By Dr. David Tawei Lee, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan)
1 September, 2017
“As we embark on this great collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind”—Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
New York is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. As with visitors from other countries, those from Taiwan love to experience first-hand the city’s famous attractions—the Statue of Liberty, Times Square, and, of course, the very nerve center of global affairs: the Headquarters of the United Nations. These landmarks—the latter in particular—are symbols of equality, diversity and freedom. Regrettably, the brilliant luster of these ideals has become tarnished of late as more and more visitors from Taiwan find themselves being turned away from the UN grounds, discriminated against simply because of their country of origin.
The UN is about people, yet the universality of human rights that the UN proclaims does not extend to Taiwan and its 23 million people. This mistreatment dates back to 1971, when our government lost its representation in the organization—and in the intervening decades, Taiwan has met with challenges and isolation with respect to its international situation. Nevertheless, this adversity has propelled us forward and we have never retreated, for we believe very strongly that those who follow the path of virtue can never truly be alone.
While traveling the world to carry out my duties as minister of foreign affairs, I have always marveled at how Taiwan’s experience in such areas as environmental protection, public health and medicine, agriculture, education and ICT has helped our partners develop and grow. We are committed to continuing our interaction and cooperation with our friends and partners, and to maintaining global peace, security and prosperity through mutually beneficial collaboration.
Despite Taiwan’s efforts and the recognition they have earned, despite the need for universality, and despite the repeated pledge to leave no one behind, the UN seems content to leave the 23 million people of Taiwan behind. In May of this year, Taiwan was refused attendance at the 70th WHA, despite having participated as an observer over the previous eight consecutive years. Rejecting Taiwan—which has invested over US$6 billion in international medical and humanitarian aid efforts since 1996, benefiting millions of people worldwide—runs counter to common sense, and creates a blind spot in the World Health Organization’s operations, just like the one that cost lives during the 2003 SARS epidemic.
This unjust treatment, however, has not and will never deter Taiwan from carrying out its duties both to its people and to the international community. As the world’s 18th largest trading and 11th freest economy, Taiwan has brought its laws and regulations into line with the UN’s human rights conventions, and in terms of living up to democratic values, Taiwan has worked as hard as any country—and perhaps harder than most—to advance equality. The Taiwanese people elected their country’s first female president in 2016, and 38 percent of their lawmakers are women. Taiwan is also home to a vibrant civil society whose civic organizations constantly reach out to the world. And whenever disasters strike, rescue workers from Taiwan’s nongovernmental organizations are right there on the ground, providing assistance, with their devotion and professionalism clear for all to see.
Taiwan is currently working on its first Voluntary National Review, which will document many of its concrete achievements regarding the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In terms of public health and medicine, for example, in recent years Taiwan has worked alongside a host of other countries to fight such infectious diseases as MERS, Ebola and Zika. Taiwan has also been promoting a green economy and green energy, aiming to raise the proportion of renewable energy generated for the country’s power supply to 20 percent—five times the current level—by 2025, while also aiming to lower carbon emissions to at least 50 percent below 2005 levels by 2050.
Holders of ROC passports enjoy visa-free travel or other forms of travel convenience to 165 countries and territories, which speaks to the respect that Taiwan’s tourists, businesspeople and academics have earned worldwide. Yet, they are unable to take even a single step inside the Headquarters of the UN.
For years, representatives from Taiwan’s many nongovernmental organizations involved in indigenous, labor, environmental and women’s rights have been barred from attending meetings and conferences held at the UN’s New York headquarters and at the Palais des Nations in Geneva simply because they hail from Taiwan. Similarly, to the outrage of the international press community, Taiwanese journalists are not allowed to cover UN meetings in person.
These discriminatory measures put in place by UN bureaucrats—targeted specifically against the people of Taiwan—are inappropriately justified by the invocation and misuse of 1971’s General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI). It is important to remember that, while it seated the People’s Republic of China in the UN, this resolution did not address the issue of representation of Taiwan and its people in the organization; much less did it give the PRC the right to represent the people of Taiwan.
It is important to stress the political reality here, which is that the PRC does not now, nor has it ever, held jurisdiction over Taiwan. Indeed, as evidenced by the aforementioned ban on Taiwanese inside the UN headquarters, the PRC exerts far more influence on the UN than it does on Taiwan.
