Debate

  • Nuclear war isn’t a feature of nuclear power

    The use of nuclear weapons has become a bedrock of protest activity in all parts of the world because it’s perceived to be a massive life ending event. The cause of human survival in the context of peacemaking is now the primary feature of thinking on the matter. This makes nuclear weapons a keen target for those that want to end an unstable state of relations between people

    The advance of nuclear science and technology has brought about a radical realisation of new ways to use nuclear beyond its utility for power generation in ordinary uses in a population. It’s believed that nuclear is now better used as a tool to enhance the usefulness or the effect of weapons as they apply to real situations against adversaries that refuse to listen and don’t want to heed warnings.

    The belief that nuclear power is not only a more stable option but also an enduring solution to the need to live in modern ways but to be environmentally friendly at the same time is also giving away to fact-finding missions in pursuit of more green options for both consumers and business uses. The diversification of approaches is leading to a settling of fears over the matter.

    In bringing fairness to the debate more people are now included in the contemporary concerns about living in community because also finding harmony in the way that life is multiplied beyond any singular concerns is included. In the matter of nuclear war itself, this is now less likely even as a political option because less and less ground is open to direct confrontation.

    

  • Westminster Week: Normal times

    Wednesday

    It’s acrimonious. The leaders are away. Their posts are now occupied. It’s a battle for supremacy at Prime Minister’s Questions.

    It’s unlikely either will concede. Labour and the Tories don’t like each other at the moment. It’s clear in the absence of their leaders.

    Thursday

    It’s a busy day in Parliament. There are school groups. There are MP’s still debating – even if a weekend is close at hand.

  • The divide in Church and culture is a separation of parts

    The anti-Church league are present in UK society. In our culture it’s expected to have a view on it, and in politics it usually comes up as a problem.

    The same can be said elsewhere in the English-speaking world, where thoughts have grown up alongside Priests as much as prophets of secular warning.

    It’s driven by those who have an antipathy to the interruptions that such considerations bring in their daily life.

    This is not just a Sunday value but a principles-based way of thought and life that affects their thinking. It doesn’t easily – or helpfully – define the issues that preoccupy other minds, like war, injustice, and poverty.

    The substance of religious practice doesn’t change much either, and other matters are pushed to the fringes. In our time, there’s not a lot of room left to go around.

    There’s a multitude of concerns that each one of us have to consider before a religion even has a chance. The purpose of opposing institutional forms of spiritual belief and practice is not so clear, though.

    These provide places for others to pursue their own changes. The trouble is if it crosses paths in secular realms, like Parliaments and Courts. This is a conflict zone of misunderstanding and constant beat and retreat.

    There are hostile ‘forces’ on either side, however, and one may have the megaphone while the other has a pulpit at other times. The tones are the same on either side.

  • Long Report: Leaving Europe

    The difficult relationship we had with the European Parliament just before our departure in 2016 is very well-known. It wasn’t a case of all MEP’s finding fault, but those with a platform to cancel our membership made a vocal point over the reasons why.

    The strength of feeling was matched on the street and online by those fully behind a Vote Leave momentum. The winning result meant a great deal to those that had fought hard, and it showed in the jubilation at having finally cast off its shackles.

    However, the legacy of a turnaround in UK politics is hard to fathom in a time of increasing uncertainty. Are our issues a direct result of the referendum, or is it a more complicated situation? Is it wholly to blame, or is there another problem at play?

    Reality stakes

    The politics of Middle England is riven with dark prophecies, foreboding, and omens that come around every corner. It appears in such places there is imminent decline in every industry, apart from news-making. There are journalists doing a roaring trade.

    Yet the sentiments, thoughts, and beliefs of many build on a picture of empty shop fronts, antisocial streets, and ruined estates to bring about an impression of pessimism that’s more a heartbeat rather than a summing up of the pages of a paper.

    It seems more and more that we believe things are wrong, that people have messed up, and that mistakes have been made. The direct insults, accusations, and laments are more academic than political. There’s a feeling politics is on a road to Hell.

    Our membership of the EU is a large part of trying to work it out. It’s loomed large in a lot of our politics since the 70’s, and yet only in the 00’s did it top our priorities. A lot more serious points were made. Is it that we finally found the answer?

    Healthy criticism

    At best, we feel we can govern ourselves, and at worst, we’re sure that there’s cause for point at another power, or boldly laying the blame on one of our own. It brings into focus our institutions and probes each one for a solution to our conundrum.

    The Church of England has been accused of ripping apart the fabric of the nation by letting abuse go unnoticed or unheard. It’s not alone in this, but as an established institution it takes pride of place as being a culprit worthy of rebuke.

    It makes up a large part of our understanding of how things should work together, and takes a hit if it doesn’t. The same cannot be said of religious groups that play little to no part in the clerical leadership of the nation, being as diverse as we are.

    These are pointed rebukes, because it strikes at the heart of a particular issue, rather than simply shaming a particular person. The inevitable sackings, reviews, and payouts are not meant to harm, but repair cracks in a leaking system.

    Reasoning hope

    Our progress as a country toward a new set of circumstances is evident in the many parts of it. Even in the worshipful groups that people come to either love or hate, there’s been a leap in understanding, practice, and standards, that have benefited us all.

    The innovations in the political realm of different tools and options for ordinary citizens to use is also something to note. It makes it easier, more efficient, and more likely to be accessed than ever before. The debates are a minutiae of the overall experience.

    The old stories rear their heads still, which is a part of the furniture in many respects. We suffer from the same sad stories as other democracies that pursue a freedom of speech, and hear some crazy and ridiculous things come out. It’s a risk we take.

  • The interplay of politics and religion

    Those who insist on pointing out similarities in religion should be careful not to believe the same can’t also be done in politics. If a belief in things that exist is there, such as the same figures or the same rights, the debate is over the facts of right and wrong.

    It’s also true that while people differ, a sense of purpose requires people to come back to do it again, just like it does in religion. It often hinges on the living and not just the dead in either. Individuals play a huge part in how people feel and the way it’s done.

  • Westminster Week: Currency in politics

    Monday

    It’s a busy day in Parliament, as usual. There are lots of debates, if you care to listen. At one point it ranged from defence spending, railways, to rural affairs. It’s a lot to cover, but both sides of the house and their counterparts in the smaller parties try it aptly. At times they draw guffaws, and at others support (from their bedfellows, of course).

    Wednesday

    I think political football is a professional sport in Westminster and some are very good at playing it. It happened today during PMQ’s neither the Prime Minister nor the new leader of the official opposition scored a goal against the other. It was back and forth, and ended in a draw.

  • Making sense of politics

    In our times politics can be confusing because of the different terms that are used. They may be new or unfamiliar to those who want to talk about their lives, and to follow an agenda along the lines of their own worldview and prospects in life.

    In recent years the term “culture war” has surfaced as part of an ongoing social conflict among activist groups. It holds together the idea that these have something in common they disagree over, and need to resolve to reach a compromise.

    These terms are not necessary, but some of them are used to illustrate what we mean by it. They may illustrate a serious point that needs to be made. It’s not necessarily academic, but it’s a method of making sense of it all while being relevant to today.