World Press Photo 2008 goes to Xinhua News Agency

A journalist of the Chinese national press agency, Xinhua News Agency, will be honored by the end of 2008 for the World Press Photo of the Year: the picture shows the Olympic torch to be held up by a Chinese athlete on Mt. Qomolangma. If the international jury does not vote for it, I will do so right now – before it is even taken.

It is not taken yet, but it will spread fast around the globe. The political and social attendance is currently focused on a symbol for freedom, although it has to be secured by police and military forces. The Olympic Flame is being shown around the world – it should be a proud moment for the Chinese nation. The Olympic Games Beijing 2008 are the most important events for China and its people. It fostered its pride and its self-confidence. The Olympic relay represents the kick-off, the pleasant anticipation of 1.3 billion people and the Olympic spirit that respectfully is carried to the Chinese capital.

This was not planned. Tibetans around the world take the opportunity to draw the world’s attention once more to their discontent. The western press is taking this up with a broad coverage and rolling out the Tibetan story, talking basically about humanitarian situation in China. There is no doubt China has annexed Tibet and it has been controlling its territory since then. And after the protests over the last few weeks, it is also obvious that Tibet’s status is still not accepted by its people.

The coverage that is given by the western media, though, seems very biased to the Chinese. Talking about it so heavily in favor of the Tibetans (be it objective or not), is in a Chinese view against the People’s Republic. Surely, there are always some reported mistakes, like American news channels mix up the Nepalese with the Chinese soldiers. The Spiegel, NY Times and other famous media have an extremely high reputation in the West and there are always certain parts that are subjectively influenced. Chinese people, I would say, have not had the exposure to negative reporting against their nation. It was closed to western reporting. As this happens right now during this great, fantastic, long-awaited kick-off of Beijing 2008 around the world, I can completely understand that Chinese feel defamed by western media. However, the nation uses this situation to strengthen itself.

I was shocked but also had positive feelings, when I saw this movie. The question from this movie that I have to ask: “Is this movie populist or are the western media?” Watch it until the very end and you will say: Neither of them is, I guess, but both had a clear point: “One World, One Dream" (the slogan for Beijing 2008).

When friends ask me what I think of the Tibetans using the tour de torch as a platform for their situation, I must say I do not mind. It is everybody’s right to express his opinion as long as it is non violently, which it was to some extent (reported by western media). Disturbing the tour is extremely effective, since the symbolic power of the torch for China makes it very vulnerable. At the same time, I must defend China and its people, which are looking forward to a wonderful, peaceful event. The current discussion has nothing to do with the Olympic Games. Why should an athlete boycott the Games? Tibet is using the torch as a political platform, the Games have been used politically and economically over the last hundred years. Why is this so? In Ancient times, wars were stopped during the Games. In the 1930s and 1940s the Games were stopped because of wars. These Games should be a time of joy for everyone and it will be. China will do its best to makes these Games perfect.

Chinese Organization Committee, all volunteers, spectators and athletes will make these Games the best, the ones with the most beautiful blue sky, the ones with the most visitors et cetera et cetera. What China and the United States have in common, they are both countries of superlatives. Therefore, the torch – on its longest tour ever – h a s to be carried up to the highest mountain on this planet: Mt Qomolangma (Mt Everest). Nepalese and Chinese routes to the peak were shut. Nobody is allowed to climb the mountain until the 10th of May (announced by western media). Those people that will be carrying the torch up to the peak will be presumably accompanied by at least one photographer of Xinhua News Agency (and a huge camera team for sure). When they will have reached the peak, the pictures of a Chinese athlete holding the torch over 8′848 meters above sea level will spread around the globe within seconds. A picture that will look similar to the Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima. A picture that will represent China’s pride. A picture the will unify political, social and sportive interest at its best. Is there a picture that can be more of public interest than this one? Assuming no, I give the price for the World Press Photo of the Year 2008 to the agency Xinhua. The picture is up to come. Be excited! Not politically, but for the Olympic spirit. One World, One Dream.

Add comment | May 2nd, 2008

It is all about the Thing

There are many traditional curiosities in Switzerland, that have survived all reforms. The German laugh often at us, because of these curiosities. They often see us as very conservative. However, this might not be true. I would like to give you one example. It is called ‘landsgemeinde’.

Switzerland is a democratic country with a so-called semi-direct democracy (see explications and details about Switzerland and direct democracy on Wikipedia). To make a long story short: we vote on quite a few things during the year, which makes the system slow, but thoroughly thought through ;-). Nowadays, every citizen receives all relevant documents and important (neutral) information about the topic by post mail. Each person sends his/her vote back or throws the envelope into the voting box. Nothing special so far. But since we do not only vote on federal level, the system gets more complicated on state level. Our states are called cantons and there are 26 of them (I’m not going into depth here). Some of these cantons have a very small population. Therefore, they do not vote by mail or voting box. They call in everyone for a ‘landsgemeinde’ – no joke.

A few hundred years ago, some European countries, especially Germany and Scandinavian countries, had an assembly, which was a traditional form of executing democracy. In Germany, this form has been abandoned, but is still know as the ‘Thing’ (the word ‘thing’ in English derives from this assembly). As mentioned above, in Switzerland it has survived as landsgemeinde.

Personally, I was always laughing at my fellow students from the cantons of Glarus and Appenzell, where the landsgemeinde is still the one and only way to vote. Last year, I had the chance to attend this event as a spectator and I was impressed. Despite the fact that it was raining, many people came to vote.

