海角大神

2021
January
26
Tuesday

Monitor Daily Podcast

January 26, 2021
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Mark Sappenfield
Senior global correspondent

The future of free-market capitalism is in the news a lot lately. It has created unprecedented wealth for humanity, lifting billions out of poverty. But its more rapacious elements are driving humanity toward environmental disaster. What happens when human economic progress appears to be pitted against the need for natural balance?听

Enter the doughnut 鈥 a Goldilocks economic principle that aims for the sweet spot where free-market capitalism drives wealth but not excess. Amsterdam is one of a handful of cities worldwide experimenting with doughnut economics. In one shop, it means a tax for items not produced sustainably. For one city program, it meant spending money to refurbish old computers for students in lockdown rather than buying new ones 鈥 saving waste.

The idea has plenty of critics on the right and left,saying it neuters the power of the free market or doesn鈥檛 go far enough in striving for balance.But more important than a debate over its economic merits, perhaps, is the recognition of the need for new thinking between the extremes.听

The doughnut may or may not work, but it represents an attempt to reframe the question, and the pandemic has pushed many cities to recognize the need for fresh approaches. An Amsterdam city official听: 鈥淚 think in the darkest times, it鈥檚 easiest to imagine another world.鈥


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Today’s stories

And why we wrote them

We will be safe anywhere when we are safe everywhere. That pandemic truism underlines our interconnectedness 鈥 and why the moral question of who gets vaccines first is important to all.

Profile

Jim Bourg/REUTERS
Newly elected Rep. Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina speaks as supporters of President Donald Trump gather by the White House ahead of Mr. Trump's speech to contest congressional certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election, in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. The Republican congressman commended the crowd for having "some fight" in it.

For now, President Donald Trump鈥檚 loss has opened a yawning political void: Who will be the voice of the disaffected right? Rep. Madison Cawthorn has the ambition and personality to attempt it.

Sandra Sebastian/AP
Honduran migrants clash with Guatemalan soldiers in Vado Hondo, Guatemala, Jan. 17, 2021. Thousands of migrants crossed into Guatemala as part of an effort to form a new caravan to reach the U.S. border.

Now that President Trump is gone, Mexico and Guatemala will loosen borders, right? Actually, they may have reasons to stick with the new status quo, no matter who鈥檚 in the White House.

The world is wrestling with how best to keep the people delivering our food and packages safe during a pandemic. Russia鈥檚 new idea is a little bit ironic and perhaps holds some broader lessons.听

#TeamUp

Nemo Allen/Courtesy of The Museum of the City of New York
Callie O'Connor, collections assistant in the Museum of the City of New York鈥檚 Costume and Textiles Collection, stands among gowns worn by Marian Anderson, who broke a color barrier when she sang the national anthem at President Dwight Eisenhower鈥檚 second inauguration.

Truth has a way of making itself known. For years, Black women have used their fashion choices as a form of quiet activism, proclaiming their dignity without saying a word.听听


The Monitor's View

Reuters
Representatives of Turkey and Greece start bilateral talks on maritime disputes in Istanbul Jan. 25.

Just a few months ago, Turkey sent a research vessel into the territorial waters of Greece 鈥 accompanied by warships 鈥 to explore for undersea gas. When Greece responded with its own show of force, the two NATO allies almost came to blows. Their gunboats even collided. Since then, Turkey appears to have had a change of heart, driven in part by the European Union鈥檚 diplomacy toward its giant Middle Eastern neighbor.

On Jan. 25, Greece and Turkey held their first official talks in nearly five years. They also agreed to meet again in March to continue the 鈥渆xploratory鈥 dialogue over maritime claims in the eastern Mediterranean.

By some accounts, Turkey鈥檚 turnaround may be only temporary, compelled by a worsening economy and the election in the United States. President Joe Biden has referred to Turkish President Recep Tayyip听Erdo臒an as an 鈥渁utocrat鈥 who 鈥渕ust pay a price鈥 for his actions, such as his purchase of a Russian missile defense system. Mr. Biden鈥檚 Secretary of State says Turkey is only a 鈥渟o-called strategic partner.鈥

Another way to account for Turkey鈥檚 newfound friendliness is that the EU is relying on the diplomatic approach of German leader Angela Merkel. In dealing with troublesome neighbors such as Russia and Hungary, she often calls for 鈥渟tep by step鈥 moral persuasion rather than power plays and tough sanctions. She prefers negotiations that are a meeting of equals and more contemplative than contentious. 鈥淔ear is not a good adviser in politics,鈥 she says.

At her urging, the EU is pursuing a 鈥減ositive agenda鈥 with Turkey although one backed by talk of sanctions. One practical reason is that Turkey could again open its borders for migrants from the Mideast鈥檚 wars to enter Europe. Yet this 鈥渨eaponizing鈥 of refugees to get his way has backfired on Mr. Erdo臒an, delaying yet again his Muslim country鈥檚 hopes of joining the EU.

With the EU鈥檚 firm but patient approach, the Turkish leader may indeed be in a contemplative mood. The EU is Turkey鈥檚 No. 1 export partner and source of investment. With elections in two years, Mr. Erdo臒an needs the European market more than ever to reduce Turkey鈥檚 high unemployment.

At the least, he needs calm rather than confrontation with EU member Greece. As the EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell said of Turkey this month, 鈥淟ike tango, you need both sides to be good neighbors.鈥 For Ms. Merkel and the EU, that means somehow bringing out the good in Turkey. The talks with Greece show it is possible.


A 海角大神 Science Perspective

About this feature

Each weekday, the Monitor includes one clearly labeled religious article offering spiritual insight on contemporary issues, including the news. The publication 鈥 in its various forms 鈥 is produced for anyone who cares about the progress of the human endeavor around the world and seeks news reported with compassion, intelligence, and an essentially constructive lens. For many, that caring has religious roots. For many, it does not. The Monitor has always embraced both audiences. The Monitor is owned by a church 鈥 The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston 鈥 whose founder was concerned with both the state of the world and the quality of available news.

After months of being consumed by anger at a high-profile politician, a woman realized something had to change. Looking to Jesus鈥 example brought inspiration that replaced her hatred with peace and hope for the direction of her country overall.


A message of love

Niranjan Shrestha/AP
Members of the all-Nepalese mountaineering team, which became the first to scale the world's second-tallest mountain (K2) in winter, cheer as they arrive at Tribhuwan International airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Jan. 26, 2021. "Brother to brother, shoulder to shoulder, we walked together to the summit whilst singing the Nepali national anthem," wrote one of the climbers, Nirmal "Nims" Purja. "If we unite we can make anything possible!"
( The illustrations in today’s Monitor Daily are by Karen Norris and Jacob Turcotte. )

A look ahead

Thank you for joining us today. Please come back tomorrow when we鈥檒l have our story looking at whether the Capitol attack of Jan. 6 was an end of Trump-linked extremism or the beginning of a new movement.

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2021
January
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Tuesday

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