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Economy of Montenegro
Currency | Euro (EUR) |
Calendar year | |
Statistics | |
GDP | $7.4 billion (PPP, 2013 est.) |
GDP rank | 149th (PPP, 2013 est.) |
GDP growth
0% (Real, 2012 est.) |
GDP per capita
$11,200 (2012 est.) |
GDP by sector
Agriculture 0.8%, Industry 11.3%, Services 87.9% (2011) |
Population below poverty line
6.6% (2010 est.) |
24.3(2010) | |
Labour force
251.300 (2011 est.) |
Labour force by occupation
agriculture: 6.3%; industry: 20.9; services: 72.8% (2011 est.) |
Unemployment | 19.1% (2012 est.) |
Average gross salary
755€ / $846 (June 2016)[1] |
502€ / $563 (June 2016)[1] | |
Main industries
steelmaking, aluminum, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism |
51st (2017)[2] | |
External | |
Exports | $489.2 million (2012 est.) |
Export goods
n/av |
Main export partners
Serbia 22.7% Croatia 22.7% Slovenia 7.8% (2012 est.)[3] |
Imports | $2,4 billion (2012 est.) |
Import goods
Food,oil products,natural gas,clothes,industrial products. |
Main import partners
Serbia 29.3% Greece 8.7% China 7.1% (2012 est.)[4] |
FDI stock
n/av |
Gross external debt
$1.7 billion (2012 est.) |
Public finances | |
66.1% of GDP (June 2015) | |
Revenues | $1.68 billion (2012 est,) |
Expenses | $1.58 billion (2012 est.) |
Standard & Poor's:[5] BB+ (Domestic) BB (Foreign) BB+ (T&C Assessment) Outlook: Negative[6] Moody's:[6] Ba3 Outlook: Negative |
Part of a series on |
Montenegro |
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Geography |
Politics |
Economy |
Society |
The economy of Montenegro is mostly a service based economy, currently in the process of economic transition. The economy of this small Balkan state is recovering from the impact of the Yugoslav Wars, the decline of industry following the breakup of SFRY, and UN economic sanctions.
As a relatively small principality and kingdom, Montenegro made its first steps towards an industrial economy only at the turn of the 20th century. The causes for this relative delay lay in the small population, lack of raw materials, underdeveloped transport network and comparatively low rate of investment. However, this delay in industrialization had its positive effects - Montenegro survived as a specific ecological oasis.
The first factories were built in Montenegro in the first decade of the 20th century, followed by wood mills, an oil refinery, a brewery, and electric power plants. This brief evolution of industrial economy was interrupted by new wars - First Balkan War (1912–1913), followed by World War I and World War II. Between the two world wars, agriculture maintained its dominant position in the national economy, while the sole remaining industrial plants were wood mills, tobacco factories, breweries, and salt works.
SFRY era[edit]
The economy made major progress only after World War II, as Montenegro became part of the SFRY. In the period following World War II, Montenegro experienced a period of rapid urbanization and industrialization. An industrial sector based on electricity generation, steel, aluminum, coal mining, forestry and wood processing, textiles and tobacco manufacture was developed, while trade, international shipping, and particularly tourism became increasingly important by the late 1980s.
The loss of previously guaranteed markets and suppliers following the breakup of Yugoslavia left the Montenegrin industrial sector reeling as production was suspended and the privatization program, which had begun in 1989, was interrupted. The disintegration of the Yugoslav market, and the imposition of UN sanctions in May 1992 were the causes of the greatest economic and financial crisis in Montenegro since World War II. During 1993, two thirds of the Montenegrin population lived below the poverty line, while frequent interruptions in relief supplies caused the health and environmental protection to drop below the minimum of international standards. The financial losses under the adverse effects of the UN sanctions on the overall economy of Montenegro are estimated to be approximately $6.39 billion. This period was marked by the second highest hyperinflation in the history of humankind (3 million percent in January 1994).[citation needed]
Due to its favourable geographical location (it had access to the Adriatic Sea and a water-link to Albania across Lake Skadar) Montenegro became a hub for smuggling activity. The entire Montenegrin industrial production had stopped, and the republic's main economic activity became the smuggling of user goods - especially those in short supply like petrol and cigarettes, both of which skyrocketed in price. It became a de facto legalized practice and it went on for years.
Divergence from Serbian unity[edit]
In 1997, Milo Đukanović took control over the ruling party DPS and began severing ties with Serbia. He blamed policies of Slobodan Milošević for the overall decline of the Montenegrin economy. Resurgent inflation led the Montenegrin government to "dollarize" the economy, adopting the German mark unilaterally, and insisting on taking more control over the country's economic fate. This eventually resulted in creation of Serbia and Montenegro, a loose union in which the Montenegrin government assumed predominant responsibility for its economic policies.
This was followed by implementation of faster and more efficient privatization, passing of reforming legislation, introduction of a VAT. When the German mark was replaced by the euro, the latter became Montenegro's legal tender despite objections from Brussels. The government established a medium-term plan of economic reforms, popularly referred to as "The Agenda".
Despite implementation of reform laws and privatization of most of publicly owned companies, the living standard of Montenegrins did not improve significantly during this period. The government, with Milo Ðukanović still as the Prime minister, blamed the slow progress on Serbia. Some arguments used to support this position were that foreign debt was higher in Serbia by one third, that unemployment was significantly lower in Montenegro. It was also argued that troublesome cooperation of Serbian government with the Hague war crime tribunal, ongoing Kosovo status process and general political turmoil in Serbia were hampering Montenegro's attractiveness to investors and delaying its progress towards full membership in European Union and NATO.
A referendum was held on May 21, 2006 in which the people of Montenegro voted by a slender majority in favour of Montenegrin independence from Serbia.
Following the independence referendum, Montenegro's economy has continued to transform into a more service-based one, with the proclaimed goal of becoming the elite tourist destination, and joining the European Union. Efforts have been made to attract the foreign investors into tourism greenfield investments, as well as in large infrastructure projects, both needed to facilitate the tourism development.
Montenegro has experienced a real estate boom in 2006 and 2007, with wealthy Russians, Britons and others buying property on Montenegrin coast. Montenegro received, as of 2008, more foreign investment per capita than any other nation in Europe. Due to foreign direct investment, the Montenegrin economy has been growing at a very fast pace in recent years. However, Late 2000s recession will inevitably slow down the growth, as the biggest greenfield investments (development of Velika Plaža, Ada Bojana, Buljarica, Jaz Beach, construction of Belgrade–Bar motorway, new power plants) may be postponed. The recession is also hitting hard on Podgorica Aluminium Plant, the biggest single contributor to GDP, and a major exporter.
In the first half of 2012, Montenegro exported goods (mostly metals) worth 182,3 million €, which is 14,6% less than the same period the preceding year. The major export partners were Croatia (47,2 million €), Serbia (36,8), Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary (12,7). The import (mostly food, oil and electrical energy) was 864,9 million €, which is 2,6% more than the same period the preceding year. The major import partners were Serbia (249,2 million €), Greece (73), Bosnia and Herzegovina (59,8).[7]
See also[edit]
- ^ a b http://www.monstat.org/cg/novosti.php?id=2185
- ^ "Ease of Doing Business in Montenegro". Doingbusiness.org. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
- ^ "Export Partners of Montenegro". CIA World Factbook. 2012. Retrieved 2013-06-21.
- ^ "Import Partners of Montenegro". CIA World Factbook. 2012. Retrieved 2013-07-24.
- ^ "Sovereigns rating list". Standard & Poor's. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
- ^ a b Rogers, Simon; Sedghi, Ami (15 April 2011). "How Fitch, Moody's and S&P rate each country's credit rating". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
- ^ B92, Crna Gora najviše uvozi iz Srbije, 26.07.2012
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Economy of Montenegro. |


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Once again, a loss comes and the players are tossed under the bus. This guy is responsible for nothing: Is there any point in time where the coach is responsible for making ANY changes to affect the outcome? Source: Win streak finished at 8 - 12/04/06 - The Detroit News Online
Is it really fair to say he threw the players under the bus? I mean, they just came off of a win streak, right? Did Flip give himself credit for those wins or did he give the players the credit. If he gave the players the credit, then I think he has the right to blame them when things go poorly. K, that being said I still don't care for the guy at all. I think he doesn't adjust well during the games. Well...he does adjust his collar, but you catch my drift.
