Let’s do a role play today. No..no, I am not taking about the same role play which we often perform in the chat rooms. This could be a role play for communications and public relations specialists who are serious about managing the reputation of their respective brands during a crisis situation.

Think of a scenario. This scenario is having a direct link with the ongoing tussle between the Indian Government led by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Civil Society led by Mr. Anna Hazare. The background of the tussle runs like this:

India is indeed in a serious need of an Anti-Corruption Law. Now, to have a strong and effective anti-corruption law, under pressured Government has constituted a committee comprising of five members from the Government side and five members from Civil Society. After series of meeting and discussion, both the agitating sides came out with two different drafts of the proposed bill. The Indian Cabinet pushed the draft before the Indian Parliament which has been prepared by the representatives from the Government rejecting the draft prepared by the Civil Society. The Cabinet, however, included many effective points from the draft of the Civil Society before forwarding it to the Parliament for enactment of the Act.

Now, not satisfying with the rejections of the six vital sections to be included in the proposed Act, Civil Society led by Mr. Anna Hazare triggered a nationwide agitation. He effectively used media, both print and electronic, ATL and BTL campaigns to mobilize masses in his support and demand.

The Government, on the other hand, which has to work under a Constitutional and legal framework, cannot but accept all suggestions from the Civil Society. Above all, it is the Parliament and Legislations which decide to pass or reject a bill before getting it enacted.

The Government wishes to stress that the issue before India is not whether a Lok Pal Bill (popular name of the Government’s draft) is necessary or desirable. All of elected representatives have agreed that a Lok Pal Bill must be passed as early as possible. The question is, who drafts the law and who makes the law? The Prime Minister of India submits that the time-honoured practice is that the Executive drafts a Bill and places it before the Parliament and that Parliament debates and adopts the Bill with amendments if necessary. In the process of adoption of the Bill, there will be opportunities for the members of the Civil Society including Mr. Anna Hazare and others to present their views to the Standing Committee to which this Bill has been referred by the Speaker of the Lower House of the Indian Parliament. The Standing Committee as well as Parliament can modify the Bill if they so desire.

As wished sections are not included in the proposed bill, Mr. Anna Hazare and his team, threatened Government to go for an indefinite hunger strike against the Government until and unless the bill proposed by the Civil Society is passed by the Parliament.

After that, Government using and flexing its own muscle, imposed prohibitory orders on the venue of the fast. Without taking a chance Government arrested Mr. Anna Hazare and some top leaders of the team before they start their indefinite fast.

Hang on, I am not here to tell you what happened between the Government and Mr. Anna Hazare. All media channels are covering it.

Let’s now start the role play.

Imagine that you are the Chief Executive of your company with a very reputed brand. As a Chief Executive, you have control of money, power etc. At the same time, you have to work under a constitution of the organization. Also think that one of your stake holders has mobilized a campaign against you or the brand that you manage using various communication channels and exploring various means.

This is a very ideal situation for Communications or Public Relations professionals to manage the crisis and to bring it under control without causing much damage to the reputation of the brand.

The situation mentioned above, is very much similar to the context of the tussle between the Government and Team Anna. The face-off between the Government and Team Anna would leave us a huge management lessons on how to mobilize masses with you against the authority, how to use the media effectively and how to generate maximum RoI (Return on Investment) or “brownie points” without spending a single penny. On the other hand, it was a total calamity and disaster for the Government’s communication machinery which collapsed. No representatives from the Government were seen to address or brief the media during the high-voltage drama despite the fact the basic thumb rule during the crisis is to “tell it all and tell it fast.”

Given this situation, we are expecting our readers to contribute and comment how to manage the crisis of this magnitude. We are also expecting our readers to explain, how only strengthening communication machinery could have helped the organization to overcome the crisis.

IDSTPR [http://www.idstonline.com]

Prologue

Anna Hazare announces an indefinite fast to begin on August 16, 2011 in order to convince the Government to strengthen their weak Lokpal bill and really fight rampant corruption in this country.

