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From sojourners:
“We can’t let little countries screw around with big companies
like this - companies that have made big investments around the
world.”
- a Chevron lobbyist, who asked not to be identified, speaking
about a lawsuit brought on behalf of thousands of indigenous
Ecuadorian peasants over the dumping of billions of gallons of
toxic oil wastes into their region’s rivers and streams. Chevron
is pressuring the Bush administration to eliminate special trade
preferences for Ecuador if its government doesn’t quash the
case.
(Source: Newsweek)
Those kind people at Zondervan sent me a copy of Jesus for President to review, so here goes…
I regard this as one of the best, most challenging and thought provoking books around at the moment. Despite it’s American target audience (we don’t have a president here – yet) this makes great reading for any reader, as its themes are universal.
This is unlikely to look like any book you have ever read before, it’s got nearly as much in common with a graphic novel as it has with a standard text book. The best comparison I can give, and it is quite inappropriate really given the anti consumerist approach of the authors, is with a Howies clothing catalogue. It has that same earthy, lived in, thoughtful, artistic and engaging feel, but thankfully without the pictures of models wearing expensive clothes.
Put simply, this has got to be one of the most beautifully designed books on the market – working with the writing, the design emphasises the creative, radical spirit of the text, and the provocative joy of the authors. Quite rightly the designers, Holly and Ryan Sharp, are credited at the end of the book along with the writers. The colour is full throughout the book, with design elements interacting with the text throughout, which adds immensely to the value of the content. If you liked the look of ‘Irresistible Revolution’ then this is a quantum leap forward, like as if the publishers suddenly realised what this thing was all about…
In some ways it reminds me of an illuminated manuscript, from back in the day of monkishness, when religious texts were coloured and illustrated by devoted scholars. This fits with the fact that the authors are part of the new monastic movement – and perhaps this could be seen as the contemporary equivalent.
But aside from a fantastic design job – what does the latest offering from our dreadlocked brother actually contain? Well first point to make, there are very clearly two voices audible in this book. Claiborne and Haw have coinciding views, but different emphases, or perhaps just different experiences, which while bringing occasional difficulties to the academic niceties of the text, actually helps lend weight to this book. Actually – if you count the design, then add in one or two more voices as well.
Written throughout in easily digestible chunks, the book begins as a dissection of a theme of radical God politics which the authors show running through the bible. It sidetracks through stories of friends, writings of early Christians and reflections on current affairs.
It’s a book of stories, parables, and prophecy, it is not supposed to be a tome, or a text book, or a prize winning essay – this is a work of love, an object of discussion, a catalyst (for want of a less clichéd term) for renewed engagement with the themes, and an encouragement to live a different way.
Rather than taking an easy option, such as a single standpoint, of a Christian anarchy for example, or an anti war vote, Claiborne and Haw manage to turn the whole idea around, arguing for a radical Christian engagement with politics and society in a way that is at once submissive and subversive. American voters wanting to know who the writers say they should vote for, will find themselves left with the same choices, but hopefully looking at them through new, or perhaps ancient lenses. I suspect also that this will help many bring a new creativity to their decision making.
Pacifism and anti (or non) consumerism are key themes, but they each form only part of the overall principal argument, which is to see God’s people as a people set apart by God, called to live another way, and to follow only one leader. It critiques the philosophy that one can serve God, and walk in the way of the world.
This clarion call to a subversive and renewed people of God is a creative and stimulating read – it’s not without its problems, one cant help thinking that if Claiborne authors another book, he will have come close to being part of the system which he so clearly wants to work against, but at the same time, I like many others would be happy to read anything he writes. One might also question how the authors can happily work with others such as Jim Wallis who argue for a more conventional approach to politics… clearly McLaren is not the only one with a generous orthodoxy these days.
Some readers may find biblical references to apocryphal books troubling or confusing, I don’t, in fact I like it. Some factual discrepancies may exist within the text, (numbers of dead in Iraq, or etc) but these are minor when looked at in context, and can be put down to the issue of dual authorship.
It’s a beautiful, peaceful, challenging, affirming, prophetic, subversive and creative book, well worth reading, sharing, mulling over… likely to become a classic.
Links:
Some very talented and ambitious friends of mine are setting up a large scale organic cotton project in China. One day soon perhaps, I’ll be able to help them by marketing their enterprise in the UK and Europe, but right now I’m worried.
How can I take to the ethical marketplace, a Chinese project? The current backlash against the olympic torch, the promotion of the free tibet movement, the Zimbabwe debarcle, and general fears of China’s growing political and economic might, have swung the niche ethical consumers well and truly away from China.
Howies have had flack in the past for making their jeans there - they seem to have survived. But with big brands keeping a wary eye on their ethical products for signs of a dying off of demand… how can I convince the buyers that this excellent chinese project will actually be worth them becoming involved in?
I’ll post any progress…
My interest in Zimbabwe has been long held. I have watched the situation degenerate there over many years now, and of course I like many millions wait anxiously to see what will happen in the next few days.
My Dad was born and brought in Zimbabwe, then called Rhodesia. From his description, the country at that time was a prosperous place. Colonial rule, as unjust and unrighteous as it was brought some stability with it for a season.
