So Yemen is about to become the new member of the axis of evil. There are clearly some issues with the rising presence of extreme Muslim organisations (Al Queda spring-offs or others) there and their worldwide recruiting efforts. A new wave of blind hate.
It remains a serious mystery and a worrying fact that the son of a very rich Nigerian banker becomes a suicide terrorist in just a few years time. Just like that. Grows up without social issues. Gets top class education in Nigeria, the British International School in Togo and then in London. No money worries. A decent future more or less guaranteed. A life path that many kids of his age can just dream of. And then something changed.
The web of international terrorists using the Muslim faith as rallying cry got him tangled. How does a smart young man with neither social nor financial troubles get attracted by a killing hate? What’s the trigger towards such mad act? Why leave a decent life full of prospects and hope, to enter a dark world of dusty training camps and to agree to blow yourself up together with plenty of totally innocent people. You can dislike the US for its foreign policy. You can dislike Western culture. You can dislike capitalism. But from dislike – after having fully benefitted from its “fruits” – to becoming a once-off killing machine is a hell of a step to take. It’s evil madness.
What did happen to Farouk? What made him leave his comfortable life and go to Yemen to become a suicide bomber? What made him step onto the Amsterdam-Detroit flight with a desire to kill himself together with innocent people. Young and old victims. Americans and many other nationalities. Muslims, Christians, agnostics,... Why? Why? Why?
Trying to understand what is the trigger that makes a bright youngster switch of and become pretty seriously indoctrinated into a merciless killer and suicide bomber. It’s a very baffling reality.
Human behaviour in a very dark spot.
And Yemen is certainly not on a healthy path. A poor country amidst a sea of oil wealth. Neighbour of the biggest oil producer, Saudi Arabia,... also the birthplace of Bin Laden. It seems that some of the Al Queda officers that trained alongside Bin Laden are now based in Yemen. And the other Yemeni neighbour lies across the Gulf of Aden,... the lawless Somalia. It’s a very unstable part of the globe. Yemen itself is fighting a civil war in the north and a secession battle in the south. And it has strong tribal alliances – just like in Afghanistan and Pakistan. A tribal labyrinth where the central authority means nothing. The US and Saudi Arabia are currently helping Yemen fighting its many wars and on top of that are also helping in tackling the growing Al Queda presence. And let’s not forget that the US naval ship, the USS Cole, got attacked in Yemen some years ago. It’s all very shaky and rocky. 2010 Could be a very unstable year for Yemen. It wouldn’t come as a surprise that the US “presence” in Yemen will very soon increase: financial aid (how much will end up in the right hands?), military and intelligence instructors, weapons, coordinated airstrikes in alliance with worried Saudi Arabia, more naval ships in the Gulf of Aden – already plenty of US Navy presence there to hunt for Somali pirates.
But there is nothing concrete with direct impact Washington can do? Invade Yemen? Let’s not go there. It would be another Somalia visit. Black Hawk Down – part 2. And anyway it would lead to what? The Taliban is still very much alive (unfortunately) in Afghanistan and has even grown in neighbouring Pakistan.
The immediate steps are obviously increased security at airports. But there will always be gaps and always new ways of putting a bomb together from basic stuff. Sad but true.
Re-visit the warning systems and existing suspects’ lists. There certainly can be improvement there. Apparently Farouk was on a so called extended watch list, but that did not stop him from boarding a transatlantic flight.
And more work and spy activities and research and investigations and infiltrations in the worldwide networks of terrorist recruitment. It’s clearly the 21st Century's challenge.
And certainly abandoning blind, simplistic profiling. Remember, Farouk was rich and well-educated. It’s madness. Sheer terror on an insane level.
Being a Muslim from Nigeria who made some visit or even some phone calls to Yemen looks like an unhealthy situation today.
Human behaviour is sometimes walking evil paths. Indoctrinated and brainwashed into senseless killing.
What’s the purpose of blowing yourself up on a plane full of innocent lives? Is there any logic explanation? Religious influence in pulling that mental trigger to go down that path is clearly present. Religion is a deadly virus. All religions. Be it the Spanish invading Latin America some centuries ago with the sword in one hand and the Bible in the other. Or South Africa’s apartheid government finding justification in the Bible for its delirious policy. Or the 9/11 bombers finding strength in the Quran. Or the Palestinian finding guidance in the Quran before detonating himself in a crowded Israeli shopping mall. Or the Israeli hardliners finding reason in their scriptures for taking Palestinian land and blockading the Palestinians in the Gaza strip like caged animals. Less than animals in fact. Religion is too often used for death and destruction. For hate. For a feeling of superiority. For war. For brainwashing. For the suppression of equal rights for women. Religion sucks.