As I said, due to the small amount of citizens, it is much easier to bring all of them together for vote on one day. There are critics, because this form of vote forces everyone to disclose his opinion in public. On the other hand, this form allows an open discussion, which includes also to change the original text of the debated legal text. Furthermore, it can influence participants and therefore the final result as well. To explain shortly how it works at a landsgemeinde, let me give you an example. In May 2006, there was a vote for how to reorganize the landscape of municipalities. At that point in time, the canton of Glarus had 25 municipalities. It was planned to reduce this amount down to 10. During the debate, many different opinions were exchange and the discussion went on and on about which amount of municipalities would be best for Glarus to make the canton more efficient and to save costs. Towards the end of the discussion, one person (not a party) came up to stage and suggested to reduce the amount down to 3. It’s simple, efficient and saves cost. People like it and finally it got through.

The canton of Glarus was the first canton to give the right to vote to women. It seems that the flexibility of this traditional, old form of democracy allows a very upfront, modern solutions, which the federal level cannot provide (even if there is a debate going on on federal level). It will then spread over to larger countries. Last year, for example, the canton of Glarus was the first state to decrease the voting age down to 16. Other cantons have followed since then.

The landsgemeinde is a fascinating phenomenon in Switzerland and definitely part of the culture. Surely, it would not work on a federal level, except someone would shift everything over to e-government. Though, a federal landsgemeinde would take several days if everyone wanted to say something. I think it is a nice curiosity in the landscape of Swiss democracy and it should persist. Although we sometimes laugh at them, they are sometimes more modern than we are ;-).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landsgemeinde

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landsgemeinde

Add comment | March 12th, 2008

My global, urban retreat

Everywhere I go, I try to adapt to local habits and day-to-day life as much as possible. Sometimes though, I look for a place where I can take a deep breath. I am sorry to say this, but then I go to Starbucks. Why? Because I know, there is one.

Some examples:

Talking about the outer world of the U.S., Starbucks has brought a different culture to this planet. It is neither a European coffee culture not part of the American way of life (I’d say). What is it then? Although many European nations have their own, specific coffee culture, Starbucks coffee shops are mushrooming in all major cities around the globe. Starbucks does not sell culture, it sells experience. Though, I am not saying that there is no experience in a traditional coffe shop in Munich, Vienna, Paris or Milano. Hence, let me put it this way: Starbucks sells coffee with a great marketing strategy. Starbucks offers smoke free, stay-as-long-as-you-like self service with a comfortable interior design. Young people like to sit in here, do their home work or use the free internet connection. In addition to that, they offer take-away services, which was for example in Switzerland only offered at a few places before Starbucks entered the market.

So how do they make money? First of all, Starbucks sells a huge variety of (expensive) cups of coffeine. Many different tastes are satisfied (even in China, where customers often choose something else then coffee, but pay the huge mark-up). Second, Starbucks bundles its experience with involvement: "I want a tall not fat de-caf latte to go" - a global language. Thirdly, due to its monopoly of more than just coffee in many countries outside of the U.S. Starbucks gathers several different groups of customers in its stores (see reason for customer satisfaction in brackets): business men and women (gastronomically efficient, take-away), families (smoke free, long stay possible) and students (internet hot-spot, long stay possible). And last but not least one that you will always find at Starbucks: foreigners. And they have a very special need.

Foreigners, especially tourists, find themselves in a different cultural set up, wherever they are considered as foreigners. Some can easily get along with this, some cannot. And I am not saying that every foreigner goes to Starbucks. However, we are all creatures of habit and are dominated by marketing strategies of large companies. Now, as a tourist, I am walking around in a city watching all these nice tourist spots and inhabitants. I am taking pictures, trying to avoid people who want to sell me stuff and looking finally for a place where I can sit down. Where shall that be? Is there a nice coffee shop around? An BAM! You end up at Starbucks.

I am sure that you might think "I never go to Starbucks! Not even in my hometown! I would go to an authentic place of that city!". Many people, including me, do so. I l o v e to sit in a Kaffeehaus in Austria or Germany or to stand at a coffee bar in Italy. However, there are many tourists who nevertheless go to Starbucks. And there is a simple reason behind it. Not only are we choosing mostly those products that are top of mind. If you are to a new place, how can you know another brand than Starbucks. Starbucks is also always present near tourists spots. Why shouldn’t they?

Starbucks has in its strategy for market penetration to choose large cities with high population and get as many profitable locations in that city as possible. Starbucks takes it one by one until the market is penetrated and then moves to the next city - at a global pace for sure. Starting with the largest cities in this world, you pricipally end up in those cities that are also visited by many tourists. And mostly the city center is the place where you have the largest frequency of customers (you grab businessmen and -women, families on their Sunday afternoon walk, et cetera). This all ends up with many Starbucks all over the city, mostly somewhere near major tourist spots. And if one as a tourist walks from one spot to the next one, he regularly ends up at Starbucks. Well, not everybody but a reasonable amount for make that shop profitable.

On its website, Starbucks offers a store locator for some countries in Europe and America.

From my point of view, it is not a shame to go to Starbucks… this is what some Swiss state from time to time. I like the place, especially because I can trust Starbucks to be similar everywhere I go. This is neither good nor bad, but gives one a globalized, urban retreat if one is looking for something he knows. And where can that be if not in a café, a Kaffeehaus or a Starbucks.

This time, I will not go to Starbucks. I am in Barcelona right now and have found another personal urban retreat: Café Zurich ;-).

Add comment | February 26th, 2008

Barcelona!

Another beautiful city in Europe, Barcelona. I spent there the weekend with a friend from university. She is currently studying at ESADE. Have a look at the pictures.

Add comment | February 25th, 2008

Na Kampa

Add comment | February 18th, 2008