Forums / Miscellaneous Discussions / Help me pick countries

Help me pick countries
14:07:28 Jun 1st 14 - Pirate Lewatha:

Idiot First Class: I'm originally from Mechelen but spend most of my time in either Mechelen, Antwerpen or Leuven. (Nice name)


Woody: Yay!

Binh The Romanian (I assume Cobra?): Unlikely but you never know what happens. I think in UN taskforce camps you are rather safe and protected compared to the normal population. I'm willing to take the risk. 

TBL: I am aware of these issues, insurance coverage is non-existant in conflict zones but will not hold me back. Problems can be avoided by taking certain countermeasures (no going out after dark, never go out alone, take armed guards with you when you go to dangerous areas, ...) I am also fully aware of the diseases but yet again countermeasures exist. I have already been to areas where I could get Malaria and found out I am now pretty much resistant to the side-effects Lariam (one of the main and the cheapest medicine for Malaria prevention) tends to give people. Yellow fever: I've been vaccinated. Cholera: use safe water and practice basic hygiene and you'll be fine. Sure there are risks, but I'm willing to take them. 

Bran: Applied

Slade: Yay!

Palpy: Where in Uzbekistan did you teach? I backpacked through Uzbekistan using the classic trail I guess. (Tashkent --> Urgench/Khiva --> Buchara -->  Nurata --> Samarkand --> Tashkent


01:23:33 Jun 2nd 14 - TheBornLoser (Mr. The Dung Beetle):

OK, Lewatha. If your mind is made up and you know exactly what you are doing, then I have nothing but the best of wishes for you.

Its an interesting paradox though. In my parents' days (and my younger days too), all the folks from 3rd world, conflict heavy countries want to move to developed, peaceful, equitable countries. Nowadays, there are tons of people from the 1st world countries who want to move to these 3rd world, dangerous countries.

What an ironic reversal.


02:10:33 Jun 2nd 14 - Ms. Bobblehead Bran:

Pretty much everything in the central african area


after the BBC. I see you.


02:34:51 Jun 2nd 14 - Emperor Palpatine:

i taught in Tashkent, loved it. still trying to find a (paid) way to get back there )


10:08:10 Jun 2nd 14 - Bran (Mr. Brannigan The Irritating):

01:10:33 Jun 2nd 14 - Ms. Bobblehead Bran:
Pretty much everything in the central african area


after the BBC. I see you.


nah dave thats in engand pal


09:37:18 Jun 3rd 15 - Ms. Imactuallyapirate:

Baaack,

Time for another yearly update:

Last year I spent four months doing an internship in the Thai embassy of Belgium in Bangkok. After that I started another masters degree. This time its a degree in public policy, studying in Belgium still but planning to work abroad after obtaining it.

I'd still like to work in or around conflict zones, possibly for the UN or other peacekeeping or social initiatives.

Spent a month travelling Armenia last year, and three weeks travelling Jordan, met an interesting woman who is quite a high ranking official with UNHCR who told me to contact her when I graduate. I am hoping she might help me find a job there.

Leaving for China again next month, staying there for a month and a half just backpacking through the country.

Also starting to become quite obsessed with the Palestinian - Israeli issue. Maybe I'll try to find a job that has to do with that.

Cya next year <3


09:38:05 Jun 3rd 15 - Pirate Lewatha:

hah, I posted that from the wrong character it seems.

oh well!


09:41:10 Jun 3rd 15 - TheBornLoser (Sir The Dung Beetle):

Good luck and take care of yourself. I hope you are going with someone else, and not alone.


10:02:52 Jun 3rd 15 - Mr. Very Evil Bad Dude:

Just let the fuckers kill each other and be done with.


