The best-known and best-preserved section of The Great Wall if China was built in the 14th through 17th centuries A.D., during the Ming dynasty—more than two thousand years after the first walls were built.
The cause of the fall of a civilization occurres when the cultural elite became a parasitic elite.
Here’s what three of the experts have to say:
- Edward Gibbons in The Decline of the Roman Empire wrote, “The decline of Rome was the natural and inevitable effect of immoderate greatness. Prosperity ripened the principle of decay…”
- Arnold J. Toynbee in his A study of History wrote, “The cause of the fall of a civilization occurred when the cultural elite became a parasitic elite.”
- Jeffrey A. McNeely suggested, “A review of historical evidence shows that past civilizations have tended to over-exploit their forests and that such abuse of important resources has been a significant factor in the decline of the over-exploiting society.”
By 1960, the combination of World War II and the massive emigration westward left East Germany with only 61% of its population of working age, compared to 70.5% before the war. The loss was disproportionately heavy among professionals: engineers, technicians, physicians, teachers, lawyers and skilled workers. The direct cost of manpower losses to East Germany (and corresponding gain to the West) has been estimated at $7 billion to $9 billion, with East German party leader Walter Ulbricht later claiming that West Germany owed him $17 billion in compensation, including reparations as well as manpower losses. In addition, the drain of East Germany’s young population potentially cost it over 22.5 billion marks in lost educational investment. The brain drain of professionals had become so damaging to the political credibility and economic viability of East Germany that the re-securing of the German communist frontier was imperative.
The barrier was built slightly inside East Berlin or East German territory to ensure that it did not encroach on West Berlin at any point. Later, it was built up into the Wall proper, the first concrete elements and large blocks being put in place on 17 August. During the construction of the Wall, National People’s Army (NVA) and Combat Groups of the Working Class (KdA) soldiers stood in front of it with orders to shoot anyone who attempted to defect. Additionally, chain fences, walls, minefields and other obstacles were installed along the length of East Germany’s western border with West Germany proper. A huge no man’s land was cleared to provide a clear line of fire at fleeing refugees.
Some 200 pilgrims from France and Italy had already arrived on the tourist island 500 kilometres (310 miles) south of Tunis and 300 others were expected on Thursday, chief organiser Rene Trabelsi told AFP.
Hundreds of Tunisian Jews were also expected to participate in the two-day pilgrimage under tight security.
Festivities around the annual pilgrimage to the synagogue on the island of Djerba were cut back last year as Tunisia struggled to stabilise in the wake of the protests that forced former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to flee after 23 years in power.
In April Trabelsi said a successful 2012 pilgrimage would “show the world that Tunisians accept difference and that the new Tunisia is not as Islamist and radical as some think”.
“It’s a country that respects religious minorities as always,” he added.
The Jewish community in Muslim Tunisia has seen its numbers dwindle from 100,000 in 1956, when the country won independence from France, to around 1,000 currently.
- Postcard from Israel – Tsfat (cifwatch.com)
- Dry winds expected to make for dangerous Lag Ba’omer (timesofisrael.com)
- Israeli Lag Ba’Omer Bar-B-Que (ronit18.wordpress.com)
Magatte Wade was born in Senegal and educated in France. Her first company, Adina World Beverages, was founded in her home kitchen and was originally based on indigenous Senegalese beverage recipes using organic ingredients.
The company is now the most widely distributed U.S. consumer brand founded by an African entrepreneur. The World Economic Forum named her one of their Young Global Leaders for 2011, and she is currently launching her second company, Tiossano, producing luxury organic skin-care products based on indigenous Senegalese skin care recipes.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)
- Looking at TEDx Warwick 2012 (tubblog.co.uk)
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