But what happened to Farouk? It remains a mystery. And how many more Farouks are there out there. From bright scholar to killing foe. From brightness to darkness. From smart to deaf, dumb and blind. From human to inhuman.
Human behaviour is worrying.
As a breather some lighter note, despite it being about a bank robber. Xmas stress. Financial stress. A 28 year old Swiss man robbed a bank to be able to afford xmas presents. For real! He was armed and had a mask on. He got away with lots of cash but the Swiss police caught him at home thanks to sniffing dogs. An extra juicy bone for the dogs as xmas present!
2010 Looks scary. Hope and disillusion in the same cocktail mix.
Throw out. Saw the band’s name passing by some time ago but didn’t listen to them. Done it now. Jackson United’s 2nd release “Harmony And Dissidence” was released last year. The band is a side project by Chris Shiflett from Foo Fighters fame (and also from No Use For A Name and Me First And The Gimme Gimmes). Chris’ brother Scott, from Face To Face, plays bass. And Chris convinced his old friend and Foo-mate Dave Grohl (now playing with Them Crooked Vultures) to go behind the drums again for this album – at least for some of the tracks. The drums on the other songs are hit by Foo Fighters stickman Taylor Hawkins. So there’s a lot of Foo Fighters connections here. Jackson United’s 2nd release brings powerful rock with touches of punk, some hints of powerpop, and some snippets of ska here and there. Some tracks have organ and piano as extra, delivered by Rami Jaffee who has recorded with The Wallflowers, Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters. So this Jackson United project brings together musicians with pretty good rock / punkrock credentials. It’s a reasonably good listen.
C-Ya
collateral – as December 2009 and the whole of 2009 draw to a close. As today slides into history and tomorrow looks uncertain.
Copenhagen was a joke
Copenhagen was a joke. A very sad one. No bold leadership. No realization of reality. The poorer countries face death and destruction. The richer world just thought about profit. No second thought for future generations. No legal binding agreement that can be used as a stick against violators. No clear targets for cutting CO2 emissions. It was 2 weeks of gathering to result in an insult to humanity. A gathering of unseen levels of hot air. The biggest deception and the biggest slaughter of hope.
The back-door deal was forced down the throat of the majority of the nations without democratic consultation. The useless deal takes note about aiming to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celcius. In reality this so called ‘limited’ warming up of the planet will directly lead to increased desertification, especially in Africa. 2 Degrees on a global scale will be 3 to 3.5 degrees in Africa. That will very likely force draught onto a extra 600 million people. It’s a human onslaught.
Copenhagen became the killing fields of Africa. Copenhagen became the end of the small island States in the Pacific. A new Atlantis. Whole nations will disappear under rising sea levels ‘thanks’ to the lack of visionary, courageous leadership by the world’s politicians.
It’s a sell out! The main leaders are guilty of murder.
And then this ridiculous hand-out to the poorer nations to help them adapting to newer, greener technology.
Before the conference the Ethiopian president announced Africa was demanding US$400bn in financial aid. On his way to Copenhagen, the president stopped over in Paris. Once he reached the Danish capital he agreed to US$10bn. What did he get in exchange from the French president? A filled Swiss bank account? Some luxurious property across France? It stinks like an alleyway gutter in summer heat. Then Hillary Clinton met the Philippine president Arroyo and all of a sudden the toughest Filipino negotiator gets the sack. Arroyo bought off by the US. The sell out of the planet.
The industrialized nations guilty by conspiring against the future. Humanity sacrificed fir short term political and financial gain by a few. Obama’s shine across the world got some serious dirty stains on it. Of course back across the US the spin has made the majority deafer, dumber, blinder. Obama went live on TV even before he informed the other nations about the so called deal he helped brokering. That’s basic political politeness and fairness screwed.
How the world leaders showed its people they do not have vision, boldness, and the courage to lead. Good leaders lead. The others are just hot air. And Copenhagen was full of it.
