Clipmarks | ouyangwulong's 'corruption' clips

Corruption and Conscious in China

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 04:15:27 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: Although it at first seems appealing to have public officials take responsibility for the disasters that slip by one their watch, it may not be the best course of action.

For instance, there was a baby food scandal in 2004, and the government reacted by holding people responsible - heads of companies and several public officials were executed.

But now a similar problem is happening again. Why?

Because by holding an individual responsible for what is a societal lapse, it allows everyone else to keep on doing business as usual without addressing the fundamental underlying problems.

In the case of corruption or dereliction of duty, the communist party's punitive actions have not served as a deterrent, quite the opposite.

Perhaps we should also consider this in our own context, for we all own a small part in the disasters we blame on our politicians.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Chinese baby formula scandal widens as 2nd death is announced

China's Ministry of Health announced on Monday that a second baby had died in recent months and that 1,253 others had been sickened by contaminated milk powder in a widening food safety scandal that has exposed persistent weaknesses in the country's regulatory system.

Four years ago, at least 13 Chinese babies died of malnutrition after their parents unwittingly fed them fake baby formula that lacked any nutritional value.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

HONG KONG: The governor and deputy governor of Shanxi Province lost their jobs Sunday after at least 254 villagers were killed when their homes were engulfed in a cascade of muddy iron ore waste from the reservoir of an unlicensed mine.

was the latest sign that the authorities in Beijing were assigning personal responsibility to high-ranking members of the Communist Party for their handling of environmental and work safety disasters.

Tags: china, corruption, baby formula, scandal, responsibility, death penalty, bush, iraq

Taiwan's Interesting Democracy

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:03:33 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: A democracy, you say?
One where the people are concerned about the appearance of impropriety, you say?
Impossible, I say, impossible!

But it's true! And it's in Taiwan. They actually raise valid concerns about conflicts of interest in high government officials - before the corruption scandal, not after!

How come we never thought of that?

This blows a giant hole in the "Asian Values" argument, that dictatorship and corruption are inherent elements of "The Asian Mind" that cannot be changed. (Go suck on that one, Lee Kuan Yew!)

But seriously, given the track record of the current Taiwanese first-lady, I would say it's better that Chow keeps her job, because this way she won't have to embezzle from the government when she wants to buy new earrings!

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Taiwan's prospective first lady sets example

the public was focused not on how Ma would tackle the economy or relations with China - but whether his wife, Chow Mei-ching, should quit her job.

Analysts debated on the air whether Chow should keep working at the bank, where she has worked for more than 20 years and is now director of the legal affairs

working might pose a conflict of interest for Chow: "As a director, she must negotiate what's best for the bank, but that's not necessarily what's best for the country."

Chow would be the first Taiwanese first lady to hold a job, something that is also rare in Asia or other parts of the world. Chow's predecessors did not, including Wu Shu-chen, the wife of the current president, Chen Shui-bian

Wu is better known for her penchant for expensive jewelry and her indictment in an embezzlement scandal involving a discretionary presidential fund

Tags: taiwan, democracy, lee kuan yew, asian values, corruption, kmt, wu shuchen, chen shuibian

Losing Hearts and Minds; Empowering Extremism

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:36:01 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: Before anyone asks why we aren't winning the War on Terror yet, consider these sad headlines.

All around the world, reasonable people are being dragged into the slipstream of extremism. The cause is blatant moral bankruptcy.

Greed, corruption and exploitation, fortified behind the twin bastions of ignorance and righteousness, are discrediting the institutions that are instrumental in overcoming extremism, intolerance, and global violence.

Particularly America remains the store house of the world's hopes and dreams. We are not merely a nation but an ideal, and we must live up to our promise.

Obama and McCain are both men of admirable morals and transparent character. Meanwhile, as Hillary obfuscates over her finances, we must realize she lacks the moral authority needed to restore America's international credibility.

Being Righteous is not nearly as important as being Right.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Islamists gain ground in Somalia

The trouble started when government soldiers went to the market and, at gunpoint, began helping themselves to sacks of grain.

Islamist insurgents poured into the streets to defend the merchants. The government troops got hammered, taking heavy casualties

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Israel's Supreme Court upheld a plea bargain on Tuesday under which former president Moshe Katsav will avoid rape charges or jail time

Clip Source: www.iht.com

A top aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was caught at a border crossing with 3,000 contraband cell phones in his car, bringing embarrassment for an administration already struggling with sagging popularity

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Bush aide quits because of alleged improprieties involving grant money

Sixto is the second White House aide to resign under a cloud in less than a month.

