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Aberdeen Trade Show Highlights Crucial Role of Oil and Gas in World Energy Supply

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:15:00 +0000

SPE Offshore Europe brings more than 32,000 attendants from around the globe to North East Scotland for an update on the latest trends in what remains by far the world’s most important source of energy.

The 2011 edition of the biennial conference and exhibition SPE Offshore Europe saw a record 32,025 unique attendants check in at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre during the 6th through 8th September event.

“SPE Offshore Europe was a great platform to discuss major issues, to spend quality time talking about where we are going and what the future will be,” said the event’s chairman, Samir Brikho, who is also the CEO of Amec, one of the world’s leading engineering, project management and consultancy companies.

In a statement from the event’s organizers — SPE (Society of Petroleum Engineers) and Reed Exhibitions — Mr. Brikho added: “Understandably in a complex global industry there are still many uncertainties but the fundamentals of the business are here to stay. Based on what we debated and discussed in the conference sessions, it is very clear that if we want to manage supply and demand, there is no room for complacency. We need to be much more down to earth in our thinking when considering what will be the best solutions and to continue to put safety at the top of our priorities.”

So what was the big news this time around? Apart from the unveiling by UK Energy Minister Charles Hendry of the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Advisory Group’s (OSPRAG) 40-tonne well capping device on the first day of the event, more than 1,500 exhibitors covered an area that exceeded 25,000 square meters — again breaking previous records.

Whereas, fortunately, the actual need for “a vital piece of equipment with the capability to cap an uncontrolled subsea well” has not materialized in the UK to date, the oil and gas industry is clearly keen to demonstrate that it takes safety and environmental issues very seriously. Indeed, even the hypothetical threat of a disaster akin to that of the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico last year continues to cast a long shadow over drilling activities on both sides of the Atlantic.

‘Investing more than ever’: In the conference department, business breakfasts, topical lunches, and seminars drew oil and gas professionals and people from supporting industries to a number of presentations and discussions offered by the likes of Mr. Hendry and Mr. Brikho as well as other leaders, including Oil & Gas UK CEO Malcolm Webb, Schlumberger Chairman Andrew Gould, Shell Projects and Technology Director Matthias Bichsel, Wood Group PSN CEO Bob Keiller, TAQA Brattani CEO Leo Koot, Statoil Executive Vice President Peter Mellbye, BP North Sea Regional President Trevor Garlick, and Ernst & Young Global Oil & Gas Leader Dale Njoka, to name some.

The gist of what was said? Reports of the demise of oil and gas are highly exaggerated although they have been around for a hundred years. The thing is, significant oil and gas discoveries coupled with improved hydrocarbon recovery — all aided by new technologies — should be sending a sobering message to the world. In theory, this could help balance out some of the bias against oil and gas that seems to have influenced public policies in many countries.

The point was made that oil and gas is known as the world’s most technologically advanced industry, and that this industry is expected to retain its strength and vitality in the years and decades ahead.

Likewise, as was duly noted, oil and gas remains by far the most important source of energy and is likely to remain so for a long time, regardless of the drive toward renewable energy sources.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s International Energy Outlook 2011, the world’s energy consumption will continue to predominantly consist of liquids, natural gas, and coal. From 2006 through 2035, depending on the price variable and the state of the world economy, most projections offered in the Energy Outlook predict the total consumption of petroleum and other liquid fuels to increase from about 85 million barrels per day to between 100 and 115 million barrels per day.

Meanwhile, according to Mr. Njoka, global investments in oil and gas over the coming years are expected to total some 33 trillion USD.

To cut it short, the world needs deliverable energy.

For Aberdeen, the offshore capital of Europe, the oil and gas industry remains the lifeblood of the economy throughout the region.

With the North Sea still valued as a viable business for many, BP and Shell have committed to invest 4.8 billion USD in the redevelopment of the Schiehallion and Loyal oil fields west of Shetland.

Referring to BP’s oil and gas operations in the North Sea, Mr. Garlick told Aberdeen’s Business Bulletin: “We are doing more than we have ever done, we are hiring more people than we have ever hired and investing more money than we have ever spent, although we are spending it in a more focused way.”

London Conference Sees Return to Sound Money as Inevitable in the Face of Currency Collapse

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Experts from around the world predict the collapse of the international currency system — with gold and silver increasingly looking set to reclaim their historic role as money.

A conference held by the Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee (GATA) in London 4th to 6th August saw nearly 400 people from 38 countries gather to hear presentations from world-leading experts on precious metals and financial affairs, many of whom maintained that the world is headed for an unprecedented collapse in the currency system.

In addition to GATA board members — chairman and founder Bill Murphy, secretary and treasurer Chris Powell, Adrian Douglas, and Ed Steer — conference panelists and speakers included, amongst others: Jim Sinclair, world-famous gold trader, Chairman of Tanzanian Royalty Exploration, and founder of the MineSet; Hugo Salinas-Price, founder, Director and Honorary President of Grupo Elektra, and founder and President of the Mexican Civic Association Pro Silver; James Turk, founder and chairman of GoldMoney, editor of the Free Gold Money Report and author of The Collapse of the Dollar; James G. Rickards, Senior Managing Director of Tangent Capital Partners and Senior Managing Director for Market Intelligence at Omnis; Eric Sprott, Chairman, CEO and founder of Sprott Asset Management; and Ben Davies, co-founder and CEO of Hinde Capital.

GoldMoney founder James Turk delivering
his presentation at GATA Gold Rush 2011.

The essence of what was said at GATA Gold Rush 2011 can be boiled down to the following: Expect the price of gold and silver to rise dramatically as the debasement of the world’s currencies picks up pace — therefore everyone should own precious metals to protect against a tsunami of inflation that can be expected in the near future as money printing goes into hyperdrive.

It was likewise alluded that with the U.S. dollar as the world’s reserve currency and the monetary policies employed by the U.S. and most other countries set to continue on a path of self-destruction, there seems to be no policy change in the cards to avert calamity.

GATA has gained growing recognition for its tireless work to expose a shady price suppression scheme in the gold and silver markets orchestrated by a cartel of bullion banks, some large international banks and other major entities in the financial markets, with financial authorities and central banks turning a blind eye if not actively participating. The scheme has succeeded in keeping gold and silver underpriced for more than a decade by surreptitious manipulation of the markets through trading activities designed to create a grossly inflated impression of the supply of gold and silver.

As was pointed out by several presenters during the GATA conference at the Savoy Hotel in London, the price suppression scheme now appears to be falling apart due to the unexpected level of demand for physical metal from buyers around the world.

Silver Dollar for the Americans: Meanwhile, with no link to hard assets in place to put the brakes on currency expansion in the world of monetary policy, recklessness has accelerated since the closing of the gold window in 1971. With political leaders unable to curb unbridled deficit spending in such a corrupt environment, insurmountable sovereign debt has been allowed to accumulate for decades, eventually to the point of triggering fear and alarm in the markets.

“There was much interest at the conference in comments made by geopolitical analyst James G. Rickards about the possibility of something approaching martial law being declared in the United States and confiscation by the U.S. government of gold and silver,” Mr. Powell correctly noted shortly after the conference.

“Rickards’ comments confirmed GATA's correspondence with the U.S. Treasury Department in 2005 about invocation of the Trading with the Enemy Act of 1917 and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977.”

That correspondence referred to can be found here.

Earlier this year in the U.S., Utah became the first of a number of states to clear the way for the use of gold and silver as ordinary means of payment by eliminating fiscal barriers.

According to some precious metals analysts, the question now is not if but when growing pressure from the state level will induce federal lawmakers to discontinue the capital gains tax that currently makes it practically impossible for the Americans to use gold and silver as money.

“Why not re-monetize the silver dollar?” asked Mr. Salinas-Price at the GATA conference in London, suggesting a similar solution as the one he is advocating in Mexico: gradually introducing sound money by allowing silver coins to be used alongside the existing paper currency. Whilst ultimately paving the way for the gold standard, he argued, such a move would mitigate the pain that must accompany the transition to sound money.

Mr. Salinas-Price said: “This program would return the silver dollar and its subsidiary silver coinage of half-dollars, quarters and dimes to the American people in such a way as never to disappear again: all rises in the price of silver would be matched with rises in the quoted monetary value of the silver dollar and by derivation, of its subsidiary coinage: the silver half-dollar, the quarter and the dime.

“This program would not cost the Federal Government — or the taxpayers that support it — one single cent! And yet, it would constitute the greatest gift to the American people that any US Congress could possibly invent, next only in importance to the return of the Gold Standard. The restoration of the silver currency of the United States to circulation, in parallel with the fiat FRN [Federal Reserve Note], can be considered the prelude to the revived Gold Standard.

“By paying the Treasury a premium of 15% over the bullion price of silver, the American people would actually be subsidizing the Treasury’s work of monetization. This cost would be a one-time cost of obtaining real money of permanent value and utility, independent of the Fed and the banking system.”

Silver Coin from South of Border Could Outdo Greenback in the US

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Sun, 22 May 2011 15:53:00 +0000

Political leaders in Mexico are considering to monetize silver in an effort to prepare for the worst.

Having experienced the devastating consequences of a monetary meltdown not very long ago, the Mexicans are all too aware of the ills of economic disaster associated with runaway inflation caused by excessive money printing — only this time they might be the first to counter that very real threat.

While the world is watching the US-led global economy with growing concern over uncontrollable government spending, mounting sovereign debt crises, and unlimited money supply — raising the specter of hyperinflation for the dollar and in turn every other currency of today, as discussed in Mike Maloney’s movie Why Gold & Silver? — Mexico is contemplating its own way of cushioning the coming crash: monetizing a silver coin.

The idea, pushed for many years by businessman Hugo Salinas Price, is gaining traction among political leaders in Mexico, according to Mr. Salinas Price himself, who was interviewed by King World News on 18 May.

Meanwhile in a separate development, consistent with the new economic climate, the Bank of Mexico has purchased as much as 100 tonnes of gold to consolidate its finances. By becoming a net buyer of precious metals, Mexico is joining the growing ranks of central banks and governments around the world who have stopped selling their gold and are now hoarding it instead.

This shift seems to represent a break with the metal-dumping practices whose origins can be traced back to President Nixon’s 1971 abandonment of the gold standard to fund the enormous expenses of the Vietnam War with money printed out of thin air.

According to the Gold Anti-Trust Action Committee (GATA) such practices have long been exercised by central banks and their affiliates to surreptitiously manipulate the gold and silver markets in order to create the impression that fiat currencies are as good as precious metals — a scheme that is nonetheless seen to be falling apart with the growing value of gold and silver in spite of the ongoing price suppression.

