INTRODUCTION

The ten commandments given to Moses by God seemed to have laid out all of the necessary behaviours and caveats necessary to achieve happiness on earth. What happened? Did God abandon us? Has he changed his mind about mankind? Is God a Shiite or Sunni; is he a Jew or Christian, Mormon or Amish, a Seventh Day Adventist or Doukhobor? Is he responsible for the poor play of Toronto's sports teams?

GLOBAL CONFLICT

Is it inevitable, holy, justifiable, universal, necessary? Is it a last resort, an excuse to dominate, a reason to usurp or increase influence? Is it a fight for the right to be free or a determination to suppress such aspirations. The nature of conflict varies from battles between identifiable armies; to hidden terrorists that operate beyond the theatre of conventional military foes. The objectives of the former are illustrated by General George Patton’s famous quip: "The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his". Osama bin Laden justified the latter, "Hostility toward America is a religious duty, and we hope to be rewarded for it by God." The conflict between states is far reaching and fills the media reports. Below is a map that shows the sorry state of our world. CHOSE YOUR POISON: Ground wars, Air operations, Cyber attacks, Insurgency, Religious and Tribal Tension, Civil War, Piracy, Missile development or Drug Trafficking.

GLOBAL HUNGER

In the USA, Canada and other Western Societies, citizens are fortunate to have the freedom to pursue their dreams and most are able to feed their families. It is shocking to realize that 19 million people in developed countries are included in human hunger statistics. To ignore these facts is an evil that escapes understanding.

Hunger is a term which has three meanings (Oxford English Dictionary 1971)

the uneasy or painful sensation caused by want of food, craving appetite or the exhausted condition caused by want of food.
the want or scarcity of food in a country
a strong desire or craving

Global Hunger refers to the second definition and is also characterized medically by the term 'Malnutrition", The lack of nutrients necessary for human health.

The pie graph below illustrates the number of hungry humans in the world.

Sharing the world has never been recognized as one of the attributes of mankind. The USA contains 4% of the world's population. It consumes 25% of the world's food supply. Much of this 25% ends up as throw-away waste.

GREED

One of the evils of Capitalism is found in the manipulation of the stock markets by individuals who are hooked on wealth accumulation. Illegal Ponzi schemes spring up, where greedy individuals take advantage of trusting people who wind up losing their life savings. On the other hand some of these "victims' are themselves greedy, expecting to collect larger than normal rates of return.

We live in an country and an age where people are preoccupied with the accumulation of property and possessions. Many families have a cottage or vacation spot, cell phones, stereo sets, several TVs, video gaming, 2 cars, 6 kinds of cereal, etc.

We want the best for our children's future but seem to care little about those with diminished status. We worry more about things beyond our control and less about those which are not. Meanwhile our world rots on.

THE CURSE OF BIG CITIES

GANGS, GUNS & DRUG DEALING

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT IS TOO EASILY DOLED OUT

OUTDATED URBAN PLANNING

BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE

GRIDLOCK AND IMPATIENT DRIVERS

AXE-GRINDING COUNCILLORS

CYCLES OF CRIME, POVERTY & LACK OF GUIDANCE

Toronto Somali community’s cry: ‘Our kids are dying’

Gunfire deaths of six Somali-Canadian young men this summer leave the community reeling and leaders looking everywhere for answers.

SCHOOLS THAT DON'T TEACH TO THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY:
Self-esteem, self-confidence, empathy, family values, job specialization, citizenship, and a just society. The list can easily be expanded.

BABY MOMMAS, WITH CHILDREN WHO HAVE LITTLE CHANCE TO BREAK THE CYCLES.

SOLUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN TRIED OR PROPOSED:

SMALLER MUNICIPAL COUNCILS
A RESPONSIBLE MEDIA RATHER THAN THOSE THAT VALUE 'EXCLUSIVES'
TACTICAL POLICE PROGRAMS: (TAVIS; STOP-AND-FRISK)
DEPORTATION OF REFUGEES WHO HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A CRIME
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCHES
A PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY DOWNTOWN CORE
WITNESS CO-OPERATION & EFFECTIVE PROTECTION POLICIES
LEGALIZED POT & PROSTITUTION AND DECRIMINALIZED DRUG USE
REVISED CURRICULA IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS
INCREASED EMPHASIS ON PARENTAL PRIVILEGE & RESPONSIBILITY
FREE POST SECONDARY EDUCATION
ABSENTEE FATHER'S EDUCATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS
SELECTIVE IMMIGRATION POLICY WITH THOROUGH VETTING OF REFUGEES FROM WAR TORN AREAS
PROFILING & INSISTING ON ASSIMILATION OF IMMIGRANTS INTO LOCAL VALUES AND MORES