

 In France, in December 2018, Macron (a former banker at Rothschild & Cie Banque) admitted nonchalantly that protesters’ anger is “deep and in many ways legitimate” but did not give up to rising the taxes, including increasing the tax for low-income pensioners, the tax for overtime payments and end-of-year bonuses, only just postponed them. On the other hand he refused to reinstate the wealth tax he scrapped upon entering into office.

 Besides that, as Nick Hanauer admitted, till now the wealth of the powerful Western countries was based on a strong and large middle class, so absolutely necessary, but throughout history when was needed the masses had their means of struggle needed to improve the situation: strikes, protests, riots, revolutions. The vote is not to be taken into account because we came at the moment when no matter who is in power they are doing what plutocracy “asks”. Just as Richard Nikolaus von Coudenhove-Kalergi said.

 What gave people real force was that they were needed by the plutocrats: they were need to work, so to produce value added, therefore wealth; they were needed for the force bodies (to wage wars to seize or defend the seizure, and for the internal guarding of the wealth); were necessary for the government apparatus (for the proper functioning of the society, so that the wealth to continue to be produced).

Only now, with the advent of the Artificial Intelligence and the accelerated replacement of people in all social processes, the need for people disappear so that their democratic means of struggle disappear. Who’s interested if someone goes on strike when he is no longer needed?! Artificial Intelligence is the future evolutionary step, so it is a threat to the survival of the human species is, but this isn’t the aspect I want to bring to your attention, but the present and what’s next: the impoverishment of people and the decrease to extinction of the need of them.

The European Parliament already takes into account the fact that the Artificial Intelligence will “pose a challenge to humanity’s capacity to control its own creation and, consequently, perhaps also to its capacity to be in charge of its own destiny and to ensure the survival of the species“. Consequently, already is preparing the necessary legislation, but in the interest of the Artificial Intelligence. Among other things, its existence will be recognized by law and will be given the right to be employed; insurance companies will be obliged insure the AI for the accidents it causes maliciously, recklessly or carelessly; the companies producing AI will be released from liability for the damage caused by the AI they produced, for the reason that AI has the ability to learn by itself, and they do not have to respond for it.

A former Facebook employee, programmer Antonio Garcia Martinez, has clearly stated that “You do not realize we’re in a race between technology and politics, and technologists are winning, they are way ahead. They will destroy jobs and disrupt economies way before we even react to them“. He is sure that in at most 30 years, half of mankind will remain without jobs, but the beginning is much closer than that: 5, at most 10 years. As a consequence, he bought some land on an island near Seattle, where he is preparing for the wild times to come. And he says that many Silicon Valley IT professionals are doing the same, but on a larger scale.

Antonio Garcia Martinez, however, was optimistic, for Artificial Intelligence had already for long time occupied people’s jobs. If 30-35 years ago you were calling at a company, a centralist was answering; now a robot is responding to you. The doors were opens by a gatekeeper, and now is a robot that opens them. Even the telephone surveys are made nowadays by robots. Until now, the commercial vehicles were driven by professional drivers, but they will to be driven by computers in a short time. This means not only that the drivers will disappear, but traffic police will no longer be needed. The traffic control is done already by computers. And the computers are now recognizing pedestrian faces and overseeing their movements and activities, too. All these are already lost jobs, but also mean the control of the populations through and by the AI.

Note that 5 of the world’s 8 richest people are related to information technology. Their power is illustrated by the fact that Mark Zuckerberg refused to appear in November 2018 in front of an international grand committee of parliamentarians from seven countries. In May 2018, after three refusals to appear before the European Parliament, Zuckerberg eventually presented there, but although lawmakers asked him questions for 60 minutes, he spent less than 10 minutes to skirt them all. On this occasion, Guy Verhofstadt, the chairman of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE), asked him if he is “a genius who created a digital monster that is destroying our democracies and our societies“, and Manfred Weber, the leader of the center-right EPP group, the largest in the European Parliament, said “I think it’s time to break Facebook as a monopoly, because it’s already too much power in one hand. So, I ask you simply, can you convince me not to do so?” Zuckerberg refused three times to appear before the British Parliament, but came before Congress in April 2018. Somehow disproportionate the forces in these meetings relationship, right? On one part a plutocrat, who comes to the audiences or not, as he pleases, and on the other hand the elected representatives of the people who prove to be powerless. In fact, it reflects very accurately the report of the world’s wealth owning. You have not forgotten, right? 8 people to 3.7 billion. Who is actually rigging the games is very clear from Zuckerberg’s attitude and behavior.

