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World News and Trends: An Overview of Conditions Around the World
European Army or NATO?
Romano Prodi, nominated for president of the European Commission, has called
for the creation of a European army as the next logical step in Europe's integration.
Signor Prodi spoke of Europe being marginalized unless it possessed its own defense
forces rather than having to rely so heavily on the United States military.
The British government was shocked by Mr. Prodi's replies to an interview on the
BBC's On the Record. John Maples, Conservative Party spokesman on military
matters, was pointed in his rejoinder: ìThis is yet another step towards a European
state. The single currency, a single fiscal policy, a common foreign policy and joint
armed force constitute a state.î
In the wake of recent accidental bombings in Yugoslavia, some have suggested scrapping
NATO. Wrote British journalist Robert Fisk: ìAs a citizen of the new, modern Europe
. . . I don't want Europe to be 'protected' by the U.S. If that means the
end of the Atlantic Alliance, so be it . . . Until it is, Europe will never--ever--take
responsibility for itself or for the dictators that threaten our society . . .
Until NATO is dead, there will never be a real European defence force.î
The drive for European unity appears to be relentless. While Mr. Prodi spoke of achieving
an army separate from NATO, ìGermany's (minister for defense) Rudolph Scharping gave
a December 2000 deadline for the establishment of a rapid response infrastructure
that will end dependence on the U.S.,î reported Mr. Fisk.
Actually, NATO itself has already taken a significant step in the direction of such
an army. According to a Daily Mail report from Washington, ìNATO agreed to
make a huge chunk of its military capability available to the European Union to use
as it pleases when conflicts flare across the continent.î This decision was made
during NATO's 50th-anniversary celebration in the United States.
The British are nervous about these developments and say they feel seriously threatened
by the steady, unabated erosion of their national sovereignty. Leaders in the highest
echelons on the Continent have periodically spoken of a United States of Europe that
eventually would wield enormous powers over member states. (Sources: The Times
(London); The Daily Mail (London); The Independent (London).)
Universal Papal Authority
An Anglican and Roman Catholic joint commission has recognized the pope's
overall spiritual authority, depicting the pope as a ìgift to be received by all
churches.î
The archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. George Carey, commented: ìIn a world torn apart
by violence and division, Christians urgently need to speak with a common voice,
confident of the authority of the gospel of peace.î
After five years of intense debate, the commission published a 50-page paper. Its
conclusion, unsettling to some, was that ìonly the Pope has the moral authority to
unite the various Christian denominations.î Said the Anglican bishop of Arundel and
Brighton: ìThe primacy of the Pope is a gift to be shared.î (Source: Electronic
Telegraph (Britain).)
Golan Heights Now on Offer
According to The Sunday Times, Israel's prime minister - elect, Ehud
Barak, will push to offer Syria the Golan Heights in return for peace in an important
step ending 50 years of hostility between the Jewish state and the Arab world.
As a part of a proposed comprehensive peace settlement, Israel would insist on demilitarized
strips of land 15 miles wide on either side of the border, plus American and perhaps
European troops manning key points on the Golan itself. Mr. Barak also wants an Israeli
embassy in Damascus, along with full and friendly trade relations with Syria.
Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria during the Six Day War of June 1967.
An important question remains: Can Israel successfully trade territory for peace?
(Source: The Sunday Times (London).)
Heart Disease Still Kills
A tragic byproduct of overweight among Westerners is greater vulnerability
to heart disease. The American Heart Association (as reported in The American,
based in Britain) that the cost of heart disease is expected to cost Americans billions
of dollars in 1999 as people put on weight. ìHeart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure
and other cardiovascular diseases will cost the nation $274.2 billion, up 6 per cent
from $259.1 billion in 1997 . . .
ìHeart disease is the nation's number one cause of death . . . Overweight
or obese people are more likely to develop heart attacks and strokes even if they
have no other risk factors . . . In 1995, the most recent year for which
figures are available, 960,592 people died of cardiovascular diseases in the United
States, an increase of nearly 11,000 from 1994.î
Heart disease plagues Britain as well. According to Jenny Hope, medical correspondent
for The Daily Mail, heart disease remains Britain's biggest killer, accounting
for half of all deaths and costing 10 billion pounds a year. ìHalf of those deaths
could be prevented by a healthier lifestyle--such as cutting out smoking, eating
more fruits and vegetables and less fat, and taking more exercise.î (Sources: The
American; The Daily Mail (London).)
