Why don't we talk about Venezuela?

I didn't hear a lot about Venezuela recently, but the crisis that this Country is crossing since few years is astonishing.

Chavez used the funds coming from the oil (whose Venezuela is one of the most important exporter) to finance a strong social program.

The problems started when the oil price fall down of over 50%. Inflation increased and the successor of Chavez, the current President Maduro, has been not able to solve the situation, generating also political conflicts.

In 2015 due to the crisis, the Venezuelan economy contracted 5.7% and in 2016 it contracted by 18.6% according to the Venezuelan central bank. It is impressive the raise of inflation: in 2014 it reached 69% and it was the highest in the world. By 2015, inflation was 181% and 800% in 2016.

The consequences of this crisis have been devastating for the society. Following the Encuesta Nacional de Condiciones de Vida (Encovi), in 2016 the 32,5% of population had 2 or less meals per day (3 times more than in 2015). Over 50% of the population lives in poverty and the Ministry of Health has declared that over 11 thousands children with less that one year old died in 2016 for lack of medicines.

The numbers are impressive, as much as the fact that we don't talk enough about one of most critical situation in the World from political and economic point of view.

For more information, I suggest this article from Aljazeera.

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The Trump mess about Jerusalem

We didn't get exactly why, but it is almost unanimously recognized that the choice of the US President to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel (and consequently moving the Embassy from Tel Aviv), is making an unnecessary confusion in the weak balance in the Middle-Est.

Israel declared in 1980 Jerusalem as his own capital, but nobody followed this declaration. Furthermore, Israel is occupying illegally East Jerusalem (after the 6-days was of 1967).

Some fights have been already took place in Gaza Strip, and Hamas has already talked about the third Intifada.

Many people lives are in danger, for a decision taken by an Administration that has lost (or has never had) any clear foreign policy (and it seems that another important member of the Administration, Dina Powell, the US President’s deputy national security adviser, will quit the administration early next year).

In the meantime, in Europe, Czech Republic has been the first Country to positively react to the Trump choice. Also Prague government will move the Embassy in the future to Jerusalem, but with the statement that the Holy City could be also the capital of the future Palestine State.

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5 things you should definetely know about Rohingya

I bet that many of you never heard the word "Rohingya" before few months ago.

Rohingya refugees near the Naf River, which separates Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Villages in Myanmar burned in the background.

Now that even Pope went to meet some of them (without pronouncing their name...), it should be necessary to have some basic information about them and about the reasons why the crisis that affects Rohingya is becoming a political and social shame for all the World.

1. Who are Rohingya?

The Rohingya people are a Muslim minority group residing in the Rakhine state, formerly known as Arakan (west State of Myamar).

2. Which is their status?

The Rohingya people are considered “stateless entities”, as the Myanmar government has been refusing to recognize them as one of the ethnic groups of the country. This means they don't have rights and they cannot legally move anywhere without permission.

3. Why did they have to move?

In 2016 hundreds of unidentified insurgents attacked three Burmese border posts along Myanmar's border with Bangladesh. The answer of the Army has been tough and constantly increasing with an escalation of violence, rapes, destruction. This situation pushed Rohingya to move to Bangladesh.

4. Where is the Rohingya Camp in Bangladesh?

Over 600 thousands people arrived in Bangladesh. Yes... 600 tousands, like the population of the entire city of Bratislava or Palermo. The biggest camp is in Cox's Bazar. 

5. What is the position of Aung San Suu Kyi (Nobel Peace Prize 1991) ?

Impressively, she didn't take any specific action to stop the military action in Rakhine state. It is not clear why: personal reasons, political pressure, military power? What is clear is that she is the only person who could do something to end this crisis.

Note to the readers - as this is a small blog, this post doesn't represent a deep research about the wide topic of Rohingya crisis. You can find more information in this article of NY Times.

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NotonlyEurope Chapter II - Note to the reader

My DEAR READERS,

I know I didn't publish almost anything in 2017, focus of many other things.

But I have decided no to let this blog die. So I am back!

Many things happened this year, from Trump to the crisis in Catalonia, passing by what is going on in Asia.

I will try to have a new format: shorter and more personal.

Keep reading!

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Can Trump be the new "glue" of Europe?

Trump is the 45th President of United States. 

We cannot predict what he will do, but for sure he will have a totally different approach of his predecessor and for sure his Presidency will have a huge impact in the World.

