[N Say]

<strong>Written By:</strong> N Say
<strong>Date:</strong> 2007-12-29 18:19:25
<a href="/article/114021245-from-hyperpower-to-new-world-disorder">Article Link</a>

It became more apparent than ever this year that the U.S. is no longer the world's lone superpower. Instead, there are five superpowers that will define the world for at least the next half-century: the U.S., Chinam, India, Russia and a united Europe.

The news came home to Americans on Main St. from tainted Chinese products to the fact that practically every toy sold in America comes from Red China. Boston seniors on group tours of the great capitals of Europe were humbled to discover that their greenbacks had shrivelled in value to 60 per cent of the local currency. And New Yorkers were taken aback that the credit crisis arising from cascading defaults on U.S. subprime mortgages had so weakened the balance sheets of leading financial institutions in the Big Apple that the likes of Citigroup and Merrill Lynch had sought bailouts from state-owned investment funds in Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

Canadians felt it, too, in a 15 per cent gain against the greenback.

That America was not in charge in Iraq was widely known for some time. That American global hegemony had severely dissipated was news. Nor was it of the passing variety, like the 1970s U.S. economic "stagflation" that inflated the German and Swiss currencies; or the Japanese boom a decade later in which Tokyo parking spots fetched $90,000.

This was different. Mandarins in Brussels now passed judgment on merger proposals between American companies, not hesitating to block them on antitrust grounds. Chinese oil interests in Sudan made Beijing intransigent about Western meddling in Darfur. Russia wouldn't abide Washington's sanctions on Iran. India insisted upon, and received, U.S. support of its nuclear arms program despite predictable outrage from Pakistan, a key U.S. ally in the pursuit of Al Qaeda. It was either that or have New Dehli turn to the Russians. To an unprecedented degree, decisions affecting America were being made elsewhere. A mere 16 years after attaining its lone-superpower status, the crown had slipped, and America's destiny is now shaped by a new world disorder of five superpowers.

<a href="http://www.thestar.com/article/289353">http://www.thestar.com/article/289353</a>

[N Say]

Multilateralism gains momentum amid new developments in world relations, economic growth <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.chinaview.cn">www.chinaview.cn</a> 2007-12-30 08:29:58<br />
<br />
BEIJING, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- As the United States toned down its unilateral rhetoric over world affairs, the influence of other major powers and developing nations grew in 2007, in a context of robust economic growth in the world and a gathering momentum for troubleshooting and a sustainable future. <br />
<br />
Although the Bush administration continues to pursue its strategic goal to dominate world affairs, it no longer does so without constraints, observers here said. U.S. unilateral policy has met with resistance over many issues, including Iraq, Afghanistan, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, nuclear non-proliferation and counterterrorism. <br />
<br />
Russia, on the other hand, is flexing its muscles. President Vladimir Putin has made no secret of Russia's opposition to U.S. unilateralism. <br />
<br />
Putin openly slammed Washington's unilateral approach and missile defense plans in Eastern Europe at a high-profile security conference in Munich, Germany, in February. <br />
<br />
In recent months, Russia's air force has resumed long-distance patrol flights by its strategic bombers, suspended following the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the navy has resumed the deployment of naval vessels in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. <br />
<br />
In a move widely seen as a response to U.S. plans to build missile defense facilities in Eastern Europe, Russia withdrew from the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty. <br />
<br />
At the same time, the European Union (EU) has seen its influence on the international stage grow. The 27-member bloc moved a step forward in political integration by signing the landmark Lisbon Treaty, which replaces the defunct EU constitution. <br />
<br />
"By resolving its institutional matters, Europe is readying itself to address global problems," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said at the signing ceremony of the treaty in Lisbon. <br />
<br />
And with growing strength, developing nations have an increasingly bigger say in world affairs. In particular, China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico grew in influence this year. <br />
<br />
In Asia, leaders of the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) approved the ASEAN Charter, which will transform ASEAN into a more effective, rules-based and rules-bound organization and pave the way for closer integration. <br />
<br />
While African leaders stressed the "need to accelerate the economic and political integration of the African continent" in the Accra Declaration issued at the end of an African Union summit, Latin American leaders called for the democratization of international organizations and the promotion of multilateralism at a Rio Group summit. <br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
much more here:<br />
<a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/30/content_7339480.htm">http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/30/content_7339480.htm</a><p>---<br>"George Bush has declared the war on terrorism to be the cause of his generation. The cause of Canadian sovereignty will be ours." - John Godfrey, MP for Don Va

[N Say]

Chinese, ASEAN cities to increase co-op <br />
<br />
Business leaders and representatives from China and some members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Saturday vowed to forge close strategic ties among urban chambers of commerce and enhance economic cooperation and development. <br />
<br />
That was the consensus reached by more than 600 members of the business communities of cities in China and nine of the 10 members of ASEAN. <br />
<br />
The participants came to Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, to attend a forum on economic cooperation and development of chambers of commerce. <br />
<br />
Under the consensus, the participants agreed to abide by the principle of reciprocity and provide each other with services and conveniences, such as establishing representative agencies. <br />
<br />
They agreed to set up a Sino-ASEAN federation of chambers of commerce, with the secretariat to be located in Nanning, and to create a special organization in charge of preparations for the proposed federation. <br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.china.org.cn/english/business/237611.htm">http://www.china.org.cn/english/business/237611.htm</a><p>---<br>"George Bush has declared the war on terrorism to be the cause of his generation. The cause of Canadian sovereignty will be ours." - John Godfrey, MP for Don Va

[MrPrax]

<p>from a Chinese Fortune cookie in a proverbial Chinese factory... <p>!!!!I am Stuck for a Golden Idea and trying to Write Portal Content over the Long Xmas Weekend is a Drag Big Time Chief...Please Help!!! <p><ul>"Plainly, the U.S. has failed to lead on climate change; genocide; nuclear proliferation; human rights; and the other most pressing global concerns for so long it has effectively ceded its claim to the "benign hegemony" that still shapes America's regard of its impact on the world."</ul> <p><ul>"With strikingly little notice, David Walker, head of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of the U.S. Congress, spoke in August about disturbing parallels between today's America and the decline of the Roman Empire. Among the similarities Walker cited were "declining values and political civility at home, an overconfident and overextended military in foreign lands, and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government."</ul> <p>Why would the GAO head compare the US with Ancient Rome? <p> ...why not Nazi Germany from the last century? <p>or lately... <p>Plainly, a very polite Canadian Op-Ed that plainly reflects the relationship between outer space called 'news' in this country and reality.

[rearguard]

"... to the fact that practically every toy sold in America comes from Red China."

First, we take over ALL your TOYS - then we take over the WORLD! Muhahahahah!

[Diogenes]

"... to the fact that practically every toy sold in America comes from Red China."<br />
While you were sleeping? springs to mind as a retort<br />
All within Lex Mercatoria<br />
<a href="http://www.jus.uio.no/lm/">http://www.jus.uio.no/lm/</a><br />
<br />
Red China/Red Herring Its all the same to me.<br />
<br />
Gimme what ya stole at to-days prices <br />
<br />
By the time we get to discuss it its monday morning quarterbacking <p>---<br>"When I tell the truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those that do."<br />
<br />
William Blake<br />
<br />

[rearguard]

"Why would the GAO head compare the US with Ancient Rome?"

Rome was able to survive for 500 years so there's no comparison there, but they did rape and pillage other lands, and towards the end they degenerated into enjoying some very twisted forms of entertainment, and they repeatedly selected very bad sadistic leaders, and they had an amazingly simplistic and warped understanding of who their enemies were ... so there's at least some resemblance, no?

[RPW]

<blockquote> but they did rape and pillage other lands </blockquote> They DID however, offer citizenship, and did not leave devestation behind..............<p>---<br>"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." <br />
-Max Planck<br />
<br />

[rearguard]

True. Roman "reconstruction" actually amounted to something far greater than what had been destroyed. US "reconstruction" is more like stagnation and rot.

[MrPrax]

Well I don't normally take lecture notes from government accountants and their take on history...I have however been to DC and can't help but think, that it's all that 'aura energy' from those self-aggrandizing fake Roman buildings the chumps built (and re-built coz we burned them!) that might be sending 'tard-o' vibes to the old fool.

If not the Nazis from the last century -- how about the next natural comparison...the British Empire which established 'America' whether 'Americans' like it or not. Nawh...that wouldn't fit the American 'narrative'.

Next possible logical comparison that might be in the realm of reality for Caesar's ghost could have been the French Empire-- they had a revolution too, they're white too, they had a guy try to take over the world to give it good 'republican' freedom to shed the light of reasons blah blah, they were also Christian and fancy themselves defenders of the faith, blah blah blah, they have reactionaries, a large Jewish population, coloured folks who used to be slaves, introduced labor-saving devices to the world (the modern tie and the guillotine!), world famous foods (the croissant which is actually German, just like the begal is actually Lebanese or the Pizza is Mediterranean) etc etc...the comparisons never end between the French and Americans...including their overwhelming sense of self-importance.

