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Volume 15, Number 10 June 10, 2009 |
Also in this
section: Letters
about trade and sundry other subjects
Supports free trade pacts Regarding http://www.thepanamanews.com/pn/v_15/issue_09/opinion_09.html I am really confused by the editorial by Mylene Bruneau related to the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. It COULD be a “lose-lose” deal? The only people from the article that is seems could lose on the deal is organized labor. The Council on Hemispheric Affairs seems to be so focused on socialistic “workers agendas” that they totally lose sight of the positive macro economic factors these trade deals represent. I admit that I have not read the agreement, but if Ms Bruneau has, why does she not provide more supportive data of how this agreement would be “lose-lose?" I’m sure there ARE human rights violations or atrocities in Colombia… as there are in most emerging countries of today. How do larger countries like Canada and the USA expect to impact this from the outside looking in? It seems to me that increased trade with Colombia would be a “win-win” for both countries. As the article states, more direct foreign investment into Colombia with more access to Colombia’s booming markets and economy for Canadian goods and services could only be a positive for Canada. Why doesn’t Canada take advantage of this new deal, bring new companies to Colombia, and show by example how to compete and pay first world wages in such an emerging economy? Colombia has outperformed Canada for GNP growth percentage significantly the last three years. Colombia’s unemployment rate is double Canada’s, yet Canada wants to lay it’s socialistic labor agenda on a system that already is underemployed? It seems to me once again the “Cart before the horse”…with the big boys wanting to dictate higher wages and first world working conditions in a system that can’t even maintain third world conditions. I think the responsible, reasonable plan would be to come in with your investment and help build Colombia’s industrial and wage base. It’s hard to create jobs and increase wages without additional investment, productivity and opportunity. It’s like telling the beggar “as soon as you start eating better, we’ll give you something to eat.” Believe me, if Canada and/or the USA do not pursue trade relationships with Colombia, the Chinese and Russian interests will be more than willing to pick up the slack. By the way… I feel the same way about the USA/Colombia trade pact. We pour $3 billion into Colombia every year of taxpayers’ money for the losing “drug war,” yet won’t allow free trade with their economy? A ridiculous reality. E. Thurston
Reality check I am compelled to write, having read the Letters to the editor in response to Eric Jackson’s recent article, A documentary tale from the "expat community," and the comments posted after the article by Don Winner, A Canadian FOREX Scam in Panama, posted Tuesday April 7, 2009. Some clarification is in order with regard to Dave Morrison’s comments to both the Don Winner article and the true state-of-affairs article written by Eric Jackson. Mr. Morrison’s last sentence in his comment to Don Winner’s article gives the impression that in Canada I would be breaking the law. “…In Canada , this wouldnt and hasnt even got to the starting gate. Mike B. would in fact in Canada be held accountable for several of his actions and statements both in the community and in court.” Unsure as to what laws I would have broken in Canada by my “…actions and statements in the community and in court,” I forwarded his comments to the British Columbia Securities Commission, BC, Canada. This was their response: ….You had several questions and I will answer them to the best of my ability. In respect of your questions regarding your criminal complaint I can only say that the BCSC encourages victims to come forward and tell us their story. This is often a very stressful and tough process for individuals who have lost money and now must in a way "re-live" this event. We do not pressure victims to come forward, we believe this adds too much angst. We do not blame victims. We listen to the facts and use their information to assist us in furthering our investigation. Further, we have strong protections for victims under the Securities Act to keep the information given to our office confidential. There are times when information is released, obviously, if we go to a Hearing, information is released. In Canada , every victim is entitled to pursue their own action be it civil and if they wish they may inform their local police detachment if they feel that the behaviour they have experienced is criminal. It is then up to the appropriate authorities to determine if action can be taken. Even if it is determined that there is not a criminal or administrative case the individual who made the complaint is not prosecuted and again, our office does not release complainant information. The only time any agency would consider going after the complainant is if the story was completely a lie and the complaint was intended to harm the person rather than "right a wrong"…. Karen
Chernoff And as to the last part of Mr. Morrison’s statement “….and in court.” This has not as yet reached court. I am waiting for this case to be presented in court so that an official impartial and unbiased Judge can view all of the evidence, bank records, etc. and make a decision based on Panamanian law. If there were no grounds or proof, then why has this complaint not been thrown out? Is Mr. Morrison now referring to “Mike B” (Don Winner’s article) as “the vindictive asshole” and “mister disgruntled”? “…I can only assume that the disgruntled one stole these…” So Dave, are you accusing me of breaking into Mary Sloane’s home and car and stealing her personal statement and computer? Her personal statement was received as an e-mail from “Mary Sloane London Asset FX” so this made it public knowledge. One of her minions stated her vehicle was parked at Albrook Mall at the time of the break-in and theft. “…The court requested bank records at Mary’s encouragement…” Is somebody on drugs? After many months of repeated requests filed in writing by my attorneys, requests that were continuously objected to, bank records have finally been released. “…as far as I am aware, all money went to NY…” Well Dave, maybe you really aren’t aware. Why did Mr. Morrison post his first comment while in Peru and now his second after he has returned to Canada? Is this acting “…like a man…”? At least your wife had the stones to come into my home and confront me face-to-face and demanded to know “...how dare you go after her…”. If you were half the man your wife is, you would have the courage to confront me face-to-face, like a man, and not hide behind the Internet and your wife’s skirt. Once this case is presented in court in its entirety and all of the proof becomes available for public scrutiny, then people can make an informed decision for themselves. Mike Brausam
