I was reading a story a friend sent me when I was struck by a phrase he used, ‘It is easy to move someone from his village but very difficult to remove the village in him’. He used it in reference of his friend who could not simple match up with the new status he acquired when he located to the city. At the moment I remembered mentioning in an earlier blog that it is difficult to ignore one’s origins in reference to the ruling by a European court of human rights banning crosses in schools citing violation of freedom.
Though the ruling was not bidding it was received with mixed feelings with the majority saying it was against the very foundations of Europe while the minority celebrated hailing the decision as a landmark in recognizing freedoms. The Italian government vowed to fight the ruling and recently she filed her appeal saying that display of crucifixes has much more than religious meaning in reference to the history and traditions of Italy. http://www.ansa.it/web/notizie/rubriche/english/2010/01/22/visualizza_new.html_1676596494.html
The debate has been characterized by accusations and counter accusations and it seems it is not going away any time soon. A huge number argue that the presence of the cross does not infringe the rights to adhere or not to adhere to a religion. What continues to appall is that the Muslims whose rights are supposedly infringed by the presence of the crucifixes have said nothing not even their leaders. One wonders what this silence means. Are they celebrating that finally they are getting another loophole to invade Europe? If not would they have been quiet if it was the banning of their religious symbols?
Whatever the case it remains the duty of the Christians to defend their faith by hook or crook. However, it would be laughable to wage a war while you are not properly armed. The arms of the day would certainly not be the guns and bombs but a real practice of faith. It is not about firing a judge who does not support our view about the cross like it happened in Italy http://www.zenit.org/article-28273?l=english
The best way to fight would be to give meaning to your belief by being defined by it. This way others can have something to reverence and imitate: it is not about flight or fight but about being there, to be counted! By the way how many of the Christians know what the cross means and how do you behave before one? As the Pope said on Wednesday quoting Saint Antony of Padua, in the cross we realize who we are as men, believers or not, it is our mirror. The question is how do you behave before a mirror? http://www.zenit.org/article-28316?l=english
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Despite Shoah new beginning possible.
I was wondering what I should put on my blog until I got a letter that captured some words found near a dead child at the Ravensbrook concentration camp where 92,000 women and children died during the world war II. The words were almost getting buried in my head having seen them as I was doing a synthesis of the book ‘Man search for meaning’.
“O lord, remember not only the men and women of good will, but also those of ill-will. But do not remember all their suffering they had inflicted upon us. Remember the fruits we have brought, thanks to this suffering - our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart which has grown out of all this. And when they come to their judgment, let all the fruits we have born be their forgiveness”.
Sixty five years ago, 27 January 1947, the jails of Auschwitz were opened. Those who were lucky to see with their eyes the Soviet soldiers releasing the prisoners have memorable images of man’s greed. Many of us have only the images through stories, books or via television. However, many can testify that these jails were symbols of racial hatred by the Germany Nazis’ that led to thousands of Jews losing their lives in horrible crimes. While it was the Jews who suffered the pain and loss, the crimes were against humanity and should be a sign that humanity should never head that way again.
Modern man with his vast knowledge with a heart of the continent more civil and developed should have realized man had fallen in an abyss of hopelessness. Today the question we ask is how could Shoah have happened without someone having to stop it? This trauma should be the spring board to a better tomorrow not only for Europe but also for the rest of the world.
In various countries in Europe some activities to recall the day are organized mostly in schools to keep the heritage alive and hope to teach young minds that man has a more dignified calling. It was in this context that Pope Benedict reminded humanity that such horrible crimes of racial hatred should never happen again. http://www.agi.it/news/notizie/201001271154-cro-rt10094 shoah_papa_crimine_della_germania_odio_razzista_e_disumano Shoah should be a reminder that if man does not live fully his vocations as human beings then it is possible to sink so low as to maim, torture and kill fellow human beings as though it never mattered. Incidents that happen in different places where racial hatred is still alive are indicators that a repeat if Shoah is going to happen and the writing are on the wall.
Of late Shoah has been used for political purposes with some claiming it never happened. In fact President Ahmednajad of Iran has consistently said it was a creation of Zionists in reference to Israel. Indeed the words have been repeated today by the Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei saying Israel will once be destroyed. http://www.agi.it/estero/notizie/201001271208-est-rt10107-shoah_khamenei_un_giorno_vedremo_la_distruzione_di_israele. Such careless claims should be condemned with the strongest terms possible. It is a clear indication that Khamenei and his supporters have never made a flea-hop-step from being a Neanderthal.
