No
matter what happens, no matter how far you seem to be away from where
you want to be, never stop believing that you will somehow make it. Have
a unrelenting belief that things will work out, that the long road has a
purpose, that the things that you desire may not happen today, but they
will happen. Persist and persevere, your desired path remains
possible.
— Brad Gast, a Positively Positive fan
I begin this edition of "World Watch" with the Middle East. The Great War for the soul of the Middle East continues onward.
The tragedy that is the Islamic Republic in Iran continues with no apparent end in sight. One of the children of the Revolution, Hashemi Rafsanjani, has been devoured by the Revolution. At the age of 78, he decided to file an application to run for President again. His application was rejected by the Guardian Council on the grounds of being "too old" and being implicated in the so-called "putsh of 1388"--basically having been supportive of the Green Movement. I had written extensively being hopeful that somehow his continued clout back in 2009 would somehow change things in Iran. But, his children were imprisoned, he was gradually stripped of his existing authorities and his control of the Islamic Azad University of Iran was stripped away from him. He said he won't challenge the determination of the Guardian Council and has called for unity. What is tragic is that the current bunch of characters that has been approved are a joke. What is further tragic is that out of a country of 70 Million, only 7 people have been approved--the seven who have all been functionaries in the regime whose only loyalty is basically to Khameini, the leader of the Revoulution (known in the West as the Supreme Leader). What is fascinating to watch, though, is to see which of the so-called candidates will prevail. Whatever happens, Khameini will continue to have the final say on all matters of State and the defacto dictatorship and control by the Revolutionary Guards will continue with no end in sight. In the meantime, security measures have been stepped up as Iran seems to be on the path to cut itself from the Worldwide Web--just like the North Koreans. There were also reports of a cyber attack by the Iranians against US Energy assets. The Iranians have denied it--but it gave fuel to the folks over at the Fox News Network in the United States to have a field day about all kinds of conspiracy theories. It must be noted that the US spearheaded a Cyber attack on the Iranian Nuclear Program that ultimately has led to Iran ultimately deciding to take itself out of the Worldwide web.
Iran's major role in the Middle East underscores why what happens in Iran matters. It continues to be the major supporter of Bashar Assad and Nouri Al Malaki in Iraq. It has been the support of Bashar Al Assad that has allowed Bashar to be sustained as long as it has. Bashar has fought the opposition to a standstill and has begun gaining ground. What is especially troublesome is how Lebanon's Hezbollah has essentially "gone all in" and guaranteed a victory by Bashar Assad. This is as the number of refugees continues to increase in the countries bordering Syria. What I find extremely tragic is how the so-called Syrian Opposition has not been able to get its' act together. The danger of a Somalia in the heart of the Middle East is becoming a reality daily. The implications of it for the region are profound.
Beyond Syria, there is Israel. Israel's domestic challenges do not get much press around the World. Israel's new Government has presented an austerity budget as it deals with economic challenges at home. It has to sustain "fortress Israel" even though the United States continues to bankroll most Defense expenses for the Country. The United States, in the meantime, is trying to force the Palestinians back to the negotiating table. I have noted throughout my comments in "outsiders' that there is no peace process to speak off--and the fact that most of the West Bank has basically been annexed by Israel means that Abu Mazen does not have much to negotiate. As the US Secretary of State is continuing his shuttle diplomacy, the Palestinian President has come out during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Amman recently noting that Peace is doeable. This is as the Arab League--led by Qatar-has revised its' initial 2002 Peace Initiative by noting the realities on the ground in not calling for a full withdrawl of Israel from the occupied terrorities. I welcome Palestinian President Abu Mazen's optimisim despite the realities that seem to dictate otherwise. Israel, though, continues to flex its' muscle. F16's again flew over Beirut, Lebanon, within the past 24 hours.
As Iran continues to deal with election fever, Pakistan just had one and a new Prime Minister is about to take over. It appears that there is a lot of hope that Nawaz Sharif will have supposedly better luck with his third term as Prime Minister. Although he has got a lot in his "inbox". The most pressing issue is the nationwide Taliban Insurgency that seems to have no end in sight. His party was spared by the Taliban during the elections--and it has paid dividends. With the "reset" on drone policy announced by President Obama with his major policy speech, this should also bode well for the incoming Sharif Government. But, Pakistan has major economic challenges and an endemic culture of corruption that is holding back development of its' full potential. Furthermore, the insurgency in Baluchestan is also a major headache. This is as Pakistan has to figure out how to deal with its' long-time nemsis, India--that has its' own share of challenges before it. Afghanistan also will be having an election as it continues to come to terms with US Withdrawal and a Taliban insurgency that rages on with no end in sight.
