Human Rights Day - 2022

              One week ago, precisely on 10th of December, the world celebrated the human rights. We must always remember that there is not democracy without human rights and there is not human rights without democracy. We should not be afraid to fight for our human rights including our political rights. This year the U.N. is recognizing the importance of dignity, freedom and justice to the realization of human rights.   This post is a summary of three articles. The first was published at https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day. The second was published at https://www.outlookindia.com/national/world-human-rights-day-2022-history-significance-theme-all-you-need-to-know-news-243790. The third was published at  https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2022/12/10/global-human-rights-day-2022-time-to-reiterate-our-commitment/

             "It is absolutely clear that we need to regain the universality of human rights, the indivisibility of human rights, and we need to find a new energy that motivates young people around the world," said the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. Human Rights Day is observed every year on 10 December - the day U.N. General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). The UDHR is a milestone document, which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being. Available in more than 500 languages, it is the most translated document in the world.The theme 2022: Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for all. This year's Human rights Day, we will launch a year-long campaign to showcase the UDHR by focusing on its legacy, relevance and activism. In the decades since the adoption of the UDHR in 1948, human rights have become more recognised and more guaranteed across the globe. It has since served as the foundation for an expanding system of human rights protection that today focuses also on vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and migrants. However, the promise of the UDHR, of dignity and equality inj rights, has been under a sustained assault in recent years. As the world faces challenges new and ongoing - pandemics, conflicts, exploding inequalities, morally bankrupt global financial system, racism, climate change - the values, and rights enshrined in the UDHR rpovide guideposts for our collective actions that do not leave anyone behind. The year-long campaign seeks to shift the needle of understanding and action towards greater knowledge of the universality of the UDHR and the activism associated with it. The UDHR has inspired many struggles for stronger human rights protection and helped them to be more recognized. Whenever and wherever humanity's values are abandoned, we all are at greater risk. The solutions to today's greatest crises are rooted in human rights. We need to renew the social contract between government and their people and within societies, so as to rebuild trust and embrace a shared and comprehensive vision of human rights on the road to a just development.                                                                                                                                                                                                          In a bid to ensure the fundamental rights of every human being, irrespective of their gender, race, religion, nationality, the U.N. adopted the UDHR. Since then, December 10 has been an important day to remind humanity of the rights they deserve, and the rights they violate. This day is widely recognised to raise awareness about people's social and political rights. The darkest chapters of human history brought together the need to protect the rights of people from various walks of life, against the inhumane abuses of governments and rulers. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) pronounces the international law that tells a government the way its citizens must be treated. Currently, the principles of the UDHR have been incorporated into the constitution of most member countries of the U.N. To celebrate this year a campaign will be launched emphasising the theme, Dignity, Freedom and Justice for all."                                                                                                                                                                                                              On 10th December, the world celebrates the Human Rights Day. This year the theme of the event is "Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All." Democratic backsliding has become visible in the 21st Century. Liberal values are losing appeal worldwide, and majoritarian politics is further hurting our society. As democracy is experiencing backslides, the human rights situation is deteriorating worldwide. In the Global South is deteriorating due to growing authoritarianism, internal conflict, political violence, poor labor condition, violence, and weak institutions. The Ukraine conflict have further exacerbated the scenario, initiating an energy and food crisis. Biden Government is centering his foreign policy on human rights and democracy, such politics is affecting the human rights situation worldwide. The U.N. is an idealist institution that promotes multilateralism. Going beyond the bloc politics and great power rivalry, the U.N. tries to address the problem of bringing its member together. The U.N. has identified that dignity and freedom have been threatened recently, and justice is becoming scarce worldwide. So, the theme for this year is to remind us of our rightful dignity, freedom, and justice. As all the U.N. members have adopted UDHR, we must uphold the global human rights situation. Weak institutions and decaying democratic values are assaulting our dignity, justice and freedom. The day should serve as a 'wake up' call for the world. Upholding human rights is a continuous process. It requires time and effort, and the global community should come together. In the 21st Century, the universality and the 'one size of human rights' conception have also emerged as a new debate. Addressing the current global issues requires cooperation. But for that, we must reduce the gap between us, initiate dialogue and create a path for reconciliation. We must promote plurality and multilateralism. 

Latin America Economic Outlook 2022 - Towards a Green and Just Transition

                   This post is a summary of the book published in 2022 at https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/development/latin-american-economic-outlook-2022_3d5554fc-en#page53

 Latin America (LA) countries are at a critical juncture. Just as the region was looking forward to a rebound in growth path after the pandemic, the current inflationary pressures and stark geopolitical tensions are throwing spanners in the region recovery works. In parallel, LA faces the challenge of implementing adaptation and mitigation strategies to address the climate emergency, while at the same time accelerating the pace of social, economic and institutional progress, all within narrowing fiscal space. We need to act now. This agenda must protect and value the region's unique natural and renewable energy capital. A green and just transition should strengthen social protection systems and promote job formalisation. Active labour market policies are essential to provide people with the necessary skills and help them transition to better jobs. A legitimate and politically viable transition requires a broad consensus on its objectives. This is important in a region where support for green policies is high, but where trust in public institutions has seen a sharp erosion. The COVID-19 pandemic aggravated social challenges in the region, leading to increased levels of poverty. These are projected to increase in 2022, due mainly to the economic slowdown and rising inflation, especially in food prices. Looking ahead, LA countries producing eletricity from renewables, given their abundance of low-cost renewable energy can position themselves as green hydrogen industrial hubs. The region also has a strategic position to supply key minerals for the energy transition. In 2017, 61% of global lithium reserves, 39% of global copper, and 32% of global nickel and silver reserves were in LA. Renewed industrial policies are needed to encourage and attract investments in green innovation. So far, the region's GDP expenditure in research and development has been only 0.3% of GDP and remains highly government-driven (56.5% of the total). The LA region faces the challenge of financing the green transition under a tight fiscal space. Financial strategies will have to enhance private and public sector resource mobilisation, inpart by engaging key actors. The public sector will have to create the necessary incentives to redirect these investments towards sustainable projects. In many ways, LA's fragmented voice in climate negotiations constitutes a missed opportunity, especially considering that the region hosts 50% of the planet's biodiversity. Burning of fossil fuels and deforestation are the main causes of climate change. Global carbon dioxide emissions rebounded to their highest level in history in 2021. Given its share in global GHG emisssions compared to countries with similar development levels, LA is usually associated with better environmental performance. The regional shares of total world GHG emissions are disproportionately distributed, as East Asia and the Pacific had the highest emissions, contributing with 37.5%, while Europe and Central Asia 14.4%, North America 13.2%, South Asia 8.4% and the LA region 8.1%. The structure of emissions in LA countries differs from that of the OECD countries. Although the energy sector remains the most emission-intensive for the two regions, each one has its particularities. South America's high emitting sectors are agriculture (28.5%), land-use change (23.8%), and transport (13.4%). The infrastructure of many cities in LA prioritises mobility by car, making it the transport mode that provides higher access to oportunities compared to other transport modes such as public transport. Induced demand refers to the phenomenon by which public investment in roads for car use ends up causing more, rather than less, traffic congestion. These dynamics lead to territories in which most people need to travel long distances daily and private or motorcycles are the most attractive options. Understanding the dynamics above allows policy makers to see that this "choice" is not really an individual preference but the result of the systems design. Applying a diet analogy, "unhealthy" transport systems are those in which most poeple use motorised vehicles for most of their trips. "Healthy" transport systems are those in which people can access places by walking, cycling, and using micro-or shared modes, such that they are the most convenient and people choose them most often. LA countries need to focus efforts on policies that can transform their transport systems away from car dependency. Those LA countries whose power generation largely comes from hydropower should also envisage other renewable energy sources. An over-dependence from hydro can have negative economic impacts in times of drought. Over the last two decades, many LA countries have made substantial progress in building renewable energy markets and diversifying their energy mix. In 2020, 33% of total energy supply in LA was generated by renewables compared with 13% at the global level. However, significant variations exist across the region. For instance, Brazil generates 84% of its electric power from renewables, including 6.9% from solar, 10.9% from wind and 65% from hydropower. Investments in hydrogen and other low-carbon fuels, including biofuels will be necessary to support decarbonisation in heavy industries and transportation. Some LA countries have either published or are currently preparing national hydrogen strategies. Examples of national hydrogen development strategies underway: Chile - launched a hydrogen strategy in 2020. It aims to establish 25 GW by 2030, as well as to produce the world's cheapest hydrogen and become one of the world's top three hydrogen exporters by 2040. Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Panama, Paraguay are preparing national hydrogen plans. The transformation of the global energy mix from fossil fuels to renewable energy is necessary to meet the Paris Agreement goals. However, fossil fuel use will continue and will also remain part of the mix even after the world has transitioned to a low-carbon economy. By 2050, fossil fuels are still expected to represent 20% of the global energy supply. Several LA countries have significant oil and gas production. Key producers in the region are: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela. In terms of global crude oil reserves, LA has the second-highest with 19.1%, behind only to the Middle East with 48.3%. Five key actions could help LA countries advance towards decarbonisation: 1) reducing methane emissions. 2) maximising potential of associated gas. 3) electrification of the oil and gas industry. 4) advancing carbon capture utilisation and storage; 5) phasing out fossil fuel-fired thermal generation. The green transition offers an opportunity to address one of the region's greatest challenges: the production structure. Productivity has remained stagnant in recent decades, with the productive structure biased towards activities that have high intensity for materials and natural resouces, plunging the region into a productivity trap that reinforces the environmental trap. Currently, 75% of the region's total exports are primary products and natural resource-based manufactures.

