Notation On Our World : On the Elections in #Canada

One of the fascinating elections is in Canada as the NDP is battling the Conservatives and a resurgent Liberal Party for the NDP Leader, Tom Mulcair to be the next Prime Minister of Canada.   Canada has some profound challenges especially as the Economy has experienced a recession in part due to the collapse of the oil prices.    This very interesting email was sent out a few days ago to underscore the challenge faced by the NDP and a follow-up fundraiser was sent out by Catherine Mulcair, the wife of the NDP Leader.

It will be an interesting three weeks in Canada and we will continue to assess and release Notations as developments warrant as a build-up to the election and the aftermath.   

c

Notations On our World (Special Edition): On the Virtual Road w/the Holy Father as @Pontifex Leaves The United States

It has been one of our greatest honors to have reported on the visit of the Holy Father to the United States as we have been "on the virtual road" with him.    He left the United States earlier tonight after conducting an open mass for an Estimated 1,000,000 People in Philadelphia: The City of Brotherly Love.     Vice President Biden was at The Philadelphia Airport to bid Farewell to the Holy Father as he blessed and noted "God Bless America" on this as reported by one of our go-to sites, +The Guardian : 

Notations For the Week-End: Reflections On the Interfaith Service w/@Pontifex @Ground Zero

Our team has been commenting on the travel of the Holy Father in the United States.   The Holy Father was at the 9/11 Memorial yesterday.   He began by being at the Pool, meeting with the families of the first responders and thereafter walking into the Museum after giving each person a Rosary. 

It was a very moving ceremony that honored the fallen.   It was a ceremony that brought about the best of humanity and how resilient humans are--and how the beauty of faith can overcome hatred.   We could not help but be moved   as Imam Khalid Latif and Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove opened the proceedings with an embrace.     We also were so moved as the Holy Father embraced Imam Latif after the ceremony.     This was just one beautiful scene of many the World was witness to with Rabbi Cosgrove, Imam Latif and the Holy Father:   

Our team caught an interview with a retired New York Fire Department Fire Firefighter, Peter D'Ancona.   He was a Marine For 10 years before joining the Department and was one of the first responders that ran into the building and as Brian Williams of MSNBC noted, "worked the pile".   Members of our team were driven to near tears as he noted how he had never walked through the Museum and remembered his Brother Firefighters who had fallen--some 343 members of them.  We salute them all.

Cantor Azi Schwartz's moving Jewish  Prayer of the Fallen sent shivers down our spine as we listened to it and he ended it with "Shalom" (Peace):  

What the Youth sang that moved the Holy Father moved us all:  




It is a prayer and an aspiration we all aspire to.  Let there peace on what the Holy Father reminded us is our Common Home.

An #Outsider Newsflash (W-End Editoin): Clinton Global Initiative 2015 is Here!!

We have a busy weekend here in #Outsiders as we will be on the "Virtual Run" as we make the "Virtual Rounds" of the Clinton Global Initiative, share comments/updates on The United Nation General Assembly and of course continue to be on the "Virtual Road" with the Holy Father.   

Please note this guidance from the Clinton Global Initatiive on the eve of this mometous weekend:

I can hardly believe it, but tomorrow is the first day of the 11th Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting – our annual gathering where new and returning members from the public, private, and non-profit sectors come together and make commitments to address some of the world's most pressing challenges. In 2005, when President Clinton launched CGI, his goal was to turn ideas about how to improve the world into tangible action. To date, CGI members have answered his call by making more than 3,200 Commitments to Action which have improved the lives of over 430 million people in more than 180 countries.  This year's theme, The Future of Impact, builds on the achievements of CGI members over the past decade and prompts us to expand and replicate proven solutions in the areas that need them the most.  And I hope you can join us. We will be livestreaming this Sunday's Opening Plenary, moderated by President Clinton and Chelsea Clinton, and many other interesting conversations and talks over the course of the meeting.  Click below to receive a reminder to watch our live webcasts, starting with the Opening Plenary on Sunday, September 27.  We've accomplished so much in our first 10 years, and CGI looks forward to continuing to make a difference for many years to come.  Robert Harrison Chief Executive Officer Clinton Global Initiative

The Friday Musical Interlude; Klaus Badelt's Pirates of the Caribbean

It is Friday yet again and time for the Friday Musical Interlude.   Our team decided to do something differently and to feature Klaus Badelt which we hope all enjoy as we wish all a fabulous weekend:

Notations On Our World: On the Virtual Road w/the Holy Father & Other Thoughts

As we went to press this morning, The Holy Father is at the United Nations addressing the UN General Assembly after having met with the UN Staff.    He is reminding us all of the realities of the World today as we have been witness to the painful realities in Syria, Iraq and Libya.    This is as the Holy Father spoke up for the Iran Deal.    The Holy Father reminded us of the selfless need for service and that brothers have to stand by each other.     The Holy Father is leaving the UN on his way to the 9/11 Memorial (An Update: The Holy Father is at the Interfaith Memorial Service as all major faiths (Jewish, Islam, Buddhist, Hindus et. al) are represented--it is such a  beautiful scene to be witness to).  

This weekend is also the weekend that the UN launches the Sustainable development goals today which we briefly alluded to and will be discussing it at length in our Visions Channel.    The "Mural" we have noted is available on the UN Sustainable Development Goal Website that depicts 17 of the major goals:



We are also receiving shocking news of an expansion of the FIFA probe.    Fifa President Sepp Blatter and UEFA President Platini have been apparently implicated in the Swiss Corruption Probe of FIFA.   We also are assessing the news of the US Speaker of the House of Representatives resigning his office and his seat in Congress at the end of October as he was trying to stave off a revolt by the more conservative members.        

Quite a morning......

Notations On Our World: On #UNGA70 , #HAJJStampede & Other Thoughts

As we went to press here, we have been on the "Virtual Road" as the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly is getting under way as well as the Sustainable Development Summit and of course, the visit of the Holy Father that we released a Notation earlier.     We will be discussing the #GlobalGoals in our Visions Channel over the ensuing weeks 

  

1. Image gallery thumbnail

   Image gallery thumbnail
   

   
   
   

The World is converging on Europe, including Iran's President who landed in New York a few hours ago accompanied by a delegation including the Foreign Minster, Dr. Zarif:

We have also been assessing the grim news out of Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of the death of over 700 Pilgrims during the Hajj Stampede.    Our team received reports of over 200 Iranians injured and the number of death are apparently around 12 (as reported by IRNA--According to China Daily, it is upward of 89).    We're also seeing reports that the intiial reports of 717 dead may rise.    There have also been Indian Injuries.    Saudi King Salman has promised a thorough inquiry as his Health Minister blamed the victims for "not following directions" as noted by the Guardian of London. 

The Iranian President issued out a message of condolence and directive to his First Vice President on steps to be taken to take care of the wounded and to transfer the bodies of the fallen back to Iran.   Ayatollah Khameini, the Supreme Guide (Leader), declared three days of national morning in honor of the fallen.    The Holy Father also remembered the fallen when he spoke at St. Paul's Catheral  in New York: