sparrow chat

Today sees the end of a four year term as UN Commissioner for Human Rights for Louise Arbour.^[1] She stated, as far back as March, that she would not seek a second term.

It’s doubtful her retirement will be noticed, or remarked upon, by the world in general. That will be a pity for she has attempted some remarkable work against overwhelming odds. Indeed, those who note her leaving will likely be the governments of nations who have battled with her over their own human rights records. The Israeli Knesset will undoubtedly breathe a sigh of relief, given the criticism she leveled at Israel for its human rights violations against the Palestinians, a criticism that also brought her a severe backlash from the US government – unsurprisingly. (NOTE: see the latest Israeli atrocity HERE).

Unsurprisingly, because Louise Arbour noted the the deterioration of human rights under George W Bush’s administration; the erosion of freedoms in the USA; torture and cruelty in Iraq; the malignancy of ‘secret prisons’, captivity without trial, and the horrors of the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center.^[2]

Louise Arbour admitted she had a thankless job. The rest of the world always looked to the one great superpower for guidance, and has watched over the last six years as it metamorphosed into a monster. Once recognized as a force for peace and stability, by its more recent example America has opened the floodgates of inhumanity to every petty tyrant enjoying a standard of luxury earned by the sweat and suffering of ordinary people.

George W Bush would have us believe our enemy is terrorism. In fact, the true enemies of humanity everywhere are those who manipulate and scheme to further impoverish working people, in order to increase their own already substantial wealth and power.

With the further encroachment of global warming and its attendant disastrous consequences on the human race, the present policies of world governments, cleverly designed to suck wealth up from the lower and middle classes to the upper echelons of corporate society, will create a backlash that may well see the war on terror downgraded to a minor skirmish by comparison.

Despite the lies of politicians, the rights of ordinary people have been severely curtailed over the last decade. In many parts of the world, the greed of a relative few has determined the suffering and poverty of many. One irrefutable example is the artificial inflation of oil prices. Another is the commandeering of food-producing land for so-called ‘biofuel’ production, using the blatantly false excuse of a ‘greener fuel’ as justification for the inevitable starvation of millions throughout the third world, so a few can reap untold riches in profit.

Do these corporate tycoons seriously believe millions are going to conveniently lie down and die without protest?

Their doctrine is a simple one: make a fortune by pushing up the price of food and energy until a third of the world can’t afford to live. When large enough numbers finally die, there’ll then be enough food to go round and the price will eventually fall back. By that time the tycoons will have filled their coffers.

Except, there’s one other factor to take into account.

By doing nothing for twenty years to avert global warming, we’ve reached beyond the point of no return – the Earth has passed its tipping point.^[3] It’s too late to reverse the process. Are politicians and corporate bosses so stupid as not to realize this? I doubt it. More likely they’re pushing everything into reaping the biggest financial harvest possible before civilization begins to disintegrate, so they and theirs can ride out the bad times in relative comfort while the rest of humanity collapses in a meltdown of wars, slaughter, and mayhem that will likely make Mad Max look like a 21st century Mother Theresa.

In times of trouble the human species has consistently looked to its leaders for assistance and solutions. When Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans the whole world witnessed a policy by the American government that could be labeled ethnic-cleansing, one that dispersed throughout America most of the poor, black, population of a city now being rebuilt for the benefit of a much wealthier populace.

Is it unrealistic to consider what happened in New Orleans the model for a far greater catastrophe? Some may consider it is. Many will find the very idea unacceptable; after all, how can the human race with all its great technologies, ever succumb to a descent into chaos?

Few, though, could argue that we are firmly on that road. How many can honestly say, after witnessing the fiasco of New Orleans, that despite all the strong words and fancy speeches of the politicians, there was ever a hint of genuine concern evident from those who hold the reins of power in America, for the poor, mainly black, population devastated by the flooding of the Lower Ninth Ward and similar areas?

Civilization is presently facing probably its greatest challenge in human history. Our leaders and politicians are doing nothing to help us face that challenge. Instead, they seem hell-bent on leaping into the lifeboats and leaving the rest of us stranded on a sinking ship.

Most people seem to be hoping it may all just go away; gas and food prices will return to normality and some superhero US scientist will develop a sure-fire way to reverse Earth’s climate change in the nick of time. Were we all taking part in some mammoth Hollywood production, that would likely happen. Sadly, this is reality. If you doubt reality won’t surprise us with a happy ending, just ask any ex-resident of the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans. Not too many are living ‘happily ever after’.

