Rebranding Myanmar?

Again, the military dictatorship of Myanmar makes the front page. But wait a sec... this time it's not about some slaughtering or denying emergency aid while people are dying. It seems that the junta wants to make an impression and, this time, better its image. So, shortly, a sentence we haven't seen in almost 20years is bombarding us from the news : "Myanmar helds elections on November 7th!"


Don't get your hopes up, however. Although the polls have at least allowed a tiny flicker of pluralist light into the murk of Burmese totalitarianism, their main goal was to reinforce and legitimize the power of the ruling junta. Obviously, they couldn't let some girl gain power, so they disbanded the National League for Democracy (NLD) just in case. A heated debate still remains over the process of democratization of such countries. Some may argue that a half-democracy is better than no democracy, while others give the example of Iran's election to prove that a half-democracy is NO democracy. 


Here's what the Economist says about the "changes" In Myanmar:

"ONCE again, Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the Burmese opposition, is in theory at liberty. Her latest spell of house arrest ended on November 13th, when she came briefly out of her home in Yangon, where she had been detained, to greet a crowd of thousands of delighted supporters. In the past, such spells of freedom have been illusory. The junta has placed such strict limits on her activities that she has in effect simply been released into a larger prison.

This time, Miss Suu Kyi emerges into a somewhat changed political landscape. On November 7th the junta staged the first elections for 20 years. They were designed not so much to pass power to civilian politicians as to entrench the junta's own power. Its front “party” has indeed claimed a massive victory."

The paradox of plenty

"The resource curse (also known as the paradox of plenty) refers to the paradox that countries and regions with an abundance of natural resources, specifically point-source non-renewable resources like minerals and fuels, tend to have less economic growth and worse development outcomes than countries with fewer natural resources."


I've heard about this concept just last week after running for a cab like crazy cuz we were late for my room-mate's presentation on this issue. I have to admit that the idea was not new to me, since I've been repeatedly stunned by the contrast between the developing and developed countries in terms of economy and human rights record. However, a different contrast shocked me even more and that is the contrast between a country's status/image and the richness of resources they have been blessed with. For example a low-class country such as Guinea has in its posession over 60% of the world's resources of bauxite, the main aluminium ore. The same pattern can easily be found and many countries in SubSaharan Africa and generally, in all war-torn regions. It is amazing to witness what a dreadful effect a paranoid ultra-selfish dictatorial leadership can have on a country or how the least developed are taken advantage off by multi-national corporations. See Brazil whose Amazonian forest has been cleared severely by such companies originating from more developed countries. Now it's asking for funds to reforest, but who's goind to listen? Another factor is obviously corruption. And if you add some civil war following  Sudan's model of Darfur, you've got all the necessary ingredients to transform a huge potential into a semi-failed state.

I...

I don't know how to begin. Fortunatelly for me, the previous words are already a beginning. I haven't ever learnt how to properly share. So prepare for a huge degree of bias. I obviously like chocolate (dark, with pepper.) And sleeping. Sleep is never enough. Then, I'm a blend of extrovert and introvert characteristics. I love both people's noise and the comfortable solitude, I love both partying and reading till the morning comes, I go both to AC/DC concerts (in love with Vama!) and minimal clubs, I sometimes enjoy classes, I sometimes do anything to skip them. I love gold tequila shots served with orange and cinnamon. I love dancing, though I'm really bad at it. I play the piano. Before I die, I'll have a Steinway! To some, I am the respectable coach. To others, the close, sometimes funny, friend. To more others, the one who betrayed and forgot. I am not a good listener, I love talking way too much. Sometimes, I am arrogant and selfish or downright mean. This ego disappears, however, when I start caring. I'm in love. And I am really happy. I love traveling, but I hate airplanes, they give me horrible headaches. I love when it rains, but hate to get up early when it does. I love coffee. I love Doha and shisha. I miss Ljubljana and what happened there. I want to visit Cuba. Every time I get the chance, I sneak into the library to read "International relations since 1945". Some may fairly argue I'm a geek. Then, I really like Bucharest life. It would be perfect if I could have everyone from home here. I enjoy wondering around Lipscani or Cismigiu. A brand-new world to discover.