Cassava Tuesdays: Flag Carriers as Branding and Soft Power Tools for African Countries

“For the sake of this post.
An airline owned or associated with the state.”

— What is a Flag Carrier?

POWER OF BRANDING

“Embassy
Cultural Diplomatic Ambassador
Country Billboard
First Gastronomic Experience”

— Flag Carriers are a moving....

FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER

The airline and airport provide the first impression of a country.

“……..If Soft Power is about winning hearts and minds AND is the means to success in world politics….A state would be wise to explore and exploit ALL of its cultural assets. ”

— See, What we did there??

“Ignoramus et ignorabimus

You don’t know and you are comfortable in this space of not knowing”

— This form of ignorance is a dangerous privilege not available for Africa

A state must be creative in the branding of their identity. Particularly, if the identity of the state rest somewhere in-between: Colonialism, Poverty, Debt and never-ending disease. Through the flag carrier, the state establishes perhaps the most elementary form of diplomacy often forgotten in state affairs.
“People to People Contact” or as we see it “Citizen to Visitor”. A flag carrier gives another platform to show an identity outside presumptions.

Branding and Soft Power is possible in Africa but such engagement must be done in an “uninterrupted space”. The uninterrupted spaces are within the region and in Asia. Another problem with branding and soft power in Africa rests on the lack of creativity from the state. Majority of African leaders have ALLOWED a very frustrating narrative to be the norm. They depend on international organizations, state actors and other non state actors to carve and define their brand. However, they will complain on the way Africa is perceived.

“The perception of brand and identity of African States is the responsibility of the respective state. It is not the job of nonstate actors to do your PR.
”

— Water & Cassava

DO YOU TAKE VISA?

There are a few African states waking up to this idea of not needing a visa to travel around the continent of Africa. African states will ask for visas from their neighbors but allow just about every other state to hop around the continent. There is a strong need for liberal visa entries. An African state considering the process of investing in their brand, identity and soft power needs to appreciate liberal visa policies.
African states would benefit from visa schemes such as: 24, 48, 72, 144 hours visas. These kinds of visas can be used to attract a niche population.

“ For the love of all Sky AND Aviation Gods:
No one need stay in an airport for over 6 hours. Sorry, your airport is not that interesting.
…. Create special transient visa zones... These zones must include the locals and the innovators.
Consider this zones to be bragging sessions.... ”

— Aviation God ... Bless It

Is your state, city, town or region known for Mangoes? Go Ahead and create a mango transient visa. Allow those visitors to see everything that can be done with a mango. Think out side the box!! Mango scented bed sheets??? Flatware created from the Mango tree???

“I actually had a chocolate scented tank top. I purchased my chocolate scented tanktop at a chocolate boutique in Manhattan. It cost a nice penny as well”

— Adventures in New York

AIRPORT

Here are some things to consider:

• Does the airport have a digital presence?

• Green Friendly?

• Technology Innovative?

• Art in the Airport (Yes, this is a real thing)

• Services?

• Eateries? (Be diverse in the selections)

• FREE WI-FI
  No, please don’t have special units to print out the magical password that are located on the other end of the airport.

• Duty Free Shopping

• Security

• Can the traveler access trains, buses, taxis or other forms of transportation? If you have Uber Camel, this is okay!! There is no need to do what other cities are doing in terms of transportation. Reliability and applying the niche is the only thing that matters.

  Does Uber Camel have an app? Does this app accept digital wallets? Then, let’s go!

• Bathrooms must not just be clean but do consider bodies not able to move freely

• Sleeping Pods or Areas in the airport must be appropriate

• Staff must speak more than 2 languages

• Signs need to be in languages that are spoken in the country, neighboring country and with locals.

• Housekeeping: A dirty airport does nothing for the image or brand.

• Electronic charging stations should be plenty

AIRLINES

• Does the visitor feel like they are in the country before arrival ?

• Are the Hubs reflective of the country?

• Does the interior and exterior of the plane match the identity of the country?

• What languages are spoken on the flight?