12:45:37 Jun 3rd 15 - Bran (Mr. Sly Sloth):

some wars arent going to end until one side has been conquered. somehow i dont think palestine will be the conquerer


12:56:07 Jun 3rd 15 - Pirate Lewatha:

So we are supposed to ignore the conflicts of the world? Most of these conflicts find their origins in Western policies of the last century or so. But as long as we get all their resources - we shouldn't give a shit whether they die or not right?

Israel is slowly committing genocide against the Palestinians and your answer would be to ignore it?



13:02:19 Jun 3rd 15 - Bran (Mr. Sly Sloth):

nah I guess the global community could put political and economic pressure on them to stop fighting. What i dont see happening is getting both sides to shake hands and live together. good luck putting economic pressure on israel while america sends them so much in aid.
wouldnt you have more luck effecting the conflict by swaying political opinion in the west?


13:32:46 Jun 3rd 15 - Prince Ofthe Dragons:

The world is the most peaceful it has ever been. And look what it has caused, overpopulation. How would you propose we fix the inevitable problem of over population causing humanity to crumble? Please don't come down from your moral high ground.


13:46:52 Jun 3rd 15 - Bran (Mr. Sly Sloth):

population rises are a result of an improvement of medicine and the industrialisation of food supplies. all war does is replace leaders and upper classes with new ones. what do the majority of people gain from any of this?


13:47:02 Jun 3rd 15 - TheBornLoser (Sir The Dung Beetle):

I admire and respect Lewatha's heart. At least she is willing to help the downtrodden and the forgotten of this world. Because I personally won't do half of what she does until I have reached the situation where I can completely retire with no financial worries (oh I do donate to Medicines Sans Frontiers, Oxfam, Greenpeace, local charities, but no heavier or more direct aid on my part).

Like I said, just be aware that many of the places you are traveling to are lawless. That's all.


15:53:41 Jun 3rd 15 - Mr. Bling:

Palestine will always be a problem. They shoot a few home made missiles at Israel and get a smack in the mouth. Middle East has been a 3000 year war, not a single thing anyone can do is going to change that. So best thing is give everyone a gun and let them get on with it. Only when they are fed up with fighting will it stop. For now, they are all playing the your god is stronger than my god. In the west, we think its our job to interfere with strategic local policy, then get blamed for it.  I say cut off everything, build a wall around them all and let the killing begin, because they haven't evolved as a civilization to want to live in peace, so just let them get on with it and stop interfering. Focus on your own people, who have built a society that gave you your freedoms, and help the downcast within that society before trying to fix another nations society.


16:12:12 Jun 3rd 15 - Mr. Todd L Fondler:

Google hans rosling and population growth. Stop worrying about population growth. Pro tip: Next time go to belarus.


22:19:26 Jun 3rd 15 - Pirate Lewatha:

Ah.. Bling.. Ever the idiot I see..

The middle east has not been a 3000 year long war. Remember the ottoman empire? Oh right, the whole middle east united under one banner. Who broke that up again? Oh that's right, Europe and Russia. Western policies (basically our support of Saudi Arabia and Israel as our two main allies in the middle east) have prevented any remote chance of peace. Yet Western policymakers do not care, because as Julius Ceasar once put it, divide et impera.

Somewhere in your mind you (and many others) seem to have convinced yourselves that you are better than the average Arab. Well, you are not. You have no idea what you are talking about and yet you seem to think you know everything. How about you study up on the situation and then come back to me?


and overpopulation? Well lets just throw a nuke on the middle east (and China and India, for good measure) so we are rid of that? Just as long as its not you and your family right prince of dragons? This has nothing to do with overpopulation and even if it did, overpopulation can be combated through other means than just supporting conflicts all over the world. Just to give you a few examples: support all farmers enough so that they can actually buy/rent decent equipment to work their fields, give all people access to free birth control and social security. etc.

And yes Bran, swaying political opinion will affect the situation much more than going to work on the field. However, good luck swaying political opinion as a 24 year old with no previous experience. I would like to start on the field with a big organisation (UNHCR?) to work my way up (Having a degree in public policy might help, which I will have next year). Hopefully eventually I can grow well respected enough to actually influence policymakers/governments but right now I am not.