Whatever it is that Ahmednajad or Khamenei have against Israel issuing such statements does not augur well for the many hearts who still suffer the loss of their loved one, who suffered in those concentration camps. Like the writer of the words above asked of his God let us too not remember the suffering we had to endure but what fruits we have born thanks to the suffering.
“O lord, remember not only the men and women of good will, but also those of ill-will. But do not remember all their suffering they had inflicted upon us. Remember the fruits we have brought, thanks to this suffering - our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart which has grown out of all this. And when they come to their judgment, let all the fruits we have born be their forgiveness”.
Sixty five years ago, 27 January 1947, the jails of Auschwitz were opened. Those who were lucky to see with their eyes the Soviet soldiers releasing the prisoners have memorable images of man’s greed. Many of us have only the images through stories, books or via television. However, many can testify that these jails were symbols of racial hatred by the Germany Nazis’ that led to thousands of Jews losing their lives in horrible crimes. While it was the Jews who suffered the pain and loss, the crimes were against humanity and should be a sign that humanity should never head that way again.
Modern man with his vast knowledge with a heart of the continent more civil and developed should have realized man had fallen in an abyss of hopelessness. Today the question we ask is how could Shoah have happened without someone having to stop it? This trauma should be the spring board to a better tomorrow not only for Europe but also for the rest of the world.
In various countries in Europe some activities to recall the day are organized mostly in schools to keep the heritage alive and hope to teach young minds that man has a more dignified calling. It was in this context that Pope Benedict reminded humanity that such horrible crimes of racial hatred should never happen again. http://www.agi.it/news/notizie/201001271154-cro-rt10094 shoah_papa_crimine_della_germania_odio_razzista_e_disumano Shoah should be a reminder that if man does not live fully his vocations as human beings then it is possible to sink so low as to maim, torture and kill fellow human beings as though it never mattered. Incidents that happen in different places where racial hatred is still alive are indicators that a repeat if Shoah is going to happen and the writing are on the wall.
Of late Shoah has been used for political purposes with some claiming it never happened. In fact President Ahmednajad of Iran has consistently said it was a creation of Zionists in reference to Israel. Indeed the words have been repeated today by the Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei saying Israel will once be destroyed. http://www.agi.it/estero/notizie/201001271208-est-rt10107-shoah_khamenei_un_giorno_vedremo_la_distruzione_di_israele. Such careless claims should be condemned with the strongest terms possible. It is a clear indication that Khamenei and his supporters have never made a flea-hop-step from being a Neanderthal.
Whatever it is that Ahmednajad or Khamenei have against Israel issuing such statements does not augur well for the many hearts who still suffer the loss of their loved one, who suffered in those concentration camps. Like the writer of the words above asked of his God let us too not remember the suffering we had to endure but what fruits we have born thanks to the suffering.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Islam in Europe. Getting back to the roots.
Islam is widely considered world’s fastest growing religion, with immigration and above average birth rates leading to a rapid increase in the Muslim population. The exact number of Muslims is difficult to establish but it is estimated 2b people are followers of Islam worldwide. However, in Eastern Europe has an average of 40-45% while the Western Europe is relatively low at 4.5% but the numbers are on the rise. http://www.storialibera.it/attualita/islam_ed_europa/
At the time when Islam seems to be advancing across Europe, we need to remind ourselves that in the minds of many Europeans, images of Islam are becoming increasingly limited to terrorism, permanent jihad, suicide bombers,… etc. The Muslims have a reason to be taking over Europe. According to Czech Cardinal Miloslav ‘the Muslims have a reason to be heading to Europe. They have a religious one- to bring the spiritual values of faith in God to a pagan environment in Europe, to its atheistic style of life’.www.circolopraga.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1674:cardinale-vlk-attenti-all-islam&catid=98:dalla-cechia&Itemid=350
Others accuse European Union of having diverted from the Christian principles on which it was found and getting secularized opening space to Islamization. The result of secularization -no crosses in school, no Presepe’s in schools! However, if the Christians are to wage war against Islam then there is need to get armed but with spiritual weapons otherwise, Europe will be Islamized totally in the next 10 years. Whining, raving and ranting and wishing away Islam is like peddling a fib, to say the least.
