…In all civilization, there is a fundamental belief in supreme deity who guides and protects the people as they match along the road to success. But above all, there is an unshaken belief in self-reliance. This is the guiding principle.
Self-reliance result in self approval anytime a little success is gained. This, in turn increases the belief and dependence on the self. The more you conquer odds, the more you trust on your judgment, the more proud you become of your effort. Self reliance is an integral virtue without which the mountaineer is left at the bottom of the valley, helplessly gazing up at the height he could have conquered. This is true for the individual as it is for a nation; the former being a unit of the later.
A nation that is seeking a golden age must have entrenched in its nationals these two qualities – a deep, deep belief in God and an attitude of self reliance. The former replenish spiritual strength while the later is the inevitable tool that carves out a sure path in the material jungle.
Once the majority can develop and put to use the attitude of self reliance, the nation is planted on the path to its golden age!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Man and Conspiracy
Life is a paradox where the chain of events often defies logic. A lot of ironies play out in this curious age of reasons. Quite often, man is ruled by a number of irrational variables which add to the mystery and paradox that shape humanity and events.
Events are not quite what they seem on the surface. But man often wades through the imponderables of life to make a sense out of the labyrinth of existence. Through such efforts, dreams are transformed into reality. There is always a constant struggle to capture the seemingly endless mirage. Man in his push to conquer has remained essentially restless. Always pushing ahead, beyond barriers, behind the scenes; to build and to destroy all toward a goal. Indeed, survival and conquest have presented man with daily challenges.
In a world ruled by ideas however, surviving the endless hurdles has been Herculean. From the individual to the group levels, and even among nations, Darwinian dynamics rule the roost. The fittest often survives. The unfit becomes extinct. It is a refrain that liberal minded philosophers find difficult to accept. But even among the very powerful, plots and conspiracy against each other reign supreme. There is perfidy, disloyalty and faithlessness. Treachery is an act, perhaps a defining goal in the road to conquest. Simply put, men conspire in a group to out-maneuver one another.
In Hobbesian state, the picture of life being short, brutish and nasty is a recurring decimal. Perhaps also, these features are the driving force behind the series of conspiracy to achieve or play ones’ part within the available stretch of time. Little wonder, men plots against the grain of reason. The painful part of conspiracy is its furtive nature. That is why conspirators at work are always difficult to expose: often, they pretend to be loyal. There is always no art to read the minds construction on the face – apology to William Shakespeare. Watch out, that friend, political acolyte or even your crony could be among the conspirators. Like the great reggae musician Bob Marley noted in his music “your best friend could be your worst enemy”.
Make no mistake about it, aside from men who plot against one another, children also plot against their parent. Group conspires against others. Nations are constantly in conspiracy to acquire, steal or to spy. The bottom-line at times is to attain leverage, an advantage over the other. Destruction is the goal at other times. From individual to family and other groups, the quests for wealth and power have given vent to endless conspiracies. So also have the attempts to settle scores spawn conspiracies against the unsuspecting.
But human needs like basic economic principles reveals are essentially insatiable. As soon as one need is met, it is in the nature of man to push for more. That is why after the tough battle to cement a marriage, tales of struggles for control between husband and wife take roots. Such battles are silently conspiratorial. Business partners are always at dagger drawn for control. They too conspire just as nations plot against nations. Conspirators seek to wear down the opponent, the target. But at the end of the day, conspiracy is destructive.
In all quest, self-preservation is the primary law. And to succeed, economic, social, cultural, military and intellectual battles are waged. The quest for political power and its reward has given birth to conspiracies of various shades. Political power may in fact be the ultimate goal of the most celebrated conspiracies.
It is no exaggeration that in the search for power, man has perfected the art of subversion. Conspiracies are often times a fore play to acquire power, to oust the incumbent or to establish a foothold for strategic purpose. In all, these are cold calculation towards tilting the apple-cart. Coups, counter coups, assassination; or even a palace coups and on many occasions, blood bath occur, as the deadly aftermath of conspiracies.
Just like men plot, cabals plot too. Americans are yet to overcome or even understand the conspiracy behind the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The death of General Murtala Mohammed remains a lingering consequence of a bloody conspiracy. Moshood Abiola won a presidential election in 1993. Men conspired to/and deny him his presidency. Its consequence ousted General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. General Sani Abacha, a beneficiary of the 1993 general election annulment, came; arrested Abiola, jailed General Olusegun Obasanjo and Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for allege conspiracy to oust him (Abacha). Shehu Yar’Adua was killed out of conspiracy by the Abacha junta in a bid to checkmate Yar’Adua’s political profile. But conspiracies often produce series of reaction which consumes the initiators. In the end, even Abacha, in spite of his goons had no armor against conspirator. He died like a chicken in 1998.
What more shall I say? For time will fail me to mention the first PDP rally in Jos in the 1999 and of course the most recent, the April 2007 PDP Primaries that produced Umar Musa Yar’Adua as the parties presidential flag bearer and today the president of the leaping nation, Nigeria, falsely called the giant of Africa. It will also be a great oversight on my part to ignore or disregard the must recent (2007) coup in the PDP that ousted the erstwhile Chairman BOT (Board of Trustee) of the ( most acclaimed largest) party (in Africa) in the person of Anthony Annenih and his replacement by Olusegun Obasanjo. Annenih was himself a foot soldier of Obasanjo. He described his replacement as a betrayal by his former boss.Conspiracy and its act have not ended. It will never be.
Now when it comes to conspiracy: WHAT IS ONE TO THINK?
In a world ruled by ideas however, surviving the endless hurdles has been Herculean. From the individual to the group levels, and even among nations, Darwinian dynamics rule the roost. The fittest often survives. The unfit becomes extinct. It is a refrain that liberal minded philosophers find difficult to accept. But even among the very powerful, plots and conspiracy against each other reign supreme. There is perfidy, disloyalty and faithlessness. Treachery is an act, perhaps a defining goal in the road to conquest. Simply put, men conspire in a group to out-maneuver one another.
In Hobbesian state, the picture of life being short, brutish and nasty is a recurring decimal. Perhaps also, these features are the driving force behind the series of conspiracy to achieve or play ones’ part within the available stretch of time. Little wonder, men plots against the grain of reason. The painful part of conspiracy is its furtive nature. That is why conspirators at work are always difficult to expose: often, they pretend to be loyal. There is always no art to read the minds construction on the face – apology to William Shakespeare. Watch out, that friend, political acolyte or even your crony could be among the conspirators. Like the great reggae musician Bob Marley noted in his music “your best friend could be your worst enemy”.
Make no mistake about it, aside from men who plot against one another, children also plot against their parent. Group conspires against others. Nations are constantly in conspiracy to acquire, steal or to spy. The bottom-line at times is to attain leverage, an advantage over the other. Destruction is the goal at other times. From individual to family and other groups, the quests for wealth and power have given vent to endless conspiracies. So also have the attempts to settle scores spawn conspiracies against the unsuspecting.
But human needs like basic economic principles reveals are essentially insatiable. As soon as one need is met, it is in the nature of man to push for more. That is why after the tough battle to cement a marriage, tales of struggles for control between husband and wife take roots. Such battles are silently conspiratorial. Business partners are always at dagger drawn for control. They too conspire just as nations plot against nations. Conspirators seek to wear down the opponent, the target. But at the end of the day, conspiracy is destructive.
In all quest, self-preservation is the primary law. And to succeed, economic, social, cultural, military and intellectual battles are waged. The quest for political power and its reward has given birth to conspiracies of various shades. Political power may in fact be the ultimate goal of the most celebrated conspiracies.
It is no exaggeration that in the search for power, man has perfected the art of subversion. Conspiracies are often times a fore play to acquire power, to oust the incumbent or to establish a foothold for strategic purpose. In all, these are cold calculation towards tilting the apple-cart. Coups, counter coups, assassination; or even a palace coups and on many occasions, blood bath occur, as the deadly aftermath of conspiracies.
Just like men plot, cabals plot too. Americans are yet to overcome or even understand the conspiracy behind the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The death of General Murtala Mohammed remains a lingering consequence of a bloody conspiracy. Moshood Abiola won a presidential election in 1993. Men conspired to/and deny him his presidency. Its consequence ousted General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. General Sani Abacha, a beneficiary of the 1993 general election annulment, came; arrested Abiola, jailed General Olusegun Obasanjo and Shehu Musa Yar’Adua for allege conspiracy to oust him (Abacha). Shehu Yar’Adua was killed out of conspiracy by the Abacha junta in a bid to checkmate Yar’Adua’s political profile. But conspiracies often produce series of reaction which consumes the initiators. In the end, even Abacha, in spite of his goons had no armor against conspirator. He died like a chicken in 1998.
What more shall I say? For time will fail me to mention the first PDP rally in Jos in the 1999 and of course the most recent, the April 2007 PDP Primaries that produced Umar Musa Yar’Adua as the parties presidential flag bearer and today the president of the leaping nation, Nigeria, falsely called the giant of Africa. It will also be a great oversight on my part to ignore or disregard the must recent (2007) coup in the PDP that ousted the erstwhile Chairman BOT (Board of Trustee) of the ( most acclaimed largest) party (in Africa) in the person of Anthony Annenih and his replacement by Olusegun Obasanjo. Annenih was himself a foot soldier of Obasanjo. He described his replacement as a betrayal by his former boss.Conspiracy and its act have not ended. It will never be.
Now when it comes to conspiracy: WHAT IS ONE TO THINK?
Thursday, June 21, 2007
FUEL PRICE AND VAT INCREASE
Human beings as far as they are understanding and just acknowledge ability as the proper measure of responsibility. The blind man is not held responsible to see nor the deaf man to hear. Even the most oppressive government imposes upon its citizens only such taxes as it judges him able to pay. To demand more of any man is finally to destroy such ability as he may posses. Any government that would demand more of (from) its citizens than they were able to pay would soon dry up all tribute at its roots and bring upon itself sure destruction. Such governments are not innocent before they have heard the cry of the masses, but their responsibility is vastly increased after they have heard it.
However, this simple logic has failed to be acknowledged in Nigeria. Obasanjo in his characteristic manner was so nefarious that he could not think of better things for Nigerians in general and his successor, Umar Yar’Adua in particular, (who inevitable has a lot to battle with in the nation Nigeria), but to, (in few days he was expected to pack his bag and baggage’s), increased fuel price by over 15% and VAT by 10%.
To use increase taxes to feed government purses and enjoy greater expenditure is perfectly natural – and that is precisely why it is wrong, especially given the economic state of Nigeria; it accords it with insensitivity and is of the essence of inhumanity to the generality of the Nigerian populace.
To accept a larger increase in taxes to lay up treasures in government coffers accords with the principles of modern government. While every government who has this problem to face should prayerfully consider its larger responsibility in the light of many factors, a moment of rational thinking would lead us to conclude that good economic policies are not and can never be the same for all nations since their levels of poverty in particular and development in general are not the same.
So what is Nigeria waiting for?
To accept a larger increase in taxes to lay up treasures in government coffers accords with the principles of modern government. While every government who has this problem to face should prayerfully consider its larger responsibility in the light of many factors, a moment of rational thinking would lead us to conclude that good economic policies are not and can never be the same for all nations since their levels of poverty in particular and development in general are not the same.
So what is Nigeria waiting for?
