12 October 2014 No 25 ISSN 1664-7963

Current Concerns PO Box CH-8044 Zurich Current Concerns Switzerland The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, Phone: +41 44 350 65 50 Fax: +41 44 350 65 51 and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law

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USA – By way of Ukraine-crisis to “regime change” in Russia by James George Jatras, JD, Vice Chairman of the “American Institute in Ukraine”, Washington DC, speech on the occasion of the panel discussion “Impact of the crisis in Ukraine on Europe, and Switzerland’s contribution to a peaceful solution”, 15 September, in Berne

cc. On 15 and 16 September two events – Humanitarian and financial assistance sites” in the east. Even if that effort seems took place with the lawyer James George from the West and Russia. Repairing to have failed for now, the thinking behind Jatras (cf. Current Concerns No 23/24 of the damage caused by the civil war: re- it has not disappeared. 23 September 2014). Below we publish building the republics and their infra- Perhaps one could be more hope- the speech he held in Berne. structure, pulling Ukraine out of its ful about the international aspect of this economic tailspin. problem if this were entirely a question The announce- – The balance of economic ties between between Russia on the one hand and the Liebe Evi ment of a “per- the European Union (EU) and the Rus- EU (which primarily means Germany) manent ceasefire” sia-led Eurasian Economic Union, both on the other hand. Unfortunately, there In meinem Text fehlt on September 5 in of Ukraine as a whole and of the repub- are other influences. The policy of “the Minsk, agreed to lics, including energy supply and price. West” not has only been skewed by in- im dritten Absatz der both by the Kiev – The status of the Russian language. ternal issues within the EU but, even 2. Satz, in dem im administration of – Perhaps most importantly, Ukraine’s more ruinously, by the role of the United deutschen Original President Petro security status and potential NATO States and NATO (which largely means Poroshenko and candidacy. the same thing). Lenin zitiert worden representatives of It is hard to be optimistic about the A few thoughts on the EU, NATO and war. James G. Jatras the Donetsk and Ukraine crisis. If things were left entirely the U.S., and finally a question about (picture thk) Lugansk repub- to Ukrainians themselves, a peaceful res- Switzerland: lics, raised hopes for a peaceful settlement olution would be difficult enough. Since First, the EU itself has not been blame- Karl-Jürgen of the Ukraine crisis. its birth in 1991, the Ukrainian state has less in unleashing and then perpetuat- Under any realistic set of expectations, always been fragile, both because of the ing the Ukraine crisis. Brussels (and Ber- this will be a long, complicated negotiat- undue influence of corrupt oligarchic in- lin) irresponsibly allowed a “coalition of ing process in which success is far from terests and regional differences over the the willing” – the most interested region- certain. very questions of “What is Ukraine? Who al members (Poland, Sweden, the Baltic Distinct but related issues include: are Ukrainians?” The unconstitutional States, to some extent Romania) – to drive – The status and extent of the republics ouster of Viktor Yanukovych in February the so-called “Eastern Partnership” (EaP) or other entity (such as “Novorossi- shattered Ukraine’s delicate unity and in- which developed a zero-sum mentality of ya”): autonomy within Ukraine, inde- stalled a regime that was convinced that roping Ukraine (as well as Georgia and pendence, confederation? Will other the authority and identity of “pro-Europe” oblasts be allowed to join? “democratic” part of Ukraine could be continued on page 2 imposed by force on the “dirt” and “para-

“Helmut Kohl can confirm, that their global ‘Counter-Insurgency’ the western alliance during the against terrorism they have trod- relinquishment of the GDR, gave den the path to the ‘dirty war’ of a ceremonial consent to the Sec- the future, to the deployment of retary General of the KPdSU Mi- murderous drones, ruthless mer- chail Gorbachev, that an entry of cenary troops and torture excess- the former Warsaw Pact states to es like ‘water boarding’. But it Nato would remain impossible, sounds much too hypocritical if though this was not documented one tries to constrict Russia as well in writing.” as China with a ‘cordon sanitaire’ Peter Scholl-Latour. “Der Fluch der bösen (barrier of buffer states), and at Tat. Das Scheitern des Westens im Orient.” the same time accusing their po- (The curse of evil doing. The failure of the West in the Orient). Berlin 2014, ISBN 978- tential opponents of wanting to 3-549-07412-1, p. 22) protect themselves with an im- “The USA as a role model of mo- pediment strategy.” rality is long gone, since with (Scholl-Latour, p. 28-29) No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 2

”USA – By way of Ukraine-crisis …” bate the Ukraine crisis. It is enough to try’s policies. I am hesitant to be as criti- continued from page 1 note Assistant Secretary of State Victoria cal of your country’s decisions. But I do Nuland’s “hands-on” role in the “regime confess to be somewhat puzzled. Your Moldova) into the “Euro-Atlantic” camp change” in Kiev, including even naming county is a member of neither NATO as a “civilizational choice.” (in her notorious “F--- the EU” phone call) nor the EU. As far as I know, Switzer- Their approached mirrored the concept Arseny “Yats” Yatsenyuk as our preferred land isn’t contemplating a “Host Na- from between the world wars known as Prime Minister. tion Support” memorandum though you “Prometheism”1 or “the Intermarium”2 to Even though the U.S really has no di- have been part of NATO’s “Partnership construct a string of anti-Russian coun- rect interest in Ukraine – much less than for Peace” since 1996 (well, so is Rus- tries across eastern Europe. The message Europe’s and certainly far, far less than sia). You are part of Schengen and have to Ukraine and other EaP countries was Russia’s – Washington has insisted on a free trade agreement with the EU but (and remains): Russia can never be “Eu- being the driving force behind western are the only EFTA member that is not rope”; to “choose Europe” means being policy. This has meant during the disor- part of the European Economic Area. apart from (really, against) Russia; you ders in Kiev threatening Yanukovych with In short, in keeping with your legend- must make the “right” choice. Forcing sanctions if he used force against “peace- ary love of freedom and zealous protec- this choice on Ukraine was a recipe for ful protesters” attacking police with Mol- tion of your independence, it seems the tearing the country apart. Where was the otov cocktails, clubs, and yes, guns – be- Swiss could resist the made-in-Washing- “adult supervision” in the EU? This ap- havior that in Washington would get you ton pressures imposed on smaller mem- proach did nothing to advance EU mem- shot down in two minutes. It has meant bers of the EU and NATO. And of course bers’ interest but in fact has profoundly carte blanche support for Kiev’s military too, Switzerland is not exactly “small” harmed them. offensive against the east and opposing in the world of finance. Still, your coun- Second, Europe’s policy has been badly both European calls for a ceasefire or even try has seen fit to join in some aspects of damaged because of the EU’s deference delivery of humanitarian aid (unlike our the sanctions regime. This most recently to NATO and the U.S. When in the mid- unilateral right to carry out “humanitari- includes, on August 27, the decision of 1990s the EU floated its “European Secu- an” bombing of various countries) – right the Federal Council to adopt measures rity and Defence Policy” (now the “Com- up until Kiev’s offensive collapsed at the said to be designed to prevent Switzer- mon Security and Defence Policy”) as a beginning of this month. land from being used by Russia to by- totally European mechanism that did not And it has meant dogged insistence pass sanctions imposed by the EU and include the U.S., Washington made it that the only solution to the crisis must requiring Russian banks to get authori- clear that EU security policy could only be to blame the whole mess on Russia zation to issue new long-term financial be a handmaid to NATO, as codified in and ratchet up sanctions on Moscow instruments. There are some military the 2002 “Berlin Plus” agreement and NA- until any aid being given to the eastern and energy-related restrictions as well, TO’s “right of first refusal.”3 This means republics is cut off, so Kiev can crush but clearly the financial sanctions are that NATO (that is, Washington) retains them. Despite the fact that no one ex- most important. I can’t help but notice the commanding voice on security issues pects this to work, Washington also bul- a little irony. As far as I know, Moscow with the EU in an auxiliary role. (As in lied Europe into adopting sanctions that never has threatened to use any financial Libya, that can mean the U.S. and NATO would hurt Russia but not change Mos- weapon against Switzerland. But Wash- act as “Daddy” (breaking things) and the cow’s policy. These also hurt Europe sig- ington has threatened you with deadly EU acts as “Mommy” (cleaning up af- nificantly – though the U.S. only min- sanctions, in the form of U.S. Justice terwards): we see how well that worked imally. As stated by a former German Department accusations of criminal ac- out.) Berlin Plus and NATO dominance ambassador to the U.S., whose observa- tivity by Swiss banks and even more so of the EU’s security policy means in the tion could be applied by degrees to Eu- under the infamous FATCA law. This Ukraine that under the political sections rope generally: “We are by far the coun- makes no sense to me. Perhaps we can of the Association Agreement (that Yanu- try that would suffer the most” from a address this during discussion. • kovych declined to sign but was the first worsening of the crisis aggravated by order of business after his removal), Kiev sanctions. “Not a single dollar will be 1 Prometheism (Polish: Prometeizm) was a polit- would harmonize its policies with the lost in Arizona,” he continued, a refer- ical movement in Poland and Ukraine, which EU’s, which in turn means with NATO. ence to a noted Republican Senator ad- was directed against the expansion of the Soviet Union’s of geo-political influence (editor’s note) Ukraine would be part of NATO in all but vocating strong NATO action. 2 Miedzymorze (lat. ‚Intermarum’) was a pro- name (as Finland and Sweden are as of In any case, despite the ceasefire, don’t posal submitted by the Polish President Jozef this month’s Wales summit, where they assume the Washington establishment has Pilsudski after den First World War, suggest- signed so-called “Host Nation Support” given up on its broader agenda of trying to ing a confederate, mainly slavic state formation memoranda). In any case, the official dec- inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, destabi- spreading from the Black Sea up to the Baltic Sea , therefore the name. Sometimes the Latin laration at NATO’s 2008 Bucharest sum- lization and “regime change” in Moscow, term ‚Intermarum’ was used, meaning the same. mit regarding Ukraine (and Georgia) that and reducing Russia to the vassal state (editor’s note) “these countries will become members of it was under Boris Yeltsin. For the U.S., 3 NATO has the “right of first refusal”, which is NATO” never has been rescinded. Ukraine is simply a means to that end. recognized by the EU. (Berlin Plus agreement, 2003) That means that if the worst comes to the More could be said on the role of the Briefly with respect to Switzerland, worst, NATO is permitted to be the first to inter- United States both through NATO and as an American I have pointed out what vene, in case this was decided on by politics. directly in helping to create and exacer- I regard as the errors of my own coun- (editor’s note) No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 3

“The Crisis in Ukraine is complex, critical and continues” “Humanitarian aspects of the crisis in Ukraine – Briefing of the Russian UN mission in Geneva by Dr Eva-Maria Föllmer-Müller

