Business Network Magazine Canada | May - June 2015 by Anatolian Heritage Federation

businessnetworkmag.com | #23 | May - June 2015

Canada Attractive Investment Destination

Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Chris Alexander

/ Connect-Canada Business Forum / Washington Business Summit / The Intellectual Battle Against ISIS

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Contents

Editor's Letter

Networking

World View

Kimse Yok mu? A bridge of charity expanding from Turkey to all over the world

Virgin Galactic

Awareness is Everything By Giorgio Buttironi

New Chapter in Canada and Turkic World Relations

Business

Politics

Open Sesame! Alibaba Goes Global To Shatter US IPO Record By Dr. Manish Sinha

Can Ukraine Cope with the Burden of EU Conditionality? By Giorgio Buttironi

Canada's Economy On A Knife Edge By John West

The Rarity of Freedom in Erdogan's Turkey: Koza Gold By Giorgio Buttironi

Connect - Canada Business Forum

The Intellectual Battle against ISIS By Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Argentinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Conundrum: To Default or Not to Default? By Dr. Manish Sinha

Washington Business Summit Focuses on Turkic Markets

Exclusive

Immigration & Investment: What makes Canada the ideal destination One-on-One with Minister Chris Alexander

TCCC Network

Turkish Canadian Chamber of Commerce booth at Construct International EXPO Breakfast Seminar of Young Entrepreneurs Platform (YEP)

Art & Lifestyle

Game Based Learning (GBL) By Oguz Sarkut

Istanbul City By Ramadan Ozdemir

Mustafa Pide By Mehmet Gul

Networking Reception of TurkishMacedonian Business Communities

Canadian Businessmen at the TUSKON-Turkey World Trade Bridge

BN Network

BN Magazine bringing the most important perspectives on international Business and Politics to its readers in the Canada & U.S Awareness is Everything Editor in Chief Giorgio Buttironi

bnmagazine.co.uk | Issue #18 | Sept - Oct 2013 businessnetworkmag.com | #22 | Nov - Dec 2014

Publisher Mehmet Gul Managing Coordinator Mehmet N. Durmus

European Election 2014:

New York Marketing Manager Rahmi Yazar Graphic Design Alihan Kekeva Web Design Oguz Sarkut - Fatih Yagiz App Developer Muhammed Kilinc Photographic Editor Ali Haydar Yeşilyurt Filming Editor Sevgin Alişoğlu European Desk Ayfer Mustafaoğlu Media Coordinator Gökhan Güneri

Same old Novelty by Giorgio Buttroni

The China Plan E C O N O M I C S

O F

S U PE R P OW E R

/ North America’s Rising Economic Star : Ontario Women’s Role In MENA New revolutions, old inequalities

The History of Democratisation: An Economic Perspective

The Rupee Rout: Is India Still Shining or Has It Lost its Lustre?

Private Jets for all: Victor

/ Business Opportunities Turkey & The Turkic World / Europe’s Debt Wish By Kenneth Rogoff

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Advisory Board Enes Kula • Selçuk Koç Vusal Babashov • İsmail Başman Celil Yaka

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Contributors Brock Curtis - Isa Topbas Selman Avci - Furkan Tuzun Sehnaz Gul - Sebnem Gul And a general big thank you to everyone who may have contributed and/or facilitated the publication of BN

May - June 2015 TCCC Toronto Canada Published bimonthly by Turkish Canadian Chamber of Commerce (TCCC) 481 University Ave, Suite 711 TORONTO , ON M5G 2E9 Canada post Agreement # 42400540 www.tccommerce.org Tel: 416- 269 7670

Absolutely brilliant! An addition to the great work produced in London Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

Very successful, happy to be in it Nick Clegg MP, Deputy Prime Minister

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The inspiring motto summing up the spirit of BN Magazine is “Awareness is everything”. That means we make it our primary mission to keep our readers aware about the most important issues affecting politics and business, without neglecting other aspects of life such as art. This issue bears the privilege of containing a rich selection of articles with regards to the most relevant events over the last two to three months; from our exclusive interview with the Hon Chris Alexander, to the business summit organized by the Turkic American Alliance in Washington. Our cover story in this issue highlights the increasing popularity of Canada as a nation for investment by businessmen and for immigration by scores of people. To get to the top of such an illustrious issue we talked to Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration the Hon Chris Alexander who graciously gave us an inside look as to what was making Canada a hub of immigration and investment. As our correspondent dwelled into conversation we also received insights on the currently unpredictable Turkey-Canada relations. When it comes to business summits and attracting businessmen from a spectrum of backgrounds, our eyes as BN Magazine are always turned towards the events hosted by the Turkish Canadian Chamber of Commerce. Recently they organized the Connect-Canada attracting more than 200 guests at Brampton City Hall, where they gave insights into industries through seminars and conferences. Aside from business we took a look into humanitarian aid and relief within Turkey and who better to ask then Kimse Yok Mu; this organization is a relief fund inviting those who can, to donate their time and wealth for a better world. We attained an interview with the chairman of the board, Ismail Cingoz, who put us into the shoes of those they gave aid to across the years.

life. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum (Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates) tackles the topic of the fight against the Islamic State, explaining how the key battle against this destructive force must be fought on an ideological and intellectual level, rather than remaining confined to the military plain. Another matter that is yet to be seen in this issue is the annual Washington Business Summit that brought together over 200 businessmen, lawmakers, and public figures from 15 different countries spanning Central Asia and several African nations. The newly progressing interest of the US into Central Asian markets gave another sense to the event and attracted over 100 senators and congressmen. The event ended with a tour of the White House commemorating the efforts and connections that had been made throughout the conference. And ultimately, Dr Manish Sinha seeks to unravel the intricate dilemma behind Argentina’s latest public debt default - the second in just thirteen years - and explain the factors behind Alibaba’s record shattering performance on the US market. I sincerely hope you will enjoy this issue.

Giorgio Buttironi Editor-in-Chief

This issue also focuses on the challenge posed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant not just to the Middle East, but to the entire world. Even though the rapid expansion of a terrorist group with territorial bases over Iraq and Syria might not concern ourselves in terms of proximity, it certainly constitutes an unprecedented challenge to our customary way of

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Business

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Open Sesame! Alibaba Goes Global To Shatter US IPO Record Alibaba Group Headquarters

By Dr. Manish Sinha

On 19 September 2014, a fifteen year-old company founded by former English teacher Jack Ma in Hangzhou, China embarked upon the largest initial public offering (IPO) in U.S. corporate history. In doing so, it smashed the 6-year record held by American financial services giant Visa by over 40 percent. The conglomerate, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., raised as much money from the investment community as AT&T Wireless Group and General Motors combined, giving its founder a 9 percent stake valued at approximately $20 billion. Due to restriction on direct foreign ownership of Chinese companies, Alibaba raised $25 billion (inclusive of add-ons) by selling American Depository Receipts through a Cayman Islands vehicle, giving the Western public exposure to an e-company that dominates one of the most crucial foreign markets. Upon its IPO the company ranked amongst the most expensive companies globally; the following morning the company’s market value approached $230 billion. Such a stratospheric valuation catapulted the company to similar rank in terms of market capitalization as Procter & Gamble and JP Morgan Chase and, among technology behemoths, fourth behind Apple, Google and Microsoft. The newest member of the technology elite chose to list in the US in contrast to Hong Kong, as the latter’s stock exchange refused to accept the proposed company and voting structure. So what really is Alibaba and

