Rumble in The Jungle February 2016

This morning the radio news programme told of the French Government’s decision to clear the migrant camp near Calais, known as The Jungle. Many families will once again be travelling in response to conditions beyond their control with all the attendant stresses that such movements bring. In his book ‘The Great Cholesterol Con’, Dr Malcolm Kendrick identifies forced relocation as the primary cause of the abnormally high rates of heart disease in Finland. Today’s wars, and the resulting displacement of millions of people, will help to deepen the health crisis facing mankind. We are creating a ‘Perfect Storm’ of adverse factors to keep us divided and sick. Donald Trump, US Presidential hopeful, is stirring the masses with messages of fear, mistrust and tribalism. He even rounded on the Pope this week for stating that building a wall along the Mexican border was non-Christian. I too will risk his wrath by further stating that building such a wall is non-humanitarian. A property tycoon who wants to build walls rather than homes, who wants America to ‘Kick Ass’ rather than seek peaceful resolution of conflict, is a dangerous man to ‘lead the free world’. He is not upholding the founding values of equality and opportunity that drew people from across the world in search of a new start and a better life. Sadly he’s not alone. Trump’s brand of poisonous invective is the MSG of the political world. It’s tasty and appeals to the masses but it’s cancerous. The UK will soon have a referendum to determine whether or not to stay in the European Community. Debates have and will continue to rage for months to come but the issues addressed are protectionist in nature. There has been no thought of what the best outcome would look like for humanity. Imagine a world where each country used its resources for the benefit of its whole people rather than to enrich the few; where people worked on the land in economies not dominated by the interests of multinationals; where globalisation meant having an awareness of the unity of all mankind rather than the rampant exploitation of the world’s resources under the protection of trade agreements. When I cast my vote it will be for the situation which I believe takes the long term health of the world into account. I look forward to a time when every nation will thrive and celebrate its diversity. Where the children of each country are educated to take their place in society and build both loyalty to their culture and live in harmony with their neighbours. We’ve reached a point where the threat of global warming is now accepted. Global temperature rise could cause our very extinction. Let us realise that the clearing of a jungle in Calais is as dangerous to humanity as the clearing of the Amazon rainforest and that the election of extremists who want to build walls can only perpetuate division. Instead of adopting protectionist practices, to build a better world for our grandchildren we must consciously reduce inflammation whether it be personal, societal, national or international. Blaming our troubles on others, on immigrants or on ‘them’ is akin to blaming cholesterol for heart disease, it blames the symptom rather than the cause. Failure to accept responsibility is ultimately a sign of immaturity. It’s your turn. Please tell me your thoughts. Tell me what action you will take to make our world a happier place.