Happy New Year!

As the year 2009 is running towards a close, and the decade is about to turn into a new one, the editor-in-chief of Paradoxical News would like to thank every follower of PN. And in particular the PN network, without the help and guidance of which nothing would have been possible. With a blurred vision, but not tone deaf, the editor-in-chief may have been preoccupied with other matters and crises to attend to. Still, 2009 has been a fairy tale ride. Don't believe for a second that it has gone by unnoticed. Thank you, I wish you all the very best. Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

Paradoxical News would like to wish all readers, supporters, and friends of the niche publication the best possible holidays. No matter what the current circumstances - and whether it be in the nest of the family, with friends, alone, or on the job. With heart and warmth. Hope to see your smiling faces soon!

COP15 Deal According To Sarkozy

’Monsieur le President!,’ the French journalists initiate their questions. The time is well after half past ten PM on Friday, and they have been waiting patiently in the conference hall at Hotel Crown Plaza for more than half an hour for Nicolas Sarkozy to arrive and present the results of the negotiations for COP15 at Bella Center in Copenhagen.

’I think, that the deal we have now agreed upon is a positive deal, because it comprises the entire international community. The text we have made is not perfect. And eventhough it isn't legally binding before 2010, this deal has been made with the United States. And Kansler Merkel will arrange a conference in Bonn six months from now, in order to prepare for Mexico next year,’ Nicolas Sarkozy explains the outcome of the COP15 negotiations leading up to the next COP in Mexico in December 2010.

In Bella Center the collect international press has been referred to the screens to follow the speeches in the plenary hall, while all negotiations have taken place at closed meetings as bilateral and multilateral negotiations far from the scrutiny of the press. But here Nicolas Sarkozy unveils what took place behind closed doors as an explanation to the many cancelled press conferences during Friday at Bella Center.

’Angela Merkel, Gordon Brown and I have met about twenty times to clarify our positions. With 192 nations present it has been difficult,’ Nicolas Sarkozy elaborates about the negotiations in Bella Center during the past few days, where he also spoke with Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama several times.

’Yesterday [i.e. on Thursday] we had two texts on the table, one overall text and one convention text for the negotiators. We wanted the overall text with a political declaration with twelve paragraphs to stipulate that the governments of the 192 countries should respect the deal,’ the French president further explains about the developments.

Nicolas Sarkozy admits that there were severe tensions during the negotiations:

’There have been many tensions during the conference, I can't hide that. And some countries have chosen to leave the conference. But if we hadn't made this deal, two important countries like China and India, representing over two billion people out of six billion, would have stood outside of the elements of the deal. And the United States would have been exempt from responsibility of all elements of the deal,' Nicolas Sarkozy elaborates.

According to Sarkozy the great complications during the COP15 negotiations are due to the different fora, like G8, G20, and G77 countris. G8 consists of the seven largest economic powers plus the EU. G20 consists of finance ministers and central bank managers of the 19 largest eonomic powers plus the EU. And G77 is a coalition of the 77 poorest countries. And all of these fora were at play during the UN negotians on climate change during COP15:

’G20 can make decisions. But today we have had a crisis and a complete block. When you can't vote on anything, how are you to make decisions? There have been several countries with enormous power, because they know that when you can't reach a consensus, you can't make a decision. We have had a situation, where for instance the ambassador of Sudan has spoken on par with the American president and kansler Merkel. They haven't been on the same political level and with the same capacity for making decisions. This system has caused the collapse. So the system needs to be changed,’ the French president states his opinion.

Despite the above difficulties a political COP15 accord was made, that obliges the countries to four important elements. Firstly, all countries accept that global warming can only rise with a maximum of two degrees celsius. Furthermore, all countries have agreed to hand in their written statements with figures on their own CO2 emissions from 2015 to 2020. That means that the deal will have an attachment with objectives for reductions of each country, including China, India, South Africa, and Brazil. These objectives are to be presented in the month of January. Next, the countries accept to make obligatory evaluations of their respective efforts. And the fourth element is that the countries agree on introducing an innovative financing, including the United States. The countries agree to give ten billion dollars per year to the poorest nations in 2010, 2011, and 2012.

Furthermore, all countries have accepted to raise the development aid to 100 billion dollars from 2020. Of which the twenty percent is dedicated to combat deforrestation, and forty percent dedicated to development aid in Africa. That means two billion for reforrestation in 2010 - and 20 billion in 2020.

At the press conference mainly comprising the French press, Nicolas Sarkozy was confronted with critical questions from the journalists. Among them one question was, if this wasn't simply a voluntary, political accord with no real legally binding engagements. Sarkozy replies:

’No the accord isn't voluntary, since the figures of each country will be published and attached as an annex to the accord. So the figures oblige politically. Second, there is an obligation to implement the accord about the precise figures into the national legislation. Each country is obliged to deliver the figures of their individual reduction objectives immediately. Not in 2020, but immediately. And each country is obliged to publish their reductions annually, so that inspections can verify them.’

Next stops: New York, Bonn, and Mexico:

PN confronted Nicolas Sarkozy with the question of an international legally binding deal for all countries.