Possibly "Under the bus again..." overstates the sentiment, but overall it fits my point. One of the things that I liked about LB and no one can debate this is that he would say, "You know, I probably should have done 'x'" or "I really didn't get these guys up to par, that's on me." There are never any such admissions from this guy. He has never suggested that HE could have done something better.
I agree with that. Although I wouldn't call it throwing anyone under the bus, there sure seems to be a lack of accountability/responsibility on Flip's part.
O.k., I can't debate whether he said it or not. He did. Time and again. And I suppose were I to be as crass about Larry as you are about Flip, I could observe that in Larry's mind he was the center of the universe, and therefore responsible for all things both good and bad. And that saying things like this was just his way of making the spotlight shine on Larry which is where he felt it ought to shine. All the time. Regardless. But I won't do that. Because I don't think such a POV is warranted about either Larry or Flip. I'm pretty happy with winning eight of nine. Especially when the ninth is "coming off six sets of back-to-backs, ...playing their third game in four nights -- in three different cities". I'm o.k. with a coach saying "We didn't play with the sense of purpose that we needed." Because they didn't. It probably wasn't a perfectly coached game, but Flip didn't foul a three point shooter and turn a six point winnable game into a ten point head for the buses one with eight minutes left. Maybe the bench could have been used differently or better, but after Dice, the next four guys to play didn't exactly burn it up and I don't buy that you toss #11 and #12 in the middle of a winnable game. In any event, I'm o.k. with blasting Flip on specifics about his rotations, his playcalling, etc. I've got a list too. And I'm sorry, but blasting him for not prostrating himself in the post game news conference just doesn't do it for me.
True, but he DID keep Prince on the bench WAY longer than warranted and gave extended time to Flip Murray when he clearly was gumming up the works. The players ARE on the court. I won't debate that point, but when I see the same stuff on the floor that makes everyone go Ga-Ga over the offense, turn around and make these guys come up short in the playoffs it bugs me. Of course no one listened to or gave any credence to these things when they were winning 64 a year ago and no one's going to care this year everytime we run up a win streak against some of the league's have-nots and as long as these guys win a ton of regular season games everyone's thrilled. Fine. I just care too much. A rolling back of the "passion" is necessary and will be forthcoming.
Oh lordy don't do that. At least for me, I think we get a lot farther and have more fun doing it if we are talking about why Prince was on the bench during a critical stretch and why Flip didn't get him back into the game rather than if Flip didn't do a sufficient mea culpa in the postgame. Or why Sheed and CB played 38+ after twelve games in four nights or whatever it was. And why weren't they switching up defenses more when Charlotte went on their run. Or why someone wasn't in CB's ear as six threes clanked off the iron.
Amen! My point exactly. Perhaps it needn't present itself in the form of a personal apology, but these are exactly the things I'd like addressed. ..not simply a "We sucked tonight." end-all answer.
If The Low's TV isn't broken (from projectile foreign objects), he's really not that cranked up. Especially when he was mincing around his apartment this morning in bunny slippers and pajamas at 10 AM.
Not to belabour the point, but this... Davis rejoins teammates - 12/04/06 - The Detroit News Online Flip is asking for a fine making comments like that about the refs but he's got Sheed's back.
What I'd like to see if the team struggles for a while in a game in the effort department is to empty the bench. I'm sure our guys will make a ton of mistakes but hey, if you can't bring the effort the coach will get someone who can. At half time you can try to get these guys to bring it and give the starters another shake.
Agree. I suspect there isn't anything more embarrassing for the guys on the court than seeing a five man unit standing at the scorer's table. My problem with Flip's rotations is using the starters for the whole first and third quarters. (Except for the obligatory Nazr benching after the second foul.) If you forego the five man switch option and try to work the bench in, you're quite limited in how you can do it. And I think you end up with a higher mix of bench to starters than you need. It really limits you in the fourth, when the starters are coming in with 30 minutes or so already done. If the game is anywhere near close they play more or less the whole fourth and over many games those kind of minutes really start to hurt. Coaches on top of the rotations seem to be moving a starter out somewhere between six and eight minutes into the first, then another a couple of minutes after that. By the quarter break you can take one or two more out and bring the first guy back in and still have two or three starters on the floor. Same in the fourth. Gives you a lot more options. Too often it seems as if Flip's hands are tied when it comes to fourth quarter subs, but that's only because he tied them earlier in the game. (Which you can do if you are an amateur magician.)
I didn't see the T in question, but that sounds REALLY weak. He got a T for an "And one" motion?!?!?! Wow.
LB has said more negative things about his players publicly... that was one of the bigger complaints about him on the News board... "shouldn't have to coach effort"... "Don't pass it to Tayshaun he doesn't want it" there are several more if you'd like to see them. I do agree that it woud be nice for Fip to own up to his short comings.
I don't deny that. As a matter of fact, I actually preferred it. If the media asks a specific question, they get a specific answer. I hate the game coaches play whey they speak in cliches and try to sugar coat what's going on. The problem came from the loudest whiners who tried to pretend that LB NEVER said anything to the guy in question ALL SEASON LONG. It's like they never had practice or games or huddles where LB could have said any of these things. When in fact, these things usually happened as a result of Brown repeating himself over and over with no response/sign of change from the player. Does anyone really think that LB spent all his practices never telling a guy the very things that he finally has to come clean and tell the media, "Look, I've said it 100 times, he's not doing it."?
From what I've read and heard he never told Darko what was expected of him. Sorry he creeps into every thread I had to.
I never really thought much of it. Just took "we" to mean himself and the team. He also says we when they win as well. Sounds like any other coach to me. Some coaches don't like revealing everything in press conferences. I think Carlisle was the same way. I at least have not heard of the players complaining about Flips post-games like they did LB's. LB had to throw a few compliments just to avoid a team riot with the way he used to blast his players.


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---After Adornment---
Design Thoughts and Inspirational Interiors
House Tour
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Weekend Wishes 3.18.11
What a week. It's been busy but not uncontrollable like the past couple weeks.....its been somewhat of a nice break. And with the weather looking good for this weekend....things are looking up!
My plans for the weekend are much like the last one....
We still need to get some things done around the house. I have a buffet that I started painting awhile back and I need to get that project back up and running, and finished! It would be great to get it done....but I'm not going to kill myself in the attempt. Hopefully I can have the reveal posted soon.
And, basketball reigns this weekend. The
tournament has begun and the TV will be occupied solely for this purpose all weekend (
or actually for the rest of the month
) whether to watch games or to watch people discussing games..........
When I'm sick of hearing the sound of buzzers and whistles, I'll head outside! It's supposed to be an amazing weekend and soaking up some sun will most definitely do me some good. Hope everyone else has a great weekend and gets to some much needed rest and relaxation....Monday will be back before you know it!
