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Fukushima, Japan (and environs)



Fukushima, Japan

Stories of Fukushima...

abbas milani and the commonwealth club.

Sir:

Just within the past few days, I have heard a talk with the Commonwealth Club as given by Professor Abbas Milani of Stanford in view of his new book about the Middle East and more specifically the case of Iran at present.  Dr. Milani has asked the question by his new writings and in his talk on how or what did someone in our system do so that in fact we now have extreme worries about nuclear proliferation and terror as related to Iran at present.  In the time of communism, Milani proposes, the place of the Shah, and in fact what directed his fall from grace and eventual demise, were the forces of fundamentalist religion, namely Islam as embodied in Islamic political clerics who primarily had ties to the soviets.  

Today, much of the political / administrative activity in the Middle East is ascribed to oil – pricing policies, and efforts at “democratisation” in Iran eventually have become known more popularly as “islamo – fascism” despite the long – time efforts of the soviets and their contribution to the expansion of socialist and communist influences.  In retrospect, the political upheaval around the Shah was caused not by rightist tendencies, but by the reaction to the Shah’s efforts to try to live with the religious left and centrist political figures of the day.  The case of Bin Laden in Afghanistan, formerly in places like Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Sudan, as a former U.S. ally against communism and presently a saboteur against the U.S. in its approach to the clerics in Iran, presents the impossibility of using a secular approach for the most part to Middle Eastern culture, even governance, and this as shown by the political missteps of the Iranian regime before the 1979 revolution.  

There has been literature published to the effect that, in Pahlavi’s words (to paraphrase here,) most Iranians and Arabs were ignorant of the Shah’s motives and policies, even internally, and most people in the region never comprehended these and never made the effort to do so, or even to plainly understand what he attempted to do for his people.  Hopes for actual democracy have been dashed for years by the use of Pahlavi as a scape – goat in his secular promises, and the false promises of the current clerical, even teleological regime.  It is possible there is another “perfect storm” brewing politically in Iran again after that in 1979 comprised by the dormant Middle East policies of Jimmy Carter, British policies as well, the fitful political attitudes of Iranian people along with the promises of the clerics around Khomeini and Khomeini himself.  All this seems additionally to be tied to petrol politics and the price of oil:  An unusual way to try to determine or work for democratisation and civic and political freedoms anywhere.

THS

About Tiger Woods... (no argument.)

Without mentioning all the penance this celebrity / personality has had to pay for his personal life being dragged through the proverbial mud, not to mention the trials and tribulations, and atmosphere of scandal this has all created around his family and friends, maybe note the following:  When guys like Rodney Dangerfield (dec.,) Chevy Chase, Leslie Nielsen (dec.,) and Keith Richards, and Alice Cooper even, are allowed to play golf and joke about its antics and embarrassments, seriously done or not, and having to do not with anything related to golf, this remarkable athlete should be allowed to continue his career as much unscathed as possible.  If anything, the difficulties Woods has had with respect to his personal life do show that the “playing at golf” that people do is really a hobby for most people (even professionals,) and is therefore subject to the insinuations and intrusions into the game of powerful jackasses.  

People like me do try to play golf, and are enamoured of some of the things professional golfers do on the courses, including competitors like Tom Watson, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Ernie Els, and so on.  The number of actual championship golfers is innumerable and the game’s professionals are everywhere, and to stop the attention on everyone to focus on tabloid antics as carried out on Mr. Woods, and as he apparently carried them out as well is a shame.   Mr. Woods is notable for all aspects of the game of golf, but especially is known for his aggressive work in the tee box and to a great extent his putting as well.  The audiences at tournaments and the public should dedicate more of their attention to the care and concern of professional golf(ers) in playing competitively, and improving / refining the game, and entirely instead of zeroing in on personal dilemmas, faults and personal failings; be they those of the players or those in the gallery.  Let them play.

In Defense of Barry Bonds.

