Comments for Bertelsmann Future Challenges http://futurechallenges.org Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:25:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 Comment on Defending the Global Village by Tibor Blažko http://futurechallenges.org/articles/defending-the-global-village/#comment-10191 Tibor Blažko Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:25:55 +0000 http://futurechallenges.org/?post_type=lead_article&p=10830#comment-10191 I would be very careful with "the world clearly needs" and "must do everything" because this way we can end with registration for knife (did you try buy any in Beijing? http://english.gov.cn/2012-01/30/content_2054258.htm ) and anyway it will bring just limitation of common citizen BTW. number of victims of mentioned Mumbai case is comparable with number of people die in Indian police custody every year (where I can imagine real improvement) I would be very careful with “the world clearly needs” and “must do everything”
because this way we can end with registration for knife (did you try buy any in Beijing? http://english.gov.cn/2012-01/30/content_2054258.htm )
and anyway it will bring just limitation of common citizen
BTW. number of victims of mentioned Mumbai case is comparable with number of people die in Indian police custody every year (where I can imagine real improvement)

]]> Comment on The Wealth of a Nation: How Norway Escaped the Oil Curse by Kamma Thordarson http://futurechallenges.org/local/the-wealth-of-a-nation-how-norway-escaped-the-oil-curse/#comment-9534 Kamma Thordarson Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:01:19 +0000 http://futurechallenges.org/?post_type=local_views&p=11062#comment-9534 Thank you guys, Malaysia is considered a country that has also done well in managing its oil wealth and should be interesting to look into but it is indeed true that many countries say they are making a fund with Norway as an example that does not in fact resemble the Norwegian case. Thank you guys, Malaysia is considered a country that has also done well in managing its oil wealth and should be interesting to look into but it is indeed true that many countries say they are making a fund with Norway as an example that does not in fact resemble the Norwegian case.

]]> Comment on The Difficulties of Students in China on the Employment Market by Clément Renaud http://futurechallenges.org/local/difficulties-of-students-in-china-in-the-labour-market/#comment-9511 Clément Renaud Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:52:13 +0000 http://futurechallenges.org/?post_type=local_views&p=10014#comment-9511 Hi Anneliesse, according to BBC "Their top destinations are English-speaking countries like the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, as well as a number of other Western countries." http://goo.gl/ouDIS It fits to what I have observed there. Actually the funny thing is that even if students are really busy learning English, some of the best universities in China doesn't even offer a Spanish curriculum... Hi Anneliesse,
according to BBC “Their top destinations are English-speaking countries like the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, as well as a number of other Western countries.” http://goo.gl/ouDIS
It fits to what I have observed there.

Actually the funny thing is that even if students are really busy learning English, some of the best universities in China doesn’t even offer a Spanish curriculum…

]]> Comment on Qualified Yet Unemployed: The Plight of Educated Young People in Sri Lanka by Sushma Joshi http://futurechallenges.org/local/qualified-yet-unemployed-the-plight-of-educated-young-in-sri-lanka/#comment-9492 Sushma Joshi Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:04:41 +0000 http://futurechallenges.org/?post_type=local_views&p=10821#comment-9492 I like the idea of South-South collaboration. I think that's where the opportunities are going to come from for young people. Asian countries have to help each other to build strong economies. I like the idea of South-South collaboration. I think that’s where the opportunities are going to come from for young people. Asian countries have to help each other to build strong economies.

]]> Comment on The Wealth of a Nation: How Norway Escaped the Oil Curse by Future Challenges team http://futurechallenges.org/local/the-wealth-of-a-nation-how-norway-escaped-the-oil-curse/#comment-9482 Future Challenges team Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:34:51 +0000 http://futurechallenges.org/?post_type=local_views&p=11062#comment-9482 Thanks for your comment Javo01. We're happy that you like our blogposts! Thanks for your comment Javo01. We’re happy that you like our blogposts!

]]> Comment on The Wealth of a Nation: How Norway Escaped the Oil Curse by Javo01 http://futurechallenges.org/local/the-wealth-of-a-nation-how-norway-escaped-the-oil-curse/#comment-9450 Javo01 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:15:22 +0000 http://futurechallenges.org/?post_type=local_views&p=11062#comment-9450 Venezuelans know the resource curse very well, despite the government stating they're "following the Norwegian example". In 2006, TV2 Norway went to Venezuela to find out what exactly is going on with the oil revenues. This is what they found out (Videos in Norwegian/English, subtitled in Spanish): <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoLe4j8NnLw" rel="nofollow">TV2 Norway on Venezuela: Where are the oil revenues going? Poverty and Clientelism</a> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lXmaNLUtNc" rel="nofollow">TV2 Norway on Venezuela: Where are the oil revenues going? Hospitals and Chavez's Answer</a> Needless to say, those videos still depict the situation today, if it hasn't in fact gotten worse. Anyway, nice blog. You keep on writing, I'll keep on reading. Javo01 Venezuelans know the resource curse very well, despite the government stating they’re “following the Norwegian example”.

In 2006, TV2 Norway went to Venezuela to find out what exactly is going on with the oil revenues. This is what they found out (Videos in Norwegian/English, subtitled in Spanish):

TV2 Norway on Venezuela: Where are the oil revenues going? Poverty and Clientelism

TV2 Norway on Venezuela: Where are the oil revenues going? Hospitals and Chavez’s Answer

Needless to say, those videos still depict the situation today, if it hasn’t in fact gotten worse.

