Tuesday, March 19, 2024
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Global Affairs

Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 13, 2024
A few thousand years of human activity like farming released enough greenhouse gas to raise the average global temperature by one full degree Celsius. Pexels photograph by Ákos Helgert
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 13, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 13, 2024
A few thousand years of human activity like farming released enough greenhouse gas to raise the average global temperature by one full degree Celsius. Pexels photograph by Ákos Helgert
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 11, 2024
More to the point, if Joe Biden really wanted the Palestinians to have food, he would order the Israelis to let them have it or face losing American support with arms, money and the regular loan of the U.S. veto at the UN Security Council. But he can’t bring himself to do that, no matter what Israel does, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 11, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 11, 2024
More to the point, if Joe Biden really wanted the Palestinians to have food, he would order the Israelis to let them have it or face losing American support with arms, money and the regular loan of the U.S. veto at the UN Security Council. But he can’t bring himself to do that, no matter what Israel does, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 6, 2024
The national anxiety about this is so great that South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, pictured, has said the unsayable: South Koreans are 'excessively and unnecessarily competitive,' he admitted, and that is why the nation has the world’s lowest birth-rate, writes Gywnne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/JEON HAN
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 6, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 6, 2024
The national anxiety about this is so great that South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, pictured, has said the unsayable: South Koreans are 'excessively and unnecessarily competitive,' he admitted, and that is why the nation has the world’s lowest birth-rate, writes Gywnne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/JEON HAN
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 29, 2024
Gwynne Dyer talks about his 1986 National Film Board documentary Harder Thank It Looks, which explored how difficult it is for northern counties to remain neutral. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 29, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 29, 2024
Gwynne Dyer talks about his 1986 National Film Board documentary Harder Thank It Looks, which explored how difficult it is for northern counties to remain neutral. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 26, 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023. Sanctioning Israel has always seemed unthinkable in Washington, but the time may be coming when saving Israel from itself is the least bad alternative, writes Gwynne Dyer. White House photograph by Cameron Smith
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 26, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 26, 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023. Sanctioning Israel has always seemed unthinkable in Washington, but the time may be coming when saving Israel from itself is the least bad alternative, writes Gwynne Dyer. White House photograph by Cameron Smith
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 21, 2024
Even if Donald Trump is convicted of a criminal charge or becomes visibly incapacitated, Republicans won't move against him unless a viable alternative presidential candidate is available, and Nikki Haley, pictured, is that candidate, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 21, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 21, 2024
Even if Donald Trump is convicted of a criminal charge or becomes visibly incapacitated, Republicans won't move against him unless a viable alternative presidential candidate is available, and Nikki Haley, pictured, is that candidate, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 19, 2024
There is no reason to doubt that Alexei Navalny, the de facto leader of the democratic opposition in Russia, was killed on the orders of Vladimir Putin, pictured, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of The World Economic Forum/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 19, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 19, 2024
There is no reason to doubt that Alexei Navalny, the de facto leader of the democratic opposition in Russia, was killed on the orders of Vladimir Putin, pictured, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of The World Economic Forum/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 14, 2024
Joko Widodo, left, and Prabowo Subianto, pictured on Oct. 11, 2019. Indonesia's outgoing president Widodo, nicknamed 'Jokowi,' still enjoyed a 70 per cent public approval rating and the national economy had grown 43 per cent. But Indonesian voters were left with limited choices once the 'good guy' and the 'bad guy' made a deal, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 14, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 14, 2024
Joko Widodo, left, and Prabowo Subianto, pictured on Oct. 11, 2019. Indonesia's outgoing president Widodo, nicknamed 'Jokowi,' still enjoyed a 70 per cent public approval rating and the national economy had grown 43 per cent. But Indonesian voters were left with limited choices once the 'good guy' and the 'bad guy' made a deal, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 14, 2024
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, fired General Valerii Zaluzhny, suggesting he’s reached the point in the war against Russian where he is hoping for a miracle, writes Gwynne Dyer. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade, and photograph courtesy of the Ukraine Ministry of Defence
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 14, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 14, 2024
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, fired General Valerii Zaluzhny, suggesting he’s reached the point in the war against Russian where he is hoping for a miracle, writes Gwynne Dyer. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade, and photograph courtesy of the Ukraine Ministry of Defence
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 5, 2024
Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan is in jail now mainly because he lost the army’s support when he challenged its overweening power in both politics and the economy. Photograph courtesy of the White House/Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 5, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 5, 2024
Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan is in jail now mainly because he lost the army’s support when he challenged its overweening power in both politics and the economy. Photograph courtesy of the White House/Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 31, 2024
'While you feel rage (about the slaughter of Israeli civilians),' Joe Biden, left, told Benjamin Netanyahu, “don’t be consumed by it. After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. While we sought justice and got justice, we also made mistakes.' Photograph courtesy of the President of the United States
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 31, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 31, 2024
'While you feel rage (about the slaughter of Israeli civilians),' Joe Biden, left, told Benjamin Netanyahu, “don’t be consumed by it. After 9/11, we were enraged in the United States. While we sought justice and got justice, we also made mistakes.' Photograph courtesy of the President of the United States
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 29, 2024
Where the Israelis are on thin ice is in the crime of 'public incitement to genocide,' for there are senior members of the current Israeli government who engage in that on an almost daily basis, writes Gwynne Dyer. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 29, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 29, 2024