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
"Anu Moulda, Ngu Ga Sanakur, Amma Ga Sukwa Tsu Noleen"
Mhm. A ngwamari du ma ga kubu. Naja Su munagu di niu ga ngari daha gu.
Pics. Removed by author.
Pics. Removed by author.
Democracy Is Not Dead…It Just Never Was!
“Democracy is dead” was the caption of the BBC. “It just never was” said my friend Jagila. What an intellectually sound reasoning they are!
The two-times four year term of Olusegun Obasanjo (from May 29, 1999 to May 29, 2007) was not a democracy (democratic dispensation); it was a transition period from the “military” to a “civilian” (Obasanjo himself knew that he did not have the spirit of democracy, though his pomposity made him to say or claim otherwise on almost all occasions).
For this reason, the world should judge Nigeria on the basis of this new era. Whatever judgment, it should be based on what(ever) Umaru Yar’Adua is going to deliver to the Nigerians as democratic dividends.
So, instead of saying democracy is dead in Nigeria, we should say democracy is brought to life again after Shehu Shagari’s government of the 1979 was ousted out.
With Yar’Adua is the beginning of real democracy whether he is able to deliver the so called “goodies” of democracy.
It is a truism that some nations have had their Heads of States/Presidents as retired army officers. But it never was, from the armed force to agbada (civilian). They must undergo some kinds of political tutelage, or rather start from a lower office, say senate, and gradually ascends to the office of the president. But, in Nigeria, even the office of the governor is small to a retired General, Colonel etc. I remembered Obasanjo once saying only a retired General can rule Nigeria. Aren’t rubbish? Behold a home breed politician is the president of Nigeria today, lets wait, see and pass our judgment as time unfold the outcome of this new epoch in the Nigerian History.
For this reason, the world should judge Nigeria on the basis of this new era. Whatever judgment, it should be based on what(ever) Umaru Yar’Adua is going to deliver to the Nigerians as democratic dividends.
So, instead of saying democracy is dead in Nigeria, we should say democracy is brought to life again after Shehu Shagari’s government of the 1979 was ousted out.
With Yar’Adua is the beginning of real democracy whether he is able to deliver the so called “goodies” of democracy.
It is a truism that some nations have had their Heads of States/Presidents as retired army officers. But it never was, from the armed force to agbada (civilian). They must undergo some kinds of political tutelage, or rather start from a lower office, say senate, and gradually ascends to the office of the president. But, in Nigeria, even the office of the governor is small to a retired General, Colonel etc. I remembered Obasanjo once saying only a retired General can rule Nigeria. Aren’t rubbish? Behold a home breed politician is the president of Nigeria today, lets wait, see and pass our judgment as time unfold the outcome of this new epoch in the Nigerian History.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Resist Not Evil…
The great teachers, sages and wise ones of history have left us with many proverbs, sayings and instructions for living a good life. While most of these sayings are obvious in their meanings, others seem to be contrary to the very thing that these wise ones were teaching. Take for example Jesus, where he says, in Matthew5:34 “Resist not evil….” Now that is a rather strange saying for a religious teacher, isn’t it? What did Jesus mean by this?
It is my contention that, in addition to all of the many different ways that people sees and interprets who Jesus was – he was, above all, a profound mystic who was far ahead of the people of his time in terms of understanding the principles of the Universe and human nature.
He understood, for example, that when you focus your attention on something, you create a certain vibration or frequency which puts you in alignment (on the same frequency) with that thing. To say it simply:
“What you see is what you get.”
“What you think about, you bring about”
“What you focus on, you get more of.”
In other words, what you give your attention to, you actually align yourself with at a frequency level, whether it is something you want or something you don’t want.
Thus, when you fight against the thing you don’t want, you are giving it your full attention and, at a frequency level, actually empowering it. Exactly how this takes place is explained from a quantum physics perspective. With quantum physics we now have a clear scientific understanding for many things that the great mystics of history have known for eons.
Back to the point. When people wish to eliminate something that is undesirable, they often start a campaign to fight it, based on the antiquated idea of war. Thus, in the USA, we have seen the “War on Poverty,” the “War on Drugs,” the “War on Cancer,” the “War on Terrorism,” etc., just to name a few. Other parts of the world have other priorities and thus other ‘wars.’ Now the interesting thing is, they still have poverty, drugs, cancer, and terrorism, and in most cases the problems are actually worse now than when they declared war on them. It makes me wonder what kind of world we would have today if we had conducted a campaign for Prosperity for All, or Optimum Health for all, or the Campaign for Justice, Equality, Brotherhood, Peace and Prosperity for all – regardless of national boundaries?
An even more profound question is, what kind of impact would we have had on terrorism if we were spending TWO BILLION DOLLARS A WEEK in the Middle East (US current war budget), on health, education, social justice, and infrastructure development (water, electricity, roads, etc.) instead of guns & bombs?
All of our experience points to the fact that what we fight against (give our full attention to), we actually tend to empower.
Why? Because this is one of the fundamental teachings on global leadership. The kind of leadership that we need today is that which can carry us from the old consciousness which has brought us collectively to the brink of extinction to a new, visionary leadership which can carry us forward into a positive future. First and foremost this requires a change in consciousness. And this change is based on an understanding of the basic principles of how the Universe works; principles which have been the fundamental teachings of the world’s mystics and have more recently been confirmed by the science of quantum physics.
At this stage in our planetary history, we don’t need leaders/managers who can efficiently pilot a sinking ship. We need visionary leaders who can really see the hidden reefs and steer us in a new direction; for Africa as a start, then the global economy in general .
It is my contention that, in addition to all of the many different ways that people sees and interprets who Jesus was – he was, above all, a profound mystic who was far ahead of the people of his time in terms of understanding the principles of the Universe and human nature.
He understood, for example, that when you focus your attention on something, you create a certain vibration or frequency which puts you in alignment (on the same frequency) with that thing. To say it simply:
“What you see is what you get.”
“What you think about, you bring about”
“What you focus on, you get more of.”
In other words, what you give your attention to, you actually align yourself with at a frequency level, whether it is something you want or something you don’t want.
Thus, when you fight against the thing you don’t want, you are giving it your full attention and, at a frequency level, actually empowering it. Exactly how this takes place is explained from a quantum physics perspective. With quantum physics we now have a clear scientific understanding for many things that the great mystics of history have known for eons.
Back to the point. When people wish to eliminate something that is undesirable, they often start a campaign to fight it, based on the antiquated idea of war. Thus, in the USA, we have seen the “War on Poverty,” the “War on Drugs,” the “War on Cancer,” the “War on Terrorism,” etc., just to name a few. Other parts of the world have other priorities and thus other ‘wars.’ Now the interesting thing is, they still have poverty, drugs, cancer, and terrorism, and in most cases the problems are actually worse now than when they declared war on them. It makes me wonder what kind of world we would have today if we had conducted a campaign for Prosperity for All, or Optimum Health for all, or the Campaign for Justice, Equality, Brotherhood, Peace and Prosperity for all – regardless of national boundaries?
An even more profound question is, what kind of impact would we have had on terrorism if we were spending TWO BILLION DOLLARS A WEEK in the Middle East (US current war budget), on health, education, social justice, and infrastructure development (water, electricity, roads, etc.) instead of guns & bombs?
All of our experience points to the fact that what we fight against (give our full attention to), we actually tend to empower.
Why? Because this is one of the fundamental teachings on global leadership. The kind of leadership that we need today is that which can carry us from the old consciousness which has brought us collectively to the brink of extinction to a new, visionary leadership which can carry us forward into a positive future. First and foremost this requires a change in consciousness. And this change is based on an understanding of the basic principles of how the Universe works; principles which have been the fundamental teachings of the world’s mystics and have more recently been confirmed by the science of quantum physics.
At this stage in our planetary history, we don’t need leaders/managers who can efficiently pilot a sinking ship. We need visionary leaders who can really see the hidden reefs and steer us in a new direction; for Africa as a start, then the global economy in general .
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Favorite Quotes (Today)
"Friends are the sunshine of life" "Never regret anything that made you smile" "A day without laughter is a day wasted" "Don't cry because it's ended. Smile because it happened. "I must have said this a million times last year "N and J are such wonderlords" I think N and J are the best persons in the whole world, they should be ruler of it!I think they are so cool
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
A Good News Or A Very Bad One?
What kind of people are these? Do they think they can ever get me?
I recieved this email on the June 04, 2007 from a 419ner name Yusufu Haji (yusufuh4@zipmail.com.br):
My.Dearest Friend, I'm happy to inform you about my success in getting those funds transferredunder the cooperation of a new partner from Paraguay. Presently Iam in Paraguayfor investment projects with my own share of the total sum of $850.000.00.Meanwhile,I didn't forget your past efforts and attempts to assist me in transferringthose funds deposit that it failed us some how. Now contact my secretary in Benin his name is Johnson Ifeanyi on this E-mail:address(johnson_ifeanyi@yahoo.fr) you will reach him for his number +229-930-61-066ask him to send you the total of $850.000.00 which I kept for your compensationfor all the past efforts and attempts to assist me in this matter. I appreciatedyour efforts at that time very much. So feel free and get in touched withmy secretary Johnson instruct him where to send the amount to you. Please do let me know immediately you receive it so that we can share the joy afterall the suffer ness at that time. in the moment. I am very busy here because of the investment projects which me and thenew partner are having at hand, finally, remember that I had forwarded instructionto the my secretary on your behalf to receive that money, So feel free toget in touch with Johnson he will send the amount to you without any delay. Best Regards Mr.Yusufu Haji
Monday, May 28, 2007
STAATS LOTERIJ INTERNATIONAL
Standard lottery fraud.
There was not lottery and there are no prizes.
You will be asked for a series of payments to "process" that non existent prize.
Avoid.
There was not lottery and there are no prizes.
You will be asked for a series of payments to "process" that non existent prize.
Avoid.
I recieved this email on the 25th of may 2007:
NOTICE!!!
FROM: THE PROMOTION CO-ORDINATOR OF STAATS LOTERIJ
STAATS LOTERIJ PROMOTION CO-ORDINATOR
GOVERNMENT ACCREDITED LICENSED!!! INTERNATIONAL LOTTERY PROMOTION PROGRAM IS REGISTERED UNDER THE NETHERLANDS GAMING CONTROL LOTTERY
BOARD PROTECTION ACT OF; (Registration Z720633X).
http://www.staatsloterij.nl/
Dear beneficiary,
We happily notify you of the draw of the Email Lottery Ballot - World Gaming Board Sweepstakes program held on Saturday - the 19th of April, 2007 at our Lottery office complex in Den Haag.
Your email address attached to our Lottery payment order, had the following details:(i) Ticket Nr.: DZS-NED 338-691-BBT/2007; (ii) Lucky Nrs.: 11, 18, 25, 43, 56, 77, 89; (iii) Reference Nr.: MST/18436/DZS-NED;(iv) Batch Nr.:KNED-LOTT 5196 72X5G; which consequently won you this lottery in the 1st category. You have therefore been approved to claim a total sum of One Million Euro only, in Certified Bank Draft issued in your name, and credited to your File Reference number as quoted above. This is from a total prize of Fifty Million Euro only, shared amongst the fifty winners in this category.
A total of 500,000 email addresses were entered for the Email Lottery Ballot - World Gaming Board Sweepstakes International. All email addresses entered for the game were submitted by our partners; International email service providers from over 140 countries that are listed, online and were thereafter randomly selected systematically through our Electronic Random Selection System (ERSS).
