Policy: Nairobi National Park vs Exim Bank of China

Policy: Nairobi National Park vs Exim Bank of China

January 31, 2017   China, Environment, In English, International relations, Kenya, Policy,

A new Chinese-funded 472km standard-gauge railway line is being built in Kenya, the first part of which will link Mombasa with Nairobi.[2] Kenya is on course to complete the construction works in the second half of 2017, “but it’s only a part of a much wider project that will eventually link Mombasa with other major East African cities such as Kampala in Uganda”[1].

“Now, the first section of the east African nation's $13.8 billion railway is nearly finished”[1]. “It is hoped that the track will shorten the journey between the two cities from 12 hours to four hours. Passenger trains will travel at 120km/h, and freight trains will be able to carry 25 million tons per year, according to the International Railway Journal”[1]. “The hope is that this new railway will reduce congestion on Kenya's crowded road network, and promote tourism”[1]. “Eventually, the East African Railway Masterplan will link Mombasa with other major east African cities such as Kampala, in Uganda, and Juba, in South Sudan”[1].

(Accessed and sources: http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/15/africa/kenya-railway-east-africa/)

“Financing for the new line is provided by the Exim Bank of China which agreed to support 90%, or $US 3.42bn, of the project’s costs. The overall loan consists of a $US 1.6bn concessional loan payable over 20 years and a commercial loan of $US 1.82bn payable over 15 years. Both loans have been guaranteed by Kenya’s National Treasury. Yet achieving sufficient traffic volumes on the standard-gauge line to meet the cost of operations and repayment of the loan at this stage is far from assured”[2].

“While the hope is that once operational the line will provide the foundation for further economic growth in Kenya and east Africa, the first phase of the project has already provided additional jobs. Maina says the project has provided nearly 19,000 local people with direct employment and about 6000 indirectly”[2]. “More than 250 local suppliers have been directly engaged with supplying materials and subcontracting services to the project,” he says.

“The extension crosses rugged terrain and is the most challenging of the project. It will require 28km of bridges and 8.5km of tunnels, including one which will be 5.3km long and 70m deep and is expected to take five years to drill. The route also has high embankments and the cuttings will require slope protection according to its design details. It will also span existing infrastructure such as roads and the metre-gauge line. This section will cost $US 1.5bn, or $US 12.5m per km compared with $US 8m per km for the 472km stretch between Mombasa and Nairobi”[2].

(Accessed and sources: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/160412-railway-kenya-parks-wildlife/)

“The park in southeastern Kenya was already traversed by an old, colonial-built rail line and a two-lane highway, both linking Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, to the coast at Mombasa. But the new railway, unlike the old one and the highway, is being built on a steep man-made embankment that elephants cannot cross. The railway has only a few bridges under which elephants and giraffes can pass, so in other places, they are forced to use underpasses constructed where the animals were believed to migrate”[3].

(Accessed and sources: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/160412-railway-kenya-parks-wildlife/)

The official reason of why Chinese decided to pave the railroad through the National Park is because of cheaper land. But the real reason may be hidden from the eyes of ordinary people. 

“After the visit by China’s president to Kenya in April 2006, the Kenya government allocated China National Offshore Oil Company (CNOOC) exclusive rights, with no competitive bidding, to 6 out of the 11 available oil exploration blocks in the country. Current but outdated mining laws allow the government to do that. This opened 28 percent of total oil exploration area coverage in Kenya to CNOOC”[4].

“Petroleum exploration in Kenya started in the 1950s when Shell and British Petroleum drilled 10 wells at the coastal town of Lamu that proved to be dry. With improved underground oil surveillance technology, more companies have since joined in: Woodside Energy (Australia), Chevron, Exxon, and Petronas of Malaysia. None of them has found commercially exploitable quantities of natural gas or oil. And it remains to be seen if CNOOC will buck this trend”[4].

It’s important to provide a more thorough research of the China-Kenya relations in order to understand what rights China actually has in Kenya. The most important question that has to be answered is whether China is able to extract oil or minerals in Kenya or not. If the answer is positive, then it will be reasonable to check if the part of the Nairobi National Park, that will be disconnected from the main part by the railway, has any deposits of minerals and oil. In this case, it may be possible that China has an idea of extracting these oil or minerals deposits, because after cutting the park into two parts, the smaller part will not be protected by the natural agency anymore, and therefore China will be able to start extracting deposits.