Education at a Glance 2022

                This post is a summary of the book with the title above, published in 2022 at  https://www.oecdilibrary.org/docserver/3197152expires=1668108151&id=id&accname=guest&checksum=F52BBCD6E19D0AC509D7732D08CD37B

                 In the past two decades, the share of young adults with advanced qualifications has risen sharply across OECD countries: 48% of 24-34 year-olds had a tertiary degree in 2021, compared to just 27% in 2000. This is due to the growing need for advanced skills in labour markets and has profound implications for our societies and the future of education. The first half of 2022 was marked by a gradual return to normality thanks to widespread vaccinations. As the focus shifted from crisis management to recovery, evaluating the impact of the pandemic and remediating its consequences became a priority. The pandemic forced countries to adopt solutions for digital teaching and learning to compensate for periods when in-person lessons were limited or not possible at all. Although many of these solutions were implemented as emergency measures, they have proved valuable beyond periods of remote learning. Tertiary attainment is already becoming the norm among young adults in many OECD countries. In 14 OECD countries, more than half of all 25-34 year-olds have a tertiary degree, rising to at least two-thirds in Canada and Korea. The increase in tertiary education has been a nearly universal trend. Countries that started with low tertiary attainment levels in 2000 have experienced strong growth. The share of tertiary-educated 25-34 year-olds quadrupled in Turkey, from 9% in 2000 to 40% in 2021. From 13% to 47% in Portugal and from 11% to 39% in the Slovak Republic. And from 13% in 2011 to 23% in 2021 in Brazil. Young people who did not complete secondary education face a high risk of finding themselves neither employed, nor in formal education. Brazil, Greece and South Africa have the highest share of young people suffering long-term unemployment, at around 5% of more of all 18-24 year-olds. In Argentina, Slovak Republic and Spain the figure is also high, at around 3%. Modern economies depend on a supply of high skilled workers and these workers in turn reap labour-market benefits. Education systems need to respond to the labour-market challenges of today and prepare students for the labour markets of the future. Pathways through education can be diverse, both across countries and within the same country. Compulsory education is usually relatively homogeneous as students progress through primary and secondary education. Periods of compulsory education vary across OECD countries. In some countries, early childhood education and care is compulsory, as early as the age of three. In other countries, education becomes compulsory only from primary education onwards. When compulsory education was first introduced during the late 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, it was often limited to short periods of primary education. Since then, the duration of compulsory education has increased gradually, a trend that has continued up to today. France introduced compulsory pre-primary education starting at 3 years-old in 2019. In 2015, the U.K. raised its school leaving age to 18. Higher education is a core enabler of the progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. By having a significant impact on students' awareness and contribution to a prosperous society, tertiary education is viewed as a change agent. The share of tertiary students enrolled in private institutions varies dramatically across countries. It is 100% in the U.K., but virtually 0% in Canada, Denmark, and Greece. While a few countries have large majorities of tertiary students in private institutions, the share is between 10% and 30% in most OECD countries. There are important differences between private tertiary institutions. In some countries with high share of students in private institutions, most of private institutions are government dependent. Even though they are organised as private entities,they obtain large shares of their funding through regular government contributions. This is the case in Belgium, Finaland, Israel, and the U.K. Policy makers are increasingly aware of the key role that early childhood education plays in children's cognitive and emotional development, learning and well-being. Teachers play a central role during children's early years, helping them develop in many aspects of their lives: cognitively, socially and emotionally. Women tend to dominate the teaching profession in most levels of education, and the over-representation of women in the workforce is particularly marked in the earlier years of schooling with women making up 96% of teaching staff. The share of women shrinks with each successive level of education, to 83% at primary level, 63% at secondary level and 44% at tertiary level. Parents' needs and expectations regarding accessibility, cost, programme, staff and accountability are all important in assessing the expansion of pre-education programmes. When parents' needs for quality, availability, or affordability are not met by public institutions, some parents may be more inclined to send their children to private institutions. Educational expenditure indicators help to show what, how and where financial resources are directed to education. The investments are made with the well-established idea that expenditure on education enhances labour productivity by improving the skills of the workforce, which might affect economic growth and social development. Students are more likely to cross borders to pursue their studies are they reach more advanced levels of education. Internationally mobile students account for only 5% of bachelor's students, but 14% of master's students and 24% of doctoral students on average in OECD countries. English is the lingua franca of the globalised world, with one in four people using it worldwide. Not surprisingly, English-speaking countries are the most attractive student destinations overall. The top five destination countries are Australia, Canada, Germany, the U.K., the U.S.A. Students from Asia form the largest group of international students enrolled in tertiary education programmes at all levels, totalling 58% of all mobile students in 2020. The number of students in non-tertiary education remained fairly stable on average OECD countries between 2012 and 2019. Most OECd countries spent more per student in 2019 than they did in 2012, with the exception of Greece, Mexico, and Slovenia. Expenditure per student on non-tertiary education increased by at least 4% per year in Colombia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Turkey. Countries invest in education to help foster economic growth, enhance productivity, contribute to personal and social development, and reduce social inequality, among other reasons. In 2019, total public expenditure on primary to tertiary education as a percentage of total government expenditure for all services averaged 10.6% in OECD countries. However, this share varies across countries, ranging from around 7% in Greece and Italy to over 17% in Chile.