Podium of the briefing at the UN. (picture ma) Last week the Russian mission to the ists and non-governmental organ- United Nations in Geneva dealt with the izations as the reason to have this humanitarian situation in Ukraine and or- event. He emphasized the human- ganized a briefing at the UN in Geneva on itarian challenges and the sincere 1 October under the title “Humanitarian wish for peace. aspects in Ukraine” . Vladimir Stepanov summa- “The information war continues. The rized the situation of the refugees, news embargo is still effective. It is dif- especially those from southeast- ficult to get the news to Western media”, ern Ukraine. He pointed out that Konstantin Dolgov, Russian Foreign Min- all people who had fled to Russia istry’s Special Representative for Human were welcomed; so far 926 field Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, camps have been made available told the approximately 200 participants of for them. The refugees receive all the briefing. kinds of humanitarian aid there. Their num- pensioners, the handicapped and the sick. Apart from – mainly Russian – media ber had been in the hundreds of thousands According to his records approximately professionals, several missions and inter- during the summer months, travelling by 200,000 Ukrainians have applied for tem- national organizations such as Thailand, foot or by train, or rescued from Ukraine porary asylum in Russia so far. It has been Kuwait, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Arme- via airlifts. At the moment there are still granted to 158,000. The Russian Immigra- nia, Cambodia, Belarus, Myanmar, Iraq, 55,000 refugees living in the field camps. tion Office expects another 400,000 appli- Great Britain, Indonesia, Bulgaria, the Eu- Russia has also sent tens of thousands of cations for asylum until the end of the year. ropean Union, Tadshikistan, Austria, Alge- aid parcels to Donezk and Lugansk. Now The legal proceedings of asylum seeking ria, the USA, Italy, Luxembourg, Germany, the content of those parcels has been adapt- have been facilitated since the beginning of Ukraine, the UN world food programme ed to the ensuing winter time. According August. By now 64,000 immigrants with (WFP), the International Organization of to the Russian Ministry of Health about granted asylum status have been distributed Migration (IOM), the World Health Or- 200,000 refugees have been seeking medi- throughout Russia to find places for them ganization (WHO) and the UN Develop- cal aid, including many children and 5,000 to stay. Every day between 2,000 and 2,500 ment Programme (UNDP) among others pregnant and breast-feeding women. The refugees cross the border despite the cease- sent their representatives. population in Russia feel strongly about fire. About 43,000 refugees have applied Konstantin Dolgov, Deputy Minister the welfare of the refugees and give what- for Russian citizenship so far. This proce- for Civil Defense Vladimir Stepanov from ever they can. dure has been facilitated, too, since July of the ministry of the Russian Federation for Vladimir Stepanov’s account was com- this year. As Ambassador Borodavkin com- Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimina- plemented by the presentation of Depu- mented, financial aid for this programme is tion of Consequences of Natural Disasters ty Head of the Federal Migration Servic- not only offered by the Russian federation (EMERCOM) as well as Deputy Head of es, Nikolai Smorodin. His statistics enabled but also by non-governmental organiza- the Federal Migration Service of the Rus- even lay people to comprehend what it tions and public endowments- “it could be- sian Federation (FMS) Nikolai Smorodin, means to sustain refugees in a country. come a pan-Russian movement”. commented on the humanitarian crisis in At the beginning he emphasized that the Human rights envoy Konstantin Dol- Ukraine. The briefing was chaired by Alex- Ukrainian refugees will be well cared for gov started his talk by saying: “The crisis ey Borodavkin, Permanent Representative even during the winter. Apart from medi- in Ukraine is complex, critical and contin- of the Russian Federation to the UN Of- cal and psychological care they are offered ues”. Massive human rights violations, vi- fice and other International Organisations legal support, pre-school and schooling fa- olations of international law and interna- in Geneva. When opening the session he cilities were made available (so far 25,000, tional humanitarian law were taking place. mentioned a high number of questions re- including apprenticeships). Full medical garding the situation in Ukraine by journal- care is offered to all refugees including continued on page 4 No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 4

”’The Crisis in Ukraine is …’” audience that Ukraine had signed the In- continued from page 3 ternational Covenant on Civil and Political ARD and Spiegel reprimanded Rights. He pleaded the international com- ef. The Western commentatorship in “Thousands of people, mainly civilians are munity should act, all violations of interna- the mainstream media is mostly one- being killed by the official Ukrainian au- tional law had to be persecuted. “Documen- sided and sharply directed against thorities – although the school year begins tation is not enough, action is needed”. To Russia in a striking manner. After the today, bombs are being dropped on schools this day no investigative results of Ukrain- pressure of citizens became strong- as we speak.” (He referred to the bombing ian authorities into all these incidents were er and stronger in Germany, now of a school on 1 October which left 10 peo- available. The same is true for the downing at least the public broadcaster ARD ple dead, author’s note). There were real of Malaysian airline flight MH17. Dolgov has apologized for a false reporting in May of this year in which the kill- hopes when the cease-fire was declared. referred to the Nuremberg principles: “We ing of two civilians had been blamed “What about the right to live”, he asked. do have the pictures of ‘fighters’ attacking on the so-called separatists. The ARD “This has to stop.” He went on to say that civilians”, the facts are on the table. He con- took this media article off the Inter- mass graves were found in Donezk after cluded by referring to the two volume docu- net. The program committee of the Ukrainian authorities had lost control of the mentation of the incidents in Ukraine since ARD had seriously criticized the cov- area, with people killed by head shots with November 2013, the “White book – On Vi- erage of the Ukraine-conflict at its their hands tied at their backs. He also men- olations of Human Rights and the Rule of meeting in June. The broadcast con- tioned the incident of the arson attack on the Law in Ukraine” which lists a wide range tents bore “a tendency against Rus- trade union house in Odessa and the snip- of human rights violations and violations of sia and the Russian position”. It was “fragmentary”, “biased”, “deficient” ers at the Euromaidan, who had fired indis- the rule of law. There were no impunity for and “one-sided”. “Der Spiegel” had criminately at police and demonstrators, as those crimes committed, this being a matter already been reprimanded by the examples of criminal offences that had to of conscience for the international commu- German Press Council because of a be legally investigated and brought to jus- nity. He reminded the audience of what the coarse anti-Russian article. tice. He warned that similar things could European Union had stated after the war in happen again anywhere at any time and re- former Yugoslavia: Something similar must Russian side. She demanded that Russia ferred to these incidents as war crimes and never again happen on our continent. He de- should pull out completely and as soon as crimes against humanity. Mainly civilians manded an international response to the in- this were the case aid would be delivered. died, since the civilian population was tar- cidents, all necessary instruments were at Ambassador Borodavkin stressed that geted. The rights of the individuals had to the disposal of the international community. Wladimir Putin and Petro Poroschenko be respected. Moreover, the freedom of the In the following discussion ambassa- had achieved a consensus in Minsk. press was massively violated in Ukraine: dor Borodavkin appreciated the help of the The EU representative started polemi- 15 Russian TV-channels were banned and International Committee of the Red Cross cally: He hoped, that the Russian mission shut down. Journalists were killed. “What (ICRC) and stressed the importance of the had invited all media alike… He demand- about the reluctance of many Western col- OSCE’s fact-finding mission on the ground. ed that Russia should end all kinds of mili- leagues to speak up about this? Don´t they The representative of the Ukrainian tary support and all Russian soldiers should see what is going on?”, Dolgov asked. Fas- mission pointed out that any humanitarian leave the country. Fast humanitarian con- cists and Neo-Nazis were active in Ukraine, aid had to be distributed by recognised in- voys (sic!) were not necessary. His ques- creating social tensions. Members of parlia- ternational organizations and complained tion as to whether Russia would pay to the ment were harassed. Dolgov reminded the about anti-Ukrainian propaganda from the international community was answered by the Russian ambassador with the assertion that Russia provided a lot of bilateral aid UN warns against devastating humanitarian consequences and co-operated with the International Red ef. Despite the ceasefire, signed on 9 September, the WHO warned against Cross and relevant UN organisations re- 5 September, the humanitarian situa- a looming health emergency in eastern garding Ukraine. tion in Ukraine and especially in eastern Ukraine as hundreds of thousands of The representative of the USA sin- Ukraine is still devastating. According people have been displaced due to the gled the separatists out to be blamed for to UN figures more than 3,500 people armed conflict in the east of the coun- the disaster and demanded cash-contribu- have already died in the conflict. The try. Many of them had to live in non- ongoing fighting led to a mass exo- winterized homes in precarious hy- tions for humanitarian aid. Dolgov replied dus. Already in early September the gienic conditions. It was reported that he had doubts as to whether this money United Nations estimated over one mil- the hospitals were not fully function- would be justly distributed especially in lion people who had fled the fighting. ing and medicines and vaccines were view of the ensuing winter. 814,000 people have already sought in short supply. The WHO were prepar- The representative of Belarus inquired refuge in Russia and about 260,000 ing an emergency health care for the about the Meeting of the OSCE Parliamenta- people, so the probably understated population. ry Assembly contact group on the Ukrainian estimates, were fleeing in the country Meanwhile there are reports on mass conflict settlement, which Russia had called to escape the fighting. The actual num- graves with four hundred dead in some for. Ambassador Borodavkin answered he ber of displaced persons is much high- of them mostly civilians. Many have had just been informed that Ukraine had de- er, according to UN estimates, because such grave injuries that they can hardly many are staying with friends and rel- be identified. The graves were in areas clined to attend (as had Poland, the USA, atives and do not report to the author- that were previously controlled by the France and Turkey, author’s note). ities. The figures were reported by the Ukrainian army. On 1 October, 10 ci- Replying to the question of a represent- Refugee Agency of the United Nations vilians were killed in the shelling of a ative of the Russian news agency Ria Nov- (UNHCR). Antonio Guterres, UN High school, on 2 October a Swiss ICRC staff osti, as to whether Russia would launch an Commissioner for Refugees, expressed member in Donetsk was killed by gre- investigation into breeches of the cease- his concern: Without a rapid termina- nade shelling. The UN Security Coun- fire, Dolgov said that Russia would closely tion of the crisis “devastating human- cil sharply condemned the murder in its monitor any incidents but he emphasized itarian consequences” would be im- meeting of 4 October and demanded an that a joint effort of the international com- minent. The crisis had “the potential objective, thorough investigation of the to destabilize the whole region.” On circumstances of his death. munity was required to investigate every- thing. • No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 5 John McCain, Conductor of the “Arab Spring” and the Caliph of the “Islamic State” by Thierry Meyssan