Act I

August 16, 7:30 am – The Government of India, in the guise of Delhi Police, swoop in and arrest Anna before he ventures out for the fast. Anna’s message to the people: Jail is not going to stop this movement. You should protest, but do it peacefully, always.

Act II

August 16, mid-morning – Word spreads like wildfire about Anna’s arrest. 24×7 news channels, facebook, twitter are all super-active. People are enraged. People are engaged.

Act III

Early Afternoon: Meanwhile, Anna is moved from one secure location to another in the capital city of New Delhi. The impotent PM denies any involvement in what has transpired. Government leaders meet and strategize. They come up with a brilliant plan: Send Anna to Tihar Jail (where the most corrupt of corrupt politicians currently are held). Stupidity appears to prevail.

Act IV

India erupts!

Act V

7 p.m.:  The queen is currently ill and out of the country. But she has left the Prince in charge. The Prince meets with the PM and other Congress leaders. Virtuoso that he is, he says to them: This was a strategic mistake. Look at the support for Anna. Let’s release him from jail. (small print: with some conditions).

Act VI

Later that night: The benevolent government (in the guise of Delhi Police again) tells Anna in Tihar Jail that he is free to go (small print: with conditions on what, where and how he fasts).

Act VII

Anna listens patiently.  Then, he says: No, I am not leaving jail until I can leave unconditionally. When I leave jail, I am going straight to JP Park to continue my fast (which he started in jail).  Checkmate.

Act VIII

11 pm: Meanwhile, not just the country, but Indians around the world are chanting “Anna Hazare Zindabad”. The news channels are flashing headlines that say “Victory for Anna” and “Poeple for Anna”.  There are interviews upon interviews with “experts” representing various opinions. They include the ruling party; these people, caught with their pants down, sound like bumbling, clueless idiots. One expert gives some good advice: I think you people in Congress should stay out of public view until you have figured out what your message is.

Act IX

24 hours after Anna was arrested, he continues to be in jail, refusing to move or budge until he is freed unconditionally. Meanwhile, crowds outside Tihar Jail, across Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and even the smaller towns, in New York, New Jersey, London, Dubai…everywhere that Indians live, their voices are getting louder against the government and against corruption.

Act X

August 17, 12 noon: The Prime Minister of India announces the facts and justification of why arresting Anna was the right thing to do for the nation. Match this with the high emotion of people on the streets. Idiocy continues to prevail…

:

The End  To Be Continued

:

I WAS JUST TAKEN ABACK BY RAHUL GANDHI’S HYPOCRITICAL COMMENT AT THE RECENT FARMER AGITATION IN UTTAR PRADESH.

Rahul Gandhi: “I feel ashamed to call myself an INDIAN after seeing what has happened here in UP”.

PLEASE DON’T BE ASHAMED OF U.P. YET

Please don’t be ashamed of Uttar Pradesh yet. Congress ruled the State for the Majority of the duration Pre Independence to Post Independence.. from 1939 to 1989 ( barring the Periods of Emergency.. Thanks to your Grand Mom Indira G. and a couple of transitional Governments)

8 out of the total 14 Prime Ministers of India have been from UP, 6 out of those 8 have been from Congress…

I think your party had more than half a century and half a Dozen PM’s to build a State…

The Reason Mulayam Singh, subsequently came to Power is because your party wasn’t exactlyGandhian in their dealings in the State.. So May be If you look at in totality the present chaos in UP is the outcome of the glorious leadership displayed by Congress in UP for about 50 years!

So Please don’t feel ashamed as yet Dear Rahul.. For Mayawati is only using the Land Acquisition Bill which your party had itself used to LOOT the Farmers many times in the Past!

WHY DIDN’T YOUR PARTY CHANGE THE BILL WHEN IT WAS IN POWER FOR SO LONG?

