British Say “NO” to Euro Again On European Currency Anniversary

APPA NEWS, LONDON 01/01/09 - A new public opinion Poll published today by BBC has shown again the British People’s strong opposition to giving up British Pound Sterling in favour of the Euro, as the European currency completes today its 10th Anniversary.

The Poll follows the trend previously seen in past polls, giving a YES to British Pound by a significant margin, alongside controversial declarations made by José Manuel Durão Barroso, EU Commission President, who stated in December “the UK was closer than ever to joining the Euro” and “the people who matter in British politics“ were contemplating giving up the Pound”.

However, opposing views were expressed by Lord Mandelson, Business Secretary. Whilst joining the Euro is a long term goal for New Labour, said Lord Mandelson, such policy is not for now. But neither Mr Barroso nor Lord Mandelson are meeting the will of the British People, which has always shown a clear “NO” to joining the Euro. Even the best Poll ever in favour did not go further than a mere 31% in favour of the Euro, versus 56% saying NO to the European Union currency.

The issue of whether to join the Euro or not has always been a hot topic in British politics, but has gained a new breath of life recently as the Pound plummeted in value, reaching a point of nearly parity with the Euro, as a result of the credit crunch and subsequent financial collapse in the second half of 2008.

“THE PEOPLE WHO MATTER IN BRITISH POLITICS”

Mr Barroso’sstatement is relevant however, as it appears to argue that the people who matter are those who are in favour of joining the Euro, the rest - the majority of the British People, in fact - does not come into the equation, a position guaranteed to raise eyebrows for the anti-democratic tone, actually an accusation frequently thrown at the European Union political practices, as seen withthe Lisbon Treaty referendum, promised by New Labour, but was never delivered and very recently, the Irish nightmare as Ireland may face a second referendum about the Lisbon Treaty, as the first Irish “No” does not play along with the tune of Brussels Eurocrats.

But “NO” usually means… well… “NO“, so it becomes hard to figure out which part of the word “NO” is difficult to grasp, for either Brussels or the British New Labour Government.

“NO”!… A SOVEREIGNTY ISSUE

What seems clear and apparent though, is the “NO” concerns matters of self-governance and sovereignty for Brits in general, exposing a general feeling of loss of control of British Affairs, especially in times of financial hardship, as joining the Euro would mean losing the power to self regulate the British economy.

This is in fact a case in point in Lord Mandelson’s statement. If a move to join the Euro is “not for now”, presumably because it is more convenient to keep full control of the British currency according to the needs of British economy, as it may be concluded from Lord Mandelson’s declarations, then it makes sense to ask what would happen in the future, once the Pound is scrapped, should a serious crisis happen again.

It is a chief argument for the UKIP Party. Dr Whittaker, UKIP Party MEP poignantly noted the credit crunch had exposed a potential weakness in joining the Euro, because “while all [Euro zone] economies are suffering, some Euro Zone countries are now in an impossible position”. Because these countries joined the Euro, they effectively lost their power to ease the crisis, for example by lowering interest rates and devaluing currency, crisis counter-measures they cannot take because they are stuck with the Euro, under European Central Bank control.

The Conservative Party, in a statement apparently made to the “Daily Mail”, said the Tories under David Cameron’s leadership “would never join the Euro”. Tory sources insisted the party’s policy in regards to the Euro has not changed.

Palestine Re-Enacts Crucifixion In New Penal Code

APPA NEWS LONDON NEWSROOM, 26/12/08 - Alarming news arriving through several reliable sources in the United Kingdom and the Middle-East report Crucifixion has been re-enacted in Palestine.

According to the Jerusalem Post, in an article published by a local journalist, Hamas controlled Palestinian Authority last Tuesday [23/12/08] passed a new Penal Code which in effect re-enacts Sharia Islamic Law, including crucifixion and death penalty in some cases.