While every time there is a National League home run champion there are disputes on the subject of his worthwhileness and worthiness, the fractious debate as to Mr. Barry Bonds and his claim to home – run king status is completely unreasonable in the sense of Thomas Paine and his fellows; and that there is an actual trial in process examining Mr. Bonds’ methods indicates the indecisiveness of professional baseball oversight about what and how it administers the modern game.  This and despite that Mr. Bonds has vicious detractors who have worked for years to upset his goals of becoming not only a home – run hitter, but a great fielder and slugger, and other things, including a good family person, at the same time.  Probably in the late 1990’s, and privately, one of his career opponents projected that Bonds had a chance to hit more home runs than Babe Ruth or Henry Aaron, and more simply that he would probably surpass the achievements and records of Maris, Musial, Mays, McGuire, Sosa, Griffey, and other, less visible and less capable players.  That he did this, substantively and for the most part without completely disabling himself has some, if not all his opponents and detractors extremely upset and has drawn his entire livelihood into public gossip arenas and into a very tabloid court battle or battles that will drain his fortunes, in many ways meritoriously earned and gained on the baseball sports fields.  In addition, and at this time in the story of American sports, there are reasons why the home – run king needs be from a place like San Francisco instead of from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, or Oakland, or any other city one can spell.  I leave it to you, the reader of this editorial, to determine these reasons for yourself.

That Mr. Bonds did things to improve his performance is evident, as all home – run hitters do and have done, though that he did things completely in awareness and with intent, and outside the bounds of his professional baseball player status is exactly what should be in dispute; not that he took pills or vitamins, what have you.  Most power – hitter players do things to increase their chances of contacting the ball, no matter what, as it travels from the pitcher’s hand (left or right) over the plate.  Indeed, it is not a secret that Mr. Bonds is a talented person who could, among other successful things, “read” the pitcher in any particular count or at bat, and this added to his chances, along with his physical conditioning methods, of contacting the ball as it was thrown for him (to try) to hit under various conditions and circumstances.  The decisive charges that his physical training and related staff were conniving and corrupt should be re – examined and thrown out:  The real issue is how Mr. Bonds lorded it over other power hitters for years, and what he did for the game of baseball – a.  To increase interest and attendance at baseball events, especially in “away” situations, b.  How he increased the profile of other hitters, and offense in the National League game in general, by creating controversy on the subject of baseball offense and outfield hitting and other things, stealing, base – running, the pitcher’s role in the late innings, and other things that capture the attention of fans at decisive times during a contest; c.  How, by the competitive reputation of Mr. Bonds, other players in contact with him and with whom he was and became acquainted, and same with respect to the media and the press, others benefitted during the time Mr. Bonds pursued his path to baseball greatness.  For these and other reasons, there is clearly no cogent, nor is there any even magical principle that indicates Mr. Bonds should suffer penalties for the good works he did and the message he proposed about the game of (and profession of) baseball – that it takes a measure of luck and extremely hard work, even for people as talented and gifted as he is or was during his career, even in the Pittsburgh days and other doldrums.  People like me knew baseball people like Mr. Bonds in college, and even knew of him in high school, and there is without a doubt in our minds the common - senseness, reasonableness, and charitableness of this person – and there are any number of instances one can cite from his life to date that bring this out.  To systematically and officially insinuate that he is or was a corrupt person indeed reflects upon the ambiguous, nebulous, and backbiting approach to the game of his accusers and others prosecuting, charging, and yelling, gesticulating and shouting and staring him down. 

In professional baseball today, and in all professional sports, there are guidelines that provide a best guess as to what one needs to do to take advantage of one’s strong points (doing what one does well,) and building and maintaining talents, whether they be in defense or offense, or both.  This is part of the holiness, what have you, of the sport of professional baseball in America, and without the professionalism we have today in the sport, American athletes would most completely be likely to play baseball no better than the French, or the Yugoslavians, for that matter; and there are such players – they just do not play that well as they are not as talented as the American boys are.  This is just a fact.  The, again, detractors of Mr. Bonds, in fact, do take the attitude and performance of a “French” baseball player, or the like, and ascribe to Mr. Bonds not the reputation he deserves, but the status of a malicious and scheming, ambitious overachiever who cheated his way through his career.  If you desire these “equalized” ideas and standards and their proponents and professional staff, there are baseball leagues and organisations, and games for you everywhere outside the U.S., probably even in Europe where the game is played professionally, but to the eyes of the practised spectator, very badly.  This is what the judicial proceedings about Mr. Bonds home runs appear to be concerned with – stopping people from actually exercising their rights as professionals and becoming the talents they deserve to be; and this by stripping them of their toolset of refined and successful methods, processes and the like that promise the fulfillment of their talents, possibilities and potentialities. 

