Ovi magazine; Monday December 5th, 2022

The articles, the opinions, the stories, the poems and the cartoons Ovi magazine covers for Monday December 5th, 2022

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Gallic Rebuke: France and the US Rules-based Order by Dr. Binoy Kampmark

Gerard Araud was not mincing his words.  As France’s former ambassador to Washington, he had seen enough.  At a November 14 panel hosted by the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft titled “Is America Ready for a Multipolar Word?”, Araud decried the “economic warfare” being waged by the United States against China, expressing the view that Europe was concerned by the evident “containment policy” being pursued.

Araud is very much the diplomat establishment figure, having also served as French representative to the United Nations from 2009 to 2014.  But despite his pedigree, he was most keen to fire off a few salvos against such concepts as the “rules-based order” so treasured by the Anglosphere and the “West” more broadly defined.  “To be frank, I’ve always been extremely sceptical about this idea of a ‘rules-based order’.”  Both he and the French in general loved the United Nations, “but the Americans not too much”.

With unerring frankness, he also noted that the UN and broader international hierarchy was dominated by the US-European bloc.  The undersecretaries to the organisation reflected that fact, as did the stewardship of the World Bank and the IMF.  “So that’s the first element: this order is our order.”

Continue reading HERE!

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Forgiven sins #poem & #artinstallation by Amir Khatib

“I reveal to you a great secret;
When I took you to the garden,
It wasn’t my intention to harvest the wet as I promised you”

Continue reading HERE

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Ma-Siri & Alexa #47 #cartoon by Thanos Kalamidas

For more Ma-Siri & Alexa HERE!

For more Ovi Cartoons, HERE!

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Ovi magazine; Monday December 6th, 2021 – Finland’s Independence Day

 

The articles, the opinions, the stories, the poems and the cartoons Ovi magazine covers for Monday December 6th, 2021 – Finland’s Independence Day

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The Rise of Community and Micro Enterprises in #Thailand’s Deep South By Asae Sayaka and Murray Hunter

When one undertakes a sojourn around the Thai Deep South, one of the first observations will be the recent explosion of small business throughout the region. The three Southern border provinces, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat have for decades exhibited the lowest number of SMEs in the country, reflecting the lag in development in relation to the rest of the country.

Back in 2005, less than 1.5 percent of total registered businesses in the nation were domiciled within the Southern border provinces. Yet even with a rise in violent incidents across the Deep South over the last year, a host of new community and micro enterprise start-ups have not been deterred. The number of MSMEs has risen from 30,000 in 2005 to 80,184 in the southern border provinces today. While many communities in Thailand have suffered severely during the Covid crisis, many communities within the Deep South have thrived through a mass of entrepreneurial start-ups.

Continue reading HERE!

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To draw himself in the mirror #poem & #painting by Amir Khatib

“He tried, over and over, to draw himself in the mirror,
 but in vain;
 As he lays down his first lines,
 show instead of hair,”

Continue reading HERE!

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Couple France-Algerie by Joseph Gatt

Algérie-France, la co-dépendence parfois toxique. Dans les années 60, 70 et même 80, le couple franco-algérien travaillait plutôt bien ensemble. Les souvenirs de la Glorieuse Révolution Algérienne de Novembre 1954 étaient présents dans les esprits des Algériens, mais aussi les souvenirs de la coopération professionnelle avec les français chrétiens et juifs et athés. Donc, entre 1962 et la fin des années 80, le couple travaillait plutôt en harmonie.

C’est dans les années 90 que le couple devient toxique. En 1985 la France impose un visa aux ressortissants Algériens (parce que l’Algérie a supprimé son autorisation de sortie du territoire). Puis la procédure de visas se complique. Or, les Algériens ont besoin de se rendre en France, parfois pour des soins, pour des études, pour faire du commerce, pour des prospéctives commerciales, ou encore pour rendre visite à de la famille, parfois en urgence (décès, maladie d’un membre de la famille, urgence familiale).

