US Presidential Election 2008: American Politics from a Foreign Perspective

The countdown is on - Tuesday, November 4th 2008 is Election Day in the United States! People around the world keep a close eye on this election, wondering if America elects its first black president in history.

However, this isn't the only reason why people take an interest in this election. I've been a big fan of the United States since I was about ten years old (and to my dismay I must admit I've followed the US presidential elections closer than any election in my own country), but when I was traveling around the world for the past ten years, I had to experience that there aren't that many people anymore who share my enthusiasm. When George Bush was elected president, the great popularity that the US enjoyed began to crumble. The September 11 attacks and the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq were just the last straw, already before that many people disliked Bush's politics and his personality. Eventually, the dislike of Bush turned into rage towards the United States in general.

Let me share some of my experiences with you: As I've been raised and throughout my life lived in a multinational environment, I had the opportunity to discuss American politics with people (between the age of 15 to 70 years old) from Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, Romania, Iraq, Iran, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, China, Lithuania, the United States, Pakistan, Turkey, Venezuela, Mexico and from my native country Germany. Here are two personal examples that led to heated discussions:

1. The sister city of Hamburg, Germany (where I went to school) is Chicago. There is a student exchange program and some of my former classmates signed up for it. They attended classes in Chicago and were both surprised and severely shocked by the ignorance they were confronted with. As you might know, Germany has an utterly devastating and shameful history (please remember that it ended in the early 1950s, at least for West Germany), and so it happened that the American students asked them questions like: "Has Germany already been rebuilt after the war? Do you have roads like we have? Where is Germany actually?" and they didn't even shy away from asking the worst question that you could possibly ask a German: "Are you a Nazi?" My classmates were horrified.

2. Members of my extended family, who happen to be Colombians, still refuse to watch modern Hollywood movies were Colombia is part of the story. It really upsets them that their beloved country is shown in a "wrong" way. They would never deny that most of the world's cocaine is produced in their country or that they have a very high poverty and unemployment rate - but those Hollywood movies show Colombia as a third world country, totally undeveloped and dangerous. Last summer I decided to see the truth with my own eyes and spent about a month there. I was stunned by the beauty of this country, the huge shopping malls, the modern cities and the warmth, hospitality and zest for life of its people. This comes from a coward, I'm honestly afraid and worried about almost everything, but I felt secure there and didn't fear for my life (except regarding the driving style of certain family members, the traffic is really crazy I must admit). It was just amazing and it made me really upset to see that everything people know about this country (especially in the United States) is so limited and unfair towards the Colombians of whom 99% are hardworking, loving people who don't grow cocaine plants. If you don't want to take my word for it, check out the pictures and videos here.

Just recently I have learned that George Bush tops the list of the most unpopular politicians, with disapproval of more than 80% in France, Germany and Spain.

The people with whom I discussed American politics are interested in this year's elections, because they hope that this time around the Americans choose someone who doesn't think the United States is the center of the universe but that all people in the world are equally important and besides that, would be delighted to see the Americans vote for someone who tries to avoid war no matter how much money there is to be made with it.

This year there have been some good candidates in the game which created a wave of new hope and enthusiasm throughout the world! Let's see how America decides!

Famous Voters

Hollywood has a keen interest in this year's elections, too. The rich and famous don't shy away from speaking out for their favorite candidate. Here is a list of some of the famous voters:

Meet the Candidates online

The Internet is probably one of the most effective media these days to encourage especially young people to vote. YouTube even dedicated a whole channel to the presidential race so you can "face the candidates" online (click here to check it out). You can also click on the name of each candidate to see their campaign: check out Obama vs. McCain!

While I was researching for this post I found some noteworthy both informative and entertaining videos that I wanted to share with you:

Academy Award-winning actor, and father of Angelina Jolie, John Voight opens up about being a conservative in Hollywood and why he endorses McCain:

Young Hollywood demands a 'change we can believe in': check out this video where former The OC actor, and lifelong Texas democrat, Benjamin McKenzie talks politics and opens up about his fear of killing my favorite actor, the legendary Al Pacino:

The following video shows a heated McCain vs. Obama discussion between the ladies of The View:

A little note regarding Whoopi Goldberg's remark about a likely tax increase: It's not always a bad thing! In Germany we have high taxes and people are upset about it, but since I left Germany and experienced life in different countries, I must say I'd be glad to pay the higher taxes as long as we maintain a high quality of life -- I'm quite satisfied with the government's efforts to protect the environment (e.g. that every second wind turbine and every third solar cell is produced in Germany which creates new jobs), the state-of-the-art health care system and even greater medical facilities, the solid social welfare system that takes care of everyone in need, or that a woman rules our country -- just to mention a few good things, some of which are only possible because of the high taxes. Sure we have lots of issues that still require improvement, but instead of complaining all day the Germans shouldn't forget the good things about their country. Meanwhile the Americans should bear in mind that sometimes it is necessary to make some sacrifices in order to benefit in the long run. However, this requires a trustworthy government that uses your taxes in your best interest.

What You Can Do

Change and progress require proactivity! Whether you are an American citizen or not, it's important for everyone of us to keep an open mind and get well-informed, because politics - foreign or national - affects all of us in one way or another.

No matter where you're from, discuss the US presidential elections with your family, friends, co-workers, communities or teachers. If you prefer to not just talk about it but to actively support your favorite candidate, both Obama and McCain offer a facility on their websites where you can sign up as a supporter.

If you are an American citizen make sure you vote - and if you care about people from outside the US too, then vote for someone who is not only the best for the United States but also for the rest of the world.

Click on the banner below if you haven't registered to vote yet! "If you don't register, you can't vote!"

I just found an article on wikiHow called How to Convince Someone to Vote which made some interesting points. What was even more interesting to me was the discussion that followed the article. The majority of commentators at that moment stated they don't vote because 1. they think there's no candidate who isn't "corrupted by money and power", and 2. because they don't like any of the candidates.

Many of us are still waiting for the day politics will be free of corruption, but this day may never come as there's always evil people. However, if you don't vote because of that it means you've abandoned hope that one day things will really change for the better. If all people would think this way nothing good would have ever been achieved.

If you don't vote because you don't like any of the candidates (which I can understand perfectly well), be aware your "not voting" is still a vote that may benefit or even elect the worst of the candidates. Unfortunately, most elections are about choosing between bad and worse.

Update: Jinxing Electronics, some Friendship Nostalgia, plus getting Ready for Takeoff

Hi there!

Unfortunately I didn't make it to post some new stuff in a while as I had some busy time to deal with:

1. My laptop broke -- hard disk failure -- (confessing here and now: I'm an Electronics jinx, 'cause this is about the 11th time that something like this happens to me!) and while it was on the way to the repair center it broke even more -- the monitor got crushed!

2. My childhood friend Judith visited me for about a week and we were busy laughing at 20-something years of friendship memories while creating new ones in the process.

3. As mentioned a while ago, my parents' 25th wedding anniversary is coming up so I was busy shopping for a dress and some fancy shoes (which is quite a challenge if you're very tall and your man is not). Also coming up is our one month Colombia visit which needed to be prepared.

Well, I hope this is enough of an excuse for letting things slide here for a while. ;) I'm throwing myself into American politics now to get my thoughts out before the election. So stay tuned!

xoxo

Sarah

Colombia is Passion - A Country on the Move!

In the past couple of years, Colombia has made an incredible progress in different aspects such as economy and security and accordingly improved the quality of life of its citizens. It was about time for this amazing nation to develop its very own country brand. "Every day we are able to highlight business, artistic, sports and personal achievements among 44 million Colombians. We find ourselves in what we call the 'moment of truth', an opportunity to show these changes to the world. If we pass it up, we will keep missing valuable opportunities for our country", explains a Colombia is Passion Campaign representative. Equipped with a whole range of merchandise and promotional videos, Colombia is moving towards becoming a prime example of modern-day Latin America.

There are two notable videos circulating on the Internet regarding the Colombia is Passion movement. The first one is a bit more aggressive, but it illustrates very well the contrast between the Colombia we know from the newspapers and hearsay and the real Colombia, which is how I got to know it. The second video is just very cute and colorful. Go, see it for yourselves!

Would You Take The Risk To Travel To Colombia?



Colombia Is Passion!



What You Can Do

Colombia is the third most important supplier of bananas. In order to make sure that Colombia's poor farmers aren't exploited, buy organic and fair trade produce! Keep in mind that your consumer behavior is your most influential vote!

