Forum of Azerbaijan Students in Europe (FASE) held in London

After all....

Despite economic recession, we wre really quite well off in this country. We have an abundance of renewable energy. Our rivers produce electricity and our hot springs warm our houses. We shouldn't complain, but we do.  There are a lot of things to complain about, but they have nothing to do with our country, but our capitalist politicians and egotistical businessmen.

I think that after all there are beneficial aspects to this recession. We have started looking inwards, appreciating what we have. Many people have taken up knitting clothing from lamb-wool again and traditional Icelandic food is becoming more popular. 

Cameroon: UB Prepares Students For Success In Job Market

By Christopher Ambe Shu

Thousands of varsity students and hundreds of non-students alike from within Cameroon’s national territory took advantage of a widely publicized two-day Business and Employment Forum, oraginsied by the country’s lone Anglo-Saxon University of Buea(UB), on campus ,to learn how to quickly secure a place in Cameroon’s rather difficult job market.

Picture:Cross section of Participants at the UB Business and Employment Forum

Unemployment rate in Cameroon, which is classified as a heavily indebted poor country, is high

“Upon graduation I think those of us who attended this forum will easily know how to go about looking for or creating jobs,” one UB student who sat through out the forum told this reporter as the forum wrapped up. “It has been an eye-opener event for us”
Claris Mbinkar, a graduate from UB who holds a Bachelor ‘s degree in curriculum studies but is yet to land a job added, “The forum was a learning opportunity. I will not waste any time to put into practice what I have learnt about getting employment”

The forum, organized under the patronage of Cameroon’s Minister of Higher education, Prof.Jacques Fame Ndongo, ran from 20-21 November. The forum, the first of its kind, was motivated by the new Bachelor’s-Master’s -PhD (BMP) system introduced in the 2007 academic year.

“ The BMP system takes its root from the Anglo-American System, which UB has been practicing since inception in 1993.It comes with the promise of increased relevance, professionalism and production-oriented training”, remarked Prof Vincent Titanji,UB Vice-Chancellor at the forum’s opening ceremony. “More than everything else, this forum is an occasion to create effective alliances to enable us tackle the problems that face us as a community, namely, ignorance, disease, hunger and poverty. This is how we can each of us contribute to this forward movement towards attainment of the MDG’s”

The forum brought together managers of companies, job promoters, students and varsity graduates who were either job seekers or would like to create jobs.

Experts made presentations on themes such as: Graduates/Youth and the Labor Market in Cameroon, How to Explore the Labor Market, Growing Businesses and Creating Jobs, Youth Engagement Support Programs and Opportunities, Securing Markets, Leadership and Motivational Tips for Youth Success; Management, Financing, Legal Issues and Insurance Policy

Other highlights of the two-day forum included: University of Buea signing partnership agreements with companies, a cultural night on November 20,musical concerts and a mini trade fair that enabled businesses to exhibit their products and sell their ideas to the public.

The Vice- Chancellor of University of Buea, Professor Vincent Titanji, particularly praised Prof Victor Julius Ngoh, UB Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Research, Cooperation and Relations with the Business World for working extra hard to make the forum a huge success
Several participants who spoke to this reporter admitted having learned much from the forum, wishing that it should henceforth become a regular event of the university

University of Buea as at now has a student population of 12000 and is rated Cameroon’s best-managed state university. It started in 1993

AlsoVisit www.recorderline.blogspot.com

Angry and hurt Icelanders

The seventh Saturday in a row, an ever growing number of people gather in front of the Parliament Buildings to protest the situation in the country. They demand the resignation of the Government and an election early next year. The leading party in the coalition Government, the Independence Party, is responsible for the privatization of the 3 banks that crashed a few weeks ago bringing down the Icelandic economy. 

People also demand the resignation of the managers of the Central Bank, especially the one of them who led the Independence Party during the period when the privatization took place.

There is a lot of anger in Iceland these days. The nation itself is not responsible for the economic crash that affects not only us, but also people in other parts of Europe. Icelanders travelling abroad sometimes resort to prentending to be Finns.

This whole situation is rather sad.

