I don’t really enjoy sending compliments Houston’s way, even though I love my family and most close relatives live there, but I do think Houston deserves props for moving full speed ahead on light rail.  Land is Houston is used so haphazardly that it remains to be seen whether transit can ever make a meaningful dent on single-rider car use, but I really applaud Houston for going after it and setting an example for many other cities to consider.

ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) merupakan wujud dari kesepakatan dari negara-negara ASEAN untuk membentuk suatu kawasan bebas perdagangan dalam rangka meningkatkan daya saing ekonomi kawasan regional ASEAN dengan menjadikan ASEAN sebagai basis produksi dunia serta  serta menciptakan pasar regional bagi 500 juta penduduknya. Namun di 2010 nanti juga akan di terapkan Free Trade Zone (FTA) ASEAN-China yang dijadwalkan pada 1 Januari 2010 nanti bakal menggerus penerimaan negara, terutama yang berasal dari China. Karena produksi kita masih kurang dapat bersaing dengan negara lain di pasar internasional, alhasil selain menimbulkan potensial loss di penerimaan negara, FTA juga bakal menggangu industry, termasuk petani dalam negeri dengan gempuran produk impor terutama dari China, seperti buah-buahan. dalam Oleh karena itu, untuk mengurangi gempuran dari negara-negara lain, seharusnya rakyat Indonesia dapat menekan hai itu dengan cara mengunakan produk-produk yang di hasilkan oleh produsen dalam negeri, serta mengunakan jasa-jasa yang berasal dari negara kita sendiri, karena akan banyak fasilitas umum semisal rumah sakit yang akan mengimpor ataupun mendatangkan tenaga kerja di negara kita ini. Oleh karena itu, untuk dapat menciptakan pasar bagi produk dan jasa dalam negri kita wajib menggunakan produk dan jasa bangsa kita sendiri.
Jadi gunakanlah jasa-jasa serta produk-produk bangsa Indonesia, untuk bangsa Indonesia.

More people may be incubating variant CJD, the human version of so-called “mad cow disease”, than was previously thought, according to scientists who today report an unusual case of the disease.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/dec/18/mad-cow-disease-vcjd-cases

This weeks FTA show is updated on the following Satellite and Internet links;

1. Internet Streaming

• Direct to browser stream (make sure you have your browser configured correctly)
• Flash Player (click on the Flash Player to stream direct)
• Our Archive site

2. PODcast

• iDevice itpc format
• Master PODcast file

3. ShoutCast

• ShoutCast Server 1
• ShoutCast Server 2

4. Satellite

Some example media players you can use to listen to The FTA Show,

1. VLC (all platforms – Windows, MAC, Linux) , Windows Media Player (Windows) , Mplayer (MAC & Linux), WinAMP (Windows)
2. iPhone, iPOD, iTOUCH, Nano, Apple TV, Mplayer, VLC
3. WinAmp (Windows), VLC (all platforms), The Dreambox (Internet radio plugin), and hundreds of other players
4. See the satellite details here

]]> http://boxier.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/12-13-2009-latest-transponders-list/ Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:39:54 +0000 boxier http://boxier.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/12-13-2009-latest-transponders-list/

]]> http://boxier.wordpress.com/2009/12/05/12-05-2009-latest-transponder-list/ Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:19:37 +0000 boxier http://boxier.wordpress.com/2009/12/05/12-05-2009-latest-transponder-list/

]]> http://itepinc.wordpress.com/2009/12/05/fta-golf-fundraiser-brings-holiday-donation-cheer-to-itep-at-its-90th-birthday-celebration-lunch-event/ Sat, 05 Dec 2009 06:15:44 +0000 gmcquade http://itepinc.wordpress.com/2009/12/05/fta-golf-fundraiser-brings-holiday-donation-cheer-to-itep-at-its-90th-birthday-celebration-lunch-event/

Several hundred mostly  International Trade  executives and movers  and shakers in the Foregin  Trade Assn. (FTA) packed  into the Omni Hotel today  (Friday, Dec. 4, 2009) to  celebrate the holidays and   install new officers for    2010.

Carol Rowen was provided with a check for $1,000 from a recent golf tourney and fundraiser by FTA members.

