Virtual S.E.Z. de Benito: Logical Economic, Political and Financial Discussions

China's Muslim Uighur minority, call for Olympic boycott... not just Tibet

2008-06-25T22:04:00.005-04:00

XFML - Xinhua Media Finance - Chinese Advertising Industry

2008-05-09T09:04:00.003-04:00

Still hopeful on this Chinese equity (XFML). I may not have visited China since late 2006, but print media and the potential for a explosion in the general advertising industry / sector was noted by me and my collegues.

I chose this security months ago for diversification reasons and regretted it for some time. However, see for yourself.... things do seem to be improving in the sector, Freddy Bush the headline making--attention grabbing CEO has improved her position in the company and with the legal problems she had, the company has Beijing Olympic deals lined up and is generally moving in the right direction. Check out some of these articles I've recently been reading on the sector and Xinhua finance in general.

Recent company releases -->

May 9 (XFML) - Xinhua Far East Releases Rating Report on China Securities Industry; CITIC Securities and Guotai Junan Securities Lead in Domestic Firms

May 8 (XFML) - Xinhua Finance Limited (TSE: 9399) to release financial results for the first quarter of 2008 on Thursday, May 29, 2008

China's online advertising market near 11 bln yuan. Xinhua 08-02-24 - China's market in online advertising surged by 75 percent to 10.6 billion yuan (1.48 billion U.S. dollars) in 2007, according to a report by Internet consultant iResearch Inc. The surge was largely driven by a boom in search engine advertising, or keyword advertising, which experienced an annual growth rate of 108.6 percent, said the report. Search engine advertising accounted for 27.3 percent of the market in terms of value, up 4.3 percentage points over the previous year, and it was predicted to hit 30 percent this year, the report said. Online brand advertising jumped 65.3 percent to 4.86 billion yuan in 2007 and was expected to reach 23.7 billion yuan by 2011, said the report. Advertising embedded in games, software and video clips would also become the major driving forces for online advertising, it said. The firm forecast that China's online advertising market would hit 17.2 billion yuan this year and 37 billion yuan in 2011. China had 210 million Internet users at the end of 2007, the world's second largest online population and only five million fewer than the United States, according to the China Internet Network Information Center. However, the United States reported more than 22.5 billion U.S. dollars in online advertising last year, about 15 times that of China.
Read rest of the story here - XInhua New

Maybe Xinhua XFML - is not very active in the online advertising community, but the point should not less be noted. Afterall comparing it to its "peers" is a rediculous idea.. Observe data from www.morningstar.com

How on earth can it compete with such competitors, and why on earth would you relate it to US giants like Comcast.

Watch this company-- a intelligent investor would at this point. We've already been through a year of rather... well lets just say it... hell.

Fundamentals have improved, China's correction will begin to fix soon (although) not sure for how long with olympics looming, but now would be the time to enter this security that's been so horribly neglected by the international investment community.

Fundamentals for (XFML)--> provided by Morningstar

Stock	Mkt Cap $Mil	Sales $Mil	Growth	Profit- ability	Financial Health
Xinhua Finance Media, Ltd.	163.0	59	---	---	---
Industry Average	16,600	7,873	B-	C+	C



Liberty Entertainment Group	72,407	9,423	---	B	C
Comcast Corporation	65,288	31,896	B	D	C-
Comcast Corporation	64,045	31,896	B	D	C-
The DIRECTV Group, Inc.	31,396	17,929	B	B	B
Time Warner Cable, Inc.	29,201	16,264	B	D	C



Rogers Communications, Inc.	28,276	7,782	---	---	---
British Sky Broadcasting Group	18,120	8,788	---	---	---
DISH Network Corporation Class A	13,888	11,090	B	---	---
Liberty Global, Inc.	11,575	9,508	---	---	D
Liberty Global, Inc.	11,345	9,508	---	---	D



Liberty Global, Inc.	10,957	9,508	---	---	D
Liberty Capital	10,224	1,621	---	B	C
Liberty Capital	10,146	1,621	---	B	C
Shaw Communications, Inc.	9,226	2,482	---	---	---
Virgin Media, Inc.	4,932	8,144	---	---	D



Net Communications Services Inc.	3,939	901	---	---	---
Corus Entertainment, Inc.	1,691	688	---	---	---
Charter Communications, Inc.	550	6,002	D	---	---
Mediacom Communications Corporation	500	1,293	C	---	---
I-Cable Communications	308	328	---	---	---
LodgeNet Interactive Corporation	129	486	C	---	---

Latino Vote! Hillary Clinton! For all that is holy

2008-02-23T16:02:00.000-05:00

Greetings fellow Latino's, my name is Bennett Reiss Iberico, I am a Peruvian American with dual citizenship who would like to speak to all Latino's around the world and especially those of us in the United States with voting rights. The importance of the 2008 elections for President of the USA range far beyond immigration, promises of social help and empowerment of Latino businesses and workers.