Zimbabwe today is a different country, the man that back in the 1960’s many thought would lead the country into a new era, turned out to be just another African dictator, who turned on his own people and brutally crushed the place.
The recent news coverage of the elections paints a depressing picture, Mugabe seems likely to press on with his claims of having won the election, and one can only presume blood will be shed before any change can happen.
But a few interesting factors have also cropped up over the last few weeks, which are worth considering when one looks at Mugabe and his country.
First there is the story of Mugabe, and how he turned from a idealistic young man into the despot who now holds sway.
The Independent on Sunday carried a fascinating piece which told the story of Robert Mugabe and his wife Sally. The tale is a tragic one, involving the forced separation of the couple when they were separately imprisoned for subversive activities. While Robert was still in prison, Sally fled Africa to self imposed exile in London. Tragically, while the two were apart, just before Sally fled to London, their three year old son, Nhamodzenyika died of Malaria. Sally went on to have a breakdown, during her time abroad, brought on perhaps by having to face this ordeal alone.
After only a couple of years, the British government weighed in, and tried to expel Sally from the UK. Despite her fragile state, the government were determined to send her back to Africa. Robert wrote desperate letters to try and change the ruling, but to no avail. He met for the first time the indifference of the British establishment, a hatred of which has characterised his life since then.
In a letter to Harold Wilson, he wrote: “My wife, whose health has never been satisfactory since the loss of our son in 1966, is at present suffering serious emotional upset as a result of the decision by the Home Office. Surely then, the fact of my detention is enough suffering for her already. As I stated in my letter to Mr Callaghan, the reason my wife decided to work for the year (September 1969-June 1970) was to enable her to earn a little money for herself until October when she should enter university to do a degree in Household Science. The Home Office decision wrecks even this wholesome plan.”
A bitter legal wrangle was then entered into, a dispute which, no doubt, cemented in Robert Mugabe’s mind the ill feelings he felt toward the British establishment for treating his wife in this way, at such a vulnerable time.
In the end she was allowed to stay, and eventually rejoined Robert once he was freed. Before her death in 1992 Sally was able to curb many of his excesses, and is remembered affectionately. One can’t help but wonder whether a more human and sensitive approach to this difficult situation would have made a difference to the way Robert Mugabe viewed the rest of the world…
Further fascinating material is to be found in this article about the support of the Israeli government for the Mugabe government’s policies (h/t Steve Hayes) . According to anti war activist Justin Raimondo, Israel has been steadfast in its support of Mugabe and his oppressive regime, to the point of military equipment and possibly other services to the Zimbabwean government:
“In 2002, one Ari Ben Menashe – employed by Israeli military intelligence from 1977 to at least 1987, in spite of the Israeli government’s denials of any connection – shot what was purported to be covertly filmed videotape of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai supposedly discussing a plot to assassinate Mugabe. This was triumphantly broadcast on Zimbabwe state television on the eve of elections, followed by a fresh wave of repression aimed at pro-democracy activists. The tape turned out to have been doctored, but the broadcast accomplished its task: providing a momentary rationale for Mugabe’s reign of terror, which continues to this day.”
Does this evidence of Israeli support for Africa’s heinous dictator go some way to explaining the incredible abscence of comment from the white house about Mugabe’s regime? Or is that just because there is no oil involved?
I recently read ‘Blood River‘, an account of a trip through the Congo, by Tim Butcher. It’s a great book, which tells with extraordinary skill, a story of a land which suffered the worst of colonial ravages, and has, since the Belgians eventually pulled out, returned largely to jungle, with lawless areas ruled by blood thirsty militias.
I thoroughly reccomend it as a an eye opening revelation of the state of the Congo, but also a warning of what could happen elsewhere. Zimbabwe, once Africa’s bread basket, could yet go further into decline.
Wow, I was amazed to read about the island of Sark today, which unbeknownst to me, is the last Feudal state in the west.
Sark, apparently is not subject to the same kind of government that the rest of the UK is, instead it is governed by landowners, and everyone is subject to the island Seigneur, who among other things has a private army, of forty men with muskets, and has sole right to the front pew in church.
He also gets anything that is washed up on the shore, and is the only one allowed to keep pigeons or unspayed female dogs.
This incredible state of affairs, which reads like something out of a Bernard Cornwell novel, except with bicycles, and without beheadings, is now being challenged in court, because malcontented residents, who include the millionaire Barclay brothers (boo hiss) who live in a nearby castle belonging to the Island’s territory, are fed up with having to hand over cash to the Seigneur. Apparently it clashes with their capitalist philosophy… why did they move there then?
It’s a great story, just perfect for a parody… somebody? Anybody?
There’s been a lot of coverage of Obama’s Philadelphia speech recently, (see also here and read a transcript here) where he finally dealt head on with the poisonous snipes that have been aimed his way, over (of all things) his skin colour. Of course the strong words of his church minister havent helped him all that much, but lets be honest, Christian ministers have a good record of criticising America for its sinfulness… And it goes down well, so long as its from the establishment direction of course. Right wing preachers are welcome to declare that America is going to hell in a hand cart, but not firebrand Black men.