In India, The ruling coalition continues to be beset by Corruption allegations. But, interestingly enough, the opposition BJP is even in worst shape due to the loss it suffered in the state of Karnataka--which includes the City of Bangalore--India's tech haven. Beyond the immediate political challenges, India continues to deal with long-term challenges--including trying to insure that it is able to ultimately generate jobs for a population that constitutes a fifth of the World's working age population. How the jobs are created will present a profound challenge to Indian Leaders. There is also one more piece of news that is underreported: the Maoist insurgency that has been continuing for almost 30 years. The Maoists struck, yet again, killing 16 people.
The other major player, China, is undergoing some major transformation as well which I plan to reflect upon in future editions of "World Watch". It is worth noting that the new Chinese Premier chose India for his first foreign trip. The new Chinese President chose Africa as one of his first trips. Europe and the United States were interestingly ignored as the new Chinese Leadership took charge in China. As China asserts itself, it has to deal with its' own internal challenges. One recent development noted that Cadmimum, a toxic substance, was found in Rice--a major food staple for China. The statistics I have reviewed report of a third of China's Rivers as being polluted. This is as the quality of the air in the major cities is amongst the worst in the World. I have seen reports of foreign workers asking for "hazard pay" to work in China's major cities. I sense that change is in the air as I reviewed recent comments by leading Chinese personalities as quoted by NewsChina. Bai Yansong, the CCTV (Chinese State Television) anchor, noted, that "...With genuine freedom of the press, we would probably face a deluge of gossip, scandale and news about sex, violence, and other things that sell. But we have to know that this is the only path to true freedom...". This was surprising to me coming from someone who works for the State Broadcaster that has acknowledged that this sense of freedom is yet to be realized. I also am continuing to follow the edicts of the Chinese Government as it works to restructure its' Government. The Chinese Premier has reaffirmed its' plans to make sure the State's role in the Economy becomes less and less--although the high degree of debt held by Government-backed institutions as exemplified by the State Railway system recently slated for privatization underscores the challenges being faced by China as it works to transform the economy and the country. China is slated to be the biggest economy in the World by 2016 and has also recently come out with its' White Paper that for the first time noted that the People's Liberation Army has 2.3 million active military personnel--the largest in the World.
I conclude the final edition of this months' World Watch with the Americas. The Tea Party Gang in the United States Senate is flexing its' muscle to block the adoption of the Federal Budget. It has exposed a rift within the Republicans. I find it quite comical that Mike Lee, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz have raised objections while not offering a solution. I have to question why they have taken office while opposing even the basic elements of Government. Beyond Washington, though, Central and South America continue to see profound changes as well. The Economic Alliances seem to be forming. Argentina seems to be facing profound Economic Headwinds. Mexico continues to have challenges on both on the political and economic front--in addition to the on-going drug war that seems to have no end in sight. Bolivia just endured strikes as Evo Morales, the President, basically bought himself a third term as President. The two reasonable bright spots seem to be Brazil and Chile. I was gratified to see Brazil having forgiven most of Africa's Debt that shows the power it has around the world. I also hold out hope for Chile as its' former President, Michelle Bachelet, has declared her intention to run for President of Chile again. America's backdoor has finally broken free.
It remains a challenging world ever more.....
Also @ http://www.outsiderviews.com, all rights reserved
The Saturday edition of the New York Times showed an attack by the Taliban on a UN compound. It showed how a scared child was running away from the scene of the latest carnage by the Taliban:
This image, available @ http://www.nytimes.com, showed the continued state of chaos that exists in Afghanistan today. The impending withdrawal of the United States and the winding down of the drone war that President Obama announced will present profound challenges for the United States and the stability of Southeast Asia.