Carol Rowen was provided with a check for $1,000 from a recent golf tourney and fundraiser by FTA members. (l-R) FTA Treasurer Craig Pinkerton, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, Carol Rowen, ITEP and Tom Good, ITEP Bd Chairman (MAYO PR photo)

Chair Caroline Brown, Comerica Bank (l) receives award from 2010 Preisdnet Carolo DeAtougula, Western Overseas Corp. for FTA services. Photo by MAYO PR

2010 FTA officers sworning included: Chair Caroline Brown, Comerica Bank; President CArolo DeAtougula, Western Overseas Corp.; 1st V.P. Steve Pasienski, Toyota Motor Sales;2nd V.P. Daniel Benoit, OceanWind International; Secretary JoAnne Davis, Pioner Electronics (USA), Inc. and Treasurer Craig Pinkerton, PricewterhouseCoopers LLP.

More 100 members and friends of the Foreign Trade Association had a day of fun and raised money for a worthy cause on a recent fall day. The day began with a Shot Gun “Best Ball” golf tournament at Rio Hondo where close to 100 golfers had a great time catching up with colleagues and showing off their best shots. Everyone was a winner, but those taking cash prizes at the gala dinner following the tournament included the foursome from Horizon Lines with first place low net, Purolator taking second low net, and Avalon Risk Management in third. Long drive winners were Fred Woolfork, Worldwide Flight Services for the men and Nancy Hiromoto, Citizen Watch Company, for the women.

Closest to the pin winners were Heather Morris, Port of Long Beach, for women and Rob Romain, Puralator, for the men. The day held something for everyone with some fabulous raffle prizes including a Citizen watch, Pioneer DVD computer writer, walkie-talkies, iPOD Nano, gift certificates and gift baskets, books and TV DVD series.

The grand prize winner of a 24” LCD HDTV television was won by JoAnne Davis, Pioneer Electronics, USA. Congratulations to all the winners of golf and chance! A donation of $1,000 from the proceeds of this event will be donated to the International Trade Education Programs (ITEP) to fund programs that support higher education and preparation for international trade careers for high school students in our community.

The FTA and LACBFFA thank everyone who participated, especially our sponsors: Stericycle, Inc.; Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, LLP; Avalon Risk Management; Price Transfer, Inc.; J & K Fresh; The Janel Group of Los Angeles; Puralotor; Carmichael International Services; Grunfeld Desiderio Lebowitz Silverman & Klestadt, LLP; OceanWind; PCC Logistics; Plains All American Pipeline, LP; Roanoke Trade Services and Western Overseas Corporation. Thanks also to all our other raffle and goodie bag sponsors: AMH Customs Consultants; American Shipping Company; ChinaWest LLP; Comerica Bank; FIDM; Los Angeles Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association; Mattel, Inc.; NRC Environmental Services; Wegener & Associates and William Thomas Gould, CHB.

Adam Tompkins contributes to the junior class box in the canned food drive.

MEGAN MISNER – Hoof Prints Staff

The Future Teachers of America club is hosting a can food drive now through Wednesday, Dec. 9. All of the food from the drive will be given to the American Legion, where it will be delivered to the needy. Each class competes to have the most ounces. The grade with the most ounces will receive 15 points toward their homecoming week score. The second place will receive 10 points and the last place recipients will receive five points.

“I’m hoping we have a large donation to give to the American Legion. It’s a great way to help the community during Christmas season, “stated Mrs. Hatch.

ANTARA News | Jakarta | Economic & Business | 3 December 2009

Indonesian steel and textile industries will be threatened if the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is introduced in January 2010, an industry spokesman said.

Since January 2000, Indonesian steel makers had been suffering a sharp trade deficit because they lost to foreign competitors, Executive Director of the Indonesian Association of Iron and Steel Industries (IISIA) Hidayat Triseputro said here on Wednesday.

“Although the government currently imposes a 5 percent tax on imported steel, the domestic steel industry is still facing difficulties. After the FTA is introduced and the import tax is abolished, the Indonesian steel industry may collapse,” he said.

In the past five years the Indonesian steel makers had difficulties expanding their business because they lost to foreign competitors, particularly from China, he said.

He said lack of supporting factors, such as competitive transportation costs, short delivery times, low container rents, and low electricity tariffs had made Indonesian steel industry products unable to compete with Chinese products.

“The high cost of the steel industry`s supporting factors make the prices of the Indonesian steel product uncompetitive,” he said.

Citing an example, he said, Indonesia`s export of steel of HS-72 and HS-73 types to China continued to fall while its steel imports from China rose sharply.