Unfortunately, Colombia is also the No. 1 producer of cocaine. The troubles that the country has because of that are grave. The problem is that as long as there is demand for it, the situation won't improve. It's the poor people who work on these plantations, because it's the only way for them to keep their children from starving to death, but it's the rich western world who can't get enough of it. Who's to blame here? Destroying the plantations by fumigating them with hazardous chemicals and treating all Colombians like dangerous criminals isn't going to stop people from taking drugs. So, if you want to help, keep your hands off this vicious stuff!

Some Holiday Nostalgia

This year I'm going to spend one month in Colombia; we're leaving right after my parents' 25th wedding anniversary celebration in October! I'm already so excited! :) To share my excitement with you, I published some of my favorite snapshots from last year's Colombia visit below:

Here you can see our family home in Villa de Leyva, a small historical town located about 40km west of Tunja. It has around 4000 inhabitants and more than 50 years ago it was declared a national monument in order to preserve its beautiful architecture.

The little puppy is one of the family's dogs. Isn't he adorable??!!!! :)

This is our condominium in Bucaramanga, the fifth biggest city of Colombia. The other picture shows the majestic Canyon of Chicamocha at Chicamocha National Park. It's one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. Its beauty is so stunning that you feel like you're looking at a gigantic painting.

This is still Chicamocha National Park in Santander. I'm the one with the umbrella! ;)

Here you can see Bucaramanga at night and a snapshot of our bowling night with some friends.

By the way, if you're interested in Colombian real estate, check out mimansion.com!

This is Daniel and me in front of the Hilton hotel and the clock tower in Cartagena.

This is in the inner city of Cartagena.

Here you can see a statue of the famous Colombian artist Botero and an indigenous dance group. I wished I had a video of them, they were really awesome!

It was pretty amazing to see those animals in their natural environment. We also saw a dolphin, cat sharks and flamingos!

Here we were visiting the islands of Rosario. I have quite an affinity with palm trees and clean white beaches, so you can imagine it felt like paradise to me! :)

This was our last night in Colombia which we spent watching a local soccer match and dancing. Here you can also see Diego Bocanegra, our talented friend who is the singer of Batracios, a Punk/Ska/Latin band from Bogota.

Coming Up Next

Hi everyone,

I hope you enjoyed my first two posts.

I just wanted to let you know what I'm working on right now.

Coming up next:

>> Colombia is Passion Campaign

>> The US Presidential Election 2008 from an European Perspective

Stay tuned and let me know what's on your mind these days! ;)

xoxo

Everybody is Free to Make a Difference - Awesome Raul Midon Live Performance

"Everybody is free to make a difference... You don't have to be a big celebrity to feel the power in your soul. You don't have to be a big star on MTV to realize that in your eyes is a view that only you can see!" (Raul Midon)

Check out two of my favorite songs: "Everybody" and "Peace On Earth" by the inspiring New Mexico born American singer-songwriter and guitarist Raul Midon. I hope you're gonna love it as much as I do! :)

What You Can Do:

I know there are many people who think that their voice doesn't matter. But to say it in the words of one of my favorite artists, German rapper Curse: "There are too many people who believe that they alone are too small, too quiet to shout. But I swear one can hear you because hundreds of silent voices that sing are louder than choirs. Put your hands up! As long as we do what we love, as long as we spread love among our circle of friends and families, as long as we look further even if the sky seems gray and know that light expects us as soon as the clouds go away - then we do the right thing, I believe." (A full translation of his lyrics can be found below the video, it's definitely worth reading! Note: the translation isn't perfect, but you'll get the message!)

Check out Curse's "Hand hoch" (engl. hands up) video below (my favorite part is the last quarter where the choir sings and he's standing in the middle of a crowd of Sri Lankan children):

Curse - Hands Up

I don't wanna tell you about any terrorist acts / or too many wars in different states / about the families of the soldiers / evicted people / laughing presidents / arms industries with shiny eyes / or about the 4 million people without jobs and earnings / and more than 50.000 people who live in the streets / segregate foreigners / no matter what we do / about perspectivelessness of Germany's youth at schools / or about all the things happening that make us unloving and negative / think negative / and do the wrong things / 'cause where are god and religion when we are threatened by recession and aggression / We have lost the faith in so many ways / have depraved a lot / and given birth to a lesser extent / at least it seems like that / But it continues this way unless we understand / that we are the ones who rule our lives!

Put your hands up / and we resist the hardest onslaught / like the strongest man who's ever stood on earth / put your hands up!