Palestine’s Legislative Council, where Islamic Hamas controls a majority, has been quick to deny any such claims, but the fact is that London based Al-Hayat News Paper has confirmed the report and some members of the Legislative Council have provided some clues in recent past.

The new Penal Code in effect establishes Koranic Punishments as prescribed in Sharia Law, which include amputation, application of lashes in various degrees of severity depending on the type of crimes committed, crucifixion and the death penalty. Blood revenge has also been contemplated in the new legislation.

The Free Republic news site, quoting Al Arabiya news and other sources such as the Palestinian Media Watch, reports that the new Penal Code has 14 chapters and 220 sections; and is divided in “Primary Punishments” and “Secondary Punishments”. Amputation of hands, crucifixion, lashes and death penalty all belong to “Primary Punishments”.

Legislation expects 40 lashes as a minimum applicable to any person caught drinking wine or storing wine or indeed producing wine and death penalty for actions committed against the interests of Palestine.

Moreover, the new Penal Code in its text - according to sources quoted above - states that “These punishments will not be canceled or pardoned …”.

Portugal’s Guantanamo Offer Echoes Across World Media

APPA NEWSROOM, LONDON, 13/12/08 -Portugal’s sudden offer to take some prisoners from Guantanamo Bay has taken media and diplomatic circles in Europe and across the Atlantic by storm, by taking a leadership in a matter that has been on the Euro-American agenda since Barack Obama was elected, though not with much in terms of European good-will to help resolving a problem European Union leaders are often keen to classify as an “American Problem”.

The issue, of course, departs from President Elect Barack Obama’s electoral promise to close down Guantanamo Bay Prison Camp - Cuba, but there is no easy solution. Guantanamo Bay houses about 250 prisoners, most of whom linked with the anti-terrorism investigations following the attack on New York twin towers and ensuing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Portuguese Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Amado’s position however, has toppled upside down EU’s “cold feet” in regards to helping the United States, not just by taking the lead - offering to remove some prisoners from Guantanamo and transfer them to Portugal - but more significantly by pushing European Union leaders to follow suit, a move which clearly most European Union member countries appear to be reluctant to follow.

In a letter released just two days ago, the Portuguese Foreign Affairs Minister urged European Union governments to take action saying that “the time has come for the European Union to step forward”, adding that Portugal was ready to take part in an European resettlement program.

Mr Amado’s timing - we might add - was spot on, if we consider Obama’s Administration is due to take office in about one month’s time, incidentally a clear signal that Portugal is not doing a favour to the departing Bush Administration, but rather embracing efforts for a new World order, seeking fresh solutions for old problems.

At the core of the issue are 60 prisoners, already cleared by the Pentagon, but who cannot be returned back to their native countries for fears of persecution, torture and even death, placing Portugal at the forefront of Human Rights defence concerns.

 The first European country to take a positive lead in the issue, Portugal jumped to the front page of World media, being given coverage for an offer that has been understood as genuine, positive and the first friendly move to unfreeze relations between the United States and the European Union, paving the ground for Obama’s Administration and easing pressure in diplomatic relations across the Atlantic.

Human Rights organisations across the Globe have welcomed the Portuguese Leadership in this issue. The Centre for Constitutional Rights’s chief lawyer, Mr MacLean said: “This step is an important one to usher us into a new era”. And there is little doubt the Portuguese initiative has placed Portugal in the good auspices across the Arab world.

Portugal’s lead was this morning hailed across all major international media, including the BBC and the New York Times. The Arabic TV channel AL JAZEERA has also given the Portuguese initiative ample coverage, as well as The Guardian, Amnesty International, the International Human Rights Watch, among almost 500 other international media organisations.

Not surprisingly, the London Times has taken a different, more conservative view, playing down the Portuguese Leadership in this Human Rights important issue, preferring to focus on American pressure.