The preamble of the UN Charter speaks powerfully of the organization’s mission to “reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small.” The government and people of Taiwan strongly believe that their involvement, especially when the UN is calling for the universal implementation of the SDGs, would be to the benefit of all. The absence of Taiwan, on the other hand, will only continue to cripple the effectiveness of this global effort.
Taiwan can do much to help the world build a more sustainable future. The people of Taiwan need the international community to support our aspirations and our right to fair treatment by the UN. At the very least, stop turning us away at the door.
H.E. Venu Rajamony, Ambassador of India during his speech. H.E. Venu Rajamony, India’s Ambassador to the Netherlands & Dr. Vikas Chaturvedi, Chairman ASSOCHAM Europe.
India, the world’s largest democracy and fastest-growing large economy, celebrates 70 years of independence on August 15 this year. Interestingly, this year also marks 70 years of the establishment of India-Netherlands diplomatic relations. The Ambassador of the Netherlands was present in India when the flag of freedom was hoisted by its leaders in 1947.
In the last couple of years, the political and business engagement between India and the Netherlands has risen to new heights for several reasons.
The rapid economic growth achieved by India in recent years is drawing the attention of countries and companies from far and wide. According to the IMF, India’s growth is expected to be 7.2% in the 2017-18 fiscal year, and 7.7% in 2018-19.
In 2016-17, the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to India was a record US $60.1 billion. India has become the fastest-growing investment region for foreign investors. According to the World Bank, private investments in India are expected to grow by 8.8% in 2018-19.
In the last two years, around US $6 billion worth of investments have gone into India from the Netherlands. At the same time, India also makes significant investments into the Netherlands, with 180 companies based here and US $ 3.3 billion worth of total investments.
In 2015, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte visited India, taking along with him 80 Dutch companies. The visit enabled him to establish a personal equation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under whose leadership the Indian government has been working hard to achieve the goal of ‘Minimum Government and Maximum Governance’.
Moreover, Indian Prime Minister Modi paid an eight-hour, intense and highly productive visit to the Netherlands on June 27, 2017. During this visit, he called upon The King and Queen of the Netherlands, and held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Mark Rutte who was accompanied by four other Ministers. The primary focus of PM Modi’s visit was expanding economic and business ties. He participated in a round-table moderated by the Chairman of VNO NCW, with the CEOs of 16 key Dutch companies, i.e., Aegon, APG, Arcadis, Boskalis, Enraf Nonius, PGGM, Philips, Port of Rotterdam, Rabobank, Rijk Zwaan, Tata Steel, Unilever, Van Oord, Vopak, and Zeelandia.
In the last three years, the Indian government has implemented a number of programmes aimed at making India an attractive destination for companies to invest. It has also been working tirelessly to eliminate black money, corruption, red tape, and outdated laws which have existed for decades.
Some of the important schemes launched by the Indian Government, and decisions that contribute to improving ease of doing business are as follows –
Implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST):
As of 1st July 2017, GST has been introduced with the intention of creating a single India, single tax and single market. This law is believed to be a game-changer for the Indian economy. It will simplify the tax structure and compliance. With the introduction of GST (one tax), around 15 indirect taxes have been repealed.
Simplification of Investment process in India:
Today, virtually for all the sectors, companies can invest in India without formal approval process. This eliminates the red tape that existed in India.
Creation of a Single Window facilitation platform called ‘Invest India’:
‘Invest India’ is the official Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency of the Government of India, mandated to facilitate investments into India. It is envisaged to be the first point of reference for potential investors. A team of domain and functional experts provide sector-and state-specific inputs, and hand-holding support to investors through the entire investment cycle, from pre-investment decision-making to after-care. They assist with location identification, expediting regulatory approvals, facilitating meetings with relevant government and corporate officials, and also provide aftercare services that include initiating remedial action on problems faced by investors.
Digital India:
A flagship programme launched on 2nd July 2015, it seeks to transform India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. This includes transforming the entire ecosystem of public services through the use of information technology. The government has allocated US $ 100 million for this programme in the Union budget 2017-18.
