The Art of Discussion and Communication

Communication between two people indeed conveys much more than the words, it is a total experience or tone, eyes, facial expression (perhaps even complexion) posture and the total perception of the body language … Yes tone and the attention you give to the other party through your focus are not only key indicators of communication, but also the depth of your attention. If you respect the other party try involving your feelings, then you start to create a real relationship … from then on, from my experience anything is possible.

We need to invest in the discussion … and then we will have a commitment to a practical outcome,  as well as the right attitude is something I have spoken of before …. if you believe that a positive outcome will make a difference in people’s lives then you will fight with your every breath to make it so.

When I am in a meeting, I also have some insight to what is going on below the surface … but truly if you are in a discussion with someone, surely the best place to start is to understand the needs of others; what is important to the other party … as essentially this gives you a starting point .. well really an end point to know why they are in this room with you … a lot of these also comes in through the other senses in the form of cues, particularly in their response to you … that is why when I am in a meeting … I like to watch how the parties respond, I sometimes receive much more insights by this observation, than by listening to their words.

But first things first, you need to go into any meeting, any discussion in good faith that you actually want to achieve a positive outcome, not to merely take up time. I was born in Asia, when my Dad was working there. Discussion there is a true art form, it can be overly polite go on forever and decide nothing, sounds a bit like Statesmanship … which to me seems all about taking days to purposefully achieve nothing, but to say gee we have tried to achieve an understanding, when there was no intent to do this in the first place. Again these sorts of flawed strategies are there to give a perception of doing something, when there never was any intent in the first place of reaching an understanding -  you know how it looks and not how it actually is – well back to politics again.

Perhaps if we start with the point when you know what others want, what is mission critical to them, by being truthful and open (now there’s a new idea) and say, OK .. I know that this is what you want, I cannot give you that, but I can go part way there and give you this – then if the other party perceives you are being truthful as you have already built up a relationship a positive outcome, which may only be partly what each sides want will occur, it’s called a compromise … works better than brinkmanship.

Being open and approachable has always worked for me, I suggest you focus, take your ego out of gear (or at least control it), engage your feelings, and relate to the other party and seek to understand why they are talking to you, that way you will understand what it is they really want, not only what it is they say they want.

I sincerely hope you are right about Peace … peace would bring Creativity, Collaboration, Community, Co-operation, Conservation, Co-Existence, Communication & Compassion and perhaps even a meeting of the minds to establish common goals and dreams … lots of powerfully good words start with C … unfortunately a negative one as well … control .. a favourite of Governments and bureaucracies around the world.

We just need to communicate with each other and through co-operation make some decisions about what we want to create in our future … and set about changing things that don’t fit with the new paradigm we envisage.

Peace is possible

If this comment irritates some, spur them into action, perhaps even deep penetrating thought instead of some predictable knee jerk response, then I believe it will have done its job.

I think peace is possible, but first we must ask what sort of peace …. but for the right kind of peace, much within us has to change. But think of how better life would be worldwide if we created instead of taking the easy way to destroy.

I look at the mess we are in, and I wonder will there ever be change short of a peaceful revolution, but even that would be misdirected, because the real problem with our society is that we value the wrong things – for me the only way we can change the future is to change what we teach our children to value. I cannot see any long-term change until we start to do this … how about we start with the basic principle of Socrates http://bit.ly/qW3zgk , further let’s look at Gandhi 7 dangers to Human Virtue http://bit.ly/mOZAoS  we as a world, don’t comply with one item on either list .. Robert Louis Stevenson said “Everybody, sooner or later, sits down to a banquet of consequences” – I think we will choke when our time comes, as it inevitably will.

Countries make friends and reach understanding when they start to Trade, in other words when they form relationships, we need to seek to understand others.  A dream of mine is why not lets all of us, reach out to someone more often as not to make a new friend … pretty soon the whole world would be a friend or a friend of a friend, then we would have an understanding and perhaps the start on the road to peace. Once we can relate to another person, regardless of their race, creed, religion, place as a person. Then perhaps we will have some insight to see the world through their eyes, then and only then will the world begin to change.

