Modern History 

The greed of gain has no time or limit to its capaciousness. Its one object is to produce and consume. It has pity neither for beautiful nature nor for living human beings. It is ruthlessly ready without a moment`s hesitation to crush beauty and life out of them, molding them into money.

- Rabindranath Tagore

In the fantasy world of 2022, Bitcoin enthusiasts were fervently chanting their mantra: "Bitcoin was made for this moment." They painted a picture of digital gold, a doomsday insurance against the tumultuous waves of traditional financial markets. Yet, as reality cruelly unfolded, Bitcoin's value plummeted, shattering the illusion of its invincibility.

Why the disappointment? One glaring reason stands out amidst the chaos: cryptocurrencies remain a convoluted mess for the average person, especially during crises like war.

In Ukraine, where the need for financial refuge was most urgent, even the country's elite struggled to grasp the intricacies of converting assets into crypto.

The promised safe haven turned out to be nothing more than a mirage, leaving many stranded in a sea of uncertainty.

Let's fast forward to the grim truth of 2022. As food and water vanished, as electricity flickered into oblivion, and as the very fabric of society tore apart, cryptocurrencies offered little solace.

Bartering replaced monetary exchange, a stark reminder of humanity's primal instincts resurfacing amidst chaos. In this dystopian landscape, the notion of Bitcoin as a savior crumbled into dust, exposing the harsh reality of its limitations.

And now, in 2024, the consequences of our folly loom large. Cryptocurrencies, once heralded as the future of finance, stand exposed for what they truly are: a testament to humanity's insatiable greed and chronic laziness.

Rather than learning from history, we've embraced a digital illusion, forsaking the fundamental principles upon which our societies are built.

It doesn't require a genius to see through the facade. Cryptocurrencies are not the answer; they are the symptom of a deeper malaise—a society blinded by the allure of quick riches and technological utopia. The fact that the young, the supposed torchbearers of progress, have fallen prey to this deception is a tragedy of immense proportions.

In the face of this stark reality, we must confront the uncomfortable truth: cryptocurrencies are not the solution; they are a symptom of our collective failure to heed the lessons of the past.

It's time to abandon the fantasy and embrace the hard work of rebuilding our societies on principles of resilience, responsibility, and genuine progress. The future depends on it, and it's high time we stopped chasing digital dreams and started building a world grounded in reality.

 Hot Topic

EXAMPLES OF SECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AT HOME AND ABROAD • For the homeland, extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change have caused hardships for millions of Americans, and have the long-term potential to undermine training capability and readiness. Extreme events have cost the United States billions of dollars in damages in recent years, such as at Tyndall Air Force Base and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. 

• In the Arctic, climate change is dramatically altering the natural environment and creating a new frontier of geostrategic competition. 

• In the Indo-Pacific, sea-level rise and more extreme weather events complicate the security environment, place key DoD warfighting infrastructure and surrounding communities at risk, and challenge local capacity to respond. For example, the United States has important defense assets located in Guam, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, all of which are vulnerable to these hazards. Additionally, competitors such as China may try to take advantage of climate change impacts to gain influence. (Department of Defense, October 2021).

Extreme Waves Hit US Army Base In The Marshall Islands.

The recent reports from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, National Security Council, and the intelligence community paint a grim picture of the profound impact climate change is having on global stability and security. It's abundantly clear that climate change isn't just an environmental issue—it's a pressing national security threat that demands urgent attention.

One of the most alarming aspects highlighted in these reports is the strong link between climate change and migration, particularly in regions already vulnerable to environmental stressors. As the climate crisis worsens, we're witnessing an uptick in displacement and migration driven by factors like extreme weather events, food shortages, and resource competition.

The predictions of tens of millions of people being displaced by 2050, with a significant portion hailing from South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, should serve as a wake-up call to policymakers worldwide. These climate-fueled migrations won't just strain resources and infrastructure in affected regions—they'll also exacerbate tensions, both within and between nations. (Department Of Defense, October 2021)

How Climate Change Drives Migration to the U.S.

Since the 19th century, the United States government has participated and interfered, both overtly and covertly, in the replacement of many foreign governments. 

In the latter half of the 19th century, the U.S. government initiated actions for regime change mainly in Latin America and the southwest Pacific, including the Spanish–American and Philippine–American wars. 

At the onset of the 20th century, the United States shaped or installed governments in many countries around the world, including neighbors Hawaii, Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

(Wikipedia)

 Stay Alert! Be Prepared!

Any dictator would admire the uniformity and obedience of the U.S. media.

- Noam Chomsky 

Are autocrats back in vogue? It seems so, riding high on a wave of adaptation. They've polished their image, becoming less overtly brutal, with only a select few clinging to the old-school repression tactics of their 20th-century idols.

Today's autocrats have mastered the art of incremental erosion, systematically weakening courts, civil society, and political opponents until victory at the polls is all but guaranteed.

They've become masters of manipulating public opinion across every available channel, blurring the line between fact and fiction until truth itself becomes a casualty.

They craft enemies, stoking resentment primarily against the liberal elite, the West, Muslim immigrants, and LGBTQ communities.

But that's not all. They also know how to play the game, offering concrete benefits like child benefits, tax cuts, and minimum wage hikes to keep their populace appeased.

Citizens often find themselves voting for parties that undermine democracy, a trend that's somehow tolerated. For many, democracy is too abstract a concept, until it's vanished entirely.

Welcome to the era where the autocrat wears a modern mask, where oppression is subtle, and where democracy is a fragile notion easily trampled upon.

Wake up, people! The wolves aren't just at the door; they're already inside, gnawing away at the very foundations of freedom and justice.

It's time to reclaim our voices, to stand firm against the tide of tyranny, before the specter of democracy fades into oblivion.

Here is a thought:....."Secure Tomorrow, Vote for Health Today: Clean Air, Pure Water, Nutritious Food!"

Acknowledgment: Neue Zürcher Zeitung