Microsoft Corporation, to encourage some individuals with websites and email addresses promoted this lottery which takes place at this time, of every three years.
The payment authority of your prize - One Million Euro only,in Certified Bank Draft issued in your name- is already deposited and insured in your name with our Paying Bank pending your claim and will be issued to effect immediate payment/swift transfer in the mode you will prefer and nominate, upon satisfactory report on your identity verification and validation recommendation by our Claims Department - Staats Loterij The Netherlands.. Email addresses registered with false names are not eligible to claiming this prize.
The payment authority of your prize - One Million Euro only,in Certified Bank Draft issued in your name- is already deposited and insured in your name with our Paying Bank pending your claim and will be issued to effect immediate payment/swift transfer in the mode you will prefer and nominate, upon satisfactory report on your identity verification and validation recommendation by our Claims Department - Staats Loterij The Netherlands.. Email addresses registered with false names are not eligible to claiming this prize.
We are proud to inform you that, over 200 million Euros are won annually in more than 140 countries worldwide, as a result of our promotional programmes.
Due to the mixup of certain names, you are advised to keep your winning information confidential until your claim has been processed and your money paid to you. All winnings must be claimed as soon as possible. Becuase, all unclaimed funds will be withdrawn.
To file for your claim, please contact our Claims Department:
To file for your claim, please contact our Claims Department:
FOREIGN TRANSFER MANAGERMR. RENE HUSON.STAATS LOTERIJ CLAIMS DEPARTMENT.TEL: +31-619-823-414.TEL: +31-204-000-498.FAX: +31-847-299-403 FAX: +31-847-407-453 Email: http://us.f587.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=loterijstaatsnl@aim.com
http://us.f587.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=loterijstaatni@aim.com
For your identity verification, while quoting:
http://us.f587.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=loterijstaatni@aim.com
For your identity verification, while quoting:
(i). Your full name(s) and Nationality;
(ii). Reference Number and
(iii). Batch Number:
Congratulations once more.Faithfully yours,
Mrs. Rosemarry Van Ken,Public Relation Officer.
Online coordinator for STAATS LOTERIJ Sweepstakes International Lottery Promotion Program.
Congratulations once more.Faithfully yours,
Mrs. Rosemarry Van Ken,Public Relation Officer.
Online coordinator for STAATS LOTERIJ Sweepstakes International Lottery Promotion Program.
BELOW ARE THE SPONSORS OF THIS PROGRAM
Executives:Dr. P. Swier (CEO), Mr. Rene Huson (Manager Forei gn Operations), Mr. Franklyn Van Der Weijden (Manager Domestic Banking Operations), Dr. James Williams (Director International Credit Department), Barr. Blenheim Mark (Legal Representative), Mrs. Lyudmyla Marchukova(Regional Manager), Mr. Stephen Boer (Chairman), Mr. Chris Moritz (International Relation Officer).
SAMPLE FRUAD EMAILS
There are many people all over the world that have recieved similar email from either same or similar suppossedly (non) existing organizations.
#1
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS FROM MEMBERS AND STAFF OF STAATS LOTERIJ FOR YOUR WINNING.
THE LOTTERY COORDINATOR, STAATS LOTERIJ LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT B.V. Boeing Avenue 44 9459 PE Schiphol-Rijk.
THE LOTTERY COORDINATOR, STAATS LOTERIJ LOTTERY INTERNATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS/PRIZE AWARD DEPARTMENT B.V. Boeing Avenue 44 9459 PE Schiphol-Rijk.
RESULTS FOR CATEGORY "A" DRAWS
Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of the First Category draws of STAATSLOTERIJ LOTTERY INT.
Congratulations to you as we bring to your notice, the results of the First Category draws of STAATSLOTERIJ LOTTERY INT.
We are happy to inform you that you have emerged a winner under the First Category, promotional draws held on 20th January, 2007. Participants were selected through a computer ballot system drawn from 2,500,000 email addresses of individuals and companies from Africa, America, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East, and Oceania as part of our International Promotions Program.
Your e-mail address, attached to ticket number 50941465206-529, with serial number 5772-54 drew the lucky numbers 3-4-17-28-35-44 and consequently won in the First Category.
You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of US$1,000,000.00 (One million United State dollars), which is the winning payout for Category A winners. This is from the total prize money from 2,000,000 shared among the 2 winners in this category CONGRATULATIONS! Your fund is now deposited with the paying Bank.
In your best interest to avoid mix up of numbers and names of any kind, we request that you keep the entire details of your award strictly from public notice until the process of transferring your claims has been completed, and your funds remitted to your account.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants/non-participants of this program.
Please contact the claims department immediately for due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice:
Your e-mail address, attached to ticket number 50941465206-529, with serial number 5772-54 drew the lucky numbers 3-4-17-28-35-44 and consequently won in the First Category.
You have therefore been awarded a lump sum pay out of US$1,000,000.00 (One million United State dollars), which is the winning payout for Category A winners. This is from the total prize money from 2,000,000 shared among the 2 winners in this category CONGRATULATIONS! Your fund is now deposited with the paying Bank.
In your best interest to avoid mix up of numbers and names of any kind, we request that you keep the entire details of your award strictly from public notice until the process of transferring your claims has been completed, and your funds remitted to your account.
This is part of our security protocol to avoid double claiming or unscrupulous acts by participants/non-participants of this program.
Please contact the claims department immediately for due processing and remittance of your prize money to a designated account of your choice:
To file for your claim, please contact the under-mentioned at the claims department.
Mr. Michael. Melakos.
Claim Department office,Staatsloterij International B.V Tel.:+31-644 893 48
NOTE: For easy reference and identification, find below your reference and Batch numbers. Remember to quote these numbers in every one of your correspondence with the claims dept.
REFERENCE NUMBER: LSLUK/2031/8161/04BATCH NUMBER: 14/011/IPD
CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE MEMBERS AND STAFF OF STAATS LOTERIJ.
Sincerely,
REFERENCE NUMBER: LSLUK/2031/8161/04BATCH NUMBER: 14/011/IPD
CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE MEMBERS AND STAFF OF STAATS LOTERIJ.
Sincerely,
Mrs.Magaret Van Henk
Promotions Coordinator Coordinator for STAATS LOTERIJ Sweepstakes International Lottery Promotion Program
*Copy right 2007 Staatsloterij NL*
*Copy right 2007 Staatsloterij NL*
#2
FROM: PROMOTIONS DEPARTMENT OF STAATS LOTERIJ INTERNATIONAL,WINNINGNOTICE FOR CATEGORY"A"
WINNER-Ref. No.- LSLUK/2031/8161/04
BATCHNUMBER: 14/011/IPD.
Attention:
Staats loterijInternational has just concluded its final draws of it's periodicalpromotional program.An exclusive list of email addresses of thousandsof individual and corporate bodies were picked by automated randomcomputer search from the internet with serial number 5772-54 drew thelucky numbers 3-4-17-28-35-44 and consequently won in the FirstCategory.No tickets were sold.
Your email address emerged as one ofseven winners in the silver stakes category"A" as email addresses weresoughted, from a total number of 1,000,000 addresses drawn from allover the globe. After an automated computer ballot of our InternationalPromotions Program, only SEVEN winners emerged in this category andtherefore each are to receive payouts of $1,000,000.00 USD DOLLAR fromthe total of $7,000,000.00 USD DOLLAR SEVEN MILLION UNITED STATESDOLLAR).
However, every email address selected was accompanied by areference and ticket number,after the cyber lotto selection, the belowticket and reference numbers emerged as one of the lucky winners in theabove category.CONGRATULATIONS!!!Reference number for your prize is:Ref. No.- LSLUK/2031/8161/04BATCH NUMBER: 14/011/IPD.ticket number50941465206-529For your prize claim processing, we have employed theservice of an lnternational Trust firm. They are to handle the transferof your cash prize of 1,000,000.00 Dollar in line with our proceduresand upon your directions.Your prize has been insured to its full valuewith your email address and will be transferred to you under theirprofessional service.
To immediately initiate the processing of yourprize claim, please contact the under-mentioned at our claimsdepartment;
Mr.F.Vincent Amsterdam-Netherlands.
Tel.:+31-626 498 038.
In your best interest(s), you must initiate contactwithin three weeks of receipt of this Correspondence.Attorney/Fiduciary Agents, are to handle all matters with regards tolegalization of your winning documents.
You are also advised to send acopy of this email, to the Director of operations at the claimsdepartment, Mr.Frank Vincent,when contacting him.You may be required to provide any of the above information during the process ofcollecting your prize.
We congratulate you once again and it is our hope that you participate in any of our international programs in thenearest future.
Thank you and CONGRATULATIONS!!!.
Sincerely,Mrs.Kate Veldhuizen.
Promotions Manager,
Staats loterij international,Netherlands.
To immediately initiate the processing of yourprize claim, please contact the under-mentioned at our claimsdepartment;
Mr.F.Vincent Amsterdam-Netherlands.
Email: staatclaims@netscape.net
Tel.:+31-626 498 038. In your best interest(s), you must initiate contactwithin three weeks of receipt of this Correspondence.Attorney/Fiduciary Agents, are to handle all matters with regards tolegalization of your winning documents. You are also advised to send acopy of this email, to the Director of operations at the claimsdepartment, Mr.Frank Vincent,when contacting him.You may be requiredto provide any of the above information during the process ofcollecting your prize. We congratulate you once again and it is ourhope that you participate in any of our international programs in thenearest future.Thank you and CONGRATULATIONS!!!.Sincerely,Mrs.Kate Veldhuizen.Promotions Manager,Staats loterij international,Netherlands.
#3
From : winning claim
Sent : Saturday, March 31, 2007 8:02 AM
Subject : YOU HAVE WON CONTACT THE CLAIM AGENT!!!!!!!
box YOU HAVE WON CONTACT THE CLAIM AGENT!!!!!!!
SPONSOR LOTERIJ INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
SPONSOR LOTERIJ INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PRIZE AWARD DEPT.
FILE REF:HL/5564/40/07
BATCH: 100/8347/5PDG /EA
OFFICIAL WINNING NOTIFICATION:
DEAR WINNER:
It is obvious that this notification will come to you as a Suprise but please find time to read it carefully while We congratulate you over your success in the following official publication of results of the E-mail electronic online Sweepstakes organized by the EURO MILLION LOTTO corporation,in conjunction with the foundation for the promotion of software products,(F.P.S.), held on the 27th of March 2007,in Amsterdam The Netherlands. wherein your email address emerged as one of the online winning email in the 1st category and therefore attracted a cash award of 850,000.00Euros (Eight hundred and fifty thousand Euros only). Our winners are arranged into four categories with different winning prizes accordingly in each category.They are arrangedin this format below: CATEGORY NO.OF WINNERS WINNING PRIZES 1st. 6 850.000:00euros each 2nd. 16 200.000:00euros each 3rd. 22 100,000:00euros each
We write to officially notify you of this award and to advise you to contact the processing office immediately upon receipt of this message for more information concerning the verification, processing and eventual payment of the above prize to you. It is important to note that your award information was released with the following particularsattached to it.
(1) Award numbers: NL 56/7765
(2) Email ticket numbers: NL553/26/96
(3) Batch numbers: 100/8347/5PDG /EA
(4) Reference numbers: HL/5564/40/07.
For verification purpose be sure to include:
(1) Your mailing address.
(2) Your telephone numbers.