Doesn't like campaign against FTA I thought you'd be interested to see this article and comment thread. Even though, as you point out in your article, the AFL-CIO supposedly dropped objections to the FTA in exchange for the concessions on labor and tax laws, they are now surreptitiously lobbying against it in the press, far from Washington DC. They are using lobbyists to write articles (guest op-eds) and make comments supporting the articles. (I am andyhr of the comment thread. I tried to give the Panama perspective but realized that I was fighting against a well funded and organized campaign against the FTA, headquartered in DC.) While it seems you are against the FTA, because it gives little to Panama in exchange for what it gives the US, I thought you might agree that the debate should be argued on the merits of the case, not by surrogates pretending to be "for Peace" (they call the site organizing anti-Panama FTA activism the "Witness for Peace" site). You may be right that it gives Panama too little and the US too much; however, I don't like to see the unions pay lobbyists to plant articles denigrating Panama in order to achieve their ends. What do you think? Andy
Seattle and El Cangrejo Editor's note: The peace movement is generally sophisticated enough to understand that inequalities in economic relationships are at the root of many violent conflicts. Parts of the labor movement have long been against the US-Panama free trade pact and all others based on the NAFTA model of globalization, but the AFL-CIO leadership has only recently been dragged, figuratively kicking and screaming, by its rank-and-file to taking that position. Yes, the unexpected coalition of labor unions, peace groups, human rights organizations, environmentalists and political reformers has mounted an impressive and maybe even effective campaign --- without funding from a Bush or a Torrijos administration, like the treaty advocates have enjoyed, and with hardly any resources compared to those of the business lobbies in North America and Panama that are arrayed in favor of the deal and are paying for the most expensive and well connected lobbyists money can buy. But the opponents have certain advantages --- widespread public opposition to these sorts of treaties, the embarrassment of their opponents (who, after all, have run the US economy into the ground and alienated much of Latin America from the United States), and maybe most important of all, the scalps of dozens of members of Congress who were defeated last November as political trophies. Panamanian band marches in Boston PANABOS participated in the Dorchester Day parade. See http://www.panamacultural.org Panama Cultural & Folklore Group of Massachusetts Winner's ties with the pornography industry Fabian Buys, the Dutch national who runs a porn website empire in Panama, has been in the news lately. Don Winner has connections with Fabian Buys which I will explain after first providing you with the Panama Star stories about Fabian Buys published last Tuesday and Wednesday. The Panama Star newspaper recently published two stories about Fabian Buys and his porn companies. Fabian is mentioned by first name in this article. The second article contains a reference to Fabian and Dana being investigated by the RCMP without mentioning their names: In Canada where the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) have a sophisticated network, fighting on-line child pornography, in association with other units around the globe and where Canadian law enables them to track and prosecute Canadian offenders anywhere in the world, a local tip off recently led to a check on a local “adult” distributor. The next day’s online Panama Star has this story quoting Fabian (without mentioning his name). That day’s printed version has more articles about the “expat and his wife” who run an Adult Entertainment empire. The online version doesn’t have these extra articles. The connection between Don Winner and Fabian Buys can be made with their relationship to Mona Sutherland, an American woman living in Panama. Mona Sutherland has been a friend and has worked with Don Winner for several years. The connections between them are tricky to prove because Mona Sutherland uses an alias in her porno articles "Mona Moore." This Word document breaks down who Mona Moore is by resumes and by photos in comparison to the real Mona Sutherland. Apparently, Mona Sutherland didn't want people to know that she is the notorious Mona Moore in the porno industry. Mona Moore is the same Mona Sutherland who works for Don Winner. William Smartlee Unmasking the War on Drugs The Afro-Colombian communities Union del Rio Chagui, Recuerdo de Nuestros Ancestros del Rio Mejicano and Union del Rio Rosario in the state of Narino in southwestern Colombia decided to eliminate coca growing through an arduous program of manual eradication --- removing coca plants by hand. They signed an agreement with the United Nations to eradicate coca in their lands. But, even though they had made this commitment and removed coca from their lands, the Colombian government, supported by the United States, has decided to spray their lands with concentrated glyphospate (Round-Up Ultra), which will kill their food crops. This reveals the real reason behind the fumigation campaign: to force them off their lands, so they can be taken over for large-scale African palm projects and economic development programs to benefit multinational mining and other companies seeking access to Colombia’s natural resources. Please join the threatened Afro-Colombian communities in protesting the fumigation of their lands. Tell President Alvaro Uribe and his Ministers that you oppose fumigation and wish to see the Afro-Colombian communities’ rights to their lands and their way of life protected. And tell President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and your Senators and Representatives in Congress that you oppose US-promoted fumigation and want to see the U.S. Government protect the rights of the Afro- Colombian communities to their lands and their customs. Tell them it is clear that the supposed “War on Drugs” is a pretext for neo-liberal policies promoting multinational corporate interests at the expense of the Colombian people. Tell them you now know that no basis exists for fumigation of these lands and the excuse given that the lands are used for coca production is demonstrable false. Colombia