Scourge of War in the Sudan
Nearly two million civilians have died in the southern Sudan during a 15-year
war that has developed into the deadliest conflict since World War II. Said Robin
Winter, director of the U.S. Committee for Refugees: ìThis is greater than the combined
toll of civilian deaths in Bosnia, Kosovo, Rwanda and a number of other places . . .
But the international community seems not to be interested.î
The state of apathy exists partially because the Sudan government has had some success
sealing off the country from the prying eyes of journalists and aid agencies. (Source:
The Los Angeles Times.)
Forests in Jeopardy
A worldwide survey has revealed that ìthe world's forests are being stripped
of their rarest trees.î One in 12 species is in danger of extinction, and more than
7,000 individual tree varieties are at risk.
This is a man-made crisis brought about by environmental pollution and abuse. The
threat is worldwide, ranging from Mexico and Brazil across the Atlantic to Nigeria
and the Cameroon, up to Britain and then across to China.
The world is witnessing threats to fauna and flora. God gave man this beautiful earth
and told him to ìtend and keep it.î How pleased is He with our stewardship of this
majestic planet? (Source: The Sunday Times (London); Genesis 2:15.)
Fears Delay Plans to Eradicate Smallpox
The smallpox virus was slated to be the first species specifically targeted
for extinction. Had all gone well, in June it would have been eradicated as scheduled
had the United States and Russia destroyed their long-stored samples of the deadly
virus.
However, fearing its possible use as a biological weapon by terrorists, the United
States announced it would delay its planned destruction of the virus based on intelligence
that the virus may have been secreted away in Iraq, North Korea and some areas of
the former Soviet Union.
Over the last few decades smallpox has virtually disappeared, except for what were
thought to be scattered samples kept for research. Scientists and physicians had
hoped all traces of the disease could be eradicated and looked forward to the extinction
of one of mankind's most deadly killers. But no one could guarantee that, had the
United States and Russia destroyed their samples, it wouldn't reappear in the hands
of terrorists or a rogue state.
Smallpox is believed to have taken more lives over the ages than any other infectious
disease. Some scientists estimate that in this century alone smallpox claimed up
to a half-billion lives, more than all other epidemics and wars put together. Historical
accounts indicate the disease has been around as long as 3,000 years.
Should the virus be used in war or a terrorist action, the number of deaths could
be staggering. Since most countries phased out vaccinations as the disease was driven
into submission, billions of people have no resistance to the disease.
Some liken our situation to that of some American Indians who, having no natural
resistance to the disease, were decimated when colonists and settlers inadvertently
brought the virus with them as they came into contact with the American natives.
In that sense, ìwe're all Indians,î noted Elizabeth Fenn, a smallpox historian at
George Washington University. ìWe're approaching 100 percent susceptibilityî to the
disease, she said.
Scientists have called for programs to develop a new vaccine to protect up to 100
million people vulnerable in the United States.
Jesus Christ predicted that ìpestilenceî--disease epidemics--would be a characteristic
of the time of unprecedented worldwide turmoil leading up to His return (Source:
The New York Times, Matthew 24:7,21-22.)
AIDS Increasing Among U.S. Seniors
Residents of retirement resorts are reporting a marked increase in AIDS. Infections
are especially high in Florida, where thousands of older Americans have flocked in
search of the good life. In Palm Beach 15 percent of new cases are among people over
50. A 63-year-old woman became HIV-positive after her recent divorce.
Age doesn't always equate to wisdom. Some mistakes reap much more serious consequences
than others.The Ten Commandments are for everyone, including senior citizens. No
age-group is exempt from God's laws. They constitute an invaluable code of conduct
designed for the benefit and protection of humankind. To learn more, please write
for our free booklet The Ten Commandments. (Source: The Times (London).)
© 1999-2022 United Church of God an International Association
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Keywords: AIDS European army Sudan forests in danger
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