When I was writing Trends 2000 in the 1990s, it was clear to me that — fast on the heels of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the demise of Communism — the foundation was already built to support, nourish and accelerate a mindset destined to grossly miscalculate the origins of terrorism and the appropriate ways to respond to terrorist...
The art murderers
Welcome to today’s art world, the new Vaudeville, populated by smiling exhibitionists producing bad jokes and bad acts. The dealers are the P.T. Barnums of the art world. They’re selling white elephants and mental-midgets to an ignorant public that has been trained to “see” with their ears. As P.T. said, “There’s a sucker born every minute.” He got that right....
Stop terrorism? Not a chance
The trend toward equipping local police departments with battlefield armory under the guise of protecting us from terror is so widely accepted that no one asks anymore: Will that tank in my community really save me? Back in August of 2013, here’s how News Channel News reported the arrival of a armored vehicle in Gallatin, Tenn.: It could have been...
Police violence against the public soars
In the 1960s, there was an effort in New York City to establish a civilian police review board. Complaints about police violence and harassment of black New Yorkers had grown to the point that the reality of the problem was obvious. New York Mayor John Lindsay was amenable, but conservatives led by William F. Buckley and the police rose up...
Trendpost
In our Summer 2013 Trends Journal edition, we forecast that America’s surveillance and militarized state would intensify. The military might on display in the aftermath of the April 2013 bombing at the Boston Marathon demonstrated the scope of police military capability and the willingness to use it at the local level. Few criticized the reaction besides the Trends Research Institute, because, after...
What can you do?
Some of the most disturbing incidents in recent months of police overreach have fallen under the radar of national media. In the local communities where they occur, drastically depleted reporting resources at local newspapers and televisions stations mean these incidents either go unreported or barely reported. In this media climate, using social media — crowdsourcing information and hard evidence of police abuse —...
Delaying the inevitable
Chief trends forecaster Gerald Celente has been predicting severe economic turbulence for some time. In this question-and-answer session with institute staff he addresses that forecast, as well as how developments in Ukraine will affect the region and beyond, and reviews the real estate market as the high-selling season unfolds. The crisis in Ukraine is about six months old. You forecast...
Ukraine News from an American Expatriate July 10, 2014
Gerald, I am an American living permanently in Odessa, Ukraine since 2009. Unlike eastern Ukraine, all has been quiet in Odessa since the “massacre by fire” perpetrated by the Right-Sector. However, the Ukraine currency (UAH or “Greev-na” as it is pronounced) continues to fall in value daily, having lost about 40% of its value since the Kiev coup. People are...
Know, respect your adversary
Publisher’s Note: Last winter, we warned that civil war would break out in Ukraine. It was a forecast that stood alone at the time because tensions within Ukraine appeared to be waning. A few short weeks later, however, Ukraine did, indeed, erupt in civil war, and the volatility continues today. In our spring Trends Journal, we renewed our deep concern over the situation, warning...
Marketing to boomers and beyond could reap big bucks
Worldwide spending among mature consumers is projected to reach $15 trillion annually by the end of this decade, according to A.T. Kearney, creating tremendous opportunity for industries, service providers and retailers able to meet their needs and fulfill their wishes. But browse the window displays in an American shopping center and it can seem everyone in the nation is a...