390th Birthday of John Locke - Part II

                  This post is a summary of four articles. The first was published at   https://afribary.com/works/the-notion-of-human-rights-in-the-philosophy-of-john-locke. The second was published at https://www.britannica.com/topic/human-rights/Natural-law-transformed-into-natural-rights. The third was published at https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.12987/9780300129182-009/pdf. The fourth was published at http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/6/john-locke-and-the-second-treatise-on-government

                 Going through the pages of history, one will note that the rights of man have been bastardized and their rights trample in the mud. Thus, denying human rights is in no little means denying man his humanity and dignity, and by so doing doubting his existence. Thus, the issue of human rights is one of the major problems bothering the human person in the 21st century. The continuous neglect of the rights of man by most often countries has dehumanized man's humanity from being a 'person' to an 'it'. The continuous infringement into one's right is in the increase in our world today thereby denying man his very essence and dignity. This is because the human person is being dehumanized, oppressed and bastardized against the fundamental values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. John Locke emerged with a political history that created space for what he called "a state of nature" where the respect for the individual's right is seen as a motivation for the common good and social progress. For Locke, the fundamental precepts of any system of human rights are life, health, liberty and prosperity. It is to secure this rights that governments are formed among men. Government always remains only an agent of society. It is not society itself. It is always an instrument of the people for the protection and promotion of their rights. Experience tell us that, in a society where injustice is not being upheld, where man's dignity is being dragged to the mud, where the liberty of man is not only comprehensively curtailed, but trampled upon; the idea of human rights becomes not only a mirage but also an illusion.                                                                                                                                                The intellectual and especially the scientific achievements of the 17th century (including the materialism of Hobbes, the rationalism of Descartes, the pantheism of Spinoza, and the empiricism of Bacon and Locke) encouraged a distinctly modern belief in natural law and universal order and, during the 18th century, the so-called Age of Enlightenment, inspired by growing confidence in human reason. Particularly important were the writings of Locke, arguably the most important theorist of modern times. Locke argued in detail, that certain rights self-evidently pertain to individuals as human beings, among them are the right to life, liberty (freedom from arbitrary rule) and property. This liberal intellectual ferment exerted a profound influence in the Western world of the 18th and early 19th centuries. In sum, the idea of natural rights, forebear to the contemporary notion of human rights, played a key role in late 18th and early 19th centuries struggles against political absolutism. Although the heyday of natural rights proved short, the idea of rights nonetheless endured. The abolition of slavery, the implementation of factory legislation, the rise of popular education and trade unionism, the universal suffrage movement, these and other examples of reformist impulses afford ample evidence that the idea was not to be extinguished. But it was not until the rise and fall of Nazi Germany that the idea of human rights truly came into its own. Many of the gruesome atrocities committed by the Nazi regime, convinced many that law and morality can't be grounded in any purely idealist or utilitarian doctrine. Certain actions, are absolutely wrong, no matter what the circumstances.                                                         Locke's democratic theory had dimensions ranging over accounts of the moral equality of persons, what we might today describe as a political rather than a metaphysical approach to moral and political disagreement, and a strong defense of majority rule as the wellspring of institutional legitimacy. Locke is typically portrayed as a theorist of individual rights rather than of democracy. In the debate over the ideological origins of the American Revolution, for instance, the Lockcan view is contrasted, as a rights-centric one, with a civic republican interpretation of the Founders' self-understanding.                                                                                                                                                                   In 1688, King James II was overthrown by a group of Parliamentarians. This was the result of what is known as the Glorious Revolution. Naturalist and political philosopher John Locke was present to witness these events and was so compelled by them, he wrote what is known as the Second Treatise on Government. In this, Locke would attempt to explain why King James II was justifiably overthrown, and why William III ascended him. He would define for us the "legitimate role of civil government". The best way to figure this out, was to imagine a state in which no government existed. Then by seeing that state, determine where necessary laws and governing bodies are needed. Locke described the role of civil government like this: "Political power, then being a right of making laws for the regulating and preserving of property, and of employing the force of the community, in the execution of such laws, and in the defence of the common-wealth from foreign injury, and all this only for the public good." To Locke, a government existed, among other things, to promote public good, and to protect the life, liberty and property of its people. And the society must hold the power to instate a new government when necessary. 

390th Birthday of John Locke

                   Almost two months ago, precisely on 29th August, the British writer John Locke would complete 390 years old. So this post is a tribute to him. He was a pioneer in the defense of human rights, education and democracy.    This post is a summary of four articles. The first was published   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Locke. The second was published at     https://learn.saylor.org/mod/page/view.phid=36461&forceview=1#:~:text=Locke%20wrote%20that%20people%20form,that%20protects%20their%20human%20rights. The third was published at  https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke-political/. The fourth was published at   https://ethics.org.au/big-thinker-john-locke/

                 John Locke (1632-1704) was an English philosopher and physician, widely regarded as one of the most influential of Enlightenment thinkers and commonly known as the "Father of Liberalism". Considered one of the first British empiricists, Locke is equally important to social contract theory. His work greatly affected the development of political philosophy. His contributions to republicanism and liberal theory are reflected in the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Internationally, Locke's political-legal principles continue to have a profound influence on the theory and practice of limited representative government and the protection of basic rights and freedoms under the rule of law. Locke's Theory of Mind is often cited as the origin of modern conceptions of identity and the self, figuring prominently in the work of later philosophers such as David Hume and Immanuel Kant. Locke was born near Bristol, both of his parents were Puritans. In 1647, Locke was sent to Westminster School in London under the sponsorship of Alexander Popham, a member of Parliament. After he was admitted to Oxford at the age of 20. He obtained a bachelor of medicine in 1675, having studied the subject extensively during his time at Oxford. Locke's medical knowledge was put to the test when Ashley Cooper undergo surgery to remove a cyst in the liver. Ashley survived and credited Locke with saving his life. Ashley, as a founder of the Whig movement, exerted great influence on Locke's political ideas. Locke became involved in politics when Ashley became Lord Chancellor in 1672. Although Locke was associated with the influential Whigs, his ideas about natural rights and government are today considered revolutionary for that period in English history . Locke went to Netherlands in 1683, during his 5 years in Holland, Locke chose his friends from among the same freethinking members of dissenting groups. Locke's strong empiricist tendencies would have disinclined him to read a grandly work such as Spinoza's Ethics, he was deeply receptive to Spinoza ideas, most particularly the argument for political and religious tolerance and the necessity of the separation of church and state. Unlike Thomas Hobbes, Locke believed that human nature is characterised by reason and tolerance. Like Hobbes, Locke assumed that the sole right to defend in the state of nature was not enough, so people established a civil society to resolve conflicts in a civil way with help from government in a state of society. Locke was an assiduous book collector. By his death, locke had amassed a library of more than 3,000 books, a significant number in the 17th century.                                                                                                                                                                                 Traditionally, all groups of humans, from forest dwellers to urban, have had notions of justice, fairness, dignity, and respect. However, the notion that all human beings, simply because they are humans, have certain inalienable rights they may use to protect themselves against society and its rulers was a minority view in the era before the 1500s. Many pre-modern societies believed that rulers had an obligation to govern wisely and for everyone's benefit. However, this obligation was believed to come from divine commandment or from tradition. It did not rest on a concept of personal human rights that ordinary people could call on to defend themselves against unjust rulers. The first person credited with developing a comprehensive theory of human rights was the British philosopher John Locke. Locke wrote that people from societies, and societies establish governments, in order to assure the enjoyment of "natural" rights. Locke defined government as a "social contract" between rulers and ruled. Citizens, he believed, are obliged to give allegiance only to a government that protects their human rights. Many of the great political struggles of the past two centuries have revolved around expanding the range of protected rights. Across the globe, regimes that denied basic human rights to their citizens have lacked long-term stability. The lesson of the recent past is that, wherever people are given the chance to choose, they choose internationally recognized human rights. And despite shortcomings, we live in a world in which fewer governments dare to deny their people that free choice.                                                                                                                                                                         Locke's epistemological positions in the Essay Concerning Human Understanding lead him to take education to be extremely important. His attack on innate ideas increases the importance of giving children the right sort of education to help them get the right sort of ideas. Locke's main educational writing is Some Thoughts Concerning Education. The book was extremely popular and went through numerous editions after its publication. Locke hopes for children who have internalized strong powers of self-denial and a work ethic that will make them compliant in an emerging modern economy. Locke's education is designed to give children the ability, when they are older, to evaluate critically, and possibly reject, prevailing norms. Locke also assumes that the isolation of early childhood will end and that adolescent will normally think differently from their parents.                                                                                                                                                     He was known for his liberal, anti-authoritarian Theory of the State, his empirical theory of knowledge and his advocacy of religious toleration. Much of Locke's work is characterised by an opposition to authoritarianism, both at the level of the individual and within institutions such as government and church. Locke's argument also places limits on the proper use of power by authorities. Due to his emphasis on liberty, Locke defended a distinction between a public and a private realm. The public realm is that of politics and the individual's role in the community as a part of the state. The private realm is that of domesticity where power is parental. For Locke, government should not interfere in the private realm. Locke asked us to use reason in order to seek the truth, rather than simply accept the opinion of those in positions of power or be swayed by superstition. We see Locke's legacy in the 1776 U.S. Declaration of Independence, which was founded on his natural rights and theory of government. Following on from his theory of human rights, we also see Locke's legacy in the U.D.H.R., which was adopted by the U.N.in 1948. Locke's lasting legacy is the argument that society ought to be ruled democratically in such a way as to protected the liberty and rights of its citizens. And the government should never over-step its boundaries.