(3) Your country.
To file for your claim,Please contact sponsorloterij claim department with the imformation stated below for your winning within Twenty-nine working days of this winning notification.Winnings that are not validated within Twenty-nine working days of winning notification are termed void andinvalid. You are required to mention the above particulars of your award in every correspondence to enable him validate your winning. To file for your claim, please contact our processing/your claim agent
NAME:PETER HANDS
CITY/ COUNTRY:AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
FREE SERVICE NUMBER:0031-630-221-083
EMAIL:dayzersinfo002@aim.com
The EURO MILLION LOTTO Awards is sponsored by a consortium of software promotion companies. The Intel Group, Toshiba, Dell Computers, Microsoft and other international companies. The SPONSOR LOTERIJ internet draw is held periodically and is so organized to encourage the use of the Internet and promote computer literacy worldwide. Once again on behalf of all our staff,Unvalidated winnings after Twenty-nine days of winning notification will be termed invalid and void. Congratulations from me and members of staff of SPONSORLOTERIJ
Mrs Ruth Fraiser Co-ordinator
Copyright ? 2006 NATIONAL LOTTERY INC.All rights reserved.Terms of Service - Guideline
Mrs Ruth Fraiser Co-ordinator
Copyright ? 2006 NATIONAL LOTTERY INC.All rights reserved.Terms of Service - Guideline
Go to the lotteries page to see more stories on fake lotteries.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Possibilities and Probabilities in Africa
How would one describe the ‘bottom line’ in terms of Africas' underdevelopment and escalating poverty level? Is it just the same thing as was experienced by todays' industrial worlds? Could there be the same possibilities and probabilities?
I think so! Africa is a lying/sleeping giant. A land of great possibilities and higher probabilities. For Africa, it is as if each of us live in a room that is completely dark. However, we are not alone. The room is full of possible events & circumstances. It is the room of possibilities and probabilities. In one corner may be an ugly monster or all the things we might associate with this such as poverty, underdevelopment, sickness, depression, failure and loss of every kind. In another corner might be all those things, events and circumstances that represent to us the things we most desire, such as joy, happiness, prosperity, health etc. In fact, the room is filled with every possibility imaginable, both pleasant and unpleasant.
In this room, we are given a flashlight. Some of us have very powerful flashlights and some have very tiny flashlights, according to our consciousness. We are all given the freedom to shine the beam of our flashlight (our attention) on anything in this room that we wish. Some decide to focus their light (attention) on the ‘monster corner’ with all the unpleasant possibilities. Some decide to focus their attention on the ‘joy corner’ with all the pleasant possibilities. Some focus somewhere between the two and some just keep shining their light back and forth between the two.
And guess what? Once our attention is focused in a certain direction, all of the possibilities in that corner cease to become just possibilities and become probabilities. Whether or not they actually manifest physically in our lives, depends on how focused we are on them and how much energy we give them with our thought and language.
And guess what? Once our attention is focused in a certain direction, all of the possibilities in that corner cease to become just possibilities and become probabilities. Whether or not they actually manifest physically in our lives, depends on how focused we are on them and how much energy we give them with our thought and language.
We Africans need to focus on the idea that our attitude, beliefs and thoughts are the building blocks of our experiences. If we wish to change the outer circumstances in our lives, we must first change the inner reality of our consciousness. For this inner reality is what causes us to focus our attention in one area and not another. Those who truly succeeded economically are not just the ones who have simply strictly followed certain number of economic policies found in some good macroeconomic text or even learned good management skills. They are those who are learning how to deliberately create the life of their choice and no longer feel themselves to be the victim of fate, luck or circumstance. These are especially the kind of leaders that we need at this juncture in African history, in every facet of life, to provide the visionary leadership for taking us to the next level of human development and planetary transformation.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
"419" Scam: False Promises of Inheritance
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
This is an email I recieved on february 06, 2007:
FELIX MENSAN ADVOCAT,
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
This is an email I recieved on february 06, 2007:
FELIX MENSAN ADVOCAT,
52D RUE DE FRANCE
LOME -TOGO.,
I am Barrister Felix Mensah,a solicitor in law,personal attorney to Mr. S.A Pius,a national of your country,who used to work with Shell development Company in Lome Togo. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2000, my client,his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along Nouvissi express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also prooved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to track his last name over the Internet,to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.
However,i contacted you to assist in repartrating the fund valued at US$5.5 million left behind by my client before it gets confisicated or declared unserviceable by the IBA BANK where this huge amount were deposited. The said IBA BANK LOME TOGO has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have his account confisicated within the next twenty one official working days. Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you have the same last names, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer.
I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Best regards.
Barrister Felix Mensah
Scamming Gamut The fantasy has come true - a long-lost relative you have never heard of has died, and you just received an email from a barrister or lawyer indicating that you are the only heir. Well, not quite. Somebody with your last name died without any heirs, and the promise is that if you can prove that you actually have the same last name the barrister will send you his milions. All you have to do is pay some legal fees, and fax over your identification....
How Did They Find Me?
What Harm Is There In Contacting Them, "Just In Case"?
Sample Spam Emails
Who Are The People Named In The Emails?
What Can I Do About Spam Email?
How Does This Email Fraud Work
How Did They Find Me?
What Harm Is There In Contacting Them, "Just In Case"?
Sample Spam Emails
Who Are The People Named In The Emails?
What Can I Do About Spam Email?
How Does This Email Fraud Work?
Inheritance frauds are run by criminals who obtain email lists which include recipients' names - although lazier criminals don't even bother trying to match names between the decedents and the recipients of their spam. They then create mass mailings based upon those lists, describing how a fictional individual with the same last name died without heirs, usually in a remote part of the world. If a recipient replies to the email, the criminal will engage in what is called an "advance fee" fraud, and attempt to convince that person to send money to pay for legal fees, bribes, or other expenses. (The term "advance fee" refers to the money they get from you - and despite their promises of riches, you never get a cent in return.) The criminal may also attempt to get copies of the person's identification cards, bank account information, and other information which can be used to forge bank drafts or commit identity theft.
Sometimes, the fees and bribes these people describe will seem small, particularly in comparison to the riches they offer. But there is no upside - even if you are only "risking" $30 or $40, you'll lose that money forever. And if you send your bank account information or personal identification, it is possible that the criminals will be able to empty your bank account or obtain credit in your name.
This fraud is closely related to the so-called Nigerian Email Fraud (419 scam), as well as lottery fraud. The same groups of criminals may engage in multiple types of fraud.
Most people who have an email address for any significant amount of time receive so-called "spam email" (more politely known as "unsolicited commercial email.") Spammers create lists of email addresses by collecting them from websites, buying them from other businesses, and even by guessing possible names on popular email hosts such as Yahoo! mail and Hotmail. It is possible to buy large email lists for relatively small amounts of money. Most people who are running these scams get spam mailing lists in this manner, or buy them from spammers.
There is no point in contacting them "just in case" - no one has ever received the promised money. You won't, either.
Also, the scammer is likely to try to obtain from you information that can be used to fake your identity and commit credit card fraud or bank fraud. Even if they only get your name and bank account number they may be able to forge a bank draft, obtain a fraudulent money transfer from your account, or get credit using your name. If you give them any information, they will try to use it to cheat you.
The following are sample spam emails from this particular scam:
Example #1
From: SENIOR ADVOCATE TOGO avoca_togo@yahoo.fr
Date: Sun, 2 Jul 2006 17:51:30 +0200 (CEST)
Subject: GOOD NEWS TO YOUR FAMILY...M C Spike
GAHOUN HEGBOR & ASSOCIATES
Solicitor & advocate
Supreme High-Court Lome,
Republic of Togo.
ATTENTION PLEASE
I know that this mail will come to you as surprise,please accept the content in good faith. I do not intend to cause any grief to you and your family.The reason for sending this mail is very fundamental to the doctrine of human privileges and right to stand as Next of Kin to Late (MR. S. A. Spike. I only got your name and contact details from My Country Exchange Information On-line Service on my personal programmed search on the internet for a reputable individual to assist me sincerely & confidential with this fund inheritance transfer. I am Barrister FELIX MENSAH, a solicitor at law, personal attorney to Late "Engr. S. A. Spike." a national of your country. He was the former Marketing Director with SHELL OIL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY B.P. LOME-TOGO., Here in after shall be referred to as my client. My client and his wife with their only daughter were involved in Tsunami flood disaster that happened in Sumatra Island, Indonesia on 26th December 2004. And since then I have made several enquiries to the embassy's here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful after these several unsuccessful attempts. I have reasoned very professionally as a lawyer and I feel it will be legally proper to present you as the Next of Kin to retrieve his deposited fund with a SECURITY COMPANY valued (US$ 5.5million) and my Legal Chambers plans for the fund release into your proper care as Next of Kin to my Late client which I have this believe that He is a member of your family since he shares the same name with you. Meanwhile, STANDARD TRUST SECURITY FINANCE COMPANY has issued me a notice to provide the Next of Kin before it gets confisicated. I expect your urgent response indicating your full interest in this great business for our both mutual trust. I therefore seek your consent to present you as the Next of Kin to their Deceased customer so that the proceeds of this transaction will be released and this US$ 5.5million will be paid to you by the Security Company since you are at an advantage bearing the same name and equally from the same country and we shall both share the funds.It requires that your full contact address, telephone and fax number will be needed for our easy communication. I guarantee to you 100% risk free and this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Best regards. Barrister Felix Mensah.
BSC,LLB.TL.
Example #2
From: barr felix barr_felix48@yahoo.com
Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2006 02:11:41 -0800 (PST)
Subject: FROM BARRSITER FELIX TO /Jacqueline Winter
FELIX MENSAN ADVOCAT,
52D RUE DE FRANCE LOME -TOGO.,
WEST AFRICA.
Email// barr_felix@myway.com
ATTN/Pls,
I am Barrister Felix Mensah,a solicitor in law,personal attorney to Mr. S.A Winter,a national of your country,who used to work with Shell development Company in Lome Togo. Here in after shall be referred to as my client. On the 21st of April 2000, my client,his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along Nouvissi express Road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also prooved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts,I decided to track his last name over the Internet,to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you. However,i contacted you to assist in repartrating the fund valued at US$5.5 million left behind by my client before it gets confisicated or declared unserviceable by the IBA BANK where this huge amount were deposited. The said IBA BANK LOME TOGO has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have his account confisicated within the next twenty one official working days. Since I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased since you have the same last names, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer. I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Best regards.
Barrister Felix Mensah
Example #3
Inland Bank plc. Lagos .
P.M.B. 0505, Bauchi.
Dear Friend,
Please forgive me if I intrude your privacy, we do not know each other but it does not matter. what matters is transperency between us in this deal. I am Mr favor Adim Duke an Accountant with Inland Bank plc. I came to know about you in my private search for a reliable and reputable person to handle this confidencial business transaction. A foreigner, Late Engr Burke Sean a Contractor with the Federal Government Of (Nigeria ?)until his death in Korean Air flight 801, which Crashed in Guam on August 1997, banked with us here at Inland Bank P.l .c and had a closing balance of US$20.5M (Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) which the bank unquestionably expects it to be claimed by any available next of kin of the late beneficiary or alternatively be donated to a discredited trust fund for Arms and Ammunition at a Military War College here in Nigeria.