That the plutocrats have the real power also is seen from the fact that all the companies that have Internet activity, all the software companies, collect the users personal data far beyond their acceptance without taking into account any other considerations apart from the companies own interest. It is very similar to the situation in the Middle Ages, when the senior of the land owned everything you had. As a simple example, I have no preference for Google and I did not allow it to collect my data. However, if I buy a mobile phone (which is a utility), the phone has Google preinstalled and all its affiliate applications. Although I’ve disabled “Location,” and I have not allowed it, Google knows where I live, where I work, where I spend my vacations, where I am at any time.  It is following my traffic on the net, the pages I access, my shopping, correspondence, and so it knows my preferences, my relationships, how I relate, think, make choices.

Moreover, Google closes the accounts of those who dare to express their opinions contrary to hyper-liberalism, that is to say against its interests, because democracy and hyper – liberalism are their tools (remember Richard Nikolaus von Coudenhove-Kalergi ) – is selling the private information of those who use the Internet, including the correspondence of its clients, even though they did not agree and did not know this fact. And so on, and so on, and so on. And the people have no choice. If they refuse, they are denied the access to those services. They have just the option to accept the abuse. Much the same option the slaves had, and later the serfs, thralls, servants, bondmen: your accept your enslavement or disappear.

It is, however, incomprehensible how society will operate under the conditions of general impoverishment. The blood of human society is money, and its health requires good circulation of this blood. If people do not have jobs, so they cannot earn their money, if money is concentrated in the hands of 1% or less, how will the human society work? What do plutocrats have in mind???

 I am not intending in this article to suggest solutions. These involve a radical general change of thought and cannot be determined by a few pages. And I do not even know if we will get to change something. I cannot, however, not to suggest that the actual functioning of the financial system is wrongly conceived from the start. Three years ago, in September 2015, I have shown that almost all countries have debt, and the debt is growing steadily. At that time, the US had an external debt of USD 18.540 billion (i.e. 106% of GDP), the United Kingdom 406%, France 222%, Germany 145%, Norway 141%, Italy 124%, Switzerland 229%, Hong Kong 334% , Iceland 724%, and Luxembourg 3.443%. China has an external debt of 37.5%, and Russia of “only” 23%. The planet’s total debt amounted to US $ 199,000 billion in the second quarter of 2014, rising US $ 57,000 billion (17%) over the past seven years of a major global financial crisis. The whole planet was indebted in the second quarter of 2014 by 286% compared to the Gross World Product (GWP), compared to 269%, as it was in the fourth quarter of 2007.

 It is absolutely understandable that at the moment government budgets are emptied. In addition to the excessive and unnecessary indebtedness, which is siphoning huge volumes of society’s blood (money) towards plutocracy, the traditional method of ensuring a steady budget income, the only one that has been applied so far in history, is the taxation of the masses. It is based only on the certainty that the masses produce income, so that they have the money to pay with. Their income has so far resulted from sales (of products or labor), which meant that, ultimately, human labor was needed. But we came to the moment when the work of masses of people is less and less necessary, so they will not have the money to buy the goods, and ultimately to buy the work of other people. It is an auto-induced process, very similar to a plane’s stall; if the pilot does not intervene, with maximum certainty the flight will end very quickly into a crash.

The loan is useful to any person and any company to develop, so it cannot be abandoned. But would not it be an idea that the loans be granted by the state banks, so that part of the profits go to budgets? A nationalization of private banks is not possible, but they can be subjected to differentiate taxation, say double of the state banks, so they contribute more to the budget, and at the same time the clients would migrate to the state banks.

Perhaps another solution could be the drastic progressive taxation with reaching limits that exceed very much not only the normal needs of lots of generations of middle class people, but even the normal luxury of those in the upper class. We are offered arguments, first of all, by politicians (see Macron) that the rich need the money to create jobs. That is total false, misleading. The politicians are making such statements to justify to the electorate why they are not taking the necessary measures. You should watch the exposition of Nick Hanauer, mentioned above!!!

The amount of money in circulation is the same, no matter who owns it. More jobs are created, and social life goes much more harmoniously, the blood of society, the money, flows much faster and better, the competition is blooming, the political decisions and democracy ultimately work naturally, freely, as they are meant, if wealth is distributed more evenly, not concentrated in the hands of 1% or less of the people.

The very near future is not favorable to you if you are not a plutocrat. I am very sure that the next one is not favorable to them, either, even though they are convinced they will still have the control. The next evolutionary step is Artificial Intelligence, which even plutocracy cannot handle. But until then the big problems are for the 99%. The problems for the other 1%, after that ….. I mean a few years, though.