Everyone has noticed the contradiction of those who recently characterized the Islamic Emirate as “freedom fighters” in Syria and who are indignant today faced with its abuses in Iraq. But if that speech is incoherent in itself, it makes perfect sense in the strategic plan: the same in- dividuals were to be presented as allies yesterday and must be as enemies today, even if they are still on orders from Washington. Thierry Meyssan reveals below US policy through the particular case of Senator John McCain, conductor of the “Arab Spring” and longtime part- ner of Caliph Ibrahim. John McCain and the heads of the Free Syrian Army. In the left foreground, Ibrahim John McCain is known as the leader of al-Badri, with which the Senator is talking. Next, Brigadier General Salim Idris (with the Republicans and unhappy 2008 US glasses). presidential candidate. This is, we will see, only the real part of his biography, tographers and hundreds of police. The The Illegal Trip to Syria, April 2013 which serves as a cover to conduct cov- demonstration dispersed peacefully and In May 2013, Senator John McCain made ert actions on behalf of his government. clashes only began more than a month his way illegally to near Idleb in Syria via When I was in Libya during the later in Deraa [Town in southwest Syria Turkey to meet with leaders of the “armed “Western”attack, I was able to view a re- at the Jordanian border]1. opposition”. His trip was not made public port of the foreign intelligence servic- On February 16, 2011, a demonstra- until his return to Washington.6 es. It stated that, on February 4, 2011 tion underway in Benghazi, in memory of This movement was organized by the in Cairo, NATO organized a meeting to members of the Islamic Fighting Group Syrian Emergency Task Force, which, launch the “Arab Spring” in Libya and in Libya2 massacred in 1996 in the Abu contrary to its title, is a Zionist Organi- Syria. According to this document, the Selim prison, degenerated into shoot- zation led by a Palestinian employee of meeting was chaired by John McCain. ing. The next day, a second event, this AIPAC7. The report detailed the list of Libyan time in memory of those who died by at- In photographs released at that time, participants, whose delegation was led tacking the Danish consulate during the one noticed the presence of Moham- by the No. 2 man of the government of Muhammad cartoons affair, also degen- mad Nour, a spokesman for the Northern the day, Mahmoud Jibril, who abrupt- erated into shooting. At the same time, Storm Brigade (of the Al-Nosra Front, ly switched sides at the entrance of the members of the Islamic Fighting Group that is to say, al-Qaeda in Syria), who meeting to become the opposition lead- in Libya, coming from Egypt and coor- kidnapped and held 11 Lebanese Shiite er in exile. I remember that, among the dinated by unidentified, hooded individ- pilgrims in Azaz.8 Asked about his prox- French delegates present, the report quot- uals, simultaneously attacked four mili- imity to al-Qaeda kidnappers, the Senator ed Bernard-Henry Lévy, although offi- tary bases in four different cities. After claimed not to know Mohammad Nour cially he had never exercised functions three days of fighting and atrocities, the who would have invited himself into this within the French government. Many rebels launched the uprising of Cyrenai- photo. other personalities attended the symposi- ca against Tripolitania3; a terrorist attack The affair made a great noise and the um, including a large delegation of Syr- that the western press falsely presented as families of the abducted pilgrims lodged ians living abroad. a “democratic revolution” against “the re- a complaint before the Lebanese judici- gime” of Muammar el-Qaddafi. ary against Senator McCain for complic- “But, at the latest since the second Iraq On February 22nd, John McCain was ity in kidnapping. Ultimately, an agree- campaign, we have been falling victim in Lebanon. He met members of the Fu- ment was reached and the pilgrims were to a most comprehensive disinforma- ture Movement (the party of Saad Hariri) released. tion implemented in the United States, whom he charged to oversee the transfer of Let’s suppose that Senator McCain Great Britain and Israel by perfectly or- arms to Syria around the MP Okab Sakr4. had told the truth and that he was abused ganised institutions.” Then, leaving Beirut, he inspected the Syr- by Mohammad Nour. The object of his il- (Scholl-Latour, p. 17) ian border and the selected villages includ- legal trip to Syria was to meet the chiefs ing Ersal, which were used as a basis to of staff of the Free Syrian Army. Accord- Emerging from the meeting, the mys- back mercenaries in the war to come. ing to him, the organization was com- terious Syrian Revolution 2011 Face- The meetings chaired by John McCain posed “exclusively of Syrians” fighting book account called for demonstrations were clearly the trigger point for a long- for “their freedom” against the “Alouite outside the People’s Council (National prepared Washington plan; the plan that dictatorship” (sic). The tour organizers Assembly) in Damascus on February 11. would have the UK and France attack published this photograph to attest to the Although this Facebook account at the Libya and Syria simultaneously, follow- meeting. time claimed to have more than 40,000 ing the doctrine of “leadership from be- followers, only a dozen people respond- hind” and the annex of the Treaty of Lan- ed to its call before the flashes of pho- caster House of November 2010.5 continued on page 6 No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 6

”John McCain, Conductor of …” cept that the opposition leader be in di- formation but to instill speech. This was continued from page 5 rect contact, and publicly friendly, with a to transform his personality in order very dangerous wanted terrorist. that he make statements against his own If we can see Brigadier General Salem country. This program, studied based on Idriss, head of the Free Syrian Army, Who then is Senator McCain? the Korean experience for the Rand Cor- one can also see Ibrahim al-Badri (fore- But John McCain is not just the leader poration by Professor Albert D. Bider- ground on the left) with whom the sena- of the political opposition to President man, served as the basis for research at tor is talking. Back from the surprise trip, Obama, he is also one of his senior of- Guantánamo and elsewhere by Dr Mar- John McCain claimed that all those re- ficials! tin Seligman16. sponsible for the Free Syrian Army were He is in fact President of the Inter- Applied under George W. Bush to “moderates who can be trusted” (sic). national Republican Institute (IRI), the more than 80,000 prisoners, it has trans- However, since October 4, 2011, Ibra- republican branch of New Endowment formed many of them into real fighters him al-Badri (also known as Abu Du’a) for Democracy NED/CIA12, since Jan- serving Washington. John McCain, who was on the list of the five terrorists most uary 1993. This so-called “NGO” was had cracked in Vietnam, therefore under- wanted by the United States (Rewards for officially established by President Ron- stands. He knows how to unscrupulously Justice). A premium of up to $ 10 million ald Reagan to extend certain activities manipulate jihadists. was offered to anyone who would assist of the CIA, in connection with the Brit- What is the US strategy with the jihad- in his capture.9 The next day, October 5, ish, Canadian and Australian secret ser- ists in the Levant? 2011, Ibrahim al-Badri was included in vices. Contrary to its claims, it is indeed In 1990, the United States decided to the list of the Sanctions Committee of the an inter-governmental agency. Its budget destroy its former Iraqi ally. Having sug- UN as a member of al-Qaeda.10 is approved by Congress in a budget line gested to President Saddam Hussein that In addition, a month before receiv- dependent of the Secretary of State. they would consider the attack of Kuwait ing Senator McCain, Ibrahim al-Badri, It is also because it is a joint agency of as an Iraqi internal affair, they used this known under his nom de guerre as Abu the Anglo-Saxon secret services that sev- attack as an excuse to mobilize a broad Bakr al-Baghdadi, created the Islamic eral states in the world prohibit it from coalition against Iraq. However, because State in Iraq and the Levant (ÉIIL) – all any activity on their territory. of the opposition of the USSR, they did the while still belonging to the staff of The list of interventions by John Mc- not overthrow the regime, but were con- the very “moderate” Free Syrian Army. Cain on behalf of the State Department tent to administer a no-fly zone. He claimed as his own the attack on the is impressive. He participated in all the Taj and Abu Ghraib prisons in Iraq, from color revolutions of the last twenty years. “At the same time, the revolting ‘holy which he helped between 500 and 1,000 To take only a few examples, ever warriors’ leant onto the supply of arms jihadists escape who then joined his or- in the name of “democracy”, he pre- by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Emirates, ganization. This attack was coordinated pared the failed coup against constitu- onto the logistical support of Turkey with other almost simultaneous opera- tional president Hugo Chávez in Vene- under its Prime Minister Erdogan and 13 even of the American CIA. In Europe, tions in eight other countries. Each time, zuela, the overthrow of constitutionally in turn, systematic propaganda and the escapees joined the jihadist organi- elected president Jean-Bertrand Aris- disinformation caused public opinion, 14 zations fighting in Syria. This case is so tide in Haiti , the attempt to overthrow politicians, and the media to give their strange that Interpol issued a note and re- the constitutional President Mwai Kibaki sympathy and their engagement to the quested the assistance of the 190 mem- in Kenya15 and, more recently, the oust- supposedly ‘liberal and democratic’ ac- ber countries.11 ing of the constitutional president of tivists.” For my part, I have always said that Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych. (Scholl-Latour, pp. 56-57) there was no difference on the ground In any state in the world, when a cit- between the Free Syrian Army, Al-Nosra izen takes initiative to topple the regime In 2003, France’s opposition was not Front, the Islamic Emirate etc ... All these of another State, he may be appreciated if enough to offset the influence of the organizations are composed of the same successful and the new regime proves an Committee for the Liberation of Iraq. individuals who continuously change ally, but he will be severely condemned The United States attacked the coun- flag. When they pose as the Free Syri- when his initiatives have negative conse- try again and this time overthrew Pres- an Army, they fly the flag of French col- quences for his own country. Now, Sena- ident Hussein. Of course, John McCain onization and speak only of overthrow- tor McCain never was harassed because was a major contributor to the Commit- ing the “dog Bashar.” When they say they of his anti-democratic actions in states tee. After handing to a private compa- belong to Al-Nosra Front, they carry the where it has failed and who have turned ny the care of plundering the country for flag of al-Qaeda and declare their inten- against Washington. In Venezuela, for a year17, they tried to partition Iraq into tion to spread Islam in the world. Finally example. That is because, for the Unit- three separate states, but had to give it when they say they are the Islamic Emir- ed States, John McCain is not a traitor, up due to the resistance of the popula- ate, they brandish the flag of the Cali- but an agent. tion. They tried again in 2007, around the phate and announce that they will clean And an agent that has the best coverage Biden-Brownback resolution, but again the area of all infidels. But whatever the imaginable: he is the official opponent of failed.18 Hence the current strategy that label, they proceed to the same abuses: Barack Obama. As such, he can travel any- attempts to achieve this by means of a rape, torture, beheadings, crucifixions. where in the world (he is the most traveled non-state actor: the Islamic Emirate. Yet neither Senator McCain nor his US senator) and meet whoever he wants The operation was planned well in companions of the Syrian Emergency without fear. If his interlocutors approve advance, even before the meeting be- Task Force provided the information in Washington policy, he promised them to tween John McCain and Ibrahim al- their possession on Ibrahim al-Badri to continue it, if they fight it, he hands over Badri. For example, internal correspond- the State Department, nor have they asked the responsibility to President Obama. ence from the Qatari Ministry of Foreign for the reward. Nor have they informed the John McCain is known to have been a Affairs, published by my friends James anti-terrorism Committee of the UN. prisoner of war in Vietnam for five years, and Joanne Moriarty19, shows that 5,000 In no country in the world, regardless where he was tortured. He was involved of their political system, would one ac- in a program designed not to extract in- continued on page 7 No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 7