As I saw this tragic image, I could not help but be reminded of this admonition that I pray that all who claim to fight for freedom and justice will abide by. There should be a better way than the carnage that the people of the World seem to endure--especially as America remembers all who served on this Memorial Day Week-End:
To be a beneficial presence in the world, cultivate a conscious awareness of your unity with Spirit. Expect good in your own life. Desire good for all others as well. See and affirm abundant blessings of peace, health, and plenty for everyone. Align your thoughts with peace and happiness, and realize that these qualities are your true nature. - Kathy Juline
The Memorial Day Week-End is looming here in the United States. It is the traditional start of the summer in the United States. Memorial Day (The last Monday of the May) is a US Federal Holiday to honor the fallen who paid the ultimate price to serve the United States. USA.Gov has called for an observation of a moment of remembrance at 3:00 PM local time on May 27. I will be participating in a flag laying ceremony on the graves of Veterans who are buried at my local community's ceremony w/my local Scout Troop. Click Here For Further information (Link Courtesy of USA.Gov): Memorial Day
As I write this, President Obama is speaking about his vision for the National Security Strategy he's envisionsed. As he worked to wind down his speech, he was heckled about GITMO by who apparently was Madea Benjamin, the co-founder of Code Pink. I was shocked, for instance, as he noted how the United States spends 150 Million Dollars a year to house 156 prisoners. I understand that over 100 of them continue to be on hunger strike and the President directly addressed the hunger strikers.
As he wound down his speech, he reflected upon the resiliencey on how Americans are resilient and come back after setbacks. I am with him in underscoring that there needs to be a sense of politics & a strategy to reflect the sense of resiliency that I also seen every day. This is why I launched "outsiders" which I hope I could build upon. With the current political climate in Washington, I wonder if the President
Amongst the many key attributes I was pleased to hear was his affirmation about transparency. One of the many key attributes of the one-hour long speech was his acknowledgement of the immense price the United States has paid for the Drone war in Pakistan. He has underscored his commitment to the Constitution. He also noted his profound opposition to Drones being deployed in the United States. But he noted that if Americans leave the US, are on foreign soil and wage war on the US and there is no way to apprehend them, he used the comparision with a killer that is taken out by a SWAT team. The key is to insure the appropriate constitutional safeguards. The President reitrated it today.
Although the focus of this edition is on the US, I was shocked beyond words by the horrific and senseless act of the hacking to death of the British Soldier by the two sub-humans who used their senseless act. I refrained from calling them animals because even animals have some code of honors. The hooligans from the racist English Defense League, though, have taken advantage of the situation to attack Mosques to drive home their own twisted ideology. My thoughts and prayers are with the Soldiers' Family and will trust the British Justice system to run its' course and punish these two sub-human losers.
Beyond the National Security Challenges the President directly addressed, there is the political paralysis in Washington as exemplifed by what one analyst called the "Scandal Industrial Complex". Fully one third of Congressional Committees have some sort of an investigation going as exemplified by Darrel Issa's offensive regarding the IRS. The analysis I have reviewed reflect an IRS that was overwhelmed, confused, not led properly as the explosion of tax exempt organizations applications that was filed especially after the Supreme Court's Citizens United Decision. It had to do with a determination made by the IRS back in 1959 to change certain interpretation of how such organizations were approved. What is striking to me is that all of them were approved even after the questions before them. I could not help but laugh, though, when I tried to figure out what "social welfare" purpose Karl Rove's organization did under his IRS 501 c(4) designation.
Beyond IRS, there is the scandale related to the AP. The National Security leak is a problem that needs to be addressed. Beyond the issues deliberated, the one key concern I had was that the AP apprarently was not even contacted with the request for information on phone logs and contact information. The need for transparency and accountability by Government is key and it appears that there were clear breakdowns in the process. But the notion of direct interference by the White House is a bit far fetched especially as it was Congress that actually called for an investigation and it appeared that the disclosure at the time put actual operations at risk. There is also an implicit lesson in this: No right is aboslute. It seems as if this lesson is learnt especially as the Gun Control efforts have fizzled out. I am pleased to see that the Sandy Hook families will continue with their campaign to elevate the discussion beyond the narrow and prejudicial focus of the NRA that had its' Lovefest (or as they call it a convention) recently.
The last one is Beghanzi. 4 Americans lost their lives during that horrible day on September 11. I wrote about it on that horrific day. Yet, the Republicans have been trying to somehow raise a conspiracy where in fact none has occurred. Darrell Issa, the US Congressman that heads the Congressional Committee looking into it, had two US State Department Staffers testify and revealed no new information. Darrell Issa has become the Inspector Closeau of the Congress instead of a Sam Irving who led the US Senate Watergate Committee that ultmately led to the resignation of Richard Nixon.
