I thought today would be a generally laid back day. Yeh, right! After finishing a doctor's appointment and one other short errand, I thought I would play with my kids for a bit and then get down to doing some research for the coming days. Things didn't unfold like that. A call from my student, Lucia, had me at her house helping with some paperwork. I didn't arrive home until after 7 pm and I was tired. I did however get some research done, but that other chore . . . laundry . . . never got done. I must get it done tomorrow!
Puzzle — Today’s took me 3:23 (average 5:00). To do it, click here. How did you do? For those that don't know, we always do the 48 piece classic.
Short Takes
Foreign Policy — I suspect it is because we mistakenly confuse a desire for peace with weakness and we assume anyone who exhibits a passionate commitment to peace is some sort of “Kumbaya”-singing idealist who just doesn’t understand how the world works and is therefore not tough enough for the Big Job. As Leslie Gelb, the former president of the Council on Foreign Relations and an experienced national security professional, admitted a few years ago that preserving one’s credibility in the foreign-policy establishment requires a certain enthusiasm for the use of military power. Even Obama felt compelled to give a rather hawkish speech when he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize (!), lest anyone infer he wasn’t tough enough to be the Leader of the Free World.
The current veneration of all things military reinforces this problem, to the point that hardly any politicians or ordinary citizens will utter a critical word about “the troops” or their commanders. The United States has become better at starting wars than at winning or finishing them, yet it still treats unsuccessful generals with enormous deference and punctuates sporting contests with aerial flybys and other displays of martial fervor. I’m all for thanking veterans for their service and respecting their sacrifices, but I’d rather show it by providing better medical treatment for veterans afterward than by giving the Pentagon a free pass.
Read the rest of this interesting article at Foreign Policy. What should peace look like? Should it be just the cessation of hostilities, or should it be deeper, more profound?
Upworthy — Right now, in the small village of Deh'Subz, Afghanistan, the first private, free, rural women's college in the nation's history is being built.
The pioneer behind the project?
Photo courtesy of Razia's Ray of Hope Foundation.
71-year-old Razia Jan, an educator who grew up in a more liberal Afghanistan before Taliban occupation. She later moved to the U.S. to attend Harvard University and then settled in Massachusetts.
Read more about how Razia Jan is changing the lives of girl's, their parents and their villages. About a month ago, I posted Get Girls Back in the Classroom in Care2. If you did not have a chance to sign it then, please consider it today. An educated girl makes a big difference to herself, her family and her community. and let us not forget Malala Yousafzai who said "I truly believe the only way we can create global peace is through not only educating our minds, but our hearts and our souls."
Foreign Policy — On Thursday afternoon, the world received its answer. After months of speculation, India finally released its formal greenhouse gas emissions plan for the COP 21 conference. And the answer is promising.
Fossil fuels will still make up a large percentage of the global energy mix until at least 2040 — even with robust growth of renewables. This is particularly true of India. The Indian INDC partially acknowledges this, to the extent that, while promising action on climate change, it also asks the developed world for “equitable carbon and development space” — in essence, arguing that since India has been responsible for a historically low proportion of emissions activity, it cannot be asked to make drastic emissions cuts at a time when it needs as much effort as possible directed at fighting endemic poverty. If developed nations wish India to be a responsible player on climate change, this plan argues, the country needs assistance, especially financial, in aggressively adopting new low- and zero-carbon technologies.
Read the whole article at Foreign Policy. India has some doable goals for emissions, but with so many of her people caught in profound poverty, it won't be easy, nor will it be short term.
My Universe —
Thanks to Ted W and Carol B @ Care2 for finding this gem.
Having lived in the north, I can relate!
9 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 04/10/2015”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Peacemakers like MLK and Gandi told us that peace is far more than an absence of war and thus peacemakers around the world are focused on training and strategies for alternatives to violence for resolving conflicts. Such reconciliation approaches, which includes educational components are even working to heal the genocide wounds in Rwanda. If it can happen there, it can happen elsewhere, too…there just won't be profits for weapons and ammo manufacturers and private security forces and other contractors that only make money when there is war.
I notice that you tend to let the priorities of those dreaded household chores drop too in favor of helping others and getting the thread in the air, Lynn. You were well schooled by the master, and a perfect stand-in. Now go and have a catnap and follow TomCat further: the laundry will keep until the last piece of clothing has come out of the cupboard.