However, we cannot afford to equate Islam with violence or intolerance just like we do not condemn all priests if one messes around. There is urgent need to look into ways of mutual relations. Throwing brickbats at each other or taking hard line positions is no solution. It is not about brinkmanship but about relationship; not about jihad nor crusades, but about dialogue.
Mark you dialogue is not arrogance but about looking at things from the same view point. It is about walking halfway to meet the other. Fortunately, there has been some progress to this end but we are not yet there. The Pope has invited Muslim leaders to Vatican without restrictions, so it is about Muslim leaders allowing the Pope visit Mecca for example, or how about allowing Christians celebrate mass in public in countries where Muslims are majority just like the minority Muslims do in countries predominately Christian. Until this happens Islam remains intolerant, violent and irreligious.
A friend told me Islam borrows a lot from the locusts. As locusts swarm the thinking is that each has 99 eggs and only wished if they had the 100th one to lay waste the world. How do we prevent the hatching of the 100th egg? Practicing of faith! Europe needs to gather all her brood, re-read the riot act and demand a renewal. I imagine if all the baptized were to wake up and defend their heritage!. Don’t they say that if you want to go faster go alone but if you want to go far then you better walk with others.
At the time when Islam seems to be advancing across Europe, we need to remind ourselves that in the minds of many Europeans, images of Islam are becoming increasingly limited to terrorism, permanent jihad, suicide bombers,… etc. The Muslims have a reason to be taking over Europe. According to Czech Cardinal Miloslav ‘the Muslims have a reason to be heading to Europe. They have a religious one- to bring the spiritual values of faith in God to a pagan environment in Europe, to its atheistic style of life’.www.circolopraga.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1674:cardinale-vlk-attenti-all-islam&catid=98:dalla-cechia&Itemid=350
Others accuse European Union of having diverted from the Christian principles on which it was found and getting secularized opening space to Islamization. The result of secularization -no crosses in school, no Presepe’s in schools! However, if the Christians are to wage war against Islam then there is need to get armed but with spiritual weapons otherwise, Europe will be Islamized totally in the next 10 years. Whining, raving and ranting and wishing away Islam is like peddling a fib, to say the least.
However, we cannot afford to equate Islam with violence or intolerance just like we do not condemn all priests if one messes around. There is urgent need to look into ways of mutual relations. Throwing brickbats at each other or taking hard line positions is no solution. It is not about brinkmanship but about relationship; not about jihad nor crusades, but about dialogue.
Mark you dialogue is not arrogance but about looking at things from the same view point. It is about walking halfway to meet the other. Fortunately, there has been some progress to this end but we are not yet there. The Pope has invited Muslim leaders to Vatican without restrictions, so it is about Muslim leaders allowing the Pope visit Mecca for example, or how about allowing Christians celebrate mass in public in countries where Muslims are majority just like the minority Muslims do in countries predominately Christian. Until this happens Islam remains intolerant, violent and irreligious.
A friend told me Islam borrows a lot from the locusts. As locusts swarm the thinking is that each has 99 eggs and only wished if they had the 100th one to lay waste the world. How do we prevent the hatching of the 100th egg? Practicing of faith! Europe needs to gather all her brood, re-read the riot act and demand a renewal. I imagine if all the baptized were to wake up and defend their heritage!. Don’t they say that if you want to go faster go alone but if you want to go far then you better walk with others.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Security threat. No license to demean us.
Traveling by air at sends a spill of fear down my spine. I am phobic of height and the sheer imagination that I am in a tube flying numbs all my feelings. Any thoughts about the turbulence occurring mid air provokes and chokes so are the safety demonstrations. Therefore, to read stories of someone, like the Nigerian young man, who wanted to blow up the plane to Detroit, is blatant madness. It must have caused tremendous pains to the 300 people on board who were innocent caught in the middle of Al Quida terrorists fighting for supremacy.
The attack is not in isolation as in the recent there has been attacks using planes, the recent being Sept 11 that brought down twin towers in USA. Such attacks or other attempts by terrorists or by groups related to them have seen in the past security measures heightened around the world. Apart from the displeasure of having to fly, security frisks bring the other discomfort; removing of jackets, anything metallic and shoes and at times inhuman frisks that do not recognize my civic rights.