Soon the Hollywood plastic surgery bunch can go down to Africa for another ‘caring’ trip to face up to growing starvation as draught stricken areas expand. Another quick photo-up and then back to the air-conditioning, the specially imported bottles of water and the 5-star hotel suits at US$10000 per night. And for sure Bono and Geldhof will see another opportunity to show the world how much they really are involved in saving the poor from death. At least for the next PR campaign.
Human behavior is a lost cause. Sickening, sad, rotten.
Sadly so, but we probably need another 10 New Orleans’s to get wiped of the map before any real political steps will be taken. Cataclysm before political courage can be found.
More than ever before the political gang has shown the world’s citizens they just don’t care about the so called average man and woman. Political chess games with the future of the globe. Financial deals blindfolded by the realization that global warming will affect us all. For sure the Africans, the Pacific islands, Bangladesh,... will be face the onslaught first and hardest, but it’s gonna hit everybody. Of course most of the current political world order will be dead and gone before the real disastrous impact starts to hit the Northern hemisphere too. Just shows how they do not even care of the future of their own children and grand children. Politicians without humanity. Robotic killers.
Copenhagen 2009 when humanity’s “representatives” showed they lost their vision, intellect and courage.
Throw out. The Fake Boys got a new album called “This is where our songs live” I discovered them through an appearance on Boston’s radio WERS. Kind of sound like the Ramones of the 21st Century. Somewhat boring after several tracks because of lack of originality and diversity.
C-Ya
collateral – December 2009
The back-door deal was forced down the throat of the majority of the nations without democratic consultation. The useless deal takes note about aiming to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celcius. In reality this so called ‘limited’ warming up of the planet will directly lead to increased desertification, especially in Africa. 2 Degrees on a global scale will be 3 to 3.5 degrees in Africa. That will very likely force draught onto a extra 600 million people. It’s a human onslaught.
Copenhagen became the killing fields of Africa. Copenhagen became the end of the small island States in the Pacific. A new Atlantis. Whole nations will disappear under rising sea levels ‘thanks’ to the lack of visionary, courageous leadership by the world’s politicians.
It’s a sell out! The main leaders are guilty of murder.
And then this ridiculous hand-out to the poorer nations to help them adapting to newer, greener technology.
Before the conference the Ethiopian president announced Africa was demanding US$400bn in financial aid. On his way to Copenhagen, the president stopped over in Paris. Once he reached the Danish capital he agreed to US$10bn. What did he get in exchange from the French president? A filled Swiss bank account? Some luxurious property across France? It stinks like an alleyway gutter in summer heat. Then Hillary Clinton met the Philippine president Arroyo and all of a sudden the toughest Filipino negotiator gets the sack. Arroyo bought off by the US. The sell out of the planet.
The industrialized nations guilty by conspiring against the future. Humanity sacrificed fir short term political and financial gain by a few. Obama’s shine across the world got some serious dirty stains on it. Of course back across the US the spin has made the majority deafer, dumber, blinder. Obama went live on TV even before he informed the other nations about the so called deal he helped brokering. That’s basic political politeness and fairness screwed.
How the world leaders showed its people they do not have vision, boldness, and the courage to lead. Good leaders lead. The others are just hot air. And Copenhagen was full of it.
Soon the Hollywood plastic surgery bunch can go down to Africa for another ‘caring’ trip to face up to growing starvation as draught stricken areas expand. Another quick photo-up and then back to the air-conditioning, the specially imported bottles of water and the 5-star hotel suits at US$10000 per night. And for sure Bono and Geldhof will see another opportunity to show the world how much they really are involved in saving the poor from death. At least for the next PR campaign.
Human behavior is a lost cause. Sickening, sad, rotten.
Sadly so, but we probably need another 10 New Orleans’s to get wiped of the map before any real political steps will be taken. Cataclysm before political courage can be found.
More than ever before the political gang has shown the world’s citizens they just don’t care about the so called average man and woman. Political chess games with the future of the globe. Financial deals blindfolded by the realization that global warming will affect us all. For sure the Africans, the Pacific islands, Bangladesh,... will be face the onslaught first and hardest, but it’s gonna hit everybody. Of course most of the current political world order will be dead and gone before the real disastrous impact starts to hit the Northern hemisphere too. Just shows how they do not even care of the future of their own children and grand children. Politicians without humanity. Robotic killers.
Copenhagen 2009 when humanity’s “representatives” showed they lost their vision, intellect and courage.
Throw out. The Fake Boys got a new album called “This is where our songs live” I discovered them through an appearance on Boston’s radio WERS. Kind of sound like the Ramones of the 21st Century. Somewhat boring after several tracks because of lack of originality and diversity.