By and large our leaders (poor choice of words I know) have no values or moral operating compass. Change will only come about by the will of the most, to force our servants (???), the politicians to listen. We do however have the “Leadership” we deserve, due to our apathy. The trouble with Politicians, they are expedient in their thinking, something that breeds, amoral thinking. I have never thought that Politicians were worth much, as real people, most aren’t, they are weak, morally bankrupt, corrupt, or just not to bright – but you shout to me “they are bright” well if that is true and this is the best they can do … goodness I can only lament for the future of the human race, as we really are participants in our own destruction.

Currently we have few options as the same current flawed thinking exists of both sides of the electoral ballot paper. So what is our response? Systemic change is needed, how do you think we should move forward?  There is nothing wrong with change as it has always has been the only constant, but change must be for the better, not just change for its own sake.

Sustainable systemic Change that improves the lives long-term for of all of humanity is good, change or revolution for its own sake will not work, as violence just breeds violence. Then we have anarchy, and dark times for all.

Mind you non-violence worked for Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr … perhaps it will work again for us, for humanity. The establishment will try desperately to maintain control until that fateful moment, when perhaps a Policeman or a credible person, says no, then change will happen and it will come in a heartbeat.

Whilst the Euro zone is heading for the biggest financial correction in history, some of the ideology behind it is admirable, perhaps we should apply it to the whole of humanity, where everyone has an equal voice, and no one has a veto. This is why the UN doesn’t work.

Perhaps we should follow those profound words in the US Constitution … “All men (and women of course) are created equal …” these are admirable thoughts which I thoroughly agree with,  but to me some men seem more equal than others … what’s with that by the way ?

The only time we seem to pull together as a species when it is a global threat, then when we all have our backs to the wall, side by side, when we are there very soon, look around and you will see that the enemy, as we are the enemy.

Everyone knows, or should know that Politicians and vested interests are there to stay in power to perpetuate the now or as President Ronald Reagan said “Status quo, you know, is Latin for ‘the mess we’re in”

Further, we don’t learn from history, everything we are doing now, has been done before, recently, the Nazi’s, Pol Pot and the killing fields of Cambodia,  the British Empire, Serbia, Israel, Palestine, NATO, the Friends alliance in Afghanistan no doubt more to come plus innumerable others I have not mentioned, took the decision to kills millions of people for only one reason (labels), because they were different, they thought differently, they believed in something different, it happened yesterday in Nigeria because of flawed fundamentalism – no loving God believes in killing. By and large these forces of death should no longer exist, but we now have new evils, Washington / NATO, and the military industrial machine, that need wars and death so they can survive and pay dividends in more death, so they are really no different from what has come before … they kill innocents and spin it as acceptable collateral damage … they kill, using drones, piloted by some x-box toting functionary 1000 of miles away. Really does Washington, London and Brussels think that they are immune from the consequences of their actions, because if they do, get real, look outside at the world you are creating as a result of your beliefs and you attitudes. I really believe that these evil doers believe it doesn’t apply to them. We have to stop thinking that the end-game for any negotiation where we don’t get our way is to pick up a gun.

As Noam Chomsky said  “Everyone’s worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there’s really an easy way: Stop participating in it”

Truly, I think that the leadership of the world needs a true shakeup, as we transition from the decaying structures and failing systems – We will have to do more with less, and in my view I believe the world would be in far safer hands if we were led  by the feminine of the species, women, but by women I don’t mean testosterone in a skirt …

I truly wonder if the human race will ever grow up, to me we still act as young children at playtime recess.  One day Gaea may  decide enough is enough, let’s be done with this flawed experiment that is the human race and try again … but then she has all the time in the world, whilst we do not.

News Limited – Daily

I know that it is the essence of business to explore every option, but this niche opportunity that News is exploring to me verges on wishful thinking.

With the introduction of a new product for a very limited closed product market, namely for the Apple iPad. A very niche market … So what happens when a new hardware tablet is produced, a new “Daily” ?