”John McCain, Conductor of …” public opinion became too strong, Presi- continued from page 6 dent Obama gave the order to bomb some “It is probable that behind this lies a controlled world-wide disinformation, positions of the Islamic Emirate. Howev- as was already explained by Nicolas jihadis were trained at the expense of er, according to General William May- Sarkozy, the present President Fran- Qatar in NATO’s Libya in 2012, and 2,5 ville, director of operations at the head- çois Hollande’s predecessor. Former million dollars was paid at the same time quarters, “These bombings are unlikely Foreign Minister Alain Juppé had had to the future Caliph. to affect the overall capacity of the Islam- the effrontery of appearing in an inter- In January of 2014, the Con- ic Emirate and its activities in other areas view on television next to his Saudi col- gress of the United States held a se- of Iraq or Syria “.24 Obviously, they are league Saud Ben Feisal – of all people cret meeting at which it voted, in vio- not meant to destroy the jihadist army, – to call on the Syrians, jointly with this lation of international law, to approve but only to ensure that each player does representative of the most reaction- ary and totally intolerant Islamic the- funding for the Al-Nosra Front (al- not overlap the territory that has been as- ocracy, to respect and observe human Qaeda) and the Islamic emirate in signed. Moreover, for the moment, they rights and democracy. Certainly the Iraq and the Levant until September are symbolic and have destroyed only a Damascus Government did not com- 2014.20 Although it is unclear precise- handful of vehicles. It was ultimately the ply with the ideas of Western party di- ly what was really agreed to during intervention of the Kurds of the Turkish versity and freedom of expression, but this meeting revealed by the British and Syrian Kurdish PKK which halted there certainly were much worse des- Reuters news agency21, and no media the progress of the Islamic Emirate and pots, and religious tolerance had no- US media dared bypass censorship, it is opened a corridor to allow civilians to es- where been as highly respected as be- highly probable that the law includes a cape the massacre. tween Damascus and Aleppo.” (Scholl-Latour, p. 105) section on arming and training jihadists. Much disinformation is circulating Proud of this US funding, Saudi Ara- about the Islamic Emirate and its ca- bia has claimed on its public television liph. The Gulf Daily News newspa- dadi, aka Caliph Ibrahim, mercenary of channel, Al-Arabiya, that the Islam- per claimed that Edward Snowden had Prince Abdul Rahman al-Faisal, fund- ic Emirate was headed by Prince Abdul made revelations about it.25 Howev- ed by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the Unit- Rahman al-Faisal, brother of Prince er, after verification, the former US spy ed States. He can commit all the horrors Saud al Faisal (Foreign Minister) and published nothing about it. Gulf Daily that are forbidden to states by the Gene- Prince Turki al-Faisal (Saudi ambassa- News is published in Bahrain, a state oc- va Conventions. dor to the United States and the United cupied by Saudi troops. The article aims In the latest issue of its magazine, the Kingdom)22. to clear only Saudi Arabia and Prince Islamic Emirate devoted two pages to de- The Islamic Emirate represents a new Abdul Rahman al-Faisal of their respon- nounce Senator John McCain as “the step in the world of mercenaries. Unlike sibilities. enemy” and “double-crosser”, recalling his jihadi groups who fought in Afghani- The Islamic Emirate is comparable to continued on page 8 stan, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Chechn- the mercenary armies of the European six- ya around Osama bin Laden, it does not teenth century. They were conducting re- constitute a residual force but actually an ligious wars on behalf of the lords who army in itself. Unlike previous groups paid them, sometimes in one camp, some- Current Concerns in Iraq, Libya and Syria, around Prince times in another. Caliph Ibrahim is a mod- The international journal for independent Bandar bin Sultan, they have sophisti- ern condottiere. Although he is under the thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, cated communication services at their orders of Prince Abdul Rahman (Member and for the promotion and respect disposal for recruitment and civilian of- of Sudeiris clan), it would not be surpris- of public international law, human rights ficials trained in large western schools ing if he continued his epic in Saudi Arabia and humanitarian law capable of instantly taking over the ad- (after a brief detour in Lebanon or Kuwait) Publisher: Zeit-Fragen Cooperative ministration of a territory. and determine the Royal succession favor- Editor: Erika Vögeli Brand new Ukrainian weapons were ing the Sudeiris clan over Prince Mithab Address: Current Concerns, purchased by Saudi Arabia and conveyed (son, not brother of King Abdullah). P.O. Box, CH-8044 Zurich by the Turkish secret services who gave Phone: +41 (0)44 350 65 50 them to the Islamic Emirate. Final de- John McCain and the Caliph Fax: +41 (0)44 350 65 51 tails were coordinated with the Barza- Ibrahim al-Badri, also known as Abu E-Mail: [email protected] ni family at a meeting of jihadist groups Du’a, also known as Abu Bakr al-Bagh- Subscription details: in Amman on 1 June 2014.23 The joint published regularly electronically as PDF file attack on Iraq by the Islamic Emirate Annual subscription rate of and the Kurdistan Regional Government “As part of a systematic disinforma- SFr. 40,-, € 30,-, £ 25,-, $ 40,- tion campaign, politicians and media for the following countries: began four days later. The Islamic Emir- Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, of the West had agreed that any in- ate seized the Sunni part of the country, Cyprus, , Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, fringement on international law what- while the Kurdistan Regional Govern- Greece, Hongkong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, soever could only be due to terrorist Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Nether- ment increased its territory by over 40%. intentions of the Syrian Assad regime. lands, New Zealand, Norway, Qatar, Singapore, Fleeing the atrocities of jihadists, reli- NATO circles obviously did not serious- Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab ­Emirates, United Kingdom, USA gious minorities left the Sunni area, pav- ly consider the by all means more credi- ing the way for the three-way partition ble theory that the rebels supported by Annual subscription rate of SFr. 20,-, € 15,-, £ 12,50, $ 20,- of the country. the West would have every interest in for all other countries. staging such incidents so as to inflame Violating the Iraqi-US Defense agree- Account: Postscheck-Konto: PC 87-644472-4 ment, the Pentagon did not intervene and international public opinion and nota- allowed the Islamic Emirate to contin- bly the Erdogan Government further The editors reserve the right to shorten letters to against the ostracised regime in Da- the editor. Letters to the editor do not necessarily ue its conquest and massacres. A month mascus. The elementary question ‘cui reflect the views and opinions of Current Concerns. later, while the Kurdish Peshmerga Re- bono’ – who benefits? – was not asked. © 2014. All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or gional Government had retreated without (Scholl-Latour, pp. 47-48). transmission of this publication may be made without written a fight, and when the emotions of world permission. No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 8 Once more they say the “good” fought the “evil” by Karl Müller

Sometimes it just takes a few words to re- ing with the “barbarians”, when it seemed was fought for the benefit of mankind. veal with what clumsy methods they are opportune – as Thierry Meyssan’s article The same is true for the war against the trying to convince us citizens that war is a shows. Mr Boehner also forgot to mention IS. But what’s the point of this war? good thing. The Republican speaker of the that there was a US military journal that Where’s the logic in it? You may think US House of Representatives, John Boeh- demanded to draw new borders, so-called about that, as well. Is it about what ner, asked for – at least that was what the “blood borders” in the Near and Middle failed in 2013, trying to introduce the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” report- East; and not by peaceful means. war against Syria now by the back door, ed on 30 September – the deployment of Mr Bohner claims to “destroy” the “bar- now? The Turkish Parliament allowed US ground troops in the war against the IS, barians” of the IS. Hasn’t mass murderer the use of troops in Syria – as the gov- the “Islamic State”. The United States had Lenin once said: “[Our] common aim [is] ernment wanted it. Or is the point that no other choice, he claimed: “They are bar- to clean the land of Russia of all vermin.” they want to show the whole world that barians. They want to kill us. If we do not How wide is the step from such a martial this war is but a good thing – after man- destroy them first, we will have to pay the language to dehumanisation? It can not be kind could not be convinced despite all price.” the point to trivialize crimes in the name of the propaganda. That does not merely sound like the the IS or even to “understand” them. But is A prediction may be ventured: The “Wild West”, it is also meant. Of course a “campaign of destruction” the right way war against IS is nothing better. On the Boehner avoided to mention that the to prevent future crimes that actually exist contrary – thousands of people will die human suffering in the Near and Mid- today? Pankaj Mishra in his book “From again, there will be endless suffering and dle East, which has been going on for The Ruins Of Empire. The Intellectuels massive destructions. “War is obsolete,” years now, is “the curse of the evil deed” Who Remade Asia”, told us impressively said an American war veteran a few years (Peter Scholl-Latour,Friedrich Schiller) about the injustice that the West has com- ago after the US-led wars against Yugo- and that the “evil deed” has many initiators in mitted in this part of the world, as well, and slavia, Afghanistan and Iraq. The de- the Western states, for example the CIA about the desperate revolt against it. Are we structions that were done there, and the with its flights to Syria with Libyan fight- really capable of stopping the violence in human victims of deprivation, of humil- ers. This was what a political scientist at the Near and Middle East, as long as we do iation and of slaughter can never be put the University of Bonn revealed in an in- not really understand the people there and right again. All three countries are con- terview with the “Deutschlandfunk”, who their tragic history? taminated by radiation to eternity. Surely otherwise fuloy advocates the war. High- Finally: Cui bono? The interest- these wars were no less “barbaric” than ranking US politicians enjoyed cooperat- ed public knows that no, really no war the methods of IS. •