Mexico’s lead: Recognizing the severity of a spiraling crisis is one thing; taking corrective action, another. With the economy more globally interdependent than ever before in history, the transition from a worldwide system of fiat money based solely on governments’ perceived ability to honor their financial obligations, to sound money based on the value of gold and silver may prove difficult to implement without severe consequences.

The trouble is, said GoldMoney founder James Turk in a 12 May interview with King World News, a correction is inevitable and will come about either through urgent action by choice, if taken now, or by no-alternative reaction to a full-blown monetary crisis, if further put off.

Back in Mexico, Mr. Salinas Price would not want to challenge the political system by proposing metal backing for the Mexican peso at this point.

He told SilverSeek.com on 19 May that his campaign for silver does not involve a proposal to back the peso with metal. “I am not proposing anything so radical as a general reform of the Mexican monetary system,” he said, “simply because such a program would cause so much disruption and grief while people adapted to it, that it is politically impossible; and so it is useless to spend time working on something so ‘far out’.

“What I propose is simply to give a quoted monetary value to a one-ounce pure silver coin which already exists, the ‘Libertad’ ounce. This coin has no engraved value upon it, and it would be given a quoted monetary value by the Central Bank; the quoted monetary value would always be slightly higher than the market price of a silver ounce, and when the price of silver rises, the Central Bank is to adapt to that situation by giving the coin a higher price. When the price of silver falls, the last quote remains in place, so that the quoted value can never diminish, only rise to accommodate the higher market price of silver.

“By this means, something very important would happen: the silver coin would remain permanently in circulation with paper money; the silver coin would never be melted down, because higher prices of silver would simply mean a higher monetary value for the coin. Of course, people would save these coins, the demand for them would be enormous. But they could also use these coins for payments in emergencies or for investments. An excellent and simple way to save!

“There is in the world today, no real alternative to fiat money — fake money. All currencies of the world are equally void of any intrinsic worth. Monetizing the ‘Libertad’ ounce would give Mexicans an alternative and simple way of saving, in money that is truly money, because it is made of silver. Savings in ‘Libertad’ ounces would provide every family with a nest-egg of great importance, as it would consist of coins which cannot be devalued by the State, with a totally liquid value.”

With regard to the future and gold, Mr. Salinas Price said: “Talk of a return to gold is important, as it fosters a re-orientation of thinking which is indispensable — from the paper of the last 40 years, to gold, that will give more long-lasting benefits to humanity. Eventually, we’ll have to get past the ‘talking’ stage and move on to action; however, no one has a clue, at this point, on how to get from paper to gold!

“Monetizing the silver ‘Libertad’ coin is a first step in the right direction. It does not fix everything, it does not reform everything, it is painless and it is very, very attractive to people.”

Eitt sterkt gjaldoyra við sterti

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Thu, 05 May 2011 23:29:00 +0000

Týðiligari viðurkenning av fiskivinnuligari søgu hevði kunnað gjørt kjakið um tilfeingisgjald og uppboð meira sakligt.

Eitt er hvat man meinar um hvørt tað almenna skal selja fiskirættindi fyri hægstbjóðandi ella ikki. Eitt annað, hvussu tann búskaparliga støðan er í teimum ymisku pørtunum av fiskiflotanum, og hví og hvussu. Fyrr enn hesi viðurskifti eru sannførandi greinað, er tað ringt at síggja motivatiónina fyri at innføra broytingar ið fiskivinnan sum heild ikki tykist taka undir við. Serliga tá ein páfallandi stórur partur av forsprákarunum fyri somu broytingum tykjast lítið og einki atknýti at hava til fiskivinnuna; spurningurin um neyðugt innlit í tey relevantu viðurskiftini gerst átrokandi samstundis sum tann reella dagsskráin verður ógreið.

Man saknar til dømis, serliga frá teirra síðu sum vilja reducera hetta málið til ein einfaldan spurning um almenna ogn, eina greiða viðurkenning av virðinum í teimum ‘track records’ og søguligu rættindum sum eru uppbygd av fiskivinnuni (hóast alt ov mong av teimum eru mist aftur við millumlanda samráðingarborð).

Eitt minstamark fyri rímiligheit í einum slíkum máli sum hesum má vera at man tekur atlit til substansin í tí, herundir ta søgu sum liggur aftanfyri. Tað var nevniliga ikki tað almenna sum bygdi upp fiskaríini, og fiskarí uppstanda heldur ikki av sær sjálvum — tey verða fyrst og fremst ment fram sum úrslit av innsatsi hjá teimum ið fiska og annars varða av fiskivinnuni.

Uppboð ella ikki, tilfeingisgjald ella ikki — fiskastovnar uttan fiskarí hava sum so einki vinnuligt virði, og tað er hóast alt fiskivinnan sum hevur staðið á odda fyri at byggja upp okkara fiskiríkidømi gjøgnum at fáa tað til høldar. Harvið ikki sagt at tænastur og alt annað uppi á landi ikki eisini er týdningarmikið í samanhanginum. Men uttan ein avgerandi innsats hjá fiskivinnuni høvdu vit neyvan havt nakran føroyskan tænastusektor ídag yvirhøvur; vit høvdu kanska framvegis verið eitt danskt amt við 5.000 íbúgvum.

Tað er tí óumhugsið (ella óerligt) at venda hesari søgu á høvdið og gera tað til at fiskiríkidømið verður latið fyri einki, uttan at vísa til hendan samanhangin. Tað at landið higartil ikki hevur tikið tilfeingisgjald fyri fiskirættindi er eitt annað mál, við ymiskum meiningum fyri og ímóti. Men tað mátti borið til, frá øllum síðum, at brúkt eitt orðalag sum er meira opið og grundleggjandi merkt av vælvild, heldur enn partapolitiskari spjaðing og fordómum.

Summi halda at tíðin er búgvin til at lata tað almenna taka okkurt slag av gjaldi fyri fiskirættindi, og eg trúgvi neyvan at tað er tað sum so ið fær ilt í fólk innan fiskivinnuna. Men eitt slíkt hugskot verður torført at gjøgnumføra uttan óhepnar fylgjur, um tað skal byggja á at embætisfólk diktera ein leist ígjøgnum, uttan yvirhøvur at fyrst samskifta væl og virðiliga við tey ið varða av fiskivinnuni soleiðis at man setir seg inn í allar spurningar og vísir hóskandi virðing, og fær fiskivinnuna sum viðspælara heldur enn mótstandara. Hetta átti at verið greitt fyri ein og hvønn ið brýggjar seg um at fáa tað besta at spyrjast burtur úr einari slíkari tilgongd, um hon nú er so alneyðug sum sagt verður.

Og eitt afturat. Tá tað verður kjakast um búskaparligt avkast frá einum givnum slag av virksemi (so sum fiskivinnu), so kann slíkt avkast í stuttum síggjast at hava tveir ymiskar týdningar: 1) fíggjarligt avlop av virkseminum fyri einstakar fyritøkur, og 2) tal á medborgarum ið liva av virkseminum. Harafturat kemur so beinleiðis og óbeinleiðis avleitt virksemi og skattainntøkur av ymiskum slag, men tað liggur á hesum sinni uttan fyri argumentið.

Mong tykjast tilvitað um tann fyrra týdningin og vilja gjarna undirstrika ymiskar síður av honum, men tað øvugta tykist galda fyri tann seinna. Eg haldi hetta er eitt sindur løgið tá hugsað verður um at menniskjan er ein skapningur sum er genetiskt forritaður til at hoyra til í socialum høpi. Hartil kemur at vit liva í einum fíggjarliga og búskaparliga sera ótryggum tíðarskeiði.

Her kann man skjóta inn, eins og íslendingar hava sannað síðani skrædlið har, at fiskurin er ein sera sterkur valuti at eiga atgongd til!

Og her endi eg so aftur í einum tema um virðiligt samskifti sum treyt fyri at røkka góðum úrslitum. Vit kunnu nevniliga hvørki síggja burtur frá tí samfelagsliga ella tí søguliga, heldur ikki tá tað snýr seg um fiskivinnu.

Alt at vinna við at samskifta virðiliga

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Ein stutt viðmerking til Fiskivinnutingið tann 22. mars.

Eg fekk tíverri alt ov lítið við av Fiskivinnutinginum týsdagin 22. mars, men tað eg hoyrdi av orðaskiftinum móti endanum fekk meg at hugsa eitt sindur, og tískil hesar fáu reglur.

Tað sigst at lykilin til framgongd á øllum økjum fyri eina familju ella eitt samfelag er samanhald millum fólkið, sínámillum virðing og grundleggjandi vælvild. Og at, hinvegin, spjaðing, klandur og stríð hevur ómetaligar kostnaðir við sær av alskyns slag — burturspilt orka, mist tíð, peningaligur missur og annað, fyri ikki at tala um óneyðugt stress og versnaða heilsu fyri mong.

Um munurin millum hesar báðar mótpólar í grundini er óendaligur, átti lítil ivi at verið um hvat ið er best fyri eitt lítið samfelag sum Føroyar. So hví keglast vit so í heilum um líkt og ólíkt, ístaðin fyri at finna gott felags stev?

Uttan mun til at okkara áhugamál kunnu vera ymisk, vildi eg hildið at tað er avgerandi at vit læra okkum at draga somu línu í stórum málum. Um ikki annað, so mugu vit kunna vísa við okkara samskifti at vit virða tilveruna hjá hvørjum øðrum.

Í tann mun vit ikki kunnu semjast um bestu leið at ganga — tað veri seg innan útbúgving, mentan, vinnu, búskap, ella annað — skylda vit tó hvørjum øðrum eina viðurkenning av at alt sum eitur politikkur og samfelagslig menning snýr seg fyrst og fremst um menniskju: alt vit gera hevur avleiðingar upp á gott og ónt fyri menniskjaligar umstøður, livikor hjá fólki, og viðurskifti millum persónar.

Tey ið vilja fremja umfatandi broytingar t.d. á fiskivinnu økinum, uttan mun til hvussu væl skikkað tey meta seg vera til at vísa vegin og taka avgerðir fyri onnur, hava tí eina moralska skyldu til at tosa við tey sum verða beinleiðis rakt í sínum gerandisdegi av slíkum broytingum. Tey hava ikki bara eina skyldu til at virða teirra vitan og umhugsa týdningin av teirra arbeiði — tey hava alt at vinna við at gera so. Avgerðir sum verða tiknar uttan eitt sterkt grundarlag enda ofta við at koma afturum aftur.

