Greetings and good morning from the Nation’s Capital, just back from New York, the city that never sleeps, with UNGA77 and the autumnal equinox firmly in the rear-view mirror.
No matter who was in attendance, the meetings in the margins of UNGA77 only focused on three topics: Moscow, Beijing, and the Global Climate Crisis. All other issues regardless of their importance became derivatives of these three. Moscow finds itself in month seven of a 48-hour operation, with Putin and his military’s credibility totally in question. So much so, that countries and their leaders who bought the story of the Russian stallion are now trying to figure out if its future is at a racetrack or a glue factory. So far there have been no calls for jockeys.
Meanwhile, because of the brilliant play by the United States in releasing Putin’s plans and intentions, not only does Putin believe the US is in his room, halfway around the world Xi believes the same. This buys Taiwan more time but also creates challenges for Xi with his own people, which is Xi’s greatest fear (and threat). One should now look for how Moscow will try and exploit that opening.
As vast portions of the world are consumed by conflict, the entire planet is concerned (or should be) about the growing climate crisis. Typhoons and tropical storms are getting larger, lasting longer and are increasingly more powerful. Standing apart from the rains and flooding are the ever-growing numbers of wildfires. Wildfires need a global compact that transcends the threats presented by Moscow and Beijing. Our collective focus must turn to new technologies for fire detection, suppression, and containment. Super AI also is needed to identify and predict conditions-based probability of fires and to pre-position suppression and containment capabilities.
While our world often feels saturated in worst-case scenarios, this formerly youthful optimist has become an elder statesman of hope. I am fortunate enough to advise the next generation of problem solvers — a new breed of “first-responders” who are quite literally running towards these issues, wielding innovation, science, and technology to mitigate or prevent ever increasing natural disasters. If we want to be a part of this solution, we cannot allow endless debate and discord to slow our response to climate change-related events that wait for no one.
Together, we can accomplish anything.
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In the meantime, I hope the rest of the year finds you, your family and friends with all the health and happiness you desire.
Stay safe and healthy.
Flatten the curve (Get the JAB and the Boosters),
Cheers,
John
Bridge the Divide
