Human Rights: The enemy within

I have always been puzzled about one aspect of society and politics. How is that people can get away with the defilement of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by vindicating the same declaration themselves?

It seems that for those acting in their own disposition forget that the UDHR has 30 articles, and not 29. The 30th Article of the UDHR is perfectly clear:

Nothing in this Declaration may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or to perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein

So how is it that sovereign states that adopt and recognise the UDHR accept the engagement of organisations, parties and other sort of entities that disregard the 30th Article? Read more >>

Do videogames influence us?

This week the murder of a TAXI driver in Thailand by a student who was “carrying out a scene” of the Game Grand Theft Auto IV, prompted authorities to ban the game nation-wide. Once again the question reigns: Do videogames influence people? Well, I have some comments on the matter not from a 3^rd person perspective, but from a 1^st person.

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Consumer Rights: The Brazilian Way

As I wrote in my previous post about the reforms required in Brazil in order to open its economy to foreign organisations, I discussed how Brazil with all its incumbent problems has an excellent track of customer rights; which I yet have to see it being matched by an European country.

Now the Brazilian president signed a decree that imposes new regulations for call centres (source). If you have ever suffered in the hands of poor service delivery through call centres then get ready to feel avenged. You’ll love this! Read more >>

Brazil: Riding the wave of progress?

I recently read an article on the FT entitled “Surfing a big wave of confidence” (FT, 08/Jul/2008) about Brazil’s privileged position in facing what seems to be a global economic crisis. In this article Lapper and Wheatley mentions the growth in Brazil’s home market, the successful results of 15 years of economic reforms, the attraction of foreign investments and the transformation being experienced by society as “income rises and inequality falls”.

However, the authors also righteously assert that Brazil is not yet a superpower and that there is yet a lot to be done – particularly with regards to the public sector, infrastructure and the bureaucracy faced by organisations. This is the last bit I would like to stir some thoughts about.

I do think massive reforms are needed in regards to corporate legislation. But while Brazil should look around and learn from the experience of other successful economies in what to do, I think it is mostly important to learn what not to do. Let me develop on this thought.

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