European Leaders Discuss Common Ground in Economic Crisis

By Lisa Bryant Paris22 February 2009

Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy and Silvio Berlusconi, meeting in Berlin, 22 Feb 2009European leaders agreed to a common platform to combat the global financial crisis that includes oversight of all financial markets and products around the world. The proposed measures were drafted in Berlin in preparation for a key meeting of the world's economic powers in April.

The measures for financial markets proposed by EU leaders are a sweeping and tough reaction to what many perceive to be excesses and lack of regulation that helped trigger the global economic crisis. At a meeting in Berlin, leaders from eight European countries called for regulating financial markets and hedge funds, investment funds that typically lead to aggressive financial strategies.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who hosted the summit, said all financial markets, products and participants that pose a major risk must be regulated.

Ms. Merkel also called for world economies to coordinate in establishing sanctions for tax shelters and regions where financial deals are opaque.

The European meeting comes ahead of a London summit on the international crisis in early April of the so-called G-20 nations, the world's top economic powers. But it is unclear whether the Europeans' call for widespread regulation will be well received by other G-20 members, which include the United States, China, Japan and several developing nations.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the European leaders had also agreed on the need to shore up international institutions like the World Bank, including in their role in helping the poorest nations."We decided that the international institutions should have at least $500 billion to enable them not just to deal with crises, but to enable them to be able to prevent crises," said Gordon Brown.

"We have also decided we want to see a greater role for the World Bank in helping the poorest countries of the world."

Mr. Brown also said the European nations support championing an environmentally sound economy as part of global stimulus deals, notably reducing heat-trapping carbon dioxide emmissions. Sunday's proposals will be examined by the entire 27-member European Union in March.

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This meeting is in preparation for a key meeting of the world's economic powers in April. The EU leaders want to reach an agreement before the key meeting that they can make key meeting successfully. They try to manage finantial crisis and they think the main reason that helped trigger the global economic crisis is over greedy and lack of regulation on financial markets.

But it is unclear whether the regulation will be well received by other G-20 members, such as China, America and so on. In my opinion, it's a good biginging many governments want to deal with the finantial crisis and they cooperate together.

As we know, this economic storm not one country's problem. Asia countries should cooperate, too. Maybe we can take the EU experience or their agreements and hold a meeting to discuss this global issue. Not only EU but also every countries in the world should cooperate together to fight for this situation.

Wheelchair Tennis Player Touches Children's Lives

By Zulima Palacio Prince George's County, Maryland10 February 2009

Surviving was not enough for Brenda Gilmore who was paralyzed in an automobile accident as a young woman. The professional photographer not only survived, she transformed her life -- becoming one of the best wheelchair tennis players in the country and a recognized children's instructor in tennis. In this Making a Difference profile, we learn about a Washington, DC-area woman who provides life lessons for young people.

Brenda Gilmore is an unusual tennis instructor. She is also one of the top ten wheelchair tennis players in the United States. She says exercise is difficult for people in wheelchairs. Muscles can deteriorate.

Gilmore coaches young people like Steve, who was born with paralysis. He is now 18 and going to college. He has trained with Gilmore for three 3 years, saying, "she is making me better."
But Gilmore offers these kids much more than just exercise. She says the fundamentals of tennis teach a lot about life lessons -- how to react to life's adversities, how to handle strong contenders and most of all, how to always give the best that you can.

"What I explain to our young people is that you need to learn how to be a team player, but you also need to take responsibility for yourself as a person in making decisions," says Gilmore.
She learned to thrive under adversity. At 27, she was a competitive athlete and a successful professional in film and photography. One night, driving home, Gilmore was involved in a nearly fatal car accident. Injuries to her spinal cord left her paralyzed from the waist down. Her recovery was long and painful.

Brenda GilmoreBrenda resumed professional photography and, determined to continue playing sports, she took up wheelchair tennis. She became one of the best players in the country, collecting numerous trophies, awards and recognitions.
Brenda was the first African American woman to play on the wheelchair tennis circuit and maintain a national ranking in the top 10 for five years.

Within a few years, she was working full-time in tennis and volunteering as a children's instructor. Fifteen years ago Brenda co-founded the Prince George's Tennis and Education Foundation in the Washington, DC suburbs. Here she has been able to reach thousands of children and is now the director.

Brenda Gilmore loves working with childrenBrenda loves working with kids and showing them how to overcome adversity.

"If I am not giving up, you don't give up. Give all that you can even if you do lose, it is not the end of the world. And everybody loses some time -- how do you handle it? That transitions right over into everyday life," says Gilmore.

And so Brenda Gilmore continues teaching tennis, spreading her message of hard work, perseverance and positive attitude with as many children as possible.
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Quato of the week:Give the best that you can!