Well I presume no one would want his life jeopardized by reckless security lapses like it happened on Christmas night last year. We cannot afford to risk any life either in USA or elsewhere. But does that give governments rights to introduce scanners that show human anatomy with little or nothing to conceal? We have had new security measures announced by the USA administration with Britain in hot pursuit that Okays the use of the scanners among other measures. The debate on scanners is not new, as efforts to introduce them earlier hit a snag after court ruling. The question I would ask is what has made them right, if it was inhuman to use them then? With the new measures there has been a hue and cry in many parts of the world and one can only hope that sanity reigns and that or decisions be informed accordingly. http://www.businessinsider.com/new-security-measures-at-air-canada-forces-mass-cancellat
To me the new measures beg more questions than answers. What is the logic of ‘labelling’ some countries as threats to USA subjecting anyone coming from these countries to extra frisks? Are terrorists only in the named countries? If we need to introduce new measures why not do it indiscriminately to all? Does this probably explain why European airports are slow to adopt them despite the urgency with which Obama announced them? Or even the confusion created by having to apply double laws to various people depending on their origin? http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2010/01/04/news/doc4b4231031bc43249057914.txt
I personally think that though we need to travel in serene environment no one should be denied of his right or have his dignity lowered due to his origin, color or religion. On the same note we expect Obama to explain the failure on the part of security agents who allowed the alleged terrorist board the plane despite the information passed to them by the father. To Obama I say heads must roll until we know who gave a hand, when, how and why. Admission that the buck stops at your door is not news, we have heard it many times. The problem is systemic. Before thinking of how to fix us, fix your house Mr. President! Otherwise we will not just sit down and watch governments violate our civic rights and our rights as human to be treated with dignity.
The attack is not in isolation as in the recent there has been attacks using planes, the recent being Sept 11 that brought down twin towers in USA. Such attacks or other attempts by terrorists or by groups related to them have seen in the past security measures heightened around the world. Apart from the displeasure of having to fly, security frisks bring the other discomfort; removing of jackets, anything metallic and shoes and at times inhuman frisks that do not recognize my civic rights.
Well I presume no one would want his life jeopardized by reckless security lapses like it happened on Christmas night last year. We cannot afford to risk any life either in USA or elsewhere. But does that give governments rights to introduce scanners that show human anatomy with little or nothing to conceal? We have had new security measures announced by the USA administration with Britain in hot pursuit that Okays the use of the scanners among other measures. The debate on scanners is not new, as efforts to introduce them earlier hit a snag after court ruling. The question I would ask is what has made them right, if it was inhuman to use them then? With the new measures there has been a hue and cry in many parts of the world and one can only hope that sanity reigns and that or decisions be informed accordingly. http://www.businessinsider.com/new-security-measures-at-air-canada-forces-mass-cancellat
To me the new measures beg more questions than answers. What is the logic of ‘labelling’ some countries as threats to USA subjecting anyone coming from these countries to extra frisks? Are terrorists only in the named countries? If we need to introduce new measures why not do it indiscriminately to all? Does this probably explain why European airports are slow to adopt them despite the urgency with which Obama announced them? Or even the confusion created by having to apply double laws to various people depending on their origin? http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2010/01/04/news/doc4b4231031bc43249057914.txt
I personally think that though we need to travel in serene environment no one should be denied of his right or have his dignity lowered due to his origin, color or religion. On the same note we expect Obama to explain the failure on the part of security agents who allowed the alleged terrorist board the plane despite the information passed to them by the father. To Obama I say heads must roll until we know who gave a hand, when, how and why. Admission that the buck stops at your door is not news, we have heard it many times. The problem is systemic. Before thinking of how to fix us, fix your house Mr. President! Otherwise we will not just sit down and watch governments violate our civic rights and our rights as human to be treated with dignity.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Rethinking Christmas
Christmas season is with us again. A walk through the town, at least here in Italy, which I guess is what happens world over, preparations are in top gear and the decorations can tell it all. It is interesting that even television news give considerable coverage of Christmas so are the newspapers. The only undoing is the bad weather clobbering most of Europe bringing many cities to a tilt and spoiling many plans. Back at home, in Kenya, this is significantly the biggest feast in the year.
