Ashes to Ashes

Given the recent shut-down of European airspace as a result of the volcanic eruption in Iceland, there may be more irony and truth in the expression ("ashes to ashes") usually associated with a funeral service. A Satirist with a sense of daring imagination would have a feast with this!

All the hype and alarm as a result of the disruption centred in the 1^st instance, around the inconvenience this caused to people, that is, all of us innocent travellers enjoying our well-deserved holiday breaks, as well as, those travelling for business. Then there was the real worry: the millions lost because of how so much of our economic lives depend on air-transport – including all those exotic and out of season foods we cannot do without. The familiar gospel reminder - your heart will always be where you treasure is (my paraphrase) – is quite appropriate here. For a moment, I got the impression that no one cared a hoot about the people of Iceland. After all so much of our savings have gone up in smoke, because of foolish investing in Icelandic banks. As I was not affected by the events – except being bombarded with it on the news (which I could easily switch off), I had the luxury of playing with a variety of ideas as a result of the air-space lockdown.

I was struck by the fact that too many of us travel. All these so-called cheap holidays and destinations mean that we can get up any morning and board a plane without even changing what we wore the night before. It also means that I have to travel with people I may have nothing in common with – especially the drinking, boisterous and swearing type who believe that all the other passengers must listen to their conversations, bantering and expletives. But who cares: it is our right - this is a free society, away with snobs and power to the loud and foul mouthed. Besides we need to get the industry going in order to fill the pockets of executives!

But the more serious concern is the fact of how this flight shut down relates to the lvery alive and hot subject of the environment and the future of the planet. There seems to be lots of rhetoric and platitudes, while we continue to want to keep our travel habits. Yes – ‘let’s save mother earth’: but, who really wants to give up travelling that pollutes in order to minimise their carbon footprint and save the planet? A few days of disruption and it is as if our whole world has collapsed and we start behaving like a person coming off an addiction. Perhaps, it is an addiction! Or is it that our response is a mere microcosm of a larger problem – our inability to give up our luxuries and to change our life styles? Change must start with us and our life styles.

And by the way: while many have been moaning about the loss to their businesses and the impact on the travel/tourist industry in some instances, I am reminded (as a member of the Caribbean Diaspora) of that controversial Air Passenger Duty Tax that has effectively made it cheaper to fly to Hawaii than to the Caribbean. And who is talking about how that region’s fragile economy (so dependent on tourism) is being strangled by such policies?

As the ashes settle and the temperature in Greece rises, perhaps we may wish to turn to the Caribbean and other developing countries for some lessons on the art of economic survival. With the economic bubble in Greece punctured, the tables have turned. Welcome to the vortex of disappearing economies - Britain swimming in debt, the USA up the mess of debt creek with broken paddles, Greece (probably to be joined by Spain and Portugal) swimming in the sludge of living above their means.

Only the Divine can rescue us and I have a feeling she has decided to go on a Caribbean Cruise.

© copyright April 30 2010

Go in Faith and Vote

I am for a “Fairer Britain” for all. So when I turn up to vote it will be the liberal democrats who will get my nod. My reasons are more than about the leadership of the Lib Dems. It is about the integrity and vision of their policies for the common good, the wisdom to look beyond the present and their vision of all participating in working towards the common good for both present and future.

I am not surprised that in the first televised election debate among the leaders of the three main parties, that the leader of theLib Dems came out best in the polls. Labour and the Conservatives are spending too much time in endless parrying between themselves – gloating over their own importance, thinking it is already a foregone conclusion that one of them will be in power and that the Lib Dems is just that slight irritation to be brushed off. What arrogance! Luckily, the public is not daft.

One is often amazed, however, when one’s liberal colleagues would also brush off the Lib Dems as not standing a chance because of this being a small party and the political system only gives a chance to the big traditional parties. Of course, they will only make it, if people can move beyond institutionalised political allegiances, discern that change is possible, and instead follow both their heads and hearts!

Notwithstanding, I wish to say to all the cynics and fed-up voters who may be reading this blog to consider going to the polls and vote. Writing from a faith perspective, my understanding is that faith does not distance itself from elections. In fact, it propels us to vote, and even urges us what to vote for, and faith makes us cognisant of the consequences of voting for wrong policies.

We are called to vote, for what is at stake is the well being and common good of all – the whole of society. Failure to vote when the common good is at stake is a sin of omission. And faith urges us to vote policies, laws and candidates who will protect the human life and dignity of each human being. Yes, I do have a free will and I can decide to vote for what I perceive to be of my own self-interest and not that of the common good. But if my political life is to degenerate to the level where I am only concerned about my own interest and that of my group, then I have fallen short of the golden rule - “love of God and love of neighbour”. So with and in faith lift those tired feet and despairing hearts and cast your vote!

© copyright March 12, 2010