We all know the big bully. The person who throws his weight about, is perennially rude, doesn’t give a damn about anybody else. I don’t even need to mention the name of the US President who taught us that bad and unacceptable behaviour is, mysteriously, appealing to so many voters that we may not have…
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The standoff between the Polish and Belarusan borders, as demonstrated by a heart-wrenching line of asylum seekers, shows that the Chips are finally Down. The tragedy of people trying to do their best for their families is enough to make us stop and think about what we are trying to achieve and how, within the…
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If you ask people about Nelson Mandela they will rattle off plenty of facts and stories about the South African icon who became the first black President of the country. But mention de Klerk and, unless they have been doing South African Studies or have lived there a long time, you will get a blank…
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(Round 8,296) Divorce never heals. Whether friendly or contested, whether well financed or under-financed, it continues to hurt for the rest of the lives of the parties involved. It isn’t a searing pain – well, it may be at times but then generally briefly – but it is a nagging pain, the pain of failure.…
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The people who realise how serious the climate situation is are the more intelligent members of society and those with a longer view, whatever the reason. They may have grandchildren or great grandchildren who they want to see survive and enjoy a good life on earth. They may be animal lovers who want to keep…
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It’s not just a slightly sweet tooth that has encouraged me to eat a few chocolates every day. From an early age I can remember that my tendency to black despair, often triggered by not feeling too well, could be alleviated by a little chocolate. I’m not sure there is scientific proof of this phenomenon…
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When we say life is the most important thing in the world we are using a shorthand. We mean more than just being alive. We mean consciousness. An unconscious person can still be alive, can still be precious to us but, by definition, they are not fully partaking of life. Their value is largely to…
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Rafiq Jumabhoy When I was speaking to John about my thoughts during the pandemic, he said, “put it on paper!” So, with the proviso that these are my random thoughts and not claiming academic rigor, here goes. Many watched with horror as “democratic” countries legislated draconian measures to wrest control over the public narrative whilst…
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Any thinking employer is already dedicated to the welfare of his or her staff. It is common sense to be so. Tolerance of the mental and physical stress caused by Covid-19 is a prerequisite for any boss who hopes to retain and retrain his people. All this is management gospel for 2021, 2022 and beyond.…
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Watching a nature programme that I enjoy, I saw two mountain rams fighting it out. Their beautiful, fully curled horns clashed on the steep slopes they had chosen for their battle. The crash of their headgear was enough to make anyone wince, but I didn’t. They were taking good care of each other, even in…
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