Dancing time at the UK

Some time ago the BBC invented a programme called strictly come dancing, perhaps a pun on the rather good Austalian Film which I think was called 'Strictly Ballroom'. In this pro-am competition programme you get a mixture of rehearsal dancing, competitive dancing, judges airing their views and continuity from the celebrity MC (Bruce Forsyth). Viewers - of which there are lots - get to assist the judges by voting, no doubt on one of those premium phone lines which makes their owner lots of money.

There has been a lot of coverage in the media about the exploits of one John Sergeant who, it seems, has captivated the voters while not being able to dance, or not choosing to dance, to the standard required. Other, far more capable dancers have been chucked off, while he survived. The allegation was that we Brits like a gallant loser.

However, yesterday, John was summoned to the programme HQ and given a talking to, after which he did the decent thing and resigned. There have been howls of protest in correspondance columns and blogs, but at least the programme can now get on in the way intended.

The Idea Of India

India, for the ones who are new to it, is a country of different states, different religions different beliefs and different people. For those who know about it too remain puzzled about how such a country can co-exist. In the nut-shell, it is similar to Europe. There we have France, Italy Germany as similar as cheese an chalk. Here we have Punjab, West Bengal and Kerala in the same league. Yet those are countries these are provinces or states.

For those intellectual types who want to dwell on the reason of it, "Idea of India" by Sunil Khilnani is worthy read. Taking from it, he says that India can basically still exist as one country not because of some sort of unity or some sort of bondness but because of strong regional feeling in the people of a region iteslf and fuelled by this country's political system which tends to keep the region high on his agenda than his country so, in essence people still maintain their association with the state along with the country.

Thats in brief the view I mostly adhere to among all the theories put forward that how can India co-exist. (Puerly personal, readers are advised to explore more)

Abhishek Manocha
Founder, http://www.easysquarefeet.com

Oh no, he didn't!

The story has made headlines around the world: "Al-Qaeda No. 2 insults Obama with racial epithet". You have to wonder what he thought he would accomplish with this attack. While countries around the world are congratulating our President-elect and looking forward to working with him, Al-Qaeda can only come up with hurling insults. And not terribly effective insults at that. Obama is not going to work for the 'white folks' at the White House- he's going to be the boss.

While Americans are good at squabbling among ourselves, we do not take kindly to attacks upon our president. Rather than dividing us, this remark will have the opposite effect. As one blogger put it:

Stuff like this makes me far less scared of al Qaeda. They clearly don't have much of a handle on how American society works, let alone how to use psychological warfare against us. I mean, who do they think this rhetoric is going to be effective on—disaffected black Muslim Americans who somehow haven't rallied behind Obama? They really are drinking their own Cult Kool-Aid, and a strong brew it is indeed.

PORTUGAL - Rob Schneider finds Miguel!

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Quito, the claustro...

Quito, capital of Ecuador in South America it is full of history... It is considered the claustro (convent) of Latin America because of the most importan catholic churches in Quito.

The architecture trascends time. This is an example which we enjoy until today.

Thanks to Marinés, my daughter, she is my favorite translator. I hope my English improves soon.

Khövsgöl

Khövsgöl, named after a large fresh water lake located in the same region, is one of the most beautiful provinces in Mongolia. My grandparents spent all their lives in north eastern part of this province very close to Russian border. Actually we still have many buryat relatives who live in Russia nowadays. My grandparents somehow happened to be in Mongolian side of the border when the border line was drawn between Mongolia and Soviet Union for some 80 years ago. I used to visit my grandparents during summer holidays when I was a kid. After they passed away, I continued to visit the place as my aunt still lives there. But last time it was 1993. I was born in Ulaanbaatar, the largest city by far in Mongolia, however whenever I am out of the country for long time, I do not miss the city so much. Sure I miss my family and friends. But its terrible air pollution and dusty condition make me feel not so attached to my home city. On the other hand I always miss my grandparents' home place. With its green grass fields with a variety of flowers, forests, small mountains, lakes and rivers, I always find it as the most beautiful place in Mongolia.
My sister went to Khövsgöl last summer and came with some nice photos. So please take a look at them. I have been having hard time to find some land close to the city lately. People are fighting very hard to get their shares of the land. But there it seems to be a plenty of land available, and very beautiful pieces of land. The problem is the infrastructure development in Mongolia is kind of off the pace. And probably that's why some places in Mongolia have untouched nature. The picture above is of beautiful Uur river. It must have been a foggy day. Generally it is quite dry in Mongolia, but in Khövsgöl it is more humid with many days raining. The river used to have a wooden bridge, a very nice one, but there was a big flood in 2006 and it was destroyed. Here is a picture of a small mountain, near which my aunt lives. I love this small river in the picture, because I had so much fun in it when I was a small kid.

