I do not know if this is a current issue or not, not having read them all, but an issue might include:
Whether the government or private enterprise should have the right to dismiss historical or heritage areas in favour of expansion and new commercial/infrastructure building. Eg, driving a 4 lane motorway through an ancient site, or demolishing a listed building to make room for a supermarket. As this is an issue close to my personal heart, it would be nice to be able to vote on it.
Ballotonia
27-02-2004, 13:41
There currently isn't such an issue, or at least I haven't seen it (yet).
So, write one yourself!
Suggestion: Keep it close to 'UN Level', so talk about something that's on a World Heritage list.
Ballotonia
You jogged my memory of an interesting real world issue that is related to yours:
Hubbard High School is in its final stages of construction and wants to increase the size of its soccer fields. The area, however, will cover an ancient burial ground.
1 "I have no desire for the descendants to be insulted and we will put markers where the most important were buried. Really, we do this so that the land remains in the hands of those who care about it. Without allowing the enlargement, some strip mall will buy the land and really trash the bodies," said Superintendant Shalmers.
2 "That area is zoned for commercial structures. Nobody had a problem with it then, so why complain now?" commented hotel owner Orville Frisk. "Really, if the soul is supposed to leave the body when you die, why do you need to take care of an empty corpse afterwards? Moreover, bodies completely rot after one year. We aren't disturbing anything more than worm droppings and hundred-year old dust."
3 "Both of these fogeys believe this swill," complained college student Sarah Marx. "We don't want cars thundering OR kids tramping on our remains. Let's declare it a historical site so no one can buy it. Then, we can build a small museum to preserve the culture and teach those snots not to disrespect the dead. It will cost us a bit though, but raising property taxes in the area will take care of that.
End
That is the style that I like to see: a clear issue, dubious ethical consequences, and to have the 'villains' be rational while the 'natural' choice borders on mean. Thanks for the inspiration; if you don't post one within a week, I am submitting that.
N Prado