Last night, the CEO of STATOIL, the state-owned Norwegian oil company doing business now in among other countries Angola, Kazakhstan and Iran, resigned from his position. Here is a short overview of the situation, as seen by CNN Money. Also try this google search.

The scandal of a probable corruption issue has been a major news issue here in Norway since Dagens Næringsliv, a major Norwegian business daily, a few weeks ago announced that an Iranian consultant had a contract with Statoil which would give the Iranian over 10 Million US$ over a 10 year period. As it turned out, this consultant seemingly is a cover for the real benefactor of these funds: the son of a previous president in Iran who is also working in high levels in an Iranian oil company. Now, this case is rather complicated and the Norwegian economical police (for lack of a better English term..) are currently investigating the issue. But the following is clear to me:

* Many western companies are doing business in developing countries in a way which would not profitably be exposed in main media outlets in the home country of the companies.

* By cooperation and exchange of information, citizens and activists around the world can help track down the movements of these companies and make public comment on the practice.

* Youths connected to Taking IT Global could thus work together in sharing information about what is going on in our different countries. For instance, if you are living in Egypt and you hear about a certain Norwegian company which is doing some less good things in your country, then you contact some Norwegian members (who have signed up to this programme), telling them about the incident and providing as much documentation as possible.

Corruption is not something we must accept just because "this is the way business is being done in X country". For instance in China the authorities are trying hard to combat corruption, and then it is counter-productive if a company from your or my country is actively engaged in corruption in this country.

By working together and sharing information we can make a difference and make some noise!

There has been some time now since I last updated here. I have been quite busy with both studies, work and the election campaign here in Bergen. We just had the county/city council elections last wednesday, and well... Our party (The Liberals) still only got 2 city council seats, same as in last period. This was surely a disappointment, because we had worked quite hard this campaign. Oh well, on to other battles.

I am thoroughly enjoying my English studies. These last days I have been contemplating what to write for my first term paper. Here is an extract from an e-mail I sent to my professor:


"Regarding the first paper topic. I have been thinking about ways in which
I can explore further an area of great interest to me: The
transcendentalists, and especially Ralph Waldo Emerson.

(Un)Fortunately, there are several aspects of his life and works which are
of great interest to me. To investigate the sources of inspiration for
Emersons poetry, especially Islamic Sufism, is one aspect. Another is to
write about the ways in which Emerson influenced America's "national
Declaration of Intellectual Independence" (to use a phrase by Olivier
Wendell Holmes, quoted by the pragmatist philosopher Richard Rorty on
page 25 in his book "Philosophy and Social Hope", Penguin Books 1999)

On page 1104 in the Sixth Edition of the Norton Anthology of American
Literature (Volume B), I quote:

"As the reviewers understood, Nature was not a Christian book, but one
influenced by a range of idealistic philosophies, ancient and very modern,
Transcendentalism being merely the latest name for an old way of
thinking."

In my point of view, the author of this introduction to Emerson does not
give sufficient credit to the influence of Sufism or other streams of
middle eastern thinking. Omar Khayyam (sic) is a poet which I surely
believe influenced Emerson, and via Emerson, quite a number of American
authors.

My interest in Sufism, which I have had for some years, is not of a
religious, but a cultural, manner. I am interested in the contact and
interaction between cultures. Given the present-day schism between the
Western and Islamic world, I think giving at least some examples of how
the roots of our cultures have something in common,
could be of use.

My current dilemma is how I could focus my interest in Emerson's thoughts
into a paper topic which could be deemed accepted by the English
department. I acknowledge the fact that this is English studies, and not
sociology, or religious studies, or comparative politics. But I was
wondering how strict the rules are in this respect.


What is your opinion on this? Do you think either of these two interest
points, that is

* Emerson's influence on American politics and notions on democracy.
(Maybe also touching slightly on the Pragmatist movement of Dewey and,
lately, Rorty)

* The influence of Sufi thinking on Emerson and the Transcendentalist
Movement.

could be acceptable paper topics?

Some online resources:

* Dr. James R. Russell, Mesrob Mashtots Professor of Armenian Studies at
Harvard University, on "The Near East in the Mind of America: Cultural
Connections Between American Literature and the Civilizations of Armenia
and Her Neighbors" :
http://www.commercemarketplace.com/home/naasr/russell-release2002.htm
(see especially the second lecture in the series, found at:
http://www.commercemarketplace.com/home/naasr/Near_East_in_the_Mind_of_America_2
-_Russell.htm

* The John Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory & Criticism: On Richard Rorty
http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/hopkins_guide_to_literary_theory/richard_rorty.ht
ml


My professor replied, basically saying that I need to 1) find some relevant references in our reading list (there being almost none) and 2) limiting the focus of my discussion in order to fit into this first term paper, which is to be rather short.

This evening, I sent a reply, writing this

After having thought some more, I am considering writing about Emerson in
a more broad manner in the term paper instead of in the first paper. ... Thus, I am considering to start with the micro-cosmos of one or two poems
by Emerson. I would then be following this suggested paper topic:

"3. Emerson and/or Whitman as Transcendentalist Poet(s): Analyze one
or two poems by Emerson or Whitman, paying attention to poetic forms
and/or how the poem(s) gives expression to Transcendentalist thought.
(Choose between Emerson.s "Each and All" and/or "Days," and the sections
from Whitman.s "Song of Myself" on the reading list.)"

alternatively, I could write the following paper:

"4. Political writing in the American Renaissance: Discuss political
issues taken up by Thoreau and/or Fuller, paying attention to how they
argue their points (rhetorical strategies)."

In either case, I would be working with a much more confined material, yet
I would be able to explore authors and a literary tradition which are
of high interest to me. I will let you know next week about my decision
between these two papers.

But, if possible, I would still very much prefer writing on the
Transcendentalists in my Term paper. "

So, there we are. The poem by Emerson which I am most considering to analyze, is "Days", one of Emersons own favorites and a clear exponent of his philosophy. Here it is:

Days

DAUGHTERS of Time, the hypocritic Days,
Muffled and dumb like barefoot dervishes,
And marching single in an endless file,
Bring diadems and fagots in their hands.
To each they offer gifts after his will,
Bread, kingdoms, stars, and sky that holds them all.
I, in my pleachèd garden, watched the pomp,
Forgot my morning wishes, hastily
Took a few herbs and apples, and the Day
Turned and departed silent. I, too late,
Under her solemn fillet saw the scorn.


I find the poem to be very beautiful, and a nice starting point for my discussion on the Transcendentalists. As I wrote in my first e-mail to the professor, I am interested in how cultures interact and influence each other. Where would the Arabic world be today without the "West"? And where would we be without the Arabs? Surely, I doubt there would be any Renaissance...

In other news, I am off from work this week, which gives me the full day (and night) for studies and other commitments. I will post again soon. I wish you all a great day and week!