Threatened White Lion Cubs Born in the Wild

Many video aggregation sites and South African TV recently carried the Global White Lion Protection Trust’s announcement of the birth of three white lion cubs in the wild.

The cubs were the offspring of a white lioness, one of four white lions released into the wild in 2006 and a white lion from a different genetic lineage. They are the first white lions to be born in a reintroduction program within their natural endemic range in the Greater Timbavati region.

White lions have been reported to exist for hundreds of years and have an important place in many African tribal beliefs. In the 1970s Chris McBride, identified white lions in several prides in Timbavati. He published the book that first brought white lions to the attention of the global public. Some of the lions he identified were captured while the wild populations died out. White lions taken out of the wild have been bread and distributed to zoos, hunting camps, game farms and even circuses.

The genetics of the white lion are not completely understood, although all agree that the whiteness is due to a recessive gene. Because the gene is recessive the hunting of tawny lions in the white lion’s endemic area has and will continue to reduce the white lion gene pool. Therefore, white lions–while already rare–are further threatened because no additional conservation laws protect them. They are only protected by the same laws as “normal” lions. Work is underway to establish the unique genetic traits of the white lion, so as to be able to ensure that appropriate specific laws are enacted for it’s protection.

The birth of these three cubs is a triumph for Linda Tucker, the founder of The Global White Lion Protection Trust (WLT), as it supports her premise that “rearing and reintroduction” is one of the measures that can help protect the white lions from extinction. The WLT is a South African-based non-profit conservation and community development organisation that campaigns for the protection of White Lions. It partners with local communities to re-ignite the indigenous cultural values that hold white lions sacred. To this end, the WLT supports a scientific white lion reintroduction programme, lobbying, genetic research, and community revival activities.

However, other conservationists promote a more hands off approach. They note that white cubs, borne in the wild to tawny parents, have been sighted over the last few years and argue that the survival of the white lions should be left to natural processes.

What is urgent is the different parties work together and with the assistance of the authorities implement the necessary short and long term steps to ensure the minimum of negative human impact on the white lion.

Information Sources: Global White Lion Protection Trust ,Wikipedia, Sunday Independent.
Image Source: Global White Lion Protection Trust website, used with permission.

Also posted on EcoWorldly

Japanese Play at MEIJIZA

I went to see the living theater at MEIJIZA,one of the oldest theater in Tokyo which was founded in 1873.

"3chome-no-yuuhi" was the title.
Japanese economy developed very fast around 1960s and 70s.
Life of the citizens changed drastically.
We were poor but happy. That was Good old days.
My parents might imagine their younger days during the play.

The song "Ueo muite arukou" was one of the greatest hits those days.
You may hear this song as "SUKIYAKI SONG",because this song was also the No.1 hits in the USA.
The singer Kyuu Sakamoto died in air accident decades ago.

You can also hear the song "Miagetegoran Yoruno Hoshi wo" at youtube.
This video is a bit interesting because young famous singer is virtually singing with the original singer "Kyuu Sakamoto" of this song.

Turbo-charge Ricola man

A wonderful piece of self-irony, playing on virtually all stereotypes about Switzerland and the Swiss - enjoy!

What about all the ice?

Why should Iceland be call Ice-land? It is quite understandable that those who haven't been here believe that the country is covered in ice all year round, which, as a matter of fact, it isn't. One of the first settlers of the country gave this name to it around year 1000 when he saw some icebergs in one of the fjords in the west.

Well, we think it's really a n-ice name.

The climate here has been becoming warmer in the last few years. Quite often the temperature rises above 20°C in June, July and August. During the winter it can go as low as -10°C, but only very seldom, it's mostly around 0 to-5°C.