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, Dec. 9, 2008 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: A different DOB structure I started a post a couple of weeks ago suggesting a screen to protect the pitcher at his option. However if the ball hit the screen it was a dead ball SINGLE. I actually started this tongue in cheek. I wanted to see how many pitchers really wanted protection. If you really want it you need to give something up- the ability to record an out. The batter is not going to be penalized because a pitcher cant field his position. In fact the batter will be rewarded because a pitcher cant field his position. As is the case in real softball. Of course there was all kinds of argument about how a screen would ruin the game, defensive problems with throws from the outfield etc. Some of these objections were from guys that are in favor of the DBO rule. It would be interesting to see how that rule (optional screen DB SINGLE) would play out and how many pitchers would actually use a screen to the detriment of their team. My hunch is that those who wanted to use a screen would soon find themselves out of a job, or asked to move to a position or level that they could play at. Get rid of the Dead Ball Out rule. Quit whining and armor up! |
, Nov. 25, 2008 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Winter Worlds If you are scared put a screen up and stay behind it. It will protect you. The rule will not protect you. The other team/batter will not be penalized. Dead ball single everyone advances one base. Your team will have to deal with the cumbersome effects of throws around the screen etc. Not the other team. It would be interesting to see how many of these guys howling for protection (by way of rule) would use the screen under these conditions. Or how many would last as pitchers on their team if they put their own team at a disadvantage from their lack of ability. |
, Nov. 25, 2008 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: New Pitcher Rule Sorry, Last sentence should be -dead ball single. |
, Nov. 25, 2008 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: New Pitcher Rule Stick8, You dont need to protect ALL pitchers. Some pitchers dont need protection (at least nothing more than a glove) and would object vehemently to a screen. They want to get the batter out. They want to turn two. For others their game may have left them or they havent been able to adapt by backing up, or being able to pitch with whatever protective gear is available today. For them and their team- the screen- and all the defensive problems it brings. You dont penalize the other team/batter. The screen just like other equipment would be voluntary. And if you hit the screen no penalty to the batter. Dead ball out single. |
, Nov. 23, 2008 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: New Pitcher Rule He Fred , Ive seen many pitchers (in the 50s and 55s) pitch and back up. Do you think this is something you could learn to do? I dont mean this disparagingly at all. Maybe as we get older its harder to do. If not would you be OK with a screen to protect you with no penalty to the batter? DC Pete makes a good point about the rule doing nothing to actually protect the pitcher from injury. Maybe a higher arc to allow the pitchers in the older (60 and above) divisions to get back would be a good idea. But again the most vulnerable players out there are the base runners who have no special equipment(like gloves) or rules to protect themselves. To me the pitchers rule is a joke. Again youre penalizing hitters because someone cant field at the level they wish to play at. |
, Nov. 22, 2008 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: New Pitcher Rule Gary, What about the other infielders? Would they all be required to play on the dirt too? Could the shortstop be in shallow left 20feet on the grass? 10 feet on the grass? Why all the fuss about protecting the pitcher? He can start pitching from 56 feet back. And after he lets the pitch go he can back up easily anywhere from 6 to 9 feet with 2 or 3 steps. This puts him at over 60 to 65 feet with a glove. I would much rather be 60 to 65 feet away with a glove than to be a runner on 1st or 3rd with no glove. Get rid of the existing rule. Allow a screen at the pitchers discretion if they really feel unsafe and their penalty for using it would be a dead ball SINGLE and the ensuing defensive problems with it on the field. My guess is you would rarely see it used, perhaps in only severe sun situations. Which would be good. In this case the pitcher would really be protected. The existing rule does nothing to protect the pitcher |
, Nov. 21, 2008 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: New Pitcher Rule The screen would be optional. One side may use it and the other doesnt necessarily have to. Therefore if you choose to use it you must deal with the problem of throws from the outfield or across the infield. Its your problem. You choose to have it. The other team is not going to be penalized because you choose to have a screen. Its a dead ball single and everyone advances one base. Why does everyone want to penalize the batter when the pitcher cant field it? The current rule is ridiculous. It penalizes the batter for hitting a fair ball hard and does nothing to protect the pitcher. The screen would be a detriment to the defensive team, which makes more sense since it is their player who cannot catch the ball and needs to be protected. They would be the one potentially penalized for their lack of defense. |
, Nov. 20, 2008 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: New Pitcher Rule Ive read on here repeatedly about protecting the pitcher and what to do about it A pitchers rule/dead ball out/protective screen and so forth. I propose that you let the pitcher/defensive team have a choice. If the pitcher wants a screen because say the sun is in his eyes or maybe he just cant field the middle very well- then he gets a screen. If the ball hits the screen its a .DEAD BALL SINGLE. Why should the offensive team/batter be penalized? The defensive team can deal with the problem of the screen being in the way with their throws etc. , after all, its their choice. And the pitcher is protected. Big Lou |
, Nov. 1, 2008 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Up the Middle Einstein Why do you always insist on banning Gary. He allows you to make your arguments. He doesn't seem any less civil than others I've seen on here. He just disagrees with you for the most part. You should welcome that challenge to make your points. |
, Nov. 1, 2008 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Up the Middle Hey Dirty, Did you ever think that maybe mad dog was engaging in hyperbole (exageration to make a point) when he said "5 feet of the plate"? Come on, I've seen you argue enough in here to know you're better than that. to belabor that small point. I'm sure you get what he was trying to say. |
, Sept. 14, 2008 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Out at the plate LECAK Dont get me wrong here. I think you should be able to pick up Einstein for any of the reasons you mentioned. I just think if thats the case Evolution should be able to pick up an equal or less equal player. I also think it would be a good idea to let all major and major plus teams pick up a limited number of players (say 2) prior to the last tournament of the season- the big SSUSA final in October. There are always a number of justifiable reasons for this, I think the biggest being that your team folds and isnt going to the SSUSA final and you want to play ball. I remember in competitive softball teams were frozen but they could have a couple of adds up to a certain date before the World Series. Would like to see a similar rule in Senior ball. Would increase participation (teams might not go because they have injuries, now they can fill in etc.) |
, Sept. 13, 2008 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Out at the plate I dont get it. The MOB who finished higher than Evolution in Vegas is allowed to add a guy who played Major plus this year while Evolution is not allowed to add a guy that played major plus in early 2007. I have seen both players involved (Einstein for the MOB and Matt Fahring/Evolution) and both are good players but one was a role player 18 months ago and one was a starter on a major plus team 8 weeks ago. Evolution is getting hosed here. |
, July 1, 2008 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Movie Trivia 13 Ill surrender the board to Dbax since I dont really know trivia. I just love that movie. Big Lou |
, July 1, 2008 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Movie Trivia 13 The llama is Tina. Big Lou |
, June 22, 2008 BigLou | Topic: Bats Discussion: 2010 Grandfathered bats Trumpball Thanks for clearing that up. Big Lou |
, June 22, 2008 BigLou | Topic: Bats Discussion: 2010 Grandfathered bats Trumpball To get back on topic of the original post. How can we trust ASA to honor their existing bats with a grandfather clause until it breaks as you say. Those of us that have been burned before with purchases of the original freaks might be hesitant to rush to purchase the remaining 98 mph bats that are available today. Are you gauranteeing that ASA will grandfather them in until they break? If so I might be willing to purchse a couple. Big Lou |
, June 21, 2008 BigLou | Topic: Bats Discussion: 2010 Grandfathered bats Trumpball and Softballer Thanks for your reply. I'm sure most players are not worried about Senior Ball in regards to the grandfathered in bats since most will use a senior bat.I believe Dinger and others are worried about purchasing these ASA bats that are suppose to be "grandfathered" in. I know I am. I too was burned by ASA the last time around. I rushed to purchase a couple of original freaks that I found online. I have one sitting in my garage that I can not use. So Trumpball forgive me when I say I will NOT "Rest assured that a bat I buy today I will be able to use it until it breaks". Unless you know something about ASA that the rest of us don't. Any info please share. Thanks, Big Lou |
, June 20, 2008 BigLou | Topic: Bats Discussion: 2010 Grandfathered bats Trumpball Aren't the original freaks "grandfathered" in by ASA a couple of years ago now illegal? |
, July 25, 2007 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Great choice to remove those threads Hey Pete I have to disagree with you because I would hate to see anyone try to control or censor Einstein. He may be a little enthusiastic/passionate about his ideas but he does bring up some great topics for discussion. (Im assuming the board removed the thread because of Einstein and others repeated verbal attacks and threats toward Gary19). I quite enjoy Einsteins passionate posts. I know he does resort to name calling occasionally but again just part of his enthusiasm. I cant speak for Gary19 but he seems to take the insults and repeated threats levied at him pretty well with intelligent, witty replies. |
, Sept. 15, 2006 BigLou | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Doctored Bat in Seattle? I'm still interested in the who and how. Who protested the bat if not Steinbrenner? How did they go about it? Like I've said I've played against players that I thought were using an altered bat (No ultras were allowed) and I'ld like to know how you go about it? Or did the tournament director do this on his own? I heard the team was playing the Mavericks- did the Mavericks protest this? And if so how? Maybe someone from the Mavericks can enlighten me. And I may be naive but can you make a synergy hotter than an Ultra II? Maurice the gangster of Love |


text:
The infamous budweiser frogs are the stars of this well done screensaver. While perched on their lilly pads, they perform various actions. One lashes its tongue out at you, another bobs it's head up and down, and the third licks its lips. Sounds accompany the movements, along with crickets in the background. The frogs are realistically rendered, and being able to control the frogs saying "BUD-WEIS-ER" really improves the screensavers overall content. This one's free, and it's sure to give you a good laugh the first time you see it. However, since it is mostly a static screen you may get bored after much initial enthusiasm. | |
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2.1 DFAT describes Outcome 1 as focusing on:
The advancement of Australia's international strategic, security and economic interests including through bilateral, regional and multilateral engagement on Australian Government foreign and trade policy priorities.[1]
2.2 This outcome accounts for the majority of the financial and human resources of the Department. It includes such activities as developing and implementing Australia's international policies, managing Australia's bilateral and multilateral engagement, the provision of public information services and public diplomacy, and diplomatic and consular services.
