How Obama can change the world

PRESIDENT Obama’s glittering inauguration yesterday was keenly observed around the world as millions tuned in to watch history in the making.

But while the world has hailed the election of America’s first black president he has inherited a catalogue of global problems. As a busy Obama settles into the top job, Jennifer Hollamby headed to Uppermill to ask what local people feel his priorities should be.

Barack Obama’s election to what is arguably the most powerful job in the world has left him with the huge weight of not only American, but global expectations on his shoulders.



With bloody conflicts raging in the Middle East, a global financial crisis and global warming, it is a tough time to be President America and few would envy Obama’s mammoth task.

So where should he start?

Alan Brown (59), from Grasscroft, said: “Obama needs to foster world peace as far as he can.

“I think America can be a force for peace and I wouldn’t want them to become isolationist, but I think they should involve themselves in world issues through more diplomatic means.

“I also think that he should crack down on fraud in the financial markets.”

Chris Malone (63), from Diggle, said: “I think we need to get out of Iraq as soon as possible. It’s a lost cause. I think we went in there for the wrong reasons and soldiers are dying every day out there for something which is just not helping anybody.”

Vicky Newby, a 32-year-old florist from Mossley, said: “I would like President Obama to focus more on the environment than Bush did.

“America is one of the biggest polluters in the world and maybe Obama should try to convince his countrymen to ditch their gas guzzlers and generally become greener.”

Karen Shelmerdine (20) said: “I really think Obama needs to foster closer ties to Europe and leave other countries alone. He should leave them to sort their own problems out.”

David Clayton (48) said: “Bush has given the Israeli government a free reign to what it wants but I think Obama should put a stop to this.

“Israel has not always obeyed the normal rules of combat, and Obama needs to be more willing to oppose them if they overstep the mark. Hamas should not fire the rockets, but there are other ways of stopping them without resorting to violence.”

Les Butterworth (73), of Greenfield, said: “The economy should definitely be one of his priorities.

He needs to get things on a more even keel by helping American savers and by stamping on dodgy mortgage lenders.

“I think he should also try to open a dialogue with countries like North Korea and Iran, but if Iran continues to construct nuclear weapons he should consider sanctions against them.”

Tim Hatcliffe (48) said: “I think Obama should emphasise the positives. All over the world there are really good examples of people from different communities who are living together and co-operating and Obama should look to these communities and build on that model instead of focussing on all the doom and gloom.

“We all need some inspiration and Obama himself is a role model.

“He needs to build on that optimism and make sure that these examples are things that we are made proud of, so that these positives can count for something.”

Victoria McDermott (36) said: “I think we should sort out the mess in Iraq and help them rebuild their country.

We can’t just leave them to this mess. We need to help to reconstruct their country by building infrastructure and helping their economy.

“I also think something needs to be done about Africa. Nobody seems to want to get involved and Zimbabwe is a mess. The people there are starving and they didn’t elect Mugabe. He needs to be removed by whatever means.”