Accountability – that is what is lacking!

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Accountability – that is what is lacking!

 

Back at the time of the economic crash were enough people made accountable for their actions?

Did a raft of British and American politicians get hauled before the courts and imprisoned for their irresponsible actions?

They introduced policies that took the brakes off the bankers. They reduced supervision and controls. Their actions led directly to the crash.

How many of them have been held accountable? How many have been locked up?

Once the controls were taken off them the bankers began behaving in an irresponsible manner. There were deals on housing, selling on of worthless shares, and the gleaning of huge bonuses without a thought for tomorrow. When it became clear that their loans were not going to be repaid the whole system crashed.

How many of them were held accountable? How many were fined or locked up?

When Cameron and Osbourne decided to make the poor pay for the crash, created by themselves and the bankers, by bringing in austerity, slashing public services, social services and pensions (while allowing the bankers their excessive bonuses and pay) where they ever held accountable for the deaths that resulted?

When they thought up the slogan – ‘we’re all in it together’ – before sloping off to their obscenely well-paid futures, did anybody hold them personally responsible?

When Cameron and Osbourne decided to run a referendum that has cost the country countless billions and caused mayhem and division, have they been held accountable?

 

It seems to me that accountability is only imposed on the small people – the nurses, doctors and teachers, the social workers and police. When something goes wrong they are (rightly) hauled over the coals while the people responsible for the big stuff go free. They are never accountable.

The sort of person I am! Part 1.

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Anybody who checks out this blog will know exactly the sort of person I am. I hold nothing back. For me it has always been about communication. If you do not reveal your inner self you cannot really connect. It is compulsive and can be highly problematical. People do not like too much honesty.

I am an idealistic but not a perfectionist. I believe in making things better not perfect. I believe that we can and do improve things. History proves that.

I am green. I believe we have to care for this small planet. It’s a life-raft travelling through the hostile desert of space. It is fragile and only we humans are in a position to either act as guardians or destroyers of this paradise. It is in our hands. It is also in the balance. All the animals and plants are in our life-boat. We’re presently hacking through the bottom of the boat with an axe to get wood to keep warm.

I think that the biggest threat to the planet is the overpopulation crisis that is propelling the mass destruction of wilderness and plant and animal life. We are so prolific and stupid that we are wantonly destroying our own life support system.

I believe in people but they always let you down. They are capable of so much love, compassion, altruism and empathy but then they go and vote for Trump, May and Hitler, spend their lives watching crap on TV and buying Pop garbage.

I stand full square for equality, fairness, justice, peace, love, non-violence and political activation.

I stand for universal human rights in the face of religious fundamentalism, corporate greed, political extremism, tyranny and the on-going pressure to create blandness. I put my faith in the United Nations charter of Human Rights. I would like the world run by the United Nations and do away with the outmoded tribal nonsense of countries. That shouldn’t be too hard to achieve.

I love animals more than people. You know what their intent is. They are not so devious.

I believe in freedom but not too much. I do believe that we need laws. I do not believe in anarchy. Anarchy gives power to a small group of violent manipulators. I believe power should be restricted.

I do not believe most politicians have our interests at heart. Many mentally ill people seek power. Our board-rooms and political offices are full of power-seeking sociopaths, psychopaths and paranoid schizophrenics. Hence the world is being run for short term profit and long term loss. Hence we have warmongering, nuclear bombs, escalation, religious fanatics, political fanatics, genocide and assured mutual destruction.

I do not sanction endless expansion and economic growth. That is causing the destruction of the planet.

I do not think it is right that a tiny percentage of people own so much of the world’s wealth. These greedy people exert huge amounts of power to control, bribe, buy off and direct politicians. Hence the world’s mad dash towards apocalypse. I believe in fairness. It is not right that the world is ruin for the benefit of this small elite at the expense of billions. The Third World is deliberately kept in poverty and starvation because it suits the markets to do so. People make money out of it. They make money out of war. They make money out of misery. It needs to change. There is no reason on earth why everyone on this planet needs to starve or live in poverty. That is deliberately being engineered.

I do not believe that capitalism is the best model for creating peace, fairness and harmony. It promotes greed and selfishness. I do not see ‘trickle-down’ ever working.

I do not believe in God. I’ve seen all the arguments and I think it is all wishful thinking. There is a huge cultural indoctrination programme that ensnares children. Once they have been brain-washed they are stuck with it for life.