Tags: hilary, obama, mccain, bush, katsov, diplomacy, islam, extremism, corruption, war on terror

The Assasination of Benazir Bhutto

Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:45:48 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: When in power, corruption hemmed in around her, and her visions were stalemated by the reality of bureaucratic government. She was at her best when she was disenfranchised, chiding those in control.

In power she was a bureaucrat, but in opposition she was an icon.

Now she has died as icons die, as opposition leaders die, in an explosive annihilation of waves of humanity.

...at the back gate of a park after a speech, on the eve of her comeback.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Benazir Bhutto, Pakistani opposition leader, killed in suicide attack

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto died Thursday from her injuries sustained in a suicide attack, a party aide said.

Her supporters at the hospital began chanting "Dog, Musharraf, dog," referring to Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf.

Some of them smashed the glass door at the main entrance of the emergency unit, others burst into tears.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene could see

scattered at the back gate of the Liaqat Bagh park where Bhutto had spoken. He counted about 20 bodies, including police, and could see many other wounded people.

It was the second suicide attack apparently targeting the former prime minister in two months.

Her homecoming parade in southern city of Karachi from an eight-year exile on Oct. 18 was also targeted, killing more than 140 people.

Tags: terrorism, pakistan, bhutto

America's Faustian Dilemma: At What Price Hegemony?

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:07:50 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: The author seems to think that we have no choice, that we must embrace corruption and bribery in dealing with dictators like Nazarbayev in Khazakstan in order to get the oil we crave.

But we do have a choice. We could give up being the most powerful country in the world, couldn't we?

At what point do we say that the pursuit of power isn't worth it? What values are so sacrosanct that we wouldn't compromise them for mere economic and political gain?

Why does America have to be number one anyway? All the things I love best about my country have very little to do with our incessant drive to dominate the global community.

In fact, I wouldn't mind it if we let someone else take over for a bit. I'm sick of all this chest pounding and dick measuring.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

James Giffen likes to share the wealth.

Overall, according to prosecutors in New York, Giffen gave more than $78 million to senior officials in Kazakhstan, for which he was indicted on federal bribery charges in 2003.

What truly sets Giffen apart is that he has claimed in his defense that he was an operative for the Central Intelligence Agency.

The case raises a number of questions, including this one: in an era of scarce oil, can America afford to punish anyone who cuts corners to win deals for American firms?

the American government cannot avoid the contradictions of needing oil but wanting to get it, or at least be seen to get it, in moral ways. This predicament has been evident for a long time in our dealings with dictatorships in, for instance, Saudi Arabia and Angola.

The choice is simple: Make painful but necessary changes to reduce our addiction to oil, or sink deeper into our moral sludge.

Tags: oil, hegemony, america, bush, corruption, faust, khazakstan

North Pole Discount Hotels: Something is out of control!

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 04:25:10 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: Which corruption of our society finally spiraled out of control and brought us to this grim point? Was it global warming? Or commercialism? Or bourgeois ennui? Or simply the fact that we have already promoted every other place left on earth?

Clip Source: www.tripadvisor.com

Best North Pole Travel Deals

North Pole: Save on over 70,000 properties Worldwide!

North Pole

Inside North Pole

All North Pole Reviews

North Pole Hotels

Flights to North Pole

North Pole Deals

North Pole Attractions

North Pole Restaurants

North Pole Discount Hotels

Tags: comedy?, north pole, tourism, wtf

Savage Capitalism in the Post-Communist World

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 05:51:39 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: Although China has grabbed most of the headlines for poisonous toys, Russia has quietly gone to pieces as well. What is happening in these countries is not merely the residual effects of the failure of communism, it is a violently selfish mentality, perhaps born in the desperation of bread lines, but now blooming in the vacuum of law and order created by the collapse of the Communist system.

In China and Russia both we see the values espoused by George Bush and his Neo-Conservative gang taken to their horrific logical extreme. Customers have become a commodity. Wealth is the only guarantor of safety and power. Corporations and corruption rule the government. The fanatical pursuit of wealth for its own sake has taken over, leaving the average citizen to fend for themselves in a frightening wilderness of indifference and exploitation.

The blazing fires of this economic explosion are fueled by an icy detachment from the basic human traits of empathy and compassion.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Coating on toy beads from China could be life-threatening

the boy had eaten Bindeez toy beads coated with a glue compound that the boy's digestive system had converted into GHB. At least four other children have been temporarily hospitalized in Australia and New Zealand in the past three weeks after eating the beads.

Moose said that it had reviewed the ingredients of the beads and found that some batches did not match the list of ingredients promised by the supplier. "The substitution was not at any time approved by Moose, nor was Moose made aware of any substitution by the supplier,"

Clip Source: www.iht.com

In Russian renaissance, safety takes backseat

Respect for law, safety and public health, and the Russian government's ability to govern, still lag far behind the Kremlin's restored sense of self, as evidenced by the scale at which Russia's population suffers from fires.

