CONSTITUTION FIRST !

In all human societies, power has always been regulated by a number of laws including the development and revision follow a special procedure, they define the constitution.

The Constitution is a body of law that defines the different institutions in the State and organizing their relations. It may also include a charter of fundamental rights. A written constitution is generally organized into several sections called Titles, which are divided into sections and subsections.

 Whatever its form and content, the Constitution is considered the highest rule of the legal system of each country.

 Some states, such as the United Kingdom, have no written constitution, which is the prevalent custom to organize relations between the institutions.
Others, like the United States have a Constitution that is in the form of a single text, with both the list of basic rights of citizens and the definition of the various powers.

« Constitution first or the presidential elections? » this question occupies the Egyptian political scene for more than weeks and months. It’s one of the major discussions threads on the screens, in the street and in homes.

I believe that the constitution is primarily a logical step, the fall of the old regime and the collapse of its constitutional foundations. A new system must take its place, and its institutions and relationships between them must be based on a new constitution. This constitution must be written directly, rather than building institutions of the new order in accordance with constitutional rules of the old regime. Now that the constitution of 1971 has a new life, this would be equivalent to reviving the old regime.

It may seem that the current path or course is declared according to the will of the armed forces and the majority of Egyptians also, the army has to return the base as soon as possible and put the country back to an elected civilian authority, thus promoting the return of political stability and renewed production and development. Nevertheless, I believe that the current path and timetable threaten to lead the country towards a longer period of instability will delay the return of the army to the base and have negative consequences for the Egyptian economy.

On the other hand, this question must be re-released now. Parliamentary elections are not subject of the question now, but the presidential election. We should not fall in the same error. Constitution before the presidential election should be severe. How to run "potential candidates" now without knowing what are the powers which will be in their hands after a year of their election? Is it possible to come head of the State of a presidential system, which has broad powers, it becomes months after his election as President of the State of its parliament, where the position of the president an honorary position, that is, to be more pronounced, where the President scenery? Is this sensible?!

Finally, personally I would demand for a constitution first the correct political path of democratic transition and deliver on its way logical and natural. It is the constitution; after all, that establishes the foundations of constitutional institutions, electoral systems and the relationship between them, not vice versa. For example the Tunisian revolution, in fact, continued this natural course, by starting training for a Constituent Assembly to draft a constitution which embodies the goals and aspirations of the revolution and which will regulate and organize the new governance system and its institutions. The same course was adopted by the revolutionary forces in Yemen as well. “The Tunisian and Yemeni putted the horse in its proper place, before the cart”.

The State that does not learn from its mistakes will never rise.

Constitution First !



New Year's Resolutions ...

When New Year approaches as usual there are great hopes, dreams and resolutions to make for the coming year. However, I will desist from hoping and dreaming this time and stick to the resolution only.

My past experiences have taught me that hoping and dreams are useless waste of energy for they usually do not come true of the target. Only resolutions can be kept, to a certain degree of success.

First of all, I resolved to spend less time talking and more time doing. The past year had been a very noisy one as my friends and I spent so much time gossiping and talking nonsense. This year we cannot afford such a luxury. There are many assignments to be done. So, it is action time and I shall devote the year to it.

Secondly, I have to spend less time on the phone and computer. These are fun thing but they are also very time consuming. The time is better spent within my books. Otherwise, I might run out of time in the end. I have to make the effort to get away from these very addictive time wasters.

Lastly, I resolve to keep these few resolutions. Previously, I used to make neither tons of resolution which I had no chance nor intention of keeping. So, I was just deceiving myself in making many wishful resolutions. This state of affairs has to stop or I will keep bluffing myself. A few resolutions are far easier to remember and so to keep than a dozen which are quickly forgotten and thus are impossible to keep.

So the old year gradually draws to a close and the New Year appears. It is with determination and courage that I shall strive to keep my resolutions and not let them drop away like so many useless words.

From Empire to GLOBALIZATION !