I believe there is a vicious, misogynistic culture present in the Arabic Judeo-Christian-Islamic philosophy has created misery, genocide, sexual repression, holocausts, Jihads, poverty, crusades and torture. Hinduism is just as bad. It is time we put it in the past with all the other superstition.

If prayer had any value we would not see all the highly religious cultures around the world living in the most abject poverty. If religion was such a strong moral force for good we would not see such cynical misuse of power by supposedly pious individuals, involved in slavery, exploitation of workers, cruelty, torture, inciting violence, organising crusades and jihads, planting bombs, sex abuse, flying planes into buildings and generally relishing their power.

Life is my religion. I have my eyes open to a wondrous universe. The world is full of beauty. Life is miraculous. I do not need a creator, after-life and mysticism to bolster that up. To live forever is a farcical notion in my opinion. The idea of Heaven and hell is obscene – eternal punishment or reward??? An idea born of humans, out of fear of death, that is flawed.  I miss my loved ones but I wouldn’t even want to live with them forever.

Part two of the thoughts of Chairman Opher will follow when the urge grabs me.

How to change the world for the better! Easy steps!

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How to change the world for the better! Easy steps!

The first step is to acknowledge that things are not so bad as they might be:

  • We are not dead
  • We are not starving
  • We are not at war
  • Hardly anyone has been killed by terrorism
  • We are quite comfortable
  • We are not cold
  • We are not in great danger
  • Our children and grandchildren are safe
  • If we need help we will be taken care of

In fact we are exceedingly lucky when compared to the conditions most of the world lives in!

The second step is to realise that most of the things we worry about do have solutions:

  • Islamic terrorism will be defeated
  • War in Syria/Libya/Iraq/Afghanistan will come to an end
  • The environment can be protected
  • Poaching of rhino and elephants can be stopped
  • Overpopulation can be dealt with
  • Global corporations can be controlled
  • Inequality and poverty can be addressed
  • Racism, sexism and xenophobia can be addressed
  • We can create global legislation
  • We can enforce global laws
  • We can prevent and cure cancer and heart disease
  • We can set up a colony on Mars and the Moon

All it takes is the will. Some of the things are hard but they are not impossible.

The third step is to recognise that there are a lot of things that are much better now:

  • We have had peace in Europe for the longest time in history
  • We do not have marauders coming through killing us
  • We live comfortably without great threat
  • We are not cold and hungry
  • We have a much better standard of living than our parents and grandparents
  • We can travel the world
  • Violence and murder is on the decrease
  • Racism and sexism are being addressed
  • There is no systematic cruelty to animals – dog fighting, badger baiting, cock fighting
  • We have welfare and support for those in need
  • We live in far greater comfort
  • We live longer
  • Education is much better

We have a tendency to think that things were better in the past. But they weren’t. Looking back over the last three hundred years you can see the journey we have made. We have become more civilised.

Over the next hundred years we can, via the internet and education, create a quantum leap forward.

The fourth step is to help build that change in mass psychology – the new positive zeitgeist:

  • To be optimistic
  • To highlight the problems and issues that need addressing
  • To harry and force politicians to act
  • To provide a positive force for change
  • To be outward looking, full of compassion and realism

In future posts I will outline my thinking on how to deal with all of the major issues besetting us. They are all able to be solved.

Life – a short holiday from oblivion.

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Someone asked me earlier today why I was concerned with death. They wanted to know why, if I didn’t believe in any afterlife, I was making it such a big thing.

Death preoccupies people because it is such a big thing. We have such a fleeting existence in this eternity, in such a beautiful universe and fabulous life. Shame it is so short. I shall be very sad to say goodbye to it. But it fills me with wonder and ecstasy to think that evolution has given me the senses and brain to develop the consciousness to appreciate it.

I aim to make the most of every minute.

I’m glad that many of you feel that one day you will die and wake up with a perfect body – just like Jesus. Personally I’d prefer a perfect body just like Halle Berry. But I don’t think either of those things is ever likely to happen. It sounds a bit too much like human wishful thinking and inability to cope with the idea of death. We find it hard to believe the universe will go on for ever and that we won’t be here.

I’m OK with that.

I’m not looking forward to it but the idea of spending infinity doing anything, even the most wonderful things, is my idea of hell. Everything, even bliss, gets boring after a while, so to imagine it going on for trillions of years is bad enough, for ever is really dismaying.

It’s kind of nice to have such a short time and make the most of it – like a short holiday from oblivion.

About Opher’s World – another of last year’s most popular.

