h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

As everbody else has mentioned what there reading I'll let you on my current read, it is a book called 'Islam and the West' by Norman Daniel. It is a comparative study of the development of theology in the medieval period it deals with the history of Jewish/Islamic/Christian theology - I'm enjoying it, its throwing some new light on the modern situation for me.

I finished "Broca's Brain". There is a lot of positive speculation about the future in this book - I hope that old Carl's optimism is borne out.

Islam, that's interesting. It's quite a strong religion here in SA. They're quite moderate about it, though ... but we have a group suspected of planting bombs, and the government is taking tough action against it. Islam has had a marked influence on Africa, especially the north.

I am a bit worried about two things: first, the intolerance of the more radical Islamic sects, and second, intolerance towards Islam by westerners. For instance, I saw a program about muslim girls who were not allowed to wear veils in French schools. To me that was just pathetically petty; it is the kind of thing that breeds mutual distrust and anger. Come on - the veils is a part of their religious practice, and it sure as hell does not hurt anyone!

And then on the Islamic side you get parents who actually kill their children for being disobedient, or beating up sixteen year old boys because their beards are not long and luxuriant enough!

One thing that I do believe is important for helping the human race get better is science and technology. Consider what a difference it would make if we managed to come up with a practical system for generating energy by nuclear fusion. Then we can get all our energy from seawater, produce no pollutants or radioactive waste, and we will not need to burn fossil fuels any more, no more carbon dioxide, no more acid rain and global warming... So I believe environmentalists should support science. But often they are anti-science and anti-technology. That is the wrong attitude.

What we need is responsible, human science. There is a paradigm shift happening, and I think it is something that concerned people should support. Here, for instance, is a web page about the unification of mind and matter in science:
[URL removed by moderator]
This approach embodies a new attitude towards the practice of science. You can read "The Challenge of Consciousness Research" - that is understandable, and it gives an idea of how a more humble, open kind of science can work towards a better understanding of Life, the Universe and Everything. Which is what we desperately need right now.

Re: Islam it is a very apealing religion in many ways but it has got a bad name among those who just watch the news from the actions of a few 'Fundementalist' - all I can say is that religious fanatitcs are dangerouse whatever there Faith, the trick is to use religion as guide to living your life not to live religion.

Now as to why I posted I am considering applying to become a Magistrate, I have the application form. This is a major decision for me and I'd be intrested in yours and Jenny's oppinion on the matter.

why not be a magistrate?

What exactly does it involve? I reckon that you would be as well qualified to pass judgement on people as any middle class old fart, which is what I'm guessing most of the other magistrates will be.

Go for it, and dish our some justice once in a while.

jen

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I think you will be a good candidate. Your heart's in the right place, you have a good sense of judgement, you have theoretical and practical knowledge about ethical matters. This is a very interesting way to get involved in the important decision-making processes in your community. Why do you think you'll be an unusual candidate? Even if so, stereotype-squashing is a very important and needed element in social reform.

Even though from our interactions so far I can say I think you are fully up to the job, I don't know about your personal circumstances, so you'll have to make your own decision as to whether you can fruitfully incorporate this responsibility into your life.

Pillow, my decsion was made before I made the first posting - I was intrested to see what reacton the idea would get - as to why I think I would be a untypical candidate - read jenny's posting.

Pillow thanks to your prompting my article on the English Civil Wars is now finished an up for peer review http://www.h2g2.com/F48874?thread=93871 let me know what you think ?

Dearest Happy,
After being in circuit court today, finding this forum was very interesting. I checked it out pretty thoughly. Magistrates are called "justice of the peace" and are elected officials in the counties of the states. they are paid, though minimally and usually just deal with minor civil disputes. They refer cases on to City and Circuit courts. By the way, how is your application process going? I hope well. For my day in court, no fun, but I won, Joe has to leave me alone for at least a year and his eviction from Fairhope Ave. stands. The Order for Protection from Abuse, only helps the Police to quickly charge him for harrassing me and they are quick to note it cannot stop hands, knives, or bullets. Domestic Violence and abuse is in a sad state of affairs in the US. I am drained, and even though the house is mine I am afraid to live there because of him. I am at AnnaNorseGoddess' and will probably spend Christmas here. She has gone to KY to pick up her 2 younger children. Anyway, it's very intersting that you are going to be a magistrate and I congratulate you on you civic efforts and the oppourtunity you give us to learn about how things are done in England thorough the links you have provided. Good Luck. I know you'll get appointed.
Worlds of Love,
JLCthe TTP

Its a slow process - probaly wont be anything to report for a couple on monthes on the subject - however I'm glad things went your way today.