Út frá einum samskiftis sjónarmiði er tað burturvið at viðgera inntriv sum kunnu fáa stórar avleiðingar fyri onnur uttan hóskandi hoyringar og grundigar forkanningar, hetta bæði fyri at tryggja nøktandi grundvitan til at byggja avgerðir á, og fyri at vísa virðing fyri teimum sum kunnu fáa óhepnar fylgjur í sín part. Alt annað er órímiligt og vil fáa ringar avleiðingar. Neyvan nakað man í longdini vera meira skaðiligt fyri eitt samfelag enn tann harmur og tann illvild sum stendst av at fólk ikki verða vird, fáa sínar royndir, sítt innlit, og sítt stríð og strev gjørt til einkis, ella upp á aðrar mátar verða viðfarin órættvíst.

Hetta er ikki bara heilt grundleggjandi fyri gott samskifti men eisini fyri stabilitetin í einum fólkaræði. Tað snýr seg hóast alt um nakað so týdningarmikið sum álit, trúvirði, og etisk virðir, og harvið óbeinleiðis um alt annað eisini, íroknað samfelagsbúskap.

Mong eru samd um at okkurt má gerast fyri at vinna betri viðurkenning fyri føroyskar fiskavørur og føroyska fiskiveiði. Men júst hvørjar broytingar eru neyðugar og ynskiligar? Hvussu tryggja vit at fleiri føroysk fiskarí kunnu vinna MSC (ella møguliga aðra) ecolabel góðkenning? Verður nóg nógv gjørt fyri at dokumentera yvir fyri útlendingum hvussu okkara fiskivinna er skipað? Kunnu vit finna betri mátar til at áseta talið á fiskidøgum uttan at fáa órógvandi alment kjak á hvørjum ári? Hvat er komið burtur úr skipanini við “fyribils stongdum leiðum” og hvussu leingi skulu hesar leiðir vera stongdar? Hvussu skulu fiskiloyvir handfarast í framtíðini?

Fyri at tryggja eina trúverda tilgongd í slíkum spurningum ræður tað fyrst og fremst um at samskifta virðiliga; síðani at viðgera sakliga hvat enn ið kemur á dagsskrá, og hareftir taka sunnar og rættar avgerðir sum so kunnu gjøgnumførast. Ikki umvent, at fyrst taka avgerð og so royna sum best at gjøgnumføra uttan veruligt grundarlag.

Tað finnist góður lesnaður um ítøkiligar mannagongdir v.m. tá talan er um konsultatión sum amboð fyri avgerðatøku í bólkum. Og tað er púra greitt at óneyðug og undirgravandi polarisering kann, við rættari kunning og røttum hugburði, vendast til dynamiska styrki.

Eg haldi ikki vit kunnu brúka sum standard umbering at øll hini eru treisk, hopleys, ella ómøgulig at samskifta við!

At enda vil eg ynskja politiskum myndugleika, vinnu, vísindafólkum, og øllum pørtum góðan arbeiðshug og góða eydnu.

Closed Apps: Too Hip for Your Own Good?

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:41:00 +0000

I’m a big fan of Apple. I use a MacBook Pro computer at work (and at home) and, well, sorry, a BlackBerry phone; I get the chance to touch my wife’s iPhone every now and then. Like all things Apple nowadays, the slick design of the iPhone is quite compelling; still, I prefer my BB for its superior email handling. Touché!

Anyway, noises have lately been coming from various corners to bemoan the growing use of closed standards as a supposedly grave danger to the Internet and, by extension, technological innovation.

For some reason, all of a sudden — you’ll have to forgive me for this — an entirely unrelated headline comes to mind: the cover story of a TimeOut New York, May 2007 issue, which I stumbled upon during a short visit there. It read, Why the Hipster Must Die: A Modest Proposal to Save New York Cool.

OK, cut. Back to the present. Let’s look at this “threat” coming from the relentless march of the Apple-specific software applications known as apps.

By leading the move toward dependency on proprietary rather than open systems, the Cupertino technology giant represents today’s “biggest threat to open internet,” says Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales according to computing.co.uk.

Speaking at Bristol University and answering a question of his personal view on net neutrality, Mr. Wales said: “The debate is a highly overblown issue. (...) The real threat comes from the apps model.”

The Internet’s open market offers freedom for developers and vendors to sell or give away software. “But, in the apps model,” Mr. Wales pointed out, “you have to get Apple’s permission.”

“That choke point is very dangerous. It’s not theoretical like a network operator potentially shutting out Skype, it’s real and it’s happening now.”

Free Web v. Appletainment: A recent edition of WebProNews picked up on the story, driving home their point by also referring to a November 2010 article in Scientific American, written by none other than Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web.

In Long Live the Web: A Call for Continued Open Standards and Neutrality, Mr. Berners-Lee celebrated the spirit of openness that made the Web become an integral part of our daily lives only two decades after its launch.

He then went on to warn: “The Web as we know it, however, is being threatened in different ways. Some of its most successful inhabitants have begun to chip away at its principles. Large social-networking sites are walling off information posted by their users from the rest of the Web. Wireless Internet providers are being tempted to slow traffic to sites with which they have not made deals. Governments — totalitarian and democratic alike — are monitoring people’s online habits, endangering important human rights.”

Mr. Berners-Lee added: “Openness also means you can build your own Web site or company without anyone’s approval. When the Web began, I did not have to obtain permission or pay royalties to use the Internet’s own open standards, such as the well-known transmission control protocol (TCP) and Internet protocol (IP). Similarly, the Web Consortium’s royalty-free patent policy says that the companies, universities and individuals who contribute to the development of a standard must agree they will not charge royalties to anyone who may use the standard.”

“Open, royalty-free standards do not mean that a company or individual cannot devise a blog or photo-sharing program and charge you to use it. They can. And you might want to pay for it if you think it is ‘better’ than others. The point is that open standards allow for many options, free and not.”

“In contrast, not using open standards creates closed worlds,” Mr. Berners-Lee said. “Apple’s iTunes system, for example, identifies songs and videos using URIs that are open. But instead of ‘http:’ the addresses begin with ‘itunes:,’ which is proprietary. You can access an ‘itunes:’ link only using Apple’s proprietary iTunes program. You can’t make a link to any information in the iTunes world — a song or information about a band. You can’t send that link to someone else to see. You are no longer on the Web. The iTunes world is centralized and walled off. You are trapped in a single store, rather than being on the open marketplace. For all the store’s wonderful features, its evolution is limited to what one company thinks up.”

Agree or not on whether Apple, or anyone else for that matter, poses a real threat to the very fabric of the Web, my feeling is that this particular sort of business may well continue to grow and grow — as long as the culture of entertainment continues its current reign.

Good Riddance, Porn

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:53:00 +0000

Yesterday's Sunday Times had a cover story on the UK Government's plans to make pornography less readily available on the internet, citing protection of children against online porn. The article referred to new research that indicates an alarming trend: widespread regular consumption of porn among teenagers and massive exposure of children as well.

Without knowing whether this planned move by Communications Minister Ed Vaizey will prove effective in addressing the problem of porn, Mr. Vaizey is right in saying "This is a very serious matter."

Given our proud democratic tradition in the UK, most of us do of course cherish freedom of speech but, that doesn't mean we are supposed to publish just any (harmful) material without taking responsibility.

Well, does porn help anyone become a better person? Does it improve anyone's life? Or does it waste people's energy, wreck their self discipline, and destroy their sense of respect and dignity?

So now that porn has indeed flooded the internet and much of the entire entertainment industry, perhaps it's becoming clear that it might be a good idea to do something to stop this onward march of completely unnecessary mental, cultural, and social misery.

Censorship or not, there can be no doubt that porn has very little good to offer except for revenues to the sex industry.

Why Words Do Matter

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 01:39:00 +0000

As snow covers roads and rooftops, confining people to their homes this time of year, an urge to reflect and write tends to kick in for some of us. Just go ahead and blame it on some long-forgotten Dickensian Christmas Carol influences or anything else for that matter. Whatever.

On my part, the subject of language and meaning-making and the way it relates to various aspects of life has long proved irresistible. Sure, some frantic “dumbing down” process may have rendered this, as a topic, all but obsolete in the minds of masses; but the fact remains that pondering on the import and implications of what we do, say, think, and write can be both inspiring and necessary for any number of reasons.

From this standpoint, our language becomes integral to how our individual and collective characters and lives are shaped. The words that we use are seen as not just key to our influence on our surroundings — they reflect and impact our own goals and aspirations, our beliefs and values, and our ultimate levels of success and achievement.

Clearly, this theme deserves far more attention than it appears to receive in contemporary popular culture.

Another way to put it is that the environments to which we find ourselves exposed from cradle to grave will not merely play a profound part in how we develop as individuals and as a society; what may determine our destinies to quite a significant degree is the combination of, on the one hand, what we accept to take in and allow ourselves to focus our attention on and, on the other, the way in which we digest and process that and go about it in our interactions.

This may help explain the emphasis placed in religious traditions on decency and moderation in all things. I’m neither going to quote any passage right now to support this widely known fact nor comment much, at this particular point, on the application of this principle in the modern age. Suffice it to say that it remains as timely as ever.

Indeed, in a world looking to consumerism and entertainment for guidance on questions big and small, the principle of moderation will appear to be at odds with much of the status quo.

So perhaps it’s about time we put this into perspective. Regardless of all the pretense and glamour, a life ruled by illusory ideals of thoughtless indulgence in superficial comforts can, certainly in the long run, only lead to misery and ruin. At the opposite end of that spectrum, meanwhile, we can identify purposeful participation in activities that benefit the world, a sense of dignity and responsibility for doing our best in whatever position we may find ourselves, and the will and discipline to ensure that our precious lives are spent on delivering something of real value for ourselves and our fellow human beings.

For many believers, the regular reading of the sacred scriptures of their Faith helps them focus on the important things. After all, contemplating and intoning weighty words of wisdom is more than a way of soothing one’s soul: it’s a proven method of building and consolidating a powerful discourse in one’s conscious and subconscious mind, a heart-changing process and a means of personal transformation.

Some might think of it as a way of creating new neural connections in the brain to form a positive mental environment that will eventually permeate one’s being, and from which will spring fresh systems of reason, motivation, and priorities.

As much of today’s literature on personal and professional development points out so well, our most dominant thoughts define and determine our experience of the world — including our response to that experience. We cannot escape the fact that choices are always involved in what we say and do, whether actively or passively, wittingly or unwittingly, and there is no such thing as a value-neutral expression. Whether we like it or not, every person is being influenced by others while at the same time influencing them through a steady stream of messages, narratives, and suggestions.