50 Actions to Becoming a More Extraordinary Leader

                    This post is a summary of the article with the title above published at   https://jimshaffergroup.com/resources/50-ways-to-becoming-an-extraordinary-leader/

                  1) Every time a leader speaks or acts, his/her words and actions should communicate the story.    2) Although large meetings can be used to communicate the story, leaders can also take advantage of daily mini meetings in various parts to connect people and their jobs to strategy and goals.   3) Avoid mixed messages from different people trying to communicate the key messages.   4) Praise the person you see or learn about who is doing work that is consistent. Then tell the other people around them.   5) Inform the person who is not acting in a way that is consistent. Encourage him/her. Track the person's progress.   6) Reward people who uncover and report on problems.   8) Publicize and celebrate great responses.   7) Make simple forms of recognition, like a smile, hand shake or a high five, contagious. This is how recognition cultures are built.   8) Ask yourself every day what you have done to serve your team better. How have I helped my team grow?   9) Hold the managers accountable for using soft skills to generate results that are consistent.   10) Distribute articles describing what other companies are doing to improve. Discuss the ideas in your meetings.   11) Actively participate in orientation, training and development programs.  12) Be reliable. If your behavior is confusing, indecisive or inconsistent, others can't depend on you act in similar ways in similar conditions.    13) Always tell the truth. Honesty does not mean full disclosure.   14) When you make a mistake, apologize.    15) Use question to communicate that you want your team and its members to pursue excellence.    16) Keep your goals in perspective. Know and keep in front of you the imporatnt areas of your life such as family, etc.   17) Set aside a specific time each week for personal reflection. Ask questions, and caoture your reflections. What do I still need to focus on for next week? Have I made progress towards my long term goals? What new ideas do I have?    18) Identify the frustrating processes or systems that prevent people from achieving. Create a specific plan to make those issues go away permanently. Tell everyone what you did and why.    19) Scrutinize your working environment. Describe it as if you were visiting for it the first time. Does it bring people together or keep people apart?    20) Recognize someone in another discipline, department or area who helped your team succeed.    21) Invite hourly people to your team meetings. Ask them what the team does right and what the team does wrong. What can you do to help them get the job done right?     22) Use 25% of meetings to discuss the past; 75% to discuss the future plan and how you can improve on it.    23) Create continuous improvement teams to focus on future. Ask: What should we anticipate? Tell why it is important and what it takes.    24) Congratulate someone publicly for thinking ahead.     25) Stop rewarding or recognizing the fire fighters and start rewarding and recognizing the fire preventers.  

What Makes a Good Politician? Part III

              Next Sunday the people of Brazil will be voting. It is very important that you think well about who deserve your vote. Remember who defend more transparency for governments, who defend more education for all, more sustainable development, respect to human rights, including political and social rights. Remember who has almost twenty years of activism online. The two parts with the same title were published in September 2016, now is the third part. This post is a summary of three article. The first with the title above was published in 2021 at   https://rightforeducation.org/2021/01/26/what-makes-a-good-politician/. The second was published in 2020 at    https://corg.iu.edu/programs/hamiltonviews/commentscongress/What%20Makes%20a%20Successful%20Politician.html. The third was published at https://bpac.in/what-defines-good-politicalleadership/

             A politician is a person who is professionally involved in politics. Either holding or seeking an office in government. When in office, they help to produce the policies which govern a country. Otherwise, they may engage in party politics. Also, campaign for particular issues and debate with fellow politicians. Why do politicians matter? Politicians matter for the same reasons that politics matters. We care about how we are governed and how power is shared in society. We should also care about who govern us and who wields the power. If we want to protect democracy, for example, we must ensure that politicians introduce laws. Laws according to the will of the citizens and remain accountable to the people. It is important to know what makes a good politician. So that we can evaluate our own leaders as well as being in the best position to enter the world of politics ourselves. Politicians need to be able to effectively represent the people. They should be able to listen to voters and determine what they want. Politicians should also be honest and follow through with their promises. They should be willing to compromise in a system where there are a variety of views to reach consensus. Politicians should be compassionate, confident and able to lead. These characteristics will help politicians work out the most beneficial course of action and secure high public approval.                                                                                                               A lifetime in politics has given me a sense of what makes a good politician. One of the ironies of our system is that the skills and attributes that put someone in office are usually not the skills needed for success once they are there. Yet as a nation we depend on politicians' abilities in office to move us forward. For starters, I think the most successful politicians have integrity. When you are interacting with many others to deal with complex and difficult public policy issues, it is hugely important that you can trust someone's word. For the same reason, they tend to be skillful at working with all sorts of people. Sizing others up accurately, not just whether they are trustworthy, but the skills and strengths they might bring to a given policy or organizing effort is vital. So is not rushing to amke quick judments, but instead letting others show through their actions what they can accomplish. I've been impressed over the years by the energy and drive to get things done that good politicians bring to their work. Serving in office all-consuming, especially if you are a politician who wants to accomplish change. At the same time, accomplished politicians know how to rein in their enthusiasm and zeal. They practice patience and perseverance and prepare for the haul, because they understand that controversial things don't get easily done in our system. They believe that facts matter, because they are the starting point for any productive negotiation. And they are very good at managing their time efficiently. Good politicians are able to put aside partisan differences when necessary and work for the common good. They do not see someone they disagree with as the enemy.                                                                                                                  Political leaders are vital, they determine the allocation of power and money through governmental policies, establish partnerships with other stakeholders, and make decisions that can have a major effect on a nation's well-being and its citizen. Political leadership requires a leader to focus on a country's long-term betterment, above and beyond any short-term personal gains. Strong political leadership requires a mixture of charm and honesty, and the capacity to evaluate a circumstance and make a judgment based on what will be better for the majority. Above all, leadership needs statesmanship, as compared to just becoming a 'politician', which implies possessing the honesty and ability to stand up for what is fair, even though it means resigning a government. Let's look at some of the skills required to be successful in political leadership.  1) Good Communicator - If you can't effectively communicate your message, you can never be a good leader. Words can get people motivated.  2) Honesty and Integrity - Are two main elements that make for a strong leader. How do you demand integrity from your supporters if you neglect such qualities? Leaders excel because they hold to their basic principles, and that won't be possible without ethics.  3) Decision Maker - A leader should be capable of making the right decision at the right time.  4) Must Be Able to Inspire Other - Perhaps the toughest thing a leader to do is convince people to follow them. This will only be done by providing a clear example and encouraging your followers.  5) Must Delegate Tasks Effectively - Different duties should be delegate and see how they perform. Provide them with all the tools and help they need to attain the target and allow them to bear responsibilities.  6) Man With a Vision and Purpose - Influential leaders have intent and vision. Not only can they imagine the future, but they also express their dreams with their supporters. A political leader should have a global perspective.