’We didn't manage to agree upon a legally binding deal in Copenhagen. And I don't know how we should have prepared an actual treaty. Ban Ki-moon will preside the efforts to prepare a treaty from the month of September in New York. A deal of more than a hundred pages. So there's first this political accord in Copenhagen. Then both Europe and the United States want to turn the political accord into a treaty. Therefore France insists on a mid-way summit in Bonn. The political accord should lead to a treaty to be realized in Mexico next year. This treaty should include both China and India,’ the French president explains about the outlook for climate negotiations in 2010.

Paradoxically, it will take the Conference of The Parties (COP) a whole series of world wide travels and a huge amount of CO2 emissions in order to stop the CO2 emissions.

Counter-Capitalist Climate Coalition

Capitalism is the one major climate sinner, and all ills of the globe could be cured, if it weren't for the capitalists. This reading of the world according to Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela.

In a show case press conference during the COP15 climate summit at Bella Center Chavez showed up on Friday afternoon, supported by a panel of Bolivian President Evo Morales, and representatives from the Nicaraguan, Cuban, and Ecuadorian governments. All representing Communist and Socialist countries. Or what you might call a counter-capitalist climate coalition. From Chavez to Morales the conclusions were absolutely clear: to combat climate change it would take a radical change of the capitalist economies. The argument was deforrestation by - Capitalist - international companies. And the remedy was a - Socialist - revolution.

Paradoxical News was once again paradoxed - isn't China (and formerly the Soviet Union and its heavy industry model in developing countries) among the heavy polluting countries with heavy industry, coal firing, and the highest CO2 emissions? And so asked Hugo Chavez, but was immediately knocked out by numbers:

'You can't compare these countries. China has a population of 1,4 billion inhabitants, and the United States about 300 millions,' Chavez rebuffed PN, albeit in the most charming way (China population 1,334,790,000, and USA 308,188,000, according to Chinese and US Official Population clocks as of December 2009).

The logic being - if you outweigh others by numbers, you're simply not responsible. In particular if you're a Socialist nation, as the argument went. A follow up to his rebuff was complicated by a Teflon-like surface that repelled counter-questioning, and a swift moving on through the press crowd. In the most charming way, of course.

COP15 At Bella Center

During the COP15 summit at Bella Center I once again met with Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of The United Nations Environment Programme/UNEP (please see: http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2009/12/global-warning-from-melting-pot.html).

Achim Steiner appeared in the documentary film Hope In A Changing Climate by John D. Liu, film maker, environmental educator, writer, and speaker. Paradoxical News viewed the film on Thursday 17th in Copenhagen, presented by The Environmental Education Media Project/EEMP.

And on Friday at COP15 in Bella Center PN took the chance to ask Steiner about the various development programmes which included a reconstruction and development of the Loess Plateau earth terraces in China for the sustainability of the local population.

But how will projects like these make up for the coal production and CO2 emissions of China?

'This project was not necessarily intended to compensate for that. And let us remember that most countries did not know that they were incurring a problem of these planetary proportions when they went for fossil fueled power. So this was an ecosystem restoration project in order to deal with ecosystems, biodiversity, and livelyhood. But what we have said repetedly over the years in UNEP is that we must look at climate change and ecosystem loss in a connected way. In a systems perspective. Nature has perfected a process of carbon capture and storage over millions of years, in forrests, in peak lands, and in the oceans. Ecosystem stabilisation and restoration is part of dealing with carbon emissions and climate change, but it is also invested in the foundation of a productive landscape,' UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner explains.

Do you see the possibility, if making more development projects like this, that it will make China budge on the coal production and CO2 emissions?

'Not just China, every country can learn from these projects and should do more of them. I do not believe that China is by any means the only country that requires more investment in this,' Achim Steiner rounds up his argument about a comprehensive systems view.

So paradoxically sustainability is about more than looking into the weather report for answers. But rather taking an overall view on ecosystems, biodiversity, climate, food production, and livelyhood altogether. And they thought that COP15 was to be a quick fix!

High and Deep, Wide and Narrow Debates

Candle Lit And Friendly Display of Opinion

Peace, Love - and Circus

Parliament-COP15 Conference Demonstration

Saturday around noon a major demonstration started as little NGO groups slowly forming and making their trail through the pedestrian streets of Copenhagen. Among them Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke (MS ActionAid) with red ballons - of course. Their demand was simple: Rich countries - pay your climate debt! Because the developing countries are hit the hardest with the effects of climate change.

The groups later gathered in huge numbers at the parliament building of Christiansborg. Estimates varied from the police to the organizers, from 50.000 to 100.000 people. One thing is certain, the parliament area - and beyond the canals - was jampacked with colourful people, banners, balloons, and protest signs.

Among speakers to make contributions were Social Democrat leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt (A) and Danish-Peruvian model Helena Christensen. Sending a message to the negotiators at Bella Centre during the COP15 conference to seal a binding deal.

Climate Activists At Large

Friday morning a demonstration had been arranged under the 'Don't buy the lie' slogan against the official COP15 arrangements in Bella Center - for doing too little in effect to combat climate change. It had been announced to take off from a central square in Copenhagen.

Demonstrators carried emblems to show their intent, here shown with a green ribbon for global initiatives and ecological climate solutions, and a red ribbon to mark a social radical change and demand corporate globalisation.

The demonstrators were divided into four groups: One to make noise, one to make banners and graffiti, one to occupy divers private companies considered to be particular climate sinners, and one last group to distract the police. And flyers were distributed with the route starting at Nytorv moving to Rådhuspladsen (City Hall Square), further to Forum on the other side of the lakes. But they never got further on their 15 point trail through Copenhagen, among them to Shell, Mærsk, and Bella Center (the COP15 conference centre).