I’ll be honest, if I was American, and I voted, I’d vote for Obama, but I’m not, so I wont. And I ‘m not alone, I suspect lots of people wont vote for Obama. But many of them will be Americans.
Hillary Clinton has been doing her best to spoil his chances, my favourite Hillary comment was the one where she said there was no reason to suspect him of being a Muslim ‘As far as I know ‘. Damned with faint praise then.
Matthew Norman writing in the Independent says Obama treated Americans like gorwn ups: “Barack Obama talked to Americans on Tuesday, as I said, as if they were adults. He did unto them, to adapt a closing line from a speech the commentator Andrew Sullivan called deeply Christian, as he would have them do unto him. Whether Americans have the capacity to respond as adults, or whether they cling to the comforting blanket of sideshows like the ranting Rev Wright, will go as far as anything towards deciding the Presidency.”
But is this infantile nation, which has a record of ridiculous presidents and loony politics, waves guns around and considers itself the ‘liberator of Iraq’ ready to be treated in this way? Sorry to my American friends, I know there are many many of you who are intelligent sophisticated people who no more support ignorant politics than anyone else, but unfortunately I dont think you are in the majority.
Will America rise to the challenge of being treated this way? Or will it, as I predict, plump for Senator oven chip? I sadly suggest that the Democrats may well get beaten when it comes to election time, because President Palmer aside, I dont think the US is yet ready for a black president.
Oh and by the way, Hillary is arguably only still in the race because of her willingness to play fast and loose with the truth, as this article on the Common Dreams site explains…
Or of course, we could simply follow the suggestions of Shane Claiborne and friends who are suggesting we elect Jesus for president, and put the Amish in for homeland security!
There’s been a lot of talk about Fidel Castro over the last few days, after he announced he would no longer be continuing as president of Cuba. Most of what I have heard, has been in general negative towards Cuba, Castro, and Communism.
An american friend told me today that he thought the US should lift the embargo on Cuba (so do I actually, I think its an act of war) - his reason was that it was the best way to defeat communism, by allowing Cubans to catch the capitalist bug.
This in part sums up my reason for respecting Castro. He’s anathema to today’s capitalist world. Cuba stands alone as a place where a form of socialism is actually working (not without problems - some of them big ones). I would suggest that all of our capitalist societies are just as flawed though as the socialist Cuban society.
Fidel with his fatigues, his work ethic, his unflinching attitude of revolutionary defiance, his eschewing of personal glory through conventional means, his resistance to the temptations of personal wealth (ignore what Forbes say about him - its propaganda) and his general ballsiness in taking on the world’s biggest superpower (and greatest oppressor) and surviving, is admirable.
Not so admirable are the human rights violations, the murders, internments, vilification and imprisonment of gays and jehovah’s witnesses amongst others, all of which have occurred since the revolution - over the last nearly 50 years.
But it must be said in his defence that the majority of these crimes were carried out long ago. Castro is not the same man he was back then. The days of Fidel, Raul and Che overthrowing the Batista dictatorship are long gone. Now Castro is better understood as the man who led Cuba to become a country of extraordinary achievement.
A literacy rate of 98%, a very low infant mortality rate, a strong emphasis on environmentaly friendly technology, an organic farming revolution, he even reintroduced Christmas…
And on that note I would say that the idea of banning Christmas as a national holiday is one that I actually rather like, its a lot better than the commercialised hell that we suffer each year in the name of the homeless rabbi who died a squalid death after being abandoned by his followers… anyway… it got reinstated in the end, rather like Jesus.
I know that my perspective is vastly different from that of the many cuban emigres who fled the country in boats, to get to America where they could be happy capitalists, its certainly different to those who were imprisoned for ‘counter revolutionary thoughts’. Again, I dont claim Castro, Cuba, or communism are perfect.
But I do respect Castro, I respect the way he has kept going, I resepct the fact that in those early days he and the others lived the lives they told others to live, they spent their time off doing manual labour with the ordinary people, and Fidel’s children today work in factories, where they arent afforded the luxury and privelige that the presidential children of any other nation would be.
I truly deplore killing, I am a pacifist and a believer in freedom. But the freedoms we have in the democratic countries are often much less real than we like to think. There are plenty of ways this country will punish those who step out of line, albeit somewhat more subtle! I dont agree with the human rights abuses that have taken place in Cuba, nor do I support, excuse or condone the killings or imprisonment of many innocent souls.
So there it is, despite his and his regimes manifold failings, I still say that I respect Fidel, and all that he has acheived. And if any other leaders are as ready to put their life on the line, and walk the talk like Fidel has over the last fifty odd years, then I would probably offer them respect too. Trouble is, very few have.
There’s a good feature in the guardian about Saoirse, the guy walking to India from the UK as an ambassador for the freeconomy philosophy. The following quote from the interview sums up what I like in his mission:
“Look, if I’ve got £100 in the bank and somebody in India dies because they needed some money, then, in a way, the responsibility of that person’s death is on me. That’s very hardcore, I know, but I’ve got more than I need and that person needed it. And if you know that, then you’ve either got to do something about it, or you have to wake up every morning and look at yourself in the mirror.”
I think its fair to say that I’m not your classic royalist. What with being something of a republican and all… yeah that means something different in America, I know.
