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

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Reconstruction in Syria: All Eyes on the Prize

Click here to access article by Hassan Chakrani posted on Al-Akhbar.

 This is one of the most sickening pieces I've read in some time. I advise you not to read it after a full meal--you may lose it! It illustrates how crassly and cynically capitalists view wars, and why they like to promote them. What is surprising is that they usually hide such feelings from the "unwashed masses" for obvious reasons. But, here it is blatantly spelled out for you.
The ambassadors of France, Italy, and Spain attended the event [“Prospects and Opportunities for Postwar Growth in Lebanon and Syria” seminar], representing three major European nations that have considerable international influence. If anything, this reveals that there is clear European enthusiasm for a new phase in Syria that may be just on the horizon.
at
Labels: , ,