The Keys of Happiness for New Year 2009 !

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(elpais.com) If you are a skeptic who does not believe in magic formulas for happiness, if the crisis leaves no money for gifts, but with time to devote to others if its goals for 2009 is to achieve a desired good material ... what follows might interest you. It turns out that the pursuit of happiness, well-being subjective sense of personal satisfaction, it is no longer a matter of gurus who give advice, but has entered fully into the sciences if not exact, but experimental. And some of their findings are surprising. Show, for example, that there is more happiness in altruism (welfare of others) that hedonism (egoist pleasure), and sleep more every day that bought a new car. We also know that each of us has a basal happiness dependent genes themselves but they marked a fire, you can manipulate ... provided that proper controls are discovered. What's nice is that those who seek happiness for the diseccionan ingredients are economists, sociologists and psychologists who publish their work in scientific journals with the greatest impact internationally. Yes, there is a scientific pursuit of happiness.

The results of surveys paint roughly the following picture. In rich countries are happier than the poor. Well. But beyond a minimum level of wealth, money and happiness are decoupled: while the purchasing power multiply the feeling of well being just varies. And pointed out the paradox in the seventies economist Richard Easterlin, and corroborated through the years. Abascal Fernandez put it well: "My children have all the game and are not happier than it was my father, who played with a string and a cardboard box on the street: they had less, but the levels of happiness were appear. WVS (World Values Survey) also show that the level of happiness remains more or less stable over the years, as well as differences between countries. In the Nordic countries and in Latin America declared happier than in Asia (Denmark, Colombia, Nigeria and Puerto Rico are usually in the lead). However, after recent data, in July, Ron Inglehart, the head of WVS, drew attention to the fact that since 1981, happiness seems to have increased in 45 of the 52 countries studied. Inglehart and others attribute it to the best quality of life in countries that are beginning to emerge from poverty and the spread of democracy, allegedly linked to more personal freedom. But in any case, the picture provided by the major surveys for many is too blurred, so we try to refine more detailed investigations with a smaller scale. Give some results on age and sex.

In general, there is agreement that young people are happier and retirees. A recent study by the French National Statistics Institute (INSEE) in 1975 after surveys showed that after a pothole on the forty years, the happiness back and reaches its peak during the sixty, "regardless of marital status or income level. And last July, U.S. researchers, including Easterlin analyzed decades of data before concluding that young women are happier state, but 48 years to turn things round and change are the ones who are more satisfied with their lives. In general, we agree that this work shows that happiness is correlated with "tangible benefits in many areas of life," writes Sonja Lyubomirsky, of Stanford University. Among them: more likely to be married than to divorce, more friends and more social support, more creativity and productivity in higher quality work and well paid, more active and vital energy, better mental and physical health, ability to self; and even more longevity. Moreover, "people happy is not selfish, and the literature suggests that they tend to be relatively more cooperative, charitable and focused on others," said Lyubomirsky Review of General Psychology.

But this is not enough to draw conclusions about the welfare formula vital to begin with because it is not possible to know if you're happier to be married, for example, or the reverse. That is, we need to dissect the most happiness and better in the laboratory. The researchers are doing, with curious results. They have sharpened their weapons, ie, have developed new methods to measure happiness, apart from the survey stated. Kahneman is the author of one of them. Several studies suggest that happiness that individuals declare when asked on how they feel overall is very influenced by irrelevant factors such as the formulation of questions or to just have a good or bad experience, a classic example: patients who undergo a test to pass it off saying less wrong if the last few minutes are pleasant, even at the cost of extending the review.

Thus, Kahneman asked subjects of the experiment to assign a degree of happiness to each of their daily actions, reliving, not only giving an overall value. With this method, conducted and published in Science in 2004 with almost one thousand women who reported how successful their efforts were: sex, going out with friends and relax before television appeared high on the list, while little sleep a very busy work schedule was very unpleasant. Again, family and friends reveal important but not the money (covered the basics). And this is not the only anti-intuitive result on happiness. There is more like that of cancer surgery patients may feel happier than healthy people, that victims of serious accidents declare high levels of happiness, or that, by contrast, people who have not won the lottery, soon after the shock, happier than ordinary mortals. The explanation might be in the genes.

Several studies in twins indicate that there is a kind of permanent staff level of happiness, who spent time around the world tends to come back no matter what happens, or almost. In 1996 a 4,000 pairs of twins suggested that the sense of well-being with one's life is genetic in at least 50%. And this year, British and Australian researchers have returned to obtain a similar result. Another anti-intuitive result: it generates more happiness spend money on others than in ourselves. He has shown work by Elizabeth W. Dunn (University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada) in Science last March, which gave money to volunteers, they were instructed on how to spend it and then measured their levels of satisfaction. This result coincides with the greatest happiness which correlates with actions to help others and to promote virtue. Altruism, the researchers conclude, puts on the track of happiness much more than the pursuit of pleasure. "Given that people seem to overlook the benefits, policies to promote it could be a good way to translate into more national wealth more national happiness," writes Dunn.

But then, if money is not the happiness and personal pleasure nor why today's society seems to focus on these factors? Is there a general blurring? The cause could be an illusory phenomenon that Kahneman described in Science and other publications in 2006. "When people consider the impact of a single factor in their welfare, such as income, but not only, is prone to exaggerate its importance, we call this trend illusion focus (...). This illusion can be a source of errors in making important decisions, "the expert wrote. This also helps to estimate the happiness of others. "Everyone was surprised at what can be happy that paraplegics," Kahneman said. "The reason is that there are paraplegics all the time. They enjoy their meals, their friends. Read the news. It has to do with where the focus is." All these experiments have one ultimate goal: to help improve the degree of personal happiness. It is not a utopia, say the researchers. Genes, after all, leave a space of 50% to autoexperimentación. You can start with this Christmas: ask for less and Kings, however, more generous ... It produces more sleep every day to buy a car The women say happier than men to 48 years Welfare depends on genetics, but the manipulation is possible Creativity, energy and activity and the vital importance of quality work "People are not happy selfish, tending to be more cooperative and charitable"

Altruism outweighs hedonism in getting satisfaction - equally well-being depends on the genes and our performance - a 40 hole, with the peak 60.

Merry Christmas 2008 !!! ...

b










It's Christmas every time a brother smile and hold out his hand.

It's Christmas every time you're in silence to listen to others.

It's Christmas every time you don't accept those principles that banish the oppressed on the margins of society.

It is Christmas every time you hope to those who despair at the physical and spiritual poverty.

It is Christmas every time you humbly acknowledge your limits and your weakness.

It is Christmas every time we allow the Lord to revive it to others.

Mother Teresa of Calcuta.

Tips for a Happy New Year 2009

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Carlos Slim's letter to its employees: internal communication in times of crisis. Carlos Slim is the richest man in the world. He owns a large number of companies and is in the big game of politics and global business. And since last week is circulating on the Internet that would have sent a letter to all its employees with a clear and, according to experts, very accurate description of the global crisis.

Dear colleagues: Like all insurance already heard, we took several weeks for a lot of global financial volatility. Will have heard of banks, insurers and stock exchanges that have gone bankrupt in the world. They see the exchange rate which is over 12 mexican pesos per dollar.

The purpose of this email is not alarm, but try to explain my view the causes of all this. They also explain what they perceive to be doing this at the global level to stop this crisis. Finally giving recommendations and comment on a personal level we are doing at the company. Try to do this it easier to understand but if someone did not understand some of the mail please ask and I can be the explanation.

