I am one of you. We are all the same. I'm talking about the spirit, not the embodiment.
This, by the way is an edited version that the PsyOps guys messed up a while back...
I'm going to append and edit it, and include some very important notes to individuals and
organizations at the bottom.
Please keep in mind, all web pages that I can organize - now and later when I get
a webmaster - will be published even if I have to put asecurity system to handle people
over 18 only... And, if anyone believes this is extortion, I invite you to contact
authorities and report it.
Meanwhile, you want a display of executive abilities, you got it. That, and the world
you've always wanted. God really does work in mysterious ways, and my faith in Him is the
greatest audacity of all. I look forward to the signs to come.
I have a lot to say, and have spent hours considering what is the appropriate thing to
say, and I think that my top 10 list says a great deal unto itself. I will say that I am
quite saddened by what is occurring in the Holy Lands... I am accelerating what I am doing
solely because of this situation. I have contacted Rabbi Lerner, and have been in contact
with an organization in Hebron who sought my guidance - which I offered - about a
conference to be held there at a later date which I insist on being a part of.
I will add that I am also being impeded by individuals who I have to assume are
affiliated with the U.S. government, and, because of what I am proposing, I have to
assume that is true. Which reminds me, please allow me to receive and send email without
impedance because that is my right. I will be making a formal report to the FBI regarding
the internet fraud and other matters which I want to have placed on record.
As for the perpetrators, I find that odd. 53 years of kicking my butt around, and they
don't know me. They're afraid of me. But the truth that I know is that they fear
themselves, and what they know is the difference between right and wrong, and knowing what
they would do if someone did what they've done.
I know I'm rambling a bit, but bear with me, because we are creating the future right
now. Which makes me think of the song that just started playing, by the man looking for a
heart of gold. Neil Young, that's for expressing and singing this to me now. Almost got to
the back door with JJ... anyway... Only Love Can Break Your Heart... I hope it will send the message of
why I care so much about this nation and the cosmos.
I want to tell you, there's music playing in my head to exemplify every statement I'm
making to you now. That's all fun, useful and necessary. But I look at the world and know
that this is the time. Period. And I'm not going to play laughter and deflection games
with you. I'm going to play a few songs, and I want your promise that you will listen to
each one I put particularly in this section, and try not to read on before really
listening to each word. Like Father & Son by Cat Stevens, who I will
call upon to join me in the Holy Lands, whether they were written about me or to me or to
an imaginary lover or whatever, they are for me because they speak to my heart and more
than that, they will reveal who I am in the most succinct, eloquent and beautiful ways I
can imagine. That's why Charlie's Angels are here.
I used to sit in my dad's workshop and look at all the stuff I wasn't supposed to see,
the American Greeting cards he never sold, the Mason shoes of plastic that no one wore...
but mostly, I'd look at the little cards with all the cliches on them that I figured must
have come from his Navy background.. if any of that's the truth... the boy in the bubble
can hold thousands of realities at once and as soon as I see some verifiable facts, the
corner will be turned.
I know I'm sitting here with a few tool boxes full of cool tools that I mostly refuse
to use because I'm not going to screw things up by playing around with unsafe power
tools... unless I have to. I've already begged you to not make me do that. I've laid here
and taken a licking year after year after year and have had one request: peace. Oh you can
say all sorts of things I've said are threats but they were the promises that you were
demanding be kept.
I'm told I don't have to say any of these things. I'm saying I do because some people
think that I'm walking in with a big stick. Others think I don't know what the term
defensive use of force means. I was educated by someone who was a 4-star Colonel Kasum who
mentored me in the Model United Nations representing the Central African Republic at
Berkeley in '72 I think. He told me that what the United States is the leader of the free
world was that we only went to war to defend America... I took it to mean Democracy.
And that statement was one of the inconsistent lies told to me to get me started
noticing the inconsistencies in the world that would reveal enough truth to me that I
would stand here and tell you that the deceptions upon deceptions upon deceptions that
have been occurring were also the reason why the Bible says it would be so messed up that
even Jesus Himself wouldn't be able to figure out who the good guys and the bad guys are
without the help of the Angels. The Family of Artists and Musicians - every being is part
of that family.
Some of my favorite cliches are that because one day I looked at some and thought,
there must be a reason people "coined" these phrases, like E Pluribus Unum. I'm
sure someone will tell us all what that means.