He said the application of the FTA which abolishes tax on imported steel would put a further strain on the domestic steel industry.

He asked the government to postpone the signing of the FTA on the grounds it would harm a number of industries, particularly steel industry.

]]> http://usanewsonline.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/muggsy-bogues/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:53:37 +0000 USA News Online http://usanewsonline.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/muggsy-bogues/ http://itepinc.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/fta-and-lacbffa-kick-off-the-fall-season-with-golf-tournament-and-gift-to-itep/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:49:20 +0000 gmcquade http://itepinc.wordpress.com/2009/11/25/fta-and-lacbffa-kick-off-the-fall-season-with-golf-tournament-and-gift-to-itep/

First place Low Net winners from Horizon Lines Pictured from left to right: Kurt Weikum, Greg Stewart, Matt Flemings, and Kwang Chen.

FTA Plans to Make Donation to ITEP at its 90th Birthday Celebration & Lunch event

Over 100 members and friends of the Foreign Trade Association had a day of fun and raised money for a worthy cause on a recent fall day. The day began with a Shot Gun “Best Ball” golf tournament at Rio Hondo where close to 100 golfers had a great time catching up with colleagues and showing off their best shots. Everyone was a winner, but those taking cash prizes at the gala dinner following the tournament included the foursome from Horizon Lines with first place low net, Purolator taking second low net, and Avalon Risk Management in third. Long drive winners were Fred Woolfork, Worldwide Flight Services for the men and Nancy Hiromoto, Citizen Watch Company, for the women.

Closest to the pin winners were Heather Morris, Port of Long Beach, for women and Rob Romain, Puralator, for the men. The day held something for everyone with some fabulous raffle prizes including a Citizen watch, Pioneer DVD computer writer, walkie-talkies, iPOD Nano, gift certificates and gift baskets, books and TV DVD series.

The grand prize winner of a 24” LCD HDTV television was won by JoAnne Davis, Pioneer Electronics, USA. Congratulations to all the winners of golf and chance! A donation of $1,000 from the proceeds of this event will be donated to the International Trade Education Programs (ITEP) to fund programs that support higher education and preparation for international trade careers for high school students in our community.

The FTA and LACBFFA thank everyone who participated, especially our sponsors: Stericycle, Inc.; Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp, LLP; Avalon Risk Management; Price Transfer, Inc.; J & K Fresh; The Janel Group of Los Angeles; Puralotor; Carmichael International Services; Grunfeld Desiderio Lebowitz Silverman & Klestadt, LLP; OceanWind; PCC Logistics; Plains All American Pipeline, LP; Roanoke Trade Services and Western Overseas Corporation. Thanks also to all our other raffle and goodie bag sponsors: AMH Customs Consultants; American Shipping Company; ChinaWest LLP; Comerica Bank; FIDM; Los Angeles Customs Brokers & Freight Forwarders Association; Mattel, Inc.; NRC Environmental Services; Wegener & Associates and William Thomas Gould, CHB.

For more information or to RSVP contact:

Foreign Trade Association (FTA)

Tel. 818.352.6753;
info@foreigntradeassociation.com

Does this mean we should save up to shop in 2010 instead?

++++

Miti to make decision on Malaysia-US FTA talks soon

Business Times, Malaysia
19 November 2009

By Rupa Damodaran

Trade Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed hopes to find out in a few weeks if the country should still pursue a free trade area deal with the US, its biggest trading partner, or join a regional pact instead.

The US has indicated its preference to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), an existing deal that consists of Singapore, New Zealand, Brunei and Chile.

US chief negotiator Barbara Weisel met Ministry of International Trade and Industry secretary-general Tan Sri Rahman Mamat in Kuala Lumpur yesterday and conveyed the news.

“We need to know if we should embrace the TPP or abandon the bilateral FTA with the US,” Mustapa said at a media briefing in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Miti, he added, will conduct its own study on the TPP, which may be joined by Australia, Peru, Vietnam and the US.

Mustapa plans to brief the cabinet in next few weeks and get a mandate on whether Malaysia should continue to pursue the bilateral partnership or the TPP.

The Malaysia-US FTA talks which commenced in 2006, saw eight rounds of discussions but got stuck on issues like government preference for Bumiputera businesses.

Malaysia has signed three bilateral trade agreements so far, namely with Japan, Pakistan and New Zealand. The government is now in talks with India, Chile and Australia.