But I was fairly impressed by bonnie prince Charlie’s appearance at the alternative energy summit in Abu Dhabi - where he was beamed holographically! That’s pure star wars!!
I’m all for holographic monarchs, much better than real ones. It is not clear to me from this article whether Charlie (the young Chevalier) was speaking live, or it was a recording (I imagine it was the latter) - but its a jolly good way to avoid the air travel.
Interesting also to note his comments: “Scientists are now saying that the problem of climate change is now so grave and so urgent that we have less than 10 years to slow, stop and reverse greenhouse gas emissions. Common actions are needed in every country to protect the common inheritance that has been given to us by our creator…”
Cant disagree on that score Charlie boy - round one to you.
I am not a real student of Australian politics, and I suspect most people who read this stuff arent either.
But one thing (or rather one person) made me particularly interested in the outcome of the recent Aussie poll - and that was baldie old Pete Garrett.
I’m on record as being a fan of Midnight Oil, who I rate not just because of their guitar riffs and catchy lyrics, but because of the passionate social comment that lay behind much of their output. A few years ago when the Oils split up, Pete donned a suit and tie, and went into politics.
Now he’s the Australian minister for the environment. I reckon that can only be good news for the land down under. On the other hand of course, power has a funny habit of changing people, and my sincere hope is that Pete will stay true to his beliefs and principles.
I tried to get hold of him to interview him once, couldnt get through boo-hoo. I did see the Oils in concert though, and I thought they were excellent, even though Pete was wearing a jumper… not very rock and roll.
So I’m expecting a lot from the guy who said: “it belongs to them, lets give it back” and “don’t turn back the ships of freedom” amongst a myriad of other progressive, and environmental statements.
Come on Pete, I’m rooting for you.
A strongly worded attack on Bio Fuels by Jean Ziegler (U.N.’s Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food) is reported on Treehugger, he has called for a five year moratorium on the use of bio fuels, something which George Monbiot also suggested some time ago.
But as far as I know Monbiot has never claimed that bio fuels are a crime against humanity! The idea is based on the fact that poorer people spend a higher proportion of their income on food, so food price rises hit them harder…
I wrote a few thoughts about bio fuels as part of a longer post on transport in the Green My World blog recently. Whatcha think?
I am unashamed of the fact that I am a fan of Marx.
I dont agree with everything he said - I dont agree with everything most people say!
But this quote alone is enough to make me respect him:
“Catch a man a fish, and you can sell it to him. Teach a man to fish, and you ruin a wonderful business opportunity.”
The Rainin in Paradize single from Manu Chao is getting a lot of play on 6music - and so it should, it’s a great track. I know Manu is a controversial figure - shouting about the system and living off it so they say - I can’t deny that he makes brilliant music though.
You can see the track on this video - it’s belting. Apologies to those who dont like youtube videos on blogs, or who havent got lots of bandwidth… I’m posting it anyhow.
And here’s the lyric:
Welcome to paradise (2x)
Today it's raining (4x) (Welcome to paradise)
Today It's raining (Welcome to paradise) (4x)
In Zaire, Was no good place to be
Free world go crazy, it’s an atrocity
In Congo, Still no good place to be
They killed Mibali, it’s a calamity
Go Maasai go Maasai be mellow, Go Maasai go Maasai be sharp (2x)
In Monrovia, this no good place to be
Weapon go crazy, it’s an atrocity
In Palestina, too much hypocricy
This world go crazy, it’s no fatality
Go Maasai go Maasai be mellow, Go Maasai go Maasai be sharp (2x)
Today it’s raining (4x), in paradise
Today it’s raining (4x)
In Baghdad, it’s no democracy
That’s just because, it’s a US Country
In Fallujah, too much calamity
This world go crazy, it’s no fatality
Go Maasai go Maasai be mellow, Go Maasai go Maasai be sharp (2x)
Today it’s raining (4x)
In Jerusalem, in Monrovia, Guinea-Bissau, today it’s raining (3x)
Welcome to paradise, Come to the fairy lies
Welcome to paradise
Today it’s raining (4x) fade out
on the today program the other day - last week actually - said: “societies have to make choices, as to whether they want more material well being, or more tranquility. They cannot have both.”
I think it came the same day as George Dubya made his ‘historic’ announcement that America was going to lead the ‘war on climate change’ or whatever he calls it, just so long as, that war on climate change doesnt impact on America’s material well being of course…
kybernetikos put me on to this one, a nifty little exercise which tells you what you know already… but puts it into a nice little graph!!
So go visit the political compass test to make your own little mark. I note that Kyb is clearly a lib dem type, pah! But at least he’s nearer to Ghandi than he is to Mugabe.
Here’s where I sit
Which, according to the following graph, puts me around the same area as Nelson Mandela!! Not sure what to make of that, but I’m sure glad its not Hitler that I’m nearest to.
On the authoritarian scale, I thought I’d be nearer Uncle Joe than I am, phew…
Nice to see the names Hitler and Thatcher in the same area though, reassuring when it comes to ones little prejudices!
Thanks for that Kyb, turned out to be a lot of fun, and btw, congrats, sorry I couldnt make the wedding, I am assured it went off well!
says that Monbiot is wrong about ethical consumerism. For what its worth, I say that the green guy is wrong. Read all about it!