Since ancient times, trades between the countries and communities have been forged. The world has since

built and enriched based on the intensification of trade, despite periods of crisis or instability. The world has never produced so much wealth. Never technologies have been developed that much. And never been so many exchanges between countries. Yet inequality and poverty are increasing. Globalization, a phenomenon marking the last thirty years, generated by advances in technology, particularly in the field of transport and telecommunications, has amplified the economic, financial, cultural relations between human societies, but to date has not improved the welfare of men. The expansion of communications (facilitating the movement of goods, capital and men) could lead to improved relations between people, reduce inequalities, increase cooperation between states, but this is not what there.                                                            
Globalization could be positive for people and the planet, but rather the current choices have led to impoverishment and widespread looting of resources. Thus, the world has never been rich, but has never been wrong. The world's wealth has increased but the gap between the richest and poorest has increased over the past 30 years. Some may be rich but overall, poverty is increasing in poor countries as in rich countries.                                                                                                                                                     

                                   
We certainly cannot all be attributed to globalization. Wars, dictatorial political regimes, natural disasters are largely responsible for the impoverishment of the population. However, globalization has a direct impact undeniable. And competition between workers of the world is forcing companies to pay their employees less and less, including a slow destruction of social rights. Also a lot of uncontrolled international trade tends to weaken local economies. From the environmental point of view also, the increase in transport is a disaster and contributes to global warming. Over-consumption of resources, pollution varied lack of respect for natural resources.                                                                                                                                        

The term globalization is used mainly in the economic field, globalization today is commercial. The distance was not an issue, companies from different countries trade more internationally. It is economical for increasing economic actors borders no longer exist: firms can produce in Taiwan, assembled in Egypt, build their ad campaign in Italy and sold in the United States. Globalization has many facets that are related to each other. But these developments have been made mainly in the direction of ever greater freedom of enterprises and an increase of speculation.                                                                                                                    

                                              
The current globalization, essentially governed by private interests, is made all the more violent it is characterized by a "deregulation" (decrease of the rules). Governments, in fact, continue to reduce various forms of controls and rules that could regulate economic activities. This has negative consequences both socially and environmentally. We see growing, globally, the forms of competition becoming tougher between workers. Instead of pushing companies to respect the rules of the international organizations and governments, the lack of control instead pushes to break free. On the other hand, the generalization of the so-called criminal economy (drugs, corruption, money laundering, financial crime, illegal work) is also explained by the greater opportunities that financial deregulation.                                                  

This system of economic exchange has a lot of benefits to many people, but its consequences affect human and social impacts a massive population in all countries (unemployment, social insecurity, glaring inequalities). Many require the creation of new forms of control, the shift of national and international policies and the rule of the rights of people on private interests and financial balances. Thus the link between citizens of the world is clearer and the need to unite most obvious: it is no longer to show solidarity to help some, it is to act together against the same dysfunction. And that is what motivates the "global justice".                                                                                                                                                         

Winter Break Vacation ;)

I strongly believe that all of us always look for their winter break vacation, since it’s just a break from everything; working, studying, thinking... We can have more free time to do what we really want. We can sleep and stay as we want to and don’t need to worry about getting up late for class the next day morning. As a family habit we’re used to visit Lebanon to spend the “new years eve” there. Well fortunately this year was really special because for the first time I was there with all my loved ones; family and friends. Usually every year I go with my grandparents and my uncle’s family, this year my mom came with us and my friends and I planned a trip together. On the 29^th of December at 7:30am we took off, we landed there at 8:40am. The first couple of days were exciting we visited several places and we met some of our friends. And as I had to stay with both, my family and friends too, I divided my day to two; the morning I always went with my family, and at night I went partying with my friends. On the 31^st of December we had to decide where we’ll be going for New Years Eve, my family wanted me to go with them to a “classical party” in a place called Le Particulier. However my friend and I wanted to stay at a friend’s place with the rest, so that we could find a reasonable solution for the both sides, we’ve decided that we’ll go with our parents from 9pm till 11:30pm, and that the countdown we’ll be with our friends.  At “Le Particulier” we had a lot of fun, much more than we could’ve ever imagined. From this experience I really learned that we should never judge a book from its cover, since we had a lot of fun in this classical place, it was just awesome. Afterward we partied at our friends place, and we slept over there too, as it was too late to drive back. The next couple of days were the same. We came back on the 3^rd of January, and as my daily routine I kept on studying for the Arabic Exams and the rest of the subjects… This was simply my winter break vacation; it will always be engraved in my memories.