Here is a translation of a talk given in Rome by the Pontifical Household preacher, Capuchin Father Cantalamessa, on historical research concerning Jesus.
The Holy See says that the eradication of poverty is a priority, for the benefit of rich and poor countries alike. Archbishop Tomasi said this recently at a session of the UN Economic and Social Council in Geneva. "Eradication of poverty is a moral engagement. The various religions and cultures see its achievement as a most important task that frees people from much suffering and marginalization, that helps them to live peacefully together, and that provides individuals and communities the freedom to protect their dignity and actively contribute to the common good."
(Zenit: Full text of speech)
It has hosted all the major figures on the world stage from the last 60 years. The Tutzing Protestant Academy recently celebrated its 60th birthday in style. Bavarian Premier Edmund Stoiber spoke about the history that had been made at Tutzing, citing the Social Democratic politician Egon Bahr, who 1963 formulated his thesis of "change through rapprochement" at Tutzing. "Here is an academic panel which thinks about new ideas," Stoiber said. "Ideas are produced that are indispensable is for a vigorous democracy." "There is no freer place than Tutzing," said the academy's director, Friedemann Greiner. "Here one can say everything, ask everything and through rigorous criticism find a solution."
It's back to Verdun. France and Germany can no longer share a currency, or an aviation industry for that matter. Reverting to historical patterns of behaviour, they are each embarking on policies that must lead to bitter conflict and endanger monetary union. "There can be little doubt: without further steps towards political union, the eurozone has little chance of survival." Undeniably true, but haven't Europe's tribes made it clear that they do no want a superstate?
Market chatter last week may well have been dominated by the US housing panic, but a less emotional analysis suggests that something very different was probably going on. In short, the strength of the euro will guarantee a serious downturn in the European economy, even if one is not already in the cards. The faster the euro now rises, the sooner the euro-pessimists will be proved right.
Are NATO's expressions of "regret" at Russia's moratorium on the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty, a Treaty ratified by Russia but not by NATO, a sign of hypocrisy – or stupidity? While the Russian Federation has constantly made offers to open doors of discussion and windows for dialogue, NATO has expanded to Russia´s threshold, built military bases on its doorstep and now plans to deploy a missile defence shield on its frontiers.
Turkey is in turmoil as the country prepares to vote this Sunday in abruptly called general elections. Europeans should wake up to the consequences, all unwelcome and some dangerous, of Turkey's sense of betrayal by those who should be its stalwart friends and allies.
Nobel peace laureate Shimon Peres was sworn in as Israel's president on Sunday and pledged to seize the opportunity to encourage long-delayed efforts to achieve a diplomatic resolution to conflict in the Middle East. Though the job is largely ceremonial, past presidents have had substantial influence in Israeli politics.
Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman said Iran strongly refuted allegations made by the US president about Iran's alleged interference in Iraq and Lebanon. Since the Americans cannot justify their failures, they try to raise such allegations to cover up their mistakes, he said.
The balance in the internal White House debate over Iran has shifted back in favour of military action before President Bush leaves office in 18 months, the Guardian has learned. The vice-president, Dick Cheney, has long favoured upping the threat of military action against Iran. He is being resisted by the secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, and the defence secretary, Robert Gates. "The red line is not in Iran. The red line is in Israel. If Israel is adamant it will attack, the US will have to take decisive action. The choices are: tell Israel no, let Israel do the job, or do the job yourself."
At President Bush's July 11 press conference a significant exchange took place that has received very little media attention. Edwin Chen, who writes for Bloomberg.com, asked Bush, "How hard is it for you to conduct the war without popular support? Do you ever have trouble balancing between doing what you think is the right thing and following the will of the majority of the public, which is the essence of democracy?" Bush's response was to emphasize the role of the military as a counterweight to public opinion. He outlined a concept of presidential power that upholds the military as a critical "constituency" rising above, and placed in opposition to, the American people.
Oil rose to $78 a barrel today, driven towards an all-time high by an influx of speculative fund money and tightening crude supplies from the North Sea. Speculative flows into commodities have also fuelled the run-up, driven in part by fears a rush by US refiners to produce enough gasoline this summer will leave the world's 2nd-biggest consumer short of heating fuel in the winter.
Oil ruled the 20th century; the shortage of oil will rule the 21st. The shortage of oil and natural gas, relative to demand, has already changed the balance of world power. Historians may well conclude that the US decision to invade Iraq was primarily motivated by the desire to gain physical control of Iraq's oil and to provide defence support to other Middle Eastern oil powers. Political motivations are always mixed, but oil is an essential national interest of the United States. The world is coming to the end of the age of oil, which produced its own technology, its balance of power, its own economy, its pattern of society.
Much of the time at work, you have nothing to do or are occupied with tedious busywork. How can you let your boss know that you are bored and feeling irrelevant?
When the sun goes down tonight (Monday), step outside and look west. You'll see Venus, Saturn and the bright star Regulus forming a trangle with the crescent Moon inside.
[WAR: Even though there was a crescent moon last evening-night, it didn't rule with the stars, nor was there any earthshine (sunshine + earthshine = new moon = new month). So tonight will be the first NIGHT of the 4th month, and tomorrow will be the first DAY of the 4th month.]
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