Time of Introspection

Dear Friends,

This season is a time of introspection for me, as well as for getting together with friends and family.

When I look back at this New Millennium, I recall how nervous everyone was about New Year's Eve 2000. Would computers crash? Electricity shut down? Planes drop out of the sky? Rumors abounded.

Nothing happened.

But 6 years later we see that the world has changed -- radically. Lots of anger: 9/11; thousands killed in Iraq; 80% of South America democratically electing presidents who ran on strong anti-US platforms. . . on and on.

And also an awakening. People are becoming more conscious -- in profound ways never before witnessed, at least not in my life-time. Something powerful is in the air.

A few memorable highlights from just the last couple of months of 2005 should give us all cause to rejoice and to feel our gratitude for the courageous people who have and are taking action:

The World Trade Organization (WTO) essentially fell apart at its mid December 2005 meetings in Hong Kong, and the corporatocracy was dealt a serious blow, largely because of opposition that began with the 1999 Seattle protests, continued through Cancun 2003, and to this most recent Hong Kong meeting. Led by those amazing Korean farmers, the developing countries stood up to the empire.

We honored Eugene McCarthy who died in December. He and all the people who voted for him primarily because they opposed the Vietnam War taught us a lesson that is pertinent to these current times. They and the inspiration they provided brought down one of the most powerful presidents in US history, LBJ; ended the war; and then forced another president, Richard Nixon, to resign.

Most Americans had no idea that Blacks were relegated to the back of the bus in many parts of the South, until one brave woman made an issue of it 50 years ago, in December 1955. Rosa Parks taught us that one person can change the way an entire nation views itself. Her act also led to new policies towards and major changes in South Africa and many other countries.

A slew of Hollywood movies with top-notch directors and actors have spoken out about the corporatocracy and reached millions of viewers around the world, including: “The Constant Gardner”, “Good Night, Good Luck”, and “Syriana”. The bookstores are full of books and the internet with websites that make it impossible for any American to claim that real information is not available, despite the corruption of the mainstream media. Every day I go to www.democracynow.org and rejoice that reporters like Amy Goodman do their jobs so very well, and with such courage.

As we participants move into 2006, let us recognize the power that each of us holds.  Eugene M, Rosa P, Amy G, the Korean farmers at the WTO meetings and those directors and actors are people like you and me. Let us each make a commitment to channel our emotions into positive actions. Let us create a just and compassionate world.

John Perkins
author, Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

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Confessions of an Economic Hit Man --- now in PAPERBACK
with new material. Plume/Penguin DEC 27, 2005




   

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man - HARD COVER
New York Times Bestseller - Berrett-Koehler 2004

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