International Day of Democracy - 2022

                   Last Thursday, 15th of September all over the world was celebrated the importance of democracy to the people. Democracy isn't only the right to vote, it is the right to be a candidate in a fair (without fraud) election. It is the right to freedom of expression, it is the right to justice, it is the right to live without persecution. Since the start of my online activism in 2006 I have been writing about the importance of democracy for the people. Including there is now a world movement for human rights, justice and democracy happening. A movement so intense and strong that nobody can ignore, nobody can stay indifferent to this movement. This post is a summary of four articles. The first was published https://www.un.org/en/observances/democracyday#:~:text=2022%20Event&text=The%20conversation%20will%20showcase%20why,component%20of%20a%20healthy%20democracy.. The second was published at https://cor.europa.eu/lv/events/Pages/International-Democracy-Day.aspx. The third was published at https://currentaffairs.adda247.com/international-day-of-democracy-2022-observed-on-15-september/. The fourth was published at  https://www.thequint.com/news/world/international-day-of-democracy-2022-on-15-september-history-significance-interesting-facts

                    While the COVID-19 crisis has resulted in major challenges globally, a new upheaval in Europe is reminding the world that our democratic principles are constantly under threat. In fact, now more than ever democracy is backsliding, civic space is shrinking, distrust and misinformation are growing while threats to the freedom of journalists and media workers are expanding by the day. This year, Democracy Day will focus on the importance of media freedom to democracy, peace, and delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals. Free, independent and pluralistic media, able to keep the public informed on matters of public interest, is a key ingredient to democracy. It enables the public to make informed decisions and hold governments to account. When media freedoms are under threat, the flow of information can be stifled, skewed or cut off entirely. Increasingly, journalists around the world face limits to their ability to operate freely, with a grave impact on human rights, democracy and development. Media globally are increasingly facing attacks, online and offline, the use of defamation laws or hate speech laws to curb online expression and surveillance technologies; to target them and hamper their work. Civil society is essential in ensuring a free, independent and pluralistic media. Civil society organizations have been drafting legal frameworks for access to information; combating hate speech, supporting local citizen journalism fighting misinformation and supporting media rights. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged governments, media organizations and tech companies everywhere to support the work of the media in speaking truth to power, exposing lies, and building strong, resilient institutions and societies.                                                                                                                            In December 2021, one hundred countries joined President Biden's Summit for Democracy to affirm global commitments to democracy, with the White House announcing 2022 as a 'year of action' to support and promote democracy worldwide. Russia's attack against Ukraine has escalated this shift in the geopolitical landscape. A watershed moment for the future of democracy, this war further advances anti-democratic trends worldwide. Yet at this same time, the last few months have seen the international community, including E.U. member states, come together in an unprecedented show of solidarity to protectr and support democracy. During this year's Democracy Day discussions, a wide range of high-level speakers, international democracy advocates and activists from both sides of the Atlantic and the global south will address the challenges of this new world order for democracy. They will discuss the mechanisms to protect and support democracy, such as Team Europe, and greater North-South collaboration.                                                               The International Day of Democracy is celebrated annually around the world to strengthen democracies and highlight its values and principles. This year, the day will focus on the importance of media freedom to democracy, peace, and delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals. The day serves as an opportunity to assess the state of democracies in the world. It also gives a chance to highlight the crucial role of parliaments and their capability to deliver justice, development, human rights and peace.                                                                                                                                                                                                   The day is observed globally to mark the importance of democracy and create awareness among people about democratic rights. The ideal of democracy can only be realised as a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere with full participation, cooperation, and support of the international community, civil society, national governing bodies, and individuals. The right to freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. However, there are governments and highly influential people all around the world who are always on the lookout for ways to hinder it. The Day of Democracy has been established to create awareness among people so that they understand the importance of protection and effective realization of human rights.

200th Anniversary of Brazil's Independence

                         Last Wednesday, precisely on 7th September, Brazil celebrated its 200 years of independence from Portugal. So this post is a tribute to this huge country that has everything to be a good country to its entire population but it is not. But we can not give up to do this country be good to all. There is not much to celebrate in the 200th anniversary of Brazil's independence: high unemployment, inflation, lowest share of the industry in the GDP, a high share of population distrusting the voting machines, what is terrible for the electoral system. In 2016 when I was candidate to city councilor I had only 10 votes, what was a surprise, because everybody said that I would be the most voted candidate of all. Because the people here where I was born and live know me since I was fourteen years old, they know I have always been a hard-working, ethical and sympathetic person. Let's see what will happen in the election of this year. This post is a summary of three articles, the first was published at  https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/07/world/americas/bolsonaro-brazil-bicentennial.html. The second was publishe https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/business/2022/04/independent-brazil-shrinks-in-200-years.shtml. The third was published https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/09/08/brazil-bolsonaro-election-lula-independence-day/

                         For months, the bicentennial had been billed as a test of Brazil's democracy. The left in Brazil feared that Mr. Bolsonaro would use the moment to declare war on Brazil's democratic institutions and preview an attempt to hold onto power if he loses the presidential election next month. In the end, the atmosphere was more of a party than an uprising. And Mr. Bolsonaro, who for months has made worrisome comments about the security of the elections and his willingness to accept the results. Perhaps his most forceful comments were calling his political rivals "evil" and warning that they would try to break the laws in the constitution. There have been recent signs of a truce between elections officials and Brazil's armed forces, which have backed Mr. Bolsonaro's claims that Brazil's elections systems are vulnerable. The morning before the bicentennial celebrations, he was casting doubt on Brazil's voting machines in an interview with a right-wing news network. Mr. Bolsonaro has made attacks on Brazil's Supreme Court and its elections systems for years. He has argued that Brazil's eletronic voting machines are vulnerable to fraud. Despite Mr. Bolsonaro's toned-down rhetoric, his supporters still wanted to focus on the supreme court and the voting machines.                                                                              The bicentennial takes place in a context of stagnation and the relative shrinkage of the country in the global economy. There is no long-term project, and the demographic conditions that drove much of the 20th century's advances are virtually exhausted. In retrospect, it is possible to consider that the Brazilian population growth and the transition from the coutryside to the cities in the last century were the protagonists in the growth of GDP, not the economic dynamism and productivity gains that leveraged other economies, especially the North American and more recently, Asian. The point is that nations poorer than Brazil a few decades ago, such as China, have progressed rapidly. The problem is that with the rapid aging of the population, Brazil will have great difficulty in making a new leap, as did in the past. The forecast is that, in a period of 50 years, Brazil will make the transition from 7% to 28% of the elderly population (65 years and older). From a historical perspective, Brazil's post-independence economic trajectory can be divided into three major periods.                                                                                                                                                                             Tens of thousands of Brazilians rallied to support President Jair Bolsonaro during Brazil's bicentennial celebrations on Wednesday, as the country's presidential race heats up. Experts say Bolsonaro blurred the lines between national celebrations and his campaign events, taking advantage of the day to rally his devoted base and push his far-right nationalist platform. "He reinforced his narratives that the polls are fake and the voting machines can't be trusted, and therefore, his base needs to stay mobilized," said Catherine Osborn, a Brazil-based journalist. She added, "Bolsonaro is lagging behind Lula because voters dislike him more than they dislike Lula. It is actually going to be an election between who has more rejection instead of who has more positive opinions of them." For many Brazilians, Lula represent a period of well-being. "The time when Lula was in power between 2003 and 2010 were years of prosperity. The economy was booming. As Bolsonaro falls behind in the polls, he has made unfounded claims that Brazil's voting systems are vulnerable to fraud, in what experts fear is an effort to contest election results and even attempt to launch a coup. These efforts as well as his threatening rhetoric and misinformation will likely profoundly shape Brazilian society. "Even if there is not a coup in the strict sense of the word, Bolsonaro is sowing the ingredients of a risky, explosive political situation among the civilians for a long time, that does not go away very easily," said Osborn. 

