In recent speeches we have been underlying the importance of species altering demographic trends.

These include falling fertility rates, more people reaching the age of 65 living to 95, and distorted male-female imbalances due to the practice of aborting female fetuses and female infanticide.

This is changing the shape of the global population.

Articles also on hate crime, free speech, Australia’s one way bet, Greece’s debt history and possible exit, Egypt’s exploding crime rate, exposing Elizabeth May’s hollow victory, the good work of Koffi Annan, inflation and the Federal Reserve, and the differentiated impact of a rising Canadian dollar.

Interesting graphic of the age and gender shape of what the world’s population is likely to look like in 2100.

Economist – The World in 2100
THE world’s population will reach 7 billion by the end of October, according to the latest projections from the United Nations.

 

Deutsche Bank’s Global Strategist Sanjeev Sanyal discusses the importance of falling fertility rates and longer life expectancies on the policy debates to come.

Pdf below – The End of Population Growth

Richard Florida investigates the geography of hate in the United States and finds that racist groups tend to be where more people go to church, voted for John McCain and are poor. Go figure.

Atlantic – The Geography of Hate
With the death of Osama bin Laden, many believe that Al Quaeda was dealt a mortal blow.

Timothy Garten Ash points out that by denying Geert Wilders the right to say what he thinks about Islam or anything else is wrong and the better way is to maximize persuasion by free speech.

LA Times -- Geert Wilders and how to handle a gold-medal hypocrite
How can we best combat the anti-immigrant populists who are setting the political pace in many European countries?

Quote worth quoting.

“Mainstream politicians, intellectuals, journalists, businesspeople, sports heroes — all should mobilize to convince the public that so long as people abide by the ground rules of a free society, they have as much right to be full and equal citizens as anyone else, whether they be Muslim, Christian, atheist or Zoroastrian. And that we can make this work.”

Related. Australia’s big bet.

Bloomberg – Down-Under Hypocrites Bet All On China’s Boom -- All in.

The roots of the Greek crisis.

Globalist – The Historical Roots of Greece’s Debt Crisis
The debate about how to fix Greece's debt crisis is missing one important factor — the historical context behind the events.

Greek exit – a way out.

Project Syndicate – The Full Brady
Financial markets are increasingly certain that a Greek debt restructuring is coming, and European policymakers fear the worst. “In the worst case,” as Juergen Stark, a member of the European Central Bank board, has put it, “a debt restructuring of a eurozone member could put the consequences of Lehman’s bankruptcy in the shade.”

Nasty crime wave in Egypt.

New York Times -- Crime Wave in Egypt Has People Afraid, Even the Police
The neighbors watched helplessly from behind locked gates as an exchange of gunfire rang out at the police station.

We argued that the Green Party should have been allowed into the leader’s debate because although they did not have a seat in the House of Commons they did poll above 5% in the 2008 Federal Election. In the 2011 Federal Election they polled below 4% and elected one member. On that basis, they should not be allowed in but probably will.

Rex Murphy on the Green’s ‘un-historic’ performance.

National Post – Is That the Best the Greens Could Do?
People are using the word "historic" to describe the election of a Green party candidate to the House of Commons.

Kofi Annan’s big dream.

Financial Times – The Road to Redemption
The reception committee had been assembling for hours.

Quote worth quoting.

“His dream is to transform the lot of Africa’s smallholders so the world’s poorest continent can feed itself.”

Related.

Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
AGRA works to achieve a food secure and prosperous Africa through the promotion of rapid, sustainable agricultural growth based on smallholder farmers.

Worried about Ben, again.

Prudent Bear –A Year From Now, The 1970s Might Look Good
A few weeks ago, I compared Fed chairman Ben Bernanke to the Weimar Republic central banker Rudolf von Havenstein.

A rising currency’s differentiated impact.

Globe and Mail – Who Does Best When the Loonie Soars?
Whenever the Canadian dollar scales new heights – as it has with its recent foray into in the $1.05 (U.S.) range – the focus of concern lands in the same place: The factory floor.