WHesterN Hemisphere

  I seldom have a hard time figuring out what to write about. Usually it is more a question of having too many topics of interest, and not enough time to dedicate to this blog. Life is busy and mine particularly so. And I like it that way. But this time around, I seem to be somewhat stuck. And it is not exactly that there aren’t interesting subjects – there is much that is commanding my attention, for instance… 

The failure at Doha weighed heavily on my thoughts – particularly if you realized that before it all fell apart, Brazil had come to an agreement with the EU. After years and years of impasse, finally these two sides agreed because the EU managed to lure Brazil in with some concessions on increased quotas and an agreeable tariffs schedule on ethanol imports. This is a case where an idea I have been developing in my writing for a number of years – that Brazil’s strategic interests have more in common with those of the EU, US and Canada and less with those of Argentina, Venezuela, and Mexico – is apparently correct.  

And there are the global energy markets that appear to me to be moving more and more to a regional mode – with big oil producers pushing their weight around.  The current Russia and Georgia altercation certainly be viewed from that lens. This is   something I am writing about on a paper commissioned by the CIC which is due in mid-September.    

There is more. While the world is paying attention to everything but not Hugo Chavez, he is – surprisingly for such a lover of the spotlight – working quietly to cement his energy agreement with countries of the Caribbean and Central America, through the PetroCaribe. He is also appearing in places where one wonders how welcome he is – such as a recent meeting between Brazilian president Lula and Argentina’s Christina Kirchner.  

All those subjects would make great articles… if I only felt like writing an article about these topics. But, the sun is shining and it’s unusually warm for Canada. . It makes me feel like I should tell you more about listening to fantastic music in a string of festivals, sitting on the grass, visiting with dear friends, watching the kids – who have grown like weeds – play. Or tell you about why people in these parts of the world take their summers so seriously… after all, it is “the dog days of summer.” Hot and sultry – just  how a Brazilian likes it!  I will write those articles, but later…when inside is the best place to be!