Global Wealth

The 99% complaint about the 1% is becoming real.

According to a report of anti-poverty charity Oxfam International, by next year, 1% of the world population will own more than 50% of the wealth in the whole world. The combined wealth of the 99% will be less than the combined wealth of the 1%.

1% of the world population will own more wealth than the rest of 99%. Something is wrong about this reality. What do you think?

Ted Harrison

In the news, Ted Harrison passed away January 16, 2015 at the age of 88 in Victoria B.C., Canada. He is a renowned Canadian painter most famous for his paintings and  love of the Yukon, its nature, people and animals. His art work has his own distinct style of beautiful child-like charm.

Ted Harrison was born in England, and had worked and lived in different places, including India, East Africa, Malaysia, New Zealand and Canada (in Carcross and Whitehorse of Yukon, then retired in Victoria). He designed the art work of the Yukon Pavilion at the 1986 World Expo in Vancouver B.C. He had won different awards and honorary Doctor's degrees, and  was made a member of the Order of Canada in 1987. I met Ted and his wife Nicky many times at his home and work studio in Whitehorse. RIP Ted Harrison !

Unity Rally In Paris

Je suis Charlie. Où est Obama?

Unity ? The world leaders were not even with the crowds. They only had a Photo Op holding hands at a separate location. A good number of these world leaders showed support to freedom of speech in France, while banning or censoring free speech in their own countries, even harassing journalists and putting them to jail.

This is my guess why Obama did not attend this so-called Unity March: 

The world of Islam is huge. There are billions of Muslims just as there are billions of Christians in this world. The Muslim World is not only one small country like North Korea that Obama could easily pick on. Obama himself has a Muslim family background and spent some childhood years living in Indonesia, the country with a very large Muslim population. Some people even believe that Obama is a closet Muslim, although he claims that he is a Christian. 

The point I want to make is this: Obama understands that one may not create an image or picture of Mohammed, the Muslims' prophet. While freedom of speech is a fundamental right available in most countries in the West, creating an image or picture of prophet Mohammed is an unforgivable blasphemy to the Muslims. Obama is not a stupid man. I believe he decided not to attend the rally. Had he gone to attend the freedom of speech rally in Paris, that would have offended the Muslim world, and be seen taking side with France and the West against Islam and  the Muslims in the world. Instead, he just sent his spokesperson to issue sort of an apology or excuse afterwards. Well, it is only my guess. 

All said, it is my opinion that all violence, killing, war and terrorism are wrong. Love and Peace are always right. Unfortunately, in the name of God, Religion, Democracy, Nationalism, or Whatever, some people would justify the use of violence, killing, war and terrorism. And then some others who are against terrorism are ironically terrorists themselves. Oh, so much hypocrisy, so much failure ! Yes, we still live in a messy and 'uncivilized' world ! What do you think ? 

Korea

In the news,  there are hints that South Korea and North Korea are willing to talk some time this year.

These are my thoughts and comments:

Political unification of the 2 Koreas, soon, may be too much to ask for at this time, but any peaceful talk to improve relationship is better than refusing to talk and threatening each other.

South Korea: if you want to fight with the North, make sure you have Uncle Sam to support you. If you want peace, you don't need the U.S. China is not Japan.There is no need to be afraid of China. China doesn't want to fight or colonize you as Japan did in the past. China only wants to have peace and make deals with every nation on earth, to improve the life of its people, and contribute to the security and balance of power in the world. 

North Korea: it's time to open up and improve your relationship with South Korea and the life of your countrymen. Give Peace a Chance !!!

U.S. Sanction Against Russia

U.S. sanction against Russia, and probably also the dropping of oil prices, got to be an economic, geopolitical and currency war of the U.S. against Russia.

Does sanction work? Yes and No, if you ask Obama. For Cuba, with whom the U.S. has just re-established diplomatic relationship, Obama said No. For Russia, Obama said Yes. If it didn't work on small Cuba, having been proved for more than 50 years, how would it be possible to work and hurt big Russia ? Mr. President Obama, please tell us ! 

U.S. sanction would hurt Russia and make it difficult for Putin for a while, yes, but not for a long time. It won't take 50 years or more, like in the case of Cuba, to find out. We'll wait and see. 

Sanction, in my opinion, largely hurts only the people - your own people, those of your allies, and those of the sanctioned country you try to hurt, but not so much the elites and governments in power. 

U.S. sanction against Russia has pushed Russia even closer to China. It hurts not only Russia, but also Europeans who do business with Russia. Maybe Germany, France and a few other European countries didn't really like the sanction against Russia, but wouldn't dare not to "obey" Uncle Sam, being under political pressure to follow.