One of the first things I learned as a tabloid reporter, was that people always want to assign blame. If ever there is a big problem, a killing, a disaster - the cry goes up: “who’s to blame?”
So its kind of inevitable that in the almost aftermath of the flooding that has dominated the summer people are already demanding to know whose fault this is. The government who ‘knew’ the danger was coming? The polluters who have ’caused climate change’? Who?
An article this morning says that scientists have found a human fingerprint on the flooding : “
Chris Huntingford a climate modeller at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Wallingford, said: “It has now been confirmed that the burning of fossil fuels has altered rainfall patterns at the global scale. Next we need to understand how these observed large-scale adjustments translate to local changes in extreme rainfall events.
“These highly regionalised estimates of rainfall will be essential in aiding governments to prepare for what might, in some circumstances, represent dangerous climate change.”…”
I kind of wish the scientists would make their minds up. They used to tell us that climate change was going to leave us with wet winters and hot dry summers. My wife - a prescient person if ever there was one, has long declared she thinks the weather will become wetter in the winter, and wetter in the summer. She had no evidence for this claim. Until now 
But the reality is that yes, there is more water in the atmosphere, but that hasnt made it rain in buckets. That is down to freak weather… these things happen every now and then. There is nobody to blame for the freak weather (unless a supervillain somewhere is controlling the weather) freak weather happens.
So what about the floods, are they inevitable? Well here’s the thing. Joni Mitchell sang: “they paved paradise, and put up a parking lot”, she could have sang: “they paved/concreted/decked/tarmacked paradise, and failed to maintain ancient ditches and dykes, which combined means that while there are lots of parking lots, there isnt anywhere for the rain to go.”
She could also have added that conventional farming techniques have damaged the soil structure, making it less able to hold water, which simultaneously means that we use more water than we should, and that when it rains the water isnt retained in the ground, and it puddles up instead.
The reality is that the kind of development we consider necessary to keep us at the dorefront of economic growth is not compatible with working hand in hand with nature. Its time more of us got hold of living in harmony with the earth, and quit paving paradise, and needing more parking lots…
a good edition of the moral maze on tonight (weds) - all about ethical trade, after the “surprise” news this week about supermarkets buying stuff from sweatshops… gosh, I can’t believe it, I honestly thought they were buying their incredibly cheap and poor quality clothing from high quality manufacturers who were paying their workers a good wage!
Moral Maze, always worth checking out for decent debate and analysis.
Today our primeminister has effectively scuppered the whole supercasino project… does this mean that maybe a massive gambling den isnt the only way to regenerate a poor area? Can this be true? Surely not Gordon!
I like this guy.
I see Scooter Libby has had his sentence commuted, well aint that just great - nice one George dubya!
Unbelievable.
did he really say this?
“Catch a man a fish, and you can sell it to him. Teach a man to fish, and you ruin a wonderful business opportunity.”
If someone can tell me where or when I’d be grateful.
I hear that the wonder boy of British millionaire environmentalists, Zac Goldsmith, is standing for election as a conservative.
Well well well.
I cant help thinking that if ever someone is going to make the conservatives electable, it isnt David Cameron, who is after all like ‘Blair Lite’, and unlikely to cut the mustard against Gordon, who has the air of credibility and trustworthiness that an electrate likes in a leader. No indeed - I think its Goldsmith.
To me Zac Goldsmith is what a Tory should be: terribly rich for a start, looks a bit louche for seconds, irrepresibly charming, and horribly talented.
Add to that the ‘getting expelled from Eton’, successful publishing career, and other such stuff, and we can see that people are going to like him.
And as we face the reality of a no oil economy over the next ten years, Goldsmith will be there with all the answers, and whether we like it or not, he’s been saying the same thing for a long time! Plus he hates the supermarkets, which the middle class all do too, (except we still go there… help us Zac… we cant stop ourselves!)
As a socialist by inclination, and an abstainer by practise, I cant see myself ever voting Zac into power, but I can see others doing it. He has the charm, the wit, the intelligence and the looks to take him to the very top, but he does lack one thing…
The ability to hold back.
He strikes me as a guy who isnt going to find it easy to go along with things he doesnt like, and that will be difficult in politics. Blair has managed it, although he has been notable by his abscence in certain votes. Goldsmith? He’s so outspoken, so bold, that I dont know if could carry it off. The public will doubtless love him for it, but what about the party?
Still, he’s certainly a man to watch, if he wins the seat of Richmond off the Lib Dems at the next election, then look out, he’ll be in the running for sure!
Good article on treehugger today, looking at a recent oxfam report which explains how a cut in US subsidy for homegrown cotton could massively benefit the developing world.
Here’s a snapshot: “…Previous studies my colleagues and I have done clearly show the trade distorting effects of US cotton subsidies by lowering the world price of cotton, with results at the aggregate level,” says Daniel Sumner, director of the University of California Agricultural Issues Center and one of the authors of the Oxfam report. “But these new numbers show that even a modest increase in the world price of cotton that only partly reaches the farmer could greatly improve the daily lives of some of the world’s poorest people, and could literally mean that millions of poor people could be fed.”