Earlier, Mustapa said the Asean-6, a group that consists of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and Brunei, will be a complete free trade area when duties on most products are eliminated.

Come January 1 2010, Malaysia has committed to scrapping import duties on 1,943 products, reduce import duties to 5 per cent for tropical fruits, tobacco and tobacco products, and reduce import duties for rice to 20 per cent.

Under the Common Effective Preferential Tariff (CEPT) Scheme for Afta (Asean Free Trade Area), he said 2,524 companies have applied for 103,745 COOs (Certificates of Origin) in the first nine months of 2009 totalling RM12.53 billion.

Companies with a COO will qualify for the lower or zero duties under Afta.

Also, come January 1 2010, 90 per cent of the products traded under the Asean-China and Asean-Korea FTAs will be duty free, he added.

]]> http://jagdishhathiramani.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/fta-with-singapore-good-for-both/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:30:05 +0000 jagdishhathiramani http://jagdishhathiramani.wordpress.com/2009/11/22/fta-with-singapore-good-for-both/ http://papanputih.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/mengenal-kapitalisma/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:51:37 +0000 Papan Putih http://papanputih.wordpress.com/2009/11/20/mengenal-kapitalisma/

KEDAULATAN DAN GLOBALISASI

Lupakan kedaulatan Sultan Perak. Lupakan kedaulatan Raja-Raja. Semua ini adalah ciput. Semua kedaulatan ini tidak akan diambil kira dalam agenda globalisasi yang sedang berjalan hari ini. Semua Tan Seri, Tan Tun, Mak Datin , Pak Haji, Ayatollah, Padri, Sami, Rabbai atau apa sahaja bentuk manusia semuanya menjadi ciput dalam agenda baru yang sedang berjalan hari ini.

Tuhan baru telah muncul. Tuhan yang dibawa oleh sistem kapitalis. Tidak percaya? Sila renung dan periksa diri sendiri. Sistem ekonomi kapitalis telah menjadikan manusia berebut-rebut untuk mengumpul harta. Sistem ekonomi kapitalis telah melahirkan satu budaya dimana umat manusia dalam dunia ini terlupa dan terlalai bahawa kita hanyalah bertransit di atas muka bumi ini.

Mesti borong! mesti borong! Mesti kena sapu semua nih.

Budaya kapitalis ini telah mencakupi semua aspek kehidupan manusia. Manusia moden kurun ke 21 telah dilalaikan untuk menjadi binatang konsumer yang mengguna dan mengumpulkan pelbagai ‘biji-biji saga’ dan barangan kodi untuk mainan. Manusia moden telah menjadi seperti Toyol yang asyik bermain dengan biji-biji saga hingga terlupa bahawa tujuan hidup ini adalah untuk mengenal diri sendiri dan melakukan kebaikan.

Sistem kapitalis telah membawa satu budaya dimana ianya mengasak, meraba dan merangsang sifat jahat dalam diri manusia. Hukum induk ekonomi kapitalis – keuntungan maksima – telah melupuskan nilai baik yang sedia wujud dalam diri manusia.

Justeru apakah kita hairan apabila kita terbaca dalam akhbar bagaimana pembekal susu tepong di Tanah Besar China telah membubuh malamin dalam tepong untuk dijual sebagai susu. Mereka menjual susu ini bukan kepada orang Sweden tetapi kepada bayi-bayi China sanak saudara mereka sendiri.

Justeru apakah kita hairan apabila kita membaca berita di Sepanyol dan Portugal ada pembekal minyak zaiton telah membubuh minyak hitam yang sudah terpakai untuk dijual sebagai campuran minyak zaiton.

Justeru apakah kita hairan apabila membaca bagaimana kontrektor Bumiputera yang bersunat dan selalu naik umrah telah membuat bangunan sekolah, bilik makmal dan hospital dengan menggunakan barangan tidak berkualiti dan akhirnya bangunan-bangunan ini runtuh rantah.

Semua ini dilakukan kerana mereka hidup mengikut hukum dan budaya kapitalisma. Keuntungan maksima adalah tuhan baru yang sedang disembah. Selama 30 tahun kebelakangan ini tuhan baru ini telah muncul dimerata pelusuk dunia. Tuhan ini akan berada dimana sahaja wujudnya sistem ekonomi kapitalis termasuk di Malaysia.

