The revered and traditional Swiss art of living on stolen money…

Swiss bank has a very long and illustrated history of living on people’s misery. This blogger sometime back wrote about trillion dollar black money in Swiss bank. This pint size nation (could be one-tenth the size of Indian state of Rajasthan) has caused serious havoc on nations across the world in last hundred years, though it claims to have anti-money laundering regulations. Frankly Swiss banks are only one major cog in what is referred to as tax havens (billions of dollars come through Mauritius-a small island nation to India as investment!!.Try figuring that one!!!). Swiss nevertheless is an important destination for parking illegal money, and the audacity to claim civilized.

Let me give an example of one of the poorest continent Africa ‘Corruption is one of the most formidable challenges to good governance, development and poverty reduction’ in Africa says 2008 Transparency International Report. According to the Africa Union (AU) around $148 billion are stolen from the continent every year. The recent Forbes’ list of most corrupt nations had 9 out of the first 16 countries coming from Africa. The list is long with names like Abacha, Mobutu, Eyadema, Lansana Conte, Obiang Nguema, Omar Bongo, Mubarak and Arap Moi. I am here taking the first mentioned name Abacha and try to examine how he worked. This will be a case study for us to understand this continent and in the sense the whole world.

Sani Abacha was a dictator of one of the oil rich country in African subcontinent: Nigeria (from 1993-1998). In this very short period he went in for massive loot of the country not only that he commited seriuos human right violations and abuses, well known case includes the hanging activist Ken Saro-Wiwa (who opposed the exploitation of Nigerian land by multinational oil companies); Abiola and Olusegun Obasanjo (who later became President) were jailed for treason, and Wole Soyinka charged in absentia with treason and so on. Abacha was listed as the world's fourth most corrupt leader in recent history by Transparency International in 2004. Post-Abacha government traced $4 billion USD in foreign assets of Abacha, his family and their representatives. $600 million was discovered after high-profile legal action was launched to seize hundreds of millions of dollars of Abacha assets held in Switzerland (in UBS). Nigeria later reached a deal with Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein on the restitution of more than one billion dollars embezzled by the Abacha family and deposited in European banks. In 2005 Switzerland agreed to return Nigeria some $458 million siphoned into Swiss bank accounts by General Abacha. Swiss banks have so far returned $200 million of the $700 million in deposits from Nigeria. Incidentally the deal also gives the Abacha family freedom from prosecution in matters related to the looted funds. Such considerations for murderers and looters. It is amazing.

Few years earlier the Federal Banking Commission in Switzerland had condemned six banks, including Credit Suisse (it is the same bank which posted profit recently and where UBS is transferring its money), for ignoring money-laundering rules when they handled funds embezzled by the Abacha clan. But its investigation at the time did not find flaws or wrongdoing at UBS (any guesses why?!!).

It need also be noted that as an affect of G20, the Government of Switzerland (on 16th April, 2009) said that it would be willing to release the $150 million Halliburton bribe money (that is another story!!) trapped in Swiss bank accounts if Nigeria formally requests for assistance.

I also read in the Net that few weeks back Swiss Mission in Nairobi reported that it was willing to cooperate with the Kenya in unraveling the scam in which about Sh60 billion was stolen between 1997 and 2004 from public coffers through payment fictitious security contracts (Other countries where Kenya’s ill-gotten wealth is hidden include United Kingdom, US, South Africa, Namibia, Switzerland and Australia). This because of the decisions taken after G20.

The amazing story of how Swiss helped the Nazis… Swiss collusion with the Nazis in arms production (Switzerland exported almost four times more to Germany and Italy than to the Allies). is well known Swiss played a much greater role in the rise of Nazi Germany than previously recognized. War materiel produced in Switzerland for Germany, was not paid by the Germans, but by the Swiss government to Swiss businesses -a credit of more than one billion was granted to Germany in 1940s. Under the guise of neutrality, the Swiss conspired with the Germans (Swiss neutrality was a myth-it really was about licking from both camps). Even during First World War Swiss played underhand (also referred to as The Grimm-Hoffmann Affair).

Switzerland profited enormously as a nation by allowing German businessmen to travel in and out of the country without interference and by helping the Nazi regime convert gold stolen from Jews and from the banks of conquered nations into convertible funds Germany acquired hard currency in Switzerland in exchange for looted gold, some of which was literally pulled from the teeth of their victims. Switzerland's border police turned fleeing Jews away and into the hands of the Gestapo. Between 30 and 40 thousand denied entry, majority of them ended at the death camps. Interestingly it was Switzerland which stamped the letter J on Jewish German passports and not Nazis (as I was going through Net to get pic of concentration camp to post in this blog…I nearly broke down).

A report by the Historical Commission studying Switzerland's conduct during World War II paints a blacker picture of Switzerland's links with the Nazi's than previously thought. The report by the Bergier commission says 76% of Nazi gold transactions went through Switzerland and the volume of trade between Swiss private banks and war-time Germany was at least three times higher than earlier estimates indicated. The report says Swiss commercial banks bought $61.2m worth of gold during the Nazi era, the current value would be more than $700m. The commission says the Swiss National Bank, SNB, acquired $389.2m, worth more than $4bn at today's prices. The SNB had previously admitted to buying 1.2bn Swiss francs worth of gold.