how significant a threat does it pose to its globally ketplace, which is China’s most popular online revered competitors Amazon, eBay and PayPal? shopping site and analogous to Amazon. Secondly, TMall, which represents the country’s largest brands Alibaba is the most popular online shopping desti- and retail platform that sells directly from brands. nation in the world's fastest growing e-commerce Thirdly, Alipay, which resembles PayPal and which market. It has evolved, through an amalgamation processed $623 billion of digital payments in the of organic growth and external acquisition, into an fiscal year 2014. Fourthly, Aliyun, which offers the interconnected and diverse group of businesses. It Group’s cloud services and infrastructure facilities encompasses an online business-to-business portal, and which contributed $102 million in profit. a shopping search engine, a retail and payment The success of the Group’s online market place service and cloud computing services. Essentially, a has been resounding, in part, due to the historic synthesis of eBay, PayPal and Amazon Web Services weakness of in-person retail shopping in China with undisputed market size to match: transactions in comparison to Western markets. According to in 2013 totaled $248 billion, more than eBay and the Census Bureau, US e-commerce sales in the Amazon combined. The opportunities for investors first quarter of 2014 accounted for 6.2 percent of are immense: China’s e-commerce market has grown total sales whereas in China that figure was almost from $74 billion in 2010 to $295 billion in 2013 8 percent according to iResearch. and is projected to cross $713 billion in 2017. At the time of its stock offering the overall Group’s Investment in Alibaba’s IPO comes with a key website activity accounted for over 60 percent of unquantifiable risk: historically unforeseen changes all parcels delivered in China by March 2013 and to legal rules governing the Chinese market place. over 80 percent of the country’s online sales. An Furthermore, despite a continuation of China’s investment in the company therefore represents a economic expansion, its rate of growth has decelerwager on two fronts: an increase in its dominance ated by 4.5 percent over the past four years and it is of the Chinese market and, crucially, a successful hitherto unclear whether this trend will continue, expansion into foreign markets. stabilize or reverse. Whereas private consumption comprises approximately 75 percent of gross Alibaba Group is a multi-faceted organization domestic product for the United States, this figure constituting distinct pillars. Firstly, Taobao Mar- is little more than one-third for China and may

constitute an indubitable opportunity for domestic growth. However, how conceivable is an appreciable increase in private consumption where, at the last measure, the World Bank estimated that 27 percent of residents live on less than $2 per day? Alibaba recently reported a shift to mobile traffic with mobile-related sales increasing from 7.5 percent of gross merchandising volume to 19.7 percent over the past year. Failure to monetize this traffic represents a significant risk to future profitability; particularly given that China’s 600 million-plus internet users are migrating to smartphones whilst Alibaba simultaneously attempts to expand onto mobile platforms. Its toughest rival is Tencent Holdings Ltd., which runs the WeChat mobile app with 355 million users and one-fifth market share of China’s mobile app distribution. The tangled web of domestic competitors comprises at least forty distinct companies that are investing billions of dollars into businesses that can help compete with, and erode, Alibaba’s advantage. Alibaba has diversified its revenue source by venturing into an unrelenting acquisition drive of key foreign companies, purchasing majority and minority stakes in 29 companies for $16 billion. Furthermore, it permits users to invest in a money-market fund via Alipay and, with $87 billion under management, runs the fourth-largest money-market fund globally.

Jack Ma, Founder of Alibaba

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In 2005, it invested $4 billion into US Internet search giant Yahoo! Once restricted from foreign ownership, in 2013 the Federal Communications Commission permitted foreign investments in US companies to exceed 25 percent on a case-by-case basis. Alibaba also led a $215 million funding round for messaging app Tango and invested $120 million in video game start-up Kabam, in process gaining a seat on its board. Its partnership with Brazil’s stateowned postal services company Correios enables small businesses to utilize Alipay when selling their products in China and also invested $250 million in Singapore Post. At the time of writing, it is in talks to invest in Delhi-based online retailer Snapdeal in an attempt to enter the voracious Indian market enabling it to compete directly with Flipkart, the country’s largest e-commerce company, and Amazon. Alibaba’s investment targets enjoy direct, reciprocal access to the Chinese market that is crucial for their future aspirations as several are focused on mobile and e-commerce. Such explosive growth has Alibaba witnessed and so successful has its business been that entire towns have mushroomed across China that thrive solely upon executing business based upon Alibaba platforms. The number of so-called “Taobao villages” – previously rural townships expeditiously transformed into commercial hubs – has grown by 50 percent since 2012 and as of September 2014 exceeded one

million. Indeed, seventy percent of areas where the rate of growth of online shopping is the highest are rural, less well-developed regions of China. An archetype of this paradigm transformation is Donggaozhuang where amongst 400 households lie 20 stores with annual trading volume in excess of one million yuan and where online master classes are held for aspiring entrants to China’s e-commerce boom. Similarly, East Wind village in the eastern province of Jiangsu mostly exported wheat, rice and soybean. Today, the former farming village has metamorphosed into a key player in the domestic furniture industry. Currently, more than 600 stores sell furniture to customers as far away as New Zealand. Between Taobao, TMall and the groupbuying site Juhuasuan, there were 255 million active buyers and 8 million active sellers. Across all Alibaba sites, on average 34 million transactions were processed each day. An examination of the group’s financial statements from the second quarter of 2014 elucidates similarities and disparities with its US counterparts. For instance, its gross merchandising volume of 80 billion in the second quarter of 2014 was four-fold higher than that of eBay, partly owing to the sheer variety of its market places. However, the revenue earned trailed that of most of its peers at approximately half of eBay’s and ten-to-fifteen percent of both Amazon and Google. Its low cost base, however,

enabled it to make a net profit almost twice that of eBay and two-thirds of Google, whilst Amazon continues to make a loss. One metric in which it unquestionably shone was net profit margin, or the amount of profit it generates for every unit of revenue. For Alibaba, this reached a high of eighty percent whereas, comparatively, both eBay and Google languished at twenty percent. Ultimately, it is challenging to predict how Alibaba’s business model will adapt to direct competition from established foreign multinationals, which may limit genuine growth opportunities in uncharted territories. Whilst its investment trail in an array of companies should assist in generating independent sources of revenue, the likes of Amazon, eBay and PayPal will not relinquish their stronghold quietly and will no doubt provide extremely stiff competition to the industry’s new entrant. Alibaba will find it demanding establishing itself in new frontiers and its partnerships with locally established, albeit globally smaller, firms would play a crucial role in facilitating and expediting this. Only time will tell whether Alibaba succeeds in living up to the hype surrounding its record-breaking IPO but one thing is clear – it will be a journey encapsulated by governmental and commercial uncertainty and epitomized by potentially much tougher impediments than it has encountered during its meteoric ascent thus far.

Politics

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Can Ukraine Cope with the Burden of EU Conditionality? By Giorgio Buttironi

The European and Ukrainian Parliaments ratified the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement on 16th September 2014, during simultaneous signing sessions in Strasbourg and Kiev. Besides initiating a process of convergence between regulatory systems and cooperation over several policy areas, this deal sets out the establishment of a free trade area from 31st December 2015, linking Ukraine with the EU’s €10trillion economy.

country remains divided and deteriorating relations with Russia are taking their toll on the economy. The absence of trade cooperation has seen Ukrainian exports to Russia go down by 23.7%.

Upon the agreement’s ratification by every member state, Ukraine will have to enact legislation aimed at ensuring the respect of human rights and the rule of law, as well as following attentively the timetable for transposition of parts of EU legislation (the The signing of the agreement is certainly momen- so-called acquis communautaire) into national law. tous because the Ukrainian government made an unequivocal move towards Europe and away from There are several factors that will profoundly affect Russia. However, there are reasonable grounds to Ukraine’s capacity to cope with EU conditionality. question Ukraine’s capacity to endure the burden imposed by EU conditionality. Conditionality Firstly, ensuring the implementation of legislative generally concerns the timetable of conditions reforms will be fundamental in consolidating the outlined in the association agreement. democratic elements of the political system, previSince gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine has ously plagued by corruption and violent clashes struggled with widespread corruption within its own between MPs. The recent images an angry crowd political system and on-going tensions with the outside parliament throwing a member of parliaRussian-speaking minorities in the east. Although a ment (Vitaly Zhuravskyi) into a rubbish bin are ceasefire between the government and the separatists a reminder of how much still needs to be done. was brokered in Minsk on 1st September 2014, the

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko with José Barroso and Hermann Van Rompuy.

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the Ukrainian government made an unequivocal move towards Europe and away from Russia

The upcoming legislative elections in October will not only determine the political makeup of the new parliament, but will also measure whether Ukraine meets the important prerequisites of a proper democracy. Secondly, the status of relations between the government and separatist forces in eastern regions is also crucial in this regard. Besides the Minsk Ceasefire Agreements between government and rebels, the Ukrainian Parliament has also approved a law granting significant self-governance to eastern regions and amnesty to any separatist recently involved in fighting against government forces. And thirdly, Russia’s role on the international stage – not least because of its influence among separatist rebels and status as Ukraine’s largest gas supplier – will be determinant. Much will depend on the strength of the European response, which has not yet been as forceful as many expected. This is due to the commercial and energy interests that link certain member states and Russia. Since EU foreign policy action requires unanimous consent from 28 member states, it is easy to understand the EU’s restrained attitude. If member states manage to adopt a less wavering position, Ukraine will certainly stand to gain in international support.