As the police officer in charge noted, it hadn't been properly and formerly announced. So the police were there in great numbers to follow the moves of the couple of hundred demonstrators. The ambience was more or less like it is during the annual carnival, with drums, percussion, and shouts in unison. Nevertheless the police ended up arresting 75 demonstrators, of which 62 were visiting foreigners mostly from England, Germany, France, Austria, and Norway. The demonstrators were diffused by policemen prepared for combat, and the demonstration was dissolved at 13:30/1:30 PM.

Come To Copenhagen!

If you want to experience the interactive Globe and all of the COP15 events and exhibitions during Hopenhagen Live! - come to Copenhagen now, before 18th December, and join the interactive campaign where it happens.

For further information about the Globe in Copenhagen, please see CEO James Lanier explain, see the Globe spin, and read about the interactive campaign here:
The World in a Giant Globe in Copenhagen - Global Observatory
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2009/12/globe-update-part-three.html

http://www.tcktcktck.org/

Peace, Love, And Understanding!

Peace, love, and understanding! Why spend energy demonstrating against Obama, when the frustrations really belong somewhere else? Virtual or real live demonstrations, give the bridge builders a chance: Think and act positive! Please see: http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2009/12/rent-mob.html

Globe Update - Part Three

Last night at City Hall Square in Copenhagen the Globe to mark the Hopenhagen Live! alternative arrangements during COP15, had passed the 12 million mark of incoming text messages to support a virtual demonstration to put a pressure on world leaders to combat climate change effects.

And the little green pins to mark these text messages keep coming in. Dial the word Globe to 1231 in Denmark. And the same word in the text internationally to +45 2762 2222 to participate and make the demonstrations candle lit, positive, peaceful, and constructive - please see: http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2009/12/rent-mob.html

Rent A Mob

At the World Business Summit on Climate Change this spring, I met the wonderful NGO-representative Moira from Australia. We talked about events that always seemed to follow major summits anywhere in the world - the demonstrations and protests. And one of her points was, that if there are local protesters, they will always multiply in numbers, because they call on others from neighbouring countries to join and make the protests even bigger, louder, and - often - more violent. The so-called Rent A Mob phenomenon.

That got me thinking. Tomorrow during the COP15 climate summit demonstrations are announced to take place to/from three different routes in Copenhagen. Some carrying torches. One group demonstration under the banner of Civil Disobediance. And these past few days the police has seized groups and confiscated instruments potentially used for violent protests. So what will happen tomorrow during the demonstrations? Will the civil disobediance be violent? Or will it live up to its original Gandhian meaning and intent of being a peaceful display of opinion?

Paradoxical News would love to be able to spend the text message income from the Globe at City Hall Square in Copenhagen, designated for a virtual demonstration. PN would like to Rent A Mob to show peaceful intent, carrying torches, candle lights, music. And to display a positive, constructive attitude. We have seen this happen many times over in Copenhagen. Please show up in full. And please win over the violence!

For further information about the virtual demonstration and the Globe, please see:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2009/12/global-update-part-two.html

Meta-Comment No. 14

FYI. The dire straits are no recent events. It didn't 'just' start two-three years ago. The pressure was beginning to get the hardest more than eight years ago. So the game is not new. Hence, the original PN status of the current situation from two years ago sounded: It appears that no matter what I do, I can't get through. But I still have to get through.

Do people in the PN readership ever consider that they only get half the version - if that! - of what has happened to the editor-in-chief during more than eight years? Here's just a small excerpt from the list (no tears or bitterness, just stating simple facts FYI):

• Lost a job and have been completely unable to get another for more than eight years, no matter what the efforts have been (never had longer periods without a job, most of the time had several jobs simultaneously, and never problems getting jobs before 2001)
• Have complied with all of the requirements in seeking jobs
• Had to close down a entrepreneurial company - one of the ways to keep busy and make it happen
• Tried all leads in the freelance area, unable to get jobs and projects that actually provide income to live off
• Lost all savings spent to live off and to search new opportunities
• Lost entire retirement plan and savings in the same quest
• Lost private home because unable to pay
• Lost co-operative housing association flat and all the value attached to it
• Have been unable to find new home, because there's always a block, no matter what the effort
• For six months without a permanent base, having to keep moving around with no basic own things around
• In NY having to move hotels on a daily basis, having to spend half of most days trying to get accomodation elsewhere, instead of being able to fully enjoy events and options
• Tried all possible contacts, people, friends to help out all along
• Lost contact with many people, because a person after losing everything is 'no fun' to be around
• Tried all leads and hints for journalistic stories, but no answers during these efforts (e.g. did try one 'major story lead' in August a zillion times, but no answer on the phone)
• Had to close down several computers, because they through more than eight years have been infected by trojans, spy mails, spyware - and on the fourth computer now (also infested)
• A bit difficult to apply for jobs and call people, when both computer and phone lines are infested
• E.g. met an editor-in-chief of major Danish newspaper at an event recently, and he had never heard of the person who answerred my mails to him (this has happened several times over)
• Everytime the PN editor tries to move into the network and the favourite direction where life, humanity, freedom, and tolerance is - the pressure only rises from the other side, with more destruction in terms of basic living conditions (food, home, income, etc)
• Have tried all leads for the major events during this and the past years, but with the consequence of always being stopped by similar blocks in basic living conditions at the same time
• Have lost one third of body weight from the normal, standard and average level (this I am told, is a serious alarm signal), because basic food consumption is impossible without an income
• At every attempt at doctor's appointment (for the sake of basic health), it turns out impossible
• At every attempt at getting housing throught public assistance, it is denied
• At every attempt at getting computer research aid (through police or elsewhere), it is denied
• At every attempt at getting legal counsel, it is denied (or being referred to people - who on investigation are not even lawyers or judicial persons)
• Though trying to keep in contact with friends and aquaintances, they are somehow always 'busy' elsewhere