A brave new venture to say the least, in my humble opinion the likelihood of payback and ultimate success is remote, when there is so much other content out there (all accessible via RSS and free),as well it harks back to the old media mentality of a closed channel for information. This is not how it works, and it is not viable to think that way anymore. Nor are pay walls … but that is seriously another discussion about flawed market strategies and tactics altogether.

In their favour News Limited / Fox will be able to provide a very wide and diverse content from news, comments and media content, but will that be enough, my view is that you cannot transpose old media structure on the internet, its about time that Fox and News Limited actually woke up to this. The internet is not about closed systems., something also which Facebook will learn, if it doesn’t evolve.

Concerning the future, if there is one, The Daily itself, will News have control over content –  or will Apple have some say ? Is it going to be skewed or politically biased like other News Limited content ? Also advertising on a subscription service will be needed to create long term viability –  would you pay for a subscription and at the same time be bombarded with advertising ?  Or turn it around, offer the subscription to the magazine without Adverts or no subscription with adverts… and why only for the iPad .. ?

The only good things that I see here is that News is doing it at all – it will have to evolve or die (after MySpace and their fiddling and controls .. what of this ? ) the thing that is innovative about this new venture, is that a subscription service actually exists to provide content under the Apple iTunes / Apps store, now that is a a new horizon to explore.  Good luck with that.

Rothschilds – another non-sustainable business model

Inspired by an article by Jesse Riseborough and Simon Casey

NATHANIEL Rothschild’s the future 5th Baron Rothschild says he now plans to build one of the world’s largest coal producers.

A member of the Rothschild lineage that helped bankroll Britain’s war against Napoleon, he is leading a $USD 3 billion ($A3.12 billion) takeover that will create the biggest exporter of coal to China

So what do you think the motivation of this is … perhaps greed and control …. by suggesting he could corner the control of the coal exports to China …. when China’s apparent strategy is to use all the worlds coal before they have to touch their own ….  because its cheaper …. and makes excellent strategy … because then they will have the option to burn their own coal totally within their own borders … and so much for the worlds need to reduce burning of fossil fuels.

Most Indonesian coal (there are exceptions… yes but few) is generally not preferred for China in any case due to its high water content –  so what is the real strategy behind this …?  perhaps it is to subtly ( though there is nothing subtle about this) apply pressure to China to just suggest that he can for another advantage or have China as a partner in this venture .. mind you I work in commodities … I think he has a snowballs chance in hell of ultimate success .. going up against a sovereign state in this fashion with their essentially unlimited balance sheet –  but as I said … perhaps this is the opening gambit, and this is merely a vehicle for another strategy, yet to be revealed.

If China even considers such a block possible, does he really think that China will let someone outside of China control –  where importing coal is seen by China as part of an overall strategy … people have to stop thinking that China thinks as we do … they don’t …. their vision runs in decades not our baby steps, in other words the next 3–12 months where most of the western world seems to reside.

If we continue down this road, China will have the last laugh …. they are using our greed and lust for money to win this particular battle … and the war … (as they see it) … please wake up and understand.

If this article is true, I would be surprised, as I really would have thought that the 39 year old Nathaniel Rothschild would have come up with a more innovative and technologically savvy strategy … such as control of essential earth minerals … necessary for us in today electronics or perhaps tomorrows energy sources or perhaps research into a sustainable way to make hydrogen .. which could provide a portable essentially non-polluting power source from fuel cells …. but no … with this dated  coal strategy which would have been innovative 50–100 years ago .. I so don’t think so –  as it has so little vision and is so passe’  ….. do get with it mate, remember what century you are in.

Tags: Rothschild+strategy+is+dated

Google – was it Hubris or Hype ?

Google Vice President, Linus Upson, recently told The New York Times that when (?) the Chrome OS deploys, some 60% of all businesses could get rid of Windows for good and switch to Chrome overnight.

I think this article below gives a balanced look and asks some pertinent questions about this revelation which seems to be full of hype about the second coming.

