“Poor Things was gross and exploiting and had misogynistic themes and therefore was not femininely empowering.”

Sometimes themes of misogyny have to exist in media for a female character to rise above them. Although the film can be viewed as raunchy, the sex scenes were actually meaningful to the plot as this story was about her journey of self-exploration, a large part of that being her sexuality and unabashedly fulfilling her desires, as she dismissed and argued against male expectations when they did not suit her. In addition, this film perfectly depicted the way men will attempt to groom innocence and shame girls and women who do not conform to their standards. If you were unable to digest this film for what it truly was, you likely have a very shallow level of media comprehension in this essay I will

Happiness vs. Joy Where are your focus and strength derived from?

In life’s journey, we will all face different seasons throughout the trip. Similar to nature, seasons will come and go, but the constant remains that they will pass eventually. Some seasons bring success, adventures, and fulfillment, while others produce failures, mistakes, uncertainty, and loss.

The important thing in all these life factors is that we remain set on one thing: whatever the season brings, it will come to pass. Life’s circumstances will always end and often leave us with a sense of emptiness. Whether the storm, the wind, or the sunshine of the season brought us happiness or grief, we must realize that this too shall pass. Yet, no matter what season of emotion we are in, there is one underlying truth that no season should ever be capable of robbing you of, and that is joy.

Most of us today are caught in the rat race of happiness in life through our various mediums of technology and distractions. Happiness is something that we all experience in life, and most days are but moments that take external events or conditions to make happiness occur. Our happy moments can be larger than life and most often don’t last very long and leave us as children wanting the next scoop of ice cream or toy.

It is impossible for us to feel happy 24/7, and trying to do so will only create unhappiness because you will be subject to something happening to feel satisfied. Codependence on the emotion of happiness in many ways involves perfection in those moments where happiness stems from a relationship, possessions, success, or experience. And, of course, chasing after these happy moments is ok, as long as we remember that “What goes up must come down,” as the great Isaac Newton once said.

On the other side of happiness, we have joy, of course. Now, joy is not a word we hear much daily as we do happy. Joy, unlike happiness, is not a fleeting emotion but a state of being that doesn’t take pleasures or anything outside oneself to happen to experience it. On the contrary, joy will remain whether our internal or external weather is darkness, difficulty, despair, confusion, poverty, loss, or success. Our joy is never in circumstances or conditions, and nothing can replace it.

For anyone to attain joy, one must choose to hold on to it. Everyone may partake in joy differently, but holding on to it makes the difference overall. Unlike happiness, you can hold onto joy forever. In its purest expression, joy transforms any of our present circumstances into hope, strength, growth, opportunity, and confidence.

When we are living in joy, life as we know it can have us against all odds, yet because our joy is greater than us, even in our weakness, we are strong (2Corinthians 12:10). Now, the question becomes, where are we nourishing ourselves from when it comes to joy? Remember that, unlike happiness, which we can create through our external world, our enjoyment must depend on God.

The Lord’s joy is as follows, “You (God) make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fulness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalms 16:11). God’s joy is our only path to complete fullness each day on the journey. The evidence is clear that seeking joy outside of God through success, material possessions, fame and fortune, and the lust of the flesh will always be fruitless. Though these temporary events may bring happiness for some time, we have evidence that men and women who have come before end up feeling empty inside despite having all the world’s pleasures. By the way, the Bible is full of such stories and our modern world today.

Therefore, when it comes to this subject, we must all become aware of where we seek to find our contentment, pleasures, and meaning in life. We are greatly mistaken if we desire any of these and other spiritual aspects of the journey through happy moments. Instead, let us enjoy the happy moments of life for what they presently are, but like the great leader Nehemiah said, let us claim our joy as follows, “For the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Joy is releasing control over the past and future and understanding that the moment is all you have. Happiness labels most things in life, and joy doesn’t label anything and understands the meaning of not identifying ourselves with the external. Therefore, how happy are you consistently today? If the answer to this question is not always, welcome to the truth. Life is messy, but in the Lord’s joy, we find our strength and courage to face each day no matter what may come.

Another great truth about the subject of joy is how we constantly hear reports that some of the world’s poorest countries are where one can find true joy. These countries lack all the material, social, or medical needs that many are custom to in many other parts of the world. Yet, why can we easily find joy in these remote places in the countenance and lives of many?

The clear answer has to be that these remote places have placed their hope and joy in the Lord and not the expectations of an external world that leaves many chasing after the wind. Though these places lack much technology, shelter, worldly pleasures, and much more, in the end, it does them better than harm because they are not dependent on anything outside of God to find their joy. Contrary to our world in the West, where many distractions lead to comparison, a lack of motivation and purpose, anxiety, addiction, and seeking more happy moments to handle life, their happy moments stem from the Lord’s joy.

Therefore, I urge you today to make the most of this day. Make a conscious decision to release yourself from the external expectations of people, places, and things. Take each moment in life, whether good or bad, as it is and continue to learn the lessons in them. Realign your focus on the Lord for your joy in all areas of life. Enjoy the simplicity of life each day despite the dark moments, and when moments of genuine happiness arrive, enjoy, but know that this too shall pass, but the joy of the Lord will remain.

The Sunday Law

News about Sunday Law Enforcement

Home The Mark and Sabbath Vatican Push Sunday SUNDAY LAW NEWS Sunday Deception 666 Number

Sunday Law

On this page you will find the latest news relating to the national and international Sunday law, which is the mark of the beast. If you come across any Sunday law news that isn't listed below then please feel free to email us and let us know ... ([email protected]). Thank you.

Blue laws (national Sunday laws) are already on the law books across America and around the world, they just need to be ENFORCED. And as we know from Revelation 13, it is America (the earth beast) that causes the world to worship the sea beast (bow to the "authority" of the Vatican) and to take her mark.

Daniel 6:5 ...'Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of His God.'

"In the fourth and fifth centuries, Sunday shows and Sunday theaters, it was complained, hindered the "devotion of the faithful," because many of the members attended them in preference to the church services. The church, therefore, demanded that the state interfere, and promote Sunday observance by law. "In this way," Says Neander "the church received help from the state for the furtherence of her ends." This union of church and state served to establish the Papacy in power. A similar course pursued now will produce the same results." (AUGUSTUS NEANDER, General History of the Christian Religion and the Church, Torey translation (3rd American ed.), vol. 2, pp. 300,301)

! Warning to Sabbath Keepers ! Please do not become complacent in your faith, merely waiting for the Sunday law to be enforced. We NEED to have a DAILY relationship with Jesus Christ in order to get through the time of trouble that is coming. Are you living for Christ everyday?