Here's one I think I made up.
I consider a friend to be someone who won't take advantage of me
even if they have the Chance.
Or a Ben. And if they do, they're benched. Or at least have some explaining to do.
And here's the song that goes with that phrase. Believe it please. I thought Michael
Tomlinson was going to be the next James Taylor. He'd get my vote. Regardless. This is one
of "my theme songs" from the soundtrack of my life. It's
called By A Friend.
My first guitar teacher was named Sam Straub, a drafting instructor from UC Santa Cruz,
Ca. He wrote a really cool song that I hope will become a hit as his reward for helping to
train me. My second teacher was James Taylor, and his accomplice was Carole King, who
wrote this song (You've Got A Friend) that helped me through a great number of
difficult times.
This next song by James taylor eloquently expresses my personal philosophy in life. It
revealed enough truth to me that I could relax during the 80's, because it so reflected my
philosophy of life. As always, James distinguishes truths for me. And for you, whether you
know it or not.
The Secret O' Life
See, he and Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins and so many others know that
life is for living. The corporations, the politicians, the preachers and prophets, the
angels... whom we all are... to facilitate a quality of life sustained by each of us doing
our parts. That's what Pink Floyd talks about when he says "if we all work together
as a team". But, what I learned just a few years ago is that in my heart, I'm a
hippie. Not the long-haired bearded part, cause frankly, I like to be clean-shaven and
keep my hair out of my eyes. That's another story for later. But Joni Mitchell, Judy
Collins, Seals & Crofts, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Dan Fogelberg (the Captured
Angel) and so many others... Leon Russell... they knew what they were talking about, they
understood the plan and the rule... and I thank them.
So I'll use another JT Tune to express one more thought in this respect: I Will Follow, from the album "Dad Loves His Work".
But for now, let's just say you understand my basic philosophy about
living and how I approach everyone: I start by considering that I know nothing, and allow
people to tell me what they think is important. If you think I listen only to
"important people", realize that everyone is important to me, everyone. No
qualifications.
I believe in bottom up management. That means that everyone doing the work
of their purpose is important and vital. And those doing the work know what it takes to
get the job done. And it's the job of the managers to empower the citizens to accomplish
what the citizens say need to be done.
I work the same way. Only I was given a job to do. And MY boss doesn't let
anyone off the hook - like a demand to provide excellence in all things, as reformed
perfectionsists. I expect nothing more of others than I expect from myself.
And I can just imagine why people would be afraid that a nicotine addicted
dope smoker like me would be the one. I'll just say that Dr. House and I, Hugh Lorrie,
share a little inside joke that isn't really funny, arrogant or prideful. Even on my worst
day... Sam taught me that too... guitar chords. And a few people will need to explain some
things on that front too. If I have to do it, it will be through Federal authorities.
Finally, before I get into more specific items, I'll only say one other
thing: You may think I'm silly and playful and maybe arrogant and demanding... those
things are true... but like some have said of me, I'm the most rational crazy person
they've ever met. A moral interruption. A prophet. I say, I'm Chuck Rehn, a 53 year old
man living on the rainforest... and that being will never change. Never forget this song. Rufus Wainwright - Poses. Never forget that, like so many other things that should not be forgotten. JT - Sugar Trade (Relax JT,
I got a few for you too. But thanks for the "Harley" words)
Looking into the future:
It looks like I'm going toWashington DC soon, and if I can find the
ticket, I'll tell you when.
I'm thinking I'll end up on the stairs of the mall singin' to George, and
I hope some people will greet me there. Bring some hot dogs, instruments and such... a
casual thing for the future of humanity.
Then I thought I'd head over to the Supreme Court and issue a few
opinions.
Then there's the halls of Congress.. wish I had a camera person to cover
it just for the scrapbook my sister's kept all these years...
Then there's Congress... not sure I have a reason to call any major
meetings there amongst people I used to consider my freinds... but we'll see. After that,
I really don't know what I'll do, except to say that there are lots of consulates and
embassies.. etc. And if my flight doesn't let me on board, I have a few cars here that
will make it quite easily. And I have reason to believe that God will provide.
