The Group of Seven finance ministers pledged Saturday to avoid protectionist measures as they attempt stimulate their own economies during face of the worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression. At the meeting was new U.S. Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner, who gave assurance President Obama's $787 billion economic recovery plan would not impinge in on free trade in any way.¹

Protectionism is often used during a Physical High, but since the machine age is ending now that the world has entered a Physical Low we are enacting a more fluid policy across open borders like NAFTA and the lessened protectionism to make the world "flatter."

Anti-government demonstrations took place in Moscow and throughout Russia on January 30, 2009, by demonstrators who expressed their frustration the country slips deeper into depression. A drop in oil prices, global economic downturn, government spending of billions to bail out failing banks and companies, rising unemployment and a rapidly devaluing ruble were all part of the economic morass. The economic turmoil in Russia takes place as the world faces economic change and chaos. This occurs while an Intellectual Crossover results from the 528 Intellectual Cycle crosses up through the midpoint of chaos putting the world in 12 year transitional period of crisis from 2000 – 2012.

Iceland's Prime Minister, Geir Haarde, resigned on Monday, January 26, 2009 in lieu of the failing banking system and financial collapse of the country. During heavy protests demonstrators had burned an effigy of the Prime Minister on January 21. The Social Democratic Alliance party was formed to fill the void and the new coalition Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir took over as Prime Minister on January 30. The new government will stay in place until elections that were already scheduled in May take place. The collapse of this government is part of the global financial collpase that is occuring as the 528 Intellectual is crossing up through the midpoint of chaos that puts world in a 12-year period of transitional crisis from 2000 – 2012.