Continue reading HERE!

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Ephemera 21#30 #cartoon by Thanos Kalamidas

For more Ephemera, HERE!

For more Ovi Cartoons, HERE!

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Ovi magazine
We cover every issue

Sarkozy warns EU expansion

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said the European Union will not be able to expand further without ratification of the Lisbon treaty.

An EU summit in Brussels has been overshadowed by divisions over the reform treaty - which was rejected by Irish voters in a referendum last week. A decision on what to do next is expected to be postponed until October. The EU leaders, who continue talks on Friday, did agree to scrap diplomatic sanctions against Cuba imposed in 2003.

That’s a …thought, but the reason the Irish rejected the treaty wasn’t just the expansion but a seriously ill EU!

Ovi today!

Dead Parrot? by Clint Wayne
The Irish nation has spoken with a resounding NO. Will the masters of the European Union listen? Don't be so naive.

Barack Obama's Audacity of Hope by Emanuel L. Paparella
There's not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and a white America and a Latino America and an Asian America; there's the United States of America.

Ireland Says "No" To Plan B, But Don't Worry, We Still Have Plan C, Plan D And Plan E by Europe & Us
Since the days of Shakespeare, drama is at home in English-speaking countries. So it was almost pathetic that the results of the Irish referendum about the Lisbon Treaty were announced on Friday 13th.

French report by Euro Reporter
Sarkozy and bin Laden... it can only be Euro Reporter in France.

Sarkozy admits he made mistakes

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said that he probably made mistakes in his first year in office by failing to explain his policies sufficiently.

But in a live TV interview he also defended his presidency, saying he was still committed to significant reform. Correspondents say publicity over his private life and the limited impact of his reforms on the struggling economy has damaged Mr. Sarkozy's popularity.

The prime time broadcast has been seen as an attempt to reverse that slump. Appearing on France's two main television channels in a live 10-minute interview, Mr. Sarkozy said: "Without doubt, we didn't explain enough. Without doubt, I myself made some mistakes… I can see very well that there is discontent, but I also know where I am going and I am convinced there is no other strategy."

Oh man, was Carla a mistake or he means other kind of mistakes?

The Colombian mission called off

The French humanitarian mission sent to Colombia to try to secure to release of the hostage Ingrid Betancourt is being withdrawn from the country.

Colombia's Farc rebels said they would not allow emergency medical aid to be delivered to the kidnapped politician. The mission was "not acceptable" and was launched without the guerrillas' agreement, a Farc statement said.

France, Spain and Switzerland, which were jointly behind the mission, said it was "no longer justifiable". "It will therefore leave Colombia soon," the three countries said in a statement. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner will travel to the region "soon" to discuss the situation, an official statement said.

President Nicolas Sarkozy had announced the French mission after reports that Ms Betancourt, who holds dual French-Colombian citizenship, was seriously ill. She was kidnapped while campaigning for the Colombian presidency six years ago.

Pity, the Farc rebels even if they had any right to do what they do they lost it because they proved not interest in human life!

Eurotunnel shows profit

Wow! Believe it or not, Eurotunnel has reported its first annual profit, boosted by its huge programme of debt restructuring.

The company that runs the tunnel between Britain and France reported a net profit of 1m Euros in the whole of 2007. That included a 3.3m euro exceptional profit from its capital restructuring.

The company has struggled with its debt levels since the tunnel was opened in 1994, but it finally reached agreement with its creditors last year. "The year 2007 proves that the new Eurotunnel group has broken with its past," the company said in a statement.

You never know now, Euro-Disney in Paris might report profits as well!!!

Nicolas sets Olympics conditions

France's human rights minister has set three conditions for President Nicolas Sarkozy's attendance of the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony.

President Nicolas Sarkozy would miss the event unless China sought talks with the Dalai Lama, freed political prisoners and stop violence against Tibetans adding that the recent clashes in Tibet should be investigated.

The Olympic torch is due to arrive in Paris on Monday as part of the global relay ahead of the Games. But let’s see when the Olympic spirit will arrive!

