This blog contains lots of articles and world news. Its aim is to be a source of knowledge for people to read and think, and thus make an intuitive decision on how to lead their lives fruitfully in every-day livings.Under the concept of Today-Readers are Tomorrow Leaders.' The world will be better because we begin to change for the best.
วันพุธที่ 1 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2557
Global AgeWatch Index: Norway best for older people
Norway is the best place to grow old, according to an index of the quality of later life in 96 countries.
HelpAge International's Global AgeWatch Index measures the social and economic welfare of those over 60.
Published on the UN International Day of Older Persons, it ranks Australia, Western Europe and North America highly, and Afghanistan last.
The report predicts that by 2050, 21% of the global population will be over 60.
The index measures four areas - income security, health, personal capability and whether the person lives in an "enabling environment".
Hot on the heels of Norway comes Sweden, closely followed by Switzerland, Canada and Germany.
The report says that by 2050, some 40 countries in the index will have populations where 30% are aged 60 or over.
The UN has said that the number of those aged 60 or over is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030.
Experts point out that the increasing numbers of people surviving into older age are, of course, a cause for celebration - advances in healthcare and in nutrition, better sanitation, and more economic prosperity are all contributory factors.
Add in other factors like falling birth rates and it is clear why we see not just more people living longer, but countries with higher percentages of older people as well.
But the question is whether this can be turned into more positive ageing for those who have little or no social protection or savings - an acute challenge for many in the developing world.
It is made worse where the tradition of caring for the elderly within extended families is weakening.
There is change taking place. The growth of tax-financed, non-contributory "social pensions" is seen as key to helping to tackle inequality for the older age group.
A slogan often heard in global development is "leave no-one behind" - the welfare of those in later life is as much of a test of it as the young.
Grey line
Several Latin American countries - particularly Mexico and Peru - have leapt up the index for their commitment in ensuring "social pensions" for the poorest older people.
These are tax-financed, non-contributory pensions that ensure a basic income for the most vulnerable.
In Mexico, nearly nine out of every 10 people aged 65 and over receive a social pension.
Because of this, Mexico ranks at 30 on the index, outstripping the BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Peru has implemented the Pension 65 programme, which provides older people with 250 nuevo soles (£53) every two months.
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วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 18 กันยายน พ.ศ. 2557
September 17, 2014
Pears Like Little Buddhas
by Rebecca Rupp
Sylvia Plath’s poem “The Manor Garden” includes the line “The pears fatten like little buddhas”—which, I always thought, was the perfect simile for placid, fat-bellied, ripening pears. Now, it turns out, it’s no longer a simile.
Nowadays we can produce pears that look exactly like fat little buddhas, complete with folded arms, plump tummies, and meditative smiles. The secret is a plastic mold made by China’s Fruit Mould Company, a manufacturing group that also sells supplies for making heart-shaped watermelons, star-shaped cucumbers, apples with gnomish faces, and sultry peaches shaped like human behinds.
People have been fiddling with their fruits and vegetables since the dawn of agriculture. At first, our primary aims were size and productivity—that is, bigger, faster-growing food and lots of it. Then we went for looks. In the Americas, well before the arrival of Columbus, prehistoric farmers had developed hundreds of flashy varieties of corn and beans, both in a range of gorgeous and gaudy colors; dozens of varieties of peppers; and a mind-boggling array of tomatoes. Spanish friar Bernardino de Sahagún, in his General History of the Things of New Spain (1577), includes an awed description of the tomatoes on sale in the Aztec market of Tenochtítlan:
…large tomatoes, small tomatoes, leaf tomatoes, thin tomatoes, sweet tomatoes, large serpent tomatoes, nipple-shaped tomatoes, serpent tomatoes…coyote tomatoes, sand tomatoes, those which are yellow, very yellow, quite yellow, red, very red, quite ruddy, ruddy, bright red, reddish, rosy dawn colored.
Interest in appearance inevitably led to judgment calls: some fruits and vegetables were deemed better-looking than others. An early candidate on the reject list was the curly cucumber. Cucumbers are particularly prone to this quirky condition, which is officially referred to as a deformity and called “crooking.” Faced with incomplete pollination, poor nutrition, or less-than-ideal growing conditions, the developing cucumber responds by curling up like a pestered pill bug.
Cucumber curl has annoyed gardeners at least since the days of the ancient Chinese, who recommended hanging stones from the ends of cucumbers, in hopes that traction would force them to straighten out. The Romans dealt with wayward cucumbers by growing them inside hollow reeds or canes. The Victorians solved the problem with cucumber glasses, cylindrical containers available in sizes up to 24 inches long, in which immature cucumbers were inserted and thereby forced to keep to the straight and narrow. The cucumber glass was invented by engineer George Stephenson (1781-1848), otherwise famous for building the world’s first railroad for steam locomotives, and sometimes known as the “Father of Railways.” He seems to have liked his cucumbers both straight and sliced thin, since he also reputedly invented (or improved upon) the cucumber slicer.
The cucumber glass operates much like the Buddha pear mold, in that the immature fruit is tucked into it and fastened in place; then, as the fruit grows, it fills in the mold and takes its shape. A similar technique was introduced about 20 years ago by a Japanese farmer on the island of Shikoku for growing “square” (actually cuboidal) watermelons encased in glass boxes. Corseted in this fashion, the average watermelon takes about 18 days to go from oblong to square. The stackable square melons are a boon to space-strapped Japanese markets; they’re also easier to transport; and consumers like them because they fit nicely in the family refrigerator. The drawback: they’re expensive, costing up to three times the price of non-square melons.
Consumers these days—accustomed to uniformity and vegetable pulchritude—don’t like it when their produce looks odd. We tend to spurn forked carrots, lumpy potatoes, Siamese-twin-like beets, too-small apples, and the aforementioned curly cucumbers. In fact, we’re actually protected from such funny-looking food by law. Regulations promulgated by the European Union, for example—noted for its Byzantine pickiness—include mathematical limits for the acceptable cucumber (must be “reasonably well shaped and practically straight (maximum height of the arc: 10 mm per 10 cm of the length of cucumber)”), carrot (“not forked, free from secondary roots”), and apple (nothing under 50 mm (2 inches) in diameter or 70 grams (2.5 ounces) in weight).
The result of such retail standardization, on both sides of the Atlantic, is massive food waste. Various studies suggest that up to 40% of fruit and vegetables never make it to consumers’ tables because they’re simply not up to aesthetic snuff. A 2012 paper from the U.S. National Resources Defense Council reports that post-harvest culling eliminates immense quantities of homely, but nutritious and edible, food. One cucumber farmer estimated that less than half of his annual crop actually leaves the farm, though 75% of the rejects are, taste-wise, just fine. A tomato packing company reported that, in tomato season, it discards 22,000 pounds of nutritious, but malformed, tomatoes every 40 minutes.
The EU—pressured by protesters—has revoked its restrictions on 26 types of produce, though the rules remain in place for ten others, which collectively constitute 75% of the European fruit and vegetable trade. Among these are such popular edibles as apples, citrus fruits, peaches, pears, peppers, and tomatoes.
Photo of a buddha pear on a tree.
Some supermarkets have gallantly gone to bat for homely food. France’s Intermarché chain, for example, recently launched an “Inglorious Fruits and Vegetables” campaign, complete with glossy posters variously featuring the Disfigured Eggplant, Ugly Carrot, Ridiculous Potato, Hideous Orange, Grotesque Apple, and Failed Lemon. Their aim is to convince consumers that lopsided and lumpy fruits and veggies are just as scrumptious as their sleek and spiffy counterparts. As an added incentive, the chain sells them at a 30% discount.
In view of concerns about increasing food prices and agricultural sustainability, this is no time to be tossing tons of food away. When it comes to eating—let’s face it—pretty isn’t everything.
Handsome is as handsome does.
This story is part of National Geographic’s special eight-month Future of Food series.
References:
For some impressive images of 19th-century cucumber straighteners, see Edible Geography’s Clod Crushers and Cucumber Straighters by Nicola Twilley.
Gunders, Dana. Wasted: How America Is Losing Up to 40 Percent of Its Food from Farm to Fork to Landfill. National Resources Defense Council Issue Paper, August 2012.
The Chinese aren’t the only ones. At Disney’s Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida, horticulturists use molds to grow Mickey-Mouse-shaped pumpkins.
วันอังคารที่ 9 กันยายน พ.ศ. 2557
MH17 crash: Dutch experts say numerous objects hit plane
Dutch experts say Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 broke up in mid-air after being hit by "objects" that "pierced the plane at high velocity" in July.
The new report also said there was "no evidence of technical or human error".
Correspondents say this matches claims that MH17 was hit by missile shrapnel.
Investigators relied on cockpit data, air traffic control and images, as the crash site in eastern Ukraine remains too dangerous to access amid fighting between government troops and rebels.
The plane was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed in rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine.
All 298 people on board, most of them from the Netherlands, died when the plane came down, amid reports it was shot down by pro-Russian rebels.
The crash site was in rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine, making the investigation even more difficult
Analysis: Richard Westcott, Transport correspondent
This report doesn't say flight MH17 was knocked from the sky by a missile. But it pretty much rules out anything else.
There were no emergencies on board, no mechanical problems, the pilots didn't make any mistakes.
Instead, it talks about the plane being punctured by "high-velocity objects", which is consistent with how the BUK missile system works (that's the system many suspect was responsible). They don't actually hit the target, they explode nearby and pepper it with shrapnel for maximum damage.
But all of this doesn't answer the critical question. Who fired the missile?
Both sides in this conflict use the same weapon. To find out who made this terrible mistake, they need to determine where on the ground the missile was actually launched from. And one expert told me that they should eventually be able to work that out with a combination of radar data and evidence from the scene.
There is one very sobering fact also highlighted in this report. Three other, very large commercial airliners flew over the same area at around the same time.
Investigators say the cockpit voice recorder "gave no indication that there was anything abnormal" on board
The Dutch team analysed photographs of the wreckage that showed a number of pieces with multiple holes
They said the plane "broke up in the air probably as the result of structural damage caused by a large number of high-velocity objects that penetrated the aircraft from outside."
The cockpit voice recorder revealed no signs of any technical faults or an emergency situation, the experts said.
The investigators have not visited the crash site because of fighting in the area but they said photographic evidence of the wreckage suggests the plane split into pieces during "an in-flight break up".
Maintenance history showed the aircraft was airworthy and had no known technical problems when it took off from Amsterdam, the report added.
Experts said it was manned by "a qualified and experienced crew" and that engines were running normally at 293 knots at 33,000ft (cruise altitude).
Radio communications between the pilot and Ukrainian air traffic control confirm that no emergency call was made.
Criminal investigation
While it is not the final report into the crash, the findings are significant because they are the first official account of what happened, says the BBC's Anna Holligan in the Netherlands.
The report does not attribute blame or liability for the crash but a separate criminal investigation is being conducted by prosecutors in The Hague, she adds.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak welcomed the report, saying it "leads to the strong suspicion that a surface-to-air missile brought MH17 down".
Meanwhile, the rebel leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Aleksandr Zakharchenko, insisted the separatists did not have the capability to shoot down the plane.
"I can say one thing only: we simply do not have the kind of hardware that could have downed a commercial Boeing, including that Malaysian plane," he told the Russian Interfax news agency.
Ukraine's government and several Western leaders say there is strong evidence that pro-Russian separatists shot down the plane with an anti-aircraft system known as Buk.
Russia has consistently denied allegations that it had supplied any missiles or weapons to the rebels.
The Russian government denies delivering arms to the separatists
The search for evidence has been hampered by heavy fighting in the region, and Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai called on both sides to grant investigators full access.
"The crash site is a criminal investigation area and it is imperative that we protect the integrity of the crash site and allow the investigation to proceed," he said.
More than 2,600 people have been killed and thousands more wounded since violence between rebels and Ukrainian government forces erupted in April.
The Dutch Safety Board is leading an international probe to try to piece together evidence on what happened to flight MH17.
Experts from the UK, Germany, Australia, Malaysia, the US, Ukraine and Russia are collaborating on the case.
The board says it expects the final report to be published within a year.
Key findings of report
Likely that damage resulted in loss of structural integrity of aircraft, leading to break-up in the air
Forward parts of plane found near Petropavlivka closest to last flight data broadcast
Cockpit window contained numerous small puncture holes suggesting small objects entered from above level of cockpit floor
Damage to forward section indicates plane penetrated by large number of high-velocity objects from outside
No evidence found of manipulation of flight and data recorders
No indication of technical or operational issues with plane or crew
Malaysia plane crash: What we know
Were you or was someone you know affected by the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17? What is your reaction to the interim report into the causes? You can email your thoughts to Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
............................
Dutch experts say Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 broke up in mid-air after being hit by "objects" that "pierced the plane at high velocity" in July.
The new report also said there was "no evidence of technical or human error".
Correspondents say this matches claims that MH17 was hit by missile shrapnel.
Investigators relied on cockpit data, air traffic control and images, as the crash site in eastern Ukraine remains too dangerous to access amid fighting between government troops and rebels.
The plane was flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it crashed in rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine.
All 298 people on board, most of them from the Netherlands, died when the plane came down, amid reports it was shot down by pro-Russian rebels.
