Feb 16 2011: "For western leaders is freedom a question of strategy rather than principle?" Of course, it has been the case for decades. If it wasn't the case the US would have invaded Saudi Arabia instead of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Jul 20 2010: Actually "Communism" has never been tried as such. What we had in USSR and China were totalitarian regimes which had nothing to do with Communism, quite the opposite actually. In terms of socialism, most European countries could be considered socialist (when compared with the US) and they seem to be doing well. Your point about freedom and free markets/capitalism is quite naive. First, capitalism as such has not existed since the 30's, what we currently have is State Capitalism. Second, there is no such thing as a free market, if such thing existed a Government would not intervene in order to bailout failing corporations. In regards to "Freedom is the best for all", although I would agree with you, this seems a little simplistic. People are free in the US but 37 millions of them are considered poor.
Free education and access to information will enable a possible recovery of the eco-system. Unfortunately too many interests will want otherwise.
Dec 29 2009: This is not new, every government is loving social media to learn more about its citizens. To learn more Noam Chomsky wrote a few good books about the broader topic of though control and propaganda in general. For example: http://bit.ly/8UW8wW
Dec 29 2009: Great point which the speaker did not really mentioned. We focus on the obvious totalitarian regimes while our so called democracies use propaganda on a daily basis. Democracy does not exist yet, we live in oligarchic or plutocratic societies.
Dec 12 2009: Mark is right, narcissimsm is not the solutions. What we need is to stop wasting our resources. Take food production for example, European and American food manufacturers, supermarkets and consumers throw away between 30% and 50% of their food supply%u2014enough to feed the world's hungry.
Dec 12 2009: Brown's talk was interesting as well, unfortunately his country's actions have nothing to do with ethics. Profits come before ethics, and the richest countries have shown their bias, just look at the latest report on Congo's Wars which is just one example of corporate greed being allowed by our governments. If Mr. Brown really cared about ethics he would show by example being in a position of power. This is great rhetoric but that's all it is.
Nov 15 2009: @Rovilla: "will the comments here be different?" of course the comments would have been different if someone else was talking. Let me ask you this, would you feel the same way if you replaced the speaker by someone like Bin Laden? You would probably question his motives since you know what he has achieved in the past. Don't get me wrong, I'm not comparing the two men, but to give someone a pass on past actions because of what he is currently saying would be intellectually dishonest.
Obviously the idea enunciated here is worth spreading, but the messenger's credibility is also worth questioning.
Nov 14 2009: The difference between Mr. Brown and other TED speakers is his current power position as Prime Minister of the UK. Anyone can talk about peace keeping and humanitarian aid. What about actually doing it Mr. Brown? What's stopping him but his own political ego?
By the way, it's interesting he mentioned Rwanda, Darfur and Zimbabwe (< British backslash) but never mentioned the worst atrocities since WWII still happening today in Congo with over 5.4 millions deaths and counting.
If someone in his position of power can not make a difference, who is he to teach us what to do? Everyone knows what the solutions are, unfortunately it requires sacrifice on the side of the rich, we need to start sharing and realize that our current way of life is not sustainable.
No one should accept that basic needs are not met across the planet, if we can build cities in the middle of the desert, Dubai, Las Vegas, etc. we should be able to do it anywhere else.
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A comment on Conversation: The west can no longer claim to be an honest broker in the search for peace in the Middle East.
A reply on Talk: Hans Rosling: Global population growth, box by box
Free education and access to information will enable a possible recovery of the eco-system. Unfortunately too many interests will want otherwise.
A comment on Talk: Evgeny Morozov: How the Net aids dictatorships
A reply on Talk: Evgeny Morozov: How the Net aids dictatorships
A comment on Talk: Cameron Sinclair: A call for open-source architecture
A reply on Talk: Gordon Brown on global ethic vs. national interest
A reply on Talk: Gordon Brown on global ethic vs. national interest
A reply on Talk: Gordon Brown: Wiring a web for global good
Obviously the idea enunciated here is worth spreading, but the messenger's credibility is also worth questioning.
A comment on Talk: Gordon Brown: Wiring a web for global good
By the way, it's interesting he mentioned Rwanda, Darfur and Zimbabwe (< British backslash) but never mentioned the worst atrocities since WWII still happening today in Congo with over 5.4 millions deaths and counting.
If someone in his position of power can not make a difference, who is he to teach us what to do? Everyone knows what the solutions are, unfortunately it requires sacrifice on the side of the rich, we need to start sharing and realize that our current way of life is not sustainable.
No one should accept that basic needs are not met across the planet, if we can build cities in the middle of the desert, Dubai, Las Vegas, etc. we should be able to do it anywhere else.
What's the excuse for inaction today?