Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Influence of the Redwood Forest!
Senators Obama and Clinton have taken my advice and made peace. Let's hope the spirit of unity lasts all the way through the election year - and beyond.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Parties Over
As a member of the Baha'i Faith I'm trying to write about the elections without sounding partisan. Don't know if I can succeed.
In any case, I don't belong to any political party, and I'm pleased to see that independents are becoming stronger in number and influence.
Could it be that one day the political party will be a thing of the past?
In any case, I don't belong to any political party, and I'm pleased to see that independents are becoming stronger in number and influence.
Could it be that one day the political party will be a thing of the past?
Elephant in the Voting Booth
There's something wrong in the US if we can't count votes - or am I mistaken? I mean, we can measure the velocity of sub-atomic particles to the nanosecond, but we can't count up several thousand votes properly without having a nervous breakdown.
Why don't we swallow some pride, with a side dish of humble pie, and consult with European countries, our fellow democracies that have had long experience in polling, and ask for their best practice. During the 2000 Florida fiasco the news was filled with the remarks of Europeans simply astonished at the spectacle of Americans unable to conduct an accurate election.
But I'm an optimist. Not only can we do it, but we will have to do it in order to reach the next stage in our evolution as a society.
No options there.
Why don't we swallow some pride, with a side dish of humble pie, and consult with European countries, our fellow democracies that have had long experience in polling, and ask for their best practice. During the 2000 Florida fiasco the news was filled with the remarks of Europeans simply astonished at the spectacle of Americans unable to conduct an accurate election.
But I'm an optimist. Not only can we do it, but we will have to do it in order to reach the next stage in our evolution as a society.
No options there.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Bye-Bye Baggie
How many plastic bags do you have in your house? But you know where they end up, of course, no matter how many times you reuse them.
China has now said no.
And it's not the only place on the planet to do so:
"Internationally, legislation to discourage plastic bag use has been passed in parts of South Africa, Ireland and Taiwan, where authorities either tax shoppers who use them or impose fees on companies that distribute them. Bangladesh already bans them, as do at least 30 remote Alaskan villages.
"Last year, San Francisco became the first U.S. city to ban petroleum-based plastic bags in large grocery stores. In France, supermarket chains have begun shying away from giving away plastic bags and German stores must pay a recycling fee if they wish to offer them. Ireland's surcharge on bags imposed in 2003 has been credited with sharply reducing demand."
Further:
"In the United States, which has less than one-quarter of China's 1.3 billion people, the Sierra Club's Sierra magazine estimates almost 100 billion plastic bags are thrown out each year. The Sierra Club estimated that if every one of New York City's 8 million people used one less grocery bag per year, it would reduce waste by about 218,000 pounds.
"In New York on Wednesday, the City Council approved a bill requiring large stores to provide bins for recycling plastic bags. The stores must also use bags that read: "Please return this bag to a participating store for recycling." Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports the measure and is expected to sign it."
It's about time. As one commentator says, "I never quite understand the right wing hostility to getting rid of plastic bags. You would think that people were asking them to turn in their best friend or something. Oh right...they're made from oil, I forgot."
China has now said no.
And it's not the only place on the planet to do so:
"Internationally, legislation to discourage plastic bag use has been passed in parts of South Africa, Ireland and Taiwan, where authorities either tax shoppers who use them or impose fees on companies that distribute them. Bangladesh already bans them, as do at least 30 remote Alaskan villages.
"Last year, San Francisco became the first U.S. city to ban petroleum-based plastic bags in large grocery stores. In France, supermarket chains have begun shying away from giving away plastic bags and German stores must pay a recycling fee if they wish to offer them. Ireland's surcharge on bags imposed in 2003 has been credited with sharply reducing demand."
Further:
"In the United States, which has less than one-quarter of China's 1.3 billion people, the Sierra Club's Sierra magazine estimates almost 100 billion plastic bags are thrown out each year. The Sierra Club estimated that if every one of New York City's 8 million people used one less grocery bag per year, it would reduce waste by about 218,000 pounds.
"In New York on Wednesday, the City Council approved a bill requiring large stores to provide bins for recycling plastic bags. The stores must also use bags that read: "Please return this bag to a participating store for recycling." Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports the measure and is expected to sign it."
It's about time. As one commentator says, "I never quite understand the right wing hostility to getting rid of plastic bags. You would think that people were asking them to turn in their best friend or something. Oh right...they're made from oil, I forgot."
Saturday, January 12, 2008
How to Talk to Celebrities
An hour ago I saw BBC News reporters Kim Ghattas and Jim Muir in a cafe here in Beirut. What should I do, go up and say hello?
"Thanks so much for your work on the BBC."
"Well thank you." Turning back to their tea. (I.e., Thank you and have a nice day.)
"I rely on BBC a great deal."
"..."
"And I listen to BBC World Service on the radio all the time, although it's perhaps not my favorite. It has limitations. But then again so does BBC TV. Oh but I don't mean to criticize..."
"..."
"Well, nice to meet you."
I didn't go up but wished I had. Turns out Kim worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer, my hometown newspaper.
"Hey, I understand you were in Philly."
"..."
Maybe not.
"Thanks so much for your work on the BBC."
"Well thank you." Turning back to their tea. (I.e., Thank you and have a nice day.)
"I rely on BBC a great deal."
"..."
"And I listen to BBC World Service on the radio all the time, although it's perhaps not my favorite. It has limitations. But then again so does BBC TV. Oh but I don't mean to criticize..."
"..."
"Well, nice to meet you."
I didn't go up but wished I had. Turns out Kim worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer, my hometown newspaper.
"Hey, I understand you were in Philly."
"..."
Maybe not.
The Obama Code
It seems to me that whether Barack Obama wins or loses, he has already unlocked and opened a heavy door in the maze that is American race relations. Just by proving that he is a viable candidate he has demonstrated that Americans of all races are ready to turn the corner - in fact they've already made the turn.
It reminds me of the Michael Richards episode. Who would have thought that a majority white audience at a comedy club would react with such revulsion to a racist tirade? We've gone much farther down the road to unity in diversity than we thought. Well done, America.
It's a new day in the Redwood Forest.
Now to look forward to the first woman Native American president...
It reminds me of the Michael Richards episode. Who would have thought that a majority white audience at a comedy club would react with such revulsion to a racist tirade? We've gone much farther down the road to unity in diversity than we thought. Well done, America.
It's a new day in the Redwood Forest.
Now to look forward to the first woman Native American president...
By Any Means Necessary?
Tough question for you, candidates: If you knew that a racially based smear of Senator Obama or a gender-based attack on Senator Clinton would hand you the White House, would you do it? This of course applies also to Senators Obama and Clinton in their contest with each other.
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