Blogging from the Bog

   Who wouldn’t want to throw a shoe at George Bush?  The President and Commander in Chief of the country that embodies capitalism and free enterprise shows his leadership abilities and understanding of the situation during this time of financial difficulty by saying, "I’ve abandoned free market principles to save the free market system."  This is about the same as saying that, "We will be taking away your inalienable rights to protect our free society."  What a gobshite…

   These bailouts for badly run financial institutions, car manufacturers, and semi-state home mortgage bodies is the worst course of action to take and will only insure deeper economic miseries over a longer period of time.  The open market system should be allowed to operate and weed out the mismanaged and incompetant companies by take overs, distribution of assets, and bankruptcies just as any other industry.

   It may bring you a little holiday humour to have your very own chance to fling a shoe at George Dubya for whatever reasons that might occur to you so click on this link and have a go!  You’ll be glad you did!

 Throw a shoe at this fool!

   Radovan Karadzic was arrested for war crimes by the Serbian security forces Monday after eluding his pursuers for over 10 years.  He is being incarcerated in Belgrade today to face the War Crimes Court on several charges including genocide.

   Karadzic, as leader of the Bosnian Serbs during the 1991-95 war, is to be prosecuted for a 1995 incident in which 8,000 men and boys were slaughtered in the town of Srebrenica.  More criminal charges are to be brought against him for extermination, persecution, and inhumane acts, among others.

   Stojan Zupljanin, head of the Bosnian police at the time, was arrested last month for similar crimes.  General Mladic, another indicted criminal, is still being sought by authorities.

   EU Observer coverage here.

 Radovan Karadzic

   During this time of high mortgage payments, dwindling property values, and rising heating and energy costs some people are beginning to think seriously about tailoring their housing needs.  Some downsizing alternatives have been with us for years, mobile homes, houseboats and caravans; but, these are neither stationary nor controversial.  There is another option being explored today that both delights some and infuriates others. 

   Jay Shafer is a former art teacher who has been invited to speaking engagements in the United States and Canada to promote his ideas on "tiny houses".  For ten years he has been residing comfortably in a succession of homes that were all less than 100 square feet in size.  This man is not "living large" though he is getting large receptions wherever he speaks to enthusiastic audiences who are concerned with the environment, reducing overhead expenses, and looking for something suitable to their changing needs.

   Not all is rosy however in this Lilliputian land of little houses.  Many local residents are outspoken and concerned that these miniatures, built in their neighbourhoods, will cause housing prices to drop even further. 

   *  Here is a YouTube link for a tour of his house.

   Sensitive top level negotiations, back-door channels, and clandestine meetings are all common phrases used in describing how governments and their representatives conduct themselves while pursuing the aims and ambitions concerned with the national interest.  It is not of course in the national interest for anyone who voted in these governments to have any knowledge of these secret arrangements, let alone question them.  By the time the deal is done, the spin prepared, and the project put into motion it is too late for the citizen to halt the momentum.

   The European Union’s Commission and its’ Parliament conduct themselves no differently; but, by exploring their actions we can uncover their aims.  What started out as a cultural and economic association of diverse countries with unique social histories may be heading down a dangerous path. 

   As a whole the European nations are net importers of, and heavily dependent upon, oil and natural gas from the Middle East and Russia.  In a bid to harness some of these reserves Nicolas Sarkozy, acting as temporary President of Europe, will host a summit on Sunday concerning the future of his pet project The Barcelona Process, also called the Mediterranean Union or simply Club Med.  The intention of this Union is to bring the Middle East and North Africa into the sphere of European influence.  This concept has been on the drawing board for years but Sarkozy hopes to champion this cause and has made it one of his priorities.

   The European Army has several thousand troops stationed in the former French protectorate of Chad, and are there under a UN mandate, to conduct peacekeeping operations for the protection of refugees.  Most of these refugees are from Sudan where they were under constant threat from their own government forces and Sudanese rebels who are funded by these same leaders.  In a proposal that can only be described as ludicrous, if not treasonous, Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Developement and Humanitarian Aid, has promised €400 million to the very government who created the refugee catastrophe in the first place.  Despite the fact that his counterpart in the Sudanese government, Ahman Harun, is a fugitive from justice and is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity this project is being pushed through.  Isn’t this counterproductive to the UN mission?

