Thursday, April 26, 2012
New book accuses mining firm of Zambia exploitation (AFP) – Sep 19, 2011
LUSAKA — Copper-rich Zambia is a victim of Swiss-based commodity companies who rake in profits by exploiting developing countries, a new book out Monday claimed.
"Commodities - Switerland's Most Dangerous Business" looks at the social and environmental impact on the southern African country of a mine owned by Swiss giant Glencore.
A chapter of the book published by the non-governmental organisation Berne Declaration (BD) discusses the various means by which, they say, Glencore deprives Zambia of tax revenue.
These include the non-payment of customs duties, internal billing and shifting losses, despite Zambia's low taxes used to attract investors.
"By way of comparison, in Norway, 70 percent of oil export profit comes back to the state. In Zambia, the state's share is less than five percent," said the chapter's author, the journalist Alice Odiot.
BD has already appealed to the European union to stop all future financing by the European Investment Bank to Glencore over "serious concerns" about the mine in which it has a 73.1 percent share.
Glencore said in a statement in June that there were "factual errors" in an audit commissioned by Zambia's treasury and that it was confident of having correctly calculated and paid its taxes.
The site operated by Glencore through its subsidiary Mopani Copper Mines (MCM) covers 19,000 hectares in the northern town of Mufulira in Zambia's famous copperbelt region.
The sharing of the country's copper-sourced riches is a key issue in Tuesday's election, which pits the pro-business incumbent, President Rupiah Banda, against opposition leader Michael Sata, who accuses his rival of climbing into bed with foreign investors at Zambia's expense and failing to improve life for ordinary Zambians.
Mopani chairman Emmanuel Mutati told AFP the company paid $63 million in taxes last year on profits of $78 million, and has spent millions on social and infrastructure projects like hospitals, schools and roads.
A new book claims Glencore and other Swiss-based commodity companies are guilty of exploiting copper-rich Zambia (AFP/File, Sebastian Derungs)
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Sunday, January 29, 2012
THE BLANKET
A man and a woman who have
never met before find themselves
in the same sleeping carriage of a
train. After the initial
embarrassment, they both
manage to get to sleep; the
woman on the top bunk, the man
on the lower.
In the middle of the night the
woman leans over and says, “I’m
sorry to bother you but I’m
awfully cold and I was wondering
if you could possibly pass me
another blanket.”
The man leans out and, with a
glint in his eye, says, “I’ve got a
better idea… let’s pretend we’re
married.”
“Why not?” giggles the excited
woman.
“Good,” he replies. “Get your own
blanket.”
never met before find themselves
in the same sleeping carriage of a
train. After the initial
embarrassment, they both
manage to get to sleep; the
woman on the top bunk, the man
on the lower.
In the middle of the night the
woman leans over and says, “I’m
sorry to bother you but I’m
awfully cold and I was wondering
if you could possibly pass me
another blanket.”
The man leans out and, with a
glint in his eye, says, “I’ve got a
better idea… let’s pretend we’re
married.”
“Why not?” giggles the excited
woman.
“Good,” he replies. “Get your own
blanket.”
Friday, January 27, 2012
PSalm 40 - KJV
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. 12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. 13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me. 14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. 15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. 16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified. 17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. 7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. 9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation.
11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. 12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. 13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me. 14 Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil. 15 Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha. 16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified. 17 But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me: thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Emmanuel, God with Us
In the Bible, Jesus has many names that identify His character. One of those names is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” Before Jesus came to earth, the Spirit of God resided in the temple. The people had to go through all sorts of rituals to become clean enough to go near Him. Now, as believers, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He is the one who cleanses us and actually makes His home in our hearts.
Isn’t it good to know that God is with us? He is closer than the very air that we breathe. His peace is always with us. His joy is always with us. His power is always with us, and His victory is always with us. The next time you feel alone, remember, you serve Emmanuel — the God who is always with you!
Isn’t it good to know that God is with us? He is closer than the very air that we breathe. His peace is always with us. His joy is always with us. His power is always with us, and His victory is always with us. The next time you feel alone, remember, you serve Emmanuel — the God who is always with you!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
YOU MAY NOT KNOW YOUR TALENT UP TO THE LAST DAY OF YOUR LIFE
A tough looking group of bikers were riding when they saw a girl about to jump off a bridge, so they stopped. The leader, a big burly man, gets off his bike and says, "What are you doing?"