2.3 During the Inquiry, issues raised in relation to Outcome 1 and its Programs included:
2.4 DFAT is responsible for running and staffing 89 embassies, high commissions, consulates-general and multilateral missions around the world.[2] Of these 89 missions, 74 are either embassies or high commissions; four are missions to multilateral organisations, and the balance are consulates-general managed by DFAT.[3] This section will focus only on embassies and high commissions, as these are the focus of Australia's representation in other countries. Consulates are examined in Chapter 3, where the provision of services to Australians overseas is discussed.
2.5 Central to the discussion of Australia's representation overseas is funding and staffing levels within DFAT. As noted by Ms Alexandra Oliver,
During the period between 1996 and 2008, while the Public Service grew 25 to 30 per cent, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade actually contracted in size by 11 per cent.
2.6 Obviously, this has had an impact on the number of DFAT staff posted overseas, and this then has flow-on effects on Australia's diplomatic representation.[4]
2.7 Furthermore, Dr Paul Monk pointed out that this relative decline in capacity within DFAT is not limited to staffing levels. He pointed out that DFAT's 'resourcing has shrunk over the past decade from 0.43 to 0.25 per cent of Federal Government spending'.[5] Again, as with staffing, relative declines in funding necessarily affects DFAT's ability to represent Australia abroad.
2.8 Aside from these broad issues, matters raised in the course of this Review in relation to Australia's embassies and high commissions included:
2.9 Out of a total of 89 DFAT-managed missions, 74 are embassies and high commissions, while the balance are missions to multilateral organisations, consulates and consulates-general. Questions were raised during the course of this Review about the number and geographic location of these missions.
2.10 Dr Monk noted that Australia's representation overseas was facing 'severe incapacitation ... in several crucial respects'. For Dr Monk,
One of the starkest indices of this is that Australia has fewer overseas missions than all but four members of the OECD. These four are the Slovak Republic, Ireland, New Zealand and Luxembourg.[6]
2.11 To place this in context, while Australia has 89 posts, the OECD average is '150 posts out of 192 UN member states'. This is less than Denmark with a population of five million or Sweden with a population of nine million.[7]
2.12 Dr Monk continued:
It seems anomalous that there are many countries smaller and less well endowed than Australia who have representation in a great many more countries than we do. It is not clear why exactly that decision would have been taken. One can imagine an argument being advanced that the reason we have less is that, unlike most countries, we have not just gone along and been represented everywhere because that is what you do; that we have thought about it and we have come up with a very economical scheme for being represented where we really need to be.[8]
2.13 Ms Oliver put this in slightly different terms, noting that Australia is:
Home to eight of the world's largest corporations, we have the 13th largest economy by GDP in current prices, we have around the 12th largest defence budget, we have around the 13th largest aid budget of OECD nations, but we are in the lowest five of the 30 OECD nations in terms of our overseas network.[9]
2.14 Ms Oliver connected this lack of representation to the progressively security oriented approach to foreign policy in some Western countries. Ms Oliver drew attention to:
… the imbalance between the emphasis on security and the funding of security efforts by the United States in comparison with its funding of diplomacy. … That same overemphasis on security is happening in Australia ... [W]hen you consider our funding of defence and security in comparison with our funding of diplomacy ... the imbalance is enormous.[10]
… the imbalance between the emphasis on security and the funding of security efforts by the United States in comparison with its funding of diplomacy. …
That same overemphasis on security is happening in Australia ... [W]hen you consider our funding of defence and security in comparison with our funding of diplomacy ... the imbalance is enormous.[10]
2.15 In order to redress this decline in Australia's diplomatic representation, Ms Oliver contended that Australia should look towards opening another 20 posts overseas.[11] Ideally, these posts should be opened:
… in areas of key geo-strategic interest to Australia, and where our representation is lacking: regional India and China, Africa, Latin America and North and Central Asia.[12]
2.16 An example of the effects of this perceived underrepresentation can be found in the case of Ukraine. Despite having had diplomatic relations with Ukraine since 1992, Australia does not have any representation there, and is represented through Vienna.[13] However, it was noted during the public hearings that Ukrainians wishing to obtain a visa to enter Australia must first get a visa to go to Russia in order to apply at the Australian embassy in Moscow.[14]
2.17 The Ukrainian Ambassador suggested that given Ukraine has been directly represented in Australia since 2000, Ukraine would welcome the opening of an Australian mission in Kiev.[15]
2.18 In an increasingly complex world, where global problems abound, such underrepresentation matters because, in Ms Oliver's words:
This underrepresentation compounds Australia's difficulties and impedes its abilities to understand the exponentially increasing complexity of the international context in which we operate.[16]
2.19 DFAT responded to the issue by noting:
If there were additional resources and you were looking at additional posts, that is a matter for the government of the day, as you know: we can have views and make recommendations.
2.20 Nonetheless, the Committee considered DFAT did have a role to play in this process.
2.21 In regard to the potential recommendations, DFAT continued:
From where I sit I think an obvious candidate for additional representation would be China. I think our representation in China is a bit underdone. We have ... Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai, and they are essentially what we have had for the last 20–odd years. You can look at the growth in China and consider that in the 25 years leading up to 2015 China's economy will have grown 25 times.[17]
2.22 DFAT noted that that considering much of this growth has taken place away from the eastern seaboard, 'there is a strong case for additional representation in China'.[18]
2.23 Furthermore, Australia seems to be underrepresented in some of the larger countries when measured by population. For instance, the top five most populous countries in which Australia has no diplomatic representation are:
2.24 In contrast, the top five least populous countries where Australia does have an embassy or high commission are:
2.25 As noted above, DFAT's staffing has not been increasing in line with the wider public service. Total staffing levels in DFAT have fallen 14 per cent between 1988 and 2009; from 4635 to 3971 personnel.[21]
2.26 Dr Monk put the figures rather starkly:
Over the past twenty years, DFAT's diplomatic corps shrank by nearly 40 per cent, from 870 overseas based [Australian] staff in 1989 to 537 in 2009.[22]
2.27 Given that the proportion of locally based staff employed at diplomatic posts has not markedly changed over this period, the number of Australia-based DFAT staff posted overseas has declined at a faster rate than overall staffing levels. As Ms Oliver notes, this is a concern because 'good diplomacy needs people on the ground overseas'.[23]
2.28 One effect of this relative decline in Australian staff posted overseas is that a large proportion of Australia's diplomatic posts are considered to be small posts. Ms Oliver noted that in 1986 only 26 per cent of Australia's diplomatic posts were small posts with three or less Australia-based staff. However, by 2009 this had increased to 40 per cent of posts.[24]
2.29 According to Ms Oliver:
These posts struggle to do essential work on the ground when people take annual leave, when people are ill, when people are away on official business, when small posts are accredited to several nations at a time. This is a real difficulty that the department struggles with in its foreign service.[25]
2.30 DFAT responded to this by saying that, in order to avoid any further deterioration in Australia's representation overseas:
If there is a need and we have to reduce staff numbers, that will be done here in Australia—in Canberra.[26]
2.31 Mr Prakash Mirchandani contended that DFAT staff were not posted overseas for long enough. He said that, by posting staff to other countries for up to eight years, they would be able 'to master the language and culture of the countries to which they are sent'.[27]
2.32 This would, according to Mr Mirchandani,
Enable DFAT to position diplomats at 'nodes of trust', who engage much more profoundly and with a much wider cross-section of the host populations than they do at the moment.[28]
2.33 Mr Mirchandani maintained that, despite the potential risk of diplomats becoming so engaged in the local community that they forget they are representing Australia in the process, the dividends were worth it. He noted that journalists who do this:
… gain such credibility that people come to them with information and indeed they are regarded more as a paragon of information than many politicians in that country. They have gained credibility, and I am pretty sure that a similar area or similar stature could be acquired by our own diplomats.[29]
2.34 However DFAT noted that there are a high proportion of DFAT staff married to other staff members.[30] Given that when a spouse takes up a posting overseas, the other spouse often finds it necessary to take unpaid leave for a large part of postings,[31] it would be difficult to find sufficient numbers of senior DFAT staff willing to disrupt the lives of the spouses in order to take on an eight year posting. Especially given that, as noted by DFAT, managing the current length of spouses' posting is 'a juggling act'.[32]
2.35 Australia's embassies and high commissions are the focal point for Australia's representation overseas. As such, they are the locus of a variety of activities which include official functions, meetings between Australian and overseas officials, the conduct of public diplomacy, as well as the place where citizens of other countries apply for entry to Australia.