Some time ago, I did see a San Francisco Giants baseball game against the New York Mets.  I do not attend public events every day as these are costly and there is a handy adage they are available and “viewable through local television,” for the most part.  I did see Mr. Bonds and his team make complete baseball fools out of the New York team in a single show in which he hit two home runs.  It is a life’s experience to watch him hit, especially at home where he plays for every fan, from people in the baseline boxes to those fans in the third deck and at home even.  I have also seen Mr. Bonds hit on television, and if one knows even a little about baseball, it is thrilling to watch him at the plate, and playing defense as well.  In addition to his hitting skills, he has an arm like Willie Mays and I have seen him throw people out at base like Mr. Mays did.  It is obvious, from anyone’s knowledge of him personally or professionally, that he loves baseball and to believe his approach, again, to this profession was or is corrupt is a sin of commission, and again, indicates the overall salaciousness of “fans” and others who pretend and pretended to follow his career with interest in order to disparage him with the detailed and defamatory gossip that has led to these trials.  I do also think of his parents and this parent / child, and other family relationships  and associations that detractors have worked to render valueless by these public trials as well.  Good day.

THS

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"Rapprochement" - U.S. and P.R.C.

The admission of the Chinese President a few days ago that human rights in P.R.C. need to be more closely looked at is a sign of hope that “capitalism with Chinese characteristics” has an official aim, at least in part in its attempts at attaining primacy in world society, of giving lip service to such issues and their importance within the P.R.C. and its international position as well.  The intent of the statement on human rights by Chinese officials to pay more attention to human rights might just be to assuage the egos of western officials who see many faults in the Chinese regime, as well as its competitive successes as facilitated by opprobrium of anyone within its territory espousing western ideas and political doctrines, or other “counter – revolutionary” principles.  It is entirely possible an additional legacy of Mao has been to keep the country on a commercial footing with military discipline and military sanctions that the great helmsman believed would realize the dreams of many Chinese cadres to demand and command more respect in the world and at home.  The Asiatic approach to capitalism that calls for many constraints on the lives of workers and industrial managers, and this without necessarily rewarding everyone for their work as they would be rewarded in the West, is a matter that remains to be resolved, in its justification and implementation within China itself.  Coolie and other types of labor have always been relatively cheap in P.R.C. and previously in imperial China, and this has long been perceived as perilous to western business, and even more so now that Chinese goods are produced at a discount to production in alternative areas and apparently with the same quality as they might be, for example, in U.K., or even other Asian countries. 

The human rights issue has in all appearances found linkage with commercial and business issues, as Chinese officials mentioned human rights in a dialogue with U.S. officials, including the U.S. President, connected to trade and technology issues, that without a doubt included renewed discussion of intellectual property.  Unrelated to the human rights discussion as viewed by the press, was probably some discussion around abating software piracy in China where most of the software from western countries, including that of large and important software developers, is illegally copied.  The tone of the human rights announcement also makes obvious the compromises P.R.C. has made in furthering its economic interests and the necessarily public “sturm und drang” of Chinese international relations with the West and the compromises it has for both East and West.  It becomes clear that P.R.C., as it produces many discounted goods sold in other countries throughout the world, in fact as the largest Asian economic “Tiger,” does have the perception still that its exports have not made as many consumers as dependent upon Chinese goods as it would wish.  The Great Helmsman would view this as unfortunate as discounted Chinese products truly have saturated international markets, and P.R.C. is a large emitter of carbon and hydrocarbon gases along with its industrial might for consumer goods production.  The statement about human rights as linked to commercial talks with the U.S. might be an indirect admission the aim of the P.R.C. to get a grip on the western consumer has not worked so well, and that some giving – in has to take place in order to prime up additional demand for Chinese goods – one of the apparent promises of the P.R.C. – form of capitalism.  

