Category Archives: International Affairs

Why Not A Jubilee?

Posted on January 11, 2021 by Joel D. Hirst

There’s nothing that highlights the coming financial debacle like the news I read this morning: Costa Rica is considering open-pit gold mining and deep sea fracking to cover the epic, yawning, gaping hole in their finances. Um, say what??? Now, … Continue reading →

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The Gift of Empathy

Posted on December 5, 2020 by Joel D. Hirst

Literally, in fact. For Christmas this year, marked by really quite a bit of hate and bitterness, give the gift of empathy. “It is Charles that is speaking in the first person. This I found to be an important distinction. … Continue reading →

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3 Books To Change The Way You Think

Posted on November 22, 2020 by Joel D. Hirst

One of the things about a pandemic, of which I hope you are taking advantage (as I am) is the ‘free time’ to read. Without our long commutes, with workloads somewhat reduced (so much of my job is meetings and … Continue reading →

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As 2020 Unravels, Grab a Book…

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Joel D. Hirst

As this year unravels, as the stories of tragedy and mayhem stack themselves up one atop the other in the cementing pressure of misery which we will carry with us, oh probably forever, I was thinking about the last 15 … Continue reading →

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Stalin, the NYT and the Holodomor

Posted on July 25, 2020 by Joel D. Hirst

Governments are not moral. Organizations of any kind are not moral entities. They exist as a group of like-minded people coming together to advance their vision. Perhaps it’s a company, seeking to provide a service, increase sales and lead to … Continue reading →

Posted in International Affairs, Movie Review, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Our Changing World

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Joel D. Hirst

While my little boy plays water-guns, builds Lego sets, learns to type and do extra-math and watches Alvin and the Chipmunks, the world in which he will live is being formed — and in fast forward. So far, the attempts … Continue reading →

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Remember the Climate Apocalypse?

Posted on July 1, 2020 by Joel D. Hirst

Remember climate apocalypse? The little girl lectures, scowling in hatred at the leaders of the free world because they refused to do what they were told? Those days almost seem quaint and comical in the mess that 2020 has become. … Continue reading →

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After COVID-19

Posted on June 13, 2020 by Joel D. Hirst

Monumental moments in history often follow great conflagrations. Four-hundred years ago Europe, exhausted of her wars, and seeking to put an end to the 30 years war which was only the latest in the conflicts which had stretched back forever … Continue reading →

Posted in America, International Affairs, philosophy, Uncategorized | Tagged | 3 Comments

On #BlackLivesMatter

Posted on June 13, 2020 by Joel D. Hirst

Apropos of #BlackLivesMatter, I first arrived in #Africa in 1999, beginning my work of ten years living on the continent trying to end four different civil wars. Two of the wars still rage, two have found a shaky peace – though the violence … Continue reading →

Posted in International Affairs, Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

The Return of Pessimism

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Joel D. Hirst

During the heady days of hubris which now seem so long ago but in reality were only a few months back, I was often accused of pessimism. The world, as I saw it, was not headed to a good place. … Continue reading →

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