References

[1] Phoebe Parke, “Kenya's $13 billion railway project is taking shape”, http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/15/africa/kenya-railway-east-africa/

[2] Shem Oirere, “Kenya readies first standard-gauge line”, http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/africa/kenya-readies-first-standard-gauge-line.html

[3] Jacob Kushner, “Controversial Railway Splits Kenya’s Parks, Threatens Wildlife”, http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/160412-railway-kenya-parks-wildlife/

[4] Michael Chege, “Economic Relations between Kenya and China, 1963–2007”.

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 

CC BY-NC-ND

Continue Reading

Article: Rationalism

Article: Rationalism

January 23, 2017   In English, International relations, Philosophy, Politics, Rationalism,

General Definition: What is Rationalism?

Rationalism is based on knowledge which is based on reason and logic. It is based on facts rather than experience, in order to achieve a pre-definite goal. Rationalism is often a selfish decision making because there are no emotions or feelings involved, to be the most effective possible without caring about the future of other countries following this rational decision.

Rationalism according to Descartes

Descartes was one of the most influential philosophers in the 17th century and said that rationalism is based on mathematical hypothesis and demonstrations. According to him, maths are the basis to do scientifical research; through maths, you can get knowledge, and therefore think reasonably and logically (rationalism). Then, one can do science and apply this knowledge to gain experience.

Rationalism according to Kant

Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) is the central figure in modern philosophy. He synthesized early modern rationalism and empiricism, set the terms for much of nineteenth and twentieth-century philosophy, and continues to exercise a significant influence today in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics, and other fields. He argues that the human understanding is the source of the general laws of nature that structure all our experience; and that human reason gives itself the moral law, which is our basis for belief in God, freedom, and immortality. Therefore, scientific knowledge, morality, and religious belief are mutually consistent and secure, because they all rest on the same foundation of human autonomy, which is also the final end of nature according to the teleological worldview of reflecting the judgment that Kant introduces to unify the theoretical and practical parts of his philosophical system.

Example of Rationalism: United Kingdom (Brexit)

The UK decided to leave the European Union (Brexit), and it was a rational decision since they wanted to stop the flow of people coming into the country, and they feel like they will be better off in terms of trades and treaties. When the UK took this decision, they did not think about the impact it could have on the immigrants trying to access this country in order to save their lives from their own country. Also, they decided to leave because they are persuaded that it will benefit the United Kingdom to be more powerful, independent, and to keep the resources for the population.

Example of Rationalism: China

China is very rational in term of economic development and pollution. Indeed, China first started developing its economy and through its economic development, new industries, and extremely heavy coal production, air pollution and other disastrous environmental hazards have occurred. When China decided to do everything to be more powerful and important compared to other countries, they made the decision not to be preoccupied with pollution and other environmental problems. This choice was rational because China cared about its standing within the global economy in first place, and not about the people’s health.

Example about Russia

Russia is a great example of a country that uses rationalism in the 21st century. One clear example of such a decision style can be found in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It was a purely rational decision for Russia to occupy a part of Ukraine. The reasons were both military and social: it has one of the most important Russian fleets “Black Sea Fleet”, and one of the most famous recreation area of the USSR. Even though Russia worsened relationships with some countries, this act was necessary for the internal politics.

Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationalism

https://www.britannica.com/topic/rationalism

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 

CC BY-NC-ND

Continue Reading

Policy: The Etiquette in Singapore

Policy: The Etiquette in Singapore

January 16, 2017   Etiquette, In English, International relations, Policy, Singapore,

Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, and often referred to as the Lion City or the Little Red Dot, is a sovereign city-state in Southeast Asia, and the world’s only island city-state. Despite its small size, Singapore has a diversity of languages, religions, and cultures [2]. It is a conglomeration of Chinese (76%), Malay (15%) and Indian (6%) cultures. In the past, this racial mixture has lead to some conflict. However, today most Singaporeans enjoy racial harmony and national unity. Each group works hard to maintain its cultural traditions while building a modern, cohesive society [3]. 

Each Singaporean’s behaviors and attitudes are influenced by, among other things, his or her home language, and his religion. Singaporeans who speak English as their native language tend to lean toward Western culture, while those who speak Chinese as their native language tend to lean toward Chinese culture and Confucianism. Malay-speaking Singaporeans tend to lean toward Malay culture, which itself is closely linked to Islamic culture [2].

Because of a lot of different cultures, religions, and languages, in order to maintain order, they have to follow a lot of rules and have a strict etiquette. 

Etiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group [1].

