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Wednesday, October 21th, 2026, 11am ET/ 5pm CET
We are seeing the disintegration of both the world order of the post-World War II period, and of the larger context of the demise of centuries of colonialism. Moreover, we’re at a phase of tumult, and economic and political breakdown, concentrated in the West, which cannot continue for long. “Either there will be a new paradigm, or World War III,” was the evaluation today by Helga Zepp-LaRouche, leader of the Schiller Institutes, in her review of current events.
We see “symptoms” of the disintegration of all kinds, from the mountains of unpayable debts and inflation—look at France and the United States, to mass street protests from unlivable conditions, to the continuation in high office of those unfit for government positions of power, associated with the Epstein class, throughout the Western capitals. The resort to force and warfare is an expression of the “keepers” of the dying financial order attempting to remain on top, no matter what, even at risk of warfare escalating to nuclear obliteration.
In short, “the system is not functioning,” as reiterated by Zepp-LaRouche. Her advice is to intervene with people in this time of great tension, to recruit everyone possible to mobilize for a new system. This is the concept of peace-making guiding the activism of those participating with the International Peace Coalition, she founded in 2023.
The mass demand for change is clear, but in need of reason and an understanding of principles for a new paradigm. In France, Nov. 5 is the date for the next nationwide protest action, following the Oct. 17 demonstrations, estimated to have turned out 800,000 people. Meantime much is happening daily. Tomorrow the French parliament will take up the national budget, but within the logic of the existing rearmament orientation in France and Europe, there is “no money” for schools, health care, infrastructure, agriculture, and so on. With other particulars, street protests continue from Portugal, to Albania to Belgium.
Internationally, the oil marketing system—however it worked in the recent past, is breaking apart. Shipping rates are up by 40% since before the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran, shipping times are far slower, supply sources have shifted. This comes along with refinery capacity that was already limited. The same holds true for the supply system for chemicals, fertilizer and other basics of the world economy.
Against this backdrop, comes the danger of super-escalation of the already destructive warfare situation. Certain national elections figure in this danger. In Israel, with elections one week away on Oct. 27, President Netanyahu yesterday held an in-person press conference, his first since the Oct. 7 attack. He released his new national security doctrine, which, among other points, stressed “pre-emptive” action against threats, not a policy of containment. Will he unilaterally resume strikes on Iran, even nuclear?
In the United States, the question was asked in an article yesterday by strategic analyst Col. (ret.) Douglas Macgregor, as stated in his headline: “Is President Trump Considering the Nuclear Option?” The article outlines the frustrations for Trump, the contention in the White House, saying, as in the subheadline: “Why the Trump Administration might be crazy enough to drop a nuke on Iran.”
In notable contrast to these desperate contingencies, there is still the potential of world leaders coming together to solve, not create problems, in particular, that the heads of the United States, Russia and China could meet at the APEC Summit in Beijing in November. Today’s Wall Street Journal carried a story headlined, “Putin Floats a Summit with Trump and Xi to Discuss Ukraine Deal,” which then came to be put as a question to high places in the three countries. The WSJ further noted that “Ukraine’s Zelensky wouldn’t be included in proposed talks….”
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The concept of a summit of world leaders is exactly the focus of the petition circulating now, “Appeal to Pope Leo XIV To Organize a Global Leaders Summit To Address the Questions of Peace and Nuclear Disarmament.” A week from now is an important meeting in this process, “Unarmed and Disarming Peace,” before which everyone is urged to sign the international petition.
Also of note, the Global Governance Initiative, announced a year ago by President Xi Jinping, will have a meeting Oct. 25-27 in northern Hebei Province with high representation from 90 to 100 nations, to further a new paradigm in international relations.
On the eve of these meetings, attend the International Peace Coalition meeting Oct. 23.