Meet The World's Poorest President

Related Stories It's a common grumble that politicians' lifestyles are far removed from those of their electorate. Not so in Uruguay. Meet the president - who lives on a ramshackle farm and gives away most of his pay. Laundry is strung outside the house. The water comes from a well in a yard, overgrown with weeds. Only two police officers and Manuela, a three-legged dog, keep watch outside. This is the residence of the president of Uruguay, Jose Mujica, whose lifestyle clearly differs sharply from that of most other world leaders. President Mujica has shunned the luxurious house that the Uruguayan state provides for its leaders and opted to stay at his wife's farmhouse, off a dirt road outside the capital, Montevideo. The president and his wife work the land themselves, growing flowers. This austere lifestyle - and the fact that Mujica donates about 90% of his monthly salary, equivalent to $12,000 (£7,500), to charity - has led him to be labelled the poorest president in the world."I've lived like this most of my life," he says, sitting on an old chair in his garden, using a cushion favoured by Manuela the dog. "I can live well with what I have." His charitable donations - which benefit poor people and small entrepreneurs - mean his salary is roughly in line with the average Uruguayan income of $775 (£485) a month. In 2010, his annual personal wealth declaration - mandatory for officials in Uruguay - was $1,800 (£1,100), the value of his 1987 Volkswagen Beetle. This year, he added half of his wife's assets - land, tractors and a house - reaching $215,000 (£135,000). That's still only about two-thirds of Vice-President Danilo Astori's declared wealth, and a third of the figure declared by Mujica's predecessor as president, Tabare Vasquez. Elected in 2009, Mujica spent the 1960s and 1970s as part of the Uruguayan guerrilla Tupamaros, a leftist armed group inspired by the Cuban revolution. He was shot six times and spent 14 years in jail. Most of his detention was spent in harsh conditions and isolation, until he was freed in 1985 when Uruguay returned to democracy. Those years in jail, Mujica says, helped shape his outlook on life."I'm called 'the poorest president', but I don't feel poor. Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle, and always want more and more," he says. "This is a matter of freedom. If you don't have many possessions then you don't need to work all your life like a slave to sustain them, and therefore you have more time for yourself," he says. "I may appear to be an eccentric old man... But this is a free choice." The Uruguayan leader made a similar point when he addressed the Rio+20 summit in June this year: "We've been talking all afternoon about sustainable development. To get the masses out of poverty. "But what are we thinking? Do we want the model of development and consumption of the rich countries? I ask you now: what would happen to this planet if Indians would have the same proportion of cars per household than Germans? How much oxygen would we have left? "Does this planet have enough resources so seven or eight billion can have the same level of consumption and waste that today is seen in rich societies? It is this level of hyper-consumption that is harming our planet." Mujica accuses most world leaders of having a "blind obsession to achieve growth with consumption, as if the contrary would mean the end of the world". But however large the gulf between the vegetarian Mujica and these other leaders, he is no more immune than they are to the ups and downs of political life. "Many sympathise with President Mujica because of how he lives. But this does not stop him for being criticised for how the government is doing," says Ignacio Zuasnabar, a Uruguayan pollster. The Uruguayan opposition says the country's recent economic prosperity has not resulted in better public services in health and education, and for the first time since Mujica's election in 2009 his popularity has fallen below 50%. This year he has also been under fire because of two controversial moves. Uruguay's Congress recently passed a bill which legalised abortions for pregnancies up to 12 weeks. Unlike his predecessor, Mujica did not veto it. All the   president's wealth - a 1987 VW Beetle He is also supporting a debate on the legalisation of the consumption of cannabis, in a bill that would also give the state the monopoly over its trade. "Consumption of cannabis is not the most worrying thing, drug-dealing is the real problem," he says. However, he doesn't have to worry too much about his popularity rating - Uruguayan law means he is not allowed to seek re-election in 2014. Also, at 77, he is likely to retire from politics altogether before long. When he does, he will be eligible for a state pension - and unlike some other former presidents, he may not find the drop in income too hard to get used to. Source: BBC

Freedom From Mental Slavery

 

Neo-imperialism is alive and well, just look at Iraq, just look at Libya, just look at the way Nigeria is being robbed each day.
Africans must stop seeing themselves as the wretched of the earth and take an active stance against all imperialist agendas.
Africans must organize their lives around the struggle of the impoverished against the greed of the wealthy.

Seizing power from the Imperialist capitalists and their local puppet and putting in the hands of the struggling masses:Africa must nationalize of all resources so that children do not have to starve as foreign corporations thrive..The impoverished citizens of the world must stand together to build

a globe based on equality and continuity.Africans are treating like animals in Europe..EUROPEANS LEADERS ARE RACISTWHITE SUPREMACY NAZIS EXPECIALY FRENCH.Africa must abolish all dependency on the imperialist capitalist system because this dependency brings death and starvation.Africa impoverished by institutions that suck on the blood of local economies, like the IMF and World Bank.