Tags: capitalism, communism, greed, safety, not a good combination!

The Imminent Collapse Of China

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 07:04:41 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: Contrary to popular myth, the Chinese have very little common sense when it comes to business. Virtually no Chinese-run company is internationally competitive.

What's driving the Chinese economy? Pixie dust: The collective power of 1.3 Billion pairs of hands clapping to keep Tinker Bell alive. The business world is as riddled with corruption, nepotism and waste as the government. Often times, there is no difference at all between state and industry.

This will end the same way it did for America in the thirties: with collapse. Investing in companies based only on enthusasim, nationalism, or just excitement and ignorance. (Gee, I'd really like to buy some stocks but I don't know which ones, oh well, let's get these, they have a pretty color, and your cousin works there, doesn't he?)

I'll say it on the record right now: stay away from China if you have a business. Do everything you can to insulate yourself, because this is one house of cards that's gonna come tumbling down, and

Clip Source: www.iht.com

HONG KONG: PetroChina, the state oil and gas giant, became the world's first company to pass $1 trillion in market capitalization when it debuted on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Monday.

Despite PetroChina's share price trippling on debut in Shanghai and overtaking Exxon Mobil in value, it is about half as profitable as its rival. In the first half of 2007, PetroChina's net income was $10.9 billion, compared to $19.5 billion for Exxon Mobil.

The prices set on the Chinese exchanges, still largely isolated from the rest of the world by regulatory barriers that limit the amount of foreign money going into the stock markets and domestic money permitted to go out, bear little relation to company performance or to markets elsewhere.

The huge valuation underlines the scale of the asset bule that has been building as Chinese investors have dived into the share markets of Shanghai and Shenzhen, unleashing the huge savings in personal bank accounts.

Tags: china, stocks, crazy

Ego or Egalitarianism? Maoists on the move in Nepal

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:19:11 GMT

clipped by: marszal
clipper's remarks: Its official they're no longer part of the government and they're taking measures to disrupt upcoming elections. BBC paints them as looking to fail in the polls almost implying that their desire to disrupt elections is some sort of self serving power move. This may be fair, but at the same time one should consider their concerns - previous peoples movements (Jana andolan) in Nepal have been followed by brief acts of appeasement and institutionalized corruption (particularly the 1990 movement). I guess only time will tell if this is ego of egalitarianism.

Clip Source: www.kantipuronline.com

Baluwatar talks fail; Maoists quit govt

Sept 18

four and a half months after joining the government, the CPN-Maoist has quit the government

All four Maoist ministers

tendered their resignations to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala

Clip Source: www.kantipuronline.com

Dr Bhattari said that joining hands with the seven-party alliance in the interim government was like “squeezing oil out of sands”.

Referring to their meeting with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala this morning, he said, “We were invited at around 8:30 this morning. We saw that Kumbhakarna was half asleep. We held talks for around 10-15 minutes. Then Kumbhakarna fell asleep again.”

Kumbhakarna is a mythological character from the Hindu epic Ramayana. Kumbhakarna, who slept for six months a year, was the brother of the Demon King Ravana.

Clip Source: www.kantipuronline.com

The Maoist leaders are formally announcing their decision to launch an agitation at the assembly.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Our protests will be peaceful but if anybody tries to make it violent we will retaliate with the same kind of actions

Tags: nepal, maoists, communism, politics, conflict, south asia, prachandra

Estrada Jailed - Filipino Rambo/Presidente gets life

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 07:38:20 GMT

clipped by: marszal
clipper's remarks: This guy finally got nailed - points to the Philippines when was the last time the US jailed a former president for blatant corruption? I imagine theres more drama to come though - this guys just got a knack for drama

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Estrada gets life for corruption

Former Philippine President Joseph Estrada has been found guilty of corruption and jailed for life.

embezzling about $80m (£42m)

forced from office in an army-backed revolt in 2001.

His son Jinggoy was acquitted of the charge of plunder.

"That's why I took a gamble. I thought the rule of law will prevail over here. This is really a kangaroo court. This is a political decision."

He was ousted three years after coming to power in a revolt backed by the army and the church. His vice-president Gloria Arroyo took over.

He was accused of making crucial policy decisions with late-night drinking buddies at the presidential palace, and he admitted fathering a number of children by different mistresses.

