On the edge of Western India, a lunar landscape glistens under the midday sun. There are no signs of life, only the muffled sound of crushed salt crystals under the feet of gobsmacked tourists. The Rann of Kutch is a seasonal salt marsh, and is the land of the Agariya people, who have lived here for […]
World
- Climate Change
- ...
“I Accuse…” – Questioning Our Parliaments On Climate Change
In September 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) produced a concise document explaining to all governments the necessary measures to combat climate change – assuming, of course, that the governments do believe in climate change. I don’t know whether I was more impressed by the sheer brilliance of Montagne’s rant than […]
Returning Jihadists Should Be Tried For Crimes Against Humanity
Shamima Begum deserves, like all Jihadists, not a criminal court hidden somewhere in the centre of London, but one that reflects the universality of the crimes she supports. Europe faces a problem not only with migrants from worn-torn Islamic countries, but with returning Jihadists who, technically at least, are still European citizens. It’s an […]
Charlie’s Angel – Zineb El Rhazoui And The Fight Against Fundamentalist Islam
Zineb El Rhazoui’s views on the problems that we face, concerning the effects of religion on society, are very close to my own. Namely, it is the interpretation and application of written texts and superstitions as a political doctrine that cause problems. For the former journalist at Charlie Hebdo, even a recipe book can […]
The Morality Of Western Arms Sales – From Argentinian Tango’s To Arabian Nights
The morality of Europe’s foreign policy is not as one might hope. The UK was making profits from selling arms to Israel, whilst Tony Blair was being paid by Arabs to ensure that there is peace in the region. It doesn’t sound quite right, does it. In 2017, former UK prime minister Tony […]
Heat And The Willows – Stressing Your Local Oak Tree
And just as the Brits thought that, after Brexit, cooperation with the EU over the environment didn’t concern them anymore. With temperatures soaring in the high thirties, forest fires raging left, right, and centre, this is really not the time to start acting as a bully in the classroom. It’s time to forget about perceived […]
Theresa May Is Undermining Citizens’ Rights
During her recent visit to China, Theresa May has trampled on EU citizens’ rights, as well as evading the question of human rights in China. She has hardly the time to recover from jet-lag, before playing host to Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, world champion in human rights. Does Theresa May really believe in […]
I Won’t Cry For You, Sally Jones
The death of UK-born Isis recruiter, Sally Jones, may be considered regrettable for one reason only. Had she been captured, she may have given us valuable information concerning the methods used in the recruitment of terrorists. Under the circumstances, though, her death could not have been avoided. So far as her son is concerned, one […]
El Mismo Sol: Ordinary Lives In Peru
(Posted 02/17) A second international arrest warrant has been ordered for the former Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo amidst allegations that he received up to $20m in bribes from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht. The former president would, in return, have granted a lucrative contract to build a transoceanic highway between Brazil and the Peruvian […]
- Science
- ...
Pennies From Heaven – Trump Turns His Back On Humanity And Reason
In order to fulfil my solemn duty to protect America and its citizens, the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord… – Donald Trump, June 2017 And every time it rains, it rains, pennies from heaven Don’t you know each cloud contains pennies from heaven You’ll find your fortune fallin’ all over […]