Not that I Endorse what Mayawati is doing.. What Mayawati is doing is Unacceptable..

But the past actions of your party and your recent comments, puts a question mark on your INTENT and CONSISTENCY.

YOU REALLY WANT TO FEEL ASHAMED

But don’t be disappointed, I would give you ample reasons to feel ashamed…

You really want to feel Ashamed..?

First Ask Pranav Mukherjee, Why isn’t he giving the details of the account holders in the Swiss Banks.

Ask your Mother, Who is impeding the Investigation against Hasan Ali in the 74,000 Crore tax evasion case ?

Rajiv Gandhi had a total of Swiss Franc 2.5 billion ($2.2 billion) in secret account In November 1991 [SEE ANNEXURE 10]

After his death, SoniaG was the sole beneficiary of that amount. And that was 1991, Only She knows her account balance now.. Could that be the reason the Govt. of India is not releasing the list of account holders in the Swiss Banks ?

Ask her, Who got 60% Kickbacks in the 2G Scam ?

Kalamdi is accused of a Few hundred Crores, Who Pocketed the Rest in the Common Wealth Games?

Ask Praful Patel who made Indian Airlines so Sick? Why did Air India let go of the Profitable Routes ?

Why should the Tax Payer pay for the Air India losses?

Also, You People can’t run an Airline Properly. How can we expect you to run the Nation?

Ask Manmohan Singh. Why/What kept him quiet all this while?

People say He is Honest. Honest to the Nation, or Honest to a PERSON?

THE CBI raided the vault of the Reserve Bank of India and found a huge cache of COUNTERFEIT INDIAN currency lying in the denomination of 500 and 1000. IN THE RESERVE BANK OF INDIA???

Why is the Govt. of India quiet on that ?

So, Could the reasons for sustained INFLATION be MORE related to POLITICS than ECONOMICS?

Who let the BHOPAL GAS TRAGEDY Accused go Scot Free? (20,000 People died in that Tragedy)

Who ordered the State Sponsored Massacre of SIKHS in 84?

Please read more about, How Indira Gandhi pushed the Nation Under Emergency in 76-77, after the HC declared her election to Lok Sabha Void!

(I bet She had utmost respect for DEMOCRACY and JUDICIARY and FREE PRESS)

I guess you know the answers already. So My question is, Why the Double Standards in Judging Mayawati and members of your Family and Party?

I condemn Mayawati. But Is She the only one you feel Ashamed for?

What about the ones close to you? For their contribution to the Nation’s Misery is beyond comparison.

You talk about the Land being taken away from the Farmers. How many Suicides have happened under your Parties Rule in Vidarbha ? Does that Not Ashame You ?

THE 72,000 CRORE LOAN WAIVER

Your Party gave those Farmers a 72,000 Crore Loan Waiver. Which didn’t even reach the Farmers by the way.

So, Why don’t you focus on implementing the policies which your govt. has undertaken, instead of earning brownie points by trying to manufacture consent by bombarding us with pictures of having food with Poor Villagers….

You want to feel ashamed. You can feel ashamed for your Party taking CREDIT for DEBITING the Public Money (72,000 crores) from the Government Coffers and literally Wasting it…

You want to feel ashamed.. Feel ashamed for that…

WHY ONLY HIGHLIGHT THIS ARREST?

Dear Rahul, to refresh your memory, you were arrested/detained by the FBI the BOSTON Airport in September 2001.

You were carrying with you $ 1,60,000 in Cash. You couldn’t explain why you were carrying so much Cash.

Incidentally He was with his Columbian girlfriend Veronique Cartelli, ALLEGEDLY, the Daughter of Drug Mafia.

9 HOURS he was kept at the Airport.

Later then freed on the intervention of the then Prime Minister Mr. Vajpayee.. FBI filed an equivalent of an FIR in US and released him.

When FBI was asked to divulge the information, by Right/Freedom to Information Activists about the reasons Rahul was arrested … FBI asked for a NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE from Rahul Gandhi.