Duke of Braganza’s Speech Receives Standing Ovation

APPA NEWSROOM, LONDON 13/12/08 -Dom Duarte, Duke of Braganza’s address to an audience of more than 1000 people, to mark the 368th anniversary of the Restoration of Portugal’s independence, was widely acclaimed as the best ever, having received a standing ovation at the traditional annual Commemorative Gala Diner, which year on year marks the date Portugal’s independence was restored from Spanish rule [1580 - 1st Dec. 1640].

 In his address to the Portuguese, which coincided with severe economic difficulties, the Duke stressed that “it is in moments of trial and severe hardship that the soul of the People comes under test”, calling, according to the Head of the Royal House of Portugal, for initiative, solidarity, generosity and skill.

Highly critical, the speech also emphasizes the need for a new direction in Portuguese politics, encouraging a more environmentally friendly approach, a stop in consumerism, and proper investment in the Portuguese People and the Land, pointing out disastrous policies such as the loss of 444.790 acres of fertile land and the resulting potential for lack of sustainability, and food production autonomy.

For Dom Duarte, the State should call for a halt on hugely expensive public work projects and put in place a meticulous resources management policy, encouraging productivity and wealth generation, giving precedence to products made in Portugal, rather than imported goods and services. The Duke also pointed out that political parties must not serve as mere mechanisms of power struggle, but evolve as real citizenship academies, a criticism widely noted among Portuguese Public Opinion, following almost one year of public anger at the Portuguese political system for its inability to deliver, widening the gap between rich and poor.

Dom Duarte of Braganza finished his speech recalling the most celebrated historical statement of the Portuguese Monarchy - “The King is free and we are free” - in what was seen as a strong signal both of warning about the danger to Portuguese Democracy and independence, of the country’s current affairs, as well as of defiance, given the increasing criticism against the republican regime, among the Portuguese people.

 PORTUGUESE MONARCHIST INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE

SIGNALS SUPPORT BUT ALSO ADVISES CAUTIOUS RESTRAINT

The UK-based foundation Portuguese Monarchist Alliance [AIMP-PMIA], which is known for its policy of support for a neutral constitutional monarchy to replace an increasingly ailing Republic, welcomed the speech, but also cautioned against the dangers of interventive speeches being erroneously interpreted by Public Opinion as an anticipation of what a future Constitutional Monarchy would be in the future, should the Portuguese be able to opt for a change of regime in Portugal.

In a short statement issued to our News Room, AIMP-PMIAstrongly supported the Duke of Braganza’s stance, [sic] “especially given Portugal’s current state of affairs”, but also reminds the Portuguese that in a neutral Constitutional Monarchy, “the Crown must serve the purpose of stable continuity, rather than seek an active role in politics” and, “whilst it is normal and acceptable for the Heir to the Throne to speak-out, a commonplace in other European monarchies, once accession to the Throne happens, a reigning Sovereign must remain out of active politics, to avoid the danger of creating political cleavages as a result of potentially controversial statements and remarks”.

AIMP-PMIA’s statement issued to our newsroom can hardly be seen as pure coincidence. Unconfirmed rumours circulated that the Duke of Braganza’s recent praise of the Portuguese Communist Party as “very patriotic”during an interview to a Portuguese magazine, went down rather badly at the Portuguese Monarchist International Alliance, possibly taking into account the Party’s very dubious actions in 1975, shortly after the Portuguese Carnation Revolution, when the communists attempted a counter-revolution and nearly succeeded in placing Portugal under the former Soviet Union’s geo-political sphere of influence, causing total havoc in Portugal and arguably the most disastrous decolonisation process in European History, leaving Angola and Mozambique braced with civil war for almost 30 years.

APPA NEWS contacted AIMP-PMIA, but the association’s Board declined to comment.

Dom Duarte Duke of Braganza Advocates National Referendum for Portugal

APPA NEWS, LONDON-UK - At a time when George W. Bush is on the way out at the term of a mandate - according to many - peppered with concessions to big money lobbies and oil groups; and at the same time, Barack Obama proudly struggled to finance his electoral campaign, free from economic and big money lobbyists, Dom Duarte, Duke of Braganza’s interview in 2002 to an Education Portuguese magazine makes compelling reading.