Day of Fighting Injustice 2022 - Part II

                      This week carry on the importance of fighting injustice. The victims of injustice often suffer from high stress, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and the consequencies these mental disosder. And the most important for them , what can cure them is to have their rights respected, justice they are long waiting for. For example, How can a world famous person like me, to have only 7 visualizations on Youtube when put some video, and 7 subscribers, this is very hard to believe. The same has been happening with this blog counter since I made it in 2010, simply don't show us the real number. I really don't know why I have been harmed for so long time and in many ways. Another injustice have been my political rights violated for no reason, what I hope this year they are respected. Including this text below is about the importance of political rights for all. Once more I'd like to thank all demonstration of solidarity and support for my  political rights felt for us here in Brazil. We should strongly reinforce our human rights and justice, because sometimes rumors try to put the blame of violations on the victims in a total inversion of values, we can't accept it, nothing justify the systemic injustice. We can't accept these many injustice and evils used to put fear in people. This post is a summary of one article published at   https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fighting-injustice-within-without-andreas-phelps-ph-d-?trk=pulse-article_more-articles_related-content-card. And the summary of the chapter twelve of the book with the title of, "Fighting poverty, inequality and injustice: A manifest inspired by Peter Townsend." https://books.google.com.br/booksid=LAFpDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA243&lpg=PA243&dq=fighting+injustice+nowadays&source=bl&ots=hMnrbDad0d&sig=ACfU3U0GgT6bHXs2vQxI3QT2gqQXNaJETA&hl=ptBR&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiwpLCBg_v5AhWgs5UCHZQnDj4

                   I was re-reading MLK's letter from Birmingham jail, which is a powerful call to defend justice in the world. His famous quote from that letter is: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." However, I also found compelling his discussion of justice itself and our inherent responsibility as citizens to determine whether the "man-made code squares with the moral law." This is the discernment we each must use every day to evaluate whether our actions are in service of our highest purpose in this life. In his appeal to his fellow clergymen, MLK defines "just laws" as those that uplift human personality and make equality legal, whereas unjust laws degrade human personality and make difference legal. Since laws are simply a code of behavior, this distinction should apply to all our actions. The basic question is whether we are choosing to see the "other" as a human with all the complexities that make up the human predicament or whether we choose to reduce them to a flat static object (less than ourselves) and use them to justify or defend some flawed and limiting personal belief. Racism, sexism, nationalism, or any other system of beliefs which seeks to label and treat other as less human are gross example of this. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn wrote that "the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either, but right through every human heart." For many of us, the opportunity to stand up to injustice in a bold and public way may be a rare occurrence. However, instead of degrading the other, sometimes, for our own defense, there are many moments where we can choose justice, choose to see the other as fully human, choose to call out injustice but in such a way that keeps our hearts at peace. I know so many people, included myself, that feel helpless in the face of the many injustices plaguing the world. We wish we could do more.                                                                                                                                                               In this chapter I want  to explore a position that Peter unequivocally adopted, but I acknowledge immediately both that it is a hard one to maintain and also that few non-lawyers (much less lawyers) have argued for it: can we be strongly in favour of human rights but at the same time be against the lawyers' exclusive appropriation of the term? It is a difficult stance because the idea of human rights has been so indelibly associated with the legal profession from the moment of its re-emergence in 1948 (with the UDHR) and particularly since 1989, when the collapse of the Berlin Wall brought down  Soviet communism forever. The core of human rights was for Peter to be found not in the courtroom but on the streets, in the souls of the activists and campaigners who were seeking by their human rights inspired actions to change society for the better. In the spirit of Peter Townsend, and following in his footsteps, I will argue three propositions. The first assertion is that the idea of human rights in general (and social and political rights in particular) is valuable, that such entitlements deserve not just our protection but also to be respected and promoted. My second point is that the value of this notion of social rights lies principally in the political arena, this being the world in which the good that these words do can be best concretised or most fruitfully deployed. The primary way of embedding human rights properly (and social rights particularly) in any culture, of making this commitment check work, should be via the political process. The experience of Oxfam is that the realisation of economic, social rights can most effectively be achieved with the active participation of those affected. The range of civil society groups that reach for human rights to articulate this need for action and to express the solidarity that flows collective engagement in tackling poverty is impressive and truly international in its reach. Good examples can be pointed to in Wales, in Brazil and in the U.S. There are many others, what unites them is not the language of international human rights law but rather their use of human rights as an idea, a way of asserting dignity, respect for themselves and an insistence that they too (despite their disadvantage and often their misfortune) deserve to be treated properly. This is exactly how Peter used the term, and how best it can be deployed to achieve socially valuable outcomes. A common commitment to human rights can enable the building of alliances that would be difficult without the sharing of a common vision that this term makes possible. Human rights are authentic when they reflect the values and principles that are rooted in the instinct to help, the perceived obligation to care for the stranger that has been part of our species behaviour since the dawn of human time. The term is an open-textured one, its content changes over time as new ways of expressing basic values come to the fore, assuming a human rights shape in order both to capture the essence of what the right is about and at the same time to push for its further realisation in the culture in which the argument for it is being made. All of this is particularly true of social rights because it is the social rights that is now at the frontier of rights talk. The rights can also be added to as new challenges get successfully framed in the language of rights, on disability for example, or the rights of indigenous people. Viewed in this way, the framing, detailing, and embedding of social rights are quintessential political activities.

Day of Fighting Injustice - 2022

                       Six days ago, precisely on 23rd of August was celebrated in Brazil, the day of fighting injustice. We all must defend justice, because when there is some injustice happening for so long, a dangerous precedent can happen, destroying democracy, undermining rule of law and fundamental human rights. So, the public trust in our institutions is severely harmed. Besides, when there is not justice, the abuses tend to grow, spreading and affecting many more people. So if you have witnessed any violation of human rights, record it and help fight injustice.  I have been fighting for justice, democracy and human rights for so many years and I intend to keep this work for more years ahead. I'll give never up to make Brazil a better country, more democratic, fairer, and where human rights are truly respected. The systematic violations, the impunity, the daily bullying in the mainstream media, the threats online and offline exist to do the victims give up to fight for their rights and reparations. Besides the violations, the systematic abuses, the daily humiliation and the impunity can have a dehumanizing effect in the population, trying us accept what can not be accepted, do not let this happen to you, the solidarity and the emphaty are the essence of the human beings. We all should recognize who have courage to defend our human rights including our political rights. Because always there are costs to do this, so help who is losing to defend our rights.  This post is a summary of two articles. The first was published at   https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Fighting-Injustice-P3KF8XZVJ. The second was published at https://cms5.revize.com/revize/haddonfield/HRC/HMHS%20-%20Honorable%20Mention%20-%20CC%20-%20edited.pdf