"I'm going to commit suicide," she says.
While he did not want to appear insensitive, he didn't want to miss an opportunity. He asked "Well, before you jump, why don't you give me a kiss?" So, she does and i...t was a long, deep lingering kiss.
After she's finished, the biker says, "Wow! That was the best Kiss I have ever had. That's a real talent you are wasting. You could be famous. Why are you committing suicide?"
"My parents don't like me dressing up like a girl......
Saturday, August 27, 2011
THE NEW COUPLE
A newlywed couple returned
to their apartment after being on their honeymoon.
"Care to go upstairs and do it?" the husband asked.
"Shh!" said the bride "All the neighbors will know
what we're about to do. These walls are paper
thin. In the future, we'll have to ask each other in
code. For example, how about asking, 'Have you
left the washing machine door open' instead?"
So, the following night, the husband asks, "I don't
suppose you left the washing machine door open,
did you?"
"No, I definitely shut it," replied the wife who rolled
over and fell asleep.
When she woke up however, she was feeling a
little frisky herself and she nudged her husband
and said, "I think I did leave the washing machine
door open after all. Would you like to do some
washing?"
"No, thanks," said the husband. "It was only a
small load so I did it by hand.
to their apartment after being on their honeymoon.
"Care to go upstairs and do it?" the husband asked.
"Shh!" said the bride "All the neighbors will know
what we're about to do. These walls are paper
thin. In the future, we'll have to ask each other in
code. For example, how about asking, 'Have you
left the washing machine door open' instead?"
So, the following night, the husband asks, "I don't
suppose you left the washing machine door open,
did you?"
"No, I definitely shut it," replied the wife who rolled
over and fell asleep.
When she woke up however, she was feeling a
little frisky herself and she nudged her husband
and said, "I think I did leave the washing machine
door open after all. Would you like to do some
washing?"
"No, thanks," said the husband. "It was only a
small load so I did it by hand.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
YOU ARE NOT YOUR MIND
A beggar had been sitting by the side of a road for over thirty years. One day a stranger walked by.
“Spare some change?” mumbled the beggar, mechanically holding out his old baseball cap.
“I have nothing to give you,” said the stranger. Then he asked: “What’s that you are sitting on?”
“Nothing,” replied the beggar, “Just a box. I have been sitting on it for as long as I can remember.”
“Ever looked inside?”
“No,” said the beggar. “What’s the point? There is nothing in there.”
“Have a look inside,” insisted the stranger.
The beggar managed to pry open the lid.
With astonishment, disbelief and elation, he saw that the box was filled with gold.
I am that stranger who has nothing to give you and who is telling you to look inside. Not inside a box, as in the parable, but somewhere even closer: inside yourself.
“But I am not a beggar,” I can hear you say.
Those who have not found their true wealth, which is the radiant joy of Being and the deep, unshakable peace that comes with it, are beggars.
They are looking outside for scraps of pleasure or fulfillment, for validation, security, or love, while they have a treasure within that not only includes all those things but is infinitely greater than anything the World can offer.
-Eckhart Tolle-
( From his book the POWER OF NOW)
“Spare some change?” mumbled the beggar, mechanically holding out his old baseball cap.
“I have nothing to give you,” said the stranger. Then he asked: “What’s that you are sitting on?”
“Nothing,” replied the beggar, “Just a box. I have been sitting on it for as long as I can remember.”
“Ever looked inside?”
“No,” said the beggar. “What’s the point? There is nothing in there.”
“Have a look inside,” insisted the stranger.
The beggar managed to pry open the lid.
With astonishment, disbelief and elation, he saw that the box was filled with gold.
I am that stranger who has nothing to give you and who is telling you to look inside. Not inside a box, as in the parable, but somewhere even closer: inside yourself.
“But I am not a beggar,” I can hear you say.
Those who have not found their true wealth, which is the radiant joy of Being and the deep, unshakable peace that comes with it, are beggars.
They are looking outside for scraps of pleasure or fulfillment, for validation, security, or love, while they have a treasure within that not only includes all those things but is infinitely greater than anything the World can offer.
-Eckhart Tolle-
( From his book the POWER OF NOW)
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