On December 9 and the weekend that followed, six million people descended on Mexico City during the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in order to visit the Basilica of Guadalupe. This shrine contains a cape reported to be miraculously imprinted with an image of Mary—following a vision by a farmer in 1531. Approximately 95,000 people per hour filed past the cape for a fleeting glance at the holy relic.

In late November, representatives from a dozen South American nations gathered in Georgetown, Guyana, for a meeting of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR). The meeting focused on unity and working more closely together as neighboring nations.  Leaders pledged to the spread of democracy in the region, as well as efforts to “…construct our economy through democratic institutions, making decisions to open our economies, reconstruct our social services, and promote common infrastructure.”

Late last month, China and Russia signed a new deal to cease trading with each other in U.S. dollars, and instead use their own currencies. The yuan has now begun trading against the ruble—a very important step.

The massive debt crisis in Europe has put tremendous strain on the common currency—the euro.  The spreading debt crisis is also putting increasing pressure on lending nations, namely Germany, and many are asking, “Will the euro survive?” The euro is viewed as the symbol of European integration and unity, but if it falters, the cohesion of the continent is in question.

"Representative Rangel Censured by the Ethics Committee of the House of Representatives" was the headline in the news of recent days.  It was just more of the same kind of disappointing reports of various public figures – from federal judges, state legislators, governors, senators and congressmen – being caught with their "hand in the cookie jar" taking bribes, selling influence, evading taxes, often involving sexual misconduct and infidelity.