The crash site was in rebel-held territory in eastern Ukraine, making the investigation even more difficult
Analysis: Richard Westcott, Transport correspondent
This report doesn't say flight MH17 was knocked from the sky by a missile. But it pretty much rules out anything else.
There were no emergencies on board, no mechanical problems, the pilots didn't make any mistakes.
Instead, it talks about the plane being punctured by "high-velocity objects", which is consistent with how the BUK missile system works (that's the system many suspect was responsible). They don't actually hit the target, they explode nearby and pepper it with shrapnel for maximum damage.
But all of this doesn't answer the critical question. Who fired the missile?
Both sides in this conflict use the same weapon. To find out who made this terrible mistake, they need to determine where on the ground the missile was actually launched from. And one expert told me that they should eventually be able to work that out with a combination of radar data and evidence from the scene.
There is one very sobering fact also highlighted in this report. Three other, very large commercial airliners flew over the same area at around the same time.
Investigators say the cockpit voice recorder "gave no indication that there was anything abnormal" on board
The Dutch team analysed photographs of the wreckage that showed a number of pieces with multiple holes
They said the plane "broke up in the air probably as the result of structural damage caused by a large number of high-velocity objects that penetrated the aircraft from outside."
The cockpit voice recorder revealed no signs of any technical faults or an emergency situation, the experts said.
The investigators have not visited the crash site because of fighting in the area but they said photographic evidence of the wreckage suggests the plane split into pieces during "an in-flight break up".
Maintenance history showed the aircraft was airworthy and had no known technical problems when it took off from Amsterdam, the report added.
Experts said it was manned by "a qualified and experienced crew" and that engines were running normally at 293 knots at 33,000ft (cruise altitude).
Radio communications between the pilot and Ukrainian air traffic control confirm that no emergency call was made.
Criminal investigation
While it is not the final report into the crash, the findings are significant because they are the first official account of what happened, says the BBC's Anna Holligan in the Netherlands.
The report does not attribute blame or liability for the crash but a separate criminal investigation is being conducted by prosecutors in The Hague, she adds.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak welcomed the report, saying it "leads to the strong suspicion that a surface-to-air missile brought MH17 down".
Meanwhile, the rebel leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Aleksandr Zakharchenko, insisted the separatists did not have the capability to shoot down the plane.
"I can say one thing only: we simply do not have the kind of hardware that could have downed a commercial Boeing, including that Malaysian plane," he told the Russian Interfax news agency.
Ukraine's government and several Western leaders say there is strong evidence that pro-Russian separatists shot down the plane with an anti-aircraft system known as Buk.
Russia has consistently denied allegations that it had supplied any missiles or weapons to the rebels.
The Russian government denies delivering arms to the separatists
The search for evidence has been hampered by heavy fighting in the region, and Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai called on both sides to grant investigators full access.
"The crash site is a criminal investigation area and it is imperative that we protect the integrity of the crash site and allow the investigation to proceed," he said.
More than 2,600 people have been killed and thousands more wounded since violence between rebels and Ukrainian government forces erupted in April.
The Dutch Safety Board is leading an international probe to try to piece together evidence on what happened to flight MH17.
Experts from the UK, Germany, Australia, Malaysia, the US, Ukraine and Russia are collaborating on the case.
The board says it expects the final report to be published within a year.
Key findings of report
Likely that damage resulted in loss of structural integrity of aircraft, leading to break-up in the air
Forward parts of plane found near Petropavlivka closest to last flight data broadcast
Cockpit window contained numerous small puncture holes suggesting small objects entered from above level of cockpit floor
Damage to forward section indicates plane penetrated by large number of high-velocity objects from outside
No evidence found of manipulation of flight and data recorders
No indication of technical or operational issues with plane or crew
Malaysia plane crash: What we know
Were you or was someone you know affected by the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17? What is your reaction to the interim report into the causes? You can email your thoughts to Haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
............................
วันจันทร์ที่ 8 กันยายน พ.ศ. 2557
10 Theories About Who Really Wrote The Bible
LARRY JIMENEZ SEPTEMBER 8, 2014
An ordinary Christian and a biblical scholar look at the Bible in tremendously different ways. The average churchgoer knows nothing of the textual problems beneath the familiar words. Bible scholars, however, consider the book a human artifact like any other. They have made it their life’s work to decode and deconstruct it from that perspective. From studying the texts themselves, Bible scholars have come up with many theories on who actually wrote the scriptures. These theories provide serious challenges to traditional assumptions on Bible authorship.
10Moses Did Not Write The Pentateuch
Jews and Christians widely believe that Moses wrote the first five books in the Bible. Beginning with some medieval rabbis, however, doubts about this claim have been raised. As an obvious starting point, Moses could not have written Deuteronomy 34:5–10, which speaks about his death. But this glaring inconsistency is just the beginning. The books contain anachronisms that Moses could not have written. Genesis 36, for example, lists Edomite kings who lived long after Moses died. The Philistines are mentioned in Genesis, yet they did not arrive in Canaan until 1200 B.C., after the time of Moses. Genesis 12:6 implies that the author was writing after the Canaanites had been driven out of the region, something that didn’t happen until the time of Moses’s successor Joshua. Similarly, a clue in Genesis 36:31 suggests that the text was written when Israel was already a monarchy. Genesis 24 mentions domesticated camels, but camels were not domesticated until much later. The caravan trade in Genesis 37:25 only flourished in the eighth and seventh centuries B.C. An early explanation for these textual anomalies was that Moses wrote the core of the Pentateuch, but later editors, such as Ezra, made additions. But in 1670, the philosopher Baruch Spinoza first proposed that Moses did not pen any of these books at all. It was common practice in the ancient Near East to attribute a work to an ancestral hero, or even a god, to legitimize its message and contents. That is probably what happened here.
9The Documentary Hypothesis
Photo credit: Willy Horsch
In the 19th century, scholars began to discover more inconsistencies and anomalies in the Bible, and its compositional history appeared more complex than anyone had previously thought. In 1886, the German historian Julius Wellhausen proposed that the Hexateuch (the Pentateuch plus Joshua) was a composite of four distinct documents by different authors. These documents were labeled J (Jahwist), E (Elohist), D (Deuteronomist), and P (Priestly), and each has its own theology and agenda. This theory explains overlapping or repetitive stories (“doublets”) such as the two accounts of Creation and the two accounts of the Flood—Genesis 7:17 describes a 40-day flood, while Genesis 8:3 describes one lasting 150 days. It is believed that later editors stitched together the multiple sources into one narrative, sometimes intertwining two versions of a single story and neglecting to iron out the seams, as can be seen in the Flood narrative. The J source calls God “Yahveh,” or “Jahveh” in German, hence the designation “J.” It pictures God in anthropomorphic terms, appearing to people like Abraham face-to-face. E calls the deity “Elohim,” who shows Himself indirectly, as in dreams. D is the source for Deuteronomy as well as the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. It defines God as having no form that anyone can see at all. P is cultic in its character and is obsessed with genealogies and lists.More recently, the idea of four separate, complete, and coherent documents has come under question, but the composite character of the Pentateuch remains the commonly accepted view.
8Deuteronomy Originated As Royal Propaganda
Deuteronomy means “Second Law.” It is theorized that the book was produced during the time of King Josiah in the seventh century to promulgate new laws strengthening the priesthood and creating a more exclusive religion for Judah. The new set of laws reinterprets the old law given at Sinai in light of new political and social realities. Its language presupposes an audience living in established cities and towns with a central Temple. The legislation for a central sanctuary supersedes the earlier law in Exodus 20:24, suggesting that Deuteronomy was written long after Israel’s sojourn in the wilderness.In 1805, W.M.L. De Wette theorized that the “Book of the Law” discovered in the Temple in Josiah’s reign was in fact Deuteronomy. Proponents of this view think that the document was deliberately planted to be conveniently discovered. The commands in Deuteronomy are identical to the reforms implemented by Josiah, and so the book may have been written by royal propagandists to give divine sanction to the king’s actions.There is also evidence that Deuteronomy is a composite work, written in different time periods. The book found in the Temple was the main part. Individual passages, however, suggest that the Babylonian Exile of the sixth century B.C. had already happened. These passages may have been added at a later date.
7Daniel Is ‘Prophecy-After-The-Fact’The Book of Daniel is often paired with the Book of Revelation as providing the road map of future end-time events. Many alleged prophecies in Daniel were fulfilled, but is that because Daniel was a divinely inspired seer? Critical scholars see a more mundane explanation. Daniel might actually be a Jew from the Hellenistic period, not a person from the Babylonian court. His so-called prophecies were made ex eventu, or after the fact, so that he could pass himself off as a genuine seer. The book itself betrays more than one author. Chapters 1–6 were written in Aramaic, while chapters 7–12 are in Hebrew. Daniel makes many historical errors when talking about the Babylonian period, the time in which he supposedly lived. For example, he claims that Belshazzar was the son of Nebuchadnezzar, but the Nabonidus Cylinder found in Ur names Nabonidus as Belshazzar’s actual father. Also, Belshazzar was a crown prince but never a king, contrary to Daniel’s claim. In Daniel 5:30, Daniel writes that a certain Darius the Mede conquered Babylon. It was actually Cyrus the Great, a Persian and not a Mede, who overthrew Babylon. On the other hand, Daniel writes about events of the Hellenistic era with extreme accuracy. Chapter 11, presented as prophecy, is on the mark in every detail. This leads to the conclusion that Daniel was witness to these events but not to those of the Babylonian period, on which he is vague and unfamiliar. Scholars thus place the writings of Daniel at around 167–164 B.C., during the persecution of the Jews by Syrian tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes. The book was meant as inspirational fiction to encourage the Jews in their time of trial. Daniel did take a shot at making a real prophecy, predicting the death of Antiochus in the Holy Land. This genuine prophecy turned out to be wrong. Antiochus actually died in Persia in 164 B.C.
6The Gospels Are Not Eyewitness Accounts
The four canonical gospels in the New Testament are anonymous. The names of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were not attached to them until the second century. Whoever the original evangelists were, they never claimed they were reporting actual events they themselves saw. The gospels function more like religious advertisements than biographies of Jesus in that they are theologically motivated. Each presents a particular interpretation of Jesus in which Jesus serves as a spokesperson for an evangelist’s theological position. In Matthew, the most Jewish of the Gospels, we hear Jesus proclaim the continuing validity of the Torah. In the gentile-oriented John, Jesus Himself breaks the Sabbath. Mark presents a Jesus who is in agony and distress before His death; the Johannine Jesus, by contrast, is calm and in total control.Some scholars have proposed that the Gospels were written as midrash, a Jewish interpretative technique that reworks old scriptural narratives into new forms—a “remake,” as Hollywood would style it. Thus, Jesus’s 40-day sojourn in the desert parallels Moses’s 40 years of exile in Midian. When Jesus comes out of the desert announcing the Kingdom of God, that was taken from Moses returning from exile and proclaiming Israel’s coming liberation from slavery. The call of the Twelve Disciples was inspired by Elijah’s call of Elisha. And so on it goes—the gospels were constructed from bits and pieces of old stories but with new cast members and a new stage.
5Matthew And Luke Plagiarized Mark
The majority of New Testament scholars agree that Mark’s gospel was written first out of all four gospels. It is short, was written in poor Greek, and contains geographical and other errors. Rather than being independent accounts of the life of Jesus, the gospels of Matthew and Luke can be shown to have borrowed heavily from Mark, in some instances even copying him almost verbatim. Matthew uses about 607 of Mark’s 661 verses; Luke incorporates 360. To their credit, Matthew and Luke improved on Mark’s original text. They corrected grammar, style, accuracy, and theology. For example, Mark 5:1 erroneously calls the eastern edge of the Sea of Galilee the country of the Gerasenes, which is actually more than 50 kilometers (30 mi) away. Matthew 8:28 substitutes the more plausible Gadara, a spa only 12 kilometers (8 mi) from the lake. In Mark 7:19, Jesus “declares all foods clean,” something the Torah-observant Matthew apparently disagreed with, since he didn’t copy the statement in his parallel account. Mark wrongly attributes a quote from Malachi to Isaiah; Matthew 3:3 corrects this mistake. Mark’s more primitive Christology allows Jesus to be called “Lord” only once, and not by a Jew. In the more developed Christology of Matthew, “Lord” is used 19 times, and in Luke, it’s used 16 times.
4The Lost Gospel Q
Matthew and Luke share common material not found in Mark. Scholars suspect they had a document, now lost, as their source for these sayings, which they call “Q” (from the German Quelle, or source). We can reconstruct Q by noting the commonalities between Matthew and Luke. Q must have included such biblical gems as the Beatitudes and the Lord’s Prayer. Verbal agreements between Matthew and Luke suggest the non-Markan material must have been taken from a written, not oral, source. Matthew and Luke could not have copied from each other because each has stories that contradict the other (e.g., the Birth Narrative and the Resurrection).Q is largely a collection of sayings, not a narrative. Matthew and Luke put the sayings in a narrative context, and they used different styles. For example, Matthew incorporated the Beatitudes into Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, while Luke chose to break up the same sermon and scatter it throughout his story.The recovery of Q led researchers to a strange conclusion. Since Q does not contain any Passion story, whoever first wrote the document must have regarded Jesus as a teacher of wisdom and nothing more. Jesus’s death held no salvific significance for that writer.