The Bergier commission also accuses the Nazis of stealing $146m in gold from holocaust victims, including at least $2.5m seized by the SS from inmates of Auschwitz and other death camps in eastern Europe. Nazi Germany secretly shipped a ton of gold coins to its diplomatic mission in Switzerland in the final days of World War II. Nazis loot from their victims in World War II is being held in Swiss bank accounts. In 1997 a concerted international campaign to shame Switzerland over the issue led to the country's famously secretive banking system opening some of its records to scrutiny. Despite these actions, international criticism of Switzerland is still very fierce and some states in the US, such as California, are boycotting Swiss banks until there is more progress on the issue of dormant accounts held by Holocaust victims.

There are also interesting examples of private companies who not only profited from the war but adapted well too. Take the example of Swiss owned Maggi -a brand of Nestle (yes the one that produces nodules around the world, specifically targeting children). Maggi occupied half the German market with soups and other seasonings during the 30's. You can't say that it had financial difficulties. But it placed Nazis in executive positions to increase its market share. It changed clients. Thus Maggi prospered and now is an international player filling up racks (pulverizing local products) in shopping mall, in the process- I am sure- advocating freedom.

Post script: Interestingly in October 2008 (I read this in the Net), Nestle mistakenly aired an advert meant for Bangladeshi TV on British TV(?!!!!!). The advert made false claims that the noodles would "help to build strong muscles and bone". The British Advertising Standards Authority said that the ad did not abide by the new EU consumer protection legislation, by which advertisers have to provide proof of health claims. They have faced criticism for double standards, adhering to standards in developed countries, but then making misleading claims in developing countries, where the legislation permits it. Maggi Noodles also contains the additives E150d and E627. E627 is partly prepared from fish, and is thus not suitable for vegetarians, in spite of the claim made on the packaging. E150d is sometimes made from maize, which is usually genetically modified.

Humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka

There is a serious humanitarian crisis emerging in Sri Lanka, lives of thousands of civilian tamilians are put at risk in the crossfire between the Army and LTTE thugs. LTTE- a terrorist organization that has caused untold misery- should heed the resolutions of UN to disarm itself and surrender. Prolonging this crisis will only lead to causing further misery to beleaguered tamilians. LTTE should be held responsible for aggravating the situation. This blogger believes that post-LTTE Sri Lankan government would take urgent measures to integrate tamilians into mainstream.

It is a terrible coincidence that elections in India and this crisis are happening at the same time. The reason why politicians in Tamil nadu are taking competitive extreme views so as to be seen as concerned about Tamils in Sri Lanka. This might go out of hand with few self-immolations (quite likely in TN). So whether Prabhakaran is captured or killed there is going to be lots of heat in TN till the election. After the election the scene shifts to Delhi and ensuing struggle to get enough numbers in the parliament…Amen to that.

Pic taken from Net

Time out for thugs in Sri Lanka

LTTE has been strangling not only Tamil people but whole of Sri Lanka for sometime now. Agreed that the movement started with some genuine concern for linguistic minorities and so on (I guess most of us are aware of these) but soon was held ransom by self serving coterie in the name of Tamil people. The recent pictures of LTTE holing up few thousand Tamils in last ditch attempt to save themselves is symbolic statement on what is plaguing this island nation. LTTE is reduced to nothing but bunch of thugs who are causing immense hardship to common people (in particular Tamils) for their power struggle. They have consistently avoided peace overtures and used these opportunities to arm themselves. The indulgent west with high moral ground help them grow militarily and diplomatically till chicken came to roost (ditto for Indians), so after 9/11 LTTE found itself with no takers, correctly so. These terrorists wouldn’t have grown so much and carried blatant attacks without support from outside powers. Few kicks on the butt and everybody seem to have got their lesson. LTTE doesn’t understand the language of peace. Sri Lankan government has taken the right steps to end the tyranny of these thugs. If LTTE has any concern for tamilians they should surrender at the earliest. Thousands of civilians are dying in the crossfire, this has to stop immediately.

Sri Lankan Tamils are facing untold misery; this blogger hopes this to end early into lasting peace. Also despite fluttering by Tamil politicians in India (Tamil nadu) for this emotive issue for votes, Tamil people have started to see the difference between LTTE and common tamilians. As the ground realities of LTTE becomes clear in coming days we will know more on what heinous crimes they have committed on Tamil people. Also Prabakaran is no Porus; he is no hero but a sucker living on the blood of common tamilians. He should be prosecuted for the crimes he has committed over the decades.

At one point this blogger was so concerned about Sri Lanka (don’t know why but it reminded me of Kerala, and I find Sinhalese culturally closer to Keralites) that I spent almost 6months reading everything I could come across on this island nation. Fiction, non fiction, poetry, movies…it was agonizing. From Indian perspective I found JN Dixit (I was aghast by his untimely death, he was a brilliant man. Once during a lecture he started singing a old Hindi song!!. He had that old world subtle charm which is so rare these days) and Anita Pratap (intrepid is the word for her). I did know few artists from Sri Lanka- some of them I found over the top, prone to anglicized sensibilities. Sri Lanka if you observe carefully is a classicist society and the problems of Sri Lanka can be traced to arrogance of this section. The main reason for Tamil problem exploding into a civil war has more to do with nature srilankan elite in the last few decades. Mahinda Rajapakse is basically an outsider, the reason why this blogger expects him to be considerate in his dealing post LTTE. Further I have great respect for Buddhist monks and yes it is expected that they too come forward in integrating Tamil populations into mainstream for long lasting peace. What Sri Lanka need at this stage is someone like Desmond Tutu otherwise LTTE will be manipulated as martyrs by vested interests and keep the divisive agenda alive for personal gains.

