As I cannot help following world politics, I cannot help having some thoughts regarding Greece and the financial situation the country finds itself in. On Friday, the Swedish Finance Minister called the Greece opposition 'criminally irresponsible' for not forming a coalition government with the ruling party.
Radio 4 reported this morning that a movement has started in Greece, calling for people to stop repaying their debts. With regards to their national debt and deficit, some politicians are calling for all debts to be written off.
The latter would make a lot of sense as Greece are finding themselves in a circle so vicious, that it will be very hard - if not impossible - to create the sustainable growth needed to move the figures back to black.
The problem with writing Greece's debt off is that the EU has to ask Portugal, Ireland and Spain to plug their fingers in their national ears whilst singing LALALALALA. In this situation, no matter what decision the EU will make, and no matter what they want other countries to think of it; the decision will be a precedent.
The EU is meant to be a union of sovereign states. The challenge with a single currency is that it is great when times are good, and not so great when countries find themselves in various depths of recession. Please forgive me, but Sweden is again a prime example of how a floating currency adapts itself to the macroeconomic environment.
Personally, I am in favour of the single market. However, in the light of the above I have to be sceptic to a single currency. Instead of uniting Europe, the Euro may just tear a continent apart.
Please let me know your thoughts.
Examples of further reading:
http://www.economist.com/node/18805503
http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2011/05/swedish_view_euro_crisis
Today Simon has:
Listened to Simple Plan in French: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxtfFoFwrmA
Read loads of profiles on LinkedIn
Noted that time flies
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Monday, 20 June 2011
Sunday, 19 October 2008
Film Trailer of the Year
W. by Oliver Stone was released in theatres across the pond yesterday. The film's official website contains an amazing trailer. Will we ever understand him?
Today Simon has:
Listened to the pastor in church
Read The Sunday Times - it costs what it weighs (£2)
Noticed that he is not missing anything in his life
Today Simon has:
Listened to the pastor in church
Read The Sunday Times - it costs what it weighs (£2)
Noticed that he is not missing anything in his life
Friday, 17 October 2008
Paolo
A pretty good summary on the trouble with Swedish media. Available in English via Google, translation is automatic so some things won't make sense.
http://blogg.svd.se/ledarbloggen?id=9809
Today Simon has:
Listened to In Love by Scouts of St Sebastian
Read The Times
Noticed that only a nasty miracle will make McCain the next president of USA.
http://blogg.svd.se/ledarbloggen?id=9809
Today Simon has:
Listened to In Love by Scouts of St Sebastian
Read The Times
Noticed that only a nasty miracle will make McCain the next president of USA.
Sunday, 5 October 2008
Great North Fun
12,057 people were faster than me. However, they still cannot take away the fact that I managed to beat my time from last year =). I finished my second Great North Run on 1h 58min 48sek.
My aim was to finish on or around 1h 45min. That obviously did not happen. I also learn that running becomes so much more unpleasant when you try to achieve a certain time. Next year I will have a more structured training and just do it for fun - and then the result hopefully will come by itself (is that English?).
Congratulations to all the charities which raised money. I pray it will all be used wisely to help people in need.
Tomorrow is a dissertation seminar. I am still slightly confused.
And Governor Sarah Palin does not play a fair game. Interesting to see whether the Senators Obama/Biden can stay focused when the Republican election winning machine gets going.
Obama/Biden are better for business according to the latest issue of the Economist. Get it if you are interested in American politics. Special feature in this issue.
I also pray that British Airways will change their short haul sandwich menu. Pretty tiring getting the same grub on intra-European flights as on UK domestic. Their new ad is class though.
Today Simon has:
Listened to the choir at Newcastle Cathedral.
Read about Apple's next move.
Noticed that he will try to run 'just for fun' next year.
My aim was to finish on or around 1h 45min. That obviously did not happen. I also learn that running becomes so much more unpleasant when you try to achieve a certain time. Next year I will have a more structured training and just do it for fun - and then the result hopefully will come by itself (is that English?).
