Basil,
perhaps my point was not clear - if your neighbour was changing the wheel on his car, and he hadn't used a jack to raise the tyre off the ground, would you just sit and watch while the car fell on top of him? The west has learnt these lessons of safety/smog/pollution etc, why can't we share our knowledge with developing nations. After all the UK and US like to see themselves as the 'most developed' nations in the world, when in the pursuit of greed they have now become overdeveloped.
If anybody needs a real world perspective of priorities, try this. On my way to work a couple of weeks ago I witnessed the HKG police and fire department removing the body of the Philipina maid from DB who apparently 'drowned' after running out of her employers house in her night clothes one evening, her body wasn't found until 4 days later. Then to go into the office to have somebody rant and rave over something that was so unimportant, it was embarassing.
As volarecantare says, take a big step back, look at the world and decide what is really important for you/your family/neighbours/community/city/nation/world.
VC,
I'm right there with you on the ex-pat 'dream', as you say so many people seem to drop family and friends over the years, for this apparent 'idylic life' in HKG, very sad.
As for that conversation on a long haul sector, unfortuantely I'm not a flyer, I pilot a desk for a living.
On the media point, fully agree. 911 was about the 2nd step in opening my eyes to the fear inducing poison that is mainstream media. After having worked in an office where, due to our operational nature, we had CNN/BBC playing for 6 weeks after the event non-stop. I cannot watch the images of the twin-tower crash without feeling hollow inside - thats the psychological power of the media!
On the despair front, we all have the opportunity to help in small ways, and personally I hope that my next career step takes me somewhere with more ability to make a small difference. A positive outlook is good, some realistic navel gazing is also required.
Kitsune,
refer to reply to Basil - people don't actually have to die in order to make the world a better place.
Regards,
N1 Vibes