15 ”John McCain, Conductor of …” er of British counter-espionage, David Shyler. See “L’expérience politique africaine de Barack “David Shayler: ‘I left the British secret service Obama” (“Barack Obama’s African Political expe- continued from page 7 when the MI6 decided to fund Osama bin Laden’”, rience”), par Thierry Meyssan, Réseau Voltaire, 9 Voltaire Network, November 18, 2005. mars 2013. support for the US invasion of Iraq. Let this 3 Report of the Fact Finding Mission on the current 16 “The secret behind Guantánamo”, by Thierry accusation remain unknown in the United crisis in Libya, June 2011. Meyssan, Odnako (Russia), Voltaire Network, May States, Senator immediately issued a state- 4 “Lebanese MP directing arms traffic to Syria”, 20, 2010. Translation Pete Kimberley, Voltaire Network, De- 17 “Who Rules Iraq?”, by Thierry Meyssan, Voltaire ment calling the Emirate the “most danger- cember 13, 2012. Network, May 13, 2004. 26 ous Islamist terrorist group in the world” . 5 In this regard, reference is made to my six-part se- 18 “La balkanisation de l’Irak” (“The Balkanization This controversy is there only to dis- ries “10 years of resistance, the war of the United of Iraq”), par Manlio Dinucci, Traduction Marie- tract the gallery. One would like to be- States against Syria.” Ange Patrizio, Il Manifesto (Italie), Réseau Vol- 6 “McCain enters Syria illegally”, Voltaire Network, taire, 17 juin 2014. lieve it ... if it weren’t for this photograph May 30, 2013. 19 “Official Document of the Qatar Embassy: Trip- 7 from May 2013. • “La Syrian Emergency Task Force, faux-nez sion- oli Confirms Sending 1800 Islamic Extremists in Source: http://www.voltairenet.org/article185085. iste” (“The Syrian Emergency Task Force, Zionist Trained in Libya to Fight in Syria,” The Truth Lib- html sock puppet”), Réseau Voltaire, 7 juin 2013. yan War, September 20, 2013. 8 “John McCain meets with kidnappers in Syria”, 20 “Les États-Unis, premiers financiers mondiaux du 1 We relayed press reports assuring that the dem- Voltaire Network, June 1, 2013. 9 “Wanted for Terrorism,” Rewards for Justice Pro- terrorisme” (“The United States, the world’s lead- onstration in Deraa was a protest after the arrest gram, Department of State. ing financier of terrorism”), par Thierry Meyssan, and torture of students who tagged hostile slo- 10 The Security Council Committee established pur- Al-Watan (Syrie), Réseau Voltaire, 3 février 2014. 21 gans about the Republic. However, many col- suant to resolution 1267 (1999) October 15, 1999 is “Congress Approves Secret US weapons flow to leagues have attempted to establish the identity of also known as the “Committee for sanctions against ’moderate’ Syrian rebels” by Mark Hosenball, Reu- these students and meet their families. None was Al-Qaida.” Record registration Ibrahim al-Badri ters, January 27, 2014. able to do so, the only witnesses who spoke did so (this time with the nom de guerre of al-Samarrai). 22 “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant led by for the British press, but anonymously, thus un- 11 “Simultaneous jail-break of jihadists in 9 coun- Prince Abdul Rahman”, Translation Alizée Ville, verifiably. We are now convinced that this event tries”, Translation Alizée Ville, Voltaire Network, Voltaire Network, February 4, 2014. never existed. The study of Syrian contemporary August 7, 2013. 23 “PKK revelations on ISIL attack and creation of documents shows that the event was really about 12 “La NED, vitrine légale de la CIA” (“The NED, ‘Kurdistan’”, Voltaire Network, July 8, 2014. an increase in civil servants’ salaries and pen- legal storefront of the CIA”), par Thierry Meyssan, 24 “U.S. Air Strikes Are Having a Limited Effect on sions. It obtained satisfaction from the govern- Odnako (Russie), Réseau Voltaire, 6 octobre 2010. ISIL” by Ben Watson, Defense One, August 11, ment. At that point, no newspaper had mentioned 13 “Opération manquée au Venezuela” (“Operation 2014. 25 these students, this story having been invented by failed in Venezuela”), par Thierry Meyssan, Ré- “Baghdadi ‘Mossad trained,’” Gulf Daily News, Al-Jazeera two weeks later. seau Voltaire, 18 mai 2002. July 15, 2014. 2 The members of the Islamic Fighting Group in 14 “La CIA déstabilise Haïti” (“The CIA destabiliz- 26 “Statement by Senator John McCain on being tar- Libya, that is to say, al-Qaeda in Libya, tried to es Haiti”), Réseau Voltaire, 14 janvier 2004. “Coup geted by terrorist group ISIL as ‘the ennemy’ and assassinate Muammar el-Qaddafi on behalf of the d’Etat en Haiti”, par Thierry Meyssan, Voltaire ‘the crusader’”, Office of John McCain, July 28, British MI6. The case was revealed by an offic- Network, 5 mars 2004. 2014. No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 9

Riots in Hong Kong by Willy Wimmer

Rioting in China is of a special quality. It well as in multi-ethnic India, there is an qi or in Kunming or in other areas of the can impact the head of state with such a almost panicking fear of conceding quite country. It is striking, in any case, that vehemence, as it is true for only few other legitimate concerns to different parts of whenever the threat of war grows in Eu- States. There is no need to tell the Chi- the country, as one is afraid of the col- rope, bombs go off in China. No one will nese government. They are aware of it. At lapse of the giant empires of China and put aside these signals in Beijing. It was the latest since the events of 1989 at Tian- India. And certainly there are quite sig- like this in the run-up to the war in Yugo- anmen Square in Beijing it is clear what it nificant approaches from outside to ma- slavia and also before the civil war in the is all about in China. Some former head neuver China into such a situation. There Ukraine started. of government was made responsible for are many influential forces in Japan, One can’t help feeling sorry for the the terrible consequences. Here, names who could imagine a China consisting spokeswoman of the Chinese Foreign were mentioned, too. But as a matter of of seven to eight smaller Chinas. We Ministry, when she announced a warning fact, Comrade Deng Xiao Ping, the for- take to the Dalai Lama as an admirable to other states in front of the international mer and undisputed leader of the People’s person; many are following the Lama’s press, not to interfere in Hong Kong’s and Republic of China, had to send his emis- every word, when he speaks in the are- China’s affairs. This had to be said, but saries searching in distant regions of the nas of the German Republic to them. This it was like preaching to the wind. Today huge Empire for still-loyal military units, completely hides the Indian intensive tri- it’s a different question given the develop- so that they could be used against Beijing als to resolve Tibet out of the Chinese ment already established before the hand- and the huge demonstrating crowds. The State Federation because of its strategic over of Hong Kong by the British colo- student demonstrators were too closely position important for India. The Tibet- nial power in China. To what extent has linked with China’s ruling elite. The high- an uprising, at the end of which the Dalai Beijing an influence on Hong Kong? This est officials in Beijing and the major cit- Lama escaped to India, has been insti- concerns Hong Kong for sure: before the ies of China knew their children were on gated by just this India. There is quite a colony was handed over, those, who could the streets of Beijing. They refused to fol- number of American publications, who afford it set off, especially to Canadian low the State Government in its effort to complain about the lack of a vigorous Vancouver or to Los Angeles in Califor- get the development on the famous Beijing American engagement to create a Tibet nia. Things have evolved better after the square under control. The army and large independent from China during the Cold return of Hong Kong to the motherland, as parts of the security apparatus were sim- War. it had been feared. But Hong Kong cannot ply not deployable against children of the Today’s remedy is visible in the co- be separated from Vancouver or Los An- decision-making top of the military and operation between Washington and Mu- geles, and there the barn doors are open. the security apparatus. nich with the Uighur forces. Neighbours Constitutionally, Hong Kong is connected Deng and the other leaders searched of the western province Singkiang, such to the mother country in the sense of “one for a way out after the bloody events by as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and others, country and two systems”, but it is more opening the floodgates for China’s eco- have reassured China that they do not in- open than ever during the British time, be- nomic development. He was successful in tend a separation of the province Singki- cause of this development. Many things this unlike in his dealing with the Beijing ang from China, because the Uighurs liv- were achieved in the course of the Brit- victims. China unleashed its econom- ing there have their relatives in countries ish rule, but a democratic legacy of signif- ic potential to such a degree that even such as Kazakhstan and other states. By icant importance has not been left. Hong after the collapse of Lehmann Brothers far, this might not be valid considering the Kong concerns all of us. Because the basic Bank and Western financial chaos China interest of the United States. It is conspic- considerations of the protesters are corre- could mobilize a large part of those forc- uous even for the “Spiegel” who the insti- sponding with the bad mood in our states es, that also protected Germany against gators were that might have triggered the almost up to the last detail. • the worst. China persevered. In China as assault series in Singkiangs capital Urum- (Translation Current Concerns) Today’s illusory boom is similar to that of the years 1923-1929 in many ways by Prof Dr Eberhard Hamer It is always good to try to understand to- solvency, currency reform and impov- – In both cases, the illusory boom was fi- day’s situation by looking back at simi- erishment of large parts of the middle nanced with paper money without being larities of past developments, because this class, and especially pensioners – as is backed by a gold standard. After the could also clarify the course of today’s eco- happening again now in Argentina and First World War, the victorious powers nomic development. the bankrupt states of Europe. had the gold, therefore Germany and If we compare the illusory boom of the – The national financial crashes from Austria had no currency basis. Today, years 1923 to 1929, which arose after the 1920 to 1923 in Germany and from the European central banks have lent inflation and currency reform of 1920- 2008 to 2012 in Argentina and in the their gold to the Anglo-Saxon financiers 1923, with today’s specious prosperity fol- bankrupt states of Europe did not and those have embezzled it and proba- lowing the first financial crisis from 2008 lead to a global financial crisis, be- bly even have no more gold themselves, to 2011, we will find the following parallels cause in both cases the Anglo-Saxon so again, a sham prosperity is being fi- referring to this aspect: high finance did not want to lose its nanced by the printers of paper money – In both cases, global financial crises credit-domination and was therefore (the Federal Reserve System) with an caused individual nations – back then able to extend debt bondage by new increasing amount of paper money, of most notably Germany – to skid into in- loans. which the world still believes that it is No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 10