If the following report here from Renee Oricchio is any indication –

I think that Google has a problem. It’s called arrogance! or in this case one might even be called hubris, for your information this word is defined as “ being out of touch with reality and overestimating one’s own competence or capabilities ”

If you don’t believe arrogance can fell an empire, just go back and study World War I. or for a more recent cautionary tale, look at Wall Street over the past couple of years and the resulting Global Financial meltdown.

I regard Google as a very good resource, however the idea of cloud computing from a risk management point of view is a nightmare waiting to happen …. cloud storage as part of a strategy yes, but as a end in itself, no thanks definitely not at the moment.  There are way too many points of failure within the access path and when there is a failure within the network or with Google, what exactly would you have left of your business ?

Tags: google, google+and+hubris

The Australian Greens Party

Firstly from the Paul Sheehan article here

The Greens names does not properly describe their brand. There are not enough letters of the alphabet to encompass the brand differences between the Green brand and the reality of what this party is perpetrating on the electorate. It is simply not a party preoccupied with the environment.

My thought would be to re-brand their culture something along the lines of their points on their own statements about governance .  Perhaps a more appropriate name might be “Green Labor” or perhaps “Green dreams” or ?

Mind you they are politicians, all of them from all parties, and we all know we really cannot believe a word they say, as 5 minutes later they would have gone in a totally different direction and be equally vehement about their new position, also did I mention that they also have conveniently short memories.

Check out their website and their policies to see how far away they are from your thinking ….. their ranting’s  frankly scare me … but I am just one ……  see if I am still one after you have read them.

Tags: Greens+Party, don’t assume

Gulf of Mexico

A sea turtle is mired in oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on Grand Terre Island, Louisiana June 8, 2010. (REUTERS/Lee Celano)

From the Bostpn Globe, here is the link to over 40 other pictures taken during the disaster… we all did this .. because of our dependance on oil, hopefully some good will come out of this… and from where I stand, it could only be we need to invest in fully sustainable renewable sources of energy … many countries are …. we all need to get on board,

Election Outcome in Australia

The Australian people have spoken… a truly great response…

The Federal election result may not be clear for another week or so. We are in a moment of hiatus… with the government of yesterday without a majority –  Labor cannot rule in their own right,… however if Labor can win 73 seats, the same number as the Coalition, Gillard (Labor) most likely would form a minority government –  however I am sure the coalition is working with the same action plan.

What is also very clear is that Australian people got it right: neither Labor nor the Coalition deserve to govern in their own right.

The real winners in the election are the Australian people, as with a minority government –  whoever gets in power as with the recent election in the UK… they have to share power and by this, they have to be accountable not only to the Australian people, but to other people who are not controlled by the respective party machines.

We need to bear in mind that the actuality of a minority government of either variety will be good for Australia or even operationally possible is another matter. In my view those who argue minority government will work well might be right, but personally I cannot see how such a fantasy can work in the real world, there will always come a time, when something important to one side will break or severely damage the relationship, and then we end up with no effective government… but whatever happens, whoever forms the next government, no one has a mandate to rule.

The problem, the campaign has been dominated by the lowest common denominator .. all negatives… we had no statesman like approach to this election or to governing the country.  Wouldn’t it be great if we could take a politician to the Federal Court and accuse them of fraud, when they say something before an election, and then do not go through with it… good thing actually it would make people face up to the truth, and hopefully act in an ethical and honourable manner… instead of lies, spin and expediency.

However one thing that has come out of this election is that the former Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, this campaign’s tragic figure is now politically dead and buried. I wonder if he will have the good grace to remove himself… in my view, it maybe that the only reason he appeared to support Labor in the later period of the election campaign was that he had done a deal… his future is now less certain.

Strange we have had Latham (why was he even in the picture this time around).. then Rudd… on the conservatives side we have Abbott –  they have one thing in common – they are flawed… the quality of the leaders that we are generating within Australia –  needs intervention to try and foster real leadership, not spin.

The ethics of the Labour leadership, with the co-operation of Gillard to politically assassinate an elected Prime Minister removes any higher ground from the Labor leadership … it shows their true colours.. that they are not there for the Australian people but for their own agenda… and the Australian people have made them pay for it… especially in Queensland and New South Wales.