2.36 However, Mr Mirchandani told the Committee that:
Diplomatic missions should be seen in a totally different light—as resources that can use public diplomacy to connect directly with the citizens and influential networks in their host countries.[33]
2.37 Mr Mirchandani argued that the 'basic core' functions of maintaining bilateral relationships can be left to a few diplomats, and as such his proposed course of action would not require a great number of new staff.
2.38 Furthermore, Mr Mirchandani noted the possibility of tapping into:
Public–private partnerships with a host of Australian private sector companies and organisations who have networks that are parallel to and, in some cases, more credible than those of governments.[34]
2.39 The Committee is of the view that there is a substantial question in relation to DFAT's future role and the adequacy of the services it provides on behalf of Australia. The Committee believes a substantial inquiry should be undertaken by the Committee on Australia's representation overseas in order to provide comprehensive advice to the Government on how Australia's interests might be better served by Australia's diplomatic network, and invites the Foreign Minster to provide it with a reference to conduct this substantial inquiry.
2.40 The issues examined by the proposed inquiry should include, but not be restricted to:
2.41 The Committee recognises the potential inherent in the approach proposed by Mr Mirchandani. However, caution must be exercised in relation to any public–private partnership in any context, given the potential for damaged reputation associated with being seen as too close to private sector actors.
2.42 Furthermore, the Committee sees the value in reconsidering the role of Australian embassies and high commissions in public diplomacy, especially considering the staff-related constraints placed on DFAT by the high proportion of small posts with three or less staff noted above.
2.43 However, increasing the time of posting of Australia—based staff would doubtless have a detrimental effect on career prospects for many staff, and would, in some cases, make it difficult for DFAT to find qualified staff willing to take up such long postings.
2.44 Several submissions to the Review raised the possibility of DFAT formulating an overarching human rights policy which could be used to gauge the human rights impact of other foreign policies.
2.45 The DFAT Annual Report states that:
The promotion of universal human rights is an important foreign policy objective, which was reflected in strong Australian engagement on priority human rights issues during 2009–10.[35]
2.46 Civil Liberties Australia (CLA) told the Committee that, despite this statement and others like it:
There is an inconsistency of core mission and message, there is uncertainty about where to put the weight and emphasis between Australia's values and beliefs by comparison with our security, policing and trade interests and there is no clear leadership and direction provided by the organisation about what it is trying to achieve.[36]
2.47 The CLA criticised DFAT's efforts on human rights overall. It characterised the discussion of human rights in the Annual Report as:
A sad commentary on DFAT's misdirected approach to what its role of 'advancing Australia's interests' really is.[37]
2.48 Furthermore, the CLA noted that within the human rights advocacy community 'there is a consistent message' that 'DFAT is letting Australia down in how it handles human rights'.[38]
2.49 The CLA's argument on DFAT's human rights advocacy and activity is not that human rights should be at the centre of DFAT's activities, but more that it should be better integrated into DFAT activities. This could be achieved by including more explicit recognition of human rights in the Annual Report, and in DFAT's mission statement and reporting on DFAT's substantive activities.[39]
2.50 Even where DFAT does talk about its human rights focus and activities, the CLA found it to be lacking. The CLA commented that the Annual Report 'does not clearly spell out what its overall mission is'. Furthermore, it expressed concern about the measurables and deliverables in the area of human rights, noting that the Annual Report:
Does not quantify them in any way—they are waffly, vague: you cannot report on them and you cannot hold the department accountable.[40]
2.51 DFAT told the Committee that incorporating a human rights policy into Australia's foreign policy was "ultimately ... a matter for government'.[41]
2.52 However, DFAT stated:
I would say that successive governments have taken human rights seriously. Our graduate recruits have some training in that area. It is a part of our work that cuts right across the department and most of our embassies, in one form or another, are also involved in respect of human rights, so I would not quite agree with the characterisation of some of the submissions.[42]
2.53 According to the Annual Report, DFAT's promotion of human rights was conducted primarily through two means:
2.54 The Committee notes the achievement of DFAT in facilitating annual human rights dialogues with China since 1997, with the most recent taking place in February 2009 in Canberra and in August 2010 in Beijing.
2.55 Such dialogues have also been conducted with Vietnam since 2002, with the most recent meeting occurring in December 2009 in Hanoi and in February 2011 in Canberra.
2.56 The Committee notes the degree of success—such as the partial involvement of Australian parliamentarians— which has been achieved and the potential for future progress, and as such looks forward to capitalising on this positive development.
2.57 The Australian Baha'i Community praised DFAT's:
… endeavours to use multilateral means to promote and protect human rights, including through active support for country resolutions and other measures at the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly.[44]
2.58 However, the Australian Baha'i Community went on to recommend that Australia:
2.59 Furthermore, the Australian Baha'i Community noted that Australia's candidacy for a UN Security Council seat in 2013–14 was an ideal opportunity to commit to the 'global promotion, protection and realisation of human rights', and to advocate for the Security Council to engage more intensively in this area.[46]
2.60 The CLA took a different view of Australia's international engagement on human rights. Rather than the current focus on UN 'machinery and processes', the CLA expressed a preference for DFAT to focus its efforts on improving and strengthening 'human rights in the Pacific and Southeast Asia'. It argued that many nations are attempting to:
… remedy the defects of the UN model, whereas Australia has the leading responsibility for actively advocating for better human rights in the Pacific certainly, and for taking a far more proactive stance in Southeast Asia.[47]
2.61 Consolidating Australia's current engagement with the UN on human rights, and facilitating an expansion of this engagement, could be achieved by creating a human rights ambassador. The Australian Baha'i Community noted that such a post would help 'ensure a coordinated and coherent approach to human rights at the international level'.[48]
2.62 The CLA also supported this proposal.[49]
2.63 The Human Rights Law Centre drew attention to a Canadian initiative, wherein such an ambassador could become a permanent representative to the UN Human Rights Council, helping to 'significantly enhance Canada's role and capacity at the Council', as well as raising 'the profile and standing of human rights as a foreign policy issue'.[50]
2.64 The Human Rights Law Centre told the Committee that a human rights ambassador could play a wider role than just engaging with the UN. It could:
2.65 YWCA Australia also supported the creation of a human rights ambassador. In addition, it proposed the establishment of a women's rights ambassador, with a particular focus on strengthening efforts to 'promote gender equality', 'eliminate violence against women and girls', and 'enhance women's political participation in the Asia-Pacific region'.[52]
2.66 The Australian Baha'i Community also supported this proposal.[53]
2.67 In response to the proposed appointment of a human rights and women's rights ambassador, DFAT stated that:
Australian Heads of Mission and other staff regularly make representations on human rights concerns, including women's rights, to foreign governments bilaterally and in regional and multilateral fora.[54]
2.68 Therefore:
Given the wide range of existing human rights activities supported by the Department and posts, the Department does not consider the additional costs associated with these positions to be warranted at this time.[55]
2.69 One of the primary bilateral mechanisms by which DFAT engages on human rights is through human rights dialogues. A prime example of such dialogue that was raised during the course of the Review was Australia's human rights dialogue with Vietnam.