Definitely huge effects are expected in the relation between US and Europe. Few days ago Trump attacked the European Union institution, pointed out the uselessness of NATO, stated the will to improve the relations with Russia and drafted an economic policy based on autarchy more than on globalization.

Under those considerations, which Europe can we expect in the next 4 years?

Few points should be highlighted.

First, the declarations of Trump had the effect to compact the Eu Leaders. The pride to be Europeans came up suddenly. We love to criticize Eu, but sometimes we are also able to see how positive can be, and we will probably see it more after Brexit.

Second, and this can be considered a good news, the TTIP seems definitely over. New US President wants to renegotiate even NAFTA, o we cannot expect free trade agreement with Europe and it is probably better for us. 

Third, if Trump will go ahead with a release from NATO of US, countries like Poland or Baltic States will be somehow forced to get closer to Eu. And Eu will be forced to take care by herself about the security of the Region.

We are already missing Obama, probably not so much for what he really did, but for what he represented. But maybe this change will give new life to Europe and, this is my wish, we will see a united power trying to fight against terrorism, iniquity, social conflicts.

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Reportage from Sarajevo

1425. These are the days of the siege of Sarajevo, from 5th April 1992 to 29th February 1996. The longest siege of the modern history.

Baščaršija is Sarajevo's old bazaar

During the war, everyday Sarajevo was on the newspapers and in Tv. People on a queue to fill bottles of water, people died while they were buying bread, buildings destroyed and sounds of shots. This is what I remember about that period.

Old and new

Twenty year later, I had finally the occasion to visit Sarajevo.

There is a general idea that Bosnia Herzegovina is not yet a safety area. But people are completely wrong. This area is actually a fast growing touristic destination. Just the capital city offers a wide range of museums, artistic areas, beautiful mountains and a dynamic night life (1 million visits in 2015).  Lonely Planet named Sarajevo as the 43rd best city in the world and in December 2009 listed Sarajevo as one of the top ten cities to visit in 2010.

Many things touched me during my stay in Sarajevo.

First, the cemeteries that are built almost everywhere. 13,952 people were killed during the siege. 

The modern city center has been renovated and now it appears clean, nice and new. But a little bit outside of it, you will be able to see some buildings in ruins or full of holes caused by bullets.

The number of Mosques is the second thing that fascinated me. Hearing muezzins calls for the time of prays, gives to the city a very special and charming atmosphere, 

There is something else that touched me when I was in Sarajevo. People are really opened to talk about war. War tourism is a big resource for the city, but it is also a big pain. Anyway, it seems that people don't have problem to talk about that.

Cemetery in Sarajevo

Sarajevo is a worth destination for tourism. It is not only the stage of a bloody war, it has been also the city of Winter Olympic Games in 1984 and the city of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria that led to the first World War.

Sarajevo has been one of the most interesting place I have ever visited. It is an example of how a human beings can survive to everything and rebuild places, economy and finally, life.

I really hope that one day we will be able to visit other places that today are crossing a difficult period, like Aleppo or Bagdad.

Objectively, Paris is the most beautiful city in the world, and nothing in Sarajevo can be compared to Paris, but my heart never trembles in Paris like it does here in Sarajevo, when I wait in line at the post office.

- Goran Bregović, musician and composer -

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What about the US Elections?

After months of electoral campaign, we are now very close to know who will be the 45th President of United States.

I didn't follow so much the campaign, but there are always some interesting sparks for a discussion.

First, the participation to the vote is always around 50 - 55%: it means 120 - 130 million people out of 240. If we consider that half of the electorate votes for the winner, around 60-70 million of people (18% of total population) decide the future of US. And US has a strong impact of the rest of the World (6 billion people).

Second, as far as we can consider US a democratic country, the competition to be President takes always place between rich families and their generations. Clinton, Bush, Kennedy, Trump don't really represent the middle class. And also Obama, that anyway has represented a symbol of change especially for the Afro-American community, didn't come from a poor family and graduated at the Harward University. The competition is always restricted to the elite.

Third, if Trump will win we cannot really understand the consequences. Maybe nothing will change or maybe the opposite. But what I notice is that in this elections both candidates didn't convince fully. Trump is not supported by Republicans and Clinton seems missing something.

For sure Obama era is going to end soon, and unfortunately the huge hopes of 2009 were not fully realized.

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