The 18-month-long war between Russia and Ukraine has dragged on longer than expected, and slightly further away, the bonfire in Israel and Gaza was re-lit recently, potentially sparking another European refugee crisis much like what Syria caused.
Le Procope, a restaurant in Paris dating back to 1686, has, over the centuries, been a place where thoughts have been formed and ideas have been exchanged, thanks to the patronage of Rene Descartes, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Jean-Paul Sartre.
Over the years, the mood in this restaurant has presumably gone up and down — depending on whether wars have been won, monarchies overthrown, or simply, the lives of ordinary citizens are fine. Unfortunately, at a recent lunch with numerous European CEOs and CSOs hosted by a global advisory firm, the outlook that was painted was as dim as Le Procope’s interior.