Business

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Canada's Economy On A Knife Edge By John West / Executive Director Asian Century Institute

Discussions led by business leaders at the recent investment to get its natural gas and oil to Asian Toronto Global Forum suggest that Canada's export markets. Pipeline and other projects are economy is sitting on a knife edge. bogged down by opposition from aboriginal and local communities, and environmentalists. Prospects for the world economy are gloomy and fragile, something Canada cannot insulate itself To strengthen the foundations for Canada's natural from. Europe's economy is struggling. Growth resource development, companies need a more is slowing in China, Brazil and India. Economic constructive engagement with aboriginal comuncertainty is rising due to turmoil in the Middle munities, civil society and the public said David East and the Ukraine. The US may be a bright Collyer of the Canadian Association of Petroleum spot in the global economy, with steady growth Producers. He called on the government to foster since 2010, but this is its weakest post-war recovery. such dialogue and cooperation.

comfortable with change, rather than the status quo. Canada has many "lifestyle entrepreneurs", who lack a burning urge to expand to global markets.

Canada's energy futures are also threatened by the boom in US oil and gas production, given its reliance on exports to the US market. US oil production is up 70% from 2008. Canada is also exposed to the recent fall in oil prices, given that it is a high cost energy producer. And the availability of cheaper energy in the US is also giving its manufacturing sector an edge.

Canada does not invest enough in equipment, technology and training, said Robert Hardt of Siemens. Canada should invest further to improve both quality and access to tertiary education, to maintain the supply of highly skilled workers as the population ages.

These past few years, Canada has been a success story, according to Minister of State for Finance, Kevin Sorenson, thanks to the government's timely stimulus to minimize the effects of the global financial crisis. Canada has achieved steady growth, with low debt and a good employment record, and has outperformed the G7.

Indeed, Canada has been an island of stability in an unstable world, said Minister Sorenson. Its middle Small and medium enterprises, the backbone of class incomes are better than America's. It is also Canada's economy, are also behind the curve, accordthe best place to raise a family. ing to Pierre Cleroux of the Business Development Bank of Canada. While some 84% of Canadians Despite its success, however, it seems clear that are online, only 41% of Canada's SMEs have a Canada faces many challenges, going forward. website, while a mere 13% do business online. Michael Sabia of the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec made a strong case for infrastructure Canada also lacks an innovation and risk-taking spending to boost the global economy. And Canada culture, said Jean-Rene Halde of the Business Deitself is also in desperate need of infrastructure velopment Bank of Canada. It is important to feel

Halde argued that Canada needs to boost innovation. Canada has world-class research institutions and provides strong public support to business investment in research and development (R&D). However, the business sector devotes only about 1% of GDP to R&D, compared with 2% in the U.S. and more than 2.5% in Japan, Korea and some of the Nordic countries.

Canada has concluded some 38 free trade agreements in recent years, but only one of those has been with Asia (Korea), the fastest growing part of the world economy. The Canadian government also took a long while to ratify an investment agreement with China. And while Canada endeavors to open up to the global economy, it is lumbered with far too many inter-provincial barriers which prevent it from having a single market at home. Somewhat surprisingly, one important issue not discussed at the Forum was migration. Canada

Canada's greatest challenge today may be complacency. It is a country blessed with abundant natural resources. It is very prosperous, with a comfortable standard of living.

appears to be a migration success story, with its emphasis on skilled migrants, many coming from Asia. But overall, Canada's migration experience is one of wasted talent. Too many skilled migrants are unable to find jobs corresponding to their skills, and are vastly overqualified for the jobs they do secure. Canadian business and government must do more to exploit the potential of its multicultural talent pool. Canada's greatest challenge today may be complacency. It is a country blessed with abundant natural resources. It is very prosperous, with a comfortable standard of living. But Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s overall productivity has actually fallen since 2002, while that of the US has grown substantially. Canada needs to become more productive to sustain its high standard of living. It also needs to do more to develop the manufacturing and services sectors, not just natural resources, if it is to maintain a high level of employment and an equitable distribution of the fruits of growth. But history shows that while the going is good, countries rarely see any urgency in taking the future seriously. O Canada, it would be a great shame if you fail to grasp the nettle! References : - "Rethinking Growth", Toronto Global Forum, 27-28 October, 2014.

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Connect-Canada Business Forum â&#x20AC;&#x153;The event aimed to share Business experiences in Canada with participants from across the Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhsitan, US and Canada â&#x20AC;?

31 businessmen from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and the United States who are active and recognized in their fields of construction, real estate, building materials, food processing, livestock, agriculture, home textiles, related machinery and furniture visited Canada. The event particularly took place at the Brampton City Hall and welcomed more than 200 people.Â Connect Canada 2014 as a Business & Investment Forum had three seminars, networking and business-to-business meetings took place, and it was followed by a dinner for all the guests. At the end, 31 businessmen who came from different nations around the world were taken to various factories in Brampton. The program, which also had some side events and factory visits in the Ottawa area was successful event and is expected to be even bigger next year. Mehmet Durmus, from Turkish Canadian Chamber of Commerce met with Hon. PM Harper and briefed him about the Turkic Canadian Convention and Connect-Canada 2014. Hon. PM Harper valued the programs.

Canadian and Turkic Businessmen Come Together in Brampton city, Ontario

Exclusive

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One-on-One with Minister Chris Alexander

Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Chris Alexander with BN Team

Immigration & Investment: What makes Canada the ideal destination Isa Topbas Having had the privilege of meeting him briefly once before, I had already known about the calm and relaxed nature of Minister Chris Alexander. His composed demeanor gives those interacting with him a sense of comfort and his is a very approachable individual. Earlier in the evening, the Minister had graciously invited us into his Toronto offices for a chat about general issues regarding immigration and the immigrant communities in Canada, and to dialog about the state of Canada-Turkey relations, which at times has its ups and downs. Taking him back to years ago, I began by asking the minister of what had stuck with him from his time in Afghanistan. After all, he was there for quite some time, and it was of interest to me to find out what he still carried with him, from that experience. I found his response interesting as he described having witnessed the dramatic changes that took place in the country during his time there and the gains made in terms of democracy and human rights. Minister Alexander continues to take to heart these experiences in how to build

a functioning state and democracy and how to instill the respect of human rights into a society. Looking back fondly to his time there, he points out how important those experiences were to what he does today as the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

and the objective was to weed out those whose intent is to cheat the system for their own gain. Moving on, the Minister insisted that the system revolved around the actual needs of asylum seekers and stated that the efforts of the government should not be skewed or misunderstood.

of multiculturalism, and wants immigrants to feel safe and at home. He wants them to feel comfortable with their own culture and identity and believes that being Canadian will naturally come as part of living here. He doesn’t hesitate to add however that being a member of this society brings with it some responsibilities, stating that “citizenship is really is a set of obligations, not just rights.” He states that he is against devaluing our identity and citizenship, and that the only way to make sure of this is through a rigorous system in which those who betray this country, or attempt to betray this country are duly punished.

Seeking Asylum in Canada

Integration vs. Assimilation

Immigrant Representation

The question about his time in Afghanistan had naturally led me to another relevant question; his position on refugees and Canada’s role in providing help to them. Having seen the poverty and devastation brought on by years of war must have had some sort of an impact on him and it would be interesting to hear his response. The Minister strongly believes that Canada is already doing a very good job in terms of accommodating those applying for asylum in the country. “I’m very proud of our refugee determination system and our refugee resettlement programs” he says, and adds that “Canada is more generous than ever.” When talking about the recent changes the government had undertaking with regard to the application process, he insisted that this was for the benefit of the refugees themselves,

When discussing immigrants, it is difficult not to delve into this age old question of integration versus assimilation. On the surface, the Canadian approach has always been different than what we see in the American system. There has always been a clear distinction between how newcomers are greeted in these two countries. While the United States has argued for the ‘melting pot’ approach, Canada has always been proud of its ‘mosaic’ philosophy and the strong presence of multiculturalism in the country. After all, for many Canadians, multiculturalism is how they define Canada; it has truly become a Canadian cultural icon.