Put simply, it’s all about making sure that what we signal moves the proverbial elevator upward rather than downward.

Poul Degnbol of ICES Ducks Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:57:00 +0000

Poul Degnbol, a key influencer of the European Union’s Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and now head of the advisory program at the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), gave the Annual Lecture at the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) on 16th September 2010.

After his lecture, delivered at the Scottish Association for Marine Science in Dunstaffnage, near Oban on the west coast of Scotland, Mr. Degnbol took a few questions from the audience, two of which are recorded on this video.

Sandy Patience, Chairman of the Fishermen’s Association — a national organization representing 277 UK fishing vessels — confronted Mr. Degnbol with the severe situation suffered by the UK fishing industry because of draconian policy measures of recent years and asked of his opinion on the growth of the grey seal population and its impact on fish stocks.

PR consultant Bui Tyril, editor and publisher of Fisheries Today, asked about the credibility of ICES as far as concerns stock assessments in particular with regard to the northeast Atlantic mackerel stock and the recent changes in its distribution.

Neither Mr. Degnbol’s answers to any of the questions raised, nor his lecture for that matter, offered much hope to beleaguered fishing communities. In fact, Mr. Degnbol indicated that ICES doesn’t care much whether the seal population is allowed to grow indefinitely to eat an ever larger portion of the available fish stocks — as long as humans cut down on fishing.

He reiterated what ICES has historically maintained: that they are strictly concerned with natural science and that policy issues are not part of their agenda. However, their growing interest in influencing fisheries policy at the EU level and beyond tells a different story.

Avoiding the substance of the questions posed, Mr. Degnbol instead recommended that fisheries managers hold dialogue with fishermen before policies are introduced, as opposed to continuing in the traditional authoritarian style. Nonetheless, his essential message was uncompromisingly more of the same: cut down on fishing.

There was no sign of any admission to the well-known fact that ICES time and again has underestimated or disregarded the abundance of commercial fish stocks, including when it comes to the current state of the northeast Atlantic mackerel. The general rule of thumb tends to be about precaution on the conservation side, never on the fishing side. Sadly, old ideas from such discredited works as Hardin's 1968 "Tragedy of the Commons" — which cast fishing communities as essentially irresponsible and incapable of self regulation — are still firmly rooted among state sponsored fisheries scientists.

It doesn’t seem to bother Mr. Degnbol that the fishing industry in most of Western Europe, North America and Australia has already been virtually reduced to rubble in result of the extremely restrictive policies implemented over the past few decades. Throughout these regions, the fishing effort has been brought down to a fraction of what it was earlier with fleets struggling to survive let alone attract new recruits — and with still no scientific evidence that cutting down on fishing is invariably good for fish stocks.

As a few independent scientists have pointed out, the established approach has only recently begun to consider to some degree the impact of natural fluctuations that occur in marine ecosystems; however, it still shies away from acknowledging the fact that fish must eat to survive, and that — politically incorrect — overpopulated stocks tend to become more healthy and resilient when fished down regularly.

Effectively destroying a knowledge base of vital interest for food security while taking away the lifeblood of fishing communities, perversely in the name of “best available science” or “sustainability,” apparently doesn’t trouble too many people.

So the real question is: How can fisheries policies that entirely disregard socioeconomic and ethical issues, not to mention the hard-earned knowledge of fishermen, ever gain credibility?

Faroese Question EU, Norway’s Credibility in Mackerel Row

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:45:00 +0000

The EU and Norway’s 110% grab for themselves of the total recommended North East Atlantic mackerel quota raises questions of their commitment to multilateral cooperation, the Faroese Pelagic Organisation says.

TÓRSHAVN, FAROE ISLANDS. The Faroese claim they had the right to raise their share of the North East Atlantic mackerel quota from 35,000 to 85,000 tonnes, or from five to fifteen percent of 570,000 tonnes, for the 2010 season. Referring to evidence of a considerable shift toward the northwest in the mackerel population, the Faroese Pelagic Organisation (FPO) questions the credibility of the EU and Norway in the mackerel issue, as the two parties claimed for themselves more than all of the recommended total quota with no consideration of the other countries involved in the fishery.

Consultations between the mackerel Coastal States for this year fell short of reaching a multilateral agreement as the EU and Norway went ahead with an agreement that left nothing to the Faroese or the Icelanders, nor for an allocation in international waters through the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC), where Russia gets its share.

That agreement made between the EU and Norway raises questions of credibility as it allots the two parties as much as 110 percent of the total allowable catch (TAC) of 570,000 tonnes recommended by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).

The outspoken criticism against the Faroe Islands for setting its own mackerel quota in line with its bid for a raised share in the Coastal States framework surprises the Faroese.

“The move by the EU and Norway to first take more than everything for themselves and then blame others for irresponsibility is hardly a testimony to their commitment to responsible management,” said managing director Jógvan Jespersen of the FPO.

Collective responsibility: Mr. Jespersen noted that left out of the agreement, the Faroese could only set their own quota. As they did this in line with their demands at the negotiating table, the Norwegians and the EU reacted with sharp condemnation and anger, meeting with disbelief in the Faroe Islands.

“We are very disappointed over the decision by the pelagic industry in the EU and Norway to block Faroese vessels from landing mackerel and thereby to terminate their decade-long cooperation with our fleet,” Mr. Jespersen said.

He underlined that all Coastal States parties have a shared responsibility to sort out the differences that sank this year’s mackerel agreement.

Read more...

Faroes Forced to Set Own Mackerel Quota

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:31:00 +0000

The Faroe Islands had no choice but to set its own quota when faced with its exclusion from this year’s northeast Atlantic mackerel agreement by the EU and Norway, according to the Faroe Shipowners’ Association.

TÓRSHAVN, FAROE ISLANDS. Despite scientific evidence that the northeast Atlantic mackerel stock has gravitated considerably toward the northwest in recent years, fisheries-dependent Faroe Islands failed to win concessions from the EU and Norway on any such considerations during this year’s mackerel negotiations. As the EU and Norway instead agreed on a bilateral arrangement for the 2010 season, the Faroese were left with no other alternative than setting their own quota.

Such argues the Faroe Shipowners’ Association, alluding that much of the debate surrounding the current mackerel issue has been misguided, in particular the anger directed at the Faroe Islands and Iceland over the lack of international agreement on the management of the mackerel stock.

The Faroe Shipowners’ Association, which represents all larger Faroese fishing vessels, supports the position taken by the Faroese government, asserting it has “acted both sensibly and responsibly” by setting the Faroese mackerel quota in accordance with its requested share of the international quota as calculated from the scientifically advised total allowable catch (TAC) of 572,000 tonnes.

“We did not leave the mackerel agreement as some have alleged but were rather excluded from it in the bilateral deal struck between the EU and Norway,” Faroe Shipowners’ Association chairman Viberg Sørensen says.

In response to various unflattering claims raised by pelagic industry voices in Scotland and Norway, Mr. Sørensen points out that the Faroese mackerel fishery is fully legal and thoroughly regulated. He adds that fisheries indeed form the basis of the entire Faroese economy, making the country highly dependent on sound fisheries management.

Northwest movement: Mr. Sørensen says that the question of the increasing presence of mackerel in Faroese waters has been raised earlier with Norway and the EU and the Faroese government has made several attempts through negotiations to increase the Faroese share of the quota, however so far without results.

“Between themselves alone, the EU and Norway allotted themselves ten percent more than the total catch recommended by ICES for the entire mackerel stock — disregarding any share for the Faroes, Iceland, or Russia. Viewed in this light, the steps taken to blockade our ships from landing, not to mention the proposed boycott of our seafood exports, are manifestly unfair.”

Read more...

Empower Your Business by Communicating with Clarity and Responsibility

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:36:00 +0000

In a new introductory brochure for our PR firm OpenEye.biz, readers are told that communicating “with clarity and responsibility” amounts to a “viable insurance against the risk of losing important business contracts.”

Subtitled “Invigorate your business by teaming up with OpenEye.biz to effectively pinpoint the issues and highlight the benefits that matter to your stakeholders and clients,” the brochure continues as follows.

Enhance your communication: In today’s flood of news and information the growing strategic significance of corporate communication is becoming increasingly evident. With direct consequences for stakeholder and customer relations, good or poor communication can determine the success or failure of any business — indeed, a hotly contested business environment often means that the key factor of communication can make or break any major deal.

OpenEye.biz (www.OpenEye.biz) is a public relations firm with a straightforward approach to the critical function of corporate communication. We offer professional advice, services, and solutions, including campaign development and digital media production, for organizations looking to enhance the impact of their communication efforts without embarking on a spending spree.

The value of clarity: One of the secrets to the success of OpenEye.biz is our commitment to a particular set of clearly stated and definite values, one of which is clarity. This means we work from the premise that clarity is of paramount importance for all effective communication and even forms part of the fundamentals of planning and goal setting. Therefore we practice clarity at all levels and apply a rigorous method for gaining an unambiguous understanding of our customers’ communication needs — the more clearly we see your priorities, the more convincing your message will become, and the more vitalizing and refreshing our cooperation will prove for your business.

A compelling case: In addition to providing advice and agency services, we build collective communication platforms for industries that share a common geographical area or serve a common niche market. For example, we have cooperated with the Faroese Government since 2005 to produce a yearly publication in print and online, known as the Faroe Business Report (www.FaroeBusinessReport.com). With this particular project, we have developed a format that makes it convenient for small and medium-sized businesses as well as government departments and agencies to get their message across to an international audience without straining their budgets. Working in liaison with client representatives and journalists, our consultants, copywriters, photographers and editors have been able to create compelling stories on a regular basis.

To the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other participants in the project, the Report has proved an invaluable tool for the dissemination of easily digested information aimed at educating overseas clients, business and diplomatic contacts, and relevant news media about the Faroe Islands as an exporting country and a place for foreign investment.

Longterm and immediate impact: The watchword in all of the above is image credibility, which includes the essential elements of trust, reputation, and clarity. Ever mindful of the fact that communication travels swiftly and its effects are often immediate, we stress both the long-term perspective and the here and now.

Click here to read more (PDF)... | Printer friendly version (PDF)...

Faroe Business Report 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Sat, 01 May 2010 01:04:00 +0000

The 2010 edition of the Faroe Business Report is out, in print and online. As the publisher and editor of this annual publication, I'm pleased with this year's edition — a hundred pages brought to you in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

This edition is the fifth volume in the series and the first since 2008 (we had to skip 2009 for certain practical reasons, one of which was preoccupation with studies by key members of the editorial team).