22:57:34 Jun 3rd 15 - Mr. Very Evil Bad Dude:

Maybe you should do a bit more reading, as I've lived in 22 countries in the last 18 years.
The region, for 2200 years has been at a constant state of tribal conflict. The ottoman empire was a turkish based sunni empire, which massacred over 4 million people to achieve peace!
By historical standards, the sunni based branch is islam is considered a relatively new religion, following the death of muhammed in 670 AD
The ottoman empire is relatively new historically, centered around the late middle ages, and was one of the most blood thirsty conquests in recent history, and was not defeated by WESTERN influence, but collapsed from within following the young turk revolution.
The earliest civilizations, the Mesopotamian s had the same internal strifes, which led to their demise, followed by the Hittites, Persians, Ottomans right through to the current suni/shiite/judaic issues. So no, going there and holding little kids hands who get hurt because organizations like Hezbollah launch missiles indesciminatly, and then get smacked by a bigger bully, ain't gonna help for shit. I spent 24 years growing up in Africa... I know more about conflict that you ever will.


23:00:12 Jun 3rd 15 - Bran (Mr. Sly Sloth):

blings lived in manchester, he knows the arab world like the back of his hand


23:05:06 Jun 3rd 15 - TheBornLoser (Sir The Dung Beetle):

Bling is actually very intelligent. And all the facts (not his opinion, which I shall not state whether I agree or disagree with :P) he has said so far are true.


23:11:03 Jun 3rd 15 - Bran (Mr. Sly Sloth):

well theres a definite difference between 3000 years of war and 2200 years of tribal conflict. 800 years is a very long time. bling could be a little more compassionate towards those who suffer in these areas though, its not like the childran want to grow up in a conflict zone with dead relatives, friends and neighbours.


23:31:40 Jun 3rd 15 - Pirate Lewatha:

Wow, you lived in 22 countries and still manage to think your culture is better than everyone elses? You are more deluded than I thought.

I never said the Ottoman empire was perfect, on the contrary, it was far from perfect. I merely said it united the arab world under one banner and brought peace to the middle east for about a year or 200, maybe more, I'm not entirely knowledgeable on the issue.. You call it blood thirsty, I will not dispute that because it was. However, we are talking about the (late) middle ages here, the whole world was blood thirsty.

For the record, you say the middle east has been in constant conflict with each other for the past 3000 years. Well, how about Europe? We have only achieved peace (only in our region, because we continue screwing over the rest of the world) in the past 70 years. The other 2930 years we have also been in constant conflict. 

Either way, you are calling for the genocide of an entire region (build a wall around them, arm them and let them fight out the conflicts the West started, maintained and will not take responsibility for?) and that pisses me off greatly. 

It is also pretty funny how you seem to feel the need to use your seniority over me to belittle me. You seem like one of those kids at school who, if they get teased, says "my daddy is a policeman and if you don't stop he will arrest you.".


23:43:53 Jun 3rd 15 - Pirate Lewatha:

Most of the times, it turns out that their dad isn't a policeman by the way :)


23:50:56 Jun 3rd 15 - Mr. Very Evil Bad Dude:

I aint saying who is right and who is wrong. I'm saying if we dont get involved, whether it be for the best intentions or the worst, that issue will be raging for another thousand years. You cannot win a war against an ideology, until you can change the ideology with a better one. For now, everyone is kidding themselves, from when Jimmy Carter started his peace on earth shit in 72, to the present.
Education free of religion or politics is the only way nations advance


07:47:59 Jun 4th 15 - Mr. Very Evil Bad Dude:

And I am far from belittling you, in fact I encourage anyone to play their part in the world, and learn from a culture by living in it. However if you think that anything you do is going to change the mindset of an ideology, then you need to think about what your goals are, because ideologies NEVER change. Focus on area's the world does need you, like raising awareness to women's rights in India or Ethiopia, where the average woman will be raped three times during her lifetime, or working to defend the last 5 white rhino's on the planet, or helping Southern Philippines rebuild their schools, homes and lives, or working to keep street children in Rio off meth. Those are real causes, because they fall outside of the geopolitical religious world who is adamant that one person must die so another s religion can prevail.


