One Page Kuwait State Budget Review دليل موازنة المواطن الكويتي للعام ٢٠١٢/٢٠١١

The Ministry of Finance in Kuwait has just released a one page ad in Al-Qabas newspaper, detailing and explaining the revenues and expenses of The State of Kuwait for the fiscal year 2011/2012.

I’m very impressed with this ad. It’s explains the ins and outs of Kuwait’s State budget, where money is coming in from and where’s it’s going. I don’t think the M.O.Finance has done this before, explaining the State budget in such common Kuwaiti laymen diagrams and lists.

I hope you take some time to read what’s in the ad, it’s really is a rare opportunity. Click [here] for the original and very clear picture.

  

  

كلمات بحق العم أحمد السعدون

دايما أواجه بهذا السؤال؟ ليش أغلب الناس تكره أحمد السعدون؟ 

 و للأمانة ما عندي فكرة ليش، و لكني أعتقد إنه من الأبسط للناس إنها تكره اللي يدافع عن الحق و يفضح الغلط، و خصوصا في زماننا المايع هذا

 و برأيي الشخصي، هذا حال المناضلين. إنه من السهل جدا و البديهي، أن تميل الناس لمن لديه القوة و المقدرة على تيسير أمورهم  و حاجاتهم اليومية. و بالتالي فإنه غير منطقي بأن تجد ناس تساند معارض و مناضل من أمثال و غير أمثال أحمد السعدون. و شخصيا لا أجد تفسير أبدا لهذه العقلية. و لكن هذي الكويت و هذا تفكير أغلبية الكويتيين

 أظن إن عداء الحكومة و السلطة لهذا الرجل الكبير تساعد عامة الناس بأن تميل لعداءه أيضا، حتى بدون فهم أو إستيعاب أرثه و تاريخه. بنهاية اليوم، الناس تبي شغلها يمشي. و هذا الشغل ما يمشي إلا بالواسطات و حب الخشوم، مرورا بالفساد و الرشاوي.  بالكويتي الفصيح، بيون الناس اللي بالضبط عكس السعدون. بالتالي من المنطقي إنه نلقى السعدون خارج دائرة محبة الناس

و أغلب الناس في الكويت ليسوا واعيين سياسيا. فمازلنا نرى تصويت الناس لأقاربهم و معارفهم، حتى لو كانوا ضد توجهاتهم الشخصية، و أنا لا ألومهم على هذا. مثل ما قلت، الناس في الكويت ليست بذاك الوعي السياسي. سياسة و منطق “صوتي مقطوع لولد عمي و ولد خالي و ولد جيراننا”، حتى لو يعارضوني أو يستحقرون مبادئي، هي السائدة في الكويت

 و بالتالي فإنني لا أعول، أو بالأحرى لا أزعل،  كثيرا عندما أواجه السؤال عن عدم حب الناس للسعدون. فمنذ متى كانت الوطنية الكويتية و حب الديمقراطية و محاربة الفساد و تسييد سياسة القوانين و الدولة هي الرائجة بالكويت؟

السعدون له مواقف تاريخية، حقيقة، قوية، شجاعة، إقتصادية، رياضية، وطنية، كويتية، عربية، و قومية. من الصعب إختيار سبب واحد أو معين لحبي و إحترامي له. أما ما للناس من آراء، فلهم إحترامنا لحقهم في الرأي و لكن ليس في بصحة رأيهم عن السعدون

ليش الناس ما تحب السعدون؟ لا أدري

و لكن عندما نواجه بالإختيار ما بين أحمد السعدون و مثلا ما بين العم الكبير المرحوم جاسم الصقر سنة ١٩٩٢ أو حتى إبنه محمد هذه السنة في إنتخابات رئاسة مجلس الأمة، فإننا نجد كل الوطنيين و من ضمنهم أنا و أمثالي أمام معضلة حقيقة: كيف لنا أن لا نؤيد مرشحينا الوطنيين، كيف لنا أن لا نقدم أحمد السعدون على غيره من الرموز الكويتية الوطنية؟ السعدون، كما هو حال الأعمام جاسم القطامي و حمد الجوعان، لا يمكننا أبدا إختيار غيرهم بأي حال من الأحوال و تحت أي ظروف. هذه الرجال من مستوى غير طبيعي في حب الوطن  و سيادة قانون الدولة على الكل ، و التشرد من  المصالح الشخصية في العمل الوطني و السياسي

جوابي عن السعدون بكل بساطة: الرجل قدم الكثير لنصرة الحياة الديمقراطية بالكويت، من دواوين الأثنين و تداعيات الغزو، إلى أحداث ديوان الحربش و النزول للشارع. من المستحيل علينا أن نؤيد غيره، لو من كانوا، أو مهما نكن لهم من التقدير و الإحترام الجليلين. كان غير السعدون الكثير من الناس الذين وقفوا على الحياد في خلال السنة الماضية، كما في خلال فترة تعطيل الدستور، منتظرين حسمُ من السماء يعفيهم من إتخاذ أي قرار غير شعبي مضر و قاتل لمصالحهم الشخصية

و تظلون تسألون ليش الناس ما تحب السعدون؟

ليش ما تسألون ليش دايما يفوز؟ ليش عمره ما خسر بالرغم من كل هالمعارضة؟

Details of 3rd District الدائرة الثالثة Voting of Majlis Al-Omma

  

  

  

  

Al-Qaabas published the details of the top spots in the 2012 Majlis Al-Omma elections for the 3rd district, detailed by area. The tables show the top 1 to 12-20 spots, by candidate. Al-Qabas also published an analysis of the numbers. Click on these links [here and here] for more details

I haven’t seen details like this yet for this year’s elections. I’m also surprised that Al-Qabas started off with the 3rd district, instead of going with numerical ordering and starting with the 1st district. I belong to the 2nd, so I’m obviously interested in reading the numbers behind the winning candidates in my district. Seeing where each of them was strong, weak, won, or lost.

