Diversity of Observations

This morning as I had my breakfast in the Mamas & Papas Restaurant at Radisson Hotel, Copenhagen, I had the chance to read the English newspapers called The Financial Times. I was overjoyed to know what is happening outside the hotel. I picked a few observations just to share with you.

1. Mr. Kofi Annan the former Secretary-Genneral of the United Nations and now President of the Global Humanity Forum had these to say
a) Climate change is claiming 300,000 lives a year now, By the year 2030 more than 500,000 people will die every year because of the effects of warming temperature and a further 600 million people will be suffering the damage of climate change.
b) The annual cost to the global economy is estimated at USD 125 billions. The losses to the world's economy would rise to USD 340 billions a year by 2030, that spring from factors such as lower crop yield, malnutrition and the spread of diseases and cosequent strain on health services.

2. Ms Barbara Stocking, Chief Executive of Oxfam added,"People think climate change is something happening in the future. But we know that it is happening now."

3. During the Cultural Revolution in China when China's ubiquitous state security agents want to intimidate a dissident or political activitist for the first time, they usually come knocking in the middle of the night with an invitation for a "cup of tea". Once the tea is served in some secret location, the agenst explained that if their guest continues publicly to critise the Communist party or government, the likely consequences range from unemployment to long prison sentences or even "disappearance" for them, their families and friends.

4. Do you know that Dame Margaret Thatcher was born in 1925 as Ms. Margaret Roberts, worked as a chemist before studying for the Bar. In 1951 she married Mr. Denise Thatcher, with whom she had a twin, Mark and Carol. She was elected as a Conservative MP of Finchley (don't know where it is) in 1959 and served as Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Pensions under the Macmillan government. In 1979 she becae the first UK's female Prime Minister. She was an ally of President Ronald Reagan but reached out to reformist Mikhail Gorbachev. In 1990 in the face of internal dissent, she stepped down as party leader and in 1992 was elevated to the Lords.

5. A quotation, "Two wrongs don't make a right, but they make a good excuse." - Thomas Szasz, a Hungarian Psychiatrist. I used a similar phrase to urge Prof. OO to drive a better car, "Two Citras don't make a Merc, but they make a good exhibit in your porch."

6. Another quotation,"You ca do thousands more things by being a cook for your country than you can as a politician," - Gaston Acurio, A Peruvian chef.

7. Another one, if you can bear with me, "I live for wisdom and beauty, which make me happy. In my own experience, wisdom comes from finding truth ...Beauty comes from people." - Ms Marilyn vos Savant, a lady with the IQ of 228.