I am quite interested in speaking to a few people about various positions
and roles they may play in the future we are creating together. I hope that they will
choose to find a way to reach me, because, audacious as I am/appear, I fully respect that
all people have fears and concerns, but I count more on the knowledge and passion that
they have regarding projects they believe are important and time-consuming - but
incredibly fulfilling. And that's what I hope you'll inform me of. With that in mind:
George Bush, Time Warner and GE: Leave Lynn alone. Period. And tell Larry
Brown to get in contact with her, or he will be implicated in fraud and RICCO suits. I may
be a nice guy, but I'm not that nice. Lay off Iran, because that will get you embarassed
big time. And tell Israel to stand down, because it will not happen, and if it does, they
will not deserve the promised land the citizens there will be given. Any questions. See ya
in DC. I'll be knocking at your door. Come out ot the steps above the reflecting pond and
we can sing Kumbayah. Remember, I told you to fill the aquifers, not kill people and
destroy the land. And tell your father that transferring assets to another company will
not work. There are 1000 points of light, and guess what they shine on....
To the military and intelligence agencies of the United States, in
particular, Rick Castrari of the Seattle Branch of the Secret Service (who betrayed his
duty by not protecting me and seemed to be acting on behalf of Time-Warner). I'm holding
you responsible, with all my respect, to do your real jobs in fulfilling your oaths to
this nation, the citizens, not the government officials, and again request that you
be prepared to take the necessary actions required to hold this government accountable.
Thank you for your service.
To other nations and their intelligence agencies. Please be patient. I
feel certain that there will be an appropriate and peaceful resolution of the situation
that you are aware of.
Barack Obama, the door is always open. I believe you are a fine man.
John Edwards - I believe in you too. You were my first choice.
Claire McCaskille - Who are you, really?
Donna Brazile - Sorry for repeating the email story, but I want you to
know I meant it when I said that if there were more people like you, the world would be a
better place. Want a campaign to work on? Bring your friends.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. - Anything you want. I am a big fan of your father.
He said he'd afflict people... I say, I'll convict them, but I mean that in terms of their
hearts, if you understand what I'm saying.
Jimmy Carter and Zbigniew Brezinski - I'd love to chat. I think you would
too. But then, I've been wrong about a number of former heroes.
Bob Barr - You probably know that you fascinate me, and appear to me to be one who stands for the Plan
of God, are pragmatic, are interested in REAL faith based initiatives... and I have to
believe you'd be the one to get the ACLU off the stick and take on the case in the Liberty
& Technology project to represent all of the people who chose me to represent them...
or I'll have to do it myself. I don't want it to get that messy. We need the
machines. And here's your star witness. Little interpretation needed. JT - I Will Not Lie
For You. PS: I have a little email about Katrina that will be the gold. And I'm interested
in knowing what you'd like to do. How 'bout a rally on the mall when I get to DC?
Cynthia McKinney - That look in your eye at the Alternative Media/ www.911truth.org was kind of spooky,
but I'm glad I was tricked into going, and I'll never regret making a donation to your
campaign. Please scoop up Cindy Sheehan (and her 4 dollar bills) and please join me in
this. You too shall be vindicated... and promoted. How 'bout Rwanda, Darfur, Liberia...
and then whatever YOU want to do.
Dennis Kucinich - The Peace Train IS coming... talk to me. 16
tons... makes you stronger.
Ron Paul - Let's talk about the Constitution and the Supreme Court for a
while... Barry would be proud of you, and so would my dad.
To the Green Party - I was born on the first day of spring in 1955.. I
like to think of it as the first day of creation. You're wearing the colors of that day.
You all have worked hard and long to deliver the truth about so many things... and despite
the disruptions of the illegal infiltrations, I know you're there ready to give your all
regardless of spiritual implications... and that is spirituality unto itself. God Bless
you. We'll be talking long and hard. (is it the vernal equinox?)
To the Libertarian Party... and especially my friends in Humboldt
County... (if the site was just a little lighter blue it would be perfect:}) looks like
the "Rehn" family has been instrumental in the development of the Party...
double entendre noticed and acknowledged... I share a great deal more with you than
politics religion and truth. Bridgeville provided more of an inspiration than I knew when
I gazed at it across the river and wrote "A Freckle On The Hillside" that I'm
sure College of the Redwoods can track down for me. Something tells me I'll be around to
visit you soon. I think we're going to be partners, in some form or another. Thanks for
the opportunity to share with you at the Alternative Media Conference.
