Specific Areas of Security Link to:
Prison
Reform
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Economic
Issues
People
in parts of the world facing the most severe hardships wrought by man and nature
will, at times, benefit greatly, from the aid of their fellow man. Not enough
can be said about the importance of such matters. If any of us is able to come to their aid, in time of need…we should, certainly, do all we
can.
Institutions
have been established…more need to be. These are deserving of support. They can
do considerable good. But it seems that many would be much better able to
contribute to overall human welfare if not so limited by issues of
politics…especially, in areas of large geopolitical scope (i.e. large national,
international, etc.). This comes up, regularly, and should be of concern.
There are many reasons why politics plays a
major role in the implementation (or hindrance) of human assistance programs.
It is hard for many of us to appreciate a government’s political position when
it appears to place the importance of
other
issues above that of human life!...But,
then, there may exist other issues, which
should take priority. As an example,
there might be a related situation involving even greater loss of life.
Perhaps greater clarification might be
forthcoming, at such times. Misunderstanding can lead to wrong conclusions.
Governments do owe a reasonable quality/quantity of communication to their own
people. They would, also, do well to exercise good levels of clarity in their
communication with the other nations of the world (and those peoples). The
welfare of any person or group does and will continue to (in some degree) influence both the present,
and the future, for all of us.
General Overview:
The Big Picture
Where do we, as human beings sharing this planet, stand, and what does the future hold?
If we look at our past, we see crude relations with our fellow
beings…but without the pressures that exist, today, we may
see it as a slower, more amiable
time. Seniors, often, long for the
good old days…just as seniors, undoubtedly,
always have. The memories, we spend
the most time with, usually… are the best
of bygone times. But, in fact…if “time machines” became
available, they would only be safe
with substantial (modern) weaponry, on board. We have, indeed, made great
advances in human relations…while the burden
on those relations has increased.
In the past, the
biggest human challenge was to maintain peaceful relations. It still is…but in
order to meet this challenge we must focus, much more, on the issues that drive
human concerns.
Energy
& Water
Globally, the need for increased resources in these two areas
seems to dwarf most other matters of
mutual human concern. In light of rapidly increasing modernization throughout
the larger portions of our planet, we need more of both. The energy problem is
clear to anyone with access to mass media. The water problem is fast becoming
known as diseases, worldwide, overtake our ability to deal with them. Most stem from the water-born virus and
bacteria, in inadequate drinking water supplies.
There is hope, in the
form of technological advances in energy production. More affordable energy
resources may enable us to, significantly, tackle many water problems. That is
a question of time…and how we make use of it. But growing population places a
burden on, general, “quality of life”…how we live, and what we hope for.
It is becoming quite
clear that the lifestyle to which we are accustomed, and the socio-economic
infrastructure, supporting it…are limited,
at best. But what do we, really, need...a new world? Yes. Currently, we are transitioning, toward that goal. But to,
substantially, appreciate ongoing change
…where we are and where we are heading…will
require good insight, and understanding, beyond what we
inhabitants, of the “thin surface of everyday life”, are accustomed to. We, will do well, to the degree that we continue to progress. Global Water Challenge
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