I ask you to please read the entire document. All sections are very important. For the managers of branches: Please deliver a copy to the people who have no computer.

Background

The crisis in the U.S. beginning with mortgages. For many years the value of the properties was rising steadily. In these years of prosperity are relaxed the criteria for loans. The banks in order to provide more mortgages packaged together or with some financial instruments called for Mortgage Backed Bonds. They were sold in financial markets to other banks, pension funds, insurers and investors.

The problem was when property prices are no longer boarding and in some cases began to decline. As part of the relaxation of lending criteria they mentioned in the preceding paragraph without a hitch some banks lend to buy homes (providing 100% of property value) and in some cases provided to people who had no jobs. Lowering the value of the properties, many people realized that the bank had more money than their property was worth. Therefore stopped paying their mortgages.

The owners of these debts (the owners of the bonds that are mentioned above) went into panic and began to sell their bonds. This caused a stampede to sell these bonds. The famous Bonds are bought and sold like any product (tomatoes, houses, cars). Even when they have guaranteed mortgages, the law of supply and demand govern the value of these bonds. Having a lot more supply that demand values went to the floor. As a benchmark bonds which have a market value of $ 100, were sold to values of $ 35. What's illogical problem is that these bonds are as remember as collateral properties that have not disappeared and that 1) the properties have not had a drop in value of more than 20%, and 2) only 6-7% of the loans have failed to pay. That's why this mortgage crisis has no logic.

However, the owners of these bonds have an obligation to valuate the Bonds in his accounts to the value of what they are worth in the marketplace. By having bought $ 100 and have it valued at prices much lower, the difference is a loss that has to be reflected in the income statement. This has caused many companies such as banks, insurance companies, and so on. they had to report millions in losses and in some cases the banks that have not been able to get more capital have gone bankrupt for this reason.

The problem has grown so that I come to affect banks that did not have these bonds. As background is important to understand that daily between banks lend money to fund its loans and its daily operations (same thing happens in companies like ours). With uncertainty about the outcome of the crisis, banks are raising the cost of borrowing between them.

They are also putting trust between them and no longer provided. This has caused other financial institutions will be bankrupt, infected by the initial problem. But are the rest of the economy as it affect us? The banks by the uncertainty of 'what will happen?', Are leaving companies to give me people. This is happening globally. And if you give it, ask for more guarantees and / or climb up the cost of providing. The companies lower inventory levels, reduce costs and lower profits. This is causing companies to stop selling, have to reduce expenditures and to having to lay off people.

We are experiencing a crisis of confidence globally. As the saying goes' Fear not go on a donkey '. As in many cases when there is any kind of crisis the 'just in case' does emerge from the crisis proportions. This is basically what is happening. The fear of many investors are doing that this crisis will spread like a virus worldwide. Already contagion Europe and Asia. And this affects Mexico (all latin american too), and even if what our leaders refuse this were to beat us (eye deny not incompetent but because the worst thing they can do is to spread panic). How big is the impact?

Much depends on what you do the governments of countries biggest in the world and the speed with which they do and how fast it will impact at companies and individuals.

Governments worldwide are taking action to prevent the economies are slow and give assurance and security to all of us as individuals.

First is the security that we have in the savings banks are safe and that if the bank are gone bankrupt this money. Governments are giving this assurance to people guaranteeing deposits in banks, or in some countries by increasing the amount of deposit insurance. This is to prevent people like us go to the bank to get their money and save it under the mattress. This is a very important measure for the crisis does not spread to ordinary people.

The second thing we are doing is providing governments with financial companies (as between the banks no longer are providing or are too expensive) for these finance companies can turn to companies like ours to provide and the economy can continue in its normal movement. Finally in the U.S. government will allow you to buy the bonds famous for that with more demand for these bonds by the law of supply and demand, may be worth more attached to reality and not based on irrationality. Also for the Banks can sell these bonds to the government and with the money they receive in return be able to lend to companies like ours.

It is important to understand that by the size of the economy of Mexico, unfortunately we can not do much to reverse what is happening globally. As a country we are insignificant for the global problem. But the impact of what happens affects us. For more than a few politicians can blame the current government, is just political propaganda because the government is acting in the best possible way. To give you an idea of the differences in size, in the U.S. went into bankruptcy of the great bourse company Lehman Brothers. The broker-dealer was larger than the entire Mexican financial system together.

Governments are responding to that understand the magnitude of the problem. Its stock took to give results (that is like medicine to the sick, is not immediate reaction).

In the inter we have to prevent them as individuals and as a company. WHAT CAN WE DO?

As Director, I am worried both the continuity of the company as the tranquility of you and advise them and support them as much as possible so we can all do well in these events. It is possible that Mexico's economy will slow. This would impact us as a company and therefore a personal level. That's why some recommendations to embark on a personal level and then informs them that steps are we going to do at the company.

On a personal level

• Caring for your work. Not only implies having the right attitude to go to work every day but try to take care of continuity of the business. Be more efficient, not waste time on the Internet. Do their job in excellence.
• Lower level of personal expenses. It is important to review their personal expenses and seek tighten their belts. Be careful not to spend on things other than necessities.
• Save as much as possible. This becomes even more important because of the uncertainty that currently exists.
• Keep your money in the bank (Disclaimer: what leader or general manager could advise this in Argentina?). For more heed that banks are breaking in the world, it is very unlikely that this happens in Mexico. It is also important to understand that their savings in banks are insured by the federal government. Having their money under the mattress, with a buddy or some cash savings will not necessarily get this guarantee.
• Download as much as possible their debts, especially the debts that have an interest rate that is not fixed. I refer to credit cards and personal loans. Interest rates will rise. Among faster to pay for these loans better. NO pay only the minimum that shows the state of mind.
• Analyze the rate of interest they are paying for their debts. If you need support consult with Human Resources or directly to me.
• Understand the difference between using a credit card and debt with a credit card. The first case is one that uses your card and pays full each month. The second case is one that uses the credit given by the bank or department store. The former has no problem that there is no cost. The second pays interest.
• Credit cards and card shops are a great temptation. Do not take out new and some do it if they can cancel. In the future be able to draw again. By contrast, for mortgage loans (Infonavit, etc.). A fixed rate at this point it's best not to advance payments, but save money. NO time to stop paying their houses. It is their most important assets.
• DO NOT buy bids' Months without Interest. " I am very concerned about this form of marketing that many retailers use to sell more. As the person does not feel at the moment is inclined to make the purchase.
• Be careful with the loans to others. It's very common that someone close to request them borrowed money. If they do come to ask any guarantee (the bill from the car, etc.).. This person may be drowning and may be worn if you do not have much caution.
• Stay healthy. The diseases cost money. Get on a diet, lower weight, exercise, lower cigarettes, lower alcohol.
• Discuss this with your family. It is important that their partners and their children what they understand.

Conclusions

It is uncertain how long this global crisis. People with whom I have talked extensively commented that at least 6 months but can last up to 2 years. The important thing is to first understand that he and learn from the lesson. They also do not get carried away by people alarmist, from journalists to people nearby. That is why we invested time in this release. It is their right to be informed.

Again, the purpose of this email is not alarmed, is informing. Is not the end of the world but if the world is going to affect us. It builds on my long experience and discussion with experts in the field.

On the other hand we have to take action on a personal level and enterprise levels to ensure the continuity of our source of livelihood.
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( Comment form Oscar Granda )

In few words, we must care the money, increasing our income and decreasing ours expenses. Merry Chritmas and Happy New Year 2009 !!!