2.70 The DFAT Annual Report notes that Australia's bilateral strategic dialogue with Vietnam includes:
Frank and constructive discussion about human rights issues, including national approaches to human rights, freedom of expression and association, freedom of religion and belief, criminal justice and the death penalty.[56]
2.71 The CLA was critical of DFAT's reporting of this activity. It noted that 'there had been no "positive", "enhanced" or "strengthened" outcome' in regard to human rights in Vietnam. The crux of CLA's criticism is that there are no outcomes recorded in the Annual Report. Only outputs are recorded.[57]
2.72 DFAT responded that in terms of measuring outcomes in regard to bilateral dialogues on human rights:
With some countries it is what happens sometimes in respect of individual cases. Sometimes you can measure it in terms of the frankness of the exchange. It is not something that is easy to measure in a quantifiable sense, in a mathematical, measurable sense. It is more qualitative. But I think we have some successes.[58]
2.73 The Australian Baha'i Community also noted the need to establish 'clear and measureable benchmarks for all human rights dialogues to ensure the most effective outcomes'.[59]
2.74 Furthermore, the CLA told the Committee that its understanding of the dialogue process was:
That to a large extent they are proformas, so we go along to a meeting and we sit down and say to the Chinese, 'You know where we stand on human rights, don't you?' and they say 'Yes' and, okay, we tick that one off... So while it is reported that we have done it, it is ticking-a-box type of human rights dialogue.[60]
2.75 As such, the CLA was supportive of the idea that members of the Human Rights Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT attend these dialogues as part of the Australian delegation, and subsequently report on the dialogues.[61] The Australian Baha'i Community also echoed the call for the dialogues to be more accountable to the Human Rights Sub-Committee.[62]
2.76 DFAT responded that any such decision:
Would be entirely a matter for the government. If they were public hearings, obviously there would be a limit to what was shared.
2.77 Regarding making these dialogues more transparent, DFAT added:
Depending on what one means by that, the further you take that then you do need to be conscious of the trade off you may be making in terms of the frankness of the exchanges.[63]
2.78 The Australian Baha'i Community, however, was supportive of human rights dialogues, but offered several notes of caution:
2.79 The Committee notes the potential value of having an overarching human rights framework against which to test foreign policies, and encourages DFAT to further highlight the importance of human rights in its annual report.
2.80 The Committee also sees the value of having parliamentarians and in particular the Human Rights Sub-Committee, its Chair, Deputy Chair or other elected representatives to participate in bilateral human rights dialogues on a permanent basis. Like other Western parliaments, Australia's human rights dialogues with countries like Vietnam, Iran or China should be reported back to the Committee as appropriate.
2.81 The Committee welcomes the Foreign Minister's reference to conduct an inquiry into Australia's human rights dialogues with China and Vietnam.
2.82 Three broad issues arose concerning Australia's public diplomacy activity. These were:
2.83 The public diplomacy activity of DFAT encompasses a range of activities designed to project a positive and accurate image of Australia overseas. This includes the Australia Network, the activities of Australia's diplomatic posts, international cultural visits, grants to organisations such as the Australia–China Council, scholarships, and one-off activities like the Australian pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.[65]
2.84 Mr Mirchandani noted that, while the Annual Report details DFAT's spending on public diplomacy as $65.9 million:
If you actually look at the figures, with $20 million taken out for the Australia Network and numbers taken out for the various foundations which DFAT contributes to and one-offs like expos and the like, you are actually left with an operational budget of around $6.8 million or so.[66]
2.85 However, DFAT stated that this spending 'is not the only expenditure in terms of public diplomacy':
Each embassy has a small public diplomacy budget and, indeed, I think what we spend on public diplomacy is probably a lot greater than what the figures might suggest. For instance, the actual dollar amount that we state in the Annual Report does not take account of what heads of mission do on a regular basis in speech giving and their public diplomacy activities. It takes no account of the cost of servicing government in terms of what ministers do on the public diplomacy front ... So I actually think our budget figures understate what we spend on public diplomacy.[67]
2.86 Despite such assurances, Ms Oliver told the Committee that, when compared with previous Annual Reports:
The public diplomacy funding in this annual report is the lowest it has been at any time since 2000—and that is in actual dollars, not real terms.[68]
2.87 As a result, the 'public diplomacy function' of DFAT has been brought 'almost completely to its knees'.[69]
2.88 E-diplomacy is concerned with the use of internal and external communication by the Department in improving the efficiency and facilitation of information. It is the use of web and ICT (information and communication technologies) to help further Australia's diplomatic interests.
2.89 Mr Mirchandani noted that e-diplomacy has the potential to increase the number of people able to articulate government policy in multiple languages across multiple spheres. The ability to engage with a wider international audience enhances policy making and public diplomacy.
2.90 Fergus Hanson provided many examples of the effective use of social media in e-diplomacy. For instance, Mr Hanson noted that:
2.91 The State Department has been active in encouraging the take-up of social media tools. It operates 230 Facebook accounts, 80 Twitter feeds and 55 YouTube channels and has 40 Flickr[70] sites. The [British Foreign and Commonwealth Office] operates 55 Facebook accounts (with over 50 000 followers), 57 Twitter feeds (with over 66 000 followers) and has more than 80 Flickr accounts.[71]Furthermore, Mr Hanson provided examples of how these platforms were used. He noted that the US Embassy in Jakarta has a Facebook page with 'around 290 000 fans'. This Facebook page even has 'a dedicated employee whose job is to update the account in Bahasa Indonesia'. Another example is that of British Secretary of State William Hague, who uses his Twitter account to conduct question and answer sessions with the public. [72]
2.92 Mr Fergus Hanson told the Committee that:
DFAT is still only at the very early stages of transitioning to the use of social media. Its use of digital tools more broadly is also very nascent so there is still a very long way to go. Secondly, there still appears to be a degree of tentativeness within DFAT about how to use social media and digital tools. Thirdly, a champion of e-diplomacy is still yet to emerge within the department.
2.93 As such, Mr Hanson noted that the short-term challenges which face the Department include:
2.94 In light of these challenges, Mr Hanson proposed the establishment of an independent e-diplomacy branch within the Department, staffed by a mix of policy and technical experts. Additionally, the amalgamation of existing Departmental sections such as communications would overcome budget limitations.[73]
2.95 In contrast to the proposal by Mr Hanson regarding the establishment of an independent e-diplomacy branch, Mr Mirchandani told the Committee that all staff in DFAT should undergo training in order to effectively perform the functions of e-diplomacy:
The impetus has to come from senior leadership. They have to understand why public diplomacy is necessary in enabling the implementation of government policy. There has to be a total core change in the understanding of where diplomacy sits in the 21st century.[74]
2.96 The US's bureaucratic reform under Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is an example of a policy driven initiative to incorporate e-diplomacy into the State Department. From this reform came the concept of 'technical delegations'- joint government and industry group experts, who travelled the world under State Department auspices, to try and provide good governance using new media. According to US Department officials, e-diplomacy is:
A way to amplify traditional diplomatic efforts, develop technical-based policy solutions and encourage cyberactivism.[75]
2.97 There are limitations and risks associated with e-diplomacy. Mr Monk noted that the need to verify information before it is communicated through e-diplomacy delays its responsiveness.[76]
2.98 However Mr Hanson told the Committee that:
With e-diplomacy there is a need to take slightly more risk... If the department is not an active player in e-diplomacy, it has very little chance shaping the commentary when news pieces have been written.[77]
2.99 Furthermore:
It might not be possible for DFAT to clear every message with the minister and they will need to have what the UK calls 'assumed confidence'- a confidence that is assumed to be able to engage in these discussions in a professional manner.[78]
2.100 An integral mechanism in Australia's public diplomacy is the ability to put forth an Australian point of view. One way in which this has been achieved is through the Australia Network, which in the past has been delivered by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
2.101 DFAT describes the Australia Network as broadcasting:
independent news and current affairs, as well as English language learning programs, drama, children's entertainment and sport. Australia Network is available in 22 million homes across 44 countries, though 648 rebroadcast partners.[79]
2.102 Mr Mirchandani proposed an alternative method of delivering the type of service offered by the Australia Network:
For $20 million, you can produce 200 documentary programs of 50 minutes each. How about setting up an expert panel of both Australian and regional eminent media executives to oversee this money? The panel would invite top documentary makers from relevant countries to come and make documentaries on Australia free of charge—on any subject and in their own regional languages, with no editorial censorship. They would be shot and edited by Australians, giving a much needed shot in the arm to a flagging industry. Copyright would vest with Australia. These documentaries would then be aired on regional television channels in local languages [and] also aired in English on an Australian internet channel, [and] would be an exemplar of our democracy and openness to scrutiny. The internet would then provide a multilingual forum for engaging with regional audiences, and we would truly accomplish the aims which Brand Australia has set itself out to do.[80]
