5/19/2023

My Friend & POTUS, JRB,

            I had a lovely evening last night with 2 colleagues who are retiring. We reminisced about our 20 years together building the UCD School of Education. Bittersweet.

            On the way home, one asked me to tell you to use the 14th Amendment to deal with this debt limit issue. She’s appalled at the situation.

            Did you find some time for talking at the G7 amidst all the photo ops? I’ve seen you laying a wreath at the Peace Memorial Park, lined up in front of the Itsukushima Shrine, at a “working dinner” & shaking hands with other leaders. Do the photographers ever leave you alone to meet? If so, is there true dialog or do you each read remarks & call it good? 

I hope you get down to details such as the return of more than 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been forcibly taken to Russia during the war. You might also express gratitude that the Pope has sent envoys to meet with VVP & VOZ. I know that you won’t acknowledge that Brazilian President Lula has a point when he accuses the G7 of encouraging war, but I hope you can make the point that WINTA!

            What do you think of Giorgia Meloni? I was disappointed to see that the only female leader in the group was so conservative in her politics. I’m especially troubled by her stance on LGBTQ folk. She’s dealing with a terrible flood in northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region which received half their average annual rainfall in just 36 hours. The # of extreme weather events in Italy last summer is 5 times the # recorded a decade ago. I hope she has a plan to deal with this.

            Speaking of extreme weather events, please bring up the topic of Cyclone Mocha & the plight of the Rohingya refugees in its path. The UNHCR says the junta has refused to allow it to distribute health supplies in Sittwe, where an estimated 90% of Rohingya homes have been destroyed. Folks there need help. Please see what you can do.

            BYBS,