Clean India:
The Clean India Mission is the most significant cleanliness campaign by the Government of India. Launched throughout the country on 2nd October 2014 as a national movement, it aims to achieve the vision of a ‘Clean India’ by 2019. The government has allocated around US $ 2.5 billion for the Clean India Mission in 2017-18.
Make in India:
Launched on 25th September 2014, this major national programme is designed to facilitate investment, foster innovation, enhance skill development, protect intellectual property and build best in class manufacturing infrastructure in the country. It aims to attract investments from across the globe and strengthen India’s manufacturing sector, along with a focus on live projects like industrial corridors. In the Union budget 2017-18, Make in India was given a further boost with the allocation of US $ 62 billion for infrastructure, with US $ 7 million for electronics manufacturing, as well as further liberalization of FDI policy being considered.
Start-Up India:
This flagship initiative was launched on 16th January 2016 to build start-ups and nurture innovation. Through this initiative, the Government plans to empower start-up ventures to boost entrepreneurship, economic growth and employment across India. The promotion of digital and cashless transactions will encourage the digitization drive, and provide a boost for the start-up ecosystem. The Union budget 2017-18 provides tax breaks and income tax benefits for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
100 Smart Cities by 2022:
Launched on 25th June 2015, this mission is aimed at developing the entire urban eco-system, which is represented by the four pillars of comprehensive development-institutional, physical, social and economic infrastructure. The strategic components of area-based development in the Smart Cities Mission are city improvement (retrofitting), city renewal (redevelopment) and city extension (green-field development) plus a Pan-city initiative in which Smart Solutions are applied covering larger parts of the city.
The Union government has decided to allocate around US $ 75 million over five years at an average of around US $ 15 million per city per year. In the first phase of implementation, 20 cities have been shortlisted for the initiative’s implementation. With regard to project management consultants from the Netherlands, Royal Haskoning DHV and STUP Joint Venture have been selected for developing solutions to upgrade the infrastructure of the city of Kota, Gujarat.
Doubling farmers’ income by 2022:
India is the third-largest in global agricultural output, and has the sixth-largest food and grocery market in the world. At the same time, however, huge amounts of food products go waste. Attaining the above goal would require a huge increase in agricultural products. India is the largest global producer of spices, pulses, milk, tea and cashews, the second-largest producer of wheat, rice, fruits and vegetables, sugarcane and oilseeds, along with being second globally in inland fish production.
A ‘World Food India’ event is being held in New Delhi in November 2017. It is the first international investment and sourcing event in the food sector in India, and will showcase a vast landscape of opportunities in the food processing industry.
There are around 200 Dutch companies doing business with India. However, this number does not depict the true potential that exists for Dutch investments into India. India has huge needs with regard to infrastructure development i.e. Water Management, Waste to Energy, Port development, road development, inland water bodies’ development and Agro and food processing amongst other sectors.
Dutch companies have a wealth of experience and technical know-how. This is the opportune time for Dutch companies engage with India for mutual benefit. By combining their strengths, India and the Netherlands can together become the best in the world.
By Mara Lemanis.
Ideology can sustain a culture or strike a death blow. We can quickly trace what the Marxist ideology did to Russia, or the Proletarian Communist movement to China. When we think back as far as 330 and 331 BCE, we recognize that the Hellenism forced through Alexander the Great’s conquest of the Persian Empire and Egypt was both a disintegration of those ancient cultures and their reciprocal integration into the Greek ethos.
We do not need to spade around unknown terrain in order to see how many of our reactions and behaviors have already been set, programmed by the society and culture in which we find ourselves.
Cultural determinants are a hybrid of established social practices, traditions, hierarchic rules and common aims—what biologists call “memes.” Harnessing these is the zeitgeist of ideology–that overarching doctrine, uttered like a hymn, or like a declaration of independence–honorific, emblematic of a country and its people.
The ethnologist Claude Lévi-Strauss pointed out that the structures of all cultures are the same though they may have different functions.
Regardless of ideology one thing remains constant: the temporal nature of existence. We all live in transience. However much we like or dislike our experiences we know at some point they will cease. We will no longer embody them. The way we deal with this phenomenon—the sense of our concrete existence and its eventual extinction—directs life’s purpose.
