Author: Barry D. Wood

Barry D. Wood is a writer, teacher and journalist in Washington, DC. His focus is the global economy and financial markets. He has reported from 60 countries and specializes in US China relations, Eastern Europe and Southern Africa. His 2017 book is Exploring New Europe, A Bicycle Journey.
Alan Mulally, Auto industry, Chrysler, Detroit, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Sergio Marchionne

Optimism in Detroit as Autos Lead Recovery

For the first time in a decade there is optimism in Detroit. Not only is the blighted city slowly beginning a turn around, the industry that gave it life is restructured and fit, having climbed back from near collapse in 2009. In 2013 US brands accounted for 46% of domestic sales, outselling their Japanese, Korean and German competitors. Light vehicle sales climbed to 15.6 million, … Continue reading Optimism in Detroit as Autos Lead Recovery

Unknown's avatarBarry D. WoodLeave a comment
Andrey Mukhin, Curonian Spit, East Prussia, Johann Thienemann, Kaliningrad, Ornithology, Russia, Rybachy

Birdman of Europe’s Curonian Spit

RYBACHY (Kaliningrad), Russia: The 80-kilometer long finger of sand that curls along the Baltic Sea coast in Lithuania and Russia is wild and undeveloped. A closed military zone during 50 years of communism, the Curonian Spit and its shallow lagoon are key navigation points for hundreds of thousands of migrating birds who each year move through this great north European flyway.  The Russian scientists at … Continue reading Birdman of Europe’s Curonian Spit

Unknown's avatarBarry D. Wood1 Comment
Catalyst Capital, DC, Fresh and Green's, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Local 400, Matt Williams, Natural Markets Food Group, Richtree, Robin Michel, Spring Valley, Toronto, UFCW, Washington

Icy Wind from Toronto: Washington’s Fresh and Green Closing

The Faces of Grocery Workers Losing Their Jobs Barrington Marsh Bill Fitzpatrick Caleve Bright-Davies Don Looney Donald Andrews Carol Holliday Tony Brox James Truesdale Jenny Yliquin Sally Nwabikwu Shirley Middleton Sally Crabbe Mike Havey Kwaku Kyeremateng Tim Macleod WASHINGTON: The cold wind from Toronto swept into Washington December 2d with the announcement by Natural Markets Food Group CEO Robin Michel that the Spring Valley store … Continue reading Icy Wind from Toronto: Washington’s Fresh and Green Closing

Unknown's avatarBarry D. WoodLeave a comment
bus, Curonian Spit, Estonia, Gdansk, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Kaliningrad, Klaipeda, Latvia, Lithuania, New Europe, Poland, Russia, Tallinn

Adventure Bus Travel in Kaliningrad-Russia and Baltics

KALININGRAD, RUSSIA: The first problem is language. If you’re a Russian speaker, it’s easier. This sign at the Kaliningrad bus terminal tells the story.  The destination beneath the number is ‘Bremen,’ the one at the bottom, ‘Tallinn’ and above that ‘Riga.’  There’s not a word in Latin script anywhere. Inside it’s no better as I found no one at any window who could speak English. … Continue reading Adventure Bus Travel in Kaliningrad-Russia and Baltics

Unknown's avatarBarry D. WoodLeave a comment
economy, emigration, Erasmus, Estonia, euro, health care, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, job seekers, Parnu, pensions, youth unemployment

Bare Bones Life for Estonian Pensioners

PARNU, ESTONIA. Enno Kuusmets is a sturdy Estonian who at age 77 has experienced tough times.  Enno Kuusmets at Parnu’s bus station  Born four years before the Soviets took over in 1940, his homeland in southeast Estonia was soon occupied by the invading Germans. His father was forced into the Wehrmacht. Enno remembers soldiers digging trenches in his yard as the Germans retreated from the … Continue reading Bare Bones Life for Estonian Pensioners

Unknown's avatarBarry D. WoodLeave a comment