miercuri, 31 martie 2010

ROMANIA, 2010: "The Tipping Point"!...

















Iulian Leca, pe Ziare.com: CE AM FĂCUT ÎN 20 DE ANI


In ultimii 20 de ani? ... Pe scurt, intr-un cuvant, (mai) nimic. Doar ne-am eliberat de cele mai grele, mai ciudate si mai apasatoare frustrari acumulate in cei 50 de ani de comunism.

Epoca dupa epoca traita pentru a suferi si apoi pentru a sterge suferinta acumulata anterior. Asta s-a petrecut in mare cu poporul roman - dupa lipsurile, si suferintele, si dorintele neimplinite in comunism au venit eliberarile, defularile si bucuria de a trai. Oricum, oriunde, numai acum sa fie, in cel mai actual prezent posibil.

Nimeni nu a avut rabdare sa construiasca metodic, sa se dedice unei activitati indelungate, in schimb toata lumea a vrut sa obtina ceea ce nu a avut pana in '89 acum, rapid si facil, pe cat posibil. O societate precum un copil flamanzit de la gura caruia au fost luate toate dulciurile si bunataturile imaginabile, romanii s-au trezit in anii '90 intr-o fuga oarba si accelerata dupa televizoare, masini, apartamente, case terenuri si excursii in strainatate. Nimic din acestea nu aveam voie sa avem pana in decembrie '89. Totul ne era permis dupa. Si pentru a obtine totul, multi au facut totul posibil si imposibil.

Asa s-au nascut marile tepe, marile afaceri de contrabanda, marile exporturi-importuri de tot ce mai ramasese din epoca ceausista. Politicienii in populismul lor nu au facut niciodata altceva decat sa ofere iluzia ca viitorul acela mult visat este mereu pe cale de a se implini. Aceeasi minciuna vanduta o data la patru ani, de toti politicienii, cu mai mult sau mai putin har. Si ei au cazut prada aceluiasi pacat al tuturor celorlalti - nevoia de a-si implini acum si aici toate frustrarile si dorintele suprimate. Au folosit puterea doar pentru a-si crea propriile afaceri, pentru a distruge si ultima farama de economie ramasa din rastimpurile comuniste si pentru a se imbogati pana la al saptelea neam.

Orbiti de case, terenuri, masini si lucruri "de marca", ne-am imaginat cu totii ca am democratizat luxul si in Romania, ultima tara a Europei din aproape toate punctele de vedere. Am uitat si am lasat in uitare tot ce a tinut de stat - invatamantul, sanatatea, pensionarii - si ne-am repezit catre politicieni fortandu-i sa ne minta ca ne vor construi drumuri pe care sa alergam cu masinile. In primii zece ani nici macar nu ne-au auzit, iar cand si-au dat seama ca insasi afacerile lor risca sa se duca pe butuci, atunci s-au trezit ca nu ar strica sa mai lase buzunarele lor si catre sosele si infrastructura cate ceva.

Mai mult din mila si impotriva oricarui bun simt economic, in contradictie cu toate bugetele uriase din anii de prosperitate economica, toate jongleriile lor s-au sfarsit cu cateva zeci de kilometri de autostrada. In 20 de ani! Nici macar sute, doar zeci. Asta a fost tot ce a facut statul pentru noi. In rest, toti politicienii nu au facut decat sa distruga, mereu cu scuza ca nimic din ce este la stat nu mai e performant. Atunci au inceput sa vanda, contra comisioane grase si pe mai nimic, cele mai importante obiective economice inca functionale, la pachet cu unicele resurse naturale. Sidex, Bancorex, Petrom, Romtelecom, BCR, si inca zeci de fabrici si uzine.

Tradati, furati, mintiti, iluzionati, saraci si falimentari, ne-am trezit cu totii dupa 20 de ani ca nu mai avem nimic, nici macar ceea ce aveam pana in '89, ca ne-am cheltuit banii obtinuti din credite de la bancile straine pe electrocasnice, masini, excursii si cateva case mai scumpe de cateva ori decat pretul real. Am ramas la fel de saraci si la fel de frustrate ca in urma cu 20 de ani, doar ca si cu viitorul amanetat si vandut bancilor. Intre timp am ramas si fara ceea ce aveam. Fara economie, fara agricultura, fara educatie, cu sistemul de sanatate in faliment, cu pensionarii faliti atarnand ca un bolovan de gatul statului, cu tot mai putina speranta si cu aceleasi visuri neimplinite.

