Is the first world – or what today is referred to as the developed world – really prepared to share decision-making power with the second and third worlds? If Sunday’s summit meeting in Washington did nothing else substantial, at least it seems to have convinced some people in the world’s up and coming nations that the answer to that question is yes.
Kennedy Alencar of Brazil’s Folha writes in part:
“The current financial crisis appears to be the departure point for a more multilateral world, something that had nearly been forgotten. To put it simply: the rich world has given the signal that it will benefit if it begins to listen to the emerging world.”
“Brazil has a rather important role. The country should use energy and environmental issues to raise its voice in global decision-making – the first issue of which should be forceful action to freeze the Amazon [rainforest] at its current size. And the entire world should contribute to the cost of maintaining the largest tropical forest reserve on the planet. ”
By Kennedy Alencar
Translated By Brandi Miller
November 16, 2008
Brazil – Folha- Original Article (Portuguese)
A word of caution must be said. This was a first meeting organized by a weak leader that will soon leave the scene – George W. Bush. Everyone was full of good intentions. And we know that real life is more complicated – especially the world financial market in these times of globalization.
The objective of overseeing the planet’s financial market is very ambitious – and no one knows exactly how to do it or if carrying out this type of regulation will improve the situation.
But that was the goal of this meeting in Washington. For the first time, the heads of state from the G-20 got together. The group is composed of the 20 largest economies in the world, representing 85 percent of the planet’s wealth. Spain and Holland will enlarge the next meeting, transforming the group into the G-22.
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, your most trusted translator and aggregator of foreign news about our nation.
Founder and Managing Editor of Worldmeets.US