...and only if the head of the GAO had receive a real education instead of whatever fit his schedule at Regent or ORU.

[rearguard]

"...and only if the head of the GAO had receive a real education instead of whatever fit his schedule at Regent or ORU."

Look, there's the American citizen, and everyone else are barbarians, what more education do you need than that?

... well some American citizens are barbarians, but they were imported barbarians who breed to much - damn those bleeding heart lefty's. OK, so there's also millions of other barbarians, but they are illegals who are allowed in because they do maid service and other menial tasks.

[Diogenes]

Apropos of zip
"Per-capita income in China is less than 1/10 of America's and its per-capita greenhouse gas emission is less than 1/5 of ours. But if 1.3 billion Chinese were to consume at the level Americans do, we'd need several more Earths. China's effect on world resources, quantified:



China is :


* The world's largest consumer of coal, grain, fertilizer, cell phones, refrigerators, and televisions
* The leading importer of iron ore, steel, copper, tin, zinc, aluminum, and nickel
* The top producer of coal, steel, cement, and 10 kinds of metal
* The No. 1 importer of illegally logged wood
* The third-largest producer of cars after Japan and the United States; by 2015, it could be the world's largest car producer. By 2020, there could be 130 million cars on its roads, compared to 33 million now.


More Facts:


* China produces half of the world's cameras, 1/3 of its television sets, and 1/3 of all the planet's garbage.
* There are towns in China that make 60% of the world's button supply, 1/2 of all silk neckties, and 1/2 of all fireworks.
* China uses half of the world's steel and concrete and will probably construct half of the world's new buildings over the next decade.
* Some Chinese factories can fit as many as 200,000 workers.
* China used 2.5 billion tons of coal in 2006, more than the next three highest-consuming nations-Russia, India, and the United States-combined.
* It has more than 2,000 coal-fired power plants and puts a new one into operation every 4 to 7 days.
* Between 2003 and 2006, worldwide coal consumption increased as much as it did in the 23 years before that. China was responsible for 90% of the
increase.
* China became the world's top carbon dioxide emitter in 2006, overtaking the United States.
* Russia is China's largest timber supplier; half of all logging there is illegal. In Indonesia, another timber supplier to China, up to 80% of all logging takes place illegally.
* 90% of all wood products made in China are consumed in the country, including 45 billion pairs of wooden chopsticks each year.
* The value of China's timber-product exports exceeds $17 billion. About 40 percent go to the United States.
* More than 3/4 of China's forests have disappeared; 1/4 of the country's land mass is now desert.
* Until recently, China was losing a Rhode Island-sized parcel of land to desertification each year.
* 80% of the Himalayan glaciers that feed Chinese rivers could melt by 2035.
* In 2005, China's sulfur-dioxide emissions were nearly twice those of the United States.
* Acid rain caused by air pollution now affects 1/3 of China's land.
* Each year, at least 400,000 Chinese die prematurely of air-pollution- linked respiratory illnesses or diseases.
* A quarter of a million people die because of motor-vehicle traffic each year-6 times as many as in the United States, even though Americans have 18
times as many cars.
* Of the world's 20 most polluted cities, 16 are in China.
* Half of China's population-600 to 700 million people-drinks water contaminated with human and animal waste. A billion tons of untreated sewage is dumped into the Yangtze each year.
* 4/5 of China's rivers are too polluted to support fish.
* The Mi Yun reservoir, Beijing's last remaining reliable source of drinking water, has dropped more than 50 feet since 1993.
* Overuse of groundwater has caused land subsidence that cost Shanghai alone $12.9 billion in economic losses.
* Dust storms used to occur once a year. Now, they happen at least 20 times a year.
* Chinese dust storms can cause haziness and boost particulate matter in the United States, all the way over to Maine.
* In 2001, a huge Chinese storm dumped 50,000 metric tons of dust on the United States. That's 2.5 times as much as what U.S. sources produce in a typical day.
* Currently, up to 36 percent of man-made mercury emissions settling on America originated in Asia.
* Particulate matter from Asia accounts for nearly half of California's annual pollution limit.
* Environmental damage reportedly costs China 10 percent of its GDP. Pollution-related death and disability heath care costs alone are estimated at up to 4 percent of GDP.
* In 2005, there were 50,000 pollution-related disputes and protests in China.
* China's middle class is expected to jump from 100 million people today to 700 million people by 2020.
------------
These statistics are drawn from "The Last Empire: Can the world survive China's rush to emulate the American way of life?" in the current issue of Mother Jones.


---
"When I tell the truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those that do."

William Blake