Category: Ethics
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Season of goodwill
As the Sun sits ever lower in the sky, and somewhere (far away from anywhere I’m likely to be) the gods of commercialmas receive the blessings of their frantic acolytes, Yule approaches. The Yule tree is up. Outside, a far more impressive holly is full of bright red berries, suggesting a hard winter ahead, but…
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Losing Control
In these days of everything online, electronic banking and identity theft, why is the largest social media organisation in the world requiring teenagers and young adults to send photographs of their passports and birth certificates over unsecured email? The “Real Name” fiasco still under way at Facebook has caused consternation in many areas. People who…
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What’s in a name?
So, this story blew up and then apparently blew out, but perhaps not really. Another (in fact, now, at least two) of my friends on Facebook has had her account suspended because she has an odd (but legal) name. It seems the account will be offline until she provides clear and irrefutable proof that she…
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Seeking Peace, Finding War
One hundred years ago, come Monday night, Britain joined the dance of chaos that was sweeping across the lands. As, on my computer screen, I view third hand and yet freshly made images of terror and destruction, of mutilated people and broken cities, I wonder that I am so unscathed and wonder too how “the war…
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Killing Cock Robin
Back in 2004, at about this time of year, there was a small killing spree at a garden centre down the road from me that even made national news. In creating a new and fancier eatery in a refurbished outlet, Wyevale decided the rather friendly robins, who had taken to sharing the crumbs that were…
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Dog Pinch Collars
An open letter to my MP, Professor Steve Webb. Hi Steve Not a petition this time, just a plain ol’ constituent’s letter. 🙂 I’m not a ‘doggie’ person. In fact beyond the fish tank in the dining room and the chickens in the garden I’ve not a lot of time for animals as such. Nevertheless,…
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NOMBI
So, I drive my car with gentle foot, to eke out precious fuel And the central heating thermostat is turned down as a rule The solar roof is waiting for the Sun to top the hills But I’m more concerned today about the chance of toxic spills — Yes it’s true I am a hypocrite…
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Where’s the (New Year) Honour?
I’m torn between being utterly depressed at the whole dreadful concept of the Honours system, and of course being once more miffed that I still don’t have that OBE… heh. But once one gets past the foam slopping about on the top of the published list – ooh, look, that wonderful old actor, so deserving……
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Cragside, Northumberland
Cragside is a National Trust estate, massive is size and full of wonderful stuff. The first house to be powered by hydroelectricity and we were so pushed for time we didn’t even visit the house. We did happen on this fellow though, in the extensive woodland. It pains me that we’re seriously considering, after twenty…
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Peace One Day for Druids
Tomorrow is Peace One Day day. If you’ve not come across it, POD was established at the end of the last century by an actor and film-maker, Jeremy Gilley, who called for a day of peace, of ceasefire and non-violence. Just one, not much to ask, eh? In 2001 it was adopted by the UN…
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