Louise Arbour has relinquished her role as the UN’s Commissioner for Human Rights. She knew she couldn’t win, that she was on a hiding to nothing. They wanted her as a puppet, and she wasn’t prepared to bow to their whims.

It will take probably twelve months to fill the position, but it doesn’t matter. The next commissioner will be conveniently shackled, even more so than was Louise Arbour.

^{* “Who Will Save Us Now” by Straylight Run}

^{[1] “Canadian Arbour leaves UN rights chief role”, CBC, June 30th 2008}

^{[2] ” Annan Defends U.N. Official Who Chided U.S.” NYT, December 9th 2005}

^{[3] “….Emissions already beyond ‘worst-case’ scenario” Int. Herald Tribune, Oct 9th 2007}

Filed under: Worst case scenario?

Posted under Sparrow Chat

Sports commentators are renowned for their ‘one offs’, often spoken in the heat of the moment. Today, a pearler at the end of the European Cup Soccer Final in Austria. Spain beat Germany by one goal to nil. During the bedlam following the match, while teams were waiting to ascend the podium and receive their medals, one commentator was discussing the Spaniard’s previous achievements. In response, Irish-American commentator Tommy Smyth was heard to say:

“It’s not just history, though, you have to have the players………and the players have to show up.”

Rock on, Tommy!

Filed under: Foot in mouth

Posted under Sparrow Chat

America took a step back into the Dark Ages yesterday when the Supreme Court decided every citizen had a right to own a handgun. Courts are supposed to issue judgments, but by no stretch could this be considered more than the personal opinions of nine individuals.

Many books have been written debating the meaning of the 2nd Amendment, from both viewpoints, which only highlights the mire of pettiness that has been tossed into the mix to disturb waters that, left to settle, leave no room for doubt as to the clarity of this troublesome addition to the American Constitution.

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

If the writers of this single sentence of twenty-seven words truly desired to ensure future generations strode around town toting handguns, they could easily have disposed of the first thirteen:

“The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Clear, concise, and unarguable.

Why then, did they find it necessary to precede that statement with thirteen other words, if not as a necessary adjunct? Quite obviously, the sole reason for the people to bear arms was in defense of the State.

No other reason is cited here.

The concept of Americans carrying guns as protection against their individual fellow citizens was not under consideration by the early law makers, at least, not in the 2nd Amendment.

Whatever justifications there may, or may not, be for sustaining the right to carry a gun today, it does not come from this legislation. The five members of the Supreme Court were wrong in arriving at the decision they did.

It was no judgment, merely personal opinions arrived at, most likely, for political gain.

Over the years, the composition of the Supreme Court has gradually created a metamorphosis from legal to political body. No longer can it be considered a relevant part of the judicial system. The political balancing act that sways first one way, then the other, dependent on the affiliation of the president in office at the time new judges are chosen, ensures politics triumph over justice, resulting in the Court becoming a pawn, or a thorn in the side, of subsequent administrations.

As for the American people it is supposed to serve, they are the greatest losers in this battle between political buffoons of both the left and the right.

Surely, that was the last thing the gentlemen of Virginia could possibly have wished for when they ratified the 2nd Amendment in 1791?

Filed under: “Guns Save Lives”

Posted under Sparrow Chat

Ongoing from my original post on the poor gas mileage of American Smart cars (see “Smart Car – But No Smart Gas Mileage In US”) the comments continue to arrive. Here is just one, from Jeff:

“I got one of the first ones in the States. I live in SF (hills), and I am averaging just 20 MPG with mine! I called the dealer today who verified that one other owner is having similar issues and they verified it getting just 22 MPG. I am going to force the manufacturer to give me a new one if they don’t find a fix.”

Good luck with that one, Jeff.

The subject of diesel cars, so popular in Europe, has already been well covered. Their lack of popularity in the US results from very successful anti-diesel marketing strategies by the manufacturers, the US government, and artificially inflated diesel prices throughout America. Also, until recently, gas was so cheap in the States that designing diesel cars seemed somewhat pointless.

That situation has now changed, probably permanently, and it’s time the American public began lobbying for diesel-engined cars in the US.

Here’s why:

On a recent vacation in Britain my wife and I hired a Volkswagon Golf 1.9L TDI. It was one of the best vehicles in its class that I have ever driven. The 1.9 liter turbo-diesel engine (103 bhp) though slightly ‘clacky’ on tickover, behaved beautifully during all aspects of driving, with a real belt from the back of the seat when accelerating strongly. All Golfs have six airbags as standard, stability control and anti-lock brakes linked to the latest electronic stopping aids, while active front head restraints help to minimize whiplash in the event of a rear-end shunt. Electric front windows and door mirrors, remote central locking, a CD player and air-conditioning are also standard items. The car we hired had cruise control that was precise and immediate in operation.