There's a lot that is bad / so many people are fighting desperately for the smallest rights / Men are filled with bitterness after the third layoff and carry the stress home which then burdens their wives / Heated arguments are normal in a bad atmosphere / but who suffers in the end are the children / With this in mind / one is really wondering why youth centers are closing / instead of spending millions on wars we should make improvements for our children / Put your hands up if you understand what I mean / We may forge ahead alone / but we don't give in / Let this song be pathos / I don't care what you think / Hearing negative things all the time makes us sick / I'm interested in what's happening / but even more in what is causing these things / We are so afraid of the future / afraid of the world / sometimes I ask myself / isn't the worst thing the fear of ourselves?

There are too many people who believe that they alone are too small / too quiet to shout / but I swear one can hear you / because hundreds of silent voices that sing are louder than choirs / Put your hands up / As long as we do what we love / as long as we spread love among our circle of friends and families / as long as we look further even if the sky seems gray / and know that light expects us as soon as the clouds go away / put your hands up / then we do the right thing I believe / Too many faces look sad / and I believe they need lights / We don't abandon hope until we've tried everything / and don't tell me we have nothing to lose / Put your hands up!

Ireland's provocative Anti-Garbage Campaign

If you have ever been to Dublin, you may have noticed that this auspicious city has a filthy alter ego, namely "Dirty Old Town".

In order to get rid of Dublin's adverse reputation of being Ireland's dirtiest city, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government along with four Dublin Local Authorities has developed a provocative 1 million euro anti-garbage campaign with particular focus on educating and raising awareness among children and young adults. The campaign includes television (check out the TV ad below), radio, online and outdoor advertisement (see picture). [source: dublinwaste.ie]

It's definitely about time that the government takes some action. Speaking from my personal experience, this city is quite a filthy fella. I always get the urge to hit the ceiling every time I see garbage hanging in the tree in front of my window. If you take a look at the front yard of our condominium you can find all kinds of things there: from broken blinds, discarded coffee cups, empty cans, broken umbrellas to cigarette stubs, shoes, tampons, old newspapers and used condoms (well, at least they've heard of safe sex!). Let me point out to you that I'm living in the "posh" Dublin South area. Yeah Dublin, the city where people let their dogs do their business directly next to the sign that says there is a high fine to pay if you don't remove your dog's feces from a public area.

Then, a couple of weeks ago we were presented with some wild west feeling as bales of shredded paper were rolling around the streets.

Considering that our back yard isn't exactly a prime example of cleanliness either, I feel some sympathy for the people living in this condominium. Here, bringing out the trash may give you a taste of this pre-heart attack feeling when, all of a sudden, cats jump out of the trash cans just as you're about to dump your garbage bags into them. Still, this is no excuse for smutching the back yard. I must confess I suffer from a childhood trauma that still gives me nightmares about cats (nothing against cats!), but I still make it to dump my garbage where it belongs. It's a bit silly, but I just tend to go out there mostly when it rains - as we all know, cats are a bit shy regarding water.

It's actually kind of a phenomenon that Dublin is so filthy as there is quite an abundance of garbage cans in this city. Well, this anti-garbage campaign is at least a beginning!

"If you behave like a piece of filth, that's how the world sees you. Littering is disgusting, so are those responsible." (TV ad):

A heated discussion on this subject can be found here. Last week, the Irish Times published a worthwhile article about dumping on "dirty old town's" beauty spots, check it out here!

What You Can Do:

Live in the US? Check out what the former The OC star, actress Autumn Reeser, does to reduce her waste footprint:

Welcome to Filantronomics!

Hi everyone!

I want to use this blog as a means to make a little difference in this world (I'm one of those idealistic people who actually believe that this is possible). ;) It's meant to inform you about philanthropic and environmental projects and organisations, the people who contribute to them as well as what YOU can do yourselves to make a difference. It will also feature my own projects, personal stories and thoughts on different world issues. Everyone who'd like to contribute to this blog, please feel free to do so! I'll try my best to make this blog entertaining as well as informative and thought-provoking as I think it's the best way to get people interested and involved.

Please note that I'm not a native speaker of English so there might be some grammatical or stylistic errors; however, I try to keep them to a minimum.

For the next few weeks I'll be working intensively on the content. I hope you're gonna enjoy this blog!

xoxo,

Sarah