On this question the Minister gave a frank response; immigrant representation both at the federal and at the provincial level could be improved. He put the onus on the immigrant communities however, and encouraged them to do more to take part in Canadian politics. He insists that the Canadian system is open for immigrants of all political stripes and strongly rejects that there is any systemic discrimination in Canada towards visible minorities, especially in the political arena. The Minister says that he hopes to see more members of visible minorities in the parliament in the years ahead, and that this can only be achieved through the hard work of immigrants themselves. While he admits that getting a start in politics is no easy task, he says this isn’t a valid reason for staying out of politics.

The Minister feels no different about this than many other Canadians. He is an ardent supporter

Most other countries are less flexible with their immigration systems, while we’re aiming to bring talented people, skilled people together, faster.

time-span. Canada has always held immigration as a tool for economic prosperity, and this is one more addition. Through this investment-immigration partnership, the government plans on livening-up the already active and growing Canadian market. Canada-Turkey Strategic Partnership

After asking about where the two countries currently stand, the Minister responded by stating that more had to be done, and both countries had to take their relationship to the next level. He highlighted the importance of the Turkish Canadian Chamber of Commerce in bringing the countries together in the field of business and international trade, and also pointed out the strength of not just Turkey, but also the Turkic world as a whole in making important gains in the Canadian market. He stated that the government is actively trying to make the Immigration and the Economy process faster and easier for those wishing to come to Canada as economic immigrants and that the If you’re willing to invest about $2 Million over Canadian government is interested today more a span of 15 years in Canada, the government is than ever, in foreign investment in this country. willing to give you permanent residency without hassle. The cap on the number of applications Pointing to the young and dynamic population of for this program, while being only limited to 500 the country, the Minister outlined the key sectors applicants, is directly in line with Canada’s commit- in which they are actively seeking immigrant apment to making immigration serve the needs of the plicants. Furthermore, the minister insisted that economy. The main requirement to be able to take the importance of strong trade links between the advantage of this program is to have a history of countries goes beyond just economics, but also investment of around $10 Million, and to commit serves to improve and strengthen the cultural ties to investing $2 Million in Canada over the required between the two countries.

Politics

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The Rarity of Freedom in Erdogan's Turkey:

Koza Gold By Giorgio Buttironi

The Turkish government’s hostile attitude towards businesses and organisations with even the slightest sympathy towards the Gulen Movement has continued unabated for almost a year. The situation had become precarious since allegations of corruption regarding key officials of Erdogan’s cabinet emerged in December 2013, leading to a substantial government reshuffle on Christmas Day. Moreover, the corruption probe was basically sabotaged by the replacement of more than 300 police officers working in the financial crimes unit. Since last year, the government has adopted a rather aggressive stance towards the Gulen Movement. The very terms used in defining the Islamic movement’s allegedly treasonous acts have become part of a frequently used vocabulary in Erdogan’s political dictionary. Among the charges, the government has often accused Gulen of conspiring with foreign powers to topple the institutions of the Republic; these allegations were brought to a new zenith when a written statement by the National Security Council (MGK) - the authority tasked with outlining the national security priorities of the Turkish state - frontally attacked Hizmet. Vowing to pursue a “resolute struggle” against the “parallel state” - as the Gulen Movement has been defined by government authorities - the MGK and President Erdogan hinted that Hizmet would be inserted in the infamous “Red Book” of national security issues in 2015.

This ongoing campaign has already made it difficult for organisations involved with Hizmet to lead a peaceful existence in Turkey. Bank Asya represents the foremost example of how the government went out of its length, in blatant defiance of the Legal Banking Code, to make sure that the Islamic lender would not see the new year. The most baffling element of this story is that even the most indirect link with sympathisers of the Gulen Movement seems to be enough to attract unwanted and often unfriendly attention from government agencies and pro-government media outlets. In this article, let us divert our attention toward the Koza Mining Group owned by Akin Ipek, whose holdings also include a newspaper and a television channel considered pro-Hizmet.

worth respectively 4.20 and 31.20 Turkish Liras (TRY) on the Istanbul Stock Exchange; however, following the simultaneous mediation crusade against Gulen affiliates, both companies saw their shares plummet. One year on, in December 2014, their shares are currently worth 1.59 TRY and 13.20 TRY on the Borsa Istanbul. This downward trend symbolises a 62% and 57% devaluation in value for respectively Ipek Energy and and Koza Gold. These numbers would seem typical of companies with internal financial problems, and yet here lies the most astonishing fact; the capital and assets of Ipek’s companies are in robust and healthy shape, leading to the feeling that the fall in market value could actually be due more to government pressure and media attacks on Gulen-sympathising entrepreneurs.

with no regard for existing legal structures. An old proverb correctly argued that the pen can inflict more severe damages than the sword, and this appears to be true of what is currently happening in Turkey at the moment, triggering anxiety and apprehension about its impact on the flow of foreign investment and capital. The Deputy Leader of the Republican People’s Party, Hursit Gunes, expressed in clear terms that “In a country where corruption and bribery is so very open and widespread, it would be foolish to think that foreign investment would come here or that Turkish investors would be willing to invest”. With a declining rate of foreign investment and a scheduled rise in the interest rates, the consequences of the government’s authoritarian attitude towards individuals holding different opinions is leading the country towards a grim future.

Thousands of locals protested Koza Altın mine closures

Koza Mining currently controls seven gold mines throughout Turkey; the group’s first goldmine located near the village of Ovacik - was acquired in 2005. The mine has an average feeding capacity of 100 tonnes per hour, making it one of the most efficient in the country. Other goldmines belonging to the Koza Group are quite proficient in their primary activity, with the Cukuralan and Mastra plants producing respectively 170,000 and 350,000 tones of ore each year.

Koza Gold is just another example of how rule of law seems more and more a rare commodity to find under Erdogan’s government. By itself, the facts surrounding Koza Gold would not be enough of an indicator to make this assertion. However, if considered within the context of previous similar examples such as Bank Asya and the growth of a new political climate across the country, the situation becomes increasingly and worryingly clear. Turkey’s political discourse is developing a lexicon And yet, both Ipek Energy and Koza Mining have of terms - such as “foreign conspirators”, “parallel seen better days on the stock exchange. In December state”, “resolute struggle” - constantly used by the 2013, Ipek Energy and Koza Gold shares were government to attack individuals and enterprises

Networking

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New Chapter in Canada and Turkic World Relations Convention lays foundation for successful relations between Great White North and Turkic region Andrew Scheer, Canadian Member of Parliament and the Speaker of the House of Commons and Mehmet GUL, BN Canada Publisher Dozens of members of the Canadian Parliament and Senate, as well as government officials and other leading public figures from Canada and Turkic nations attended the Second Annual Turkic-Canadian Convention organized by the Anatolian Heritage Federation, the biggest umbrella organization of Turkic Canadians, advocating for the strong ties between the people of the Great White North and Turkic region.

Turkic-Canadian Community in fostering bilateral relations between Canada and Eurasian countries in his keynote address at the luncheon program of the convention. This convention played a cornerstone role in developing political, economic and social ties between Canada and six Turkic countries--Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyz Republic and Turkmenistan. The convention, which was sponsored by Today’s Zaman, Turkish Review magazine, Business Networking magazine, Rethink Institute along with Azerbaijan’s İpek Yolu (Silk Road) Business Association, Turkish Canadian Chamber of Commerce (TCCC) and the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON), has become a major platform for key stakeholders of these nations to meet with their counterparts in the nation’s capital.

Moderated by MPs and Senators, panel sessions featured prominent experts in their respective fields who elaborated on issues focusing on Canada’s Economic Diversification with Eurasia, Strategic Partnership and Cooperation in Central Asia and the Caucasus and Silk Road initiatives and its potential implications to Canada. In addition, more than 20 MPs and Senators expressed their special support to this program by being part of the honorary host committee. “Canada needs to increase its presence in the region” said Hon. William Graham, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of National Defense. Hon. Chris Alexander, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration highlighted the increasing role of the

Hon. Noel Kinsella, Speaker of Senate and MP Hami Yildirim

Hakan Tasci

The Title Politics

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By Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

The global financial crisis taught the world how profoundly interdependent our economies have become. In today’s crisis of extremism, we must recognize that we are just as interdependent for our security, as is clear in the current struggle to defeat ISIS.

to mobilize thousands of desperate, vindictive, or angry young people and use them to strike at the foundations of civilization.