For the past 8 years, the administration of this country has ignored, shunned and paid little attention to Latin America. I beg anyone watching this video, especially Latino's in the US and around the world to lend me at most five minutes of your attention.

If the next administration continues its current international policies in the America's, it risks alienating hundreds of millions of people. Much like the United States, Latin American countries evolved into their own culture by mixing native, European and other cultures to create new national identities. This election is about more than voting for the candidate who promises to deliver in issues you are concerned about, it is a opportunity for Latino's to exert their position in the America's, if not Latino's in the U.S. will face continued hardship and be considered second class citizens and Central and South America will remain hidden from world attention while the economic giants of China and India grab the spot light.

Instead of looking down on the people and countries of Latin America, people in the U.S. they should take pride in the history of these beautiful countries, it is a piece of their own culture and history as an individual living on the American continent. What politician in the United States will be able to achieve this? Have politicians and leaders in the U.S even made efforts recently? A few have, I’ll give you a hint, it definitely wasn’t anyone in the Bush family, sad, especially considering there are a few people in the Bush family who are half Latino.

The reality is the US does not consider a priority, they havn’t since the soviet missle crises, and only recently starting paying attention again when immigration and Chavez became issues for the media to feed of. With the Latino vote being of such great importance this election and estimates that Latino's will comprise 25% of the population in the U.S. by the year 2050 Latin Americans, the 1st generation Latino's in the U.S. and US citizens of Central and South American ancestry are in a position to gain great bargaining power. The U.S. more than ever needs to pay attention to the Latino’s living here and also the development of Latin America as a whole because soon Chinese and Indian investment and cooperation will begin to compete with that of the US and Europe. And following economic competition will come political influence, something we should welcome and also offer them competition. But how can we compete with two countries that have suffered at the hands of the West just like Latin America largely believes the US has caused them suffering? We need an image change, and Hillary Clinton more than anyone will help us move in the right direction!

Of all the candidates, Hillary Clinton is the obvious leader who will move us in the right direction, and who knows, because of past Latino support for the Clinton's and the prospects of being Hillary’s trump card in her candidacy for the democratic bid for presidency Latino’s might really garner world and domestic attention. Hillary, as my senator from New York rarely disappoints the people she represents, and I believe after filtering out the rhetoric of Barak Obama who does indeed speak so passionately he reminds me of Latin American populists who promise to change everything and end up delivering nothing.

A speech is meant to impress. If you look at the political records and pasts of both candidates you would realize Hilary Clinton as senator provided many social programs for the Hispanic communities of New York City, she votes in favor of free trade agreements with Latin American countries while Obama does not, she was at center stage at the creation of NAFTA, and can look back on that experience to provide better trade deals with Latin America.

While most democrats oppose free trade and would like to see unions regain the prestige of the past—which would create great barriers to entering the legal work force for Latinos, Hilary Clinton has shown to understand the American economy and supports efforts to liberalize the work force and regulations. It is widely accepted she is the most immigration friendly candidate.

To all those Latino's out there, who have come to the U.S. because of instability, dangers, lack of employment, political persecution, poverty or whatever your reason for coming to the US was, or that of your parents, please think about the populists who gain power time and time again in our countries. Promises are made, change is promised and whether its left wing, right wing or a mix, change never manifests into something sustainable or encounters so much opposition never succeeds. Listen to Barak Obama speak, it will sound eerily familiar. This is of course my opinion, and I’m only a Peruvian-American whose been following Latin American politics for about 8 years and can only know the populists of the past from history text books.