Revelation 12:11 ...'And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death.' ... These are powerful words and they describe the TRUE people of God. Who are they? They are the ones who trust in the blood of Jesus, and by the word of their testimony, SHOW that their lives were totally devoted to God. And as Revelation 14:12 says, they (the saints) are the ones who keep the faith OF Jesus. They don't just have faith 'IN' Jesus, they keep the faith OF Christ. In other words, the faith, character and life of Jesus is actively being LIVED OUT in their lives. Does this describe you? Are you covered by CHRIST AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS?

Are you worshiping the TRUE living God of the Bible, the God of our church pioneers? Please see the TRUTH about THE TRINITY DOCTRINE.

"Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye will have to die a greater death to the world than ye have ever yet died ... Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye must have a greater preparation than ye now have, for the day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate and to destroy the sinners thereof out of it. Sacrifice all to God. Lay all upon His altar." (Early Writings, P64-67)

Sunday Law News Update

Jewish Scholar calls for a 'Weekly Day of Rest' to 'Combat Climate Change' (February 2020)

"Imagine if most of the world's monotheists, those who come from traditions that profess to observe a weekly Sabbath, along with anyone else who cared to, chose for one day out of seven to essentially eliminate their own harm to the environment on a consistent basis. This could prove to be the one of the cheapest environmental solutions at humanity's disposal... I am calling for flexible but maximal observance of a weekly day of rest, whether it is Saturday, Sunday, or Friday for different people or in different places."

News Article: Sunday Should be Made a Rest Day with Family says Malaysian Minister (January 2020)

"Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Hannah Yeoh has proposed that Sunday be made as a 'rest with family' day ... She said the proposal could also serve as part of preventive measures in dealing with work-related stress issues ... so that those who work would have the time to rest on Sundays. If they don't do so (get rest), they will be physically tired and get stressed to go to work the next day."

News Article: Sunday is one step closer to becoming a holiday by law in Antigua and Barbuda (October 2019)

"Sunday is one step closer to being concretised as the 12th public holiday recognised by the laws of Antigua and Barbuda ... this government is very happy to endorse the recommendations of those persons who got together. And we will make Sunday, for the first time in Antigua and Barbuda, a recognised public holiday."

News Article: Italy's Populists Want to Close Stores on Sundays (May 2019)

"The idea is to give workers time to spend with their kids and go to church."

News Article: New York Times Columnist says 'Maybe it's Time to Declare a National Sabbath' (March 2019)

"Maybe it's time to declare a national sabbath. Maybe it's time to step back from the scandalmongering and assess who we are right now."

News Article: Author, Economist and Religious Scholar, Dr.David Smadja calls for an INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY DAY OF REST to Combat 'climate change' (November 2018)

THIS IS FROM JANUARY 2018

"Dr. Smadja's daring plan calls for an international day of rest (about 53 days per year) plus approximately 15 'holidays' where cumulatively there would be a cessation of all productive activity for approximately 70 days, or about 20percent of the year. These days of 'non-activity' would help achieve the shared goal outlined in the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) of a 20 percent reduction of pollution globally by 2050, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2 degreesC ... This frantic race to go faster and faster makes us forget essential things, such as loving ourselves, others and also our earth ... the result is a global disaster, whose ecological impact is more and more obvious. A Sabbath for ourselves, our industry and our environment is a corrective to these failures."

Just as we suspected a number of years ago. Call for a Sunday law to help 'combat climate change'!

News article: Protestant churches in Zeeland, Netherlands, protest about rainbow flag and Sunday shopping (November 2018)

"Two thirds of the Protestant churches in the Zeeland municipality of Tholen have launched a campaign against the use of the rainbow flag to support gay rights and about shops opening on Sunday."

News article: New Italian Government plans to put Ban on Sunday shopping (September 2018)

"The new Italian government will introduce a ban on Sunday shopping in large commercial centres before the end of the year as it seeks to defend family traditions, Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Sunday. In a bid to spur economic growth, the then Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti liberalised Sunday trading in 2012, despite pressure from the Roman Catholic Church and unions who said the country needed to keep its traditional day of rest ... Earlier this year, Poland restricted Sunday shopping as the conservative government in Warsaw pushed ahead with what it said was a return to Roman Catholic values."

News article: Why Sunday Is the Most Important Day of the Week for Your Wellbeing (June 2018)

"Your business will benefit when you prioritize time for yourself and the important people in your life ... Former emergency-room physician and author Matthew Sleeth explained the importance of taking a day of rest in a recent interview with CNN. 'For almost 2,000 years,' Sleeth said, 'Western culture stopped -- primarily on Sunday -- for about 24 hours ... Sunday is prime social time ... Sunday is the perfect day for self care ... Sunday gives you a jump on planning ... Reclaim Sunday as a day of rest in your 24/7 world."

Can you see how Satan is pushing the Sunday issue today? It's not just a 'religious' issue anymore. It's also being pushed now as a social issue, and one that will affect society as a whole, whether it's business, religion, family, or nature. And this issue has gathered more momentum since the pope's encyclical on the climate. Showing that the world is truly 'wondering after the beast' (Rev.13).

News article: How Europeans are fighting back against Sunday trading (May 2018)

"Changes to the law have made it harder than ever for ordinary Catholics to honour Sunday's day of rest. But there is hope ... Populist movements across Europe have begun to push back ... Only those who recognise that the common good concerns a man's soul can explain why we should legislate rest on Sunday."

News article: Taking Sunday Seriously - Poland 'leads the way in providing an EXAMPLE TO AMERICA' (April 2018)

"Sunday has just become a little less busy in Poland, thanks to a new law banning most commercial shopping that took effect in March. And Poland's move, which bucks the prevailing trend in secularized countries toward an ever-more commercialized Sunday, could provide a constructive example for the United States, where the network of state 'blue laws' that once restricted Sunday business activities has been substantially reduced."

Poland leading the way and providing an example to America? We know what that means right? Sunday laws are coming!

News article: European Sunday Alliance calls on all its supporters to take action against Sunday Work (March 2018)

"The European Sunday Alliance is convinced that working on Sundays endangers the health and safety of workers as well as the social cohesion in our societies ... Only a well-protected common work-free day per week enables citizens to enjoy full participation in cultural, sports, social and religious life and allows for reconciliation. That is why the European Sunday Alliance commits itself to safeguarding a work-free Sunday."

See how they are pushing this now? Don't be surprised to see Satan causing bad things to happen and linking it with not keeping Sunday as a day of rest, in order to bring about the Sunday law.