Now, in you own fair and considered mind - would YOU be able to keep up the good spirit and a sense of humour? Would you still - after such and extended stress period of more than eight years - be able to go to town with an empty pocket, thinking 'I'm going to enjoy myself tonight?' Breaking down several times over in August. Without home, income, friends, close people, social life, job, basic food supply, health - basically living the life of a refugee in your own country - would YOU be able to go around happy-go-lucky, meanwhile being blamed for never doing the right things? Really?

PN would like to see those people, who could actually handle all of the above things at one and the same time, and still keep up trying. For more than eight years without a stop. Still keeping up the good spirit and with a smile. Or a humouristic sense writing PN. And PN is looking forward to seeing all of the above happen to people and friends the closest - just for a test. To see how it goes after more than eight years of the above. While we are waiting to see that test, PN will continue to produce paradoxical news. Tongue-in-cheek of course! Paradoxically, tragedy and humour have always been strange bed fellows.

Cut Up Poetry

Authors and poets Christian Bjoljahn, Mette Moestrup, and Lars Bukdahl had turned one pavillion on City Hall Square into a Cut Up Poetry salon today during the Hopenhagen Live! cultural events. In the most loyal support to the recycling efforts to save the global climate.

With a pot of freshly cut, crude words, scissors, glue, and imagination at free play they cut up words and sentences from old poems, newspapers, encyclopedia, and excerpts from the Kyoto protocol on climate from 1997 they invited visitors to recycle words and turn them into new poems. In the very best David Bowie song writing tradition.

The reconstructed poems will be glued to posters. And tonight during a reading session they will be read to visitors at an original performance.

Bend The Trend Performance

Last night I attended one of the cultural events during the COP15 summit on Kongens Nytorv in Copenhagen. French climber Antoine Le Menestrel made a symbolic climb from the top of the French embassy to the top of the neighbouring European Environment Agency/EEA. During this very impressive climb show he made his artistic contribution in order to Bend The Trend (of continued CO2 emissions and global warming) by manually bending a lightened curve on a graphic mural display.

And it became clear why he started at the top: he figuratively started at the top of the curve, bent it, and took it down to the level of the maximum rise of two degrees celsius, to be the end result and the deal sealed at the end of COP15. If only we could see world leaders hang from a wire in a girdle and do the same magic trick! Well, maybe next week we will see that.

For further information, please see:

http://www.ambafrance-dk.org/spip.php?article3901

www.lezartists.org/sommaire_art_flash.php?typ=antoine

Global Update - Part Two

During Hopenhagen Live! hope to combat climate change was signed on Mother Earth continuously during the concert last night through little green pins marked on the globe, coming from text messages simply with the word Globe written in the text section, sent to number 1231 in Denmark (and through intl' calls to +45 2762 2222) to send a message to world leaders, and to show support to combat climate change. A sea of little green pins coming from all over the world swamps the globe and forms an entire green band along the rim of the planet. Keep them coming.

The globe is lit and interactive every day from 7th to 18th December, from 4PM-09AM (Danish time zone, GMT+1). Join the party, text or call to put your own little green pin on the Hopenhagen Live! interactive globe - and make the party even bigger!

Hopenhagen Live!

A packed City Hall Square jumped and jammed to the music of Danish band Nephew last night during Hopenhagen Live! (a supplementary COP15 event), when the band opened right after the City Hall Square globe was lit to show Mother Earth turn in all its splendour and colours. Lead singer Simon Kvamm had the crowd in the palm of his hand, and took notes to continue, and then made encores because the crowds - left, middle, and right side of the square - wanted more. And because there was still hope. The concert took place under conditions that were much like the weather - cold outside, but warm inside. Very warm. Thank you, Simon and gang for stopping the dry speeches and turning the square into a party!

The hope was signed on Mother Earth continuously during the concert through little green pins marked on the globe, coming from text messages sent to 1231 (in Denmark, and through intl' calls) to show support to combat climate change.

The globe will be lit every day until the end of COP15 18th December - and text messages can be sent for the entire period. Journalists participating in the climate summit are now reported to be more than doubling. And the concerts are expected to continue to grow as we get closer to the heads of state arriving after 15th December. For instance Outlandish, with band members originating from all corners of the world, when Desmond Tutu will hand over 250.000 signatures to stop global warming on 13th December. And top international bands on the major Danish scenes to match, support - or counter-weigh - the top politicians. The crowds want more.