Cameroon:RUMPI Budgets FCFA 8.5 Billion For 2009

Now Targets Core Projects for Realization

By Christopher Ambe Shu

(Picture above:Ogork Ntui Besong,Rumpi Coordinator on microphone

Picture below:Steering Commitee at 7th session)

With just two years left for the FCFA 17 billion Rumpi Project -placed under the Southwest Development Authority, SOWEDA-Buea to phase out, only about 40% of its global work plan has so far been achieved, it emerged at the project’s 7th Steering Committee meeting that held last November 12,in Trinity Hotel, Limbe.

But with FCFA 8.5 billion voted at the 7th Steering Committee as RUMPI’s 2009 budget core projects such as rural roads, markets, water schemes and rural banks have now been earmarked for realization beginning next year.

Biloa Gatien, inspector-general in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) who sat in for his minister, chaired the Steering Committee meeting, which was principally to examine and adopt the 2009 budget as well as its work plan.
Biloa urged Rumpi administrators and its executing agencies to show total duty-consciousness and commitment, adding that the Cameroon Government attaches much importance to the project, with regards to its fight for poverty-alleviation.

The Rumpi Project, which has a six-year life span, was launched in 2004.It is intended to reduce poverty in rural areas of the Southwest province by increasing their incomes in a sustainable manner, through improving agricultural output as well as their socio-economic environment

The FCFA 17 billion Rumpi Project is co- funded by African Development Bank (ADB75%), Technical Assistance Fund (TAF 8 %), Government of Cameroon (GOC15%) and the beneficiaries (2%), according to the project’s documents.

“The 2009 budget is big but achievable. We are ready for serious work. With the African Development Bank (ADB) before you spend one Franc they must approve it. If they don’t, you can’t spend it”, Ogork Ntui Besong, coordinator of Rumpi told reporters, hoping that all work analyses already submitted to the ADB would be quickly endorsed.
The Project Coordinator said they are focusing on infrastructure development.
“We are presently building twenty (20) rural markets through out the province… We have awarded contracts for the construction of Twenty-two (22) village banks; we have also awarded contracts for the supply of Fifty-Five (55) saves, to arrive early January next year to enable us start rural banking,” noted Ogork Ntui

He said a partial beak-down of the budget of 8.5 billion for 2009 indicates that, FCFA 3.03 billion will go for road construction; FCFA 980 million for 34 water schemes and FCFA 422 million to complete payment for rural markets.

He disclosed that RUMPI intends to improve upon 237 km of roads in the Southwest Province beginning next January.

In the past, the project had done quite a lot in terms of supporting agricultural activities and farmers in the province

The Project Coordinator said if by the end of 2009 RUMPI realized all earmarked projects it would have achieved about 80% of its goals.

My neighbourhood

I live in the interior south of Iceland with a view the magnificent Mt. Hekla, which is said to be overdue for eruption. The last big eruption took place in 1947, but since then there have been three or four smaller ones. The thing with Hekla is that the further apart the eruptions, the bigger they are as a rule. 

I live just a stone's throw from Skálholt, Iceland's oldest bishopric. The present cathedral was built just after 1960, simple and majestic in form.

 Just about 20 km  away from my home you will find two of the country's biggest tourist attractions: -

-the one and only geyser, GEYSIR, and 

-the waterfall, GULLFOSS.

I believe I live in the heart of the country, but I think most of us Icelanders will say the same.

Cameroonians Share Obama’s Election Euphoria

By Christopher Ambe Shu

Picture 1 :Mola Njoh leading Bishop Bushu to ceremonial ground

Picture 2:Bishop Bushu greeting invitees at the election party

Some Cameroonians especially the working class converged Wednesday on the Buea residence of Mola Njoh Litumbe, doyen of chartered accountants in Cameroon and leader of the country’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to celebrate the election of 47- year -old Barrack Obama as the 44th president of the US and first black US president.

Also present at the victory party was the Catholic Bishop of Buea Diocese, Immanuel Bushu, who said a prayer urging the Almighty God to protect and direct Barack Obama.

“Lord, give Barack Obama the grace to be humble, thinking only of you. Give him the wisdom of Solomon…so that he should usher in a new era in the US and the world”, Bishop Bushu said in his humble prayer.

Mola Njoh, a senior Cameroonian citizen in his mid 70’s, who organized the sumptuous cocktail party, said Obama’s election to the highest office of the world was a great honor done particularly to the black community and the world in general.
He expressed regrets that in the past the Blackman had been treated like slaves and considered as inferior to the White man. Mola said Obama’s election, as president of the most powerful nation in the world was really an eye-opener to the world.