Happy

Hi folks. Just came visiting and have wandered through this thread with great interest until IT became the topic. So, an attempt to forge a path back to its origins.

However well meaning or otherwise are the global NGOs run by the western nations (World Bank etc) the fact is that they unfailingly and with great purpose promote the European/American model of capitalism and society. Their existence, the cost of their work, is justified largely by the idea that the spread of this model will benefit the western nations through influence, exports, and the growth of the multinational companies.

The rest of the world should tell them to get stuffed, as far as they can afford to. The unsustainability of western economies and societies should serve as a warning, not an aspiration. Why be pushed down the road of duplicating a failing system when the opportunity exists to start from scratch and do it differently. The 'first' world knows it will fall apart unless the rest of the world converts to its world view and therefore enables the unceasing economic growth that is required to support the system.

There is some doubt about whether the European and American economies would remain viable if the rest were to stop trying to emulate them, and by so doing continue to be exploited so thoroughly.

For South Africa the opportunity exists to rethink the whole system. However in the end what happens will depend on the values that are held by its peoples. If they want Porches, disposable nappies, Coca Cola and Nike leisurewear then they have to take all the rest as well. They become a struggling player in someone else's game. But if they focus on quality of life, a compassionate society, individual fulfillment and so on, and think very carefully about the price of the trinkets being offered to them by their 'friends', then they have a chance to pioneer a form of society that will make them the 'first' world as the insanity and obvious unsustainability of the EU/USA model leads to its demise.

We are missing the point that it actually takes LESS resources to live comfortably than it did at the start of the capitalist/ consumerist explosion. This offers a chance for new approaches. But it all depends on individual values, that is what will detirmine the future.

By the way UMP, I liked the earlier link between society and chaos - the idea that human behaviour at a social level is random but is drawn by attractors into stable patterns. Makes much sense. (Hope it's OK to wander over from the science & Universe thread by the way).

My plea to everyone for whom it isn't already too late is - don't just use money to measure national or personal success unless you actually want a second rate American economy and a society driven by consumerism. In order for our UK economy to remain healthy we are driven to promoting ever higher levels of consumption. There is no way of stopping this, no political party would survive without increased economic growth. We are going to hit a brick wall. Other nations have the choice of going a new way. We need to be shown this new way so we can develop the courage to jump off this runaway train.

Hi folks. Just came visiting and have wandered through this thread with great interest until IT became the topic. So, an attempt to forge a path back to its origins.

However well meaning or otherwise are the global NGOs run by the western nations (World Bank etc) the fact is that they unfailingly and with great purpose promote the European/American model of capitalism and society. Their existence, the cost of their work, is justified largely by the idea that the spread of this model will benefit the western nations through influence, exports, and the growth of the multinational companies.

The rest of the world should tell them to get stuffed, as far as they can afford to. The unsustainability of western economies and societies should serve as a warning, not an aspiration. Why be pushed down the road of duplicating a failing system when the opportunity exists to start from scratch and do it differently. The 'first' world knows it will fall apart unless the rest of the world converts to its world view and therefore enables the unceasing economic growth that is required to support the system.

There is some doubt about whether the European and American economies would remain viable if the rest were to stop trying to emulate them, and by so doing continue to be exploited so thoroughly.

For South Africa the opportunity exists to rethink the whole system. However in the end what happens will depend on the values that are held by its peoples. If they want Porches, disposable nappies, Coca Cola and Nike leisurewear then they have to take all the rest as well. They become a struggling player in someone else's game. But if they focus on quality of life, a compassionate society, individual fulfillment and so on, and think very carefully about the price of the trinkets being offered to them by their 'friends', then they have a chance to pioneer a form of society that will make them the 'first' world as the insanity and obvious unsustainability of the EU/USA model leads to its demise.

We are missing the point that it actually takes LESS resources to live comfortably than it did at the start of the capitalist/ consumerist explosion. This offers a chance for new approaches. But it all depends on individual values, that is what will detirmine the future.

By the way UMP, I liked the earlier link between society and chaos - the idea that human behaviour at a social level is random but is drawn by attractors into stable patterns. Makes much sense. (Hope it's OK to wander over from the science & Universe thread by the way).

