Patriarch Bartholomew Gives Keynote Address at International Ecological Symposium

On 5 June 2018,His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew gave the keynote address at the International Ecological Symposium "Toward a Greener Attica:Preserving the Planet and Protecting its People" at the Acropolis Museum in Athens.The Symposium runs from 5-8 June in The Saronic Islands of Greece.Participating in the discussions are theologians,scientists,political and business leaders,and journalists worldwide.The aim of the Symposium is to explore the pressing environmental problems of the region and its lands;and to examine the connections between the ecology and economy-especially in the context of critical social and environmental challenges that we face today.*
Among those participating are:
Gayle Woloschak,Northwestern University;Juliet Eilperin,The Washington Post;Raj Patel,author and activist;His Eminence Metropolitan John of Pergamon (Ecumenical Patriarchate),eminent theologian;Constantine Triantafillou,International Orthodox Christian Charities;John Cardinal Olorunfemi Onaigekan,Roman Catholic Archbishop of Abuja,Nigeria;Rt.Rev. Marc Andrus,Episcopal Bishop,Diocese of California;Konstantina E. Botsiou,Associate Professor of Modern History and International Politics,University of the Pelopennese;Peter Bouteneff,St.Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary;Tamara Grdzelidze,Ambassador of the Republic of Georgia to the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta;Sister Nectaria McLees,editor of Road to Emmaus:A Journal of Orthodox Faith and Culture,Serbian Orthodox nun;Marlise Simons,The New York Times; and Olav Fyske Tveit,General Secretary,World Council of Churches.*
Sponsors of the Symposium,besides the Ecumenical Patriarchate,include:
Holy Vatopedi Monastery,Mt.Athos,Greece;TITAN Company (Greece) S.A.;Southern New Hampshire University;IMERYS Industrial Minerals Greece S.A.;and Kyvernitis Travel S.A.*
Here are some of Patriarch Bartholomew's thoughts from his address:
The ecological crisis has revealed that our world constitutes a seamless whole,that our problems are universally shared.This means that no initiative or institution,no nation or corporation,neither science nor technology,are in a place to respond to the ecological crisis alone,without working closely together.*
The destruction of the natural environment can only be reversed through a radical change of our perspective towards nature that results from a radical change of our self-understanding as human beings.*
For the Orthodox Church,creation care-the preservation of nature and the protection of all people-emanates from the essence of our faith.Any kind of alienation between human beings and nature is a distortion of Christian theology and anthropology. *
May this symposium be an opportunity for inspiration,conversation and transformation.Our aim is to advance a collaborative response to the ecological crisis while advocating for a sustainable planet and socuial justice for humanity as a sacred legacy for all people,especially our children

The China Trade:Outlook For Equities

The last four years,stocks have done pretty well,but with volatility,according to Chris Blum,head of Global Equities at JP Morgan Private Bank.The volatility will be much less than in the last couple of years.Global coordinated central bank action will lower volatility and get people into equities.
People expect a 15-20% pullback,but those days are history.They will be in the mid-single digits.The key is that people have rules and follow them when things get tough.
We like China.That equities market has lagged the US by 30%.China has a much better balance sheet as a country.They are deficient in human rights.As it relates to fostering growth,I think it is a fantastic system.They reach decisions behind closed doors and implement them.
Citigroup says Chinese stocks will beat those of the G20 in 2013.The Shanghai stock index has risen 3.4%,the most since June 2012.
China is burning as much coal as the rest of the world combined,notes The Washington Post.The HSBC China PMI shows manufacturing expanding at the fastest pace in two years.
iShares FTSE China 25 Index Fund(FXI)

Author:How To End the Euro-Zone Crisis

Scholar,journalist and author Sebastian Mallaby,Director of the Center for Geoeconomic Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations,thinks the most plausible route to end the crisis is the issuance of a euro bond.German leadership is complacent over its own good economy.We are in a real cliff situation.The leaders are not there yet mentally.
You need to really shock the system and get growth back.High bond yields don't seem to be enough of a shock.It's up to the political leadership,not the European Central Bank.If Greece leaves the Euro-zone,there's nothing the ECB can do.
Mr.Mallaby is the author of  "More Money Than God,"a book about hedge funds.It's a crowded,more competitive space.Hedge funds haven't done well during the crisis,he feels.Money market funds have pulled back their European exposure,but there is this confidence factor that is affecting U.S. performance-through the crisis' affect on China being a worry,for instance.
Mr.Mallaby has also written "The World's Banker" and "After Apartheid:the Future of South Africa."He was a longtime journalist with the Economist and is a columnist for The Washington Post.