Social activity fuels desire for position, status, wealth; individual activity seeks more intimate aims—affection, adventure, personal evolution. Social or individual, all is attained within the gyrating axis of joy and anguish, comfort and stress, growth and decline. But our emotional arc is not complete until we settle the bid for continuity.
Change happens; it is inevitable. Will we go on in some form recognizable to ourselves? Will we be conscious, aware, sentient? Even when not dwelling on them, such thoughts lurk at the threshold of perception, giving pause or impetus to our intents.
That threshold is where we make a pact with fate. It is there that we admit our union with the universe of bosons, or with God. Even if we think we will be nothing but dust, our liberation is foreordained.
Yet many crave a life beyond the temporal whether through samadhi, moksha, transcendence, or merging with the Creator Source.
In this context the jihadi is no different. His yearnings are the same. He too hopes to bond with God.
Sufis and Kabbalists believe they already are a part of God or the sparks of God; Vedantists believe the world is illusion and that all beings are Brahman (God); Buddhists think that no soul is permanent; Muslims seek surrender to the divine will, and Christians uphold that souls are redeemed by God through the sacrifice of Christ. All these are ideologies avowing faith through calm conviction or through bold oral assertion.
What distinguishes the jihadist is the totalitarian ardor of his affirmation.
While the gospels offer, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” the jihadist offers to lay down his life for God. And not only his life but the life of strangers too. To the jihadist these are infidels whose habits rebuke God. In destroying the infidel, or annihilating himself, the jihadi exalts his sacrifice.
Through such a forfeit he sanctifies his life, converts its purpose to orgasmic love. He dissolves into God; completes himself.
Any interest in the comforts of human love, earthly love pales in the limbic cauldron of jihadists. Sexual transport can’t sustain the ecstasy (from the Greek meaning of ekstasis —to be outside oneself) they feel is imminent. The glow and flame of human love wanes in the klieg light of God.
Many people seek solace in God to compensate the ephemeral life of the body. The jihadi seeks voracious love and finds it in the permanent death of the body.
Such an ultimate ideology destroys peoples and cultures to enshrine itself.
THE POINT (a question)
What is the point, I asked.
It is you, God said.
Wind screams, seas crash,
Earth breaks, I said.
You ride the sun, God said.
I break.
No.
You bolt,
God said.
You are lightning
You break the dark.
I am You.
–Mara Lemanis
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Mara Lemanis has worked as an archivist for Historical Preservation. She and the state archaeologist conducted research at numerous Sioux Nation sites in South Dakota, in the course of which she visited a Lakota Sweat Lodge and took part in the communal spirit of the purification ceremony. She was privileged to study the Oglala Sioux sites at Pine Ridge and Wounded Knee… Recently she has worked with the IRC to assist refugees in Oakland, California.She has been a teacher and scholar of literature and film at Stanford and Yale; her essays have been selected for 20th CENTURY LITERARY CRITICISM and are included in undergraduate student textbooks in the U.S.Her father, Osvalds J. Lemanis, was an internationally renowned Latvian choreographer (The Royal Order of Vasa-Gustav V).
South Africa will join forty other Embassies in a wave of global culture that will sweep through The Hague during the fifth annual Embassy Festival that will take place on the picturesque Lange Voorhout from 12:00 – 20:00pm on 2 September 2017.
Visitors to the South African Pavillion as well as the various artistic performances could expect an innovative, free of charge musical programme featuring pop and rap, funk, afro soul, jazz and classical music, as well as South African and other culinary delights, theatre, literature, art, a kids compound and activities straddling our world.
According to the Embassy Festival organisers the Festival with its cultural richness concentrated on 500 metres strives to set an important social statement; cultural diversity brings atmosphere and togetherness. These are important values for South Africa as it is a country with a diverse populace, united in its diversity.
In this regard, South Africa sees the Embassy Festival as a unique platform to promote and create awareness about South Africa, but also to learn from the other countries participating.
South Africa’s participation will consist of the International Market as well as artistic performances.
All South Africans, their families and friends are invited to come and celebrate this day with us as we celebrate the sights, sounds and vibrancy of the South African generosity of spirit (UBUNTU).