News article: New Jersey Mayor says Protecting Sunday Blue Laws "will always be his number one priority" (January 2018)

"Responding to a recent opinion article by NorthJersey.com correspondent Jackie Goldschneider, the mayor said that protecting the blue laws, which prohibit shoppers from purchasing certain items on Sundays, 'has always been and will continue to be my number one priority ... As long as I am in office, the protection of our beloved blue walls will always be priority number one."

News article: Lawmakers in Poland approve a gradual ban on Sunday shopping after push by Catholic Church and Trade Unions (November 2017)

Poland's parliament has approved a bill that will almost completely phase out Sunday trading by 2020. The law - put forward by the ruling Law and Justice party and backed by unions and the Catholic church — will limit Sunday trade to two Sundays a month from March next year, and then one Sunday a month in 2019. From 2020, stores will only be allowed to open only on seven Sundays a year."

News article:  Catholic Bishops AND TRADE UNIONS pushing for Complete ban on Sunday trading in Poland (August 2017)

"Poland's leading Catholic bishop has spoken out in favour of an almost complete ban on shops opening on Sunday, amid growing public controversy over the proposal. Free Sundays are what all Catholics, non-Catholics and non-believers need, Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki told Polish Radio ahead of a meeting of the Bishops Conference on Friday, which is expected to support the ban ... The clerics are careful to base their argument on quality of life rather than religious grounds."

News article:  Two years after Pope Francis launched Laudato Si, the Vatican's plea to 'save the Earth', People of all faiths are unified globally to beat climate change (June 2017)

"Two years after the release of Laudato Si-and long after its intense global attention has faded-it's worth asking: is the uncompromising and unprecedented Catholic teaching document fulfilling Vatican expectations by uniting leaders of all faiths, along with their billions of congregants, to take decisive climate action 'in care for our common home'? The answer is a qualified 'yes'."

It is well known that in his climate encyclical, pope Francis linked Sunday rest with 'caring for the planet'. So the Vatican's plan to enforce the Sunday law has taken on a very clever tactic. And that is to convince the world that we need urgent action to 'save the planet'. And what better way to help the environment, than to shut down one day a week? And guess which day that will be? Yes, Sunday! And what has this climate movement spearheaded by the Vatican done? It has UNITED the world, the churches and religions in one 'common cause'. Very clever indeed! But God's true people will not be fooled, as our lives are rooted upon the Word of God. And we know that the 7th day (our Saturday) is the only day in which God blessed as the Sabbath day, NOT Sunday. So we will never join with Babylon in this so called 'common cause'.

News article:  Chairman of the German Trade Union Confederation Pushing for Sunday Rest (April 2017)

"The chairman of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), Reiner Hoffmann, spoke out for Sunday's rest. The DGB is very close to the churches ... Sunday must remain free of work."

That is a very powerful force, the trade union organizations and the churches working together to bring about the Sunday rest law.

News article: Israel High Court Rules Tel Aviv stores can open Sabbath (April 2017)

"Israel's High Court of Justice today ruled that supermarkets, entertainment centers, and pharmacies would be allowed to operate in Tel Aviv on the Sabbath (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset)."

The one nation that uplifted the Lord's 7th day Sabbath, albeit apart from Christ, is now trampling upon God's holy day, as Satan continues to prepare the world to bow to the Papal beast, ready for the coming Sunday law. Little flock, while the world tramples upon the Law of Jehovah, and follows the Papacy into damnation, we must lift up the banner for the Lord and proclaim His holy day.

News article: Croatia - Catholic Church wants to ban working on Sundays (March 2017)

"The Croatian Bishops' Conference (HBK) has again launched an initiative to legally forbid working on Sunday. It called on Croatian citizens to support the initiative and contribute to the preservation of Sunday in its historical meaning, as a non-working day which is an opportunity for a family reunion."

News article:  EU bishops back Pillar of Social Rights, call for RECOGNITION OF SUNDAY REST (November 2016)

"The Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) have renewed their support of the European Pillar of Social Rights, an EU document on labor, education, and other social issues ... COMECE proposes to incorporate decent working hours and the right to a common weekly day of rest, the bishops' commission stated. This day should be in principal the Sunday, which is recognized by tradition and custom in most of the member states or regions."

News article: Paris climate change agreement enters into FORCE and becomes LEGALLY BINDING! (November 2016)

The Paris agreement on climate change enters into force on Friday, marking the first time that governments have agreed legally binding limits to global temperature rises. The passage of the accord - the fruit of more than two decades of often tortuous international negotiations on combating climate change - was hailed by nations and observers around the world. Under the agreement, all governments that have ratified the accord, which includes the US, China, India and the EU, now carry an obligation to hold global warming to no more than 2C above pre-industrial levels. That is what scientists regard as the limit of safety, beyond which climate change is likely to become catastrophic and irreversible."

The kings of the earth give their POWER unto the beast! (Revelation 17:12-13)

JUST LIKE THE FIRST TIME THE ROMAN ARMIES SURROUNDED JERUSALEM WAS A SIGN FOR GOD'S PEOPLE TO FLEE TO THE WILDERNESS. THIS IS A SIGN FOR US TODAY TO BE READY AND PREPARED TO LEAVE FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE AND MOUNTAINS.

Remember what the pope's climate encyclical contained in section number 237? THE CALL FOR SUNDAY REST, and linking this with care for the climate. Friends, this climate agreement that goes into force today, which is a legally binding agreement amongst the nations, will being about the long prophesied Sunday rest law, which will be a fulfillment of the mark of the beast in Revelation 13. And America, the second beast of Revelation 13 and it's fallen Protestant churches will be foremost in causing the world to take Rome's Sunday law mark, and worship it's false trinity god.

Natural disasters are now being blamed on climate change, and one day soon they will also be blamed on the world not keeping God's day of rest. The problem is, the day of rest the leaders will enforce is Rome's false sabbath - SUN-day. Instead of God's true 7th day Sabbath. Are you right with God my friend? Is your house in order? The final events are soon upon us!

News Article:  Over 500,000 Polish signatures in support of the civic draft law on limitation of trade on Sundays (September 2016)

"More than 500 000 Poles have supported the civic draft law on limitation of trade on Sundays. On 2 September, the signatures were submitted to the Speaker of the Polish Parliament (Sejm), Marek Kuchcinskiemu. Now the bill will be proceeded by the Sejm. Employees in the Polish commerce sector are eagerly waiting for this law to come into force as soon as possible ... They are overworked, they do not even want any additional bonus for working on Sundays. They want this day to spend it with their families."

Due to the pressures of this life now, we will see more and more support for having an enforced day off a week by law. And the world will fall into Babylon's trap and receive her mark. This is why God's true saints need to lift up their voices and proclaim the 3 angels messages to the world. And not just proclaim it, but live it also. So that the light of Christ can shine.

