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I think that working with the blogs was a very good experience for us, since it is an interesting tool, the presentations althogh they were long, i think everybody learned about all topics and that experience prepare us to face other situations were we will have to express correctly, and since we are International negotiatiors, i think that the course, in general, was very useful and we took advantage of all the concepts and activities that were made.

Koguis

The Kogi or Kogui or Kaggabba, translated to "jaguar", in the Kogui language are a native American ethnic group that lives in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Martha, in Colombia. They are one of the few surviving Pre-Columbian civilizations of South America.

The Kogui base their lifestyles on their belief in "The Great Mother," their creator figure, whom they believe is the force behind nature, providing guidance. The Kogui’s understand the Earth to be a living being, and see the colonizers' mining, building, pollution and other activities damaging the Great Mother.

From birth the Kogui’s attune their priests, called Mamos, to the mystic world called Aluna. It is in this "spirit-realm" that the Mamos operate to help the Great Mother sustain the Earth. Through deep meditation and symbolic offerings, the Mamos believe they support the balance of harmony and creativity in the world. It is also in this realm that the essence of agriculture is nurtured: seeds are blessed in Aluna before being planted, to ensure they grow successfully.

Koguis. Retrived from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koguis

Mexico's Bimbo Group Buys Canada's Weston U.S. Bakery Unit for $2.38 Billion

Grupo Bimbo now employs 97,000 people in 18 countries.

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican baking giant Grupo Bimbo SAB announced Wednesday that it is buying the U.S. bakery unit of Canada-based George Weston Ltd. for $2.38 billion.

The transaction will be the biggest in the company's history, Bimbo said in a statement.

Weston Foods Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Canada's largest supermarket operator, produces the Boboli, Brownberry, Entenmann's, Freihofer's, Stroehmann and Thomas' brands of breads, rolls, muffins and bagels.

Weston had gross sales of nearly $2.2 billion during the 12 months that ended Oct. 4 and has maintained some of the highest profit margins in the industry, Bimbo said.

Latin America's biggest breakmaker already operates in the United States through its Bimbo Bakeries USA subsidiary, which is to absorb Weston Foods.

The expanded BBUSA will have 35 plants and more than 15,000 employees and is to be headed by Weston's current chief, Gary Prince.

The deal is to be financed through a long-term $1.7 billion credit line and a one-year bridge loan of $600 million, Grupo Bimbo said.

Bimbo's finance director, Guillermo Quiroz, thanked Bank of America, Citigroup subsidiary Banamex, BBVA Bancomer, HSBC, ING and Santander for their willingness to back the company "even in these moments of financial turbulence."

Bimbo and Weston expect the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, to be concluded in the first quarter of 2009.

Grupo Bimbo is one of the world's leading breadmakers, employing more than 97,000 people at plants and distribution centers in 18 countries.

Mexico's Bimbo Group Buys Canada's Weston U.S. Bakery Unit. Retrived from Latin American Herald tribute web page: http://www.laht.com/article.asp?CategoryId=14091&ArticleId=322758

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What can different organizations & the Private sector do to avoid the abuse of minorities.

Most of the minorities that face political, social, economical and cultural rights violations, have to deal with discrimination, racism and exclusion in ethnical, religious and national aspects.
Although minorty issues have been on the agenda of the United Nations for many years, and different organizations are trying to avoid abuse and to protect minorities, there is still so much to do.

what organizacions, both public and private sector, can do in order to avoid the abuse of minorities is to implement programs and policies that allow minorities to live and to enjoy their own culture, believes, religion, language, etc.

European Trade Union

ETUC calls to fight financial speculation by mobilising the force of Europe acting together

Says John Monks, general secretary of the ETUC: "Europe saved the banks. Social system and fair labour standards are as important, even more important, as the banks and should not be allowed to be bankrupted by the speculators".

To fight the fire of speculation with the fire of European unity, the ETUC urges the heads of governments to show the same courage and creativity as they did when saving the banks:

To save the banks, European governments issued almost 3 trillions of credit guarantees. Member states coming under speculative attack should now receive similar debt guarantees as the banks did.

To save the banks, the European Central Bank took over 4,1 trillion of ‘doubtful’ assets from the banks while slashing the interest rate they need to pay to almost zero. Central banks in Europe should now act as a ‘buyer of last resort’ for distressed sovereign debt as well and end the situation of governments taken hostage by financial markets.

To save the banks, European governments replenished them with plenty of new capital. Europe should now mobilize capital to invest in European recovery and European jobs. A joint European Growth Bund, investing in European infrastructure and networks, supported by central banks at a low interest rate cost and backed up by the proceeds of a European Financial Transaction tax, will shield economies from the negative fall -out of national fiscal consolidation.

To save the banks from their own misguided policies, European governments engaged to close down tax havens. Europe should now coordinate tax policy on capital revenue to avoid that the rich and wealthy do not pay their share of the costs of the crisis by moving their fortunes around Europe.

The ETUC exists to speak with a single voice, on behalf of the common interests of workers, at European level. Founded in 1973, it now represents 82 trade union organisations in 36 European countries, plus 12 industry-based federations.

The ETUC’s prime objective is to promote the European Social Model and to work for the development of a united Europe of peace and stability where working people and their families can enjoy full human and civil rights and high living standards.

The European Social Model embodies a society combining sustainable economic growth with ever-improving living and working standards, including full employment, social protection, equal opportunities, good quality jobs, social inclusion, and an open and democratic policy-making process that involves citizens fully in the decisions that affect them.

ETUC calls to fight financial speculation by mobilising the force of Europe acting together. Retrived from ETUC web page: http://www.etuc.org/a/7237

E-Commerce from an Islamic perspective

E-Commerce is a new fundamental business paradigm that went against the traditional business paradigm. It emerged from the convergence of several major information technologies and business practices.

The growth of E-Commerce in the past few years has generated considerable diversity and complexity in its structure and applications and Muslims wonder whether this new form of commerce is acceptable from the Syariah (Islamic Law) point of view.

From Islamic point of view, e-commerce has a similar definition with the conventional commerce, but some rules and obligations must be aligned with the need of Islamic principles and permissible by Islam.

Even though e-commerce is spreading worldwide, many Muslims still did not know about the status of their transactions according to the Islamic perspective and Islamic business ethics. Therefore, this research paper is meant to study the Islamic perspectives in e-commerce, particularly in its transaction, as well as the rights of the producers and customers.


Norazlina Zainul *, Fauziah Osman, Siti Hartini Mazlan. 6 February 2004. E-Commerce from an Islamic perspective