Desperately poor, most Burmese suffered from severe imposts over many years.

The natural resources of the country have also been methodically stripped thanks, in part, to conniving vested interests some of whom are the biggest oil companies, timber  and mineral merchants from a variety of countries. As they also fostered selfish interest they showed little interest about the plight of the Burmese or the brutality of the military rulers.

It is time for meaningful change – not a regurgitation of the old regime “in drag”.

Here is my very active Stumble site and I make no apology for a very determined effort to try to make environmentally acceptable things happen.

I welcome your input friends.

It is clear that Iran has popular deep dissent among its most educated nationals.

Sadly, the “old guard”, bereft of real enlightenment and answers, seems intent on leading Iran into direct confrontation with much of the free World.

Iran’s religious bigots with their complete intolerance to the thinking of much of the World is clearly cementing its position. This hard line attitude could well lead to a World War where there will be no “winners”. The crazed religious attitude of these zealots would see their demise as some great fulfillment as they drag the World into violence and destruction.

Here is hoping the Iran’s reformists can gather enough strength to overthrow the current war mongering Iran leadership.

Imagine for one moment the sheer magnitude of the task. He inherited stifling debt, a series of festering wars, a banking and financial crisis, an industrial base poorly advised by past leadership…….. and so on. The list goes on and on.

Added to that we have a whole World order that is completely astray.

The very foundations of society are indeed upon shifting sands.

It is time to rally to encourage and support enlightened moves.

Yet more proof that Bush was a complete incompetent – his rotten legacy to the World and future generations is disastrous.
At a time when the United States could have led the World in an enlightened way we saw Bush twist and squirm to distort the truth. It has meant the momentum of destruction has been carried forward and will take much longer to be arrested.

The question must now be is restorative action  likely to be too late?
What a record George Bush -  you and your cohorts should hang your heads in shame!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7960534.stm

I feel proud to be a Kiwi!
It was our Government that sent a protest naval vessel to be a thorn in the side of the  remiss French authorities who were intent on nuclear tests in the Pacific.
It was our Prime Minister the late Rt Hon Norman Kirk who stood against French bullying.
It was New Zealand who captured the French saboteurs who sank the Greenpeace MV Rainbow Warrior in our harbour.
New Zealand stood tall when threatened by the French who chose to use our trade as a weapon.
I am proud to stand tall as a Kiwi.
We may be a small isolated country but we can stand proud on our record.

I think of the poor kids who can expect nothing except more abuse and pain, of parents denying themselves in order to feed their young, etc. On the other hand I can think of so many who will live in lavish fashion with not a thought for anyone else.

We have tended, collectively, to have selective concerns!

It seems to be more than an ounce of  justice that many of those gorging to excess will endup shortening their lives through their excesses. Sure we should enjoy the festive season but perhaps more of us could better recognise the unfortunates of this World.

Child victim

Sadly mankind seldom learns from his mistakes and he repeats them!

Today most of the young would not know of the holocaust, the nuclear incineration of hundreds of people or the effects of radiation on so many after accidents and it begs the question “how can they ensure history doesn’t repeat itself as it tends to do?”

What future the poor infant above ?  Has the poor soul survived? If so, what sort of lifestyle? Who “out there” really cares?

Unpleasant it may be but we have to be reminded of past events in order to prevent, as much as possible, any such repeat of past tragedy.

Least we forget. Lest we forget!

]]> http://bs1999bs.wordpress.com/2008/12/08/lest-we-forget-history/feed/ 0 bs1999bs Child victim http://bs1999bs.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/is-australia-now-softening-its-whaling-opposition/ http://bs1999bs.wordpress.com/2008/11/21/is-australia-now-softening-its-whaling-opposition/#comments Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:22:24 +0000 bs1999bs http://bs1999bs.wordpress.com/?p=371 ]]>

After a great start to a new regime Australia’s Rudd Government appears to be backing away from directly confronting Japan on the whaling issue.

The fight in the Southern oceans has now largely been left to the stalwarts of Sea Shepherd and sadly, if recent news items are correct, the Australian Government is not only refraining from direct involvement it is now creating problems for Sea Shepherd through stalling processes. That is clear evidence that the Australian Government is capitulating to the Japanese!

Japan has cheated, bullied, ignored and acted cavalier throughtout the years to gain its way now we are finding even the Australian authorities “running-up” the white flag in essence.

This will leave Sea Shepherd in an impossible situation and I ask Prime Minister Rudd to show some fortitude in these vitally important times.

The Australians were never ones to “shy away” from fighting for what is right – why should that change now?

Our wonderful World

The World is suffering a big dose of indigestion – no question, and this from years of watching bloated companies, executives and captains of industry feeding excessively on the rich pickings at their disposal.
Here in New Zealand, this week, we saw one of the leading electrical power generators receiving a proverbial roasting as its directors sought yet another massive pay increase. Many of this company’s clients are elderly and poor labouring under ever-increasing power charges. The public are now fighting back – bravo!
It is greed that got us collectively into this mess and we all too must share some of the blame. We sought the consumer products in a lavish way, we wasted, we abused our environment, we paid lip-service to the destitute of this World, we uttered platitudes but didn’t really want to change our very comfortable ways – now we are paying the price.
For years our increasingly wrecked environment has been ignored, as have social injustices round the World, as has the plight of so many poor children. We ate, we supped, we partied and we even voted for politicians who lied and led us completely astray.
Our present collective pain maybe is what we have to endure to initiate the makings of a more sustainable future. If we can achieve that I hear the young all singing in chorus – amen.