Global Update

This is what the globe on City Hall Square looks like today:

Global Warning From The Melting Pot

One day during his travels photographer Mark Edwards was walking in a barren desert in the heat of day. A nomad came up to him and asked if he wanted some tea. He then knocked two sticks together and created fire to make him some tea. Right then and there out of his recorder sounded Bob Dylan's A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall. And with a little help and goodwill from Dylan himself this later became the title of Mark Edward's photo exhibition accompanied by the Dylan song.

The photo exhibition comprises photos of people living in poverty and in barren places. And it intends to make an impression on world leaders when they meet at COP15 during the next couple of weeks. The photo exhibition was opened formally at Kongens Nytorv in central Copenhagen today, Sunday, together with the Seal the Deal campaign to make the same leaders sign a binding climate action plan.

At the opening was also, Klaus Bondam, Mayor of Technology and Environment in Copenhagen, and Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of the Environment Programme. The Seal the Deal supporting signatures will be handed over to the COP with recordings and photographs from people all over the world stored in a silver globe.

'It will be handed over in a symbolic gesture to the Conference of the Parties [COP]. Over a hundred heads over states are now coming, and I think it is partly because of this. People have expectations of their leaders, and these signatures is just one way of expressing the feeling, that we must act now on climate change,' Achim Steiner said.

Hopefully they will. Since this is what will happen, if not:

Alison Gannett from Colorado, USA, was at the opening in Copenhagen with a global warning to signal the urgent need for fighting global warming. She is an extreme ski enthusiast, and just finished a walk from London to Brussels with her skis on her back under the motto of Save Our Snow.

And on one of the squares in Copenhagen a melting polar bear gives symbolic witness to the effects of global warming. If these things will not give a global warning to world leaders for the upcoming COP15, what will?

Paradoxical Update

You Must Say Thank You!

'You must say thank you!' These were the words spoken by the most powerful man in Denmark, container ship operation company owner Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller (his company ranked 106 on the Fortune Global 500 list for 2009) - or simply Mr. Møller in Denmark. To one of the most influential Danish architects (among his works very recognized for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh) Henning Larsen in connection with his project to build the new Opera house in the habour of Copenhagen. On an axis right across from the Royal Palace.

According to Henning Larsen and his new book entitled after those very words, the words were spoken in order to set things straight between the two men - as to who was in charge. And as an old saying goes - he who pays for the music, decides the repertoire. And that led to conflicts between the powerful business man and the architect about the architectonic details - almost all of the details, according to Henning Larsen. Mr. Møller's view was quoted by his personal assistant in the newspaper of Weekendavisen, that he saw no conflict, but was very happy with the building.

The book and interviews have created a storm in the Danish media, because nobody normally contradicts Mr. Møller. With this conflict we are witnessing the clash between business and culture - of hard head against soft heart. And with these two men, respectively 96 and 84 years old, we are witnessing the confrontation of two silverbacks - or the Clash of The Titans. Not bad for a paradoxical news week. Or maybe that is just the story line when it comes to building opera houses. The conflict between the patron of art and the architect has to be as strong as the house to last for centuries (see the Sydney Opera for another example). The process has to be as arduous as the final performance. And the artistic discords as dramatic as the operas it houses. A concept that PN would like to coin as The Opera Paradox.

For further information, please see:

Copenhagen Opera House

www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Indland/2009/11/26/162540.htm

LÆS OGSÅ Opera-arkitekt: Hr. Møller ville ødelægge min tegnestue
www.g.dk/bog/de-skal-sige-tak!-henning-larsen_9788770557832

Please see the THX Alternative Award Speech list below:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/award-speech.html

Bridge Building Act

US Health Care Paradox: It should be smooth sailing for health care in America after Obama's proclamation to send more troops to Afghanistan this week. Why? Because he is building bridges. If the Republicans at West Point and in the two houses aren't satisfied with the presidential strategy by now, they would gain from looking up the word democracy at their first convenience. Obama has delivered his part to satisfy Republicans. He provides more troops to further secure the troops already in Afghanistan - in order to resolve the situation faster. Now it would suit Republicans to give back for what they got.

So if Republicans aren't politically tone deaf (and they shouldn't be), Obama's Health Care Reform becomes a reality before the end of this month. PN predicts that Republicans with both heart and head will vote for the reform plan, as well as the dissatisfied Democrats with both heart and head. This is the logic of the constant democratic balance act and the inevitable political trade-off, negotiated in any democracy: If you endanger the lives of troops abroad (though now more secure than before) - you must secure lives at home so much more. Votes will determine that. There will be no Jacksonian - without a share of Jeffersonian to balance it. WETHEPEOPLE will ensure that.

For further information, please see:

http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2009/12/happy-jacksonian.html

http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2009/07/walter-russell-mead-in-town.html

Happy Jacksonian!

Tonight we will learn about the future US presidential strategy for Afghanistan. Everyone is holding his/her breath. As seen below the Nato/Danish strategy is to stay in Afghanistan for as long as it takes for the Afghan police and soldiers to take over the responsibility themselves. With a joint Danish opposition of The Social Democrats (A), The Social Liberals (B), and The Socialist People's Party (F) fighting the no limits strategy.

Obama will send another 30.000 troops for now. Because the threat of terror still hasn't diminished. But with American protests at home over loss of US troops - for how long will Obama choose to uphold security in the country with no limits for the US presence? Will he set the expected fixed date and present his exit strategy? Or will he speak up for peace, love, and understanding?