Air Compressed Car MDI - Energetic Revolution

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MDI (Motor Developement International) is a project initiated and directed by Guy NEGRE the CEO of the company, this mechanical engineer started his career with researches on engines’ efficiency. Among his numerous creations, we particularly remember a rotary distribution device for a R8 GORDINI which produced 152 HP at 11 000 rpm, his light aircraft engines (SACMA) and also the development of a 3.5 liters W 12 engine, for Formula 1 races in the 80s. Throughout his career Guy NEGRE, has designed nearly one hundred engines.

Having in mind the protection of the planet, Guy NEGRE has then concentrated his efforts towards the development of zero pollution engines and created MDI in 1991.The aims of this company are to promote and develop ecological energies; conceive and produce non-pollutant vehicles and systems. Its study office develops new technologies and innovative production methods. MDI is the owner of numerous patents pertaining to the improvement of its compressed air engines and their technical environment; these patents are protected in 127 countries.

The fruit of more than ten years of researches, MDI’s mono-energy engines operate on a totally eco-friendly basis using compressed air stored at high pressure.

These engines are used on vehicles designed for urban use, backup generators or industrial tractors. They are particularly tailored for applications where the torque has an importance and when an averagely moderate power is needed.

Together with the zero pollution engines, some other versions having the same technical basis have also been created by MDI, they are known as the dual-energy engines. In the case of dual-energy engines, an energetic adjuvant (petrol, diesel, oil, alcohol or gas) is burned in an external continuous combustion chamber. These dual-energy engines have more range and the amount of toxic gases released is very low.

Less than two Liters per hundred Kilometers (at 90 Km/h for MiniFlowAIR)
Zero NOx,
3 to 4000 times less unburned HC compared to conventional engines.
3 times less C02 emissions in comparison to classic engines.

These engines will be fitted on production generators. Regarding the vehicles that will be operated using these engines; there will be no pollution when used in towns as they would be operating on the ‘compressed air mode’ only. On the motorway these engines provide a good range thanks to the combustion of the liquid or gas adjuvant.

Finally based on this new technology, MDI has imagined and developed a « thermodynamic theory » which will give rise to further improvement in the years to come, thus creating a real energetic revolution.

All MDI engines have an active chamber and are protected worldwide by patents. They can be used for a wide range of applications, varying from 4 to 75 hp. Hybrid cars will be an alternative for users who need more autonomy, greater travel at 100 kms.

Fifty engineers and technicians work on the compressed air vehicles with the support of TATA Motors, the exclusive licensee for MDI’s technologies in India since 2007. The agreement provides that TATA will support the technologies final development and optimization for their use in India.

( Comment of Oscar Granda )

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The principle of this engine (zero pollution) is simple: to reverse the work of an air compressor machine. Instead of using the rotational energy -from an electric motor- to compress air, it uses compressed air to produce rotational energy in the engine. However, one big problem was the need to store air at high pressures that would be very dangerous potential accidents. Recently, MDI has developed technology more secure, they promise to achieve in the next years, a real energy revolution.

APEC 2008 - Economies to take Economic and Financial Measures to face World Crisis

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Lima, Nov. 23 (ANDINA).- The 21 member economies of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) agreed today to take economic and financial measures to solve the world financial crisis, as it is stated on the Declaration of Lima, issued today by APEC leaders. “We welcomed the monetary and fiscal stimulus provided by APEC member economies and will take all necessary economic and financial measures to resolve this crisis, taking the necessary actions to offer hope to those most in need”, indicates the Declaration. Yesterday, Japan offered to grant loans for up to 100 billion dollars to the emerging economies through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order that they can overcome the financial crisis that restricts the credit lines of the international banking. China also announced recently that it will grant a fiscal estimulus of 586 billion dollars to maintain its domestic demand, and therefore a growth of at least eight percent a year, percentage that according the World Bank will help to avoid that the commodities’ prices drop in the international market. Likewise, in previous days, Korea announced an extra package of expenditure of 9.3 billion dollars and tax benefits. The financial market strengthening of the region was emphasized as a measure to advance in the regional economic integration. "We emphasized the importance of strengthening financial markets in the region and welcomed the capacity building activities initiated by APEC Finance Ministers to reform capital markets", says the Declaration. According to the Declaration, the present world financial crisis is one of the most serious economic challenges that economies have ever faced, so they will act decisively to face the imminent global economic slowdown. Main paragraphs of this declaration are :

FINANCIAL CRISIS AND TRADE LIBERALIZATION. The current financial crisis is one of the most serious challenges we have faced ever. Act swiftly and decisively to deal with the impending global economic slowdown. We salute the fiscal and monetary stimulus provided by APEC economies and we will take all economic and financial measures necessary to resolve this crisis. Our determination to resolve the global economic situation which is deteriorating and support a rapid, ambitious and balanced conclusion of the negotiations of the Doha Development Agenda of the WTO (World Trade Organization) as outlined in a separate statement issued at the summit.

FREE TRADE AREA APEC. Last year we agreed an ambitious agenda in the long term to strengthen regional economic integration. We welcome the progress reported in 2008 by ministers and officials to achieve this goal. We support the work plan 2009 for the agenda of Regional Economic Integration (REI) to build on the achievements of this year at REI and accelerate efforts in all areas of this agenda. Our goal of free trade and investment and transparency will be achieved through a series of reform measures combined with unilateral liberalization bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. In this regard we welcome the progress made in reviewing the prospects and options for a possible free trade area in Asia-Pacific (FTAAP) as a long-term perspective. We note the council of ministers that although an FTAAP would probably be economically beneficial for the region, its creation also presents challenges. We instruct ministers and officials to take more steps in the consideration of perspectives and options for a possible FTAAP, including making a more analytical work on the economic impact of an FTAAP. In addition to instruct officials to take initiatives designed to promote greater convergence between the economies in key areas of the portfolio of APEC trade and investment, including areas such as customs administration, trade facilitation and border services.

FOOD SAFETY. We are deeply concerned about the impact that volatile prices of food combined with food shortages in some developing economies are having and our achievements in poverty reduction and the increase in real income in the past decade. The poor are particularly vulnerable to higher prices for groceries. We support a fully coordinated response and a comprehensive strategy to address this issue through the Comprehensive Framework for Action developed by the Task Force on Global Food Crisis UN. A rapid, ambitious and balanced conclusion of the negotiations of the Doha Round would bring about substantial improvements in market access and reduce distortions in global agricultural trade.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR). We agreed that because of rising expectations among consumers, investors and entrepreneurs on global sustainable and responsible business practices, volunteer activities that make up the RSC will remain an important aspect in the business of the 21st century. We encourage companies to incorporate CSR in their business strategies to address social concerns, labor and environmental issues. The development of CSR in the region depend on the different domestic economic, social and cultural rights. Agree to promote CSR practices in APEC economies on a voluntary basis to supplement public policies that promote sustainable development.

FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION. Corruption in the public and private sectors is a serious threat to social and economic development in the region. We recognize that when criminal entities operate illegally with corrupt officials from public and private sectors, the result is a culture of impunity and financial exploitation of the legitimate economy. We agree to strengthen our collective will to combat corruption and illegal transnational networks to promote good governance, supporting public-private partnerships, promoting market integrity and transparent financial systems. We recognize that the criminalization of corruption may facilitate greater regional cooperation.