News Article:  Tongan bakeries banned from opening on Sundays (July 2016)

"Bakers in Tonga are petitioning the King after the government decided to enforce a ban on selling bread on Sundays. Church leaders pushed for the ban to be enforced under one of the country's oldest laws, which forbids commercial undertakings on the Sabbath."

Who was it that pushed for the ban? THE CHURCH! So the government listens to the church and submits to her will. Just as Revelation 17 confirmed regarding Babylon riding the beast!

News Article:  The Lord's Day Alliance Sponsors A Conference On Sabbath, SUNDAY, and Renewal (June 2016)

"In Cooperation with Old South Church, The Massachusetts Council of Churches, Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries, UniteBoston, and Additional Local Partners. A time for coming together around values, community, relationships, spirituality, and social justice engagement."

The push for Rome's mark continues! Notice how they focus on things that appeal to everyone, even unbelievers - values, community and social justice. Rome is really pushing these elements now, so that Sunday appeals to the whole world, and not just professed Christians.

1st December >> (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis speaks to Bangladesh's bishops at the Archbishop of Dhaka's residence during his Apostolic Journey to Bangladesh: (Full text) (Photo ~ Pope Francis meets with bishops of Bangladesh in Dhaka, - AP) (Vatican Radio) Pope Francis spoke to several bishops of Bangladesh on Friday at the Archbishop of Dhaka's residence during his Apostolic Journey to Bangladesh. Please find below the official English translation of the Pope's prepared speech: Dhaka, Home for Retired Priests Friday, 1 December 2017 Your Eminence, Dear Brother Bishops, How good it is for us to be together! I thank Cardinal Patrick [D’Rozario] for his words of introduction, which presented the varied spiritual and pastoral works of the Church in Bangladesh. I particularly appreciated his reference to the farsighted Pastoral Plan of 1985, which laid out the evangelical principles and priorities that have guided the life and mission of the ecclesial community in this young nation. My own experience of Aparecida, which launched the continental mission in South America, has convinced me of the fruitfulness of such plans, which engage the entire people of God in an ongoing process of discernment and action. The reality of communion was at the heart of the Pastoral Plan, and it continues to inspire the missionary zeal that distinguishes the Church in Bangladesh. Your own episcopal leadership has traditionally been marked by a spirit of collegiality and mutual support. This spirit of affective collegiality is shared by your priests, and through them, has spread to the parishes, communities and manifold apostolates of your local Churches. It finds expression in the seriousness with which you, in your dioceses, engage in pastoral visitations and demonstrate practical concern for the welfare of your people. I ask you to persevere in this ministry of presence, which can only strengthen the bonds of communion uniting you to your priests, who are your brothers, sons and co-workers in the Lord’s vineyard, and to the men and women religious who make so crucial a contribution to Catholic life in this country. At the same time, I would ask you to show ever greater pastoral closeness to the lay faithful. There is a need to promote their effective participation in the life of your particular Churches, not least through the canonical structures that provide for their voices to be heard and their experiences acknowledged. Recognize and value the charisms of lay men and women, and encourage them to put their gifts at the service of the Church and of society as a whole. I think here of the many dedicated catechists in this country, whose apostolate is essential for the growth of the faith and for the Christian formation of the next generation. They are true missionaries and leaders of prayer, especially in the more remote areas. Be concerned for their spiritual needs and for their continuing education in the faith. In these months of preparation for the next assembly of the Synod of Bishops, all of us are challenged to think about how best to share with our young people the joy, the truth and the beauty of our faith. Bangladesh has been blessed with vocations to the priesthood and the religious life; it is important to ensure that candidates be well-prepared to communicate the richness of the faith to others, particularly to their own contemporaries. In a spirit of communion that bridges the generations, help them to take up with joy and enthusiasm the work others have begun, knowing that they themselves will one day be called to pass it on in turn. An impressive outreach of the Church in Bangladesh is directed to assisting families and, in a specific way, working for the advancement of women. The people of this country are known for their love of family, their sense of hospitality, the respect they show to parents and grandparents, and the care they give to the aged, the infirm and the vulnerable. These values are confirmed and elevated by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A special word of gratitude is due to all those who work quietly to support Christian families in their mission of bearing daily witness to the Lord’s reconciling love and in making known its redemptive power. As Ecclesia in Asia pointed out, “the family is not simply the object of the Church’s pastoral care; it is one of the Church’s most effective agents of evangelization” (No. 46). A significant goal set out in the Pastoral Plan, and one that has indeed proved prophetic, is the option for the poor. The Catholic community in Bangladesh can be proud of its history of service to the poor, especially in remote areas and tribal communities; it continues this outreach daily through its educational apostolates, its hospitals, clinics and health centres, and the variety of its organized charitable works. Yet, especially in light of the present refugee crisis, we see how much more needs to be done! The inspiration for your works of assistance to the needy must always be that pastoral charity which is quick to recognize human woundedness and to respond with generosity, one person at a time. By working to create a “culture of mercy” (cf. Misericordia et Misera, 20), your local Churches demonstrate their option for the poor, reinforce their proclamation of the Father’s infinite mercy, and contribute in no small measure to the integral development of their homeland. An important part of my pastoral visit to Bangladesh is the interreligious and ecumenical encounter that will take place immediately following our meeting. Yours is a nation where ethnic diversity is mirrored in a diversity of religious traditions. The Church’s commitment to pursuing interreligious understanding through seminars and educational programmes, as well as through personal contacts and invitations, contributes to the spread of good will and harmony. Work unremittingly to build bridges and to foster dialogue, for these efforts not only facilitate communication between different religious groups, but also awaken the spiritual energies needed for the work of nationbuilding in unity, justice and peace. When religious leaders speak out with one voice against the violence that parades as religion and seek to replace the culture of conflict with the culture of encounter, they draw from the deepest spiritual roots of their various traditions. They also provide an inestimable service to the future of their countries and our world by educating the young in the way of justice, “helping them along the path to maturity, and teaching them to respond to the incendiary logic of evil by patiently working for the growth of goodness” (Address to the International Peace Conference, Al-Azhar, Cairo, 28 April 2017). Dear brother bishops, I am grateful to the Lord for these moments of conversation and fraternal sharing. I am also happy that this Apostolic Journey, which has brought me to Bangladesh, has enabled me to witness the vitality and missionary fervour of the Church in this country. In offering up the joys and difficulties of your local communities to the Lord, let us together ask for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, to grant us “the courage to proclaim the newness of the Gospel with boldness – parrhesía – in every time and place, even when it meets with opposition” (Evangelii Gaudium, 259). May the priests, religious, consecrated men and women, and the lay faithful entrusted to your pastoral care, find ever renewed strength in their efforts to be “evangelizers who proclaim the good news not only with words, but above all by a life transfigured by God’s presence” (ibid.). To all of you, with great affection, I impart my Apostolic Blessing. I ask you, please, not to forget to pray for me.