2.103 The Committee notes that this is a very interesting suggestion.
2.104 The Committee raised concern over both the way the Australia Network is delivered, and the metrics by which its impact is measured. DFAT told the Committee that the Australia Network is currently up for tender, and that no decision has yet been reached on who will be granted the next ten year contract.[81]
2.105 Towards the end of this Review, the Federal Government announced that the final decision on the tender for the Australia Network has been delayed by a further six months due to 'changed international circumstances'.[82]
2.106 The Committee is concerned about the delay attached to resolving the current tender.
2.107 The Committee is not satisfied with DFAT's response regarding its public diplomacy activities. Regarding e-diplomacy, the Committee considers that DFAT's funding constraints preclude it from investing heavily in this area. However, DFAT needs to make stronger efforts to capitalise on the potential offered by modern communications technology in terms of the dissemination and collection of information, and to make greater efforts at understanding future e-diplomacy opportunities.
2.108 The use of new media is discussed further in Chapter 3.
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text:
Is Mississippi's state flag something to be proud of, or something to get rid of? The issue has been resurrected this week, as the Orange County Bar Association in California takes measures to have it removed from a Civic Center in the city of Santa Ana.
The lawyers say the confederate symbolism on the flag represents racism and hatred. Democratic State Senator Sollie Norwood of Hinds County agrees.
"We should focus on issues that will bring us together rather than divide us," said Norwood. "The flag has a negative history, something to divide us. We need to look at bringing us together rather than divide us."
Senator Norwood has no problem with the Mississippi flag coming down in California. Republican State Representative John Moore of Rankin County doesn't either, but for different reasons.
"My immediate response is, what do I care about people that fly the Mexican flag proudly over a lot of their schools, their buildings in that state?" said Moore. "I think they have their own issues to deal with. It doesn't cause me any concern at all."
Mississippians could have changed the flag 13 years ago, when then-Governor Ronnie Musgrove spearheaded a referendum vote on replacing the flag with a stars and stripes design. On April 17th, 2001, voters flocked to the polls, but fewer than 40 percent voted yes.
Has Mississippi suffered under its flag?
"It does not give the state an opportunity to reap the benefits of the progress that we've made over the years because of the negative history that flag represents," said Senator Norwood.
"I'm proud of who I am and where I'm from," said Representative Moore. "Every flag will have a symbol on there, some configuration that someone can complain about."
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Life's a beach for Kourtney Kardashian.
The E! reality star snapped a selfie during her family vacation in Mexico on Sunday, Jan. 26. The shot offered up more than an eyeful of cleavage as she aimed the camera upward towards her chest.
Kourtney appeared to be in a sexy black string bikini, and accessorized with two gold necklaces and a pair of aviator sunglasses.
Lookin' good, Kourt!
Late last week the 34-year-old was spotted relaxing by a pool at Girls Gone Wild creator Joe Francis' Casa Aramara in Punta Mita.
Kourtney held onto baby Penelope, who was donning a seriously adorable bathing suit by PilyQ Barcelona.
Meanwhile, little Mason was seen running around and taking plenty of dips into the pool. Like the fashion-savvy toddler that he is, Mason sported a pair of tropical-themed trunks for the sun-soaked outing.
But it looks like reality has set in as Kourtney and her family headed back to the States following their beach vacation.
She Instagrammed a photo of herself lounging in a seat hanging from a palm tree that said, "Miss you Mexico."Follow @Infocelebrity on Twitter!
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New in box HiFiMAN HE-500 headphones. Less than 30 hours or so on them. Purchased very recently from authorized dealer in Montreal, Canada. Perfect condition, includes everything in box.
PayPal gift or buyer pays 3% fee. Prefer local Montreal pickup or Canadian shipping but will consider shipping to other countries. Buyer pays shipping.
Edited by Jd007 - 8/1/13 at 6:11pm


text:
Full profile →'">
The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer.
Chinese media are buzzing over the fact that tech giant 's China sales slowed sharply in the first 3 months of 2013, raising the question of whether its days of strong growth in the market may be finished. Quite a few factors are at play in this case, including some short term issues like difficult comparisons from a year earlier. But other longer terms issues are also at play, most notably negative publicity which has tarnished the company's "cool" image. Apple will need to address these latter issues in China over the next year, since continued image erosion could easily put the company on a long-term downward track.
Let's take a look at the numbers, which are slightly contradictory based on the 2 media reports I saw but still paint a similar picture. One report said Apple's Greater China revenue grew by 8 percent to $8.2 billion in the first 3 months of the year (Chinese article), while another said it grew 11 percent to $8.8 billion. (English article) Both of those numbers represent about one-fifth of Apple's total revenue worldwide, making China its second largest market.
Regardless of which number is correct, both mark a sharp slowdown from the previous quarter when Apple's China revenue soared 67 percent after the launch of its iPhone 5 in December. Apple launched its latest iPhone 5 in China months after the global launch, meaning the product lost much of its hype by the time it officially came to China. Accordingly, I would expect that iPhone 5 sales were probably strong in December, but then probably dropped off sharply after that due to lack of buzz.
At the same time, Apple suffered a couple of challenges in the first quarter that contributed to its weak showing. One of those was a one-time issue, since one of China's 3 major telcos, (HKEx: 728), formally began selling iPhones in China during the first quarter of last year. (previous post) That means Apple probably saw a big one-time jump in China sales with the addition of this major new sales partner last year, artificially inflating sales for that period.
But Apple followers will also know that the company faced a major challenge in China starting in mid-March, when state broadcasting giant CCTV aired a report criticizing some of the company's after-sales service policies. (previous post) The People's Daily, the official newspaper of the Communist Party, joined the assault by printing a series of critical editorials, culminating with one that blasted Apple for its "unparalleled arrogance". The brouhaha resulted in a rare apology from Apple's CEO Tim Cook, which largely ended the media firestorm.
Many Chinese consumers were skeptical of the media reports, since most realize their media are all state-controlled and are often used as tools for the government's political agendas. Still, this series of attacks has undoubtedly hurt Apple's reputation in China. I can personally sense that the company has lost some of its "cool" image among the young, urban Chinese in Shanghai who were some of its biggest fans willing to pay big premiums for its iPhones and iPads.
Clearly Apple is suffering with an image problem in China, and it needs to do something quickly to restore the excitement and "cool" factor if it wants to return to stronger growth over the next 2 years. I've previously said the company could improve its image by opening more Apple stores and an R&D center in China, which it appears to be doing. Perhaps it could also become a bit more friendly with the Chinese media, reversing its tendency to disdain the media in most other markets.
I can't say for certain how the company can repair its tarnished image. But if it doesn't move more assertively soon, Apple could soon see its China sales stagnate over the long term, as consumers decide they can get better value from lower-cost rival products.
Bottom line: Apple needs to move aggressively soon to repair its China image or risk seeing its sales stagnate in the market.
