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The Next Millenium (r)

(written by iearn@iearn.org, 03/22/1996)

/* Written  2:59 PM  Nov  3, 1995 by peg:sthildas in igc:iearn.tc */
Discussion Topic:  The next millennium

For many around the world the next millennium represents a chance
to start again, to turn their lives, their countries and their
world around and to embark on a new journey into a picture-perfect
future.

This outlook on the future is purely fictional.  The world's
problems will not disappear when the clock ticks over to the year
2000.

World problems today are more complicated than ever and they all
lie in the hands of mostly incompetent politicians who never seem
to be able to deliver their promises.  This was voiced in the
recent United Nations meetings to mark their 50th anniversary.
Many were expecting it to be a happy affair, celebrating all the
UN has done and how important a role it plays in the world's
politics, so when the representatives of countries and the
Secretary General spoke about the need for change in the UN,
people around the world began to think of the future.  The UN is
in financial trouble and some major players are not honouring
their promises of financial contribution to its successful
function.  If the UN is in trouble and not viable financially, the
prospects for the future are less bright.

War still ravages some countries - Bosnia, Somalia, Afghanistan.


As we enter the next millennium, we must decide which direction
the world is heading - peace or destruction.  Mr Keating, Prime
Minister of Australia, has recently called for the abolition of
ALL nuclear weapons, not a new suggestion, but one of grave
importance for the world's future.  The leaders of today must
begin to lay foundations for the next generation with greater
sincerity, if the next millennium is to be any different from the
current one.

Prue Pisko,  Year 11

************************

Going into the next millennium with the problems we have today
will destroy our world before we arrive at the year 3000.  Peace
must be attained.  Utopia is impossible of course but wars are not
the way to solve conflict.  People need to respect each other's
differences.  I believe that the younger generation is better
equipped to solve problems than the older generation but we still
need to work hard for peace.  Everyone wants individuality but
peace and originality can be achieved at the same time.

Natalie Read,  Year 11

****************************

Technology  in the next millennium will go much further as human
curiousity will always encourage the thirst for knowledge.  Just
how far the human race goes is difficult to predict but I believe
that ethics will limit the type of technology we develop.  It is
also important to consider the advances the world has made in the
last century alone.  If we take this rapid growth and keep
continuing at the same rate, there will be few barriers and
technology could rule our lives.  Perhaps I am an optimist but I
still have faith in people and their personal values.  Humans
require a sense of identity and purpose and no matter how far
technology goes, we need these to survive.  There simply has to be
a balance to ensure quality of life for all.  However, there is
certainly a fine line between our ability to develop new
technology and our ability to control and monitor its uses.

With regard to biotechnology and weapons systems, it is difficult
to dictate who should use it and when it has gone too far.  I
suggest that world leaders should continue with cease-fire
agreements and peace treaties as they are the key to international
peace. It will increase the control over the introduction of new
weapons systems and give the nations of the world a greater sense
of negotiating power. Communication, a by-product of technology,
should be used to our advantage.

Fiona Pearson, Year 11