THS

another book review ... (2009)

CALL ME TED, BY TED TURNER.

This very eventful text, which is couched in ordinary language, is a classic portrait of a hands – on business person who came of age during the 1980’s, and who apparently eschewed the grandstanding of some of his colleagues and only lately did publish his remarkable story:  Born in Ohio to very enterprising parents, probably as people needed to be at the time, Ted Turner attended school in Tennessee and served in the Coast Guard.  He took over his Dad’s billboard advertising business in his 20’s after a bitter business battle with a then corporate raider.  He worked diligently in the billboards business and built it up to where he was bidding and bargaining for radio stations, classically dependent upon the advertising business, and then to television stations; all this just bit by bit, staring in the early 1960’s.  The distinguishing point of his crowning achievement, CNN, was he was already quite well – to – do in the television broadcasting business when cable television came around and he had decided to wager upon it.  The risks with CNN were quite serious and when one thinks of such a network as it was or is, one thinks of glitzy steel – and – glass high – rise structures in a concrete jungle, but the founding building was in a brickwork structure in Atlanta, Georgia.  

CNN went through various iterations depending upon the trends in the media – from Cable News Network, to CCN2, to others including ESPN and its related programming.  Unlike some of the staid productions from Hollywood and what appears to be the established image of network television, the CNN networks had a wild ride from the beginning.  Despite that many television viewers still preferred the networks when cable came along, CNN and Turner Broadcasting offered and delivered extremely entertaining programming and informative news and with a pay – per – view accent on everything, practically from the beginning.  Mr. Turner was also responsible for many pay – view athletic contests and their quality broadcasts and the creation and materialising of HBO, as well as popularizing satellite T.V.  He was sued several times by hickety – pickety television personalities and production companies who felt he was treading on their network television territories, including major networks.  He made a serious and era – changing bid to purchase CBS, and at the time continued to add to his already exhaustible corporate film and video production libraries.  Unmistakably, the apogee of CNN in the old television format without integration of the internet for the public was the coverage of the first Gulf War:  Policy – makers and commentators alike, when asked about the progress of the war as prosecuted, simply referred everyone to the CNN coverage of the conflict.  Now television is almost completely internet savvy and centers around the world wide web with integrated satellite know - how.

Turner was / is also an avid sailboat helmsman, and continued his sailing hobby throughout his career; participating in and winning major sailing races.  He also, and through the eyeglass (hourglass) of success, has become a generous philanthropist and funded many United Nations programs.  He has five children. 

What is so distinguishing about the text is the biographer (about himself) does not attempt to appear flawless, nor does he attempt as many have in their own way at righteous indignation at the vicissitudes of life.  The humanness and dignity with which he treated people during his rise to become a household term are remarkable, too, and remarkable as well is his technical comprehension of the business of advertising and working stellarly in the media business where new technologies have been de jure for some time.  

The Moscow Show Trials (Khamovniki District Court) - another attempt.

HOWEVER BELATEDLY.

Open Letter to the Moscow Khamovniki District Court:

There must be some discussion on the outcome of the Yukos chief executives’ trial in Moscow that is soon to be decided, especially since it affects so many of the Khodorkovsky family and friends everywhere, and people like me do not want in the least to override the judicial powers of the Russian state, nor the invisible hand – type commerce that Yukos apparently afforded to its employees and their families, and efforts of that business to change the status quo in the hydrocarbons markets in view of O.P.E.C., and so forth.  What is apparent from reading about these matters, currently being decided in a contest at Khamovnichesky (sp?) / Khamovniki District Court, is that it is clear in a way that the Prosecutor’s office represents one side of the Yeltsin legacy, and the defendant’s apparently another.  People like me know the significance of the Yeltsin years is extremely powerful in its symbolism and subordinates that of the October revolution of 1917 and its aftermath in many ways, though the actual observable truth of this is subject to interpretation, and one is not at present in a place to definitively opine on these items.  With respect to this and the hope and uplifting denouement of the Yeltsin years, I refer you to, for example, the autobiographical portrait of George Shultz; or the co – written tome by Bush and Scowcroft in its portrayal of same, or any similar text on the era.  Yeltsin does deserve great credit, and enshrinement, for his economic reforms and this will become apparent more and more as the years pass.  Also, one can not question, in any way whatsoever the Kremlin’s power to adjudicate, without competitive dramatics, matters such as those being decided in the Yukos executives’ case.

