(web picture)
Syria is a small country which might, God forbid, become the cradle of a big disaster called World War 3.
Those who think, how noble on the part of Europe to open its gates to syrian refugees - think again. It would have been more noble if Europe had done something real to restore the order in Syria, and thus prevent the flood of refugees which is bad for all parties: Europe feels 'invaded" by people of another religion and mentality, the syrian refugees , unrooted from their natural environment, are planted in places where they'll loose their identity and dignity, becoming second-hand citizens for life.
Putin is trying now to do something about restoring that order. It's a bit late, but better late than never, as they say. His chances to succeed , that's entirely another matter. He's not alone, the iranians are there too; their main concern is to consolidate Assad's regime, and so, bring some kind of stability to the region where they also do have interests of their own.
It might work , if the americans won't interfere. It is the americans who have started the whole thing with the "arab spring' concept, and the naive demand for democracy to replace the heads of Mubarak, Khaddafi, Assad - the result being total chaos followed by the appearance in the area of the new, barbaric player called Daesh.
My guess is that Obama ,won't leave office in 2016 without first bringing about an armed conflict with Russia , conflict which might eventually escalate into a world war. The clash has started with the sanctions imposed on Russia over Ukraine dispute, and is now going on with the russians' effort to save Assad which is not what the americans want. I can only hope my guess turns out to be wrong.
Anyway, as an israeli, I don't trust any of the above (russians, americans, certainly not iranians)). We'll just have to wait and see how things evolve.
(web picture)
I like to visit islands but I'm not sure if I would like to live on one of them. Islands are small and completely surrounded by water whereas I prefer land. Land gives one the feeling of more stability.
More stability does not necessarily mean more security. I live in a country which has the sea on one side and land on all its other sides, but this land is unfriendly, to say the least. So, I feel like living on an island from the transport point of view (to the outer world -by sea and air only), but it's worse than living on an island from other points of view: lack of peace - conflicts and wars with hostile neighboring countries.
Anyway, islands are being marketed to the tourist as little paradises. Many people with money buy a vacation house on the island of their choice. I once met a nice german woman who possesed such a house on a greek island. I sometimes found myself thinking about her and and her property with worry, because of the anti-german sentiments in Greece of the last years as a result of austerity measures imposed on the latter by the EU.
Now it sems the situation is quiet; until...next time when Greece needs a bailout.
Well, nothing is without some risk in this world.
(Web picture)
The other day I bumped into a beggar, not the usual type of beggar . It was a young woman holding in her left hand a plastic jar for coins, and in her right hand a ...smartphone for keeping her company during her sitting (on a chair) and waiting for the coins to come.
That made me think.
I know some families that are clients of the welfare authorities, and not only do they have smartphones but also cars, airconditioners, and other items that are not exactly considered basics.
The above reminded me of an article I once read. According to that article the task of social welfare nowadays is not only to assure a minimum of living to everyone, but also to seek some sort of equality .
Well, the world is certainly changing. We live in a society of tremenduous gaps, and this is a very explosive situation that has to be dealt with one way or another .