What is tragic is how such actions deflects attention from the real story out there--a near lawless situation in Libya, continued political instability in Egypt, the Syrian civil war and its' implications for Lebanon, Jordan & Turkey. There is also the worrisome rise in violence in Iraq along with the upcoming elections in Iran.
It continues to be a challenging World......
Also released to http://www.outsiderviews.com, all rights reserved...
A Nice way to start the Work Week...Onward to it w/all its' possiblities:
Send love
Instead of sending anger,
send love. Instead of filling your mind with worry or frustration, fill your
thoughts with love.
Send genuine love to
those who support you. Send genuine love to those who disagree with you.
Let go of the need to get
the last word, or to get even or to prove yourself. Send love, and you’ll
find yourself living with unassailable strength and effectiveness.
Send love, and feel your
anxiety melt away. Send love, and experience life at its highest level.
When you’re not
sure what to do, do what is authentic, honest and caring. Move forward with
love, for yourself, for life, and for others, and you’ll be moving toward
good and valuable things.
Live a life that is real,
and rich, and full. Send love, and live the best there is.
I reached a personal milestone here in "Ordinaryfaces". I passed 14K views. I am grateful as always... This journey began with a simple admonition to reflect upon the World and to "hopefully" leave a legacy of hope and optimism. It was to remind about the art of the possible as the World continues to change every second. I remembered a film I watched over 20 years ago that epitomized rightenousness and the theme by Greg Altman especially struck me as poignant as I also look to the future:
It is, in some ways, a reminder about the very need to go on despite all that could possibly have been and could possibly be. I was also thinking about the Thomas Jefferson admontions that helps to keep things in perspective ever more:
Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day.
Never trouble another for what you can do yourself.
Never spend your money before you have it.
Never buy what you do not want, because it is cheap; it will be dear to you.
Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.
We never repent of having eaten too little.
Nothing is troublesome that we do willingly.
How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened.
Take things always by their smooth handle.
When angry, count ten, before you speak; if very angry, a hundred.
I add one more thought: to count all the blessings and be thankful for every millsecond of every day.
You were born with potential
You were born with goodness and trust
You were born with ideals and dreams
You were born with greatness
You were born with wings
You are not meant for crawling, so don't.
You have wings
Learn to use them,and fly.
I am grateful ever more for the blessings before me. I know that at some time my parents will no longer be here. But I cherish every second. May the almighty bless all the Mothers as we remember them all and I especially remember my own mother and my Son's Beautiful and hardworking Mother on this beautiful day:
Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new. - Brian Tracy
You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself. - Alan Alda
Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is. - Mary Anne Radmacher
The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward. - Amelia Earhart
The World over the past 10 days has continued to be on the edge ever more. Syria continues to burn, Mexicans continue to die in a pointless Drug War, Bangladeshi Workers perished as they tried to make a living, Europe's economic malaise became worst while wild fires in Southern California threatened 4,000 homes as it consumed 43 square kilometers .
I begin with Syria. Syria has been hit by Israeli Bombs. I just saw the latest from Chinese Central Television where reporting reflects 4 Israeli hits over the past 48 hours. What is clear is that Israel has made a clear decision to intervene. The decision to intervene has to do with the fact that Hezbollah, the Lebanese Party with a very strong military wing, has decided to intervene in Lebanon on the side of Bashar Al Assad. Hassan Nasrallah, the Hezbollah Leader, has said that it is to protect the Shia Population. I have seen reports that they have deployed in Damascus as well to protect the Shia shrine of Zinab, a grand daughter of the Prophet and a shia shrine.
The opposition to Assad is divided. Even though it is divided, it continues to take the fight to Assad. The Prime Minister escaped an assassination attempt. But this division has given Assad the opening to fight them all to a standstill. With the Israeli attacks, it gives Assad another opening to further discredit the opposition and potentially ignite a wider regional conflict. I continue to be concerned that what happened to Lebanon will also happen to Syria. Lebanon was contained--Syria will not be contained because the neighbors have turned on Assad and have recognized the Syrian National Council as the rightful representative. There are also apparent moves to turn over Syria's UN seat to the Syrian National Council who is the nominal umbrella organization but cannot pull all the elements together. The region is one of the most militarized in the World that was also even more so after the most recent arms deal the United States concluded with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel. All it takes is a spark which may consume the whole region.
