Jasmine and China...

The final days of August. We have practically stepped into September, that is, autumn. I am watching the sunrise in my garden this morning. A sharp scent of jasmine brings peace, happiness, and hope. The Arabian jasmine in the neighbor's garden and the elegant İzmir jasmine in my own garden are practically competing with one another. Don't believe me if I say their fragrances don't make me dizzy. Beyond their beautiful flowers and scents, jasmines are also known for and draw attention with their oils and teas. 

When I think of tea, the indispensable green teas of China and the Far East immediately come to mind. The Chinese practice of adding jasmine flowers to green tea is a distinct and special pleasure. It is much like the way our people in Erzurum and the Dadaşes drink their tea with a lump of sugar held between their teeth.

I started with jasmine flowers and ended up bringing the subject to China and the Far East. I have previously mentioned the 4 trends that will determine our future. Let us not go too far into the distant future, but these 4 trends will influence and guide not only our country but the entire world over the next 25 years. 

Let us briefly recall these trends; alongside smart information processing (informatics) such as artificial intelligence, space, environment, and sustainability rank second. 

The third trend is the retirement age or the advanced age period. In the next 25 years, the population over the age of 65 in our country will exceed 16%. This indicates that one in every 6 people will be in the advanced age group or of retirement age.

Last week, we visited Urla Mayor Selçuk Balkan with Neurology Specialist Dr. Aysel Gürsoy. We presented our projects regarding the retirement age. The esteemed Mayor, who listened with attention and care, said, "The advanced age group makes up 54% of Urla's population. It is a subject we are focusing on, and we are working on it with seriousness."

As I touched upon at the beginning of my article, just as green tea, jasmine, and China are new and interesting to us, China and the Far East will have very significant socio-economic and political impacts on the future of the world.

Last week, on the morning program "Uyandırma Servisi" (Wake-up Service) hosted by Kutluhan Nesil and broadcast on NeoTv in İzmir, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emre Demir discussed in detail the importance and influence of China on the current Middle East wars and the world at large. You can watch it on YouTube. 

I suggest that those who intend to govern our country focus on their projects regarding the future, especially these four trends, with academic rigor. 

As we enter autumn, when temperatures will decrease and daily temperature fluctuations will be more frequent, I suggest that you take greater care of your health and prioritize it. 

It should not be forgotten that a peaceful environment is also important for maintaining a healthy life. Happy September 1st, World Peace Day.

Prof. Dr. Nurettin DEMİR