HUMAN SECURITY. Pledge our full cooperation to ensure that the flow of people, goods and investments remain safe and open and that markets operate without interruption. We urge ministers and officials of APEC to continue to contribute to ensuring the economy, trade, investment and financial systems in the region against terrorist attacks or misuse of money laundering using the trade. We welcome the ongoing efforts of the international community to combat piracy and armed assault in marine waters. The frequency and intensity of natural disasters linked to the distortion of weather patterns in the region is increasing. We agreed that significant challenges in this area are growing in complexity and require increased international cooperation. It takes a greater risk reduction, disaster preparedness for emergencies and expansion of local capacities for disaster management. We support efforts to prepare the economy for the accelerated recovery of areas affected by disasters.

CLIMATE CHANGE, CLEAN ENERGY SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT. Successfully confront climate change will be crucial for new generations. Climate change must be addressed on a global basis, through international cooperation under the Framework Convention on Climate Change United Nations (UNFCCC) in 2009. Reducing poverty will probably be more difficult in developing economies more vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. We support an effective long-term cooperation beyond 2012 paa combat climate change under the UNFCCC, according to the principles of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Recognizing that climate change could impede the ability of economies to achieve sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty, we strongly support international cooperation and capacity building for mitigation and adaptation goals to be pursued in the same way. We also call for additional and coordinated efforts to better understand the vulnerabilities caused by the impact of climate change on our oceans and their resources to develop strategies for access to energy resources adequate, reliable, clean and that they can afford is vital to sustain economic prosperity in the region. We reaffirm our commitment to support the energy needs of regional economies by promoting open energy markets and free trade and investment in energy. These markets are crucial for the development of renewable energy and the spread of low-emission energy technologies.

INSTITUTIONAL REFORM. We pledge to strengthen the institutional process of APEC to ensure that it maintains its capacity to respond in a rapidly changing global environment. We welcome the progress in the appointment of an Executive Director of APEC Secretariat for a fixed period. We welcome the offer by Indonesia to host (the summit) APEC in 2013 and the invitation of the prime minister of Singapore to meet again in Singapore in 2009.

( Comment of Oscar Granda )

No doubt, recover the CONFIDENCE in the financial systems is the key to overcome this Global Economic Crisis. More dangerous that the financial Crisis generated in USA, is the panic transmited, the psychological shock and the fear to the people around the world. Presidents and Chairmans must recover the confidence in "the system" to their peoples and take the necessary steps, towards revive the global economy.

Crisis? What crisis? Dubai Hotel to throw US$ 20 mln Party

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DUBAI (AFP) Dubai is throwing a multi-million-dollar extravaganza on Thursday to launch a luxury hotel on an artificial palm-shaped island, despite the bite from the global financial crisis.
More than 2,000 world celebrities are due to attend the event which has been dubbed by the local press as "the party of the decade."

Talk show queen Oprah Winfrey, actors Robert De Niro and Denzel Washington, and former basketball great Michael Jordan are expected to walk the red carpet at the 1.5-billion-dollar "Atlantis, The Palm" hotel.

The evening will peak with a fireworks display that will be "seven times larger than this year's Olympic Games opening ceremony" in Beijing and will be "visible from space", according to the event organisers.

The event will cost a hefty 20 million dollars, said Sol Kerzner, the South African billionnaire, hotel and gambling tycoon, who is organising the bash.

"We built something that's quite extraordinary. We've got to tell the world about it," Kerzner told AFP about the lavish hotel which was built through a joint venture with giant local developer Nakheel.

Nakheel, which is controlled by the Dubai government, has built some of the most iconic projects that have put the Gulf emirate on the world map, including a cluster of islands making the shape of the world.

Located at the trunk-top of the Palm Jumeirah, one of three palm-shaped islands, Atlantis occupies the entire central part of a huge breakwater.
The 1,539-room hotel is made up of two pale rose towers, which are linked by a bridge which houses a 35,000-dollar-a-night suite.

Management says there is a waiting list of guests for the suite.
The Dubai hotel is inspired by the original Atlantis that Kerzner built in the Bahamas but is not
an average 5-star hotel.

It boasts the largest waterpark in the Middle East and a gigantic aquarium in which 65,000 fish, along with an enormous whale shark, swim in 11 million litres of water.

The project was conceived at a time before the global economic crisis began biting the Gulf emirate.

But Kerzner says he is optimistic about the future, adding that he designed the hotel "for the medium to longer term."

The hotel opened unofficially on September 24 and has had an occupancy rate of 80 percent, Kerzner said. "We don't know how long it's going to take for the economy around the world to take off again," he added.

The financial meltdown has affected Dubai and other Gulf emirates.
The local stock market has crashed, losing two thirds of its value since the beginning of the year, and Dubai's real estate sector, a major driving force of domestic economy, has begun to stutter.

Even Nakheel, Kerzner's partner in the Atlantis, announced on Monday that it would scale down its activities.

The bulk of Dubai's tourists come from European countries, mainly Britain, which also have been hard hit by the crisis, and this could have a direct impact on Atlantis.
Kerzner, 73, acquired his fame and fortune in the 1970s and 1980s by building hotels and casinos in South Africa, including the prestigious resort Sun City.

He appears to share with Dubai the same taste for challenges and larger-than-life projects, which might explain the partnership between this Jewish businessman and the Arab sheikhs who rule this Gulf emirate.

(Comment of Oscar Granda)

More dangerous that the financial Crisis generated in USA, is the panic transmited, the psychological shock and the fear to the people around the world. Presidents and Chairmans must recover the confidence in "the system" to their peoples and take the necessary steps, towards reviving their economies and thus revive the global economy.

USA, Crisis at Sight. The Begining of The End ?

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"The United States will lose its Worldwide Dominance in the coming Years" Theotonio dos Santos. He warned that the worst for the capitalist economy is to come. Interview Alfredo Vanini

Teacher-Dos Santos, the U.S. financial crisis is an internal crisis of the capitalist system that has collapsed estrepitosamente. It was revised again in Europe and the U.S. thesis of Keynes, of Schumpeter, including Rosa Luxemburg. Is it the end of Adam Smith and the return of other great economists?

-I can answer from my own vision of economic theory. I have worked hard in recent years within the perspective of the long waves of Russian economist Nikolai Kondratiev and his idea of periods of fifty, sixty years, during which the first 25 are ascent and descent of the other 25. This idea was first worked by Kondratiev in 1922 when he worked in the direction of the Institute of Statistical Studies of the Soviet Union. He discovered this phenomenon and sought an explanation in terms of technological and financial. The relationship technology and finance are the two key elements he found associated with these cycles. There is a whole stream of Schumpeterian working on these considerations.

Schumpeter absorbed very well the studies of Kondratiev and disclosed in a book entitled The major economic cycles long. There he joined other even shorter cycles: four, ten years as the mode of operation of capitalism. Within this vision, in the twentieth century are a period of decline that starts from the years 1914-1918, and was until 1945. After the second world war occurs again a period of promotion. Then begins the so-called "golden period" of capitalism that goes until 1967. There he starts again a negative wave with a big fall of capitalist growth.

Crisis-which has its peak in 1973. But after that time, the United States does not recomposed its economy? -Look, the decline of U.S. starts very slowly in 1967. Definitely the Vietnam War has much to do because it ends with the extremely favorable position that took the U.S. after the war in Europe. In 1950 the U.S. had 50% of the global economy, while today they are reduced to 16% or so.

-The war seems to play an important role in the consolidation of global hegemony. -The cyclical movements are associated with power centers. First we had the hegemony Portuguese and Spanish (ages 17 and 18), then the Dutch and the British and finally the United States that took the lead during the First World War and consolidates its hegemony after the Second. These centers are open-hegemonic historical between 150 and 200 years. But the cycle of American hegemony, and here we agree it all, it will be a shorter cycle.

