In researching the first chapter of Canada’s Excellent Future entitled 'The World We’re In', I was reading some of the pieces in the book Canadian Political Thought edited by H.D. Forbes.

Two speeches by John A. MacDonald and Wilfred Laurier were a fascinating time machine back to a time when Canada was making itself and reflecting on the choices it had to create the conditions for best in class outcomes.

Fast forward to China today where the risk is that without political reform China will suffer the fate of Russia, Turkey, Argentina, and Libya, and hit a ‘great wall’.

Articles also on how corruption has derailed the Panjabi economic train, the hard work in rebuilding Otsuchi, Hans Rosling on what the world’s population could look like in 2050, the importance of smiling, and sitting, a 21st century Yukon gold rush, breaking up Pakistan, the mature discussion over the US and China’s economic relationship, and bin Laden’s 6 wives.

Wall Street Journal -- The Role of Politics in Achieving Rich-Nation Status
China is making great progress in lifting its people from the ranks of the world’s poorest.

 

Related.

Wall Street Journal -- Punjab, Star of India's Rise, Faces Steep Fall
India's northern state of Punjab was once a symbol of the nation's economic progress, its advances in agriculture lauded world-wide as a spectacular feat that made India self-sufficient in food production.

No longer on the front pages, the aftermath of 3.11 in Japan, is about rebuilding but who will stay? Thanks to Jeremy of Tokyo for sending this in.

New York Times -- Before It Can Rebuild, Japanese Town Must Survive
The crumpled cars have reddened with rust, and spring rains and a warming sun have left the ashes and mud hardened into an earthen plate of armor.

Quote worth quoting.

“But town officials say they are overwhelmed by more immediate demands, like relocating the 2,247 residents who still sleep on the floors of school gymnasiums and other cramped refugee centers to longer-term temporary housing, or finding the 1,044 who remain missing in this town, which had 15,239 residents before the tsunami. So far, the bodies of 680 people have been found.”

Hans Rosling on the growth of the world’s population since 1960. The richer we get the slower populations will grow. Thanks to Robert of Victoria for sending this in.

youtube -- Hans Rosling: On Global Population Growth
The world's population will grow to 9 billion over the next 50 years -- and only by raising the living standards of the poorest can we check population growth.

And sticking with Ted, the power of smiling. Thanks to David of Victoria for sending this in.

ted.com -- Ron Gutman: The Hidden Power of Smiling

Another lesson from Winston Churchill.

Globe and Mail -- The Winston Churchill Workout
Winston Churchill took to smoking cigars at age 20, appropriately enough in Cuba, during the Spanish-Cuban War in 1895.

From the outhouse to the penthouse, Yukon’s 21st century gold rush. Thanks to Charley of Toronto for sending this in.

New York Times – Gold Mania in the Yukon
When I first met Shawn Ryan and Cathy Wood, in 2005, they were living with their two young children in a small cabin outside Dawson City, at the northernmost end of the paved road system in Canada’s Yukon Territory.

Lawrence Solomon argues that Pakistan would be better broken up into four different countries that reflect its real local identities. Thanks to David of London for sending this in.

National Post – Pakistan Would Work Better in Pieces
Pakistan would be a more stable and peaceful place if its four component nations were unstitched from one another.

A very useful fact based discussion of the US-China economic relationship. Note the discussion on the currency.

Brookings – The U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue: A Preview of Key Economic Issues
Expectations for the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue meeting are muted—perhaps a good sign as it shows a maturing in the U.S.-China relationship.

 

The bin Laden family tree.

New York Times -- Bin Laden as Patriarch
When a man stalks the world as a mass killer, it distracts from the ordinary interest we might otherwise take in the mundane details of his life.