Editorial 20-11-2007

If an asteroid was described by scientists as heading for Earth, many, because of its consequences, would refute the scientists’ projections. When true realisation eventually took over there would be a clamour for our leaders and industrialists to use all available resources to deflect or destroy it.

Impending ‘dangerous climate change’ is such an asteroid in disguise! We are fast reaching the point of realisation that we’re doomed if we don’t do something spectacular soon.

There are practical means to dramatically reduce what is seen as the present main cause of global warming, greenhouse gas emissions produced by human activity. The answer is - don’t emit them!

CO2 production must be seen to be as unappealing as grasping the bare wires of a live electricity cable!!

To do something effective will require global co-operation on an unprecedented scale. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) talks in Bali, Indonesia, 3^rd -14^th December this year, are potentially a step towards that. There is a long way to go, but hopefully the seeds of safety are carefully going to be sown there.

It is economics alone that prevents alternative sources of energy being effectively harvested, especially those involving our demonstrably dependable local star, the sun.

To have a chance we must at once become expertly energy efficient at the same time as capturing solar energy on small individual and vast complex scale.

For example the solar energy that freely hits the Western Dessert in Australia every day could probably power half the world’s energy needs if it were utilised, (Australia being chosen because it is a relatively stable environment socially and politically).

We just need the combined will to do it. Only realisation of our true predicament will unleash that will and demand for survival necessary to transcend economics. 

Editorial 30-10-2007

The noises coming from Washington are not good. The same processes that developed into the war on Iraq are beginning to take shape again with the target of Iran. As citizens we are fairly powerless at this stage in the build up to war. A war the neo-Cons of the US need in order to retain power before the Bush dynasty falls.

There are forces within the present US Administration that would appear to stop at nothing to retain their power crazed intention to remain the controllers of the money and profit driven world they have created.

The majority of the world’s population and indeed probably of the USA itself do not want further conflict in the world, yet there are some in the Bush administration who are making it impossible for Iran to climb down from their wish not to be bullied.

The collusion of the Brown UK Government is sickening, especially knowing how much against its Iraq actions the majority of the UK population were and still are. The leaders of Germany and France are not much better.

It is important at this stage to try and counter the disinformation that the US and its UK lap-dogs are propagating. Brown, like his predecessor Blair, is seemingly mesmerised by the unashamedly imperialistic Bush. Oh! for a UK leader that shows some decency and moral ‘balls’. Since we don’t seem to have any, it’s up to us, the people of peace, to try and ensure the propaganda machine of the Bush regime does not hoodwink our nation and that of others again.

Editorial 29-8-2007

We are fed subliminal messages all the time in our society to consume, consume and consume. Our economic model is driven on the concept of more, yet more and even more. Whilst our minds are being taken for this ride, our hearts are saying ‘Whoa! Whoa! Hang on a minute.’
We have reached a point of such a mass of humanity now and such a level of consumption that the planet can no longer cope with our excesses.

We are in a closed system. The planet is all we have.
When a tooth is affected by sweet excess and tooth decay sets in, it isn’t noticed much at first. Only when the decay starts to get near to the living part of the tooth, the pulp, does the warning toothache set in. If unchecked that sweet excess will cause the decay to jeopardise the life of the tooth. Because it is a closed system, when the tooth pulp reacts and swells as the decay reaches it, it swells to the point whereby it strangles itself, cutting off its nourishing and protective blood supply. The tooth dies. The process is painful.

So we are likewise doing to this world of ours; to our living world; to our closed system. We have reached a point where the life of our world is beginning to be choked out of existence. Our planet is beginning to cry out in pain. The ache is there. The warning signs are there. With our economic model excesses and consumption we are squeezing the life out of the life systems of this planet of ours. Unless we stop very soon, it will be irreversible.

Don’t let the sugar coated candy of consumerism destroy and kill our world.

Editorial Comment 07-06-2007.
Why are we making the same mistake in Afghanistan that we made in Iraq? Why haven’t we learnt that using the gun to change minds is counter productive?

The only means to stability in both nations is to give the people hope to live normal everyday lives. That means providing support for their families, NOT blasting everything in sight!

The way to win hearts and minds in Afghanistan is to buy the poppy crops at a price higher than the black market can provide. We also need to encourage and experiment with other crops besides poppies that can be grown in such a climate and poor soil. It is not impossible! It is quite reasonable, if we put our minds to it. Not only would we enable the population to become self-sufficient, but they would then ensure security becomes a social necessity and Taliban influence would wane. This is not naïve posturing because when it comes to the crunch we are all seeking survival and our natural instinct is to work together for mutual benefit and security.

Somewhat perversely, President Mugabe did the right thing initially in Zimbabwe when he took control of the farming sector. His decisive error was that he gave the land to his cronies who knew nothing of how to run it. The history of how the west was won in the USA was not by the gun, but by the plough! It was the settlers working the land that ensured the occupation of Indian lands was successfully secured.

Give the Afghan people the means to secure their future by their own hands, not by having lots of soldiers running around, but by providing the means for them to become self sufficient; even if that takes finance initially to artificially start the process.

The gun and the bullet are a means of destruction NOT construction and we have surely learnt that by now!!