“I hope Cameroon would learn from Obama ‘s vision. Cameroon government and Cameroonians should learn, finance the education of our children, provide adequate health care and other amenities .I think if all these amenities are provided here people will be going abroad to seek greener pastures”, said an elated Mola Njoh, who himself was the glad party’s master of ceremony.

Commenting further on the Obama election euphoria, Bishop Bushu went down memory lane, noting that Blacks were far advanced hundreds of years before the Whiteman.He cited Egypt as an example of Black civilization

“ The IQ is the same for all human beings. We have the same physical pwer. All we should be asking for is God’s blessing in whatever we do and with it, we will make a difference”, the Bishop said. “The Time has come. God has chosen Barack Obama.He will deliver the goods. The joy is global. We are sharing the joy of Mankind toady”

Other speakers at the party ,which was characterized by music,champaigne-popping and jokes-cracking, were all full of praise for Obama, hoping that his victory will inspire other blacks.

“ Obama’s election is a miracle .We are bleesed”, said Toni Monangai, a noted Buea based Businessman, who was all smiles

Many other parties were organised in the various towns of Cameroon.

Barack Obama: White House’s First Black Boss

By Christopher Ambe Shu

The mistaken belief or myth held by so many, for many years, that the White House, official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States of America in Washington DC, is kind of reserved only for whites has been demystified .

Tuesday ,November 4, saw the overwhelming election of 47-year-old Barack Obama(Pictured), son of a father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, as the 44th president of the US.

Obama, because of his intelligence, eloquence and well- articulated plans to improve the lot of American people as a whole, made millions upon millions of people, even enemies of the US, during his presidential campaigns to prefer him to his rival, John Mac Cain in the White House.

The US with a population of some 300 million people and 51 states, is the world’s most powerful and prominent nation. Its president is arguably the commander- chief of the whole world.

Joel Hilliker,a columnist with theTrumpet.com in the introduction of his article before the US presidential election, titled “If the World Could Vote for America’s President,” said this about the global love for Barack Obama: “The whole world doesn’t agree on much, but it seems pretty united on one thing: that the next American president should be Barack Obama”.
Of course, the columnist cited reasons for the global Obama-love.

And at last, Obama has emerged victorious at the 2008 US presidential election, securing 364 electoral votes while rival John McCain got 163.Ties, 11.There are a total of 538 electoral votes and to be elected president, one must have at least 270 electoral votes

Obama, a first term senator from Illinois and Democratic Presidential Candidate by far beat his Republican rival, 72-year-old John McCain to get the country’s highest office.

John McCain quickly conceded defeat and telephoned Obama to congratulate him He also urged Americans to unite and support the new president

In his victory speech, an elated but determined Obama told Americans: Change has come.

Mark Z. Barabak, writing in Los Angeles Times on November 5, said Obama’s “victory was a leap in the march toward equality: When Obama was born, people with his skin color could not even vote in parts of America, and many were killed for trying.”

So Obama is seen as having courageously broken racial barriers that have existed for donkey years to become the first African-American President, something many thought was imposibilty.
Black Obama’s occupancy of the White House stresses the fact that in God’s world everything happens when it is supposed to- no matter what. The Bible book of Ecclesiastes (chapter three) tells us that, “There is time for everything”

That also reminds us of the saying that change is the only thing on earth that is constant. Simply put, no condition is permanent. Obama was conscious of all these, and fought relentlessly despite the high odds to land the highest office in the US

White House, Black Obama.What a good color blend!

Watching Obama on BBC (television) make his victory speech, I saw tears rolling down the cheeks of Jessie Jackson, one of America’s Black Civil Rights leaders. Many others were in tears .Certainly, they were tears of joy, or tears of a dream come true.

Perserverance, handwork and prayers to the Almighty GOD have in the past guided determined Africans, if you care, Black men considered by many whites as inferior race, to win historic elections where many did not dream could happen

Consider 1994.In this year, Nelson Mandela who had been in prison for over 26 years because of his fight for Human Rights Promtion, became South Africa's first black president after more than three centuries of white rule.