• Does the flight entertainment reflect the country or elsewhere?

• Does the food or alcohol offered on the plane match the country’ s gastronomy?

CHALLENGES

• Cheaper fares from low budget airlines might be a barrier

• Lack of Airport infrastructure investment

• Technology

• Airport Pollution
  

WHO GETS IT RIGHT?

WHO COULD DO IT BETTER?

See you next Cassava Tuesday!

Mulday Mondays: Japan has 99 problems ......But

……. A WHALE AIN’T ONE…..

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE REGULATION OF WHALING(ICRW)

Our story starts here…

The convention created the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1946 with the aim to intervene in over-fishing of dolphins, whales and porpoises. This was for CONSERVATION purposes only, not for all countries to STOP whaling. This is so overlooked and minimized by non state actors that play a role in Maritime Affairs.

“Did you know even the Ocean has a Constitution? Sorta...
”

— UNCLOS

United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea III (UNCLOS III 1973-1982)

This version is considered the Constitution of the Sea. It took nine years and the participation of 160 countries to set up a framework that provided definitions on maritime zones.

• Territorial seas may not exceed 12 nautical miles;

•  Contiguous zone is defined as 24 nautical miles from the shore line for law enforcement including fiscal, immigration and sanitary laws

•  Exclusive Economic Zone is up to 200 nautical miles from the shoreline with purposes of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing of natural resources living or not living

UNCLOS III provides clear guidelines, definitions on protecting the maritime environment, freedom towards scientific research and exploitation of resources, navigational rights and ties in the private sector and government sector to the responsibilities and accountability of ocean laws.

It is very important to understand this part, so you can understand this move of Japan. By the way, Japan stopped commercial whaling 30 years ago.

“Know the Rules Well
So you can break them effectively”

— A Wise Man

Why did Japan leave the IWC?

Japan is withdrawing from the International Whaling Commission and will resume commercial whaling next year, a government spokesman has announced. The move on Wednesday came more than three months after the global body for the conservation of whales rejected a Tokyo-led proposal to lift a 32-year ban on the commercial hunting of the ocean mammals.

“JAPAN NEVER PLANNED OR AGREED TO STOP WHALING.
”

— Do you hear this energy with Iceland?

IN THE NAME OF SCIENCE AND DISCOVERY

Japan is similar to many countries that capture whales for scientific purposes. What do ALL THESE COUNTRIES DO AFTER PLAYING SCIENTIST? They sell the meat. Some critics have argued that Japan uses “science and discovery” to cover up commercial whaling practices.

BUT……

JAPAN IS JUST PLAYING WITH THE new TOOLS OF DIPLOMACY

The current United States Administration has a made point to insult science and discovery by pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement. Japan pulling out of the IWC is no different from Trump.

“Abe needs the population that enjoys Whale meat because of ELECTIONS!!

Trump withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement because of ELECTIONS!!

They are simply appealing to their base.

The Whale is part of Japan’s mythos and identity

Global Warming, Climate Change is LIBERAL
”

— YO! THIS IS NOT McDonald's? You don't get to order extra cheese but no onions...

We are talking about global concerns here not the latest struggle your state is dealing with at the moment. The state is old and unable to provide for some of the following:

• Climate Concerns

• Cybernetics

• Terrorism

• Even Health of the citizen

  
  SIDE BAR #1
  

“Have you thanked the Universe yet for Whale Poop?
This amazing poop keeps our ocean alive.
The ocean produces over 50 % of our oxygen. ”

— National Geographic

JAPAN PROMISES THAT…..

“Iceland left the IWC in 1992 and returned in 2002. They have always made it clear, they have no intention to stop whaling.
Iceland continues whaling.”

— Iceland will not apologize for enjoying whale meat.

1. Immediately stop hunting for whales in the Southern Ocean and the Northwest Pacific Ocean.

2. Japan will continue to abide by all UNCLOS laws

3. Japan will hunt for whale in their own Exclusive Economic Zone. It is the 8th largest in the world covering 200 nautical miles.

