Wildfires and arson-set fires are burning out of control in northwest Spain and Portugal, fueled by dry conditions and strong winds from Hurricane Ophelia (Deutsche Welle, October 16, 2017). More than 30 deaths have been caused by over a dozen fires, and more than 5,000 firefighters are working to contain the blazes. These fires follow on the heels of the deadliest fire in Portugal’s history, which occurred in June.

Reuters reports that, according to the German foreign minister, “If the United States terminates the Iran nuclear deal or reimposes sanctions on Tehran it could result in Iran developing nuclear weapons and raise the danger of war close to Europe” and that such a move “would give Iranian hardliners, who are against negotiations with the West, the upper hand” (October 14, 2017).

According to a recent article in Der Spiegel, “the U.S. is in the process of forfeiting its position of economic supremacy” (September 11, 2017). At the same time that American economic influence is declining, the EU and the euro are growing in the world’s estimation. “It [the EU] is certainly in better shape than the United States.

We may have first heard about promises from a childhood playmate informing us we must “promise not to tell” before they tell us a secret. We also sadly discover early in life that promises are usually broken.

Several million people lost power as a result of the devastation brought about by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Across the Caribbean islands and the southern United States, people suffered the loss of electric power. This might be a relative inconvenience compared to those who also lost their homes and possessions, but the effects are nevertheless profound.