”Today’s illusory boom …” been able to keep up the currently ongo- form of forced monetary contraction, i.e. continued from page 9 ing specious prosperity based on growing currency reform. debts. No one should, however, believe that If you ask me, when the second major fi- based on a corresponding gold stand- “the market can be cheated” on a perma- nancial crisis will come, I believe that the ard, while in actual fact the latter does nent basis, that an anti-competitive money ongoing, of course artificial, situation can- no longer exist. supply increase and a ride on zero-interest not be maintained in the long or even me- – In both specified times of specious pros- credits can be kept up indefinitely. dium term. So I expect a short-term forced perity, companies and states financed Harbingers of a natural correction of the correction and a new global financial cri- their long-term credit needs in the ongoing artificial and illusory boom are al- sis in the next three years – sooner rather form of short and medium term financ- ready looming: than later. ing, and thus amassed an irresponsibly – The dollar is already teetering. Behind growing credit deficit, so that the finan- it stands the US, overloaded with debts What should be done now? cial collapse of one single bank eventu- at an all-time high, 80% of which are What the state, business, politics, the so- ally led to a global financial crisis. funded by debt monetization of the US cial systems and the security organs are – Above all, business and politics have led American FED, so that the dollar now preparing and should implement later, is the people to believe that the factitious has only a military rather than an eco- described in detail in my “crash-book”2. current wealth increase based on the ex- nomic coverage. And here are some hints for your private change of bank bills was real, managea- – The zero interest rate policy distorts the provision: ble and might be continued without any asset price structure and allows massive 1. Pay off your debts, at the latest in the inhibition whatsoever, i.e. that money is loan fraud and forgery, insider trading inflation phase at the beginning of the irrelevant. In the decadent roaring twen- and drug money laundering – and in the crash. If you come out of the crash free ties nobody – namely not the average public sector the unrestrained contract- of debt, reconstruction will be easier. population – spared a thought on debt ing of additional debts without any pros- 2. Change your monetary assets to materi- relief and nobody does so in this equal- pect of repayment. al assets in time. The unsecured and in- ly corrupted new century. – The dollar, which was previously flated money will lose its value, material – The press and the politicians are rejoic- backed by a golden treasure, has lost assets, on the other hand, will hold their ing that “the debt problem has been got its gold coverage. Not only the Fed, but value. under control,” by means of “bailout also its European satellites (for example, 3. Money-denominated “securities” such funds” and the European Stability Mech- the German Federal Bank) long ago lost as stocks and bonds, funds, and similar anism, they point to the all-time peak in their gold long ago, sold or mortgaged it, financial assets will also devalue, but stock market prices, to falling zero-inter- and it is at best “available” as a useless precious metals (gold, silver, etc.) will est rates, the booming labour market and claim for repayment. In actual fact, it is not do so. Gold and silver coins have full social security funds. FED and ECB by now privately owned and in Asia. So always kept their purchasing power, seem to have overlaid all financial prob- our Western monetary system does no whether in or after a crash. lems with a money supply increase. longer rest on a foundation of trust, so 4. During the crash, all government bene- Since 2011 people have again believed that not only China and Russia but more fits such as salaries, benefits, pensions, what they believed in 1923, namely, that recently also the oil states are founding old-age pensions will also dwindle. If the crisis was over. new clearing-and-settlement-systems you want to secure a standard of living Currently nobody is envisaging a second based on gold and not on the dollar. The above the minimum subsistence level, crisis level – this is the same situation collapse of the dollar empire is inexora- you must make sure to have an income as in 2002, when the author published bly ongoing. financed by material assets like rents or his book ”What should we do when – Up to now, the initiators of the money leases. the crash comes”, then only raising a supply increase (FED, ECB) have 5. If you can professionally provide neces- laugh with it (afterwards everybody had been able to control inflation despite sary services after the crash (craft ser- known all the time what was to come). zero interest rates by using ploys vices, health care or others), you will be In fact, the pending financial crisis is not which entail buying up their own able to keep a higher standard of living resolved, but only covered up. The unre- funds. But never yet has any coun- than others. strained money supply increase supplied by try or institution been able to keep 6. This is also true for business owners Fed and ECB has in no way remedied the the evil spirit of a gigantic amount of who are able to provide necessary prod- financial imbalance of states, banks and the money multiplication in the bottle. In ucts after the crash (agriculture, manu- economy, it has in no way reduced the ex- some sectors (real estate, gold, food) facturing industry). cessive indebtedness, but we are already seeing price pressure Many of those who do not see the second – Both in the USA and in European rise, and this will enforce a rise in in- financial crash come and are not prepared, countries, debt has continued to grow terest rates. If interest rates rise even will suffer economic deprivation, they will by leaps and bounds since 2008 – in only by 2%, banks, funds and states be impoverished, in despair, they will per- Greece, it even increased threefold. will be sinking in a maelstrom of debt. haps rise up in revolution – but they will – The financial bubbles (real estate bub- Not deflation, but inflation is the mar- not be able to get at the financial fraud- ble, derivatives bubble, credit card bub- ket economy’s upcoming lie. sters, the political seducers and the habit- ble) have not been reduced, but massive- – As soon as the inflationary spiral begins ual public debtors – those will long since ly inflated further. to turn, we will see that all the previous have made a bolt for it. • – Corrections to the economy, the social crisis symptoms were only covered and 1 Obtainable at: Mittelstandsinstitut (SME Insti- systems and society, which are long extended instead of solved. tute) Niedersachsen, Augustinerweg 20, D-30419 overdue from a market economy per- – Public debt will turn into inflation. Hannover, Tel + Fax:. 0049 511 79 13 03, spective, have been negated. – The housing bubble will burst. Financial Price: 30, - Euro 2 Hamer, Eberhard. What happens when the crash Only by artificial market interventions such assets will be devalued including provi- occurs? Obtainable at: Mittelstandsinstitut (SME as the zero interest rate and comprehensive sions for old age. Institute) Niedersachsen, Augustinerweg 20, guarantees and without offering any real – And finally the necessary correction of D-30419 Hannover, Tel + Fax:. 0049 511 79 13 03. solutions has the world’s financial industry money supply increase will follow in the (Translation Current Concerns) No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 11 The complexity of the hunger problem Since it is caused by humans, it can be eliminated by humans by Thomas Kaiser Those who deal with the issue of inade- The English Pastor Thomas Malthus When read- quate nutrition on earth and especially (1766-1834) claimed to have recognized ing the novel with its causes are facing a multitude of that humanity is growing faster than suf- “100 Stunden”, factors that are responsible for the misery ficient food can be supplied. He thought written by the of hunger on our planet. While the focus that it was a kind of natural law that hu- French diplo- of the media usually lies on the crises, the manity was heading towards misery. Ac- mat and writer international community is only little in- cording to this view, it is essential for the Jean-Christophe terested in the quiet and agonizing death survival of mankind to reduce the size Rufin, and the ep- of the hungry. The UN declared 11 Sep- of the world population, which happens ilogue in partic- tember an official commemorative day, when people die from disease or star- ular, cannot help while at the same time more people die vation – in many cases both factors are thinking that from hunger every day than were killed in closely related and mutually dependent. there is some- the collapse of the New York twin towers. Does this hideous vision still show an thing going on Both disasters are the result of human ac- effect today, even though Malthus died ISBN 978-3100685097 which is not ac- tion and therefore not inevitable. For the over 200 years ago? Jean Ziegler writes: cidental or can be media, however, 11 September was some- “Probably without meaning to, he [Mal- shrugged away as a freak of nature. It thing spectacular, which filled the news- thus] relieved the inhabitants of the rul- might go back to the ideas of Thom- papers and allowed them to keep people ing states in as Malthus and the ideological heirs of on the go, to stir up fear and fuel specula- the West from his views, the deep ecologists, who con- tion. Dozens of books have been written, their bad con- sider mankind a kind of cancer destroy- analyses and investigations, to date the science. Unless ing Gaia, our Mother Earth, regarding issue remains virulent. The hunger of the he has a severe man no longer as a part of nature but a people, which has since claimed millions mental disor- leprosy that has to be decimated, if na- of victims, however, is marked by a shad- der, no one is ture is to be saved. The founder of Deep owy existence. Two books have made an able to stand Ecology Arne Naess argues in favour of outstanding contribution to the analysis of the sight of a a population reduction to an “acceptable the hunger problem: on the one hand Jean fellow human level” and considers the migration of the Feyder’s “Mordshunger. Wer profitiert being killed poor into the rich countries an ecologi- vom Elend der armen Länder?” (Murder- by starvation. cal problem. These people do not consid- ing hunger. Who benefits from the misery By making the er the fight against poverty and hunger of the poor countries?) and Jean Ziegler’s massacre a fa- the solution to the hunger problem, in- “Wir lassen sie verhungern” (We let them ISBN 978-3570101261 miliar idea, by stead they fight the poor and the hungry. starve). Both books leave the reader with referring to the In their system of thought they regard an imprint and a concern that must lead to realm of necessity, Malthus relieved the each famine or plague as something pos- action. But what has to be done? Western residents from their moral re- itive. Even if such ideas and forces have The complex- sponsibility.” (p. 102) Mankind is thus only minimal influence, with their fatalis- ity of the hun- faced with the choice either to make great tic view they contribute – despite all pro- ger problem can long-term efforts to ban the hunger from testations – to the situation that not eve- be clearly seen our planet, or to accept the death of thou- rything is being done to fight hunger, and in Jean Feyder’s sands of innocent people in fateful alle- thus to see to it that hungry people be- book; Jean Zie- giance, if not even secretly promoting it come an episode in the history of man- gler regards the without knowing, because this death, ac- kind, which could be overcome, at least matter from an cording to Malthus’ theory, ensures the in our modern technological age. economic and survival of humanity. In several chapters Jean Ziegler shows, political perspec- A Swiss daily newspaper with a very how malnutrition and hunger can lead to tive. The misery large edition headlined a few weeks ago: severe mental and physical illness. People and injustice ex- “Liberia and Sierra Leone are lost.” Here, who had to go hungry for a longer period of tremely outrag- the Journal cites a virologist named Jonas time or could only eat very poorly, have too ISBN 978-3938060-53-7 es the authors. Schmidt-Chanasit, who said in the radio little antibodies and a weakened immune Thus, both au- channel Deutsche Welle: “The right time to system so that diseases, which would be thors conclude from different, but not con- intervene was missed. Now, it’s too late.” curable in other circumstances, can lead tradictory perspectives that hunger is man- He concluded that half of the population of increasingly to death. It is obvious that the made and there should be no hunger on our Sierra Leone and Liberia would die. A sce- solution of malnutrition would also make a green earth; as the whole problem is man- nario that, should it become reality, would significant contribution to the health of the made it can also be solved by man, if – and exceed every horror film. Why has the dis- affected population. The situation that the this is crucial – there is the political will to ease spread so uncontrollably? Why does Ebola disease spreads in developing coun- do so. There are enough fertile soils and this virus strain mutate constantly and is tries is related to this fact. there are enough people who would like so hard to fight as hard as the AIDS virus? It is undisputed that agricultural policy to cultivate them, too. But one cannot help Where does the virus come from all of a makes a significant contribution to solv- thinking that certain political and economic sudden? What are the people dying from, ing the problem of hunger and thus the circles tacitly accept the death of millions of given that the Director of the WHO, Mar- health of the affected people. What Jean people, if money can be made of it. Is this garet Chan, states that we do not know the compatible with the human conscience? actual cause of death in many cases. continued on page 12 No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 12

”The complexity of the hunger …” that the big corporate agriculture had not logical pest control, deals with the cur- continued from page 11 achieved the desired yield of certain prod- rent issues of agriculture. His idea and ucts and therefore, the state held a protec- desire is to find a life in harmony with Feyder clearly shows, however, is that the tive hand over the “private” small farm- nature, taking into account animal wel- subsidized free trade of industrial coun- ers to promote and maintain this form fare and building up a profitable farm tries drives the destruction of local ag- of cultivation. Now large enterprises are this way. Not expansion and profit are riculture on, especially in economical- kept alive with state subsidy, since EU ag- in the foreground, but keeping animals ly weak countries. The cheap subsidised ricultural policy refuses all the support to in their natural environment and doing imported goods may undercut domestic small businesses, and this is systematic environmentally friendly agriculture; prices and prevent the establishment of and belongs to the above-mentioned strat- these are the topics discussed. For chil- a regionally-based agriculture. Thus, the egy. dren it is an excellent introduction to the profit of the industrial nations is regarded In addi- exciting and varied world of agriculture. prior to the solution to the hunger prob- tion to the A child-friendly introduction that con- lem. Since the publication of the World debate on siders both the welfare of humans and Agriculture Report it has been obvious a sensible animals. Had those responsible for to- that especially the small family farm – agricultur- day’s (agricultural) economy been intro- it was not accidental that the United Na- al policy at duced in the world of agricultural pol- tions made 2014 the “Year of the Fami- parliamenta- icy with this children’s book, much of ly Farming” – may offer a way out of the ry level and the world food situation would probably hunger crisis. The fact that China takes professional look somewhat different. on the role as a trailblazer here, is caus- association The findings for the solution of the ing a stir. Through the support of fami- level there problem of hunger are available. It is ab- ly farms they were able to increase their is always surd that we fly to Mars, take soil sam- own production and enhance it, so that the question ples there and draw conclusions about the number of undernourished people de- how one can ISBN 9783857030895 our solar system, but are not able to help clined dramatically. The Chinese govern- get especially the younger generation millions of people on our earth who are ment also hopes for a dynamic agriculture interested in this topic. The latest sum- on the brink of starvation. Is humanity by means of the promotion and enlarge- mer edition of Globi (a Swiss children’s really not able to provide enough food ment of family farms, which today have book) comes along just at the right mo- for all? Hardly. It is up to us humans, to 6.7 hectares of land on average. ment, cleverly entitled “Globi, the Smart hold a public debate in order to prepare A conversation with a vegetable gar- Farmer”, dealing with this very topic. the ground for a meaningful political so- dener and trader in East Germany, who Globi, who gets a family farm into prop- lution. It is, as always, on us humans. witnessed the ratios of the former GDR, er shape and does not consider himself Once you have looked into this prob- revealed (cf. interview on the last page), too bad to even go to Africa and learn lem a little deeper, it will stay on your that the GDR leadership once realised there, how to successfully perform bio- mind. •