[Link]

New MP Nabeel Al-Fadhel Reading Sorat Al-Baqara

 

Nabeel Al-Fadhel promised to read Sorat Al-Baqara before he takes his parliamentary oath. And guess what. He did just that yesterday. Of course, he didn’t read it properly, and made a few errors. But frankly, I commend him for just reading Quran out loud. What I’ve heard about Al-Fadhel is that he’s very not-so-religeous, so I think he irritated his opponents big time reading The Quran.

The FBI’s Report on Steve Jobs

The FBI made a file about Apple’s late president, Steve Jobs. Apparently, President George W. Bush wanted to honor him with a medal or something, so an intensive report about Jobs was made. Here are some snippets:

“Several individuals questioned Mr. Jobs’ honesty stating that Mr. Jobs will twist the truth and distort reality in order to achieve his goals,”

“During the 1960s and early 1970s, Mr. Jobs may have experimented with illegal drugs, having come from that generation,”

“Mr. Jobs used illegal drugs, including marijuana and LSD, while they were attending college.”

“… interviews were also conducted of those who said Jobs was “not supportive” of the mother of his child born out of wedlock and their daughter. However, they stated “recently he has become more supportive.”

You can find the complete 190-page FBI report [here].

Thank You Hassan Jowhar

Between the excitement of the elections last week, and the disappointment that followed this week, I forgot to post anything about the ex-mp Hassan Jowhar. He lost this year’s elections because, as expected, the She3a blocked him out of their vote, in retaliation of his non-sectorial decisions in the Kuwaiti parliament.

I wrote a post about him last year, and called him a hero. He was the only She3i vote in the non-cooperation request against the previous PM. Without him, it would have been a complete 6a2efi result. This was the post I wrote last year (plus a couple of newspaper clips):

His vote was very important, not only in declaring non-cooperation with the PM, but more importantly by going against his shei3a colleagues. He voted with Kuwait in his heart, and paid dearly for it. He had a lot more to lose than ex-MP Abdullah Al-Roumi, who abstained from voting at the last minute:

Al-Qabas newspaper said that people want to place 10,000 roses at Hassan Jowhar’s house, in appreciation. I here add my own personal appreciation to him.

Thank you Hassan Jowhar, you truly were a hero.

Jamal Mubarak in a Fancy White Coat on His Way to Court

Here’s a picture of Jamal Hussni Mubarak, on his way from jail to the court house, where he’s been tried since the Egyptian revolution last year.

He’s wearing a fancy white, clearly not jail issued coat. This had left many Egyptians upset, for the silky sweet treatment he and his family are getting in jail.

Juwaihel 1.0

Someone sent me this old vid of Hussain 3bdelRedha. It talks about an ignorant person who ran for elections out of spite, and won. Then his problems begin, because he doesn’t have a clue what to do, and he doesn’t even want to be an MP.

It’s a very funny vid. And I do agree with the sender that it symbolizes Juwaiheel’s present situation.

Training Opportunities for Kuwaiti Youth in the United States

The United States’s Embassy in Kuwait has a development program called the Middle East Partnership Initiative (or MEPI) aimed at young Kuwaiti youth, giving them several opportunities to travel or study in the US.

The latest MEPI program is called Student Leaders Program. It’s a 6 week exchange program course, that will take place this summer in the USA:

The Student Leaders program is an intensive exchange program to the United States. Approximately 100 students are expected to participate in 2012, joining nearly 1,000 program alumni. The program will last six weeks, from June 26 – August 7, 2012.

Students are divided among up to six U.S. academic institutions where they develop leadership skills and expand their understanding of civil society, as well as the democratic process and how both may be applied in their home communities.

Participants have the opportunity to meet their American peers, engage in local community service activities, and observe and take part in the governmental process on the local, state, and federal levels. The institutes include academic coursework, as well as study tours to various regions of the United States. Upon completion of the U.S.-based programs, host institutes work with participants to implement civic engagement programs in their home communities.

  • This program is open to young Kuwaitis between the age of 18-24. For more information and conditions, check the program’s page [link]. 
  • The deadline will end in just a few days: Applications are due February 7, 2012.
  • You can get the application form by emailing kuwaitmepi@state.gov 

If you want to know more about their other programs (like their student exchange or young leaders programs), then click [here]. 

You can also stay connected with MEPI through: TwitterFacebook, and Youtube.

Black & White Kuwait Parliament Candidate Lists

Here’s a very good list I just found at NationalKuwait forums. Each constituency has a black unapproved candidates list, and a white approved list of candidates. I don’t have to personally agree with all the names on any of these lists, but I have to admit that all the names here are pretty solid, reputation and stand wise.

I liked the list, and thought it was good. That’s why I’m sharing it with you. And like I said, I don’t have to like all the names, but I have to agree that the names are clean reputation wise.

The lists are not random, they were compiled according to specific stands on certain very controversial issues:

  • Were against secrecy of estajwabat the Prime Minister.
  • Were not part of the million-dinar-bribes’ group of parliament members, and were not ordered by the Niyaba for bribery questioning.
  • Were against the government’s sick attempt to strike out el-estejwabat, which was constitutionally scandalous.

Click the [picture] or [here] for a bigger view, and click [here] for the original source.