09:31:14 Jun 4th 15 - Stephen Ben (Mr. Josef Fritzl):

*stands up and begins the slow clap*




09:36:32 Jun 4th 15 - TheBornLoser (Sir The Dung Beetle):

I agree with Bling. My ideology will never change. I will always think of Wilberforce as one of humanity's biggest scumbags in both game and real life. Followed very closely by Quiet One, Raistlin, Cobra and Revenge.

On the other hand, I am not adamant that they must die so that I can prevail. I am just adamant that they be below me on the great food-chain of life so that I can prevail, that's all.





Oh wait, am I off-topic? Hmmm..... OK, I agree with Blingypoo, full stop.


09:48:37 Jun 4th 15 - Stephen Ben (Mr. Josef Fritzl):

What's this, Bling having a serious and well thought out debate while TBL drags it into the gutter.


You two having freaking Friday or some thing?

TBL, idealogies are like opinions and you know what people say about opinions....

Now stop baiting, I have to go be late for work.


10:33:01 Jun 4th 15 - Mr. Cribhunter:

The Ottoman rule over the middle east was by the way one of the most peaceful era it had seen thus and since - lasting for 400 years during wich jews, christians and moslems lived peacefully until 19th century nationalism and the decay of the Ottoman Empire sparked conflicts wich led to the massacres mentioned above among other things. Western intervention then worsened the situation again and again, only when the peoples of the middle east gain a stake in the state will there once again be a strong economic and peaceful development in the region.


After Sweden recognized the Palestinian state there is actually new hope in a peaceful solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. In the case of Palestine the divisiveness of the palestinians themselves is one of the causes for recent conflict brought on by the wests failure to recognize the Hamas election victory. But as we've seen in Europe, maybe particularization is the only solution to disharmouneous nation states, Thus, maybe a three state solution is the path to peace. 

As for the world as a whole, its more peaceful than it has ever been, overpopultion is not an issue, the climate problems can all be fixed fairly easily.
BUT we need to jump two big hurdles, The economical system we've built up during the last 30 years is crumbling, we need a new deal and we need it fast. Soon enough oil prices will start to rocket as the economy continues to grow while oil production stagnates. While some people will make sure they get even more rich in the process our already unstable financial system will break down(unless we fix it). As usual the poor people all over the world will be the loosers, but somewhere there is a line after wich people cannot take any more. Social strife and conflict on a global scale with China, the US and even EU collapsing into political chaos are all possible outcomes. Already we see the rise of fascism in Europe. There are dark could on the horizon so we need to build better shelters for all, if not people will be fighting in the streets over the few fancy houses.

Of course, if we make the right decision this can all be avoided.


10:45:44 Jun 4th 15 - TheBornLoser (Sir The Dung Beetle):

Disagree on two points, Augh. Overpopulation is an issue, and so is global warming. For the former, there is too much "quantity" (and rapidly growing) and not enough "quality" in the world. For the latter, weather has been changing and is still rapidly changing (for example, the monsoon seasons in Malaysia used to come at very fixed periods on the calendar, but now, the seasons are confused and we're all confused here as well). China, the US and the EU are trying to do something regarding their carbon emissions, but India still doesn't seem to give a crap (and they are still breeding away non-stop).

As far as I am concerned, the ultimate issue of any day, any epoch, any era, is how to change people's thinking from a short-term minded, self-interest based thinking to a longer-term, self-sacrificial, greater good thinking. The second ultimate issue is how to stop all those religious fools from trying to buy their own after-life insurance policy into heaven by conducting all those crusades / jihads / pogroms / etc. in the name of God.