We've kept the format as it has been since the Report first came out in 2005, however with a few editorial adjustments. For example, this time we run a special report on Faroese fashion designers to add an extra dimension to the content. And, of course, there is always a certain level of change in the line-up of featured companies.

Hey, and the online version has been overhauled with a makeover of the website, which is now more user friendly than ever. For example, all the stories are now illustrated with a facsimile from the hard cover version; and last but not least, a Flash Page Flip version has been added as well.

So, if you're interested in the Faroe Islands, especially in the context of business, have a look at the site and take the poll there as well — and feel free to submit your feedback.

Buy the Ultimate Fishing Book—Get a Fabulous Wall Calendar as a Free Bonus!

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:51:00 +0000

Here’s a special offer for the rest of 2009. Order the ultimate photography book on life on the fishing grounds, IMAGES OF FISHERMEN: The North Atlantic at only £29.65.* As a bonus, at no additional cost, you will also get our 2010 Wall Calendar, value approximately £14!

With 200 large-size color photos taken by photographer Maria Olsen, IMAGES OF FISHERMEN is no ordinary coffee-table book, presenting truly astounding pictures from the amazing life on board 6 different vessels fishing off Greenland, Iceland, Faroe and Shetland. The photographs, together with stories written by myself and an expert treatise by world-renown fishery adviser Menakhem Ben-Yami, make the book truly unique and a must-have for anyone interested in quality documentation of commercial fishing and life at sea.

The limited-edition 2010 Images of Fishermen Calendar, features one full-page photo from the book for every month of the year, with the calendar info itself on the opposite page of the spread. You will want to keep it for the pictures alone, even after the year 2010 has passed!

Be sure to order your copy of IMAGES of FISHERMEN today by sending an email to nais(at)globalone-press.com with “2010 IOF Calendar” in the subject line.

*Postage and handling not included.

Brands Are Given a Tough Time in Supermarkets

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 23:11:00 +0000

It strikes me increasingly when visiting a supermarket how big brands are being squeezed out by the supermarkets' own labels. This trend has been ongoing for a long time but seems to be accelerating, or am I wrong?

As a case in point, I noticed a few months ago that a classic like Sun Maid California raisins apparently had become unavailable at ASDA (Walmart's UK chain). While relegated to a bottom shelf at Sainsbury's, Sun Maid can still be bought there, which means I'm at least loyal to Sainbury's when it comes to fetching good raisins.

ASDA undeniably has a strong lure not only in its low-price concept but, even more, in being open 24/7. So, admitted, I shop there quite a lot. Last time I went there, however, I was shocked to learn that even an old-time favorite like Ribena was being attacked head-on by ASDA's own blackcurrant drink.

Well, is this taking it a bit too far or what? With competition at dog-eat-dog levels, will there be any benefits left for consumers in the long term, or what is the ultimate outcome of such an environment -- anyone?

Fishermen Appeal to US Congress to Save Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 11:13:00 +0000

In the US, commercial fishermen are finally making coordinated efforts to get their points across to the powers that be. The state of the US fishing industry has a few things in common with that of Western Europe and Australia: the industry has virtually been reduced to ashes by outside management seemingly hell-bent on cutting back on quotas and fishing effort year after year, while increasing technical regulations and red tape to the effect of suffocating the industry.

Commercial Fishermen of America (CFA), a new interest organization (established as late as in 2006), has initiated a campaign to demand Congressional review of the National Marine and Fisheries Service (NMFS), citing “poor management actions” partly caused by influences from non-fishing pressure groups.

According to the August edition of Fishing News International, the CFA and representatives from the “Deadliest Catch” documentary series (Discovery Channel) are heading for Washington in September to set up a Congressional hearing in request of a “thorough review of the policies, procedures and impacts of NMFS decisions.”

In a letter to Congress, the CFA says it “believes that NMFS has misinterpreted Congressional intent beyond all recognition in their implementation of the Magnusson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA).

“The MSA is fundamentally a sound statute; however, Congress must review NMFS implementation of its provisions and provide clarification and continuous oversight of the Agency’s actions. (…)

“NMFS misinterpretation of the intent of Congress has been driven in part by outside influences of NGOs and their increased involvement in the NMFS process.”

The 6 June letter concludes: “Since the implementation of the MSA in 1976, our domestic fishing industry has been reduced by approximately two-thirds, i.e. vessels, fishermen, associated infrastructure, docks, and processing capability. At the same time, our nation’s seafood imports have almost tripled from less than 28% to 82%—while the number of employees of the NMFS has nearly quadrupled.”

CFA president James Ruhle tells Fishing News International: “The science is our target. We’re questioning the science from every angle. I can’t possibly understand how the recommendations of the science community from Woods Hole that I’ve seen for the past 45 years have never been in line with what the industry sees on a daily basis.”

Mr. Ruhle notes: “One of the leading fisheries scientists in the world, Ray Hilborn, of the University of Washington, has said many times that, in the absence of fishing, a mixed-stock species will experience an average 30% overfished species in that complex—without any fishing going on!

“Right now I’m seeing levels of surface species abundance at the highest I’ve ever experience in 45 years in fishing. But we are foregoing the yields of those fisheries because of the NMFS policies.”

Mr. Ruhle adds: “You cannot have every species at high biomass at the same time.”

The Abundance Mindset

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:07:00 +0000

American self-help gurus like to pit a mindset of abundance up against one of scarcity. I like that because I think it’s reflective of a fundamental truth about life: your focus becomes your history or, you are what you believe.

Personally, I've always adored the abundance mindset and shunned the scarcity ditto. Why? Well, for one thing the concept of abundance affirms my deepest beliefs about God, glory, and goodness. It implies faith, optimism, and confidence. A mindset that runs counter to that is simply too miserable.

Now, some might mistake this advocacy of the abundance mindset for naïvité -- as in fantasizing that if only you can dream of whatever, then that whatever will be realized just like some sort of magic. Without going into too much detail at this point, let's just say that it's not that simple and, clearly, wishful thinking does not solve any problems, quite the contrary.

But let's be perfectly clear, that does in no wise invalidate the Law of Attraction... To cut it short, for a million reasons, I can hardly imagine it possible to exaggerate the importance of having a positive mental attitude.

Alex Mandossian is one of quite a few such ‘gurus’ whose email newsletters I happen to enjoy more or less regularly (admitted, I get so many of those that reading all of them is next to impossible but then again some of them catch my attention before they get archived and marked as read). Mr. Mandossian reminded me of this subject this morning through his post, Worldwide Survey to Define “Abundance”.

So yes, Napoleon Hill was right. We should go for the abundance mindset, feel wealthy, count our blessings, and appreciate all the great gifts of life -- regardless of what might be one's social status or current net worth.

North Atlantic News: Faroese Ports Highlighted

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Thu, 21 May 2009 22:57:00 +0000

On the occasion of the Fish Expo Faroes 2009 trade show in Tórshavn 27-29 May, we're publishing the debut issue of North Atlantic News. This is a special-focus, magazine-style publication with the first issue dedicated to coverage of the Faroese ports and shipping sector.

The bulk of the stories printed in the magazine are sponsored features of a similar format as known from Faroe Business Report, and are likewise published online. Features include Faroe Agency, Port of Klaksvik, Toftir Harbour, Port of Runavik, Samskip, and Port of Fuglafjoerdur. The editorial discusses the deteriorating outlook for the blue whiting fishery which may force the ports and shipping sector to look for alternative routes to business growth.

Download a copy of North Atlantic News May 2009 (pdf)...

Positive Representation in the Media

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:34:00 +0000

How to receive positive representation in the media: an advisory for a local charity caring for the elderly.

The way the media present persons, organizations, places, and events should never be seen as truly objective reflections of reality — it should rather be perceived as constructs, acts of volition, never neutral, always more or less biased, ever influenced by a range of variables.

Media representations of groups or categories of people sometimes tend to be overly simplistic, or stereotypic. Fortunately, the old problem of stereotyping of the elderly is seen to be somewhat on retreat in the media. However, recent shock advertising campaigns by charities involved in caring for the elderly, attempting to command the attention of potential donors, could cast an unfavorable light on the whole sector and might threaten to refuel ageism in the media.

Faced with such a scenario, the charity for which this report has been prepared needs to strengthen its capacity to deal effectively with the media, which will necessitate the establishment of a permanent media relations program. Based on values that will counter the negative effects of recent shock advertising, such a program will include:

• A clear definition of organizational values — e.g. service, dignity, high ethical standards;
• Perpetual training of all employees for motivation and to build organizational culture;
• The appointment of one or more media spokespersons;
• The development of a core message to convey core values; and
• Proper media coaching of those who will be charged with a spokesperson role.

Introduction
This report aims to outline the ways in which representation works in the media — particularly with regard to how elderly people are represented — and to offer strategic advice on how to interact effectively with the media, with the purpose of ensuring sustainable success: generating a strong public image largely through good media coverage.

The context is that of a local voluntary organization specializing in caring for the elderly. The organization has lately been subjected to what’s perceived as a potential threat to its vital funding in result of the advertising activities of other organizations involved within the same area of activity; those organizations have started using so-called shock tactics to attract public attention. While such campaigns may put people off, they could also jeopardize the good reputation of all charities involved in caring for elderly. Worse, the backlash could, arguably, fuel renewed growth in ageism, the practice of stereotyping elderly people.

Literature dealing with media representation — the way in which the media re-present or construct their own versions of reality — and problems related to such representation, including stereotyping, has been researched for the purpose of this report. Research has also been conducted into literature dealing with media relations — the public relations specialism concerned with building strong relationships with the media — as well as media management, which emphasizes a more direct and technical approach to dealing with the media.

The research is used as a basis for a strategic plan included in the report — offering indications of appropriate and practical objectives while discussing plausible ways by which to receive positive media representation.

Media Representation
Any attempt to reflect the reality of persons, processes, or situations is inherently bound by a range of physical and human limitations: in spite of conveying the idea of merely reflecting aspects of reality, what is presented through the media is, by selection of subject as well as by the process of production, a constructed version of reality — a representation (Branston and Stafford 2006; Haase-Reed et al. 2007).

Media representation in arts, entertainment, literature, news, and advertising is exemplified in the use of so-called ‘code’ i.e. imagery and phrases consisting of repeated elements and ‘signs’ to signify categorization, meaning or intended interpretation — for instance, shaved head for the unemployed, luxury car for the wealthy, an old and sick person for the elderly, or children playing for a thriving community (Branston and Stafford 2006).