It is ironic I feel, Hillary Rodman Clinton is an experienced stateswoman in my opinion most closely resembled what Latino’s call “un caudillo,” a "strong man" as we call it in Latin America. She may be a woman but when she takes a position and a stance she does so forcefully, acting in line with the facts and delivering. The key difference between Latin American caudillos and Hillary is simply she takes law and responsibility into account.

Another four years of neglect is not what any Latin American or person descended of Latin American heritage should desire. I ask, how is Barak Obama with his promises of change to virtually all segments of US society going to delegate time. Hillary already supports and helps the Hispanic communities in this country and has encouraged the expansion of ties, economic and political in Latin America. Obama has little experience in this region and would be coming in as a fresh face. Where on the other hand many people in Latin America fondly remember the administration of the Clintons. With the already existing lack of trust Latin Americans have with the U.S. would you not prefer a president who is remembered fondly as the first lady of one of the greatest presidents in recent years in the eyes of Latino? And do you not respect a lot like the Kircher’s in Argentina that her own political record and career make her more than her husbands protégé? Hillary is not only a incredibly intelligent individual but her record as Senator is something she can be far more proud of than her own husbands record as Governor of Arkansas.

So please, I appeal especially to Texan voters and all other eligible voters out there in states yet to have their primaries, for the greater good of this country and Latin America, vote for Hillary Clinton, once you more thoroughly examine the facts and record you'll see she understands the region and domestic issues that will arise from continued immigration and Latino population growth, and the growth of the countries in Latin America

And please for all that is holy, once she wins the democratic nomination for presidency, get out and vote for her!

I have always been politically apathetic, but I take pride in my ancestry and in the Americas, north and south. I've think I’ve become relatively good at seeing through propaganda, not to say that all candidates don’t have a certain degree of it in their campaigns but that aside after all this, my opinion and analysis lead me to believe the greatest hope for the US and the region is Hilary Rodman Clinton. I implore everyone out there to at least consider my words, and think for yourselves, not with the media.

- Bennett A. Reiss

China 3c Group - CHCG:OTB -- Will Chinese management and company leadership finally wake up and learn how to communicate with foreign investors?

2008-02-10T20:45:00.001-05:00

China 3c Group first came into my scope sometime last year in April or May. By the summer, it was being reported on in Barron's and it seemed investors where quite bullish. As someone who has lived in China and done a substantial amount of research on this company, I decided to buy it despite being near its 52 week high, and despite the lack of communication and a outdated website and information, I concluded this was a typical Chinese company learning to adapt.

China 3C group (CHCG:OTC), is a Chinese company that both distributes and sells products ranging from cell phones, home telephones, IT technologies, fax machines and other electronic equipment. China, despite the news remains substantially poor in a material sense, CHCG not only maintains a 15% market share in the 3 wealthiest provinces of China, but also has plans to expand their operations by opening and cooperating with global retail giants such as the French version of Wallmart-- Carrefore and Loutour.

Moving on CHCG was recently described in the Wall Street Journal as being a company that has not been able to effectively communicate with its investors that CHCG is growing via cooperation with new partners and new store openings, its current operations have increasing revenues, and lastly it has no debt and is liquid with a fair amount of cash and working capital. Sadly it that has suffered from a global fall in equities which prevented it from obtaining a listing on the NASDAQ this January, the communication issue and the pulling out of short-term speculative investors.

Almost a year later, I find myself with 1000's of shares at an average share price of $4.50 and the stock trading at $2.70 with at least another 3 months until a NASDAQ listing is possible. The past months have taught me a great deal about investing in up and coming Chinese companies that promise a U.S. listing and grandiose expansion plans. But, it has also taught me patience, lessons that would have been valuable in my past Chinese investments in CEA, CTRP, NTES and XFML.

Minus XFML, all these stocks eventually came of age and I sold out too early. This time things are different-- CHCG as mentioned not only is getting more recognition in mainstream financial media, but this time its far from speculative. People are not speculating anymore in the wake of the sub prime mortgage crisis, a falling US dollar, and general worries about the economic outlook for the next few years to come.

At $2.70 my friends this is a great buy. Not only when considering the actual value of the company but also considering the upcoming Beijing, Olympics. The recent downturn is a result of yes the bad communication but also the fact that the lunar near fell this year at a time when China suffered its worst snow storms in 50 years and the hundreds of millions (I do mean over 400 million at least), became stranded with their months of earnings they were meaning to bring home and spend... spend as Westerns do in December during the holiday season. So not only did we have economic losses in the billions in China, we had plummeting global equities, and lastly a Chinese spending surge on par with our own during Christmas and New Years suddenly did not happen.

