MOST of us want to believe that we live in a fairly decent society where the rights of everyone are respected.

THOUGH the perilous plight of the cod will not tug at the heart strings as vividly as polar bears starving because the ice fields are shrinking or the bloody corpse of a whale on the deck of a Japanese “research” vessel it is nonetheless confirmation that the our impact on the world around us is far too negative.

THE next few weeks will be challenging for anyone growing uneasy with the over-commercialisation of Christmas.

AMERICA’S president-elect, Barack Obama, continues to surprise.

Prior to the last general election, the Government promised to recruit extra gardaí. About 1,180 new recruits were taken into the Garda Training College at Templemore this year but, with the budgetary cuts, that number is going to drop by more than 66% to a mere 400 next year.

Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin has warned her government colleagues that tens of thousands of Irish pensions could be wiped out, as pension deficits could reach up to €30 billion.

Reports of attacks on the Garda Síochána make frightening reading, and raise the most serious questions about where we are heading as a society. In many areas, gang leaders are becoming the role models for impressionable youngsters.

The two main health insurance companies VHI and Quinn Healthcare have announced that substantial price increases will be introduced in the new year.

There is a danger that some of the criticism against Mary Harney will be perceived as taking on aspects of a witch hunt.

The fact that President Mary McAleese’s visit to Brakey Orange Hall in Co Cavan yesterday would be national news is a reminder that, for all the talk about promoting Irish unity, we have been slow to take practical steps.