3Simon Magus And St. Paul Were The Same Person
While some of this article’s theories have been accepted by mainstream critical scholars, others venture into more speculative scenarios. One of these concerns Simon Magus. Church fathers condemned him as the originator of Gnostic heresy, with its hostility to the God of the Jews and the Torah. So it may come as a shock that Paul, the foremost Christian apostle and author of much of our New Testament, might actually be the same person as Simon. It is difficult to obtain a consistent train of thought from Paul’s epistles. The writings are rambling and disjointed with conflicting theologies. Did Paul uphold the Law or didn’t he? Did he allow women to participate in church or didn’t he? Did he seek approval for his gospel from men or didn’t he? Scholars such as Herman Detering and Robert Price propose the radical view that the Pauline letters have been interpolated into and reworked by later scribes to erase or tone down its Gnostic concepts. This made it more palatable to the infant proto-orthodox Roman Church. The unadulterated original letters, it is suggested, must be the work of Simon Magus or one of his followers. Parallels exist between Simon and Paul. Simon was notorious for his encounter with the apostle Peter. In Galatians 2:11–14, Paul and Peter are at odds with each other. Simon was called the “Father of Heresies”; Paul was called the “Apostle of the Heretics.” Simon claimed to be someone great, saying “the small shall become great.” The Latin name “Paul” means “small.” The Jewish historian Josephus tells of a magician who may have been Simon whom he calls “Atomus” or “indivisible,” i.e., “small.”If the identification of Paul with Simon is correct, a large part of the New Testament was founded on the works of an arch-heretic.
2The Pastoral Epistles Are Forgeries
Photo credit: Pvasiliadis/Wikimedia
The letters to Timothy and Titus differ from the writing style and theological focus of the genuine epistles of Paul. This suggests that the Pastorals were actually the work of a forger trying to ride on the coattails of Paul’s authority. Most scholars, not wanting to call the Pastorals “forgeries,” label them “pseudepigrapha” instead, which amounts to the same thing. Of the 848 words (excluding proper names) found in the Pastorals, 306 were never used in the rest of the Pauline epistles. The vocabulary of the Pastorals is more like the language of popular Hellenistic philosophy than the language of Paul. The literary style also betrays the forger. While Paul uses dynamic and emotional Greek, the Pastorals are serene and meditative. Finally, the letters focus on issues of more concern to an emerging second-century Catholicism than to a first-century Paul, such as church organization and the preservation of tradition. In writing the Pastorals, the emergent Church transformed Paul from a Gnostic “Apostle of the Heretics” to a defender of proto-orthodoxy. Professor David Trobisch has a suspect in mind for the forgery: Bishop Polycarp of Smyrna. Trobisch says that Polycarp virtually signs his name in II Timothy 4: “The cloak that I left at Troas, with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, especially the parchments.” The name Carpus, unlike the others in this chapter, never appears in Acts or the earlier letters of Paul. Here, Carpus is said to have Paul’s “cloak”; that is, he had taken on Paul’s mantle. He also had Paul’s writing materials. A later verse mentions a fellow named Crescens, and though he never appears anywhere else in the canonical epistles, a Crescens is mentioned in the Epistle of Polycarp.
1John Did Not Write Revelation
The traditional view that Jesus’s disciple John wrote the Book of Revelation was questioned as early as the third century. Christian writer Dionysus of Alexandria, using the critical methods still employed by modern scholars, spotted the difference between the elegant Greek of John’s gospel and the crudely ungrammatical prose of Revelation. The works could not have been written by the same person.Dionysus noted that the John of Revelation identifies himself in the work, while the John of the gospel does not. He argued that the two men simply shared the same name. Contemporary scholars have added their own insights into the problem. It is now theorized that the real author was a Jew who opposed the Pauline version of Christianity, with its Gentile elements and Torah-free salvation. The author calls a Pauline church in Smyrna a “synagogue of Satan” and a female leader of another in Thyatira “Jezebel.” In short, he was not someone we would call Christian today. In fact, Revelation might have been originally written even before Christianity. References to Jesus Christ would then have been inserted only later to Christianize the document. These are mostly clustered around chapters 1 and 22, with just a scattering elsewhere. Surprisingly, these verses can be removed without disturbing the structure and flow of the surrounding verses, keeping the meaning and sense of the text intact. This suggests that the original Book of Revelation had nothing at all to do with Jesus.
Larry is a former Christian fundamentalist who retains interest in the Bible and the history of early Christianity. He is also an avid chess player. You can check out his book The Chess Workout on Amazon.
LARRY JIMENEZ SEPTEMBER 8, 2014
An ordinary Christian and a biblical scholar look at the Bible in tremendously different ways. The average churchgoer knows nothing of the textual problems beneath the familiar words. Bible scholars, however, consider the book a human artifact like any other. They have made it their life’s work to decode and deconstruct it from that perspective. From studying the texts themselves, Bible scholars have come up with many theories on who actually wrote the scriptures. These theories provide serious challenges to traditional assumptions on Bible authorship.
10Moses Did Not Write The Pentateuch
Jews and Christians widely believe that Moses wrote the first five books in the Bible. Beginning with some medieval rabbis, however, doubts about this claim have been raised. As an obvious starting point, Moses could not have written Deuteronomy 34:5–10, which speaks about his death. But this glaring inconsistency is just the beginning. The books contain anachronisms that Moses could not have written. Genesis 36, for example, lists Edomite kings who lived long after Moses died. The Philistines are mentioned in Genesis, yet they did not arrive in Canaan until 1200 B.C., after the time of Moses. Genesis 12:6 implies that the author was writing after the Canaanites had been driven out of the region, something that didn’t happen until the time of Moses’s successor Joshua. Similarly, a clue in Genesis 36:31 suggests that the text was written when Israel was already a monarchy. Genesis 24 mentions domesticated camels, but camels were not domesticated until much later. The caravan trade in Genesis 37:25 only flourished in the eighth and seventh centuries B.C. An early explanation for these textual anomalies was that Moses wrote the core of the Pentateuch, but later editors, such as Ezra, made additions. But in 1670, the philosopher Baruch Spinoza first proposed that Moses did not pen any of these books at all. It was common practice in the ancient Near East to attribute a work to an ancestral hero, or even a god, to legitimize its message and contents. That is probably what happened here.
9The Documentary Hypothesis
Photo credit: Willy Horsch
In the 19th century, scholars began to discover more inconsistencies and anomalies in the Bible, and its compositional history appeared more complex than anyone had previously thought. In 1886, the German historian Julius Wellhausen proposed that the Hexateuch (the Pentateuch plus Joshua) was a composite of four distinct documents by different authors. These documents were labeled J (Jahwist), E (Elohist), D (Deuteronomist), and P (Priestly), and each has its own theology and agenda. This theory explains overlapping or repetitive stories (“doublets”) such as the two accounts of Creation and the two accounts of the Flood—Genesis 7:17 describes a 40-day flood, while Genesis 8:3 describes one lasting 150 days. It is believed that later editors stitched together the multiple sources into one narrative, sometimes intertwining two versions of a single story and neglecting to iron out the seams, as can be seen in the Flood narrative. The J source calls God “Yahveh,” or “Jahveh” in German, hence the designation “J.” It pictures God in anthropomorphic terms, appearing to people like Abraham face-to-face. E calls the deity “Elohim,” who shows Himself indirectly, as in dreams. D is the source for Deuteronomy as well as the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, and Kings. It defines God as having no form that anyone can see at all. P is cultic in its character and is obsessed with genealogies and lists.More recently, the idea of four separate, complete, and coherent documents has come under question, but the composite character of the Pentateuch remains the commonly accepted view.
8Deuteronomy Originated As Royal Propaganda
Deuteronomy means “Second Law.” It is theorized that the book was produced during the time of King Josiah in the seventh century to promulgate new laws strengthening the priesthood and creating a more exclusive religion for Judah. The new set of laws reinterprets the old law given at Sinai in light of new political and social realities. Its language presupposes an audience living in established cities and towns with a central Temple. The legislation for a central sanctuary supersedes the earlier law in Exodus 20:24, suggesting that Deuteronomy was written long after Israel’s sojourn in the wilderness.In 1805, W.M.L. De Wette theorized that the “Book of the Law” discovered in the Temple in Josiah’s reign was in fact Deuteronomy. Proponents of this view think that the document was deliberately planted to be conveniently discovered. The commands in Deuteronomy are identical to the reforms implemented by Josiah, and so the book may have been written by royal propagandists to give divine sanction to the king’s actions.There is also evidence that Deuteronomy is a composite work, written in different time periods. The book found in the Temple was the main part. Individual passages, however, suggest that the Babylonian Exile of the sixth century B.C. had already happened. These passages may have been added at a later date.
7Daniel Is ‘Prophecy-After-The-Fact’The Book of Daniel is often paired with the Book of Revelation as providing the road map of future end-time events. Many alleged prophecies in Daniel were fulfilled, but is that because Daniel was a divinely inspired seer? Critical scholars see a more mundane explanation. Daniel might actually be a Jew from the Hellenistic period, not a person from the Babylonian court. His so-called prophecies were made ex eventu, or after the fact, so that he could pass himself off as a genuine seer. The book itself betrays more than one author. Chapters 1–6 were written in Aramaic, while chapters 7–12 are in Hebrew. Daniel makes many historical errors when talking about the Babylonian period, the time in which he supposedly lived. For example, he claims that Belshazzar was the son of Nebuchadnezzar, but the Nabonidus Cylinder found in Ur names Nabonidus as Belshazzar’s actual father. Also, Belshazzar was a crown prince but never a king, contrary to Daniel’s claim. In Daniel 5:30, Daniel writes that a certain Darius the Mede conquered Babylon. It was actually Cyrus the Great, a Persian and not a Mede, who overthrew Babylon. On the other hand, Daniel writes about events of the Hellenistic era with extreme accuracy. Chapter 11, presented as prophecy, is on the mark in every detail. This leads to the conclusion that Daniel was witness to these events but not to those of the Babylonian period, on which he is vague and unfamiliar. Scholars thus place the writings of Daniel at around 167–164 B.C., during the persecution of the Jews by Syrian tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes. The book was meant as inspirational fiction to encourage the Jews in their time of trial. Daniel did take a shot at making a real prophecy, predicting the death of Antiochus in the Holy Land. This genuine prophecy turned out to be wrong. Antiochus actually died in Persia in 164 B.C.
6The Gospels Are Not Eyewitness Accounts
The four canonical gospels in the New Testament are anonymous. The names of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were not attached to them until the second century. Whoever the original evangelists were, they never claimed they were reporting actual events they themselves saw. The gospels function more like religious advertisements than biographies of Jesus in that they are theologically motivated. Each presents a particular interpretation of Jesus in which Jesus serves as a spokesperson for an evangelist’s theological position. In Matthew, the most Jewish of the Gospels, we hear Jesus proclaim the continuing validity of the Torah. In the gentile-oriented John, Jesus Himself breaks the Sabbath. Mark presents a Jesus who is in agony and distress before His death; the Johannine Jesus, by contrast, is calm and in total control.Some scholars have proposed that the Gospels were written as midrash, a Jewish interpretative technique that reworks old scriptural narratives into new forms—a “remake,” as Hollywood would style it. Thus, Jesus’s 40-day sojourn in the desert parallels Moses’s 40 years of exile in Midian. When Jesus comes out of the desert announcing the Kingdom of God, that was taken from Moses returning from exile and proclaiming Israel’s coming liberation from slavery. The call of the Twelve Disciples was inspired by Elijah’s call of Elisha. And so on it goes—the gospels were constructed from bits and pieces of old stories but with new cast members and a new stage.
5Matthew And Luke Plagiarized Mark
The majority of New Testament scholars agree that Mark’s gospel was written first out of all four gospels. It is short, was written in poor Greek, and contains geographical and other errors. Rather than being independent accounts of the life of Jesus, the gospels of Matthew and Luke can be shown to have borrowed heavily from Mark, in some instances even copying him almost verbatim. Matthew uses about 607 of Mark’s 661 verses; Luke incorporates 360. To their credit, Matthew and Luke improved on Mark’s original text. They corrected grammar, style, accuracy, and theology. For example, Mark 5:1 erroneously calls the eastern edge of the Sea of Galilee the country of the Gerasenes, which is actually more than 50 kilometers (30 mi) away. Matthew 8:28 substitutes the more plausible Gadara, a spa only 12 kilometers (8 mi) from the lake. In Mark 7:19, Jesus “declares all foods clean,” something the Torah-observant Matthew apparently disagreed with, since he didn’t copy the statement in his parallel account. Mark wrongly attributes a quote from Malachi to Isaiah; Matthew 3:3 corrects this mistake. Mark’s more primitive Christology allows Jesus to be called “Lord” only once, and not by a Jew. In the more developed Christology of Matthew, “Lord” is used 19 times, and in Luke, it’s used 16 times.