- What exactly happens in 1967 with the U.S. economy? In 1967, establishing basic situations of destabilization: one to maintain the imperial system (and war is a key element) is inevitable that there will be a fiscal deficit. But while there is also a trade deficit because the U.S. fails to establish itself as a predominantly exporting country. In 1969 he moves from country to the importer and exporter of creditor to debtor country, mainly because of the fiscal deficit. All this affects the third key element is that the dollar coin that restructured the world economy after the Bretton Woods agreements: the dollar today no longer has the conditions to remain as a global reference currency because the dollar before a guaranteed convertibility with gold . Since 1971 the U.S. abandon finally this equivalence and we enter a phase called "snake" in which the currencies move without a definite direction.

- With Clinton there was a slight recovery in the U.S. financial system? Between 1993-94, starting a process of recovery. What happened is that the Clinton administration resumed economic growth to moderate rates and basically on a very important technological base. Clinton left a fiscal surplus of roughly $ 300 billion, for education and health sector. But George Bush, after his first year, already had a deficit of more than 100 billion. And today the deficit is huge, especially with the Iraq war, which involves very high costs.

-Head to the crisis and the notion of economic periods, what is its year of origin? -We started in 1987 with the fall of the dollar by 40%. Then recovers when European and Japanese banks bought dollars with the intention to raise it again and reduce the impact so violent this fall. But at the beginning of 1990 the interest rate reached 18% drops to 4%. With Clinton recovering productive investment. During this period Japan goes into crisis. Therefore, the economy begins to generate more local crises: Mexico (1992), Brazil (1994), Asia (1997), Russia (1998), Brazil again (1999) and Argentina (2000). All these crises, in such a short period, occurring within this huge bubble. When everything starts to recover, occurs the U.S. crisis exploded in 2001. It gets the same system of artificial prices and speculation of large false speculation.

- What is today the scene of the U.S. crisis? Do you may get out of it? Today is looking for liquidity that do not have, since all countries are debtors. The U.S. will then continue borrowing to deliver resources to their banks by helping them to survive. We are going to have a solution to the crisis, but with three significant costs: the growth rates are no longer able to be as high as in previous periods because all the funding is already committed to the financial sector. Second, the financial sector will remain very large and significant and that should hold it is the state, but this support, as is seeing now, it will be very dramatic. And thirdly, the dollar fell as coin because they can not stand. And will continue to fall. USA Today is a country with a huge crisis that continues to heavily indebted. All this should be completed in about seven years, with a truly dramatic crisis that will drag the entire global system.

-The idea of James Tobin for a tax on speculative capital flows was interesting but never materialized. Do you have been adopted in 1972, the year he proposed, would have avoided this current crisis? Not-so as to avoid the crisis, but it would have been able to do much to reduce the impact of poverty, which is the most terrifying face of this global system that generates such huge resources in the hands of a small group of the financial sector to prevent these resources intended to serve more than 50% of the world's population living in poverty. You have said publicly a few days ago that this crisis is a good opportunity for the countries of the so-called Third World.

-It 's that can be strengthened, either by their raw materials (whose prices will fall, but not both), either by their large financial reserves. Certain countries are able to accumulate resources. And the Chinese who are emerging as leaders of this trend, and begin to require restructuring the global financial system, as it did not want to commit to the present. This fight is going to go little by little become more significant over the next seven, eight years. And when the next crisis occurs, it is very likely that American hegemony suffer a catastrophically. Hardly the U.S. will be able to maintain itself as the hegemonic country. The centers will move towards hegemonic China, Brazil, Russia and India. It is expected that these four are seriously the most important countries in twenty years.

- What has happened in Argentina with the AFPs? Neo-liberals say that this is a theft of state in bankruptcy. - Where did you get the idea that Argentina is bankrupt? Argentina is now in very good situation. Just over $ 40 billion in reserves. It is clearly an intervention to protect the money of the people. The AFPs are on the verge of bankruptcy. What some called for him to the Argentine government is that it helps, but that does not take responsibility. Which is absurd, precisely what is happening in the U.S., delivering resources to the banks when the state has no money. That is to say that this money will come from U.S. citizens who pay the mistakes of the real culprits of the crisis. Argentina has acted in accordance with an idea that Europe is something in common, namely that in crisis, the state intervenes and takes responsibility. Pretend that it does not, is the real theft, burglary private: the State steals money from people to give to some incompetent. The of los spoilsport

- "The Capital" of Marx is again selling like hotcakes today. But, given its enormous complexity, it is likely that few understand what Why Marxist economists, less dense, it should be read today so vital? There are several. One is French Francois Chesnais, useful for understanding how the financial system. Another is François Morin, also French, which goes along the lines of Chesnais. A great Marxist economist who has investigated the role of the Third World as an active player in the financial world is the Egyptian economist Samir Amin. Although not an economist, should be taken to Immanuel Wallerstein.

Would also recommend reading "Adam Smith in Beijing", Giovanni Arreghi important book in which he discusses the Chinese economy and recalls that it wanted Smith as the model in the 18th century. And there is no doubt that reading to what I consider the most discussed contemporary economist, Frank André Gunther, sadly passed away recently, who wrote a critical book entitled "Re-Orient."

( Comments of Oscar Granda)

Through the history of humans, we have seen many empires. All come to a stage of peak, but no matter the political model to adopt, also come to their stage of decay. Perhaps we are witnessing today, the beginning of the end of the North-American empire, USA. Only the time will tell ... Maybe, the important thing is that the political model adopted, prioritizes the welfare of human beings, building a world with opportunities for all.

Sex in the Morning is Better

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From Cadena Global. A study reveals that making love in the morning about three times a week strengthens defenses, raises morale and improves the functioning of the body.

Riiiing! It sounds the alarm. Most couples, sleepy get up, get into the shower, a quick breakfast and go running to work. Most do not know if it lifted a little earlier and take a good dust, although it is quick, his health improved so substantially.

Or at least that is what I said a study conducted in London by Queen's University Belfast and published in the magazine New Scientist: good morning sex, practiced at least three times a week, improves the functioning of various bodies and significantly increases the quality of life.

Advertising The study also reveals that making love in the mornings to antibodies multiplies and strengthens give immune protection to the human body and help in its fight against the microorganisms that attack, as well as improve circulation and reduce blood pressure and therefore The risk of heart attack.

Copulation healing Among other things, the study underlines the fact that practice of good morning sex is an exercise that burns about 3,000 calories per hour and thus lowers the risk of diabetes, in addition to strengthening bones and muscles and relieve ailments such as arthritis or migraine.

In addition to healthy, those who do love to start the day will be more handsome, as the orgasm increases estrogen levels and hormones directly related to the brightness and smoothness of the skin and hair health.

As for the benefits to the male gender in particular, the study claims that the London men produce more testosterone if they have sex morning, which strengthens bones and prevents osteoporosis.

Without a condom less depression ... As for females, a study by the State University of New York conducted among 300 students, found that those who make love in the morning (without condoms) to improve significantly their morale and are less prone to fall into a depression.

This shows once again the power of anxiolytic semen. Another recent study, conducted by the Yale School of Medicine, also strongly sex morning, ensuring that protects women against endometriosis (emergence and growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus).

So, nothing against depression, illness and bad roll, or Prozac, no vitamins, no bagpipes, a good morning session of sex three times a week and life will return to smile.
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( Comment of Oscar Granda )
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Maybe true or false ??? ... it will be better, you check. Try it !