Congratulations to all the charities which raised money. I pray it will all be used wisely to help people in need.
Tomorrow is a dissertation seminar. I am still slightly confused.
And Governor Sarah Palin does not play a fair game. Interesting to see whether the Senators Obama/Biden can stay focused when the Republican election winning machine gets going.
Obama/Biden are better for business according to the latest issue of the Economist. Get it if you are interested in American politics. Special feature in this issue.
I also pray that British Airways will change their short haul sandwich menu. Pretty tiring getting the same grub on intra-European flights as on UK domestic. Their new ad is class though.
Today Simon has:
Listened to the choir at Newcastle Cathedral.
Read about Apple's next move.
Noticed that he will try to run 'just for fun' next year.
Friday, 26 September 2008
Due to Popular Demand
Today is the last Friday before university makes its comeback into my life on Monday. Many new faces; which is good fun.
Tonight is a meal with the Christian Union. I should probably not eat much as it feel like eating is what I have done most of the time this week. Having said that, I went for a massive run in preparation for the Great North.
Well, to the airline business then. The latest news is that Alitalia will get saved. I am not sure that saving Alitalia is a good idea. There are too many subsidised seats out there already. My assumption is that very few Italians are proud of the product Alitalia provide to their customers.
Meanwhile, a few airlines have joined Boeing in a campaign for a sustainable jet fuel supply chain. Basically, the airlines have as customers decided what they would prefer to buy. Now it is up to the energy companies concerned to improve their share of the process. It seems like these airlines and Boeing did not try to get the energy companies involved in this. If that is the case, I am surprised nobody spoke to any of them first as they are the jet fuel suppliers.
Tonight is the first debate between The Hopefuls, aka Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. It is on 2am BST and perfectly visible on Sky News. People would argue that Senator McCain is better for business. I would like to turn that argument around. Personally, I believe Senator Obama has the policies to create a world where international businesses have less to worry about. His ability to listen will be important to the relations with countries east of Britain.
Even though I will never be the president of the United States (yeah, even I have realised that), I hope to find myself in a position where I can make a difference in a year from now. I will graduate next summer, and companies have expressed interest in me. Hopefully I will be able to convince potential employers that I will be a good fit. I guess my age of 24 is the only thing they could have against me.
Anyway, it would be a great challenge to enter the labour market in a recession. A challenge I actually look forward to.
Today Simon has:
Listened to Visslaren by Kent
Read (well, a quarter of the book left) the Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Noticed that blogging once a month probably is not good enough
Tonight is a meal with the Christian Union. I should probably not eat much as it feel like eating is what I have done most of the time this week. Having said that, I went for a massive run in preparation for the Great North.
Well, to the airline business then. The latest news is that Alitalia will get saved. I am not sure that saving Alitalia is a good idea. There are too many subsidised seats out there already. My assumption is that very few Italians are proud of the product Alitalia provide to their customers.
Meanwhile, a few airlines have joined Boeing in a campaign for a sustainable jet fuel supply chain. Basically, the airlines have as customers decided what they would prefer to buy. Now it is up to the energy companies concerned to improve their share of the process. It seems like these airlines and Boeing did not try to get the energy companies involved in this. If that is the case, I am surprised nobody spoke to any of them first as they are the jet fuel suppliers.
Tonight is the first debate between The Hopefuls, aka Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. It is on 2am BST and perfectly visible on Sky News. People would argue that Senator McCain is better for business. I would like to turn that argument around. Personally, I believe Senator Obama has the policies to create a world where international businesses have less to worry about. His ability to listen will be important to the relations with countries east of Britain.
Even though I will never be the president of the United States (yeah, even I have realised that), I hope to find myself in a position where I can make a difference in a year from now. I will graduate next summer, and companies have expressed interest in me. Hopefully I will be able to convince potential employers that I will be a good fit. I guess my age of 24 is the only thing they could have against me.
Anyway, it would be a great challenge to enter the labour market in a recession. A challenge I actually look forward to.