If we are to prevent ISIS from teaching us this lesson the hard way, we must acknowledge that we cannot extinguish the fires of fanaticism by force alone. The world must unite behind a holistic drive to discredit the ideology that gives extremists their power, and to restore hope and dignity to those whom they would recruit.

The ideology fueling ISIS has much in common with that of Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, North Africa, and the Arabian Peninsula. What most worries me is that a decade ago, such an ideology was all that Al Qaeda needed to destabilize the world, even from a primitive base in the caves of Afghanistan. Today, under ISIS, adherents have access to technology, finance, a huge land base, and an international jihadist network. Far from being defeated, their ideology of rage and hate has become stricter, more pernicious, and more widespread.

ISIS certainly can – and will – be defeated militarily by the international coalition that is now assembling and which the UAE is actively supporting. But military containment is only a partial solution. Lasting peace requires three other ingredients: winning the battle of ideas; upgrading weak governance; and supporting grassroots human development. Such a solution must begin with concerted international political will. Not a single politician in North America, Europe, Africa, or Asia can afford to ignore events in the Middle East. A globalized threat requires a globalized response. Everyone will feel the heat, because such flames know no borders; indeed, ISIS has recruited members of at least 80 nationalities. ISIS is a barbaric and brutal organization. It represents neither Islam nor humanity’s most basic values. Nonetheless, it has emerged, spread, and resisted those who oppose it. What we are fighting is not just a terrorist organization, but the embodiment of a malicious ideology that must be defeated intellectually. I consider this ideology to be the greatest danger that the world will face in the next decade. Its seeds are growing in Europe, the United States, Asia, and elsewhere. With its twisted religious overtones, this pre-packaged franchise of hate is available for any terrorist group to adopt. It carries the power

The destruction of terrorist groups is not enough to bring lasting peace

The destruction of terrorist groups is not enough to bring lasting peace. We must also strike at the root to deprive their dangerous ideology of the power to rise again among people left vulnerable by an environment of hopelessness and desperation. And, on this note, let us be positive. The solution has three components. The first is to counter malignant ideas with enlightened thinking, open minds, and an attitude of tolerance and acceptance. This approach arises from our Islamic religion, which calls for peace, honors life, values dignity, promotes human development, and directs us to do good to others. Only one thing can stop a suicidal youth who is ready to die for ISIS: a stronger ideology that guides him onto the right path and convinces him that God created us to improve our world, not to destroy it. We can look to our neighbors in Saudi Arabia for their great successes in de-radicalizing many young people through counseling centers and programs. In this battle of minds, it is thinkers and scientists of spiritual and intellectual stature among Muslims who are best placed to lead the charge.

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Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the United Arab Emirates

The second component is support for governmentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; efforts to create stable institutions that can deliver real services to their people. It should be clear to everyone that the rapid growth of ISIS was fueled by the Syrian and Iraqi governmentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; failings: the former made war on its own people, and the latter promoted sectarian division. When governments fail to address instability, legitimate grievances, and persistent serious challenges, they create an ideal environment for hateful ideologies to incubate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and for terrorist organizations to fill the vacuum of legitimacy. The final component is to address urgently the black holes in human development that afflict many areas of the Middle East. This is not only an Arab responsibility, but also an international responsibility, because providing grassroots opportunity and a better quality of life for the people of this region is guaranteed to ameliorate our shared problems of instability and conflict. We have a critical need for long-term projects and initiatives to eliminate poverty, improve education and health, build infrastructure, and create economic opportunities. Sustainable development is the most sustainable answer to terrorism. Our region is home to more than 200 million young people. We have the opportunity to inspire them with hope and to direct their energies toward improving their lives and the lives of those around them. If we fail, we will abandon them to emptiness, unemployment, and the malicious ideologies of terrorism. Every day that we take a step toward delivering economic development, creating jobs, and raising standards of living, we undermine the ideologies of fear and hate that feed on hopelessness. We starve terrorist organizations of their reason to exist. I am optimistic, because I know that the people of the Middle East possess a power of hope and a desire for stability and prosperity that are stronger and more enduring than opportunistic and destructive ideas. There is no power stronger than that of hope for a better life. Formerly published on project-syndicate.org

Business

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Argentina’s Conundrum: To Default or Not to Default? By Dr. Manish Sinha

Following the tortuous but ultimately avoidable default of Argentina on its national debt, its second in twelve years, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) urged governments to revisit the way sovereign bond contracts are structured. At the heart of its malcontent was the ability of a small group of hedge funds or “holdout” creditors, which had previously acquired a small percentage of its older debt on the secondary market, to successfully block attempts by the nation and majority bondholders to successfully restructure Argentina’s debt repayments. Argentina was thereby forced into default. After torpedoing the concomitant aims of Argentina and the majority of investors, the IMF stressed the imperative need to avoid a repeat occurrence. Argentina, Latin America’s third largest economy, has been a relatively frequent defaulter on its sovereign debt. It has defaulted eight times in its 198-year history since securing independence from Spain and five times (1955, 1976, 1989, 2001 and now 2014) during the past half-century. Whilst default for the country is regrettably not entirely unusual, the latest incarnation is certainly the most peculiar, underpinned by a maelstrom of conflict, confusion and chaos. Through a tumultuous decade-long litigation process Judge Thomas Griesa, presiding

Argentina has defaulted eight time in its 198-year history.

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, President of Argentina

over the U.S. Court for the Southern District of New York, empowered a tiny group of creditors – holding 7 percent of specifically formerly issued debt – to push Argentina into a financial corner from which there was no escape. The issue was not Argentina’s ability to pay revised terms upon its restructured debt, but the legal decision to prevent the remaining 93 percent of bondholders being paid prior to the aforementioned dissenting minority. By succeeding in blocking the payout to other bondholders, the few overcame the many and brought the country to its knees. Despite the court’s judgment, the game of bluff and roulette might not yet be over. Today’s peculiar situation evolved in the following bizarre manner. Subsequent to its 2001 default of $100 billion of bonds, Argentina’s bonds were trading at deep discounts and $1.3 billion were acquired by a small group of hedge funds anticipating significant future returns. However, due to subsequent payment difficulties in 2005 and 2010, Argentina offered the holders of its defaulted debt new “exchange” bonds that paid approximately 35 cents for each dollar of original ones. Investors who accepted this proposition would lose 65 percent of their original investment, whereas investors who declined would lose one hundred percent. Strangely, just 93 percent of investors accepted the offer whereas 7 percent did not, presumably believing they could force Argentina to pay more. Their argument centered upon a very simple concept: all bondholders should be of equal ranking, technically referred to as “pari passu”, and therefore Argentina could not technically choose which bondholders to pay. Either it

had to pay what all bondholders were contractually The choice for Argentina was stark: it could either due – the exchange bondholders and the remaining pay $15 billion to the holdouts or default upon the 7 percent – or none at all. exchange bonds, despite its ability to pay them, and pay nobody. Argentina chose to default which, after This particular feature is much rarer in modern issues a decade of litigation, is a lose-lose-lose situation for where so-called “collective action clauses” nullify the all. Neither the 7 percent of holdouts nor the 93 opportunity for a minority group of debt holders to percent of exchange bondholders received anything foil a whole, largely consensual, debt restructuring. and Argentina was forced into a default it wished It should be noted that Argentina’s role during this to avoid, had the holdouts agreed. Not that this legal process was not one of complete innocence. saga is over – at the time of publication, Argentina Whilst appealing for Supreme Court intervention still might strike a deal with the holdouts or with on one hand, they also affirmed that they would the exchange bondholders (but not both). In one not respect an unfavorable Supreme Court opinion. alternative, the holdouts may secure some type of Indeed, before the Supreme Court even heard the settlement and in the other the holdouts could case, it transpired they were instigating measures get nothing with the exchange holders agreeing to to circumvent a potentially negative ruling on their yet another exchange. The holdouts might not be part. Such clandestine behaviour and intransigence able to prevent such a deal if the bonds are set up was not well received. exclusively in Argentina, outside the jurisdiction of Judge Griesa; however at the time of writing this was Of the hedge funds that had acquired the older debt, also ruled illegal by the judge. In response, President one of the most aggressive was Elliot Management, Cristina Fernandez's government executed a law to which has spent almost ten years suing Argentina. replace the bond’s original trustee, Bank of New In 2012, a subsidiary of the fund resorted to rather York Mellon Corp., which oversaw bond payments unconventional measures in an attempt to recoup with state-controlled Nacion Fideicomisos, thereby losses: the fund seized an Argentinian boat, the keeping payments beyond Griesa’s reach. Whilst Libertad, parked off a Ghanian port using its valua- a judge’s decision to hold a foreign government tion of $10 to $15 million as partial payment. The in contempt of civil court is indeed rare, they can Argentinian government did not succumb to such issue sanctions to force compliance, which has unscrupulous tactics and the boat was eventually thus far not been forthcoming by Griesa. How released. Ultimately, however, in 2012 Judge Griesa this unfortunate and winding saga will conclude ruled that the holdouts were indeed pari passu is currently impossible to predict but Argentina with the exchange bondholders. Furthermore, he would most likely need to remedy the situation declared that any financial institution that helped should they wish to access the global markets again. Argentina pay the exchange holders in preference to the holdouts would be in contempt of court.