Are there any real people out there… who care about the Australian people… who are not flawed and corrupted … there is a large majority of people in Australia who are hurting and need help … what they don’t need are flawed policies and hidden agendas, but real social programs… to support all levels and ages within our society.. to live an equitable life.

My view of Politics is that it is the function of the Australian political system to do the best for the Australian people FIRST…. the policies and programs in Australia should be transparent and accountable to the Australian people,, on a day to day basis… for the Australian people…in the last 3 years the Labor party has wasted huge sums of our money on a farcical and flawed insulation program that was so badly managed as to be open to legal recourse, a building program for schools, that ended up on occasion as being so badly costed and with little or no Political and financial oversight… wasting billions… and then of course we have the RSPT.. where the sovereign name and reputation of Australia was brought into question… who are these people..?  Whatever the outcome the last 3 years have cost Australia … and will continue to cost whoever gets into power.

I am sure that the Coalition has its own stories they want to bury as well…

My message to the political parities (They are not our leaders after all) … Wake up… and act in your citizens interest instead of your own.. lets hope the future is better than the past…

Some areas that need to be focused on are programs to support Australia, the focus of defence should be brought into a reality… and cut, so should programs to support Papua New Guinea government, except for programs that support the people of foreign lands to help themselves, including education and specific targeted programs we need to nurture the future.  Stop writing blank cheques to the detriment of Australians.

Tags: Election+Outcome

Thoughts on the now

Come gather ’round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You’ll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin’
Then you better start swimmin’
Or you’ll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don’t stand in the doorway
Don’t block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside
And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin’…….

(Words and Music by Bob Dylan, 1963)

The time is upon us, where we need to change or change for which we are not prepared, will be forced upon us…. What we’re witnessing and experiencing with the many crises the world is facing is a paradigm running out: an entire framework of our societal morals and values, a reality that can no longer contain the problems that it creates, nor can it solve them. A paradigm is a way of saying a shared idea about life, but it’s an idea with incredible momentum and many people trying to hold it up, the status quo.

There are good things about our current reality, the fact that it gives individuals something to strive for… unfortunately this something, money is not worth pursuing for its own sake… and it’s accumulation does not outweigh all the negatives of the current system which has replaced integrity, honour and ethics with lies, spin and expediency … in a new society where all the above good is valued will be created (I understand that compromises will take place… but never at the expense of life and our home ) and that which will give individuals something worthwhile to strive for cannot be money, but working in a self structured, unselfish way for the common good. I do not know what this new form of reality, this new paradigm will be at this point.

To me, it’s becoming obvious through the 2008 financial crisis, its current effects, the impending new financial crisis… and this oil mess (there are plenty of others), are a wake-up call for all of us… that the profit motive is not the best thing to have running at the core of our civilisation. Greed is not spiritual, it’s not sustainable and it’s not even useful; and we are feeling the devastating results of a culture based on this selfish self-serving principle.

Similarly, just because we have always lived a certain way doesn’t mean it will continue, the way we live is not sustainable, in fact in business we learn to change and evolve continually – we need to change as it is part of the very philosophy for our present and future relationships… the way we live now, is not a substitute for love or for trust, yet it’s the way we most often try to coexist – we basically live in hope, that “she will be right or there’s no problem” and so we accept – I do not think we accept voluntarily, we accept because we cannot see an alternative…. so that we accept is too strong a word… we are in fact apathetic towards what is so apparent – but because we, who are part of the paradigm – we do not perceive it as a immediate threat to confront – we do nothing.  We do not look for alternatives, or initiate change (even in ourselves) we just stumble from one disaster to another… In general our current approach to life and the living of this paradigm does not contain the reality of our relationships, for our Spiritual, emotional or social needs.

My sense is that there may be an upside; a positive aspect of this disastrous oil spill, that’s threatening to kill aquatic creatures in the Gulf ( its early days, who knows what the final result will be – if the Oil gets into the Gulf stream – what then ?), actually this event could herald an environmental awakening.