Regional small-scale agriculture against global hunger New Brochure: “Paths out of the hunger crisis. The insights and consequences of the World Agriculture Report (IAASTD) – Proposals for tomorrow’s agriculture” rt. In 2008, the World Agriculture Re- reasons for the climate change, the extinc- Currently, the plans for a free trade port of the IAASTD (International As- tion of species, water shortage, pollution, agreement between the US and the EU sessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Sci- avoidable illnesses, child labour, poverty (TTIP) are indicating a more adverse de- ence and Technology for Development) and injustice. This system is sick.” (http:// velopment. Due to large direct and indi- created a stir. The report, compiled on a www.globalagriculture.org/) rect subsidies, agricultural products gen- wide scientific base by 400 authors from The report makes it clear that it is erated on a large scale with doubtful 86 countries under the roof of the UN wrong to believe that the problems of industrial means (by genetic engineering, and the World Bank, noted that, in order global sustenance and unemployment insecticides, herbicides etc.) are threaten- to solve the problems of sustenance, pol- could be solved by an industrialized ag- ing to supersede traditional ways of culti- lution and poverty, a meaningful agri- riculture. The report shows this explicitly. vation. States which so far have success- cultural development has to be based on The publishing of the report in 2008 led fully fought genetic engineering are thus small-scale family agriculture (http:// to a reconsidering of agricultural politics to be forced to give up their protective www.globalagriculture.org/). In a bro- in many countries. Especially Third World measures. chure “Paths out of the hunger crisis” countries are trying to avoid the mistakes The so-called liberalisation of the (December 2013)1, the further develop- of industrial agriculture. Thus also the idea markets also fosters “land grabbing” in ment since 2008 is outlined. of food sovereignty was reconstituted as the Third World. Valuable arable land is The situation is clear. “Close to 900 a worthwhile goal of national agricultur- snatched away from the poor countries in million people on this planet are starving al politics. Also for a growing part of the order to produce cheap agricultural prod- while 1.4 billion are overweight or suffer population in the so-called First World, the ucts, but also raw material for ethanol from morbid obesity. 2.5 billion tons of dependence on food from abroad, some- (“bio” fuel). Especially the large multina- crops have been harvested in 2013, more times from overseas or industrially or ge- tional corporations in the agricultural or than ever. But only 45% of the crop serves netically modified, is no longer an option. agricultural chemistry sectors are urging as food. The rest is processed to animal In Switzerland, currently three initi- to “liberalise” agriculture globally. Since food, fuel or industrial raw materials. Our atives are being launched which include they often can exert their influence by var- food system is one of the most important this goal (cf. Current Concerns 16/17). ious means of non-democratic institutions No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 13 For a humane, robust and sustainable economy Reinhard Koradi, Dietlikon, Switzerland

The message is very captious: Free mar- survival of the fittest. Under the guise of significantly higher. If one includes corpo- kets promote economic growth and com- free trade and of market economy a bit- rate debts, mortgages and consumer loans petitiveness. They create new jobs and ter struggle for market domination has de- in addition to the national debt, it actual- lead to more prosperity, since falling veloped, which has long since degenerated ly amounts to 60 trillion dollars, which prices incite demand. The deregulated, into a comprehensive economic war with a represent about a quarter of the world unlimited market access is also a handy potential that is threatening people’s exist- debt [Source: Deutsche Wirtschafts Nach- weapon against hunger and poverty. Se- ence, especially in smaller and less devel- richten, (German Economic News)]. ductive prospects for many – especially oped economies. Global cost factor lead- “US rescue measures” as part of their for people living in poverty and without ership has resulted in irreversible cuts and economic, currency and monetary pol- a source of income. But what is reality slashes in many relatively well-function- icy have always fallen back on foreign like? Never before in Europe, have so ing economies. Jobs, innovation skills, countries and did not even exclude wars. many people been counted that are out of high quality products as well as product We will only be able to free ourselves work, and the intended growth melts like diversity have been sacrificed in favour of from the spiral of violence if reasona- butter in the sun. Developing countries the lowest prices that are fictitious since ble forces in our latitudes unite and de- are not really successful in their fight distorted by subsidies. velop an independent and humane eco- against hunger and poverty, and entire The honest performance-based compe- nomic order. economies become prisoners of their ex- tition on the markets had to give in to mar- uberant investment policy with borrowed ket power and probably also to the political Courage to act money. They are now forced to sell off power of a minority. Hunger and poverty Why should we pursue interests that harm national assets and originally public are spreading, and the struggle for surviv- our own concepts? Would it not be rea- tasks to private investors and to neglect al is taking on ever more terrible dimen- sonable to reconsider our positions and their duties and obligations towards the sions. Both in the less developed countries then draw the right conclusions? No one local population. and in the developed countries – although – especially not a sovereign state and not The financial and currency crisis (debt they are bursting with wealth – the ability a government that feel accountable to economy in the United States, the crisis to self-subsistence is getting lost, the longer their own people – may be forced to be- of the dollar as reserve currency and of the more. By cheapest imports and perverse tray their own interests. A possible war the euro as the European single currency) incentives dependencies are being created in Europe is definitely not in the interests have led the world into a severe economic that threaten the existence and go far be- of the European states. What can Europe crisis and thus into a political crisis. The yond the supply of goods; an improvement gain by sanctions or even by a war against global dimension of economic and politi- is not (yet) in sight. Russia? Nothing – Europe can only lose. cal destabilisation reveals only too clear- It is almost frightening how helpless- Therefore, nothing remains but the liber- ly the threatening risk cluster of a limit- ly governments and central banks face the ation from the dependence on America. less economic order. Anyone who still current economic and ultimately also po- The Europeans must bravely oppose the advocates unrestricted free trade today litical challenges. Instead of solutions we US world power claims, not in order to has based his judement on wrong “facts” are presented with ever new hotspots. In protect Russia but to protect themselves. or pursues a deceptive path. What we ex- Ukraine, the Middle East, in Africa wars perience today is a reality that has long are spreading, whose deeper roots have a Outlining the future since detached from the “liberating forc- geostrategic nature, including the strive Why should the countries of Europe not es” of free trade and merely follows the for unlimited access to raw materials and remember their values? unhindered access to key transit routes. Based on the economic order, it is im- portant to reaffirm the fundamental con- ”Regional small-scale …” The crises are not yet over – they have ditions for an economy to the benefit of continued from page 12 reached a new dimension the people. Terms such as: common good, like the EU commission or the WTO, they If Europe entangles itself in a war with security of supply, full employment, trust, increasingly succeed in avoiding demo- Russia, the European economy will be reliability, stability, balance as some basic cratic decisions. This is why it is time for weakened significantly. This has already principles of economic policy, honesty us to increase the counter-measures by us become obvious with the sanctions is- and quality, fairness in competition need citizens in order to win back the right to sued by the US. Hundreds of thousands to be incorporated into the new order. decide over our own food and its produc- of jobs in Europe are at stake because The purpose of economic activity is the tion means. We should increasingly insist of these sanctions. The European farm- contribution to the common good. Serv- on a high-quality agriculture which can ers – struggling for survival even without ing the people and thus firmly integrating also guarantee our food sovereignty. sanctions – are left with their fruits and the economy in society have priority before The 2008 World Agriculture Report is a vegetables; yield losses that cannot be economic interests. This then means that the crucial building block for a fairer and more compensated easily. The question arises: economy is committed to a powerful, strong ecological world. It is a strong foundation Who benefits from the decline of the Eu- and attractive workplace Switzerland. for all citizens who are claiming their right ropean economy? As part of society, the economy will for healthy food and a clean environment. • Market cleansing – by whatever means create jobs, provide for the widest possible – always prepare a market entry. The employment of the working population. 1 Wege aus der Hungerkrise. Die Erkenntnisse greatly weakened US economy, combined Tailored to their branches, industry will und Folgen des Weltagrarberichts – Vorschläge with an astronomical debt burden, is ur- make its contribution to the optimum secu- für eine Landwirtschaft von morgen. (Paths out gently looking for an escape route to avoid rity of supply in the domestic market. Com- of the hunger crisis – Proposals for tomorrow’s agriculture) Edited by Zukunftsstiftung Land- the disaster. The national debt of the Unit- petition as well undergoes an alteration by wirtschaft. Berlin, Dezember 2013, ISBN 978-3- ed States is said to be at almost 17 tril- 00-044819-5 lion dollars. However, the actual debt is continued on page 14 No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 14

”For a humane, robust ...” Basically, the quantitative growth is to trade relations. Economic solidarity of the continued from page 13 be replaced by a qualitative growth. Quan- Alpine regions, or of neutral states would titative growth (use-and-throw economy) also be worth considering. not making the absolutely lowest price but is to be replaced by added value economy the comprehensive efficiency the decisive (durability, maintenance and repair). We No call for more government, factor. Instead of the principle of the power as well as all other states will also focus but for more personal responsibility, of the fittest (market power) there will be on a demand economy adequate to the self-discipline and an honest quality, reliability, innovation and sustaina- country and the natural environment and value orientation bility, sustainability in the sense of longev- say goodbye to growth for growth’s sake. Freedom ends where the freedom of the ity and product safety. Dumping and unfair Monetary policy is being subordinated one violates the freedom of others. This is competition practices are prohibited. to the needs of the real economy. Mone- also true in the business world. The state Foreign trade (exports and imports) tary growth has to serve the objective of will only have to intervene where the pri- shall be well-adjusted in the overall bal- stability, in the first place. Monetary pol- vate sector fails. The question is whether ance. Surpluses are to be avoided as icy should be designed according to both it is possible to develop and live a system much as possible both on the import and economic stability and its political needs of values (return to European culture) on the export side. Products that must be and thus support the domestic economy. that breaks the power of money in favour imported will be subjected to the same The budgetary and fiscal policies, of a humane, robust and sustainable econ- requirements as the Swiss production which are unilaterally being subordinated omy. The aim is an economy that creates (destination country principle). If the re- to economic policy objectives by the cur- added value for everyone and not only quirements are not met, punitive tariffs or rent crises, must adopt their original roles for a small “elite”. If we achieve this goal import bans are possible. From the point within the state again. The public sector – on a voluntary basis, it will hardly take of view of supply, of social or economic whether at local, cantonal or federal level management measures by the state. But if interests it is permissible to protect do- – has to strictly maintain the balance be- there is no insight, citizens will be asked mestic production. tween revenues and expenditures. In addi- to place a respective order with the state. The basic services (transport, energy, tion to the waiver of tax breaks in favour water, education and health) must be pro- of site promotion this includes the restraint The responsibility of citizens vided and funded by the public sector, for on “nice to have”-investments (for exam- The lost innocence of free trade involves the entire population. Political conditions ple, larger school facilities in order to build the unique opportunity for us to reflect on must be created that all matters connected so-called learning environments, etc.). the significance of sovereign states. De- to the basic services remain in the hands rived from that is the question of the role of the people. Not playing domestic economy off of citizens in social and economic policy Competitiveness and growth policies against foreign trade issues in our direct democracy. Do we as have to primarily consider the domesti- In our world of labour division, an economy consumers – this is the role the economy is cally available resources. A European or must be open to the outside world. It would granting us – meet our responsibility as cit- global market price (usually distorted by be shortsighted not to agree with like- izens, or does the claim to take on person- subsidies) cannot be a benchmark for the minded sovereign countries in the context al responsibility not apply for us, as well? Swiss price level. of international economic agreements. But This means that responsibility also Small-scale production and supply the “common market” requires neither the includes the effort to seek answers to structures are to be promoted in the inter- loss of political independence nor the right the question: How do we establish an ests of supply security and employment to exclude one’s own economic interests by economy that serves the people instead policy. The hampering or denial of mar- contract. The EFTA (European Free Trade of those in power, and what role should ket access for small and medium-sized Association) should be used in this context the state adopt in this new economic enterprises is prohibited. as a model for the design of international order? • Current Concerns The international journal for independent thought, ethical standards, moral responsibility, and for the promotion and respect of public international law, human rights and humanitarian law Subscribe to Current Concerns – The journal of an independent cooperative The cooperative Zeit-Fragen is a politically and financially independent organisation. All of its mem­bers work on a voluntary and honorary basis. The journal does not accept commercial advertisements of any kind and receives no financial support from business organisations. The journal Current Concerns is financed exclusively by its subscribers. We warmly recommend our model of free and independent press coverage to other journals. 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Box, CH-8044 Zurich, or - send us your credit card details (only Visa), or - pay into one of the following accounts: CH: Postscheck-Konto (CHF): 87-644472-4 IBAN CH91 0900 0000 8764 4472 4 BIC POFICHBEXXX CH: Postscheck-Konto (Euro): 91-738798-6 IBAN CH83 0900 0000 9173 8798 6 BIC POFICHBEXXX D: Volksbank Tübingen, Kto. 67 517 005, BLZ 64190110 IBAN DE12 6419 0110 0067 5170 05 BIC GENODES1TUE A: Raiffeisen Landesbank, Kto. 1-05.713.599, BLZ 37000 IBAN AT55 3700 0001 0571 3599 BIC RVVGAT2B No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 15 “The small farmers worked much more effectively” “Inspiring the next generation to continue this tradition” Interview with marketer, perennial plant gardener and greengrocer Harald Fickardt from Heldrungen/Thuringia

