Friday, November 10, 2006

10-Nov-06: European of the Year?

Over at the website of European Voice, produced by the same corporate publisher responsible for The Economist, they're in the last hours before closing the ballots later today (Friday) on the 2006 European of the Year titles.

This is not the typical sort of issue on which we focus. But if you check out this year's candidates, they reflect some disturbingly odd choices.

Among this year's batch of European of the Year candidates are such distinguished achievers as Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority and Tariq Ramadan, Swiss author and a notorious promoter of a radical Islamic message of hatred against Israel.

We'd like to suggest, for those of you as appalled as we are with these candidacies, to consider casting a vote right now for Cecilia Malmstrom, a European parliamentarian (pictured at right). She has played, and continues to play, a major role in supporting pro-democracy forces in the world with a special interest in Syria where democracy has - how shall we say this - some considerable way to go. In the European Parliament, hers has been one of the strongest voices consistently speaking out for democratic reforms. There's more about Cecilia Malmström here.

The deadline to vote is Friday (today) at 11.59pm, Brussels time. You may want to pass this message along to your more thoughtful friends. Be sure to register with a legitimate email address, and click here now to vote.

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