The possibility of saying goodbye to the shores of much of The Gulf and the Caribbean as we remember them, unspoilt beautiful azure crystal clear water… abundant life …. This event may be the first step to wake us up to re-evaluate where we are going – and really do we want to go there…. There is a huge risk to our home if we continue down this path.… this hoped for revelation or perhaps even an epiphany if you like, must be built and revealed within each of us, from person by person as part of our own individual choices, then through the coordination of our individual choices to become those of our families, our communities, then onwards a forceful movement with a louder voice, from community to community, until one day it becomes the new world paradigm…  Perhaps we can start very simply by being conscious of the way we use energy, water and make a conscious commitment to use less plastic and fuel every day.

If you are thinking about your neighbour and not just your own insular world, then these events, and the ones to come, do seem destined to wake up enough people to the simple truth that as a society, we have run out of ideas about how to live, and we will now be shown that there are consequences to this, if we don’t resolve to change. What we are witnessing does seem destined to stir people to make a difference — not necessarily a lot, but just enough. I’m not speaking from my unshakable faith in humanity (unfortunately) to take care of itself, but rather the way that aspects develop and unfold.

Another strange possibility that may have contributed to this disaster, or perhaps the next one, may be that the Gulf of Mexico is a favourite dumping ground for the US military who have dumped tens of thousands of tons of old, expired or unstable munitions, bombs and the suck like… you know … the old adage… out of sight, out of mind… I wonder if the explosion was caused or contributed to by a left over bomb or other explosive device…?  I remember from my childhood when I lived in the Solomon Islands… Guadalcanal in fact (the center of severe fighting in the Pacific in World War 2) … I was told of the large stockpiles of ammunition stored at Hell’s point from World War 2, as well thousands of tons of war equipment, such as tanks, trucks, jeeps, air-planes, and munitions were just dumped in the sea… of the Solomon’s.

Perhaps the best way of understanding this need to change, is to start at home, we need to dump a huge bag of our normal household rubbish onto the back porch and figure out what’s in there and how it got there and what we can do about it. We literally need to question everything – every assumption of the way we live.

We all know there is a problem and many people I know, feel powerless, where to start?  However at the same time they feel that time is running out.  We have been living with this feeling for some time, and  perhaps we will be for as long as we live. To do something constructive would be in our own best interest, as it would be for the world.

Within our own sphere of influence (our relationships, family) we need to make conscious choices, and communicate those choices … even if they seem to be piecemeal, minuscule – only a shuffle forward … it is all positive. Perhaps the reason that so few do, is the feeling that these attempts appear hopeless bearing in mind the enormity of the task of saving our home … we need to have some responsibility back into our hands, and put us into contact with the truth that we are part of the world in which we live, and that it is part of us.

For those people we meet today or tomorrow may be a new beginning of relationships that turn out to be truly significant, perhaps we may meet and find our planets and all of its inhabitant’s true identity and then gather with others with that knowledge, and make positive changes.

This time should be an awakening for us, so many things have gone wrong, are going wrong… is it all coincidence that all these worldwide problems are happening at the same time… the huge Oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, that has a potential to turn the beauty of Florida, Mexico, and the Caribbean effectively into a toxic waste dump.. by dumping 50,000 barrels of crude daily into the Ocean… Now this blood-coloured crude oil is soaking the Gulf of Mexico, it will cause irreparable damage to the wetlands (the kindergarden for many marine species) , and now threatens to wash up on beaches from the Gulf of Mexico at the moment, perhaps travel up the entire East coast of the USA with the Gulf Stream – so I wonder how many people will have the foresight to travel to their beaches to say goodbye to this once unspoilt beauty ?

Each of us, needs to make changes, in a positive way, no matter how small, so we will have the opportunity to partially redeem our current learn thinking, which is based on using non-sustainable resources, with our own knowledge that this disaster is an opportunity to right many wrongs.

The problem when an old paradigm runs out is that most people do not have a clue as to what’s happening, and don’t take a creative role in what happens next. Perhaps it’s because they don’t know what to do next… no concept or even where to start…. But I think that it is simpler than that, I think we’re being called right now to do both: to notice, and to make adjustments to our thinking and then in our behaviour, our economic patterns (what we buy how we spend our money) and in our relationships and to fill the current spiritual void of greed with a change to the current paradigm to that of one that supports all creatures, great and small.