   Ambitious programs that would have been given a green light once the Lisbon Treaty was brought into force on its’ projected date of January 1, 2009 are not necessarily doomed just because the referendum was rejected by the Irish.  Plans for European Embassies to be managed by a new diplomatic corps, a new unaccountable Interior Ministry, and an elite military force headed up by France may still see the light of day.  Why all the duplicity, secrecy, and covert activity?

   The countries of the world, both great and small, are arming themselves with new alliances, agreements, and treaties in preparation for the Resource Race.  There is a concerted effort by these countries to align favourably with other nations for protection, prosperity, and provisions for the coming days.  If the European Union goes ahead with it’s military, expansionist, and protectionist policies this resource race will only escalate as the arms race did.  We need to find equitable solutions for the coming time when there will be less natural resources to go around before the nations get to a point of armed conflict.

 Louis Michel

   Former SAS officer, Eton school graduate, and heir to a brewing empire, Simon Mann was sentenced today to 34 years at the infamous Black Beach prison for his involvement in a conspiracy to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea.

   During the trial, which lasted just over two weeks, the defendant confessed to his part in the military operation in hopes of securing a reduced sentence.  Mann, who looked slight and frail, appeared in court wearing gray prison garments, his wrist chains and leg irons temporarily removed.  He apologized in open court to the President and government officials of Equatorial Guinea for his role in the attempted coup while implicating the governments of Spain and South Africa in the plot.

   Mann also accused Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and a Lebanese businessman of being the lead conspirators and "bosses" of the failed operation. 

   The Attorney General of Equatorial Guinea, Jose Oboso, announced that legal proceedings will be filed against Mark Thatcher tomorrow and that he will use all means necessary to bring Thatcher back to Equatorial Guinea for trial.

 Simon Mann

   What started out as school project a few years ago has grown into an international effort of creativity, forward thinking, and co-operation among individuals and groups with a view to the future.  Not satisfied with the rhetoric of government, big business, or doomsday theorists these visionaries are proactively making a concerted effort to prepare their communities for the inevitable.  They are not passing judgement, they are not getting entangled in spurious debates or mudslinging, and they are not promising miracles.  They are creating Transition Towns.

   In 2005 Rob Hopkins was teaching a class in the world’s first two-year program of permaculture at a college in Kinsale, County Cork a seaside community on the southern coast of Ireland.  Permaculture, in theory and practice, is the idea of sustainable living and as part of his lecture series Hopkins showed the movie The End of Suburbia to his class.  At a time when the price of oil was still around the $35 per barrel stage the implications of peak oil were not lost on the students and a proposal was drafted designing the Transition Town concept.  The cleaner, greener, community based initiative was adopted by the Kinsale Town Council as proposed by student Louise Rooney and the project was underway.

   The Transition Town concept is becoming more and more relavent, as the price of oil is now $135 a barrel, and deals with how communities will adapt, adjust, and flourish despite being faced with declining natural resources, rising fuel and energy prices or shortages, and climate change.  There are currently 50 towns actively participating in this project and hundreds of others contemplating the idea of getting involved.  Is your town or city considering the prospect?  Check this list of communities around the globe.

   A quote from Rob Hopkins’ website reads, "We are communities, a society, a world in transition, and to do that we need a culture of transition, but also we need the tools for manifesting it."  Indeed we do Rob, indeed we do.

Rob

   In our globalised economy and lifestyle many things have changed here in Ireland.  The increase in discretionary income has allowed for more frequent travel, a larger variety of exotic food and beverages on our grocery shelves, and some changes in our consumption patterns.  One notable item features high on our new shopping list, wine, the Irish are now in love with the nectar of the vine. 

   Amid all the controversy with global warming, fuel prices, and a slumping world economy the French wine growers, Irish truckers, UK and Scottish fisherman, and others around Europe are reacting to rising costs, EU controls and dwindling profits by holding strikes, slow downs and riots.  Is this a sign of the times and a preview of what is to come?  Or, will we take a pro-active stance, adapt as humans are capable of, and rise to the challenges we face as we approach peak oil?

   In late July a ship will quietly leave a dock in France bound for Irish shores, it’s hold will contain 12,000 bottles of wine for the thirsty Irish market, and it will be using free fuel.  A three-masted schooner, the Kathleen & May, is scheduled to deliver her cargo to the Dublin port on the 25th of July.  Over one hundred years old, the sailing vessel is one of many operated by the Compagnie de Transport Maritime a la Voile, and according to company executives will save nearly 5 ounces of carbon emissions per bottle. 