25 Best Books For Men About Self Improvement and Self Awareness

Best Books For Men About Self Improvement In Life and Career

Amazing books for men on Everyday Power Blog!

Sometimes life as a man isn’t easy.  We try to have the traits we think appeals to those we want to attract.  We make our best effort to look good, be funny, sensitive and talented.  If none of the above, we try to project our success, show our good pedigree, smarts and sexual abilities.  Most men have a combination of these traits in their arsenal to illustrate their sociability and confidence.  These ten (OK, it’s 11) books illustrate the insight to be the man I think I am.

25 Best Books For Men About Self Improvement

  25.) Who Moved My Cheese?: An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life, by Spencer Johnson

Using a simple parable,  Who Moved My Cheese? explores how to handle change so that you enjoy less stress and more success in your work and in your life. The book seeks to help the reader discover how to embrace change in order to have a positive impact on all aspects of life.

  24.) The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren

This book will help you know your purpose so you can focus and simplify your life, increase your motivation and prepare for eternity.

It seeks to help the reader find answers to three of life’s most important questions:

Why am I alive?

Does my life matter?

What on earth am I here for?

  23.) The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, by Charles Duhigg

In The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg explores why habits exist and how they can be changed. Consider this book if you want to discover how you can change your life by changing your habits.

  22.) Boundaries Updated and Expanded Edition: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life, by Henry Cloud & John Townsend

This book is an essential guide for setting Boundaries in today’s digital age. The author shows you how to set healthy boundaries with your spouse, children, friends, coworkers, and even with yourself.

  21.) The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, by Joseph Murphy

  In The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, Dr. Joseph Murphy suggests practical techniques through which you can change your destiny using the power of your conscious and subconscious minds.

  20.) The Mask of Masculinity: How Men Can Embrace Vulnerability, Create Strong Relationships, and Live Their Fullest Lives, by Lewis Howes

  In The Mask of Masculinity, Lewis Howes teaches men about self-discovery and how to tear those masks that keep you from living your life and connecting with others in an authentic way.

  19.) The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life,  by Mark Manson

  In this New York Times Bestseller, superstar blogger Mark Manson cuts through the crap to show us how to stop trying to be “positive” all the time so that we can truly become better, happier people. He argues that making our lives better hinges not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but on learning to stomach lemons better.

  Best books for men

  18.) Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World, by William H. McRaven

Make Your Bed is based on the incredible graduation speech on May 17, 2014, by Admiral William H. McRaven to the graduating class of the University of Texas at Austin on their Commencement day. The author recounts tales from his own life and from those of people he encountered during his military service who dealt with hardship and made tough decisions with determination, compassion, honor, and courage.

  17.) You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, by Jen Sincero

In You Are a Badass, bestselling author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, helps you identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want. The book will help you understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can’t change and how to change what you don’t love.

  16.) Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life, by Gary John Bishop

Unfu*k Yourself is a refreshing, no BS, self-empowerment guide that offers an honest and no-nonsense approach to help you move past self-imposed limitations. A great book for anyone feeling f*ck up.

  15.) The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself, by Michael A. Singer

The Untethered Soul, seeks to help the reader free themselves from limitations and soar beyond their boundaries. It aims to help you find inner peace and serenity so you can have more meaningful relationships with yourself and the world around you.

  14.) The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth: Live Them and Reach Your Potential, by John C. Maxwell

In this book, John Maxwell teaches you what it takes to reach your potential. He explores the tried and true principles that can help you achieve personal growth.

  13.) Awaken the Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny!  by Tony Robbins

In this classic, Tony Robbins explains how your mind, body, and spiritual states should all be united and conditioned regularly. Condition yourself, develop a system to face adversity, and continuously work on improving yourself.

  12.) The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge, by Tony Dungy

In this book, Super Bowl-winning former head coach Tony Dungy reflects on living an “uncommon life” of integrity, honoring your family and friends, creating a life of real significance and impact.

  11. Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl

In Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor E. Frankl describes life in the Nazi death camps and the spiritual lessons we can derive. It is based on his own experience in the concentration camps and the experience of others he treated later in his practice.

  10. 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene

As much as I hate to admit it, The 1983 Movie “Scarface” made a huge impression on me.  In it, Tony Montana (Al Pacino) states the steps for success in America.

“In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women”.  48 Laws of Power will prepare you for the challenge ahead.

  9. Meditations on first philosophy by Rene Descartes

My day begins by meditating at 4:15am from 22 minutes to 70 minutes.  This allows me to connect internally, be grateful, forgiving to all and myself, visualize my perfect future, see myself today doing thing to reach my perfect future and blessings.  Meditation on first philosophy by Rene Descartes is an ideal blueprint for testing your intellectual boundaries.  This is evident by Descartes’s quote, “If you would be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things”.

  Best Books For Men

8. Walden by Henry David Thoreau

The utilitarian in me gravitates to Walden to help heighten my awareness of things I have to be grateful for.  Disconnect from a world of so many distractions and embrace the now!

  7. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Living in the 1970’s & 80’s in The Bronx, New York, I grew up a latino male witnessing a fair share of hardship stories regarding people making ends meet.  Being egocentric back then, I felt only those around me and myself had it tough while the rest of the world had it easy.  The Jungle by Upton Sinclair illustrates the struggle is universal and made me more receptive to people of different ethnicities outside my own.

  Best Books For Men About Life and Love

6. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

Despite going to college for 4 years for business, reading scores of business journal subscriptions and being an avid reader of HBR (Harvard Business Review) papers, the best advice I’ve ever received came from my mother.  She said, “if you can learn from your own mistakes, good;  if you can learn from the mistakes of others, better!” The Prince by Machiavelli offers a buffet of lessons through the mistakes of others.

5. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

If you think outside the box and seek comfort through explanation, read Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers.

Motivational Books For Men

4. Siddharta by Herman Hesse

We wear many hats and play many roles in our life’s journey.  I try to read Siddhartha once a year to gauge if the life I’m living is inline with the person I want to be.

3. The Master Key System by Charles Haanel

If you want to know were the author of “The Secret” got his inspiration, read The Master Key System.  Once you realize “we are spirits with bodies, not bodies with spirits, you’ll be able to be what you will to be”

Best Books For Men

2. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

I highly recommend reading The Alchemist to anyone not happy with their profession.  Arm yourself with the knowledge and confidence to chase your dream without a safety net.

1b. 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

It’s all in the title!