Christmas occurs in the last month of the year characterized by many events: It is time to relax for class 8 pupils and form 4 students who sat for their exam and wait for the results and all schools are closed; it is time for initiation for boys in most part of the country; it is time for family gatherings. It is what summer is for Europe or USA. The month-long- holiday-proper begins with the Independence Day on Dec 12 and lasts until first week of New Year. Goats, chicken, bulls will have nowhere to hide. Everyone will be clad in the best cloth and shoes and churches will be overflowing. As I think of what I am missing with the weathers threatening to send me to the maker, something crossed my mind. What is the meaning of all this festivities and are they worth it?
Christmas is a feast when we celebrate God who chose to be one of us. We were taught since we young that ‘For God so loved the world that he sent his only Son that those who believe in him will have life eternal’. Therefore, we celebrate God’s love to a fallen people in need of his redemption. But God wants to reach man through man; he chose Mary to give birth to Jesus and Joseph to take care of him. Later this child will save mankind from eternal condemnation by his death and resurrection. Christmas is thus intimately connected to Easter. But I ask does man really understand all this?
Looking at the preparations we make for Christmas on would right to say that it is more of an external than it is internal. We are so elaborate with the town, house, street and church decorations than we are in preparing our hearts to contemplate the whole event. We are so dogged down by the daily traffic that we hardly find time to think about what it really means. For many though it is the one other time, apart from Easter, that we set foot in church. Even then we still do not reach the essence of the feast often forgotten as these two articles suggest, http://godwardthoughts.blogspot.com/2007/11/in-preparation-for-christmas.html http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0008.html
I propose a rethinking of Christmas. Suppose I celebrate Christmas to become what Jesus becomes for me to others? That is if Jesus is a sign of God’s love, if he is brings me joy, if he forgives my sins, if he becomes food for me, then why should I be the sign of love, brings joy, forgiveness and become food for others especially the less fortunate. We read too that there was no room for him In Bethlehem, shall he find one today in my heart. It is him who says he who welcomes one of the little brothers welcomes me. How many people have no place to lay their head tonight? Or have no food? Or clothing? Or status? Or family? And what am I doing? God has reached to us through his son. It is our time to reach unto others? I just wish we could spend a quarter of the time we spend on the externals to prepare Christmas and dedicate it to serving those in need! It all depends on you. Here you go
Christmas occurs in the last month of the year characterized by many events: It is time to relax for class 8 pupils and form 4 students who sat for their exam and wait for the results and all schools are closed; it is time for initiation for boys in most part of the country; it is time for family gatherings. It is what summer is for Europe or USA. The month-long- holiday-proper begins with the Independence Day on Dec 12 and lasts until first week of New Year. Goats, chicken, bulls will have nowhere to hide. Everyone will be clad in the best cloth and shoes and churches will be overflowing. As I think of what I am missing with the weathers threatening to send me to the maker, something crossed my mind. What is the meaning of all this festivities and are they worth it?
Christmas is a feast when we celebrate God who chose to be one of us. We were taught since we young that ‘For God so loved the world that he sent his only Son that those who believe in him will have life eternal’. Therefore, we celebrate God’s love to a fallen people in need of his redemption. But God wants to reach man through man; he chose Mary to give birth to Jesus and Joseph to take care of him. Later this child will save mankind from eternal condemnation by his death and resurrection. Christmas is thus intimately connected to Easter. But I ask does man really understand all this?
Looking at the preparations we make for Christmas on would right to say that it is more of an external than it is internal. We are so elaborate with the town, house, street and church decorations than we are in preparing our hearts to contemplate the whole event. We are so dogged down by the daily traffic that we hardly find time to think about what it really means. For many though it is the one other time, apart from Easter, that we set foot in church. Even then we still do not reach the essence of the feast often forgotten as these two articles suggest, http://godwardthoughts.blogspot.com/2007/11/in-preparation-for-christmas.html http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0008.html
I propose a rethinking of Christmas. Suppose I celebrate Christmas to become what Jesus becomes for me to others? That is if Jesus is a sign of God’s love, if he is brings me joy, if he forgives my sins, if he becomes food for me, then why should I be the sign of love, brings joy, forgiveness and become food for others especially the less fortunate. We read too that there was no room for him In Bethlehem, shall he find one today in my heart. It is him who says he who welcomes one of the little brothers welcomes me. How many people have no place to lay their head tonight? Or have no food? Or clothing? Or status? Or family? And what am I doing? God has reached to us through his son. It is our time to reach unto others? I just wish we could spend a quarter of the time we spend on the externals to prepare Christmas and dedicate it to serving those in need! It all depends on you. Here you go
Monday, December 14, 2009
Increase highway speed at the country’s peril
The proposal by the Italian minister of infrastructure and transport, Altero Matteoli, to increase speed on the some roads from 130km/h to 150km/h poses a lot of questions than answers. The proposal comes hot on the heels of manifestations in Rome and other cities against highway mortalities in Italy. It is know in Italy that over 60% deaths from motor accidents are caused by over speeding. This puts the minister’s proposal at loggerheads with the general thinking of the people, be they relatives of victims or other stakeholders.
