Global Issues
Should tax paradises be abolished?
A tax paradise (tax haven) is a country, state or territory where certain taxes are levied at a low rate or not at all while offering due process, good governance, a low corruption rate and, frequently, numbered accounts for bank secrecy purpose. Individuals and/or corporate entities can find it attractive to move themselves to areas with reduced or nil taxation levels. In business this is called off shore banking
Numbered bank accounts, used by Swiss banks and other offshore banks located in tax havens, have been accused by NGOs such as ATTAC of being a major instrument of the underground economy, facilitating tax evasion and money laundering.
Wikipedia on tax havens and bank secrecy >>>
Do you think democracy is the best form of society?
Democracy is a broad concept and sometimes even cause for debate. We refer to your personal interpretation of what you feel democracy is about.
Is global warming is the greatest danger for mankind?
Do you believe global warming is currently the greatest danger facing mankind?
Increasing global temperature is expected to cause sea levels to rise, an increase in the intensity of extreme weather events, and significant changes to the amount and pattern of precipitation, likely including an expanse of the subtropical desert regions.
Scientific consensus has identified carbon dioxide as the dominant greenhouse gas forcing. Most scientists agree that the increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases due to human activity caused most of the warming observed since the start of the industrial era, and that the observed warming cannot be satisfactorily explained by natural causes alone.
Do you think marijuana should be legalized?
Humans have been consuming cannabis since prehistory,although in the 20th century there was a rise in its use for recreational, religious or spiritual, and medicinal purposes. It is estimated that about 4% of the world's adult population use cannabis annually and 0.6% daily.
The possession, use, or sale of psychoactive cannabis products became illegal in most parts of the world in the early 20th century. Since then, some countries have intensified the enforcement of cannabis prohibition while others have reduced the priority of enforcement.
Do you think religion should have any influence on politics?
Great political and social movements – from abolition to women's suffrage to civil rights to today's struggles over abortion and gay marriage – have drawn upon religious institutions for moral authority or inspirational leadership in various countries.
Do you think the elections in Iran should be repeated?
The result of the elections in Iran is disputed and had a lot of impact both within the country as in the rest of the world and is still a reason for debate.
For different views on the situation see:
2009–2010 Iranian election protests, Don't Repeat 1953 - Iran Elections, CNN or any online (wester and non-western) newspaper.
Are you happy with Obama as US president?
Do you think the world is more likely to change in a positive sense with Barack Obama as US president? More on Barack Obama and his political position on Wikipedia ->>
Do you think the death penalty should exist?
Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the killing of a person by judicial process as punishment. Common in virtually every society it is a matter of active controversy in various states and there is no consistency of position within political tendencies such as capitalist or communist or cultural regions, except in Western Europe where there is a general consensus that the practice is barbaric.
Do you think euthanasia should be legal?
Euthanasia (literally "good death" in Ancient Greek) refers to the practice of ending a life in a painless manner. As of 2008, some forms of euthanasia are legal in the Benelux (Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg), Switzerland, the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington the Autonomous Community of Andalusia (Spain) and Thailand. Stances on euthanasia vary greatly; it is called murderous by some and merciful by others.
Do you think abortion should be legal?
The two main groups involved in the abortion debate are the pro-choice movement, which generally supports access to abortion and regards it as morally permissible, and the pro-life movement, which generally opposes access to abortion and regards it as morally wrong.
