In today’s globalized world, the mobility and interactions between citizens from the various countries of the Mediterranean and their various cultures, languages, ethnic groups and religions are increasing as a result of the growing economic exchanges and trade, old and new migratory flows and more significant exchanges through education and leisure as well as tourism. One the one hand, these increased interactions between different cultures are an enrichment and can lead to better knowledge of each other. The European Union always supported the unity in the diversity, and I believe that such an approach could bring positive results also within EUROMED area.

At a congressional hearing this week, James Hansen, the NASA climate scientist who exactly twenty years ago alerted Congress and the world to the dangers of global warming, compared the chief executives of Big Oil to the tobacco moguls who denied that nicotine is addictive or that there's a link between smoking and cancer. Hansen, who the administration has tried again and again to silence, said these barons of black gold should be tried for committing crimes against humanity and nature in opposing efforts to deal with global warming.

Americans are fed up with this war that has cost the lives of 4000 plus U.S. military men and women, maimed and wounded many more, the final bill for which is estimated to be over $3 trillion (that's about $10,000 for each U.S. citizen), but the presumptive Republican nominee for president, Senator John McCain, says the U.S. could be in Iraq for a 100 years.