The only very interesting development of note is the election in Malaysia. I view it as quite dramatic as Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition leader, has a shut to dislodge the ruling party from power. I saw this last minute instructions from his campaign as the country got ready for the campaign:
******************************************************************
We Malaysians stand today on the brink of history. We have reached the final day of a historic campaign that will change our country forever. Throughout Malaysia, we have seen hundreds of thousands of people of all ethnicities come to our ceramahs. The response in frontline states such as Johor, Sabah and Sarawak, the heartland and fortresses of Umno and Barisan Nasional, has been tremendous and inspiring.
To the rakyat and supporters of Pakatan Rakyat, we thank you for your faith, your courage, and your commitment. This is a campaign built on the millions of small and large sacrifices that you have all made. It humbles me and all leaders in Pakatan Rakyat.
Sunday’s election will mark the decisive step in an amazing, peaceful, democratic revolution that will take Malaysia into a new era. Let us go out to vote in strength on Sunday for candidates in Keadilan, PAS and DAP.
A few instructions that will help us win:
Encourage all your friends, family and neighbours to cast their ballots because every vote counts
Know where your polling station is. Double and triple check your voting status. Plan a route to the polling station and do consider traffic
Vote as early in the day as possible. Polling starts at 8 AM and an early vote helps us to defend against voter fraud
Do not be intimidated by those who try to scare or threaten you, we are here to defend the rights of all Malaysians
Believe that your vote will change the future of our country and when you check the box on your ballot your act will be written into the history of Malaysia
In preparation for our first few months of government, I am releasing a Pakatan Rakyat Roadmap outlining key actions that we will undertake in order to fulfill our manifesto promises. As I have always emphasized, the focus of this roadmap must be pro-rakyat and consist of measures that will have both immediate impact, and long-term benefits. These are reforms that BN has never dared to implement, but Pakatan Rakyat has the courage to do so – reforms that will bring back a renaissance, a genuine merdeka and democracy to Malaysia.
You can read the 100 Day Plan here at http://www.anwaribrahim.com/100days. Please share it with everyone who you know.
I want assure all Malaysians not to fear. This transition will not only be historic, but also peaceful. Pakatan Rakyat’s Security Advisory Council of former generals and police will help myself and other Pakatan Rakyat leaders through the process.
I warn the Election Commission again - the rakyat will not tolerate any electoral fraud. Be vigilant of all suspicious activities. We must ensure that only Malaysians will decide the fate of our nation, and Insyallah, we will succeed.
Our nation is a land of promise and fulfillment. Seize your destiny. Ini kali lah!
Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim
May 4, 2013
***************************************************************
I have followed Anwar's struggle for years. Whenever I saw any opportunity to support him virtually, I did as his Wife fought valiantly to keep his memory alive as he languished in prison for his valiant struggle against Mahatir Mohammad. He was able to fight his way back. I view Malaysia as a perfect test case of how it should work. Malaysians are voting right now.
Beyond Malaysia, there is also Pakistan. I view what happens in Pakistan to be absolutely vital. It has almost 200 Million People and has nuclear weapons. It continue to be besieged by an insurgency that is not slowing down. As the insurgency continues, the General Election Campaign continues onward. The media has been touting the fact that it is actually the first time a peaceful transition of power is about to occur. Beyond that, though, there is not much to celebrate in Pakistan.
The Pakistani Taliban have been on a rampage. Secular politicians have been killed and the lawless City of Karachi continued to be dominated by the Taliban. Karachi is the commercial hub of Pakistan and the sheer state of lawlessness is scary. This is emblematic of the problems being faced by Pakistan in all corners of the Country. The initial insurgency has mushroomed into a nationwide campaign that is undermining the very nature of the Pakistani State. The latest ugly manifestation of it came about as the Chief Prosecutor investigating Benzair Bhutto's assassination was killed by the Taliban on his way to Work.
Despite all the gloom on the horizon, though, I retain some hope for Pakistan. I have seen Imran Khan campaign throughout Pakistan. I have been assessing his efforts through Facebook and have seen the so-called "Jalyessa's" (meetings) he has held throughout the country ever more greater. From what I have seen of the Taliban on Imran Khan, they have not gone after him as aggressively as others since Imran Khan has been quite vocal in his opposition of the Pakistani Government Policy. But his party has also seen at least one Party Worker killed. I view him as a centrist, solid hope for change in Pakistan. I hope that he's able to win and do what he can to transform Pakistan. His facebook page just posted his latest speech in Lahore. In the meantime, the Judiciary in Pakistan continues to assert its' rightful role by making sure that at least there is one institution that stands for the rule of law. The latest move by the judiciary was to ban Pervez Musharaf, the former military ruler, for life from politics.