This is just another presidential dilemma. A dilemma of weighing different political issues and strategies against one another. Health care and economy at home. Climate and trade in a broader world perspective. And above them all hover American security issues. Obama is simply forced to a shift in presidential roles; from the Hamiltonian (international trade and negotiation), Wilsonian (develop democracies worldwide), and Jeffersonian (freedom and security at home) roles into the Jacksonian (protect US interests by force if necessary) presidential role. Please read the Walter Russell Mead analysis in the link below. Obama has to satisfy the two houses, the American public, the media, and the rest of the world - at the same time - while American interests are threatened. Like George W. Bush had to before him in the Iraq war, Clinton in the Balkan war, and George Bush Senior in Iraq as well.

Paradoxical News predicts that Obama will prevail, although moving in on the Jacksonian. And he will do so in a killer speech. Leaving no doubt about his decisiveness. But with a little bit of Hamiltonian, a little bit of Wilsonian, and a little bit of Jeffersonian in the mix. It's just his balancing his presidential role at play we are witnessing. Happy Jacksonian, Obama!

For further information, please see:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2009/07/walter-russell-mead-in-town.html
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2009/11/liberal-national-congress_25.html

A Momentary Lapse of Reason

A Momentary Lapse of Reason. This is what the current situation is in the media market. But only momentarily, if we are to believe the media people themselves. This weekend I attended the first to be of annual media conferences arranged by DR2 host Clement Kjersgaard and his political magazine of Ræson/Reason at the University of Copenhagen, political science section. With different angles the conference debated the future for the media and their roles in a democracy. In particular in the light of the much debated falling paying reader/viewer shares.

Among the participants were Kenneth Plummer, Director General of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation; Lisbeth Knudsen, CEO of Berlingske Media; Per Mikael Jensen, vice-president and international editor-in-chief of Metro International, publisher of the free newspaper of MetroXpress and formerly CEO of Danish TV2; Jørn Mikkelsen editor-in-chief of newspaper Jyllands-Posten; Tøger Seidenfaden editor-in-chief of newspaper Politiken; Johannes Riis publisher at the book company of Gyldendal; Anne-Marie Dohm, principal of the Danish School of Media and Journalism; Henrik Dahl MBA, sociologist and commentator - and so many more in the media business.

Directly asked by PN, Kenneth Plummer of DR was certain that the future for DR was to hold on to the strongest brands in the portfolio, and mentioned the radio programme of P3 with pop and rock music, quizzes, and interactive programmes by way of using the social media; and DR2 the narrow tv channel with in-depth background news stories, interviews, debates, theme nights, and cultural magazines. Both clearly defined segments. These two constitute the programmes with the strongest hold on specific segments of the population - that aren't likely to shift easily to other programmes. To sum up: public service assuring democratic involvement on two entirely different levels: direct involvement and interactivity through P3, and formation of public opinion through DR2.

Lisbeth Knudsen of Berlingske Media saw no reason to whine about falling reader shares. She saw these years as a transformation period seing the light of day through involvement on several platforms. Making use of the internet, the social media, and the niche shares. Directly asked by PN, her strategy was to make narrow social media niche magazines - like interests for fishery, cars, whatever. Catching the users where they are in their everyday lives - and directing them towards the in-depth investigative journalism in the serious news publications of Berlingske through cross-promoting ads and links. Neither this, nor that. But all of it.

Per Mikael Jensen of Metro International saw a strong future for 'The House of Politiken' the foundation that runs two of the major players in the print news market: Politiken and Jyllands-Posten. With an emphasis on Politiken, simply for much the same reason as mentioned by Kenneth Plummer/DR: the brand is too strong for the readers to shift easily. However, he wouldn't be surprised if both Politiken and Berlingske on print would have a drop in circulation to about 50.000, which is more or less half of today's circulation. But he saw this as a momentary condition until the media had gotten hold on the internet and social media platforms.

Tøger Seidenfaden of Politiken mostly wanted to debate current events, and referred to his decision to publish the non-compromising contents (speaking in terms of security issues for the state) of the so-called Rathsack book about a former top gun’s experiences from the Ministry of Defense. He saw these kinds of controversial stories as necessary if the news media are to take their roles seriously in a democracy. As a dedicated supporter of the news media as a watchdog for society – as the fourth power of state. Politiken already makes extensive use of social media and interactivity with its readers/viewers/users on many platforms. Which keeps the democratic debates alive.

Jørn Mikkelsen of Jyllands-Posten proclaimed that he didn’t really believe in the role of the media as the fourth power of state. The business was mainly to inform the public. And to do so in a serious and credible fashion. He was asked by moderator Kurt Strand from DR2, though, what story in Jyllands-Posten had set the agenda through 2009. And could only mention the Rathsack-story – which had been all over the media as it was.

Johannes Riis of Gyldendal told the audience at the conference that he reads three daily morning papers – Berlingske Tidende, Jyllands-Posten, and Politiken – to keep updated. But called for more quality background stories to put the constant fast news flow into context. Or what he called the cut chaff of news stories. A mash of stories that is only fit for filling the stomach, but has no high nutritition value. He called for more insight and outlook in the future media. He called for more reasoning in the media. And welcomed the standard of niche media, like Information (Left wing independent) and Kristeligt Dagblad (Right wing independent).

