Subjects presented in order with the secretary's recorded introduction
Introduction
Recorded Introduction:
Link to alternative site for immediate play [ Don.s Intro. ASC Audio_25 05/16]
Audio_25 05/16
Present 1.
A doco that questioned the commerce, politics and struggle, agreed strategy concocted in what appeared to be a internationalists "tri-lateral" post-colonial carve up of Central Africa. China portrayed as benign participant by putting development into the region where they have been accepted by African government oligarchs, China in return granted concessions to resource extraction. Narration proposed intervention in the case of Kenya when its military entered Somalia to resist Alshabaab, this action taken with American and French encouragement. [Ed. Wheeling and dealing in whose interest? China's?!?!] The Al Jezeera presenter interviewed numerous people with assumed understanding of the politics and international interest in the region to complement the narration.
Educated Africans spoken to, a cross section of native people of representative countries, seemed to understand the situation as a low order predicament, given time could be resolved (or would be ...) with favourable outcomes. However it seems a existential perplexity for me -- my formal education ended at the secondary level -- exists, what was meant by "externalise" (this from a African journalist) the status quo will remain, only after "internalising" will Africans look to the future and "innovate" according to those asked to commentate?!?! Resulting from the Brexit outcome the "perplexity" seems resolved (for me) -- club members of varying educated standards higher and possibly lower than myself -- with England and Wales "internalising" and Scotland and Wales "externalising"?!?! I/we look to Don for future definitive information, and probable he to a less "political correct" America, Al Jazeera etc. for detail.
[Ed. At another time club members saw evidence of Chinese co-habitation in Africa then engaged in numerous infrastructure projects].
Link to alternative site for immediate play of discussion following.
712_0179 05/16
Present 2.
Gloom with charts, S. and P. graph of 500 with companies taking advantage of negative to low interest rates. Another chart NASDAQ comparing relationship of indices recent past and current. The presenter's intention to forecast potential for another GFC should the assessed "bubble" burst. Terms as "tapering QE", "Ponzi scheme" understood to mean eventual run-down of fiat money with rates pushed up -- "Bubble Burst" (again as in 2008). The reinsurance sector we (club members) told gold is the preferred store of value with a possible crash, made more pronounced by derivatives sliding to the "south" pushing up gold price. Another graph shows a upward glitch in US employment, as a pointer to economic improvement questioned by those providing indicators and comment.
Terms club members are familiar with are bitcoin, crypt o-currency and start-coin, maybe more. However new terms "Block Chain" and "Block Chain technology" introduced. When financiers and entrepreneurs gather on a Caribbean island earlier this year to consider associated matters (Cyber World exchange). Reminiscent of of a island meeting that took place about 100 years back, and being told (within this present) the initiative is to assist the Third World -- Maybe the interviewer presenter suddenly had a thought rush amounting to a realisation "burst". But therein may be a answer to Don's query concerning the abrupt end to what was a Q and Ans session, interspersed with the presenters elaboration, this between two remote participants.
Link to alternative site for immediate play of discussion following.
712_0180 05/16
CONCLUSION with a vote of thanks for the secretary evenings events.
