Setting an Example

No doubt, some of my posts on the hypocritical nature of the west smack, at least for some people, of a certain political naivety. It is almost childish to expect nations in their pursuit of "realpolitik" goals not to at least try to cover up their true intentions. Moreover, with India, China and Russia increasingly looking for their own, "place in the sun", it is to be almost expected that these goals should be pursued with a machiavellian thoroughness. My moaning might almost appear to be that of the incurable romatic who yearns for an ideal world without thinking that the pragmatists have to deal with the world as it is. However, that is really my point; we can gain the moral high ground only by thinking about the world we really want for ourselves and our children. If we do this, we can lead by example, there can be a real effort to look for alternative sources of energy, we can share our know-how, education, civilisation and wealth with the rest of the planet and we can make everyone aware that it is in all our interests to work together. However, what does the world see? It sees lies, lies, lies and more lies as the west is only intent on further securing its economic hegemony of the whole planet into the 21st century. The example we set is the one that is going to be copied and, as things stand, the portents are not good.