4The Lost Gospel Q
Matthew and Luke share common material not found in Mark. Scholars suspect they had a document, now lost, as their source for these sayings, which they call “Q” (from the German Quelle, or source). We can reconstruct Q by noting the commonalities between Matthew and Luke. Q must have included such biblical gems as the Beatitudes and the Lord’s Prayer. Verbal agreements between Matthew and Luke suggest the non-Markan material must have been taken from a written, not oral, source. Matthew and Luke could not have copied from each other because each has stories that contradict the other (e.g., the Birth Narrative and the Resurrection).Q is largely a collection of sayings, not a narrative. Matthew and Luke put the sayings in a narrative context, and they used different styles. For example, Matthew incorporated the Beatitudes into Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, while Luke chose to break up the same sermon and scatter it throughout his story.The recovery of Q led researchers to a strange conclusion. Since Q does not contain any Passion story, whoever first wrote the document must have regarded Jesus as a teacher of wisdom and nothing more. Jesus’s death held no salvific significance for that writer.
3Simon Magus And St. Paul Were The Same Person
While some of this article’s theories have been accepted by mainstream critical scholars, others venture into more speculative scenarios. One of these concerns Simon Magus. Church fathers condemned him as the originator of Gnostic heresy, with its hostility to the God of the Jews and the Torah. So it may come as a shock that Paul, the foremost Christian apostle and author of much of our New Testament, might actually be the same person as Simon. It is difficult to obtain a consistent train of thought from Paul’s epistles. The writings are rambling and disjointed with conflicting theologies. Did Paul uphold the Law or didn’t he? Did he allow women to participate in church or didn’t he? Did he seek approval for his gospel from men or didn’t he? Scholars such as Herman Detering and Robert Price propose the radical view that the Pauline letters have been interpolated into and reworked by later scribes to erase or tone down its Gnostic concepts. This made it more palatable to the infant proto-orthodox Roman Church. The unadulterated original letters, it is suggested, must be the work of Simon Magus or one of his followers. Parallels exist between Simon and Paul. Simon was notorious for his encounter with the apostle Peter. In Galatians 2:11–14, Paul and Peter are at odds with each other. Simon was called the “Father of Heresies”; Paul was called the “Apostle of the Heretics.” Simon claimed to be someone great, saying “the small shall become great.” The Latin name “Paul” means “small.” The Jewish historian Josephus tells of a magician who may have been Simon whom he calls “Atomus” or “indivisible,” i.e., “small.”If the identification of Paul with Simon is correct, a large part of the New Testament was founded on the works of an arch-heretic.
2The Pastoral Epistles Are Forgeries
Photo credit: Pvasiliadis/Wikimedia
The letters to Timothy and Titus differ from the writing style and theological focus of the genuine epistles of Paul. This suggests that the Pastorals were actually the work of a forger trying to ride on the coattails of Paul’s authority. Most scholars, not wanting to call the Pastorals “forgeries,” label them “pseudepigrapha” instead, which amounts to the same thing. Of the 848 words (excluding proper names) found in the Pastorals, 306 were never used in the rest of the Pauline epistles. The vocabulary of the Pastorals is more like the language of popular Hellenistic philosophy than the language of Paul. The literary style also betrays the forger. While Paul uses dynamic and emotional Greek, the Pastorals are serene and meditative. Finally, the letters focus on issues of more concern to an emerging second-century Catholicism than to a first-century Paul, such as church organization and the preservation of tradition. In writing the Pastorals, the emergent Church transformed Paul from a Gnostic “Apostle of the Heretics” to a defender of proto-orthodoxy. Professor David Trobisch has a suspect in mind for the forgery: Bishop Polycarp of Smyrna. Trobisch says that Polycarp virtually signs his name in II Timothy 4: “The cloak that I left at Troas, with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, especially the parchments.” The name Carpus, unlike the others in this chapter, never appears in Acts or the earlier letters of Paul. Here, Carpus is said to have Paul’s “cloak”; that is, he had taken on Paul’s mantle. He also had Paul’s writing materials. A later verse mentions a fellow named Crescens, and though he never appears anywhere else in the canonical epistles, a Crescens is mentioned in the Epistle of Polycarp.
1John Did Not Write Revelation
The traditional view that Jesus’s disciple John wrote the Book of Revelation was questioned as early as the third century. Christian writer Dionysus of Alexandria, using the critical methods still employed by modern scholars, spotted the difference between the elegant Greek of John’s gospel and the crudely ungrammatical prose of Revelation. The works could not have been written by the same person.Dionysus noted that the John of Revelation identifies himself in the work, while the John of the gospel does not. He argued that the two men simply shared the same name. Contemporary scholars have added their own insights into the problem. It is now theorized that the real author was a Jew who opposed the Pauline version of Christianity, with its Gentile elements and Torah-free salvation. The author calls a Pauline church in Smyrna a “synagogue of Satan” and a female leader of another in Thyatira “Jezebel.” In short, he was not someone we would call Christian today. In fact, Revelation might have been originally written even before Christianity. References to Jesus Christ would then have been inserted only later to Christianize the document. These are mostly clustered around chapters 1 and 22, with just a scattering elsewhere. Surprisingly, these verses can be removed without disturbing the structure and flow of the surrounding verses, keeping the meaning and sense of the text intact. This suggests that the original Book of Revelation had nothing at all to do with Jesus.
Larry is a former Christian fundamentalist who retains interest in the Bible and the history of early Christianity. He is also an avid chess player. You can check out his book The Chess Workout on Amazon.
วันอาทิตย์ที่ 31 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2557
Getting through a dangerous haze
The strange rituals at universities in Chiang Mai are meant to instil a sense of unity, but critics say they are humiliating and have damaging consequences. By Nattha Thepbamrung
Published: 31/08/2014 at 09:25 AM
Newspaper section: Spectrum
As a freshman, Panuwad Hongsawatchai felt the wrath of his fellow students at Maejo University in Phrae when he refused to be part of its traditional hazing ceremonies intended to absorb him into campus life.
Kasetsart and Chiang Mai universities have been at the heart of controversies surrounding Sotus, with complaints dating back 20 years of students being burned with irons as punishment and being forced to perform sexual acts. Hazing ceremonies have also lead to several deaths.
The abuses were listed in the 2000 book Wag Nong, (Scolding Freshmen), by Thanet Charoenmuang, a lecturer at the Faculty of Sociology, Chiang Mai University, who named the first month of the academic year "Black June".
For students at Maejo's Phrae campus, the complaints are just as real today, Mr Panuwad said.
The the Anti-Sotus group, started in 2010, has almost 5,000 online members.
"Actually, an online group before that had about 15,000 members but it was reported and closed," Mr Panuwad said. "We started this again and we're trying to get all the members back.
"Our activities mainly focus on creating networks in universities around the country, setting up clubs in universities to support freshers who suffer from the 'welcoming tradition' as well as those who were banned by seniors. Now we have students from around 20 universities who have joined us."
TAKING A STAND
Circle of trust: A hazing ritual similar to the one practised at universities in Chiang Mai and Phrae.
Titiphon Yamsri is a journalism graduate from Thammasat University. Prior to that he was studying engineering at a top university, but his experiences of Sotus forced him to change.
He said while the hazing he underwent was not "rude or dangerous" he could not accept that other students would not recognise his rights as a fellow human being.
"I joined the activities for a few days before realising that they finished very late and affected my studying, so I quit," he said. "After I quit, I was criticised by some of the freshmen who enjoyed the activities and they stopped talking to me."
While he could tolerate senior students shouting at him, he could not stand the banal university sloganeering students were forced to endure in the "cheering room" where students practise the institution's songs.
Show your colours: Freshmen at universities across Thailand are often subjected to strange initiation rituals, but students claim the practices in universities in northern Thailand cross the line.
"The event that I think was over the top was when my friend and I were having lunch and we couldn't eat because the seniors wanted us to get into the cheering room. We had an argument and almost a fight. I didn't think it was fair that they forced us to do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted."
Mr Titiphon said those doing the hazing rationalised their behaviour by explaining that they were preparing the freshmen for life in the real world where they would have to listen to their employers. He said that they were told that if they did not follow the instructions, they would not have the support of other seniors and their futures at the university would be tough.
"I have worked for seven years for different companies and also as a freelancer," Mr Titiphon said. "I have never experienced anything like what they said to me that day."
This same logic of a patronage system offering protection and benefits to those who fall into line and do not buck the system was also offered to Mr Panuwad. At the final ceremony of freshmen's week, second-year students formed a ring with the first-year students inside, where they would protect them from marauding seniors trying to breach the circle.
"It may be a kind of symbolic activity showing that seniors will protect the juniors," he said. "They set the freshers in the middle of the second years who organised the event. Senior students tried to get inside and take the freshers out. The second years tried their best to keep them away and sometimes people got hurt. Some of the higher-year seniors were also drunk and violent."
TEAM PLAYER
torture claims: Patiparn Inya-po was among those who have been injured in the past.
Boonyapat Krachang is the president of the engineering faculty's student club at Chiang Mai University and is in his fourth year of studies. He believes the benefits of Sotus far outweigh what he says are minor disadvantages. "Our faculty has Sotus to teach our juniors to respect the seniors and teachers. It also teaches morals and brings harmony among them," Mr Boonyapat said.
"One of the few disadvantages I see is the time involved. The students have to spend their evenings in the cheering room or do activities with their new friends, but this will give them connections with friends and seniors."
He insisted his faculty did not force freshmen to partake in Sotus. Those who complete the Sotus freshmen year are given a uniform at the end.
Those who don't have to participate in Sotus events in their second year and help seniors welcome the new crop of first years.
Mr Boonyapat defended the practice of shouting at freshmen, saying it was not a way of displaying power but instead a method of controlling 800 new intakes. He added that singing the faculty song three days a week and participating in activities such as sporting events were intended to create harmony.
He said there were no anti-Sotus freshmen in his faculty and everyone joined the activities willingly.
Anipa, a staff member responsible for freshmen at Maejo University, which also has a strong Sotus tradition, said the practice was about creating equality rather than violating people's rights.
"We still have a strong tradition and a ceremony that we continue from generation to generation," she said.
"The purpose of the ceremony is to make everyone stay together equally. Our university began with students who were from poor farming families. Nowadays, we have many different kinds of students. Some of them are from rich families and drive Mercedes to university, use expensive phones and wear brand-name clothes, while some students from very poor families come on public transport from their village in the mountains. Some of them are from families of 10 or 12 people and they are happy that their kids can get into a university."
Ms Anipa said students from diverse backgrounds were randomly put into a university dormitory where they have to learn to adapt and live with others.
"Some students do not have much money to feed themselves," she said. "They have to apply for a job as a security guard in the university while some of them wash and iron clothes for their fellow students to get 20-30 baht to eat. When children from rich families see something like this they see the value of the money they spend, and sometimes help their friends with some money or food."
Forcing students to dress in black and wear the same footwear and banning personal items and valuables during freshmen's week was a way to instil a sense of egalitarianism.
"We have strict rules like this because we want them to see that they are equals when they wear the same outfit and have no brand-name goods," she said. "The activities during the week are actually not tough but we just want them to know each other and love each other."
She said if the students have a valid medical reason or need to be exempted because of family reasons they are always excused.
UNIVERSITY RESPONSE
intimidation tactics: A clip from the short film 'Vicious Cycle', which tells the story of a freshman standing up to the bullying of seniors.
Thanaruk Suwanprapisa, vice-president of student development at CMU, said there are two types of welcoming ceremonies: an official orientation organised by university staff, and another organised by senior students at individual faculties.
He said activities for freshmen must be approved by the university board. Outside authorities, teachers and parents were welcome to observe them.
"Before undertaking any activity, second-year students who normally set out the activities for freshmen have to report the activity's details to the university and the faculty's dean and board who consider its appropriateness," he said.
"The cheering room must be closed at 8pm sharp and at 9pm everyone must be back in their accommodation. After 9pm, we have university officers patrolling around the area to check."
He conceded there were unsupervised activities involving "sub groups" of students from the same province, school or "groups of third-gender students".
"We are trying to get these underground groups in the system as student clubs," Mr Thanaruk said.
He said no first-year students could be forced to participate in Sotus if they felt it was inconvenient. "We do not force them to do it," he said. "Deciding not to join does not affect their study life."
He accepted that abstainers may be socially ostracised and said the university offered support.
"I understand seniors may have a way to try making all freshmen join in the activities - like psychological social sanctions - but we have a call centre and staff standing by to help them.
"Any freshman who has a problem can file their complaint to us."
Mr Thanaruk said the system worked quite well and there had been no complaints from freshmen this semester.
Previous problems he recalled included a conflict between seniors and transgender students over dress regulations, and an unfit student who was injured when forced to exercise.
UNWANTED PUBLICITY
rough initiation: A clip from 'Vicious Cycle' shows seniors controlling freshmen.
Former CMU humanities student Aroonakorn Pick, 25, is not convinced of the benefits of the Sotus system. In 2012, he released a short film called Vicious Cycle which tells the story of a freshman standing up to the bullying and intimidation of seniors. Ultimately, the hero Ken beats them with logic by explaining that induction and indoctrination won't help the students get ahead in life.
"I personally don't like the Sotus system that people are using," he told Spectrum. "I think we all have our right to choose to do anything. The Sotus system seniors are deploying is a way to oppress the freshers' thoughts. They force newcomers to listen and follow without questioning."
