I see troubling times ahead. This will turn out to be a very long, in-depth section.

I expect AIDS to move slowly over the next few years from it's present status as a homosexual human rights issue to what it actually is......a deadly transmittable disease. Especially when the death rate of adults and young teens start to take it's toll in the African countries and rapidly spreads throughout Asia and Russia. Millions upon millions will die in every country every year! I think AIDS is the sleeping crisis that's going to flare-up in a frightening manner. Just due to the fact most people refuse to be tested and the irresponsible act of unprotected or promiscuous sex (things that governments can not legislate against even though they may try), AIDS will continue to spread and wipe out large numbers of people in the coming years.

Consider one sexually active teen with AIDS going through four years of high school, possibly college or university before showing any symptoms whatsoever! Consider the numbers of his or her 'conquests' throughout those years. Consider the number of partners those partners have had throughout that eight year span and you'll get the idea of what I mean and predict. Consider one AIDS infected prostitute working the streets for eight to ten years. One promiscuous individual has the potential to infect thousands. I think it's already happening but we are not aware of it yet (or refuse to see) and will continue until the 'politizing' of the AIDS issue is retired and effective action is taken. I give it two years for this to begin to happen at the most.

AIDS testing will be the only substantial progress made in dealing with the disease. I can see most countries restricting the entry of AIDS and other incurable disease carriers, legislated, mandatory testing for everyone and possibly quarantine of those infected. Stiff sentences will be handed out to those knowingly spreading disease which actually translates into a life sentence in special prisons which resemble cheap hospitals. Staff will be all AIDS-infected as well.

The rapid spread of AIDS and other contagious diseases, especially those that seem to originate from foreign countries and prove very deadly to the populace, will have the citizens demanding and governments legislating travel restrictions and thorough testing of visitors and immigrants before arrival. This will happen in every affluent country. Only those poorer countries which depend heavily on tourism will not require testing. There will be required testing of those returning home from visits to those places as well.

I predict an outbreak of a deadly disease that is brought in from an African country in mid-2001. The landing will take place in New York City and quickly spread to four other States. I see just under 5,000 people becoming infected and dying within a five day period. That incident will be the catalyst for the legislative action on travel restrictions. The super-strain of TB will come under the same restrictive measures of social intercourse as well. AIDS, with it's secretly infected millions in the West, and the death toll mounting in Africa, Russia and Asia, won't be front and center for another three years.

The fear of contagion of deadly disease will eventually bring about new social behaviour. The governments will promote the regular washing of hands, slight nodding of the head as a greeting (a successful contagion-inhibitive behaviour adopted from the Orient) and discourage hand-shaking or kissing of acqaintances.

Obviously, the present day concern over the worlds population explosion will quickly reverse to a crisis situation of demising populations. Governments and the people themselves will be concerned about the high death rates against the low birth rates in most countries. More grand-parents will have to take the role of parents to raise their orphaned grand-children.

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