Phasing out coal-fired power plants

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More than 40 countries at the United Nations’ COP26 climate summit have pledged to phase out the use of power plants fueled by coal, the single biggest contributor to climate change. The countries signing onto the deal included major coal users, including Poland, Vietnam, and Chile. Some of the world’s biggest consumers of coal, including China and the United States, did not join in. “The end of coal is in sight,” said Kwasi Kwarteng, the U.K.’s business and energy secretary. A critic said the coal pledge was “not a game-changer.” The U.S. signed a separate deal backed by 20 countries committing to end public financing of “unabated” fossil-fuel projects, which don’t capture CO2 emissions, abroad by the end of 2022. Several major banks agreed to stop funding new coal plants. [Reuters, The Guardian]

My comment: “Some of the world’s biggest consumers of coal, including China and the United States, did not join in.” Were Epicurus alive today I am sure that, knowing what we all know now (even the climate change deniers), he would be a strong advocate of stopping the emission of foul coal smoke etc into the air we breathe. It‘s a no-brainer.

Graduate jobs

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Graduates face stiff jobs competition.

Competition for graduate jobs has reached a record high with more than 90 applications for every position, according to the Institute of Student Employers. Last year’s graduates left university in the toughest jobs market since the last recession, as a backlog of unemployed graduates intensified the scramble for jobs. A spokesperson said: “This highlights the genuine struggle for young people to find work during the pandemic.”(The Week, 11 Nov 2021).

My comment:I deeply sympathize. When I finished full-time education the job market was very competitive indeed. I sent off dozens of job applications and heard back from only three companies, one of whom declared that I was over-qualified! Fast forward, running my own company, I interviewed as many people as I could, and, if I didn’t take an applicant on, I would write a gentle, encouraging letter, suggesting other options and giving them possible contacts. They were young and their self-images probably fragile. It is horrible feeling unwanted!

Duck recorded speaking to human

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Scientists have recorded the first known instance of a duck that has learned to mimic human speech. The duck in in Australia – called Ripper – said: “You bloody fool.”

Parrots, songbirds and hummingbirds were thought to be the only birds thought to be able to mimic human speech, though several mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals, bats and elephants can also imitate sounds. (Washington Post 22 September 2021)

My comment: Who was it that claimed that animals were dumber than humans? I bet, given encouragement, that most animals think we are all “fools”. It’s just that they haven’t yet invented their version of the gun. Give them time and they will get revenge on us, I’m sure of it.

“Feminism has driven men to ‘pornography and video games”?

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At a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, competition and consumers on September 21, Josh Hawley (Rep.Missouri) is quoted as opining that “The effort to combat toxic masculinity in the US has led men to consume more pornography and play more video games”.

Later, speaking at the National Conservatism Conference in Orlando, Florida, Hawley addressed the issue of “manhood”, which he said was under attack, and called for men to return to traditional masculine roles.

The Donald Trump supporter, who notoriously raised a fist in support of a mob outside the US Capitol on 6 January, appeared to echo talking points made by the likes of the Proud Boys, a far-right group that opposes feminism and believes men are under attack from liberal elites.

“Can we be surprised that after years of being told that they are the problem, that their manhood is the problem, more and more men are withdrawing into the enclave of idleness and pornography and video games?” Hawley said.

Hawley did not cite sources for his belief that men were watching pornography more frequently. Nonetheless, on Monday his speech was republished by the Federalist, a rightwing outlet.

Hawley is the son of a banker and attended private school before studying at Stanford and Yale(!) Given his background, he has repeatedly raised eyebrows for railing against elites and claiming to speak for all men. (Reuters)

My comment: In the spirit of Epicurus let me tell Mr. Hawley what is really happening. Those of us with humane feelings believe that gender is irrelevant when it comes to how you treat others. The same goes for race and nationality of birth. Everyone should get an education that brings forth and hones their capabilities, without fear or favour. Everyone should be treated with consideration and given a chance to prove themselves and to earn equal incomes, if they are capable.

To some of the toxic males I fear that a woman has but one role, and that people of color are just there to serve their rightful masters. To these people I say, grow up. It’s 2021. We are not going backwards!

Sign of the times

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Benito Mussolini’s granddaughter has won the highest number of votes in elections for Rome’s city council. Rachele Mussolini, who won over 8,200 votes, belongs to the far-right party Brothers of Italy. (The Guardian 7 Oct 2o21).

My comment: In several countries we can see a resurgence of extremism and a disillusionment with democracy. Yes, democracy is messy, but it’s a hugely preferable alternative to authoritarianism, intolerance of opposite opinions – and downright thuggery.

Epicurus advised us to avoid politics, but, for what it’s worth, he did have good reasons to steer clear of political involvement. We today have been lucky with systems of government that have been fairly responsive to electorates. Looks like a movement is gaining strength to undo what is imperfect, but better than cowering before autocrats and their thugs who threaten us if we raise our voices. Once we lose democracy it’s hard to get it back. I have a leather-thonged whip that my father took off a death camp guard in Northern Germany in 1945. “ Never forget”, he said as he handed it to me.