He said that the purported benefits of the Sotus system of connection and protection were counterproductive to an individual's intellectual development.
"It teaches you to listen, follow the seniors and think less," he said. "This system makes people develop in the same way and become poor thinkers because they do not want to be nonconformist.
"I do not think Sotus itself has anything good as long as the seniors can force their freshers to do and think as they want without asking questions. It does not help develop anything. It may help the juniors to be kept together in order and break the ice between them for a while, but in the long term people will be who they are. You cannot force anyone to love someone or respect someone."
Mr Titiphon said he found real freedom and respect for his fellow students when he transferred to Thammasat. There, the welcome was genuine.
"At the new place I also joined some of the welcoming ceremonies like the freshmen's camp or seniors' signature hunting," he said. "It is an activity that helped us get to know the senior students names and we were not forced to do it.
"Those who did not want to join in never suffered social sanctions or being ostracised. Nowadays, I still have seniors who I respect and we keep in contact and help each other. The respect I have for them is from how they acted towards me, not because they shouted or threatened me."
About the author
Writer: Nattha Thepbamrung
Position: Reporter
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The strange rituals at universities in Chiang Mai are meant to instil a sense of unity, but critics say they are humiliating and have damaging consequences. By Nattha Thepbamrung
Published: 31/08/2014 at 09:25 AM
Newspaper section: Spectrum
As a freshman, Panuwad Hongsawatchai felt the wrath of his fellow students at Maejo University in Phrae when he refused to be part of its traditional hazing ceremonies intended to absorb him into campus life.
Kasetsart and Chiang Mai universities have been at the heart of controversies surrounding Sotus, with complaints dating back 20 years of students being burned with irons as punishment and being forced to perform sexual acts. Hazing ceremonies have also lead to several deaths.
The abuses were listed in the 2000 book Wag Nong, (Scolding Freshmen), by Thanet Charoenmuang, a lecturer at the Faculty of Sociology, Chiang Mai University, who named the first month of the academic year "Black June".
For students at Maejo's Phrae campus, the complaints are just as real today, Mr Panuwad said.
The the Anti-Sotus group, started in 2010, has almost 5,000 online members.
"Actually, an online group before that had about 15,000 members but it was reported and closed," Mr Panuwad said. "We started this again and we're trying to get all the members back.
"Our activities mainly focus on creating networks in universities around the country, setting up clubs in universities to support freshers who suffer from the 'welcoming tradition' as well as those who were banned by seniors. Now we have students from around 20 universities who have joined us."
TAKING A STAND
Circle of trust: A hazing ritual similar to the one practised at universities in Chiang Mai and Phrae.
Titiphon Yamsri is a journalism graduate from Thammasat University. Prior to that he was studying engineering at a top university, but his experiences of Sotus forced him to change.
He said while the hazing he underwent was not "rude or dangerous" he could not accept that other students would not recognise his rights as a fellow human being.
"I joined the activities for a few days before realising that they finished very late and affected my studying, so I quit," he said. "After I quit, I was criticised by some of the freshmen who enjoyed the activities and they stopped talking to me."
While he could tolerate senior students shouting at him, he could not stand the banal university sloganeering students were forced to endure in the "cheering room" where students practise the institution's songs.
Show your colours: Freshmen at universities across Thailand are often subjected to strange initiation rituals, but students claim the practices in universities in northern Thailand cross the line.
"The event that I think was over the top was when my friend and I were having lunch and we couldn't eat because the seniors wanted us to get into the cheering room. We had an argument and almost a fight. I didn't think it was fair that they forced us to do whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted."
Mr Titiphon said those doing the hazing rationalised their behaviour by explaining that they were preparing the freshmen for life in the real world where they would have to listen to their employers. He said that they were told that if they did not follow the instructions, they would not have the support of other seniors and their futures at the university would be tough.
"I have worked for seven years for different companies and also as a freelancer," Mr Titiphon said. "I have never experienced anything like what they said to me that day."
This same logic of a patronage system offering protection and benefits to those who fall into line and do not buck the system was also offered to Mr Panuwad. At the final ceremony of freshmen's week, second-year students formed a ring with the first-year students inside, where they would protect them from marauding seniors trying to breach the circle.
"It may be a kind of symbolic activity showing that seniors will protect the juniors," he said. "They set the freshers in the middle of the second years who organised the event. Senior students tried to get inside and take the freshers out. The second years tried their best to keep them away and sometimes people got hurt. Some of the higher-year seniors were also drunk and violent."
TEAM PLAYER
torture claims: Patiparn Inya-po was among those who have been injured in the past.
Boonyapat Krachang is the president of the engineering faculty's student club at Chiang Mai University and is in his fourth year of studies. He believes the benefits of Sotus far outweigh what he says are minor disadvantages. "Our faculty has Sotus to teach our juniors to respect the seniors and teachers. It also teaches morals and brings harmony among them," Mr Boonyapat said.
"One of the few disadvantages I see is the time involved. The students have to spend their evenings in the cheering room or do activities with their new friends, but this will give them connections with friends and seniors."
He insisted his faculty did not force freshmen to partake in Sotus. Those who complete the Sotus freshmen year are given a uniform at the end.
Those who don't have to participate in Sotus events in their second year and help seniors welcome the new crop of first years.
Mr Boonyapat defended the practice of shouting at freshmen, saying it was not a way of displaying power but instead a method of controlling 800 new intakes. He added that singing the faculty song three days a week and participating in activities such as sporting events were intended to create harmony.
He said there were no anti-Sotus freshmen in his faculty and everyone joined the activities willingly.
Anipa, a staff member responsible for freshmen at Maejo University, which also has a strong Sotus tradition, said the practice was about creating equality rather than violating people's rights.
"We still have a strong tradition and a ceremony that we continue from generation to generation," she said.
"The purpose of the ceremony is to make everyone stay together equally. Our university began with students who were from poor farming families. Nowadays, we have many different kinds of students. Some of them are from rich families and drive Mercedes to university, use expensive phones and wear brand-name clothes, while some students from very poor families come on public transport from their village in the mountains. Some of them are from families of 10 or 12 people and they are happy that their kids can get into a university."
Ms Anipa said students from diverse backgrounds were randomly put into a university dormitory where they have to learn to adapt and live with others.
"Some students do not have much money to feed themselves," she said. "They have to apply for a job as a security guard in the university while some of them wash and iron clothes for their fellow students to get 20-30 baht to eat. When children from rich families see something like this they see the value of the money they spend, and sometimes help their friends with some money or food."
Forcing students to dress in black and wear the same footwear and banning personal items and valuables during freshmen's week was a way to instil a sense of egalitarianism.
"We have strict rules like this because we want them to see that they are equals when they wear the same outfit and have no brand-name goods," she said. "The activities during the week are actually not tough but we just want them to know each other and love each other."
She said if the students have a valid medical reason or need to be exempted because of family reasons they are always excused.
UNIVERSITY RESPONSE
intimidation tactics: A clip from the short film 'Vicious Cycle', which tells the story of a freshman standing up to the bullying of seniors.
Thanaruk Suwanprapisa, vice-president of student development at CMU, said there are two types of welcoming ceremonies: an official orientation organised by university staff, and another organised by senior students at individual faculties.
He said activities for freshmen must be approved by the university board. Outside authorities, teachers and parents were welcome to observe them.
"Before undertaking any activity, second-year students who normally set out the activities for freshmen have to report the activity's details to the university and the faculty's dean and board who consider its appropriateness," he said.
"The cheering room must be closed at 8pm sharp and at 9pm everyone must be back in their accommodation. After 9pm, we have university officers patrolling around the area to check."
He conceded there were unsupervised activities involving "sub groups" of students from the same province, school or "groups of third-gender students".
"We are trying to get these underground groups in the system as student clubs," Mr Thanaruk said.
He said no first-year students could be forced to participate in Sotus if they felt it was inconvenient. "We do not force them to do it," he said. "Deciding not to join does not affect their study life."
He accepted that abstainers may be socially ostracised and said the university offered support.
"I understand seniors may have a way to try making all freshmen join in the activities - like psychological social sanctions - but we have a call centre and staff standing by to help them.
"Any freshman who has a problem can file their complaint to us."
Mr Thanaruk said the system worked quite well and there had been no complaints from freshmen this semester.
Previous problems he recalled included a conflict between seniors and transgender students over dress regulations, and an unfit student who was injured when forced to exercise.
UNWANTED PUBLICITY
rough initiation: A clip from 'Vicious Cycle' shows seniors controlling freshmen.
Former CMU humanities student Aroonakorn Pick, 25, is not convinced of the benefits of the Sotus system. In 2012, he released a short film called Vicious Cycle which tells the story of a freshman standing up to the bullying and intimidation of seniors. Ultimately, the hero Ken beats them with logic by explaining that induction and indoctrination won't help the students get ahead in life.
"I personally don't like the Sotus system that people are using," he told Spectrum. "I think we all have our right to choose to do anything. The Sotus system seniors are deploying is a way to oppress the freshers' thoughts. They force newcomers to listen and follow without questioning."
He said that the purported benefits of the Sotus system of connection and protection were counterproductive to an individual's intellectual development.
"It teaches you to listen, follow the seniors and think less," he said. "This system makes people develop in the same way and become poor thinkers because they do not want to be nonconformist.
"I do not think Sotus itself has anything good as long as the seniors can force their freshers to do and think as they want without asking questions. It does not help develop anything. It may help the juniors to be kept together in order and break the ice between them for a while, but in the long term people will be who they are. You cannot force anyone to love someone or respect someone."
Mr Titiphon said he found real freedom and respect for his fellow students when he transferred to Thammasat. There, the welcome was genuine.
"At the new place I also joined some of the welcoming ceremonies like the freshmen's camp or seniors' signature hunting," he said. "It is an activity that helped us get to know the senior students names and we were not forced to do it.
"Those who did not want to join in never suffered social sanctions or being ostracised. Nowadays, I still have seniors who I respect and we keep in contact and help each other. The respect I have for them is from how they acted towards me, not because they shouted or threatened me."
About the author
Writer: Nattha Thepbamrung
Position: Reporter
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วันเสาร์ที่ 30 สิงหาคม พ.ศ. 2557
The 10 Most Corrupt Countries in the World
SAM BECKER GOOGLE+ TWITTER | MORE ARTICLES
AUGUST 30, 2014
Corruption and economic turmoil often go hand-in-hand. In western nations like the United States, and in many European countries, we often see corruption come to light as the result of whistleblowers or journalistic efforts. But in many other areas of the world, corruption plays a major role in fostering staggering poverty and broken economic systems.
Oftentimes, specific power structures and government architectures provide an easier means for corrupt politicians, businessmen, or military officials to exploit the system. Many governments have their roots in constitutions from generations ago, and have outgrown their current systems. Many other countries are ruled by a variety of independent tribal leaders and often lack a centralized power structure with any meaningful sway.
Transparency International developed a comprehensive list of the world’s most corrupt nations last year, and the countries that top the list probably won’t come as much of a surprise to many. The study ranks countries on a scale from 0 to 100, with zero being the most corrupt, and 100 being the least.
Of course, corruption comes in a variety of forms, so getting an incredibly accurate gauge is difficult. But perception itself is a very strong tool, and can have a big effect on its own. If the study reveals anything, it’s that the world overall has a huge issue in terms of corrupt officials.
By looking at the Corruptions Perception Index, along with the existing power structures and economic systems within each country, the picture does become a bit clearer. That’s why we dug a little deeper, examining the rankings seen on the following pages.
For good measure, we’ve included the United States on the list to give perspective as to where America ranks internationally in terms of corruption and economic strife. By Transparency International’s calculations and scale, the U.S. is sitting fairly pretty, although it’s common knowledge that there are definitely issues with how things are run in Washington.
Other countries you might expect to see like Russia, Mexico, or Venezuela all have their places as well, and the full list of 177 nations can be viewed straight at the source from Transparency International.
Here are the most corrupt nations in the world, as ranked by Transparency International, with additional insight into the issues and factors plaguing each one.
1. Somalia
Corruption score: 8
Power structure: Almost none; “in the process of building a federal parliamentary republic” – CIA
Somalia may just be the most unstable country on the entire planet. The country has become infamous in the United States as being the setting for the Blackhawk Down incident, as well as the country’s pirates who are known to take over passing ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. The country is barely held together by an incredibly loose central government, and is more accurately being run by a number of competing clans and warlords, creating lots of hostility and division.
The environment in Somalia has led to hard lives for many of the country’s citizens. On the economic front, many people make a living from raising livestock or farming, and others from fishing. Of course, with things remaining such a mess at the top of the power structure, any long-term planning for social programs and infrastructure is difficult.
According to The World Bank, only 29 percent of the country’s population has been enrolled in school, and life expectancy is a paltry 55 years. Both of these numbers rank well-below most other countries, and provide some insight into the internal strife the country is experiencing.
Beyond these things, information on the inner workings of Somalia’s government and its economic system are scarce. That alone is rather telling, as corrupt officials may not want outsiders seeing the true picture of what’s going on inside the country’s borders.
