Thought’s on World Issues – Page 9

June 12, 2010January 25, 2013

Time for green

With the BP oil disaster being in the headlines and the gulf being filled with oil that green and renewable energy sources is the most important issue for the present governments of the world.
Such oil spills are ecological nightmares. So many sea creatures and sea plants are effected. I know in the modern world we live in we rely on oil and the products derived from oil quite heavily but we need newer and more sustainable sources of energy. We have the technology to explore mars and build the international space station but yet we still cant find a way to replace our dependency on oil. Seems we could either improve the efficiency of solar panels and other green technologies along with lowering their cost to make them a bit more affordable. At least the car companies are trying to go somewhat green though i still doubt they are putting as much effort as they should into the idea.

The time is now President Obama, Be the Green President and show the world that the united states once again can lead the way into the future. Just think if our country invested into green renewable energies and was able to break our dependency on foreign oil, how much money would stay here in the country and help our economy and job market. It is really a win win situation for us though the middle east oil tycoons may feel a little pain in their bank accounts but what the heck they have enough money already. Lets put hydro-generators on every river, solar panels on every roof and wind turbines where the wind blows. Keep pushing the auto industry to make more efficient and green vehicles. Invest in green technology and the science behind it so our children and the generations to follow can once again be proud to be an American.

June 12, 2010January 25, 2013

Whale Hunting

Whales, Such majestic sea creatures are still hunted for so called research by Japanese fisherman in the Antarctic. Even the protected hump back whale is a target of their deadly harpoon. What kind of research would require so many whales to be slaughtered I ask. Why don’t the governments that help enact the ban on killing of hump back whales do anything about this? I guess they don’t due to some economical or political reason.

The only thing us ordinary people can do in order to send a message to Japan is to boycott all Japanese products. if we stop buying Japanese products it will hit them where it hurts. And for those out there with resources and the guts to do something more along the activist end you could always join Greenpeace or the Sea Sheppards (The folks from whale wars on animal planet).

It is such a shame that such a technological advanced world as ours allows such a terrible and brutal practice such as whale hunting to continue.

June 3, 2010January 25, 2013

Rambling on about Cataclysms

Why is it we seem to be self focused? The world according to ourselves is what matters it seems. We long for compassion and understanding but rarely show either to our fellow humans. Sadly most humans would loose their sense of morality if a great cataclysm where to befall our world. Though a few would still stand above the masses and be compassionate and or humane. Seems Society is only civilized in times of peace and normalcy. If food grows short or water supplies then we tend to go into survival mode and ignore the needs of others and look out only for ourselves and our loved ones.

Katrina in New Orleans showed both the dark side and the good side of mankind. Looting, hording and scamming happened but so did community co-operation along with some compassion towards each other. I guess their is hope for mankind in the end but there would be a struggle between the selfish power mongers and the compassionate community minded peoples. Lets just pray that the better qualities of mankind will prevail if a cataclysmic event were to befall our world.

Though I may come off a bit uncertain I really am optimistic about mankind and our ability to rise to the occasion when needed. My biggest worry is that if something cataclysmic were to happen we would have no type of authority and or infrastructure to sustain the population and we would see mass starvation and chaos. Our governments are not even close to being prepared for food shortages or severe droughts. I believe local governments should have plans for such emergencies along with state and federal government. Its the Citizens of the nations that financially support the governments and provide the labor to manufacture goods along with grow/raise the food. So the government should be looking out for the citizens well being.

I also think each and every one of us also should be prepared for possible emergency situations by keeping water and extra dry goods and non perishables. Also would be a good idea to keep what medical supplies you can purchase on hand too. Though I am a pacifist i might go as far to say make sure you have a few weapons to protect you and your family. In times of crisis there always a few people who may want to hurt others.

Well Enough Said For Now

Peace to all

April 28, 2010May 17, 2010

They work for us

The air is full of chill and yet spring has arrived. The news people are jabbering about politics as usual,
debating the next bill that will either save the day or bring us doom. Republicans claiming democrats spend
more when they all spend money that isn’t really theirs. They work for us down on main street but seem to serve
the big corporations and greed. When a congressman/woman makes more in one year then allot of us do in a lifetime
there seems to be something wrong. Why is it only a select few live high and clear of poverty and have great health
care plans while those who do the hard work seem to do without or pay high costs to have health care? Living on
minimum wage is impossible if you have to pay bills and eat. I know life isn’t meant to be fair but it should be a bit
less unbalanced. I believe healthcare should be affordable to the poverty class and so should food. And far as welfare
and food stamps its next to impossible to get them if you have a job and are trying to better yourself.