So Subramaniyam Swami wrote a Letter to Rahul Gandhi, ” If you have NOTHING to HIDE, Give us the Permission”

HE NEVER REPLIED!

Why did that arrest not make Headlines Rahul? You could have gone to the Media and told, ”I am ashamed to call myself an INDIAN?”.

Or is it that, you only do like to highlight Symbolic Arrests (like in UP) and not Actual Arrests ( In BOSTON)

Kindly Clarify…..

In any case, you want to feel ashamed, Read Along…

YOUR MOTHER’S SO CALLED SACRIFICE OF GIVING UP PRIME MINISTER SHIP in 2004.

According to a Provision in the Citizenship Act.

A Foreign National who becomes a Citizen of India, is bounded by the same restrictions, which an Indian would face, If he/she were to become a Citizen of Italy.

(Condition based on principle of reciprocity)

[READ ANNEXURE- 1&2]

Now Since you can’t become a PM in Italy, Unless you are born there.

Likewise an Italian Citizen can’t become Indian PM, unless He/She is not born here!

Dr. SUBRAMANIYAM SWAMI (The Man who Exposed the 2G Scam) sent a letter to the PRESIDENT OF INDIA bringing the same to his Notice. [READ LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT IN ANNEXURE -3]

PRESIDENT OF INDIA sent a letter to Sonia Gandhi to this effect, 3:30 PM, May 17th, 2004.

Swearing Ceremony was scheduled for 5 PM the same Day.

Manmohan Singh was brought in the Picture at the last moment to Save Face!!

Rest of the SACRIFICE DRAMA which she choreographed was an EYE WASH!!!

Infact Sonia Gandhi had sent, 340 letters, each signed by different MP to the PRESIDENT KALAM, supporting her candidacy for PM.

One of those letters read, I Sonia Gandhi, elected Member from Rai Bareli, hereby propose Sonia Gandhi as Prime Minister.

So SHE was Pretty INTERESTED! Until She came to know the Facts!

So She didn’t make any Sacrifice, It so happens that SONIA GANDHI couldn’t have become the PM of INDIA that time.

You could be Ashamed about that Dear Rahul!! One Credential Sonia G had, Even that was a HOAX!

THINK ABOUT YOURSELF.

You go to Harvard on Donation Quota. ( Hindujas Gave HARVARD 11 million dollars the same year, when Rajiv Gandhi was in Power)

Then you are expelled in 3 Months/ You Dropped out in 3 Months…. ( Sadly Manmohan Singh wasn’t the Dean of Harvard that time, else you might have had a chance… Too Bad, there is only one Manmohan Singh!)

Some Accounts say, You had to Drop out because of Rajiv Gandhi’s Assassination.

May be, But Then Why did you go about lying about being Masters in Economics from Harvard .. before finally taking it off your Resume upon questioning by Dr. SUBRAMANIYAM SWAMI (The Gentlemen who exposed the 2G Scam)

At St. Stephens.. You Fail the Hindi Exam.

Hindi Exam!!!

And you are representing the Biggest Hindi Speaking State of the Country?

SONIA GANDHI’s EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Sonia G gave a sworn affidavit as a Candidate that She Studied English at University of Cambridge

[SEE ANNEXURE-6, 7_37a]

According to Cambridge University, there is no such Student EVER! [ SEE ANNEXURE -7_39]

Upon a Case by Dr. Subramaniyam Swami filed against her,

She subsequently dropped the CAMBRIDGE CREDENTIAL from her Affidavit.

Sonia Gandhi didn’t even pass High School. She is just 5th class Pass!

In this sense, She shares a common Educational Background with her 2G Partner in Crime, Karunanidhi.

You Fake your Educational Degree, Your Mother Fakes her Educational Degree.