O bucla istorica de 20 de ani prin democratie si libertate pentru a realiza ca ranile comunismului si nesabuinta momentului ne-au bagat intr-o situatie mai grea decat cea in care ne aflam in urma cu doua decenii. Atunci aveam cel putin speranta si o uriasa incredere. In noi, in cei din jur, in viitor. Acum am ramas cu rugaciunile de seara si goana dupa supravietuitori din timpul zilei.


http://www.ziare.com/actual/opinii/03-31-2010/ce-am-facut-in-20-de-ani-1006014

duminică, 28 martie 2010

29 martie: 6 ani de la intrarea României în NATO


















6 ani de la intrarea României în NATO

În urmă cu şase ani, la 29 martie 2004, România devenea membru cu drepturi depline al Alianţei Nord Atlantice (NATO), acesta fiind cel mai mare succes al politicii externe româneşti din 1989 încoace.

Integrarea în structura nord-atlantică a fost un proces îndelungat, a cărui constanţă a constituit-o larga susţinere a poporului român, pentru care calitatea de membru NATO echivalează cu garanţia securităţii şi stabilităţii pe plan extern.

http://www.ziare.com/actual/eveniment/03-29-2010/6-ani-de-la-intrarea-romaniei-in-nato-1005403

"Realitatea TV", despre dezbaterea pe proiectul Legii Educatiei Nationale (MECTS, 27 martie)




Educaţia în România - la standarde europene? Studiu de caz: religia în şcoli (art. 16)

Textul proiectului nostru de lege...
http://www.edu.ro/









_______________________________________

...şi textul Recomandării 1720 / 2005 - Adunarea Parlamentară a Consiliului Europei:
http://assembly.coe.int/main.asp?Link=/documents/adoptedtext/ta05/erec1720.htm

















Recommendation 1720 (2005)1
Education and religion

1. The Parliamentary Assembly forcefully reaffirms that each person’s religion, including the option of having no religion, is a strictly personal matter. However, this is not inconsistent with the view that a good general knowledge of religions and the resulting sense of tolerance are essential to the exercise of democratic citizenship.

2. In its Recommendation 1396 (1999) on religion and democracy, the Assembly asserted: “There is a religious aspect to many of the problems that contemporary society faces, such as intolerant fundamentalist movements and terrorist acts, racism and xenophobia, and ethnic conflicts.”

3. The family has a paramount role in the upbringing of children, including in the choice of a religious upbringing. However, knowledge of religions is dying out in many families. More and more young people lack the necessary bearings fully to apprehend the societies in which they live and others with which they are confronted.

4. The media – printed and audiovisual – can have a highly positive informative role. Some, however, especially among those aimed at the wider public, very often display a regrettable ignorance of religions, as shown for instance by the frequent unwarranted parallels drawn between Islam and certain fundamentalist and radical movements.

5. Politics and religion should be kept apart. However, democracy and religion should not be incompatible. In fact they should be valid partners in efforts for the common good. By tackling societal problems, the public authorities can eliminate many of the situations which can lead to religious extremism.

6. Education is essential for combating ignorance, stereotypes and misunderstanding of religions. Governments should also do more to guarantee freedom of conscience and of religious expression, to foster education on religions, to encourage dialogue with and between religions and to promote the cultural and social expression of religions.

7. School is a major component of education, of forming a critical spirit in future citizens and therefore of intercultural dialogue. It lays the foundations for tolerant behaviour, founded on respect for the dignity of each human being. By teaching children the history and philosophy of the main religions with restraint and objectivity and with respect for the values of the European Convention on Human Rights, it will effectively combat fanaticism. Understanding the history of political conflicts in the name of religion is essential.

8. Knowledge of religions is an integral part of knowledge of the history of mankind and civilisations. It is altogether distinct from belief in a specific religion and its observance. Even countries where one religion predominates should teach about the origins of all religions rather than favour a single one or encourage proselytising.

9. In Europe, there are various concurrent situations. Education systems generally – and especially the state schools in so-called secular countries – are not devoting enough resources to teaching about religions, or – particularly in countries where there is a state religion and in denominational schools – are focusing on only one religion. Some countries have prohibited the carrying or wearing of religious symbols in schools. These provisions have been judged as complying with the European Convention on Human Rights.