Foreign Policy: Sadly, at this moment in time, America isn't interested in peace and has no intention whatsoever to contemplate the benefits of peace over war. Well, at least a large group of Americans isn't and that testosterone driven, change-resistant and bigoted group of angry white men are out-shouting every one else and have been doing so for a long time. As long as Americans believe that leadership comes in the form of a chest-beating, teeth-baring King Kong and anything to do with peace is for long-haired, bearded lefties in sandals, no candidate will even mention the word peace unless it is something America is gong to bring to another country, much the same as it brings democracy: with war.
Upworthy: And then there is this ray of hope, in the form of a 71-year-old woman who manages to open the first free school for girls in Afghanistan. Kudos to this brave woman who understands what one of the cornerstones of peace is: the freedom for all to get an education.
Foreign Policy: India is right in pointing out that it hasn't been a major contributor to global emissions and still isn't and therefore can't be held to the same strict rules for lowering carbon emissions as the major polluters without (financial) aid. The country's economy is growing now fast, but it does because it has invested so much in "the old technology" and simply hasn't got the money to turn make the transition any time soon. They have a point, and should get help, but that shouldn't imply an excuse to do little themselves or -as happened all to often – allow the financial aid to disappear into the pockets of the corrupt or of the already disgustingly wealthy of Indias's 1%.
My Universe: The look on that cat's face is worth a million.
4:46. Rather grumpy-looking for a Goldie IMO.
You atre truly a worthy stand-in for TomCat … procrastinating on laundry proves it.
Foreign Policy – As a veteran who is in favor of peace (and there are a lot of us – there is an action group called "Veterans for Peace;" and "Vote Vets" is pretty consistent in supporting negotiated peace. Not to mention the booklet "War Is A Racket" by highly decorated former Commandant of the Marine Corps Smedley D Butler) – now where was I? Oh yes, as a veteran in favor of peace, I am also in favor of staring reality in the eye and working within it. And if you stare reality in the eye, you see pretty quickly that the US does NOT need the defense budget it has. I do respect anyone who may be worried about the effect a large Reduction in Force(RIF) would have on unemployment; that is a legitimate concern; there were a couple when I was on active duty and they were not fun from the inside – and they did not help the economy – and that was before quite so many American jobs went overseas. I suspect we may need to establish a HEALTHY economy before we can look at forcing our defense budget to work. I might add that rosily "thanking the troops," "thanking people for their service," etc, while cutting veterans' benefits is not different from what Kipling described in his verse "Tommy Atkins" – behavior by civilians which was despicable then and is despicable now.
Upworthy – Good grief, I'm a year younger and don't have a tenth of her energy. Bless her, and bless her work.
ForPol2 – Can't read it, but from your summary it appears India is facing reality. Now if only we alll would.
Universe – Oooops.
Until and unless we let the grumpy old men of the 1% know we're not going to take it anymore, nothing will change. And that's the truth. The economy could be rescued by diverting the war machine funds to rebuilding our infrastructure, and improving the standard of living for the poorest in this nation. For FAR less than we spend on death toys.
Let's see….provide jobs, quality health care and homes for our returning vets and their families, invest in rebuilding our nation's infrastructure and the jobs that will come with that, provide food and a decent standard of living for all of our citizens, educate our citizens, and still have money left over! The 1%, who are the arms merchants, can just go take a flying leap.
3:07 The puzzle reminds me that it is almost time to walk my dog.
How nice–so many say their dog walks them!
Foreign Policy: The Command(s) do what they are told to do, from those nasty clowns, who are more than willing to send our men/women to war(s), but cut VA benefits for our wounded when they come back, and many are homeless, and destitute. It's heartbreaking. Wouldn't that be wonderful if the world embraced Peace instead?
Upworthy: What a wonderful lady to do this! Kudos to Ms. Razia Jan!
My Universe: It very rarely snows here in Texas, but my cat would be screaming to be let in. And then there'd be hell to pay afterwards. Just like the cute kitty in the picture.
Thanks, Lynn, and enjoy your evening.
Foreign Policy: The last paragraph says the author hopes the press does its job and demands the candidates give their stance on working for peace. I would like to see that happen, too.
UPworthy: Razia Ray is a heroine. Imagine the courage it took to face those men and demand that their daughters be educated! Hurray for her.
Foreign Policy would not let me access the second site without registering. However, with the abject poverty in India today, it is understandable that they would ask for leniency.
My Universe: Poor kitty. Mine are indoor cats, but we have a screened porch that they love. Once when we went on vacation my husband checked the porch before we left, didn't see anyone, so locked the door. When my sister came the next day to feed, she discovered Sparky clawing at the door. She said he was very unhappy, having been locked away from his food and litter box for a whole day. I check the porch when we leave now.