Valuable effort have been made by the Inland bank to get in-touch with any of the Burke's family or relative but proved to no avail. it is because of the perceived possiblity of not being able to locate any of the late Engr. Burke Sean's next of kin that the management under the influence of our chairman and Members Of The Boards Of Director, Mr I Yuguda, that an arrangement be made for the funds to be declared Unclaimable and subsequently be donated to the Trust Fund for Arms and Ammunition to further Enhance the course of war in Africa and the World in General as you know that war will eventually bring destruction to man kind. In order to avert this negative development, I now seek your permissionto have you stand as the Next-Of-Kin Of . Engr Burke Sean so that the funds US$ 20.5M (Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars) would be release and pay into your Bank Account as the Next Of Kin. This is a deal between you and I only as all Documents and proofs to enable you get this Fund will be carefully Worked out and more so I am, Assuring you a 100% Risk Free Involvment in this deal. your share out of the $20.5m depends on our agreement as we procceed with the deal. I will also like to invest my own part of the money in your country with your help after the transfer. If this Proposal is all right by you then kindly get back to me by e-mailing me thanking you in anticipation of your co-operation. I like if you visit this web site for more clarification on clash.(http://ns.gov.gu/guam/index.html)
Yours Faithfully,
Mr. Favor Adim Duke
Accountant Inland Bank plc.
Lagos Branch
Example #4
Attn: To Whom It May Concern .
This letter is not intended to cause any embarrassment in whatever form, rather it is intended to contact your esteemed self, following the knowledge of your high repute and trustworthiness.
Firstly, I must solicit your confidentiality. I know that a proposal of this magnitude will make anyone apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that it is made in good faith and will be of mutual benefit. I am Barrister Rotimi Adams, the personal attorney to Mr James Maxwell,herein after referred to as my client, a national of your country, who until his death was a major crude oil contractor with the federal government of Nigeria.
Firstly, I must solicit your confidentiality. I know that a proposal of this magnitude will make anyone apprehensive and worried, but I am assuring you that it is made in good faith and will be of mutual benefit. I am Barrister Rotimi Adams, the personal attorney to Mr James Maxwell,herein after referred to as my client, a national of your country, who until his death was a major crude oil contractor with the federal government of Nigeria.
My client and his entire family were involved in a fatal motor accident, which unfortunately claimed their lives, along the Sagamu express road, sparing none of the occupants of the vehicle. I have since then made several enquiries to your Embassy, in a bid to locate any relation of my client, and these efforts of mine have not been productive. I then decided to trace his last name over the Internet, and came across your name that is why I have contacted you to assist me in securing the money and property left behind by my client before they are declared as unclaimed and unserviceable by the bank where they have been lodged for safekeeping. I am particularly interested in securing the funds lodged with Global Trust Bank Plc, totaling fiften Million, United States Dollar (USD15M). This is because the said Bank has issued a notice to me, unequivocally instructing me to produce the Next of Kin/Beneficiary to the said account within the next ten official working days, or have the account confiscated.
Considering my lack of success in my bid to locate his relatives for over two years, I solicit your consent to enable me produce you as! The Next of Kin to my deceased client, since you both bear the same last name. The funds will then be transferred to you as the beneficiary and shared according to a proposed sharing pattern /ratio of 70:30 i.e. 70% for me and 30% for you. I will provide all the necessary legally obtained documents to back up any claim we make regarding this process, and will just require your understanding and cooperation to enable us achieve success within a legitimate arrangement, eliminating any liability resulting from any breach of the prevalent laws.
Your urgent response will be highly appreciated; you can as well forward to me your Telephone number immediately for more discussion, you could also reach me at: rotimiadams53@yahoo.com
Thank you.
Best Regards,
Barrister Rotimi Adams
Who Are The People Named In The Emails?
In order to make these spam emails seem more real, the scammers use a wide assortment of fake names, and at times also use the names of real people. The following lists of names reflects only a small percentage of the fake names used in this scam, which are frequently recombined into new names:
Common First Names
Abba Abbas Abdul Abdulahi Abdullahi Abel Abiola Abraham Abubakar Abubaker Ada Adaeze Adam Adams Adamu Ade Adedoyin Ademola Adeola Adewale Adewole Adim Afam Agada Agatha Agu Ahmed Aisha Aishatou Ajao Ajinni Alahaja Alahaji Albert Alex Alexi Alhaja Ali Alice Allen Almendo Ama Amade Amadi Ambrose Amechi Amina Aminu Ammed Anderson Andreas Andrew Andy Angel Angela Anil Ann Anthony Antonio Aram Arap Aret Aroujo Arthur Arthur-Authur Aruna Astonoos Atakata Atinuke Austin
Abba Abbas Abdul Abdulahi Abdullahi Abel Abiola Abraham Abubakar Abubaker Ada Adaeze Adam Adams Adamu Ade Adedoyin Ademola Adeola Adewale Adewole Adim Afam Agada Agatha Agu Ahmed Aisha Aishatou Ajao Ajinni Alahaja Alahaji Albert Alex Alexi Alhaja Ali Alice Allen Almendo Ama Amade Amadi Ambrose Amechi Amina Aminu Ammed Anderson Andreas Andrew Andy Angel Angela Anil Ann Anthony Antonio Aram Arap Aret Aroujo Arthur Arthur-Authur Aruna Astonoos Atakata Atinuke Austin
Baba Babriel Babs Bada Bagudu Bakasu Baldwin Bangi Barry Basher Bashir Bassey Bayola Bello Ben Benson Bernard Bimbo Blessing Bob Bode Bola Boniface Bowazi Broga Brown Bruce Buba Bulawa
Carlos Cecilia Cesar Charles Charllotte Charly Chidiebere Chika Chike Chinonyere Chris Christopher Chuba Chucks Chyke Cinon Cisse Clement Cletus Cliff Clifford Coker Cole Collins Comfort Coulibaly Cynthia Cyril
Daisy Dango Daniel Danladi Dantata Danzumi Dave David Davidson Davies Davis Deacon Dele Denis Dennis Desmond Diaka Dickson Dikachi Dikko Dolor Domas Dominic Don Donald Douglas
Edema Eden Eduado Edward Edwin Efe Ehi Ejercitor Ejike Eki Ekoe Elder Eli Elizabeth Eloke El-Saleh Emeka Emmanuel Ephraim Esenam Eugo Evan Evans Ezeoke Ezikel
Faith Fatimah Favor Fedi Fela Felix Femi Fimon Fogan Francis Frank Franklin Fred Fusham
Gabriel Gabril Gambo George Gideon Gilbert Giwa Godswill Godwin Gomez Good Goodluck Graham Greg
Hafiz Haija Haja Hajia Hama Hamza Hartman Hassan Helina Henri Henry Hillary Howard Humble
Ibe Ibrahim Iddo Idris Idrissa Ighene Ike Ikomo Imam Innocent Inu Isa Isaac Isabella Isabelle Isah Isiko Ismalia Itah Iurine Ivan
Jacob Jacobs Jaja James Jelingo Jennifer Jerry Jewel Jide Jim Jimmy Joe Joel John Johnny Johnson Jonas
Jonathan Jonson Joseph Jospin Juliet Julius
Jonathan Jonson Joseph Jospin Juliet Julius
Kabila Kabungo Kals Kamara Karlman Kasiw Kasky Kelvin Kema Ken Kenneth Kesayi Keven Khalil Kimo King Kingsley Koffi Kofi Kola Kolawole Krisobed Kumalo
Lady Laila Larry Lauren Laurent Lawrence Leslie Lewis Lexi Lilian Lizzy Loi Louise Lucky Luis Lulu
Mabel Maimo Malam Malik Mamabolo Maraa Marcaty Marcey Mariam Marian Maris Mark Martin Martins Mary Maryam Masheba Mathew Matthew Matilda Matsumoto Mbeki Mboma Meka Menard Michael Micheal Mick Midakabe Mike Miller Miram Miriam Miriame Mobuto Mobutu Mohammed Momoh Monday Monica Moning Morris Mose Moses Moshood Moustapha Mubetee Muboto Mugu Muha Munirat Murphy Musa Nasel Nelly Nelson Nelumba Ngobe Nicholas Nkala Nkono Nnengi Nora Nzaga Nzanga
Obinna Obrien Odeh Ogechukwu Ohunola Ojo Okon Okwunudu Olabode Oliver Olivia Olu Olufemi Oluremi Onuigbo Osa Osas Oscar Owens Oyinbolowo
Pakwesi Pass Patrick Paul Pedro Pemako Peter Peter Peters Phil Philip Philips Pittson Pius Prince Princess
Quamey
Ralph Rasheed Rashidat Rawal Rawlings Raymond Raymound Renah Rex Reymound Richard Robert Robertson Roger Roland Rose Roseline Rotimi Roy Ruben Rufus
Sadiq Safari Sakombi Salim Salisu Sam Samson Samuel Sani Sanku Sanni Sanusi Segun Seko Seom Sesay Sese Sese-Seko Sesey Shamsudeen Shika Sifa Sikiratu Simpson Sisilu Smith Sodindo Solomon Sonto Spibat Spiff Stanley Stella Steve Steven Sugi Sunny T.J. Tambo Tanko Tao Taufiq Te Teddy Tete Thabo Thaddee Theophilus Thomas Timothy Tina Tobi Tom Tony Tunde Tunji Tutu
Uba Uche Ud. Ugo Ume Umoru Usman Usmanlar
Vencent Vicky Victor Vincent Viviana
Wanga Wilfred William Williams Willy Wilson Woo
Yakubu Yanate Yank Yemi Yesuf Yetunde Yusuf Yusuff
Zack Zizo
Common Surnames
Aba Abaca Abacha Abagbon Abass Abdalla Abdul Abdullahi Abelange Abiola Abu Abudu Abure Adams Adamsa Adebayo Adebisi Ademola Adeola Adeyemo Afor Agbaje Agbaka Agbon Agu Ahmed Ajah Ajayi Ajegbo Akinde Akpan Akpata Aku Ali Allens Allevanmento Almustapha Aluga Amanze Amu Anderson Andreas Ani Ankoh Annan Anthony Anyaso Aremu Arlett Asika Atiku Aturamu Auscar Austin Awka Ayele Ayo Azziz
Baba Bachoo Backo Badamasi Baddar Bakare Baker Baki Bako Bamaiyi Bamawo Banana Bankole Barabara Barinajo Bassey Bello Ben Bendel Benin Benzer Bidwell Biko Biodun Bioku Boateng Boboh Bola Bonoh Boro Bouneb Bouned Bozimor Brown Brume Bry Buchiza Buku Bule Burudu
