GLOBAL TOUR

So far, the big story of 2008 is the number of big stories.

No mater where you stand in politics you have to give these first four months a credit. They’ve seen powerful paradigms shaken by human actions.

As far as Democracy is concerned – at least for international viewers – China’s atrocities have been exposed in a way the government never thought they could be, eclipsing what was supposed to be the new "China’s way of life" to the world.

The Olympics will fortunately help to expose it a little more.

(If sports can help, the next big global sport event is in South Africa, 2010. Does it ring a bell about how can we punish countries that doesn’t match minimum human right standards?!)

You can never forget that Cuba’s president first name is no longer Fidel (and that is older than 1968!).

Even using an Italian version of the “yes, we can” mantra the left lost for younger looking Berlusconi.

America are starting to realize that it’s urgent that they go green – coast to coast. Even Bush’s ally FOX News is already dedicating big space in the headlines for Climate Change.

No news from Kenya, but oppositionist can still win the elections in Zimbabwe. They’ve already won big in Paraguay and Australia.

In Venezuela they didn’t lost ugly, but Brazil – where a first time elected oppositionist president has the best approval rates in his 5 years in power – is heading for key local elections.

If in November the Americans don’t elect one of the most liberal - in the American way for the term - candidates in modern history (whether it’s Clinton or Obama), a big change will happen in the Democratic party.

A ballot here, a ballot there, and many other countries had, are having or will have deciding elections on the upcoming months.

But as much as Democracy remains as the main first step for effective change:

- We can say we’re near to a ("Chinaless") world consensus on Climate Change – even Bush’s candidate says that it’s for real! – at the same time the way we use bio fuels that some say is co-responsible for a Global Food Crisis.

- Violence hasn’t stopped in Sudan and in Latin America. Capitanized by Brazil, the region is still deeply underachieving.

- Not without many challenges, Africa is constantly improving, under the rules of one woman/man, one vote.

- Green Collar Jobs are being talked about intelligent way to reduce the gap among marginalized communities.

Veltroni lost the elections but the “Si puo fare” (“yes we can” in Italian) gain many votes even in Italy’s Byzantine political system

- With the credit crisis in the USA capitalism has a chance to revaluate some principles and maybe improve to the 21^st Century Global Market.

Challenges get more diverse and everybody get older. But there is a strong feeling that a more globally connected humanity can dialogue and amplify voices and solve crisis like Climate, Food, Youth Education for Jobs that improve life quality and human develop.

From Tibet's mountains to small dusty towns in the Americas.

-- Rodrigo Silva de Paula