Hillary Clinton (without Bill) Do I know you? Economic coercion... and the
current paradigm of usery, is gone. It's a Biblical thing, ya know, at least the Muslims
and Great Britain get it. Time for the Jubilee to begin.
Sheila Jackson Lee... hope I got that right... love that First Amendment.
And other things you've spoken about.
Christy Todd Whitman - want another take on it?
David Shuster - I hope there are no hard feelings, and feel free to chime
in.
Tim Russert - Over the Rainbow and in the Nexus - I really do consider you
my colleague, a role model.. don't and didn't know what was going on in the background,
but I know you know I watched you every Sunday morning, (like Charles Kurault in the old
days, whom I also miss) almost like a religion. And, like all the others, the only
criticism I gave was out of love, as it continues to be, now, without criticism at all. I
hope I can live up to your standards of grace in difficult times. God Bless You and all of
your incredible families.
Olbermann - whatever and whoever you want. Yeah, I fear you. Do you fear
me?
Scott McClellan you ARE a hero.
John Dean... we need some help straightening out the laws... as well as
some additional truth about Nixon.
John McCain - talk to me in person
Al Gore - ??? I'm not so concerned about my pets, but I am concerned about
all the beings and citizens who have been harmed by the real inconvenient truth.
I could go on and on, but I believe I've made my position clear. I don't
know what announcements I may be making or how things will work out, except to say that I
will do everything I can to remain outside the corrupted system. Maybe people will write
in with their own suggestions.
What will I actually do? Like Cat Stevens - Yusuf Islam - says in the
song... the Wind I keep thinking about the Bible, the part about being
inextricably linked.... maybe Jeremiah Wright and his church can tell you something about
that.
See also: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jek6iP6AuAQ
Father & Son
Why Yusuf Islam was turned away from the United States.
|
http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/667bkgnr.asp
We'll have a little discussion on this one another time.
I could go and on... and will. For now, I'll leave you with some of Luke's
writings, just to be sure you understand... But always remember, politicians tend to
always ignore citizens unless they have to. 'nuff said. Like I've said for years, feel
free to underestimate me some more.
Luke Chapter 10 and Luke 10:19
Interpret that as you will. Best to read it in a version that doesn't use the word
"stupid" a lot.
I love you, and refer you to my/our spokesman once again, with all DUE
respect.
Eminem -
White America . It may be hard for you to hear, but it's high time you listened. Tell your
staff to buy the album.
Delaney & Bonnie & Friends - Never Ending Song of Love
Leon Russell - one day I will thank you in person for your gifts. A Song For You (PS How many copies do I have to buy to get a hug. Love
the shades :})
Clapton - Change the World
And finally - The Beatles - In the End
PS: Happy birthday to Todd Rundgren on the 22nd (if the email from
Michelle is real) Can't wait to hear the album. Aloha and Shalom
re: Hsingring Calling
On 5/6/08 1:07 PM,
"Chuck Rehn" wrote:
I'm sure you get many requests like
this, but I would appreciate it if you could pass this on Todd
Dear Todd;
I must first tell you how much I've been a fan over the years.
You are irreplaceable in my life of music. I've listened to your albums, heard your
mastery with Hall and Oates and every other musician whose gift you've empowered.
I've seen you in San Jose and I've seen you at the Greek in L.A.
on The Road To Utopia, and I've always believed in the words of your music. Now I'm asking
you to believe in mine. You gave me the word Utopia, and caused me to ponder its meaning,
and I wanted it so.
Healer grabbed my heart in a way that I could never let go of.
In 2002, I began to rise up and two central songs that provided me the inspiration
to carry me through were Healer and Waiting for the Worm To Turn.
It's time for the worm to turn. And I'm just saying, if you
believe in your own words, please go to this url and make up your own mind about the
recordbility of this material. That's all I ask for now.
Some of these recordings have dates on them reflecting when I
recorded them, not when they were written, solely for me to remember them. They span from
when I was 9 years old until the present. If nothing else, I hope they bring you some joys
and ideas.
Charles Rehn
www.charlesrehn.com/todd <http://www.charlesrehn.com/todd>
PS: Be sure to read the home page at www.charlesrehn.com <http://www.charlesrehn.com/>
and I am certain you will understand.
