Tuesday, June 13
Letter to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika
August 21, 2005
Abdelaziz Bouteflika
President of the Republic
El-Mouradia, Alger, Algeria
Re: Congratulations
Dear Mr. President:
I am a Canadian freelance writer, who is very passionate about politics and international relations. My grandfather was a Communist (Austrian) and so was my father (Canadian) so I learned at a very early age about the struggles for equality, observed my grandfather and father fight for decent working conditions, good wages, and of course felt and witnessed the “upheavals and brutality” of the many strikes and attempts to unionize. I also fought for worker’s rights in the largest strip mine of Western Canada. It was through these experiences that I became a writer. My interest is in developing a utopian society. I believe that if people are given a chance to work, good working conditions, food and housing that a utopian society could prevail and I really believe it now. Please let me explain.
I have spent the last eight months of my life soaking up Algerian politics starting with the Algerian Revolution. I must tell you that it has been one of the most difficult and challenging experiences in my life. In the process, I learned about Islam and became a Muslim.
My heart goes out to the Algerian people who have lost so much, but they have gained in you, President Bouteflika, a very wise, compassionate man and a human being who is not afraid, or does not show it, even though you have your hands full cleaning up the corruption that president Boudiaf attempted to do before he was assassinated. I worry, because I know that the pot always simmers, and sometimes it boils over. Trying to keep up good relations with France, the United States and the Army is a full time job and requires excellent negotiation skills as well you know.
I endorse your unconditional support of the civil reconciliation policy and the pardoning of all militants. I think that this proposal is a brilliant one. There is a time for mourning and a time for healing.
It was a hot summer day and people waited in long lines to buy food, and there was very little, and what was available was extremely expensive. Groups of young men hung around the street corner frustrated that they could not get work. It was a daily ritual looking for food in garbage cans in a land rich in oil. Why was it that Algerians were starving? The reason was that oil prices hit rock bottom and a civil war was in the making. To make matters worse, Algeria almost declared bankruptcy and the only way out was through the IMF. By the early 1990’s Algeria was forced to expend most of its oil and gas income - roughly eight billion dollars to nine billion dollars just to finance her mushrooming twenty six billion dollar external debt. Algeria could not afford to feed her people.
I read in the July 11th edition of the Al-Hayat newspaper about the Algerian Marshall Plan that is designed to direct fifty five billion dollars over five years for the purpose of reviving Algeria’s economy. I salute you, President Bouteflika for your visionary thinking, but be careful. We had a moment when coal was king, then the plug got pulled and coal was king no more. Your endeavors have given my utopian dream new life. I congratulate you and the Algerians on this venture.
I am impressed with the quality of your health care system. Good work! Now you can shine with Cuba and Canada.
My dream of a utopia reality is much brighter for now I see a solution to the scarcity of water in Algeria. Potable water is a vital commodity in Algeria. G.E. announces plans for the largest desalination plant in North Africa. Fifty three million U.S. gallons of potable water a day is a lot of water. Canadians are so casual about water and wasteful too. With global warming on the increase we must make water conservation a priority.
Regarding “terrorism”, I quote…” that you would hit them hard”, but instead of following G.W. Bush in his rush to Americanize the world, continue with what you are doing now. Canada built her reputation upon Socialism and Peacekeeping; allow Algeria to be a utopian gateway, an example to Africa and Europe. I know that you have to keep the lid on, but promote conferences in “social justice”, show the world what Algerians are capable of. Use the blackness of the civil war to highlight the possibilities of faith and social democratization. Dr. Omar Chaalal, Algerian citizen, and world renowned scientist and inventor said, “Use dialogue, not guns or bombs.”
I would like to extend a word of caution over the Byrd Amendment of the United States. This is a warning from Trade Minister Shoichi Nagagwa of Japan. Japan has decided to impose its first-ever retaliatory sanctions against the United States on 15 goods, including steel, in response to a controversial US anti-dumping law. Japan will slap 15% retaliatory levies on US Steel. Trade Ministry official Sato said, “the tariffs will amount to 5.7 billion yen ($51 million US). The percentage is in lines with moves by Canada and the European Union. *
I will watch the progress of Algeria, under your great leadership, President Bouteflika, and have great faith that you will be remembered as the founding father of Algeria, the Utopian Gateway of Africa and Europe.
VIVE L'ALGERIE ¶ 6/13/2006 01:58:00 a.m.