Post Script: This blogger at the moment is staying in a locality that has predominant Tamil population, mostly very poor. Few months back there were posters protesting the “atrocities” in Sri Lanka, now nobody is bothered-probably they too have seen the real face of LTTE through media. Most Tamilians I found are peculiarly emotional people prone to outbursts, extreme actions and charming exaggerations. It is fun traveling across Tamil Nadu and yes I am a big fan of cuisines from south part of TN.

This snap I took very close to where I stay.

Post Script of last blog...

There are some TV channels that are tremendous in understanding Nature. I think David Attenborough (the best ever, with latest technology he has gone better), Austin Steven, Steve Irwin as also Bear grylls (some situations are bit contrived but accept it the guy is amazing) are stupendous. There are many more programs showing aspect/glimpses of nature one never knew. This blogger has spent substantial time in national sanctuaries but what you get to see on TV is nothing short of incredible. Also I am able to understand some of these elite section better watching animals or is it other way I am understanding animals better by watching Indian elite!!!. For instance take this guy who can write tonnes of pages on population and so on (even awarded Nobel Prize), but produces four children. Wherein the study which he himself did shows that people of his generation (in Kerala and other places) had started to adopt family planning and had not more than two children (taking Kerala's case the population growth rate decreased from 2.33 to 1.76 in 1971-81 period, that was crucial period for Kerala's demographic shift) . He doesn’t stop blabbering about link between education and population but when it comes to himself ...aha…or have we taken Pope seriously?!!. In animal world it is referred to as mean gene!!. The alfa male humility.

plz visit the video 'Inspiring action' by Greenpeace, i got it in my mail today. Thought of sharing...go to http://www.greenpeace.org/international/getinvolved/inspiring-action?utm_source=YouTube&utm_medium=ShortURL&utm_campaign=inspiringaction&x.

From Kyoto to Copenhagen

On the Earth Day today I quote Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) who writes that Copenhagen agreement must meet the political requirements of all participating countries. For this to happen, clarity on four key political points is needed this year.

First, clarity is needed on ambitious, legally binding emission-reduction targets for industrialized countries. Without such targets, the international community will not take the necessary action to address climate change, and developing countries will not have confidence that industrialized countries are willing to take the lead on solving a problem that they caused.

There are some positive signals in this direction. For example, the European Union has agreed to a climate and energy package with which it will be able to reach its target of a 20% emission reduction over 1990 levels by 2020 (30% if other industrialized countries follow suit. within the United States, President Barack Obama has indicated his intention to achieve an 80% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and to return US emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Other countries, such as Russia and Japan, will announce their mid-term targets in the course of this year.

Second, clarity is essential on the extent to which major developing countries can undertake nationally appropriate mitigation actions beyond what they are already doing. For many industrialized countries, particularly the US, it will be very difficult to conclude an agreement unless their citizens see that major developing countries are also willing to engage further.

A number of developing countries, such as China, India, Brazil, and South Africa, have already developed national climate change or energy strategies that indicate the extent to which they feel that they are able, given their economic constraints, to address the issue. Many developing countries are coming forward with ideas for further nationally appropriate mitigation measures that they could take.

Third, clarity is essential on financing. The magnitude of action by developing countries will largely depend on the effective delivery of finance and clean technology through international cooperative action. We need to know how significant financial resources will be generated to help developing countries both limit the growth of their emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change.

Some interesting ideas have been floated. For example, industrialized countries have suggested auctioning emission rights and using part of the revenue for international cooperation – something that Germany is already doing. The concept also features in the Liebermann-Warner bill, an example of draft legislation on climate change for the US. Norway has put forward a proposal to monetize a portion of industrialized countries’ emissions budgets, generating revenue for international cooperation.

Emissions trading and market-based mechanisms will continue to play a role. However, the Bali action plan addresses the need for developing countries to adopt nationally appropriate mitigation actions. Because the carbon market cannot be the sole instrument, government-to-government cooperation will be needed as well.

Finally, clarity is essential on the governance structure under the convention. If significant financial resources are to be generated for mitigation and adaptation, developing countries will want a representative say in how that money is to be allocated and spent. The governance structures have to function according to democratic principles, founded on equity.

Worst than Al Qaeda

This blogger thinks that if Switzerland doesn’t mend its way then should be declared a rogue nation. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration if one adds that this country is turning out to be more dangerous than Al Qaeda. They have succeeded in protecting from the world's tax authorities nearly a third of the world's $7 trillion of privately held wealth- includes illicit fortunes of some of the world's most corrupt rulers. Swiss financiers are accused of destabilizing democracy during the last 100 years. From this blood money of people around the world this tiny nation has given standard of living that is envied by the rest of the world. Its per capita income is staggering $42,840.

The slipping of its mask started with United States getting its act right. UBS Switzerland's biggest bank was embroiled in a multi-million-dollar tax evasion scandal in the United States that led to the bank being sued by the US Department of Justice, which demanded the identities and details of 52,000 of its American account holders. UBS paid a $788m fine and handed details of 250 private accounts to US investigators after court documents revealed that UBS wealth managers smuggled diamonds in toothpaste tubes (hey I know few who brought gold from Dubai to Kerala decades back like this!!. Swiss were expected to be innovative!!), deliberately destroyed offshore bank records on behalf of clients and assisted wealthy Americans to conceal ownership of their assets by creating "sham" offshore trusts. Misleading and false documentation was routinely prepared to facilitate this. This was done according to a senior UBS executive to ensure the bank managed a staggering $20bn of assets owned by wealthy US individuals, which generated the bank $200m in fees each year (any guesses how they have such high standard of living?!!). Now if this is what they could do to US then imagine what is stored for India. Forget India forget your trillion dollars. Don’t underestimate Indian elite, they can do worst than this.

