HONDURAS: ANOTHER CHALLENGE FOR OBAMA

A few months were enough for Obama to peacefully revolutionise the United States and the world. He radically changed the policies of Washington, domestic and international, with visible consequences at the global level despite a financial and economic crisis that, notwithstanding certain signs of improvement, is still far from turning around.

ART, APOCALYPSE, AND THE FUTURE

When in 1982 Ridley Scott filmed his prophetic and futuristic Blade Runner and showed the city of Los Angeles devastated by acid rain, sealed off, and darkened by a ceiling of clouds of a dense gas, that future (November 2019, in the film) seemed so remote and so poetic that few would have ever imagined it could come true. Now, ten years from that date, the world has deteriorated to the point that the images from Blade Runner amaze us less and frighten us more because we know how close we are to living on a planet similar to the one shown in the film.

HEALTH INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC CRISIS

The fulfillment of every person's inalienable right to health and well-being is a pivotal factor in the quest for human prosperity and more inclusive, equitable, and healthy societies across the world. This requires a strong commitment, even in the best of times, and all the more so in a period of economic and fiscal stress and a health emergency.

CALIFORNIA DREAMS TURN TO NIGHTMARES

Forty years ago I drove across the United States traversing mid-winter blizzards before entering the blissful warmth and light of California, a state blessed not only with stunning topography but also a diverse and hugely talented population, a top-tier educational system, and a culture of freewheeling, sky's-the-limit innovation. We cruised the sinuous curves of Highway 1 on the spectacular Big Sur coastline crooning, 'California Dreamin''.

A MIXED PICTURE OF THE GLOBAL CRISIS

The world economy remains fragile and the economic outlook is still uncertain. There have been a few encouraging signs recently of better-than-expected performance here and there. Some are interpreting this as an indication that we may be turning the corner with regard to a possible return to previous patterns of economic growth, but excessive optimism is unwarranted.

THE RISK OF ANOTHER DEBT CRISIS

The attention of policymakers is being drawn to addressing fiscal policy and financial issues in an effort to close the credit crunch and release financial flows, especially investment.

G8, THE GAME IS OVER

A powerful new global player has emerged on the world stage: the Group of 192. The G7, the G8 and the G20 must now move over.

WHAT WE NEED IS A CLIMATE BAILOUT

A recent study by the Global Humanitarian Forum, headed by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, postulates that the economic and human costs of climate change could now amount to some 125 billion dollars per year and the loss of 300,000 lives. Many more are being increasingly affected, mainly the poor.

POOR COUNTRIES RAILROADED INTO WEAK COMPROMISE AT UN FINANCIAL SUMMIT

After weeks of negotiations, the conclusion of the United Nations High Level Conference on the Financial and Economic Crisis (24-26 June) was a huge disappointment. The summit was our opportunity to continue lobbying our demands after the Doha Conference on International Financing.

KEY ISSUES IN THE WORLD CONFERENCE ON THE GREAT ECONOMIC CRISIS

Many around the world look to the United Nations conference on the global financial and economic crisis this week with great expectations, as it should be the start of a process that could bring the UN into the forefront of tackling the greatest economic crisis in half a century.

BRAZIL: POWER AND REALISM

It is said that a French politician, asked whether Brazil had a good future, answered with scorn and knowing irony, "Brazil has always had, still has, and will always have a magnificent future." It would seem that the country has suffered for decades under this sort of stigma.

NOSTALGIA FOR THE FUTURE

Chiasso is a small city in the Swiss Ticino blessed with a wonderful climate and splendid nature, lakes and mountains, and blessed as well with the historic fortune of being a part of the Helvetic Confederation and thus having Swiss political and social features, plus, given its proximity to Italy, its people not only speak the language of Dante but also enjoy his country's splendid cuisine. As they say, it can't get better than that.

GRAINS AND GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY

The World Grain Forum that took place in Saint Petersburg June 6-7 is one in a series of high-level meetings devoted to food and agriculture this year. Such meetings -including the G8 agriculture ministers gathering in Treviso last April and FAO's conference on How to Feed the World in 2050 next October in Rome- show that powerful momentum is building for resolving outstanding food insecurity issues and establishing a new global agricultural order that can finally ensure that everyone on earth has enough to eat.

GLOBAL CRISIS SOWS PROBLEMS FOR AGRICULTURE

In the 250-year history of industrial capitalism, there have been numerous cyclical crises, at least three of them global and systemic, including this one. In the preceding crises, capitalists always introduced measures to repair the system and restart the cycle of expansion and capital formation.

LET THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT DO ITS WORK

Representatives of African States will meet in Addis Ababa (June 8-9) to "exchange views" on the International Criminal Court (ICC). Prompted by the war crimes indictment of Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir, the meeting will provide a platform for the Court's dissenters in Africa, and aim to sew discord among ICC supporters.

NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT MORE URGENT THAN EVER

One of the most urgent problems of today's world is the danger of nuclear weapons. The unexpected nuclear test by North Korea on May 25 and the test-firing of a series of short-range missiles is the latest, frightening reminder.

BURMA: DEMOCRACY LEADER TRIAL A RUSE TO KEEP HER OUT OF POLITICS

The 15-member UN Security Council issued a press release on 22 May expressing concern "about the political impact of recent developments relating to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi". The council members reiterate "the importance of the release of all political prisoners" as well as the need for Burma's military leaders "to create the necessary conditions for a genuine dialogue" with Daw Suu Kyi and other opposition and minority groups in order "to achieve an inclusive national reconciliation".

ARE CUBANS GOING EXTINCT ?

R. was born and raised in Havana and as part of the cultural formation he received there he is an ardent fan of the Industriales, the city's baseball team, and he prefers mangos to apples. R. left Cuba when he was about 30, settled in Spain, married M., a young Spanish woman, and had a son, P., with her. The son is a native of Madrid, and because of this he roots for Real Madrid, and he devours apples. P. will never be a fan of the Industriales, nor will he feel what R. feels listening to Benny More or Celia Cruz sing, because P. is not Cuban.

PANDEMIC THREATS SPUR DEVELOPMENT OF GLOBAL HEALTH COMMONS

The specter of a swine flu pandemic has driven home the urgent need for more rapid and effective responses to a wide range of public health threats. But in order to respond more effectively, we need to create a more open system for the exchange of vital health information and research across sectors, disciplines, geographic, economic and cultural boundaries. In a world of increasingly global emergencies, we need all hands on deck, including the patients and publics most affected.

THE UBIQUITOUS PHANTOM OF INSECURITY

Not long ago the people on this planet lived without the anguish of insecurity. This is because they assumed that insecurity was the natural state of things, for everyone, rich and poor, powerful and weak, for the colonised and the imperialist occupiers. Life seemed comparatively more normal, and people were more fatalistic and resigned. The world was, you might say, predominantly conservative. Only a minority of bold visionaries, idealists, and renegades took the risk of seeking change, frequently at a high cost to themselves (repression, imprisonment, execution, exile).

PASHTUNISTAN: A NEW MEMBER OF THE UNITED NATIONS?

An outside-the-box approach is needed for the worsening problems of Afghanistan and Pakistan. US official policy in its war in Afghanistan is to combat Al Qaeda and make sure there are no further attacks on the USA from their safe havens. Yet, on his recent visit to the US, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that there are no Al Qaeda members in Afghanistan. General David Petraeus, US Central Command Commander, also stated that no Al Qaeda members are in Afghanistan.