All this being taken into account, one must surely after conducting their own research in the context of a Chinese investment, come to a similar conclusion that now, more than any other time is the ideal moment to purchase this up and coming company.

Tata Motors -- Good news coming from global demand the emerging markets

2007-09-11T10:24:00.000-04:00

Quotes from the Financial Times article at http://us.ft.com/ftgateway/superpage.ft?news_id=fto091120070328432651&page=2

"In China and India, too, they face a growing challenge from rising local producers, which are studying and learning from the foreigners' car and business models. While Renault, Toyota, and GM are all developing low-cost cars, local producers such as India's Tata Motors (NYSE:TTM) and Maruti Udyog are also likely to capture a big chunk of the segment.

Clean-vehicle technology offers carmakers the same nerve-wracking mix of risk and opportunity. Some companies' claims of sincere commitnment to green goals stretch credibility, and current global sales of hybrid cars – barely half of 1 per cent of the total – are so small as to make them seem more like fashion statements than commercially viable cars. Behind the marketing hype, however, carmakers are deadly earnest about developing the cars people will be driving in 10 or 20 years' time. With the European Union forging ahead on stricter emissions standards and the US Congress drafting rules on fuel economy, the car companies have little choice but to make cars greener and smaller."

- John Reed

My point above being that despite Tata Motors (TTM)'s recent sluggish activity is simple. People want to drive, the environment falling apart, road and highway congestion, high interest rates, all these factors--along with other factors will not deter the long term growth prospects of Tata Motors. The car industry must grow, hundreds of millions of drivers will be joining the global roads in the coming 10-20 years. Tata Motors not only has some of the best and cheapest engineers, but they've been around since Toyota. There's -->

a) the Indian Government will not let one of their oldest and most pretigious state companies go under.

b) despite new competition, in which Tata Motors and other Indian car producers lost 80% of the car market to mostly Japanese producers, Tata has been able to maintain a nice chunk of the Indian Economy.

c) there's so many new drivers being added to the roads every year in India alone, additionally there are millions being added in developing countries such as Argentina, Sri Lanka, and Lybia, who are open to letting Indian Car imports in.

d) 2008 is Tata's big year, both in their car segment-- Tata Motors and in with their other branches like Tata Steel. Many Indian consumers are waiting for both interest rates to fall, and for 2008 when brand new models including the $3000 Lahka. Indian consumers are likely waiting for these new 2008 models.

e) by 2008, many of Tata Motors negotiations with other countries on exporting their cheap vehicles, both commercial and personal, will be completed, and exports will increase.

Growth in the developing world -- as Interest Rates rise in emg economies the west struggles with its own financial tools

2007-09-10T09:20:00.000-04:00

I wonder if investors and analysts across the world have taken note that the fastest growing economies on the planet; such ones as China, India, Vietnam, Russia and some in Latin America have been forced to raise interest rates to swell their over heating economy. One can produce an endless debate as to how much of their growth is legitimate and how much is speculative... Regardless, the point is they continue to have to put downward pressures on their economies and currencies in order to prevent a economic explosion.

Some of this rapid growth has to be legitimate, and coming from someone who recently spent time in China, it is. There are rampant problems in these emerging markets, but the sheer magnitude of what these economies can do with their human capital, natural resources and tough governments will help keep global growth going.

As investors in the US, Europe and Japan look to the Federal Reserve for Interest Rate cuts to help rebound markets in the US and thus ease fears of a global recession, boosting the markets back to the good ole days. Personally, I believe a solid route to follow would be one of undervalues, or not overly valued US traded stocks from countries like China and India. Commodity allocations would also be a good idea as the dollar weakens and commodity demand never dissipates in totality.

I've moved money back into Tata Motors, CHCG (China's version of bestbuy), and CISQ-- Canadian Solar which is a Canadian company engaged in solar energy development in China. It's the best buy of all the Chinese solar stocks, and with China's pollution problem probably represents a safe bet that there will be major room for multiple Solar companies to operate in China.