Now you might think that this is about the richest bank, not at all, the country's president Hans-Rudolf Merz who doubles up as country's finance minister is a former UBS banker. Aha. UBS recently dumped $40bn worth of toxic sub-prime mortgages and CDOs into a "bad bank" and required a $3bn government bail-out. The otherwise recalcitrant Swiss public reacted with fury when it realized UBS was doling out $2bn to loss-making money-men. It is déjà vu time for banks and big corporate in rich countries.

It is time up for Switzerland. The sophisticated veneer is slipping and aren’t we seeing some monsters. It is same monster that helped finance Hitler's rise to power, hid gold looted from Holocaust victims (they even gained from victims of slave labor. How heinous can we get). What is the difference between Al Qaeda and Swiss Banks? Both live and prosper on the misery of others. Both are threat to world peace by destabilizing nations and societies. The difference is one uses crude primitive method carrying machine guns and rocket launchers while the other come in suit, and like arms dealers, carry charming billion dollar smile, and yes they are in business for more than a century. Zurich is now capital of financial terrorists. Its game over for Switzerland they don’t have place in civilized world.

The baba who got it right

Having spent most of my childhood in north part of the country, I too like most kids was very scared of babas. It was told that they doubled up as kidnappers of children. I took these warnings quite seriously and would steer clear of babas (it was around the time that the ranga-billa episode was fresh in people’s mind. Those who have not heard- it was about two children kidnapped and murdered by Ranga & Billa. National Bravery award for children is named after these Chopra siblings). It was during my visits to Kerala that I became comfortable with these people, also many people around became like them during the fasts for Sabrimala. In my teens though I had some serious skirmishes with them (home was open for sadhus to stay overnight or for few days…some even came from US!!). Pune incidentally had too many Spiritual Gurus, since i was going out of hand so was taken to none other than Swami Chinmayanda- who put his hand on my head (i guess he was trying to bless!!. I liked his sense of humour though, i prefered his malayalam over english-it was quite biting). I recall being cautioned about Osho Rajneesh-who regularly came to Deccan Gymkhana. In Pune there were also school kids roaming around the housing colony requesting to observe meatless day (initiated by Sadhu Vaswani). Those malevolent feeling gradually got erased and forgot about them, except occasional sightings and so on. It was in 1997-1998 that I traveled to ashrams around the country right from Aurobindo to Osho to God knows who, it was interesting exposing to new ideas and thinking. I also started to read about ancient Indian philosophy, and spending time with sadhus in small towns along the Himalayas, some of these guys are simply crazy of course there are some who are incisive it was pleasure talking to them. There is a hilarious incident I recall one baba fellow gave me chillum (mostly charas or ganja) to smoke, and here I was all out to try anything and everything, few inhalation and black out. When I woke up few hours later my belongings were found ransacked- there was nothing but notebook, pen and some dry fruits. Money was inside socks!!. Cheers to that…

Most Indians have high regards for sadhus, it is very unfortunate that many are thugs also it serves the people right since they look for superstition/ritual for greed and material benefit. There are genuine sadhus too, some well versed in the art of argumentation (after all it was Ashtpada Gautama who wrote Tarka Vidya- science of debate, some two thousand years back). Someone, while traveling a year or so back, mentioned about Astha channel, I did flip through it few times. That is how I came across this funny half naked fellow grotesquely twisting his body, thought nothing about him. Later came to know that he has done lots of work for cleaning river Ganga and so on. And that he has very large following across the country. Few weeks back I came across him again talking about black money in Swiss bank in one of the channel. That really got me interested. Baba Ramdev is making lots of sense to people across the country, it is very obvious from the kind of following he is having. As I gather he seems to be quite a simple man, one wonders whether he too will be manipulated by people around him?. Since he is taking on some really corrupt powerful people as also exploitative products the threat to eliminate or tarnish is very much present.

The amount of black money in Swiss bank is staggering (it is not billion but trillion), but the politicians who are trying to use this issue I am sure are only doing it to garner votes. Since all these politicians where in and out of power without doing anything about it nor are they expected to do anything in future (same for babri or all the riots). They play on divisive issues and keep it alive- the reason why we have people who passionately hate LK Advani and others who have same feeling for Sonia Gandhi, without even aware of price of rice!!. These are powerful people spread across the spectrum right from politicians (of all parties) to businessmen and media. Do you think they will let the money in Swiss bank come to India?. That is why such a serious crime is put under the carpet, it hurts them, it hurts them badly and there are no pretensions here (it is same agonizing face they have when closing ranks against common people throwing chappals).

There are many issues which they can mime concern and gain (all in the name of common people). It is in same context that the exploitative products that harm common people don’t find any concern since the big money has closed their mouth. It is a tacit understanding on where the lick is. Probably the financial crisis and fallout in US would awaken the world of this unethical practice carried on by Swiss (mostly ex Nazis sympathizers or those who made fortune out of misery of Jews). Black money cannot be allowed to be routed this away, it is nothing short of human rights violation. In a poor country like India this is unparalleled abuse

Unsustainable exploitation of natural resource putting basic needs and livelihood of millions of people, and future generations, in jeopardy that too for indulgent products meant for few city dwellers should shock most of us. But not in India. We are like this only. That is incredible India for you and yes this blogger has visited many villages where people are protesting against these products, these you will not come across in market media-it is about self interest. Freedom of expression my foot. Market media has this unenviable task of creating market friendly concerns, leaf growing out of boy’s ear was incredible conception in this context!!. Exaggerate that and you will understand the euphoria for IPL.

