The World is a Stage

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The World Stage

The world is a stage, and she takes the to the center this week. A complement of global galas will force the leaders of the world to think big in the days ahead. The 64th gathering of the United Nations General Assembly promises to be heated, as national representatives focus on global warming. The water may come to a fierce boil though, when disputed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad finds the microphone. After all, it was only last April that his labeling of Israel as the "most racist and cruel regime" drew a mass walk out by UN representatives at its racism conference. Further, it was just last week that President Obama labeled Iran as one of the most dangerous nuclear threats to the United States. This year, Ahmadinejad's presence will be smartly contrasted against the UN debut of Libya's seemingly reformed (perhaps even near civilized now) leader Moammar Gadhafi.

A few hundred miles westward, in an old steel town (with scores of bridges to prove it), Pittsburgh hosts the world's most important economic players. The 20-nation group, including the EU, is responsible for 85% of the global economy. The G-20, replacing past less inclusive/often protested G-8 groupings will also consider global warming, looking at the economic aspects as well as the environmental necessities of going green. Once smoky Pittsburgh, thus presents the perfect vista after undergoing environmental metamorphosis. Still, ensuring global economic recovery remains top priority for the economic majesty, and will get top billing. The meeting will be held on September 24 and 25, and will be chaired by President Obama.

This meeting follows up on the September 2008 gathering in Washington, and more recent London grouping. It will include central bank governors and finance ministers from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the U.K. and the U.S., as well as the European Union, represented by the rotating council presidency and the European Central Bank. The global representation also welcomes the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the World Bank, the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, and the Chairperson of the Financial Stability Board.

The UN General Assembly debate runs from September 23-26 and 28-30. This open forum for member state leaders has drawn as many as 190 individual addresses. You will recall recent notables including Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's reference to then President Bush as "the devil." In our own review of the classic address, we found the cartoon like Chavez as funny as ever. In fact, he might take a stroll toward Times Square to take a stab at stand up comedy... Chavez may have a more stable future in Midtown than back home anyway, since he seems sure to lose the nascent Latin American arms race, despite Russia's financing billions more weapons for the Fiefdom last week.

What would a global discussion be without mention of last week's reversal by President Obama, undoing his predecessor's attempt to put missiles on Russia's border. When Russian Mob Bosses (read Prime Minister Putin) would not digest the idea of supposed defensive missiles so close to home, at least not at the same time as NATO's outreach to the Ukraine and Georgia, Obama's America had to backtrack. The reason why seems simple enough, with an impending Israeli confrontation looming with the Iranian wing of the family. Thus, there's plenty fodder for UN cartoonists and cartoon characters to work with this week. Enjoy the show!


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