A step in the right direction

First Burma, now North Korea: are the world's pariah states moving towards greater global cooperation? As Burma loosened its grip on domestic freedoms, last year saw the US Secretary of State visit the nation for the first time in decades signifying a thawing in international relations. In a move that many have seen as an attempt to weaken reliance upon China, Burma seems to be changing for the better. Is North Korea now making the same step (and, perhaps, for the same reason)? Today it was announced that, in exchange for US food supplies, North Korea would suspend its nuclear programme.

We can only hope that all nations will take a leaf out off these countries' books in moving toward cooperation and negotiation for the greater good. For while both the isolationism and the oppression of human rights of North Korea and Burma are on the extreme end of the scale, every country could benefit from some self-reflection, greater co-operation and democratic changes on the path to greater good for all.

The Free Market

The free market alienates people from their decision-making. It prevents people from taking responsibility for the consequences of their actions. It allows people to feel nonchalant about the source of their consumer goods. It allows people who work in the finance industry to feel disconnected from the death and destruction they fuel by investing in the arms trade, blood diamonds etc.  


The answer is global cooperation based not on market forces or religion or even a set moral code but the desire to improve the lot of humankind and an understanding of the mutual and universal benefit of this cooperation. 


We currently live in a society where money is the only thing people have to desire. The problem is money is not enough, so even those with millions still want more because it will never satisfy.