Business

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Washington Business Summit Focuses on Turkic Markets The Turkic American Alliance (TAA), the largest national Turkic organization in the US, held its fifth annual convention in Washington, which brought more than 200 businesspeople from 15 different countries together The convention was attended by around 100 congressmen and senators in the US. Businesspeople from Central Asia, Ethiopia, Ruanda and Nigeria met with senators and congressmen on commerce. Moreover, the businesspeople had chance to visit the White House as part of organization held by the TAA during the convention.

The Turkic American Alliance's fifth annual Turkic Congress was held in the US Senate

The United States is poised to exert increased energy to boost ties with Central Asian markets, particularly the Turkic republics, in cooperation with Turkey, US congressmen and senators told the largestever business gathering by Turkish-Americans in Washington. The Turkic American Alliance (TAA) held an annual convention on Wednesday that largely focused on boosting business transactions between the US and Turkic nations, particularly Turkey. The TAA is the biggest umbrella organization of Turkish non-profit organizations in the US. Leading businesspeople from the US and 15 other countries focused on facilitating trade and investment during the business summit. The US has repeatedly expressed its increased interest in Central Asian markets over the past few years. Washington's policy regarding the region basically focuses on cooperation in investment, trade, energy and security. Business leaders and government officials met their counterparts from all around the world to discuss opportunities for

collaboration and increasing trade and investment on Wednesday. The US lawmakers told participants at the TAA event that Central Asia has gained much importance for Washington.

growing popularity would benefit US-Central Asia ties in the near future. US congressman for Florida Alan Grayson said Turkey represented the future for the Middle East and Central Asia, highlighting the improvements the country has achieved since Senator Chris Coons said the US is committed to the early 2000s. cementing ties with Central Asian and Turkic republics with increased dialogue and cooperation. Richard At least 200 people showed up at Wednesday's event, E. Hoagland, principal deputy assistant secretary of including lawmakers from Turkey, public figures and state for South and Central Asian affairs, explained businesspeople. More than a dozen US lawmakers during meeting on Wednesday in Washington that were present at the event, reiterating their support the TAA had managed to improve the scope of the for boosting trade with Turkey. Representatives of event. Noting that the US is promoting the New more than 15 countries also attended the event, Silk Road initiative linking Central and South which concluded with a landmark gala on Wednesday Asia in key investment areas, Hoagland identified night. More than 50 US lawmakers had gone to these four key areas to be: boosting regional energy previous conventions. Investors, entrepreneurs and markets, facilitating trade and transport, improv- trade chamber representatives from Central Asia ing customs and border operations and creating a and Africa, including participants from Ethiopia, network between businesses and people-to-people. Rwanda and Nigeria, attended the event. Dozens of local businesspeople from various US states also US congressman representing California, Dana joined their counterparts to discuss cooperation at Rohrabacher also said on Wednesday that Turkey's the TAA event. (CHA) role in its surrounding region has been enhanced over the past decade, adding that the country's

Art & Lifestyle

businessnetworkmag.com Happiness

Game Based Learning (GBL) “ If we can tap into the mechanism that motivates them through games we can make great strides in having a engaging activities with the youth.“

The hormone responsible for our happiness is “dopamine”. When we accomplish missions, our brains release dopamine & we feel happy. Leveling up, accomplishing quests, and finishing projects makes people happy. Fulfillment of our set goals motivates us to pursue them more. Our Rewardseeking mechanism is revived and strengthened. This raises motivation to strive more, and take more risks and become resilient. At SEO NET we plan on bringing young people on to a platform where they engage in fruitful activities and learn our trade. There are various ‘ranks’ that we have designated and we allow our mentees to choose their path . We determine 4 classes:

By Oguz Sarkut / SEO NET Digital Marketing

Today the internet has almost three billion users. The was convincing and the results were successful. digital world is more challenging than ever before. Then we decided to apply GBL to our training. A thought experiment: Can you guarantee that you will build the tallest building in the world in 2015? Gaming & youth go hand in hand. This explain why the new generation is called the "Touch Even if you have virtually unlimited resources, you screen generation." Babies start playing at in their can never ensure that you’ll have the tallest building infancy, and as they grow older beginning to use for the year. This is exactly how SEO & Google their parents’ gadgets. By the time these kids grow works. You can build a great website, both techni- up, online games, especially multiplayer games cally & content wise. You can improve the website become more and more engaging, immersive and connection on the Internet however there is always ultimately addictive. the chance that someone else can do better! The Internet is very competitive, you will always need The addictive games become a problem to youth more resources, including time, human power & between anywhere from elementary school to college. money. If you have a limited budget in a project), We have high school students who are very clever, then you need to look for other solutions. One of quick learners, talented and very successful provided our solutions is to provide interns who’ll share that they are motivated. If we can tap into the some of the workflow. mechanism that motivates them through games we can make great strides in having a engaging One of the biggest challenges while working with activities with the youth. youth is motivation. Failure Learning While I was driving to work, I listened to a program on CBC (NPR) about Game Based Learning (GBL). The existing criterion for education and schooling There was a college teacher explaining how he presents failure as the ultimate and decisive end. applied GBL methods and increased the class' Failing an exam and consequently failing from a success rate from 60% to 90%. The idea of GBL class is a concept incompatible and less appealing

than that of a game. In a game if one fails, they start from the last checkpoint and try harder and play smarter. This increases the player’s skill level and s/he becomes more competitive and stronger to overcome the challenge. Experiences The teacher in Toronto College mentored a class and raised its attendance from 60% to 90% when he began to give experiences points for attending class. Experience is the most important thing to level up in games. So why miss a session if you can get extra points it so easily?

1. Warrior as a developer, 2. Hunter as a SEO, 3. Mage as a SMM and a high level class, 4. Assassin (Rogue) for the hackers! There are talent trees for each class, for example a developer can be a web developer, content writer or a programmer. Each class has their own quests. For example, warriors need to update a page for the first quest; mages need to make their first Google + share. We have 6 students who are 2 warriors, 2 mages, and 2 hunters. 2 of these players are level 20 already! LE T TH E G A ME B E G I N !

Challenging Bosses Your problems are as strong as you are. You can't fight with a level 40 enemy when you are level 10. Like how you can't solve NP = P in high school (Don’t worry you won’t be able to solve it even you have a PhD degree). Jobs, missions, quests must be do-able. The challenges you choose to face must be in accordance to your own strength. You should not fight a battle that you have an unlikely hood of winning.

World View

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A bridge of charity expanding from Turkey to all over the world Kimse Yok Mu (Is Anybody There) is an international non profit humanitarian aid and development organization based in Turkey with 40 branches throughout the country which also provides humanitarian relief in over 113 countries, as well as having 180,000+ volunteers assisting its operations around the globe. BN interviewed Ismail Cingoz, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of KYM to find out more about this wonderful organization.