With socio-political elite very much into filling their coffers and promoting their mediocre progenies in last many decades what we have seen is loot of colossal scale. We have a new meaning of merit!!. If it is about trillion dollars black money in Swiss bank, it is also about multi- trillion dollars black money not in Swiss bank but stacked in quaint homes across the country. It is also about elite of this country and how they function- self gain at the expense of common people. It is also about the natural resources that have been sold to highest bidders in the name of development.

Therefore this blogger unlike Amir Khan (his brand value increases with Muslim name…its dream scene for turd but poor thing aint no popular ye!!. In the world of pretentious secularism muslim names are horny. This blogger is not undermining the importance of secularism but not from self serving mediocre people, who tend to scuttle issues concerning millions of people) don’t consider corrupt politicians a serious threat. The reason being they have to face the elections every few years so they will have to share some percentage of the loot (the same reason why I am not much concerned about distribution of money to voters. It’s about maximizing the opportunity, from the voter’s perspective), also the space for variant policy making is rather reduced in recent times. The danger is from those people who are always around the power centers in capital cities (includes scheming media barons, corrupt businessmen-manipulative marketers and small time fixers, as also mongers for power and clout for common people….Raju boy’s 70000crore scam is nothing- this blogger believes that the scam wouldn’t be out if he wasn’t too stupid. Obviusly the above mentioned people need lots of black money), a section that is insulated from all happenings. This scam by progenies of traditional loot is something that you will not find in Swiss bank. The worms who pupate in subjective situations, where there is nothing to commit or sacrifice (gosh) but dress nicely and talk nicely and lick it together…

The change we need...also "Coca cola does it in Australia"

It was but expected by Coca Cola to take people on ball ride in poorer and societies with extreme disparities like India. The focus on urban youth and their lifestyle demands positioning is understandable. The shift from exploitation of natural resources and threat to livelihood of millions to change (and targeting politicians) was an easy ploy. Easy because they have so much money and access (the pliable Market media). Add to it the concern (the groovy part) you have a recipe to be in TV channels. So it seems Indian urban youth is going to make our life better. It is the scariest thought I am having in recent times!!.

The so called agents of change as also our friendly guardian bend on saving us common people are having an outing. Never mind they are all from the same strata, same market friendly bunch with a big appetite for lick. The indulgent lot has found their calling. The elite are aware that world is watching so have position for big lick. Some innovative also play victim for sake of us. Its like if you are concerned about poor India, exploited Indians, biased Indians…whatever Indians the pit stop is here. Feed us we will pass on. With a billion and counting population this is huge, and they know very few can easily usurp this one. The stampede is on.

India incidentally is home to roughly one-third of all poor people in the world. It also has a higher proportion of its population living on less than $2 per day than even sub Saharan Africa. Also note 42% of the population living below the new international poverty line of $1.25 per day. The number of Indian poor also constitutes 33% of the global poor, which is pegged at 1.4 billion people.

Now the fat part, the Black money in Swiss banks -- Swiss Banking Association report, 2006 details bank deposits in the territory of Switzerland by nationals of following countries:

Top Five
India---- $1456 billion
Russia---$ 470 billion
UK-------$390 billion
Ukraine- $100 billion
China-----$ 96 billion

India with $1456 billion or $1.4 trillion has more money in Swiss banks than rest of the world combined. It is one of the biggest loots witnessed by mankind -- the loot of the Aam Aadmi (common man) since 1947.

Raymond Baker -- in his widely celebrated book titled 'Capitalism’s Achilles Heel: Dirty Money and How to Renew the Free Market System’ -- estimates that at least $5 trillion have been shifted out of poorer countries to the West since the mid-1970. It is further estimated by experts that one per cent of the world’s population holds more than 57 per cent of total global wealth, routing it invariably through these tax havens. How much of this is from India is anybody’s guess. The market based economy has made many of them quite bold. And the desultory ease with which they work is a study in itself.

But working in developed countries like Australia is different you really cannot get away with free media (unlike market driven media in Indian context, it is easy money in poorer societies). Coca cola was taken to task for misleading ads. “Coca-Cola Busted for Big Fat Rotten Lies" ran the blunt headline in the Sydney Morning Herald, a major news outlet in Australia. Coca-Cola had placed a groovy full-page print ads all across Australia featuring Kerry Armstrong, an Australian actress, with the heading "Kerry Armstrong on Motherhood & Myth-Busting". Well they cannot work on change in Australia!!. It is different strategy. Representing Ms. Armstrong as a responsible "mum" who is "often bombarded by conflicting messages on food and drinks", the ad goes on to establish the facts about Coca-Cola by busting myths about Coca-Cola.

The ad tries to bust the myths that Coca-Cola makes you fat, rots your teeth and is packed with caffeine, among others.

The fact though is different: a good number of scientific studies have confirmed strong linkages between the consumption of soft drinks and obesity and a host of other health problems. To add to this body of evidence, the New England Journal of Medicine has just published an article advocating a 'penny-per-ounce' tax on soft drinks because, "Sugar-sweetened beverages (soda sweetened with sugar, corn syrup, or other caloric sweeteners and other carbonated and uncarbonated drinks, such as sports and energy drinks) may be the single largest driver of the obesity epidemic."

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) took swift action and on April 2, 2009, the commission issued court enforceable orders to Coca-Cola, including:

• Publish advertisements correcting the misleading claims made in the "Myth Busting" ad in every publication the original ad was published in and of equal prominence and size
• Barred Coca-Cola for three years from making the claims that Coca-Cola cannot contribute to weight gain and tooth decay, and that Diet Coca-Cola contains only half the caffeine as a cup of tea, unless these can be substantiated
• Provide a link to the corrected ad from its corporate social responsibility website

Clearly the elite stand to gain from these exploitative products. The reason why we don’t see any policy initiatives nor market media’s big concerns. It is about live and let live in the elite circle. Sab aram se chato, sab ke liye hai.

