Racial Discrimination

Like it or not, we live on a world that is rapidly increasing its rate of demographic change.  Ever since the Big Bang, there has been movement of sentient life forms (Observed by Charles Darwin) throughout the globe for various reasons, least of which was the mighty dollar … until today (This century).

Being a controversial subject, some would state that human movement has taken place for many centuries, but there has always been areas to easily and conveniently absorb that movement because of relatively small numbers … until today (This century).

The difference, today, is that global transportation enables anyone to move to the other side of the Earth in 24 hours, unlike in the past when cultures would take a generation to move across just one continent.  The result being stagnation of cultures within their own respective continents.

Unfortunately, geologically and environmentally, especially on the African continent, some cultures were dealt a poor hand which impeded a useful civilized development.  These people were black skinned.  Equally, the Indian continent suffered similarly and these people were brown.  Many indigenous peoples were also dark skinned, Australia is one example … America, another.

Today, geologically and especially environmentally, the Earth is experiencing rapid change, affecting, at least those cultures who were dealt the poor hand and, with the spread of electronic communication, they may observe the comfortable life of the white cultures who were dealt valuable aces and jokers. 

Thus, we have a situation of envious black and brown races believing it is their time to move again, but in greater numbers … for the mighty dollar.  They are, now, referred to as migrants; economic, illegal, and refugees.  Black, brown (Coloured) and poor … and usually uninvited.

When I, firstly, thought about writing this post, I had a slightly different subject in mind.  The upside down aspect of white Afrikaner people being killed in South Africa.  People who, I believe, according to the U.N., may not be given refugee status to move with the black and brown races to a safer continent.  Should we also be sympathetic to their plight … or is it a kind of karma.

Please comment.

Environment 2 - Waste Management

Initially, I had titled this post, ‘Garbage’, but then I decided that the word meant worthless.  The question must be, ‘Is the material that we discard really worthless or, just, waste that we seem unable to convert into something useful?’

I doubt if there is anyone who does not believe that we must manage our waste more diligently, but are we?

Recently, a local NGO distributed blue, intelligently illustrated, collection bags to every household to encourage people to set aside recyclable items, i.e., paper, plastic, glass, and metal.  This was a good idea, but I do not belief that it is sufficient to change bad habits.  Perhaps, people creep stealthily to the communal garbage containers in the middle of the night ... I don’t know, because I never see them (Then, I guess that they never see me, either).  I did notice one person at the local supermarket the other day who considered it a useful shopping bag.

What else can we do?  A recent TV programme about poorly packaged goods, discussed waste disposal, and mentioned something that I must convey to you (The idea for this post).  An interview with the supervisor of a waste-sorting facility stated, with examples, that although they are quite capable of sorting glass from metal, etc.,  if any of these individual materials are stuck together, e.g., paper to glass, or plastic to metal, they can not separate and, therefore (and here’s the revelation), all these items are sent to the main waste-disposal dump.  During the TV interview, cameras showed that the majority of the items appeared not to be destined for recycling.

Good intentions, badly managed ... at what cost?

Environment 1 - Where There's Smoke ....

For some time, recently, I have been searching the Internet for some details related to an intended visit to the U.K.  Specifically, renting accommodation.  My search reveals an alarming trend that is spreading throughout Europe, the increasing use of burning carbon creating fuel in private homes.

I grew up in a lower/middle income family and we had a three-bedroom home.  One thing that I remember was the situation of a fireplace in every room (except the smallest room).  And at times, every fireplace was in use, and I can still picture the sound and sight of our black-faced coal-man driving his horse and cart full of our weekly sacks of coal.

Eventually, people became aware of the pollution and, more importantly, the ease of simply switching on an electric fire.  This continued to the present day, and introduced air-conditioning systems capable of using gas, oil, and other forms of heating.  Then, costs rose and double-glazed windows became essential.  In addition, a chimney on the roof became a heat-loss device and fire places were quickly blocked and plastered over (or remodelled as a bookcase).  A few were retained to house simulated fire inserts, but only switched on during weekends ... or when the vicar came to call.

But, now, guess what?  The cost of energy has 'gone-through-the-roof' ... if you'll excuse the pun, and the term 'kilowatts per hour' has become as unclean as coal.  Innovation has taken over.  Now, there are hundreds of fire-place shops opening in every town selling caste iron, wood-burning (or anything) stoves for use in the home.  Real-estate agents highlight the advantages of such devices, and holiday cottage renters are always supplied with a "free" supply of logs.  Once again, it is possible to buy coal but, this time, the coal is a "clean" type ... another oxymoron, I suggest.

Is this the sign of the ingenuity that we can be proud of?


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