BUT WE MIGHT HAVE SOME “ISSUES” AND “CONCERNS”

• Are those whales in danger and what is the plan to make sure no over-whaling takes place?

• The following countries are part of the Exclusive Economic Zone: Russia, South Korea, Taiwan and China.

Yup!

Cbs News

I use to stay in Anchorage, Alaska. I was offered an opportunity to enjoy some whale meat. I am a pescetarian that also enjoys bugs and snails. Nothing like grasshoppers, crickets or snails. So this was my conversation with my father.

“Me: I was offered some Whale
Parent: So, you eat mammals now?
Me: Wait, whales are not fish? Haha just kidding
Parent: Oh really???
***I did not eat Whale or try Seal Oil”***”

— Vitamin D Struggles and When you go to Rome.....

The Alaskan native population survive and thrive because of seal oil and whale flesh. I was having issues like everyone of color with my Vitamin D. It could be so simple……

See you next Mulday!

Friday Ramblings: The one about the Yellow Ribbon

Well so much for plans huh?

I have endometriosis. Are my cycles always painful? Yes. It use to be so bad that I needed to go into the ER. I needed a morphine injection just so I could stop screaming, "I want to die” or was it “I am going to die”.

I am a captive inside my own body. I am unable to eat food for 48-72 hours. Smells and cold temperatures are kryptonite to my body. I am unable to lay down on my back because my back feels like hell. The room must be so hot that it feels like a car with no AC stuck on a major freeway.

My next utility bill will surely bring on a heart attack.

I recall telling my doctor something similar…

However, she was really big on that entire Hippocratic Oath…

I was not able to do any entries because my uterus felt like this……

GRADES AND MEXICAN NOVELLAS

I received my final grades. I hope to aim higher, but I made a damn good solid start.

Considering, my first semester seemed to be a Mexican telenovella minus this incredible giant singing for those moments of “Why is my life set up this way”?….

Ever heard of Joan Sebastian?? He is a legend…The horses always danced with him….This was also the name of a telenovella that had my complete undivided attention during my undergrad sophomore year.

ANY OF THE MANY WAYS

I was invited to a seminar with a Special Adviser on Unification and National Security for the President of the Republic of Korea, Moon Jae-in next week. I will do my best to post photos.

This semester will be interesting.

See you next Friday Ramblings

Friday Ramblings: Back to the Normal Schedule ......

So, it has been a long time……

As, mentioned earlier, behind this blog is someone that just recently completed their first semester as a post-grad student.

2018: I am glad it is over. I can’t list all the disappointments, heartbreaks, death and setbacks.

Happy New Year by the way.

Starting next week, we will be back to our normal schedule.

We will also touch on failing and fragile states of Africa. Soft Power and Country Branding is not possible for all 54 spaces.

All the complications with pushing the company, academia and my so called life.

See you on Mulday!

Cassava Tuesdays: Flag Carriers as a Soft Power Tool for African Countries

FLAG CARRIERS AS A SOFT POWER TOOL

We will return next Cassava Tuesday to discuss Flag Carriers as a Soft Power Tool and a important role in diplomacy.

Flag Carriers are a country’s moving:
Embassy
Cultural Diplomacy Ambassador
Billboard
First Gastronomic experience

And make no mistake, it is the first impression of your country followed by your airport.

Questions to think about…..

Which African Countries have flag carriers that fly to Asian spaces? What about within the Region?

How do you brand a country into an Airline?

Does the Airline serve national cuisine or alcohol from the country?

Does your aircrew reflect the country?

Does you crew speak the major languages and ENGLISH? We will address the English language requirement.

How can you pull this off with lower priced carriers?

Who is paying for this?

“African Airlines: GO BOLD OR GO HOME.

EMBRACE YOUR COLORS IN YOUR BRAND”

— #CassavaDiplomacy

Since our conversations are centered around interactions with Asia, we will take a look at airlines from: Turkey, Korea, China and Japan

How are these airlines used as tools of diplomacy towards Africa?

See you next Cassava Tuesday!