Can the world be fixed?

1) If democracy is consolidated and political leaders take the reins instead of bowing to pressure from financial institutions, and replace our present speculation-based economy with a knowledge-based economy.

2) If investment in weapons and military spending is reduced and more money is devoted to global sustainable development, significantly increasing the number of people who benefit from progress.

3) If tax havens are decisively closed down and alternative financing measures are put into place, such as fees for electronic transactions.

4) If, for once and for all, the plutocratic G-7, G-8, G-20... factions imposed by the “globalizers" are dissolved and the United Nations is reinforced and endowed with the means for fulfilling its worldwide security missions, enforcing international law, including the World Trade Organization and ensuring that the World Bank and International Monetary Fund carry out the goals for which they were founded, with rapid deployment of UN Blue Helmets, rather than remaining as passive witnesses to genocide and massive human rights violations, and if the actions of Red Helmets are coordinated, being specially prepared to reduce the impact of natural or man-made disasters...

5) If it is decided overnight that drugs are worthless and are made universally available at reasonable prices, as is the case with alcohol and tobacco. This “legalization” would be accompanied, as warranted, by a campaign in the communications media, educational institutions, etc. to discourage drug use and clinical treatment to cure addiction.

6) If citizens the world over, aware of the power of distance participation, cease to be resigned “receivers” and turn to action.

The world can be fixed. But the “Bush solution” G-20 will not solve the world’s problems. They will not be solved by “rescuing” irresponsible bankers with public funds. Nor by delocalizing production for “greed-added” motives. Nor by investing thousands of millions in weapons of defense and security designed for past conflicts. Nor by allowing embarrassing tax havens to exist. Nor by maintaining the people distracted and blinded by the new real and virtual circuses of the 21^st century. Nor with outdated formulas incapable of meeting the challenges of today and tomorrow.

This will only be achieved with imagination. By inventing the future.

By applying solutions designed by reliable people: "in times of crisis, imagination is more important than knowledge" (Albert Einstein).

And another: "All change is possible... No challenge is beyond the reach of human creativity" (John F. Kennedy).

In his excellent essay "Crisis, culture and democracy" José Monleón quotes Amin Maalouf when he writes: "Mankind is facing previously unknown dangers that require previously unknown global solutions".

The future has not yet been forged. A new world worthy of human dignity may at last be built at the dawning of the 21^st century