Such simplistic representations of reality create or reinforce ‘stereotypes’ which group people, or ‘scripts’ which frame processes and situations (Landman and Manis 1983, p. 88). Exaggerating single perceived characteristics to make them defining and emblematic, a stereotype is, according to Branston and Stafford, a “widely circulated idea or assumption about particular groups.” (2006, p. 91)

Media representation, then, is problematic by and in itself: even with the highest of editorial standards and the most ethical and professional approach to media production, there will always be room for improvement.

Research and Debate
What seems to have given rise to a considerable body of research and debate devoted to media representation over the past few decades refers to the fact that large proportions of populations arguably presupposed to be fairly represented in the media have, nonetheless, been represented in overly simplistic ways or only very infrequently or not at all. In a number of countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, this debate has highlighted the problem of stereotyping along e.g. racial and gender lines — and, as research related to gerontology clearly confirms, elderly people are no exception to the rule (Ramasubramanian and Oliver 2007; Dittmann 2003; Kearl 2008; Woolf 1998).

Stereotyping by Consent?
A number of issues complicate the problem of representation and stereotyping: whether pertaining to business, art or literature, factors such as profession and tradition, history, genre, and the constraints of time and money, do justify and necessitate simplifications and classifications of stories and characters. Indeed, individuals and societies need short-hand references in order for their daily life to function (Branston and Stafford 2006).

The problem varies according to culture and genre — e.g. in fictional works such as crime series and thriller movies there are long-established stereotypes of black criminals, arguably reinforced in recent years with the rise of gangsta rap or other elements of hip-hop culture; likewise, comedy and satire shows often use ethnic stereotypes in jokes and as part of their main content, to the amusement of their audiences including such who belong to the groups stereotyped. In news and current affairs, on the other hand, stereotyping is generally not openly accepted in developed countries.

An Overlooked Group
In advertising, the problem of stereotyping is well-known. Warning against myths and stereotypes of women and the elderly, Lahle Wolfe (2003), points out a significant fact: senior citizens are the fastest-growing population in the United States yet, strangely, marketers have tended to target younger age groups while ignoring seniors. “Several pioneers in the senior marketing industry note that age alone has little to do with the interests of senior consumers. Those who have attempted to cash in on the senior population, simply lumping retirees together by age, have failed, and miserably so.” (Wolfe 2008)

Representation of the Elderly
Calling for increased funding and legal intervention, Dittmann (2003) relates how geriatric psychologists seek to counteract negative age stereotypes found virtually everywhere in society, citing a report from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission with indications of sharply rising numbers of age-discrimination complaints.

Ageism
Compared to other forms of discrimination like sexism or racism, ageism is not a highly publicized form of discrimination although, arguably, most people will readily recognize its existence. The phenomenon can be defined as “the stereotyping of, prejudice against or discrimination against an individual due to his or her age.” (About Equal Opportunities 2008)

Webster University psychology professor Linda M. Woolf posits that “Ageism consists of a negative bias or stereotypic attitude toward aging and the aged. It is maintained in the form of primarily negative stereotypes and myths concerning the older adult.” (Woolf 1998) In Woolf’s assessment, ageism is a reflection of widespread prejudices against the elderly, characterized by two distinctive features: the continual nature of ageing, and the fact that every person is a potential victim inasmuch as no one can escape the process of ageing. “First, the individual may be ageist with respect to others. That is s/he may stereotype other people on the basis of age. Second, the individual may be ageist with respect to self. Thus, ageist attitudes may affect the self concept.” (Woolf 1998)

Progress?
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, publications such as Time magazine, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the New York Daily News were accused of stereotyping old people (Hess 1991). But while references to age stereotyping abound, a quick glance at recent news headlines containing the phrase “old people” produces little visible proof of explicit ageism (Google 2008a); nonetheless, the phrase “elderly people” seems to offer fewer yet different replies with more stories about poverty and misery among the elderly (Google 2008b). Another, more subtle kind of stereotyping could still be thriving, as seen in the disproportionate distribution of age represented in the media relative to the population at large (Fish 2008). The overall impression, however, is that age stereotyping could be more or less on retreat, possibly in result of the dramatic growth of the elderly population in the United States and elsewhere.

Media Relations
Effective media relations is concerned with building strong relationships with the media, and includes managing the flow of information from an organization to its publics. Listing communication instinct and communication skills, conviction, quality of story, and preparedness as key success factors, Doorley and Garcia (2007) recommend a centralized media relations function, with specifically appointed spokespersons — news media are prone to look for bad news with journalists using persuasive techniques to extract information or quotes from their subjects; the risks associated with allowing every employee to discuss organizational matters with outsiders, particularly journalists, outweigh other considerations.

Without a clear message and a sense of conviction of the validity of that message, however, a spokesperson would be perceived as not very believable, which would reflect negatively in media coverage of the organization (Doorley and Garcia 2007).

Media Training
One of the fundamental elements of effective media management is clarity and having a well-defined core message (Stevens 2005; Stewart 2004). Above all when it comes to television, a core message is essential: people will only remember very little from a TV interview but by frequently rephrasing a core message, a spokesperson will make it easier for audiences to remember what was said (Stevens 2005). Additionally, there are a number of issues to bear in mind for those interviewed, such as displaying good demeanor, appearing professional and trustworthy, dressing appropriately, mindful of body language and tone of voice. Being well prepared implies being sufficiently knowledgeable on subjects of basic relevance for the organization as well as having rehearsed its story and core message, being mentally and physically fit, and also being acquainted with the medium in question and knowing about its audiences. Understanding journalists, what they want and why, is another vital requirement (Stewart 2004).

Strategic Plan
Strategies and tactics used by media relations and media coaching professionals can be appropriate to employ, not only for those on the receiving end of misrepresentation in the media but for every organization, particularly those financially dependent on the good will of constituencies primarily communicated with through the media.

Read more of this report (pdf)...

The Nature of Strategic Public Relations

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 13:58:00 +0000

Strategic public relations should be a continuous, cyclical process which spans both internal and external boundaries.

Any discussion on the integrative approach to public relations will be likely to take notice of the historical development of the PR profession, both in terms of theory and practice. At best, the profession as a whole could be on the path to render obsolete the old notion of persuasion and publicity as the most prominent tools of the trade — bolstered by principles of relationship management and two-way symmetrical communication, PR is seen to increasingly assert its place at the management table of organizations. At worst, on the other hand, its dark tradition of deception and manipulation will continue to hinder it from earning the respect of business leaders and people in general.

As the 1985–2002, International Association of Business Communicators’ landmark Excellence study suggested, much in line with the findings of subsequent research: the majority of PR practitioners are generally not believed to have achieved an adequate level of understanding for realizing or establishing the true value and potential of strategic public relations (Cutlip et al. 2006; Grunig 2006; Grunig et al. 2007; Tench and Yeomans et al. 2007; Toth 2007).

One could argue that still-prevalent practices of spin and propaganda have long cast a shadow on the reputation of PR, effectively justifying critics such as Moloney (2000) in their exposition of an industry too frequently prone to less-than-excellent communication practices.

But what does the term ‘strategic public relations’ mean? Borrowed from military use where ‘strategy’ refers to making programs and plans of action designed to facilitate the achievement of goals and objectives, words like ‘strategy’ and ‘strategic’ have become highly popular in business and communication literature. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary (2009), ‘strategic’ signifies something “of great importance within an integrated whole or to a planned effect.”

While experience would suggest that some degree of confusion must inevitably be linked to such a broad and popular usage, a somewhat similar trait seems to be true of ‘public relations’ as a term — hypothetically leaving ‘strategic public relations’ in an even more ambiguous light. Yet the central concepts of strategic PR become quite clear when related to what the profession ideally should be like — normative theory — as opposed to focusing on what the reality of the practice might be at the lower end of the excellence scale — positive or explanatory theory. In fact, studies of public relations theory and practice make it exceedingly clear that, over the past few decades, strategic public relations has been firmly established in its own right, both as an intellectual concept and as a business reality: any confusion, one may argue, should be attributed to lack of knowledge or awareness of the wealth of information available on the subject.

The term ‘corporate communication’ is meanwhile increasingly being used in reference to strategic public relations less consumer relations, and as a way to distance the practice from press agentry, propaganda, spin, and related negative connotations perceived as too closely associated with the history of PR (Wood 2006). The rise of corporate communication has established a management function that coordinates and integrates e.g. investor relations with media relations, internal communication and other PR specialisms (Argenti 2005).

The above mentioned Excellence study “sought to identify the key characteristics of excellent communication programs in organizations, and attributes of organizations that support such excellence. The research team, made up of top communication and public relations scholars and practitioners from Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, combed prior research and theories from many disciplines to develop a comprehensive theory of excellence. What is excellent communication? What is the value of excellent communication to organizations? What kind of management support does excellent communication need?” (IABC 2009)

In a recent presentation of the findings of the study, summarizing main characteristics of excellent public relations found in a number of leading organizations, the following points were noted by Grunig et al. (2007, pp. 3–6):

“Public relations is a unique management function that helps an organization interact with the social, political, and institutional components of its environment. The value of public relations can be determined by measuring the quality of the relationships the organization establishes with its institutional environment. Public relations serves a strategic managerial role as well as a technical role. Public relations departments strategically plan, administer, and evaluate public relations programs. Public relations helps to shape the underlying conditions of organizational excellence — organizational culture and structure. Communication activities are integrated through the public relations department or a senior communication executive. Public relations is empowered by the dominant coalition of the organization. Public relations is not subordinated to marketing or other management functions. Public relations is two-way and symmetrical. Public relations executives are ethics counselors and internal advocates of social responsibility. Public relations departments have a professional base of knowledge. Activism and crises create demand for excellent public relations.”

Read more of this essay (pdf)...

IntraFish Features Report on ‘Green Monster’

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:29:00 +0000

IntraFish.com on 13 March featured a sizable reference to my report "Meet the Green Monster" (see report below). Under the heading Report: Industry must challenge the ‘Green Monster’ [requires login] an article presented the report as a news item and included key findings and quotes, and a link to this blog. The piece is a shorter version of a feature published in the April edition of the monthly Fishing News International. The appearance on the InfraFish.com news service was next to an interesting piece [requires login] about the "No Fish by 2048" myth floated in a rather cherry-picking and alarmist, yet extremely well-publicized report published in Science Magazine three years ago. The story has been debunked by several scientists but is nonetheless still proving highly influential.

Meet the Green Monster

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:33:00 +0000

How the fishing industry could employ public relations principles and techniques to combat a global threat posed by powerful pressure groups.

