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Virus for peace

It seemed to be a regular nightshift at the Natanz and Fordo nuclear facilities in Iran. Scientists were working on their computers, technicians were checking if everything goes well in order to raise the Islamic Republic into the priviliged group of nations having nuclear weapons power.
In the middle of the night the computers suddenly started playing "Thunderstruck" from AC/DC, then the automation network, an important element of the nuclear sites were shut down, causing a delay in the progress. Just as Stuxnet 2 years ago, this cyber attack was probably made and organised from Israel in order to interrupt Iran's nuclear aspirations.

For Israel (and for most of the World) there is a bad and a worse scenario. The bad one is a war between the Jewish state and Iran, the worse is a nuclear Iran. The first one endangers the security of Israel, the second one endangers its very existence. And both can lead to an all-out Middle-Eastern war.

An Israeli attack against the dicatorship's nuclear facilities wouldn't be something new to the Israeli Air Force. They did it succesfully in Iraq in 1981, and in Syria in 2007. Israel has the most developed air force in the region, which can easily carry out a precise attack against a target without endangering civilian areas just as it happened in the above mentioned events. But now, there are a few problems with that. Seems like the Persians have more brain than the Arabs (no offense). Iraq and Syria have tried to build their nuclear plants at one place, making it easily and quickly destroyable. Iran has split it to several sites throughout the huge country. One quick action would not be enough this time. Another problem is the Irani long-range missiles, which can hit Israel. Also, Ahmadinejad's answer would not be limited on military facilities, but might target residential areas. And Israel is a small country, whith most of its population residing in the tiny central coastal area around Tel-Aviv.
This last fact makes the second option, a nuclear Iran lethal to the Jewish state, and to millions of its inhabitants. Jerusalem has no other choice, than preventing Teheran from having atomic bombs no matter how high the cost will be.

The good news is: war might not be the only option. Sending viruses into the computer systems of nuclear sites as well as to military installations cause no civilian deaths, doesn't destroy residential buildings, schools or hospitals. It seems to be the most humanistic option.
The last few worms which were probably sent by Israel could only delay the progress of achieving the technology of the atomic bomb, but could not completely stop it. Hopefully these ones were only the test for the real one, which will ultimately take the whole system down. I really hope it is possible, and a war will be avoidable.

Technology can always be used for good and bad causes. Nuclear power provides us with light and heating, but also enables us to kill more people in less time than ever. Helicopters help us to save lives by taking sick people to the hospitals quickly, as-well-as to bomb buidlings in war situations. Even a piece of paper can be used for a love letter or racistic incitement. Every invention gives us the opportunity to use it for peaceful or hostile purposes.

Computer viruses and hacking used to be considered as having only bad sides. Now they might have the chance to destroy Iran's atomic aspirations and prevent a war, saving the lives of many Jews, Muslims and Christians.

Syria, Putin and the Olympic Games

Is the Cold War back?

As reports about killing of thousands of civilians in Syira are uncovered every day, many ask the question: "If the NATO had the guts to succesfully intervene in Lybia, why do they let Assad massmurdering his people?" One suggested answer is: "It is not clear who would be the successor". The problem with this answer is: in Lybia it wasn't any clearer either.

Let's look back in history just one Olympic games earlier. Four years ago, when the World was watching the competing teams in Beijing, Russia attacked Georgia with the ridiculous excuse of protecting a tiny province in the Caucasian country, called South Osetia. I actually never liked the explanation, that Russia did this because of the oil- and gas-pipelines running across Georgia. Moscow has enough means to control the transport of oil and gas from Central Asia to Europe without any aggression. What more important is, that Georgia is a strong ally of the US. It is an American stronghold in the vicinity of Russian ones. A reverse Serbia, which is a Russian ally in the vicinity of NATO-members. During the Yugoslavian wars, America bombed Serbian entities, while the paralyzed Russia couldn't help his friend. Years later, as oil-prices dramatically rose, a richer and more important Moscow could take revenge: "You bombed our little Serbian friends, now we will bomb your little Georgian ones." And most recently Moscow is telling to Washington: "Now, you will not replace our dear friend, Assad. From now on, without the consent of the Kreml, such moves will be inpossible. We're back. America is not the only superpower anymore."

Occupy your mind!

Occupy your mind!

It is always funny when people with iPhones in their hands are inciting against corporations, or when voters of the most populist parties are blaming politics for all the problems.
People occupy Wall Street to protest against banks and corporations. Other people blame immigrants for unemployment. The old-fashioned idea of blaming Jews is living its renessaince in some European countries. Blaming, blaming, blaming...the easiest reaction when we are facing difficulties. In fact, it is the most childish and most destructive one as well. It keeps up the belief in our perfectness: "WE did everything well, it was all THEIR fault, therefore we don't need to improve ourselves of course."

Yes, corporations can be unfair, banks can be greedy, politicians are corrupt. But they are not the economy. Not only them. The economy is us too: the doctor, the webdesigner, the haircutter, the student or the busdriver...even the unemployed. All of us. And the way we work, the way we spend our money, the way we learn, the way we educate our children, and the way we vote eventually affects the future of the ecomony and society. It all depends on the individuals. We all are responsible for what is going on in the World. If we occupy Wall Street or protest against the IMF, we will not get out of any problems. In fact, we will only sink deeper into them. By blaming banks, corporations and international organisations, we are denying our responsibility and strengthening the slave-mentality in ourselves.
Let's blame ourselves, and change our behaviour! Let's buy what we need and not what has a cool advertisement! let's train ourselves and let's learn from those who do better! If we were not anti-capitalist when we bought our new car, we shouldn't be one when we have to pay back the loan on it. If we voted for politicians who distribute more money, than the state's income, we shouldn't blame them when the state is collapsing under its astronomical debts! It was OUR fault! The banks don't force us to spend, they just finance it. The governments would never do anything against the taste of their voters, so we should change our taste, and they will change their policy immediately.
Let's learn microeconomics to understand how we should deal with our money; and macroeconomics in order to know how to judge the government. Let's train ourselves and become better in our professions.
Instead of occupying Wall Street, we should occupy our own minds and when many people will do it, the World will deffinitely change.