(Inputs from Net..Photo of children protesting against Coke-Pepsi also taken from Net)

Are elections important?.

My apologies for using nonsensical titles like these, maybe I am watching too much TV!!. Of course elections are important. What cautions me here is more than usual enthusiasm of certain sections of society. Let me put things in perspective. In the last few years the lower strata of society has become quite vocal. They have started to look for emancipation through political empowerment and instead of elite representing them in the Parliament. They have started to put people among themselves in the leadership positions, clearly many lack the kind of “sophistication” the urban crowd was used/aspire to. For most people in urban India fed in daily doses of western-as-modern crap these people from rural India are nothing short of some aliens. For them wannabees in TV channels are friendly neighbors, angst of US-Britain society (read international…such a small world here) very personal. This invasion of reality is scaring them, and has taken up the call for change.

Yes change is good and is needed. But what is this change we are hearing?. And who are the people who stand to gain?. We have to work on the premise that the society we live in is essentially selfish and are dealing with some very selfish and self preserving people. This has to be accepted, since this is what we are increasingly seeing around not only that it is celebrated through market. Selfishness here is carefully constructed as: I gain but in the process we all will gain. Since it is a construct on selfish premise the later part rarely happens, some innovative use term like trickle down. So the elite section has created some kind of alliance to be saviors for common people. It is a mutual agreement on sharing the spoils, they do conduct mock fights and heated arguments for the consumption of audience. But the spoil is always intact (note the lukewarm response to black money deposits…I am having a new found admiration for likes of Baba Ramdev).

The threat of people representing the majority of people in this country is what giving them sleepless nights. People “not like us”. This blogger is not under the assumption that rural leaders are not corrupt but then I don’t have any prejudices against anyone from rural who doesn’t speak English or who has an accent that could be fed to urban coach potatoes as forms of entertainment, that assurance that we are smart than them. People not like us are necessarily funny people. The market construct that accentuates prejudices.

It is in this very construct that urban India understanding of change falls. In US change had socio-historical context. In India it is essentially a clever market ploy. “Youth for change” has a feel of romantism to it. The idealism of young people has changed the course of history not only in India but many parts of the world. Think of young Gandhi, Nehru, Bose and those who died young with their idealist world view intact (and source of inspiration) like Bhagat singh or Azad. And many unsung people. Here one need add this understanding is not confined to politics but other field including dealing in personal lives of common people. India now has one of the largest populations of young people. So clearly it is a good target group, it makes lots of market sense. As India Today notes "Everyone’s eyeing the 180 million people under 35 who are going to vote this year, and the 43 million of them who will be first-time voters"

Largest population under-35 but how many between 18-35 is not very clear and how many who earn money, to decide their market choices?. Nevertheless it is a size that cannot be neglected. There is a campaign happening to awaken them. Excellent work but this blogger watches it with much trepidation.

Younger population is what market excited about. It is also not a coincidence this section is a major target consumer for market (youngisthan). It is clear from the selling pattern of billion dollar industries like coke/Pepsi or so called “international” fast food joints and many other products which most common people may not buy. It is also an audience that can be manipulated.

Idealism of most Indian urban youth pupates in Mcfood surrounding sipping Coca Cola, this may look out of place for most us but their elder generations have mastered it in their own youth, it’s a kind hypocrisy that is traditional. Since the exploitative nature of these products and lifestyle doesn’t sync with the realities of not only this society but the nature and environment (as I said earlier nature is not into “live and let live” when you don’t know how to live. Period) but has put societies in serious threat- to their livelihood and natural resources. This market media is not interested since it threatens their selfish interests/ self preservation. Therefore they try to blur these. Amir Khan will come and talk of future of small children but the future of children is not confined to political choices we make but indeed to a larger extend to choices we make to preserve natural resources and health of younger generation. Ground water exploitation by exploitative products conglomerates doesn’t fall into his concern, since if it does then it will affect his self interest. Although Amir Khan seems like a concerned man the difference here is many people don’t work on self interest. Further carrying the same logic of self interest if some one is giving money to vote for him why shouldn’t I take money (being a voter is my strength-USP, so why shouldn’t I exploit it?), also it is not necessary to vote for him/her just because he has given money, it is not a deal (smart ye)!!

Communalism is not the only concern, in fact sometimes I think it is overdone by some market driven section to mask or divert the concerns which they could be complicit, it also helps them to build image. I read on the Net sometime back “The Health Minister of India had asked film stars to not endorse Coke and Pepsi because of the hazards of sugar in soft drinks, implicated in the obesity and diabetes epidemic among children. Marion Nestle has called soft drinks a quintessential ‘junk food’, high in calories but low in nutrition. Stealing Health, Creating Disease”. The market media would call Health Minister unreasonable and try to scuttle the issue. The “youth for change” brigade will not find these market unfriendly issues worth pursuing that is bad positioning.

