Annan: "Grassroots influence a future trend"

cross-posted at The European Tribune

In an article overview from a lenghty BBC interview with Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations, he makes this significant statement: "Power to come from below"

Here are some key quotes from this article:

Power in the world will emanate more and more from the bottom up than from above...

"I think we have a situation where, more and more, we are going to notice that power will be emanating from the bottom up, rather than surging down from above...and Kofi Annan identified "increasing influence from the grassroots as a future trend".(...)

I would be real interested in hearing more of his thoughts on just what he means, when he says "the grassroots influences"! I find this both an acknowledgement and an encouragement, from one of the World's leaders...

 

Here's a few more candid comments from Mr Annan:

The secretary general also warned that: "One has to understand the limits of power," he said.

"One has to understand power and the use of power and not behave as if one is omnipotent." It is not clear whether Mr Annan had any particular leaders in mind, or whether it was - as some might see it - a veiled warning to countries like the US.(...)

Mr Annan also identified something that he sees as an important advance in the world - he believes there is a wide acceptance now that security, development, and human rights are all linked.

Who, or whom, might he be referring to? Very direct, yet very diplomatic...no names named, but everyones knows...