U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen recently introduced a concept she referred to as “friend-shoring.” In her words, “Friend-shoring is the idea that countries that espouse a common set of values on international trade … should trade and get the benefits of trade.” She added that the idea was to ensure
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Views from the Beltline: How fares the emperor?
Xi Jinping has it all: general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, chairman of the Central Military Commission, commander-in-chief of the People’s Liberation Army, and the Politburo Standing Committee filled with his own hand-picked loyalists. He is, in all but title, the emperor of China. For a dictator, this is
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Whew! That was close—too close
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil’s election on Sunday in a squeaker, defeating incumbent Jair Bolsonaro by a mere two points. It was a victory for more than Lula. In an election perhaps more important for all of us than the U.S. midterms, Lula’s victory improves the chances for survival of
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: About Russia and security
Russia has throughout its history been the victim of brutal invasions. From the east across the steppe came the hordes of Genghis Khan in the 13th century, and from the west the armies of Napoleon and Hitler in the 19th and 20th centuries. One can easily appreciate its concern about
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Don’t go, Chrystia
As a result of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine, NATO is much more in the news lately. Consequently, the job of heading the organization is attracting attention as the current secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, completes his term in 2023. Rumour has it that the powers that be believe the
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Another failure on the nuclear front
Other than the various environmental swords that hang over our heads the greatest threat to the future of human society is nuclear war. In recognition of this overarching threat, global society adopted the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in 1970. The Treaty has been signed by 191 nations,
Continue readingIN-SIGHTS: Happiness is…
The first World Happiness Report was presented in 2012. This week the 2022 report was published. Perhaps surprisingly, in most nations, average life evaluations have remained “remarkably resilient during COVID-19.” Although, according to report authors, life satisfaction has fallen for the young and increased for people over 60, and levels
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Nancy P’s Asian adventure
On first hearing about U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s planned visit to Taiwan it struck me as a rather, shall we say, stupid idea. It would infuriate the Chinese, who claim the island as part of China, and the Americans hardly need a fight with another nuclear power
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Putin making Russia great again
Both the two major world powers during the Cold War have had leaders who wanted to “make their nations great again.” Both hark back nostalgically to some imagined golden age. One, former U.S. president Donald Trump, MAGA-man, largely failed. He did, however, sow the seeds for a successor by pushing
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: There is a Russian opposition
Russian’s new tsar, Vlad the shirtless, is not a man to entertain opposition. People who cross him have been known to be poisoned, shot, imprisoned or, in the case of the Chechens, bombed back to the Stone Age. Draconian measures have been signed into law to silence critics of his
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: World Environment Day
In the universe are billions of galaxies,In our galaxy are billions of planets,But there is Only One Earth. The above truism is from the UN Environment Program’s website for the 2022 World Environment Day campaign. Today, June 5th, is the day. World Environment Day 2022 is being hosted by Sweden,
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Will Aussie go green?
Australia shares with Canada and the United States the dubious distinction of being one of the top three per-capita greenhouse gas producers among the industrial countries. The dirty three. Like its brothers it has learned little from experiencing the results of its behaviour. Australia’s 2019-20 bushfire season was the worst
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: NATO advances
Vladimir Putin. Yet another megalomaniacal psychopath pursuing Lebensraum, a true heir to the Nazis he claims to despise. If he has accomplished anything in his invasion of Ukraine, it is justifying the existence of NATO. Ironically, he claims that it was the advance of NATO, presumably threatening Russian security, that
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Are liberal values failing?
A recent article in The New York Times by David Brooks, “Globalization Is Over. The Global Culture Wars Have Begun,” discusses the decline of globalization generally and Western values specifically around the world. I agree with much of what Brooks writes but found myself picking one nit. He states: “This
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Will the poppy ban sink Afghanistan’s economy?
“All compatriots are informed from the date of the issuance of this decree, poppy cultivation is absolutely prohibited in the whole country and no one can try to cultivate the plant.” With this decree, the Taliban banned the growth of poppies, thus threatening 80 percent of the word’s opium supply.
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: The international macho fraternity
Macho men have throughout history dominated societies—kings, warlords, military leaders and assorted demagogues. Despite the advance of democracy in the past few centuries, modern societies still have their share. Three good examples today, presidents all, are Vladimir Putin of Russia, Xi Jinping of China and Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil. These
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: This Isn’t a Heatwave — It’s a Dying Planet
Our Civilisation is Boiling Alive in the Fumes of its Own Waste umair haque Follow Jun 30 · 7 min read Image Credit: ABC11 Screenshot It was my lovely doctor wife who Read more… The post This Isn’t a Heatwave — It’s a Dying Planet first appeared on richardhughes.ca.
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Canada’s Inability To Produce Covid Vaccines Is A Wakeup Call
Why Canada can’t make its own COVID-19 vaccine — and how to ‘fix’ the problem before the next pandemic By Alex Boyd Calgary Bureau Wed., Nov. 25, 2020 updateArticle was Read more… The post Canada’s Inability To Produce Covid Vaccines Is A Wakeup Call first appeared on richardhughes.ca.
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Fake list of COVID-19 ‘wisdom’ attributed to Dr. Bonnie Henry making rounds online.
A warning to those quick to hit the “share” button on social media A warning to those quick to hit the “share” button on social media: A list purporting to be “Wisdom from Read more…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Muhammad Ali Gives His Stance On The Vietnam War
As we face the immense changes and challenges of today a look back to this 60’s interview with Muhammad Ali and Dick Cavett seems worthwhile.
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