August 21, 2005
Abdelaziz Bouteflika
President of the Republic
El-Mouradia, Alger, Algeria
Re: Congratulations
Dear Mr. President:
I am a Canadian freelance writer, who is very passionate about politics and international relations. My grandfather was a Communist (Austrian) and so was my father (Canadian) so I learned at a very early age about the struggles for equality, observed my grandfather and father fight for decent working conditions, good wages, and of course felt and witnessed the “upheavals and brutality” of the many strikes and attempts to unionize. I also fought for worker’s rights in the largest strip mine of Western Canada. It was through these experiences that I became a writer. My interest is in developing a utopian society. I believe that if people are given a chance to work, good working conditions, food and housing that a utopian society could prevail and I really believe it now. Please let me explain.
I have spent the last eight months of my life soaking up Algerian politics starting with the Algerian Revolution. I must tell you that it has been one of the most difficult and challenging experiences in my life. In the process, I learned about Islam and became a Muslim.
My heart goes out to the Algerian people who have lost so much, but they have gained in you, President Bouteflika, a very wise, compassionate man and a human being who is not afraid, or does not show it, even though you have your hands full cleaning up the corruption that president Boudiaf attempted to do before he was assassinated. I worry, because I know that the pot always simmers, and sometimes it boils over. Trying to keep up good relations with France, the United States and the Army is a full time job and requires excellent negotiation skills as well you know.
I endorse your unconditional support of the civil reconciliation policy and the pardoning of all militants. I think that this proposal is a brilliant one. There is a time for mourning and a time for healing.
It was a hot summer day and people waited in long lines to buy food, and there was very little, and what was available was extremely expensive. Groups of young men hung around the street corner frustrated that they could not get work. It was a daily ritual looking for food in garbage cans in a land rich in oil. Why was it that Algerians were starving? The reason was that oil prices hit rock bottom and a civil war was in the making. To make matters worse, Algeria almost declared bankruptcy and the only way out was through the IMF. By the early 1990’s Algeria was forced to expend most of its oil and gas income - roughly eight billion dollars to nine billion dollars just to finance her mushrooming twenty six billion dollar external debt. Algeria could not afford to feed her people.
I read in the July 11th edition of the Al-Hayat newspaper about the Algerian Marshall Plan that is designed to direct fifty five billion dollars over five years for the purpose of reviving Algeria’s economy. I salute you, President Bouteflika for your visionary thinking, but be careful. We had a moment when coal was king, then the plug got pulled and coal was king no more. Your endeavors have given my utopian dream new life. I congratulate you and the Algerians on this venture.
I am impressed with the quality of your health care system. Good work! Now you can shine with Cuba and Canada.
My dream of a utopia reality is much brighter for now I see a solution to the scarcity of water in Algeria. Potable water is a vital commodity in Algeria. G.E. announces plans for the largest desalination plant in North Africa. Fifty three million U.S. gallons of potable water a day is a lot of water. Canadians are so casual about water and wasteful too. With global warming on the increase we must make water conservation a priority.
Regarding “terrorism”, I quote…” that you would hit them hard”, but instead of following G.W. Bush in his rush to Americanize the world, continue with what you are doing now. Canada built her reputation upon Socialism and Peacekeeping; allow Algeria to be a utopian gateway, an example to Africa and Europe. I know that you have to keep the lid on, but promote conferences in “social justice”, show the world what Algerians are capable of. Use the blackness of the civil war to highlight the possibilities of faith and social democratization. Dr. Omar Chaalal, Algerian citizen, and world renowned scientist and inventor said, “Use dialogue, not guns or bombs.”
I would like to extend a word of caution over the Byrd Amendment of the United States. This is a warning from Trade Minister Shoichi Nagagwa of Japan. Japan has decided to impose its first-ever retaliatory sanctions against the United States on 15 goods, including steel, in response to a controversial US anti-dumping law. Japan will slap 15% retaliatory levies on US Steel. Trade Ministry official Sato said, “the tariffs will amount to 5.7 billion yen ($51 million US). The percentage is in lines with moves by Canada and the European Union. *
I will watch the progress of Algeria, under your great leadership, President Bouteflika, and have great faith that you will be remembered as the founding father of Algeria, the Utopian Gateway of Africa and Europe.
VIVE L'ALGERIE ¶ 6/13/2006 01:58:00 a.m.