2. North Korea
Corruption score: 8
Power structure: Dictatorship
The world’s biggest wildcard is North Korea. There is little doubt in anyone’s mind that the country is immensely corrupt, having been effectively run into the ground over the past half-century by Kim Jong Sun, Kim Jong Il and now Kim Jung Un, all of whom the country’s citizens affectionately have referred to as ‘Supreme Leader’. The CIA lists North Korea’s government as a ‘communist state one-man dictatorship’, with an estimated GDP of $28 billion as of 2009.
Famous for having very little electricity and sending its citizens to prison camps, North Korea’s government and economy are effectively shrouded in mystery. While it does receive aid from countries like China, North Korea obviously has had problems producing enough fuel and food to properly care for its citizens. Military spending far outweighs spending on social programs and aid, mostly to put on appearances for the rest of the world and to keep citizens in line.
The country’s major issues can be traced back to a number of natural disasters and the collapse of the Soviet Union, as the land, people and equipment have all been ‘worn out’ over the years, according to a CNN report. With little hope for change in the near future, North Korea is destined to remain one of the planet’s most corrupt and destitute nations.
3. Afghanistan
Corruption score: 8
Power structure: Islamic Republic
Afghanistan has an incredibly difficult history to try and condense. The area has been inhabited for a very long time — and its geographic location has also put it in the middle of many conflicts over hundreds, if not thousands of years. There’s a reason the country has been stuck with the nickname ‘the graveyard of empires’, as it is incredibly difficult to not only conquer, but to keep under control.
The country has been loosely held together by a central government that largely lacks power, and has been carved up by a myriad of local tribal leaders and warlords, as we’ve seen first-hand with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. A former Soviet state, the country also suffered as a result of the U.S.S.R’s dissolvence.
The country’s current president Hamid Karzai is notoriously corrupt — he’s been recently busted for taking bagfuls of money from the American military, among other things. Afghanistan is also home to an enormous amount of the world’s heroin production, which has brought lots of wealth to a lucky few.
The country’s economy has remained in a state of flux for some time now, although the fall of the Taliban has helped — as has a flood of international aid. But it still faces major issues going forward.
As the CIA puts it, “Criminality, insecurity, weak governance, lack of infrastructure, and the Afghan Government’s difficulty in extending rule of law to all parts of the country pose challenges to future economic growth.”
4. Sudan
Corruption score: 11
Power structure: Federal Republic
A country that has been wrapped thoroughly in the grasp of war for many years is the African nation of Sudan. Long-standing conflicts between competing factions and ethnic groups have destabilized the country’s ability to efficiently operate from an economic standpoint, and the result has been devastating to many of the country’s citizens. South Sudan has also recently broken-off from the rest of the country, taking with it vast oil reserves. CNN reports that Sudan’s GDP was expected to contract by a fair amount due to South Sudan’s departure.
The country’s government is listed as a federal republic, which is ruled by the National Congress Party, according to the CIA. The NCP came to power after a coup d’etat in 1989, and has not been able to successfully repair the nation’s issues. As a result of the prolonged instability, Sudan’s GDP has tanked since spiking in 2006, much of which has to do with the situation in South Sudan.
Forty-six and a half percent of Sudan’s citizens live under the poverty line, by The World Bank’s calculations. The nation’s GDP stands at $66.55 billion as well. Both of these statistics would likely see improvement if not for some of the draconian and growth-inhibiting policies of the NCP. Also, if Sudan can find a way to rid itself of some of its corrupt officials, many violent conflicts could possibly see resolution as well.
5. South Sudan
Corruption score: 14
Power structure: Republic
One of the world’s youngest countries, South Sudan officially declared independence in 2011, following long-standing conflicts with its parent country, Sudan, which gained its independence in 1956. Between the mid-1950s and now, conflicts in the region have resulted in the deaths of as many as 2.5 million people, or so the CIA contends. South Sudan now stands as an independent republic, composed of 10 states.
A nation still in its infancy, South Sudan does not have the traditional long-standing government structures in place that many others do. This has led to ripe opportunities for corrupt politicians to step in, and as a result, the country has remained mostly undeveloped, and its citizens participate in a largely subsistence-based economic system. One other issue is the lack of a sense of nationhood among the 200 or so ethnic groups occupying the country.
According to The World Bank, the vast majority of South Sudan’s GDP — around 80 percent — is derived from oil exports. This has been a major problem, as international oil companies have been able to take advantage of the nation’s weak governmental structures and regulatory policies, turning huge profits at the expense of the citizens. In fact, 85 percent of the country’s workforce is engaged in non-paid labor. More than half live below the poverty line as well.
6. Libya
Corruption score: 15
Power structure: Transitional
Few nations have experienced as much turmoil over the past few years as Libya. The country’s government saw its downfall during a mass uprising and protest, which ultimately led to protestors parading around with the body of former president Muammar Gaddafi on the streets. The country’s fall was a part of the ‘Arab Spring’, which also saw mass protests in Syria, Egypt and Bahrain, among others.
Now, Libya is still embroiled in turmoil. No formal government has taken root, and fighting between rebels and those loyal to the old administration is still taking place. Due to the high levels of uncertainty, the country’s GDP contracted 9.4 percent during 2013, according to The World Bank. The power vacuum has left open a great opportunity for arms dealers and corrupt military higher-ups to take charge and make profits by pitting citizens against each other.
Libya currently operates under a transitional government, and both its administrative and judicial systems are vulnerable to a wide variety of outside interference. It’s economy is almost entirely based on energy, which supplies 95 percent of export earnings and 80 percent of the nation’s GDP, per the CIA. Until a new, permanent government can be established, Libya will most likely remain a hotbed of political and economic instability.
7. Iraq
Corruption score: 16
Power structure: Federal Parliamentary Constitutional Republic (ostensibly)
Many people may be surprised that Iraq isn’t higher on the list of the world’s most corrupt countries, but its certainly up there. It’s no secret the current state of affairs in Iraq is a total mess. After the second American invasion in 15 years, the pullout of U.S. forces has left Iraq a virtual power vacuum, with several different sects fighting for power over the embattled nation. Fighting is mostly concentrated between the Kurds, the Shiites and the Sunnis, but the arrival of ISIS from Syria has added additional issues.
The CIA lists Iraq’s government as a parliamentary democracy, but the legitimacy of the government is definitely up for debate. And there’s definitely little debate as to whether or not corruption has taken hold in the country, as Iraq’s vast wealth and natural resources have made it a target for all kinds of industry and war profiteers.
Iraq has actually seen some economic growth as the country rebuilds itself, but there is also a lot of outside interference from American and European contracting companies, hired to rebuild infrastructure and tap into the country’s oil reserves. The future of Iraq is probably as uncertain as any country in the world. It’s very possible that the nation will dissolve and turn into three distinct countries, as it was before Europeans entered the fray in the early 20th century. As for now, incredible instability — along with the arrival of ISIS in the north — will keep the country in a state of flux.
8. Uzbekistan
Corruption score: 17
Power structure: Republic
One of the lesser-traveled nations in the world, Uzbekistan finds itself as one of the world’s messiest countries. From an economic standpoint, things appear to be going alright with 8 percent growth in GDP during 2013. In fact, information from The World Bank indicates the economy of Uzbekistan has remained more or less the same through the financial crisis which has crippled systems in Europe and North America.
The nation’s government is set up as a republic with an authoritative presidential figure in Islam Karimov. The vast majority of the country’s power resides within the executive branch, making it ripe for corruption. Karimov has been president since Uzbekistan actually became a country after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, winning three straight terms of between five and seven years. Like many other Middle-Eastern authority figures, he has apparently not grown tired of ruling the country.
Much of the Uzbek economy relies on agriculture for subsistence, as the entire country is landlocked and experiences a very dry climate. Many multinational corporations have experienced run-ins with the country’s government, having been accused of not following local laws and customs. That hasn’t stopped the administration from trying to attract more business, however, through tax incentives and sometimes even bribery.
9. Turkmenistan
Corruption score: 17
Power structure: Presidential Democracy/Authoritarian
Turkmenistan resides in a dangerous neighborhood, to say the least. Bordered by Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to the north, the country lies in a virtual hotbed of corrupt states. With the constant turmoil all over the Middle East, it’s been very easy for the country to fall into corrupt affairs, especially concentrated at the top from the authoritarian presidential figure, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.
The CIA’s file says that Turkmenistan likes to describe itself as a secular democracy and presidential republic, while in practice, its government more closely resembles an authoritarian dictatorship. The country itself was founded as a result of the Soviet Union’s collapse, as so many others in the region, and the resulting power struggle has left the nation highly corrupt and vulnerable to tomfoolery.
Also like many other countries in its region, Turkmenistan’s economy is largely based on agriculture and energy. The country is fortunate to have vast reserves of crude oil and natural gas to supplement the economy, although they are controlled by the government. Misuse of the state’s revenues have driven many investors away and led to high levels of corruption.
10. Syria
Corruption score: 17
Power structure: Authoritarian Republic
One of the world’s oldest countries is, unfortunately, one of the most corrupt. At this point in time, corruption has become the most important issue as well, as civil war has engulfed the country and left thousands dead over the past few years. The uprising in Syria originally began as a part of the ‘Arab Spring’ which saw several dictators across the region fall, but Syria’s leader Bashar Al-Assad has been able to hold on to power through — what many believe — are fixed elections.
The situation in Syria has quickly devolved into one of the worst humanitarians situations the world has seen in recent memory. The fighting has also given birth to the terrorist group ISIS, which has hit the road to Iraq to conquer more territory. Syria’s frightening display of government-sponsored violence and corruption has left many across the world awestruck, and has effectively destroyed the nation’s economic systems.
Due to the civil war and the awful conditions under the Assad administration, the outlook in Syria is not good. The economy is expected to continue to disintegrate, and there is little hope that the fighting and bloodshed will cease in the near future. Millions of people have been displaced, and millions others are starving or cannot find work. It seems the only way Syria will find a happy ending is with the ultimate overthrow of its leaders and corrupt administration.
Honorable Mention: The United States
Corruption score: 73
power structure: Democratic Republic
There has to be an honorable mention for the United States, which many people figure has to be the most corrupt nation on Earth. The fact is, the U.S. does have a great deal of corruption in many forms, like lobbying, bribery, gerrymandering, and bought elections. But according to the corruption index, the U.S. pales in comparison to countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
The economic system of the U.S. — although often portrayed as ‘free-market’ — is often anything but. A quick look at the telecom or energy industry shows that many monopolistic forces are at play, and big money oftentimes can get laws rewritten to preserve power and influence. Pressure from big business and labor groups is a major factor in why America is the only major world power without a nationalized healthcare system, and why there has been enormous growth in inequality, particularly as of late.
There are definitely many issues the United States needs to work out — from the financial system to elections — but with the status quo firmly set in place, there isn’t much indication that citizens should expect big-time change in the near-term.
...............................................
SAM BECKER GOOGLE+ TWITTER | MORE ARTICLES
AUGUST 30, 2014
Corruption and economic turmoil often go hand-in-hand. In western nations like the United States, and in many European countries, we often see corruption come to light as the result of whistleblowers or journalistic efforts. But in many other areas of the world, corruption plays a major role in fostering staggering poverty and broken economic systems.
Oftentimes, specific power structures and government architectures provide an easier means for corrupt politicians, businessmen, or military officials to exploit the system. Many governments have their roots in constitutions from generations ago, and have outgrown their current systems. Many other countries are ruled by a variety of independent tribal leaders and often lack a centralized power structure with any meaningful sway.
Transparency International developed a comprehensive list of the world’s most corrupt nations last year, and the countries that top the list probably won’t come as much of a surprise to many. The study ranks countries on a scale from 0 to 100, with zero being the most corrupt, and 100 being the least.
Of course, corruption comes in a variety of forms, so getting an incredibly accurate gauge is difficult. But perception itself is a very strong tool, and can have a big effect on its own. If the study reveals anything, it’s that the world overall has a huge issue in terms of corrupt officials.
By looking at the Corruptions Perception Index, along with the existing power structures and economic systems within each country, the picture does become a bit clearer. That’s why we dug a little deeper, examining the rankings seen on the following pages.
For good measure, we’ve included the United States on the list to give perspective as to where America ranks internationally in terms of corruption and economic strife. By Transparency International’s calculations and scale, the U.S. is sitting fairly pretty, although it’s common knowledge that there are definitely issues with how things are run in Washington.
Other countries you might expect to see like Russia, Mexico, or Venezuela all have their places as well, and the full list of 177 nations can be viewed straight at the source from Transparency International.
Here are the most corrupt nations in the world, as ranked by Transparency International, with additional insight into the issues and factors plaguing each one.
1. Somalia
Corruption score: 8
Power structure: Almost none; “in the process of building a federal parliamentary republic” – CIA
Somalia may just be the most unstable country on the entire planet. The country has become infamous in the United States as being the setting for the Blackhawk Down incident, as well as the country’s pirates who are known to take over passing ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. The country is barely held together by an incredibly loose central government, and is more accurately being run by a number of competing clans and warlords, creating lots of hostility and division.
The environment in Somalia has led to hard lives for many of the country’s citizens. On the economic front, many people make a living from raising livestock or farming, and others from fishing. Of course, with things remaining such a mess at the top of the power structure, any long-term planning for social programs and infrastructure is difficult.
