Issues and Challenges: Matters For Consideration, Discussion And Consensus.

In 'Issues and Challenges' I have presented my opinions about several matters I consider need unemotional discussion, not to cram those opinions into the minds of others but to introduce them to others, with the aim of provoking the needed discussion and, if possible, consensus.

Looking disinterestedly at the current western democracies, it is difficult to be pleased with what one sees with their silly, almost childish, squabbles and, often, their concentration on emotional matters that are really of little importance to the future of the human race. Other leadership systems that have been tried - fascism, communism, religious leadership, hereditary royalty, and leadership based on wealth or military power - have all shown themselves to have even worse flaws than democracy in the past, and, where still practised as they are in North Korea, in China and in the Middle East, continue to show flaws. Is it possible that the main shortcoming with all these systems does not lie in the systems but with the human animals leading those systems, and those that give those leaders their power? Is it possible that the human animal is a squabbling, conniving, greedy, militant and inherently nasty creature, and that humanity living peacefully on our planet Earth, and advancing science, art and architecture, is only a pipe dream? On the other hand is it possible that the negative traits of humanity can be kept under control? Could balanced, universal education bring about a better humanity, a humanity that could live in productive peace for a fulfilling future on our one and only planet? Or are we doomed to continue despoiling the planet, and will we continue to kill each other with our ever more sophisticated weaponry? Humanity needs to examine these matters and to arrive at answers.

Peter Bruechle is a structural engineer, an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. In a career of over 60 years teams he has led have been responsible for the design of structures for buildings, and other structures, in several states in Australia, Asia and the Middle East. He lectured at the School of Architecture at the University of Western Australia in structures for in excess of 30 years.