Tiga puluh tahun dahulu – air, api, jalan raya, hospital, bank, sekolah, universiti, talipon, radio, tv – semua ini adalah milik kita bersama. Semua ini adalah hak milik negara bermakna hak milik orang ramai. Tiba-tiba harta orang ramai ini diswastakan.

Siapa sebenarnya yang menelorkan dan mencadangkan dasar penswastaan ini. Dasar ini dimunculkan oleh pemikir kabal-kabal Illuminati. Para pemikir dari pelbagai ‘think tank’ ini yang telah mengajukan agenda penswastaan kepada Bank Dunia dan IMF sebagai satu usaha untuk apa yang mereka panggil – cara untuk memperbaiki dan mengembangkan ekonomi di negara-negara sedang membangun.

IMF dan Bank Dunia menjadikan penswastaan ini sebagai dasar untuk diterima pakai. Negara Dunia Ketiga yang miskin jika ingin meminjam dana dari bank-bank antarabangsa diwajibkan menjalankan dasar penswastaan. Penswataan bermakna menjualkan harta hak milik orang ramai kepada kaum kapitalis antrabangsa.

Di belakang dasar penswastaan ini ialah para banker dari kabal Illuminati. Para banker yang telah mengumpulkan berbilion kertas dolar memerlukan pasarana pelaboran baru. Hukum ekonomi kapitalis mewajibkan kaum pemodal terus mencari pasaran baru. Di Eropah Barat pasaran telah tepu. Maka kabal Illuminati telah mengarahkan Bank Dunia dan IMF memaksa dibuka seluas mungkin pasaran di negara Dunia Ketiga. Hasilnya kita melihat harta negara kita –air, talipon, tv, jalan raya, hospital, bangunan, bank – semuanya bertukar tangan.

Apabila Perang Dingin tamat lihat apa yang telah terjadi kepada Russia dan Eropah Timur. Negara-negara ini sedang mengamalkan sistem ekonomi sosialis telah diasak dan di serang. Russia telah dipecah-pecahkan. Perang telah dicetuskan di Bosnia, di Kosovo, di Montenegro dan di Chechen – semua ini adalah perancangan licik untuk memaksa harta rakyat di Eropah Timur di jual kepada kaum pemodal antarabangsa.

Sesudah dasar penswastaan di terima pakai – kita mula terdengar apa yang dikatakan – Dunia Tanpa Sempadan. Dunia tanpa sempadan ini ialah agenda Illiminati untuk melupuskan kedaulatan negara. Dunia tanpa sempadan bukan bererti orang Afrika boleh senang-senang masuk ke Eropah. Dunia tanpa sempadan bukan bererti buruh rakyat Pakistan boleh masuk ke Jepun untuk mencari kerja.

Tanpa sempadan hanyalah untuk duit modal masuk ke mana sahaja untuk mencari untung. Modal antarabangsa ini tidak boleh diganggu gugat ketika modal ini sedang mencari keuntungan maksima dimana sahaja dalam dunia ini. Dunia tanpa sempadan ialah untuk para pelaboran antarbangsa bermain ‘tikam dan berjudi’ di pasaran saham negara-negara Dunia Ketiga. Lihat apa yang berlaku di Asia Tenggara pada tahun 1997 dahulu. Lihat bagaimana kaum kapitalis antarabangsa telah menerbus masuk dan menekan negara-negara Asia Tenggara dan akhirnya banyak hospital kita terjual, talipon kita terjual, sistem pendidikan kita terjual.

Lihat Tesco, Carrefour, Giant, Court Mamoth, AIA, ING, Ikea, Burger King, MacDogal, Shell, Esso – semua ini adalah milik pemodal antarabangsa. Semua ini dipaksakan ke atas pasaran kita melalui perjanjian World Trade Organisation (WTO). WTO memaksa negara Dunia Ketiga membuka pasaran untuk pemodal antarabangsa masuk mencari untung.

Perjanjian WTO ini adalah perjanjian terbuka yang berat sebelah – sama seperti perjanjian-perjanjian East India Company yang telah dibuat oleh Sultan Johor dengan Raffles pada tahun 1819 dahulu. Sama seperti perjanjian Sultan Kedah dengan Francis Light pada tahun 1786. Sama seperti Perjanjian Pangkor 1874 yang akhirnya Tanah Melayu jatuh ke tangan British.