And then you go out saying, “ We want Educated Youth into Politics!“

Letters sent by Dr. Swami to EC and then Speaker of Lok Sabha are in ANNEXURE 7_36 &7_35RESPECTIVELY

Contrast that with Gandhi Ji , who went to South Africa, Became a Barrister, on Merit, Left all that to work for South Africa, then for the Country….

WHY LIE ABOUT EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIALS?

Not that Education is a Prerequisite for being a great Leader, but then you shouldn’t have lied about your qualifications!

You could feel a little ashamed about Lying about your Educational Qualifications. You had your reasons I know, Because in India, WE RESPECT EDUCATION!

But who cares about Education, When you are a Youth Icon!!

YOUTH ICON

You traveled in the Local Train for the first time at the Age of 38.

You went to some Villages as a part of Election Campaign.

And You won a Youth Icon!! … That’s why You are my Youth Icon.

For 25 Million People travel by Train Everyday. You are the First Person to win a Youth Icon for boarding a Train.

Thousands of Postmen go to remotest of Villages. None of them have yet gotten a Youth Icon.

You were neither YOUNG Nor ICONIC!

Still You became a Youth Icon beating Iconic and Younger Contenders like RAHUL DRAVID.

Shakespeare said, What’s in a Name?

Little did he knew, It’s all in the Name, Especially the Surname!

Speaking of Surname, Sir

DO YOU REALLY RESPECT GANDHI, OR IS IT JUST TO CASH IN ON THE GOODWILL OF MAHATMA ?

Because the Name on your Passport(ITALIAN) is RAUL VINCI.

Not RAHUL GANDHI..

May be if you wrote your Surname as Gandhi, you would have experienced, what Gandhi feels like, LITERALLY ( Pun Intended)

You People don’t seem to use Gandhi much, except when you are fighting Elections. ( There it makes complete sense).

Imagine fighting elections by the Name Raul Vinci…

It feels sadly Ironic, Gandhi Ji, who inspired Icons like Nelson Mandela ,Martin Luther King Jr. and John Lennon, across the world, Couldn’t inspire members of his party/ Nehru’s Family, who only seem to use his Surname for the purposes of FIGHTING ELECTIONS and conveniently use a different name on their PASSPORT.

You could feel ashamed for your Double Standards.

YOUTH INTO POLITICS.

Now You want Youth to Join Politics.

I say First you Join Politics.

Because you haven’t Joined Politics. You have Joined a Family Business.

First you Join Politics. Win an Election fighting as RAUL VINCI and Not Rahul Gandhi, then come and ask the youth and the Educated Brass for more involvement in Politics.

Also till then, Please don’t give me examples of Sachin Pilot and Milind Deora and Naveen Jindal as youth who have joined Politics..

They are not Politicians. They Just happen to be Politicians.

Much Like Abhishek Bachchan and other Star Sons are not Actors. They just happen to be Actors (For Obvious Reasons)

So, We would appreciate if you stop requesting the Youth to Join Politics till you establish your credentials…

WHY WE CAN’T JOIN POLITICS!

Rahul Baba, Please understand, Your Father had a lot of money in your Family account ( in Swiss Bank) when he died.

Ordinary Youth has to WORK FOR A LIVING.

YOUR FAMILY just needs to NETWORK FOR A LIVING

If our Father had left thousands of Crores with us, We might consider doing the same..

But we have to Work. Not just for ourselves. But also for you. So that we can pay 30% of our Income to the Govt. which can then be channelized to the Swiss Banks and your Personal Accounts under some Pseudo Names.

So Rahul, Please don’t mind If the Youth doesn’t Join Politics. We are doing our best to fund your Election Campaigns and your Chopper Trips to the Villages.

Somebody has to Earn the Money that Politicians Feed On.

NO WONDER YOU ARE NOT GANDHI’S. YOU ARE SO CALLED GANDHI’S!!

Air India, KG Gas Division, 2G, CWG, SWISS BANK Account Details… Hasan Ali, KGB.

