Tuesday 22 October 2024

Weather. Climate crisis. What influences voting? What is happening in Gaza?

 In yesterday’s Italian conversation class we talked about different nationalities’ ways of behaving, with maybe a bit too much stereotyping, but there it is. One of the things that came up was the British obsession with talking about the weather. Maybe it’s because we have so much weather, in other words, so much variety and unpredictability. The unpredictability nowadays, however, is not just a British thing. In northern Italy they seem to have gone from extreme drought, creating havoc for the rice growing areas, to flooding, causing havoc for vegetable growing. We’ve had a similar thing here with farmers unable to grow or harvest potatoes because of the sodden state of fields. 


This morning I read an article suggesting that weathermen, television weathermen, could be a front line force in persuading people that climate change is real and that we need to do something about it as soon as possible. Instead of simply giving us a weather forecast and smilingly wishing us goodnight, they could comment on what is causing the increased number of storms (not a nasty plot by the Democrats in the USA) and remind people that this serious problem needs to be combatted NOW! And they could advise on how best to cope with extreme weather. 


Apparently there are some people in the USA who might have difficulty getting to polling stations to vote as a result of having been forced out of their homes by the storms which have hit their state. There is also the possibility that attitudes to the climate crisis might influence the way people vote. Presumably this is why Mr Trump has been visiting places in North Caroline, taking the opportunity to claim that the government has not been doing enough to help but has been spending all its money on “illegal immigrants”.


Politics is a funny business, often a dirty business. 


I’ve not listened to enough Taylor Swift songs to have an opinion on her talent. Truth to tell, I’ve been a bit put off by the fact that she seems to sing in an unnecessary state of undress, mostly sparkly underwear. But then, female performers have almost always had to show off their charms! Anyway, it seems that she is busily encouraging young women of voting age to go out and vote in the presidential elections in a couple of weeks time. Good for Taylor Swift! 


Now that Israel is bombing Lebanon, there are suggestions that the war in Gaza is over. And yet the shelling and bombing continues. There also seems to be an assumption that Gaza has lost and that all that needs to be done now is to decide what to do with the land. Here’s a post from Michael Rosen yesterday:


‘Resettle Gaza’ rally: Ben-Gvir ‘encourages voluntary transfer’

Speaking at a “Preparing to Resettle Gaza” rally, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for Palestinians to “voluntarily” leave the Gaza Strip.


“We will encourage voluntary transfer of all Gazan citizens. We will offer them the opportunity to move to other countries because that land belongs to us,” Ben-Gvir said.


[Reports on this from 'Haaretz.com (Israeli newspaper) and Aljazeera]”


And there is this from the Times of Israel:


“Ten of the 32 lawmakers from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, including a cabinet minister, announced on Wednesday that they will be participating in a conference tagged “Preparing to Resettle Gaza” scheduled for next week in the Gaza border region close to Sderot.

“A year after the pogroms (of October 7), we will stand together — Likud members, regional [Likud] branch chairs, MKs and ministers — to jointly declare that ‘Gaza is ours. Forever,'” a poster advertising the October 21 event read.

“Victory is settlement. It is doable” added a message on a Gaza settlement WhatsApp channel where it announced the participation of nearly one-third of the Likud faction Knesset members.”


USA President Biden and our own Keir Starmer are reported to regard the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar as a “window of opportunity” for peace talks. Peace talks undoubtedly need to take place before decisions are taken about high-handedly sending residents of Gaza off to other countries. However, they can’t taken place if the parties concerned refuse to meet and talk. It’s not over yet! And it looks like rumbling disturbingly on for some time yet.


Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone! 

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