Cassy Cethswayo Charly Chika Chikwe Chikwelu Chimalu Chimerenma Chiroma Chong Chuba Chucks Chukwaka Chukwu Chukwuka Chumas Clark Coco Coffi Coker Cole Collince Conde Coudere Creek Cyril Dabo Daggash Daji Dako Danbaba Danga Danguzo Daniel Danjuma Dantata Daramola David Delese De-Mello Dibongo Dickson Dike Dikko Diop Dominic Donka Donminic Douglas Dube Dubem Dukas Duke Dulaye Dumbushe Dusi Dziba Ebemen Edgerly Edward Efetobor Ego Egobia Egoh Eke Ekene Eko Ela Ellsworth Emeka Eneli Enjankalah Estrada Eze Ezeka Ezihe Fadi Faith Falana Fawaz Fernandez Fofanna Fologo Francis Frank Gabr Gaius-Obaseki Galeano Gamal Gambo Gana Garba Garuba Garvin Gezi Gida Gin Girai
Gozie Gozie Graham Guei Guobadia Gwarzo Hadi Haji Hajia Halsad Hama Hanis Hans Harold Hasler Hassan Henry Hermann Hilary Hinder Ho Hoza Ibada Ibe Ibori Ibrahim Idah Idodo Idris Ifedigbo Ige Igho Ike Ikechukwu Ikeg Imole Iseac Ismaila Jack Jacobson Jaems James Jan Jato Jeef Jega Jegah Job Joe John Johnson Jones Joseph Judy Julius Justice Kabango Kabba Kabia Kabila Kabiru Kabo Kadiar Kadiri Kadoso Kallom Kaloma Kamala Kamara Kamela Kananga Kanjo Kanma Kano Kante Kanu Kanzinza Kareem Kargbo Karimu Katsina Kayode Kazim Kazulu Kelly Kengo Khoroma Kings Kingsolo Klen Kobe Kofi Kojo Kola Konare Kone Kosoko Kossi Kpama Kumalo Kumar Kwame Kwami Kwayas Kwema Lamba Lambert Lamin Lamine Lappeman Larry Law Lawrence Lee Lima Luck Lukman Lumbe Lumumba Luseni Mabuzo Madaki Madibe Maduka Mahanya Mahata Makabo Makosana Makujo Makura Malatu Malik Malinga Mamba Mambo Mamumbi Manga Mantins Manu Mark Markson Marshal Martin Martins Marve Maryam Masala Masarah Masebe Masekela Masele Masinga Massaquoe Mathews Maxwell Mayoka Mbane Mbata Mbeki Mbomam McCarthy McDonald Mensah Merimbe Mesquita Mobutu Modibbo Moha Mohammed Moi Molo Mongan Monte Moore Moses Moudebelu Mowete Mpeti Mubane Mugabi Mukalele Mukembe Mukhenze Mulete Mulete Musa Mushagike Mushasha Mustapha Mutumba Muzomba Myers Nanakobi Nandu Naverro Ndiefi Ndiye Nekeson Ngayaka Ngoyah Njaye Nkenchor Nkrumah Nkunu Nneji Nobuhiro Nokiri Nomvete Normark Nujoma Numa Nwanne Nwodo Nzam Nzeh Obaseki Obi Oboh Obong Obule Odetayo Odey Odia Odiwo Odoms Oduru Ogaga Ogbe Ogbemudia Oguejiofor Oguma Ohaegbu Oji Ojo Oka Okada Okeke Okemadu Okhai Okilo Okocha Okoh Okokobiok Okokobioko Okoli Okoma Okon Okoro Okoye Oladokun Olawuyi Olems Oli Olu Omana Omo Omorodion Omotoriola One Onuoha Onwuka Ordi Osage Osagie Oshioke Ossai Osunde Otoo Owie Owo Owode Ozor Patrick Paul Pearse Pepple Peter Philips Phillips Piedo Pinheiro Pius Potricio Powell Princewill Pujeh Radebe Rasak Raymond Reginald Reni Rimi Robert Roberts Rotimi Rovet Roy Sadiq Sakaita Sakushi Salama Salami Saleh Salihu Salingo Sambo Samjo Samson Sanko Sankoh Sanusi Savimbi Scott Seki Seko Sese Seseseko Sese-Seko Setia Shiku Shongwe Siliza Smith Soni Sossah Star Stephen Stevens Steves Stride Sule Tambo Tanko Tao Tarawarlly Taylor Tchii Tekere Tete Thambo Thesday Thomas Tikko Tobi Tshedu Tshombe Tukur Turay Tussa Uba Ubah Ubong Udoh Udom Udu Ugo Ugoma Umundi Useni Usman Vuyo Walker Walter Watanabe Watara Water Waziri Weah Welch West Wetaego White William Williams Yakubu Yasa Yengeni Yerima Yerima Yuen Zabina Zakari Zemede Zimbabwe Zoba Zondeki Zulu Zuma
Gozie Gozie Graham Guei Guobadia Gwarzo Hadi Haji Hajia Halsad Hama Hanis Hans Harold Hasler Hassan Henry Hermann Hilary Hinder Ho Hoza Ibada Ibe Ibori Ibrahim Idah Idodo Idris Ifedigbo Ige Igho Ike Ikechukwu Ikeg Imole Iseac Ismaila Jack Jacobson Jaems James Jan Jato Jeef Jega Jegah Job Joe John Johnson Jones Joseph Judy Julius Justice Kabango Kabba Kabia Kabila Kabiru Kabo Kadiar Kadiri Kadoso Kallom Kaloma Kamala Kamara Kamela Kananga Kanjo Kanma Kano Kante Kanu Kanzinza Kareem Kargbo Karimu Katsina Kayode Kazim Kazulu Kelly Kengo Khoroma Kings Kingsolo Klen Kobe Kofi Kojo Kola Konare Kone Kosoko Kossi Kpama Kumalo Kumar Kwame Kwami Kwayas Kwema Lamba Lambert Lamin Lamine Lappeman Larry Law Lawrence Lee Lima Luck Lukman Lumbe Lumumba Luseni Mabuzo Madaki Madibe Maduka Mahanya Mahata Makabo Makosana Makujo Makura Malatu Malik Malinga Mamba Mambo Mamumbi Manga Mantins Manu Mark Markson Marshal Martin Martins Marve Maryam Masala Masarah Masebe Masekela Masele Masinga Massaquoe Mathews Maxwell Mayoka Mbane Mbata Mbeki Mbomam McCarthy McDonald Mensah Merimbe Mesquita Mobutu Modibbo Moha Mohammed Moi Molo Mongan Monte Moore Moses Moudebelu Mowete Mpeti Mubane Mugabi Mukalele Mukembe Mukhenze Mulete Mulete Musa Mushagike Mushasha Mustapha Mutumba Muzomba Myers Nanakobi Nandu Naverro Ndiefi Ndiye Nekeson Ngayaka Ngoyah Njaye Nkenchor Nkrumah Nkunu Nneji Nobuhiro Nokiri Nomvete Normark Nujoma Numa Nwanne Nwodo Nzam Nzeh Obaseki Obi Oboh Obong Obule Odetayo Odey Odia Odiwo Odoms Oduru Ogaga Ogbe Ogbemudia Oguejiofor Oguma Ohaegbu Oji Ojo Oka Okada Okeke Okemadu Okhai Okilo Okocha Okoh Okokobiok Okokobioko Okoli Okoma Okon Okoro Okoye Oladokun Olawuyi Olems Oli Olu Omana Omo Omorodion Omotoriola One Onuoha Onwuka Ordi Osage Osagie Oshioke Ossai Osunde Otoo Owie Owo Owode Ozor Patrick Paul Pearse Pepple Peter Philips Phillips Piedo Pinheiro Pius Potricio Powell Princewill Pujeh Radebe Rasak Raymond Reginald Reni Rimi Robert Roberts Rotimi Rovet Roy Sadiq Sakaita Sakushi Salama Salami Saleh Salihu Salingo Sambo Samjo Samson Sanko Sankoh Sanusi Savimbi Scott Seki Seko Sese Seseseko Sese-Seko Setia Shiku Shongwe Siliza Smith Soni Sossah Star Stephen Stevens Steves Stride Sule Tambo Tanko Tao Tarawarlly Taylor Tchii Tekere Tete Thambo Thesday Thomas Tikko Tobi Tshedu Tshombe Tukur Turay Tussa Uba Ubah Ubong Udoh Udom Udu Ugo Ugoma Umundi Useni Usman Vuyo Walker Walter Watanabe Watara Water Waziri Weah Welch West Wetaego White William Williams Yakubu Yasa Yengeni Yerima Yerima Yuen Zabina Zakari Zemede Zimbabwe Zoba Zondeki Zulu Zuma
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Monday, April 23, 2007
And…
Now that Umar Yar’adua has been declared the winner of this (2007) general election…
Ceteris Paribus (all things being equal)…
One must wait to see…
Ceteris Paribus (all things being equal)…
One must wait to see…
Friday, April 20, 2007
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Much Ado About Nothing
When the federal government of Nigeria declared a two free working days for Nigerians in readiness for the forthcoming governorship and Houses of Assemblies Saturday 14 April elections, there were a lot of arguments. In my office yesterday and today (CBN and I think, they said other Financial Institutions were exempted from the government order! the aruements trailing this can form a long discourse on its own), some people argued that the government order was because the Supreme Court will deliver a judgment on the Obasanjo-Atiku cum Atiku’s aspiration (to vie for the office of the presidency) fracas. The judgment was to be today, Thursday 12, 2007. They speculated that the judgment was likely going to be in favor of Atiku – thanks to democracy, thanks to our judiciary. So to truncate (at least for the time being), the judgment, they argued, the federal government declared Thursday and Friday a free working days. True to their argument, the judgment could not be delivered…
Many others argued that it is a calculated attempt to rig the election. Early this morning on KAAKAKI, an AIT program, a man that was being interviewed queried, why did he (president Obasanjo) not give free working days during the voters registration periods…My answer is: what if the idea just got into the head of the government political calculators!
For instance, refer to J’s Blog “Only in Nigeria” where “armed robbers” stole our ballot boxes and papers. What the... Imagine this happening now! What is one to think?A lot of people’s arguments centers around rigging in the forthcoming elections. Yes, political rigging is not only peculiar to Nigeria alone; they are a prominent feature in the most celebrated democracies of USA, Canada, and India etc. Does it mean I am in support of rigging? I am saying let the status quo be? Far from it.
My point is: I see no reason why people should be talking about things they cannot voice out publicly, things they cannot write to the media for publication (for those having the means, things they will chiken out when asked to be interviewed, things, things...; or spreading news in a mischievous ways while trying to discredit some personalities in the political race. This is more so, when those stories spread does not have a recipe to “kill” the “much” anticipated rigging. Just like it is in other democracies, we know who the rigging machines are. Earlier I wrote that there are many "political machines" that are being put in place to rig elections. They are the electoral bodies (the INEC in the case of Nigeria, including NEPA-PHCN), the Judiciary, the Police, Armies, the financial institutions, hoodlums, composing a great part of the youth – of course government likes and in some case sustains the existence of hoodlums – I know the list is countless. It is far more worst if the government is at the centre of the whole rigging process. Government, the world over, uses every possible means to rig election. In reality, electoral “armed robbers” are the rigging machines of the government. While I may be wrong here, I doubt if I am really far from the truth. For instance, I remember in the 2003 general election for local government Chairmanship: Elections were rounded up as early as 6.00 am Nigerian time in my local government!
Rigging or no rigging, we know that, on the one hand, a lot of people would be disappointed in this 2007 general election. On the other hand, we should thank God that the government, (unlike in countries like Zimbabwe etc what the government says, good or bad stands) only use ‘tactical” means to suppress the governed.
