Terry Lloyd's Blog

Natural Disasters.

The world appears to be entering a stage where global warming will increase the frequency of catastrophic storms. The effects are life threatening and massive destruction to property can easily be seen. Without adequate help a population is left thirsty starving and without shelter. There have been several meetings of countries’ representatives to discuss a commitment to reduce the carbon footprint but it does not appear that any efficient planning has taken place to set up emergency help for areas that are unable to help themselves.

There are other weather disasters such as flooding and wild fires. Earthquakes are a constant possibility although they may not be caused directly by global warming, the effects of such widespread alteration can influence outcomes. The consequences are extreme and outside help is needed. It would make more sense if part of the finance set aside for global warming could be used for immediate emergency help for those populations suffering natural disasters.

It is disappointing that not all countries are as concerned about global warming and in fact are increasingly using coal and gas. However, that does not mean that they could not contribute in funding help for stricken areas. The effects of suffering elsewhere can easily be felt everywhere.

It can seem huge as a problem to tackle but global warming and the effects have shown us that not one person or one country can solve it on their own. Contribution, participation and education can alleviate problems, and help to change a crisis into a commitment for a more positive way for populations and environments everywhere.

Endangered Species.

When there is so much news of natural disasters, it is heartening to discover that there are dedicated workers that tirelessly strive to reintroduce endangered species. The Giant Panda is a notable candidate and one that although looks adorable is under threat of extinction. The Sea Otter in the wild numbers only a little short of two thousand eight hundred. There is a long list of endangered species that is growing daily and the reason in many cases is human destruction of their natural homes and environment. Destruction that reduces the scope of the living area for these creatures.

Pollution not only threatens wildlife but human survival. Oil spills can destroy thousands of wildlife and birds, not to mention the untold damage to the land. There are resolute workers that do their best to remove the oil from birds, but it is arduous and can disrupt wildlife longevity and behaviours.

On the mainland, in many countries task forces have been formed and groups of workers care for injured and stranded wildlife. The work helps to nurture animals and is done with a hope that when restored to health the majority of them can be helped back into their natural environments. There is something inspirational involved in the work of those who aim to unify a concerted effort to enable the thriving of wildlife. Often there is nothing else like it to see the joy of the creature once back in its natural environment.

There is a project to reintroduce the Woolly Mammoth. Surprisingly for many, humans and Mammoths lived at the same time. The last Mammoths died out about 4 thousand years ago. Part of their demise was through hunting by humans. Interesting is the fact that the Mammoth had a great effect on the climate by knocking trees down and stomping on the ground. This reduced the temperature. The Mammoth shares most of its DNA with modern Elephants. It is another feat in the plight of science and natural world feasibility. The first natural born Mammoth is expected in 2028 and whilst this might pose certain questions about what science could achieve, it does highlight the important link between life, the past and the future.

Monarchy.

The role of king over the years has developed in a much more socially accepted form of serving the whole country's population. It has long been stated that it is with the population's approval that the head of state, whether king or queen, has that role. However, interestingly many types of would be kings throughout the world may have a totally different concept of what a king should be like and how they should behave. They view the position as a given total right to do as they please. In fact, to be a dictator.

When the administration and legal system are in the hands of one person, the future is likely to be bleak. A working democracy depends on all representatives abiding by the principle of procedure. Using the system for your own aims is inappropriate and a robust system should not allow that to happen.

Too many countries have leaders that ignore international laws and consider like a king of old they have the right to rule on a whim, bomb or attack without warning any target they wish. World peace depends on restraint and a willingness to talk through problems.

Monarchies that have lasted may be due to a willingness to address the views of their population. Being a monarchy is more than one's own welfare. It has responsibilities that can not be ignored.

Stress.

Stress is increasingly a major issue for many and amongst all the strains of life, it is a problem that needs addressing in a positive way. Unfortunately stress may be a quiet but intrusive problem, It may affect the physical and mental wellbeing of many people. While there might not be an exact one cure to fit all formula to combat this problem, there are a few widely useful ideas that can help.

One idea is to separate persistent thoughts into those that can be changed and those that can't. Aim to concentrate on the positive things that help in forward planning rather than fret about obstacles. Under stress, people may start taking short quick breaths that could become a panic attack. Slow your breathing down and take long deep breaths. Learning about breathing techniques can be a healthy way to calm down in different aggravating or stress inducing situations.

How to deal with persistent recall of past instances that increases stress can be a way to diminish more general distress. One way might be to swap the thought for a happy experience but one must really feel the exhortation of that moment. The mind does not always sort things out from the imagined to the real. Even if one might be stuck for a real experience, imagine winning a race or competition and feeling content.