C-Ya
collateral – December 2009
Prozac
Interesting how a nation and its leader can change so fast from being an African example (especially in the eyes of the US) to a barbaric threat to human rights.
Uganda and its president Museveni have been praised for a long time for stability and open minded AIDS policies. But that was in a recent past. Now the East African country is going ugly and is turning the clock back. From progress to backwards. One step forward, 2 steps back.
Before its parliament lays a new bill, supported by the president, which would issue the death penalty to gays and lesbians. Yes, the death penalty! This is anti-gay legislation from a barbaric kind. And not just gays and lesbians are targeted. If you know gays and lesbians and you do not report them to the police you are guilty too and will face tough justice. Kick that!
We are about to go into 2010. Ten years into the 21st century and then Uganda is about to pass such a prehistoric law. Inhuman, barbaric, violating basic human rights,... against everything progress and civilisation stands for. If Museveni allows this to pass, he should be banned from entering civilised states. Isolate him!
It’s amazing while the world is gathered in Copenhagen trying to save its future; Uganda decides to go back into a dark age.
Human behaviour is often shocking. Sadly so.
From Uganda to New Jersey, but same battleground.
Old rocker Bruce Springsteen is on the barricades in his home state of New Jersey to support the equal-marriage bill that is being debated there. It's welcoming that The Boss is vocal about a worthy human rights cause. He might be old but certainly still knows when to stand up and fight.
The bill, supported by New Jersey’s governor, would stipulate equal rights for same sex couples as it sees it as a basic civil rights issue. Bruce joined in and wants the voices of those who believe in equal rights for every citizen to be heard and to be heard loud and clearly.
Right on Bruce, right on. Maybe Museveni should listen to some Springsteen tunes and get enlightened.
Human behaviour has sparks of hope.
But then again, human behaviour remains too often disgusting. Former British prime minister Tony Blair, also known as the Bush-poodle, said in an interview that he would have invaded Iraq anyway even if his (and the CIA’s) spies didn’t tell him Saddam had weapons of mass destruction.
Now, in the mean time we all know that Saddam did not have any of those weapons and that the US presentation before the UN Security Council (by then Secretary of State Powell) about the need to go to war to stop Saddam from making the bomb, was a pack of lies. Only lies, total lies, disgusting lies. So we know that.
Now Blair comes out and says that he would have gone to war anyway. Why? So first he is treated like a dumb kid by his so called US friends as Washington passed on fabricated “proofs” to him, and now he says he was war-hungry anyway anyhow. Why? To remove a dictator? Noble cause, but maybe then start with Zimbabwe, China, Burma, Sudan,....
Blair should just shut up and leave politics right now.
Human behaviour and its lies.
Get this. Between the start of the month and December 11 (so that is less than 2 weeks) there have already been 186 people killed on South Africa’s roads. It’s like a slaughterhouse. It’s worse than a warzone.
South Africa already has one of the world’s highest crime rates, but it is clear that just getting from point A to point B is a pretty risky business too.
If you look at population size and extrapolate these road-death figures from South Africa to the USA, you would have 1240 people killed on American roads in 11 days. For China that would be 5514; and for the United Kingdom 252 killed on the roads in 11 days. It’s all very mad.
From mad humans on crazy roads to mad humans in an old-age home. Welcome to earth.
In Dartmouth in the US state of Massachusetts a 98 year old lady strangled and killed her 100 year old roommate. Kick that. Never too old to kill.
Apparently Laura Lundquist killed her roommate Elizabeth Barrow because she was sleeping closer to the window than herself. The human race has slightly gone nuts here. Wires tripped in the head.
And how do you serve justice on a mad 98 year old pensioner? Sentence to life? From an old-age home to a prison cell. Might be an adventure for Laura. A welcomed change of scenery. A last thrill before a last breath.
Mad, mad, mad.
Human behavior is a killing zone. From death penalty for gays and lesbians; to death and destruction across Iaq; to carnage on South Africa’s roads; to Darthmouth’s strangling oldie.
Is Prozac still available?
Throw out. Yes! The Mighty Mighty Bosstones; the kick-ass, Boston, ska-rockers; are back with a full album. “Pin points and gin joints” brings 14 tracks of pure entertainment. These lads have been around for a long time but still kicking it. Great tunes, great vibe.