Dari zaman penjajah dahulu cita-cita kaum pemodal kapitalis ini untuk memiliki dunia ini tidak pernah padam-padam. Cita-cita kaum pemodal antarabangsa ini untuk menjadikan umat manusia sebagai hamba adalah manifesto New World Order. Kabal-kabal Illuminati saban hari merancang. Hari ini semua strateji telah di rancang. Semua telah di susun. Para banker di belakang Iluminati sedang dalam persediaan akhir untuk melahirkan apa yang mereka katakan – New World Order atau Dunia Bentuk Baru.

Lihatlah nanti bagaimana kabal-kabal Illuminati ini akan memaksa Malaysia untuk menanda tangani Free Trade Agreement. Dalam perjanjian ini tidak ada yang ‘free’. FTA ini akan memaska kita terus membuka semua pasaran negara kita untuk kaum pemodal antarabanga mencari keuntungan maksima.

New World Order ini adalah dunia baru dimana kedaulatan negara tidak wujud lagi. Rancangan NWO ini sedang diatur – Canada, Amerika dan Mexico telah disatukan – kemudian seluruh Selatan Amerika akan dijerut masuk. Eropah sedang bersatu – ini akan menjerut masuk Afrika dan Timur Tengah. Asia akan dikepali oleh Jepun yang akan menjerut semua negara di Asia.

Lihat sekarang telah wujud Asean dan Apec untuk Asia , African Union untuk Afrika dan Union of South American Nations untuk Amerika Latin. Semua ini adalah perancangan Illuminati. Semua ini direstui oleh kaum pemodal antarabangsa. Rancangan akhir mereka ialah untuk memastikan semua rakyat dunia ini akan tunduk kepada kuasa mereka.

Dalam masa yang tidak lama lagi manusia akan di cap dengan microchip. Tak percaya? Bukankah idea ini telah terkeluar dari mulut seorang pegawai polis Malaysia tiga tahun dahulu dan berita ini telah dilaporkan dalam Utusan Malaysia. Microchip ini untuk bayi yang baru lahir – atas alasan untuk mengekori penjahat.

Tetapi hakikatnya microchip ini ialah untuk mengawal semua umat manusia agar tunduk kepada sistem ekonomi kapitalis. Umat manusia akan taat bekerja dari jam 9 hingga 5 – bercuti Sabtu Ahad. Jika sopan dan tekun mereka akan dapat gaji untuk membeli kondo, ipod, Kancil, kasut Prada, beg Luis Vuitton dan pelbagai jenis ‘biji-biji saga’ yang dijanjikan. Sila baca 1984 oleh George Orwell dan tonton filem Metropolis oleh Fritz Lang.

Ini bukan satu dongeng konspirasi. Ini bukan plot sebuah novel yang belum siap. Ini adalah hakikat politik dunia hari ini. Memahami politik dunia hari ini amat penting. Jika kita gagal untuk memahami garis dan strateji Illuminati maka kita tidak akan melawan. Jika tidak bangun melawan maka umat manusia dalam dunia ini akan dijadikan hamba abdi. (TT)

( Tulisan ini boleh diambil untuk kegunaan membuat kebaikan )

On 12 November 2009, I was invited to speak at the first meeting of the Malaysia-Europe Forum, held in Kuala Lumpur.

The MEF is a non-profit organisation which aims to promote links between European and Malaysian business leaders, professionals, scientists, academics and humanitarians. This first event was chaired by MEF Patron, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, former Malaysian Minister of International Trade and Industry and featured a speech and lengthy question and answer session with Malysian Prime Minister, MOHD NAJIB BIN TUN HAJI ABDUL RAZAK.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance which Malaysia attaches to concluding a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and ASEAN. He hoped that the political and human rights situation in Myanmar would improve in 2010, thereby facilitating a deal between the EU and ASEAN as a bloc. He also underlined his commitment to removing certain Malaysian restrictions in the servce sector put in place under Malaysia’s discriminatory Bumiputeras legislation. In response to a question from the floor calling for caution in opening up the services sector, the PM said that Malaysia lagged behind the rest of Asia – even behind Myanmar. The PM also dealt with Malaysian concerns at EU restrictions on palm oil and unsustainable logging of tropical timber.

On the whole, I found the PM’s comments very encouraging and the direction of economic and trade policy being pursued by the Malaysian government should provide a sound basis for enhanced trade and investment relations with the EU.

