What a week it’s been… Just when you thought it was time to head to the beach and relax during the hottest days of summer, the world bursts into flames! Following is a rundown of important stories making the news. Signs of the times? You decide.
Flooding in Pakistan More than 400 people dead in Pakistan flooding
Fires in Russia Deadly Russian Fires Scorch Thousands Of Acres
Oil spill in China China oil spill doubles in size, called ‘severe threat’
Oil spill in Michigan Pipeline spills oil into Michigan’s Kalamazoo River
U.S. President, Obama, appears on The View Obama appears on ‘The View’: A bit of TV history (much to the chagrin of US conservative pundits and possibly US Boy Scouts).
Saudi and Syrian leaders arrive in Lebanon to quell pending violence An Arab summit of the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Syria met in Beirut today for the first time in eight years amid rising concern that the Hariri assassination tribunal could indict key Hezbollah members.
Deadliest month in Afghanistan Six US soldiers were killed in bombing and insurgent attacks in Afghanistan’s volatile south, making July the deadliest month of the war for American forces, officers said Friday.
Controversial portions of Arizona immigration law struck down in US Courts A federal judge on Wednesday blocked the most contested provisions of Arizona’s new immigration law one day before they were to take effect, ratcheting up the legal and political debate over the increasingly divisive issue.
US pundits and bloggers stoke flames of racism with hate-speak disguised by a confusing blend of satire and sincerity Vigorous debate along with name-calling, denials, double-reverse denials, distortions, and distractions ensues.
90,000 Pentagon documents potentially damaging to the US War on Afghanistan leaked The reports, while written by soldiers and intelligence officers, and mainly describing lethal military actions involving the United States military, also include intelligence information, reports of meetings with political figures, and related details.
US economy slowed sharply in second quarter The nation’s measure of economic growth shows a modest 2.4% gain in spring, compared to a 3.7% rise earlier in the year, more evidence the fragile recovery is losing steam, a Commerce Department report says.
SD hailstone is largest on record in US A giant chunk of hail that plunged into the prairie town of Vivian, S.D., last Friday was confirmed today as the heaviest hailstone ever recorded in the United States.
UN panel slams Israel on human rights A United Nations panel of experts has raised concerns about alleged Israeli discrimination against Palestinians, demanding Israel stop targeted killings and alleged torture.
Sadly, these are – for the most part – headlines pertinent only to Friday, July 30, 2010. Looking at the bigger picture over the past week will take me a bit longer than time for this post allows. Please bear with me.
So… is the sky truly falling (in bigger chunks than ever before!) as a week’s worth of bad headlines would suggest? Possibly. But, the media isn’t the only story. Neither are the actions and words of the so-called leaders in governments around the world. There are (and have always been) other forces at play, too.
And what of these other forces? Forces as powerful as media and government. One, two, three… wait and see.
