The Cult of the Personality

I could never understand why the human race places so much importance of one man or woman to lead an organisation , community or government. Why is there so much triumphalism when a violent political opponent is toppled or despair when a leader of a respectable organisation is lost.

We would do well not to underestimate the threat from Al Qaeda since the removal of their leader - they have in fact already struck to devastating effect in Pakistan.

The International Monetary Fund still continues to function without its charismatic leader. Most institutions, especially those belonging to established democracies, continue to function well when their leaders fall from power. There is nearly always someone who can take over the reigns of power. So why should we pay so much respect to the cult of the personality or celebrity? Could it be that animal instinct is more powerful than rationality?

Rapprochement between Britain and the Republic of Ireland

At last the rapprochement between Britain and Ireland as been fully recognised at the highest state level. In many ways this rapprochement has been lead by the ordinary citizens of both countries between families, friends, work colleagues and cultural collaboration. A prime example of cultural collaboration is in the sporting arena where Rugby Union players from Northern Ireland play the international game by representing Ireland in general. The British and Irish Lions are a supra-national team where national differences are completely set aside for the better good of the game.

In the main Irish and British citizens do not treat one another as foreigners when making trips to either of their nations. British and Irish citizens have the right to vote in general elections when resident in each other's country. There was no reason why the visit of the Queen as the Head of State of the United Kingdom would not be welcomed by the overwhelming majority of Irish people and the Queen looked visibly delighted to be there. Let us hope that the remaining part of her trip remains peaceful and successful.

There has been a transformation in both Britain and the rest of Western Europe in the attitude to political and constitutional change at both a grassroots and government level: All change must be achieved by means of the ballot box and not be means of force. Since the end of the Second World War and the fall of the Berlin wall all major change in the democracies of Europe have been brought about by means of popular consent backed up by the ballot box. We have seen important moves by national states to recognise the rights of independent minded communities by the creation of semi-independent provinces such as Corsica.

In Britain and Ireland we still have a long way to go, as there are still difficulties to be faced in Northern Ireland before relations between the different communities are fully resolved and we can all feel at home when we pay a visit to any locality in Belfast or Londonderry.

One thing is certain those who seek constitutional change for Northern Ireland by violence will be defied by the overwhelming majority citizens of both Britain and Ireland. But, at last some peaceful and democratic progress is being made.

Celebrity

I am in two minds about the controversy surrounding the super injunctions granted to celebrities and politicians to protect their privacy. I am not interested in any form of tittle tattle about celebrities, whether it is good news or bad. What is the difference between "A Star" having a baby, having an affair or taking drugs and "A Nobody" doing the same things? The difference between these actions, whether it is a well known person or an anonymous person, is none. Surely, you should only be interested if it is a member of your family or a close friend who wishes to share the good things of life with you and perhaps be advised when things go wrong. The names of the people and their celebrity status does not really add any extra meaning to good or bad activities.

The press, however, do have a point as many people trade off their celebrity status for profit: and, if they do so, should they not accept any bad publicity which comes with this trade? If the press are gagged from publishing bad news, why don't they not do us all a favour and voluntarily not publish the good news that celebrities seek. We can then concentrate upon the really important issues of life - our friends, our family and neighbours amongst others.

Climate Change Again

In Britain, within the last six months, we have seen the coldest December on record closely followed by warmest April. Some parts of the UK were three to five degrees celcius warmer than normal last month. These wide variations from the average temperature are consistent with predictions of climatologists such as James Lovelock and James Hansen who examine past climate records to help predict the future rather than purely relying on climate models. The science is clear; the build up carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is changing the climate.

It is another piece of evidence that man made activities are changing the climate by pumping industrial quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere; quantities which the natural ecosystems cannot easily deal with. We are upsetting the homeostasis of the atmosphere at our peril. I expect that that there will be further more severe variations in our climate in the near future.

We have all been warned. Nothing is being done about it. Future generations should prepare for the worse.

Defeating Terrorism

The methods used by the US government to apprehend and kill Osama Bin Laden confirms my view that that is better to use subtlety, intelligence and brave specialised forces to defeat terrorism than to go in with all bombs and guns blazing.

I have also been of the view that the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan have been counter-productive as many moderate Muslims have felt victimised by the bombing of innocents civilians even if it was not intentional. And many activists might have been driven into the arms of terrorists from that perceived victimisation.

I do not believe in the death penalty. It would be better to apprehend terrorists alive and put them on trial for murder where they have killed people, then we might find out what motivated them.

We need to find a political solution to the problems of the Middle East rather than both sides using the failed approach of continuous death and retaliation.

In the words of Winston Churchill "to jaw jaw is better than to war war."

I welcome Barak Obama's more measured and intelligent approach even if the perceived results are a longer time coming.