by Alex Evans | Jun 4, 2009 | Climate and resource scarcity, Economics and development, Global system
Mild surprise has been heard in various quarters that the next G20 summit – scheduled for 24-25 September – is to be held in Pittsburgh, rather than in New York (more logical, given that the G20 will take place right in the middle of the first week of the UN General Assembly) or Washington DC. Take for example this transcript of a press conference by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibb last week:
MR. GIBBS: One quick announcement before we get started. The United States will host the next G20 summit, September 24th through the 25th, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Q Where?
Q What?
Here’s the answer to the ‘Why Pittsburgh?’ question, taken from a White House statement quoted in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pittsburgh has demonstrated a commitment to employing new and green technology to further economic recovery and development.
Yarone Zober, the Pittsburgh Mayor’s chief of staff, echoes the point in the same article:
Pittsburgh has really been a model for an economic turnaround,” he said, noting the smokestacks-to-knowledge transformation of the regional economy and the development of environmentally friendly “green” job sectors.
More on Pittsburgh’s turnaround in this Huffington Post piece.
As I noted back in April, the London Summit was a respectable outcome, but fell disappointingly short on the green new deal front. But with this backdrop, and an agenda that for now still remains wide open, maybe – maybe – the September summit will do better.
by Mark Weston | Jun 4, 2009 | Africa, Conflict and security
Edwin Dyer
Back in February, I gave a talk on security in West Africa at a Demos leadership masterclass on International Security and Counter-Terrorism. Yesterday came news that Al Qaeda’s African arm had killed a British hostage, Edwin Dyer, whom they captured in Niger in January (they killed him in neighbouring Mali). In my talk, I predicted that the security threat from West Africa might be more of a long-term problem for Europe, but that it was one that was worth monitoring in the short-term too. It seems the threat might be more immediate than I feared. The talk is available here.
by Richard Gowan | Jun 3, 2009 | Global system, Off topic
It’s summer and that means cocktails! I’ve been searching for a tipple that reflects the cosmopolitan character of Global Dashboard (excluding, of course, the Cosmopolitan) and think we may have to plump for the World Traveler (sic) a new concotion from The Intoxocologist. I’m assuming that this isn’t a tribute to British Airways economy class seating, but instead a summation of international cooperation in a glass, mixing vodka, sake an, er, “Navan” (it’s from Madagascar):
Flavors from around the globe come together dramatically for the World Traveler. Deep spice mingles together with just the ideal hint of vanilla. A splash of sparkling sake takes beautiful to exquisite in a way champagne could not. Zipang Sparkling Sake maintains perfect balance with its light rice sweetness.
Actually, that could be vile. Let us know!
1 ounce Cielo Reposado Tequila
1 ounce Van Gogh Pomegranate Vodka
1/4 ounce NAVAN
1/2 ounce Fresh Lemon Juice
1/4 ounce Agave Nectar
1-1/2 ounce Zipang Sparkling Sake
Lemon Twist Garnish
Combine all ingredients (except sake and garnish) in a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake for fifteen seconds. Strain into a martini glass. Top off with Zipang Sparkling Sake. Garnish with lemon twist.
by Andrew Pickering | Jun 3, 2009 | Africa, Economics and development
Here in Britain, the fallout from recent revelations about MPs’ expenses continues. Meanwhile, it seems that World Bank officials have been up to similar tricks. Admittedly we cynics may scoff at their lack of imagination – after all, they haven’t been buying birdhouses or maintaining their moats with public funds. But Peter Bosshard at International Rivers, reviewing a book by former Bank staffer Steve Berkman, highlights some dubious claims all the same (hat tip: Bretton Woods Project). Berkman’s book:
reports how Nigerian officials charged $2,200 for 18 cups of tea and snacks at a roadside stall under a World Bank loan (and got away with it). A project office with eight staff in the same country charged a switchboard for 60 telephones, 48 air conditioners, 14 shredders and 12 refrigerators to the operating expenses of another Bank project – all at prices well above the going market rates. They also claimed expenses for television and video sets at 249,999 Naira apiece – more than ten times the equipment’s street value, but just one Naira less than the amount which triggers stricter controls.
Few will be surprised to hear about World Bank money disappearing – Berkman quotes an internal report which found that ‘stealing from Bank funds is the rule, not the exception’. But all the same (and perhaps I’m being naïve), one would have thought that World Bank employees would have enough problems with the endemic low-level fraud that their organisation is known for, without contributing to it themselves. Of course, unlike British parliamentarians, World Bank officials aren’t politicians and being insulated by their institution, will never have to face the wrath of the public.
by Peter Hodge | Jun 2, 2009 | Conflict and security, East Asia and Pacific
Oh dear, what has Robert D Kaplan been smoking? Here he is writing about Kim Jong-il, North Korea’s recent aggressive actions and the strategic situation in North Asia…
“And so Kim lives in dread of the Chinese slowly, methodically undermining his regime in a way that will lead to him being replaced—in a palace coup, perhaps—without the implosion of the North Korean state.
His only hope is to draw America into direct talks, with Washington implicitly recognizing his regime, so that he can leverage Washington against Beijing. Nuclear tests and missile launches are his own warped way of trying to get the attention of the new Obama Administration. He needs to be enough of a problem that Washington will have no choice but to deal with him directly, rather than merely as one party among several in the multilateral talks that have characterized negotiations with North Korea since 2003.”
Two issues here.
Firstly, how the hell does Kaplan know what Kim thinks? Reclusive tyrant, secretive society – enough said.
Secondly, the notion that Kim’s trying to snuggle up to the Americans by threatening war seems contrived. Another explanation that’s been bandied about, that Kim’s acting tough as part of a plan to ensure the succession of youngest son Kim Jong Un, also sounds fanciful. With both explanations, it’s hard to see the connection between (a) diplomatic manoeuvre / internal succession issue and (b) firing test missiles, detonating a nuclear device and threatening war.
Here’s a simpler interpretation of North Korea’s actions. Kim and his generals live in a militarized, tightly controlled and isolated society. They’re conditioned to see the outside world through a thick ideological lens. This includes the belief that all foreign powers are implacably hostile to the regime’s interests. Displays of aggression, to scare off enemies, are standard reactions when North Korea feels threatened.
In this case, just what the threats are – real or perceived – is anyone’s guess.
