The Year of Living Dangerously

Those of us who read the news and watch for these kinds of signs already knew this, but I still found some of the statements to be very telling and it ties into another story I will add at the bottom.

First, ANALYSIS-After the crisis, a worldwide rise in unrest?

This is an article posted today on the Reuters Africa website. They’re coming to the same conclusions we have; that as countries’ misery indices go up, so will frustration and the desire to riot and overthrow governments. A volatile combination of high inflation, less access to food and internet encouragement are lending their hand at rousing the masses, especially young people.

"Two crises are happening at the same time - which is unprecedented I think," said Joel Hirst, International affairs fellow at the US-based Council for Foreign Relations.

"An economic disaster and 'readjustment' of the developed world while the developing world fights for their freedoms. Add in there the oil/energy price, which could be seen as the link between the two, and it makes for a perfect storm."

The article speculates about the EU, China and the U.S.

“Certainly, the ability to guarantee food has long been core to regime survival and many analysts see governments ramping up purchases since Tunisia's revolt, again pushing prices higher.

"Food hoarding may continue as the general public and governments try to build inventories to protect against future shortages due to political upheaval or even a war," said Ana Armstrong, chair of fund manager Distinction Asset Management, warning that this could also cut growth and leave policymakers with difficult choices over what to do with interest rates.”

Whether or not uprisings will succeed;

“In Western democracies, few see unrest ousting whole systems -- but it could bring down governments, make structural economic reforms impossible and drive populist policies.
In others, as in Egypt can Tunisia, if attempts to placate with handouts and increased openness fail, it may come down to how harshly security forces are willing to crackdown.”

You can read it all here,
http://af.reuters.com/article/libyaNews/idAFLDE71R0NO20110228?sp=true

Speaking of populists, in an interesting if not foretelling speech, Farrakhan: Mideast uprisings will come to US

Louis Farrakhan is telling Americans to expect the rioting to come to the U.S. He is a friend of Moammar Gadhafi, and warns that we will soon find the same uprising on our doorstep.

“The keynote address, titled “God will send saviours,” capped a weekend of workshops focused on health, preparing for natural disasters and unidentified flying objects. The Nation of Islam believes in a UFO called “the wheel” or “the Mother Plane.’”

Read about it here-
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/news/local/chibrknews-farrakhan-mideast-uprisings-will-come-to-us-20110227,0,1665375.story

While things continue to spiral toward its inevitable end, believers need to stay focused on our true Savior and lead other people to His saving grace. Jesus is the only One who can truly help us stay steadfast.