Today,1 September 2017, the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine enters fully into force.
The Association Agreement, including its Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), is the main tool for bringing Ukraine and the EU closer together: it promotes deeper political ties and stronger economic links, as well as respect for common European values. The DCFTA provides a framework for modernising Ukraine’s trade relations and economic development by opening up markets and harmonising laws, standards and regulations with EU and international norms. The Association Agreement was negotiated between 2007 and 2011 and signed on 21 March and 27 June 2014. Substantial parts of the Association Agreement have been applied provisionally since 1 November 2014 and 1 January 2016 for the DCFTA.
President of the European Commission, H.E. Jean-ClaudeJuncker, said: “Determination is a virtue. Today, in spite of all the challenges, we have made it. With the entry into force of the Association Agreement with Ukraine, the European Union is delivering on its promise to our Ukrainian friends. I thank all those who made it possible: those who stood on Maidan and those who are working hard to reform the country for the better. This is a day of celebration for our European continent.”
H.E. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, said: “Today we finally achieve what we have been working on in the last years: a closer association between the European Union and Ukraine. This means closer ties between our citizens, bigger markets and more opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs, increased sharing of experience, information and expertise. It shows that we share the same objectives and that the Ukrainian people can count on the European Union’s support and cooperation for the years to come.”
European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn said: “Generations of Ukrainian citizens to come will reap the benefits of closer association with the EU. The first concrete results of implementation of the Agreement can already be seen: Ukraine’s exports to the EU have increased and the EU has confirmed its position as Ukraine’s first trading partner. Ukraine’s recent reform efforts have been unprecedented, while much work remains such as in the fight against corruption, which must be pursued. The European Union will continue its support for Ukraine’s reform efforts, with both expertise and financial support.”
The European Union is unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as the continuing, ambitious efforts of the Ukrainian authorities to reform the country’s institutions and economy, which would unlock the full potential of the Association Agreement and bring its full benefits to the Ukrainian people.
Under the Association Agreement, Ukraine has committed to structural reforms in the areas of democracy, human rights, rule of law, good governance, trade and sustainable development. Enhanced cooperation on environmental protection, social development and protection, transport, consumer protection, equal opportunities, education, youth and culture, industry and energy is also foreseen in the Association Agreement. The entry into force of the agreement will give a new impetus to the cooperation in areas such as foreign and security policy, justice, taxation, public finance management, science and technology, education and digital technology.
“In order to ensure sustainable peace and development for all, we must rally support for international cooperation to address global challenges”
The President of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “Court”), Judge Silvia Fernández de Gurmendi is travelling next week to Samoa to participate in the 48th Pacific Islands Forum, where she will address heads of state and government from the 18-member group as well as speak at an ICC workshop organised in the margins. The purpose of the mission is to urge more member states of the Forum to join the ICC’s founding treaty, the Rome Statute, as well as raise awareness and strengthen collaboration between the ICC and the Pacific region.
“In order to ensure sustainable peace and development for all, we must rally support for international cooperation to address global challenges through the rule of law”, President Fernández stated ahead of her travel to the Pacific Islands Forum.
“The Pacific region is today confronted with some of the most serious challenges on our planet, and small island states in particular are calling for international cooperation to protect the oceans and address climate change. Much like these issues present a threat to entire populations, so do the international crimes that the ICC was created to prosecute and help prevent: genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Several Pacific states have long been strong supporters of the ICC, and I would like to see more countries in the region add their backing to the Court in the spirit of international solidarity for the well-being of people everywhere”, she said.
Among the member states of the Pacific Islands Forum, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Samoa and Vanuatu are States Parties to the Rome Statute, whereas Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu are yet to join the treaty.
In her remarks at the Pacific Islands Forum, President Fernández will draw a connection to the theme of the general debate of the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), “Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet”. The general debate starts on 19 September, and discussions at the 72nd session of the UNGA are expected to touch upon, among other things, conflict prevention, Sustainable Development Goals and climate, as well as human rights and equality.
The ICC President will be joined by Tuiloma Neroni Slade, former ICC Judge and former Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, to speak at the ICC workshop in the margins of the Forum meeting in Samoa. The workshop will provide an open platform for exchange on the region’s experiences within the ICC system, and allow for interactive and frank discussions on the benefits of joining the Rome Statute as well as the various avenues and partners that are available to support States interested in joining the treaty. The workshop is organised with the financial support of the European Commission.