Xinhua Media Finance: XFML - Foward Outlook for upcoming months

2007-08-30T11:27:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers,

Sorry for the lack of updates this summer, it has been quite hectic moving back and forth from Washington D.C. to New York City, with a great deal of drama thrown in.

Anyways, back to what this blog was created for... The discussion of finances, economics, and general assessment of the markets and economies around the world.

I'll start fresh with my thoughts of XFML. I picked this stock back in March, for a variety of reasons; all of which I still feel strongly about. XML-- Xinhua's parent company only listed in Japan is doing fairly well. XFML's listing in the U.S. has seen a incredible fall in its share value. I attribute this mostly to speculation in Chinese IPO's. With so many other having been incredibly successful, people wanted to make a few quick dollars and figured the media giant Xinhua of China would be a good bet.

The stock was then coupled with legal issues, and a shuffle within the company, including many high execs. This should by all logical measures cause the value of a stock to go down. I thought it was a little excessive when it reached 6/share, but on a positive note now would be a great buying opportunity for investors. I personally own the stock at an average share price of $8.30.

This is the time to buy! Its future outlook remains positive. On a recent yahoo.com/finance blog posting, George Sprizter points out some of the most important upcoming events and facts on the company. (full blog here)

1) Sponsorship: Vinik Asset Management acquired 2 million shares in the first quarter of 2007. Jeff Vinik is a savvy active trader, so his XFML position may have changed since then, but we at least know that XFML is on his watch list.

2) Stock buy back of $50 million was recently announced.

3) The company is growing rapidly. On July 9, XFML raised its second quarter revenue guidance up to $27-29 million from $23 million.

4) XFML recently acquired Beijing Mobile Interactive Co. in June 2007 which sells mobility, interactive products and services to the booming mobile phone population in China. Their other advertising sales and services businesses are also growing rapidly.

XFML Finance and Milken Institute Launch Indicators to Measure China's Banking Sector anc Cross Boarder Trade

2007-04-24T23:34:00.000-04:00

Full article was released in Shanghai today, April 24th.

to view it goto XFML (Xinhua Media Finance's website)

Emerging Risk and Returns

2007-04-22T19:42:00.000-04:00

Very interesting article outlining the general trends of the global economy was recently published by www.business-standard.com.

Applying its contents to the focus of this blog i'll point out its discussion on Peru, and what the writer has called the "Peru effect."

"Similarly we have the Peru effect, an economy driving its strength from copper and gold, till the commodity goes up, so will the economy. Metals and mining does give the emerging region a reason for growth and dependence on the sector. Oil and gas is another sectoral overlap, with most emerging economies relying on energy resources for exports."

I argue with Mr. Pal, who wrote this article from India that he is unaware that many of the countries he's considering, are countries that have energy. Peru's gas reserves will be developed in the coming years, in large thanks to money generated from the gold, silver and copper booms. Zinc to a lesser degree as well.

Second, the commodity boom is far from over, even with corrections the growth of countries such as China, India, Vietnam and other developing countries will outpace supply--alot of people are saying this, its not my opinion, I just happen to agree.

It's too soon to cash out of copper, especially if your invested in companies which focus more on exploration of provable resources. The risk is, if they proove resources, governments might take over, but the gains are also immense in the wake of rising demand for commodities. The key is to look at who is running the commodity companies you're investing in, who are the main investors in the company, and what rules and ethics the company adheres too. Experience is a nice plus too, but many companies will recreate their images and try to focus investors on their newer self and not their innefficient, unethical parent company.

Last, is investment for new commodities coming from Indian, Chinese and other developing countries. Despite being poor, these countries because of their immense size have the ability to enter the global market. The West, with its ethics and morals will not have to compete with legitimate competition--sometimes in the form which would be illegal in ones host country.

All these factors must be addressed, the best way is for communication between parties and sectors. Copper is affected by semi-conductor demand, cable wire demand, micro-processor demand, etc. There are just simply so many variables, making a sound conclusion of decision is difficult. One must simply stick with their investments, in the good but, also the bad swings.

Op/ed from Bloomberg on Xinhua Media Finance: XFML

2007-04-21T19:11:00.000-04:00

On Friday, the markets rallied and finished the recovery of most their losses here in the states (losses from the Chinese crash in Feb). Interestingly enough XFML finally made some strides in picking up .30 cents a share. The IPO was initially slated for great success but in my opinion they launched at not only a horrendous time but with a bad start off strategy for attracting investment.

Here's a link to a OP/Ed piece written by a very intelligent reporter by the name of David Wilson, over at Bloomberg.

Xinhua Stock: David Wilson

On a side note, Xinhua media just signed the rights of over 2000 billboards in the great Beijing metropolis area. This was largly overlooked on Thursday's stagnant markets. Some hope is being shed not that JP Morgan upped their status or analyst suggestion to buy last week, these new billboards have made it to the states (their existence that is), and the company is becoming more adedept at the New York Market and American investing communities.

Clear Channel board agrees to higher bid-source (CCU) -- Partner of Xinhua Media Finance XFML

2007-04-18T13:14:00.000-04:00

Article here at Reuters.

Being that this is a partner of XFML, I am once again disapointed in the companies inabilities to show its investors things that could potentially have a spill over effect in Xinhua's department. No less, the recent good news Xinhua has released shows their trying, and the service of blogs such as this and Yahoo and Google, in this process.

(this is a assumption, not fact. with the shady way companies hide their identity I could even be wrong in Xinhua's connection.) Regardless, still sticking with my investment just hope they improve distribution of their own company news, they already know how to distribute financial and local media, its time they focus on themselves.

AsiaMedia :: CHINA: Xinhua Finance Media on takeover trail after listing raises US$204m

2007-04-18T02:14:00.000-04:00

AsiaMedia :: CHINA: Xinhua Finance Media on takeover trail after listing raises US$२०४म्

3 April 2007

Peru Copper spends US$33mn on Toromocho in 2006

Source: BNamericas

Xinhua Media and Peru Copper Inc

2007-04-17T17:48:00.000-04:00

Xinhua Media News on Google Finance April 17, 2007 XFML

And as a general side comment Xinhua has always been very friendly when it comes to reporting Chinese appetite for Copper. Another one of my pics and interests is copper, Latin America has it and China Needs it. I started this blog largely interested in exploring the relationship developing between China and Latin America. Its come down after my experiences to the mere fact Latin America has lost to China in production of textiles and labor intensive goods in general. Latin America must moderize and improve the quality of their economic might through better workers, better infastructure and a unique culuture that has great things to offer the world. It can use the commodity boom to help it, I just hope the money isn't squandered away as it has been in the past.

CUP - Google Finance of Peru Copper Inc (CUP being the ticker)

Peru Copper Inc - Official Website

is a company I'm investing in largely in speculation, trust, and the fact the world needs copper won't go away. It is fact Peru sits on a large % of the global supply of copper. This company is Canadian and very experiences in copper exploration and has pledged to explore with causing as little harm to the environment and natives or in some cases compensating them with water treatment facilities or other things of the nature. I hope they can pump this copper out and sell it before copper takes a correction at some point.

Regardless longterm its still as I say these days... goodstuff

XFML - Xinhua Finance Media Ltd. and Tata Motors of India (TTM)

2007-04-16T13:10:00.000-04:00

I know its been awhile since I've posted but sitting here in class I felt compelled to express thoughts via text on XFML's recent IPO last February. After coming back from China I quickly invested in many chinese stocks. I suffered from the market corrections but have since recovered substantially. Of all my worries, my purchase of Xinhua Finance Media Ltd (XFML) when it debuted in February.

XFML (Xinhua Media Finance Ltd)

From what I have observed as an investor is XFML (Chinese Media State Giant) is a method to raise money for the parents company Xinhua news which controls virtually all media, publications, and advertising in China. After working in Reuters, I realize the immense potential for Xinhua as it grows into a competitive news agency. At the moment Reuters and Bloomberg are the two global powers in financial news and general factual based news. As Xinhua evolved into a more modern media conglomerate it will expand it grip throughout Asia and eventually come to be able to compete with Reuters and Bloomberg. They know the markets in Asia better than they do, they also know that the people they are trying to reach, many times the lesser tiers of wealth, do not know much about modern financial insittutions and markets. Xinhua is poised to be the primary source of information for them.

Like TATA Motors, of India (TTM), another company I invested in upon returning from China, its a company that has the potential to profit and work with the poor communities of the world. This is something western companies have found very difficult to do, additionally Xinhua already presents itself as a competitor to Reuters and Bloomberg in China--a incredible market in itself. It will not only compete with the wealthiest and most savvy investor sources of information in the world but it has the potential to bring information to the rural and poor communities of Asia as well.

All this being mentioned, is also Tata very beneficial alliance with Italy's Fiat (FIA)
they will be poised to enter Latin America and benefit from Fiat's experience with coping with new found compeititions and decreasing state subsidies. The two are companies with smiler legacies in their own countries respect, I think the alliance is a worthy one.

Washington D.C.

2007-02-13T16:53:00.000-05:00

Back in Washington D.C. Almost forgot I had this blog altogether. Funny when you see the world in clips from area to area and from time to time. You notice more change.

Washington...

First Impressions Of Beijing, China

2006-08-29T04:23:00.000-04:00

Wow... words cannot describe what an incredible continent, or rather what I've seen so far; a bunch of places in Japan and Beijing, China.

Right off the bat lets just say China is a bit intense, the saying "New York, only the strong survive" is definitely applicable to China. I took a 5-minute cab ride today from my hotel to Tiananmen Square--What a trip. The second I stepped out of my cab, the two Chinese men I thought were about to get into the cab started tugging and pulling on me in two different directions. Both wanted to first sell me Beijing Maps, and then take me on a bike ride with a wagon attached to the back around the square. Immediately I haggled the map down from 20 Yuan to 5... I still got ripped off but w/e. Then I agreed to a 1 Yuan ride around the square on a guys bike, when I handed him 2 accidentally he said LONG RIDE, then the other two men started yelling what I know were many curses at him in Mandarin.

I started realizing to be a rich Westerner in this city is HORRIBLE. From the moment I stepped off the bike ride I stopped speaking English. If you even so much as turn your head when a Chinese guy says HI or HELLO they will try to charge you 10x what you should be charged. I was wearing a t-shirt Sonya got me from Venezuela, so I immediately started only speaking Spanish and when I bartered my lunch I kept pointing to the flag of Venezuela on my shirt and saying Chavez. Hehe.. I don’t know how to say any countries name in Chinese aside from Spain which is Yibanya, which is also a rich country... so that doesn't help much in getting a legitimate price on purchases.

After wandering Tiananmen Square for an hour looking at all the memorials of the Communist Revolution, Mao, Chinese struggle against the Japanese or the glorious victories of the communists in helping "Koreas Struggle" against the United Nations of Capitalism in the Korean War-- China has the impression they came to Korea's heroic rescue and dominated the U.S. led United Nation forces in the Korean War. I have yet to see one Japanese car riding around Beijing, everything is Buick, Hyundai, or Volkswagon. They really despise everything that is Japanese, including the people to this day. Russians seem to get along better than anyone I’ve seen here, especially the ones that look Asian. I get the impression the Chinese feel like they outsmarted the Russians when it comes to Socialism, and the Russians like wise don’t let the Chinese get the best of them because I’m sure everything extralegal in China is also rampant in Russia.

After eating lunch and walking through some side streets I found myself a block away from my hotel. I went to a local store and bought a three gigantic bottles of Water for 8 Yuan instead of paying 10 yuan per small bottle from the hotels vending machine. I also think I got them down to 5 and at the last minute they used my ignorance and the fact I took a 20 out of my wallet to raise the price to 8. GOD DAMN CHINESE!

In other news, my big suitcases zipper broke, so I did some snooping around markets for luggage. I got prices ranging for the same piece from 400 Yuan to 150 Yuan. Some 100% Cuban born workers here officially on Musician travel Visas from Castro explained to me how most likely they would get the same stuff for 10% of the price I pay. I’m only beginning to get my feet wet, but for now I’m going to chill out in my hotel room until tonight when I’ll check out the Western and Ex-Pat bar scene. Hope everything is well back in the States, keep you all updated on this surreal country.

Time to recognize

2006-07-12T03:38:00.000-04:00

China + Latin American = Domination.

Brains can come from anywhere these days. The internet, alone can make nuculear engineers capable of creating weapons of mass destruction. Read this world. I am a Peruvian-American. With ancestry as mixed as Spain, the province of Navare, the Peruvian Amazon, my grandpa is from Rioja, Peru and my great grandparents from the province of Madre de Dios in the deep jungle of of Peru. My father is of Austrian/Russian Jewish decent. All i have to say is we need to fucking get along. America is 290 million people of the total American continent of over 750 million people. And news flash, the farther south you go, the more natural resources you find. Until Latin America gets equal status on this continent, and I do say one continent as the U.S. is the ONLY country in the world that teaches its students that 7 continents exist, America; north, central and south are one Continent, representative of a mix of indiginous, mixed (mestizo), african, asian, european, and whatever else you may think of. Until you realize that you are not American. Period.

