An American view:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSYEd...&feature=share
http://www.fightforspace.com
I really shouldn't watch these things, all it does is make me disappointed; disappointed that countries would rather spend the money on war over research, exploration and even colonization. Our country is just as bad - I'd love to see how much of our budget went to research and further development. I'm waiting for the mining boom to finish just to watch the economy downturn, the anger and the frustrations.
And yet all i can do is sit here and watch and dream.