@DragonHeart: I perhaps should have said "one", not "you". The post wasn't aimed at anyone.
@Smurphy: A peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine situation is unlikely, as much as I despise war. Israel refuses to compromise, and exasperation and rage in neighbouring countries looks justified.
Regarding the attacks on Christians in North Africa, as far as Egypt goes, they certainly weren't state sanctioned. If anything, a democratic Egypt would reduce violence, as the Christian minority demands action by its representatives. Moreover, I'd expect the Muslim Brotherhood to be a secular like Turkey or Indonesia, and not another Saudi Arabia or Iran, or at least that is the word I'm receiving in the press, and I see no reason to doubt it.
I'm interested in what happens to the price of oil if the instability spreads east, especially to Saudi Arabia.
I also think the situation in many ways bears an uncanny resemblance to South America in decades past -- US Government-supported dictatorial regimes. Of course the motivations differ; Communism isn't to be feared here. Rather, "radical Islam", and probably oil too, although natural resources figured prominently in the interventions in South America too.
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Cyclone Yasi is currently occupying my mind: Queensland faces 24 hrs of terror - World - NZ Herald News
They haven't even recovered from the last extreme weather event (flooding), which was devastating, and indications are that this one will be worse.
I don't have any friends or family living in Queensland, but my girlfriend does, including her mother's twin and her father's sister. The thoughts of my entire country are really with them right now.
It's interesting to note how frequently strong storms are occurring in Queensland, and to extrapolate even further into the future, when climate change reaches new extremes. It's certainly worrying.
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One more thing. The date for the 2011 New Zealand general election has been announced: 26 November. Not that anyone here will care, but I'm super excited, and things are already looking good (from my perspective):
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