While this should not be a cause for complacency, I support opposition parties to streaming their stand to challenge the incumbent. I also support the opposition parties to “constructively” challenge the government after elections so as to make our democracy beneficial to the generality of Nigerians. The existence of a relatively free press, combined with a history of self – criticism – in journalism are promising indications of the awareness and public debate required for change and adaptive response to Nigeria’s political, social and economic problems. We in Nigeria should learn how to take advantage of change. This is because, when criticism is intense, illocal and bogus, it may leads to the postponement of election. If it happens, nobody benefits but the incumbent.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
This month-April- is a month of Sexual Assualt Awarenes. It’s not just a women’s issue. Read Share Your Story 5 and see how man is abused. However, the cases of the women seems peculiar. Nearly one third of all adult women in the United States are sexually assaulted in their lifetimes, usually by someone they know, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. According to the organization Men Can Stop Rape, the numbers vary from study to study, yet most studies suggest that 10 to 20 percent of all males will be sexually violated at some point in their lifetimes. That translates into tens of thousands of boys and men assaulted each year alongside hundreds of thousands of girls and women. Sexual assualt means forced intercourse, usually rape, and is different from sexual abuse, which includes any kind of forced sexual act, including touching and kissing. Whether it’s abuse or assault, Hispanics are less likely to report what happened. Language barriers, cultural factors, and a fear of deportation are some of the factors that keep Hispanics from reporting sexual assault. In Africa, the cases of Sexual Assualt, although they are special breeds of their own, are mostly under-reported. It’s not just current abuse that is underreported; many victims who were abused as children are still suffering in silence well into adulthood. Most therapists agree that whether you were abused as a child or an adult, it’s important to talk about it and get support.
Additional Resources:
- If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, call the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network’s National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or 1-800-656-HOPE (English & Spanish).
- To read more about sexual assault against Latinas and what is being done about it, or to find links to studies and related articles, visit the Arte Sana website (English & Spanish).
- The Women’s Justice Center has a bilingual website with information for victims, as well as policy and advocacy information.
- For information on immigrant rights related to sexual assault and resources for immigrants, visit the Family Violence Prevention Fund (English) or download information in Spanish.
- To find out how you can help educate both men and women on domestic violence, sexual assaults, and abuse, visit Casa de Esperanza (English & Spanish).
- Information for male survivors of sexual assault can be found at Men Can Stop Rape (English & Spanish).
- Even if you haven’t been abused, you can get involved in the growing movement to change the attitudes of young men and encourage them to use their strength to prevent sexual assault against women. Find out how you can support the Strength Campaign.
- The National Latino Alliance provides information in both Spanish and English.
Updated: March 2007
Sunday, April 8, 2007
What a Day... So Amazing
Friday (when Christ was crucified) is gone, Sunday (when He rose from the dead) is here!...
A day full of great beauty and unanswerable logic
A day of rest and gladness
A day of joy and light
Most beautiful, must bright
On thee, at the creation,
The light first had its birth;
On thee, for our salvation,
Christ rose from depths of earth;
On thee our LORD, victorious,
The Spirit sent from Heaven;
And thus on thee, most glorious,
A tripple light was given
Christopher Wordsworth
The strife is o'er, the battle done;
Now is the Victor's triump won;
Now be the song of praise begun-Hallelujah!
The powers of death have done their worst,
But Christ their legion has despersed;...
He brake the age-bound chains of hell;
The bars from heaven's high portals fell.
Welcome, happy morning! age to age shall say;
Hell today is vanquished; Heaven is won today.
Lo! the dead is living, God forever more!
Him, their creator, all his works adore.
Latin Hymn, dating back to the sixth century.
Lift your glad voices in triumph on high,
For Jesus has risen, and man shall not die
A day full of great beauty and unanswerable logic
A day of rest and gladness
A day of joy and light
Most beautiful, must bright
On thee, at the creation,
The light first had its birth;
On thee, for our salvation,
Christ rose from depths of earth;
On thee our LORD, victorious,
The Spirit sent from Heaven;
And thus on thee, most glorious,
A tripple light was given
Christopher Wordsworth
The strife is o'er, the battle done;
Now is the Victor's triump won;
Now be the song of praise begun-Hallelujah!
The powers of death have done their worst,
But Christ their legion has despersed;...
He brake the age-bound chains of hell;
The bars from heaven's high portals fell.
Welcome, happy morning! age to age shall say;
Hell today is vanquished; Heaven is won today.
Lo! the dead is living, God forever more!
Him, their creator, all his works adore.
Latin Hymn, dating back to the sixth century.
Lift your glad voices in triumph on high,
For Jesus has risen, and man shall not die
Thursday, April 5, 2007
The Politico - Economicus of World Oil
Refer to The Best Kept Secret in Washington
Whatever the twists and turns in global politics, whatever the ebb of imperial power and the flow of national pride, one trend in the decades following World War II progressed in a straight and rapidly ascending line -- the consumption of oil. If it can be said, in the abstract, that the sun energized the planet, it was oil that now powered its human population, both in its familiar forms as fuel and in the proliferation of new petrochemical products. Oil emerged triumphant, the undisputed King, a monarch garbed in a dazzling array of plastics. He was generous to his loyal subjects, sharing his wealth to, and even beyond, the point of waste. His reign was a time of confidence, of growth, of expansion, of astonishing economic performance. His largesse transformed his kingdom, ushering in a new drive-in civilization. It was the Age of Hydrocarbon Man.-- Daniel Yergin, 1992.
The genius of our so-called democracy lies in its stability and predictability. James Madison (1751-1836) is known as "the father of the U.S. Constitution". Madison’s primary political concern centered on the maintenance of social stability by the political and social control of competing factions; control by government itself was a secondary consideration. With those objectives in mind, the framers crafted an elaborate political system:
- Where "first object of government" (highest priority) was "the faculties" of acquiring property.
- Where the struggle of classes and passions (e.g., religious conflict) was replaced with the struggle of interests in the economic sphere.
- Where the political system was extremely resistant to change.
- Where political power was reserved for a white male minority while projecting the illusion of self-government to the majority. Madison scholar Richard K. Matthews explains:
"By consciously denying virtually all but a handful of citizens any role in a governmental structure that, by design, was to be run by an elite of superior ability (who nonetheless would have to check and balance each other), Madison left [economic struggle] as the prime avenue for humanity to search for meaning."
Nowadays, the terms "democracy" and "market economy" are often used interchangeably. Political decisions in a market economy are stunningly simple: one dollar, one vote. In short, the market economy serves as a stealth political system to foster rational thought, universal values based on calculation, and world peace based on self-interest. The market economy succeeds because it satisfies our hunter/gatherer genetic drives for dominance, sex, food, and material possessions – survival of the fittest.
One hundred years ago, fundamentally defective economic theories led to two world wars with millions killed. Today, the same defective economic theories are taught to students all over the world and are leading to a new generation of world wars with billions killed.
America will soon lose the stability the framers worked so hard to create because it is becoming wholly dependent upon inherently unstable (authoritarian) oil-producing Muslim nations like Indonesia. It happened thirty-three years ago when OPEC quadrupled world oil prices and plunged America into "stagflation". Fortunately, the non-OPEC producers still had a HUGE unexploited oil cushion to fall back on and simply pumped central bankers out of their economic crisis.
But that was 1973 and this is 2007 -- thirty-three years later the oil cushion is gone. Muslim nations will soon control virtually all of the world’s oil exports. Since neither capital nor labor can create energy, the next round of energy-shortage-induced stagflation will leave central bankers helpless and they will seek military solutions to their economic problems?
It's the best-kept secret in Washington, Whitehall, Brussels, and Jerusalem, but it's just a matter of time until word hits the street…
By definition, energy "sources" must produce more energy than they consume, otherwise they are called "sinks".
The market economy burns energy to make money -- there is no substitute for energy. Although the economy treats energy just like any other resource, it’s not like any other resource. Available energy is the precondition for all resources -- including energy resources.
The key to understanding energy issues is to look at the "energy price" of energy. Energy "sources" that consume more energy than they produce are called "sinks" and are worthless as sources of energy. This thermodynamic law applies no matter how high the "money price" of energy goes.
The market economy receives almost 80 percent of its energy subsidies from nonrenewable fossil sources: oil, gas, and coal
In the 1950s, oil producers discovered about fifty barrels of oil for every barrel invested in drilling and pumping. Today, the figure is only about five for one. Sometime around 2005, that figure became one for one.
The increasing energy cost of oil sets up a positive feedback loop: since oil is used directly or indirectly in everything, as the energy costs of oil increase, the energy costs of everything else increase too -- including other forms of energy. For example, oil provides about 50% of the fuel used in coal extraction.
Immutable energy laws tell us that a growing economy must eventually consume more energy than it can buy. When America spends more-than-one unit of energy to produce enough goods and services to buy one unit of energy, it will be physically impossible to cover the overhead (money is irrelevant). At that point, America's economic machine is "out of gas". Forever!
EUR OIL
For many years, geologists and petroleum engineers have published estimates of how much oil can be recovered from any given basin. This is known as "Estimated Ultimately Recoverable" (or EUR) oil. Remarkably, estimates of total worldwide EUR oil have varied little over the past half century!
About fifty years ago, geologist M. King Hubbert developed a method for projecting future oil production and predicted that oil production in the lower 48 states would peak about 1970. This prediction has proved to be remarkably accurate. Both total and peak yields have risen slightly compared to Hubbert's original estimate, but the timing of the peak and the general downward trend of production were correct. Hubbert showed that oil production begins to peak and starts to decline when approximately half of the EUR oil has been recovered.
IHS Energy Group (formerly Petroconsultants) is the world's leading provider of data and analysis for oil exploration and production. The company maintains its headquarters at a custom-built communications center in Geneva. It also has offices in London, Houston, Calgary, Sydney, Perth, Singapore and Hong Kong and a global information network. The backbone of the company is a staff of 300, embracing numerous nationalities, cultures and professions, specializing in petroleum geology, geophysics, petroleum engineering, economics, political science, petroleum legislation, cartography, computer science and information technology.
In 1995, Petroconsultants published a report for oil industry insiders ($32,000 per copy) titled WORLD OIL SUPPLY 1930-2050 which concluded that world oil production could peak as soon as the year 2000 and decline to half that level by 2025. Large and permanent increases in oil prices are predicted after the year 2000.
NO OIL? NO ECONOMY!
If one considers the last one hundred years of the U.S. experience, fuel use and economic output are highly correlated... Energy quality is by far the dominant factor.-- Cleveland, Costanza, Hall, and Kaufmann (Science 225: 890-897)
One of the most important aspects of energy is its "quality". Different kinds of fuel have different qualities. For example, coal contains more energy per pound than wood, which makes coal more efficient to store and transport than wood. Oil has a higher energy content per unit weight and burns at a higher temperature than coal; it is easier to transport, and can be used in internal combustion engines. A diesel locomotive uses only one-fifth the energy of a coal-powered steam engine to pull the same train.
Oil is the highest quality energy we use, making up about 38 percent of the world energy supply. No other energy source equals oil’s intrinsic qualities of extractability, transportability, versatility and cost. The qualities that enabled oil to take over from coal as the front-line energy source in the industrialized world in the middle of this century are as relevant today as they were then. Oil's many advantages provide 1.3 to 2.45 times more economic value per kilocalorie than coal.
Studies show that nothing can replace oil: "A recent review of the future prospects of all alternatives has been published. The summary conclusion reached is that there is no known complete substitute for petroleum in its many and varied uses." For example, when the oil's gone, food production will drop to a fraction of today’s numbers: "If the fertilizers, partial irrigation [in part provided by oil energy], and pesticides were withdrawn, corn yields, for example, would drop from 130 bushels per acre to about 30 bushels."
