When is a vote worth more than one? Update

News this week that Iran's most powerful oversight council has announced on Monday that the number of votes recorded in 50 cities exceeded the number of eligible voters there by three million has further tarnished the 2009 presidential election. This controversy has set off a sustained challenge to Iran’s leadership for the first time in 30 years. The current Government has claimed the voting discrepancy has not affected the overall result however it would be hard for Iranian voters to have any confidence that the electoral system has been fair and truly reflected voter intent. Crackdowns by police and militia are unlikely to change perceptions either within or outside of Iran concerning the invalid nature of the presidential poll. It remains to be seen how far either side of the debate will venture however Iran's security structure is formidable and has already demonstrated the willingness to use lethal force against its own citizens.

Iran - A desire for change

The recent Iranian presidential elections have drawn attention to an increasing desire from much of the population for a change in direction from that country's top leadership. The election held on June 13, 2009, saw Mir Hussein Moussavi defeated by incumbent President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (pictured at left) in a disputed result. Mr. Moussavi was allegedly defeated by 63 percent to 34 percent of the popular vote. The New York Times reported this week that Mr. Moussavi, thousands of demonstrators who represent a cross section of Iranian society and part of the clerical establishment have called the official results a fraud. Mr. Moussavi, is a former prime minister with a reputation for honesty and competence and is very much an insider in Iranian ruling circles.

His personal history includes being a leading figure in the Revolution which overthrew the former Shah of Iran and he was close to Ayatollah Khomeini. His credentials therefore are beyond question in Iran which makes his stand all the more poignant. Notably during the final weeks of the electioneering, Mr. Moussavi's campaign had gained enormous energy with huge rallies in the streets of Tehran both day and night which have now been followed by enormous rallies and public support (pictured right) following the election defeat.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in comparison has become an unpopular figure and is often perceived as the face of radicalism and repression in a country where people would much prefer not to been seen as a pariah in international circles. Iran has a very youthful population and modern technology has opened up communication opportunities which the Iranian Government has had difficulty in shutting down or censoring.

An added complication has been that the supreme leader in Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been uncompromising over the nation’s disputed Presidential elections and has publicly supported the result. In a hard-line statement and sermons, he has declared the elections to be valid. Further he has warned of violence if demonstrators continue, as they have pledged, to flood the streets in defiance of the government.

Film Festivals - reflections on our wider society

The Sydney Film Festival for 2009 concluded on Sunday 14 June, after a relatively modest run this year - shortened by a week to reduce costs. There are now dozens of film festivals across the World with the most famous being Cannes and Sundance but several others such as Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Tribeca and Moscow are also well known and patronised. Film Festivals, particularly for alternate, art-house cinema often are reflections on societal trends, attitudes and current historical events. In many respects due to their non-block buster nature and limited expectations on commercial returns, this genre of film making can address topics which audiences may find difficult to accept - family dysfunctionalism, political issues, relationships, illnesses and even death are familiar themes. By using the medium of moving image, film conveys messages and provides stories with dimensional structure which other forms of communication do so with less success. The Sydney Film Festival in 2009 was no different with a selection of art-house films across the spectrum of features, documentaries, animation and docu-dramas. This year, films of interest included the black comedy '500 Days of Summer', 'Bronson', 'In the Loop', 'Louise-Michel' and five hours of Steven Soderbergh's view of the life of revolutionary, Che Guevara - screened in two parts.

Automation and corporate responsibility

For over the past thirty years, the automation of a number of customer/consumer service functions has been a consistent and unrelenting trend. Services as varied as telephony, travel services (ticketing and check-in as illustrated), reservations, banking, and parking for motor vehicles have seen live human beings replaced by computerised equipment for automated service delivery. The basis for much of this automation has been to improve efficiency, timing, reduce costs and allow customers the flexibility to make their own arrangements at their own convenience. Indeed the corporate cost line has been seen as the primary beneficiary of this trend.

The media have often commented on these evolutionary trends but perhaps the fundamental change is not related to cost but rather corporate responsibility. By placing the emphasis on customers and the general public to make manage their own services, the responsibility and accountability of corporations to ensure that services are delivered efficiently has been reduced if not almost abrogated. A parrallel argument is that automation, while reducing cost of services to corporations has not necessarily translated into reducing overall costs to consumers. While some online services may have reduced the prices of some products, there are many others where the changes have been few and in fact a base price decrease has been more than matched by other related costs such as transport increasing.

In broad terms, this trend is one which had brought an unhealthy dislocation in human to human contact for a contestable concept of benefits.

A Wind that blows so strong

In our solar system, the Sun continuously emits a stream of charged particles which is the so termed 'solar wind' against which the Earth's magnetosphere acts as barrier. However the solar wind also acts as a defence against a range of cosmic rays which come into the solar system and which potentially could be harmful to both spacecraft and astronauts alike. Currently the sun has been going through what is perceived as an active phase, generally thought to measure between 95 years and a 116 years in duration. According to current measurement, this phase has already been progressing for the past 80 years meaning that a lower level of activity or general lull could occur around 2020. Whether the Sun does lull in activity or not, it does not impact on climate change or carbon emissions which remain a terrestrial concern.

The World's Environmental Tipping Point

In December this year one of the most critical international conferences to be held in the last two centuries will take place. The sessions (COP 15) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will bring together the Parties of the Convention and Observer States (Governments), the United Nations System and observer organizations duly admitted by the Conference of the Parties (as the convention refers to the signatories). The conference, amongst many challenges will need to find agreement between Governments on greenhouse gas emissions, carbon level reductions, renewable energy and a range of related issues. There is little doubt or disagreement regarding the science, the need for action nor the urgency for such action. The question is one of which countries are prepared to start taking the necessary steps first and lead the way if necessary.

