The case for evolution (3)
February 1st, 2011 by Roger Darlington
In early December, I did a posting explaining that I had produced a new section of my web site entitled “The Case For Evolution”. In that posting, I commented: “One test of the extent to which this essay meets a need will be how long it takes for a Google search on the words ‘case for evolution’ to bring my work onto the first page of results.”
It only took a week. In another posting at that time, I wrote: “… if you put inverted commas around those three words in a Google search, the clever search engine brings it up on the first page … On the other hand, if you use those three words without inverted commas, the top item is a piece putting the case against evolution.”
Now though, if you do a Google search for ‘case for evolution’ with or without inverted commas, my essay comes second and first respectively. Don’t you just love the power of the web?
Posted in Science & technology | Comments (0)
Why do workers go on strike?
January 31st, 2011 by Roger Darlington
There’s a short discussion of this question on the BBC web site here – and my brother is quoted.
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
Tony Blair’s “A Journey” (3)
January 31st, 2011 by Roger Darlington
I continue to read “A Journey” by Tony Blair. One the recurrent themes of the first half of the book is his New Labour passion for reform – or “modernisation” as he calls it – of public services: education, health, welfare, criminal justice and the civil service.
He writes:
“My boundless, at times rather manic lust for modernisation could occasionally be misdirected, but I was sure the basic thrust was correct.”
He insists:
“For public services to be equitable, and free at the point of use, they did not all need to be provided on a monopoly basis within the public sector, controlled in a rigid way by national and local bureaucracies often deeply resistant to innovation and genuinely local autonomy.”
He argues:
“I saw our role as taking Britain on a futher stage of modernisation, creating public services and a welfare state that combined investment with reform to make them personal, responsive, entrepreneurial and, so far as the welfare state was concerned, based on responsibilities as well as rights and entitlements that were earned.”
He makes some interesting characterisations:
- Thatcherite Tories = reform without investment
- Old Labour = investment without reform
- New Labour = investment and reform together
If we follow this typology, then I guess one could say:
- Coalition Government = reform + cuts in investment
Looks to me like a recipe for disaster.
Posted in British current affairs | Comments (0)
My offer to become a London Ambassador (1)
January 30th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
As I mentioned in a blog posting six months ago, I registered my interest in becoming one of the 8,000 London Ambassadors who will welcome visitors from all over the world to the city during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Applications opened on 21 January and close on 28 February so, this weekend, I completed and submitted my application. Now I will see whether I will be shortlisted and invited to a selection centre. I love meeting people from different countries and cultures, so I hope that I will be chosen.
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (2)
The Arab world in turmoil (1)
January 29th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
This week, my evening class in International Relations was intensely topical. Our lecturer Dr Dale Mineshima-Lowe had devised the course schedule weeks ago but this week the topic was Africa with particularly reference to three countries.
First, Somalia. We discussed the efforts of the Transitional Federal Government created in 2004 to establish order and governance and noted that the national elections are supposed to take place this year. Meanwhile the problem of piracy off the Somali coast remains acute; whereas originally overfishing by European vessels and dumping of toxic materials in Somali waters might have partially explained such piracy, it is clear now that the general lack of governance in Somalia and the difficulty of convicting perpetrators are the key elements.
Second, Sudan. The largest country in Africa is now set to split as a result of the referendum in the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region earlier this month. Three-quarters of Sudan’s oil reserves are likely to end up in the new southern state, but the pipeline and the refineries are in north Sudan, so both parts will have to agree an acceptable share of oil revenues. Also the precise border has to be settled with the region of Abyei particularly problematic.
Third, Tunisia. As this term started three weeks ago, we did not know that, when we reached this section of the syllabus, Tunisia would have had a Jasmine Revolution with the collapse of the repressive Ben Ali regime. Until then, many outsiders had seen the country as quite stable, but unemployment of 14% overall and of 30% among those aged 15-29 has been the spark that lit the flames.
The success of people power in Tunisia has sent shock waves throughout the Arab world as those – especially the young and unemployed – in other despotic regimes consider if they can replicate the overthrow of unpopular and unsuccessful leaders.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Egypt which I visited in 1999 [my account here]. Unprecedentedly large demonstrations in many cities have already forced President Hosni Mubarak to dismiss his government but this may well not be enough to still the tide of anger. Democrats everywhere will wish the Egyptians well in seeking a totally new system of governance, but the American government is clearly worried that here – as elsewhere in the Arab world – the overthrow of a dictator who has been favourable to the West could result in either a military dictatorship or an Islamist government.