Perhaps if we decided to travel less, use Public transport more, not buy anything that is wrapped in plastic… and where necessary, use bio-degradable products only, make constructive and positive changes in the way we use the simple things such as water … because water may well be the next Global challenge, definitely a new way of thinking is needed. Together with the deforestation of many old growth forests, we are setting the seeds for our own destruction, and thanks to us… the Armageddon is growing very well… we need to stop it…

If we say use Public Transport more, those which are electric powered, some may say that this just moves the pollution from the cities to the coal fired power generation centers are … so new technology to generate peak load power is urgently needed – we need to invest in our future – and stop this by investing in all forms of sustainable energy / water saving inventions and the like, being taken out of the Public domain by being sold to Corporations – these are then buried and by these corporations and by governments who have a vested interest in maintaining the status quo.

Thoughts come from many different directions from Max Whisson, and his machine that just uses wind power to provide fresh water from the humidity in the air around us… to his fresh water river from sea water…. the thoughts are all out there… keep your eyes open…

We have some serious thinking to do, to work out what it is we want, and what sort of society we want for our children and their children…  in time, a movement will start formerly, a huge grounds well of dissatisfaction is growing with the current paradigm, this new feeling and movement will be made up of normal people, who realise we have to change the way we relate to each other and the rest of the world… and will be based upon a huge dissatisfaction with the status quo. In time (hopefully a short time), this movement will be followed by a vocal response to change Governments by making those Governments and corporations that create this oil dependency and the fact that have effectively killed alternative fuel opportunities, and have goaded us into wars funded by our stupidity and lack of moral courage – based on the scarcity principle, to maintain the fiction that we need to maintain the status quo… we should be spending more on research, on alternative energy sources, such as way to naturally grow Hydrogen as a fuel (currently the normal manufacturing process is not sustainable), aside from heat it generates, it seems to be the current hope, it seems to be the nearest thing to a portable clean fuel… then fuel cell technologies, and some insist of major resources into finding a clean non-nuclear way of providing peak load power… there are innumerable options in the search for alternative power generation …  (Real investment.. in fusion technologies will one day yield a positive reward) the answers are there, we need new innovative thought, we need support for these new ideas, and we need leadership …. We won’t get this leadership from our present political structure as they only want to sustain the status quo. What innovative thoughts ever come out of a Nations Politicians and capitals – very few, I cannot think of any… let’s face it..

But change will happen, hopefully over time, but at the very least a spiritual revolution will happen, is happening in the way we need to live our lives, but this change will not and is not flourishing within the current paradigm we live in.

Albert Einstein said…

”The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.”

We need innovative thought, from all of us including our children, some may have the insight into this new world paradigm that is waiting for us.

We will need to make new adjustments every day, even as we shuffle forward…  if you or I are one of the people to step up, that are summoned by time and events to do something, my first step forward is to  live in a open highly conscious way, aware of the effect on our relationships, and our planet and how we influence the world. I think we are being summoned to “Care”, to give a dam, and to stop being so passive and accepting about the direction our politicians are taking us (leading is not the right word here) – let’s remember that they have few original ideas in general, if the leadership must come from us, by putting those people in power that can actually move us in the right direction, then lets us make it so – the old political them and us doesn’t cut it anymore… its all of us… who need the same thing – a future.

I have a suggestion: don’t waste your time waiting for anyone else. This is about you. As soon as you accept that it’s about you, then it can become about us, and we can make something positive happen as humanity as a whole.

The human and cost to the planet associated with maintaining the status quo are too horrible to comprehend, such scenarios realistically include societal collapse on a huge scale, and if we do nothing the worst case is the ultimate death of our planet… and naturally our own.

