The League of Women Voters of Moore County is resuming its monthly luncheon meetings on Tuesday, Sept. 20. The speaker is Mohsin Ali, an international journalist for more than 40 years.

Ali's speech is titled "Uncle Sam, the Yogi and the Sleeping Giant." Napoleon Bonaparte once said, "China is a sleeping giant. Let it sleep, for when it awakes, it will shake the world." Ali's theme is that China and India, nuclear armed and with a combined population of 2.5 billion, are quietly rising as economic giants while the U.S. sheds its blood and treasure in long wars, numerous overseas military based and other obsolescent overseas commitments.

Mohsin Ali was born in India. During World War II, he was a British Air Force officer. He joined Reuters News Agency, in London, in 1948 and was their correspondent and editor for 30 years. In 1980, Queen Elizabeth made him an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) for his journalism services. He later joined the Times of London Bureau in Washington, D.C., and covered the White House, State Department, Congress, the Pentagon and NASA. Locally he has spoken at a lecture series at Sandhills Community College, lectured nationally for the English-Speaking Union, and also is periodically interviewed on PBS and UNC-TV. He is now a U.S. citizen, is married and has resided in Pinehurst since 1995. He and his wife recently moved to Southern Pines.

The luncheon meeting will be held at the Table on the Green Restaurant, inside Midland Country Club, 2205 Midland Road, Southern Pines. Check-in time is 11:30 a.m., and the League meeting will start at 11:45. The meeting is open to the public as well as League members.

As the meal is catered for the group, a prior reservation is required. League members have received an email to respond to. Others may call Charlotte Gallagher at (910) 944-9611 by Friday, Sept. 16, to make a reservation. The total cost for the luncheon is $12; a check made payable to LWVMC is the preferred method of payment. "No shows" who do not call to cancel will still be required to pay.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.