London..

[liquid]

I'm sure all of you by now know what happened in London today, and without getting to Political....I find it repulsive. I have to say I feel for Tony Blair, as I believe he is one of the few intelligent politicians out there; yet he will be getting flack from both sides of the Iraq war debate.

[Smarty39]

Re: London..

Yea, I couldn't believe it when I heard about the attacks on the news this morning. I agree with you about Tony Blair though, he is definately one of the few leaders that seem to know what they are doing. Sad day over there I'm sure...

[TDi_Steve]

Re: London..

Why Innocent people...It's beyond me?
Damn them...

[Kor]

Re: London..

Holy crap, I hadn't heard until just now, that is terrible!!!

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: London..

Yes it is a very sad thing to see. I really sit and wonder sometimes why this world is the way it is and the motivation to committ such atrocities and of course the answer is always money & religion.

Anyway my thoughts go out to all those involved and their families and I hope there is no further attacks or retaliation. I am a fan of Tony Blair (good name too ) I think he is intelligent and passionate but I hate to see him and all the UK put in such a spot between the US and terrorists. I am also trying to contact on of our members Bill aka Dubs who currently resides in London, he was supposed to be coming here soon for a visit but who knows now....

[R_Ethug]

Re: London..

the world is gonna explode soon damn 'rists

[Stonewall]

Re: London..

money & religion.

I would add polictics to that list too. I personally think the UK is one ot the most forward thinking and caring countries in the world. They do not seem afraid of change and always put a foot forward to improve their country (like spending billions to run fibre across the whole country for communications in the next couple year, the way they handle theft etc). It is a shame to see an attack and so many inoccents killed. I know the country followed the states into the war to make the world better, but to me a war was not the answer and all I can see from it is dead innocent people and soldiers (ohh and oil going up which I am sure american oil companies love).
Just my $0.02

[liquid]

Re: London..

The whole political landscape is shaping it to change alot over the next 10-15 years. With the explosion(pardon the pun) of Oil prices, and the emergence of China in that market, I'm somewhat affraid of what the next decade or two could be like.

I agree that an all-out war in Iraq was not the answer. Yet, I also think that sitting back and doing nothing would be even worse. In my opinion, perhaps the best option would have been a localized task force to take out Saddam and Bin-Laden. Yet we all know those two weren't the primary reason for the war anyways. The entire political landscape in the Middle-East has been put through the grinder, and is so diverse... that no real solution seems to exist.

[tintin]

Re: London..

I lived in London during the whole September 11 thing and we were convinced we were next. I suppose it took a couple extra years but ther is it.

The tube is a dark and scary place even when the trains are running. I can't imagine the feeling of being trapped under 10 stories of earth.

[Smartiepants]

Re: London..

Yeah, I'm surprised by it, I feel Tony Blair is one of the most respectable politicians around, yet it will be ugly for him

[Russell]

Re: London..

I'm somewhat affraid of what the next decade or two could be like.

That is one of the major problems… we are afraid of change, what will the world be like when the leading western nations are not leading anymore?

I understand the fear, but we need to see that an international community needs to be started. One where we are working for a common good across the global landscape, but that would mean drastic change to socially, political and economical thinking which most people are not willing to make at this point in time.

I am absolute horrified at what has taken place and would not wish this on anyone, but at the same time I am horrified at the western nations. To some degree I understand why these people are doing what they are doing. To think that we as human beings are letting people around the world go with out food, water and proper care well we drive our gas guzzling cars around and when $hit looks like it is going to go side ways we go and push people around for what we want.

But who am I to talk, I just bought my VW the other day.

The entire political landscape in the Middle-East has been put through the grinder, and is so diverse... that no real solution seems to exist.

we keep pushing it around, we need to step back and let them deal with there issues. What would our reaction be if someone used military force to tell us how we should run our country? Democracy in the western world did not happen in 5 years.

[liquid]

Re: London..