Africa nations are enslaves by European Pink aka white supremacy and their filthy corporations. in Africa Nation is used by imperialists to sell massive amounts of weapons to puppet governments.Africa must avoid any cultural intrusions designed to open up their markets for foreign

invasions.Financial colonialism is backed up by the imperialist military machine.The local elites destroy Africa by putting their greedy desires ahead of the people's well being.
Africa nations are enslaved by political systems that are nothing more than an imperialist puppet show.
source:Jamiiforum

Mirambo: The Man Who Changed the Face of Nineteenth-Century Tanzania

 


Situated in western Tanzania, the small town of Urambo appears relatively insignificant when compared with the economic and political hubs of Dodoma, Dar es Salaam or Mwanza. However, in the nineteenth century, one of the most important trade routes linking the coast to the interior passed through the region, connecting Lake Tanganyika with the Zanzibar Archipelago.
The trade in slaves, ivory, cloth, firearms and other commodities was dominated by Arab traders, who not only held economic power but would also dabble in the local politics of the regions where they settled. But from the 1860s, the balance of power was to be dramatically upset as a Nyamwezi chief came to power that would throw the Arab trade monopoly into chaos.
Mirambo, a strong and ambitious leader, revolutionised the status of the Nyamwezi people who inhabited the area and the role that they played in trade. Referred to as a ‘warlord’, the role of violence in Mirambo’s rule is often exaggerated at the expense of his political and economic ambitions. While warfare was undoubtedly an integral characteristic of Mirambo’s power, it does not give a complete picture of the changes that he envisaged.

Building a state

From humble beginnings as a local chief, Mirambo consolidated power over an area that he renamed Urambo, as it is still known today. During the early stages of his chieftainship, he enjoyed considerable loyalty and support from local populations. His ambitions proved to be larger than this small area, and he continued to expand his authority and influence over a number of Nyamwezi chiefs.
Crucially, the communities that Mirambo was claiming control over had never experienced authority on such a large scale. This was his first challenge, to devise a system of political organisation that could consolidate the power he had already accumulated, while also adapting to the continued expansion of his area of control.
In reality, Mirambo’s methods of leadership changed little of the structure of Nyamwezi society. Once he had taken power from a chief he would usually choose a successor from the same family. As long as the new chiefs pledged allegiance to Mirambo, they would be left to go about their normal political duties. Mirambo relied on subordinates to rule his territories for him as he was expanding his new state into other territories.

Transforming trade

The desire to take control of trade in the region was a key driving force behind Mirambo’s political expansion. The location of Urambo gave him the perfect opportunity to do so. The famous journalist, Henry Morton Stanley, noted how Mirambo halted an Arab trade caravan and demanded firearms and commodities from the traders. This was the first major challenge to Arab economic supremacy that had occurred in the region since the development of long-distance trade with the interior.
Mirambo did not stop there and began a war by attacking the Arab trading centre of Tabora. The conflict disrupted trade in the region for a number of years, prompting many influential Arabs to abandon their economic activity. Drawing to a close in 1875, Mirambo’s war with the Arabs provided him with the opportunity to reclaim tangible benefits from trade.
In practical terms, these benefits were based on the taxation of caravans coming through Urambo. Mirambo was able to accumulate firearms and valuable commodities that would contribute to his regional power and prestige. His ambitious vision of commerce put the Nyamwezi first, dramatically altering the characteristics of long-distance trade in East Africa.

International Relations in the nineteenth century

As Mirambo’s political and economic shake-up developed, it began to attract the attention of regional powers from further afield. The kingdom of Buganda to the north, ruled by Kabaka Mutesa at the time, became increasingly frustrated with the disruption of the long-distance trade in which it held a major stake. Tensions fluctuated throughout the 1870s as Mutesa planned a number of attacks on Mirambo’s territory.
From Mirambo’s perspective, the military dominance of the Buganda kingdom required a calculated response. He consistently pushed for a diplomatic resolution of differences by sending representatives to Mutesa’s court. Mutesa was also not purely an aggressor as he sent his own diplomatic missions to Urambo when military means were unrealistic. Negotiations culminated in an alliance in 1881, which although not entirely stable, illustrates the complexity of both leaders’ politics.
Mirambo’s dealings with Mutesa bring to light an important aspect of his political ambition. His diplomatic activities were based on a vision of East Africa being made up of unified and powerful states.

A lasting legacy?

The political and economic upheaval that Mirambo instigated over a quarter of a century was both dynamic and rapid, characterised by his strong personal ambition. When he died in 1884, the state he had built disintegrated even quicker that it had come together. His successor, Mpandashalo, could not provide the type of leadership or commitment that was needed to ensure the continuity of the developments Mirambo had overseen.
This issue was amplified by the tensions between the new forms of state-building and traditional authorities. When Mirambo died, a power vacuum materialised as local chiefs set about to reverse the innovations that he had put in place. Much of Mirambo’s successes were based on his own prestige, and to some extent the fearfulness of communities under his control. The reliance on one ‘big man’ meant that a sense of unity never fully developed within Nyamwezi society that would have been necessary for enduring political change.
During his time as chief, Mirambo showed great creativity and charisma in order to bring about the kind of transformation that he did. He had progressive political and economic ambitions that provided the impetus for his military activities, but ultimately proved too much for his short chieftainship. Although violence may have been an important means, it was certainly not his ultimate end.
Think Africa Press welcomes inquiries regarding the republication of its articles. If you would like to republish this or any other article for re-print, syndication or educational purposes, please contact: editor@thinkafricapress.com

Egypt: activists raped, both men and women victims

Women's Day in Cairo

(ANSAmed) - ROME - Women are being systematically raped in Cairo's Tahrir Square, Egyptian activist and psychiatrist Sally Toma told a March 8 conference organized here by Democratic Party (PD) MEP Silvia Costa. But also men are sexually abused by men in uniform.