Then Sonia Gandhi proclaimed ‘zero tolerance’ to corruption at a party rally in Allahabad in November 2010. WHAT A HYPOCRITE!

You want to feel ashamed..

Feel Ashamed for what the First Family of Politics has been reduced to…

A Money Laundering Enterprise.

NO WONDER YOU ARE NOT GANDHI’S BY BLOOD. GANDHI is an adopted Name. For Indira didn’t marry Mahatma Gandhi’s Son.

For even if you had one GENE OF GANDHI JI in your DNA. YOU WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN PLAGUED BY SUCH ‘POVERTY OF AMBITION’ ( Ambition of only EARNING MONEY)

You really want to feel Ashamed.

Feel Ashamed for what you ‘ SO CALLED GANDHI’S‘ have done to MAHATMA’S Legacy..

I so wish GANDHI JI had Copyrighted his Name!

Meanwhile, I would request Sonia Gandhi to change her name to $ONIA GANDHI, and you could replace the ‘R’ in RAHUL/RAUL by the New Rupee Symbol!!!

RAUL VINCI : I am ashamed to call myself an Indian.

Even we are ashamed to call you so!

P.S: Popular Media is either bought or blackmailed, controlled to Manufacture Consent!

My Guess is Social Media is still a Democratic Platform. (Now they are trying to put legislations to censor that too!!)

Meanwhile, Let’s ask these questions, for we deserve some Answers.

For we are all Gandhi’s. For Bapu is the Father of the Nation!

To know more, Try looking for Dr. SUBRAMANIYAM SWAMI. He is the reason today 2G SCAM is being Investigated!!! He also happens to be a FORMER UNION LAW MINISTER.

Indians please wake up and see what is right and what is wrong…

Related articles

• Rahul PLEASE DON’T BE ASHAMED OF U.P. YET (samhindu.wordpress.com)
• Rape Of Hindustan and Hindu Culture By Mole Sonia & Rahul Gandhi (santoshbhatt.wordpress.com)
• Hindustan and Hindu’s Rapist are Guarding Hindustan. (samhindu.wordpress.com)
• The Curious Case of Rahul Gandhi (richannkur.wordpress.com)
• Rape Of Hindustan and Hindu Culture By Mole Sonia & Rahul Gandhi (via Santosh Bhatt’s Blog) (hidf1.wordpress.com)
• ‘Arrest’ Comes to Rahul Gandhi’s Rescue (blogs.wsj.com)
• Stop the drama, Mayawati tells Rahul (hindu.com)
• The Curious Case of Rahul Gandhi (heyithinkthisway.wordpress.com)
• Gandhi detained for land protest (bbc.co.uk)

The state of Indian newspapers and news channels (and magazines*) can be judged by the condition of their toilets. And so, it seems, can the state of the most important address in the country—that of the prime minister of the democratic, socialist, secular republic of India.

A correspondent for an English news channel forwards a picture of what passes off as a toilet for the media scrum waiting outside the prime minister’s office at 7, Race Course Road in New Delhi.

The correspondent writes: 

“Till 2006, the media was allowed to wait for visitors to the PM’s house at a media stand built during the prime ministership of Atal Behari Vajpayee and located inside the сompound of the PM’s residence.

“”It had a covered roof to give protection to reporters and cameramen against sun and rain, and given its location some amount of care was taken for its upkeep and maintenance.

“In 2006, the special protection group (SPG) guarding the PM ejected the media from the precincts of the PMO after some TV channels made the trespassing of two girls and a boy a breach-of-security issue.

“The media gaggle now waits on the other side of the road (near Race Course). Visitors to the PMO now have to walk across the road and talk to them. Needless to say, many media people spend the whole day here.

“The PMO has erected a temporary toilet for the media, facing the exit gate of 7, RCR. The media and police share the toilet and more often than not, it is dirty and stinking.” 