That is one of the major problems… we are afraid of change, what will the world be like when the leading western nations are not leading anymore?

I understand the fear, but we need to see that an international community needs to be started. One where we are working for a common good across the global landscape, but that would mean drastic change to socially, political and economical thinking which most people are not willing to make at this point in time.

I am absolute horrified at what has taken place and would not wish this on anyone, but at the same time I am horrified at the western nations. To some degree I understand why these people are doing what they are doing. To think that we as human beings are letting people around the world go with out food, water and proper care well we drive our gas guzzling cars around and when $hit looks like it is going to go side ways we go and push people around for what we want.

But who am I to talk, I just bought my VW the other day.

Idealistic don't you think. The UN is supposed to be the foundation for this international/global unification... and we see what they have done. They lack any real power, and that basically robs them of the ability to do anything. The sovereignty of nations/tribal leaders, will always (in the near future), overcome the sanctions of the UN; unless of course the UN is backed by a superpower such as the US.

I am very much pro-change... although that means that North America will be no-where near as affluent as it now is. That fact, and that alone is creating alot of the friction within summits such as the G8.

Global political unification (even slight) will never work anytime in the near future.... as there are just to many variables and power struggles standing in the way. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: London..

Well not to start a huge debate but I think there is one main factor in that fear of change....the USA. I am not saying other Western countries are perfect but I think the States really does a lot to hold things back. Just look at the G8 and climate change, 7 of the 8 countries have ratified the Kyoto accord, however the one holdout is the US and so then the whole thing basically falls to crap. What about democracy and majority rules, seems like 7 of 8 is good enough to move ahead in my opinion.

I agree that the next few decades are going to be very interesting and this is China's century so who knows what will happen but I just hope we can avoid more acts like this.

[Russell]

Re: London..

Idealistic don't you think. The UN is supposed to be the foundation for this international/global unification... and we see what they have done. They lack any real power, and that basically robs them of the ability to do anything. The sovereignty of nations/tribal leaders, will always (in the near future), overcome the sanctions of the UN; unless of course the UN is backed by a superpower such as the US.

I am very much pro-change... although that means that North America will be no-where near as affluent as it now is. That fact, and that alone is creating alot of the friction within summits such as the G8.

Global political unification (even slight) will never work anytime in the near future.... as there are just to many variables and power struggles standing in the way. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The UN needs to become more global, hardly a global body when the only countries that really have power are UK, Russia, US, France and China… there needs to be a complete remapping of the inner workings of the UN.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

True story, but there is much better ways of dealing with our issues then what we are doing right now.

I don't think global unification is the answer, I can't really think of ANY global initiative that works (be it business, political or otherwise).

Don’t ask me how it can be done, but global government is a must at some point… in a world that is growing out of control basic international problems must be addressed (ie: over population and pollution). I am not talking about global assimilation of government but many issues affect the whole world.

[liquid]

Re: London..

Well not to start a huge debate but I think there is one main factor in that fear of change....the USA. I am not saying other Western countries are perfect but I think the States really does a lot to hold things back. Just look at the G8 and climate change, 7 of the 8 countries have ratified the Kyoto accord, however the one holdout is the US and so then the whole thing basically falls to crap. What about democracy and majority rules, seems like 7 of 8 is good enough to move ahead in my opinion.

I agree that the next few decades are going to be very interesting and this is China's century so who knows what will happen but I just hope we can avoid more acts like this.

I agree with your post. The US is probably the country that most exemplifies a fear for change. With that said, they have also implemented alot of the political and social policies that other countries in the world (ie: Canada) have used quite succesfully. As far as Kyoto is concerned.... I believe alot of that stems from the fact that the US is beginning to fear for their status with the emergence of China. Like it or not, enviromental concerns can cost alot from an economic perspective, and the US is not willing to give that up. The most polluted country in the world is China, and that is due to their extremely rapid industrialization. They are catching the US, and that terrifies alot of Americans (and other people) due to the way that China runs from a social and civil rights perspective.