“Never, never again will this beautiful land experience the oppression of one by another”, Mandela had vowed in his speech

Also think of Kofi Annan, of Ghana, who became the first black UN secretary-general, serving from 1997 to 2006

Inddeed, the leadership ability of Blackman is being gradualy but globally recognized

USA elects Barack Obama

Sen. John McCain, conceded the election on Tuesday evening to Sen. Barack Obama after a record turn-out by American voters. Sen. Obama accepted the victory in his hometown of Chicago.

Although my son had to wait 2 hours to vote yesterday morning, my husband and I hit a mid-afternoon lull and did not have to wait at all. Voting across the nation went very smoothly although a few places had long waits, or minor problems.

There is a feeling of elation, of lightness, and of hope here. We know there are many problems to be faced by the new president, but we feel that he has the intelligence and the temperament to make good decisions. It is an historic event, showing that a man can be elected to this high office because he is the best person for the job, and his color doesn't preclude him.

Cameroon:More Facilities Needed as UB Admits 5000 freshmen

By Christopher Ambe Shu

The University of Buea (UB), Cameroon’s most prestigious state varsity has admitted over 5000 freshmen for its undergraduate programs for the 2008/2009 academic year, which started last October 10.

UB is one of the six state universities of Cameroon, and is fondly called “The Place to be”. It has passed out thousands of graduates with marketable skills, some of whom are furthering their studies in foreign varsities and others shining both at national and international jobs

But the Vice- chancellor, Prof Vincent Titanji(Pictured), while presiding at the freshmen’s, matriculation last November1 on campus said, the addition of that huge number of students calls for improved social amenities in the varsity’s neighborhood of Molyko,Buea .

“We have added nearly 5000 more people to the Molyko neighborhood whom we must care for. It calls for redoubled efforts in the provision of security, health care and sanitation, electricity, accommodation …at affordable rates,”Prof Titanji said.
“Here at the University, we need more infrastructure and therefore rely, as usual, on all our stakeholders for their continuous goodwill donations”

The insufficiency of social amenities with a rapidly growing Molyko population in the past several years pushed students to embark on strike action and street demonstrations in a bid to press for improved living conditions.

He told the freshmen that programs at UB “ have been structured deliberately to cover the foundation of your respective disciplines, practical job skills and create opportunities to cultivate in you the positive attributes of responsible citizenship.”

The Vice-Chancellor challenged the student s to put every effort to ensure that they graduate from the varsity not only on record time but also with flying colors.

He warned students against vices such as fraud, sexual harassment, corruption and theft, adding that the punishment for impersonation is outright dismissal not from the University of Buea alone but all state universities in the country.

“Temptations abound in Molyko neigborhood. Be careful. Don’t compromise your success, safety and health by yielding to temptations that could lead you to juvenile delinquency, to contract diseases such as HIV/AIDS, and other STIs”, he further warned the new students.
Professor Anders Liljas, member of the Swedish Academy of Science presented a discourse on then Meaning of University, during the matriculation.

He said a university is a place for universal curiosity, a place to search for the truth. Professor Lilyas emphasized that the well being of any country depends on industrial development, promoted by university research.

He noted that high quality higher education plus research is an added advantage to a country.

Other highlights of the ceremony that took place at the Open Amphitheatre of UB included an ecumenical service during which Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian and Islamic chaplains called on the Almighty God to guide the students and the administration in their efforts to achieve success and excellence

Tourism in Colombia

Tourism in Colombia

The Tourism industry in Colombia developed in the 1940s and has maintained a steady growth since then. The main tourist destinations are Bogotá, Cartagena, Eje cafetero, Santa Marta,Medellín, Cali, Barranquilla, San Andrés Island among others, each presenting different tourist attractions. There are different tourist season in Colombia, the two most busy are related to religious celebrations; the holy week and Christmas among other numerous public holidays, including the celebrations surrounding the Independence of Colombia.

The most notable festivities are the Cali's Fair, the Barranquilla's Carnival, the Bogotá summer festival, the Iberoamerican Theater Festival, the Festival of the Flowers, the Vallenato Legend Festival, Carnival of Blacks and Whites and the Fiestas del Mar. Despite Travel advisorieswarning not to travel to Colombia due to Colombian armed conflict, the country continues to attract more tourists in recent years. The apparent cause is the current hardline approach of President Álvaro Uribe called democratic security to push rebels groups farther away from the major cities, highways and tourist sites that may attract international visitors. Since President Uribe took office in 2002, he has notably increased Colombia's stability and security by significantly boosting its military strength and police presence throughout the country.