1a. Manual For Living by Epictetus

See yourself as a kid playing with another boy and girl.  The three of you grow up as friends and despite your friends shortcomings, 15 years later they fall in love and get married. In time, (with your love and support from the sidelines) your two friends start a family and navigate parenting with the best intentions through trial and error.  This imagined couple is how I view my parents when we’re in disagreement.  Moments like these I listen to my Manual For Living audiobook to help me self reflex and continue being the good son.

Find other best selling books for men here!

The post 25 Best Books For Men About Self Improvement and Self Awareness appeared first on Everyday Power Blog.

“The Secret Keepers,” 2018, acrylic on 36″x36″ stretched canvas

First and foremost, I want to heap praise and gratitude upon everyone who participated in this game, in any way!!!  Whether it was as a full-bore participant (you know who you are, rockstars!), or as a partial participant (who still created gorgeous art, btw!) or as a much-loved and much-appreciated cheerleader/follower, we created a beautiful mutually supportive international online community!  That was the best and most unexpected gift of this game!!!  I am humbled by the responses I got to my little invitation, and I am thrilled to be in the company of an ever-widening group of diverse and incredible artists.

[for more details on the Instagram #31daysofpainting game in May, please read my last post, from April 28.  Also, please visit my Insta feed @lisapalmerart and the hashtag #31daysofpainting, to see more about it]

I promised a prize to everyone who successfully participated, and last week I was able to make good on that promise.  I created little 3×4 original abstract paintings and sent them to those artists.  It was surely a labor of love, in that I feel I know them all quite well at this point, even though the majority I’ve only met online.  Here are some of them:

I’ve been hesitant to wrap up the incredible #31daysofpainting journey with a blogpost, for many reasons.  Aside from the fact that my architecture work life has lately gotten very time-consuming, I’ve been hemming and hawing over how much I want to talk about the painting I produced during that game.  Because it became something so big, an unexpected wallop to my soul, and a thing I find hard to describe.  I was very intentional in NOT having any expectations as to what I would make, other than paint on canvas.  This was a meditative, intuitive practice for me, so healing and refreshing in that most of the time my left brain was completely turned off.  The fact that it took a turn from a colorful abstract to representational images surprised me.  But I just kept going.  It flowed through me.  It was pure magic.  I wasn’t leading it, I was walking beside it, and I didn’t question all the sharp turns it took.  Every day was a new day, until about day 25, when I finally understood what it was all about and why I was tasked with painting it.  So now I’ll attempt to walk you through the highlights, as they unfolded….

The first 6 days were all about playing with color and abstracts……

Then for no apparent reason a tree line appeared.  On day 10 a face and a river started to emerge.  By the end of day 13, the face became a mask…….

Then something very unexpected happened.  I turned the painting sideways (no idea why, I never ask why, right brain in charge) and painted a mysterious beautiful face, in a realistic manner, completely out of the style of the rest of the painting.  She appears to be weeping, sad or in pain.  She was so powerful that I realized the rest of the painting needed to evolve to match her poignancy.  So the mask became another face, this one looking sideways.  And the feelings of avoidance and secrecy became clear to me.  By the end of the third week, a third face started to emerge at the top, and a river runs through it all…….

The third face is looking down, in shame perhaps?  Again, no direct eye contact.  The river started splitting into waterfalls.  And on day 26 there’s a sunrise.  Now I knew what this painting was all about….

It’s an allegorical painting of darkness and light, of despair and hope.  It’s a timely representation about women who have been preyed upon, and yes, it’s dedicated to all my fellow #metoo sufferers.  Look away, look down, cry, deny, pretend it’s not happening, living with shame and secrets, not being believed or taken seriously, isolated, loss and disassociation, living with sadness, confused, losing jobs, feeling powerless, being at the mercy of others, losing friends, losing family, not wanting to rock the boat, afraid to speak truth, afraid to trust, not wanting be be open and vulnerable.  Living in a world of beauty while feeling detached and not present to it.  Yet being connected to all the other people who have been prey, by a long endless river.  This is no way to live.

Now that the theme was clear to me, I had a few more days to add to the painting to make sense of the story.  Because it is also a story of hope, wisdom, life, freedom, connection and empowerment.  A new day.  Trusting our innate wisdom while existing in our shadow side, so an owl and the moon emerged.  The waterfalls became ferocious and dynamic, symbolic of our capacity for resilience and redemption.  And finally, on the last day, a beautiful red rose right in the center, a symbol of love, beauty and martyrdom.

WHOA!!!!  Not my usual subject matter.  I tend toward uplifting images, happy and poignant.  I paint intuitively, attempting to express feelings of positivity and beauty.  But this became so much bigger than my usual.  It is a very important piece for me, definitely a touchstone in my creative journey.  Cathartic and healing.

Thank you to my angel friend D’Wana, who named this painting before I even explained to her what it was about.  Because she knows.  I am beyond grateful that the #metoo movement has emerged, FINALLY, in my lifetime.  Because it truly has become a cultural shift in our society.  To me it is the greatest revolution of my lifetime.  I hope and pray ALL victims of sexual predators feel empowered to speak up now, in the moment, before or during or after assault or harassment, speak to someone they trust, now that the veil of secrecy has been lifted.  In my day, when I was preyed upon, I was not believed, or I was told to get over it and just “move on”.  Basically, just shut up about it.  I estranged myself from certain branches of my extended family, I left good jobs (20 years apart, mind you!), my life was upended a couple times, and I suffered in mostly silence alongside other women who, like me, knew no one cared.  There was no recourse, no moral punishment of the aggressors by our communities.  It was the way things were, the way they had “always” been, and we were expected to accept it (“boys will be boys”).  We have seen so many examples in the media of brave men and women who are speaking the truth, reclaiming their power, seeking some justice, even years later, and even in the face of some cynical criticism. The truth is so much more powerful than any idiotic punditry now, and for that I am especially grateful.  The fact that people are being believed and accepted, and that some of the perpetrators are feeling the power of justice finally served, well, I am in awe.

May the light of truth continue to spread its beauty over all of us!!!!

And so in celebration, please enjoy this slide show of the entire 31 days of the evolution of my painting…………..

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The response and enthusiasm for this game were so overwhelming that we’re going to do it again!!!  Please join us, it’s open to one and all, beginners and experienced artists alike.  All you need is a desire to have fun playing with paint!  If you look through all the posts on the #31daysofpainting feed, you’ll see the works ran the gamut!  So much beauty, so much growth.  And everyone had so much fun!!