The difference between the old left and new left of Latin America

2006-06-24T14:15:00.000-04:00

I believe the Chilean leader Lagos said something along the lines of "even socialists know the market should no longer be controlled, instead the market should be used as a tool towards economic success." I am definitely butchering the quote, but none the less its meaning is simple. Even today’s leftists, at least so far in Latin America, have been sticking to market policies. Maybe not the hawkish kind the Bush administration and conservatives in the west would have liked, but none the less the market is still very much alive in all of Latin America, except of course Cuba.

When I talk to my family in Peru who about the military left-wing governments and later democratically elected socialists they have quite a lot to say, especially about the so called “social reform” they were promised. First, consumer goods almost instantly vanished from shelves around the nation. Even in the 1800’s Lima and major cities in Latin America were stocked with the latest goods from Europe and the U.S. Large estates Peruvians, poor and rich historically knew as the productive basins that fed Lima for centuries, quickly went into disrepair, leading to dramatic declines in production levels. The country in a whole ended it experiment with socialism with an inflation rate of over 7000%.

Socialism back then was still in its beginning stages of experimentation. Additionally the countries of the South had the omnipotent power of the United States looming over every move taken by militaries, governments or civilians throughout Latin America. Even democratically elected socialist regimes faced great pressures and were forced to operate difficult macroeconomic policies in the face of the United States and the pressure it put on the governments of the south. Socialism and the protectionist policies of Latin America could not and would not succeed in such an era.

Today however things are different. The globe has been opened up to international trade, on levels unimaginable even 15 years ago. The socialist countries in Latin America, have also at least attempted to learn from the mistakes of their past. Most despite large spending programs, have managed to maintain fiscal responsibility, and keep their currencies from experiencing the incredible inflationary pressure that had previously plagues the countries of Latin America. Additionally, the commodity booms throughout the world because of increased demand from Asia is allowing many of these government to finance their projects and social programs. What most important, is the face that the market still exists within the countries of the south, and, today with the rise of China, India and other growing nations around the world, South America is seeing new opportunities other than ones from its big neighbor to the north. If anything this is represents a era when new options are open, the socialists of the past didn’t have that luxury, they had to choose between supporting the U.S. on paper or all out defying them, which during the cold war was not a likely option.

Currently in: Washington D.C.

NY Times Article I just Read

2006-06-24T13:31:00.000-04:00

I was sent an article a couple days ago (the articles dated 6/19/06)... entitled "Advice to all you Graduates: Lets start with the Daily Latte..." By Damon Darlin

In brief summary the article discusses the habits of American College students. $3.50 cups of coffee. $5 Packs of Cigarettes. Chinese Delivery twice a week. If everyone bought right into his philosophy the world would be full of people who are quite boring if you ask me. None the less, one quote stood out to me when I read the article.

"Having less will also make you work harder to get more. If you are comfortable, you get complacent."

Currently in: Washington D.C.

Welcome

2006-06-07T11:56:00.000-04:00

Welcome to my international forum, I'd like to thank before anything else, technology for enabling people to communicate on a global scale. I decided to use Blogger because of their connection to Google, who I hope is at least somewhat serious in their claim of having a "don't be evil policy."

I hope that in good time, this blog can manifest into a online community of logical thinkers, discussing historical and current events from an open minded and international perspective. We are entering a global age, as the world becomes ever more interconnected, I truly think it is imperative people with good intentions, ideas and open-minded points of views learn to work together and foster relationships. With technology this is possible to do this virtually anywhere in the world, so let us take part in this revolution of ideas and knowledge, always knowing that someone will be reading who doesn't like what he/she sees. Please be polite, politically savvy with sensitive topics, and careful not to generalize your opinions into facts. My father once told me growing up that his mentors on Wall Street always told him that if you wanted to know the truth "follow the trail of money." Interpret that as you will, but please just take heed in the way you phrase your postings, as shall I.

Currently in: Washington D.C.