Anne-Marie Dohm of Danish School of Media and Journalism saw the future journalist more like a full ranged media person that could work on all available platforms, and use all available tools in the box. Like tv journalists putting together all elements of a news segment from research, to interview, to graphics, to editing. A person fit to make the same story for print as well as for tv/radio and for the internet: The Versionist. Moderator Mette Vibe Utzon, news reporter at DR1 then reasoned about the amount of time to do all tasks, and asked for the examples of ‘Versionist Cavling Prize winners’ (the most prestigious Danish Journalism Award). Since these prizes are mostly given to print and tv journalists for investigative, in-depth researched stories. And where would the time come from, if Versionists had to piece all elements together including graphics? No clear answer was given, but some internet and blog news stories were mentioned.

Commentator Henrik Dahl put the Danish democracy and political scene into a sociological context. And saw the current government as a success, mainly because the coalition parties had managed to overthrow the former Relativist political strategies, typical for for instance the Social-Liberals (B). The reasoning that all things are balanced and equally good – red/blue, East/West, Muslims/Christians/Jews. He saw the success of The Danish People’s Party (O) as this new line that clearly marked a difference between good and bad. A return to a Universalist political strategy. Where reasoning is unnecessary. This way the electorate wouldn’t be in doubt. They would get clear answers to make their choices. And a well-defined destinction.

This goes for the political strategies as it goes for the media. The polarization into blocks of opposite views. Although the Universalist political strategy seemed to be the opposite of the Versionist media strategy of bits and pieces across the board. With no clearly defined lines. And no clearly targeted segments. Paradoxical News sought sense of the media business at the conference, but mostly found a momentary lapse of reason.

I Am Lisbeth Salander

'I am Lisbeth Salander,' I would say - much like the 'I am Spartacus' supporters in the 1960 Stanley Kubrick gladiator film of Spartacus. Because I know this woman. She is based on a true story. The real person is neither a psychiatric case, nor a criminal. But a woman who dares, and who has the guts to go against men in power, who simply misuse power. She is you and me. If you haven't already read the Millennium trilogy by Swedish author Stieg Larsson, or seen the film trilogy based on his books - please do so. These are the three separate volumes of the books and films:

"The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"

"The Girl Who Played With Fire"

"The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest"

Monday night I saw a pre-premiere of the last film in the trilogy The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest in the ultimate premiere cinema of Imperial in Copenhagen. Where it opens tomorrow in Denmark - alongside a long list of other Danish cinemas. Go see this kick-ass film, where Lisbeth Salander is finally vindicated. Through justice. Poetic justice. The real Lisbeth Salander deserves as much.

For further information, please see:
www.stieglarsson.com/Millennium-series
www.kino.dk/Biografer/Imperial.aspx
www.aok.dk/film/

Liberal National Congress

Whether Secretary General of Nato or PM in Denmark - Anders Fogh Rasmussen was at the party's annual congress to support the troops of The Liberal Party of Denmark (V) - as well as the troops in Afghanistan.

’I think it was right of Lars [Løkke Rasmussen, chairmand of The Liberals and de facto PM] to set up concrete goals to head for. Not because it is important to be in the top-this-or-that, but because it provides a drive to set up a goal that you want to work towards,’ Anders Fogh Rasmussen said about the top ten goals for 2020 set up by Lars Løkke Rasmussen in his opening speech.

As far as goals for the current situation in Afghanistan, he said:
'We will pull out of Afghanistan once the people of Afghanistan are ready to take over the responsibility for the security in the country. We will help them to achieve that by educating the Afghan soldiers and police. But it is impossible to set a fixed date for that.'

Top Ten of Top Tens

Denmark will be among the top ten countries in practically any field by 2020. Just so you know. This according to the plan for the next decade put forward by de facto PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen at the Liberal National Congress this weekend. By 2020, this is what other nations should expect from Denmark:

1. Among the ten richest countries in the world measured by GDP/Gross Domestic Product per inhabitant (in 2008 we were no. 11 among OECD countries).
2. Among the three best countries in the world in the field of entrepreneurship (in 2006 we were no. 12 among OECD countries).
3. Among the ten highest ranking countries in the world in the field of work force (in 2008 we were no. 14).
4. Among the five highest ranking countries in the world when it comes to educational skills of school children - in reading, mathematics, and natural sciences (in the 2006 PISA-list we were at the OECD average, and in 2002/03 no. 4 of eight European countries).
5. At least have one in the top ten ranking universities in Europe according to the Times Higher Education ranking (in 2009 we were no. 15 in Europe, and no. 51 in the world, University of Copenhagen).
6. Among the top ten when it comes to the human average life span (in 2007 we were no. 26 of 26 OECD countries).
7. Among the top three countries in the world in the field of energy efficiency and the top ten countries with highest amount of renewable energy (in 2006 we were no. 4 among OECD countries).
8. Among the best EU countries to integrate non-western immigrants, measured by the employment rate (in 2001 we had a an immigrant employment rate of 45 percent and in 57 percent).
9. Among the lowest criminal rates in Europe (in 2005 we were the country with the fifth highest probability of a citizen being subjected to criminal offence of 18 EU countries).
10. Among the five strongest economies in the world (in 2009 we are no. 4 in 25 OECD countries).

Now, maybe it's just the nature of Paradoxical News. But this publication wonders if the above top ten list is not an easy sell - for the next government to fulfill? A bit like boxing air bubbles and storing them for the next generation?

