Thursday, July 26, 2007

Turkish journalism

My friend Erkan put today some interesting facts about Turkish journalism on his blog. I agree with what is written. Especially in Today's Zaman.
But being in PR for a long time now, I see how Turkish journalists are struggling. And are being underpaid or overpaid, which makes them not independent at all. And the latter is in the end not in their or their readers' benefit.
Also, the self censorship is still more common than an exception...
I prefer Radikal, Dünya and Turkish Daily News.

Water management


In an interview with Willem Alexander (Dutch Crown Prince) in 1996, while having a life as a bachelor, the interviewer asked him what his major interest was. His answer was straight: 'water management'. People asked themselves: 'What the heck he is talking about?' For your information, the Dutch are fighting with water for ages. We don't have a shortage of that (neither of natural gas, read: Slochteren).

Two years later he was appointed as honorary member of the World Commission on Water for the 21st Century and patron of the Global Water Partnership, a body established by the World Bank, the UN, and the Swedish Ministry of Development. And he was appointed as the Chairperson of the United Nations Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation on December 12th, 2006.
As of today, we see flooding in the UK and shortage of water in SE Europe. And what about Africa, Central Asia and the Far East?
Water is precious. And I must say, no water-cuts lately in Istanbul. Turkey is doing a good job.
I think he gave, in his various unofficial and official visits to Turkey, some good advice to some responsible people ..)) He loves Turkey!