Sudan, Worst No.1, Why?
Japanese corporate members, especially those working in a big city like Tokyo and Osaka, have been forced to work until late at night.
It is partly due to globalization of economy which has forced companies to cut labor costs. (Unlike in the 20th century, nowadays there are many non-permanent employees in every company in Japan.)
Nonetheless, even before the globalization of economy, it has been very common for elite employees to work until late. Elite bureaucrats are also no exemption.
They work until 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m., or further later. Accordingly, main night news programs or news-show programs broadcast by Japanese TV stations start at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. (NHK), around 10 p.m. (TV Asahi), around 11 p.m. (NTV, TBS), and even at 11:30 p.m. (Fuji TV).
(However, some domestic satellite TV channels and cable channels offer 24 hour news broadcasting in addition to foreign TV stations viewed in Japan.)
One of them, last night, spotlighted Sudan.
* * *
According to the "Failed States Ranking" (http://fundforpeace.org/programs/fsi/fsindex2006.php), among 146 countries surveyed Sudan is the worst in terms of mounting demographic pressures, massive movement of refugees, legacy of vengeance - seeking group grievance, chronic and sustained human flight, uneven economic development along group lines, etc.:
[Negative Rank]...........[Country]
1.............................Sudan
4.............................Iraq
10...........................Afghanistan
43...........................Russia
53...........................Iran
57...........................China
62...........................Cuba
67...........................Israel
73...........................Saudi Arabia
85...........................Mexico
93...........................India
128..........................USA
130..........................UK
135..........................Japan
146..........................Norway
As usual in this kind of ranking, European countries, especially Scandinavian countries are appraised highly.
Sudan has been known as a country struggling with cruel civil war. But, its crude-oil reserves have been recently highly appreciated and caught the strong attention of the world. Ironically, however, it has simply intensified cruelty of its civil war (http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/23/africa/AF-GEN-Chad-Darfur-Farrow.php).
One unusual aspect on the state of Sudan is influence and involvement of China, a major oil importer from Sudan (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070511/wl_asia_afp/sudandarfurunrest).
Today in the capital of Sudan, Khartoum, Sudanese who cannot speak Chinese reportedly cannot find a nice job.
* * *
As China takes care of Sudan and the U.S. takes care of Afghanistan and Iraq, it may not be so strange that Japan takes care of China and the U.S. according to the order of the above "Failed States Ranking"; the better should take care of the worse, of course, even in this context.
Or, the reason why Sudan, Iraq, and Afghanistan are ranked so badly high may be the taking care of those countries by China and the U.S.
It could be a good lesson for Japan.
(Hence, logically, the more you fail, the more you have a chance to be blessed by God.)
"ALL BEINGS IN HEAVEN, ON EARTH, AND IN THE WORLD BELOW WILL FALL ON THEIR KNEE"
Japanese corporate members, especially those working in a big city like Tokyo and Osaka, have been forced to work until late at night.
It is partly due to globalization of economy which has forced companies to cut labor costs. (Unlike in the 20th century, nowadays there are many non-permanent employees in every company in Japan.)
Nonetheless, even before the globalization of economy, it has been very common for elite employees to work until late. Elite bureaucrats are also no exemption.
They work until 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m., or further later. Accordingly, main night news programs or news-show programs broadcast by Japanese TV stations start at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. (NHK), around 10 p.m. (TV Asahi), around 11 p.m. (NTV, TBS), and even at 11:30 p.m. (Fuji TV).
(However, some domestic satellite TV channels and cable channels offer 24 hour news broadcasting in addition to foreign TV stations viewed in Japan.)
One of them, last night, spotlighted Sudan.
* * *
According to the "Failed States Ranking" (http://fundforpeace.org/programs/fsi/fsindex2006.php), among 146 countries surveyed Sudan is the worst in terms of mounting demographic pressures, massive movement of refugees, legacy of vengeance - seeking group grievance, chronic and sustained human flight, uneven economic development along group lines, etc.:
[Negative Rank]...........[Country]
1.............................Sudan
4.............................Iraq
10...........................Afghanistan
43...........................Russia
53...........................Iran
57...........................China
62...........................Cuba
67...........................Israel
73...........................Saudi Arabia
85...........................Mexico
93...........................India
128..........................USA
130..........................UK
135..........................Japan
146..........................Norway
As usual in this kind of ranking, European countries, especially Scandinavian countries are appraised highly.
Sudan has been known as a country struggling with cruel civil war. But, its crude-oil reserves have been recently highly appreciated and caught the strong attention of the world. Ironically, however, it has simply intensified cruelty of its civil war (http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/02/23/africa/AF-GEN-Chad-Darfur-Farrow.php).
One unusual aspect on the state of Sudan is influence and involvement of China, a major oil importer from Sudan (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070511/wl_asia_afp/sudandarfurunrest).
Today in the capital of Sudan, Khartoum, Sudanese who cannot speak Chinese reportedly cannot find a nice job.
* * *
As China takes care of Sudan and the U.S. takes care of Afghanistan and Iraq, it may not be so strange that Japan takes care of China and the U.S. according to the order of the above "Failed States Ranking"; the better should take care of the worse, of course, even in this context.
Or, the reason why Sudan, Iraq, and Afghanistan are ranked so badly high may be the taking care of those countries by China and the U.S.
It could be a good lesson for Japan.
(Hence, logically, the more you fail, the more you have a chance to be blessed by God.)
"ALL BEINGS IN HEAVEN, ON EARTH, AND IN THE WORLD BELOW WILL FALL ON THEIR KNEE"