                        I believe that the idea in this quote, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" (Martin Luther King) relates to how if one country is allowed to abuse, mistreat and terrorize their citizens that countries all over the world will fall like a domino and will eventually allow themselves to give similar treatment to their countries. I understand this quote as being a statement given by Martin Luther King against communism, fascism, civil rights abuses and unjust treatment in general because of the brutal and horrible lives that some people during that time had to experience and suffer under. One example of injustice is the Cambodian genocide. The hardships and the pains that the Cambodian people went through during the mass genocide of the people of Cambodia were horrible and was largely overlooked by the rest of the world. The heart wrenching story of how over 20% of the entire nation's population was wipe out in a blink of the eye by Pol Pot. His rule over the country influenced a regime of terrible tragedies and it was only noticed and talked about more than ten years after the fact. Literature functions as a unique venue to communicate social injustices to society by letting the readers experience the bias treatment through words and how the characters felt. This makes the readers connect and think more deeply about the injustices that are happening in the world today. "In the Bluest Eye", by Toni Morrison, "Night", by Elie Wiesel, and "Flowers for Algernon", by Daniel Keyes, each author uses literary devices such as tone, symbolism, and character to inform injustices. However, each writer approaches the theme of injustices differently with their unique descriptions and styles. In "Night", Elie Wiesel uses a frustrated tone to show how the injustice of the holocaust impacted Eliezer. Eliezer expresses his frustration towards God: "Why, but why should I bless him? I rebelled. Because he had had thousands of children burned in his pits? Because he kept crematories working night and day? Because he had created Auschwitz, Birkenau, Buna, and so many factories of death? How could I say to him: Blessed be thou, almighty, master of the universe. Injustice involves oppression, prejudice, and discrimination. Oppression occurs when forces tend to hold people down and block their pursuit of a good life. Which makes it possible for individuals to vary in their personal experience of being oppressed. Another aspect of injustice is prejudice. It occurs when we judge a person based only on stereotypes about them, rather than a rational evaluation of the facts available to us. Prejudice is an attitude and can it involves both ideas and feelings. Discrimination is another part of injustice, where the unfair treatment of people is based on some characteristic where prejudice is put into action. Discrimination can be either blatant, where it involves hate crimes or physical aggression, or subtle where avoidance and exclusion is used as a tactic.                                                                                                                              People have all the necessary components to challenge and combat injustice. With the evolution of the internet, information is widely available. Unlike years ago, injustice can not be hidden and they must be attacked head on. The smallest act of injustice can be shown to millions of people almost instantaneously. People must take advantage of resources and educate themselves of others perspectives. Currently, many people lack empathy and say, "that is not my problem". Ignoring injustices is like leaving the elephant in the room then watching it trample others. Being a bystander only exacerbates the issue and prevents anything from ever being solved. To confront injustice, it requires people to get out of their comfort zone. MLK never said someone else will do it. He went straight to the frontline and eventually sacrificed his own life in the name of civil rights. I am not telling people to fight injustice with violence and hate, but rather with knowledge, love and compassion. Being able to know the true causes and issues of the injustice are crucial. You can find helpful information scattered from books, websites, or social media. Make sure, however, that all information you find is accurate and not misleading. Once you understand the topic, you must educate others on the topic. We still have injustice today because there is a lack of general public awareness. The more popular the topic becomes, the more political influence it will carry. Politicians must be pressured and held accountable. One of the most important rights to ensure adequate people hold the power in our country is the right to vote. People can spread the message and promote appropriate candidates. They must learn about the candidates and be able to make an educated decision. To not use your vote to combat injustice is like not using a fork to eat spaghetti. Many people do not realize how simple and easy it is to help. The resources available today are unmatched to anything before. There is no better time to help others than today.

Becoming a Better Politician

                I hope this book I offer here a little summary, can help the candidates understand better the many issues necessary in order to improve their outcome in their campaign and after if elected their work as a politician. Our country need better prepared candidates and also more candidates, we need a wider public debate, the internet makes possible everyone to participate in the public debate, so let's speak what we need, what country we want, what we wish the candidates makes when in office. Now is the great moment of any democracy. We all should participate. This post is a summary of the book with the title above, published in 2009 at https://nimd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/How-to-become-a-better-politician-English.pdf

               The politician's trade is something best learnt in practice: that is the prevailing consensus in many political parties. Of course it is true that there is no school like the school of hard knocks, but that is no reason to throw aspiring politicians to the wolves without any preparation whatsoever. Political skills can definitely be learned. The Alfred Mozer Stichting, the international foundation for the support of social democracy, has twenty years experience in the training of political parties and individuals politicians. This book gives parties and politicians one excuse less for performing poorly. We attempt to give as full treatment as possible of the skills every politician should have. Unfortunately it is impossible to be complete. In addition to which, exactly which of the skills mentioned are required depends largely on the political context and traditions in different countries. There is no single blueprint, every situation is unique. Whether you are launching a multimillion dollar campaign or working with the lowest of budgets, the tips in this book will ensure that everyone stands a chance. Lofty aims and ideals are commendable and necessary, but in the end what matters are the results you achieve. Politics is all about preparing and implementing strategies to achieve certain goals. A strategy is the way you try to achieve a given goal. In the end, voters will judge parties and politicians by the concrete results they have achieved, not by the promises they made. Your goal should meet these four criteria: 1) Concreteness - the more concrete the goal, the more enthusiasm it will engender amongst potential supporters.  2) Measurability - if a goal is not measurable, (e.g. reducing the number of poor people by 50% in four years), it will never be possible to determine whether it has been achieved, or whether it ought to be amended.  3) Feasibility - goals can and sometimes should be visionary, but if there is no realistic chance of achieving them within a reasonable term, people will turn their backs on you.  4) Inspirational value - people won't get behind a political programme they are not enthusiastic about. The road to success is often long and strewn with frustrations and disappointments. The only way to keep faith in yourself is if you are inspired and motivated by higher goal. A sound political goal strikes a middle course between inspirational value and feasibility.   The personality of the leader is hugely important in a campaign. Every leader has to display qualities like decisiveness, reliability and consistency. Leaders have to be prepared to go to extremes to achieve their goals, without, however, compromising their personal views or integrity. Skills are trainable, but talent, character and personality are innate qualities, and they make you what you are. Politics is all about getting your message across. A good speech is one of the best ways to do this. First determine which message you want to communicate. Every good speech should convey a clear message. Literary devices can help make parts of your speech quotable, enhancing its chances of finding its way into. Devices like these have resulted in some of the most memorable political quotes, such as Roosevelt's "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". A thorough preparation is key. Practice a debate in advance, try to act out the opposition's point of view as faithfully as possible. Do not exceed your time limit. Always build on the strength of your own message. Always keep your own ideas at the centre of the debate when you engage in battle. You can dispute the opponent's arguments and ideas, but never do so without simultaneously communicating your own. Do not profile yourself merely as the exact opposite of your opponent, but demonstrate instead that you have a more plausible alternative to offer on their own favorite issues. In a campaign, try to set the agenda. Keep re-emphasizing your central message. The speed of modern communication can cause a local issue to blossom into a national row overnight. Local papers have access to the world media via internet. And every public appearance of a politician is being recorded nowadays with mobile phones. 