Today Simon has:
Listened to Visslaren by Kent
Read (well, a quarter of the book left) the Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Noticed that blogging once a month probably is not good enough
Friday, 29 August 2008
On Everything
Yesterday I used British healthcare for the first time in my life. I had a wisdom tooth extracted at the RVI Dental Hospital. It was very straightforward, and I am actually looking forward to my next appointment in October when another wisdom tooth of mine will be shown the door. As it is now, I have to eat lighter food than usual as chewing is slightly tricky.
American Politics
Barack Obama. That is probably one of the most popular two word combinations in the world right now. Is the hype exaggerated? I do not think I want more hype, but Senator Obama is worth every single moment of attention he get. The Democratic party seems to me more socially aware than ever and they, somehow, manage to get the positive properties out of the descriptor 'liberal'. I can see the British Conservatives take a lot from the Democratic election machine if it turns out to be successful. I personally hope that Senator Obama, together with Joe Biden, will beat the Republican pairing McCain/Palin. I was excited when George Bush was elected the first time. I cannot say that I have been impressed by much during his two terms - apart from that he is extremely charismatic and funny. These two abilities are something that rarely is shown on Swedish television. Censorship at its best.
The Airline Industry
This is an industry which is extremely close to my heart. This morning Sky News greeted me with the headlines that the low fare transatlantic airline Zoom has gone bust. As an airline today, you need plenty of money in the bank. Young airlines as Zoom has rarely a credit worthiness that make lenders jump in sheer excitement. In a book written by Professor Rigas Doganis, who is a former CEO of the Greek flag carrier Olympic Airlines, it is described how the airline industry is highly cyclical. You get roughly seven bad years after seven good years. So I guess that the bad years are ahead.
The next European flag carrier to go bust will, of course, be Alitalia. Air France/KLM is a natural buyer as they are the major carrier in the Skyteam Alliance which Alitalia is a member of. I do not know though if AF/KLM is still interested as Berlusconi clearly has expressed that he would like the airline to remain in italian hands.
The library is closing now, so more later.
Today Simon has:
Listened to the Obama speech again
Read some on svd.se
Noticed that he will spend very little money next week
American Politics
Barack Obama. That is probably one of the most popular two word combinations in the world right now. Is the hype exaggerated? I do not think I want more hype, but Senator Obama is worth every single moment of attention he get. The Democratic party seems to me more socially aware than ever and they, somehow, manage to get the positive properties out of the descriptor 'liberal'. I can see the British Conservatives take a lot from the Democratic election machine if it turns out to be successful. I personally hope that Senator Obama, together with Joe Biden, will beat the Republican pairing McCain/Palin. I was excited when George Bush was elected the first time. I cannot say that I have been impressed by much during his two terms - apart from that he is extremely charismatic and funny. These two abilities are something that rarely is shown on Swedish television. Censorship at its best.
The Airline Industry
This is an industry which is extremely close to my heart. This morning Sky News greeted me with the headlines that the low fare transatlantic airline Zoom has gone bust. As an airline today, you need plenty of money in the bank. Young airlines as Zoom has rarely a credit worthiness that make lenders jump in sheer excitement. In a book written by Professor Rigas Doganis, who is a former CEO of the Greek flag carrier Olympic Airlines, it is described how the airline industry is highly cyclical. You get roughly seven bad years after seven good years. So I guess that the bad years are ahead.
The next European flag carrier to go bust will, of course, be Alitalia. Air France/KLM is a natural buyer as they are the major carrier in the Skyteam Alliance which Alitalia is a member of. I do not know though if AF/KLM is still interested as Berlusconi clearly has expressed that he would like the airline to remain in italian hands.
The library is closing now, so more later.
Today Simon has:
Listened to the Obama speech again
Read some on svd.se
Noticed that he will spend very little money next week
Tuesday, 1 July 2008
Lapplandsväck
The annual Christian summer conference is underway - and I am not there. Well, I attended it for a day on Saturday - but that was it. Anyway, it was good fun to meet a wide range of friends during my brief guest appearance.