Aloha Charles,
I will pass this on but alas.....I can tell you that it will be a few
months before he takes his focus away from hi new record. He is right in the middle of it
and starts to tour 3 days after it’s release on his Birthday June 22nd. When he is
working on a record, I do not ask him to take out the trash, join us for meals, or even go
to our kids events. He is hyper focused. I once even waited 5 months to talk to him about
our relationship because I knew his brain wouldn’t respond to anything but his music.
SO....if you feel
abandoned in the near future.....join the club, HA! It’s not that he doesn’t
care....it’s just that his heart and mind are working on another song that may grab
our hearts again.
And the lyrics to one of mine, that had to have come from George
Harrison... at least in spirit..
This is actually a song I never finished, but wrote one day in one of my
more difficult moments.
RISE
I've dreamed of a world that lives as one
I thought the convergence had truly begun
But I do not believe that the point of a gun
Will set us free.
Our leaders are liars the news is their friend
They think they'll deny us the truth in the end
By defending the powers of evil who profit from war.
The younger generation couldn't possibly know
About the wars for profit that have taken their toll
On every generation that's fought them before
And every man and woman that the news men ignore.
It's time to rise up and tell them NO MORE
It's time to rise up, no more blood for oil
ROckefeller, CNN & NBC
Stop all the lies you're tellin' me
The point of a gun ain't gonna set nobody free
It's time to rise up and take a stand
It's time to rise up and re-take this land
The story's too familiar we've sen it all before
Our leaders want the power the financiers want the gold
And all the people dying they don't matter anymore
They say they want a world as one
But all they are is whores...
The book of Jeremiah is the story that we see
The book of Lamentations is the only one I feel
they talk of our salvation while they lie and cheat and steal
I'd tell you it's the elders but they'll crucify me...
But I will.
Look up The Shillum. Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion. We'll talk
about it later. And I am no anti-semite.
Love
Chuck
PS To CSN: You got a song with no words, I got some words with no song...
hmm... couple of 'em actually. One I call my Stephen Stills song... And I do live where
the doves and the eagles fly. Every day around 1:30. It's 1:25. Time to take a walk. :}
David: My ovation looks just like yours. The PsyOps gys told me it WAS yours, passed thru
guitar works. They actually believe I'll believe anything. :}
PS: This is the kind of bs deception we're going to put an end to... referring mostly
to the supposed economic advances that are actually harmful to citizens. An interesting
read, though. Something to think about.
News from www.sweden.gov.se
--------------------------------------------------------
http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/10167/a/107800
Speech
Wirtschaftsrat Economic Conference 2008, Berlin, Germany 18 June 2008
Carl Bildt, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Europe and the World - Are We Still in Demand?
Check against delivery
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have been asked to try to answer the question of whether Europe is still in demand in
the world of today and tomorrow.
My answer will be that we very much are - but let me start by first looking at the
somewhat broader picture and the crucial importance of the policies we pursue.
The beginning of the 3rd millennium has been the most prosperous years ever in the
history of mankind.
World trade has grown at an average rate of 7 percent per year between 2000 and 2007 -
which mirrors global growth slightly more than half this figure.
Today one third of the global population lives in countries with more or less 10
percent growth rate. This means that they double their incomes in less than a decade.
Never has the global economy grown in a faster rate. Never have so many poor people
been able to rise from poverty so fast. In fact, approximately 80 % of the world's
population today lives in states where poverty is being reduced.
Back in 1990 only two persons out of ten in this world were living in reasonably free
economies.
The political changes underway then - and reinforced in the years that followed - means
that today nine people out of ten on this planet are living in more or less open
economies.
And the transformation that has followed is enormous.
This spring it is 30 years since Deng Xiaoping declaring the Open Door Policy in China
- a policy that would transform his country from one of the most closed and backward
economies of the world to an increasingly open one.
As a consequence it has since then doubled its economy every eight years. China today
exports more in a day than it did in a year back then.
India will this year have a growth rate between 9 and 10 percent and Indonesia - the
worlds 4th most populated nation - will reach a 7 percent growth rate.
Politics not only matter - politics is decisive.
What we are seeing now - in this third wave of globalisation - mirrors what we saw
during its first wave in the 19th century.
In 1830 - when a new wave of globalisation was about to start - Russia's GDP was app
10, France's app 9 and the Habsburg empire's app 7 bn USD - and Britain at that same
level.
