This post is an appeal on behalf of all the missing American Indians, particularly the women. Before I explain in more detail, let’s have a brief summary of why the plight of American Indians, or Native Americans if you prefer, deserves special attention. In Europe, it’s often said that Jews are the canaries in the…
The 2019 UK General Election is at last over and the country has breathed a sigh of relief (or despair, depending on how you voted). At least the tension has evaporated and decisions have been made. When I awoke to the results of the 2016 EU referendum I discovered, as someone who voted to leave…
Every year, wealthy philanthropists donate billions to charities, including environmental and agricultural charities. The Forbes list of 50 top US donors will tell you who some of them are and who received the money. Take a look at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the people who benefit from their donations for just one…
Extinction Rebellion are protesting in London and bringing our capital city to a standstill. They feel justified in doing so due to the urgency of the situation. Do you endorse their point of view or do you see them as alarmist and unscientific? According to Wikipedia, “Extinction Rebellion (abbreviated as XR) is a socio-political movement…
On both sides of the Atlantic millions of people have been asking the question, “How did this happen? Why did we lose?”. How they laughed when it was first announced that Trump might run for President. How they scoffed at the very idea the the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland might one…
The Hunkpapa Lakota holy man Sitting Bull once said, “Let us put our minds together and see what life we can make for our children.” Today we could paraphrase that and say, “Let us put our minds together and see how we can prevent our children being slaughtered by jihadis.” My parents generation had to fight…
Depending on the context, tribes and tribalism are sometimes something to be celebrated and at other times regarded as primitive and inferior. Sometimes when I can’t get to sleep I don’t count sheep but instead I go through an alphabetical list of Native American tribes. It usually starts well; Apache, Arapaho, Apsaroke, Assininboine…I falter on the…
Hardly a day goes by without one politician or another banging the NHS drum. The political ping-pong often revolves around the NHS wasted billions. In July of this year the Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio 2 covered the anniversary of the death of Aneurin Bevan, the founder of the National Health Service. I wonder what…
If you’ve read anything about the history of the American West you’ll know that it’s a long and sad tale of human suffering. Dee Brown’s classic Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West is a compelling account that summarises the history from the arrival of Columbus to the massacre…
In a 2016 episode of Britain’s Secrets Anne Robinson featured interviews with two couples at opposite ends of the clothing spectrum. It included a few points that illustrated why I believe it would be healthier if niqab wearing women chose to stop wearing a veil. On the one had there was a naturist couple who went about…
Katie Hopkins continues to provoke reactions with her controversial views, but in the final analysis the reactions she generates can teach us about how we respond to the world. When you read a list of Katie Hopkins quotes focus on your reaction, not on the woman delivering the messages. If you can contain your outrage for a few minutes…
The Dalai Lama is one of the world’s most popular spiritual leaders. His compassion, wisdom, and humour have won him fans and friends all over the globe. He is welcomed by both religious and political leaders who give him their time and attention. When he speaks, people listen attentively. As well as the millions of…
Welcome to Brexit Britain. I’m one of the 17.4 million people in the UK who voted to leave the EU. According to many this means I am likely to be an ageing little Englander, a racist xenophobe, and a short sighted ill-informed idiot who has been duped by a campaign run by clowns. It seems I’m also…
After a third explosion at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Japan, the pro nuclear power lobby must be watching their case ebb away in silence. The situation is changing day by day but already confidence in the nuclear industry has been rocked to the core. However, before those who oppose any form of nuclear…
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