The other day I spoke to a UK friend over the phone for a while, interesting to hear how my English gets even slower (yes, it is possible) just because I haven't used it for virtually a month. Fortunately, my English improves year on year. So I should be even better by graduation. In the best of worlds; I am good enough to get onto a good grad scheme.
An agency has helped me to get a new flat in Newcastle. This obviously means that I have decided to skip the placement year. I will live across the street from the Centre of L. So it should be no more than a 20 minute walk to uni.
And now to something completely different. Robert Mugabe, one is really wondering how a rather promising leader 28 years ago has turned into something very in- and un-human. I hope that the African Union can sort something out. If not it should be inevitable for neighbouring African countries to intervene. And if they do not intervene I will upset, but nowhere near as upset as I would be finding European countries and the US resisting an armed intervention to restore democracy in Zimbabwe. However, if we are lucky the old dictator will just die all by himself. BUT - that would probably not be the fairest solution.
Today Simon has:
Listened to XM Radio Online
Read The Economist and Svenska Dagbladet
Noticed that it is a grey day
The other day I spoke to a UK friend over the phone for a while, interesting to hear how my English gets even slower (yes, it is possible) just because I haven't used it for virtually a month. Fortunately, my English improves year on year. So I should be even better by graduation. In the best of worlds; I am good enough to get onto a good grad scheme.
An agency has helped me to get a new flat in Newcastle. This obviously means that I have decided to skip the placement year. I will live across the street from the Centre of L. So it should be no more than a 20 minute walk to uni.
And now to something completely different. Robert Mugabe, one is really wondering how a rather promising leader 28 years ago has turned into something very in- and un-human. I hope that the African Union can sort something out. If not it should be inevitable for neighbouring African countries to intervene. And if they do not intervene I will upset, but nowhere near as upset as I would be finding European countries and the US resisting an armed intervention to restore democracy in Zimbabwe. However, if we are lucky the old dictator will just die all by himself. BUT - that would probably not be the fairest solution.
Today Simon has:
Listened to XM Radio Online
Read The Economist and Svenska Dagbladet
Noticed that it is a grey day
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
Happiness
This is a picture from when the Sweden U19 women's team in basketball had defeated Serbia in the world championships semi final. Eventually Sweden lost the final against the USA (surprisingly!). Anyway, I am really proud of them and I wish them the best of luck in future campaigns.
Today Simon has:
Listened to Steve Wright in the Afternoon
Read information on various bank accounts
Noticed that Sweden lacks a debate about the VAT which is the highest in Europe at 25 %
Today Simon has:
Listened to Steve Wright in the Afternoon
Read information on various bank accounts
Noticed that Sweden lacks a debate about the VAT which is the highest in Europe at 25 %
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
American Presidential Election '08
Hope the grammar was good enough in that header. Anyway, I have figured out who would get my vote if I was American. John Edwards is, in my own opinion, the man best suited for the job. His performance was the best in comparison to what I have seen of Obama, Clinton and Edwards.
Today Simon has:
Listened to the radio.
Read various Wikipedia articles on candidates for the US presidential election.
Noticed that the best way to avoid sweets is to avoid buying them.
Today Simon has:
Listened to the radio.
Read various Wikipedia articles on candidates for the US presidential election.
Noticed that the best way to avoid sweets is to avoid buying them.
Sunday, 22 July 2007
Terrorists
How can you be so stupid that you think your cause would gain from taking hostages? That is so 70's and still various terrorist groups thinks it is a viable way.
They only dig their own grave by taking hostages and killing them as the western world will regard it more urgent to wipe them out. You would expect a greater sense of self-preservation...
And when it comes to the talibans, I am astounded that they by law enforces a lifestyle on fellow countrymen.
Today Simon has:
Listened to 6 Music from the BBC
Read a couple of pages in the Last King of Scotland
Noticed that football management sims are addictive
They only dig their own grave by taking hostages and killing them as the western world will regard it more urgent to wipe them out. You would expect a greater sense of self-preservation...