C-Ya
collateral – December 2009 slowly sliding towards its final hour
Uganda and its president Museveni have been praised for a long time for stability and open minded AIDS policies. But that was in a recent past. Now the East African country is going ugly and is turning the clock back. From progress to backwards. One step forward, 2 steps back.
Before its parliament lays a new bill, supported by the president, which would issue the death penalty to gays and lesbians. Yes, the death penalty! This is anti-gay legislation from a barbaric kind. And not just gays and lesbians are targeted. If you know gays and lesbians and you do not report them to the police you are guilty too and will face tough justice. Kick that!
We are about to go into 2010. Ten years into the 21st century and then Uganda is about to pass such a prehistoric law. Inhuman, barbaric, violating basic human rights,... against everything progress and civilisation stands for. If Museveni allows this to pass, he should be banned from entering civilised states. Isolate him!
It’s amazing while the world is gathered in Copenhagen trying to save its future; Uganda decides to go back into a dark age.
Human behaviour is often shocking. Sadly so.
From Uganda to New Jersey, but same battleground.
Old rocker Bruce Springsteen is on the barricades in his home state of New Jersey to support the equal-marriage bill that is being debated there. It's welcoming that The Boss is vocal about a worthy human rights cause. He might be old but certainly still knows when to stand up and fight.
The bill, supported by New Jersey’s governor, would stipulate equal rights for same sex couples as it sees it as a basic civil rights issue. Bruce joined in and wants the voices of those who believe in equal rights for every citizen to be heard and to be heard loud and clearly.
Right on Bruce, right on. Maybe Museveni should listen to some Springsteen tunes and get enlightened.
Human behaviour has sparks of hope.
But then again, human behaviour remains too often disgusting. Former British prime minister Tony Blair, also known as the Bush-poodle, said in an interview that he would have invaded Iraq anyway even if his (and the CIA’s) spies didn’t tell him Saddam had weapons of mass destruction.
Now, in the mean time we all know that Saddam did not have any of those weapons and that the US presentation before the UN Security Council (by then Secretary of State Powell) about the need to go to war to stop Saddam from making the bomb, was a pack of lies. Only lies, total lies, disgusting lies. So we know that.
Now Blair comes out and says that he would have gone to war anyway. Why? So first he is treated like a dumb kid by his so called US friends as Washington passed on fabricated “proofs” to him, and now he says he was war-hungry anyway anyhow. Why? To remove a dictator? Noble cause, but maybe then start with Zimbabwe, China, Burma, Sudan,....
Blair should just shut up and leave politics right now.
Human behaviour and its lies.
Get this. Between the start of the month and December 11 (so that is less than 2 weeks) there have already been 186 people killed on South Africa’s roads. It’s like a slaughterhouse. It’s worse than a warzone.
South Africa already has one of the world’s highest crime rates, but it is clear that just getting from point A to point B is a pretty risky business too.
If you look at population size and extrapolate these road-death figures from South Africa to the USA, you would have 1240 people killed on American roads in 11 days. For China that would be 5514; and for the United Kingdom 252 killed on the roads in 11 days. It’s all very mad.
From mad humans on crazy roads to mad humans in an old-age home. Welcome to earth.
In Dartmouth in the US state of Massachusetts a 98 year old lady strangled and killed her 100 year old roommate. Kick that. Never too old to kill.
Apparently Laura Lundquist killed her roommate Elizabeth Barrow because she was sleeping closer to the window than herself. The human race has slightly gone nuts here. Wires tripped in the head.
And how do you serve justice on a mad 98 year old pensioner? Sentence to life? From an old-age home to a prison cell. Might be an adventure for Laura. A welcomed change of scenery. A last thrill before a last breath.
Mad, mad, mad.
Human behavior is a killing zone. From death penalty for gays and lesbians; to death and destruction across Iaq; to carnage on South Africa’s roads; to Darthmouth’s strangling oldie.
Is Prozac still available?
Throw out. Yes! The Mighty Mighty Bosstones; the kick-ass, Boston, ska-rockers; are back with a full album. “Pin points and gin joints” brings 14 tracks of pure entertainment. These lads have been around for a long time but still kicking it. Great tunes, great vibe.
C-Ya
collateral – December 2009 slowly sliding towards its final hour
The heat is on
And there they are gathered in Copenhagen. The world’s representatives talking about how to face up to reality and do something about the obvious: global warming.