On the way to the Forum, President Fernández will give a public lecture at the University of Auckland.
Networking Event TradeCounsellors.nl 14th of September at The Penthouse The Hague
On Thursday the 14th of September,TradeCounsellors.nl will have their third event in the Penthouse The Hague. The theme of this meeting will be: “The Amsterdam Produce Show: Networking opportunities with fresh produce traders from all over the world.”Jim Prevor, owner of Phoenix Media, the organizer of the Amsterdam, London and New York Produce Show, will be one of the key note speakers.
TradeCounsellors.nl is ‘the’ network for doing business in The Netherlands: We enable trade diplomats to meet on a regular and informal basis, to share their experiences with fellow trade diplomats, acquire practical skills for international business and expand their knowledge of trade matters. We organize briefings on international trade issues and visits to relevant companies and institutions for doing business in The Netherlands.
To celebrate the fifth year of the The Hague’s Embassy Festival, Diplomat Magazine is pleased to be “Lifting Global Culture” by offering a special “FilmWalk” event on Saturday, September 2nd with filmmaker, author and professor, Robb Montgomery.
If you own a smartphone and have always wanted to learn how to quickly film and edit movies then this exciting introductory immersion program is for you!
Robb Montgomery (@Videojournalist), is a bestselling author for Smartphone filmmaking, Design Thinking, and Mobile Journalism. In addition, he founded the Smart Film School and is a professor at EFJ (Paris) and FHWien (Vienna) schools of journalism where he teaches Mobile Reporting and leads “Design Thinking” research projects. Recently, Robb facilitated a “Design Challenge” program in Design thinking for the Austria Press Association.
Robb will be travelling from Berlin, for the weekend, to join us for the Embassy Festival and to introduce us to his “Photography Immersion” course. Whether you have no previous experience or are already dabbling with “creating content” for posting on social media platforms, then be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to meet with one of the world’s global leaders in the rapidly growing MoJo (Mobile Journalism) industry.
As explained on the “Film Walk” page of Robb’s website, the first 25 respondents to register for Diplomat Magazine’s “Photo Safari” will enjoy a “fun and friendly opportunity to take to the streets to find, capture and edit an unscripted film scene with a smartphone.”
In yet another first, Diplomat Magazine, in The Hague, will be added to the growing list of international clients from Berlin, Warsaw, London, Paris, Singapore, Chicago, Toronto, Orlando, Dublin, Hong Kong and Perugia, who have successfully organized FilmWalk events with Robb. Following the program’s conclusion, links to completed films will be posted in a follow-up article and published in the magazine’s online edition.
Tip: Every delegate will also receive complimentary access to a Smart film School Online course as a value-added (€29) bonus.
Registrants are invited to meet at 03:00 pm at the Diplomat Magazine Stand for a brief introduction of approximately 30 minutes. Following the introduction, we will roam around the festival to “film with a purpose” before reconvening to edit our work with Robb’s support and guidance. All are welcome to join us on Saturday, but space is limited. Sign-up to learn about the possibilities of “making news” with your Smartphone!
Additional information:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/stehl8lwtwvyovk/August%202017%20Robb%20bio.docx?dl=0
The Public Announcement of the I Edition of the Critical Studies on Justice Contest, organized by the Ibero-American Institute of The Hague for Peace, Human Rights and International Justice – IIH (The Netherlands), with the institutional support of El Rosario University (Colombia), the Joaquín Herrera Flores Institute (Brasil) and Tiran lo Blanch publishers (Spain) was issued today.
The critical studies for the I Edition of the Contest will address the issues referred to in the introductory section of the Public Announcement, which can be dealt with from the perspective of any of the following human or social sciences that are the focus of the Multidisciplinary Research Network on: (i) philosophy; (ii) psychology; (iii) science and technology; (iv) economy; (v) national law / justice; (vi) international law / justice; (vii) anthropology / community justice; (viii) theology/transcendent-spiritual justice; and (ix) international relations and political science.