As with any country throughout the world, there are multiple “Do’s and Don’ts” in Singapore that should be considered when visiting, either for leisure or business. When traveling with a spouse or engaging in cultural activities with a significant other, avoid public displays of affection and always remain calm, showing little to no emotion. Joking or being humorous should only be done if you know someone well and after building a solid relationship. To help build a good relationship, when invited to a house for a party or gathering, always bring a gift, but ensure it is small enough not to be considered a bribe [4].

Throughout Singapore, Western clothing is very common, with the casual dress being popular, but there are some considerations to take into account. For men in business, always come prepared with a white shirt, standard tie, and trousers, but leave the jacket at home. For women in business, consider wearing a blouse with sleeves and a formal skirt or trouser suit [4]. 

The list of the most common rules and etiquette [3]:

Meeting and Greeting 

• Shake hands with everyone present at a business meeting or social occasion. Shake hands again when leaving. Your handshake should be firm. 
• Singaporeans may bow slightly as they shake your hand. Many Westerners are generally taller than Singaporeans so it would be polite to give a small bow. A slight bow for Chinese or older people is polite.

Body Language

• Never touch a person’s or child’s head. The head is considered sacred. 
• The foot is considered the lowest part of the body and is thought to be unclean. The foot should never be used to point at someone, and you should never show the bottom of your feet. Tapping your foot or fidgeting your legs denotes feebleness and lack of interest. When crossing your legs, do so only by placing one knee over the other.

Corporate Culture

• Westerners are expected to be punctual for social occasions and business meetings. Call if you are delayed. Tardiness is viewed as a sign of disrespect. 
• Business cards are exchanged upon being introduced. Exchange business cards with both hands after you are introduced. 
• The government finances many of the large corporations in Singapore. This bureaucratic system is known for its high efficiency and corruption-free business style. Western-style management is evident in large firms managed by Singaporeans. 
• Personal contacts are important in business. It takes several years to develop business relationships. Take time to know people before discussing business. 
• Singaporeans tend to get right down to business in meetings. Singaporeans are fast-paced and can make decisions quickly. 
• You are expected to deliver reports, correspondence, packages, etc. when promised. 
• Always talk straight and get right to the point with Singaporeans. You can be direct when dealing with issues of money.

As you could understand, there are a lot of different rules in Singapore. Unfortunately, there are a lot of those rules that may seem “shocking” for a European people. Here are some of them.

Chewing gum is banned in Singapore so leave it at home when packing your bags. Importation of chewing gums into the country, even if it is not for trading, is illegal. The current set of regulations does not have provisions for carrying gum for personal use. Improper disposal of gum and carrying large quantities of the banned product will cost a hefty fine of up to $1000 for first-time offenders [5].

Singapore is bent on maintaining its reputation for being impeccably clean, with an active campaign against littering and stringent enforcement in place. First-time offenders who throw small items like cigarette butts or candy wrappers are fined $300. Those who throw out bigger items like drink cans or bottles are considered defiant and are required to appear before the court. The punishment usually involves a Corrective Work Order (CWO), where the offenders clean up a specified area while wearing a bright luminous green vest [5].

Smoking is prohibited in certain areas in Singapore. The smoking prohibition currently covers all indoor places where the public congregates. The ban was revised in 2009 to include indoor public places that are not air-conditioned, such as shopping centers, offices, and shops. Outdoor public facilities, like fitness areas, sports courts, and playgrounds, were also included in the extension. In 2013, the ban extended even further to include multi-purpose halls, pedestrian overhead bridges, covered walkways and linkways, hospital outdoor compounds, and a five-meter perimeter around bus shelters. The extension also includes common areas of residential buildings [5].

Homosexual Relations. The legislation on “Outrages on Decency” criminalizes same-sex relations. This law used to be under the umbrella of “unnatural sex” or sex “against the order of nature.” Violators of this law can cost the offender up to two years in prison [5].

Summing up all the information, a very strict and at the same time very clean and disciplined country appears in the mind. But these rules and this lifestyle, in general, is definitely not for everyone.

Bibliography:

[1] “Etiquette” — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etiquette

[2] “Singapore” — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore

[3] “Singapore” — http://www.ediplomat.com/np/cultural_etiquette/ce_sg.htm

[4] “Guide To Singapore – Etiquette, Customs, Culture & Business” — http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/guide-to-singapore-etiquette-customs-culture-business.html

[5] “Singapore: Laws To Know Before You Go” — http://www.goabroad.com/articles/study-abroad/singapore-laws-to-know-before-you-go

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 

CC BY-NC-ND

Continue Reading