Anyway, nice blog.
You keep on writing, I’ll keep on reading.

Javo01

]]> Comment on Unconcerned by 9/11? Think again! by Sherif http://futurechallenges.org/local/not-being-concerned-by-911-an-extinct-species/#comment-9150 Sherif Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:08:45 +0000 http://futurechallenges.org/?post_type=local_views&p=8256#comment-9150 Unfortunately the story continues. Security authorities prepare for classification methods to trace and select individuals depending on their race and behavior. They are supported with many new inventions making such methods nowadays possible which had been thought to be impossible before. Thinking about new immigrates checked by complex family search procedures including even the sociological history of their family members, or peaceful passengers flying over the ocean being checked and unfairly classified in the security check points, all making us to think thoroughly if we prepare for a more secure world or to a terrifying one!!! The money pushed for such developments can better help to make the world a happier place if it were put in the education and the "know-your-neighbors"-like programs. Unfortunately the story continues. Security authorities prepare for classification methods to trace and select individuals depending on their race and behavior. They are supported with many new inventions making such methods nowadays possible which had been thought to be impossible before. Thinking about new immigrates checked by complex family search procedures including even the sociological history of their family members, or peaceful passengers flying over the ocean being checked and unfairly classified in the security check points, all making us to think thoroughly if we prepare for a more secure world or to a terrifying one!!!

The money pushed for such developments can better help to make the world a happier place if it were put in the education and the “know-your-neighbors”-like programs.

]]> Comment on The Wealth of a Nation: How Norway Escaped the Oil Curse by Tom Fries http://futurechallenges.org/local/the-wealth-of-a-nation-how-norway-escaped-the-oil-curse/#comment-9120 Tom Fries Wed, 08 Feb 2012 08:15:17 +0000 http://futurechallenges.org/?post_type=local_views&p=11062#comment-9120 Fantastic post, Kamma - Norway really does provide a unique example (are there others?) of how oil wealth can be turned into a tool for long-term success and stability. As the other Arctic littoral states increase their exploration for the newly-accessible resources in the Arctic (still lots of challenges, but still), it will be interesting to see which head towards a Norway-style long-term planning for their citizens' benefit and which head towards the more common petro-state model. There was a good post on this issue on thearcticinstitute.org recently...http://www.thearcticinstitute.org/2011/11/1231-its-not-just-market-drivers-of.html Fantastic post, Kamma – Norway really does provide a unique example (are there others?) of how oil wealth can be turned into a tool for long-term success and stability. As the other Arctic littoral states increase their exploration for the newly-accessible resources in the Arctic (still lots of challenges, but still), it will be interesting to see which head towards a Norway-style long-term planning for their citizens’ benefit and which head towards the more common petro-state model.
There was a good post on this issue on thearcticinstitute.org recently…http://www.thearcticinstitute.org/2011/11/1231-its-not-just-market-drivers-of.html

]]> Comment on The Difficulties of Students in China on the Employment Market by Anneliese Guess http://futurechallenges.org/local/difficulties-of-students-in-china-in-the-labour-market/#comment-9080 Anneliese Guess Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:16:13 +0000 http://futurechallenges.org/?post_type=local_views&p=10014#comment-9080 Hi Clément, Wow! I had no idea that English is such an important language to know in China. I'd be really interested in reading a blog post on that. I'm curious: which country do the majority of Chinese students go to if they attend university outside of China? I'm sure that trend has an impact on high-skilled migration/brain drain, especially if the Chinese students stay abroad to begin their careers. Hi Clément,

Wow! I had no idea that English is such an important language to know in China. I’d be really interested in reading a blog post on that.

I’m curious: which country do the majority of Chinese students go to if they attend university outside of China? I’m sure that trend has an impact on high-skilled migration/brain drain, especially if the Chinese students stay abroad to begin their careers.

]]> Comment on The Difficulties of Students in China on the Employment Market by Clément Renaud http://futurechallenges.org/local/difficulties-of-students-in-china-in-the-labour-market/#comment-8941 Clément Renaud Sun, 05 Feb 2012 11:57:07 +0000 http://futurechallenges.org/?post_type=local_views&p=10014#comment-8941 Hi Anneliese, Thanks for your interest and sorry for late answer. College diploma are quite expensive and each optional options has additional costs (foreign languages, etc.) To make a real difference in the labour market, most of students will actually go abroad to study. Of course, it is not affordable for all Chinese families, but it is also often a solution for rich students with bad scholar curriculum. The rush of Chinese students to learn English and other foreign languages will be a good topic for another article. To enter a phD program in China, the English score is often more important than the score obtained in their proper field... Hi Anneliese,
Thanks for your interest and sorry for late answer.

College diploma are quite expensive and each optional options has additional costs (foreign languages, etc.) To make a real difference in the labour market, most of students will actually go abroad to study. Of course, it is not affordable for all Chinese families, but it is also often a solution for rich students with bad scholar curriculum.

The rush of Chinese students to learn English and other foreign languages will be a good topic for another article. To enter a phD program in China, the English score is often more important than the score obtained in their proper field…

]]>