Two issues that will never ever be solved in my lifetime or in the liftimes of my grandchildren, IMHO. Unless some enlightened aliens come down from space and knock some sense into all our bloody heads :D


10:51:40 Jun 4th 15 - Mr. Very Evil Bad Dude:

I'm here already... now bow down and worship earth scum


11:00:43 Jun 4th 15 - Mr. Bling:

Whilst the economic issues of the EU have faltered, purely as a result of a tax policy that was never resolved, nor a central tax collection service that ensured all of Europe paid fairly, its one true success was removing borders that had caused centuries of chaos, and allowed all countries to feel a sense of a common belonging. This to date has been its only success of note, and if this could be applied on a global scale, then the world would be a better place for it.
However, its mans nature to destroy, and until we can get rid of the despots, and encourage a global citizenship, the world will always find a place for a stalin, putin, hitler and bush, who prey on peoples fears to justify an extreme act that people would normally find repulsive.


11:11:56 Jun 4th 15 - Bran (Mr. Sly Sloth):

you want to centralise the world? stalins look for power, surely the best way is to minimise pockets of power in the world? we dont need to be taken care of by a government we need to think and do for ourselves


11:30:15 Jun 4th 15 - Mr. Tony Montana:

far from it. i believe in minimal government. they are, after all only meant to be administrators, not dictators. however i believe that, as in europe, we should have the ability to go seek work unrestricted, to provide for our families, and not be segregated into nationalist ideologies, inward looking and fearful of each other, and rather remove the boundaries of borders, nationalism and ideology, and look to embrace our heritage, yet celebrate our differences.
The world doesn't need more oil, or religion, or money, or power.. it needs more harmony. And whilst we play to the scaremongers who 'lead' us, we can never be a humanity, and will always be an inhumanity.


11:39:35 Jun 4th 15 - Bran (Mr. Sly Sloth):

and look to embrace our heritage, yet celebrate our differences.


im not sure you can have it both ways, when two peoples integrate youre harming the culture of both people and creating a new one in its place. and in alot of cases the new culture is a confused one where the people arent one community but rather seperate communities within a single country. this makes it harder to govern democratically because voters dont think alike, they all come from different backgrounds which leads to hung parliaments

we can have movement between countries without having total free movement surely.


11:43:16 Jun 4th 15 - TheBornLoser (Sir The Dung Beetle):

I'm of Chinese descent. As far as I'm concerned, I'd build a great wall around my country and keep all the barbaric Wilbers of the world out of it. ;)


11:57:07 Jun 4th 15 - Mr. Bling:

The irish are a great example of integrating with a society, as they did in the usa and australia, to the point they become a part of that nation, yet celebrate their ethnicity, religion and traditions along with pride in their heritage, all over the world. Hell, I've done paddy's day in Shenzhen for feck sakes...


12:09:16 Jun 4th 15 - Mr. Golliwog The Black:

Bling speaking sense? The world must be coming to an end.

Bling and TBL have pretty much hit the nail on the head.

Also Todd L fondler (Augh/Aughs brother?) Anyone who suggests viewing hans rosling in regards to population growth obviously has no knowledge of the field. Yes some parts are true, he is a smart man but the talk he did on population growth is a lot of "ifs and buts" Ifs and buts in theory they work but they don't work in the real world. Now I do like TED talks but a lot of them seem great but after the tiniest bit of research in a field you don't know much (if anything) about it comes pretty apparent that their ideology is impractical.


07:19:26 Jun 4th 15 - Pirate Lewatha:
and overpopulation? Well lets just throw a nuke on the middle east (and China and India, for good measure)

You had me at india babe :) Middle east comes a close second. Atleast then their absurd rules will be abolished. China has atleast realised they have an issue (Unlike india) and have started to control birth rates and green house emissions. India as thinking about now and dont give a shit about 5 years time let alone 50. 