   Will we again see horse drawn wagons and a return of the canal barges in Dublin?  We can only hope! 

   On Friday the European Union instructed member countries to tighten border security.  The new policies will include fingerprinting and screening of all visitors, including North Americans, Africans and others coming to European countries and will cost several billion dollars.

   Nicolas Sarkozy will take over the leadership position of the EU on the first of July and is making "border management" and immigration policies some of his top priorities.  Other items on Sarkozy’s plan for Europe include boosting Europe’s military defences and energy security.  The Lisbon Treaty may be dead but the agenda behind it is not.

   Satellite tracking will be used to monitor "illegal immigrants" and many believe privacy and human rights abuses could result.  Will this have any effect on tourism?  Will our visitors appreciate the Cead Mille Failte after they are photographed, fingerprinted, and processed?

   We got back into Trim a little later than I hoped as our gracious innkeeper had suggested a bit of live music was going on that Monday night at Griffin’s in the town.  Hurrying passed the ancient castle, where some of the scenes from the movie Braveheart were filmed, we came upon a very quiet town, all the pub doors were closed and silent.  Things were not looking good.  We turned a couple of corners on the empty street and found Griffin’s, the door was slightly ajar so in we went.

   The place was packed and there was a great buzz of activity, lucky for us the barmen were still serving, so I doubled our drink order (just in case) while the others checked the rooms out.  They found a table next to a fireplace and right in front of the band, so the four of us settled down to a table full of pints.  The musicians were quenching their thirsts too and seemed in no hurry to get the instruments tuned so we got a chance to chat a bit about our good luck and take a few snaps.  Those keen Meath men were not long in sussing out the situation and began a session that would delight any tourist.  Banjo, mandolin, accordian and guitar rang out and voices from stage and audience sang the songs.

   More pints kept arriving as if from thin air (the girls adapted quickly to the Irish system of buying rounds), and the music was brilliant.  Most of the songs were familiar but some were not, all were entertaining.  As the banter between the crowd, the band and us became easy and familiar it began to seem as if time were standing still and we were at a party with old friends.  It was a great night, our innkeeper was right.  Gerry Tully was the guitar player and sang most of the songs, as luck would have it Gerry has a website and has posted some of his music on the Net, you can catch him at Griffin’s most Monday or Wednesday nights.  All the best Gerry, thanks for the great show, and good luck with the new album!

   There’s nothing like a fine day in the Big Smoke so we made a brief visit to the city one afternoon.  Our aim was to get an early start in the morning for Newgrange and the Hill of Tara so Trim seemed like an advantageous place to stay overnight.  We checked into our lodgings at the White Lodge B&B and headed for Dublin, by bus, no designated driver needed!

   We made our way down by Custom House Quay where the replica of the Jeanie Johnston is sometimes moored, I gave a brief description and history about the original vessel and hoped that she was in.  She was.  What I didn’t tell my tourists was that Rowan Gillespie’s larger-than-life Famine Memorial (pictured) would greet them as we crossed over to the waterside.  It is an emotional sight no matter how many times you might visit it; but, to come upon it unexpectedly for the first time can have a tremendous impact, and it did.

   The onshore breezes seemed a bit chillier as we crossed one of the many bridges and headed towards the city, so I thought it was about time the girls got properly introduced to the Irish antidote for the chills.  The Hot Whiskey!  No better place than Fitzgerald’s on Aston Quay, and Fitzgerald’s is, without a doubt, the best spot in Dublin for hot whiskies and Irish Stew, we were not disappointed.

   Our next stop, Temple Bar, was right around the corner.  Temple Bar is a cultural area in the inner city that has markets, street performers, restaurants, and of course pubs, one of which is called The Temple Bar, go figure!  Treading along the cobblestones we listened to the musicians, visited the shops, took some photos, and worked up a mighty thirst!  It wasn’t long before we were settled in nicely at The Temple Bar, each with a pint of black, one for the road so-to-speak.

   This short visit to the fair city was coming too soon to an end but we were at the mercy of Bus Eireann.  We went by the Ha’penny Bridge, over to O’Connell Street, saw a few statues, the GPO, and the spire on our way to the bus station.  It had been a long trip and an eventful day, little did we know then that it was only half over or what was waiting for us in Trim!