Free Betancourt NOW!

A French plane and medical team have been put on standby in case the high-profile hostage Ingrid Betancourt, held by Colombian rebels, is released.

The French president's office said it was a "precautionary" move and there was no information to suggest Ms Betancourt was about to be freed. The former Colombian presidential candidate and French-Colombian citizen is said to be gravely ill. She has spent more than six years as a hostage of the Farc rebels.

France said it had a plane ready in French Guiana so that Ms Betancourt could receive speedy medical care in case she was released, according to a statement from President Nicolas Sarkozy's press service. The plane would be "ready to intervene at any moment", it said. News that a plane was on standby comes after Colombia offered prisoner amnesties in exchange for hostages and said France could take freed Farc prisoners as part of a deal.

Let’s hope that this will be the end of her torture.

The Twins!

More French troops in Afghanistan

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he will send more troops to Afghanistan to support NATO’s mission.

He said he would make the offer at the NATO summit in the Romanian capital, Bucharest, next week. NATO leaders have frequently called on member countries to contribute more soldiers to the mission in Afghanistan, to help defeat Taliban insurgents.

The Nato-led International Security and Assistance Force (Isaf) currently has around 41,000 personnel in Afghanistan.

Which means that everybody will send more, at least this is something under the orders and watch of the UN!

We are stronger together

French President Nicolas Sarkozy says France and Britain have "never been so close", during an historic address to both houses of the UK Parliament. He said he wanted a new Franco-British "brotherhood", stressing that what brought Britain and France together was "stronger than what separates us".

His country would "never forget" what British people did to "free France" during the world wars, he said. Peers and MPs crowded into the Royal Chamber to hear the speech in French.

Mr. Sarkozy said France and Britain were stronger side by side, and the world admired the UK's "courage". Earlier Mr. Sarkozy and his new wife Carla Bruni met the Queen and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle at the start of a two day state visit to Britain.

Both President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Gordon Brown have said they want a new era of closer relations. Mr. Sarkozy says he wants the UK and France to work "hand in glove" on issues like energy and immigration.

That’s it, no more jokes with frogs and roast beef; and please did you see the way Philip was looking at …Mrs. Bruni’s dress?

Sarkozy's ex-wife to wed

French President Nicolas Sarkozy's former wife Cecilia Ciganer-Albeniz is set to remarry in New York before some 150 guests. It is said she will marry Moroccan-born public relations executive Richard Attias on Sunday evening in Manhattan.

Mr. Sarkozy married Carla Bruni on 2 February - less than four months after the end of his volatile 11-year marriage to Ms Ciganer-Albeniz. Ms Ciganer-Albeniz left Paris with Mr. Attias on Tuesday. The couple dined out in Manhattan on Saturday night with friends and watched the hit Broadway musical "Mamma Mia," set to the music of the Swedish pop legend Abba.

They will reportedly exchange vows in a civil ceremony at the Rockefeller Center, followed by a reception in the famous Rainbow Room - which boasts a revolving dance floor and panoramic views of New York.

This is a soup opera presidency and the only person missing is …Alexis!!!

Sarkozy's reforms 'to go ahead'

I have to admit that reading this header the first thing that crossed my mind was “s£$t, he’s divorcing and getting married another model!” because we have to admit the first months of Sarkozy’s presidency was all about divorcing and getting married.

French PM Francois Fillon has said the government will press ahead with President Nicolas Sarkozy's reform plan despite setbacks in local elections. Partial results from Sunday's first round put Mr. Sarkozy's ruling UMP conservative party at 45.5%, with the opposition socialists at 47%. The vote is seen as a test of Mr. Sarkozy's first year in office. His popularity has fallen in recent months. But the socialists' lead is smaller than some analysts have predicted. The decisive second round run-offs are to be held on 16 March, and the outcome - particularly in several large cities - remains finely balanced.

Then I think it is about time for a divorce for the socialists as well!