TBL in Australia we believe you built the great wall to keep the rabbits out! Its a true fact, don't deny it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvlWQyvEI38



Honestly its nearly cringe worthy Bling making so much sense.


12:35:25 Jun 4th 15 - Mr. Golliwog The Black:

If anyone really wants to make a difference in the world, get rich and then privately fund shit. Money makes the world go around and the only way to be apart of this is if you get yourself into the top 1% owning 50% of the worlds wealth (Soon)


12:58:45 Jun 4th 15 - Mr. Bling:

Bling is a persona... when the game requires an enemy, or a troll, then i play the persona. For Lew, her decisions and interactions on this particulair thread make an impact on her life, and as cruel or harsh or brutal as my statements here are, they are more so in reality, and if what i say here stops her getting her head chopped off because she shows compassion, which drives her decision making, then thats important for all of us. I am saying go out, do your good deeds, but dont be driven my ideology or a compassion for that ideology, because thats what gets people killed. Rather have compassion where its needed, and religion and politics preach compassion, but very rarely do they practice it. That rhino you find sanctuary for, may be the worlds last hope. That child you save in brazil from meth may become a doctor who saves thousands of lives. That school you help build in the phillipines may nurture the mind of the person who cures global warming. That group of school girls in India who you teach about safe sex, will help reduce the worlds poverty levels as a result of undersupply of basic human food consumption, bring the prices of food down, and ensuring all children can afford to eat. That is a cause. The middle east is a lost cause.


13:59:39 Jun 4th 15 - Stephen Ben (Mr. Josef Fritzl):

12:57:07 Jun 4th 15 Mr. Bling:

The irish are a great example of integrating with a society




Yeah you idiots. Be more like us enlightened ones. We have also overcame the sectarian violence too (mostly). 

Vote me for president of the world and I'll sort it.

Have to say that i really can't disagree with Bling on anything here. He is a trollish savant and actually trying to convey to Lew how she can actually make an impact rather than making the perfect resimay to be one of 'those' people.


14:15:49 Jun 4th 15 - TheBornLoser (Sir The Dung Beetle):

Told many of you lads Bling was very intelligent and savvy. But no one believes me and everyone falls for his "forum troll" persona. Heck, many fall for my own forum persona, and I have two, one of which is the Wilber-hating, ever-losing loser of VU, the second of which is the Wilber-hating, shit loving and eating beetle of VU. My real personality, I keep for my Skype chats and my friends, and maybe for certain topics that.... pique my interest :P

And as for how I think I will do my own little contribution to the world, other than through monetary means.... I think I will adopt a child or two (orphaned / abandoned) in the future, try to give him / her a chance at a better life. Now I just need to get permission from Mrs. Born Loser / Mrs. Dung Beetle to do so :P


14:36:50 Jun 4th 15 - Bran (Mr. Sly Sloth):

is there an age cap on who you will be adopting???


15:07:31 Jun 4th 15 - TheBornLoser (Sir The Dung Beetle):

Do not know, but I personally prefer a baby / toddler. And I suspect that might be the missus' preference as well. Have anything in mind to share, Bran?


15:13:30 Jun 4th 15 - Bran (Mr. Sly Sloth):

yeah was going to put myself forward, dad


15:14:20 Jun 4th 15 - TheBornLoser (Sir The Dung Beetle):

I think you're too old for me, son. Don't think I can keep up with ya :D


15:21:30 Jun 4th 15 - Bran (Mr. Sly Sloth):

i can be lazier, if it means youll love me


15:25:56 Jun 4th 15 - TheBornLoser (Sir The Dung Beetle):

The missus does not tolerate lazy; it would mean both you and me getting kicked out of the house together, so no can do either :(


20:02:55 Jun 4th 15 - Mr. Very Evil Bad Dude:

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