We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

As Putin looks east, China and Russia sign huge gas supply deal

Click here to access article by Alexei Anishchuk from Reuters.

I don't normally post topical events, but in this case I believe the news is a true pivotal event in world affairs. Thus, I am posting it immediately, instead of waiting for my usual publishing deadline of noon.