Seven billion

In less than a week, by the end of this month, the United Nations announced that the official population of the world will reach a staggering seven billion human beings.

2,000 years ago, the world's population was around 300 million and we didn't reach a billion people until 1800. The second billion was notched up in 1927. The three billion mark was reached by my second birthday in 1959; it then rose to four billion in 1974, and accelerated to five billion in 1987, six billion in 1999 and seven billion in 2011.

By the time you are 40 years old, my dear Yael, in 2050 it is estimated that the world population will be aat least 9.3 billion people and more than 10 billion by 2100. 

While extended life expectancy due to some health improvements in the poorer parts of the world, is a major contributor to this meteoric rise in population, this clearly presents a major challenge for humankind.  There is limit to the amount of land available for growing food crops and there is a finite volume of water on the planet.  

It is very much my prediction that the continued population explosion will be among the biggest problems for the people of this world.

Grandpa Jonathan

Prague, Czech Republic

Only 365 days to go

Today, in exactly one year's tinme, the Olympic Games will open in London.  And I am delighted to report that your grandfather has a ticket to attend the opening ceremony.  I can't wait.  It seems like yesterday when the President of the International Olympic Committee announced at a special event in Singapore that London had won the bid to host the 2012 games.  I have long been enthralled by the Olympic Games, and adore watching this once-in-four-years event.  It's wonderful that they will be happening in my home town.  After all the miserable news, it is a delight to see the media focusing on something so positive.

Nuclear emergency

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Israel worries as Egypt erupts

Protests in Tunisia which toppled its President, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, who had been in power for 23 years has proven contageous across North Africa.  With violent demonstrations now raging in Egypt, it looks as though it can only be a matter of days before its president of 29 years, Hosni Mubarak is also forced out of office.  Scenes on the streets of Cairo and elsewhere in this nation of 82 million Arabs are dramatic, with increasing signs that the authorities will be unable to contain this popular uprising.  The key question right now is what the spectre of Mubarak's fall will mean for Israel?

Egypt under Mubarak has been the major force for stability in the region since the signing of the Israel-Egypt peace agreement more than three decades ago in the wake of the Yom Kippur War.  Mubarak, who served as Egypt's air force commander in that war, made a point of honouring the deal and nurturing civil relations with Israel's leadership even though many of his countrymen, seculars as well as Islamists, object to relations with the Jewish state.

The peace treaty with Egypt provided legitimacy for Jordan to make peace with Israel as well and permitted other Arab countries to establish formal or informal contacts with it. Mubarak was personally active in trying to promote peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and Israelis saw him as an honest broker.  Peace with Egypt, which has the largest army in the Arab world, permitted Israel to substantially reduce the burden on its own armed forces, from the budget to the number of years that reservists are required to serve.

Egyptian security forces cooperated with Israel in reducing the number of weapons smuggled from their territory into the Gaza Strip and the number of armed militants attempting to cross over the border.  If Egypt turns once again to be a confrontational state, then Israel will have to make a major shift in its military planning and deployment to be able meet this new threat.  Even without a direct confrontation with Israel, the rise of a radical regime in Egypt, or one unfriendly to Israel, is likely to encourage greater radicalisation in other countries in the region. Jordan, a peaceful and strategically important country on Israel's eastern border, could become a channel for anti-Israel militants from the east - Iraq or Iran - seeking to get at Israel.

It's a worrying time for Israel.  But despite the ominous scenarios taking shape in the minds of strategists, it is by no means certain that events will play out that way. The man appointed by Mubarak today as his deputy and presumed successor, intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, is well known and respected in Israel, where he has frequently visited. It is presumed that his policies towards Israel would be similar to Mubarak's.

I woke up early this morning to watch the latest news from Egypt, and I am very concerned.  We can now but wait and see how these worrying events unfold.  Perhaps Egypt is on the brink of becoming a democracy and that its new government will strive to improve relations still further with Israel.  Or maybe Islamic fundamentalism will take over, which would clearly be a real blow to peace and security in the region.

I remember as it were yesterday when President Anwar Sadat, who was the first Arab leader to sign a peace treaty with Israel, was gunned down at a military ceremony by extremists among his own troops in 1981.  Fortunately, he was succeeded by his deputy, Hosni Mubarak, who has been a friend of Israel.  But what happens now?

Apparently, there a joke been doing the rounds in Egypt for some years.  Mubarak's advisors have been telling him that the people of Egypt are saying "goodbye", and the President retorted, "where are they going".  In spite of his Western outlook and support for peace with Israel, Mubarak made the same mistake of so many other unelected leaders, which is to assume that he will remain in office in perpetuity.  Sadly, he hasn't allowed a true civil society to develop in Egypt and he's now paying the price for this error.



Grandpa Jonathan
Boston, USA

Don't follow rules blindly

I watched the recently-released film, The Social Network, on board my flight from London to the U.S. today.  While I didn't rate it as a great movie, it tells the fascinating story of the creation of Facebook, which is really taking the world by storm.  It's quite apt that I was heading to Boston, where the now-world's largest social networking website was launched in 2004.  By the time you read this, my dear Yael, you may wonder why I am so amazed by what is seen as an extraordinary phonomena right now.

Facebook was founded by the then 20 year-old Mark Zuckerberg with his university friendss and fellow computer science students.   The website's membership was initially limited by the founders to Harvard students, but was quickly expanded to other colleges in the Boston area.   It rapidly added support for students at various other universities before opening to high school students, and, subsequently to anyone aged 13 and over. At the time of writing, there are 600,000 Facebook members, that's almost 10 percent of the world's population.  Facebook is now worth 6 billion US dollars and Zuckerberg is the youngest billionair on the planet.  Incredible for a service that didn't exist just six years ago.

The best part of this astounding story is that Zuckerberg initially hacked into the protected areas of Harvard's computer network to establish the precursor to Facebook  Called Facemash, the service was  quickly shut down by the university administration. and the 20 year-old undergraduate was charged with breach of security, copyright violation, and invasion of privacy, and faced expulsion. Ultimately, however, the charges were dropped.

The moral of this tale is that extraordinary innovations aren't necessarily driven by conventional behaviour.  While they may be there for good reasons, rules often need to be broken for revolutionary ideas to take hold.  My dear Yael, as you go through life, I would encourage you not follow rules blindly.


Grandpa Jonathan
Boston, USA

Amsterdam to London

After two successful days of meetings in Rotterdam, I took the fast train from Rotterdam to Amsterdam's Schipol airport where I flew to London for Friday night dinner at your great aunt Beverley's.  I spent a lovely evening there together with my mother and two of Bev's children, Tom and Annie.

It'll be a flying visit, as I leave tomorrow for the United States.


Grandpa Jonathan
London, UK

Bath time

I left Israel as the sun started to appear, while reflecting on the three wonderful days spent with you.  In spite of the sadness of Nahum's death and concern about Anne's health, seeing you, my darling Yael, was pure joy.  You are already so alert and interested in everything around you.  Apart from your noisy protests each time you are placed in the car baby seat, you are a very easy going and adorable baby.  You bring joy to us all.

I'm also so impressed by the way in which your parents are bringing you up.  I am sure that their relaxed and loving approach is the key to why you are so content.  As I went to sleep on my early flight from Tel Aviv to Prague this morning, I had this cute image in my mind of you taking a bath last night, when I took photos for which you will certainly not be thanking me in years to come.

Happily, my connnecting flight from Prague to Amsterdam was on time, and I then took a fast train to Rotterdam to arrive on schedule for my client meeting.

We may live in differant countries, but as I prepare for bed this evening, I promise myself that I will make every effort to see you often.  So.....see you soon!

Granpda Jonathan

Rotterdam, Netherlands

May Nahum rest in peace

While your mother stayed at home with you, your father and aunt came with me to Nahum's stone setting this morning.  It was a gloriously sunny day and his grave is situated on a beautiful Jerusalem hillside where he will rest in peace after such a long and terrible illness.

His brother David, who settled here some years before Nahum, spoke emotionally about how his father had asked him to look after his younger brother when he came to live in Israel.  Choking back the tears, David movingly said that now that he can no longer fulfil that duty, he wanted to care for the rest of the family, for Susan and the four sons Nahum had left behind.

Nahum was my brother in law and friend.  It is so difficult to come to terms with the fact that I will never see him again.  But I have very fond memories of a man who everyone liked.  He will be sorely missed.


Grandpa Jonathan
Jerusalem, Israel

Our trip to see great grandma Anne

I was sad to see the effect that the stroke has had on your great grandmother, Anne, who we visited today at her special care home in Ranana.  I drove your parents, your aunt Rachel and you to visit her today.  She was asleep when we first arrived, so we went for lunch at the harbour at Hertzliah Pertuach.  This was your first view of the sea.  We returned to find great grandma Anne sitting in a wheelchair in a room with many other elderly people in various states of incapacity.

While it was gratifiying to find that she knew who we were, it is clear that the series of strokes that she has had in recent weeks has left her in a poor state.  She has only limited sight and movement, and is quite confused.  But she was very happy to see us all.

I first met Anne Kennard 31 years ago, when she was the formidable headmistress of Kerem House kindergarten in London's Hampstead Garden suburb.  She was a large, stern woman with a sharp tongue who many people actually feared, particularly parents whose children went to her school.  Both your father and Rachel went there, and I can tell you that I was quite scared of her.  She is now a completely differant person.

I'm so sorry to see her in such a helpless state.  I just hope that she is not suffering.  Clearly, her condition will now only marginally improve, if at all, but I hope that she can love her final days with dignity and derive happiness from her large and loving family.  Your presence brought a sparkle to her eyes.

After returning to Jerusalem, we went to a memorial service for Nahum at his schul in Ramot.  Susan introduced the proceedings, and your uncle Amichai, the eldest of Nahum's four sons gave a lovely tribute in his memory, and the rabbi gave a shiur.  It's so hard to believe that he has gone.


Granpda Jonathan
Jerusalem, Israel

Yael, you have grown so much

I arrived in Israel at the crack of dawn for a three day visit.  It's been more than three months since I last saw you, and I can't beleive the change. When we were together in London, you still weighed only around three kilos, and you are now an enormous seven kilos.

You've already taken over the apartment, with your equipment and toys in evidence everywhere.  And as you don't like being alone, you are taekn everyewhere, even into the bathroom where you are held in your father's arms while he shaves, with you watching in fascination.

You aunt Rachel is also in Israel for a week's recuperation after her exams.  I spent much of the day with her, wandering around Jerusalem, having lunch and doing some shopping for dinner which I prepared at your place.  I found a lovely piece of fresh tuna in the Machanah Yehudah.  It was the first time your mother had eaten fresh tuna, which I lighly sauteed in virgin olive oil.  We washed down the meal with a couple of bottles of 2008 shiraz from the Adir Winery at Kerem Ben Zimra.

Your parents wouldn't permit me to give you any of the wine, but I assure you that we will have plenty of opportunity to share a bottle or two together when you get older.


Grandpa Jonathan
Jerusalem, Israel

A day of ethical questions

What a news day in Britian!  Last night, the shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alan Johnson, and this morning the Prime Minister's communications director, Andy Coulson, tendered their resignnations for unrelated reasons.  And former PM, Tony Blair, spent much of the day being publicly questioned by members of the inquiry panel established to ascertain the legitimacy of Britain's role in the war to topple Iraq's dicator, Sadam Hussein, in 2003.

Although unconnected, there is a common thread running through these three events.  Each raises interesting ethical questions, although they may be quite obscure to people from countries where corruption in public service is rife an endemic.

Alan Johnson surprised the nation when he announced his resignation for 'personal reasons' after just three months in the post.  At first, most thought this was a euphemism for something sinister.  But it turned out that he wife had been having an affair with one of his bodyguards from when he was the Home Secretary.  You could be forgiven for wondering why he would feel the need to quit his job because of his wife's wrongdoings.  But in British public service, there is a general notion that if a scandal threatens to detract from the job a person is doing, then the right thing to do is to step down.  It's a far cry from Italian public service where the PM is embroiled in an underage sex controversy and refuses to budge.

Andy Coulson is the former editor of a popular Sunday newpaper called the News of the World.  During his tenure, his Royal correspondent was found guilty of hacking into the phones of famous people.  He went to jail.  In spite of claiming he knew nothing about the criminal acts of one of his journalists and that this was a rogue act that the newspaper condemned, he felt the need to resign in the interests of protecting the reputation of his newspaper.  Once again, the notion of resigning for something you didn't do may seem quite strange. But this is the British way.  He was subsequently employed by the Prmie Minister to manage the government's external communications. 

Unfortunately for Coulson, stories about phone hacking being endemic at his former newspaper and rumours that he knew about it, continued to abound.  Although he protested his innocence, weeks of media gossip made him feel that it was time for him to go.  He beleived that when the person responsible for managing the reputation of the government is having his own reputation questioned that this is too much of a distraction and compromises his job.

As for Tony Blair, who has been out of office for more than three years, he is still being gruelled by the so-called Chilcott enquiry, which is investigating the rights and wrongs of government decisions taken eight years previously.  Blair continues to maintain that he believed that it was right to join forces with the United States and invade Iraq with the aim of unseating the country's dictator who was a threat to world stability.  The debate is complex, and with hindsight, the war now looks questionable.  But at the time, Sadam Hussein did appear to be a threat to the world.  He had previously invade Kuwait which was subsequently liberated by American and British forces, during which conflict he unleashed missiles on Israel.  And he had committed terrrible attrocities on ethnic minorities in his country.

It's right for politicians to be questioned.  This is part and parcel of the democratic process.  We have a right to know why certain decisions of real importance are made.  And our leaders should be held to account.  But I fear this enquiry is unearthing nothing new.  I certainly don't beleive that Blair is guilty of anything other than following his own convictions.  Now that's rare for most politicians.



Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Haircut in London

I have just returned from a day trip to London, primarily to visit my barber.

Now you may think it rather self indulgent to go to another country just to have my hair cut.  But you need to know that I have been going to the same barber, Anthony, for over 30 years.  He has become a good friend and it would feel like a betrayal to allow anyone else's scissors near to my scalp. 

My hair and beard were looking so wild that I really couldn't come and visit you in Israel next week in such a shoddy state.  I can now look in the mirror and see a respectable gentleman.  Looks can be deceptive.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

100 days to go

There's now exactly 100 days until the wedding of Prince William to Kate.  And one of the biggest questions being asked is whether Kate's wedding dress will be successfully kept under wraps.  Or will the design be leaked to the media?

As trivial as this may seem, it's not everyday that Britain has a Royal wedding, and particularly involving someone in direct line to the thrown.  It also provides a welcome distraction from all the gloomy economic news.

I'm a royalist and am greatly looking forward to the festivities in April.  So let the countdown to the great day begin.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Israel's diplomatic farce

Today's news of a strike at Israel's foreign ministry forcing the cancellation of a visit from Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev's is absolutely farcical.  Apparently, workers at the ministry had threatened to “ruin” the visit if it went ahead.  They are demanding higher pay.

This is an embarrassment for Israel.  But at least it’s quite funny.  All-too-often Israel is in the news because of some awful security-related issue.  I suppose I am happier to see Israel portrayed as a diplomatic laughing stock as opposed to a bully.

Israel attracts far too much negative media coverage, much of it quite unfairly.  But the nation’s politics is pretty ugly, and this labour-relations debacle with key civil servants is something else of which Israel cannot be proud.  As it turns out, this is unlikely to have any lasting consequences. 

While I absolutely believe that everyone should have the right to take industrial action, it does seem to me that these civil servants should be considering other ways to pressurise the government into paying them more.

On a happier note, I today booked my flights to Israel for next week.  I will come for just three days, but can’t wait to see you, my dear Yael.  It’s been too long and I am going to do my best to visit more often.

Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Silvio and Ruby

He may be a crooked sleaze bag, but Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi is again entertaining us with his sexual shenanigans.  Today's news is full of the 74 year-old premier's deinial of any wrongdoing with a 17-year-old lapdancer called Ruby.

"I love life, I love women", Berlusconi is reported as saying, as he now faces allegations of having sex with a minor.  Ruby was only 15 when she first met Silvio who apparantly paid her 7,000 euros.  Although both deny there being any physical relationship.

For a country that's had a record 21 prime ministers since 1945, Berlusconi's politial staying power is remarkable staying power, being the only premier to hold the position in excess of four years.  Actually, he's now in his second term as PM, having held the position for a cumulative total of more than six years.  But his days must now be surely numbered.  It must only be a matter of time before business and corruption scandals, combined with his obvious interest in teenage girls, will catch up with him.

I admire Italy for many wonderful reasons.  It has some of the most wonderful food and wine in the world.  It's people are relaxed, friencly and warm.  It has some of the most maginificent countryside, as well as some of the most impressive towns and citiies including Rome, which is one of my most favourite of cities in the world.  But Italy's politics has always been an embarrassment.



Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Revolution in Tunisia...where next?

After a month of steadily escalating riots across Tunisia, President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali lost his grip on power Friday. The country's prime minister announced that he was taking over to organize early elections and usher in a new government as 74 year-old Ben Ali, who'd been in power for 24 years, fled the North African nation.

This is a people's revolution fuelled by a desire by Tunisian's to rid themselves of the shackles of authoritarianism and embrace democracy.  It's potential consequences for the whole region are enormous.  Just as strikes by disgruntled workers in the Polish dockyard in Gdansk at the end of the 1980s spread to unrest in other communist countries led to the collapse of the Soviet Union, these dramatic events in Tunisia could mark the beginning of profound change throughout the Arab world.

Could this destabilise the region, opening the door to fundamentalist Islamic forces to take a strong foothold?  Or will this revolution bring democracy to totalitarian Arab nations, including Israel's largest neighbour, Egypt?


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Ageism

A landmark legal decision in Britain today is likely to have significant societal consequences.  The former presenter of BBC TV's Countryfile programme, Miriam O’Reilly won her employment case against the Corporation after she claimed she was discriminated against on the grounds of ageism.

O’Reilly, 53, was dropped from the show in 2009 when it moved to its current Sunday evening slot.
She was replaced by a younger presenter, while programme host John Craven, 68, was kept on.  Interestingly for me, John Craven is a TV personality from my youth.  He was the presenter of the very first news programme specifically made for children, called John Craven's Newsround.

Discrimination of all kinds is wrong.  But at the time of writing this, society is only just beginning to consider ageism as a form of discrimination.  This particular presenter is fully capable of doing her job and clearly should not have been sacked simply because some BBC executives wanted to freshen up the look of one of their TV programmes.



Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Gun ownership is abhorrent

Today's shooting of Arizona congresswoman, Gabrielle Gifford, at a political rally outside a grocery store in Tucson is shocking.  Although she took a bullet in the head, the 40 year-old democrat looks likely to make a miraculous recovery.  Time will tell how badly injured she has been.  But six people attending the rally were trajically killed, including a 9 year-old girl who was actually born on the very day of the infamous 9-11 attacks.  And 17 others were injured by a single gunman who reportedly shot indiscriminately and with no clear motive.

Gun violence in the United States is an intensely debated political issue in the Unted States, which is hardly surprising given that an average of 30,000 are fatally shot each year.   Shootings are hardly is hardly new in the United States, with the assasinations of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865, and of Presidents James Garfield, William McKinley and John F. Kennedy. High profile gun violence incidents, such as the assassinations of  Rober Kennedy, Martin Luther King  and, more recently, the Columbine High School massacrem the Beltway sniper attaacks  and the Virginia Tech massacre have further fueled debate over gun policy.

While gun crime is not unique to America, the world's 'superpower' has more gun victims than any other nations.  There's an average of 30,000 gun deaths in the US each year.  And yet there is a strong lobby to protect people's right, which is ridiculously enshrined in the constitution, to own a gun.  How crazy is that?

I find the right for ordinary civilians to carry weapons to be absolutely abhorent.  Every effort must be made to reduce the number of weapons available.  Unfortunately, there are far too many guns in evidence in Israel.  But this is because of the tense security situation.  I sincerely hope that by the time you get to read my blog, my darling Yael, that there will be no need for such horrible weapons to be carried anymore in Israel. 

As for the US, let's hope that Congresswoman Gifford fully recovers from here injuries and that the shock of this awful shooting will act as a wake up call for America.   Guns should be eliminated from society.

Grandpa Jonathan

Prague, Czech Republic

New year heralds historic changes

Today is 1.1.11, and this first day of 2011 heralds two historic changes.  Estonia becomes the 17th country to introduce the Euro, and Brazil's first woman president takes office.

With the euro woes of Greece and Ireland prompting some to suggest that the currency is on the rocks, it is encouraging to see a new member of the Eurozone today.  It is quite remarkable to think that Estonia was a part of the Soviet Union until just 20 years ago.  Who would have ever imagined back then that this small Baltic state with a population of little over a million, would ever have acceded to the European Union, yet alone the Euro.

While we are becoming somewhat more accustomed to female leaders, they are still relatively rare.  For a country of the size of Brasil, it is very encouraging to see Dilma Rousseff sworn in today as Brazil's first woman president, succeeding the incredibly popular President Lula. 

By the time you read this, I really do hope that the Euro will be a successful currency embraced by all of Europe, incoluding Britain, and that there will be nothing remarkable about any woman being appointed to any job in the world.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Monet to Warhol

It was a pleasure to take my mother to a wonderful art exhibition in Prague today which presented 80 works of modern art spanning the beautiful tranquility of Claude Monet to the crazy flambouyance of Andy Warhol.  It was my dear mother who first introduced me to the joys of roaming art galleries.  I remember her taking my sister, Beverley and me to various exhibitions in London as a child.

I always think it is a good idea to try a pick out one piece of work from an exhibition which I particularly liked.  On this ocassion, it was Monet's famous and tranquil Water Lillies which gave me a real thrill to see "in the flesh".

Now that my mother walks so slowly, a gentle meander around a beautiful art gallery in Prague couldn't be better.  She really enjoyed herself, and I know how happy she is to spend time with me.

I then took her for a lovely lunch in a Japanese restaurant.  So we had a really good day of diverse culture.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Nahum Bedein

Sadly, my darling Yael, you will never know your uncle Nahum Bedein.  After a four-year corageous battle with renal cancer, Nahum passed away today in a Jerusalem hospice where he spent his final days.  He was just 55, two years older than me and far, far too young to die.

I first met Nahum 31 years ago.  He had married Susan, the sister of my then wife-to-be, Veronica.  He warmly welcomed me into the extended Kennard family.  He was full of fun and good humour, and I always enjoyed his company.  He was a lovely brother-in-law.

Born in Philadelphia as Neal, he changed his name to Nahum when he made aliya. He leaves behind his mother, Miriam Bedein who still lives in Philadelphia (his father, Philip, died some years ago); brother, David; sister, Helen Miller; his wife, Susan, who is your great aunt; and four sons: Amihai,; Yehezkel; Gilad, Lior and two granddaughters: Amit and Lia. 

Nahum was an easy-going, happy-go-lucky character.  In spite of his terrible illness, he remained upbeat and positive.  The treatment he had to endure was quite horrible, and yet I never heard him complain.  Above all, Nahum had a huge heart.  He was tactile, always hugging me tightly when we met.  He was so very proud of his four boys, as well as his two beautiful granddaughters.  Thankfully, he was able to live long enough to enjoy the weddings of two of his sons and to welcome into the world his grandchildren.

It was Nahum who reached out to me during my marital difficulties.  Unlike many others, he was unjudgemental, proactively offering his support and friendship.  I considered Nahum as a good friend, and I will miss him.

You will not remember Nahum, my darling Yael, but I brought him to the hospital to meet you when you were just two days young.  Inevitably, there will be many older family and friends who will have passed on by the time you read this.  But I want you to know that Nahum was a terrific fellow who you would have liked very much.  May fond memories of him endure, and may he rest in peace.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Merry Christmas

In spite of being brought up in a predominantly Christian society, we never had any of the trappings of Christmas at home.  But I did participate in Christmas activities at school and elsewhere.  In fact, I have always enjoyed this time of year and have happily embraced the opportunity to have a good time.  So it was with much pleasure that I prepared a traditional British Christmas dinner for my mother and some friends.  This included a roasted turkey with stuffing, brussels sprouts with chestnuts, red cabbage and, of course, Christmas pudding.  The table was adorned with glittering decorations together with Christmas crackers, which are a curious British invention.

Chistmas has no religious significance for me whatsoever, but I see no reason not to enjoy the ocassion.  At this time of year when the days are so short and the weather is so cold, it's lovely to have a good excuse for colourful decorations, sparkling lights and partying.  When your father was at school in London, he actually starred in his school's Christmas play in his last year at Camden Town School for Girls.  He will explain why he went to a girl's school.

It's good to have my mother with me here in Prague for a week.  She was keen to see the Queen's traditional Christmas message on television.  Queen Elizabeth II has broadcast a festive message every year of her reign, and it's interesting to see how her style, tone and the content has changed to fit in with the times.  This year's was particularly interesting. 

Usually recorded at her main home at Buckingham Palace, The Queen gave this message from Hampton Court where she talked about the King James Bible, which will celebrates its 400th anniversary next year.  It was in 1604, where King James IV -- who inherited the throne at a time when the Christian Church was deeply divided -- convened a conference of churchmen of all shades of opinion to discuss the future of Christianity in this country.

The King agreed to commission a new translation of the Bible that was acceptable to all parties. This was to become the King James or Authorized Bible.  The work took a painstaking six years to be translated at Oxford University from the original hebrew text.  It was designed to unify the Christian Church.

I am a proud Jew, but always interested in learning about other religions.  You, my dear Yael, were born in the remarkable city of Jerusalem which is the centre for three of the world's great faiths, Judaisn, Islam and Christianity.  I hope you have an appetite for learning about the traditions and beliefs of others.



Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Finally arrived back in Prague

Five days late thanks to the terrible winter weather in Europe, I arrived back in Prague at 6pm.  My mother had landed two hours ahead of me, but was met by a friend of mine and taken home.  So I was greeted by her when I got to my apartment.  She will stay with me in Prague for a week

Within minutes of my return, I dragged my mother out to my friend Alice's daughter's house, Misha, for a lovely Christmas eve dinner.  We had a lovely evening.

After such a long and eventful trip, I am glad to be home.  I will sleep well tonight in my own bed.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

"I counted them all, and I counted them all back"

I was upset today to hear of the passing of Brian Hanrahan, one of the most famous BBC correspondents, best known for his coverage of the Falklands War.  He died at the age of 61 after a short battle against cancer.

His reporting spanned the reshaping of Nato and the European Union, as well as conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, and the Middle East.  As the BBC's Far East, and then Moscow correspondent, he watched dramatic changes unfolding in China and Russia.  He covered Tiananmen Square and the fall of the Berlin Wall.

But it was in the Falkands War in 1982 that made him his reputation.  He was reporting from an aircraft carrier, and famously counted the returning Harrier jets  landing back on to deck, in such a way as to circumvent British Ministry of Defence censorship.  It was as though it was yesterday, as I so clearly remember hearing his radio report, when he said: "I'm not allowed to say how many planes joined the raid, but I counted them all out and I counted them all back. Their pilots were unhurt, cheerful and jubilant, giving thumbs-up signs."

Sadly, Hanrahan had recently been scheduled to report on the last flight of the Harrier jets, which are being scrapped because of government spending cuts, about which I have written in a previous blog.  Alas, he became too ill to attend the ceremony and died only days later. 

He was a true symbol of the remarkable reporting standards of the BBC.  He will certainly be remembered by me.



Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

Stranded in New York

When I woke up this morning to the news of record snow falls in London, I instinctively smelt trouble ahead.  I was supposed to fly tomorrow evening to London en route to Prague.  But discovering that Heathrow airport was closed, I realised that this would almost certainly effect my flight.  Sure enough, when I went online, all transatlantic flights into London were already cancelled for tomorrow.  And when I called American Airlines, I was told that there would be no chance of my flying to London until at least Wednesday at the earliest. 

Britain is unprepared for such unprecedented amounts of snow and Heathrow just doesn't have the necessary equipment to cope.  The consequence is that one of the world's busiest airports with hundreds of flights a day just ground to a halt.  With scenes of anxious travellers sleeping on the floor at Heathrow and other airports, I felt fortunate that I could at least extend my booking at the comfortable DoubleTree hotel on Lexington Avenue, where I will wait until a flight becomes available.  There are worse places to be stranded that Manhattan.


Grandpa Jonathan
New York, USA

Holiday season in Manhattan

What a thrill to be in Manhattan at this time of year.  It's no longer politically correct to refer to this season as Christmas time, so instead they call it Holiday time out of respect for all religions.  I think this is quite crazy.  Surely Americans can recognise the differance between Christmas and Chanukah without causing offence?

The 'holiday' tree at the the Rockerfeller Center is especially stunning, set beside the skating rink beneath the elegant skysraper known these days as The Rock, it looks truly spectacular.

I'm happy to spend the weekend here enjoying the sights and sounds of this exhilerating city which is heaving with people as people by their last-minute Christmas, woops I mean holiday, gifts.  I'll be buying a few things here to take back for our festivities in Prague.


Grandpa Jonathan
New York, USA

Rainforest Alliance

Success.  After eight months struggling to repair a damaged relationship between my client, a major producer of pulp and paper, and the Rainforest Alliance, I am delighted to report that todays' meeting went very well.

Rainforest Alliance, a leading international non-governmental organization, had been provided certification to prove that my client's plantation wood was sustainably produced.  However, as a consequence of pressure from other environmental groups who alleged that my client is converting natural forest to make way for its plantations, Rainforest Alliance suspended the certification.  Many of my client's customers, who are big consumer companies, like Procter and Gamble who are the world's largest nappy producers, insist of buying only sustainably certified pulp.  So this was a big blow to my client.

My client has consistently denied any allegations of wrongdoing.  I have been playing my brokering role, trying to get both parties around the table to agree a process which will support my client's claim.  This is complicated work, particularly in Indonesia, where the company operates.  And it is sometimes strange to be discussing the problems of the rainforests in Sumatra in the offices of Rainforest Alliance in the heart of Manhattan.

Finally, a formula has been agreed that should now lead to the reinstatement of the certification within a few months.  There will be much more work to do, and many more miles to travel.  But I am confident of success.


Grandpa Jonathan
New York, USA

Chilly Chicago

I used to think that weather was trivial and that people who chose to live in sunny places were rather shallow.  But waking up this morning and drawing back the curtains to reveal a deeply frozen Chicago reinforced my now long-held view that weather does matter.  I'm in no doubt that the relaxed, happy-go-lucky character of the Latin Americans has a good deal to do with the pleasant temperatures in which they live. 

Less than 48 hours ago I was enjoying the balmy coniditions in Cancun, and now I must bundle up warm to travel the few blocks from Chicago's Magnificent Mile, where I am staying, to get to the offices of Reputation Partners at the corner of Clarke and Adams Streets.  Your grandfather would much rather have gone back to bed, but did endure a grown-up day in the office.

Anyway, I survived the day and am now at Chicago's O'Hare aiport about to board an evening flight to New York.  A few days in the Big Apple, no matter what the weather, will be sure to make me happy.




Grandpa Joanthan
Chicago, USA

Fascinating family history

I missed the wonderful sea breeze blowing into my room and the lovely sounds of the waves rolling onto the beach.  After 10 nights beautiful sunrises in Cancun, this morning I woke early to a view from my room of a dark and sub-zero Chicago.  I suppose it was this dramatic change that caused me to wake earlier than usual.  But this had one advantage, because while using the time to surf the Internet, I came across the most fascinating classified advertisments placed in the 4th January 1946 edition of The London Gazette.

This is a rather curious publication that has been going for a long, long time, and was commonly used by lawyers to publish announcements that were legally required to be made public.  I actually found two concurant and related announcements http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37420/supplements/259 :

NOTICE is hereby given that by a deed poll dated

±he 27th day of December 1945 and duly enrolled in

the Supreme Court of Judicature on *the ist day of

January 1946, GERALD WOOTLIFF of 19, Wellhouse

Drive, Gledhow in the city of Leeds Dental

Student a natural born British subject renounced and

abandoned the surname of Waissblatt and assumed

in lieu thereof the surname of Wootliff—Dated the

ist day of January 1946.

HEPWORTH and CHADWICK, 14, Butts

Court, Albion Street, in the City of Leeds,

(130) .Solicitors for the said Gerald Wootliff.

NOTICE is hereby given that by a deed poll dated,

the 27th day of December 1945 and duly enrolled

in. the Supreme Court of Judicature on the ist day

of January 1946, JOSEPH LENARD WOOTLIFF

of 19, Wellhouse Drive, Gledhow in the city of Leeds,

"Tailor, and Costumier, a naturalized British subject,

-renounced and abandoned the surname of Waissblatt

and assumed in lieu thereof the surname of Wootliff.

—Dated the 1st day of January 1946.

 HEPWORTH and CHADWICK, 14, Butts

Court, Albion Street, in the City of Leeds,

{129) Solicitors for the said Joseph Lenard Wootliff.

My father had once told me that when he applied for the Royal Airforce, he had disovered that he had officially been born with the original name that the Wootliff family had brought to Britain from Poland.  I known this name to be Weisblatt, because of a branch of the family who had emigrated to the United States and retained the name, with this particular spelling.  But I do remember seeing the Waissblatt name on grave stones at my step-grandmother Rose's funeral, which must have been over 20 years ago.

It was quite common for Jews who immigrated to Britain to so-called 'anglicize' their names, so as to avoid the embarrassment of being known as a foriegner, and perhaps even as a Jew.  Weisblatt means White Leaf, and so your ancestors who arrived in Britain in the late eighteen hundreds decided to change the family name to Wootliff.  This was a particularly Yorkshire-sounding name, which was very fitting for a family that landed in the coastal town of Hull, where my father was to be born in 1923.

For some wierd reason, my father's father, Leonard, your great, great grandfather, had been born with the name of Waissblatt, which I assume was because his parents never got around to officially changing their surname.  As a result, my father was also officially born with the name of Gerald Waissblatt, although he was brought up as a Wootliff and had this name throughout his childhood, teens and early twenties.  These two announcements give notice of the fact that both Leonard and his son Gerald changed their name by deed poll, which is the legal term.

But what I still don't understand is that, according to these announcements, the change would have been when my father was already 24 years old.  This would have been after his service in the Royal Airforce.  So my question is why did my father officially change his name at this particular time?

Family history is interesting and important.  Unfortunately, it is easy to leave many questions unanswered.  By the time you get around to asking someone, people who would know are no longer alive.  Alas, this may be the case as for my father's name-change.  But I will ask my Aunt Barbara, my father's sister, and see whether she can shed any light on this family mystery.

Meanwhile, my dear Yael, I advise you to check your own birth certificate to find out whether your parents may have entered any information which now seems strange to you.



Grandpa Jonathan
Chicago, USA

A differant kind of climate change

After a final swim in Cancun's warm Gulf of Mexico waters, I packed and headed for the airport where I bought a few presents, including a cuddly sea turtle for your first Chanukah, my darling Yael. 

We flew almost exactly due north to Chicago where we arrived on time.  But what a shock to the system to leave the bliss of 22 celsius and arrive in minus 15 celsius with a bitter wind that made the temperature feel at least 10 degrees lower.  Chicago is known for its brutal winters, with frigid winds blowing from Canada across Lake Michegan.  It was absolutely horrible just leaving the airport to hop into a taxi.  This transition brings a whole new meaning to the term Climate Change.

I dined with my friend, Nick Kalm, at a favourite Chicago restaurant called Ditkas, which belongs to an American Football legend called Mike Ditka.  Now 71, Mike can often be seen chatting to people in this atmospheric steakhouse.  Just for the record, he was the only individual to participate in both of the last two Chicago Bears' championships, as a player in 1963 and as head coach in 1985.

Your grandfather had a wonderful boned steak which was about the size and shape of a small squash racket.  It was far too large, but I ate it all.....and enjoyed it very much.  I just can't understand how vegetarians survive.


Grandpa Jonathan
Chicago, USA

Modern-day Shakespearean tragedy

The discovery of the body of a 46 year-old man was found lifeless, hanging by a dog lead in his Manhattan appartment in the SoHo neighbourhood is absolutely everywhere this morning.  Tragically, on the second anniversary of his father's arrest in one of the most sensational fraud cases ever, Mark Madoff committed suicide. 

In March 2009, Madoff pleaded guilty to turning his wealth management business into a massive so-called Ponzi scheme that defrauded thousands of investors, including many leading charities, of billions of dollars.  His son leaves behind four children, ages 18, 16, 4 and 2, and and a wife.

It was the incredible scale of the fraud, combined with the fact that it had been perpertrated for so long by a respected member of the Wall Street's stockbroking comminity that made Bernie one of the most famous white collar criminals in history.  What he did was terrible.  His scam resulted in thousands of ordinary people losing their entire life savings, and even some charities which had invested their endowments with Madoff's firm had to close down.

Amazingly, inspite of the fact that Bernie's firm had been embezzeling billions of dollars for more than two decades, the fraud was apparently unknown to his two sons, who worked for the business, nor his wife.  We are led to beleive that he first confessed to his sons who reported him to the authorities.  As the crime details of his crimes were unravelled, the world was stunned by the enormous sums of money involved.  What had been seen as a respected New York Jewish family -- Bernie was a major benefactor -- had its reputation destroyed as the story unfolded.

We may never know the full truth.  But Bernie, who is in his seventies, is now serving 150 years behind bars, his wife has been stripped of all her wealth and now tries to live a low-profile existence in Florida, and he leaves another son and grandchildren with the burden of shame in carrying the infamous name of Madoff.  It is a sad, sad tale for all involved -- one of Shakesperian proportions.

I am spending my last day in Cancun enjoying the warm weather in anticipation to the cold norther climbs of Chicago where I will go tomorrow.


Grandpa Jonathan
Cancun, Mexico

Cancun climate change compromise

I had a very late night.  Actually, I didn't get to bed this morning until around 5.30am, just as the sun was beginning to rise on the horizon.

At the unearthly hour of 3pm, anticipation of a lackluster outcome from the climate summit gave way to near euphoria at the closing plenary here in Cancún. It marked another dramatic end to a grueling two weeks of touch talks.  With the massive convention hall filled with self-congratulatory cheers accompanied by numerous standing ovations as conference president, Patricia Espinosa -- who is Mexico's minister for foreign affairs -- heralded the result as "a new era in international cooperation on climate change."

Having been attending these negotiations myself since Kyoto, your grandfather had become quite jaded by the rollercoaster of ups and downs that I've witnessed over the years. And yet I was deeply moved by the dramatic finale as Espinosa, described as a goddess by India's gregarious environment minister, was given a standing ovation as she formally presented the text to the negotiations with tears in her eyes.

It was a real joy to hear another woman, the newly elected U.N. climate chief, Christiana Figueres, who was sitting next to Ms. Espinosa throughout the proceedings, pronounce: "The beacon of hope has been reignited and faith in the multilateral climate change process to deliver results has been restored."

History will tell just how much of a success this summit has been.  I would describe the outcome more as a compromise than a triumph.  At least the process has been kicked forward to the next meeting at the end of 2011 in Durban, South Africa, when we must hope that the 194 nations of the world finallly come to an agreement on a new international treaty that will effectly reduce manmade greenhouse gas emissions.  It is so frustrating to see how slowly the wheels of international negotiations turn.  Years and years of wrangling seem to have achieved not much more than an agreement to continue talking.

However, the climate change challenge is clearly an issue that is of concern to every country on earth.  In the years that I have been involved, I have certainly seen an ecouraging shift towards universal agreement that something needs to be done.  Gone are the days when there were voices of doubt about the whole topic.  And many countries are implementing all kinds of environmentally-friendly measures that no one would have expected only a few years ago.

But it is quite shocking that decisions about what amounts to the most issue to face humanity are being deliberated by the nations of the world at 3am in the morning.  The summit was supposed to have finished nine hours earlier, but the leadership was determined to keep going until some resolution could be found.  So, as usual, this highly complex process was saved from collapse at the last minute. 

This has been another extaordinary experience for me to witness at first hand how the world is run.  In spite of the frustrations, I do remain confident that good sense will eventually prevail and that we will join together as one world to avert a real crisis.  I've met many interesting people, spent time with old friends and colleagues, and written many words about this summit.  It's been another life-changing week for me.  Here is the conclusion of my blog that I contributed to the Huffington Post by way of summarising the experience:

Personally, Cancún took on a whole new meaning for me. I've been one of many voices talking for years about the essential need to ensure that our grandchildren inherit a viable and healthy planet. Last August, I became a proud grandfather.

Climate change must be abated. An enduring agreement must be reached. We owe it to my new granddaughter, Yael, and all the grandchildren of the world.

After all the drama, and a distinct lack of sleep, I spent much of the day dong nothing of any consequence.  I swtiched from saving the world to swimming in the warm sea, and lying in a deck chair by the pool wating for the pretty Mexican girls to notice me.  They didn't, but at least I had a relaxing time.


Grandpa Jonathan
Cancun, Mexico

Crunch time in Cancun

It's nearly midnight here at the climate summit in Cancun and there is still no indication of the likely outcome.  Negotiators remain behind closed doors while the rest of us are generally milling around in expectation that the plenary sesssion will start any time now.  The chairman of this event had committed to closing the talks promptly at 6pm, but that has never happened in the past, and this is Latin America.

Talking to people here, I do sense a growing feeling of optimism that at least something positive can be agreed so as to keep the process moving forward.  Last year in Copenhagen, the summit ended in miserable deadlock with everyone leaving with a deep feeling of despondancy.  We are all just hoping and praying now that something more upbeat will emerge.

It's going to be a long night as we await the results of these critical negotiations.  With 13 years having passed since the historic first agreement on climate change mitigation reached in Kyoto, I am keeping my fingers and toes firmly crossed that good sense and goodwill will prevail.  The future health of Planet Earth is in the balance tonight.


Grandpa Jonathan
Cancun, Mexico

More student protests in London

Today's scenes of huge student protests in London against the British government's proposal to triple university tuition fees seem like a world away from here in Central America.  All day, I have been watching angry scenes over there as the debate took place in the House of Commons.  By early evening, as news reached the protestors that the government won the vote and the legislation will therefore go through, tensions on the streets mounted.

Unfortunately, as is so often the case with demonstrations, a minority took advantage of the situation to behave violently and destructively which has the effect of diluting the credibility of the arguments of the mainstream protestors.  But I am pleased to see students bothering to go out on a freezing cold day and make their feeling known.  It is important for people to express their views and British students are at least fortunate to live in a country where they are allowed to do so.  Alas, they are less fortunate when it comes to taking advantage of a university education.  Inevitably, there will be those from poorer families who will be deprived of further education as a consequence of this austerity measure. 

While I am not against some charge being levied for university education, the sum of 16,000 pounds will be prohibitive to many.  I do not beleive that a civilised socieity should expect young people to have to fork out so much for going to university.  The government is taking a regressive step for which I am sure they pay a heavy price as its popularity surely takes a nose dive.  It is extraordinary that the Liberal-Democratic party, who are in coalition with the Conservatives, have supported this draconian measure.  They will definately be punished by voters at the next election.  The party has long been marginal in British politics and I wouldn't be surprises if, after this brief foray of power, the Liberals will be driven to the edge of extintion.  And your grandfather says: "Good riddance!"

Amazingly, Prince Charles and the Dutchess of Cornwall got inadvertently caught up in the protests as their Rolls Royce was pelted with paint bombs and the back window smashed while on their way to the premier of a show at the London Paladium.  "Off with their heads" were the cries being chanted by some protestors.  Well, I have no doubt that there will be some senior police officers whose heads will roll for allowing the Royal couple into the eye of this storm.

Meanwhile, here in Cancun the climate summit progresses.  Or does it.  With less than 24 hours to go and negotiations as in flux as ever, who know whether there is going to be some kind of positive outcome.  This grandfather's fingers remain firmly crossed.



Grandpa Jonathan
Cancun, Mexico

El Presidente

The highlight of my day at the climate summit was meeting the president of Mexico, the country hosting what is turning out to be the usual spectacle of intergovernmental haggling over the future of our planet.  I snapped him on my Blackberry just prior to shaking his hand

But what makes this even so differant from last year's in Copenhagen -- apart from it being a pleasant 22 celsius in contrast to 15 below in the Danish capital -- is the Latin approach.  President Felipe Calderón, who has two years remaining until the end of his six year term in office, has been setting the tone by walking around the conference in a relaxed manner and talking friendlily with anyone and everyone.

But this casual appearance disguises the critical and high pressure negotations that are going on betwen the 194 nations represented here.  Meetings went on well into last night.  Right now, the differances seem to be as great as ever with fears that the event will end in deadlock.  Everyone who wants a solution knows that it would be quite disasterous for this whole process for these talks to end in the same dissapointing way as last year.  I honestly beleive that the credibility of multilaterilsm is at stake here.

Another contrast to last year is the limited media coverage.  In Copenhagen, where 120 heads of state and government came, the summit attracted massive news attention.  There are some 2,000 reporters here as opposed to the 3,000-strong press corps at the previous event.  I was told by the single BBC reporter here that the BBC News budget had been stretched by the huge coverage of the dramatic Chilean miners' rescue.  There were 30 BBC staff covering the Copenhagen meeting.

My expectations for a meaningful outcome here are low.  But I really do hope that enough will emerge to allow the process to move forward to next year's scheduled talks in Durban.  It's 16 years since this U.N. series of international discussions started and 13 years since the first legally-binding treaty was agreed in Kyoto.  While I had been beginning to doubt that a successor agreement will ever emerge, I can see that there is concerted effort going on to succeed.  The original treaty expires in 2012, so time is surely running out.

On a lighter note, it is so pleasant to go to bed at night with my balcony window open and hear the soundes of the waves.  Waking up in the morning to the sight of a beautiful beach with the sun rising on the horizon is exilerating.

Grandpa Jonathan

Cancun, Mexico

 

Our days our numbered

Although I am almost fully immersed in the climate summit here in Cancun, I was moved today at the sad news of the death of Elizabeth Edwards, the estranged wife of the former U.S. Senator for North Carolina, John Edwards.  Elizabeth was only 61 years old, and had endured a long battle with cancer. 

John Edwards became particularly famous when he ran as the Democratic VIce Presidential candidate in John Kerry's failed campaign in 2004, which they lost to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.  When I took your father on a visit to Washington DC a few years ago, it was through the then-Senator Edwards office that I arrange a tour of the Senate.

The baby-faced, clean-cut senator's career crashed when it was found that he had a child with one of his campaign staff, which he subsequently denied.  It marked a tragic end to a promising political career.  Although Elizabeth, who was an impressive woman in her own right, initially stood by her man, they subsequently separated, but never divorced.

It was reported that John Edwards was at her bedside along with their children when she died, at their North Carolina home.  Infidelity so often destroys the trust that people like the Edwards had built together over many years of marriage.  Having met at university, it is clear from everything I have read and seen that they had been very much in love.  How sad that her life should end in this way.

Tragedy is not new to the Edwards whose son Wade died in a car crash in 1996 at the age of 16 in a freak wind storm.  I've written about this before, and will say again that it must be unimaginably painful to lose a child. 

Just one day before her death, Elizabeth made this very poignant facebook entry:

Her comment about all of our days being numbered really touched me.  We never know what will happen tomorrow,  Writing this daily blog makes me has raised my awareness that our days are numbered, this being my 123rd missive since your birth, my darling Yael. I do hope to have the opportunity to write many thousands of entries, which will certainly keep you busy,

You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces -- my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined. The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human. But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful. It isn't possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel towards everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say: you know.

Grandpa Jonathan

Cancun, Mexico

Climate talks in Cancun

It has become something of a regular pilgrimage for me to attend the United Nations annual climate change summit.  As usual, this is an incredible spectacle of more than 20,000 people from 194 nations come together to try and reach agreement on how to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions and avert irreversible climate change.

My first summit was in 1997 in Japan's historic city of Kyoto at which an initial international treaty was agreed.  Sadly the United States, which is the world's single largest emitter of GHGs, subsequently failed to have the agreement ratified by Congress.  Without U.S. participation the deal has been relatively ineffective, and anyway, the so-called Kyoto Protocol is due to expire in 2012.  So this gathering is particularly critical, especially after the dissapointing breakdown of last year's talks in Copenhagen.

This has increasingly become a debate between rich and poor nations.  There is pressure on the developed countries, who are the biggest polluters, to reduce their use of fossil fuels, which are the main cause of the problem.  Meanwhile, the poorer countries are demanding financial compensation in return for curbing their emissions.  The science seems as complicated as the problem.

Your existence in the world makes this event a very differant experience for me.  Climate change is an issue about the future.  For years now, those like me who have campaigned for meaningful steps to be taken to mitigate climate change have argued that this must be done for the sake of our grandchildren.  We have long argued that it our responsiblity to protect our precious planet so that future generations will not suffer.

My dear Yael, you represent the true inspiration for finding the solution to climate change.  While it's unlikely that there will be any agreement reached here in Cancun this week, the political process will continue.  I remain optimistic that the world will come together to fix the problem, for the benefit of you and future generations.


Grandpa Jonathan
Cancun, Mexico

Caribbean sunrise

I awoke before dawn and threw back the curtains to see the sun rising on the horizon.  As the sky brightened, the dark ocean developed that wonderful azure colour that associate with the Caribbean.  Looking out over the Gulf of Mexico is a wonderful way to start one’s day.

My main mission was accomplished in obtaining my media pass.  There is massive security surrounding this U.N. climate convention.  I passed many Mexican police and army roadblocks on my half hour journey to the conference venue.  But being Sunday, there was no official business and everything was quiet and effortless.  This is the calm before the storm, as tomorrow will be buzzing with 20,000 delegates.

I’m happy to report that your grandfather spent a relaxing afternoon by the pool.  Actually, I should say pools, because this hotel has more than a dozen of them in their gardens overlooking the beach.  Back to hard work tomorrow.

Grandpa  Jonathan

Cancun, Mexico

Mexico, here I come

It seemed weird as I left home this morning, when it was minus 14 degrees Celsius, that in less than 15 hours I would be in the warmth of the Caribbean.  Because of the freezing conditions, I was concerned that my flight to London would be delayed, thus missing my connecting flight to New York.  But all went smoothly.  I even had a comfortable three hours at JFK airport to catch up on emails and the like before my final flight down to Cancun in Mexico. I was happy to see a chanukiah on welcome desk at American Airlines premium lounge. This was a lovely reminder that today is the third day of Chanukah.

It’s my first visit to the Yucatán Peninsular, so I look forward to seeing what it’s like. I have arrived at 10pm so the darkness prevents me from seeing much.  I’ve checked in to the Hilton and have a balcony twice the size of my room, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.  I can hear the ocean and will go nicely to sleep with the windows open.

Tomorrow I will collect my media pass for the United Nations climate summit which I am attending all of next week.  The sad news of Israel’s devastating forest fires on the hills surrounding Haifa, which are still burning at the time of writing, are particularly ironic given the topic of the talks that I am attending.  Climate change is being increasingly blamed as the cause of many such forest fires.  The number of such natural catastrophes in the world has increased exponentially in recent years as global warming kicks in.


Grandpa Jonathan
Cancun, Mexico

Weather, not climate.....stupid

With Britain experiencing the coldest weather since records began, why am I surprised to read the usual clap trap from the so-called 'climate sceptics' who don't believe that man-induced carrbon dioxide and other so-called greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are dangerously impacting on the world's climate?  The front page of today's Express Newspaper, one of Britain's most facile of tabloids, has a snow covered scene with the headline Global Warming?  It's the Coldest Winter on Record.

As I prepare to leave for the United Nations climate change in Mexico, it is extraordinary how many people continue to deny that our climate is changing.  This flux is sometimes known as 'Global Warming", but it is actually just shorthand for 'Climate Change'.  The fact is that over 95 percent of climatologists have identified a significant increase in the average temperature of the planet, whcih they direclty blame on the acceleration of GHGs that we are pumping in to the atmosphere.

Local weather conditions vary.  There is no connection between this and the big-picture phenomenon of climate change. 

As I make this point of clarification, I am mindful of how funny this will read in years to come, by the time that climate change is universally accepted and the world has become fully committed to curbing GHGs, having conquered its addiction to fossil fuels and now using clean, renewable energy technology.

Right now, as a pack my suitcase for the warmth of Cancun, it's -15 degrees celsius outside, here in Prague, with more than 12 centimetres of snow on the ground. 


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic

World Cup misery

Using sporting parlance, I can say that the people of England today felt "gutted" and "robbed".

In spite of the sterling efforts of a King-to-be, Prince William, a footballing superstar, David Beckham, and Prime Minister David Cameron who led a team which included many other luminaries from the world of English football, the nation today learnt that it lost its campaign to host the 2018 World Cup.  The so-called 'Three Lions' attended the three day finale in Zurich, Switzerland of what has been a two year campaign.  Alas, we lost out to Russia.

The whole process has been complicated by allegations of corruption, particularly from the British media who had suggested that some of the voting officals of FIFA, the international football federation.  The organisation rejected these accusations and it is beleived in some quarters that this adversely impacted on England's chances of success.  Because of the lack of transparency at FIFA, we may never know what really happened.

This now means that England, who last hosted the World Cup in 1966 when we beat West Germany 4-2 in a dramatic final, that the event cannot again come to England until at least 2030 when your grandfather will be 70 and you, my dear Yael, will be 20 years old.  It seems like a long time to wait, but if England wins its then, I shall be pleased to take you to some of the matches.



Grandpa Jonathan

Religious freedom

On the eve of Chanukah, I was impressed by the comments of Brititish Chief Rabbi Rabbi Jonathan Sachs who was speaking on this morning's Thought for the Day slot on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme.
 
He recalled hsi experience twenty years ago when he lit Chanukah candles with Mikhail Gorbachev, the last president of the USSR, the former Soviet Union. He was asked to explain the siginificance of the festival. He said that it was about when Israel was under Greek rule and how the tyrannical leader, Attiochus IV, deprived the Jews of their religious rights.  It was thanks to the inspiration of an elderly priest, Mattityahu, a group of Jews fought for their freedom and won, regaining control of Jerusalem, cleansing the defiled Temple and relighting the menorah, the great candelabrum. And we've lit lights ever since on the anniversary of that rededication.
 
Rabbi Sachs then went on and said that for seventy years under communist rule the Jews of the Soviet Union had lost the freedom to practise their faith. And it was under Mikhail Gorbachev himself and his policy of glasnost that that freedom was restored. So in a sense he was part of the story of Hanukkah more than 2000 years later. Gorbacev litterally blushed by seeing his political achievements in that kind of historical context.
 
Alas, the battle for religious freedom still continues today. In many parts of the world Jews, Christians and Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and others are still persecuted because of their faith.  The simple symbolism of candle-lighting is shared by so many faiths, not just Jews on Chanukah but Christians  at prayer,  Hindusand Sikhs at Diwali.
 
Surely no one's flame  threaten another's, nor does their's diminish mine, and each time someone lights one, whatever his or her faith, the world becomes a little brighter for all of us.  That's why religious freedom matters and why religious diversity enlarges us all.
 
I have very powerful childhood memories of lighting Chanukah candles and recieivng presents.  You are too young to remember your first Chanukah, but I know that your parents will.  May you enjoy the excitiment of this lovely festival first as a child, and then eventually as a parent too.


 
Grandpa Jonathan

Journey's End

I was especially taken by today's Good Read programme on BBC Radio 4 on which the World War I play, Journey's End, by R.C. Sherriff was reviewed.

Set in the a British trench, located just meters from the German line, I studied this play when I was 15 and 16 years old for my English Litterature 'O' Level examination.  It is a powerful and moving play about the horror and senslessness of the so-called Great War.  It lets you into the lives of young soldiers who were facing what appeared to be inevitable death.  Sadly, the play's outcome fulfills expectations.

The First World War was said to be the one to end all wars.  Tragically, this was not to be.  Not only did millions of young lives get cut down in the horrors of World War I, but this terrible conflict provided the seeds for the Second World War which was to wipe out millions more.

My darling Yael, I hope you get the opportunity to see or read Journey's End.  I have seen it on stage a couple of times.  It was written a long time ago, with very differant language and attitudes to that of today.  But I beleive you will enjoy it, and I know it will provide you with a human and emotional insight into such a momentous event in history.


Grandpa Jonathan

WikiLeaks

Politicians and diplomats across the world are reeling this morning from the news of the unauthorised released of more than a quarter of a million confidential emails from the U.S. State Department on the highly controversial Wikileaks website.  These leaked dispatches provide many fascinating behind-the-scenes insights into  the U.S. administration..

I am deeply dubious of the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton's condemnation of the leaks, saying that this act puts U.S. lives at risk in various parts of the world.  They appear to be embarrassing, but not dangerous to me.  Indeed, I am delighted that we have investigative journalists and Internet outlets like WikiLeaks that can tell us what is really happening.

Transparency is key to the good health of any democracy, and I fear the consequences of any government that says one thing publicly while doing something else privately.  Of course it is necessary for some issues that could compromise security to be kept under wraps.  But what I have seen from these revelations, there are no military or state secrets that have been released into the public domain.

Of most concern is the anxiety raised by many Arab nations including Saudi Arabia about the danger of allowing Iran to develop its nuclear capability.  There are dispatches which clearly show how badly these countries would like the U.S. to take action to stop this worrying development.  This pretty much confirms what we already knew, but having this confirmed sends shivers up my spine. 

While the U.S together with other Western nations including the U.K. somewhat hopelessly try to eliminate the Taliban's, it appears that we are doing little or nothing to curb the growign threat of Iran to world stability.  Maybe the public concern caused by this disclosure will galvanise our leaders to develop an effective strategy to deal with Iran.  The problem is that it is not easy to find an effective solution without risking terrible military confrontation.


Grandpa Jonathan

Another controversial week in Israel

"Jews are news", again turned out to be so true this week as the Israeli Knesset approved a bill which would requirs a two-thirds  majority to cede land in east Jerusalem to the Palestinians or in the Golan Heights to Syria. Failing that, either withdrawal would become subject to a referendum.

I'm all for our politicians making decisions that properly reflect people's aspirations.  It would be awful to think that any Israeli government would run rough-shod over the views of the public.  I therefore see nothing wrong with the principle of a referendum, or even a parliamentary vote.

My problem is that this new measure from the Netanyahu administration could appear to the world as the Israeli goverment building yet another obstacle to the possibility of peace the Palestinians or Syria.  I would now like to see the Israeli Prime Minister putting extra effort into conveying his heartfelt hope that peace can be achieved.

My dear Yael: every time I write something about Israel's security and the continuing tensions with some of its neighbours, I cannot help but wish that this will all read as some kind of a history lesson to a young woman who has never know anything but peace.  I remain confident that this is the last chapter in the story of modern Israel's struggle for universal recognition.


Grandpa Jonathan
Prague, Czech Republic