And when it comes to the talibans, I am astounded that they by law enforces a lifestyle on fellow countrymen.
Today Simon has:
Listened to 6 Music from the BBC
Read a couple of pages in the Last King of Scotland
Noticed that football management sims are addictive
Monday, 18 June 2007
Rushdie's Knighthood
If you skim through following it will help you to understand what I am ganning aboot.
Salman Rushdie. I have not read anything he has written, and I doubt that many of the upset Islamists have.
But if we assume that the Islamists are right and that Rushdie is blasphemeous it only shows how stupid a religion can be. We have a few questions to ask the people who justifies suicide bombings and murder of people who disagrees with their "right opinion".
The Islam countries who claim that the western world is disrespectul should think about their own legislation concerning religious freedom.
" The Satanic Verses’ treatment of the life of Muhammad was seen as blasphemous by many Muslims. Parts that caused particular offence include a suggestion that Islam was founded by the Prophet after experiencing hallucinations caused by smoking hashish."
In Sweden Jesus' has been pictured AS an homosexual in an exhibition. And that exhibition took place in a church among other places. We also have MP:s who put an equal sign between Christians and neo nazis due to the stance on same-sex marriage.
As a born-again Christian you could probably picture that it makes me sad and upset when people want to do above things to the person I see as my saviour. But that does not want me to kill people.
"I detest your views, but am prepared to die for your right to express them."
Voltaire
Today Simon has:
Listened to BBC Radio 2
Read news on the web
Noticed and appreciated positive comments from people concerning his appearance on national radio! =)
Click here to get to the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation and click on Åsele in the right frame if you want to listen to me.
Salman Rushdie. I have not read anything he has written, and I doubt that many of the upset Islamists have.
But if we assume that the Islamists are right and that Rushdie is blasphemeous it only shows how stupid a religion can be. We have a few questions to ask the people who justifies suicide bombings and murder of people who disagrees with their "right opinion".
The Islam countries who claim that the western world is disrespectul should think about their own legislation concerning religious freedom.
" The Satanic Verses’ treatment of the life of Muhammad was seen as blasphemous by many Muslims. Parts that caused particular offence include a suggestion that Islam was founded by the Prophet after experiencing hallucinations caused by smoking hashish."
In Sweden Jesus' has been pictured AS an homosexual in an exhibition. And that exhibition took place in a church among other places. We also have MP:s who put an equal sign between Christians and neo nazis due to the stance on same-sex marriage.
As a born-again Christian you could probably picture that it makes me sad and upset when people want to do above things to the person I see as my saviour. But that does not want me to kill people.
"I detest your views, but am prepared to die for your right to express them."
Voltaire
Today Simon has:
Listened to BBC Radio 2
Read news on the web
Noticed and appreciated positive comments from people concerning his appearance on national radio! =)
Click here to get to the Swedish Broadcasting Corporation and click on Åsele in the right frame if you want to listen to me.
Wednesday, 28 March 2007
On war and Zimbabwe
I haven't really written anything on politics so far on this blog. But today when I walked from the metro to home I got really upset when I heard following on the radio. I wonder how the religious army thought...
Zimbabwe is a country which events I have followed closely during the last years. Now it seems like they are doing nasty things to Mr Tsvangirai again. I hope that the reign of Mugabe will end as soon as possible. And that a sensible leader can take charge via a democratic election.
I highly recommend you to watch the Last King of Scotland. A great film on how a dictatorship (doesn't) work. I think it got a few BAFTA:s as well.
Today Simon has:
Listened to something that was good, but I don't remember what
Read about shares
Zimbabwe is a country which events I have followed closely during the last years. Now it seems like they are doing nasty things to Mr Tsvangirai again. I hope that the reign of Mugabe will end as soon as possible. And that a sensible leader can take charge via a democratic election.
I highly recommend you to watch the Last King of Scotland. A great film on how a dictatorship (doesn't) work. I think it got a few BAFTA:s as well.
Today Simon has:
Listened to something that was good, but I don't remember what
Read about shares
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