June in 1944 was an eventful month in the Second World War. I recently watched a programme on Discovery Travel and Living on WW II (Yes I do watch TV. So sue me) and realized it is the June of 2009- some 65 years from the event.

And I think though currently there is no real war happening across the world, now is not exactly a thriving/peaceful time either. To some degree, today’s time has many brewing topics that might shape the times to come. In an unprecedented manner.

The first decade of the 21st century is probably the most eventful that we have seen in our lifetimes.

Recent news reports on the happenings around the world makes one wonder what kind of a world the next generation is inheriting. If you follow news carefully, there are some indicators.

The consequences could be varied: There might be a huge overhaul and cleansing of the system across the world in all domains or might be the exact opposite.

I am mentioning some of my thoughts on the new world order or the major happenings that might change the world in the coming decades- in a series of 2 posts.

In both the posts, I am highlighting the ‘difficult’ indicators. But again, I am not talking of Apocalypse or Doomsdays. Of course there are some very unprecedented positive signs- but we’ll talk about that later, if interest persists.

But here are some events that are making me sit up and think  (with what songs would go with them):

Rise of the Improbables: Everybody wants to rule the world:

Relatively improbable countries coming up as unlikely contenders for possibly world changing events. No one is quite sure of their agenda. And no one knows how to deal with them.

They might be right in their own eyes, but from what one gets from the news, the world is becoming more uncomfortable with policies of countries like North Korea, Pakistan and Iran. Their nuclear programmes have been raising storms, their stances towards their neighboring countries have been questionable and historically they have not been exactly known to be pragmatic or prudent when it comes to statements or actions.

A footnote : I am talking countries here- which means a formal accepted world entity. Not terrorist groups. They are different. Covered in the next post.
For want of a better video here is one with a US channel’s view on North korea

The spread of New Diseases:Bad moon rising

Throughout the evolution of the human race, we have been able to get rid of only one germ- the small pox. Not only the older ones continue to thrive and get stronger, there are completely new ones that have wrecked havoc- like AIDS/SAARS with no cure and there are even highly pandemic mutations like H1N1 or the Bird Flu.

These germs can adapt and mutate through different hosts and by the time science comes back with another antibiotic to suppress these, they cause the disruption. To fan the fire, modern day air travel has become so cheap, pervasive and routine that the world has never been a smaller place to live in. This means the virus spread faster than ever, with copious touchpoints and high speed- literally with wings.

And as we talk, media reports of a latest disease have been doing the rounds on the internet:

Not to mention the lowering human resistance levels with increasing use of antibiotics, living in excessive hygienic conditions, manufactured foods and what not. Our lifespan has increased but natural health quality has definitely decreased

Intolerant and Insensitive society: Pagan Baby

Both at the same time.

Intolerance:

While the melting of borders should have an impact otherwise, the human race remains strongly tribal. This is surprising considering even biologically- it is said that “There are not enough genetic differences between groups of people to say that there are sub-lineages (races) of humans”

We are all the same. Yet we are so different.

I have my own stories to tell on this. My treatment at Paris airport immigration- where I was singled out to show how much cash I was carrying at immigration in Paris accompanied with nasty behavior and gazing stares from the Immigration guy.  I almost told him off  and thought of teaching him what a credit card is, but complied. Did not matter that I had traveled one of the finest airlines in the world- (SQ) business class (the ticket was presented with passport)- and was staying at a high flying hotel in Paris (The letter from the company and hotel reservation presented along with the passport). Go figure.

Insensitivity:

The intolerance is not only in issues like these, but insensitivity is apparent even in everyday media.

Example? Let us take the ordinary and everyday stuff. What used to be the ‘safest’ shows to watch if some little ones were around, are becoming ‘louder’, ‘sexier’ and ‘violent-er’

So let’s take the example of the timidest of them all. Cooking or Travel shows. Highly rated culinary shows have migrated to showing stuff like:

• ...how to cook small worm-crabs- from a resort in Phuket. Drag them out from the beach sand, pull their legs out and fry them, perhaps alive…
• ...catching sea food, bashing them to rocks to make them tender. “…a sumptuous secret to a good tender octopus meat” – you could almost feel the man drooling as the animal is banged against a slab. But hey! It might not feel anything by now- it was already stabbed a few times and left lying on the hot metal surface in the sun
• …oh! That’s a fresh Tuna catch straight from the see. Ah! Look the guy is pushing his fingers inside it- you have to be careful because it is still flapping…and there he goes…look he has pulled out a fresh heart- it’s still beating…Ummmm what a tropical treat this is. I could feel the heart beating on its way down my throat…
• and then this video:
  

Pledge to go fur-free at PETA.org.

Agreed. It is ‘just an animal’. It probably ‘deserves’ this treatment. Well let me tell you something- I did not have the heart to post human to human insensitivity.

This demeanor today has transcended cultural barriers- while these might have cultural significance to some- to others this has become entertainment. Because the society has become so insensitive that normal entertainment is passe.

No sir. We need scandals, gruesome and out of the ordinary.

More thoughts in the next post.

thumbnail courstey flickr