By accident, I caught a program on BBC about the new St. Pancras Station and adjoined railway lines in London - costing in the region of 5.8 billion pounds or 11 billion dollars - to make one of the most prestigious train stations in Europe, and shave 20 minutes from the journey to Paris.
Here are some keywords: prestigious, 20 minutes, 11 billion dollars.
Now to get perspective, the United Kingdom (or England as most people know it), has a major problem with it's National Health Care system. It is 1.6 billion pounds, or 3 billion dollars in debt, and the quality of care is slipping fast. Furthermore, the UK is also struggling with an educational crisis, with SAT scores in decline; teenage binge drinking, drug abuse and pregnancies are on the rise; crime - although not admitted openly due to the 2012 Olympics - is on the rise, and immigration with racism and xenophobia is becoming a major concern.
These same problems can be seen in the rest of the world as well. Basic social services are not met with the gap between the minority super rich elite and the majority of poor ever widening. Yet, billions and billions of dollars are spent on prestigious buildings (like the said St Pancras), space program and especially wars in the middle east with no other apparent reason than that of oil security.
Now, there is nothing wrong with aesthetic buildings and space exploration. But first things first. For a well functioning society, we need to get objectivity, and address problems first:
1) Proper education of ALL people will lead to a better understanding of the universe and one's place in it. This will lead to a healthier society in body and mind.
2) Proper Health care for those who have had poor education in the past, and already have secondary pathology is essential in a fair and just society.
3) Sustainability: what is the use of prestigious buildings and space exploration if the earth is on the brink on extinction? Surely, we need to address our consumerism problem very rapidly. With no resources, there can be no life, never mind a stable economy; and if studied closely, we will realize that the earth is on the very edge.
The human race needs to seriously rethink their whole way of thinking before its too late.
Thus: you and I need to rethink this whole scenario - after all, we ARE the human race...
Here are some keywords: prestigious, 20 minutes, 11 billion dollars.
Now to get perspective, the United Kingdom (or England as most people know it), has a major problem with it's National Health Care system. It is 1.6 billion pounds, or 3 billion dollars in debt, and the quality of care is slipping fast. Furthermore, the UK is also struggling with an educational crisis, with SAT scores in decline; teenage binge drinking, drug abuse and pregnancies are on the rise; crime - although not admitted openly due to the 2012 Olympics - is on the rise, and immigration with racism and xenophobia is becoming a major concern.
These same problems can be seen in the rest of the world as well. Basic social services are not met with the gap between the minority super rich elite and the majority of poor ever widening. Yet, billions and billions of dollars are spent on prestigious buildings (like the said St Pancras), space program and especially wars in the middle east with no other apparent reason than that of oil security.
Now, there is nothing wrong with aesthetic buildings and space exploration. But first things first. For a well functioning society, we need to get objectivity, and address problems first:
1) Proper education of ALL people will lead to a better understanding of the universe and one's place in it. This will lead to a healthier society in body and mind.
2) Proper Health care for those who have had poor education in the past, and already have secondary pathology is essential in a fair and just society.
3) Sustainability: what is the use of prestigious buildings and space exploration if the earth is on the brink on extinction? Surely, we need to address our consumerism problem very rapidly. With no resources, there can be no life, never mind a stable economy; and if studied closely, we will realize that the earth is on the very edge.
The human race needs to seriously rethink their whole way of thinking before its too late.
Thus: you and I need to rethink this whole scenario - after all, we ARE the human race...
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