According to The World Bank, only 29 percent of the country’s population has been enrolled in school, and life expectancy is a paltry 55 years. Both of these numbers rank well-below most other countries, and provide some insight into the internal strife the country is experiencing.
Beyond these things, information on the inner workings of Somalia’s government and its economic system are scarce. That alone is rather telling, as corrupt officials may not want outsiders seeing the true picture of what’s going on inside the country’s borders.
2. North Korea
Corruption score: 8
Power structure: Dictatorship
The world’s biggest wildcard is North Korea. There is little doubt in anyone’s mind that the country is immensely corrupt, having been effectively run into the ground over the past half-century by Kim Jong Sun, Kim Jong Il and now Kim Jung Un, all of whom the country’s citizens affectionately have referred to as ‘Supreme Leader’. The CIA lists North Korea’s government as a ‘communist state one-man dictatorship’, with an estimated GDP of $28 billion as of 2009.
Famous for having very little electricity and sending its citizens to prison camps, North Korea’s government and economy are effectively shrouded in mystery. While it does receive aid from countries like China, North Korea obviously has had problems producing enough fuel and food to properly care for its citizens. Military spending far outweighs spending on social programs and aid, mostly to put on appearances for the rest of the world and to keep citizens in line.
The country’s major issues can be traced back to a number of natural disasters and the collapse of the Soviet Union, as the land, people and equipment have all been ‘worn out’ over the years, according to a CNN report. With little hope for change in the near future, North Korea is destined to remain one of the planet’s most corrupt and destitute nations.
3. Afghanistan
Corruption score: 8
Power structure: Islamic Republic
Afghanistan has an incredibly difficult history to try and condense. The area has been inhabited for a very long time — and its geographic location has also put it in the middle of many conflicts over hundreds, if not thousands of years. There’s a reason the country has been stuck with the nickname ‘the graveyard of empires’, as it is incredibly difficult to not only conquer, but to keep under control.
The country has been loosely held together by a central government that largely lacks power, and has been carved up by a myriad of local tribal leaders and warlords, as we’ve seen first-hand with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. A former Soviet state, the country also suffered as a result of the U.S.S.R’s dissolvence.
The country’s current president Hamid Karzai is notoriously corrupt — he’s been recently busted for taking bagfuls of money from the American military, among other things. Afghanistan is also home to an enormous amount of the world’s heroin production, which has brought lots of wealth to a lucky few.
The country’s economy has remained in a state of flux for some time now, although the fall of the Taliban has helped — as has a flood of international aid. But it still faces major issues going forward.
As the CIA puts it, “Criminality, insecurity, weak governance, lack of infrastructure, and the Afghan Government’s difficulty in extending rule of law to all parts of the country pose challenges to future economic growth.”
4. Sudan
Corruption score: 11
Power structure: Federal Republic
A country that has been wrapped thoroughly in the grasp of war for many years is the African nation of Sudan. Long-standing conflicts between competing factions and ethnic groups have destabilized the country’s ability to efficiently operate from an economic standpoint, and the result has been devastating to many of the country’s citizens. South Sudan has also recently broken-off from the rest of the country, taking with it vast oil reserves. CNN reports that Sudan’s GDP was expected to contract by a fair amount due to South Sudan’s departure.
The country’s government is listed as a federal republic, which is ruled by the National Congress Party, according to the CIA. The NCP came to power after a coup d’etat in 1989, and has not been able to successfully repair the nation’s issues. As a result of the prolonged instability, Sudan’s GDP has tanked since spiking in 2006, much of which has to do with the situation in South Sudan.
Forty-six and a half percent of Sudan’s citizens live under the poverty line, by The World Bank’s calculations. The nation’s GDP stands at $66.55 billion as well. Both of these statistics would likely see improvement if not for some of the draconian and growth-inhibiting policies of the NCP. Also, if Sudan can find a way to rid itself of some of its corrupt officials, many violent conflicts could possibly see resolution as well.
5. South Sudan
Corruption score: 14
Power structure: Republic
One of the world’s youngest countries, South Sudan officially declared independence in 2011, following long-standing conflicts with its parent country, Sudan, which gained its independence in 1956. Between the mid-1950s and now, conflicts in the region have resulted in the deaths of as many as 2.5 million people, or so the CIA contends. South Sudan now stands as an independent republic, composed of 10 states.
A nation still in its infancy, South Sudan does not have the traditional long-standing government structures in place that many others do. This has led to ripe opportunities for corrupt politicians to step in, and as a result, the country has remained mostly undeveloped, and its citizens participate in a largely subsistence-based economic system. One other issue is the lack of a sense of nationhood among the 200 or so ethnic groups occupying the country.
According to The World Bank, the vast majority of South Sudan’s GDP — around 80 percent — is derived from oil exports. This has been a major problem, as international oil companies have been able to take advantage of the nation’s weak governmental structures and regulatory policies, turning huge profits at the expense of the citizens. In fact, 85 percent of the country’s workforce is engaged in non-paid labor. More than half live below the poverty line as well.
6. Libya
Corruption score: 15
Power structure: Transitional
Few nations have experienced as much turmoil over the past few years as Libya. The country’s government saw its downfall during a mass uprising and protest, which ultimately led to protestors parading around with the body of former president Muammar Gaddafi on the streets. The country’s fall was a part of the ‘Arab Spring’, which also saw mass protests in Syria, Egypt and Bahrain, among others.
Now, Libya is still embroiled in turmoil. No formal government has taken root, and fighting between rebels and those loyal to the old administration is still taking place. Due to the high levels of uncertainty, the country’s GDP contracted 9.4 percent during 2013, according to The World Bank. The power vacuum has left open a great opportunity for arms dealers and corrupt military higher-ups to take charge and make profits by pitting citizens against each other.
Libya currently operates under a transitional government, and both its administrative and judicial systems are vulnerable to a wide variety of outside interference. It’s economy is almost entirely based on energy, which supplies 95 percent of export earnings and 80 percent of the nation’s GDP, per the CIA. Until a new, permanent government can be established, Libya will most likely remain a hotbed of political and economic instability.
7. Iraq
Corruption score: 16
Power structure: Federal Parliamentary Constitutional Republic (ostensibly)
Many people may be surprised that Iraq isn’t higher on the list of the world’s most corrupt countries, but its certainly up there. It’s no secret the current state of affairs in Iraq is a total mess. After the second American invasion in 15 years, the pullout of U.S. forces has left Iraq a virtual power vacuum, with several different sects fighting for power over the embattled nation. Fighting is mostly concentrated between the Kurds, the Shiites and the Sunnis, but the arrival of ISIS from Syria has added additional issues.
The CIA lists Iraq’s government as a parliamentary democracy, but the legitimacy of the government is definitely up for debate. And there’s definitely little debate as to whether or not corruption has taken hold in the country, as Iraq’s vast wealth and natural resources have made it a target for all kinds of industry and war profiteers.
Iraq has actually seen some economic growth as the country rebuilds itself, but there is also a lot of outside interference from American and European contracting companies, hired to rebuild infrastructure and tap into the country’s oil reserves. The future of Iraq is probably as uncertain as any country in the world. It’s very possible that the nation will dissolve and turn into three distinct countries, as it was before Europeans entered the fray in the early 20th century. As for now, incredible instability — along with the arrival of ISIS in the north — will keep the country in a state of flux.
8. Uzbekistan
Corruption score: 17
Power structure: Republic
One of the lesser-traveled nations in the world, Uzbekistan finds itself as one of the world’s messiest countries. From an economic standpoint, things appear to be going alright with 8 percent growth in GDP during 2013. In fact, information from The World Bank indicates the economy of Uzbekistan has remained more or less the same through the financial crisis which has crippled systems in Europe and North America.
The nation’s government is set up as a republic with an authoritative presidential figure in Islam Karimov. The vast majority of the country’s power resides within the executive branch, making it ripe for corruption. Karimov has been president since Uzbekistan actually became a country after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, winning three straight terms of between five and seven years. Like many other Middle-Eastern authority figures, he has apparently not grown tired of ruling the country.
Much of the Uzbek economy relies on agriculture for subsistence, as the entire country is landlocked and experiences a very dry climate. Many multinational corporations have experienced run-ins with the country’s government, having been accused of not following local laws and customs. That hasn’t stopped the administration from trying to attract more business, however, through tax incentives and sometimes even bribery.
9. Turkmenistan
Corruption score: 17
Power structure: Presidential Democracy/Authoritarian
Turkmenistan resides in a dangerous neighborhood, to say the least. Bordered by Iran, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan to the north, the country lies in a virtual hotbed of corrupt states. With the constant turmoil all over the Middle East, it’s been very easy for the country to fall into corrupt affairs, especially concentrated at the top from the authoritarian presidential figure, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow.
The CIA’s file says that Turkmenistan likes to describe itself as a secular democracy and presidential republic, while in practice, its government more closely resembles an authoritarian dictatorship. The country itself was founded as a result of the Soviet Union’s collapse, as so many others in the region, and the resulting power struggle has left the nation highly corrupt and vulnerable to tomfoolery.
Also like many other countries in its region, Turkmenistan’s economy is largely based on agriculture and energy. The country is fortunate to have vast reserves of crude oil and natural gas to supplement the economy, although they are controlled by the government. Misuse of the state’s revenues have driven many investors away and led to high levels of corruption.
10. Syria
Corruption score: 17
Power structure: Authoritarian Republic
One of the world’s oldest countries is, unfortunately, one of the most corrupt. At this point in time, corruption has become the most important issue as well, as civil war has engulfed the country and left thousands dead over the past few years. The uprising in Syria originally began as a part of the ‘Arab Spring’ which saw several dictators across the region fall, but Syria’s leader Bashar Al-Assad has been able to hold on to power through — what many believe — are fixed elections.
The situation in Syria has quickly devolved into one of the worst humanitarians situations the world has seen in recent memory. The fighting has also given birth to the terrorist group ISIS, which has hit the road to Iraq to conquer more territory. Syria’s frightening display of government-sponsored violence and corruption has left many across the world awestruck, and has effectively destroyed the nation’s economic systems.
Due to the civil war and the awful conditions under the Assad administration, the outlook in Syria is not good. The economy is expected to continue to disintegrate, and there is little hope that the fighting and bloodshed will cease in the near future. Millions of people have been displaced, and millions others are starving or cannot find work. It seems the only way Syria will find a happy ending is with the ultimate overthrow of its leaders and corrupt administration.
Honorable Mention: The United States
Corruption score: 73
power structure: Democratic Republic
There has to be an honorable mention for the United States, which many people figure has to be the most corrupt nation on Earth. The fact is, the U.S. does have a great deal of corruption in many forms, like lobbying, bribery, gerrymandering, and bought elections. But according to the corruption index, the U.S. pales in comparison to countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
The economic system of the U.S. — although often portrayed as ‘free-market’ — is often anything but. A quick look at the telecom or energy industry shows that many monopolistic forces are at play, and big money oftentimes can get laws rewritten to preserve power and influence. Pressure from big business and labor groups is a major factor in why America is the only major world power without a nationalized healthcare system, and why there has been enormous growth in inequality, particularly as of late.
There are definitely many issues the United States needs to work out — from the financial system to elections — but with the status quo firmly set in place, there isn’t much indication that citizens should expect big-time change in the near-term.
...............................................
Two thriving vineyards in Shan State
Written by
Claudia Sosa
Published in
Features
Read
1187 times
font size Print Email
Pruning the vines. Photo: Christopher Smith
Reds, whites and breathtaking views
The drive into the Shan hills from sleepy Nyaung Shwe is breathtakingly scenic, passing century-old teak monasteries, sunflower fields and small villages where advertising for consumer goods co-exists with traditional bamboo architecture. It’s a shock when the bumpy road provides a first glimpse of the sprawling acres of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir tended by the indigenous Pa’O in their characteristic, bright headscarves. It’s crazier still to think that this dark red earth of Shan State, which has seen decades of armed conflict, is now home to thriving vineyards.
How exactly did winemaking make its way to Myanmar, of all places? An otherwise humble Bert Morsbach is happy to take the credit for singlehandedly kick-starting Myanmar’s wine industry. He’s earned it too, especially after armed conflict in Kayah State put an abrupt end to his first attempt at a winery in 1998. “Tenacity,” he says in a stern German tone, when asked what it takes to do well in this region. Yet , despite being a businessman at heart, his voice softens when he speaks about Aythaya wines.
After abandoning efforts in Loikaw when the government could no longer guarantee his safety, Mr Morsbach decided to give winemaking in Myanmar one more try, this time at Aythaya village, nestled among the hills around picturesque Inle Lake. His determination has paid off and 15 years later Aythaya Vineyards is experiencing annual growth of between 40 percent and 50 percent. Last year’s vintage has sold out and sales have doubled every three years.
Admittedly, great wine is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Southeast Asia. Mr Morsbach agrees that, “producing a good harvest [here] is a major undertaking.” With the Inle Lake region receiving as much yearly rainfall as Germany, but in a shorter, concentrated period, fungus is one of the major concerns of viticulturists in the tropics. But once they have a grasp of the challenges imposed by the climate, the results can be spectacular.