It is possible that if Mikhail Khodorkovsky can be accused of anything, it is for not remembering his upbringing under the Yeltsin regime.  Most Russians can be said to be embittered, or at least not so invigorated by the memory of this time in their history, though there are cogent and complex reasons why Boris Yeltsin as head of state made choices and promoted economic and commercial policies that were intended to benefit everyone; every Russian person.  This should not be forgotten in these court proceedings, neither by the prosecutor, nor by the defendants and their attorney(s.)  People like me who understand a little about business know the Yukos business affairs were conducted by executives, well meaning, and very well – advised, and they performed their duties to stakeholders in excellent fashion, probably even with respect to taxation compliance and other regulatory measures – though that might not be the determination of the courts.  

In my reading about this case, it is important to understand the successes of many businesses are a mystery to most people, and that of Yukos was no exception to this axiom.  The success and overall assurances provided by government regulators and how they facilitate a healthy commercial environment is also something few people understand, either.  With this in mind, and as the judicial opinions are expressed in the outcome of the statutory charges currently being tried, and where the laws are clear and well – defined, and where this adjudication does have application to Russian society as a whole, including the ‘perspective of the world’ to paraphrase the great sociologist Fernand Braudel, the direction Russian commerce will take for the future, and the status of the defendants in this case as prophets (who will be regarded as real or false, depending on who’s whom, and what’s what) and the power of the legacy of previous times in the history of your country and its meaning at present and obvious present legal and other conditioning, and popular acclaim of these juridical matters in your capitol; the responsibilities of the parties to this trial are significant and quite serious.  These and other legal and economic processes and principles will be changed and otherwise affected by this judicial turning point.  It is important that you know outsiders to Russia understand this.  

While Mr. Khodorkovsky can be accused of forgetting his upbringing, the parties represented by the prosecution against him can in parallel be admonished for bringing a halt to a very large and constructive business concern in Russia, as illustrated in press reports and other open sources, that provided and promised a decent living and hope for a bright future for many Yukos employees, their families and considerable value, monetary and organisational, bestowed upon Russian society as the result of the innovations and initiatives of the defendants.  It is entirely possible, and given my own impression of the way in which market economics is interpreted and practiced in Russia, the country’s chief administrators, at the time Yukos activities were suspended or abrogated, did not themselves understand precisely the value of what good Yukos meant to many people, and the mysteries of its successes.  It is perhaps in the remnants of dialectic reasoning that remain in the consciousness of many people in your country that did call for an investigation of the way things happened or were “done,” and then further dicing up of what was found that makes one possible outcome of these proceedings to be so unpalatable.  What has apparently happened is the focus of the trial has not been on the business for lack of understanding of those operations, but on the defendants only.  In my studies at university I have often encountered insoluble problems, of ethics, for example, and could not revert to a solution which muddied the waters further as there are even natural rules and guidelines against this.  The prosecution in this case has apparently chosen to delve into and question matters of private business, the methods of which were in exegesis at the time of Yukos, and that have been rendered incomprehensible to observers and jurists alike with the efforts to dissect them at trial.  Both the jurists and attorneys need to comprehend what the legacy of Boris Yeltsin represents to those outside your country, and what great values and integrity he instituted in his time, in effort and in deed; at least in what concerns his own administrative efforts.  That is what really is being contested here, and this is an interpretation, and it is a political / administrative view.  No one during the time of the 1990’s to today, a great time of business innovation and invention everywhere, and especially so in Russia, can be blamed for being ambitious and, again, inventive as the Yukos executives had been.  Any decision of the courts that finally decides this case should account or compensate for this, and that Russian society has run through a crucible of economic events need not be on the heads of those Yukos people who apparently and sincerely wished for the better of the Russian economy and country.  Good day.

Sincerely,

THS

Another, belated review of "America and the World," by ...