Tags: estrada, philippines, rambo, jail, you got served

The Three Cs: Korea, Corruption, and Capitalism

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 10:15:49 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: Wow, the part of Korea that didn't go crazy communist went crazy capitalist. Apparently, according to the testimony of Korea's President, being a powerfull buisnessman actually does make someone above the law. Read the article for more great quotes, like how the prosperity of the nation is more important than the rule of law. Actually, sounds a lot like some of the stuff Fred Thompson is getting at when he talks about not damaging the prosperity of America.

Have fun Korean working-class! You will be hunted for sport for the amusement of corporate elites starting next week!

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Korean court suspends prison term for Hyundai chairman

SEOUL, South Korea: An appeals court suspended on Thursday a three-year prison term handed to Hyundai Motor Co. Chairman Chung Mong-koo for embezzlement, saying the tycoon is too important to South Korea's economy to go to jail.

A three-judge panel at the Seoul High Court suspended the sentence for five years, meaning that the 69-year-old head of the world's sixth-largest automaker will avoid prison as long as he keeps a clean record during that period.

A lower court had sentenced Chung in February to three years for embezzling more than US$100 million (€73 million) in company money to set up a slush fund. Prosecutors say the fund was used to pay lobbyists to gain government favors and for personal use.

Presiding Judge Lee Jae-hong told the packed courtroom that Hyundai Motor has great influence over the nation's economy and Chung, its hands-on leader, is the symbol of the company.

Tags: corruption, arrogance, greed, capitalism, korea

Case Studies in Accountablity (Part II)

Wed, 30 May 2007 02:41:52 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: For those curious as to what will happen when the Chinese government gets to the bottom of the other food poisoning scandals, just look at this guy's face. China regularly executes government officials and business leaders for serious cases corruption.

Although I don't support the death penalty, it stands in stark contrast to America, where we tend to find ways to avoid accountability through political spin. It seems today that entrenched politicians and their corporate allies in America flaunt their corruption, expecting us to dismiss disasters like the miss-management of the Hurricane Katrina disaster as something we can do nothing about. Is it really true that we can't expect anything better from our government?

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Chinese drug commissioner is sentenced to death

SHANGHAI: The former head of China's top food and drug safety agency was sentenced to death Tuesday after pleading guilty to corruption and accepting bribes, the state-controlled news media reported.

Zheng Xiaoyu, who served as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration from its founding in 1998 until mid-2005, was detained in February as part of a government investigation into corruption at the agency.

Tags: accountability, corruption, china, food quality

Case Studies in Accountablity (Part I)

Wed, 30 May 2007 02:20:19 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: Imagine a government where its own ministers hold themselves accountable for their own corruption.

The Japanese government is certainly not a great system, but it's refreshing to hear that there are still politicians out there capable of feeling shame when their corrupt incompetence is exposed to the world, even if there aren't any in America.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

TOKYO: When Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took office last autumn, he was a popular young leader vowing to end what he called Japan's "postwar regime." But the suicide of the agricultural minister on Monday threatens Abe's administration with one of the oldest problems in Japanese politics: money scandals.

On Tuesday, administration officials tried to play down the political significance of the hanging death of the agricultural minister, Toshikatsu Matsuoka, who faced a pair of political funding scandals.

Events continued to unfold, however, when the former executive director of a government agency at the center of one of the two scandals also committed suicide, according to the police. Shinichi Yamazaki, 76, jumped to his death from his Yokohama apartment building on Tuesday morning, a day after he was questioned by prosecutors in the scandal over alleged bid-rigging in public road contracts, the police said.

Tags: government, corruption, accountability, ldp, shinzo abe, japan

Clipmarks | ouyangwulong's 'corruption' clips

Corruption and Conscious in China

Chinese baby formula scandal widens as 2nd death is announced

Taiwan's Interesting Democracy

Taiwan's prospective first lady sets example

Losing Hearts and Minds; Empowering Extremism

Islamists gain ground in Somalia

Bush aide quits because of alleged improprieties involving grant money

The Assasination of Benazir Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto, Pakistani opposition leader, killed in suicide attack

America's Faustian Dilemma: At What Price Hegemony?

North Pole Discount Hotels: Something is out of control!

North Pole Vacations - North Pole Tourism

Best North Pole Travel Deals

Savage Capitalism in the Post-Communist World

Coating on toy beads from China could be life-threatening

In Russian renaissance, safety takes backseat

The Imminent Collapse Of China

Ego or Egalitarianism? Maoists on the move in Nepal

Estrada Jailed - Filipino Rambo/Presidente gets life

The Three Cs: Korea, Corruption, and Capitalism

Korean court suspends prison term for Hyundai chairman

Case Studies in Accountablity (Part II)

Chinese drug commissioner is sentenced to death

Case Studies in Accountablity (Part I)