Those interested in participating in the I Edition of the Critical Studies on Justice Contest will have to send by October 31st, 2017, a summary of no more than 300 words in English, Spanish or Portuguese to the following email address: iih.certamendeestudioscriticos@gmail.com. The authors of the selected summaries will be contacted by November 15th, 2018. They will be given until January, 15th 2008 to prepare a critical study of 8000 to 10000 words. On February 1, 2018, the authors of the five critical studies with the higher scores shall receive an invitation to present their works in the II Polyphonic Day of International Justice to be held at The Hague University of Applied Sciences on June 6, 2018.
The Public Announcement of the I Edition of the Critical Studies on Justice Contest can be downloaded from:
http://www.iberoamericaninstituteofthehague.org/attachments/article/204/Public%20Announcement%20of%20the%20I%20Edition%20of%20the%20Critical%20Studies%20on%20Justice%20Contest.pdf
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For more information, send an email to: iih.certamendeestudioscriticos@gmail.com
In the first weekend of September, the Embassy Festival and Uit Festival Den Haag will present a broad cultural programme with more than a 150 free performances. Fans of comedy, pop and classical music, dance, theater and food & drinks from all over the world will be happily surprised. The Embassy Festival offers enlightenment and inspiration during a two-day cultural world trip. Uit Festival Den Haag will present the trailer of your upcoming cultural season.
The kick-off of the anniversary edition of the Embassy Festival (5th edition) will take place on Friday evening the 1st of September from 5pm around a stage in front of the Diligentia theater on the Lange Voorhout. Expect a diverse and colourful programme with Faarjam, Levi Silvanie, Koffie and Minyeshu. That same night, de Cultuurankers in eight different boroughs will be kicking off the three-day Uit Festival Den Haag, the 45th anniversary edition this year, with a open day and performances by Tim Akkerman, Lilian Vieira, Rwmg, De Regahs and many more.
On Saturday 2 September the Embassy Festival will fully commence at noon, on the Lange Voorhout. The world trip will pass through more than 50 different countries. On the Contemporary Stage there will be performances from i.a. Baptiste W. Hamon (Fra), Blahalouisiana (Hun), Brian Deady (Irl) and Nubiyan Twist (Gbr).
On the Classical Stage visitors will be treated to moving performances by Barbara Kozelj (Slo), Bodurov Trio (Bgr) and Luke Welch (Can). In the Creative Arena an eclectic mix of dance and music has been programmed with contributions from i.a. Nepal, Indonesia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ukraine, Mexico, Dominican Republic and Finland. Our youngest visitors will have a joyous day at the Kids Compound with the ukkie-concerts (presented by some of the Cultuurankers) and Monkey Town. At the Container Stage there will be a parade of workshops, theater and mini-concerts.
Give your tastebuds the royal treatment at the International Market with lots of traditional bites and drinks that have been ‘flown in’ from different parts of the world. The Embassy Festival will from 8pm transition into the Uit Festival Den Haag. Jeangu Macrooy (Nld/Sur) will kick-off those festivities. The cultural connoisseurs of We Are Public will provide Culture Pitches with must-see tips for your cultural season. Several theaters in The Hague will open their doors and present comedy (i.a. Rundfunk in Diligentia), dance (i.a. The Statement and Mutual Comfort in the Lucent Dans Theater), film (Lindy Hop Experience with the documentary Alive And Kicking & the Hague Hoppers Dance School in front of Filmhuis Den Haag), dance (i.a. Samir Calixto & Cello8ctet Amsterdam, Noam Vazana in Korzo), music (i.a. Alex Roeka in de Nieuwe Kerk and Cesar Zuiderwijk in Theater de Vaillant). The UIT Nacht will end in de Koninklijke Schouwburg with an Afterparty in cooperation with District25.
Len Dong- Mail artist- Thanh Hai
On Sunday 3 September the UIT Festival will continue on the Lange Voorhout with a Culture Market, where 100 cultural institutions will present themselves. Four stages will be showing previews of the upcoming cultural season with Stef Bos, Braz, Stephanie Struijk (Stevie Ann), Rilan & The Bombardiers , I’m A Soulman, Kiki Schippers (winner of the Annie M.G. Schmidtprijs 2017) and Harde Handen (with Loes Luca).