I took part in the closing session, together with Dr. Rebecca Sta Maria, Deputy Secretary General, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Malaysia, which was devoted to the prospects for an EU FTA with ASEAN as a bloc or with individual ASEAN countries as a first step. Although unco-ordinated, our interventions were remarkably similar. We both expressed the hope that discussions between the EU and ASEAN could move beyond statements of principle and concentrate on what is do-able. I suggested that ASEAN countries and in particular Malaysia should review the text of the recently published bilateral FTA between the EU and South Korea which could could help clarify the scope and nature of EU ambitions in trade liberalisation. Similarly, Dr. Sta Maria hoped that the text of the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement between the EU and Indonesia might allay some of Malaysia’s concerns regarding the EU’s insistence on PCA’s as a precondition for FTA’s.

The ensuing question and answer session was particularly constructive and I think all participants left with a much clearer understanding of what is at stake for future trade and investment relations between the EU and Malaysia. I stressed the fact that while trade and investment relations between the EU and Malaysia were good, there was huge untapped potential for growth.

I would not wish to end this post without congratulating Natasha Zulkifli, MEF Executive Director and all her team for the excellent way in which they organised this prestigious event in KL. 

Full details of this one day event are given on the MEF website:

www.malaysia-europeforum.com

Alguns Utilitarios de Cardsharing.

Obs: Apenas indico tais programas para serem utilizados

no aprendizado da tecnologia.

Qualquer utilização de forma ilegal

fica por responsabilidade do usuário.

1. CS Gbox:

GboxControl_win32_v1.9j.zip (1,77 MB)

2. Manual CS com Azbox:

MANUAL_SHARING_em_PC__Gb@x.zip (654,4 KB)

3. Sharing Dreambox para Azbox e outros:

Sharing_Dream_FTA_xe_d_sono_v2.pdf (225,7 KB)

4. Manual Azetheca:

Azetheca_manual_do_utilizador.pdf (273,8 KB)

5. Manual cabo RJ-45 Azetheca:

CABO_REDE_MODEM.pdf (389,9 KB)

—–이하 기사 발췌—–
외교통상부는 콜롬비아와 자유무역협정(FTA) 체결을 위한 협상을 시작하기로 합의했다고 17일 발표했다.
협상 범위와 구조,방식,향후 일정 등을 논의하는 제1차 협상은 내달 7일부터 9일까지 서울에서 개최된다. 양국 정부는 지난해 11월 페루 APEC정상회담을 계기로 이뤄진 양국 정상회담에서 FTA 추진 필요성에 합의했다. 지난해 양국간 교역액은 12억3000만달러였다.
—–이하 용어정리—–
FTA(Free Trade Agreement) : 자유무역협정. 정치적·경제적으로 밀접한 관계를 맺고 있는2개 이상의 국가가 상호간에 관세 및 수입제한을 철폐함으로써 통상을 자유화하려는 지역간협정을 말한다. 각 나라간 교역을 자유화할 경우 무역거래와 국제간 분업이 확대돼 서로의이익이 증대될 것이라는 자유주의 경제이론에서 출발했다.
—–이하 생각정리—–
남미 FTA는 칠레 이후 두번째인 것으로 알고 있다. 앞으로 남미 쪽으로의 진출이 활발해 지면 우리 기업들의 활동영역도 더욱 넓어질 것으로 생각된다. 남미쪽은 과거 스페인과 포르투갈의 지배를 받아 이들 국가의 언어를 사용하고 있기때문에, 앞으로 스페인어나 포르투갈어 구사가 가능한 사람들의 수요가 증가할 것이다. 현재 영어를 제외한 제2외국어는 주로 일본어나 중국어가 많이 선호되고 있는데, 앞으로 남미쪽과의 FTA가 증가하게 된다면 스페인어의 인기도 상승할 것이라는 생각이 든다. 이제 한국만이 아닌 전 세계를 대상으로 인적, 물적 자원들이 이동하고 있는 글로벌 시대에 외국어의 중요성은 두말할 필요가 없을 것이다.