Support Network
Madison, Wisconsin USA
D-Day June 6 marked the 65th anniversary of D-Day which hastened the end to the Second World War. We might have expected that such expressions of man’s inhumanity to man ultimately might have conferred upon our societies the wisdom to truly value life and liberty. Unfortunately, in the years following World War II, after the collapse of Nazism, the West voluntarily succumbed to a new dictatorship of relativism that is no less evil than the fascism that preceded it. This new tyranny recognizes nothing as being definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of satiating one’s own ego and desires. We have seen the contemporary results - nihilistic yet impeccably democratic legislation that repudiates life itself! I am thinking here of existing, enacted and pending articles of legislation that legalize various drugs, prostitution, contraception, homosexuality, same-sex marriage, abortion, euthanasia, and genetic manipulation. Today, the West cries for liberation from the tyranny of Modernity being imposed by liberal governments as they seek new and ingenious ways of undermining morality and embracing nihilism. Is this the path western civilization wishes to traverse? Are we to remain self-exiled victims of our own life-repudiating self-absorption? I suggest that the initial step to halting this demoralizing slide toward an anti-life state philosophy is available to us today. But this will also take a great effort on the part of us all. We need to re-examine the Godless assumptions that we permit to serve as the foundation of our own individual lives. We need to go beneath the surface, without yielding to the propaganda of the Enlightenment with its false promises. Then and only then will we be able to breathe a new and vibrant culture of life back into our society. Perhaps, in time, and through the promotion of a culture of life, western civilization --- indeed all peoples and nations --- will come to experience a new liberation based on the realization that it is not selfishness or war but truth that sets us free. Paul
Kokoski
Hamilton, Ontario Canada
Disagrees with one of the editor's columns in the Panama Star It seems that you are a fan of Canadian health care. Well over one million people receive free doctors, hospitals, prescriptions, eye glasses and dental the majority of these people are the ones that have chosen welfare as a family career (in some families three generations). Results:
The result? I moved to a new town and could not get a doctor's appointment for over two years even though I was paying for this socialized medical system. The middle class pays heavily for this in taxes --- I think the sales tax is down to 14% now in Ontario, with increased income taxes and surtax on net income at the end of the year. At the end they strip all your assets there as well so there is nothing left to leave your family In theory social programs are an ideal but in practice I think we misjudge the character of the beneficiaries of these programs and in the end all is abused The social programs in Canada are a wonderful thing for those in need and I am proud that they are in place. The problem is that over 90% of the people on these programs are just scamming and too lazy to work and they live almost as well on these programs. (I can give you many personal examples like "Oh, I got tired of having to get up every morning.") If you check there are many Canadians who return to Canada in June for six months to keep their heath insurance intact. Check a little further and I am suspicious that many are collecting welfare, disability (watch them run on the beach, swim, etc. while here), collecting unemployment insurance or running some other social scam with the middle class taxpayer picking up the tab. You can report these people but the people running these programs will do nothing (I know from personal experience). I am here in Panama because of these programs not to avoid taxes but because I am tired of supporting these people and seeing them sitting on a front porch drinking beer while I am driving to work. I worked in Boston for over two years and when the locals used to ask me what I thought of TAXACHUSETTS, I used to laugh and explain that I never had it so good when I got paid I looked at my check and knew what I was working for. And I paid for Blue Cross and had the best health care ever in my life. (I will admit that I think the hospitals ran way too may tests to bilk the insurance companies.) Yes Socialism is a wonderful ideal in theory but in reality it sucks for those who end up picking up the tab for a system that is abused to hell. And of course it can not be policed as it is an infringement of human rights, so go ahead and cheat to your heart's content. If I knew 40 years ago what I know today I probably would not have enetred the work force in Canada and spent my winters collecting welfare and laying on a tropical beach drinking beer somewhere. Ernie Whitehead Likes that same column Great editorial. Today I am off to my community's first organizing meeting. Two of us, and I'm the younger one! Here in the States I live in Belfast, Maine. Charlotte, the other old lady, and I are going to organize to win this one... Karen
Some Democratic hypocrisy here? "By referring to "The ideologues whose deregulatory fervor led directly to the looting and trashing of America's financial system..." I assume you are talking about people like Frank, Dodd, Waters, Meeks and Pelosi? Chris Also in this
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