We’re going to do a shorter one in July, #15daysofpainting that starts exactly 4 weeks from today, on July 15.  And then we’ll do another 31 days again in October.  Make sure to sign up for my newsletter (here on the right) to keep up with the simple rules and updates and tips for success.  I would SO LOVE to have you join us!!!!

#31daysofpainting RECAP "The Secret Keepers," 2018, acrylic on 36"x36" stretched canvas First and foremost, I want to heap praise and gratitude upon everyone who participated in this game, in any way!!!  

40 Years of the Brandt Commission: its legacy and our duty. Speech by Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel at the conference #Brandt2030

40 Years of the Brandt Commission: its legacy and our duty. Speech by Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel at the conference #Brandt2030

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Ms Brundtland, Ms Malcorra, Mr Steiner, Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, we want to step away from the often-hectic pace of the daily lives currently led by all of us who deal with international issues in politics or civil society. In view of the trajectory of international politics, I believe the Brandt Commission has a very special role to play. Reading the Commission’s reports makes one wonder what we’ve been doing for the past 40 years; for these reports deal with paths out of poverty, with halting arms races, with environmental degradation, population growth, fair global trade and steps away from development aid towards a true partnership between the countries of the North and those of the South.

Of course, we know that over the past 40 years, the lives of many hundreds of millions of people around the world have improved. The question, however, is whether this development is due to intelligent international policies, or whether in fact it stems from economic development in many of these countries ‑ development which at times took place not due to, but in spite of, prudent policies. In any case, the questions asked and recommendations made in the past sound equally relevant today. But don’t worry, I’m not here to lament missed opportunities. Rather, we are here to jointly uncover the treasure-trove of accurate analyses and visionary proposals that the women and men of the Brandt Commission jointly compiled and provided us with.

As it happens, Willy Brandt himself realised that the Commission’s work would have to be dusted off again in the future. To quote his prediction from 1980, “everything written in our report will one day be taken back out of the drawer that it is stored in”, clearly, he knew the international community well. I would thus like to invite you to join me in reopening the drawer, looking in and putting the ideas and proposals to use in addressing the challenges of our time.

That is in fact quite literally what we did at the Federal Foreign Office – we sought out an old copy of the concluding report. Doing so, we learnt that, in Germany at least, it is only possible to obtain second-hand copies of the report. One of the first commitments I am making here today is thus to ensure that a new edition will be printed following this conference, perhaps with additional comments. In an age of internet and email, intelligent content should not be confined to second-hand bookshops.

Ladies and gentlemen, even a glance at the title of the first 1971 concluding report – ensuring survival – the mutual interests of industry and developing countries ‑ is enough to make you prick up your ears. As is often the case, the crucial part is the sub-heading; the Brandt Commission called for no less than a paradigm shift towards mutual interests and a world order based on shared responsibility. That may seem somewhat strange today, yet we live at a time when it feels, at least, as if clashes of interest are on the rise once again.

Personally, I fear that at the moment a world view we thought we had overcome is once again taking hold. A few weeks ago, the New York Times published an article that came from Donald Trump’s security advisors. The article noted that it is always said that in the world, treaties and agreements had to be concluded in order for political cooperation to take place on a basis of secure treaties.

The authors considered this to be a false perception. According to them, the world is in fact an amphitheatre, an arena, in which everyone is fighting and seeking alliances – with different counterparts at different times. Behind this lies the view that the force of the law is outweighed by the law of force. There are some politicians, including here in Europe, who go even further and say that only he who shows himself to be stronger has the right to assert himself. In Europe, at the beginning of the last century we had the disastrous, social-Darwinist tradition of linking nations’ right to survival to their ability to assert themselves through war. We thought that we had overcome this terrible notion and yet it is emerging in international politics once again. It embodies the opposite of everything that the members of the Brandt Commission envisioned 40 years ago and, in fact, the opposite of everything the United Nations is working towards today. I believe that, all individual matters aside, it is important to stand in the way of this ideology of Social Darwinism that is taking hold in global politics and to say: this is not how we view things, we continue to believe that the force of the law outweighs the rule of force in international politics.

Naturally, the world looked different 40 years ago, however in the eyes of those who experienced that era, it looked no less troubled than the world of today. Nevertheless, the Brandt Commission had the courage to call for a truly global balance of interests in a world all-too divided between East and West, North and South. The Commission called for what we now call global governance, be it in the United Nations, G20, in climate negotiations or multinational disarmament regimes. The logic guiding the Commission at the time remains correct today, perhaps even more so. In the words of Willy Brandt “the globalisation of fears and demands, of war and chaos, of self-destruction, requires a form of international public policy which reaches beyond the horizon of church towers and national borders”. But let’s be honest: particularly we in the so-called North, have not taken the concept of shared responsibility for a global governance seriously enough, despite the fact that a form of turbo-charged globalisation has been taking place since the end of the Cold War.

I would like to make one thing clear: we have benefitted from this globalisation, we in the North, and others in the South, too, although in truth not all. And we in the North have set nearly all the rules. That is exactly what we are paying the price for today, for the perception of globalisation changed some time ago; here in Europe and in the United States at least. But we only really realised that when the Brexit referendum in Europe and the election of Donald Trump gave a voice to those who said: “things are not going to continue as they have so far”.

In other parts of the world, globalisation is still associated with promise. But sadly, the reality is often different, because for many, the dream of prosperity and mobility remains just that, a dream. And more often, it becomes a nightmare. The hope of participation in the global economy cannot be allowed to end – a thousand times over – in a refugee camp somewhere such as on the Libyan coast. If you go to such a refugee camp, then you will literally witness how hope of participation turns into frustration and resignation, and indeed you will see a breeding-ground for violence and the willingness to at least seek happiness in the Beyond, given the impossibility of achieving it in this world.

That makes it clear that the manner in which participation is currently organised will not work in the long run. To use the words of the Brandt Commission: this model is not fit for the future, neither for the North, nor for the South. So, if we take a critical look in the mirror, the question that arises is: given all of this, where are we at in terms of our commitment to common interest, to our shared responsibility? Of course, the international community has made significant progress over the past 40 years, just think of the United Nations 2030 Agenda or the Paris climate accord, which for a long time we thought would be impossible to achieve. This progress must be consolidated, brought to life and, unfortunately, defended against those who challenge it due to short-sighted national interests.

But although the recommendations of the Brandt Commission were ahead of its time in light of the ongoing East-West confrontation and neoliberal shifts of its era, we still face the huge challenge of making the world a truly fairer place. For only if we manage to do this will we make it a safer and better place for the generations of our children and grandchildren to live in in the long run. A commitment to global justice is thus the key to peaceful coexistence in the 21st century. I believe that this must become an African century, in which we no longer view our African neighbours as remote participants in globalisation but rather see them as what they are, namely our direct neighbours, with whom we need to co-operate on an equal footing, rather than looking down on the continent as a hub of crises and provider of oil and gas.