Performing on the Den Haag Danst stage are i.a. Hndrd, the new dance collective of choreographer Min Hee Bervoets (judge and choreographer on So You Think You Can Dance) and Dedddd. The Cultuurankers will collectively present themselves on their own stage in the buzzing festival village. And there’s more, besides the performances on the Lange Voorhout. There will be an open day at i.a. Diligentia, Koninklijke Schouwburg, de Nieuwe Kerk, het Filmhuis Den Haag (with filmposter-outlet) and de Centrale Bibliotheek (book sale). Diligentia will bring movement and joy with comedians and songbirds (Mylou Frencken, Arie Koomen & Edo Brunner, Anne Neuteboom, Jochen Otten and Enge Buren).
Get ready to be dazzled by Eric Vaarzon Morel, the best flamenco guitarist in the Netherlands, Eric Vloeimans, trumpeter and composer, who finds the term ‘jazz’ too limited to define his music and top-actor Gijs Scholten Van Aschat. They will treat visitors to a preview of their show Duende. In de Nieuwe Kerk classical pianist Saskia Lankhoorn and jazz pianist Wolfert Brederode will spark movement and uproar with their Musings from the Lowlands.
In 2015, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte visited India, taking along with him 80 Dutch companies. The visit enabled him to establish a personal equation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, under whose leadership the Indian government has been working hard to achieve the goal of ‘Minimum Government and Maximum Governance’.
Moreover, Indian Prime Minister Modi paid an eight-hour, intense and highly productive visit to the Netherlands on June 27, 2017. During this visit, he called upon The King and Queen of the Netherlands, and held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Mark Rutte who was accompanied by four other Ministers. The primary focus of PM Modi’s visit was expanding economic and business ties. He participated in a round-table moderated by the Chairman of VNO NCW, with the CEOs of 16 key Dutch companies, i.e., Aegon, APG, Arcadis, Boskalis, Enraf Nonius, PGGM, Philips, Port of Rotterdam, Rabobank, Rijk Zwaan, Tata Steel, Unilever, Van Oord, Vopak, and Zeelandia.
In the last three years, the Indian government has implemented a number of programmes aimed at making India an attractive destination for companies to invest. It has also been working tirelessly to eliminate black money, corruption, red tape, and outdated laws which have existed for decades.
Some of the important schemes launched by the Indian Government, and decisions that contribute to improving ease of doing business are as follows –
According to the Embassy Festival organisers the Festival with its cultural richness concentrated on 500 metres strives to set an important social statement; cultural diversity brings atmosphere and togetherness. These are important values for South Africa as it is a country with a diverse populace, united in its diversity.
In this regard, South Africa sees the Embassy Festival as a unique platform to promote and create awareness about South Africa, but also to learn from the other countries participating.
South Africa’s participation will consist of the International Market as well as artistic performances.
All South Africans, their families and friends are invited to come and celebrate this day with us as we celebrate the sights, sounds and vibrancy of the South African generosity of spirit (UBUNTU).
As explained on the “Film Walk” page of Robb’s website, the first 25 respondents to register for Diplomat Magazine’s “Photo Safari” will enjoy a “fun and friendly opportunity to take to the streets to find, capture and edit an unscripted film scene with a smartphone.”
In yet another first, Diplomat Magazine, in The Hague, will be added to the growing list of international clients from Berlin, Warsaw, London, Paris, Singapore, Chicago, Toronto, Orlando, Dublin, Hong Kong and Perugia, who have successfully organized FilmWalk events with Robb. Following the program’s conclusion, links to completed films will be posted in a follow-up article and published in the magazine’s online edition.
Tip: Every delegate will also receive complimentary access to a Smart film School Online course as a value-added (€29) bonus.
Registrants are invited to meet at 03:00 pm at the Diplomat Magazine Stand for a brief introduction of approximately 30 minutes. Following the introduction, we will roam around the festival to “film with a purpose” before reconvening to edit our work with Robb’s support and guidance. All are welcome to join us on Saturday, but space is limited. Sign-up to learn about the possibilities of “making news” with your Smartphone!
Additional information:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/stehl8lwtwvyovk/August%202017%20Robb%20bio.docx?dl=0 