THE LAWS
The human species may be seen as having evolved in the service of entropy, and it cannot be expected to outlast the dense accumulations of energy that have helped define its niche. Human beings like to believe they are in control of their destiny, but when the history of life on Earth is seen in perspective, the evolution of Homo sapiens is merely a transient episode that acts to redress the planet's energy balance.– David Price. [i]
Available energy is the prerequisite for any economic activity. For example, lifting 15 kg of rock 5 meters out of the ground requires 735 joules of energy just to overcome gravity -- and the higher the lift, the greater the minimum energy requirements.[ii] The second law of thermodynamics places absolute limits the efficiency of the heat engines that power the global economy. [iii] A typical auto, bulldozer, truck, or power plant wastes more than 50 percent of the energy contained in its fuel!
By a hundred years ago, physics had incorporated the laws of thermodynamics. Obviously, energy laws that govern the physical world also govern the economic world. Physical scientists attempted to point out this crucial fact to economists:
"It is, in fact, the fate of all kinds of energy of position to be ultimately converted into energy of motion. The former may be compared to money in a bank, or capital, the latter to money which we are in the act of spending ... If we pursue the analogy a step further, we shall see that the great capitalist is respected because he has the disposal of a great quantity of energy; and that whether he be nobleman or sovereign, or a general in command, he is powerful only from having something which enables him to make use of the services of others. When a man of wealth pays a labouring man to work for him, he is in truth converting so much of his energy of position into actual energy...The world of mechanism is not a manufactory, in which energy is created, but rather a mart, into which we may bring energy of one kind and change or barter it for an equivalent of another kind, that suits us better -- but if we come with nothing in hand, with nothing we will most assuredly return." [Balfour Stewart, 1883] [iv]
But economists never understood the laws of thermodynamics because they evolved to worship the Market “god” instead.
THE MARKET “GOD”
No discipline [ except economics ] attempts to make the world act as it thinks the world should act. But of course what Homo sapiens does and what Homo economicus should do are often quite different. That, however, does not make the basic model wrong, as it would in every other discipline. It just means that actions must be taken to bend Homo sapiens into conformity with Homo economicus. So, instead of adjusting theory to reality, reality is adjusted to theory.-- Lester Thurow. [v]
The human mind evolved to believe in “god”s... Acceptance of the supernatural conveyed a great advantage throughout prehistory, when the brain was evolving. Thus it is in sharp contrast to [science] which was developed as a product of the modern age and is not underwritten by genetic algorithms.-- E.O. Wilson. [vi]
A zoologist from Outer Space would immediately classify us as just a third species of chimpanzee, along with pygmy chimp of Zaire and the common chimp of the rest of tropical Africa. Molecular genetic studies of the last half-dozen years have shown that we continue to share over 98 percent of our genetic program with the other two chimps.-- Jared Diamond. [vii]
By carefully observing people, we can deduce they were selected to believe in virtually anything:
"Precisely what we believe is immaterial; what matters is the kind of behavior it generates. This is why humanity is characterized by such astonishing diversity in its belief systems. As far as our genes are concerned, we can believe that the universe is driven by an overweight fairy on a green cheese bicycle provided that such belief effectively coerces us into adopting genetically advantageous behavior in all matters of evolutionary consequence, such as feeding, mating, nurturing, bonding, and protecting family, tribe, and territory." [viii]
Even though scientists pointed out over a hundred years ago that energy -- not money -- was the source of the capitalists' wealth, economists just didn't have the genes to give up their beliefs and face the real world. In other words, two million years of evolution produced an animal that was ideally suited to worship the Market “god”. [ix]
Adam Smith believed that “god”'s divine plan was revealed in a free market:
"the divine being ... contrived and conducted the immense machine of the universe, so as at all times to produce the greatest possible quantity of happiness."
Economic historian Deborah Redman explains:
"Because the order of nature is providential, the free market that reflects natural order also reflects the workings of providence. In this way the spheres of morality, theology, jurisprudence, and economics become hostages to nature, so to speak." [x]
The first commandment of the Market “god” (as revealed by Adam Smith):
"Every man, as long as he does not violate the laws of justice, is left perfectly free to pursue his own interests in his own way, and to bring both his industry and capital into competition with those of any other man, or order of men."
The economists didn't have the genes to understand the physics they were struggling to impersonate:
"[ With the development of modern physics ] it became possible to see orthodox economic theory for what it really was: a bowdlerized imitation of nineteenth-century physics…It was not the methods of science that were appropriated by the early neoclassicals as it was the appearances of science, for the early neoclassicals possessed a singularly inept understanding of the physics they so admired… [ Neoclassical economists attempt ] to reduce all social institutions such as money, property rights, and the market itself to epiphenomena of individual constrained optimization calculation. All these attempts have failed, despite their supposed dependence upon mathematical rigor, because they always inadvertently assume what they aim to deduce… Conservation principles are the key to the understanding of a mathematical formulation of any phenomenon, and it has been there that the neoclassicals have been woefully negligent." [xi]
"Once one gets the scorecard straight, then it will become apparent that twentieth-century neoclassical theory resembles nothing so much as the child’s game of Mr. Potatohead -- the fun comes in mixing and matching components with little or no concern for the coherence of the final profile." [xii]
Had economists evolved to understand the first and second laws of thermodynamics, they would have realized it was just a matter of time until global society entered a period of chronic energy shortage. Since neither capital nor labor can create energy, central bankers will soon have no way to manipulate the economy:
"Increases or decreases in the level of money supply are thought to influence the level of production in the economy. However, this is true only if the 'externals' to the economy -- i.e., sources of energy from outside of the money circle -- are constant. When the availability of energy changes, the economy changes in ways not correctable by manipulations of the money supply." [xiii]
If central bankers try to stimulate the economy under conditions of chronic energy shortage, they will create "stagflation" instead:
"High inflation rates can be explained by the linkages between fuel use and money supply. If the money supply is increased, stimulating demand beyond levels that can be satisfied by existing fuel supplies, then prices will rise. This implies that when the costs of obtaining fuel are high, fiscal and monetary policies may not be successful in stimulating economic growth." [xiv]
The next round of energy-shortage-induced stagflation will leave central bankers helpless and they will seek military solutions to their economic problems. This certainly isn't the first time that faith in the Market “god” has led to military solutions.
SAME BELIEF = SAME RESULT
The true nature of the highly artificial economic organization on which peace rested becomes of utmost significance to the historian. -- Karl Polanyi
In late 1973 the first OPEC oil shock struck, as oil prices quadrupled and the general inflation indexes shot up to 11 percent. More important, gasoline lines appeared. Waiting in line to buy a basic commodity like gasoline is something that no American had ever experienced. Shock and irritation were high, but those lines were like the first small heart attack -- an indication of mortality... What was worse, economists could pose no solution to the energy problem. Influential professionals, such as Milton Friedman, predicted that the oil cartel would quickly fall apart. It didn't.-- Lester Thurow. [xv]
In the 19th century, economist Hermann Gossen proclaimed:
"It would only frustrate totally or in part the purpose of the Creator were we to attempt to neutralize [the free market] in total or in part, as is the intention of some moral codes promulgated by men."
And he asks with moral indignation:
"How can a creature be so arrogant as to frustrate totally or partly the purpose of his creator?" [xvi]
The economists' faith in the Market “god” led to two world wars and sent millions to their deaths.
No other historian has explained the human suffering caused by failed economic theories as well as Karl Polanyi:
"The origins of the cataclysm lay in the utopian endeavor of economic liberalism to set up a self-regulating market system." [p. 29]
"By the fourth quarter of the nineteenth century, world commodity prices were the central reality in the lives of millions of Continental peasants; the repercussions of the London money market were daily noted by businessmen all over the world; and governments discussed plans for the future in light of the situation on the world capital markets. Only a madman would have doubted that the international economic system was the axis of the material existence of the race. Because this system needed peace in order to function, the balance of power was made to serve it. Take this economic system away and the peace interest would disappear from politics." [p. 18]
"By the end of the seventies the free trade episode (1846-79) was at an end; the actual use of the gold standard by Germany marked the beginnings of an era of protectionism and colonial expansion… the symptoms of the dissolution of the existing forms of world economy -- colonial rivalry and competition for exotic markets -- became acute. The ability of haute finance to avert the spread of wars was diminishing rapidly. For another seven years peace dragged on but it was only a question of time before the dissolution of nineteenth century economic organization would bring the Hundred Years' Peace to a close." [p. 19]
"The breakdown of the international gold standard was the invisible link between the disintegration of world economy since the turn of the century and the transformation of a whole civilization in the thirties. Unless the vital importance of this factor is realized, it is not possible to see rightly either the mechanism which railroaded Europe to its doom, or the circumstances which accounted for the astounding fact that the forms and contents of a civilization should rest on so precarious foundations.
"The true nature of the international system under which we were living was not realized until it failed. Hardly anyone understood the political function of the international monetary system; the awful suddenness of the transformation thus took the world completely by surprise... To liberal economists the gold standard was purely an economic institution; they refused even to consider it as a part of a social mechanism. Thus it happened that the democratic countries were the last to realize the true nature of the catastrophe and the slowest to counter its effects. Not even when the cataclysm was already upon them did their leaders see that behind the collapse of the international system there stood a long development within the most advanced countries which made that system anachronistic; in other words, the failure of market economy itself still escaped them." [p. 20]
"The transformation came on even more abruptly than is usually realized. World War I and the postwar revolutions still formed part of the nineteenth century. The conflict of 1914-18 merely precipitated and immeasurably aggravated a crisis that it did not create. But the roots of the dilemma could not be discerned at the time…The dissolution of the system of world economy which had been in progress since 1900 was responsible for the political tension that exploded in 1914." [p. 21] [xvii]
Exactly like the economists of one hundred years ago, and despite millions killed in two world wars by their mistakes, economists still worship the Market “god”. Moreover, economists still haven't changed their inherently defective methodology.
Economists first abstract all commodities to money -- which of course, obliterates all qualitative differences between the commodities themselves, and leaves economists uniquely unqualified to know anything about the commodities they purport to study.
Although economists treat energy just like any other resource, it’s not like any other resource. Available energy is the precondition for all resources -- including more available energy! Because of their total dependence on the measure of "money", today's most prominent economists are unable to know the difference between "libraries" and "oil":
"Should we be taking steps to limit the use of these most precious stocks of society's capital so that they will still be available for our grandchildren? … Economists ask, Would future generations benefit more from larger stocks of natural capital such as oil, gas, and coal or from more produced capital such as additional scientists, better laboratories, and libraries linked together by information superhighways? … in the long run, oil and gas are not essential." [Nobel Laureate Paul Samuelson and William Nordhaus] [xviii]
Talk about an evolutionary cul-de-sac! The economists' devotion to the Market “god” coupled with their innate inability to know the difference between libraries and oil will lead to a new generation of wars and send billions to their deaths.
The next cycle of death will begin when the world experiences a severe oil crunch in less than ten years (probably less than five, perhaps much less). The crunch will be triggered by a political upheaval in one or more of the major oil-producing nations, a Muslim backlash against America's friendship with Israel, OPEC reducing production to make more profit, or simply the natural -- and inevitable -- "peak" in global oil production.
Once the crunch is here, it's too late. The global economy will go to hell and rational planning will be replaced by crisis management. With the oil gone, there is nothing left to work with anyway.
The coming oil crunch is the best-kept secret in Washington, Whitehall, Brussels, and Jerusalem, but it’s just a matter of time until word hits the street… Nigeria, Angola …Africa take note!
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