DIFFERENT VIEWS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

The classic gold standard that was uniformly in place for all the world’s economies from 1880 to 1914 is what the world needs now. Budgets of countries that adhered to the gold standard were generally in balance.  As far back as the founding fathers of the United States, the framers of the Constitution recognized gold and defined money as “coin” was historically constructed of valuable metals.

As investors around the world digest the current state of economies, they are becoming more concerned about global issues and are fleeing to gold as a safe haven for their investments.  The current debt crisis has already been dealt with in Greece. Plans are being formulated to rescue Ireland. Spain is teetering on the edge.

Free trade issues are taking a new tack in financial discussions. The two key summits, especially the one most recently in South Korea left nothing but questions on the issue.  The Federal Reserve’s latest action to issue $600 billion in new currency only stoked the inflationary fire.

The virtual rarity of the gold is what establishes its acceptance around the world.  Since the beginning of time, the total amount of gold mined is estimated to be 142,000 metric tons. 

The largest holders of gold are:

1.      The United States Treasury is estimated to have 261 million ounces on hand.  This represents 8.133 tons of gold.

2.    Indonesia has already announced it is returning to the gold standard.

3.    A little over one third of all the gold is held by investors and central banks.

4.    India holds over one third of all the gold in the Far East.

5.    China has bought more gold in the last three years than the People’s Bank holds in total.

6.    A proposal to back SDRs (Special Drawing Rights) by gold and other currency is receiving more support every month.

7.    Virtually every single central bank is accumulating gold.

8.    The BIS (Bank of International Settlements) has a large hoard of gold.

9.    Almost all of the ETFs (Electronic Traded Funds) had substantial holdings of gold.

10.  Warren Buffett is stockpiling gold.

11.  George Soros controls 16 tons of gold.

12.  Carlos Helu (the world’s richest man) is buying gold and outright purchasing working gold mines.

13.  Eike Batista (ranked number eight in the world) is buying gold.

14.  John Paulson has stated that 80% of his $12 billion are invested in gold.  

His total gold holdings are 20 tons.

15.  Since President Obama’s inauguration the stock market is up 45%, but gold is up 66% and gold mining stocks are up 108%.

16.  Many ETFs are acquiring gold without having to disclose this information publically.  A good example of this is George Soros Fund Management LLC making Soros the largest holder of gold among American citizens.  Since there is a 45-day lag in reporting for hedge funds, we won’t see the recent run-up in gold prices by these firms until early next year.

17.  China Investment Corporation is buying gold.

18.  The SPDR Gold Trust hold 1.1 metric tons.

19.  India recently bought 200 tons from the International Monetary Fund in October.

Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India is pleased with the economy and growth in India, but says high unemployment in the industrial countries threatens a revival of protectionist sentiment.  He said that all of the countries must avoid competitive devaluation, deficits must be dealt with, structured reforms to increase efficiency must be implemented and finally, the exchange rate must be flexible enough to deal with the world’s financial problems.

Robert Zoellick, the President of The World Bank, writing an article for The Financial Times, said we must consider gold to instill confidence of financial markets.  Gold would provide a system of an international reference point for each country’s expectations about inflation, deflation, and future currency values.  He said that the world needs to move to a new phase like the Bretton Woods agreement that began after World War II, when almost all international economies were rebuilt under a United States dollar that was fixed to gold.

Dr. Antal Fekete noted that gold is the only ultimate extinguisher of debt.  The world’s monetary gold should be remobilized by opening the United States Mint to the free and unlimited coinage of gold.

There are two types of people who don’t want to see a return to the gold standard.

1.      Paper money racketeers who profit from fiat money.  They will do almost anything to prohibit gold from becoming a standard again.

2.    Those that say that gold standards limit and constrict economic growth.

The members in the second group are generally spokespersons for governments and the banks and individual speculators in debt instruments.  Which leaves us with the first group and these are the people who practice fractional lending and fiat money printing.

A return to the gold standard would take us out of the financial whirlpool we find drowning us and let America and the rest of the world return to solid footing.