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
Saturday, 4 December 2010
Friday, 3 December 2010
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
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
Thursday, 2 December 2010
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
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
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
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
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
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
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
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
Monday, 29 November 2010
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
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
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