Information Related to "World News and Trends - July/August 2007"
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Severe drought grips parts of America
Reporting from Denver, Patrick O'Driscoll wrote in USA Today: "Drought, a fixture in much of the West for nearly a decade, now covers more than one third of the continental USA. And it's spreading. As summer starts, half the nation is either abnormally dry or in outright drought from prolonged lack of rain that could lead to water shortages, according to the U.S. drought monitor, a weekly index of conditions . . . Coast to coast the drought's effects are as varied as the landscape" (June 8, 2007).
America's second-largest freshwater lake, Okeechobee in Florida, is at a record low level due to the driest spring in the nation's Southeast since 1895. Drought has also hit hard in central and southern California. "Los Angeles residents were urged on Wednesday to take shorter showers [and] reduce lawn sprinklers . . . in a bid to cut water usage by 10 percent in the driest year on record . . . since rainfall records began 130 years ago" (USA Today, June 7, 2007).
From California and Arizona, drought conditions have reached their tentacles into 11 other Western states. Minnesota has also been experiencing its worst drought in 30 years. Of course, some areas of the nation, such as much of Texas and Oklahoma, are apparently recovering well from previously severe drought conditions.
Rising populations in the Southwest and Southeast require more water, not less. New Scientist reports that "for the past seven years, states in the Southwestern United States have been drying up. Rising temperatures, a decline in precipitation and an increasing population have combined to leave major water sources perilously low" (April 14, 2007). A study at Columbia University "suggests that the region is in the early stages of a profound climate shift" (ibid.).
The Bible clearly shows that God has ultimate control over the weather. The Hebrew prophet Amos cites God as saying: "I made it rain on one city, I withheld rain from another city. One part was rained upon, and where it did not rain the part withered" (Amos 4:7). God's purpose in withholding rain from ancient Israel was to encourage repentance, as shown by the context: "Yet you have not returned to Me" (verses 8-9).
Two important questions: Do these drought conditions, not only in America but also in Australia (followed by outbreaks of damaging flooding in the Land Down Under), have anything to do with God and His Word? Are certain ancient prophecies (in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28) directed towards the English-speaking peoples now beginning to be fulfilled in earnest?
In hopes of a widespread national repentance, is God gradually withdrawing His hand of blessing from the posterity of the patriarch Joseph? If you do not yet understand the true identity of the lost 10 tribes of Israel, request or download our free booklet . (Sources: USA Today, New Scientist.)
New Gaza reality: a dangerous Islamic mini-state
Hamas Islamic hardliners now dominate the Gaza Strip after a short and bloody showdown with Fatah, the rival Palestinian faction. Recall that Israel voluntarily left Gaza in 2005 and the next day Palestinians burned down four synagogues in abandoned Jewish settlements. Both Hamas and Fatah celebrated these travesties. Yet since Hamas won Palestinian legislative elections in January 2006, more than 600 Palestinians have died in fierce internecine warfare between the two factions.
The Hamas victors have arrogantly proclaimed a new era of Islamic rule in Gaza, overturning Fatah's more secular rule. The future looks bleak for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who, now effectively exiled to the West Bank, was forced to dissolve the government and weakly call for new elections. Hamastan appears to be the new reality in Gaza, with Fatah in control in the West Bank.
How will America and Israel deal with this new development? The International Herald Tribune reported: "For two years, the United States tried to choke off Hamas, the militant Islamic group that has been ascendant in Gaza and the West Bank, while throwing limited aid and support to Fatah" (June 15, 2007). Since Washington has designated Hamas a terrorist organization with which it will not negotiate, American options appear severely limited.
How Israel will react is another matter. If Hamas continues its cross-border rocket and other attacks against Israeli settlements, military intervention seems almost certain—especially since the Israelis will no longer be constrained by concerns about undermining the authority of President Abbas. The Road Map to Peace has acquired more delaying detours than ever. (Sources: International Herald Tribune, Financial Times.)
Jerusalem: Troubles in a united and yet a divided city
Four decades after the Six-Day War reunited Jerusalem, some in Israel still fondly call this historic city the "eternal, undivided capital." But others are now wondering if it is inevitable that the city will become politically divided yet again. One right-winger-turned-peace-activist even said that "we have to divide Jerusalem. We have to get rid of some of our syndromes; some of our dreams."
Jerusalem is not a popular place to live. It is Israel's poorest city economically. Most Israelis prefer residing in Tel Aviv, Haifa and other places along Israel's high-tech corridor. Current demographics and even its geography now trouble the ancient capital of King David.
Some 300,000 Jews have left Jerusalem since the Six-Day War. More than 17,000 left in 2006, offset somewhat by nearly 11,000 moving into the city. Demographers have estimated that the ratio of Jews to Arabs in the city will be 50-50 within 20 years. A long barrier both divides and surrounds Jerusalem. The network of checkpoints frustrates both Arabs and Jews. The city itself is often full of religious tension and strife. Its current plight reflects the biblical description of its spiritual condition in Revelation 11:8.
Yet in spite of all the past, present and future sufferings of this great city, we should never forget the sure hope behind these inspired words of King David: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6). They echo down its 3,000-year history. It is certain that David's prayer will be answered when Jesus Christ returns to make this great city the capital of the world. From there He will reign over all nations in a world of peace, purpose and plenty.