Idealism necessarily goes with understanding, and understanding is not talk shows where people (camera friendly small timers) express their feelings but rigorous process of knowledge gathering apart from what makes one professionally competent (I need to add this here since these IT guys are considered knowledgeable but most are woefully mono dimensional ditto technologists under Hitler). How can you have understanding without knowledge?. Take any example of “idealist youths” throughout history right from Gandhi to Luther King to Bagath Singh to many people whom we admire they were into rigorous knowledge. It is not an easy option and by the very nature of market these options are not smart. The construct of smartness for youth is basically on the parameters of consumerism. So what we have is bunch of young and younger people who are dumb and dumber. But high on attitude clearly attitude doesn’t compensate idealism. In fact market friendly attitude are created- it’s about being bold and stupid. If more exploitative products are selling because of ads nothing can be more telling. If the decisions are based on so fickle then god save. Fast forward and you have a society that elects a man not once but twice as their leader who created havoc on the world. A society that overspends, over consumes…that is not only responsible for all the financial muck but also the impending environmental catastrophe. It is the same culture they are trying to spread through market driven change. Urban youth is going to be the foot soldier, but first create a construct that he is smart and is agent of change but the reality is most of these fools (not all but yes most) cannot even tell north pole from south pole. Yes very high on brand conscious. God save us from change.

With understanding comes empathy. But then empathy doesn’t go with capitalism the reason they have philanthropy. In India apart from some big companies, its mostly absent, if ever it is black money (incredible India) !!. The packaging also involves downplaying or even degrading elderly generation. This I find amusing sometimes shocking. Young can take their own decision is a great thought. But if the decision is market choice then I have to be careful, elderly people can be good guidance in fact this culture is to be nurtured. The belligerent youth rebelling for one brand over the other is a statement on society, it is also time for society to introspect, since this is future. Frankly this blogger has come across many elderly people whom I found admirable and many “young urban” who are blatantly communal and aggressively consumerist and very careless in their attitude towards others. Communal/casteist recruited by fundamentalists (rural), consumerists for market (urban). The market has positioned itself as positive/saviors. It is about positioning, placement. Precisely what the market driven small time celebrities do all the time. A stage seem to have come where if you are not able to position yourself for market media your life is wasted!!.

Also note Youth for change not only helps market in its very immediacy but also a clever ploy for promoting the elite section’s family and friends. So by crying wolf to common people they have helped themselves. This you will see in all fields…the young faces we see are all progenies promoted from the same elite, same coterie. Obviously young from non elite background cannot be in such positions (or able to tap these opportunities which they have opened in the name of youth). Another point here is that all the opportunities here are in field were competence is subjective (afterall anybody who has tongue can talk!!). Objective competences are for common people, they prepare for entrance exams and other recruitment procedures and so on. While the elite section take a break. This blogger took break from conventional career, without any backing or fall back option…believe me it was very tough, it nearly consume me, the insecurity (it’s like floating in a rudderless dingy on a deep rough sea!!. In the beginning when the enormity of the situation strikes it is terrifying then don’t think about it and concentrate on the immediate threats, then a stage comes when you get so used to it that can detach and contemplate!!).A survey by India today(its there in the net) says "97 per cent of young India does not have access to the Internet and 41 per cent never watch television. What’s more, the urban young population, has benefited the most from liberalisation’s..."

So again we are back to 1960s and 1970s. It’s about keeping the exclusiveness of class. Even the guitar holding (rocker!) “idealist young urban” singing for change is not really about empathy but a statement of exclusiveness. It’s about how much gap is created from common people. The tragedy here is the angst of the youth for the world the common people are not even able to understand, wherein the musicians in west used these to connect. The guitar for instance is part of the west narration that goes back to church carol. Clearly the “young urban Indian” is trying to connect to western sensibilities (referred to as modern) therefore easier for consumerism, so the market media is interested. Crass is in and is looking for room to change…

A disclaimer: obviously this is not against business (I do admire some of these businessmen, I am not an ideologue), also trade and transaction is an important element of any society. This is for a caution on exploitative products and attempts made to deconstruct our social reality for consumption.

Post script: actually it very easy to go with the crowd and gain, as most people are doing. (few hours back I was watching TV and the amount of jewelry ads in Malayalam channels is staggering. I pity these actors, surely it is their profession and they too need money). The market mantra “live and let live” seems to be lets all lick!!.

Next blog should be about “Needed: professional audience”…

great win at Ipoh

The Indian hockey team under the captain Sandeep Singh has come back from abyss. They have lifted the prestigious Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia defeating the host convincingly 3-1. Cheers to that !!!.

Vignettes of Pushkar…

This place is riot of colors, humans (Indian-urban-rural, foreigners-dudes!!), animals, gods, noise, silence, beauty, dirt, expected, unexpected…
I saw this elderly women (probably with her grandson selling hola-its grain sapling used for ritual burning before holi). She demanded money for taking her photo, i said i didn't take, she asked me to show the camera, i sneaked away!!
Dogs taking afternoon siesta on the bank of sacred pond.
More at photo blogs…

On communal politics in India…

Studies conducted over the years points to some revealing reasons (Horowitz) as to why riots happen, first and foremost, is when people get into mob psychology- a sense of reduced personal risk, maximize destruction while minimizing personal liabilities. When there is a reduced risk of punishment by government agencies or retaliation by the targeted group. Second, is a sense of personal justification Rioters not only saw their cause as righteous, but as an act of defense (even if preemptively) against a perceived imminent and grave threat. Also as an opportunity to correct a perceived social, economic, or political wrong against their own ethnic group or other deviant association to define community. Thereby communal riots provide an opportunity for the release of built-up group or communal tensions and anger. Third, Horowitz noted that research indicated that rioters in general shared hatred of the targeted religious/ethnic group. This usually was manifested by an obsessive type of hatred where the rioters believed that all members of the targeted group thought the same way on socio-economic and political issues and felt a sense of general repulsion of the religious/ethnic group overall.

