elisheva

Hi everyone,

I've noticed a lot of guests and lurkers around, so I wanted to create a thread that would try to bring in a few more people to actually post. Also, we tend to have threads come up when something specific happens, but of course there are always things going on that don't get top news coverage.

So: What do you think is the biggest issue right now? Iraq? Global warming? Globalization? Something else with "globe" in the title?

Here are my picks...

- Future of the Middle East - stability, democracy, struggles with extremism and internal factionalism.
- The place of countries on the edge or in between like Turkey (vs. recognizing Armenian genocide, possibly joining the EU), and also, very important, Russia. I read a fascinating article recently on how the expansion of NATO in the post-Cold War years may well have been a terrible decision in terms of Western relations with Russia. Also, will Russia democratize in any real way, or does Putin have too strong a hold? I'm also a huge Cold War geek, so anything around that is fascinating to me.
- Environmental issues are getting such wider recognition now, it's amazing what a change has happened in terms of public perception in so short a time.
- Local issues - tuition battles in Quebec, upcoming Canadian elections..some big stuff!

What are your picks? Is global warming a bigger deal than foreign policy issues? Are local issues the most important to you? What areas of the world are mos interesting to you?

migamoo

One of my biggest issues would be gay rights. I feel I should have the same rights as straights and do not see how the government can say otherwise.

Another would be the future of The Middle East. Historically speaking, that whole area has been unstable but it seems the more the US meddles in it, the worse it's getting.

nopal

My biggest issues are definitely the war in Iraq (my husband is in the military, as are several other members of my family), gay rights, women's rights (which are being chipped away at all the time....South Dakota, anyone??), universal healthcare, and re-establishing/strengthening the seperation of church and state. Oh, and also, improving the election procedures to prevent fraud and situations like the 2000 elections from ever happening again.

migamoo

Oh, I forgot about health care.

elisheva

Women's rights and gay rights, both good points. You all should hear me ranting about things like REAL Women Canada. Urgh, they make me so mad. Also that South Dakota issue

And I think healthcare must be an issue in almost every country Seriously, if any country has figured out the perfect formula, they should share with the rest of us!

nopal, I hope your husband and family members are all safe and return to you soon.

lizzie2000

I definately have to agree with you and add global warming to the list. I think we definately need to do something about the war in Iraq it is affecting everyone. As for gay rights considering our president wants to make a constitutional bad we have a problem there and i am sure soon Roe v. Wade is going to be a distant memory for a lot of people seeing how South Dakota is and also how others in congress (republicans) are feeling about abortion and woman's right issues. I think we should also work on taking some of the scandel out of congress with people being indicted now on charges of accepting gifts when they shouldnt have and everything else I feel at least people are worried about who is runnning their country.

Global warming is something that definately is affecting all of us and will dramatically change our lives. For awhile it was on the back burner but I think it is definately being brought to the front and hopefully some stuff with change soon

Lexis

Iraq and problems in the wider Middle East (especially Israel/Palestine) - its just heartbreaking to see how screwed up Iraq is right now when so much was promised.

Global Warming - needs to be sorted.

Health care - the old chestnut. In the UK, we're making progress but its not going fast enough.

Women's rights - its scary how some women get treated in this day and age. I'm also extremely concerned about American women losing the right to get an abortion. For the moment, I think the UK is safe.

sunnykerr

Human rights, across the board. For gay people, for visible minorities, for women.

Internationally, too. I think the United States would have had boatloads more support in their Iraq adventure had international law been respected there. And, as a result, perhaps, American troops wouldn't be in such a difficult position. (hello to the euphemism there) nopal

Climate change. This has global impact. It's all our planet. And, if it goes, it's not like we've got anywhere else to be. Morally, too. Just because we are the biggest "guns" on this planet doesn't mean we should be allowed to destroy for all the other living creatures that inhabit it.

Health care We need more doctors and we need to treat our nurses better.

Genocide Never Again should really have meant never again. Right now, we pick and choose our battle according to our self-interest. Nothing intrinsically wrong with that, but people are dying by the hundreds in Darfur, in the Congo and in Angola, to name just three, because of who they are. And it wouldn't take that much from the international community to turn the tide on that one. But we look away. We let it happen. And that's wrong. At least, so says I.

Papri

Human Rights - that includes women's rights, gay rights, torture, false imprisonment, right to religious freedom and freedom from oppression and so on.

Foreign Policy - both politically and socially...Iraq, the Middle East, Darfur.

Poverty/Famine - it's 2007. Production is more than it ever has been - and yet people are still suffering from starvation. It beggers belief.

The Environment - self evident, really - I don't understand how people can not care.

So many of these issues are linked; if we manage to find a coherent solution for one, surely the ball will be rolling for the others?

quaist

Well, the biggest issues atm. for me are the climate change, dictatorships all over the world (best example: North Korea - just in the news lately because of Kim Jong-il) and minority rights (homosexuals, women, children).

Didn't hear about that. What's it about?

Ashleigh

Personally, the most important issues to me include finding and maintaining jobs for every American citizen who wants one, continuing and expanding tolerance for gay causes, and the minute possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned.

elisheva

quaist - South Dakota attempted to pass a law basically banning abortions. Some of the rhetoric from state politicians was really awful. It was defeated in the midterm elections, though You can read more, if you don't mind Wikipedia, here.

sunnykerr

Plus, how stupid would that be? All a person would need would be to go one state over and voila!

quaist

Thanx, elisheva.

Jerry D

Here are my picks:

1. The future of the Middle East – Of course, our presence in Iraq is the major issue right now, but the Middle East itself is an incredibly volatile and vital area, and further instability in that region could spell disaster for the entire world.

2. Health care – Health care is way too expensive in the United States, and a major illness can mean major debt for the majority of people, even those who have health insurance.

3. Human rights – like sunnykerr said, across the board.

4. Global warming and the environment (which go hand in hand) – We need to realize how fragile this world really is, and reverse the trend that truly could destroy the world.