Question:  500 years after societal collapse what do you think our descendants will see as our legacy … everything made of steel will have turned into dust, perhaps the concrete roads may still be visible through the vegetation, assuming of course that the steel reinforcing hasn’t broken down… and after the inevitable wars and anarchy we will return to the basics we need for survival to that of the basic human needs, food, water and shelter –  we will have returned to our lives as hunter gatherers and hopefully we are advanced to a stage where we can farm -  and grow our own food. What do you think someone would think of a computer, who have never seen one before, and there was no power to turn it on… a book stop… or perhaps something to keep the door open…

We are not currently spiritually aware and certainly not responsible enough to realise this is not only about us….

We have a chance, for our descendants sake, to envisage a new world, and its new paradigm where we are able to live in the relationship with our world, as a partner, not in our current role as a needy dictatorial sociopath, who cares nothing for the future of the world or the people in it.

We are at a fork in the road, (in fact I really think we are almost past it ) … I entreat you to please choose carefully – and start making a different in your life, if not for you, then to minimize the effect of you children and the coming generations….

Once the societal collapse comes, aside from the anarchy…. the social breakdown, which will included of course the breakdown of law and order, and the rule of law… many people who in this world who are dependent on drugs to maintain their health will not survive, probably myself included..  Charles Darwin strikes again … the strong, the fit and the healthy will survive – lets hope they are not only physically healthy but can think outside the box as well.

You need to take action… dig up the back garden, mulch your leftovers, and start growing your own food… because you will need it… install water tanks, a move your life towards sustainability, do it now before that day comes when there is no food in the supermarkets, and no water in the pipes

Know this, change is coming, be prepared for it, or be consumed by it  …. let’s stop and think now… we cannot sustain the way we live life… make positive changes as many as you can in the transformation of your life to sustainability… if enough of us do this, it will result in a shift in priorities and a change in how you / we live our lives… and it will force us all to confront the need for worldwide change in how we live our lives. After this, add time… and governments will follow. Otherwise when change comes …. we will have no way of surviving.

Political reform – is a good idea

I sometimes wonder if there any lights on upstairs in Canberra, it proves again how the politicians have no idea what the effect of their rants are in the real world or the effect of these pontificating of such impossible Taxes (Yes, let’s call it a tax, because if it looks like a tax, and sounds like a tax then ….).  This single proposal has the effect to take away our insulation from the effects of the global downturn, and the ongoing deficit problems not to mention deflation (which if it is by itself, may not be a bad thing in the long term).

As I mentioned before, you cannot dictate to companies of the size of BHP Billiton etc… without consequences…  this is a true multi-national… with projects and investments globally. Adding this tax will have an immediate effect on their viability (of their Australian operations). Australian coal, and Iron Ore etc are already amongst the most expensive in the world… they cannot increase the price (especially after the recent negotiations recently in China) – so they will focus their future focus outside of Australia which will mean less sales in the medium-long term, what is going to support the Australian dollar and the Australian economy then… Labour’s financial modeling? I don’t think so… but I am sure the Labour party will spin it so it is someone else fault… Politicians have a convenient short term memory, especially when it comes to their own mistakes.

Perhaps we should have some political reform;

(1) Ministers have to actually know something about their portfolios – now there’s a switch.

(2) End.. political careers (State, Federal & Political), there should be a limit of say 3 terms on any elected official or politician

(3) Politicians have to spend “x” years (successful) in the business / commercial world before their stint in Canberra

(4) Stop this favoritism for the Super funds for Canberra… after all it’s a temp job… like any other.

(5) Run the country like a company for the benefit of its shareholders / citizens, because you are dealing in people’s and their children’s lives as well as their future here – not to mention the countries future.

I always thought that the Labour dream team, financially were away with the pixies, and I think except for the pragmatism of Julia Gillard (she has to lose the “them and us mentality”, after all, she is a representative, not only of the Labour party but of ALL Australians…but I have hopes), they really are. I have never had a lot of economic respect for the ability of Swan who does have few innovative thoughts about the economy, but now Rudd has showed the flaws in his leadership style.

However, I am not prepared to swap the financial irresponsibility of the Labour party yet … because that would mean we would need to give the keys of the country to Abbott, and I see no upside there… but if the opposition actually do get a credible leader then all bets are off.

Tags: Political+Reform