Health, work and peace
We do not win the lottery, but the important thing is to have health and work. And in these turbulent times in the world we should immediately add: peace. We can see in too many places in the world how, without peace, violence destroys health and work. And also with the family, peoples, institutions, coexistence and seriously threatens the survival of thousands of people.
And it is not exactly peace that prevails in several areas of the world where men and women of this world, as has unfortunately happened throughout history, are eager to kill each other and invent all kinds of useful devices to do so. The lack of peace destroys everything.
Whether in Ukraine or in the Middle East or in the Sahel and elsewhere in the world, like in a university in Prague. Yes, yes, in Europe, in Prague. Such execrable shootings do not happen only in the United States. Unfortunately. Violence, death and destruction at the end of a year 2023 where we are suffering from a serious threat of large-scale confrontation.
At the moment, we feel it directly in the shopping basket, in the price of energy, in mortgages or in the fall of employment, although it seems that the majority is determined to enjoy until the last moment. Tourism is overflowing, consumption is skyrocketing and the desire for fun and entertainment is exultant. All with many Christmas lights that enliven the atmosphere, boost the good spirits and in the cost of January we will see how we pay for the excesses.
International trade is going through difficult times because the Houthi terrorists in Yemen, those militias supported and financed by Iran for many years, and who may now be responding to the interests of their own agenda, have enough missiles and drones to attack large merchant ships in the Red Sea, on their way to the Suez Canal. They have caused several companies to cease their activity in those waters, ship insurances have doubled and there are already products and parts of all kinds and chips, which could become scarce in Europe.
Remember when a merchant ship was stranded blocking the Suez Canal for about 20 days and that was a big headache for everyone, well now the same thing could happen.
The U.S. has created an international coalition to ensure the safety of Red Sea shipping, which means that in addition to protecting ships, they may have to attack the Houthis to eliminate their threat. What does this situation imply? It is either attacking only the Houthis or whoever is supporting them such as Iran or whoever Putin's Russia may now be doing so. A decision that could lead to an escalation affecting the entire Middle East. Or the choice is to try to localize the focus and that's it.
By the way, Spain's change of position on this issue creates enormous and negative confusion among our partners and allies.
In the midst of this dangerous uncertainty, Israel continues with its offensive in Gaza against Hamas and there is talk of a future with the Palestinian National Authority as the legitimate governing institution of all Palestinians, including Gaza. Something that the international community as an active donor should have demanded many years ago.
Peace is the best lottery.