"LIVE" 36 YEARS LATER

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The 16 survivors of the Uruguayan air crash in the Andes met, 36 years later, to tell its history, which has been reported in a shocking book By Moises Avila Roldan.

The special envoy by EL Comercio "Nobody piloted?" Gustavo Zerbino was walking restless by the plane. He was uneasy and breathable. That's why he joined, and walked towards the cockpit. He found talking to the pilots, and taking mirándose mate. Given his concerns, they replied that they did not have to worry about, then traveled on a ship last generation, with an "automatic pilot who walks almost alone." Did little to the Fairchild 517 of the Uruguayan Air Force had taken off from the airport Plumerillo, in Mendoza, Argentina, where he arrived from Montevideo, in technical stopover, to continue its course towards Santiago de Chile.

The ship was carrying 45 people, including crew and passengers, most of them members of the selection of amateur rugby in the Stella Maris College Old Christians. Minutes before taking off from Mendoza, Gustavo had been approached to chat with the wife of Dr. Francisco Nicola, a doctor of choice, to say that had the feeling that the airplane was going to fall. His intention was to receive a sentence of mind. Far from doing so, Esther assured him that he thought the same thing. While not commented on with anyone else, were not the only ones with that feeling. Liliana, wife of Javier Methol, a couple of friends of the players, also had told his wife that he was afraid. He was upset with her.

It was 1:20 in the afternoon and the plane started to cross the Andes Mountains. Ran 1972. Friday October 13 1972. THE ACCIDENT "Gentlemen, aprontémonos, because we are going to dance for a while." Fairchild's pilots detected a front storm while crossing the ridge, preferring to alert its passengers to avoid the inconvenience. But on the plane everything was a joke. For many of the passengers was his first outing of Uruguay, and were overwhelmed by the euphoria. "Ole, ole," were the cries of the boys after the first shocks to the plane. "Please Atens belts can be distributed so that no dead bodies," said one of them, generating the collective hilarity. But the second cut remezón them the joy of coup. Two of the crew of the ship running from side to side with the navigation chart in their hands.

The beautiful spectacle of the snowy mountains seen from the windows was about to become a horror film. One of 71 interminable days. Out of control, the Fairchild hit with the peaks of mountains, broke and fell between the rocks and ice. Then, everything was in the most absolute silence.

The meeting 36 years have passed since the tragedy happened in the Andes, one of the most remembered in the history of aviation. And this is the first time someone succeeds in bringing the 16 people who survived the accident, so they have not said anything that in due course. While many details are known through the book and movie "Live", this was put together with the testimony of a few.

In this case, the journalist Paul Vierci, former companion of school for most survivors, convinced everyone. "Why after all this time, because they feel the need to give back to society what it gave them a second chance to live. This is the denouement, the end point to this story," he explains. All stories, one by one, are in "The Society of The Snow", a book that Vierci introduced recently in Montevideo, accompanied by all his players. Part of these testimonies were in the documentary "I come from a plane that fell in the mountains" of Gonzalo Arijón.

JUMP TO AN EMPTY. Eating with the bodies of the deceased was, according to testimony, as a leap into the void that everyone decided to give. Some with more conviction, and others because they had no other choice. "They gave us their muscles to keep walking, and that's what we had assumed everyone," explained Gustavo Zerbino. Some of the 'rugbistas' say it was something similar to a communion. The delivery of the body and blood of his friends to give them life. They also were offered as food if they played to die. It was his way of contributing to the rest lived. Some of the bodies had to be eaten completely, taking advantage of all the organs and the vitamins they contain, to stand. Even the calcium from the bones. There was a time when one of the survivors came to feel hungry to see the wounds of one of their comrades.

THE FINAL ISSUE Fernando Parrado and Roberto Canessa were both members of the "society" which had to venture out and go for help. Armed with meat wrapped in eight middle, along with Tintin Vizintín left, walking toward the west, with the compass that had been extracted from the cockpit of the plane. Vizintín had to return to the fuselage, leaving its supplies to the two who were continuing. After walking for ten days, avoiding mountains of more than 4 thousand meters in height, were found with the mule Chilean Sergio Catalan. The mule and the climbers were separated by the bed of a river. It was night and told them that the Chilean again the next day, to see what they needed. At dawn, Catalan arrived with a sheet of paper. The wrapped in a rock and tied it in a pencil, to write Canessa and Parrado. "I come from a plane that fell in the mountains. I am Uruguayan. Ten days ago we're walking. I have a friend shot up. On board were 14 people injured. We have to get out of here fast and we do not know how. We have no food. We are weak. When we are going to look up? Please, we can not walk, where are we? "Was the text that came back into the hands of the mule.

Catalan them made a sign with his finger and left winging toward the top of the Carabineros, who remained as a half day on horseback. Then, who would own Parrado, aboard a helicopter, guided the Chilean pilots to the exact place where their friends. To see them, nor the hardest soldier could contain the tears. It was like witnessing a resurrection.

THE DRAMA OF FAMILIES Many families are not stopped searching for their children. One of them was the father of Carlitos Paez, Don Carlos Paez Vilaró, who received notice that he had survived the crash just as he was about to embark on Santiago back to Montevideo, in a search of his travels. Neither stopped to do the father of Roberto Canessa, least of all mothers. A day before his departure, the mother of Daniel Fernandez had prepared a dessert that her son liked him so much, strawberry tart. "Save it to me in the freezer as that on Monday when they return," he said.

Two and a half months later, on Dec. 24, when he returned, rescued from the mountains, his mother took out the cake of the 'freezer', intact, because it had not allowed anyone to play, and reminded him that he had dessert served in the table. The second death The survivors had a radio with batteries listening to the morning, especially when the newscast. It was through her that, on the tenth day of the accident, they learned that they are no longer wanted. Parrado and Canessa when they went to seek help, they heard these names on the news, along with the word survivor, but the signal was lost, and they did not know whether they had emerged alive or dead. So which came a clear signal to the Ave Maria by Schubert. For them, was enough to know that they were saved.

( Comment from Oscar Granda)

A great history of this air crash in the Andes, where the behavior of human being was probed in all your senses. They survived because they never left die. They LIVE !

Barack Obama - Yes We Can !

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"I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington ... I'm asking you to believe in yours."

On November 4, 2008, Obama was elected the next President of United States of America ( Text of Full Speech from CNN).

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

Its the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.

Its the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.

Its the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

Its been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.

I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and hes fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nations promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on that train home to Delaware, the Vice President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nations next First Lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy thats coming with us to the White House. And while shes no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe, my chief strategist David Axelrod, and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics - you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what youve sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to - it belongs to you. I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didnt start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington - it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.

It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give five dollars and ten dollars and twenty dollars to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generations apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered, and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this Earth. This is your victory.

I know you didnt do this just to win an election and I know you didnt do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime - two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how theyll make the mortgage, or pay their doctors bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America - I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you - we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who wont agree with every decision or policy I make as President, and we know that government cant solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way its been done in America for two-hundred and twenty-one years - block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began twenty-one months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek - it is only the chance for us to make that change.

And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, its that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers - in this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House - a party founded on the values of self-reliance, individual liberty, and national unity. Those are values we all share, and while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, We are not enemies, but friends and though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world - our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security - we support you. And to all those who have wondered if Americas beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.

For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one thats on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. Shes a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing - Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldnt vote for two reasons - because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that shes seen throughout her century in America - the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we cant, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when womens voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs and a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.
When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that We Shall Overcome. Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change. Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves - if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time - to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth - that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we cant, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can.