Pakistan also matters because one of its' most volatile regions--Baluchistan--borders Iran. Iran has a province called Sistan and Baluchistan that is probably the most deprived of the 31 Provinces in the Country. It is also a hotbed of insurgency and drug trafficking. Iran continues to have its' own profound challenges due to the continued sanctions regime. This is as the Country gears up for the elections. Iran is also pivotal because it is the main regional player supporting Syria and it is engaged in a proxy war right now with Israel. The Presidential Campaign has begun in earnest as factions within the conservative wing of the Political Elite of the country are positioning themselves as the Guardian Council vettes all the candidates. The head of the Guardian Council, Janati, noted that they would make sure that they undertake their responsibility fairly. I laughed when I saw the comments especially as I also reviewed comments from him on the conduct of the election itself and the media. It was his direct actions under the implicit instructions of Khameini, the Supreme Leader, that gave the elections to A-Jad who then turned on them all as his total lack of competence was finally revealed.
The Moderates are trying to muster somewhat of a strong effort by once again asking Rafsanjani to run. I had written back in 2009 about my views about the power that he had and how anxious I was that he was going to make moves to somehow preempt moves by the conservative wing of the political elite in the Country. I was surprised by how swiftly he was sidelined and how relentless the Government went after him and his family. His children were jailed and he has been under attack from establishment figures due to his so-called perceived role in what the political establishment is calling the "calamity of 1388". It will be interesting to see who the Guardian Council approves to run and what will the turnout be. There has some speculation that the next President will have a "gentler touch". I am not sure what that means. The ravages of the A-Jad Years are so massive--I am not sure if any one man is able to turn things around. What I also find amusing is how A-Jad's Former Chief of Staff, Mashai', is being pushed by A-Jad to be a candidate. Mashai is trying to position himself as the "reform" candidate. Although he did recently note that his mandate is from God and any "mortal" does not have the right to judge him. The Political Commentator Sadegh Zibakalam noted how the Reformists do not want
My other focus this week is on Europe. I begin with the UK. I saw with gratification as results of 35 council elections was a disaster for the Conservatives. What is important about these local elections is that they are the food soldiers in the ultimate control of the British Parliament that decides who leads Britain. David Cameron has been warned that if he does not change course, he will lose the next General Election. This is as he continues his relentless austerity policy and as a recent report came out that noted that 5 Million families struggled to put food on the table and had to borrow to make ends meet.
On the continent as well, there continues to be more suffering. Portugal has just announced fresh budget cuts that will result in the firing of 30,000 Government Workers. This is as the Eurozone continues to suffer from the highest unemployment numbers ever. One of the largest, France, has over 3 Million People unemployed. There are slight rays of hope, though. The new Government in Italy has noted that Growth has to be prioritized over austerity. The European Central Bank has cut interest rates to its' lowest ever. I was especially gratified to see comments by the European Commission President, Jose Manuel Baroso, noting that misjudgments may have been made. This is as this recent report came out debunking the aggresive stance taken by Governments regarding austerity:
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What happens in Europe is also crucial. Although the United States has seen Economic Growth and a drop in the unemployment rate, the long-term prospects are of concern. US companies have seen a drop in their numbers in large measure due the continued economic malaise in Europe.
I conclude this latest World Watch with a prayer for the victims of the tragedy in Bangladesh. What happened when the building collapsed is horrific. The working conditions for those poor souls who help to cloth the World is among the worst in the World. Treating all workers with dignity should be the goal of all. Yet, it seems that the relentless pursuit of profit overtakes all other considerations. Tragic is the only word I could muster. What is even more tragic is if the major players pull out, the average person on the street will suffer.
As I conclude this "world watch" I can't help but remember how hopeful one must be. I am reminded of the old admonition to make sure that we all continue to smile so that our smile and optimism can change the World--not the World allow us to change our Smile. It is in line with Gandhi's admonition for us all to be the change we want to see in the World.
![You were born with potential You were born with goodness and trust You were born with ideals and dreams You were born with greatness You were born with wings You are not meant for crawling, so don't. You have wings Learn to use them,and fly. @[64655903184:274:Rumi]](https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/s480x480/483250_10151602223478185_207266652_n.jpg)
