Just a quick post to maybe let off some steam. When China made the decision a couple of weeks ago to put in measures to reduce meat consumption by fifty percent, a young woman I know wrote to me and said she was proud her country was making this effort. The last time we had met we had talked about the serious issues around illegal wildlife trade in China. She told me there was a growing awareness among younger people and we discussed the many recent wildlife part seizures made by authorities in China. We talked about how there was a long way to go but that there were people in China who wanted to be part of the global thinking on this and many other issues.
We spoke of fairness to all living creatures, about being one planet which must overcome the boundaries and constructs our own species has created, a situation that has caused massive social and environmental degradation.
At dinner last night with a Nepali friend, we spoke, as always, about the very same things. We always speak of Nepal's incredible potential and that it is frustrating that it is really only social divisions holding back that from being realized. We spoke of the forces that do want to change this so thus we spoke of hope.
Today's decision in the Brexit vote is a smack in the face for those who want to have unity. Sure, the EU has problems, many problems. However the lack of courage by LEAVE supporters to overcome those issues in a way for the greater good beyond its own borders shows a selfishness that can really only be translated as weakness, the inability to tough it out.
There has been a constant theme of racism throughout the debate. Of course this disease is not limited to the UK, it is a global curse. There has been comment that this decision is a victory for democracy. Of course they are right... because democracy has always disadvantaged minority groups when the going gets tough, this is another example. Anyone who thinks all democratic decisions are the right please stop reading now and try and find a link to an IQ test.
This is a weak decision because it is selfish. I feel damn sorry for young people right now. My Chinese friend will be upset because this goes against all the principles she spoke of in our talks and the messages of shock I got from my Nepali friend said it all, basically asking where is their courage?
I post the image of the leopard. A highly adaptable animal with supreme courage. The leopard lives a tough life in a world where in its own mind it has no borders.
It does have barriers however, barriers created by us. And we keep putting up those barriers to make life harder for ourselves.
We've got to keep showing the courage to break down those barriers...
#Fixit
