President Trump's smart press conference

President Trump’s press conference about the coronavirus pandemic was a smart move. It was about big money, resources to fight the virus, and to show an alliance between his office and key pharmaceutical corporations. He said the usual banalities about the extraordinary job he is performing, attacked the Europeans and the Chinese, stated the populist slogans that are his banners, and so on. That was the painful part of the show. But the expressions of support he got from the medical specialists and the corporations gave the impression to the middle-of-the-road American Joe and Josephine that the President is mobilising every effort and his directing the campaign. That is a vote gainer and it is also appreciated by the markets. Not bad, when we know that a good deal of this challenge has to be fought at the level of the public opinion.

Just about Idlib in Syria

We cannot forget the human crisis that is taking place in the Idlib Province of Syria. The international headlines have been focused on the coronavirus epidemic. When that happens, the media becomes too obsessed with one theme, that is treated from every angle and with plenty of unnecessary details and erases other major issues from the screen. Idlib should remain within our radar. There is tremendous suffering going on over there.

The crisis the democracy is in

This a time of great political polarisation, in many of the Western democracies. Matters are decided based on party positions, not on truth or on their merits. The exercise of democracy has become like a war. There are only winners and losers, when that’s the approach. There is no room for dialogue and compromise. That is a serious setback for democratic values. And a very fertile ground for the emergence of dictators and their twins, the populist fools. They just must be able to talk to the prejudices shared by many people, as they struggle to carry on with their daily lives.

Democracy and mass communication are major tools. They can be used to promote progress as they can be the instruments to get the most skilled morons into positions of power.

Assange and the law

Julian Assange has a long legal battle in front of him. The decision about his fate must be based on the law. But his case has so many political ramifications that it will be difficult to separate the legal aspects from their political context. It will be a very controversial process.

Friendly journalism

It can take months for a well-known, credible journalist to get a visa to enter Syria. Most of the times, the answer is no, no visa. Therefore, be on guard if one news person not only manages to get in but is also given a free hand to roam around as he pleases. Including to walk without a chaperon the streets of Douma, a township that remains out of reach for the UN chemical inspectors.

What do you expect from such a journalist? He is certainly a friend of the Assad circle of power. He will write stories that will go along with the regime´s narrative.

That will be highly appreciated by Assad and his supporters. And even more, if the said journalist comes from the UK or another major Western nation.

We should always keep in mind that the war is also about the way the stories are told and by whom. Propaganda is key in any war effort.  

Fighting for the public opinion

It is worrying to see the growing number of opportunistic columnists and politicians writing and stating foolish opinions about the EU. They think that´s what will make them popular and look smart. It´s about their personal gain, as they see it in their hearts. But for me, they  are just unwise and self-centred. And also very dangerous, as they are creating the conditions for a serious backlash in Europe.

It´s time to respond to this very serious threat. To engage in the war of narratives, I mean.

People´s power is based on information and access to social media as well

The big banks are all under serious scrutiny. Their public image is at present very shaky. Every day we get news that more wrong-doings have been uncovered and that new huge fines have been decided against some banks. Very soon the public opinion will start asking questions about the bankers, not just the banks. People will expect individuals to be brought to the book.

At a time of mass access to information and widespread use of social media as a communication tool, one has to realise that all those in position of power, be it political, economic or financial, will be very exposed to the public eye. This is a new age of transparency. And in many aspects, it´s a new way of creating mechanisms of power control. Change is indeed taking place. Power is being challenged. 

Fighting Ebola requires more public information

The international community is now paying attention to the Ebola epidemics in West Africa. And that´s good news. It would be a dramatic mistake to underestimate the risks of a very rapid spreading of Ebola to other countries in Africa and elsewhere.

WHO, the UN World Health Organization, is in the lead. That´s how it should be. Its Director-general, Dr Margaret Chan has been to the region to participate in a summit with the Presidents of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, the countries most concerned. This was a high profile initiative. As it is the decision to allocate 100 million USD to fight the disease.

Local populations are still very confused about the epidemics. There is a serious need to invest more on health education and on public information. That´s also part of the combat. 

A new ball game in town

The social media networks have become major tools when it comes to rallying people and bringing them to the streets. Twitter, Facebook, Whats App, blogs, and many others –the list is very vast –, have been used in the Arab Spring revolutions, in Turkey, and now in Brazil, to disseminate political messages and call for demonstrations.  All of them are free, easy to access, and very common among the young and the urban folks. These two categories of people are, by far, the main source of opposition to any government in the world. In addition, social media tools work better with very short messages, very direct and therefore very easy to apprehend and internalize.