I would certainly agree that we will experience a most interesting time over the next few decades, but was disappointed that the most important world problem was not mentioned.

That is, of course, the problem of growing world population.

Unless that is addressed, it will be corrected by the four horsemen of the Apocalyse, (War, Famine, Pestilence and Death). Many would say that they are at work already.

I wouldn't worry too much about global warming. When the oil runs out emissions of warming gases will decline sharply.

With the distinct prospect of nuclear war in the middle east in the next few years, the oil supply shouldn't last too long, as it will be stopped by the first nuclear bomb.

Wars over resources are nothing new. When countries are faced with a shortage, they have a little war to see who will get the resource, and who will get nothing. It has been that way since before we became human.

Any of the above events will certainly cause economic collapse, as the only way we know how to run an economy is with constant growth. The last time we had a sustained period without growth, it was called the Great Depression.

In case any posters think I am being pessimistic, I suggest you think about the fact that Australia is the only country in the world with the four vital things. These are:

1. A surplus of food.

2. A surplus of energy.

3. A surplus of minerals.

and lastly, most important of all

4. A sea boundary.

Probably what we do need right now is reasoning backed by commonsense, which according to some philosophers, can only come in isolation for some gifted personage such as the young Jesus, Buddha, Mahommed, and so on, also doubtless including Confucius.

In the same vein we have the lower ranks, including Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Maxim Gorbachev, and as some would say, the previous Roman Catholic leader, Pope John.

However, we leave the more consecrated, and influential, to deal with the most miraculous of modern times. Both Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, each one originally just an ordinary individual.

First Gandhi, who while the angry colonial Brits had rebellious bodies swinging from trees and lamp-posts throughout India just after WW2, Gandhi was able to perform one of history's greatest victories.

Gandhi was able to mindfully get-together not only all the Indian castes from Brahmins to Untouchables, but also the more troublous, such as the Islamics and Sikhs, who had previously been inciting most of the killings between the religions.

Surely as a peace-maker Nelson Mandela must come second,
even though Mandela having been incarcerated by the white South Africans for well over twenty years for his fight against the evils of arparthaid, was still able during his lonely confinement to think about forgiveness even for his torturers as a way to be rid of the cruelties as experienced from white humanity over black.

Looking at the above historical experiences, we could say that in some ways, the experiences of Gandhi and Mandela are somewhat similar. Furthermore, in today's troubled world, are their lessons to be learnt from the influences of two ordinary humans, both non-white, who virtually achieved great political victories without hardly firing a shot.

Please take a lesson - for there is little doubt that with the abolishment of human greed, backed by deep wisdom and understanding, the victories of both Gandhi and Mandela could be achieved in today's Middle East

I believe globalisation is one of the few positives in this world today. To suggest we are sliding back into the age of geo-politics is completely wrong. The American policy of unilateralism will soon be considered a tragic mistake. Perhaps it already is. If it continues beyond Bush's term, then it will be the US finding itself falling behind. In the 21st century, economic integration is king.

Economics is about the distribution if limited resources. Peak oil makes economics more relevant. It will allow the world to adjust in the most effective way.

The solution to global warming is in the field of economics, and providing a global solution is possible thanks to globalisation. The Koyoto protocol would be an impossibility in any other age.

In this century, globalisation will remove extreme poverty from Asia and South America, and reduce poverty in Africa more than any other measure. Fortunately, nothing exists to interfer with such progress.

I used to think a growing population was the greatest threat to mankind, but now I tend to think it's poverty (how naughtily marxist of me).

For the chief reason that the population of the most affluent nations isn't increasing save for migration. (I'm not sure of the US, but it's certainly the case for Europe and Australia).

So therefore, poverty = population growth.

It isn't really fair to ask an impoverished woman not to have children - with no social security, it is the children who look after you in your old age.

As for Australia's resources and isolation... it sounds promising, but by the same token, it's awfully worrying. The powerful tend to take things from the less powerful, when they need them.

David Latimer.

Mostly agree with you, mate, except that the greed and selfishness of human beings on their way up is forever hard to control, just as Turn Right-Turn Left just mentioned.

Over here in WA we have orange growers having a battle.Also our dairy farmers being forced to sell out. Lucky they are close to the city where land prices are so high. Seems the middle men or the corporates are still holding the Ace Cards. Also grain prices have hardly risen since globalisation came into being. Probably why the US and the EU have had to keep on subsidising their farmers. No chance of any subsidies in little Aussie land however.

Also bi-lateralism has disgraced our bio-security laws by allowing suspected foot and mouth infected Brazilian carcase meat to be landed in Australia, the shipment not dissolved chemically but just hastily buried in a NSW rubbish dump. No news in the media about it all neither.

Wonder how our Federal Government can turn a blind eye to such tings.

Yes, David, still agree that marketing liberality is what we need, but as with our Middle East problems, reckon the whole shebang might prove a failure through bureaucratic incompetence, and as Adam Smith said so many eons ago, though freedom for the market is beneficial, laws concerning market duplicity must be stronger than ever.

I think there is two merging events taking place. Two by name but, one in fact. Globalization or business with out borders. And Internationalisation or Nations with out borders. Each of these ideas lead to what many would consider a "world government" while leaving Nations or emerging Nation as "Governor" of their particular slice of earth.
Geo-politics hasn't returned. It's never left us. It has mutated and probably will continue to readjust while the World sorts itself out for the next millennium.
Observe what is taking place with in Europe. Nations coming to terms with giving up States Rights in favour of a more cohesive unified Europe sharing mutual governmental responsibility. Which is why Turkey wants to become part of that world and not be left out in the cold so to speak. It is also why Turkey is having such a problem meeting the new demands of democracy and human rights to be included in the new Europe. There are internal pressures that fear change. Fear that they will not be able to be Turkey.
The defining element in globalization is mutual open trade benefits. The defining element in Internationalisation is cross border democracy and human rights.
The future problem elements will be with those countries that refuse to adopt a democratic form of government and institute policies based around human rights.
The eventuality being that the "world" comes to understand that it is just this one world and it has become a very small place. Where what may have leaked out in years or took weeks by travel now takes place in minutes or hours.