Liberalism and Green Politics

In the individualism of Liberalism there is not a natural affinity to absorb green ideas, as there is in Socialism(Socialism rejects Capitalism just as the 'Green Orthodoxy' does) or Conservatism(though both Liberalism and Conservatism both favour capitalism, Liberalism does so as a philosophical belief rather than the pragmatism of Conservatism. Conservatism also traditionally has an affinity to the rural and conservation issues, even if they are counter-intuitive to the 'Green Orthodoxy' such as support for Hunting). The economic aspects of Neo-Liberalism is blamed by many Greens for the present ecological crisis and Liberal economic ideas are at the core of this ideology. The ideas at the root of liberalism: the Social Contract and Utilitarianism are anthropocentric to the core, and as such create an ideological gap with Green Politics. Liberalism is a product of the enlightenment, and as such it inherits a intellectual legacy, one of Cartesian dichotomies, of man and nature as separate entities(Marcel Wissenburg, Liberalism from “Poltical Theory and the Ecological Challenge, edited by Andrew Dobson and Robyn Eckersley” page 20). This creates an ‘otherness’ to nature which predisposes man to it’s exploitation. Yet despite these ideological distances from Green Politics, Liberalism has plurality and mass participation at its core; these are values that are key to Green Politics and often part of it. Plurality both creates a space for Green Politics and facilitates its ongoing legitimacy while mass participation validates Green Politics through the widespread civil organisations, such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. The openness of Liberal politics is a key facilitator of Green politics, and given the widespread penetration of Liberal values in the Western and developing world is important in its ongoing spread.

Michael Foot R.I.P.

Michael Foot, former Labour Leader, has died. This is a sad day.

Star Trek 2009

The 2009 film was spectacular in every way. The Blu-Ray I have of it is one of my treasured possesions. The action, the story, the coincidences were all amazing. But what's not amazing are Trekkie internet naysayers.
The original Star Trek series was a SciFi that was serious in nature, but that was also pure entertainment. This is a factor that serious Trekkies seem to forget when slating the reboot film. The original Kirk galavanted around the Galaxy, shagging Aliens, disregarding rules, getting into fist fights with #Klingons, firing Phasers and generally being the"Coolest White Man to Ever Live". The Reboot Kirk is exaclty the same in my opinion, almost a facsimilie. He sleeps with Green Aliens, takes on 5 goons in a bar brawl, commits near-mutiny, fires phasers and has a fist fight or few with some Romulans. As for the Timeline shennanigans it seems to me that this root of criticism is childish and petty. Time travel was a key feature in many episodes/films of the #StarTrek, so why can't it be part of the Kirk/Spock origin story?

Mind Melt

Why is it that when I have loads of University work my brain decides to go on holiday? When there's nothing to be done it overflows with ideas. Now it's crunch time and I'm interlectually blank. Fail.

Atheists

It is often said the idea of original sin, of christian morality, of religious morality, was and is a straight jacket of domination of man by man. This hierachy, this control, is not that of faith, but of structures imposed by elites to control the masses. In this way the religious creeds of man are no different to consumerism or Marxism-Leninism. The origins of Christianity are obscured in the vast slave owning imperium of the Roman Empire. The rise of Islam was subsumed in the Caliphate.

The outright denunciation and rejection of religion (here is wikipedia's list of atheist philosophers, http://tinyurl.com/yko85ke) has a broad base which ranges from scientists like Richard Dawkins to anarchists like Murray Bookchin. All united in their opposition to the validity of religion, opposition based on the false and corrupted versions of religion, dominated by states and elite control. Richard Dawkins for example sees religion as "both a source of conflict and a justification for belief without evidence." The possibility of extremism is a feature of secular societies, and the largest mass murderers in history, Stalin and Mao were committed atheists.
That Christians should never commit acts of vengeance or violence, that they should forgive. Quakers have non-hierachial structures, and worship in self-reflexive silence but religion is wrong. That Hari-Krishna's give food to the hungry, that nuns nurse the sick seems to be irrelevant to the atheists.

The intolerance required to take so narrow minded a view is a reflection of the view of religion these atheists have, and in doing so they undermine the validity of there opinions. For there is validity. Religious Fundamentalism is surely a cause of human misery and suffering. Given the humanitarian message of most religion, to plant suicide bombs, or hang homosexuals corruption of the principles the fundamentalists claim to maintain. In many cases religious fundamentalism is a cover for social conservatism and patriachy.

Upcoming Demo!

There is going to be a joint-demonstration of students and staff at MMU, which will involve the Unions and the group "Manchester for Jobs and Education". It will start at 12.30 at the Ormond Building on All Saints Campus. It is in response to the 127 support staff cuts announced on the 16th of November, which will not only gut the MMU support staff, but also make 127 people's and their families have a wretched Christmas/Holiday period. In the light of the £1.3 million budget surplus for this year (2009-2010), and the Vice Chancellor's stupendous wage of £250,000, it is both reckless and inexcusable to go forward with these redundancies.

Sunday Tea at the Bolshevik Haus

Sunday Tea. Roast Dinner.
A minefield in the world of collective living. Vegetarian requirements. Non-vegetarian requirements. Time management.
All problems the uncoordinated mature students must over come on this day of rest. But we have overcome. Me and the Sweet Lady, my beloved Sous Chef produced a delightful Sunday evening meal.
Roast Potatoes according to my Dad's trusted recipe. After a bit of timing and heating issues they turned out great. That's twice now I have produced Roast Potatoes of a high calibre. The Sweet Lady made a very tasty and fresh carrot and swede mash, not to buttery, but rich enough to melt in the mouth. Sweetcorn was also served, and was crisp and tasty. The gravy too was well gravylike and thus a key component of the meal.
The Sweet Lady had some Cumberland Sausages for her 'main' which were apparently delicious. As a vegetarian myself I am unable to comment. For the veggie 'main' I tried something new. This is dangerous I know, but sometimes, innovation in the kitchen comes from this most fraught of paths.
I tried to make a Garlicky Cabbage and Quorn concoction, and before I BURNT it, it was just that. Garlicky Cabbage, moist flavoured Quorn. Lovely. But I left it alone for too long (having the laptop in the kitchen is a dangerous game) and it had started to burn on the bottom. Bad Times. It wasn't ruined but the original lovely-ness was gone.
All in all though tea today was great. Good Food strikes again in the Bolshevik Haus.