Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times published an opinion piece on the economy written by President Barack Obama. But the President wasn't just speaking to the readers of the Los Angeles Times. In a concerted effort to reach out to the world during this global economic crisis, the President's piece appeared simultaneously in 30 newspapers around the world.
According to the White House Briefing Room, the editorial appeared in all of the following publications today:
Al Watan (Gulf States)
Arab Times (Gulf States)
Asharq Al Awsat (Arab-wide paper in Arabic)
The Australian (Australia)
Bangkok Post (Thailand)
Chicago Tribune (United States)
Clarin (Argentina)
Corriere della Sera (Italy)
Die Welt (Germany)
El Pais (Madrid)
El Mercurio (Chile)
Eleftyropiea (Greece)
Estado de Sao Paulo (Brazil)
Gulf News (Gulf States)
The Hindustan Times/ The Hindu (India)
International Herald Tribune (London)
Kristeligt Dagblad (Denmark)
Le Monde (Paris)
Lidove Noviny (Czech)
Los Angeles Times (United States)
The News (Pakistan)
NRC Handelsblad (Netherlands)
Saudi Gazette (Saudi Arabia)
South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
Straits Times (Singapore)
Sunday Times (South Africa)
Svenska Dagbladet (Sweden)
Syndey Morning Herald (Australia)
WProst (Poland)
Yomiuri Shimbun (Japan)
In his opinion piece, President Obama called for a collective effort to handle the worldwide economic crisis, particularly among the G20 nations, in advance of their upcoming summit in London (to be held on April 2). The president discussed three central elements where a coordinated approach was vital to economic recovery: the need to stimulate growth, the need to restore "the credit that businesses and consumers depend upon" (including what the president called an "honest assessment of the balance sheets of our major banks"), and "extending a hand to countries and people who face the greatest risk." The president further defined the latter as an "economic, security and moral obligation," adding that ignoring those in the most need will delay our own recovery.
Coming on the heels of the president's unprecedented video New Years Greeting to Iran, President Obama has made it clear he will use all avenues available to actively communicate with countries across the globe. In contrast with his predecessor, under Obama's leadership the United States is entering into "a new era of engagement."