Quick hits and pink picks: questions and answers

-Is the localization of supply chains history repeating (see: early 20th century)?

-The 'democratization' of the human genome?

-Is the US really more dependent on China?

-Who loves nuclear energy?

-Is Berlusconi the world's biggest party crasher (you might remember his G20 performance)?

-Will Arsenal win the Prem?

Early Impressions of the Italian G8

Wait, they still have a G8, you ask? Yes indeed, and the Italians are hosting this year's leaders summit in L'Aquila. Some initial news & reaction:

- President Hu of China has returned home from the G8 earlier than expected in order to deal with the unrest in the Xinjiang region. This of courses raises the question of why he was there in the first place, since China is not a member of the G8. Nor, for that matter, are most of the other 39 (thirty-nine!) heads of state, government and international organizations that are attending what Quentin Peel is calling "a monstrous gathering of literally thousands of officials and security staff and spin-doctors, not to mention the media circus that follows them."

In my view, the G8 has merit in its capacity to bring the leaders together, away from their staffers (and finance ministers) to discuss shared priorities. It is possible, albeit rare, to see real progress out of these fireside chats - but the Italians appear to have placed the emphasis on style over substance.

- The G8 aid priorities appear to be.... Africa? no. South America? no. The G8? yes. I know the G8 has promised in the past to help the Highly-Indebted Poor Countries (HIPCs), but Italy only meets most of the HIPC criteria (country, highly-indebted), not all of them.

- No big surprise here, but the focus of the G8 will be likely be on the economic crisis and "exit strategies" at the expense of other priorities like the environment.

UPDATE: Simon Johnson provides 3 reasons why the G8 leaders summit is becoming anarchronistic. His points are well taken, and he rightly acknowledges that the sub-leader-level meetings still have a purpose

Friday fun: Speak softly in the House of Windsor

The Queen finds Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi rather annoying.

Berlusconi is hilarious. By all accounts, the guy shows up late to the G20 (prior conference commitment in Rome), hangs around with little impact, slides his way into what is surely the most widely circulated photo of the conference and then annoys the Queen.

And this guy hosts the G8 in July. I can't wait.