Where the Israelis are on thin ice is in the crime of 'public incitement to genocide,' for there are senior members of the current Israeli government who engage in that on an almost daily basis, writes Gwynne Dyer. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 24, 2024
'We will send foreigners back to their homelands. Millions of them. That is not a secret plan. That is a promise,' snarled extreme-right German parliamentarian René Springer, pictured, on social media recently. Photograph courtesy of Olaf Kosinsky/Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 24, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 24, 2024
'We will send foreigners back to their homelands. Millions of them. That is not a secret plan. That is a promise,' snarled extreme-right German parliamentarian René Springer, pictured, on social media recently. Photograph courtesy of Olaf Kosinsky/Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 22, 2024
The players in the Middle East are all way past trigger happy, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Navy/Elijah G. Leinaar
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 22, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 22, 2024
The players in the Middle East are all way past trigger happy, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of the U.S. Navy/Elijah G. Leinaar
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 18, 2024
Former U.S. president Donald Trump, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden. American politics is certainly overdue for another phase change, but it’s not going to happen this time. Not unless the Reaper intervenes, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 18, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 18, 2024
Former U.S. president Donald Trump, left, and U.S. President Joe Biden. American politics is certainly overdue for another phase change, but it’s not going to happen this time. Not unless the Reaper intervenes, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 15, 2024
Lawyers for Israel and South Africa recently had their days in court at the International Court of Justice, refuting and making the case, respectively, that Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip amount to the crime of genocide. Screenshot courtesy of PBS NewsHour
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 15, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 15, 2024
Lawyers for Israel and South Africa recently had their days in court at the International Court of Justice, refuting and making the case, respectively, that Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip amount to the crime of genocide. Screenshot courtesy of PBS NewsHour
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 10, 2024
Dr. Harry H.J. Tseng, the representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada, pictured in October 2023 delivering his speech at the Taiwan national day celebration in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 10, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 10, 2024
Dr. Harry H.J. Tseng, the representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Canada, pictured in October 2023 delivering his speech at the Taiwan national day celebration in Ottawa. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 8, 2024
There won’t be a continuous human presence on the moon by next year or the year after that, but there will be lots of coming and going, and there will be permanent manned bases before the end of the decade, predicts Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Pexels
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 8, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 8, 2024
There won’t be a continuous human presence on the moon by next year or the year after that, but there will be lots of coming and going, and there will be permanent manned bases before the end of the decade, predicts Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Pexels
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 4, 2024
The people around Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured, regularly describe the war in Gaza as "existential," but that’s nonsense. The only thing facing an existential risk is his government, which would immediately collapse if the shooting stops, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 4, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 4, 2024
The people around Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured, regularly describe the war in Gaza as "existential," but that’s nonsense. The only thing facing an existential risk is his government, which would immediately collapse if the shooting stops, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 3, 2024
On Dec. 31, 2023, the last of 12,000 UN peacekeepers left Mali, ordered out by the military regime that seized power after two successive coups in 2020 and 2021. It's estimated there are 63,222 displaced persons in Mali. Photograph courtesy MINUSMA/Harandane Dicko
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 3, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | January 3, 2024
On Dec. 31, 2023, the last of 12,000 UN peacekeepers left Mali, ordered out by the military regime that seized power after two successive coups in 2020 and 2021. It's estimated there are 63,222 displaced persons in Mali. Photograph courtesy MINUSMA/Harandane Dicko
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 28, 2023
El Niño is not part of climate change, but in 2024 it will get piled on top of a lot of climate warming that has happened over the past seven years, so it’s certain to break all previous records. The question is by how much. Jim Hansen say by a lot, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Cpl. Marc-André Leclerc, 2023 DND-MDN Canada
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 28, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 28, 2023
El Niño is not part of climate change, but in 2024 it will get piled on top of a lot of climate warming that has happened over the past seven years, so it’s certain to break all previous records. The question is by how much. Jim Hansen say by a lot, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Cpl. Marc-André Leclerc, 2023 DND-MDN Canada
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 21, 2023
About one in 100 residents of Gaza has been killed by rockets, bombs, or artillery fire in the past two months. The highest estimate of German civilians killed in the 1942-45 Allied bombing campaign works out at one in 160 people over four years, writes Gwynne Dyer. Screenshot courtesy of CNN
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 21, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 21, 2023
About one in 100 residents of Gaza has been killed by rockets, bombs, or artillery fire in the past two months. The highest estimate of German civilians killed in the 1942-45 Allied bombing campaign works out at one in 160 people over four years, writes Gwynne Dyer. Screenshot courtesy of CNN
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 18, 2023
And if they want Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi back as the first president of their new democracy, they’ll have to hurry: she’s 78, and her health is not doing well in prison, writes Gwynne Dyer.  Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 18, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 18, 2023
And if they want Nobel Peace Prize-winner Aung San Suu Kyi back as the first president of their new democracy, they’ll have to hurry: she’s 78, and her health is not doing well in prison, writes Gwynne Dyer.  Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 13, 2023
New Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, pictured, has learned the two most important rules of 21st-century elections in Europe: don't touch the welfare state and cultivate the youth vote, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Arno Mikkor/EU2017EE/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 13, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 13, 2023
New Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, pictured, has learned the two most important rules of 21st-century elections in Europe: don't touch the welfare state and cultivate the youth vote, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Arno Mikkor/EU2017EE/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 11, 2023
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change formal opening of COP28, featuring His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 president, centre. Photograph courtesy of COP28/Christopher Pike
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 11, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 11, 2023
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change formal opening of COP28, featuring His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 president, centre. Photograph courtesy of COP28/Christopher Pike
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 4, 2023
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured, and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) both dismiss U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s strenuous warnings about the need to avoid high Palestinian casualties in the renewed bombing as just so much hot air. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 4, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | December 4, 2023
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured, and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) both dismiss U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s strenuous warnings about the need to avoid high Palestinian casualties in the renewed bombing as just so much hot air. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 30, 2023
Climate scientist James Hansen has returned to tell us that it’s bad news when it comes to how much warming we will get in the long run from doubling the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Photograph courtesy of Chris Bentley/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 30, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 30, 2023
Climate scientist James Hansen has returned to tell us that it’s bad news when it comes to how much warming we will get in the long run from doubling the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Photograph courtesy of Chris Bentley/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 22, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023 Biden urgently wants a permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu wants the war to continue in order to 'complete the elimination of Hamas and ensure that there will be no new threat to the State of Israel from Gaza.' Image courtesy of @POTUS
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 22, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 22, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023 Biden urgently wants a permanent ceasefire. Netanyahu wants the war to continue in order to 'complete the elimination of Hamas and ensure that there will be no new threat to the State of Israel from Gaza.' Image courtesy of @POTUS
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 16, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured at a press conference on the Hill in Ottawa in 2012. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 16, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 16, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured at a press conference on the Hill in Ottawa in 2012. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 15, 2023
Argentina's presidential candidates Sergio Massa, left, and Javier Milei. Photographs courtesy of Commons Wikimedia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 15, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 15, 2023
Argentina's presidential candidates Sergio Massa, left, and Javier Milei. Photographs courtesy of Commons Wikimedia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 9, 2023
Despite global tech leaders opining that AI is an 'existential threat' to humanity, that threat will only arise if the machines were to be endowed with something called 'artificial general intelligence,' which does not currently exists, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 9, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 9, 2023
Despite global tech leaders opining that AI is an 'existential threat' to humanity, that threat will only arise if the machines were to be endowed with something called 'artificial general intelligence,' which does not currently exists, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Pixabay
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 6, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured on Parliament Hill in March 2012. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 6, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 6, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured on Parliament Hill in March 2012. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 2, 2023
The great Ukrainian offensive, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, finally got through most of the minefields and the ‘dragon’s teeth’ by early September, but they ran out of reserves, writes Gwynn Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/President of Ukraine
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 2, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | November 2, 2023
The great Ukrainian offensive, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, finally got through most of the minefields and the ‘dragon’s teeth’ by early September, but they ran out of reserves, writes Gwynn Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/President of Ukraine
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 18, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023. Photograph courtesy of @POTUS
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 18, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 18, 2023
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023. Photograph courtesy of @POTUS
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 13, 2023
An Israel Defence Forces (IDF) tank. The IDF intends is to create a 'free-fire zone' in the northern third of the Gaza Strip where its soldiers can use maximum firepower without killing large numbers of civilians, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 13, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 13, 2023
An Israel Defence Forces (IDF) tank. The IDF intends is to create a 'free-fire zone' in the northern third of the Gaza Strip where its soldiers can use maximum firepower without killing large numbers of civilians, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 11, 2023
When you see Australians adapting to diversity, but still treating Aboriginal people the same old way, you realize that it’s a specific situation, not just the Australian version of a general one. If you require confirmation, just look at New Zealand, where Maori is actually one of the national languages, writes Gwynne Dyer. Pixabay photograph courtesy of RebeccaLintzPhotography
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 11, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 11, 2023
When you see Australians adapting to diversity, but still treating Aboriginal people the same old way, you realize that it’s a specific situation, not just the Australian version of a general one. If you require confirmation, just look at New Zealand, where Maori is actually one of the national languages, writes Gwynne Dyer. Pixabay photograph courtesy of RebeccaLintzPhotography
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 9, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's promise to rain down on the Gaza Strip is exactly what Hamas wants, the mightier the better. The whole point is to get the Israelis to send its soldiers in on the ground, because that’s when the casualties start going up steeply, writes Gwynne Dyer. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 9, 2023
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 9, 2023
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's promise to rain down on the Gaza Strip is exactly what Hamas wants, the mightier the better. The whole point is to get the Israelis to send its soldiers in on the ground, because that’s when the casualties start going up steeply, writes Gwynne Dyer. The Hill Times photograph by Sam Garcia