Monthly Archives: December 2015

Climate Disruption: Thought of the Week

30 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Anthropogenic Climate Disruption

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Video: India’s Barefoot College
The Climate Reality Project

India’s Barefoot College
Bringing solar electricity to impoverished villages around the world

“When men go outside, they don’t come back. But the women always come back. We have trained 600 grandmothers [ages 35 and over] in 64 countries around the world and every grandmother has gone back home.”
~ Excerpt from video, Bunker Roy, Founder and Director of Barefoot College, India.

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Year 2015: Reflections

27 Sunday Dec 2015

Posted by in United States

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Happy New Year 2016

Happy New Year 2016
Source: Esplorando Cartoline Blogspot

Year 2015 has been a tumultuous journey on Spaceship Earth. But all wasn’t bleak. In the blogosphere, friends like Cyril Bryan at the Guyanese Online Blog boosted my spirits and hits by sharing my posts and keeping me in touch with news from Guyana and the Guyanese Diaspora. In May, we welcomed the newly-elected coalition government of President David Granger and Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. The challenges are innumerable. Clean-up goes much deeper than unclogging drains and removing trash.

Blogging friends, Dr. Gerald Stein (Chicago/USA) and Bruce Witzel (Vancouver/Canada), continue to inspire, motivate, and lift me up when passing through an asteroid field. Carol Hand, a new blogging friend from the Sokaogon Ojibwe Community (Wisconsin/USA), shares much-needed voices from the margins of Native American life.

I thank each one of you who have read and commented on my posts. You have made this year’s journey through our galaxy meaningful and brighter. Continue reading →

A Child is Born

20 Sunday Dec 2015

Posted by in Human Behavior, Poetry, Save Our Children

≈ 21 Comments

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Baby Born in Syrian Refugee Camp in Jordan

Baby born in Syrian Refugee Camp in Jordan
Photo Credit: BBC News

 

A child is born
his mother weeps at his cross
hewn by the Empire.

A child is born
his mother dies in childbirth
to bring him into light.

A child is born
a mother weeps for her daughter
born into bondage.

A child is born
a woman stands by in silence
while he spits out hate.

A child is born
mothers cry out in pain
when men rain fire on Earth.

A child is born
women feed men’s lust and greed
to dominate the world.

A child is born
male and female in harmony
they bring peace on Earth.

COP 21: UN Climate Change Agreement Paris 2015

16 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Anthropogenic Climate Disruption

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The hard truth about the Paris climate deal

The Rest is Up to Us

On December 12th, 2015, world governments meeting in Paris produced a landmark climate agreement… Paris isn’t the end of the story… Now, it’s up to us to strengthen these promises, make sure they are kept, and then accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels and toward 100% renewable energy.
~ 350.org Paris: Wrap-Up

Paris Climate Deal: Key Points at a Glance

Countries have promised to try to bring global emissions down from peak levels as soon as possible. More significantly, they pledged “to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century.”
~ Paris climate deal: key points at a glance by Adam Vaughan in Paris, The Guardian, December 12, 2015

Hate Trumps Love

13 Sunday Dec 2015

Posted by in Human Behavior, United States

≈ 27 Comments

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Child pulled out of rubble after air strike - Syria

Child buried alive pulled out of rubble after air strike
Syria – January 2014
Photo Credit: The Sun

 

No, it’s not a typo error or a slip of the tongue. In this neocolonial world we live in, hate trumps love. The latest hate speech by a business-magnate-turned-politician, aiming for presidency of the world’s only superpower, is proof of this reality. What’s even more disturbing is that he has a large following bubbling over with the same brand of hate.

Exposed to different religious beliefs in my native land Guyana, I have learned to embrace all religions. But, owing to my Catholic upbringing, my first thoughts in the face of such hate speech were the teachings of Jesus. And, for Christians who celebrate Christmas, this is the perfect time to reflect on the significance of his birth.

Jesus came into this world to save humankind (Luke 2: 9-14). That was a tall order. What’s more, he had to lose his life to accomplish his mission. Considering the price he paid in taking on our humanity, Christians who accept Jesus as their savior shouldn’t take his teachings lightly. He summed up the way to harmonious human relationships in one word: love. First, love of God; second, love of neighbor as oneself (Matthew 22: 34-40). Hate nailed him to a cross. Continue reading →

COP 21: UN Climate Change Conference Paris 2015

09 Wednesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Anthropogenic Climate Disruption

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Fighting for Survival - 350.ORG

Fighting for Survival: 0% Fossil Fuels 100% Renewables by 2050
Photo Credit: 350.ORG

COP21 Paris Agreement will Shape Future of World

Governments are hoping to sign a deal on greenhouse gas emissions and finance for developing countries that will kick in from 2020. It is seen as a last chance for the UN process, which has been carrying on since 1992…
~ France moves at ‘breakneck speed’ to get Paris deal done by end of week by Fiona Harvey, The Guardian, December 7, 2015
~ Click here to send a tweet to the United States delegation in Paris.

Climate Finance a Major Issue at COP21 Paris

Climate finance is a major issue at the UN climate negotiations in Paris, with France’s top climate ambassador warning it is the biggest difficulty in reaching a deal. In 2009, developed countries promised to deliver $100bn of finance each year to developing countries by 2020, to help them cope with and tackle global warming.
~ Paris climate talks: Indian officials accuse OECD of exaggerating climate aid by John Vidal, The Guardian, December 2, 2015

“Heal the World” by Michael Jackson

06 Sunday Dec 2015

Posted by in Poetry

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Heal the World

My Poetry Corner December 2015 features an excerpt from the song “Heal the World,” written and produced by Michael Jackson (1958-2009). Released in 1992, the song soon hit the top charts. During an Internet chat in 2001, Jackson revealed that he was most proud of creating this song.

During the period he composed this song – just like today – there were regions of the world at war: Afghan Civil War (1989-1992), breakup of Yugoslavia (1990-1992), and the Persian Gulf War (1991). With thousands of children wounded, left orphans and homeless as a result of violence worldwide, Jackson’s call to heal our world remains relevant today.

In the opening stanza, Jackson tackles the problem head on. The solution is simple. We can transform our lives when we make room in our hearts for love. Continue reading →

COP 21: UN Climate Change Conference Paris 2015

01 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Anthropogenic Climate Disruption

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Divest from Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuel Divestment Commitments Pass the $3.4 trillion Mark at COP21

The fossil fuel divestment campaign has broken a new record at COP21: more than 500 institutions representing over $3.4 trillion in assets have made some form of divestment.
~ Press Release, Divest-Invest Press Conference, COP21 Paris, December 2, 2015
~ Learn more at Go Fossil Free

 

Fossil Fuel Era Must End

November 30, 2015 – Day 1 – ‘Heads of State’ Session

“The Paris Agreement must be designed for ambition. It must send a message to the world. If we are to win the battle against climate change, the fossil fuel era must end.”
~ Christopher J Loeak, President of the Marshall Islands
~ See Press Release from the Climate Vulnerable Forum