But six decades later things were very different.
The economies of France, Russia and the Habsburg Empire had doubled - but the one of
Britain was then four times larger than it had been in 1830.
The difference was one of politics - Britain's was a far more open and liberal economy,
and thus far better equipped to use the new opportunities created also by the evolution of
new technologies.
Germany chose a slightly different path and with considerable success in the decades
before the 1st World War.
But the key to Germany's success was the Zollverein and the consequent economic
integration as well as the strong technological performance by the German industry on the
global markets.
Berlin, with its world leading electro engineering industry, could be seen as the then
Silicon Valley of those so prosperous and dynamic decades before the lights went out in
Europe in August 1914.
While Great Britain, Germany and - catching up - the United States took advantage of
the expanding world trade and steadily increased their global competitiveness, other less
adaptive countries such as the Russian, the Ottoman and the Habsburg Empires lagged
behind.
Their policies were simply not adequate for the new era of global economic exchange.
So we see that the lessons of the different waves of globalisation are essentially the
same.
And they are the same as we have learnt here in Europe also in the recent decades.
European integration is the greatest force for both peace and prosperity that our
history has ever seen.
A continent of strife and conflict has been transformed into a continent of
integration, the rule of the law and true peace between nations.
And economic integration brought prosperity first to the West of our Europe after the
devastating wars of the first part of the last century and are now bringing it to the East
of our Europe after the devastating dictatorships of the second part of the last century.
But the benefits have been there for us all.
There is little doubt that the enlargement of our singly market with the 10 nations and
100 million people from the Gulf of Finland in the north down towards the Bosporus in the
south has been important in boosting the competitiveness of all of our economies.
New markets have brought new opportunities. New competitors have brought new demands.
New integration has created new possibilities. There is little doubt that productivity and
growth has been boosted in all of our economies as a consequence.
Enlargement has been a true success story in bringing both peace and better prosperity
to every part of our continent.
As we try to chart our course into the future we should be mindful of the fact that we
are likely to be only in the beginning of the third wave of globalisation - and that it
coincides with a scientific and technological revolution that seems to be gathering speed
by the day.
I still remember the day little more than a decade ago when I got the first GSM
telephone in my hand.
The company - it was Ericsson - wasn't entirely certain it was going to be a huge hit.
But it certainly did.
For all what we Swedes say about the fact that we are one of the few countries giving 1
% of our economy in development aid, I believe that the GSM revolution has meant more to
the development possibilities of large parts of the world than all of that.
Today a third of the population of the world has a GSM telephone. The number of
subscribers is increasing with 8 million every month in India. The world's fastest growing
telecommunications and GSM market is Africa.
And we have seen profound revolutions in manufacturing and integration as a result of
this technological revolution.
A Nokia GSM cell phone of today consists of 900 different components sourced from more
than 40 countries and is then sold in over 80 different markets around the world.
There is the fear that we will see the massive dislocation of production to distant
locations and us in Europe or elsewhere losing out as a consequence.
There will be a dislocation of production. That's essentially a good thing. But there
is nothing that says that we will be the losers.
If you read on the back of an iPhone - another of the iconic products of our age - you
find that it is "designed in California and assembled in China."
But if you buy it for USD 299 only 4 of those really goes to China, with 160 dollars
ending up in different parts of the United States for design, transportation, marketing
and much more.
And the same will of course apply to what we in Europe can produce in terms of
continuing pushing the frontiers of research, innovation and development forward.
We live in a world of fast and profound changes - and we must recognize that the key to
a better future is to be open to these changes.
Once upon a time we used to talk about developed and underdeveloped countries. Then we
changed the terminology to developed and developing countries.
In the world of today and tomorrow I believe it is essential that we understand that we
are all developing economies - some faster, some slower, and with profound consequence
some decades down the road.
This year IMF estimates that more than half the aggregate demand in the global economy
will come from so called emerging markets.
After a long period in which global demand was driven by the demand of the consumers of
America we have now entered a situation in which global demand will be more driven by the
emerging economies.
It's another sign of the tectonic shifts of our time.
There are those fearing that the positive developments that we have seen during the
past few decades can't go on.
That there are new threats to open societies. That the open trading system might be
questioned. That the strains that we see on different resources - energy, food, water -
will take us into a Malthusian world of new rivalries and conflicts.