Best of all, having driven over 1,500 miles in three weeks, the engine returned 56 miles per Imperial gallon, which adjusted for the smaller US gallon would work out at 49 mpg.

The car is apparently available in the United States, though, gas mileage is quoted as 42 mpg, which is still a healthy return.

The Golf is no Smart car, but it has many advantages over the Smart, purchase price, unfortunately, not being one of them.

Filed under: US not so Smart

Posted under Sparrow Chat

I would ask that you examine the picture below. Does it arouse strong sexual urges? Do you feel the need to scream hysterically for the censor? Is this naked child an embarrassment to you? Perhaps, for the sake of James Dobson’s apoplexy, its posterior could be hidden by a judiciously placed silver star?

I happen to like pictures of naked babies. I’m no pervert. I just find them cute. Probably 98% of the planet’s human population would agree with me. Of the other two percent, half would be tainted by perverted lust and the rest would demand a silver star for the sake of something they call “common decency”.

Whatever that is.

A certain supermarket chain in the UK, which shall remain nameless even though owned outright by US parent company, Wal-Mart, falls into the latter category. Mister Walton’s British management team consider such pictures may constitute pornography. Consequently, when the stores ran a promotion offering cakes from their bakery with a customer’s photograph printed onto the surface, one lady asked for a birthday cake featuring a photo of a five-month-old baby, in similar state of undress to the one above. The store refused citing a company policy of “no nudity”.

Eventually, a compromise was reached once mom had agreed to a large silver star being strategically placed onto the photo to obliterate baby’s bottom.^[1]

What have we become?

The answer is frighteningly simple, we’ve become a victim society.

A victim society occurs when civil liberties, freedom of speech and expression, suppression of natural feelings, are all curtailed to a large extent for fear of accusation.

The USA has perfected the victim society, though Britain is fast catching up. Basically, we create a victim society when we allow a tiny minority of criminal and perverted elements to affect, not only our daily lives, but the very manner of our thinking. Instead of accepting real, though extremely rare, dangers for what they are, we envisage every other being on the planet as harboring the potential to do us and ours harm. The result is a distrust of everyone, by everyone, and is undoubtedly the primary reason gun control in the United States is opposed by the majority, despite obvious evidence that guns contribute significantly to violent crime in the nation.

Since 9/11, the US government and its attendant media have pushed the victim society syndrome to its limits for political gain. We are all aware of the “terror threat” lurking around every corner.

Even colors considered vivid and beautiful when formed by the petals of a rose, become frightening when displayed in this manner. Yellow – be scared; Orange – be very scared; Red – take refuge in absolute hysteria.

The effect of such constant bombardment by fear and oppression is insidious. As a part-time school bus driver I am constantly warned by my bosses, “Never, never, touch a child”; “Don’t allow hugs”; “Avoid forms of affection”.

Some of my kids have ridden with me for four years. They were four and five years old and are now eight or nine. They feel they’ve known me all their lives, and almost they have. Yet, the minds of paranoid, heavily indoctrinated, adults can twist an innocent action into something that could cause the most appalling repercussions.

“Suffer little children to come unto me,” might well brand Jesus of Nazareth a pedophile in this Capitalist-Christian world of 2008.

The supermarket rule, “no naked photos on our cakes” is likely a ruling from the high and mighty Walton family themselves. A blanket law. Understandable, if I took a photo of myself in the buff, lying on a rug with my butt in the air. A silver star might certainly then be appropriate. Unless, of course, I was five months old, and not sixty-two.

But, after all, why condone any exception? Rules are rules and Heaven forbid the sales staff be given an opportunity to think – make decisions – for themselves, even those based on common sense. Blanket rules, blanket laws, allow no leeway in our victim societies. Corporate America, Corporate Europe, are in control. By keeping us in fear of each other they can manipulate us whichever way they desire.

And are we, the people, not our own worst enemies? We happily allow them to convince us that, above all, we must live in fear of each other.


^{[1] “Asda refuse to print baby snap…..because he’s naked”, Daily Mail, June 25th 2008}

Filed under: Bottoms up

Posted under Sparrow Chat

……’cos you have to be asleep to believe it.” ~ George Carlin

They all laughed at your comedy, George, but no-one ever listened.

R.I.P.

Filed under: George Carlin 1937 – 2008

Posted under Sparrow Chat