Posted on by Opher

About Opher’s World

I live to make the world a better place. Why don’t you join me? Creativity gives a purpose to life. This blog celebrates creativity. I welcome you. Please have a look at my books, poems and art.

This is an idealist’s shriek at the absurd, the horrendous and the obscene in the huge optimism that we can make it better.

This is a blog in pursuit of the marvellous.

I ask you to devour all that is wonderful –

and detest all that is cruel, vicious and mean.

You will find lots of life, sex and ideas in this blog – (Ideas such as – there is no god, no purpose, no great scheme, no after-life) – but I do not set out to be offensive, merely to argue my passionately held point of view.

This blog is a celebration of Life – not Death.

What is obscene is not sex.

Obscenity is:
– The destruction of the environment
– War
– The indoctrination of children
– Overpopulation
– Cynical exploitation
– Cruelty to animals and people
– Grotesque disparity of wealth
– Deforestation
– Fanaticism in politics and religion
– Pollution

These are the things I stand against.
These are the obscenities.

This blog celebrates Love, Humour, Kindness and Awe.

It is a howl of creativity – A feast of ideas – A source of controversy.

A thing of beauty –  A delight of wonder – A splurge of passion.

I preach Tolerance – Empathy – Equality – Freedom – Respect –

Responsibility and Passionate Argument.

I will post some of my photos from round the world, examples of my poetry, extracts from my books, my views, ideas and dreams. I will tell you what I stand for and against and argue my case.

It would be great it you told me your views. Perhaps we could have a good argument about it!! There’s nothing better than a good passionate exchange of deeply held views.

This will be the marmite of blogs!

Ripples – A poem for a new positive Zeitgeist amid the infinite ripples of energy we emanate.

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Poetry – Ripples – A poem for a new positive Zeitgeist amid the infinite ripples of energy we emanate.

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Opher

Ripples
This was inspired by Calansariel who puts nice comments on my blog. She was talking about how energy never wears out but goes on for ever and so, in effect, so do we.
I have this crazy notion that we are all connected by this zeitgeist we produce and so had the inspiration to meld the two ideas together; our energy rippling out to touch everyone around us and help create the mental climate of the future.
We are building the zeitgeist in which we flourish. We can make it positive and change the world for the better.
Our mental ripples will caress humanity for the rest of time.
It’s a nice thought.
The poem is exactly as it came out of my head just now. It probably needs a lot of work – this is it raw. I’ll work on it later.

Ripples

Ripples in an infinite sea
Of energy
And possibility.
Brushing minds
As they pass,
Forever.
Swirling the thoughts
Emotions
So clever
They evade credibility.
Ripples of a life
From you and me
To echo
Through time
Whatever
The weather.
Touching
Most intimately
Our dreams
Wishes
And schemes
As we alter
The climate
In which we swim
And create
New electricity,
New hope
For you and me
Amid this
Eccentricity.
We are building
A new vision
A zeitgeist
As our ripples
Create
What will surely be.

Opher 4.9.2015

My beliefs – Wonder and Awe

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My beliefs – Wonder and Awe

Opher

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My beliefs – Wonder and Awe

I believe wonder and awe play a big role in making life rewarding.

There are lots of things that fill me with wonder and awe. Here are some of them:

Contemplating the universe and infinity.

Lying back and looking up into the dust of stars and imagining the countless numbers of galaxies and stars. What might all those planets be like? I am fascinated by black holes, quasars, bent space, the speed of light, infinity, dark matter, Stephen Hawkins, Einstein and Newton, and anti-matter universes.

I was told that the estimate is that we only see 4% of what is there.

There are days when I could fall up into the sky and float free.

Contemplating the microcosm.

All around me and inside me is an ocean of subatomic worlds. I appear to be solid yet energy and matter is zooming in and out of me all the time, radioactive particles explode within my brain. There is no solidity. Inside it delves to a different infinity. There are molecules instead of galaxies. Energy roars. Quarks are perpetual motion machines that will keep going until the end.

Rocks, mountains, gorges, canyons, waterfalls and icebergs.

I am attracted to them. Volcanoes, geysers, minerals and waterfalls. They thrill me. Standing on the rim of Grand Canyon or the Blue Mountains is awesome.

Ancient monuments, temples, churches, mosques, castles, walls, and crumbling ruins.

I am moved by their beauty, their history and the tales they could tell.

Music, art, drama, writing, dance, photography, poetry and all creative outpourings from the spirit and passion of creative people.