This has achieved fruitful results for the country's economy, particularly international tourism. In 2006, Colombia received some 1.5 million international visitors, an astonishing increase of about 50% from the previous year. Lonely Planet, a world travel publisher, picked Colombia as one of their top 10 world destinations for 2006.^[24] The World Tourism Organization reported in 2004 that Colombia achieved the third highest percentage increase of tourist arrivals in South America between 2000 and 2004 (9.2%). Only Peru and Suriname had higher increases during the same period.^[25] Because of the improved security, Caribbean cruise ships tours stop in Cartagena and Santa Marta. To further point out the improved security in the country, in June 2007, the Travel Channel's show, 5 Takes Latin America, aired an episode on Colombia. Points of interest on the show were Bogotá, Cocora Valley in Salento, and the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá.^[26]

The varied and rich geography, flora and fauna of Colombia has also developed an eco-touristindustry, mostly developed in the National Natural Parks of Colombia which include the areas of Amacayacu Park in the Department of Amazonas, Colombian National Coffee Park in the town of Montenegro, Quindío, the Nevado del Ruiz volcano in Los Nevados National Park(near the city of Manizales), Cocora valley inSalento, Quindío, PANACA theme Park,PANACA Savanna Park, Tayrona Park in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range (near the city of Santa Marta), the Tatacoa Desert, the Chicamocha Canyon National Park, Gorgona and Malpelo islands, as well as Cabo de la Vela in the Guajira Peninsula.

Greetings from Iceland/Ísland

This first blog of mine is just to say hello to whoever reads this. Iceland or Ísland, as we call it in Icelandic, is an island in the North Atlantic. Just over 300,000 people live here and you could say that this nation has been relatively well off, mostly because of the rich fishing grounds off the island's coasts.

I just said the country has been relatively well off. It isn't now, because of the bank crisis pushing us to the edge. This does, by no means, mean that we are bankrupt. It means that during the next few years we are faced with considerable difficulties, financially. Perhaps that's just what we needed to realize the importance of things that money can't buy.

The crisis has caused a lot of sorrow and anger, aimed at those responsible for  damaging our reputation among the nations of the world.  Many innocent people have lost their savings and are not ready to forgive, at least not yet. The nation calls for an investigation into how this could happen, and who are the culprits.

In spite of all this, life goes on more or less unchanged, especially in the countryside, where I live. The crisis hits the capital area the hardest.

At this time of year we have started to look forward to Christmas. After that we will look forwad to spring in April and May.

All in all, life is good.

Autumn in Bhutan

http://www.stanford.edu/class/humbio103/ParaSites2006/Sparganosis/Sparganosis%20Website/asia-map.gif