Recently we have seen some starting to advance the proposition that we are facing a new
political challenge from a new version of authoritarian and capitalist states - with China
and Russia as the leading examples.
And it is certainly true that China is still a dictatorship run by the communist party,
and that the political system of Russia during the last few years has become increasingly
authoritarian at the same time as its business climate has started to suffer from more
erratic and heavy-handed state interference.
But things should be seen in a somewhat longer perspective.
We have not only seen countries from Spain and Greece here in Europe throwing off the
shackles of authoritarianism as they developed more open economies and societies, but the
pattern has been the same in numerous countries as different as South Korea, Mexico,
Taiwan, Brazil or Indonesia.
And as there emerges a more demanding and open-minded middle class also in China and
Russia I am sure its leaders over time will be confronted with demands for more or the
rule of the law, more of transparency in governance and more respect for the rights and
the freedom of the individual.
Setbacks there might well be - but there are few who see any risk of these countries
returning to the horrors and miseries of their respective past.
They both - in their respective ways - are keen to join with the rest of the world in
the great process of globalisation, and they will have to adjust their regimes and their
policies to the demands that are bound to follow.
I don't see the threat of new authoritarian regimes that others evidently do. I see
pressure inside their societies to move in a more open direction - but certainly no
pressure within our societies to be more closed and more authoritarian.
The direction of change should be an obvious one.
And I believe that this in some way will apply also in some of the regions that we have
the most reason to be concerned with.
The countries of the Arabian Peninsula are now in a period of spectacular growth with
their economies set to double every five years.
It is oil and gas - but increasingly more than that. The smaller Gulf countries now
derive more income from the return of their investments around the world than from their
energy exports.
They form part of that broader Middle East that we will be more dependent upon for our
oil and which is at the centre of some of the most complex issues of our time.
The enormously important clashes taking place within the civilisation of Islam.
The fear that any lifting of the lid of authoritarianism would unleash a wave of
fundamentalism across the region has so far proved unfounded. Elections during the last
year or so in countries as different as Morocco and Pakistan have showed only a very
limited support for such forces.
And when more than a million people of the Iranian middle class go to Turkey for their
vacations every year they seems to prefer the bars to the mosques - also knowing that a
tolerant and secular and democratic society have room for both.
But these are societies, which will face great challenges during the years to come.
Today one in four under the age of 25 in the Middle East and North Africa are
unemployed. And with a decade and a half the Arab world will grow by app 160 million
people. In pure numbers this means adding a further two Egypt to a region which for a long
time was growing significantly slower than the rest of the world.
If there is peace in the region and a gradual move towards more open economies and more
open societies there will be a significant demographic dividend that would translate into
new prosperity and new possibilities.
That's the good scenario. But there is another one.
Continued conflict - hot or cold - and continued absence of significant reform - and
the risk of the region falling down in a vicious circle of unemployment, desperation and
frustration.
With a perfect storm of political conflicts and economic failures there is then the
risk of large parts of the region heading for something approaching a systematic
breakdown.
To be part of the efforts to prevent this must clearly be one of the critical European
priorities of the years ahead. To help with the reforms needed to open up their economies
and societies. To help with the reconciliation necessary to build peace.
Overcoming animosities and divisions of the past in order to create open societies and
open economies - always facilitated by the institutions of the rule of the law and
representative government - is one of the most difficult tasks of our age.
I do believe that in spite of Freedom House noting a setback for freedom across the
world as a oil-rich nations are limiting liberties, the march forward of our open
societies is not only what will bring hope to further millions and billions - but is also
what is likely to happen in the longer perspective.
Thus, I'm not overly worried by our open societies being under threat - but I must
confess that I am worried by the threat to our open economies represented by the rising
tides of protectionism across the world.
Within the next few weeks we are likely to know whether the Doha Development Round will
have succeeded or failed.
I don't need to spend time here to explain the fruits of success.
But failure would be truly dangerous. It would be the first time since the Great
Depression that a global trade negotiation has failed - and it will come at a time when we
see other pressures and uncertainties building up.
We can't know in detail what would happen. By I do fear that one failure will lead to
further failures.
We already see how a free trade treaty with Colombia is blocked in the US Congress and
how a free trade treaty with the US is the subject of vigorous protest in South Korea.