Yemen is another country in turmoil. Tens of thousands of Yemenis have demonstrated in the capital Sanaa, calling on Ali Abdullah Saleh, president for 30 years, to step down. There are fears that Yemen is becoming a leading al-Qaeda haven, with the high numbers of unemployed youths seen as potential recruits for Islamist militant groups.
The Middle East is always a political tinder box and events in Tunisia have had ripples there too.
In Jordan which I visited in 2005 [account here], we have just has seen the largest anti-government demonstrations for 20 years. If the Egyptian regime falls, we may seen a domino effect in the Arab world as we did in Eastern Europe after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Meanwhile in Lebanon (which I shall be visiting in a few weeks), the moderate government of Saad Hariri has lost its majority in the parliament and it now looks as of an Hezbollah-led government will take power with fears of a new civil war.
As if all this was not enough, we hardly needed the destabilising effect of the leak by al-Jazeera of records revealing the negotiating positions of the Palestinian Authority in their talks with Israel. There are many ways of interpreting the meaning and impact of so-called PaliLeaks.
My fear is that what these revelations reveal – and the reason why most Israelis are treating them with a yawn – is that Israel is not that interested in a peace settlement and has no intention of seriously compromising to secure one. It thinks it’s doing fine without a settlement and is under no pressure internally or externally to find one.
My greatest fear is that, in forcing the Palestinian Authority into humiliating and embarrassing concessions, Israel will effectively prevent a deal with the PLO and eventually have to negotiate a tougher deal with Hamas – but only after more violence and possibly another war with Hezbollah.
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (1)
Sat hello to my first grandchild (5)
January 28th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
By popular demand, I offer you some further photographs of my darling granddaughter Catrin:
In her special car seat
Thinking in the bath
“Who is this funny man?”
It is Day 12 in Catrin’s life and today I visited her for the third time. She told me that mum and dad are doing a great job and I can certainly see that.
Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (4)
How to feed the world
January 27th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
This week Foresight – the British Government’s futures think tank – published a report entitled “Global Food and Farming Futures” which examines how a rapidly expanding global population can be fed in a healthy and sustainable way.
The report finds that the existing food system is failing half of the people on Earth, with 1 billion going hungry, 1 billion lacking crucial vitamins and minerals from their diet, and 1 billion “substantially overconsuming” leading to obesity epidemics. Stresses on the food system are reflected in price spikes, but the cost of food will rise sharply in coming decades which will increase the risk of conflict and migration. The challenge is to feed 2 billion more people by 2050 but with less environmental impact.
No single solution exists, says the report, but it is critical to spread existing knowledge and technology to the developing world to boost yields by “sustainable intensification”. It is argued that drought- and salt- resistant crops could be valuable and that genetically modified and even cloned food should not be ruled out. Also dramatically reducing food waste is crucial because 30% of all food produced is never consumed.
You can access the report here.
Posted in Environment | Comments (0)
World health over the last two centuries …
January 26th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
… explained in just four minutes here.
The clip is from a BBC4 television programme called “The Joy Of Statistics” which I enjoyed when it was broadcast a few weeks ago.
Posted in History | Comments (0)
How to cope with unemployment
January 25th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
One of the most visited sections of my web site is the one on Life Skills which covers a wide range of topics with very practical and very snappy bits of advice.
The latest subject to be covered – the 30th in the series – is unfortunately very topical: How to cope with unemployment.
Posted in Miscellaneous | Comments (0)
Internet Champions at BT Tower
January 24th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
Today I attended an award ceremony staged by Age UK with the support of BT. The awards were to four Internet Champions and they were presented by Communications Minister Ed Vaizey. The Government’s Digital Champion Martha Lane Fox spoke as well. You can read the inspiring stories of the winners here.
The event was held at the top – well the 34th floor – of the BT Tower and, as we ate lunch afterwards, the floor slowly rotated. The Tower has not been open to the public since the IRA bomb in 1971 but, thanks to my professional work I’ve been there around half-a-dozen times. It is always am amazing view.
Posted in Internet | Comments (0)