It's all too depressing Belly...the situation in Pakistan is on a knife edge, so is Kenya - Africa could explode or implode but something will happen. Iran? I am glad I do not live there. Lebanon - the Syrians are still in control. Israel and Palestine are in as bad as ever shape.
Australia? Well three days into the New Year and the railway workers went out on strike so a bunch of people with disabilities who cannot use buses got to go - nowhere.
Maybe it is just the heat getting me down but I do not feel optimistic about 2008 - especially as we should boycott the Olympics but won't.

Dear Communicat,

You're right it is so very depressing - I think I may stop reading
newspapers and watching the news on television.

Another depressing subject is the cruelty of the meat export industry.
I'm just beginning to find out more on the subject from PALE
(People against Live Export and Intensive Farming). I had no idea the horror that goes on and the standards that are ignored by that industry.

I only hope that our new government - especially the PM will listen to the people at PALE and have the matter looked into, especially in providing more frequent inspections.

In 2008 onwards, we MUST be more assertive in our foreign relations, and do within the best of our ability to show the world now with a new government we mean vision, innovation and a new era of increasingly relevant Australian standing in world politics. To my last dying breath I will be dedicated to first supporting improving of how Australia sees itself, and how we present ourselves to the world.

Alliances are fine when they are used for expanding your own interests, but not when its the result of a permement lack of trust in the abilities of your nation.

What Australia needs most of all is someone who can make people engaged in politics, lead Australia to greatness. Australia was never meant to stay small forever. We are quick to admire the greatness of others, so we do understand what it means but will never strive for it ourselves.

Why must all our politicians be dimwitted, self-serving and unpatriotic, thats the only logical reason I can see for people not being more enthauiastic about Australia's growth.

What a great year that poster is in for! on 24/11/2007 your wishes got granted!
Communicat you highlight my wishes further up the thread.
Just why is the west in Iraq? wasn't it to bring Democracy and freedom?
What about Africa?
Why do we let it happen?
Let us never forget peace is not won by lack of action, do most of us truly think the world will sort its self out?
Any year now we will see another world trade center.
Any year now we may find war is not avoidable sad but true.

The current polling in America has filled me with hope for 2008.
It looks like Hillary Clinton will fail, that should see true new leadership for America.
And in truth the western world.
I understand some think anyone who says anything against Bush hates him or is anti America ,that is childish, but I cringe every time he appears on TV surely the world does too?