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Is the World Really Flat? Global Fuel, Food and Finance Crises

London, UK - 5th May 2008, 00:29 GMT

Dear ATCA Colleagues

[Please note that the views presented by individual contributors are not necessarily representative of the views of ATCA, which is neutral. ATCA conducts collective Socratic dialogue on global opportunities and threats.]

It has been a long march since Thomas Friedman declared the world to be flat. This thinking may have its boundary conditions, which are now being tested as the global fuel, food and finance crises loom ever larger. The idea that people are suddenly competing on an equal playing field internationally and within nations is incongruous with the harsh realities appearing in a number of countries and across a number of communities within the same country. The world does not appear to be flat to those without sufficient food in their stomach, much less fuel in their car than what they used to fill-up about a year ago, or the possibility of losing their home because they cannot keep up with their interest payments.

Look closely: far from being flat, the world economy is really characterised by growing disparities and tensions across regions manifest both within and without countries. Globalisation may well be a win-win in the Technicolor presentation of the world is flat but in the here and now, it is profoundly asymmetrical as many communities across many countries have hit insurmountable barriers in the last year or so associated with the soaring price of fuel, food and finance. In parallel, the phenomenon of devastating famine and flash floods owing to climate chaos is rendering "the world is flat" argument as more and more questionable by the day. If the world is flat, how do we take account of:

1. Climate chaos and environmental problems that threaten the world's communities across many countries?
2. The poor countries becoming poorer as they buy fuel and food for their requirements at 200% to 400% more than what they were paying not long ago.
3. Emerging technologies as guiding forces for the future with an endless array of ethical dilemmas?

[CONTINUES] [ATCA Membership]

[ENDS]

To reflect further on this, please click here and read views as well as respond directly within the online forum.

We welcome your thoughts, observations and views. Thank you.

Best wishes


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