Few if any industries have been as beset with ongoing activism as the generality of the fishing industry in most of the developed world. A vicious cycle of bad media coverage, unfavorable public policies, negative advocacy from pressure groups, and consequential damaged reputation has, with growing momentum, conspired to undermine the vital interests of the industry.

Clearly, the industry’s lack of coherence translates into poor ability to communicate convincingly, which may further aggravate the situation.

As much as failing to take decisive action will be seen as abdication of responsibility, breaking out of a prolonged spiral of negativity will require tedious efforts. A reasonable degree of optimism, on the other hand, suggests that well-planned, timely, and skillfully implemented public relations strategies can help bring about change for the better.

After all, a sound analysis of the problem leads to the unmistakable conclusion that the fishing industry has a just cause, which in principle makes a whole arsenal of powerful public relations tools available for its use, provided sufficient funding will be obtained. Bearing in mind the vast number of fishing vessels still roaming the seas, it will arguably be perfectly possible to gather a sizeable proportion of the major operators under a common umbrella.

The implications are both multifaceted and ambitious — a recommended program of action would make use of extensive analyses and planning, reputation management, issues management, crisis communication, government relations, media relations, and stakeholder management. It should in brief involve the following:

• Creating a communication platform for the industry, focusing sharply on issues of shared interest;
• Setting up permanent public relations and public affairs functions;
• Devising effective response programs and plans to address urgent needs;
• Restoring trust and developing long-term relationships with key stakeholders.

Introduction
This report looks into the question of how the global fish catching industry — as primarily viewed from a North Atlantic perspective — could utilize corporate communication strategies to tackle a long-overdue issue of antagonistic advocacy, unduly restrictive management regimes, and unfavorable public image.

The purpose is to synthesize a clear and relevant picture from a complex situation in which a number of component elements and their interplay present a fairly significant challenge.

Based on industry and academic literature — as well as first-hand experience and personal interviews — key characteristics of the fishing industry will be discussed together with fisheries science and fisheries management, and related to public relations theory and practice.

For the sake of clarity, not all views will be presented in discussions about e.g. fisheries science and management. Instead, key alternative viewpoints will be considered, as these are seen to be in alignment with fishing interests.

Conclusive findings will be presented as recommendations.

A Fragmented Industry
While the context here is confined to the harvesting sector, anyone with a basic insight into commercial fishing will know that the world’s fishing fleets differ dramatically: according to geography and culture, level of capitalization and technology, access to trade infrastructure and seafood markets, types of species targeted and gear used, all of which are key determinants of vessel type, size, and characteristics such as ocean going capacity and catch efficiency.

For instance, in the northeast Atlantic, one of the world’s 19 major fishing areas as defined by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of FAO (the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization), there are several categories and subcategories of fishing fleets, listed by target species and technology (2008).

An estimated 20,000 ocean going vessels, together with hundreds of thousands of decked inshore vessels and two to three million smaller, undecked boats, catch a combined 100 million metric tons of fish per year according to UN figures (FAO 2002).

Large vs. Small
As in other industries, there has traditionally been a certain divide between large-scale and small-scale fishing operations, typically at odds in terms of access to inshore waters as well as in the distribution key applied to the regulation of the resource: the small and many feel threatened by the financial muscle and political influence of the large and few, who in turn tend to view the former as another source of restrictions and potential trouble.

Concentration of Ownership
Taking such divisions to socio-economic and political levels, Ben-Yami (2003) and Allain (2007) warn against societal disruptions resulting from privatization of fishing rights, a trend discerned since the late 1980s in e.g. Canada and Iceland.

Rights and Commons
Allain (2007) identifies fallacies adopted with modern fisheries management’s adherence to ideas expressed by Hardin (1968) — the underlying assumption being that fishing communities are unable to self-regulate, prone to some shortsighted selfishness which must lead to depletion of the resource, necessitating external control either by paternalistic state power or by large commercial corporations.

Management and Science
During the decades following World War II, fisheries science was introduced to public fisheries management in North America, Europe, and elsewhere. According to Jón Kristjánsson (personal communication. 10 June 2005), the new approaches to fisheries management were initially met with curiosity and expectations by the industry, as they held promises of increasing catches and profitability through the aid of scientific methods; however, relations gradually deteriorated between, on the one hand, fisheries scientists and fisheries managers and, on the other, fishermen, vessel operators, and fishing communities.

Mistrust
Central to negative sentiment in the fishing industry is the observation that cutting back on fishing by reducing catch quotas or otherwise imposing restrictive measures has, with few exceptions, been the sole content of all advice given by the established networks of fisheries scientists to their subscribing governments.

The issue of mistrust is further associated with perceived lack of communication between e.g. established fisheries science and commercial fishermen. Haggan, Neis and Baird (2007) point to the professional knowledge of fishermen — and the fact that there are indeed examples of good cooperation between them and scientists — even if there still might be a long way to go in terms of raising communication standards. A feeling of being subjected to a combination of arrogant neglect and abusive public policies has long been detectable among fishermen and their industry representatives, who have grown used to seeing their business and operating conditions changed on a yearly basis, often by the enforcement of drastic measures. They seem to sense that even if their livelihoods are dependent on their own in-depth knowledge of commercial fisheries, that expertise isn’t being taken very seriously.

Criticisms
A few independent scientists and consultants have expressed skepticism toward the advice regularly given by the officially established fisheries science organizations — such as the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, “the world’s largest marine science and advisory body” (ICES 2008) — and the corresponding policies pursued by their subscribing governments.

Read more of this report (pdf)...

Photo Exhibition to Hit Copenhagen in May

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:44:00 +0000

A traveling photo exhibition featuring highlights from the book "IMAGES OF FISHERMEN: The North Atlantic" by photographer Maria Olsen (co-authors Menakhem Ben-Yami and myself) is set to open at the Nordatlantens Brygge, Copenhagen in May.

The exhibition kicked off successfully at the National Maritime Museum in Stockholm in 2008 and will later be taken to Esbjerg, Reykjavík and Tórshavn, backed by the prestigious Nordic Culture Fund as one of the main sponsors of the event.

Images of Fishermen is a coffeetable book that presents, in compelling language, the reality of North Atlantic fisheries as seen through a photographer’s lens, and may as well be the first book on the market to cover commercial fishing as comprehensively using photojournalism in conjunction with an expert treatise.

Through six photo essays, photographer Maria Olsen delivers a feast of 200 amazing pictures, documenting diverse fishing trips while covering several fishing methods including benthic and midwater trawling, pair trawling, gillnetting, and longlining.

Read more at www.IMAGESofFISHERMEN.com — and, if fishing happens to be of interest to you, check out the new Images of Fishermen Facebook group...

Broadcast News as a Commodity

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:39:00 +0000

To what extent can we view broadcast news as a commodity within today’s global society?

“News is not a commodity — it is a vital part of our democracy,” declared The Independent on Sunday in the headline of an article written by Mark Thompson (2008), the BBC’s Director-General. The world’s most revered public service broadcasting institution quite correctly — perhaps as a matter of policy — refuses to reduce its product to a mere commodity. Yet a quick analysis of the bulk of news and related content coming from leading international broadcasters will immediately raise the question of news commoditization. It will be likely to lead to the observation that the overall quality of mainstream broadcast news — the perceived relevance to public interest — has been deteriorating for any number of years, effectively causing a crisis of credibility. Arguably, the blurring of the boundaries between news and entertainment, information and advertising, together with the media’s peculiar interest in singing their own praises, does little to help the situation.

The huge volumes of news made available every day and the overwhelming feeling of sameness often experienced by the news consumer easily invoke the concept of commodity. But before we embark on an exploration of this issue, we must ask ourselves what a commodity is. A standard dictionary lookup will define it as: ‘a mass-produced unspecialized product’ or ‘a good or service whose wide availability typically leads to smaller profit margins and diminishes the importance of factors other than price’ (Merriam-Webster 2008).

In order to understand the issue of broadcast news commoditization in a global context, we need to identify and study the consequences of some of the conditioning factors. One of these can be seen as an overarching theme: globalization and history — the forces of cultural, political, social, and economic change. Underlying factors include: television’s historic relationships and affiliations with radio and cinema; the development of video, cable and satellite technologies; free markets, transnational competition, and ownership concentration; cross-media publishing and promotion; the fusion of information and entertainment, of advertising and editorial content; marketing needs and dependency on audience ratings; public service vis-á-vis economics; 24-hour news channels and narrowcasting; streaming audio and video, mobile radio and television and the astonishing development and worldwide distribution of digital ICT.

On the whole, a distinct and seemingly direct cause of news commoditization came with two relatively recent revolutions that sent news supply sky rocketing: rolling news broadcasting and online news and information, much of it freely accessible.

McNair (2003) gives an account of the development of news media in the UK, including the transition from radio to television as the news medium of choice for the masses. Back in the 1950s, the presentation of TV news resembled the already established tradition of radio news while reflecting the educational tone of the day. To the point of kinship with the world of film, Curran and Seaton (2003) relate how technical staff for early television often consisted of people with a background in cinema — contributing to a clash of cultures. Before long, as Finnegan (2008) outlines, American television broke away from its radio roots and learned to make use of its visual advantage, taking a pivotal role in the rise of the entertainment culture during the years and decades that followed. While entertainment gradually gained prominence, a celebrity culture likewise became apparent among national TV news presenters, spawning a new meta-category of news about the news.

People are slowly but surely turning away from TV news. Roberts (2008) points out that the major networks in the US have lost an average 1 million viewers annually over the past 25 years — an overall trend that seems to reflect a steady decline with temporary reversals at the occurrence of extraordinary events. On such events, Bauder (2008) reports that more than a record 43 million American households watched the 4th November 2008 presidential election returns on television, whilst another 27 million followed the event on the internet. The historic election of Barack Hussein Obama was witnessed around the world and clearly had a global impact.

The rise of 24/7 rolling news was initiated with Turner Broadcasting System’s 1980 launch of the Cable News Network. Its unorthodox format departed decisively from the traditional studio-centered news presentation with a cost-efficient operation and an informal style and with key emphasis placed on live coverage from scenes of events. CNN changed the face of broadcast news and, as its success unfolded, the established TV networks attempted to follow suit but initially failed (McNair 2003; Turner 2008). Today there are several rolling news channels with current affairs and documentary programs — CNN, BBC World, Fox News, to name some — and scores of other channels dedicated to narrowly defined markets, such as Bloomberg Television, Discovery Channel, MTV, etc. A new generation of rolling news channels — notably Al Jazeera, Telesur, and France 24 — are now seen to represent a ‘contra-flow’ to Anglo-American influence in the arena of global media communications (Thussu 2007).

