The Island's intelligentsia turned out to the Bermuda College this week to hear two former politicians talk about global development.

Although they never lead their respective countries, Michael Foot and Dudley Thompson both have a vision of what the world's future should be.

And a mix of young and old, white and black, Bermudian and ex-pat, and Parliamentarians from the Progressive Labour Party and the United Bermuda Party watched as the veteran politicians talked about black history, the world, and their lives.

The North Lecture Hall, which seats 280, was filled to capacity, with people sitting in the aisles.

Mr. Foot, who lead the British Labour Party in the early 1980s, unveiled a plan to move the United Nations to Jerusalem to ease international tensions.

while Mr. Thompson, a former Jamaican government minister, talked about his connection to the Pan-African movement.

Both had advice for Bermuda in the new century, praising democracy here and warning against tyranny.

"1945 (a Labour Party victory) was good, but we would not have survived 1940 without democracy,'' Mr. Foot said, referring to the Conservative government leading the fight against Nazi Germany.

In the aftermath of Second World War, the UN was formed to prevent wars, particularly all-out nuclear conflict.

"They had thought to establish a really international authority which would have so much respect that it would forbid aggression in the future,'' he said.

The UN has not worked, he explained, because of the proliferation of nuclear weapons among developing powers like India, Pakistan, and Israel.

Highlighting the need for greater third world input and decision making, Mr.

Foot added: "Transfer it from New York to Jerusalem.

"Make it the international city under international control, with international commitments and financial control. We could have a new start with a new international authority,'' he continued.

"It would show Jews and Arab how to make the biggest step. We thought New York would be a way of getting full American support. Once there (in Jerusalem), we could turn to the absolute abolition of all these weapons under full scale international control.'' Mr. Thompson, a Queen's Counsel, once successfully defended Bermuda Industrial Union officials in the Belco riots case of 1965 and later the future leader of the PLP, Frederick Wade on incitement to riot charges in 1969.

He regaled Bermudians with tales of independence celebrations around the world, particularly those of Ghana, Jamaica, and Kenya.

Mr. Thompson said for newly independent countries there are three courses to take, such as "dictating the affairs from a strong central government or put black people where white people used to be''.

The best course, he said was to have a vision "of who we would want to call a good Bermudian at the end of the day''.

Developing countries will have to gird themselves from the overwhelming force of commercialism, not only in the economic sphere but also in the social and cultural realm, he said.

"Development is about people, not roads and buildings'' Mr. Thompson said.

"Developing countries should protect themselves against world terrorism, boost public health, fight drug use and fight AIDS.'' Pollution is particularly damaging, because it crosses international borders, he said.

"There must be a code of international justice with a fair partnership (between developed and developing countries),'' Mr. Thompson said. "A level playing field, as brothers.'' But he warned against change for change's sake, saying: "It doesn't necessarily mean progress.

Mr. Thompson added: "Bermuda must change so that all the social tensions of the past are gone. So that you would say `I'm proud to be a Bermudian and he is the Bermudian I want to be'.'' Afterward, Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson called the lectures "a refreshing intellectual journey'' and said they reminded him of his days at university.

"I was extremely delighted with the turnout,'' he said. "It was a complete cross section of our community. That's due to the way the college promoted it.'' Mr. Hodgson, who like Mr. Thompson and Mr. Foot is an Oxford University graduate, added: "It showed Bermudians' interest in history. The audience made it a success. It's dialogue from all Bermudians that we're looking for.

"If that kind of participation can remain, then we have a bright future ahead of us.'' BERMUDA COLLEGE EDC