Aythaya’s wines are progressively moving in that direction and Mr Morscbach argues that his Sauvignon Blanc, in particular, is as good as similar varietals from New Zealand. It’s light and crisp, if slightly on the sweeter side of the spectrum, but one sip is all it takes to wipe away sour memories of some frighteningly bad wines made in Thailand or Vietnam.
The 28-acre (11.3 hectare) Aythaya Vineyards estate is absolutely breathtaking and well worth a visit. The open-air hillside restaurant - open daily from 8:30am to 9:00pm (closed Mondays in the rainy season) - overlooks thousands of vines, as well as three ponds. In the middle of one of the ponds is a private dining table, sheltered by a canopy, which is the perfect setting for a romantic afternoon or one of Aythaya’s famed “sunset dinners,” featuring local specialties as well as a selection of European dishes. Visitors are advised to call in advance to reserve the table on the pond. Should an afternoon turn into the most pleasant of late nights, it’s worth considering staying in one of the two secluded Monte di Vino Lodge teak cabins, which have private, panoramic views of the Aythaya Vineyards estate. At US$120 (about K117,000) a night for the smallest of the two cabins, they are arguably among the best-value, most unique accommodation in Southeast Asia. Even if you stay elsewhere, hiring a private car from your hotel at Inle Lake or from Heho airport to tour the vineyards should only cost about $30 for a day.
But why stop at one vineyard? If you plan your trip carefully, a day is more than enough to visit both Aythaya Vineyards and the Red Mountain Estate, the only other vineyard in the region, and in Myanmar, for that matter. Your palate will definitely thank you, even if your liver might not.
Set amid similarly scenic terrain but overlooking the Inle Lake valley, Red Mountain welcomes visitors every day from 9am-6pm, through private sunset dinners can be arranged if bookings are made in advance. (Red Mountain moved its original closing time forward to the late afternoon out of concern for the safety of visitors after some tried to cycle back to Nyaung Shwe in darkness and after too much to drink). The sprawling estate boasts a stone underground cellar and a restaurant offering panoramic views of the lake and serving international cuisine. Its visitor centre and restaurant are on the smaller of two estates that collectively produce more than 200,000 bottle of wine a year. Though 100 percent Myanmar-owned, Red Mountain Vineyards believes in adhering to the strictest European standards. In that spirit, it’s imported all its equipment from Italy, its oak barrels from Hungary, and its original vines from France, Spain and Israel. In its early days, it even imported glass bottles from France. Under the 12-year guidance of French oenologist and viticulturalist François Raynal, who’s made Red Mountain his life's work, the winery has grown from a seven hectare (17.13 acre) experiment to a 75-hectare (185 acre) institution. A testament to Myanmar’s growing wine market, Red Mountain also sold out last year’s vintage, though a small selection remains at its in-house boutique for visitors who’d like an original souvenir from Inle. At $8 to $13 a bottle, prices are a steal compared to the prices for the same wine in Nyaung Shwe or Yangon.
Red Mountain is clearly a labour of love for Mr Raynal, who understands that an appreciation for exquisite, European-quality wine sometimes trumps business sensibilities. To that effect, nearly 300 Pa’O work daily to harvest 19 varietals, including low-yield grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, which, while bad for business, result in better wines.
Red Mountain aims for quality as well as breadth, offering a wider selection than nearby Aythaya Vineyards. While its Sauvignon Blanc is also among its strongest wines, the Red Mountain reds - particularly the Pinot Noir - can hold their own and are clearly superior to Aythaya reds. Industry sources say the reason for this is because Red Mountain directly oversees all phases of the winemaking process, while Aythaya has trained about 40 farmers south of Mandalay to grow grapes on contract. Aythaya's objective was to increase the incomes of Myanmar growers while allowing its prices to remain competitive (a bottle of its most affordable Monte Vino sells for just $6.50 at City Mart). Whether it’s a move that’s good for business but bad for taste remains to be seen, though Mr Morsbach believes that contract farming and wider use of mechanisation will create a robust domestic wine industry that’s also inclusive of indigenous populations.
It’s striking that Aythaya, while adamantly championing local inclusion and local knowledge, remains a wholly foreign-owned enterprise. Meanwhile, Red Mountain Winery is a Myanmar-owned enterprise that nonetheless emphasises strict European standards. Despite these drastically different approaches to tropical viticulture and business in Myanmar, there’s a bright future ahead for both vineyards. Mr Morsbach is optimistic about the future and plans to expand production and build conference facilities to make the vineyard a venue for business meetings. “There have been moments of happiness but not of pride,” Mr Morsbach said, as he recounted the feeling of sitting down at the end of the day to drink a satisfying glass of wine. “It’s very rewarding, and now, it’s also become financially rewarding,” he said.
Both Red Mountain and Aythaya agree that a demographic shift has resulted in a greater proportion of Myanmar customers, compared to when they both went into business more than a decade ago and most of their wine was sold to foreigners.
Both companies sell most of their product on the domestic market through retailers such as City Mart and at better quality restaurants in Yangon, Mandalay and around Inle Lake. Red Mountain has no immediate plans to expand but it is hoping to improve yields and aims to produce about 500,000 bottles a year. Nono, a Pa’O who is Red Mountain’s head of marketing, says it intends to compete with European wines. While this may seem to be a lofty ambition, what these two vineyards have accomplished in less than two decades is proof that the sky is the limit for the wine industry in Myanmar.
Contact information:
Aythaya Vineyard
http://www.myanmar-vineyard.com
Htone-Bo Aythaya,Taunggyi
Southern Shan State
081-208653, 081-208548
Red Mountain Estate
http://www.redmountain-estate.com/index.html
Taung Chay Village Group,
Nyaung Shwe Township
081-209366, 081-209554
Written by
Claudia Sosa
Published in
Features
Read
1187 times
font size Print Email
Pruning the vines. Photo: Christopher Smith
Reds, whites and breathtaking views
The drive into the Shan hills from sleepy Nyaung Shwe is breathtakingly scenic, passing century-old teak monasteries, sunflower fields and small villages where advertising for consumer goods co-exists with traditional bamboo architecture. It’s a shock when the bumpy road provides a first glimpse of the sprawling acres of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir tended by the indigenous Pa’O in their characteristic, bright headscarves. It’s crazier still to think that this dark red earth of Shan State, which has seen decades of armed conflict, is now home to thriving vineyards.
How exactly did winemaking make its way to Myanmar, of all places? An otherwise humble Bert Morsbach is happy to take the credit for singlehandedly kick-starting Myanmar’s wine industry. He’s earned it too, especially after armed conflict in Kayah State put an abrupt end to his first attempt at a winery in 1998. “Tenacity,” he says in a stern German tone, when asked what it takes to do well in this region. Yet , despite being a businessman at heart, his voice softens when he speaks about Aythaya wines.
After abandoning efforts in Loikaw when the government could no longer guarantee his safety, Mr Morsbach decided to give winemaking in Myanmar one more try, this time at Aythaya village, nestled among the hills around picturesque Inle Lake. His determination has paid off and 15 years later Aythaya Vineyards is experiencing annual growth of between 40 percent and 50 percent. Last year’s vintage has sold out and sales have doubled every three years.
Admittedly, great wine is not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Southeast Asia. Mr Morsbach agrees that, “producing a good harvest [here] is a major undertaking.” With the Inle Lake region receiving as much yearly rainfall as Germany, but in a shorter, concentrated period, fungus is one of the major concerns of viticulturists in the tropics. But once they have a grasp of the challenges imposed by the climate, the results can be spectacular.
Aythaya’s wines are progressively moving in that direction and Mr Morscbach argues that his Sauvignon Blanc, in particular, is as good as similar varietals from New Zealand. It’s light and crisp, if slightly on the sweeter side of the spectrum, but one sip is all it takes to wipe away sour memories of some frighteningly bad wines made in Thailand or Vietnam.
The 28-acre (11.3 hectare) Aythaya Vineyards estate is absolutely breathtaking and well worth a visit. The open-air hillside restaurant - open daily from 8:30am to 9:00pm (closed Mondays in the rainy season) - overlooks thousands of vines, as well as three ponds. In the middle of one of the ponds is a private dining table, sheltered by a canopy, which is the perfect setting for a romantic afternoon or one of Aythaya’s famed “sunset dinners,” featuring local specialties as well as a selection of European dishes. Visitors are advised to call in advance to reserve the table on the pond. Should an afternoon turn into the most pleasant of late nights, it’s worth considering staying in one of the two secluded Monte di Vino Lodge teak cabins, which have private, panoramic views of the Aythaya Vineyards estate. At US$120 (about K117,000) a night for the smallest of the two cabins, they are arguably among the best-value, most unique accommodation in Southeast Asia. Even if you stay elsewhere, hiring a private car from your hotel at Inle Lake or from Heho airport to tour the vineyards should only cost about $30 for a day.
But why stop at one vineyard? If you plan your trip carefully, a day is more than enough to visit both Aythaya Vineyards and the Red Mountain Estate, the only other vineyard in the region, and in Myanmar, for that matter. Your palate will definitely thank you, even if your liver might not.
Set amid similarly scenic terrain but overlooking the Inle Lake valley, Red Mountain welcomes visitors every day from 9am-6pm, through private sunset dinners can be arranged if bookings are made in advance. (Red Mountain moved its original closing time forward to the late afternoon out of concern for the safety of visitors after some tried to cycle back to Nyaung Shwe in darkness and after too much to drink). The sprawling estate boasts a stone underground cellar and a restaurant offering panoramic views of the lake and serving international cuisine. Its visitor centre and restaurant are on the smaller of two estates that collectively produce more than 200,000 bottle of wine a year. Though 100 percent Myanmar-owned, Red Mountain Vineyards believes in adhering to the strictest European standards. In that spirit, it’s imported all its equipment from Italy, its oak barrels from Hungary, and its original vines from France, Spain and Israel. In its early days, it even imported glass bottles from France. Under the 12-year guidance of French oenologist and viticulturalist François Raynal, who’s made Red Mountain his life's work, the winery has grown from a seven hectare (17.13 acre) experiment to a 75-hectare (185 acre) institution. A testament to Myanmar’s growing wine market, Red Mountain also sold out last year’s vintage, though a small selection remains at its in-house boutique for visitors who’d like an original souvenir from Inle. At $8 to $13 a bottle, prices are a steal compared to the prices for the same wine in Nyaung Shwe or Yangon.
Red Mountain is clearly a labour of love for Mr Raynal, who understands that an appreciation for exquisite, European-quality wine sometimes trumps business sensibilities. To that effect, nearly 300 Pa’O work daily to harvest 19 varietals, including low-yield grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, which, while bad for business, result in better wines.
Red Mountain aims for quality as well as breadth, offering a wider selection than nearby Aythaya Vineyards. While its Sauvignon Blanc is also among its strongest wines, the Red Mountain reds - particularly the Pinot Noir - can hold their own and are clearly superior to Aythaya reds. Industry sources say the reason for this is because Red Mountain directly oversees all phases of the winemaking process, while Aythaya has trained about 40 farmers south of Mandalay to grow grapes on contract. Aythaya's objective was to increase the incomes of Myanmar growers while allowing its prices to remain competitive (a bottle of its most affordable Monte Vino sells for just $6.50 at City Mart). Whether it’s a move that’s good for business but bad for taste remains to be seen, though Mr Morsbach believes that contract farming and wider use of mechanisation will create a robust domestic wine industry that’s also inclusive of indigenous populations.
It’s striking that Aythaya, while adamantly championing local inclusion and local knowledge, remains a wholly foreign-owned enterprise. Meanwhile, Red Mountain Winery is a Myanmar-owned enterprise that nonetheless emphasises strict European standards. Despite these drastically different approaches to tropical viticulture and business in Myanmar, there’s a bright future ahead for both vineyards. Mr Morsbach is optimistic about the future and plans to expand production and build conference facilities to make the vineyard a venue for business meetings. “There have been moments of happiness but not of pride,” Mr Morsbach said, as he recounted the feeling of sitting down at the end of the day to drink a satisfying glass of wine. “It’s very rewarding, and now, it’s also become financially rewarding,” he said.
Both Red Mountain and Aythaya agree that a demographic shift has resulted in a greater proportion of Myanmar customers, compared to when they both went into business more than a decade ago and most of their wine was sold to foreigners.
Both companies sell most of their product on the domestic market through retailers such as City Mart and at better quality restaurants in Yangon, Mandalay and around Inle Lake. Red Mountain has no immediate plans to expand but it is hoping to improve yields and aims to produce about 500,000 bottles a year. Nono, a Pa’O who is Red Mountain’s head of marketing, says it intends to compete with European wines. While this may seem to be a lofty ambition, what these two vineyards have accomplished in less than two decades is proof that the sky is the limit for the wine industry in Myanmar.
Contact information:
Aythaya Vineyard
http://www.myanmar-vineyard.com
Htone-Bo Aythaya,Taunggyi
Southern Shan State
081-208653, 081-208548
Red Mountain Estate
http://www.redmountain-estate.com/index.html
Taung Chay Village Group,
Nyaung Shwe Township
081-209366, 081-209554
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