Being Duke of Braganza, thus Head of the Royal House of Portugal and for that reason, the successor in the Crown of Portugal, it is hardly surprising that Dom Duarte advocates the return to a constitutional democratic parliamentary monarchy in Portugal.

Is it a matter of Power then?… Well, hardly really. Dom Duarte is not alone and counts on at least 20% of the Portuguese population who seem to think that way.

For the Duke of Braganza, monarchies are actually similar to republics these days, but have a monarch as head of state, instead of a president and is adamant in his view that a king or queen is far more independent from political parties and economical lobbies than a president.

Having on his shoulders the full weight of almost 900 years of national identity and history, Dom Duarte declares his full awareness of the responsibility and availability to serve the Portuguese people, should theneed arise; and thinks the current situation in which the Portuguese Constitution prohibits any other form of governance but republican, an insult to Democracy, explaining that European monarchies do not have such limitations in their constitutions.

Basically, says the Portuguese “king-in-waiting”, a keen observation of existing modern monarchies demonstrates their benefits, as though kings are not elected, they actually contribute with considerable added-value to democracies, simply because they are more independent and freer than elected presidents. Presidents, Dom Duarte adds, “need political parties and considerable sums of money to be elected or re-elected and for this reason have difficulties in criticizing economic lobby powers, as by doing so, they may incurr into the risk of not being elected at all”.

Furthermore, the Duke of Braganza argues a misconception that in monarchies the biological hazard of a “bad” sovereign makes the case in favour of republican regimes. For Dom Duarte, whilst throughout the 20th century we can find many cases of incompetent, out of balance and mentally “derailed” presidents, there have been no such cases in monarchies, because whilst a president may be elected without being well known to voters, a future king is well known since birth.

As the Duke of Braganza puts it, “the future king is well known since birth and constitutionally, all mechanisms are in place - such as a State Council or Parliament - they can replace him/her with the next in-line of succession to the Throne”.

But kings do not perform executive functions. Governments do. Kings reign and depend on the Constitution, and ultimately their judgement. Dom Duarte believes the Portuguese people actually would prefer a sovereign as head of state. As elections demonstrate, all presidents of Portugal were re-elected, showing a popular preference for stable continuity, but this is “mission impossible” in a republican regime, because presidents are limited to a maximum of two mandates.

Far from being biased, Dom Duarte points out a strong point. Former president of the Portuguese Republic Antonio Eanes stated on a number of occasions that he tried to act like a neutral and independent monarch and there is an ever increasing number of republicans who begin to see the Portuguese Republic would be better served with a monarch as head of state. As far as the Duke is concerned, there is no conflict, but simply an option to be made in regards to what sort of head of state would be better for the Republic. After all, all monarchies in Europe are “republics” with kings or queens as heads of state, a theory that even Portuguese republicans seem to get along with.

The issue though, says the Duke of Braganza, is the prohibition within the Portuguese Constitution, which does not allow any form of government other than republican. The Portuguese Republic, says Dom Duarte, “came into being through a coup, and for this reason falls short in being democratic”. For the successor in the Crown of Portugal, there is no other way but to change the Constitution in order to allow a referendum.

But when confronted with whether he believes the Portuguese will opt for a monarchy, the Duke of Braganza is cautious: “It all depends on how the people is correctly and honestly informed and the honesty of the question being asked to the Portuguese. A biased question - as in the recent abortion referendum - may purposely lead to the desired answer”.

However, one thing is for certain. There is no bias in regards to Dom Duarte’s understanding of a modern constitutional monarch, when questioned to what the role entails. According to the Duke, “Kings do not interfere publicly, their interventions are private. They have a profound knowledge of problems and issues and assist in their resolution together with governments, oppositions and other social partners”.

Interview given to “Educação Magazine”, 2002.