Heldrungen, located about 60 kilometers east of Weimar at the river Unstrut, is a small town with a big fortress, the core of which originated in the 16th centu- ry and expanded later on. Already in the 17th century Heldrungen was known for its vegetable production. Soldiers in the Elector of Saxony’s service were paid with land on which a remarkable cultivation activity developed. This led to the situa- tion that growing vegetables became the main income source for the Heldrungen population. On the fertile alluvial soil of the river Unstrut cultivation steadily in- creased reaching its peak between 1860 and 1870. Of course, in times past, driv- ing to the individual markets of the en- vironment happened under the most dif- ficult conditions. Those owning a horse and cart, were comfortably on their way, someone, who not even owned a hand cart had to carry the goods to the next vegetable market. At the time, all the Harald Fickardt from Heldrungen in front of his market stall in Weimar (picture thk) family members helped to secure the live- al holdings with 2 to 6 acres of land, no It would be a shame if this tradition would lihood that way. An important always one has more here. It is sufficient. Every- not go on. sought-after objective is the participation thing is grown here: onions, dried flow- In our village we try both in kindergarten in the “Viehe- and Zippelmarckt” (live- ers and straw. When time has come, all sit and in primary school to teach the craft stock and onion market), annually con- together, cleaning and wrapping. Before to the children and to get them interest- ducted at Weimar, which was mentioned that, of course, everything must be hung ed in this custom. Whether this is going in 1653 for the first time in writing. This to be successful, we cannot say yet, we year it took place from 10 to 12 October. will see. Of course, also in the families we This onion market – just as the Bernese try to introduce the children into this tra- “Zibelemärit”(Onion Market) – is like a dition and to inspire them. This is not al- folk festival. The Heldrungen onion trad- ways easy, but I hope that they will devel- ers have contacts up to Berne, as well. op more pleasure in it, the older they get. The following interview was conducted with a Heldrungen marketer in Weimar, I come from Switzerland, and there we who sells his pretty floral wreaths and have the Berne “Onion Market”. Is there lovingly braided bunches of onions daily any connection between these traditions? on different markets. He tells about his Some families from Heldrungen, this work as a marketer and about the devel- (picture thk) is the place where I come from, go to opment of this craft and the role it played Berne every year to offer their braid- in GDR times. and dried under the roof. On the second ed bunches of onions there. This has weekend in October, we have our onion to do with the fact that in Switzerland Where do these beautiful braided onion market here in Weimar, which enjoys Eu- too, they have some recruitment prob- bunches come from? ropean reputation, it is the 361st market. lems and they feel supported this way. The onions braid, as we see it here, It takes place every year, it was cancelled I know from the Heldrungen people that was developed about 400 years ago, in only at times of war. About 250,000 visi- their onion braids are greatly appreciat- a small place called Heldrungen at the tors come here to this market and several ed by the Swiss people. river Unstrut. Now the town has 1300 in- 10,000 onion braids are sold during this habitants and this tradition is still car- time. It would really be a pity if such a tradi- ried on by 20 families. Formerly they tional craft was no longer continued. were many more families, but for rea- How did you form these neatly braided Yes, of course, but it is also a cost-bene- sons of age, they have become less. It is bunches of onions here? fit question. There is an awful lot of work, not easy to inspire the next generation to My whole family helps. My mother and and you don‘t get rich from it. Somebody continue this tradition. my father, both of whom are already re- who works on it full time, must also have tired, my wife and me, we are self-em- the possibility to live on it. For a person How is the onion braid formed? ployed and run the business, and my who has a regular income, it is easier to It is produced in small family businesses. daughter also helps occasionally. Then do this on the side. But for many this is The grandparents help, the children help, I have two seasonal workers who are al- very difficult. For me, e.g. it is my autumn everybody who can lend a hand. We have ready older, unfortunately it is difficult to small market gardens or small agricultur- get young people enthused for it. continued on page 16 No 25 12 October 2014 Current Concerns Page 16

”’The small farmers worked ...’” The onion market did always take place. Yes, in the 60s they tried to force the continued from page 15 The state subsidised and organised this farmers into the “LPGs”. But that was onion market, and the families who had only possible for the large production business. I own a perennial market garden maintained this tradition for decades, of corn, grain or potatoes. The small and in spring I plant perennials in rock gar- were always present. People did it prac- farmers, like us, who made these braid- dens, which is less in demand in autumn. tically as a side-job, because everyone ed bunches of onions or grew veg- But the sale of the onion braids is running had a regular work. Self-employment in etables were actually left alone, be- quite well. the modern sense did not exist. You did cause the state had realised that they your work, and afterwards you braided were more efficient. Then, the state Contrary to agriculture this is probably onion bunches for the market. After 2 to held the hand over them and pro- not subsidised? 3 hours everything was sold out on the tected these small businesses. If you Certainly not, this is not subsidised. This market. is really sad that the big companies are al- ways subsidised but not the small ones, al- Who owned the land, where you grew the though we are just as affected by weather onions and flowers? changes such as heavy rain, hail and what- It was our own land. We had 3 to 4 acres ever else may happen to us. Therefore, we of land. The state left it to us because had already very difficult years. Actual- they had realised that the small farm- ly, small firms should be supported in the ers worked much more effectively than same way because they have the biggest the large “LPGs” (landwirtschaftliche difficulties to survive. Produktionsgenossenschaft – agricul- tural co-operatives). Such niche prod- You come from Heldrungen. When did ucts never came from “LPGs”, because you get up this morning to come here? they could not produce this quality. Such (picture thk) Every morning it takes an hour to go to products always came from the small Weimar. I have adopted this tradition from farmers. my parents. They started in the 60s to go were small, if you owned 3, 4, 5 to Weimar regularly. As long as I can re- Why was this knowledge not been includ- acres of land, you could live in peace. member, my grandmother was always on ed in today’s economic development? In GDR times you lived better with the onion market, as well. I took the busi- Yes, that really is the question. Lettuce, these small fields than today. Today ness over from my parents in 1999, because carrots, cucumbers, in the GDR era eve- you are constantly put under pressure. my father retired for reasons of health. I do rything was always produced by small People who have nothing to do with this this seven days a week and every morning businesses with outstanding quality, and business, do not know anything about it. I get up at 5.30 am (laughing). it was always encouraged by the state. We Also it was a wrong idea then to be- got good money for delivering the prod- lieve that our people had little money. You certainly have many people here who ucts there. You brought the products to That’s not true. The hardworking peo- are enthused by this hand work? the state’s reception offices and you were ple had more money than today. Some- On the whole, I am satisfied. Of course, able to live comfortably from the pro- one, who had a job like we had and even it always depends on the weather, how ceeds. Today, the small farmers can no if he grew vegetables only on the side, many people will come to the market, of longer make a living therefrom. For the could live relatively well. The problem course ,here in Weimar this are always cucumbers you got 160 marks for the was, in fact, that you could not do much tourists, as well. It is interesting, that the quintal. That was an awful lot of money. with the money, because not all prod- South Germans are more eager to buy If you were hardworking and you had cul- ucts were available. But there was no than the North Germans. tivated the land well, you could make a lack of money. very good living. Today this is no long- Did this tradition exist during the commu- er possible. Thank you very much for the interesting nist era as well, or had it been abolished conversation. • at that time? Actually, the whole thing is a plea for the No, during the communist era the braid- small family farm. Just meeting the spirit ed bunches of onions were a real cult. of the UN Year of Family Farming. (Interview Thomas Kaiser)

The onion – one of the oldest crop plants The common onion is one of the old- rabi bread and onion allocations for the In terms of cultivation methods, there est cultivated plants of mankind and poor were defined. is a distinction between “summer on- has been cultivated as a medicinal, For the Romans onions were sta- ions” and “winter onions”. Summer on- spice and vegetable plant for over ple food, especially for the less fortu- ions (the actual cooking onions) are 5,000 years. In Ancient Egypt the Gods nate. And it was by the Roman legion- sown in early spring or, in case of bulbs, were served onions as a sacrifice, on- aries that the “cepula” was spread in planted and harvested from August to ions were also a kind of payment for Central Europe. There it became one October; particular varieties of solid con- the workers who built the pyramids and of the most popular vegetables, not sistency can be stored until March of the the dead were provided with onions for to be missed at any meal of the time following year. The somewhat juicier their journey to afterlife. This became and in the Middle Ages it also served and milder winter onions – rather over- evident by the remains of onions found as an amulet against the plague. From wintering cultivated onions – are sown in the tomb of Tutankhamun. An over about the 15th century onwards breed- in August, ripen in the following spring 4,000 years old Sumerian cuneiform ing of selected varieties differing in and can be harvested from June, howev- contains information on cucumber and shape, colour and taste started in Hol- er, they cannot be stored for long. onion fields and in the Code of Hammu- land. Source: Wikipedia