It is also observed that after each riot communal/caste/divisive parties become stronger in that area. Pattern before the riots point to sentiments of hatred against the ‘other’ that act as a fertile soil in which events can be given a communal twist. So many an events can take place in the society but unless the inherent hatred for the other is there they cannot be translated into violent episodes (this is an important point). Add to this a vicious ingredient-the leaders, the politicians, who are on the look out for the chance to convert a human tragedy into a ladder for their political opportunity, into enhancement of communal/caste agenda, into converting it into a riot.

A skirmish reaches a proportion of riot when powerful people are competing for political or economic space. In most cases these factors coalesce, it is known fact that most riots have happened in industrial towns with multi religious background (whether Meerut, Baroda or Coimbatore). Communal politics have spread beyond economics towards garnering votes- through focus on religious/caste identities and perceived threats (Asghar Ali Engineer’s study in last many points to these). Parties that represent elites within ethnic groups use protests, demonstrations and physical attacks that precipitate riots in order to encourage members of their wider ethnic category to identify with their party rather than a party that is identified with economic redistribution or some ideological agenda. Riots or hate speech therefore makes its easier. It takes away the attention from issues that matter to common people.

However it need be noted that the number of communal riots have gone down in last decade or so and the main reason is the nature and compulsions of politics- the growing competitiveness for votes. In the last decade or so the regional parties, and parties mobilizing weaker sections, have become more assertive- forces that cannot be taken lightly. Elite section may talk negative about third or fourth fronts (probably because it scares them since they don’t know where to work on PR or contacts, two party system is an easy option for them. They love this A Vs B binary narration. The fact though is it doesn’t reflect the reality of this nation. The reality is complex, very much chaotic) but for common people it is a positive thing, since apart from other things-like making the system more representative.. Since “vote banks” is not assured for major/national political parties, competition for minority/caste votes increases the incentives for governments to prevent anti-minority/caste violence. Studies suggest that multiparty political system leads to lesser chances of communal riots, since polarizing parties understand the need for working relation, and minorities become an important swing vote. A riot breaks that possibility therefore they become cautious. A multiparty system creates a system wherein polarizing politicians either don’t succeed or eventually stop trying to divide communities by provoking and fomenting violence.

The gist here is that the party representing elite from a section that can potentially unite a majority of voters will have a greater incentive to foment polarizing events and riots in order to solidify its vote. Democratic governments led by any party will prevent riots when they depend for votes directly or indirectly upon various sections. Greater number of parties leads to fewer communal riots.

A word of caution: Large number of political parties does have impact on national politics in positive way but at the local-micro level this leads to polarization that could turn communal. Though politicians and elite have major role in communalising/casteing society for power as they have a control (it is interesting to note that "first communal riot" took place in Ahmedabad in 1713, next 1730 and so on…during the reign of fanatic Aurangzeb), but the riot doesn’t spread or endorsed if common people are not polarized. It is therefore important to understand the socio-cultural factors. Horowitz study points to a major cause for riots to spread, an innocuous incident gets communal color, when the “other” as object of hatred is constructed by prejudices or that the “targeted ethnic group thought the same way on socio-economic and political issues”, the perceived threat.

The reality of similar socio-economic condition (that is exploited by the elite) becomes evident when the societies are not polarized or live in siege. Studies have shown that neighborhood-level social structures can provide an important opportunity for everyday inter religious/ethnic interaction that is helpful in combating perceptions by individuals that all members of a certain religious/ethnic group think or felt the same way about controversial social, religious, economic, or political issues. Multi-religious associations, formal and informal relations between people have played a significant role in preventing riots in otherwise sensitive areas (Dharavi being an excellent example), thus preventing the sinister plans of elite. It need be noted here how women who were victims or sufferers from the divides were able to come together to prevent further deterioration. It is the people who suffer who have to understand and evolve without being dependent on outsiders- elite, who exploit the situation some by playing savior others by exasperating the situation. It is for the people concerned to find their unique ways. State though should see that rioter’s doesn’t get the feeling of “reduced risk of punishment”, the law enforcement and prosecution has to be stringent. Unfortunately there is a serious lacuna and perpetrators of heinous crimes get away, even political leaders who incite people go scot-free. 

It need be pointed that the popular culture in particular movies also play a very significant role in bringing people together, as also a source for entertainment from otherwise dreary life. Popular movies and other culture references of common people are significant in keeping the socio-cultural fabric intact. Elite section might smirk (that is the only thing these morons can do, their reference is west) but popular Hindi movies –also referred to as bollywood movies, and blockbuster regional movies have played a very significant role in shaping and consolidating secular attitude (the so called art movies with few exceptions are presumptuous and quite mediocre that rightfully nobody is interested, I guess these pretentious people could watch some Iranian movies to start with), though not necessarily liberal or sophisticated. Popular songs do soften people, may not make them contemplative but surely lightens their life thus chance of hatred for others/surroundings are minimized (any guess why Taliban is against music?!!). This blogger intends to end this piece by recalling a scene from a movie that apparently is nonsensical if you use your mind: An injured old woman is getting blood transfusion from three people at the same instance (!!) she is not aware that they are her children –Amar, Akbar, Anthony (Hindu, Muslim, Christian). This affects most Indian people in a way no intellectual crap on secularism can. Popular movies have had a significant impact on the narration of this nation (the recent shift towards mall movies therefore is a cause of concern, as their reference is western sensibilities-mistaken for modern. Its premise in most cases is defined by consumerism or market compulsions). The reason why India is relatively peaceful and accommodating needs to be understood from these popular references, myths.