Do not get me wrong the Aid available for those in need is a good system though i see allot of abuse of it and allot of
people struggling to get by just because the work a job that may give them a few too many hours work to qualify for
help. Luckily at this time in my life i am not in need of such benefits other than it would be nice to have a health card or
something since i am only part time at my job and the insurance we can get is only accidental not health or dental.

Well until the next post
Peace

February 26, 2009May 17, 2010

Consumerism or Self Preservationist?

Times are changing and probably not for the better, it is time for all Americans to get back to basics. We need to follow our grandparents and great grandparents examples on self reliance. Almost every family back in the day had a garden of some kind and many of them raised chickens and other small farm animals to supplement their food supply. Now days we just run to the local supermarket or fast food restaurant for our daily meals. Which that’s all fine and dandy when your in a booming economy but when times get tough it is not quite the best way to live. There are so many of us if our food supply were to be interrupted or our electric/gas supply we would starve and freeze etc… Fewer homes contain a alternative heating or cooking source and most families have less than a week supply of food on hand.

This leaves most of us in dire straits when a emergency arrives. Besides that fact the cost of food is rising exponentially and growing your own food is a far more nutritious and economical choice. Good news is that most Americans are already waking up to that reality and we as a nation are slowly moving away from total consumption mindedness to a more self preservation mind set. Last but not least we also are starting to enjoy the more simple things in life that by the way are usually free if not quite inexpensive.

Until Next Time

Peace and God Bless

Raymond Barbier

February 26, 2009

Bail out the banks but forget the People

Seems it always comes down to the fact We the People is referring to the big business and politicians of our wonderful country. And i am not sure if it is our lack of judgment on who we elect to represent us or the fact that the majority of politicians are just plain liars, but the poor and middle class always seem to get the short end of the stick every time. So far President Obama is keeping most of his promises and is helping the middle class and below.

And like usual the Republicans are opposing every effort made by a Democrat President , which the Democrats are guilty of doing the same in the past also.
The Bi-Partisan ideal is a good one but is unlikely to happen in our lifetime unfortunately. Their own party is far more important to them than the people they represent. Neither side can argue they are innocent of that, and until they realize it is the people that elected them that is their main priority we will always be the last thing on their elected little minds.

Now do not get me wrong, I am all for the multi party system and how the electoral system works , just i am not too impressed with the results of it at this time. I just wish they would stop playing their games and get down to fixing the problems at hand here in the United States. Until then I guess the CEO’s of large banks and corporations will have nice paychecks paid by the tax dollars of the middleclass and poor. Sometimes I wonder if they would have gave each American the bail out money if it would have stimulated the economy better. Just think we all could have paid all our debt off which in turn would have gave banks money to loan and we could have spent some on products that would have stimulated the economy. Oh well I am no Economist so maybe that would have failed to work but sure sounds better to this below middleclass man.

Peace to all and God Bless

Raymond Barbier

February 25, 2009

Healthcare in The United States

Seems we are one of the very few nations to deprive basic healthcare to our citizens. With our complex and high priced healthcare system only those who are wealthy can afford decent healthcare. A average person working for close to the minimum wage either has a Insurance package from their employers that is more of a discount card than insurance or they are without coverage at all. President Obama’s plan may cover the children but leave the parents of those children in a real bind. If the parents are sick and or die who is left to care for the children is what I ask.

Another issue is Dental, Have you ever looked for dental insurance? If so you know that is basically non existent.
And seems Obama overlooks the great importance oral hygiene and health is to the rest of the human body. There is some research that states that bad oral health is linked to bad cardiovascular health. But the basic ability to properly digest food and the infectious nature of poor oral health is the main issue. Our insurance system and health system in the USA is really in need of a overhaul.

The Problem is well known, the solution is yet to be found, It is going to have to be Federal,State and Healthcare system combined effort to make a viable solution.