This in no way removes or alters the basic core issue which remains the need for all nations to contribute action not just the developed nations or the developing nations. This poses some highly uncomfortable challenges in defining economic activity and growth; re-engineering power production away from coal-fired generators and into cleaner energy generation being one such critical event.

Up in the Air - North Korea

One again, the regime of Kim Jong Il has tested the international community's tolerance with long range missile launch tests. As the Bloomberg news summarised " North Korea tested its second nuclear device on May 25, defying international condemnation that built up after a ballistic-missile launch in April. Two days ago, Kim Jong Il’s regime threatened an armed strike against South Korea for agreeing to participate in a U.S.-led program to stop and search ships suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction".

North Korea is the world's most isolated, totalitarian state and operates at the edge of brinkmanship to attempt to gain some yet not well understood advantage. The World strongly relies on neighbouring states such as the People's Republic of China to try and intercede with the North Korean leadership yet often China finds that it has no greater influence than anyone else in dealing with the paranoid regime.

North Korea under its current leadership is unlikely to adopt any change in direction and each step forward in developing improved relations is often superceded by two steps back. Impoverished, dependent on aid from other countries, paranoid and with unaffordable military spending North Korea sits in stark contrast to its more prosperous neighbour in the South. The only real chance for improvement sits with the departure of its current leader Kim Jong-Il and a transition leadership which is willing to accept that no-one in the international community is interested in invading their country. Far more is the opposite as the region craves stability and peaceful co-existence.

The value of social linkers

In his international bestseller book, 'The Tipping Point', Malcolm Gladwell refers to 'Connectors' or people 'with a special gift for bringing the world together'.... 'the kinds of people who know everyone' and their real importance is not only the number of people they know, but the kinds of people they know. In Gladwell's definition, Connectors are 'people whom all of us can reach in only a few steps because, for one reason or another, they manage to occupy many different worlds and subcultures and niches'. Gladwell's description fits a group of people who may not be necessarily known in high end business or political circles or celebrity/social pages of magazines and electronic media however their influence and 'connecting' may be profound. Everyone in their life may run across local connectors and from time to time, and occasionally people who traverse much greater boundaries. 'Connectors' however are not networkers as a connector is someone who can span many different worlds not merely within one profession or industry.

Impressions from the Past

Over the past two years, Egyptologists, Archaeologists, Ancient Historians and generally those with an interest in Ancient Egypt will have been following the recent claimed discovery of the mummy of arguably one of the most important figures of that long passed civilisation, Hatshepsut (pictured) of the 18th Dynasty. Pharoahs in Ancient Egypt passed through male lines as they were meant to be both man and god and although women could and did govern Egypt this was only as Regents where the male heir was deemed too young to ascend the throne. This was not the case with Hatshepsut where, as a woman, she was able to move beyond the position of Regent to the underage heir Thutmose III and actually become Pharoah in her own right and actually co-ruler with Thutmose III when he came of age. Her reign which lasted from 1473 BC to 1458 BC heralded a period of considerable stability and prosperity in Egygt.

As Pharoah, Hatshepsut adopted the normal regal image including wearing a false stylised beard in public and religious ceremonies and the serpents crested crown of Egypt.

Yet in all other ways, Hatshetsup's image was feminine. She remains one of the most intriguing figures of Ancient Egyptian history most notable due to the fact that images of her and references to her were erased from monuments years after her death most likely on the instructions on Thutmose III. Recent research undertaken in Egypt has now shown that references to her as Queen were not erased, only those as Pharoah. Her royal cartouche is shown (at right).

In order to be Pharoah in any guise, Hatshepsut would have needed the acceptance of the priesthood, the army, the nobility and the royal court to succeed. Her story from 3,500 years ago still has a resonance today for women also navigating their way through the corridors of power and business.

Tourists to Egypt can be thankful for Hatshepsut's reign for she constructed many of the most stunning monuments and temples still visible there. Her mortuary temple in the desert at Deir el Bahri remains one of the great wonders of the Ancient World.

Opinion - Swine Flu H1N1

The latest animal to human virus mutation, the Mexican Swine Flu or H1N1 again demonstrates the capacity of viruses to mutate and literally jump species with relative ease. New Scientist (2 May 2009) points out that the virus was genetically stable until 1976 as a mild, purely swine flu. In that year it affected people at a military camp in New Jersey and by 1998, the virus had hybridised with human and bird flu viruses. The current version of H1N1 in Mexico has surface proteins from Swine flu virus, five swine flu genes, two avian flu genes and one human flu gene (shown above). The surface protein being the swine version means that human antibodies will not recognise it.

The other matter which comes to mind is the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry - the use of antibiotics is widespread in farming and while it prevents animals from becoming sick, it does not prevent initial infection nor the transmission of disease. Connected to this aspect is the potential risk of an infection becoming antibiotic resistant as large scale farms become in effect, incubation laboratories.

An example which springs to mind is 'Golden staph' or Staphylococcus aureus which is mostly associated with hospital acquired infections, mainly post-operative. Since the mid 1990s antibiotic resistant 'Golden Staph' has been detected in abattoirs in the meat and livestock industry and also in site sampling in the general community.

The high use of antibiotics with animals has been in use for decades but with some bacterium common to various species and also humans and some viruses developing the capacity to leap between species, how long will it be before such a step takes place and humans face an infection (viral or bacteria), created in farming and resistant to any treatment?