10. Unfortunately, all over Europe there is a shortage of teachers qualified to give comparative instruction in the different religions, so a European teacher training institute for that needs to be set up (at least for teacher trainers), which could benefit from the experience of a number of institutes and faculties in the different member countries that have long been researching and teaching the subject of comparative religion.

11. The Council of Europe assigns a key role to education in the construction of a democratic society, but study of religions in schools has not yet received special attention.

12. The Assembly observes moreover that the three monotheistic religions of the Book have common origins (Abraham) and share many values with other religions, and that the values upheld by the Council of Europe stem from these values.

13. Accordingly, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:
13.1. examine the possible approaches to teaching about religions at primary and secondary levels, for example through basic modules which would subsequently be adapted to the various educational systems;
13.2. promote initial and in-service teacher training in religious studies respecting the principles set out in the previous paragraphs;
13.3. envisage setting up a European teacher training institute for the comparative study of religions.

14. The Assembly also recommends that the Committee of Ministers encourage the governments of member states to ensure that religious studies are taught at the primary and secondary levels of state education, on the basis of the following criteria in particular:
14.1. the aim of this education should be to make pupils discover the religions practised in their own and neighbouring countries, to make them perceive that everyone has the same right to believe that their religion is the “true faith” and that other people are not different human beings through having a different religion or not having a religion at all;
14.2. it should include, with complete impartiality, the history of the main religions, as well as the option of having no religion;
14.3. it should provide young people with educational tools that enable them to be quite secure in approaching supporters of a fanatical religious practice;
14.4. it must not overstep the borderline between the realms of culture and worship, even where a country with a state religion is concerned. It is not a matter of instilling a faith but of making young people understand why religions are sources of faith for millions;
14.5. teachers on religions need to have specific training. They should be teachers of a cultural or literary discipline. However, specialists in another discipline could be made responsible for this education;
14.6. the state authorities should look after teacher training and lay down the syllabuses which should be adapted to each country’s peculiarities and to the pupils’ ages. In devising these programmes, the Council of Europe will consult all partners concerned, including representatives of the religious faiths.

______________

1. Assembly debate on 4 October 2005 (27th Sitting) (see Doc. 10673, report of the Committee on Culture, Science and Education, rapporteur: Mr Schneider).Text adopted by the Assembly on 4 October 2005 (27th Sitting).

miercuri, 24 martie 2010

Real Leadership in Action (II): Treaty to cut US-Russia nukes; signing in 2 weeks

















Treaty to cut US-Russia nukes; signing in 2 weeks

By ROBERT BURNS and LYNN BERRY, Associated Press Writers Robert Burns And Lynn Berry, Associated Press Writers – Wed Mar 24, 9:26 pm ET
WASHINGTON – The U.S. and Russia reached a breakthrough agreement Wednesday for a historic treaty to reduce the nuclear arsenals of the former Cold War rivals, the most significant pact in a generation and an important milestone in the decades-long quest to lower the risk of global nuclear war.
After long and trying negotiations, President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are to sign the treaty in two weeks in Prague, once final technical details are worked out, officials in Washington and Moscow said. The accord is expected to cut the number of long-range nuclear weapons held by each side to about 1,500, and it raises hopes for further disarmament in the years ahead.
The deal is seen as sealing an increased level of trust and cooperation between the U.S. and Russia, who possess the vast majority of the world's nuclear arms and have labored under strained relations in recent years.
Obama and Medvedev are expected to seal the deal when they talk by telephone this week, setting the stage for a White House campaign to win Senate ratification. The treaty also must win approval by the Russian Duma, and the two legislative processes are likely to take months.



marți, 23 martie 2010

Real Leadership in Action: US House passes key healthcare reform bill














US House passes key healthcare reform bill
President Barack Obama: 'It's a victory for the American people'

The US House of Representatives has narrowly voted to pass a landmark healthcare reform bill at the heart of President Barack Obama's agenda.
The bill was passed by 219 votes to 212, with no Republican backing, after hours of fierce argument and debate.
It extends coverage to 32 million more Americans, and marks the biggest change to the US healthcare system in decades.
"We proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things," Mr Obama said in remarks after the vote.
"This legislation will not fix everything that ails our healthcare system, but it moves us decisively in the right direction," he said.
Mr Obama is expected to sign the legislation into law shortly.