My plea to everyone for whom it isn't already too late is - don't just use money to measure national or personal success unless you actually want a second rate American economy and a society driven by consumerism. In order for our UK economy to remain healthy we are driven to promoting ever higher levels of consumption. There is no way of stopping this, no political party would survive without increased economic growth. We are going to hit a brick wall. Other nations have the choice of going a new way. We need to be shown this new way so we can develop the courage to jump off this runaway train.

HELP - My PC fooled me into sending it twice. Shame and dishonour. Then even worse!! I discovered that I wasn't replying to the most recent message but was on an earlier page. Not only twice but totally irrelevant.

What can I say. Please carry on and ignore me - and sorry for wasting your time.

Come on, Virus, not need to apologise! This is what we've been talking about and what all of us here are interested in! You make excellent points and I heartily agree with you. I also want to point out that over here we are indeed trying to find different values from absolute consumerism, because it is utterly apparent that we are depleting our basic resources too fast. Please stay around, maybe we can get this forum going again!

Ive got Linux Mandrake, crap i know, it does everything Windows does and more. Its also 100x more customisable,the user has a lot more control. Also any updates or new infomation about any of the versions is instantly accesable on the web for free which is pretty kool. The only disavantage is that at the moment the amount of games availiable for Linux OS`s is pretty small. Oh well.

You may also be intrested in http://www.h2g2.com/F15357?thread=75975&latest=1 & http://www.h2g2.com/A465842

Ok -thanks for being understanding.

Can I recommend 'The Power in Our Hands - Neighbourhood Based World Shaking' by Tony Gibson. Described as "the missing link in the debate about how we live" by John Vidal of the Guardian. Also 'The Growth Illusion: How Economic Growth has Enriched the Few, Impoverished the Many and Endangered the Planet'

I run a rather strange company that works in music and media commercially and also in a community development and social exclusion context with public funding. There is no doubt that, in the UK at least, the large part of Govt. activity and funding at a community level is a complete waste of time. The requirements of Government are for accountability, quantifiable outputs, spurious partnerships and evidence of superhuman beauracratic abilities that requires two administrators for every one worker on the ground. They initiate schemes created in their own image and know not how to do different.

If anything is to happen at community level, the only level at which anything meaningfully different can be initiated and developed, then people are going to have to get on and do it themselves. Governments are not able to do it. However if they are shown how then sometimes they are happy to climb on the back of success. Never have I seen a sensible approach initiated by government or at government office level. The most they can do is throw some money in the vague direction of the problem, and always with such strings attached as to maintain the status quo.

UMP - I do have a vague connection with this issue in South Africa as we have been doing a lot of work on the role of creative thinking in a local regeneration context in the UK, and one partner is now working freelance and has a couple of projects in SA. We are continuing to work on a model for developing creative approaches to community action through local partnerships. This is based on the view that new approaches will take imagination, and that the development of ideas takes practice, discipline and structure. We are working on a framework to be used in this context.

I don't envy you your country's problems but I do slightly envy the challenge of developing and trying out new ideas to solve them. Over here there is no chance of real change until the education system stops simply telling kids that they have to do exactly the same as their parents when they grow up. For now there is no thought of real change.

Almost by definition it is the case that in all systems the real decisions are taken by those who do best by maintaining the same system. The only place this may not be true is at a very local level.

Woo - hoo.

Greeting Virus, Thanks for stating the bleedin' obvious, which is for some reason ignored by all institutions, and hence many people. I'm assuming your reading list would also name check George Monbiot, Chomskey, Susan George etc. I started chatting to pillow about this kind of stuff a few months ago, trying to describe how whole western economy and power institutions are tilted towards mindless exploitation of the population and environment for profit and that the solution to many problems, including those in SA, is not necessarily down the golden path of globalisation down which most economies are now steered.

Community level action is one of the most positive suggestions i've come across, and can be demonstrated to have worked on many occasions. Institutions are not the answer to the worlds problems, people doing good stuff is.

Erm. i always feel a little self consious after a positive rant. Do excuse me.

purplejenny.

How I wish it was 'bleedin' obvious' outside of a small minority of people. Only comment on your 'positive rant' is to suggest that it is dangerous to blame institutions, as then people are free to 'forget' that it is they as individuals who have to create change. 'Put up or shut up' should be stamped on all foreheads at birth.

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