For the typical cotton-growing West African household of 10, who live on less than a dollar a day per person, cotton is often the only source of income. According to the Oxfam study, a complete removal of U.S. cotton subsidies would jack up the world price of cotton by 6 to 14 percent, resulting in a 5 to 12 percent increase in the prices that West African farmers receive for their cotton…”
Come on USA, walk the talk, lets stop bolstering up your economy at the expense of millions of lives!
This morning the world awoke to a terrible sight. Extremist slugs had wreaked untold devastation on an innocent, and unsuspecting runner bean plant.
Apparently the slugs had been secretly training for many days before carrying out the outrage, led by senior slugs who had attended secret training camps for Mujasluggin.
“This was a dramatic failure of intelligence on our part” admitted one official. “These slugs have taken us entirely by surprise, our defences have been breached, and a terrible cost has been extracted.”
The scene of devastation.
A crisis cabinet was convened, and a ministry spokesman briefed a hushed press conference early this morning:
“We will not let this go unpunished. These slugs cannot strike at the very heart of our garden and be allowed to slither away totally free.
“As far as we know, they have returned to their hiding places, under logs, in between stones in the wall, and in other dark and damp areas.
“But believe this, we will find them, and they will answer for what happened here today.”
This statement was later followed by a message of support from the primeminister of the garden over the road, who pledged his full support, and made clear his personal commitment to be “tough on slugs, tough on the causes of slugs.”
As yet though the causes of slugs are unclear. The primeminister also said that he had been made aware of intelligence which showed that slugs in Harold-next-door’s garden were able to strike at the runner beans at just 45 minutes notice.
One problem that has been highlighted in the aftermath of the attack, are that our garden’s deterrants are outdated.
“It’s clear that our systems need to be overhauled” a spokesman said, “these slugs should never have slipped through so easily.
“It may even be that they disguised themselves as snail, or even worms, to affect this infiltration, and we therefore advise that all citizens be aware of any, and I mean any slimy creature, as they may pose a real and present threat to the security of our garden.”
Some campaigners have pointed out that under the terms of the Innes no3 treaty, all gardens have pledged not to renew or update their deterrant systems. But a government spokesman pointed out that these rules are for ‘other’ gardens, where the administrations cannot be trusted to garden efficiently.
“Some of these gardens are allowed to run wild, with little or no investment made in terms of cultivation. In such places, which are best described as ‘the axis of evil’, we as responsible gardeners need to be firm in our resolve over allowing them to develop new weapons, which they could in future use against us, or worse, could fall into the wrong hands.”
“Imagine what a slug could do with that technology!” He added.
Innocent and vulnerable - the French beans could be next!
Concern is now growing for the vulnerability of some young french bean plants, which have so far remained unscathed.
“We dont know when, but we do know that at some point an attempt will be made on these french beans, and in order to prevent that we must take decisive action.” The spokesman explained.
“A garden shed cabinet has been convened, and we are considering the next step in this campaign . An invasion of Harold-next-door’s garden has not been ruled out, it is clear that he is harbouring slugs, and our intel supports the theory that the slugs spiritual leader, Oslima Bin Sluggin may be based there.”
Opposition voices have been raised, as fears grow that a full on invasion may happen, which would pose terrible problems with the police, what with it being someone elses garden and everything… Critics have also claimed that the real reason for the invasion is not slugs at all, but is motivated by the fact that Harold-next-door is brewing his own bio diesel in his garage.
More to follow.
I read that the elaborately coiffured Brand has got away without censure for the gags he made at the Brit awards.
So, can someone please tell me… does that mean that David Cameron officially has a…”face like a little painted egg”?
Please someone tell me it does.
So Russia is getting somewhat belligerant, and threatening to point their nasty missiles at us, if the US start sprouting missile banks here and there.
I’ve blogged before that I dont mind cold wars, and prefer them immeasurably to hot ones.
And I’m feeling like I dont really blame Putin for thinking his lot might be a target. After all, they tend to have a different opinion to us on various matters, and these things are important…
What really needs to happen is the Nuclear disarmament that has been oft talked about, seldom acted upon. Well there’s a thing.
You know what, its kind of spooky but I feel like I can almost hear someone saying…
“We want you to disarm, and by the way we’re just upgrading ours,
Cos you’re bad and we’re good.
And we dont make mistakes, like invading people,
They are more like ‘tactical errors’.
And we wont shoot you with our horrid bombs. Honest.
Now put yours in the bin, or we’ll consign you to the axis of… EVIL!
Cos the thing is you see, you are whats known as volatile.
Which means you might harbour terrorists on your soil,
invade other people,
do nasty things like kill people you dont like,
supress freedoms,
disagree with us…
stuff like that.
No seriously. Put them in the bin.
No seriously!
Or else we’ll blow you up.”
Just been putting some nicer links in on the music section, and noticed this interview with Ben Okafor, who just happens to be one of the best musicians around at the moment.
As the interview points out, he isnt just a musician, but a talented and passionate man in many areas of life. It is in Cross Rhythms of course, which means it is a nicey nicey interview, because thats what they do. But I think that anyone who hasnt checked Ben’s work out, should have a read.
He has quite a tale to tell, and I cant think of anything I dont like about him. He’s a good guy. And a genius. Now I’m being nicey nicey too… must be catching.