How do you describe KYM from your own per- attempt to question this is considered as an insult spective as the Chairman? to human dignity, and is not humane at all. Just to give you a recent example; the Syrian refugees who Kimse Yok Mu is a tree of charity and solidarity have taken shelter in our country are supported which was seeded and nurtured in Turkey and whether they are Kurdish, Turkish, Arab or of grew up to expand to the entire world. As an or- another nationality or ethnicity; and we endeavor ganization born in Turkey, we have an extensive to meet their needs and requirements regardless of base of operations with all our volunteers, donors their religious backgrounds. As a result, the most and supporters from different ethnic and religious significant criterion for applying or resorting to backgrounds throughout the country. We are grate- our organization is the state of poverty and need. ful for anyone who has ever made a contribution for our progress this far as an NGO. Within this How do you deliver aid and relief materials? context, I can describe it as a global organization which has grown with supports from an extensive Aid and relief materials are delivered to the destination base in Turkey, got beyond the boundaries of Turkey, based on the principle of transparency to avoid any and, now, has volunteers from all over the world. doubts. The location of delivery of the assistance is determined by the donor through a system of What are the criteria sought for the individuals conditional donations, which enables the donor to and institutions that you help domestically or designate the project and the location, which his or internationally? And how do you verify? her donations will be used. Furthermore, majority of the donors are our volunteers. They take charge Poverty is the indicator, which our organization in the humanitarian aid programs and perform field relies on for a country or individual that will be works in person together with other volunteers. assisted. Neither ethnicity nor religious background are taken or accepted as a criterion of any kind for Preparing an aid package and delivering it to the the countries or individual(s) that we support. Any person in need takes two hours on average. Consid-

ering that 207 thousand packages were delivered, over 400 thousand working hours were spent on it, and this could only be realized with the help of tens of thousands of volunteers. How many volunteers do you have who participate in aid activities? We have around 150 thousand registered volunteers as of today. However, this figure increases gradually each day. There are also volunteers who have not registered to us but help us on a project basis. In some cases, a philanthropist may personally participate in an activity that she or he has donated for, or she or he might take part in a project. In addition to that, volunteers of the partner institutions may contribute to the projects. What is the source of motivation for the volunteers? Is it easy to trigger them? Charity has no religion, language, race or color. Every single person has a different motivation to be good, to do a favor and to help others. Being a good person cannot be reduced or limited to religious values and ethnic roots. A person is a human being

first then becomes a member of a family, group or religion. Kindness is a fruit of being human. From this perspective, love for human beings, generosity and compassion motivate people anyways. Regular aid assistance are delivered to how many people? I find it useful to state at first that KYMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sphere of activity is very broad. There are various domestic and international projects. As in the cases of Somalia and Pakistan; we deliver development projects consisting of tens of hospitals, schools, accommodation facilities and even towns. To these, we can add water wells, projects for the orphans, cataract treatments and many more... I would like to highlight that regular aid assistance is only a minor part of domestic aids within the entire aid projects. To give you some figures, there are 280 thousand families who have applied to us for receiving regular assistance. Regular assistance is delivered to 100 thousand of them. And there are 180 thousand people for whom socio-economic examinations are being conducted. Once these socio-economic examinations are completed, we are planning to deliver aid to all people in our database according to their needs by June 2014. Are there any international institutions and foundations which you collaborate and form partnerships? Through our Academic Coordination Office established within the organization; we follow up with the academic studies conducted in our sphere of activity around the world, and participate in panels, conferences and similar events. Furthermore our Academic Coordination Office conducts academic studies of its own in order to come up with cutting edge and innovative approaches in humanitarian aid and development field, and organizes international contests, panels, conferences and similar events in this regard. There are institutions and foundations with which we can collaborate and conduct shared projects in line with their objectives, targets and legislations, and we can partner with administrative bodies in a given country as well. For instance, in Somalia, we collaborate with the Ministry of Health. Apart

from that, we have projects produced and conducted collectively with UNICEF, UNESCO, UNHCR, World Health Organization, and African Union. Also, KYM holds a special consultative status of ECOSOC, which is one of the five bodies of UN. What message would you like to give to your donors, volunteers and volunteer candidates through BN Magazine? I would like to convey my thanks to the people of our country; first, for supporting us in the path we have taken for charity, and to many other people

that support us in different geographies around the world transforming their potential for charity into action. They have shown generosity as they rely on us, making KYM an organization of charity, which opens its doors, the rest of the world. We see that a single drop, though very precious as itself, becomes a pool and nurtures many when drops come together. I call on people of the world to come and join us to become a ring in the chain of the benevolence, and a drop in the pool of kindness. And I would like to express my gratitude to generous philanthropists who have always stood with us through their support.

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IDI Global Aid Award Ceremony The Intercultural Dialogue Institute’s Edmonton advisory committee organized the Global Aid Award Ceremony in Edmonton Canada. A member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Mr. Steve Young presented a Global Aid Award to the Kimse Yok Mu aid foundation for their great achievements and outstanding performance in the field of global aid. MPP Steve Young presented the award to Kimse Yok Mu's Vice President, Metin Cetiner, at a ceremony near the Legislature grounds at the Royal Glenora Club. The ceremony was attended by a large crowd, including Member of Legislative Assembly Ms. Alana DeLong, along with a large number of faith and community leaders, bureaucrats and businessmen. Delivering a speech at the event, Mr. Young said he was very honored to present the award to Kimse Yok Mu, adding, “I have visited Kimse Yok Mu headquarters in 2013 and I was amazed with the outstanding work they do. Especially with regard to their emergency response team, their transparency in fundraising and delivering the aid impressed me the most.”

TCCC Network

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Networking Reception of Turkish-Macedonian Business Communities A unique joint event hosted by the Turkish Canadian Chamber of Commerce which took place to honour the delegation from Macedonia led by the Macedonian foreign investment Minister Jerry Naumoff. This event was the first business reception that gathered the Macedonian and Turkish communities together. Initially, the Macedonian business group was invited to the organization Macedonian 25 in Toronto to participate in this unique joint event with Turkish Canadian Chamber of Commerce. In total, the reception hosted forty businessmen including six businessmen from Macedonia led by their Minister Jerry Naumoff.

Breakfast Seminar of Young Entrepreneurs Platform (YEP) The breakfast seminar that was organized by Young Entrepreneurs Platform (YEP) took place at the Turkish Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s downtown office. The event welcomed 45 young entrepreneurs, and the main theme of the seminar was digital marketing. The seminar hosted two speakers who were willing to give young entrepreneurs advice about the main theme. Oguz Sarkut from Turkey who is the Director IT, Anatolian Heritage Federation and Roberto Lopez, who is the Past Chapter Chair American Chamber of Commerce, gave basic and intermediate level information about digital marketing to the young entrepreneurs. This breakfast seminar was really a great opportunity for all young entrepreneurs.

Macedonian Foreign Investment Minister Jerry Naumoff and Business delegation from Macedonia.

Turkish Canadian Chamber of Commerce booth at Construct International EXPO Construct International Expo, which is the largest construction exhibition in Canada, took place on December 4 to 6, 2014 at Metro Toronto Convention Center. Turkish Canadian Chamber of Commerce also had a booth during the exhibition, which was visited by 300 different visitors and companies.

Canadian Businessmen at the TUSKON-Turkey World Trade Bridge Members from the Turkish Canadian Chamber of Commerce took part in a large trade conference held in Turkey. The World Trade Bridge event, which was organized by TUSKON (The Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey) brought together thousands of businessmen from around the world. The largest civil business event in Turkey where as the event had all the characteristics of trade bridge concepts such as product exhibition, business-to-business meetings, historical and cultural tour of Izmir, factory and company visits and optional business trips to different parts of Turkey. In total, there were 3000 businessmen from 135 different countries including four Canadian companies who attended Turkey World Trade Bridge with the lead of Turkish Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The target sectors included food, agriculture, livestock, poultry, fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and related machinery.

