I have read this thread with a variety of emotions, but I'm left with only sadness. I would have little hope for this world, even if I had not read the end of the book. I'm afraid that the main problem our world faces today is an overwhelming self-centered apathy with the vast majority of the planet's population unable to stop listening to the noise in their heads for long enough to give even their own fate a thought.
I find the idea that education can fix the worlds problems quite amusing, as I should think that educated people would realize what a bunch of fools most of their peers are and rethink that one. Alas, I'm not so well edumicated so I probably just don't understand the problems (they're so very complicated)