Following the terrible shootings in Virginia Kester blogged about non violence. I always appreciate what Kester writes.
I have made the following contribution to his discussion - with specific regard to the question of the American right to bear arms. As you know, I believe it is less sensible than the right to arm bears.
My view is that the amendment was made to constitution, on the basis of fear. And it is fear which forms the basis for kids carrying guns, knives, other weapons. The second amendment could perhaps be described as a kind of institutionalised fear.
Anyway, here’s my post. Your comments are welcome.
“The second amendment was instituted because of fear.
Fear that somehow the people would become enslaved or powerless without weapons.
Fear that government would be able to control them if they werent armed.
Fear that they might be invaded or the people’s governement usurped.
It is unlikely that this ‘right’ will ever be taken away from the American people, because, sadly, the country that proudly professes Christ doesnt walk the talk in this instance at least.
Fear has no place in the kingdom of God.
Until love and trust usurp fear, particularly of the ‘outsider’, (who should be ‘the neighbour’) there will always be problems of this sort.
Already the demonisation of this ‘outsider’, his mental health problems, his obsessive behaviour, all the other factors that led him to this dreadful act, has begun.
Doubtless this will strengthen in the minds of many the need to be able to protect themselves from such danger strangers.
But the reality is, his fear, fear of not being like everyone else, not succeeding, not getting the girl, not being respected, fed on other fears. Fear does that.
Its not a simple question, what is? But to my mind fear is such an important factor in this equasion that it cant be ignored. It must instead be dealt with. And continuing to demand the right to bear arms is not dealing with it. “
Two contrasting tales can be found in the Guardian today, the first, the Harrods allotments, for which the well heeled can pay £1000.00 to have jeeves plant some parsnips. Just filthy is what I call it.
The whole thing of Harrods is abhorrent to me anyhow, but this latest wheeze just makes me feel a bit ill. The whole thing just reeks of greed and wastefulness, all the more disgusting when we know how little many live on in this world.
And then another tale, about Lush cosmetics giving cash to a bunch of anti road campaign groups. Now for sure, this is an attempt to ‘raise their profile’, but all the same, money talks. And I know Lush aint exactly feeding the masses with their expensive soaps, but I dont expect them to. There’s plenty of other ethical brands out there selling stuff that is good, at high prices, fair enough I say. These things are expensive. Hence the reason I dont buy ‘em!
But here’s the rub, they put their money where their mouth is, and that is real. Nobody can take that away.
And of course, what brought it to my attention, was that interestingly enough its the same sum £1000.00 - each of the campaign groups were handed a grand, meanwhile Horrids were charging a grand for a bespoke allotment.
Oh sweet heaven, I’ve got the taste of bile in my throat once more. Now where’s that sick bag.
Paul Wolfowitz should do the decent thing and resign.
I am not the only one who is sick of schemers who look after their own before others. The World Bank certainly doesnt need that kind of person.
Instead of hanging on to his untenable position, Wolfowitz should read the writing on the wall. And the white house… well enough said. They have a record of hanging on to losers to the grim death these days.
Its almost as if the leader of the world’s only superpower was rather under pressure!
And as if the news weren’t confirmation enough, my bushisms calendar today provided another pearl: “Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning?”
Enough said.
on the way to the beach today, I had the misfortune to visit a certain supermarket… y’know it’s name is four letters long, and its full of mum’s slapping their own bottoms with delighted grins on their faces.
Anyway, as I sidestepped the clothing section I was visually assaulted by a gang of signs demanding: “why pay more?”
And as I stared them in their yellow eyes, I felt a rant coming on….
Why pay more?
I’ll tell you why.
Because cheap is not always best.
Because less is not always more.
Because you have taken a short cut past quality.
And a swerve around ethical trade.
Because buying a tee shirt for three quid wont make me value it.
And buying a pair of trousers for a fiver wont make me think about what I’m buying.
Or who made them.
Or how much they were paid for them.
Or what kind of toxic processes were involved in their manufacture.
Or how much debt the factory workers are in, because of the pittance they are paid.
Or how many suicides there have been in the cotton farming community that grew your low grade stuff.
Because you have bulk bought, and helped to wipe out small businesses.
Because you have competed so fiercely that you have wiped out the little guys.
Because through what you do and who you are, you promote nothing less than greed.
Because you have used millions of barrels of fossil fuel to supply your distribution network.
And you’ve been caught out treating your workers badly.
Because we think that higher quality and ethically sourced products are worth more.
Dont give me your signature on the ethical trading initiative. I’m not interested.
Dont give me your crap about quality. It isnt true.
I prefer to pay more, and when I cant afford to pay more, which is most of the time, I prefer not to buy anything at all!
stop trying to read biography of Che Guevarra at bed time. It’s a good book, but it aint bed time reading.
are good for your brain.
Apparently.
Cant say they do much for mine, except get it tied in knots.
I like cryptic crosswords, but the reality is that I like the idea of them, more than the doing of them. Mainly because, like so many other things, I’m not very good at them.
But one thing is for sure, you can spend a lot of time on a cryptic crossword - and so on that basis, I’ve been thinking of a few people to give a good book of them to, and currently I think that a large batch should be shared out among the Russians, who all seem to be niggling at each other.
