End of Decade, Start of 21st Century and Red Moon

When centuries change, there is about a twenty year period of transition from one to the other. The twentieth century didn’t really get going in music, technology, government and life until the end of World War I.  Indeed, the war was fought with 19th century morality and weapons. When it ended, the twentieth century began.  That transition took about thirty years.

The twentieth century began to end when the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics collapsed in 1992. Another transition began.

The twenty first century has only now begun to bloom…showing itself in the debates over climate, nuclear weapons, and even indigenous peoples…the last remaining colonized peoples in the world.

For nearly twenty-five years work was being done to find acceptable language for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Finally in September 2007, after much delay the UN General Assembly adopted the measure and three years later, the United States joined more than 147 states lending support.

During the transition to the 21st century the interests and concerns of indigenous peoples became increasingly part of the global dialog aimed at improving the human condition. The stage is set for the 21st century to begin in earnest.  All of the human family must now sit at the table to find and agree to best solutions to challenges that threaten all of humanity.

The solstice at the beginning of this winter has notified us that a new era has begun.  The “Red Moon” reminds us all that we as human beings can decided to act better, but that all decisions are made in the stars. We must act better.