Thank you, God bless you, and may God Bless the United States of America.

(Comment of Oscar Granda)

The message's Obama was able to convince many afro-americans, hispanics, but especially to the bulk of the U.S. citizens and thus was able to achieve win the Republican candidate with great slack. Finnally, Obama was elected and he will be the new president of USA since january 2009. He is a great leader and has generated great sympathy in the world. We wish the best success in its management for the good of U.S. population but for the entire region too.

China & India Change the World - APEC

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By Andres Oppenheimer. The agreement sealed the last week between China and India to dramatically increase its economic relations will have a major impact on Latin America, and will not be something quite positive for the region.

Earlier this week, leaders of the two powers of the world's fastest-growing emerging met in Beijing to end decades of tension and increase their bilateral trade ties.

The prime minister of India, Manmohan Singh, and the prime minister of China, Wen Jiabao, announced that by 2010 bilateral trade reached U.S. $ 60.000 billion - far more than the U.S. $ 40,000 million that were expected - and that the two countries begin talks on a preferential trade agreement.

While international summits often produce big promises and then not met, there is reason to take very seriously the commitments between China and India. Since China and India signed a 'strategic partnership' in 2005, bilateral trade has soared. Although the two countries were committed that year to reach a bilateral trade of U.S. $ 20.000 billion in 2008, that figure reached as early as 2006.

"The figures exceeded the forecasts when it comes to the India-China trade," said an editorial in the newspaper "The Times of India" on Wednesday. "It is possible that China will soon become the largest trading partner of India." The growing trade ties between China and India, as well as the free trade agreement signed in 2005 between China and the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), likely to change the map of world trade. And have a great impact in many Latin American countries that are increasingly dependent on their exports to China.

The good news is that increased trade between China and India produce more economic growth in Asia, which will require increasing amount of oil, copper, iron ore, soybeans and other Latin American raw materials. That would help countries like Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and Venezuela, which are the main exporters of raw materials to China in the region. In the past 5 years, Chinese purchases of commodities made in Latin America grow the region's economy to an average of 5% per annum. That has contributed to who is going through its best growth cycle in the past 40 years, according to the UN.

In addition, a growth of the Asian economy will create an even bigger market for all types of Latin American exports, say Asian diplomats. "Bringing India and China and increasing their trade will make both countries more prosperous, and open up more opportunities for Latin America," he said in a telephone interview the ambassador of India in Argentina, R. Viswanathan. "What America needs is growing markets, especially at a time when the U.S. economy is slowing. The situation is very advantageous to the region."

But many economists warn that China and India have complementary economies. China is stronger in manufacturing, while India is in information technology, and that their preferential trade agreements will make it more difficult for Latin American countries to export manufactured goods or technology to the two Asian giants. "The growth of trade between China and India will make it harder to move toward Latin America exports more sophisticated, higher value-added," I said Antoni Estevadeordal, one of the leading economists of the Inter-American Development Bank Washington, DC .

My opinion: I hope I am wrong, but I fear that the growing Asian economic integration will hinder the further export of industrial products in Latin America to Asia, and that will increase the dependence of many Latin American countries for their exports of raw materials, which in many cases produce less jobs and profits that the finished products.

The world is divided into three trading blocs, particularly with regard to exports of heavy products, whose transport is expensive: the bloc of the United States, Canada, Mexico and its neighbors, the European Community, and Asia. And the new agreements between China and India seem to indicate that this division will increase more and more.

(Comment from Oscar Granda)

It is clear that in these times we are witnessing a reordering of global geo-economic. At the gates of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) this month of November 2008 in Peru, Latin American countries must refine our strategies to cope with the strong financial crisis and attract investment to achieve that provides our growth and sustained development.

The Space Tourism Taking off

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(elpais.com) Virgin Galactic presents the mothership 'White Knight Two,' which will launch the first test flights in late 2008. More than 250 people have already booked their passage across the world suborbital.

The multimillionaire Richard Brandson and his company Virgin Galactic have presented Monday to the world the gigantic mother ship White Knight Two, which will be the rocket that will transport the Space Ship Two with the first space tourists from 2009.

More than 250 people from 30 countries have already booked all over the world his suborbital flight with Virgin Galactic, at a price of $ 200,000 per passenger (about 127,000 euros). In Europe, Spain is a leader in number of reservations, with a total of 12 passengers, among them Ana Bru, the first Spanish woman to travel into space. With the appearance of a large catamaran for the sky, with a wing of 42 meters long, the ship emerged from the hangar where he designed and built for four years in the Mojave Desert in California.

Its mission is to lead off and the Space Ship Two up to 15 km in height. Then, the rocket was undocked and lets you enjoy a few minutes in space. The Space Ship Two, which can carry six space tourists and two pilots, will be completed in the coming months and is expected to begin in 2009 will be the first test flights and travel with the first space tourists. The initial frequency is a way out of the week, although it is expected gradually to reach the two daily trips.

Despite the fact that their sub-orbital flights off on a principle from the Mojave airport space, Virgin Galactic is planning to build a new one in the State of New Mexico, designed by British architect Norman Foster, who became his base of operations from 2010. The company is not ruling out a future in building new airports in other countries such as Sweden, northern Scotland and Spain.

The president of Virgin Galactic, Will Whitehorn said it is in contact with Spanish authorities and local authorities to study a project in a "secret place" near Barcelona, which would be operational within three to four years.

(Comment from Oscar Granda)

Space tourism; own so many futuristic novels, will be a reality soon, thanks to the tenacious English multimillionaire venture of Richard Brandson. This accomplishment highlights the importance not only of the relevant technological advances but also of the strength that human beings should have to realize larger projects. With this conquest man undoubtedly consolidate its presence in the universe.

Two Earth Planets for the Humanity at 2030

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PARIS (AFP) — At its current pace, humanity, to meet their needs in the early 2030, will need to have at its disposal two planets, says the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The ecological footprint of humanity, which assesses its consumption of natural resources, has already exceeded 30% of the planet's capacity to regenerate, says the WWF's Living Planet Report 2008.

The pressure of humanity on the planet has doubled in the past 45 years for two reasons, by population growth and the increase of individual consumption, says the report.

This is over-depleting ecosystems and waste accumulate in the air, land and water, said. As a result, deforestation, water shortages, the decline of biodiversity and climate chaos, caused by the emission of greenhouse gases, "placed increasingly at risk the welfare and development of all nations," explains WWF.

The "Living Planet Index", a calibrated instrument to measure the evolution of global biodiversity, and that includes 1686 species of vertebrates in all regions of the world, has decreased almost 30% over the past 35 years, states the report.

In view of the decline of this index, "it appears increasingly unlikely that we will reach the goal, however modest, pointing to the Rio Convention on Biodiversity: to reduce the erosion of global biodiversity by 2010", the inference WWF.

In addition to the global ecological footprint and the Living Planet Index, the report presents a third measuring instrument, "the footprint of water", which assesses the resulting pressure of consumerism on the water resources at national, regional and global levels.

The problem is that water is distributed unevenly across the world. Thus, some 50 countries are currently facing a moderate or severe water stress, stresses the WWF. And the number of people suffering from shortages of water, either all year or seasonally, will increase due to climate change, he adds.

(Comment from Oscar Granda)

Urgent measures must be adopted around the world, between others ... more birth control, more resource-saving, more efficient, more education ... less pollution, less waste, less pets (seriously), less inequality ... to achieve a sustainable planet.