There’s Berezovsky saying Putin must be brought down by force… there’s the chess guy who is about to take to the streets, there’s Vlad busy scheming in the Kremlin… trouble is I suppose if they had cryptic crosswords Vlad and Gary (good russian name there) would finish them pretty quickly and start fighting again. Not sure about Boris…
Imagine what would happen if old Bush baby had to do one a day. That would be a case of ‘crypticification’. Bushism for the day: “After all, Europe is America’s closest ally.”
Darn.
Actually these days, who would.
I read this morning that European and American companies have swindled some more poor forest dwellers out of their birthright, with the old classic ‘bags of sugar’ trick. Makes you proud to be a ‘westerner’. (Misnomer alert).
I dare say that the loggers will either get, or falsify fsc accreditation for their products, which will mean we can all get hold of it, and indulge ourselves in another orgy of patio furniture and so on.
I’ve also been reminded about the sudden realisation that the whole thing of planting trees everywhere to ‘offset’ our carbon emmissions, has been a swindle. What nobody pointed out was that it only works if you plant your trees on the equator, and who would want to do that? It’s all hot and stinky around there, arent there just a lot of poor people living there? They’re only going to chop them down again. Lets plant a woodland in Godalming instead, where we can go for walks, and emply someone to sweep up the leaves.
Good heavens, is it me?
An intelligent commenter on Steve Taylor’s site, made a fine point about syncretism.
He said: “I’m aware of the dangers of syncretism - adopting ‘foreign’ philosophies, ideas, values and trying to make them ‘Christian’. For example : how Christians in the west or the first world have adopted democracy, consumerism, materialism, separatism, abuse of the environment etc. and basically made them ‘Christian’ Ideals, signs of Gods blessing…”
We tend (I think) to consider syncretism as the danger of other cultures bringing into westernised Christianity their heathen practises. - Like the Devil’s own work, a cross between voodoo and Catholicism!!! But how often do we consider our own lack of respect for creation a syncretised response?
Exits stage left, arse firmly in hand.
an interesting article in the guardian this morning raises the prospect of a new cold war… so in the interests of global peace and security, here are 5 reasons why cold wars are better than hot wars.
1: Much more potential for John Le Carre, much less potential for Andy Mcnab.
2: Fewer people seem to die.
3: The rise of interesting terms, such as ‘Iron curtain’.
4: Gives everyone (on both sides) a warm glow, knowing that there is a ‘baddy’ out there, and its not us.
5: Jobs for spies, ensuring that they arent just defecting to big business.
So hip hip hooray for Messers Putin and Bush. Long may your war remain cold!
The current furore over the selling of Faye Turney’s story, and the stories of the other Iran hostage crisis sailors and marines is surely a shot in the foot for the image of Britain overseas.
Far from portraying ourselves in a positive light, we are showing ourselves (once again) to be a nation that is as corrupted by power and fame as its many detractors claim it to be. How can we possibly seek to hold a moral high ground position when soldiers return from a military mission, and then go and sell salacious versions of their stories to newspapers which seek to serve a right wing agenda?
I know full well, having worked for these papers for a number of years, exactly how this all works. Moreover, I know that if the Navy had been bullish, refused to let this happen, squirelled the people away for a week or two, put their families in hotels, whatever necessary, this could largely have been avoided. It would have blown over. The sums of money being offered which were clearly too much for the family to turn down, would have been dramatically smaller this time next week.
Instead, we have this situation which is a full scale PR disaster in foreign relations terms.
Iran had a PR coup with the way it was seen to handle the release of the sailors and marines, just because it wasnt seen that way here, doesnt mean it wasnt seen differently abroad. In turning military people into cry and tell merchants, we’ve done nothing to alter this, and everything to make us look weak and corrupted overseas.
I am a pacifist, I dont support the war in Iraq, I dont support Nuclear development, I dont apologise for Iran’s activities either.
Kester’s grid post last week which reflected in part on the way Jesus treated conflict as opposed to the way others did was a great inspiration and encouragement to me, and I believe it can be translated here. In trying to fight Iran’s propaganda with our own tabloid tales, Britain is shooting itself in the foot.
In this situation, a Jesus style model of grace, forgiveness, and humility would have served much better, not only to better improve our foreign relations, but also for the nation’s collective soul (if there is such a thing;) ).
But as the Clash wisely said: “ The people must have something good to read on a Sunday [or a monday]“
So there.
Good to see that the Iranians have handed over the british sailors who may or may not have been in the wrong place at the wrong time…
I note that speculation is rife over the whys and wherefores of their release. Some speculation of a deal, or even worse… an apology!
But as it happens, I have my own theory.
I think that like me, Mr Ahmadinejad, was given a ‘Bushisms’ calendar.
Surely its no coincidence that yesterday, the very day that the sailors were released, the ‘Bushism’ of the day was from a speech made in Brussels on Feb 22, 2005.
“This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. And having said that, all options are on the table.”
Dur.
For those of you unfortunate enough not to own a Bushism calenda, which contains a word of wisdom from the American commander in chief(!!!) for each day of the year, then you can check out this Bushisms site, which is also highly educational.
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