G20 Summit Real Impact After American Elections

APPA NEWS, LONDON-UK 06/11/08-The G20 Summit, booked to take place in Washigton DC this 15th of November, virtually days after Obama’s landslide victory, is meant to gather the countries accountable for 90% of the world’s economy and two thirds of the world’s population.

Doubtless - and the main reason for calling a G20 Summit - the credit crunch and the financial crisis the followed prompted the Bush Administration to invite all 20 countries to Washington DC with a purpose; to discuss pressing issues.

According the the White House Press Secretary, Dana Perino, “We expect the leaders will discuss effects of the emerging economies and developing nations. The summit will also provide an important opportunity for leaders to strengthen the underpinnings of capitalism by discussing how they can enhance their commitment to open, competitive economies as well as trade and investment liberalization”.

But questions have been raised for some time, precisely because the summit is due to fall exactly 11 days after the United States presidential election and at the time of writing, it is not clear whether President elect Barack Obama will attend the summit or - as suggested by the French Government - the summit will be attended by Obama’s advisors.

Either way, i.e. with Obama’s attendance, only his advisors, both or neither, the simple fact the summit was called as an emmergency - as opposite to the usual 12 months preparation minimum - and is taking place during a transitional period in the White House, somewhat legitimates all sorts of questions as to how useful and timely this summit will be at tackling serious worldwide financial issues.

But if the few certainties about this summit are to be believed and indeed it is meant to discuss the strengthening of capitalism, global competitiveness and liberalisation, as well as tackling a global financial crisis, there are sufficient grounds to believe that the Bush Administration and President elect Barack Obama may be on a collision route in matters of economic policy, if we are to take into account Obama’s electoral campaign in its entirety, let alone an election very much focused on economical issues.

Doubtless, the White House has confirmed it will “seek input” from Barack Obama. However input seeking falls short given Bush’s evident “lame-duck” status at this stage, nor is it really appropriate to just “seek input” from a President elect who has just received a landslide mandate from the American People.

To sum it up, the G20 Summit may very well become unmissable. Whether that will be for all the good reasons or all the bad reasons, remains to be seen.

Obama’s Victory Proof of America’s Ability to Reinvent Itself

APPA NEWS, LONDON-UK -Barack Obama’s landslide victory today doubtless represents a turn in American politics, but this is no surprise, given George W. Bush’s all time low popularity record [less than 1 in every 4 Americans], the war in Iraq, the credit crunch and the American economy smashed to pieces, having fallen from a healthy surplus at the end of Clinton’s presidency to its present deficit, the largest in American history!

What is really remarkable is that for the first time a black man makes it to the White House. But is it remarkable because Obama is black? Hardly! What is truly worth noting is that this election marked a point of no return in American politics and History, a point where Americans did not care about skin colour or any other set of superficial criteria for that matter.

What truly made the American election absolutely remarkable, is that for the first time a man - who happens to be black Afro-American - was elected against all the odds, purely on his message to the Electorate, a profoundly honest and genuinely committed approach to the Public Cause of the American People and here we find the extraordinary difference that made the difference, a sharp contrast between political rhetoric and a new, truer and more genuine no-nonsense approach, addressing people’s minds and hearts, focusing on what truly matters. And the great Cause of Public Common Good is what really matters in politics.

Black, white or indeed any other colour did not make any difference in this election, even though Barack Obama’s election in itself will go down on History books because for the first time a black Afro-American was elected President of the United States.

But should we really focus on the elected?

Perhaps it is time to look elsewhere, the electorate, for this election is also a strong signal of change in the very fabric of American life. Multi-cultural as never before, multi-ethnic and multi-national, America has changed in itself and brought change within itself in this election, proving even to the most sceptical its ability to pull itself up from the ashes, re-invent itself and kick off to a new start. On the night of the greatest electoral victory in 50 years.

In the night of a huge Democrats’ victory, of a remarkable man’s victory and ultimately of the American People’s victory, it was John McCain who was able to sum it up in just three words: “Americans never quit!”.