Category Archives: Uncategorized

The consensus in favour of open economies is cracking. Is globalisation no longer a good thing? Oct 1st 2016 Economist There is nothing dark, still less satanic, about the Revolution Mill in Greensboro, North Carolina. The tall yellow-brick chimney stack, … Continue reading →

Why they’re wrong – Globalisation’s critics say it benefits only the elite. In fact, a less open world would hurt the poor most of all Oct 1st 2016 Economist In September 1843 the Liverpool Mercury reported on a large free-trade … Continue reading →

LONDON TO GIBRALTAR This winter’s trip promises to be my biggest adventure yet – Morocco to Cape Town overland – 16 countries over 5½ months – most on the dodgy side. I met a young guy in Jakarta 2 years … Continue reading →

Take care of Russia – But Mr Putin is not setting about it in the best way Oct 22nd 2016 Economist When Boris Yeltsin walked out of his office for the last time, at the end of 1999, he famously … Continue reading →

Young people are finding new ways of signalling dissent Oct 22nd 2016 Economist In the best Patisseries in St Petersburg”, “12 Crazy Photographs of Famous Sites”, “A South Korean Erotic Thriller”. These are just some of the main headlines colourfully … Continue reading →

Adventures abroad boost public support at home Oct 22nd 2016 Economist Russia has no intention of going to war with America or its allies. Instead it will act through non-military means “to undermine the general political and strategic potential of … Continue reading →

How Mr Putin keeps the country under control Oct 22nd 2016 Economist Mystery, miracle and authority are three powers alone able to hold the conscience of people captive. Mr Putin has mastered all three. Yet none of these is as … Continue reading →

Political reforme is an essential prerequisite to a flourishing economy Oct 22nd 2016 – Economist Just across the mighty Volga river from Sviyazhsk, an island fortress built by Ivan the Terrible in 1552 to help him conquer the Khanate of … Continue reading →

When the Soviet Union collapsed 25 years ago, Russia looked set to become a free-market democracy. Why did that not happen? And how much of it is Mr Putin’s fault? Oct 22nd 2016 Economist A patchy knowledge of the coup … Continue reading →

I don’t know about you, but I searched for a long time for the best way to carry significant volumes of water when kayaking. The container must conform to the shape of the kayak and then must collapse completely when … Continue reading →