The Earth Summit is unique opportunity to get real and do something practical and right away to tackle the undeniable, negative effects of human development on our planet.
And yes there are still denialists. Many. Those that will accept the truth when it’s too late. When hurricanes increase in frequency and devastating strength. When longer periods of draught devastates harvests in Africa. When longer periods of rain leads to increased flooding across Asia. When Pacific islands like Kiribati plan mass evacuations as sea levels rise. There will always be denialists till death. Those that rather hide from the truth than be bold and act.
It is not about a Hollywood end-of-the-world blockbuster, nor about which University has the best climate data, nor about the West versus India and China. The majority of scientists all over the planet acknowledge that the planet is warming up and that this will have a direct effect on sea levels, storms and draught. It’s not fatalism. It’s realism with the optimism that the human race is smart enough to do something about it. If they want and have the courage.
Copenhagen is the time for leaders to lead. To show vision and boldness. Not to sit and hide and just care about the next opinion poll. Good leaders lead.
CO2 emissions can be lowered. New, cleaner energy can be developed. Solar energy is the obvious one. It’s amazing in fact how little research, tax incentives and promotional campaigns there are for solar power. Let’s take a country like South Africa. Sunlight all year round while its main energy source for providing electricity is still burning coal. A massive CO2 producer. An obvious case for solar power investment. And hybrid cars should also be stimulated – in campaigns, with tax breaks, with sexy ads,....
This is not about stopping development or a government that wants to curb personal freedom (the ultimate American lie). This is about the future.
And Copenhagen should not be a PR exercise or a game of numbers. Action is required. After agreeing on something, the real boldness is the implementation.
And for those denialists,... talk to African farmers, talk to the resident of Pacific islands,... they will tell you how global warming is already affecting their life. Every day.
Human behaviour remains a challenge. The need to look beyond the next headline is urgent.
And then Obama faces another reality check. Afghanistan. He has recently announced 30.000 extra troops to deploy and his NATO allies have committed an extra handful. It feels more and more like a quagmire. Sadly. More troops, informal exit-deadlines, a weak central government, an enemy hiding out in the mountain caves awaiting spring. It just feels rotten with no easy answers to the challenges. So far the policies of the US and NATO have not really worked. That is undeniable. Would the automatic conclusion then be to just pack and leave? What about the Taliban then? It is not unthinkable that they would easily overrun the Afghan forces and rule once again. Flash back. And then what. Move back in in a few years? Merry go round and round. Honestly,.. there is no straight solution nor a simple answer. And the US Secretary of Defence admitting he doesn’t know where Bin Laden is hiding out. Well it would be a shocker from hell if the US would know where the Al Queda boss is hanging out but not doing anything about it. That would be the ultimate betrayal.
It’s complex and sad and wasting plenty of money and without a clear vision what the future in Afghanistan might bring. Peace or extended warfare?
From the Afghan mountains to Africa. From the grand politics of war, to simple actions with a PR swing.
Ugandan President Museveni apparently flew back from London in economy class. Kick that! A stunt to shame big-spending civil servants. Nice one.
His office admits it was a public relations effort to scold Ugandan officials whom have been submitting extravagant travel expenses. Let’s hope it will be more than just a headline grabber and action against money wasting government officials will be taken. Right on.
Staying in the ‘hood.
Sudanese authorities still behave madly. Last Sunday the opposition parties wanted to hold a rally in the capital Khartoum, but it was banned last minute. Political tensions in the war-torn, oil-rich country are rising ahead of national elections in April next year.
The usual reason was used. Police claimed the necessary paperwork to get a permit to demonstrate wasn’t issued. They need an urgent lesson in democracy!
And after next April’s elections Sudan’s southern region is expected to hold a referendum on independence. Tensions ahead guaranteed. Watch this space.
Finally. Leaving grand politics and threats of war aside for some high-end example of ridiculousness. Human behaviour as a joke.
A man has wasted more than US$100 million in a casino in Las Vegas. For sure people can do with their money what they want. But such a waste is just plain ridiculous and proves this rich fool just has no heart, no soul, no humanity.
It’s human behaviour below zero.
Throw out. Listened to The Flatliners’ new release “Cynics”. It’s a 3 track ep. Previously these Toronto lads blended punkrock, reggae, and straightforward rock, but their latest songs are purely punkrock. And nice sounding too. Power and melody, and a great voice on top of it.