World View

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On track for first powered flight by end of year

Virgin Galactic, owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and aabar Investments PJS, is on track to be the world’s first commercial spaceline. The new spaceship, SpaceShipTwo, VSS Enterprise, and carrier craft, WhiteKnightTwo, have both been developed for Virgin Galactic by Mojave-based Scaled Composites. The Spaceship Company, a new aerospace production company founded by Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites, is building the fleet of vehicles for Virgin Galactic. Founded by Burt Rutan, Scaled developed SpaceShipOne, which in 2004 claimed the $10m Ansari X Prize as the world’s first privately developed manned spacecraft. Virgin Galactic’s new vehicles share much of the same basic design, but are being built to carry six customers, or the equivalent scientific research payload, on sub-orbital space flights, allowing an out-of-the-seat, zero-gravity experience and offering astounding views of the planet from the black sky of space for tourist astronauts and a unique microgravity platform for researchers. The VSS Enterprise and VMS Eve test flight program is well under way, leading to Virgin Galactic commercial operations, which will be based at Spaceport America in New Mexico. “Since receiving an experimental launch permit from the Federal Aviation Administration in May for SpaceShipTwo and its carrier vehicle, WhiteKnightTwo, there has been a rapid escalation of test activity,” said George Whitesides, CEO and

president of Virgin Galactic. “In thattimeframe, we’ve had seven successful test flights and three full-scale rocket motor tests. We are on track for powered flight by the end of 2012.” The glide flight was performed by Scaled Composites, the prime contractor for the spaceflight system. To perform the flight, SS2 was air-released from WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) at an altitude of 51,000 feet. At the SS2 controls were Scaled pilots Pete Siebold and Mike Alsbury. In the carrier aircraft were Scaled test pilot Mark Stucky and David Mackay, Virgin Galactic’s Chief Pilot. Flying in the chase plane for the test were Mike Melvill, who piloted the first private flight to space, and Virgin Galactic pilot Keith Colmer. This intense period of activity comes just weeks before Virgin Galactic, along with its Mojave-based sister manufacturing organization, The Spaceship Company, will gather customers and VIPs at the Farnborough International Air Show 2012. Guests will attend a special briefing from company founder Sir Richard Branson and other company executives.

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Along the Bosporus there’s one site that stands out especially: Topkapi Palace. This was once, centuries ago, the place of residence for Ottoman Sultans and held many important events. Nowadays anyone can feel like the royalty that once mingled here through paying a visit to the Palace, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It represents a great example of an Ottoman era palace, and is an astonishing attraction that will leave you in awe long after leaving. An important part of any trip is that you get some souvenirs. In Istanbul, there’s no better than the Grand Bazaar. 5,000 shops take up 60 streets inside making a striking environment of various colourful goods. There’s everything from jewellery and antiques to carpets, hand painted ceramics and spices. Most things sold here are unique in that they have been made/designed by hand and are traditionally Turkish, making the perfect gift for someone, or you, of course. A visit to the Grand Bazaar also provides the opportunity to experience a true tradition of Turkish shopping: Haggling.

Istanbul City

By Ramadan Ozdemir

Istanbul is one of those cities that everyone should see at least once. It’s an amazing city that spans two continents. One side Europe and the other the Middle East, the city was once Byzantium, Constantinople, and now Istanbul making it a place where history and modernity live hand in hand. A melting pot of cultures, it has the unique character and charm of somewhere filled with many stories to tell, both old and new.

Istanbul has many holy buildings, which gives the city a mystical feel. The Fethiye Camii (also known as Pammakaristos Church) is another example of such a building, as a former Byzantine church that is most famed for its mosaics. This is a good place to come if you want to see some of Istanbul’s history without the attraction being too overcrowded.

Istanbul sits on the edge of the Bosporus, with a mixture of eastern and western influences that make the city atmosphere all the more vibrant. There’s a rich historical presence within Istanbul, with mosques, bazaars and lots of traditional Ottoman architecture taking its place alongside the modern. These contrasts put life in a different perspective for those visiting, with a spiritual essence that emanates from the city streets. This is somewhere to feel exhilaratingly lost as a stranger caught amongst the fascinations of different cultures and eras.

When wanting to get a feel for the cultural heritage of the destination you’re in, a visit to a museum is usually helpful. In Istanbul, the Archaeological Museums are a group of three different museums: the Archaeological Museum, Museum of the Ancient Orient and the Museum of Islamic Art. These together create a fascinating insight to the arts and works of various civilisations throughout history.

Istanbul is one of Direct Traveller’s top destinations as a standalone city break or an add-on to North Cyprus holidays. There so much interest in Istanbul and it’s easy to see why. What to do in Istanbul You’re not going to run out of things to do in a hurry in Istanbul. The problem is, deciding which attractions to prioritise and there are some things that nobody should miss out on. The first of these is the Blue Mosque, also known as the (Sultanahmet Camii). Inside this incredible Mosque are blue tiled walls, hence its name, and the tomb of the founder. It dates all the way back to around 1609 and while still actively used as a Mosque today, it is of course a popular tourist attraction too. Whether religious or not, going inside the Blue Mosque certainly inspires reflection from how beautiful it is, and at night it cannot be missed, with a structure that turns to a silhouette in the sunsets and then gently glows as the skies darken.

With Direct Traveller there are many trips you can take in Istanbul. If you’re not on one of our city tours, then you should take up a trip to the Princes’ Islands and a Bosporus cruise. The Princ

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

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Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

es’ Islands consist of 9 little islands that sit out in the Sea of Marmara. Of these only four can be visited, with Buyukada the most popular one. On the islands all motorized vehicles are banned too, with horse drawn carriages used instead, passing by little cottages and woodland. The islands are the epitome of peace and quiet, taking those that visit back in time. A Bosporus cruise is a way to capture the essence of Istanbul’s unique spirit, as you travel the winding strait between Asia and Europe, spying the iconic skyline of the city along with lavish hotels along the waterfront that contrast with little fishing villages. Finally the Nightlife in Istanbul is amazing full of live music, entertainment and great atmosphere. From traditional restaurants, to grand Bosporus skyline bars Istanbul offers something for everyone. The cuisine on offer is part of the appeal of the city. From fresh Fish, Turkish kebabs, soup, and deserts, to the wide range of street food, your taste buds will have a feast of their own. Where to stay in Istanbul Istanbul has lots of great 3 to 5 star hotels, many of which provide excellent service and facilities. There’s so much choice in terms of hotels. Direct Traveller recommends being near the Sultan Ahmet or Taksim areas if it’s your first time to Istanbul... Like this you will be in the heart of the culture and history while being walking distance to the best of Istanbul. Istanbul city breaks start from £299 including flights, hotels and guided tours. For more details on Istanbul city breaks visit www.directtraveller.com or call 0844 414 3065.

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The restaurant walls are carved like the caves of Cappadocia, with plants and the occasional evil eye (nazarlik) peeking out at the patrons.

Enjoy delicious Turkish cuisine at Mustafa Pide By Mehmet Gul

Pide (pronounced pea-day) is a well-known Turkish specialty dating back thousands of years. This traditional Turkish dish is shaped to resemble a boat. Pide are a broad, round and flat bread made of wheat. The bread is then topped with a variety of minced meat (together with onion, chopped tomatoes, parsley and spices), kaşar cheese, spinach, white cheese, pieces of meat, braised meat (kavurma), sucuk (pronounced sujuk), pastırma and/or eggs. They are freshly prepared and baked in a giant clay oven. Also available is lahmacun, a kind of Turkish pizza in baked with a crispy outer crust. Mustafa offers Turkish Çoban salad (Sheppard’s Salad) as a side dish beside the pide. In addition to pide, on the menu is Iskender kebab or Döner kebab served with yoghurt, tomato sauce and butter, which originated in Bursa. Lamb, Adana, Urfa and chicken shish kebab are cooked on skewers over a charcoal grill, but the secret is Mustafa’s traditional seasoning with well-known styles from Antep and Maraş. “Fantastic Food and Atmosphere” The decor is undoubtedly stylish, reminding me of the Damlataş Cave or the Capadocia region in Turkey. The restaurant is very clean and you feel like you are enjoying a meal with a warm Turkish family. The reliably good service, along with its convenient location, is what sets Mustafa apart from other Turkish restaurants. The environment and service, provide a great introduction to people who may not have experienced the delights of authentic Turkish cuisine.

Mustafa Turkish Pizza makes around 20 different kinds of Turkish pizzas (Pide) everyday.

Do not leave without trying a special dessert, Künefe, which is a sweet and savory treat originating in southeastern Turkey. Cheese is sandwiched between layers of kadayıf (shredded pastry) and cooked in butter on both sides in a circular metal pan. The last step before serving is to douse the künefe (while still over the heat) in syrup. Its base is mild, stretchy white cheese-a lot like fresh mozzarella or paneer-with a topping of rich semolina pastry, all of it soaked in sweet rosewater syrup. Nothing compares to the sweet taste of warm and freshly made Künefe. Mustafa Turkish Pizza makes around 20 different kinds of Turkish pizzas (Pide) everyday, but if you want their amazing meat shawarmas, you’ll need to visit them on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday! Some customers come all the way from Rochester, New York, to enjoy the delicious food of Mustafa.

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