PATIALA – Renowned world scholar Dr. Sawraj Sngh gave a talk “East-West relations need to be redefined” to the Senior citizens’ Club Patiala on last week.
Dr. Sawraj Singh said that the basis of East-West relations has changed because of the two major trends of today’s world which are the rise of the East and the decline of the West. This situation has created the necessity of redefining relations between them. He said that the balance of power continues to shift from the West to the East.
There are two major aspects in the shift of balance of power, economic and military.
He said that China has become the major economic power of the world. This fact is proven by China becoming the manufacturing hub of the world and by its growing share of the world trade.
Russia is becoming the leading military power of the world. This fact is proven by the two military victories it scored in Europe, the most important region as far as balance of power is concerned, the first in Georgia and the second in Ukraine.
Russia has again shown its mettle in Syria by attacking the IS. He said that the main reason for the rise of the East and decline of the West is the superiority of the eastern philosophy.
The west has been emphasizing individualism while the East has always stressed collectivism. The West has followed absolutism which translates into intolerance of other’s views. On the other hand, East has followed relativism, which promotes tolerance and pluralism.
Absolutism breeds arrogance while relativism promotes humility. Dr. Sawraj Singh concluded that relations between the East and the West should be based upon equality and mutual respect.
d Old Massett Village Council,” Chin said.
But Kimball Davidson, a candidate who was trying to unseat Rea, said the Premier’s surprise visit and the grant she announced on Nov. 26 unfairly helped his rival.
“I would consider it political interference,” Davidson said before Monday’s vote. “It’s in Bruce Clark’s best interest if Ken Rea becomes chief councillor again.”
Davidson, who got 117 votes to Rea’s 159, is opposed to the business deal between OMVC and Clark’s company, Broadwing Renewables Inc. and instead favours OMVC working in partnership with the Council of Haida Nation (CHN) to develop a wind farm.
Davidson said the school grant is curious because Chief Matthews Elementary School is on reserve lands, and is therefore a federal responsibility, and because two expansion studies have been done in the past 10 years with federal funds.
“I was kind of shocked that Christy Clark would come up here just to say, ‘Hey, we’re going to give you some money,’” Davidson said. “I think it all has to do with her brother.”