Big is Subsidised
‘허울뿐인 세계화‘는 원제 ‘Small is Beautiful, Big is Subsidised‘로 한줄 요약이 가능한 보조금의 진실에 관한 이야기이다. 우리에게도 IMF이후 더욱 눈에 띄게 규모가 커지고 많아진 국가공공정책사업들에 대한 날카로운 통찰을 통해 감추어진 내막을 파헤쳐 들려준다. 공공정책을 통한 보조금의 수혜자가 국민이나 지역, 국가가 아닌 거대 기업, 특히 글로벌 다국적 기업들이란 사실이다. 이미 많은 글로벌 다국적 기업의 위상이 국가경제규모를 초월하고 있다. 국민이 아닌 기업을 위한 국가정책은 기업과 정부의 주요요직을 꿰차고 있는 ‘낙하산’의 회전문을 통해 이루어지고 있다.

“크다는 것은 미국의 조건이다.”-커크패트릭 세일

비용의 사회화 & 이윤의 사유화
월마트 성공의 신화는 창업자 샘 월튼의 아이디어만으로 이루어지 것이 아니다. 보이지 않는 성공의 이유는 잘 구축된 인프라다. 오늘날 거대기업들은 직접 혹은 간접적인 보조금을 통한 지원의 산물이다.  정작 많은 비용이 국민의 세금으로 메워지고 있다. 작은 기업들은 꼬박꼬박 세금을 내고, 다국적 기업은 과세를 피하기 위해 순식간에 자산을 옮긴다. 수많은 거대 연구프로젝트의 비용은 국민이 지불하지만 혜택은 푼돈을 낸 기업들이 가져간다. 작은 것의 희생의 댓가를 대기업이 차지하고 있다. 지역과 주민에게 불필요한 인프라 비용을 지역과 주민의 세금으로 충당하고 있다.

“무언가 잘못되어 있는 곳에는 무언가 너무 커져 있다.” – 레오폴드 쾨르

세계화의 진실
세계화는 만족을 모르는 소비문화의 결과이자 ‘규모의 효율성’의 신화일뿐이다. ‘비교우위’의 원칙에 따라 다양한 생산촉진보다 수출을 위한 생산특화는 환경파괴적이다. 세계화는 무역에 관한 것이 아니다. 힘과 통제에 관한 것이다. 강력한 은행들과 다국적 기업의 독재가 지배하는 국경없는 세계를 만드는 과정일 뿐이다. FTA에서 약자인 농민에 대한 지원을 강력히 반대하면서 다른 한편으론 농산물 규제장벽을 만들어 엄청난 규제준수비용을 만들어 내고 있는 ‘몬산토’같은 다국적 기업들의 ‘보이지 않는 손‘에 의한 독재를 향한 길이다. 지구촌(global village)이란 표현으로 친밀함과 공동체를 그려내고자 하지만 이는 명백한 운명을 암시하는 모순어법의 문구일뿐이다. ‘지구촌’ 문화와 농업의 다양성은 규모의 효율성을 위한 단일경작에 의해 무너지고 있다.

“나는 그저 수십억달러에 달하는 증서들을 테이블에 차곡차곡 쌓기만 했다.” – 기업M&A거래 임원의 말

Small is Beautiful
‘지역적임’의 실용적 기준은 생산자와 소비자의 짧은 거리를 내포하고 있다. 지역엔 거대한 인프라는 아무짝에도 쓸모가 없다. 단지 몇십분 빨리 가기 위한 고속도로가 필요한 이유가 없다. ‘히스토릭 루트 66’로 부활된 66번 국도의 아름다움을 삼겨버린 고속도로를 통해 느림의 미학을 들려주는 애니메이션 ‘더 카‘의 이야기는 지역개발을 위한 도로 인프라의 실상을 잘 보여준다. 지역개발정책의 실상은 지역파괴란 사실을 달콤한 ‘곁다리 합의’에 감쪽같이 속아넘어가는 지역의 풀뿌리 단체들도 간과하기 쉽상이다. 공공정책의 실상이 공공의 이익이 아닌 기업이익을 위한 정책으로 끝나버리는 걸 더이상 바라만 보지 말아야 한다. 이미 ‘오래된 미래‘를 통해 지속가능한 미래사회에 대한 통찰을 들려준 헬레나 노르베리-호지의 또다른 세계화에 대한 냉철한 비판과 함께 지속가능한 미래에 대한 대안을 공공정책속에서 찾아볼 수 있는 혜안을 주는 작지만 큰 책이다.

사실 지구는 에너지로 넘친다. 태양은 인류가 사용하는 것보다 1만5,000배 많은 에너지 퍼붇고 있다.