And in the critically important area of food - where rapidly rising prices are creating
new political instability in already fragile parts of the world - we have seen how a wave
of populist-driven export and trade restrictions have pushed prices further upwards.
Indeed, the International Food Policy Research Institute says that the elimination of
these export bans would reduce price fluctuations and could reduce price levels by 30
percent.
In a critical important area we thus see how moves away from free trade and free
markets are causing prices to rocket and human suffering to increase.
And what in this particular case applies to food would of course apply to every other
commodity if policies there where to come under the same pressures of populism.
We would all suffer the consequences.
The story of our Europe in the past decades is the story of the success of open
societies and open economies.
This has to be the path into the future as well.
And it is in pursuing this path that I am convinced that Europe can serve the wider
cause of global development as well.
Few things are more important than demonstrating to the world that it is by working
together that we can build a better future.
And here the model of Europe is a model that is seen as increasingly attractive around
the world.
Since returning to more active politics as Foreign Minister little less than two years
ago two things have surprised me.
First - that the Europe of 27 actually works. In some ways it works even better that
the Europe of six.
Second - that the demand for Europe - the model, the voice, the role of Europe - across
the world is as strong as it is.
The countries of sub-Saharan Africa can never overcome their challenges if they don't
start integrating and working together - and when they created the African Union to
achieve that it was our Union that was their inspiration.
They have a long way to go. Inter-regional trade in Africa is only on a level a fifth
of what we find in Asia - and we know in Europe how critically important that trade is for
growth and prosperity.
And conflict resolution clearly requires far more of cooperation than we have seen so
far.
Again, it is Europe that can help and Europe that can serve as an inspiration.
But it is not only Africa.
At the recent meeting between the leaders of Europe and those of the Latin American and
Caribbean countries in Lima the message was the same.
As when we somewhat earlier in Singapore meet with the representatives of the half a
billion peoples of Southeast Asia.
But for Europe to be a model and an inspiration for others it has to continue to move
forward.
These days the result of the Irish referendum is on everyone's lips. That's natural.
We have to take in and respect what has happened - but we also have to remember that
this is a sort of situation we have faced numerous times before and which we have found
mutually acceptable ways out of.
This we will do after listening to what Ireland itself wants to do. And we will do it
all together.
Let one thing stand clear: We have not united Europe in order to start to split it up
again. Our Europe is a Europe of partnership - for the big states as well as for the small
ones.
But we must also recognize that our task of uniting Europe is not completed.
The recent enlargement with a 100 million citizens has been a resounding success -
perhaps the greatest of the success stories of European integration.
But waiting outside for are a further 100 million citizens of Southeastern Europe - the
countries of the Balkans as well as of Turkey.
That process of enlargement will be more demanding that the ones that are behind us,
but ultimately perhaps even more rewarding.
Our market and union will move from app 500 million to app 600 million people - thus
consolidating a position for a long time to come as the largest integrated economy on the
planet.
And we will even more clearly demonstrate that Europe is about overcoming the conflicts
and problems of the past.
Catholics and Protestants are no longer killing each other. Some Orthodox is even
prepared to forget about the Fourth Crusade and the sack of Constantinople. Jews are as
natural part of our societies as any Christian.
These are achievements that did not always come easy - but they are now firmly embedded
in the DNA of European society.
And there is no fundamental reason why the tolerance and reconciliation that has been
achieved between and within these two Abrahamic faiths should not be extended to the
societies dominated by the third of these great beliefs.
That would also send the strongest possible message of reconciliation and reform to
that wider Muslim world that is our most immediate neighbour - on the map as well as over
the street back home.
And few things would be better not only for the prospects of our peace and security in
the decades to come, but also for our possibilities for prosperity in the future.
Europe has already transformed itself. It is today more prosperous, more peaceful and
more secure than at any previous time in its long history. This will go on.
But increasingly we must also be prepared to look outwards - and see the role and
responsibilities we have in the world.
By continuing to be a beacon for open societies, open economies, open integration and
an open global trading system its task ahead in changing the world for the better might be
an even more important one than the one behind us.
Politics will be decisive - this is the way we shape the future.
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Subject area: Foreign policy and international cooperation
Minister: Carl Bildt
Name of your subscription: Charles Rehn IV
News updates from: Minister
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