Today is Sunday, 5 April 2026. We are in a middle of yet another war. This one is in Middle East – US against Iran . This time, it touches the whole world as the Strait of Hormuz is closed for pretty much all shipping transport while it accounts for about 20% of global oil shipment. The price of fuel has dramatically increased in Australia and most of the world.

This is the second mayor war we have going on. It goes on at the same time another big conflict in Europe, the Russia Ukraine war is still raging, while at the same time influencing energy trade, (sanctions on Russian energy etc). I have a feeling we are a step closer to a world war. If another conflict flares up, say China -Taiwan, I think we can say we are in a world war with every consequence this might brought unto our globe.

This all reminds me on the Renaissance period. Along with a surge in science, technology, you have massive shifts of power, on all levels, from individual, organisational to national and even civilisational conflicts.

I love Ada Palmer’s take on Renesaince. She is a scholar of the period and despite most of us having reverence of the period of our history as the rebirth of the golden age, and first stage in a way of our modern era, she has a fierce critic and deep understanding of it all. Planing to read her book soon. Meanwhile I might revisit a great podcast she was on. This was aired during the covid time, and paints her picture pretty well I think. Here is the link.