310th Birthday of Jean Jacques Rousseau

                      Almost two months ago, precisely on 28th June, the Swiss writer Jean Jacques Rousseau would complete 310 years old. So this post is a tribute to him. He propelled political and ethical thinking into new dimensions. He strongly believed in the power of education for the whole development of the young. He knew that for a good development for a city, state or nation, it is a sharing development, and to achieve this, an good education, and an ethical, inclusive and democratic politics are essential. This post is a summary of three articles. The first was published at   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Rousseau. The second was published at   https://bigthink.com/thinking/rousseau-philosophy-explained/. The third was published at   https://www.educationalguruji.com/2022/01/rousseau-educational-philosophy.html

                      Jean Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer. His political philosophy influenced the progress of the age of Enlightenment throughout Europe, as well as aspects of the French Revolution and the development of modern political, economic and educational thought. His 'Discourse on Inequality' andf 'The Social Contract' are cornerstones in modern political and social thought. During the period of the French Revolution, Rousseau was the most popular of the philosopher among members of the Jacobin Club. Rousseau was born in Geneva, which was at the time a city-state. The city was ruled by the"Council of Two Hundred", these delegated their power to a 25-member executive group from among them called the "Little Council". There was much political debate within Geneva, extending down to the tradespeople. In 1707, a democratic reformer named Pierre Fatio protested saying, "a sovereign that never performs an act of sovereignty is an imaginary being". He was shot by order of the Little Council. Rousseau's grandfather supported Fatio and was penalized for it. Rousseau had been an indifferent student, but during his 20s, he applied himself in earnest to the study of philosophy, mathematics and music. At 25, he came into a small inheritance from his mother and used a portion of it to repay De Warens for her financial support. At 27, he took a job as a tutor in Lyon. The Social Contract outlines the basis for a legitimate political order within a framework of classical republicanism. Published in 1762, it became on of the most influential works of political philosophy in the Western tradition. Rousseau offers a wealth of economic thought in his writings, especially the 'Discourse on Inequality', 'The Social Contract', as well as his constitutional projects for Corsica and Poland. Rousseau's economic theory has been criticised as sporadic and unrigorous by later economists such as Joseph Schumpeter, but has been praised by historians of economic thought for its nuanced view of finance and mature thought on development. Scholars generally accept that Rousseau offers a critique of modern wealth and luxury. Rousseau's philosophy of education concerns itself not with particular techniques of imparting information and concepts, but rather with developing the pupil's character and moral sense, so that he may learn to parctice self-mastery and remain virtuous even in the imperfect society in which he will have to live.                                                                                                                                                                                                          Modern political debates often ask how much democracy we should have and what should, and should not, be subject to a vote. Whenever we discuss these issues, we stumble on the famously tricky philosophy of Jean Jacques Rousseau, who argued for democracy, equality, and the greater good nearly 300 years ago. Rousseau wrote his first major essay while living in Paris in 1750. His ideas on education, toleration, state sovereignty, democracy, liberty, and equality have provenj extremely influential. Rousseau suggest that a "legislator, " a person who knows what good laws and morals are, can help people understand what the general will is by either guiding discussion and putting the vague ideas of the people into politically actionable termsd, or by assisting individuals to identify with the common cause that is the general will if they are incapable of doing it themselves. In that case, the magistrates would still follow the general will, but it would not be quite as democratically determined. The hybrid is a model, where citizen-legislators discuss issues and realize why the common good is also their own good when making law.                                                                                                                     Rousseau is the first man in the world who brought about a remarkable change in the social and political structures of many countries through his sound educational ideas. In fact, his thought-provoking ideas such as liberty, equality and fraternity caused the modification of political systems and the development of sociological tendency in education. As he has revolutionised our thinking in so many ways, he is considered as the father of civilization. He has introduced a new theory and practice of education. He has highlighted the evils of society and wanted to reform it by modifying the process of education according to the needs of individual and society. He is the chief exponent of naturalism which has a great impact on modern education. Rousseau was the first man in the history of mankind to preach the gospel about common man, a great educator of the eighteenth century. Hes lost his mother soon after his birth and was brought up bu his father. His mind was occupied with problems concerning education and government. He settled in Paris in 1741 and became a writer. Rousseau was influenced by the poverty and sufferings of the people. In his publications, he condemned the existing institutions and portrayed the oppression and corruption in the society. He was very much disgusted and disappointed with  the political authorities of France and Switzerland. Rousseau, the most influential political as well as educational philosopher, died in 1778. But his profound thoughts such as liberty, equality and fraternity inspired the French Revolution in 1789. The educational views of Rousseau are considered to be new and modern. They are meant to relieve the child from strict discipline, artificial school, social environment, undue control, and rigid methods of teaching. According to Rousseau, education should aim at the fullest development of the child's innate possibilities. Education as such is a life-long process. He states, "to live is not merely to breathe, it is to act, to make use of our organs, senses, our faculties, which give us the feeling of an existence". 

Global Justice Movements

                   Human rights, including political rights is a key component of all justice system in the world. If there are some systems in Brazil where we need more inclusiveness, transparency and activism are the political and electoral systems. I know that through this blog I can reach millions, and I hope carry on writing here every weekend, because in the face what we see happening in the world nowadays, we can't take for granted our basic rights. We should keep fighting for democracy, human rights and justice. This week we all know if my political rights will be respected or it will be disrespected once more. Since 2012 when I wanted to participate of the municipal elections here in the city where I was born and live. I have had my political rights disrespected without reason. And everyone here know that I have real possibilities to win. I have been harmed in so many ways. Once more I'd like to thank all manifestation for my political rights felt for us here in Brazil, you all give us reason to believe that a better world is possible and there are good people in the world, that cares for democracy,  rights, justice, and our human values, in short everything that are worth fight for. I think this has been between other, a big example of solidarity seen in the world, a truly global movement for inclusion, justice, human rights, transparency in politics and sustainability. We all should be proud of this global movement. And you all can be sure that I am measure up to your expectations. ✊✊✊✊✊. This post is a summary of three articles. The first with the incomplete title above was published at   https://journals.openedition.org/rsa/521#tocto1n1. The second was published at   https://www.ndi.org/e-voting-guide/inclusiveness. The third was published at   https://www.ifes.org/issues/participation-and-inclusion

                   This article explores an emerging mode of political engagement among global justice activists. Inspired by previous struggles against free trade, structural adjustment, and ecological destruction, activists have made innovative use of new technologies, creative direct action, and network-based organizational forms. Grassroots activists in Barcelona and elsewhere refer to as a 'new way of doing politics' specifically involves a growing confluence among network-based tech, network-based organizational forms, and network-based political norms, mediated by activist practice. Beyond morphology, networks are increasingly associated with values related to horizontal relations, participatory democracy, self-management, and decentralized coordination based on autonomy and diversity. The network has thus become a powerful political and cultural ideal. This debate reflected a deep tension between two different ways of practicing politics and conceiving democracy. Traditional emphasized continuity and structure and the need for an union with clear membership and high visibility, while activits from decentralized networks countered that rigid structures discourage participation. They argued that future campaigns should be organized along network lines, combining horizontal coordination around common objectives with maximum autonomy. Global justice activists have challenged global inequalities, while making new struggles visible. Global justice movements thus not only growing influence over our lives, communities, but they also constitute laboratories for generating altenatives codes, values and practices. Influenced by the networking logic of the internet and broader dynamics associated with late capitalism, social movements are increasingly organized around flexible, distributed networks forms. Networking logics entail an embedded and embodied set of social and cultural dispositions that orient actors toward: 1) building horizontal ties among diverse, autonomous elements.  2) free and open circulation of information.  3) collaboration through decentralized and consensus decision making.  4) self-directed networking.     Global justice activists have used digital networks to organize actions and mobilizations, share information, and coordinate campaigns by communicating at-a-distance. On the one hand, given their speed, low cost, and reach, digital tech have facilitated the organization of globally protests. On the other hand, the circulation of discourses, strategies signals the rise of a global web of transnational counterpublics. The internet complements and reinforces, rather than replace face-to-face interaction.                                                                                                                                                                       Elections should be as inclusive as possible, for voters and contestants alike. Inclusiveness is closely linked to the right to vote and the right to run for office, as well as the obligation of governments to facilitate these rights.  There should be no discrimination toward any group in regard to voting rights or their implementation.                                                                                                                                                Democratic institutions flourish when all groups of society are represented. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) seek to increase the participation, influence and representation of citizens in political processes and governance structures. An informed and empowered citizenry is a crucial component of a healthy and resilient democracy. A key focus of IFES' work is inclusion of traditionally underrepresented groups. IFES works to strengthen political participation and inclusion by conducting civil and voter education activities via media.