Not on the list, but suggested to be included on the list by a Liberal party member at the congress, were the soft values. Like being among the happiest people in the world. But, hey, they say we already are! At least, very happy with ourselves.

Value Revival - or Value Reversal?

Chairman of The Liberal Party of Denmark (V) and de facto PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen presented his top ten list towards 2020 at the opening of the Liberal National congress. As a prelude he rhetorically gathered his troops:
’I would like to present to you the Liberal project for the next decade. I come to you with an open mind and ask: Shouldn't we jointly set up and achieve these goals?’

And then joined his troops around the so-called Danish Dream - which he saw as both a parallel and a contrast to the American Dream:

’The Danish Dream is a dream about wealth and fairness. A dream about setting high goals and achieving them – in collaboration with others. So that others will enjoy our success with us. And so that no one is left behind, but on the contrary will celebrate with the ones that do well,’ the PM said.

It was exactly this dream about fairness that researcher in political history Lars Hovbakke Sørensen, external associate professor at the University of Aarhus, saw as a revival of the political focus at the centre of Danish politics:
’It can be seen as a signal to be centre-focussed on the economic distribution of wealth on one hand to favour the Social Democrat side of the Danish electorate. And on the other hand to move towards the right on the values in order to favour the Conservative side of the Danish electorate,' Lars Hovbakke Sørensen explains.

As Lars Løkke Rasmussen himself put it during the national congress:

’We live in times where the people of '68 have settled with authorities – unfortunately also with the healthy authorities. We are now paying the price for that. And we must correct this!’

The Liberal Freedom Award 2009 was given to a local soccer club for its local social responsibility efforts to integrate local immigrants and juvenile delinquents through positive activities. This political historian Lars Hovbakke Sørensen saw as a way of signalling a Right wing value revival:
’It is a clear symbol of the political value line. They gave the price to the soccer club, because they want to signal, that the political value line reflects the concrete political initiatives. It is a clear signal that the value line - until now absent from the first period under Lars Løkke - will now revert.’

Political historian Hovbakke Sørensen furthermore puts this into a historic context:
’We saw the same thing happening during the Schlüter-government, when it didn't follow a strict value line. Then we saw the Fremskridtspartiet [which later split and reconstituted as The Danish People's Party (O)]. And furthermore during the 1960’ies under VKR coalition [Liberals, Conservatives, and Social-Liberals], where the political line wasn't Conservative enough, because the Social-Liberals joined the coalition. So the value line is important if they want to win the next election,’ Hovbakke Sørensen extends his argument - referring to a period where the abortion rules were liberated and the free pornography was introduced in Denmark.

It must be said that Lars Hovbakke Sørensen is known for a debate line to support Conservative and People's Party concepts. So Paradoxical News was paradoxed by the absense of other commentators to say the same thing. PN wasn't entirely convinced, and so asked another expert:

And Jens Hoff, Professor in political communication from the University of Copenhagen, doesn't find the same tendency in Lars Løkke Rasmussen's speech - nor in his political line.
'I don't think that Lars Løkke is a great value strategist - he is more of a pragmatic hands-on bureaucrat. I think that his speech and his ten goals witnessed a new line to reverse the former stringent value line under Anders Fogh Rasmussen. There are practically no value signals in these very concrete goals. And he opens up towards a broader collaboration accross the board,' Jens Hoff analyses the Liberal line put forward at the national congress.

Whether value revival or value reversal - Lars Løkke Rasmussen did come out of his bureaucratic political shop with his (I have a) Danish Dream speech. A bit more statesman-like. With bits and pieces for the local crowds and his Liberal troops in the back country.

Spoofed by Municipal Trade-Offs

He may look like a young elementary school teacher spoofed by a practical joke by his pupils. But Social Democrat Frank Jensen (A) is in fact 48 years old and as of this week's paradoxical municipal elections the de facto lord mayor of the city of Copenhagen. So maybe the difference is not that big. Of course the City Hall is not a school, but maybe more of a political shop where anything can be traded.

You see, in Copenhagen we have the luxury of not only one Mayor - but seven of them. No, one is never enough in Copenhagen. That goes for beer as it goes for mayors. One for each of the ares: Economy, Culture & Leisure, Children & Youth, Health & Caretaking, Social Areas, Technique & Environment, and for Employment & Integration. Each mayor with his/her own little kingdom. So apart from the fact that the Social Democrats through votes usually occupy several of the mayor positions - you often find a situation in Copenhagen local government where you'll find seven different parties with their own kingdoms. A bit like Italy before the unification. So co-operation across areas is a challenge - to say the least. Perhaps this is why Frank Jensen is spoofed?

PN was there to cover the municipal elections at Copenhagen City Hall. And early learned that The Danish People's Party (O) was heading for a position as Mayor of Employment & Integration. Which is not exactly the cup of tea for neither the Social Democrats (A) nor the Social-Liberals (B). But in the municipal trade-offs anything can be negotiated. This way, during the constitution negotiations the night after the local elections, Klaus Bondam from the Social-Liberals had to eat his own words of keeping The Danish People's Party out of reach of influence, and traded a position as Mayor of Technique & Environment for chairman posts to the people's party in four different committees. This not only spoofed Frank Jensen as much as it spoofed Klaus Bondam's own Social-Liberal party members, members of the press - and most of the population.