Doug Young is a former China company news chief for Reuters who teaches financial journalism at Fudan University in Shanghai. To read more of his commentaries on China tech news, click on www.youngchinabiz.com.


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More About JOHNKAWAKAMI
Visit My SparkPage Send Me SparkMail
Recipes I've Shared:
This is what I suspect are in the awesome taquitos at the J&S burger stand. One order is two of these.
This is approximately what bean and cheese burritos sold in Los Angeles contain. Added because I eat so many of these.
Somewhat fatty sandwich made with olives. Use klamata olives because they aren't as strong flavored as the green ones, but still have a good olive flavor.
This makes a lot of food. It's not healthy due to lots of oil, but this is typically how I make it. Makes enough for two people.
Two slices of bread with one or two slices of vege ham and a fried egg.
A substantial soup that's more like a stew. A good base soup that you can add leftovers, noodles, or meats and vegetables to.
This is not quite the traditional cold ramen dish served in Japan during the summer. It's almost vegetarian. The vegetables have been doubled to produce two servings. That means the sodium and carbs are cut in half.
The lunchroom sandwich done up vegan style, with fake meat.. (The school version probably contained similar fake meats.)


text: The core figures of French Impressionism were Monet, Renoir, Manet, Morisot, Cassatt, Pissarro, Degas, and Sisley. We hold prints by or after Manet, Monet, Renoir, and Sisley. We also have a number of remarkable original etchings by one of the founders of Impressionism, Armand Guillaumin, published in the twelve months running up to the first Impressionist Exhibition in April 1874; these were probably the first fully-fledged Impressionist images seen by the general public, in the weekly journal Paris à l'eau-forte, whose art director Frédéric Regamey was sympathetic to the new art. Between 1873 and 1876, Paris à l'eau-forte offered a haven for the young artists who flocked to the Impressionist cause, notably Henri Guérard (a great friend of Manet, and husband of Manet's pupil Eva Gonzales), and Norbert Goeneutte, also a friend of Manet. Guérard and Goeneutte were both also part of the circle of Dr Paul Gachet. Paul Gachet achieved posthumous fame as the doctor who cared for Vincent Van Gogh in his last days; he was recommended by Pissarro. Gachet's own art was forged in the crucible of Impressionism; he taught Guillaumin, Cézanne, and Pissarro the art of etching (newly fashionable in the 1870s), and they made their first etchings together in Gachet's studio at Auvers; we have a number of examples of Gachet's own etchings, signed with the emblem of a duck. Other artists associated with the Impressionists include Alfred Stevens, Pierre Georges Jeanniot (friend of Manet, Pissarro and Degas), Louis Legrand, Albert Besnard, Louise Breslau, Paul Helleu and Paul Renouard. Impressionism as a style also took hold outside France, notably in America. Therefore we include figures such as Anders Zorn from Sweden, Max Liebermann and Leopold von Kalckreuth from Germany, and George Charles Aid, Maurice Sterne, Orville Houghton Peets, Everett Longley Warner, and Donald Shaw Maclaughlan from America, in this section. For work that takes the Impressionist style forward, see the Post-Impressionist, Fauve, Bonnard and followers, and La Réalité Poétique sections.


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Climate Change Blog: Man-Made CO2 Emissions Impact on the Oceans |
Climate Change Blog: Man-Made CO2 Emissions Impact on the Oceans |
Jan 23 2012, 03:32 PM
Rank: F5 Superstorm Group: AccuWeather_Employee Posts: 1,238 Joined: 22-January 08 Member No.: 12,854 |
An international team of climate modelers, marine conservationists, ocean chemists, biologists and ecologists using computer modeling and actual observations have concluded that man-made carbon dioxide emissions over the last 100 to 200 years have already raised ocean acidity far beyond the range of natural variations. When carbon dioxide reacts with seawater it increases the water's acidity. This increase in acidity
Read the full article
-------------------- Brett Anderson
Expert senior meteorologist AccuWeather.com |
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 30th March 2017 - 11:40 AM |


text:
- Score:
- rated 3.42 / 5 stars
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- Genre:
- Action - Shooter - Multidirectional
- wars
- neon
- geometry
- geowars
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- Uploaded
- Oct 27, 2010 | 7:02 PM EDT
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Author Comments
Hey there Newgrounders,
Thanks for taking the time to stumble upon my lastest submission: Geo-Wars, here's a summary...
Bring yourself back to the nostalgic days of classic shooters; with just you, your gun and your own reactions in this Geometry Wars remake! The endless shapes are attacking and you must kill them. One rule: don't let them touch you. So move with W,A,S,D, aim with your mouse and the ship will do the shooting.
Rated 2.5 / 5 stars
I'll actually write a real review
Yes this game might not be something new.
But how else is he going to learn? To learn how to walk on your own you need to first copy off of the big guys. I thought it was pretty good.
And unlike lots of games sent by the new guys here it was actually enjoyable up to an extent.
Cons for the game would be that the pace is too quick
and it gets difficult too fast. Keep practicing and one day the trolls will eat their words.( :
Thank you very much; am pretty tired of the negativity here. :)
Rated 0 / 5 stars
Wow. This is bad.
There's Geometry Wars rip-offs, and then there's this. Same music, same graphics, godawful execution. I would not be at all surprised if you got a call from Bizarre Creation's lawyers over this.
Am gonna take a guess that you fail at my game epically, so in anger you have tour apart my work. Thanks alot.
Rated 0.5 / 5 stars
Unoriginal, not well duplicated.
It shows you know how to code or, at least, rip code from others and make it work. I know it's supposed to be a remake, but it's not, really. It's more of a fan game for an arcade game. If it was a remake, it would have everything the original had and maybe a little extra.
Your animations are lacking. The explosions are boring, and the stage is even more boring. The grid doesn't have that really awesome distortion effect, and the stage doesn't scroll. The AI is dumb, more dumb than the original GW, often running right into my bullets. The music is ripped directly from GW and the original artist was not given credit.
Well it comes down to Flash's engine. I trialled both the dynamic grid and particle explosions but both effected game play through frame rate drop dramatically, so in an attempt to save game play I sacrificed the unessential effects.
Rated 2.5 / 5 stars
Decent Little Game
Good start to a game, however there isn't anything to separate it from the masses of similar games. A good start, but needs a little more work before its ready.


text:
Truck doesn't start sometimes
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Join Date: May 2013
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Posts: 17,495
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Vehicle: 2014 RAM 1500
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Engine: 2013-20?? 345ci (5.7L) Hemi V8 395hp 410lb/ft
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Originally Posted by
A couple of weeks ago my truck wouldn't start. After several times trying to turn the key, it finally started. But I took it to the dealer and they basically did nothing. Said it was probably a fluke and would never happen again. Well last Thursday, it wouldn't start with first time turning key that morning. Then 2nd time it cranked right up. Then that afternoon I went out to start it to go home and I tried 5-6 times and nothing. I turned the key to the on position and took truck out of park and put it into drive then back to park. Turned the key and she started right up. I promptly took it to a mechanic that does all my oil changes. He put a machine on it and checked the battery, alternator and then tried to start it. He said it was using way too many amps to start. He said it read 500 amps. He said starter should only pull around 275-300 amps. He said more than likely it was the starter. I called dealer and the manager got on the phone. He said they can't do anything until they can get it to reproduce what it's been doing. He also said that 500 amps didn't mean it was starter problems.
When it doesn't start, it does one click and then nothing. Any thoughts or ideas? Also is there a certain amount of pulling amps that is considered too much?
Any updates on this Texasgirl? Any resolution yet?
Life is hard... It's harder if you're stupid!
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Microsoft Sharepoint Online Plan 2 CSP License (Monthly) With Support
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Microsoft Sharepoint Online Plan 2 CSP License (Monthly) With Support
SharePoint Online delivers the powerful features of SharePoint without the associated overhead of managing the infrastructure on your own. Flexible management options ensure that you still retain the control you need to meet the compliance requirements of your organization. You can purchase SharePoint in the cloud as a standalone offering or as part of an Office 365 suite, where you can also get access to Exchange, Skype for Business, the Office clients, and web apps.
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