I can walk round an art gallery in wonder or rock out at the front of a concert or sit and listen to the words and my spirit soars.

Trees, wild-life, animals and the natural world.

It breaks my heart to see the way it is being trashed. The majesty trees felled, the animals slaughtered, the land raped.

Love, sex, friendship and relationship.

Love gives substance to my life. My loves and friendships are the lodestone of everything I do. My family is a magnetic pull that centres me. Sex is the nearest I get to magic.

Travel.

New people, new places, new customs, new sights – it is stimulating. It is mind expanding. It puts your life in perspective.

 

I do not need religion. Spirituality for me is this wonder and awe of being in the midst of such a wondrous place with stupendous experiences.

I fill my life and am sated by it.

All You Need Is Love!!

Posted on by Opher

I thought this was appropriate to look optimistically forward towards the next year. After all the vitriol of Trump and Brexit maybe this year will be the start of something more positive!

Instead of focussing on the nastiness, fear and hate we can start generating a bit more love and togetherness.

So Happy New Year to you all!!

When the Beatles were given the opportunity to do a live broadcast across the world they wrote this anthem of universal love. If we have the right attitude and approach people with open arms and a smile, welcome them and spread peace and harmony we can move mountains!

All you need is love! It really does alter the world.

“All You Need Is Love”

Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love

There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung
Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game
It’s easy

Nothing you can make that can’t be made
No one you can save that can’t be saved
Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time
It’s easy

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

Love, love, love
Love, love, love
Love, love, love

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

Nothing you can know that isn’t known
Nothing you can see that isn’t shown
Nowhere you can be that isn’t where you’re meant to be
It’s easy

All you need is love
All you need is love
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need

All you need is love (All together, now!)
All you need is love (Everybody!)
All you need is love, love
Love is all you need
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Yee-hai! (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)

Yesterday (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Love is all you need (Love is all you need)
Oh yeah! (Love is all you need)
She loves you, yeah yeah yeah (Love is all you need)
She loves you, yeah yeah yeah (Love is all you need)

The Real Meaning of Christmas

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The Real Meaning of Christmas

Posted on by Opher

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A nice tree with a gnarled spirit!

Another nice tree to worship.

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amanita_falloide
father-xmas

Doesn’t look like a shaman to me – high on some hallucinatory drug!

The Real Meaning of Christmas

The real meaning of Christmas is locked away in pagan mythology. Most religions that usurp other religions take over the ceremonies of previous religions and modify and adopt them. Christianity did this with both Christmas and Easter.

What we now have as a Christmas celebration – the birth of Jesus with all the nativity scenes – is actually a celebration of the winter solstice.

The winter solstice was celebrated by ancient tribes all over the world. It is, in the northern hemisphere, the shortest day of the year. The days are drawing out, though, because of the way the earth cools, the coldest winter months are still all ahead. This celebration was accompanied by ritual and feasting.

We see a number of the Nordic traditions surviving.

The Christmas tree is a throw-back to the animism of old where spirits were thought to inhabit trees, streams, rivers and rocks. Tree worship was a world-wide religion; we still touch wood for luck. In Scandinavia it was prevalent in the shamanistic tradition.

Santa Claus is another throwback to Scandinavian lore. The shaman used magic potions of hallucinogenic mushrooms to fly through the sky on a sled with his reindeer to converse with the gods. The mushrooms were Amanita muscaria, the fly agaric, and had bright red caps flecked with white. Nowadays Santa Claus (Father Christmas) decked in his bright red and white costume flies through the sky magically to bring gifts to people. These used to be the gifts of insight and wisdom. Now they are usually plastic goods of dubious durability.

So mixed up with our story of Jesus we have tree worship and hallucinatory acid trips.

It’s a heady mix for a small kid to take in!

What is good about the EU?

Posted on by Opher

Like most things the EU is not a black and white entity. These are some of the good things that come to my mind:

It brings together a large number of countries, closely allying them, interlinking them through trade and enabling them to talk, share and understand each other. I believe that close contact prevents friction and reduces the possibility of war.

It produces frictionless trade.

It enables free movement of people between countries and gives people the opportunity to study, work and travel easily.

It is powerful as a bloc – giving greater voice to the rest of the world.

It creates an outward looking society that encourages respect of other cultures and counters that insular feeling that can so easily develop into a feeling of superiority and arrogance.

It enables much productive collaboration between nations and enables funding of bigger projects. It brings together a wider range of talents from which science, technology and business benefit.