Back in the 1980s and 1990s, and even into the 21st century, a wave of privatization and deregulation took place in broadcasting across national borders, spurred on by the dominance of free market ideas. This was intertwined with technological breakthroughs in video, cable and satellite communications, all of which had vast implications for the development of broadcast media (Curran and Seaton 2003).

Industry consolidation with mergers and acquisitions followed, generating a hostile business environment for independent news broadcasters, and resulting in ownership concentration with fears of corporate censorship and uniformity in the news. The 1996 acquisition of Turner by the largest player in the global media industry, TimeWarner — formed in 1990 with the takeover of Time by Warner Bros. — was but one of a number of deals, the net result of which has been that little more than a handful of conglomerates control most of the entire world of news and entertainment media: TimeWarner, Disney, NBC Universal, Vivendi Universal, News Corporation, Viacom, Sony, Bertelsmann (Branston and Stafford 2006). This remains a major concern and the subject of debate at all levels, including at the World Electronic Media Forum (WBU 2007). In the US, for instance, Scott (2004) criticizes the Federal Communications Commission for relaxing broadcast ownership limits, echoing concerns of media reform organization Free Press (2008).

Other noteworthy developments in the media industry included Microsoft’s 1996 entry into broadcast news through MSNBC — a joint venture with NBC — and Google’s acquisition of YouTube in 2006. Google and Microsoft have developed advanced internet news delivery services in cooperation with a wide range of news providers, offering content that includes text and pictures as well as streaming audio and video, and both companies hold stakes in mobile communications through the Windows Mobile and Android platforms, respectively (Microsoft 2008; Open Handset Alliance 2008).

Read more of this essay (pdf)...

Lættari at goyma veiðidagar enn villan fisk

noreply@blogger.com (Bui Tyril) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 14:55:00 +0000

Tá lítið er at fáa ella veðrið ikki er til vildar, gevur tað lítla meining fyri fiskiför at brúka burtur av strangt avmarkaðum fiskidögum — og um toskurin nú er við at taka seg uppaftur, ræður um at hava nóg mikið av dögum.

Vinnuvitan (7. august 2008)

Fólk flest innan fiskivinnuna tykjast skelkað síðani verandi upplegg til metstórar skerjingar fyri vinnuna kom undan kavi. Skipanin við fiskidögum, ið mong hava verið so stolt av, tykist knappliga send í skammikrók um ikki til avtöku, og ivi er sáddur um burðardygdina í okkara skipan.

Örkymlanin er nærum fullkomin við rokan í luftini og politiskum ruðulleika á gáttuni, og nógvum gangi. Ein av mongum spurningum ið fiskimenn og reiðarar fáa um oyruni er hesin: Hví gráta um mistar fiskidagar um fiskiförini kortini ikki brúka allar tillutaðar dagar?

Tummas Christophersen, reiðari á partrolarunum ‘Fram’ og ‘Vestmenningi’ umframt ‘Columbus’ og ‘Nornagesti’: “Tekur tú ikki ídag stig til at tryggja inntöku grundarlagið, so kanst tú rokna við at tað er burtur um fimm ár.”

“Við fiskidögum mást tú hava ein ávísan marginal; annars kanst tú koma í neyð so skjótt törvur er á fleiri dögum. Tú kanst illa samanbera fiskiskap við arbeiði undir regluligum, föstum rammum. So óútrokniligt sum veðrið og havið eru, gerast dagarnir ójavnir og tí er altíð neyðugt at hava nakað niðurfyri. Um tú ikki hevur fleiri dagar enn júst teir tú skalt brúka, og tú klárar teg so dánt við at keypa eyka dagar, so kemur tú í saksin um dagarnir verða skornir niður.”

Við sínum drúgvu royndum innan fiskivinnuna á sjógvi og landi, herundir sum fiskiskipari í 30 ár, veit Tummas Christophersen hvat hann tosar um. Umframt at varða av fiskiskipum er hann partaeigari og nevndarlimur í Atlantis, tí nýggja frystivirkinum í Vestmanna, og öðrum fiskivinnu virkjum. Hann er sonur navnframa Henry G. Christophersen, sála, ið fördi fyrsta flakatrolara hjá norðmonnum, nevndur ‘Longva’, umframt ‘Gadus’, sum tá var största og mest framkomna fiskifar í Norðurlondum, og seinni eisini eftirfylgjaran ‘Gadus II’, eitt enn meira framkomið skip. Vestmenningurin, sum andaðist fyri kortum, var kendur sum undangongumaður, og hann var skipari á Föroya fyrsta hekkutrolara og flakatrolara, ‘Kap Farvel’, sum hann eisini átti part í. Hetta var trolarin sum longu í 1960unum setti Vestmanna á kortið sum eitt framstandandi pláss í föroyskari fiskivinnu.

Handilin við fiskidögum millum fiskiför, sum einans kann fara fram innan fyri teir einstöku veiðibólkarnar, útger sambært fiskimenn, reiðarar og onnur ein grundleggjandi part av búskapinum í vinnuni. “Vanliga er hetta ikki nakað sum verður handlað fyri dýrar pengar,” sigur ein grannskoðari sum ikki ynskir sítt navn almannakunngjört í hesum höpi. "Men týdningurin av hesum handli er sera stórur, tí hann gevur virkjunum ein flexibilitet sum tey ikki kunnu klára seg uttan. Og vit skulu minnast til at fiskidagarnir eru inntöku grundarlag hjá vinnuni.”

Tann föroyska skipanin við fiskidögum tekur stöði í at vit ikki kunnu stýra tí natúrliga dynamikki sum í ymiskum ringrásum og tilgongdum stöðugt broytir upp á viðurskifti sum t.d. temperatur, veðurlag, streymar, sólarljós, gróður og fiskavökstur. Vit kunnu tó seta upp skilagóðar karmar um vinnuligt virksemi, og júst hetta meina fleiri at vit gjördu við hegni tá vit fingu fiskidagaskipanina í 1996.

Hendan skipanin tekur eisini stöði í tí trífaldu definitiónini av burðardyggari menning: fyri at ein fiskivinna skal kunna verða roknað sum fult burðardygg, má hon vera haldgóð og langsiktig socialt so væl sum búskaparliga og vistfröðiliga.

Skipanin hevur gjört tað möguligt hjá tí föroyska samfelagnum at fáa eina relativa semju millum öðrumegin tey sum beinleiðis varða av og liva av fiskivinnuni og hinumegin tey sum seta og umsita teir lógarligu karmarnar fyri hesa vinnu.

Men langt er eftir á mál til vit hava eitt vælvirkandi samskifti millum allar partar við atknýti til vinnuna tvörtur um búskaparlig seráhugamál og faklig og politisk mörk, og tann relativa semjan tykist í lötuni hanga í einum ógvuliga klönum tráð.

Hvar gongur markið? “Ein trumfur við fiskidagaskipanini, sum hevur fingið umheimin at övunda okkum, er tað sokallaða sjálvregulerandi elementið,” sigur Auðunn Konráðsson, formaður í Meginfelag Útróðrarmanna.

“Skipanin regulerar seg sjálva — er lítið til av fiski so verður heldur ikki trároynt meira enn gott er, og övugt, er nóg mikið til so verður eisini fiskað tað meira uttan at hetta verður steðgað av kvotulofti. Hetta er skilagott og samsvarar við tann vistfröðiliga veruleikan.”

Samstundis var hugskotið við hesari skipan at vinnan skuldi fríast frá órógvandi lógarbroytingum í tíð og ótíð. Stovnsmetingar skuldu ikki geva hövi til slíkar broytingar í fiskidögum.

Auðunn Konráðsson heldur fram: "Eftir fiskidagaskipanini kunnu einans broytingar í veiðiorkuni ávirka talið á fiskidögum. Serlig tiltök eitt nú til vernd av ungfiski skulu regulerast við hjálp av stongdum leiðum og tekniskum avmarkingum.”

“Í fiskidagaskipanini verður eingin sölubarur fiskur tveittur fyri borð, tí eingin törvur er á slíkum tá stýringin liggur í fiskidögum heldur enn nögd ella tyngd á veiði. Skipanin ger eisini at vit sleppa undan sviki við landingartölum og öðrum upplýsingum, sum aðrar skipanir annars hava stórar trupulleikar av — og tí hava vit eisini munandi meira eftirfarandi hagtöl frá landingum enn okkara grannalond.”

Men vandarnir fyri vinnuna eru fleiri. Teir högu oljuprísirnir eru nóg mikið til at senda stóran part av okkara trolarum av knóranum — fleiri eru longu lagdir, teirra millum djúpvatns trolararnir og fleiri av teimum eldru partrolarunum. Og tá tosa vit ikki um ta lúrandi kreppuna í fíggjarheiminum.

Í Vestmanna liggja Columbus og Nornagestur. “Vit royndu at halda teimum gangandi so leingi teir ikki góvu undirskot,” sigur Tummas Christophersen. “Men so fóru oljuprísirnir upp gjögnum takið og tá var einki at gera — hesir gomlu bátarnir kunnu ikki klára seg longur.”

Onkur heldur við atliti til oljunýtslu at smáir útróðrarbátar undir 5 tons áttu at kunnað staðið seg. Tó verður lítið eftir av hesum bólki, um teir 80 fiskidagar sum hesir hava í part um árið verða minkaðir niður í 40. “So kann man tað sama gevast,” sum ein útróðrarmaður málber seg.

Samstundis eru menn skeptiskir til tankan um at goyma fiskin í sjónum fyri at fiska hann seinni. “Eitt er at fiskur hevur stert og kann finna uppá at flyta seg," sigur Auðun Konráðsson. “Eitt annað er at aðrar verur enn fólk vilja eisini eta hann. Fiskur, fuglur, kópur, hvalur — hesi gera av við nógv túsund tons um árið.”

Eitt er at meta um hvar hámarkið fyri vistfröðiliga burðardyggari veiði gongur. Eitt annað, hvar markið tann mótsetta vegin gongur: hvussu langt niður ber tað til at skerja uttan at koma vinnuni — og einum hópi av fólki — í óföri?

“Tað verður tosað nógv um effektivisering av flotanum, at tað fíggjarliga avkastið verður betri um eindirnar eru störri og færri,” viðmerkir Tummas Christophersen. “Í tí kjakinum eftirlýsi eg eina meting ið sigur okkurt um hvar tað skeringspunktið liggur... Hvussu fáar hesar eindir í grundini kunnu vera áðrenn tað gevur eitt negativt úrslit fyri tann samfelagsliga búskapin.”