One must ask why the minister thought it wise to make such proposals at a time when hundreds of youth continue to die every weekend out of accidents? According to statistics by Ocse, (l’Organizzazione per la Cooperazione e lo Sviluppo Economico), as contained in Corriere della sera, www.corriere.it (Matteoli: si a 150km/h all’ora in autostrada), Italy has a media of 9.8 highway deaths of every 1000 persons per year, which is higher that the European media of 9.6. Such figures confirm the stories I used to hear that drivers in Italy are just crazy and that driving in Rome is total madness.
Matteoli argues that the proposal is going to save time, ensure constant flow of traffic and increase security on the roads adding that if a car is strong enough to cruise at that speed then it should not be forced to drive along the weak ones. Such an argument by the minister is actually contrary to ensuring security on the roads. The strength of the car should not be the measure of speed buy by the capacity to drive safely and the conditions of the roads.
No doubt the country wants to increase security on the roads and ensure constant flow of traffic but not at the expense of human life. It is not surprising that leaders have come up to oppose such laws saying it is ‘demagogical and paradoxical’ in a country that lacks the culture of highway security (Paese in cui non c’e cultura della sicurezza stradale’, according to Silvia Velo, Vice president Pd della commissione della trasporto della camera.) www.agi.it ‘Nuovo codice della strada….’ One can only hope that these leaders are not just playing politics but are convinced that increase of speed to 150km/h, even if only in some roads, is not a well informed proposal.
If the minister is concerned about the highway security then he must ensure there are rules to ensure those who drive are properly trained, that Highway Code is put in place to regulate the flow of motor and contain madness on the roads caused a like by drivers, Motor cyclists and pedestrians. Mr. Minister we better not assume everyone has the capacity to drive at that speed leave alone driving properly. Better to rethink again how else free flow of traffic can be ensured, how highway security can be improved and how else time can be saved other than sending many more to the grave, in trauma or on wheelchairs. Doing it any other way will be simply peddling a fib and it soon becomes cropper!
One must ask why the minister thought it wise to make such proposals at a time when hundreds of youth continue to die every weekend out of accidents? According to statistics by Ocse, (l’Organizzazione per la Cooperazione e lo Sviluppo Economico), as contained in Corriere della sera, www.corriere.it (Matteoli: si a 150km/h all’ora in autostrada), Italy has a media of 9.8 highway deaths of every 1000 persons per year, which is higher that the European media of 9.6. Such figures confirm the stories I used to hear that drivers in Italy are just crazy and that driving in Rome is total madness.
Matteoli argues that the proposal is going to save time, ensure constant flow of traffic and increase security on the roads adding that if a car is strong enough to cruise at that speed then it should not be forced to drive along the weak ones. Such an argument by the minister is actually contrary to ensuring security on the roads. The strength of the car should not be the measure of speed buy by the capacity to drive safely and the conditions of the roads.
No doubt the country wants to increase security on the roads and ensure constant flow of traffic but not at the expense of human life. It is not surprising that leaders have come up to oppose such laws saying it is ‘demagogical and paradoxical’ in a country that lacks the culture of highway security (Paese in cui non c’e cultura della sicurezza stradale’, according to Silvia Velo, Vice president Pd della commissione della trasporto della camera.) www.agi.it ‘Nuovo codice della strada….’ One can only hope that these leaders are not just playing politics but are convinced that increase of speed to 150km/h, even if only in some roads, is not a well informed proposal.