Organized groups are roaming Tahrir Square, raping women in order to scare half the population away from demonstrating, while men are being beaten and raped in military barracks and police stations: they might outnumber the female sexual assault victims, Toma told in her update on the situation of women two years after the revolution.

In Cairo, women activists and demonstrators are being targeted by civilians. ''They are sent by extremist groups led by the Salafist movement or by the (Muslim) Brotherhood'', explained Toma. ''They move in groups of five to six people, molesting not for sexual gratification, but for the pleasure of harming others''. Women told her ''they had knives held to their vaginas, while others were abducted, stripped and driven around the city, exposed to public shame,'' Toma recounted. This is a way to keep at least half the demonstrators away, she said. ''Women decide to leave Tahrir Square in fear of what has already happened to other women and to their friends.'' But the women of Tahrir ''are tough'', said the activist, who coordinated marches and meetings even before January 25.

''We women will remain,'' she told ANSAmed in an interview. The sexual assaults against male activists are something new, Toma went on. Abducted off the streets, they are dragged to police stations and military barracks, where they are sexually abused by men in uniform. Many of these male victims are among her patients, said Toma, who now works almost full time helping these rape victims overcome the trauma. ''I deal with post-traumatic situations. I've always worked with victims of sexual abuse and torture'', she explained, adding that many young activists are coming to her to tell her their stories. ''There is no official data'', but the violence has increased in the past two months, Toma added. While many victims refuse to come forward out of shame, she estimates there were 1,000 rapes last year. ''I work with my patients on how to channel the rage, sadness or shame, trying to reduce the desire for revenge'', said Toma, adding that many return to the street, only to be raped again. ''This has happened to many of my patients. Some of these kids got raped two, three times in a row. We want to stop this vicious circle''. Toma currently directs the Cairo Institute of Human Rights Studies, which is supported by the United Nations Democracy Fund and which educates activists on how to act on the political level. It also provides training on how to form pressure groups at the local level in cities outside Cairo. ''The revolution must move forward throughout the country, not just in Tahrir. We train them, we teach them how to denounce abuses and violations, how to contact NGOs and humanitarian organizations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. We have trained a large network of activists. It is made up of small cells, in which everyone knows one another and supports one another''.

Meanwhile, women activists are not giving up the streets: today's March 8 women's demonstration in Cairo has been called to protest the Muslim Brotherhood, Toma said.
Source:ANSAmed

Ahmadinejad: Hugo Chavez 'Will Return with Jesus'..

 
Hugo Chavez (in healthier days) with Mahmoud Ahmadinejan

A day after his death, Hugo Chavez is already being touted as a martyr and a messiah by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who equated the now deceased Venezuelan leader to Jesus and Shiite Islam’s 12th imam Wednesday, saying, “I have no doubt that he will return, along with the righteous Jesus and the perfect human.”

Ahmadinejad also reiterated claims made by Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro that Chavez died of a “suspect illness” but didn’t go as far as Maduro had in equating Chavez’s death to that of late Palestinian Liberation Organization Chairman Yassir Arafat, who some believe died by poisoning at the hands of Israel.

A cabinet meeting chaired by the president declared Wednesday a day of mourning in Iran, the state television website said.

During Chavez’s tenure Venezuela became increasingly close with the Islamic Republic with Chavez making 13 visits to Iran between 1999 and his death on Tuesday. Ahmadinejad has made six visits to Venezuela since 2005.   
http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/03/06/ahmadinejad-chavez

Prepare for president Uhuru Kenyatta

       

R.I.PHugo Chavez

Saudis are world’s third laziest people: report

 
Saudis are the third laziest people in the world after those of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea and Swaziland in Africa because of the high obesity rate in the Gulf Kingdom, a local newspaper reported on Sunday.

Around 40 per cent of Saudis are suffering from obesity but the rate is far less in the southern region of the Kingdom because of its rugged mountainous areas.

“In terms of laziness, the people of Saudi Arabia are ranked third in the world after the people of Malta and Swaziland,” the Saudi Arabic language daily Kabar said, citing a study by Dr Waleed Al Bakr, a well known endocrinology specialist.

He said obesity kills an average 20,000 people in Saudi Arabia every year, adding that women in the Kingdom are more vulnerable to obesity due to lack of exercise.

Saudi Arabia, the world’s dominant oil exporter and largest Arab economy, has a population of around 28 million, including nearly eight million expatriates. The country has one of the highest per capita incomes in the Middle East due its massive crude sales, standing at around $24,900 in 2012.
source: http://www.emirates247.com