Hybrid Cars or Electric Cars ???

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(Wikipedia) A hybrid electric vehicle is an alternative fuel vehicle driven by electricity from batteries and, alternatively, an internal combustion engine that drives a generator.

Normally, the engine can also drive the wheels in directly. In designing a hybrid car, the engine heat is the energy source that is used as a last option, and provides an electronic system for determining which engine to use and when to do it.

In the case of gasoline-electric hybrids, when the internal combustion engine works, what does with its optimum efficiency. If it generates more energy than necessary, the electric motor is used as a generator and charging the batteries of the system.

In other situations, it works only the electric motor, feeding on the energy stored in the battery. In some it is possible to recover the kinetic energy under braking, which is usually dissipated as heat in the brakes, turning it into electricity. This kind of brakes are often called "regenerative".

The combination of a combustion engine always operates at peak efficiency, and energy recovery braking (especially useful in the city), makes these vehicles achieve better returns that conventional vehicles. All electric cars use batteries charged by an external source, which causes problems for them autonomy of operation without recharging. This complaint is avoided with hybrid cars.

The great problem existing in which the electric motor to replace the heat on the vehicle is the ability of accumulating power, which is very low compared to the ability of accumulation of energy in the form of fuel. Approximately 1 kg of batteries can store the energy equivalent of 18 grams of fuel, although this calculation does not take into account the limited energy of that energy in a combustion engine, compared with an electric motor. Even so this represents a major technological barrier to an electric motor.

However, the energy storage capabilities in a mobile vehicle forcing designers to use a complicated multi-channel energy, and hybrid, to replace a simple and cheap energy chain classic tank-engine-wheels. Electricity, energy and currency exchange, facilitating the use of many different technologies, as the electric motor consumes electricity, regardless of the source used to generate it.

While the surcharge for a hybrid vehicle is repayable over the life of a car, the consumer rarely chooses to make a strong initial investment in a vehicle of this type. In contrast, in a medium-term future, in which the price of oil will shoot for its scarcity and the only way to fill this gap is increasing efficiency and using biofuels (higher cost of production that oil at present) The hybrid vehicle will pass just to be a luxury for wealthy, and environmentalists are convinced, the only viable road transport.

Thanks to the use of hybrid technology achieves reductions in consumption up to 80% and 40% in city road, in comparison between hybrid and conventional vehicles of similar benefits. Pollutant emissions will have a parallel.

(Comment from Oscar Granda)

For economic and ecological reasons, the capacity of the batteries are still a limiting factor for the autonomy of electric cars that require points of reload for certain distances according to your requirement and use. Given that reality, hybrid cars are currently the best option, since it achieved great levels of efficiency and autonomy, providing greater opportunities, to conveniently combine the technology of electric car technology with the car to fossil fuels.

Renewables Energies, a Great Business

BERLÍN (AFP) — Massive investment in renewables energies could calm the emergence of an industry with an annual turnover of 360,000 million dollars, according to a study presented by the environmental organization Greenpeace on Monday in Berlin. The industry of renewable energy would supply half the world's electricity and saving for the future 18 trillion (a trillion is a million billion) dollars in oil costs, in addition to protecting the climate, according to the report that outlines a action plan to reduce CO2 emissions. The investment in climate protection is economically profitable, says Greenpeace when, in full financial crisis, rising voices against plans to combat global warming. "The global market for renewable energy may increase so that by 2050 would be the size of the fossil industry today," said Oliver Schaefer, a director of the European Renewable Energy (EREC), coauthor of the project along with Greenpeace International. "Currently, the market for renewable energy has a value of 70,000 million dollars and doubles in size every three years," he added. "Because of the economies of scale, renewable energies such as wind, are already in a position to compete with conventional energy," said Schaefer, who says that there are no technical barriers to this development, but political.

(Comment from Oscar Granda)

The energy alternatives are no longer a utopian illusion, to become an urgent reality. At a time when the effects of global warming are already felt strongly in all parts of the world, renewable energy thanks to God are a reality due to their economic feasibility, off the energy derived from fossil. In the industrialized world are considered a big business in the long run, definitely a big business and a great hope for our planet altered.

ECOPOLIS: Alternatives for Sustainable Cities in the Future

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(From Analitica.com) Since the first week of October, the channel Discovery Channel deliver its latest production on environmental issues.

This is Ecopolis, an avant-garde series of six episodes that revolves around a virtual city of the same name: a mega-metropolis of 2050 in which 18 million people live under an environment totally polluted. Each week, the program leads viewers to different parts of the globe to study amazing technologies that seek to reduce carbon emissions in this city, fighting as a result of climate change.

Focusing on different topics such as construction, transport, waste and energy, Ecopolis will be issued every Wednesday at 11:00 pm, until the day Nov. 12. The following is a brief description of the episodes that make up this series:

Episode 1 Premiere: Oct. 8 at 11:00 pm. The scientist won a Nobel Prize, Dan Kammer, explore four technologies that aim to transform pioneering Ecopolis, the imaginary city of the future. More specifically, this episode explores how to provide water and food to 18 million hungry mouths of the city without filling trash the planet. Episode 2 Release: October 15 at 11:00 pm. This episode examines how best to adapt means of transport to the rapid population growth, without the need to strangle the city. Episode 3 Release: October 22 at 11:00 pm. The time has come to find out how we can prevent a sea of garbage in continuous expansion is able to immerse Ecopolis, without generating pollution emissions and out of control. Episode 4 Release: October 29 at 11:00 pm. The scientist Dan Kamman tested five leading technologies of the series with the aim of discovering which of them has the greatest potential to transform Ecopolis, the mega-city's imaginary future. Episode 5 Premiere: Nov. 5 at 11:00 pm. The main objective of this program is to explain how to fill power to a city of 18 million people without causing harm to the environment. Episode 6 Release: November 12 at 11:00 pm. In this episode we focus on the potential to revolutionize our buildings, to prevent them from becoming a bottomless pit of energy lost.

(Comment from Oscar Granda)

Excellent documentaries on Discovery Channel, which analyzes the potential for technology to prevent the ecological collapse of our cities. Warn about the dangers of uncontrolled growth of peoples around the earth. Emphasize the importance of respect for the environment and ecology. Encourage people to seek solutions to minimize the impact of environmental pollution, product of the evolution of our populations in the world. Finally, alternatives for sustainable development of cities, our battered planet.

Toward a New Economic Order Facing World Financial Crisis

From BBC Mundo. Sarkozy said the world must overcome the "odious practices" that have triggered the financial crisis. The U.S. president, George W. Bush, in his country offered to host an international summit on the current global financial crisis.

In a statement issued after a meeting with Bush with the presidents of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, and the European Commission (EC) Jose Manuel Barroso, says that in the coming weeks other leaders will be consulted on the proposal. Bush met with Barroso and Sarkozy to discuss the details of a G8 summit, with the participation of India, China and other emerging economies.

European leaders want this summit will serve to pave the way for a reform of global financial regulation. Upon receiving Sarkozy and Barroso at the presidential house of rest at Camp David, Maryland, Bush offered to host the summit "in the near future." Nicolas Sarkozy, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU), said that the meeting could take place before the end of November.

(Comment from Oscar Granda)

Inadequate policies regulating real estate market in the U.S. were formed in a "boom", which finally caused a global stock crisis and that until the end of October 2008 can not control. Among other results, to get security solutions with billionaire costs, a shortage of liquidity and credit in the markets, greater gap between rich and poor and a new world economic order.