AMY WINEHOUSE TRAGIC DEATH IS A WASTE OF TALENT

Amy Winehouse

The sudden death of British singer Amy Winehouse came as a shock to many of her fans worldwide, even though many people were aware of her alcohol and drug problems.

Despite how talented Amy was, her weakness to refrain from alcohol and drugs changed her image and personality, which caused her tragic death last Saturday at her London residence.

Amy Winehouse released only two albums in her life, one of which sold more than a million copies, and won five Grammys. Her soul-jazz style of singing, hairstyle, and the fashion of clothes she chose to wear made her different from many female musicians.

Amy Winehouse is not the only singer to die mysteriously of alcohol and drug-related problems. Jimmy Hendrix, Rick James, Elvis Presley, Carl Crack, Billy Murcia, Allan Wilson, and a host of others died of alcohol and drug causes. It was like they couldn't handle their own fame.

Amy's sudden death is another example of how alcohol and drugs can be disastrous to mankind. She was only 27, confirming it's true that the great really die young.

LITTLE BELGIUM BUT DIFFICULT TO BE GOVERNED

Belgium

Belgium is a relatively small country in Europe, covering an area of 30,528 square kilometers, with a population of about 11 million people, yet it is the most difficult country in the world to rule.

298 days after the general election in June last year, Belgium is still without a government, making it the only country without a leader for such a long period, after Iraq. One may like to know the reason such a small country can't find peace to elect a stable government for itself.

As a country with two main linguistic groups, the Dutch-speakers (Flemish) and the French-speakers (Walloons), agreement in power-sharing to rule Belgium hasn't been easy, as the country experiences rapid changes of government than any other country in Europe.

For example, the Flemish nationalists want more autonomy, even to create an independent state. This is not what any of the political parties, such as the Liberals and Christian Democrats, want. 

At the same time, even the socialists who reject cuts and demand higher taxes do not want a government without the Flemish Nationalists.

In my opinion, I don't see the reason a small country like Belgium should be divided by an autonomous government. The idea of the Nationalists creating an independent state is a plan they should suspend. 

Dividing Belgium by self-governing would create more problems than the happiness the Flemish Nationalists are looking for.

Who would like the situation in Belgium to be chronic without a solution like that of the Israelis and the Palestinians? At the moment, Belgium's financial situation isn't good. 

The country reduced its debt level from 130% of the gross domestic product in the 1990s to the current level of 96%, but this is still high.

It is a big task to form a stable government in Belgium, yet it is the responsibility of all the political leaders, such as Bart De Wever, Elio Di Rupo, Philip De Winter, and past leaders, such as Yves Leterme, Herman van Rompuy, etc, to find a lasting solution for this great country.

SFINKS FESTIVAL (2011) : CRISS-CROSS RHYTHM THAT EXPLODES WITH HAPPINESS

The best of the Sfinks festival


Sfinks Festival is one of the numerous summer festivals in Belgium, yearly hosted in Boechout, a community on the outskirts of Antwerp. The festival has been running continuously for over three decades.

What has made the festival famous is the idea of pulling musicians from different countries all over the world to bring them under one roof in Antwerp to entertain the people, hence the term "Mixed Sfinks Festival".

Sfinks festival is a wonderful place to have fun during the summer holidays. With different melodies and a criss-cross rhythm, which explodes with happiness, the festival has been one of the best summer festivals in Belgium.

This year's festival (2011), as usual, is made up of musicians from all walks of life. But one musician who is not a stranger to this festival, and keeps on appearing many times, is the Ivorian reggae star Alpha Blondy and The Solar System. It's like history repeating itself. Alpha plays again this year.

The program for this year's Mixed Sfinks Festival is as follows. The festival opens on July 29 and closes on July 31, 2011.

Vrijdag 29 Juli
Cabaña
19.30: Muzika Agresija
Clubterrein
18.00: Awza
Concerttent
17.00: Robert Soko
19.30: Stereo Partizan
21.00: Emir Kusturica & The no smoking Orchestra
23.00: Robert Soko

Open Air
19.00, 21.00: Fasocirque

Zaterdag 30 Juli
Cabaña
15.00: Soulshakers
15.00: Bugalu Sound

Clubtent
14.00: Awza
16.00: Ayarkhaan
18.00: Sooeun Kwak
20.00: Ghalia Benali - Romeo & Leila
22.30: Les Etoiles du Ballet Royal du Cambodge

Clubterrein
19.00: Awza
Concerttent
13.00: Maguaré
15.00: Ayfer Düzdas
17.00: Lëk Sèn
19.00: Rubén Blades
21.00: Alpha Blondy
23.30: Systema Solar
o1.00: Rebel Up!
o2.30: DJ Munchi & VJ M

Kidz
14.00: Les Gotipuas
Open Air
12.30, 15.30, 18.00: Dhols of Jaipur
14.30, 16.30, 20.30: Fasocirque
18.30: Les Gotipuas

Zondag 31 Juli

Cabaña
15.00: DJ MPS Pilot
15:00: DJ Polyesta
Clubtent
14.00: Trio Windstreken & Kamal Hors
16.00: Mamer
18.00: Dikanda
20.00: Faiz Ali Faiz
Clubterrein
12.30, 17.00: Awza
Concerttent
13.00: Joaquin Diaz
15.00: Khaira Arby
17.00: Bomba Estéreo
19.00: Hindi Zahra
21.00: AfroCubism
Kidz
14.00: Les Gotipuas
Open Air
12.00, 14.30, 20.30: Fasocirque
16.30: Awza
18.30: Les Gotipuas