To understand Jerusalem's historic role, request or download our free booklet . (Source: Newsweek, June 4, 2007.)
Economic revival in Germany and EU
Since the mid-1990s Britain has been able to look across the English Channel and compare sluggish Continental economic growth with relatively good figures in the British Isles. But now, " Germany, Europe's largest economy, has staged a powerful recovery over the past 12 months. Business confidence is close to record highs, and the number of people out of work has fallen by an impressive 670,000 since the beginning of 2006" (The Guardian, May 27, 2007).
The news is mostly good in other Continental countries as well. For many years European nations have largely been characterized by high unemployment, economic stagnation and resistance to needed reforms. But Michael Heise, chief economist at Allianz and Dresdner Bank in Germany, has recently written: "The EU expansion [to 27 nations] has spurred on the 15 oldest members . . . to revamp and reshape their economies to meet the challenges of the global market place" (International Herald Tribune, June 12, 2007).
EU-wide growth is predicted to achieve a figure of 2.7 percent in 2007. Germany grew by 3.6 percent in this year's first quarter.
Heise assures us that "the revival of Western Europe is by no means a threat to the United States." Maybe not now, but Bible prophecy shows that a coming European-centered superpower will challenge the United States and for a time it will dominate the globe. For further information, request our free booklets and . (Sources: The Guardian, International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe.)
Earth's rare mineral resources running out?
Most people are somewhat familiar with the more common of the earth's mineral resources such as gold, silver, copper and aluminum. But what about rare resources such as platinum?
New Scientist magazine states that "it has been estimated that if all the 500 million vehicles in use today were re-equipped with fuel cells, operating losses would mean that all the world's sources of platinum would be exhausted in 15 years. Unlike oil or diamonds, there is no synthetic alternative" (May 26, 2007). Catalytic converters that control levels of exhaust pollutants are almost completely dependent on platinum.
Although accurately estimating both levels of current use and the availability of extractable reserves of precious metals is a somewhat tricky exercise, experts in the field are expressing understandable concern. Indium is another rare metal in short supply. It is used in large quantities in making LCDs for flat-screen television sets. Likewise tantalum, a rare metal required to manufacture compact electronic cell phones and the like, is becoming scarce.
Whether the marvels of a yet undiscovered new technology can alleviate these potential shortages in sufficient time remains to be seen. (Source: New Scientist.)
Potential trade war between America and China
USA Today reporter David Lynch writes: "After years of inconclusive skirmishing, trade tensions between the United States and China are about to intensify . . . On Capitol Hill, lawmakers from both [major political] parties have drafted legislation designed to punish China for trade practices they say violate the Asian giant's international commitments and leave American companies at a profound competitive disadvantage. A bilateral trade deficit that yawns wider with every year is fueling the push for action" (June 13, 2007, emphasis added throughout).
Warnings that such congressional action could backfire substantially came from respected bankers. After all, duties imposed on Chinese goods would immediately bring higher prices for the American consumer. A Shanghai newspaper, Jiefang Ribao, summed up the overall effect: "Once a trade war breaks out, it will be devastating for China and the United States."
Even if sensible restraint averts any negative economic repercussions, the problem of how to address America's huge trade imbalance with China remains. The first quarter of 2007 showed a nearly 20 percent increase in the imbalance over the previous year. Juggling finances between large nations and groups of nations in this supercompetitive world constitutes an ongoing worry for all concerned. (Source: USA Today.)
Superbug deaths increase greatly
In the United Kingdom, "a huge rise in deaths linked to the superbug MRSA [a staph germ] in just over a decade has been revealed in official figures" (The Sunday Telegraph, May 13, 2007).
A mere 51 cases in 1993 mushroomed to 1,629 in 2005, a 30-fold increase. This is most probably a very low estimate as most hospitals are very reluctant to assign MRSA as the cause of death, preferring to put forward any alternative explanation if remotely possible.
An earlier report in The Guardian (Feb. 23, 2007) listed 5,436 deaths from MRSA and another superbug called Clostridium difficile. Hospital health inspectors are currently urging greater priorities in patient safety.
Across the Atlantic in Chicago, "drug-resistant staph infections have spread to the urban poor, rising almost seven-fold in recent years in some Chicago neighborhoods" (Associated Press, May 28, 2007). Crowded conditions in public housing and jails apparently aid and abet this type of infection. Other American cities are experiencing similar increases in superbug infections.
The AP report suggests the following precautions: "To prevent staph's spread, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based sanitizer, keeping cuts clean and covered with a clean bandage until healed, avoiding contact with other people's wounds and bandages and avoiding shared personal items such as towels and razors." This is obviously plain and practical common-sense advice.
Further, we should all take responsibility for our own health by avoiding harmful addictions, maintaining a decent diet, exercising reasonably for our age bracket and keeping a sound mental attitude. For more detailed health advice based on biblical principles, consult our free booklets and (Sources: The Sunday Telegraph, The Guardian, Associated Press.)
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Keywords: drought Gaza Jerusalem Germany rare metals China staph germ MRSA
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