If the minister is concerned about the highway security then he must ensure there are rules to ensure those who drive are properly trained, that Highway Code is put in place to regulate the flow of motor and contain madness on the roads caused a like by drivers, Motor cyclists and pedestrians. Mr. Minister we better not assume everyone has the capacity to drive at that speed leave alone driving properly. Better to rethink again how else free flow of traffic can be ensured, how highway security can be improved and how else time can be saved other than sending many more to the grave, in trauma or on wheelchairs. Doing it any other way will be simply peddling a fib and it soon becomes cropper!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Climate change; real or just fuss!
The 15th conference on climate change in Copenhagen, next week, will bring together delegations from 192, for two weeks, to address another global issue threatening to decimate us all due to mans’ lack of foresight, selfishness and greed. The conference, preceded by a meeting by the ministers of government who meet above 5600m, with Everest just in sight, in what was dubbed ‘taking climate higher’, is the greatest assembly bringing all leaders together to build consensus on climate change. The Copenhagen meeting is expected to pass new climate protocol to replace the 1997 Kyoto protocol which ends in 2012, to prevent climate changes and stem global warming.
Interestingly, the meeting is expected to produce regulations to curb CO2 emissions especially from the heavy producers China and United States of America. To say the least there has been some progress with the inclusion of US in the talks snubbed by earlier administration and commitments from China and India who have been accused of doing little to address CO2 emissions. However, it must be stated that apart from these countries there are many others who are hitting above the belt making the efforts by others become a cropper. This meeting should be a wake-up call to every country, district, village and every human person to do what we must do to save the climate.
Indeed the report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) blames ‘humankind's influence on the modern day climate and about the impacts of rising temperatures http://news.bbc.co.uk “Q&A. The Copenhagen Climate Summit”. At least the report by IPCC points at the principal cause as burning of fossil fuels that produce high concentrations of CO2 that combines with the CO2 in the air to trap more of sun’s energy and warming the earth’s surface. This explains the changes we all have witnessed in the past few years.
Notwithstanding, there is a disturbing issue is the fact that some scientists and cynics are dismissing global warming as a natural occurrence sending mixed signals to us mere mortals. However, unless they are willing to explain to us why we encounter hurricanes, floods, changed weather patterns, rise of sea water levels due to melting of glacier today more than ever, then their theory remains naught. The debate as usual has been politicized and countries are divided down in the middle.
However, it is heartening to hear that majority leaders are committed to do something to reverse the situation. At least by now we know the governments want ‘a new treaty that is bigger, bolder, wide-ranging and more sophisticated than the Kyoto agreement’ as reported by BBC. I hope this is not another futile gimmick to hoodwink the masses and as it emerged from the ‘greatest debate on earth’ on BBC, Saturday 06 Dec 2009, we either adapt or die.
Interestingly, the meeting is expected to produce regulations to curb CO2 emissions especially from the heavy producers China and United States of America. To say the least there has been some progress with the inclusion of US in the talks snubbed by earlier administration and commitments from China and India who have been accused of doing little to address CO2 emissions. However, it must be stated that apart from these countries there are many others who are hitting above the belt making the efforts by others become a cropper. This meeting should be a wake-up call to every country, district, village and every human person to do what we must do to save the climate.
Indeed the report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) blames ‘humankind's influence on the modern day climate and about the impacts of rising temperatures http://news.bbc.co.uk “Q&A. The Copenhagen Climate Summit”. At least the report by IPCC points at the principal cause as burning of fossil fuels that produce high concentrations of CO2 that combines with the CO2 in the air to trap more of sun’s energy and warming the earth’s surface. This explains the changes we all have witnessed in the past few years.
Notwithstanding, there is a disturbing issue is the fact that some scientists and cynics are dismissing global warming as a natural occurrence sending mixed signals to us mere mortals. However, unless they are willing to explain to us why we encounter hurricanes, floods, changed weather patterns, rise of sea water levels due to melting of glacier today more than ever, then their theory remains naught. The debate as usual has been politicized and countries are divided down in the middle.
However, it is heartening to hear that majority leaders are committed to do something to reverse the situation. At least by now we know the governments want ‘a new treaty that is bigger, bolder, wide-ranging and more sophisticated than the Kyoto agreement’ as reported by BBC. I hope this is not another futile gimmick to hoodwink the masses and as it emerged from the ‘greatest debate on earth’ on BBC, Saturday 06 Dec 2009, we either adapt or die.
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