Keats wrote "To Autumn" after enjoying a lovely autumn day; he described his experience in a letter to his friend Reynolds:
"How beautiful the season is now--How fine the air. A temperate sharpness about it. Really, without joking, chaste weather--Dian skies--I never lik'd stubble fields so much as now--Aye better than the chilly green of the spring. Somehow a stubble plain looks warm--in the same way that some pictures look warm--this struck me so much in my Sunday's walk that I composed upon it."
Autumn has its beauty too: The succulence of all the citrus fruits, The rubbing of hazel shells underneath shoes, the wild goose hunt of walnuts and monkey apples. Oh! the taste of water after goose berries. The dry autumn air whisking across, intoxicating one with its grandeur perfume. The marigolds, chrysanthemum and cosmos filled vale .The dragon flies, cicadas and the chirr of the crickets, the restlessness of the bees are the herald of winter. Those breasted robin and winter’s other singers pecking at the last of the grains. The twittering of the gathering swallows an emblem of natural completion. The whole vale resembling a Blondie languiding. Children sliding through the dry pine leaves, villagers like the leech gatherers in the forest hunting for fire wood and dry leaves for the cattle. So much of preparation before the Last Leaf Falls. Lest the chill of winter beats one down.
Before the harvest of paddy the fever and fret of rain. The apprehension and tension gnaws the farmers. They pray for brighter sunny day, until the harvest is done. The eagerness to taste the fresh flattened rice cookie (since it is made for tea and whey). The farmers‘ excitement at the first touch of paddy is ecstatic! The last harvest of chillies is melancholy -farewell to past with the welcome of new love. Such electrical moments-a blaze of heat and light with the culmination of winter.
Autumn is an embody of fruitfulness, the season of drunkenness with the odours and efforts of gathering, winnowing, reaping and gleaning. People are fatigue yet they stay on till late dusk, singing and winnowing at one’s soft exhaustion. It is the time for farmers to celebrate for the year’s hard work. A time to sit and relax happily drowning oneself in the wealth of harvest. A season to sit and offer prayer for yet another successful year.
An additional grand remarkable event of the season is the change of winter residents for the Monk Body of Zhungdratshang (government) .The Monk Body shift their resident from cold place like Thimphu (capital) to warmer place of Punakha. There was once when they had to walk two days to reach the destination at the risk of demoness at Dochulaga Pass. But with the advent of modernization things have become easier.
This year’s autumn is unlike any year with the Celebration of hundred years of Monarchy and Crowning of our Fifth King. There is every reason to fill the season with festivity.
Thus the “SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness” draws down with a hope to open another stage and walk another season with triumph.

COLOMBIA South America-more than you think

This is a series of special reports about Colombia. This beautiful country is more than you can imagine.

Geography:

Colombia is the 26th largest nation in the world and the fourth largest country in South America. Located in the northwestern region of South America, it is bordered to the east byVenezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by Panama and the Caribbean Sea; and to the west by the Pacific Ocean. Colombia is the only country in South America to touch both oceans. Colombia is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region of the world subject to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Colombian surface features are varied; in the extreme west are the narrow and discontinuous Pacific coastal lowlands, which are backed by the Serranía de Baudó, one of the lowest and narrowest of Colombia's mountain ranges. The broad region of the Río Atrato/Río San Juan Lowland is another major land region.

The western mountain range, the Cordillera Occidental, has peaks reaching up to 13,000 ft (4,000 m). The Cauca River Valley, an important agricultural region home to several large cities, separates the Cordillera Occidental from the central mountain range, the Cordillera Central. Several snow-clad volcanoes in the Cordillera Central have summits that rise above 18,000 ft (5,500 m). The valley of the Magdalena River, a major means of transportation, separates theCordillera Central from the main eastern range, the Cordillera Oriental. This range differs from Colombia's other mountain ranges in that it contains several large basins. In eastern Colombia lies the sparsely populated lowlands called Llanos Orientales, part of the Orinoco River Basin, and the jungle covered Amazon region part of the Amazon River Basin (both basins called eastern plains) cover almost 60 percent of the country's total land area. The northern plains are mostly part of the Caribbean region which includes the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountain range, the Guajira Peninsula, and the Serranía de Macuira.

Coming soon Climate, tourism, goverment, economy and so on, do not forget to watch the video, ther you can have a nice look of my country.

General information:

Capital (and largest city)		Bogotá 4°39′N 74°3′W
Official languages		Spanish
Recognised regional languages		The constitution stipulates that the languages and dialects of ethnic groups are official in their territories[1]
Demonym		Colombian
Government		Presidential republic
-	President	Álvaro Uribe Vélez
-	Vice President	Francisco Santos
-	President of Congress	Hernán Andrade
-	President of the Supreme Court	Francisco Ricaurte
Independence		from Spain
-	Declared	July 20, 1810
-	Recognized	August 7, 1819
Area
-	Total	1,141,748 km² (26th) 440,839 sq mi
-	Water (%)	8.8
Population
-	April 2008 estimate	44,087,000 (29th)
-	2005 census	42,888,592
-	Density	40/km² (161st) 104/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2007 estimate
-	Total	$378.624 billion[2] (29th)
-	Per capita	$7,968[2]
GDP (nominal)		2007 estimate
-	Total	$202.630 billion[2]
-	Per capita	$4,264[2]
Gini (2006)		52 (high)
HDI (2007)		▲ 0.791 (medium) (75th)
Currency		Peso (COP)
Time zone		(UTC-5)
Internet TLD		.co
Calling code		+57