…  Zbigniew Brzezinski and Brent Scowcroft:

This political book, written with David Ignatius examines current affairs and gives a new detailed synopsis of the role of the U.S. in the world, primarily from the time of the Marshall Plan through the Cold War and related nuclear threats, up to the fall of the former soviet union and then through 9 / 11 and beyond.  The text presents the idea that modern life, especially that in western society is in a new form of complexity not even seen since the fully bureaucratic days of Byzantium, for example.  The book begins with its proposals about historical events and their significance to us at this point (now 2008,) and then moves on to examine various questions, such as the Israelis and Palestinians and their state of affairs vis – a – vis the prosecution of the Iraq war.  With respect to Israel, there are great influences calling for a resolution of the conflict with the Palestinians, even at great sacrifice to the Jews, and this is in part what here is interpreted more and more as a ‘status quo’ to begin resolving this and other Middle East issues.  In fact, to abandon the ideals of an Israeli homeland at this point in time would be to equally abandon important U.S. state policies and roles in associations like the G – 20, N.A.T.O., our positions on nuclear non – proliferation and Eastern Europe, in favour of the polity of states like Iran who essentially exploit anti – Israeli groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.  Some of the text is dedicated to illustrating the last part of the Bush Administration and efforts to resolve the conflicts of Hamas, Beirut, and the role of Syria against the Jews, though this effort was shown as, and in fact was not overridingly successful.

The Taliban are perceived in the theme of this examination of historical events through Brzezinski and Scowcroft as a significant threat to U.S. national security, and as the memorable opponents of the soviets in Afghanistan as well.  One is also reminded the Pakistanis and the Taliban were trained by western military people, again against the soviets and the situation as it is today with the Taliban is extremely rancorous with respect to western governments.  

With respect to economics, though mostly politics in the Far East, the authors illustrate principally the rising power, economic and political, financial and so on, of the P.R.C. in terms of the enlightened self – interest not only of its Asian neighbors, but of western officialdom as well.  The rivalry between the P.R.C. and its Asian contemporaries with the west is nonetheless portrayed as ruthless in economic terms.  The issues of Tibet and T’ai wan, and South Korea are easily interpreted as very tense situations with P.R.C., a communist – party based government still dealing with the legacy of T’ian An Men and Deng Xiao Ping; and the recognitions of the legitimacy of smaller Asian associations such as A.S.E.A.N.  Special mention is made of North Korea and the need for its own adherence to nuclear anti – proliferation rules and other regional security issues including the naval incidents of late.  

Special mention is also made in large part of Russia and its current leadership after the very significant Gorbachev and Yeltsin years:  Apart from the conundrum surrounding the mutual political and administrative status of Dmitri Medvedev and Vladimir Putin, there seem to be four major issues with Russia, and all are unsolvable:  Nuclear non – proliferation, N.A.T.O. and the former soviet and COMECON (and Warsaw Pact) states, the vagaries of the petrol business, and relations with P.R.C.  With respect to Eastern Europe, still, Western Europe is illustrated as at times a fitful ally and then again as a close political and administrative partner that is attempting on the state level to rise above issues of nationalism in its institutions.  It is here where the authors bring in their partitioned time – lines on American politics and the world, dating back to the age of John Quincy Adams, then forward to the Wilson presidency, and then post – 9 / 11 events.  Brzezinski notes at this point the older European community was much more cohesive on a regional level given the two devastating world wars and the Cold War during the 20^th century, and needs at present better political coordination.  With respect to World Wars I and II, N.A.T.O. is still an issue unto itself that affects the sovereignty of most Europeans, regardless of nationality or where they reside in the region.

To begin the conclusion of the text, the authors enter into a discussion about the importance of human dignity and human rights, and its influence on their ideas about doctrinaire enlightened or “guileful” realism in affairs.  There is also some discussion of a new world order in which cultural identities have primacy, hearkening to the world of 20^th century Wilsonian political ideas.  The new administration in Washington, D.C., while it promised a number of important things, especially about changes in government, is seen currently as bogged down in its own efforts, and with respect to foreign policy there has been progress and reform in the integration of departments and agencies as far as communications and functioning are concerned.