We thus need the political courage to act in a manner that corresponds to our long-term interests; even when such policies may only be seen to bear fruit later on. A commitment to global justice naturally also entails a moral responsibility, for instance in taking the Charter of the United Nations or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights seriously. However, this is not only about morals; it is about our own interests. That is something the Brandt Commission recognised, hence the sub-heading speaks of the “mutual interests” and not “mutual morals”, that we find around the world.

Allow me to demonstrate why the fight for global justice must be a priority for us all, in service of our own best interests, through three examples.

Firstly, if we don’t manage to ensure sufficient justice and participation in prosperity and security for our societies, then we risk losing our citizens’ trust in our democratic system and values. That would give the populists who have long offered their apparently simple solutions an easy ride.

The second example relates to Africa: we are feeling the injustice of the utterly hopeless situation of many people, above all young people, directly, in the form of flight and migration. And this lays the foundations for instability, insecurity and violence. The best migration policy is thus one focused on justice rather than constructing detention centres. The Brandt Commission already had this in mind, and since then we have certainly made progress, for the map of poverty in the world has changed for the better – just think of the rapid rise of Asia in recent years. However, we are still far from global justice. Rather, poverty is not a temporary situation of need but a bitter and permanent state for too many of the world’s people, including, but not only, in Africa.

Thirdly, if rising powers such as India and China are calling, on good grounds, for more participation in the institutions of international organisations, then these states are seeking fair and just involvement in making decisions that will shape our future. I can fully understand that for as it currently stands the world order, including in the United Nations, reflects the second half of the past century rather than the present or future of the 21st century. Yet anyone who calls for participation must be aware of the responsibility that it entails, and must actively assume it, for example through financial support for the United Nations. It’s a disgrace that the United Nations only has an unbelievably low percentage of basic funding, and that the Secretary General and his team must travel the world with a collections box to raise the absolute minimum needed to combat hunger, thirst and numerous other natural disasters. In the next few years we must at least manage to introduce a better and institutionalised funding system for the United Nations.

And finally, to respond to protectionism and scepticism towards globalisation, we must act to promote fairer global trade and a better regulatory framework for globalisation. My first priority – for as long as we are incapable of reaching fully global consensus within the WTO – is to conclude fairer trade agreements that acknowledge and tackle the dark side of globalisation that US Nobel laureate, the economist Joseph Stiglitz, warned us of 15 years ago. And by the way, when everyone is constantly calculating the economic progress to be achieved through free trade agreements – and this is a popular endeavour in Germany; entire universities are busy calculating national economic values to the last decimal point – then why do we find it so hard to develop an instrument to pass on part of the profits of this free trade to those who live in poverty that prevents them from participating in it? We should first and foremost put them in a position to take part in the progress achieved through international trade; I at any rate think that belongs on the agenda for international trade policy.

Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t want to pre-empt the talks of this conference. But allow me, if you will, to conclude with a few thoughts that build on the recommendations of the Brandt Commission and that I think we should adopt as a matter of urgency if we really are serious about making the world a fairer place.

The report issued by Willy Brandt’s commission contains a remarkable calculation: the military spending of only half a day would have been enough to fund the World Health Organization’s entire malaria campaign at the time. That really makes you think. I suspect that nowadays one wouldn’t even need half a day’s expenditure. I didn’t check the figures for current defence spending but I’m sure that it would be possible to fund much more than health programmes with the money we currently spend on the military and weapons.

Our country is currently in the midst of a debate in which simple figures for the defence budget are being tossed around with no connection made with the aims of defence policy. Donald Trump and many others in this country want us to spend 70 billion euros on defence, something which would lead to a doubling of the defence budget in Germany. Our entire budget only totals 300 billion and even France – a nuclear power at that – spends “only” 40 billion on arms.

Every German soldier we meet who has returned from a military posting abroad tells us: “Yes, sometimes we do need soldiers to fight terror and conflicts. But,” ‑ this is what soldiers tell us – “don’t you believe for a second that peace and stability can be secured through military means”. What we need far more is more money to combat hunger, poverty and underdevelopment, as well as to advance education and research.

My proposal is thus that for every euro that Germany spends on arms, at least 1.5 euros must be invested in crisis prevention, stabilisation and economic cooperation. But at the moment the plans are moving in the opposite direction, even though we have long known that stability and development can offer people far more prospects than military expenditure.

Ladies and gentlemen, there’s another reason why we urgently need to recast international debate about global governance in the fields of defence spending and policy. What we are currently seeing in North Korea shows us what a dangerous world we could find ourselves living in in a few years if individual states start to equip themselves with nuclear capabilities. If North Korea manages to do this, it will have consequences on South Korea, Japan, and all of Southeast Asia. And once that occurs, other parts of the world will start to wonder whether procuring nuclear weapons wouldn’t be a good means of safeguarding and defending their own governments. Then we would certainly live in a more dangerous world than that of the time when East and West stood as two blocks.

And I believe that the idea anchored in the strategies of international politics to date, that we need a balance of terror, only really reflects the situation of the latter half of the 20th century and not that of the threats we face in the first half of the 21st century. And if the two sides, Russia and NATO, set a good example and put arms control and nuclear disarmament back on the agenda, rather than the opposite, then we would perhaps have set stronger forces in motion to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in many countries of the world, which could lead us into a very insecure world and as it happens far greater spending, meaning we could invest that money in the areas where it would be of better use.

That is why, ladies and gentlemen, we can but call on those in positions of responsibility in NATO, Moscow, Washington and on ourselves, to refrain from simply giving up on existing arms control treaties, but to return to the idea of arms control, of disarmament and to contribute to efforts to prevent agreements that we have concluded, such as with Iran, from coming under renewed threat. We must help revert the trend and move back to global disarmament.

Ladies and gentlemen, the words of Willy Brandt offer an excellent conclusion to a speech about the Commission’s report. He writes, and I quote: “Shaping our shared future is too great a task to be left to governments and experts alone”. When he wrote this, he directed his call above all to young people, to get involved and to speak up. That is his call to the next generation; and it is a call that still applies today.

I am thus particularly pleased that at this conference we are welcoming a host of young people from all over the world. I look forward to talking to you and above all to the proposals that we shall formulate today. There are good reasons not to leave the reports of the Brandt Commission or the Brundtland Commission to antique book stores, but to see them as a mission to once again dedicate all our efforts to the topics they address.

Thank you very much for listening.

from UK & Germany http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/Infoservice/Presse/Reden/2017/170831-BM-Brandt-Kommission.html?nn=479796