September 21, 2007

Ramblings on Religion

Religious Prejudice is nothing more than the fear of something we do not understand and the hate of anything that is not like ourselves. In a country such as the united states that as founded on the principle of freedom of religion it sad to see such religious prejudice. Our ancestors fled to America to get away from the countries that wouldn’t allow them to worship in the way they wanted. Religion is a personal choice and right, no other human has a right to say another must believe as they do.

No I am not saying it is wrong to go out and teach what you believe, just that you must respect those who do not believe the same as you do. And I still can not see how anyone could say their religion gives them the right to go out and kill others because they believe different. Most religions tell them to love one another and be compassionate if not to at least be tolerant of others.

I guess it is easy to interpret holy scriptures to help your cause. There have been many in almost every religion who have. But for some reason man always misses the main point that their religions make and that is to be like brothers, love one another and live in peace. Judgement is for the creator to do in the end time, and not for us to do.

September 15, 2007September 15, 2007

The world of today

The sun rises and our eyes open to see a world full of color and light. The birds sing their songs and we hear the sounds of life all around us. That moment happens so quickly and then is gone. We fade back into our humanistic perception of time and space and leave the wonders of the world behind. We journey out into the day only focused on the world of man and not on the world man really lives in. While so called scientists debate if mankind has played a part in our present ecological dilemma the world is slowly changing and is becoming a hostile place.

I think the scientist got the wrong question far as who or what caused the climate changes is not as important as how do we help slow the process if not reverse it. This world is not just ours it belongs to every animal and plant that is here with us, but we are the only animals capable of either destroying it or saving it. The choice is ours to make and we better make it fast because I believe the point of no return is at hand.

Though there are allot of people becoming green and even a few governments are starting to wake up, this issue needs to be addressed globally and soon. Unfortunately the world is also dealing with conflict in the middle east and terrorism across the globe which is not only distracting all of the world from the current ecological dilemma but it is also consuming the money and manpower that could be working towards repairing our home called earth.

Just maybe if we could be mature enough to get over our religious differences and look beyond oil revenues we could actually get together and make this world a better place. But it seems mankind is still full of the things that almost all religions warn man to avoid. Greed,Lust,Envy,Hatred,Pride and the rest of the plagues of being human still exist strong in what we like to call modern society. So if the earth doesn’t die on us we will eventually do ourselves in if we do not face the issues at hand both with and in our world.

July 11, 2007

The people vs. The Bush Administration.

It is no surprise that the current administration in Washington D.C. is not paying much attention to the cries coming from the American people. It seems that the working class which makes up the majority or the citizens in the U.S. are being either ignored or put aside. Between the businesses outsourcing to other countries and the lack of true regulation on healthcare and insurance , the working class person is under fire. Seems big business and major industry is the only concern in Washington until election time when allot of empty promises are made only to be forgotten or broken later.

This current administration seems to be determined to keep us at war and take away rights with the patriot act. Though the patriot act may make it easier to track and watch terrorists it also removes a few rights of Americans. Far as the weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Bush did not know nor did the C.I.A. if Iraq did or didn’t have any yet. They were just taking a gamble in order to get support and funding for the war effort spawned by bush and his administration. Yes, Suddam may have had or was in the process of trying to obtain WMD’s but we didn’t have a shred of evidence.

So misinformation, Smoke and mirrors plays a big part in the current administration. Terrorism is a real threat to not only the U.S. but to the whole world. I just want to know where are all the U.N. peacekeepers and N.A.T.O. Boys in Iraq? If this world is supposed to be so concerned with the outcome in Iraq then why isn’t their more countries helping the Iraq government to get established and secure. Iraq’s present condition may be a result of the U.S. invasion but the insurgence is also a big reason why it has grown so dire.

So hard to say bring the troops home out of Iraq and leave the Iraqis
to the slaughter. So hard to say stay in Iraq and watch our soldiers die one by one. It is a very complicated issue for sure. And I wonder if when will we pull out of Afghanistan. You do not hear much on Afghanistan in the news and you never hear any politician say lets bring them home from Afghanistan, at least I haven’t yet.

There has to be a solution to the middle east issue and I am pretty sure it should not only be a U.S. problem. It should be a problem for the whole world to face and solve. For what happens in Iraq will effect not only the middle east but the whole world.