Friday, August 2, 2013

US issues world-wide travel alert; Assange and the web-driven democracy; Tiger moms, pussy cat dads

1 US issues world-wide travel alert (BBC) The US state department has issued a global travel alert because of an unspecified al-Qaeda threat. In a statement, the department said the potential for an attack was particularly strong in the Middle East and North Africa. It comes shortly after the US announced nearly two dozen embassies and consulates would be shut on Sunday. The alert expires on 31 August 2013, the department said. It recommended US citizens travelling abroad be vigilant.
"Current information suggests that al-Qaeda and affiliated organisations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August," the statement said. The alert warned of "the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure".
2 Assange and a web-driven democracy (Khaleej Times) Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s move to contest elections in Australia, his home country, promises to open a new chapter in the tale of whistleblowers and hackers who spill secrets that governments want to keep under the lid. Assange — and fellow traveller Edward Snowden — have already challenged the established wisdom on issues concerning diplomacy and transparency in governance but the latest move to win political legitimacy will be an event to watch.
 Both are fugitives of the law in the US but in the case of the 42-year old Assange — now holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for more than a year — there is the additional charge of sexual exploitation that authorities in Sweden have slapped. Assange, who will run in Victoria, is set to become possibly the first politician contesting a national election solely on the strength of Internet platforms like Skype, Twitter and YouTube.

Governments of all hues have, over the past two years, shown they are unified in their disdain for whistleblowers. Assange’s electoral battle will be closely watched and debated by politicians around the globe. His feat of guiding Snowden and managing the WikiLeaks network of volunteers from his little desk inside the Ecuadorian embassy will also help answer critics about how he would perform his senatorial duties, if elected.

According to Assange, he plans on ensuring that politicians remain honest at all times. If Assange does make it to the Australian Senate, it would be a mighty big first step in a new form of web driven democracy.

3 Tiger moms, pussy cat dads (PG Bhaskar in Khaleej Times) You don’t want your child to lag behind. So you push and prod; you shove and nag, but make sure that somehow, the kid crosses the line. It’s Ivy league or nothing! I have had a chance to observe several parents over the years, mothers in particular. Believe me, they are tough — I wouldn’t have survived as the son of any of them. They seem to be propelled by some powerful inner force; one which for some reason they did not themselves possess when they were young. It has now manifested itself and with twice the strength. Their kids are having to bear the brunt of this new-found parental ambition.

My own approach as a father has been one of bemused inaction, a combination of wonder, goodwill and moral support. ‘Create the right environment’, I mumble sometimes to whoever cares to listen ‘and children will bloom on their own’. But my wife pooh-poohs my stance.  She has consistently refused to let go, perhaps believing that by doing so, she would be failing in her duty as a parent. 

Who is right, I don’t know. And I have seen other mothers go to the extreme. They are champions of micro-managing. They believe in planning and control and they take this to an art form. It’s not easy. It can be exhausting, vexing, frustrating. Now, I’m not for a moment suggesting that my wife is a tiger mom. 

No comments:

Post a Comment