C-Ya
collateral – early December 2009
The Earth Summit is unique opportunity to get real and do something practical and right away to tackle the undeniable, negative effects of human development on our planet.
And yes there are still denialists. Many. Those that will accept the truth when it’s too late. When hurricanes increase in frequency and devastating strength. When longer periods of draught devastates harvests in Africa. When longer periods of rain leads to increased flooding across Asia. When Pacific islands like Kiribati plan mass evacuations as sea levels rise. There will always be denialists till death. Those that rather hide from the truth than be bold and act.
It is not about a Hollywood end-of-the-world blockbuster, nor about which University has the best climate data, nor about the West versus India and China. The majority of scientists all over the planet acknowledge that the planet is warming up and that this will have a direct effect on sea levels, storms and draught. It’s not fatalism. It’s realism with the optimism that the human race is smart enough to do something about it. If they want and have the courage.
Copenhagen is the time for leaders to lead. To show vision and boldness. Not to sit and hide and just care about the next opinion poll. Good leaders lead.
CO2 emissions can be lowered. New, cleaner energy can be developed. Solar energy is the obvious one. It’s amazing in fact how little research, tax incentives and promotional campaigns there are for solar power. Let’s take a country like South Africa. Sunlight all year round while its main energy source for providing electricity is still burning coal. A massive CO2 producer. An obvious case for solar power investment. And hybrid cars should also be stimulated – in campaigns, with tax breaks, with sexy ads,....
This is not about stopping development or a government that wants to curb personal freedom (the ultimate American lie). This is about the future.
And Copenhagen should not be a PR exercise or a game of numbers. Action is required. After agreeing on something, the real boldness is the implementation.
And for those denialists,... talk to African farmers, talk to the resident of Pacific islands,... they will tell you how global warming is already affecting their life. Every day.
Human behaviour remains a challenge. The need to look beyond the next headline is urgent.
And then Obama faces another reality check. Afghanistan. He has recently announced 30.000 extra troops to deploy and his NATO allies have committed an extra handful. It feels more and more like a quagmire. Sadly. More troops, informal exit-deadlines, a weak central government, an enemy hiding out in the mountain caves awaiting spring. It just feels rotten with no easy answers to the challenges. So far the policies of the US and NATO have not really worked. That is undeniable. Would the automatic conclusion then be to just pack and leave? What about the Taliban then? It is not unthinkable that they would easily overrun the Afghan forces and rule once again. Flash back. And then what. Move back in in a few years? Merry go round and round. Honestly,.. there is no straight solution nor a simple answer. And the US Secretary of Defence admitting he doesn’t know where Bin Laden is hiding out. Well it would be a shocker from hell if the US would know where the Al Queda boss is hanging out but not doing anything about it. That would be the ultimate betrayal.
It’s complex and sad and wasting plenty of money and without a clear vision what the future in Afghanistan might bring. Peace or extended warfare?
From the Afghan mountains to Africa. From the grand politics of war, to simple actions with a PR swing.
Ugandan President Museveni apparently flew back from London in economy class. Kick that! A stunt to shame big-spending civil servants. Nice one.
His office admits it was a public relations effort to scold Ugandan officials whom have been submitting extravagant travel expenses. Let’s hope it will be more than just a headline grabber and action against money wasting government officials will be taken. Right on.
Staying in the ‘hood.
Sudanese authorities still behave madly. Last Sunday the opposition parties wanted to hold a rally in the capital Khartoum, but it was banned last minute. Political tensions in the war-torn, oil-rich country are rising ahead of national elections in April next year.
The usual reason was used. Police claimed the necessary paperwork to get a permit to demonstrate wasn’t issued. They need an urgent lesson in democracy!
And after next April’s elections Sudan’s southern region is expected to hold a referendum on independence. Tensions ahead guaranteed. Watch this space.
Finally. Leaving grand politics and threats of war aside for some high-end example of ridiculousness. Human behaviour as a joke.
A man has wasted more than US$100 million in a casino in Las Vegas. For sure people can do with their money what they want. But such a waste is just plain ridiculous and proves this rich fool just has no heart, no soul, no humanity.
It’s human behaviour below zero.
Throw out. Listened to The Flatliners’ new release “Cynics”. It’s a 3 track ep. Previously these Toronto lads blended punkrock, reggae, and straightforward rock, but their latest songs are purely punkrock. And nice sounding too. Power and melody, and a great voice on top of it.
C-Ya
collateral – early December 2009
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