Stress can be caused by work or relationships. There could be ways of sorting the problem out once you are sure what the problem is and how it is troubling you. Putting yourself under great emotional stress could be a sign that the job or relationship is not right for you and a change or alteration could be the cure.

The mind can only think of one thing at a time so misdirection is a great strategy. Work at finding what suits you best or a combination of mental aids that help you to stress management. There are a multitude of mindsets that can be benefited by different sorts of stress releases. Aim to ease stress out as much as possible, or find ways of doing that can promote your goals and this can have hugely positive outcomes.

Human Innovations.

The history of human innovation is, I think, quite fascinating. From living in caves and discovering fire, to the modern advancement of AI with all the good and the not so good,there are landmarks of creativity. Inventions such as the wheel, which apart from improving mobility, was fundamental in harnessing water power. Even now the principle of turning motion is essential to all the windmills. Steam power created a giant move forward in the economic development of many countries. A steam train railway system galvanized the transport of goods and people. The development of the printing press opened opportunities for the masses to education and information.

Ideas of science and logic opened up the world for people to discuss philosophy as well as study the natural world and brought new ideas such as evolution and astronomy.

Healthwise in the UK, developing a sewage system was an important step in improving people's lives. Petrol driven cars changed the mode of transport from horse drawn carriages. Now there is the concept of electric driven vehicles. Each new epic has pluses and minuses. Houses have gone through different styles of construction and heating. Central heating with gas boilers dominated the market until the advent of heat exchangers and other technologies came on to the scene.

The discovery of how disease can spread, and developing antivirus treatment has helped to save many lives. New AI technology has improved treatment for many conditions. The time efficiency, accuracy and possibility of such advancements have all increased. I think that human progress can be determined by development. It should be done wisely and of course with attention but if done well, the rapid and positive changes could be a way for many areas of human innovation to progress.

Frogs.

The world of frogs is a very interesting start to study nature. I have recently discovered astonishing facts and true to life stories about these small but significant creatures. I am going to start with my own personal experiences. For me, as a very young boy, my father took one of the fish tanks that we had and placed several flat stones in the bottom at the back and half filled the tank with water. He also put in some plants and most important of all the mound of frogspawn. It was a transparent jelly like substance and had numerous black specks in it. I was impatient to see some activity and time seemed to drag until one day there were numerous small fish-like objects that were moving in the water. After time and on closer inspection on each side of the head were large gills and the body was transparent. Movement was made by using its tail. I quickly discovered that their diet is interesting as they start off eating vegetation and then move on to being carnivorous. The tadpole will grow large rear legs and shorter front legs. Most important of all, it will grow lungs and start to breathe air.

There are at least two breeds of frog that are deadly poisonous, the deadly dart frog and the yellow frog. In fact natives to specific continents rub the point of their spear on the skin of the yellow frog to use for a lethal weapon. The poison obtained can remain lethal for up to two years. There is no known antidote for the poison from that particular frog type. All I can say is be careful which frog you kiss.

There is a touching story of parenthood in relation to the frog. One tadpole was in a shrinking droplet of water, positioned on a green leaf. The situation was becoming increasingly desperate when the father came to its rescue by giving the tadpole a piggy back ride to a pool of water. However there was no available food there so the father frog went in search of help. The male came back with the mother, who came to where the tadpole was and laid one infertile egg. This was what the tadpole needed as it was something that he or she could eat.

A most interesting phenomenon happened when one day it began to rain frogs. It really did. The theory is that the wind can cause a vacuum that can transport the frogs a considerable distance before depositing them elsewhere.

All intriguing and astounding phenomena for frogs, things that you might not have been aware of and could possibly cause you to think differently about these small but significant creatures.

Aspects of Nature.

The other day I heard somebody remark on how nature is so lovely. I agree wholeheartedly, up to a certain point and that is because I think there is quite a lot to be considered.

I think that to have a balanced view of the natural world, all aspects of nature should be thought about proportionally. Without labouring the point too much one might also think about how wild life has a natural hierarchy of predator and prey. This feature for me became apparent on my regular dip into story books at school, ones that illustrated lives of many different animals and how they entailed different stages. I like nature and interesting tv wildlife documentaries with valuable insights on the behavior of animals. It helps to convey what nature consists of and how it can bring about different aspects of life.

There are some people that devote their lives to improving the natural environment by planting trees. Some point out and campaign to change how the carbon footprint is damaging the environment.

Is nature cruel? Well if your survival depends on utilising other beings to sustain your life and there is no other choice for it, that could be described as a necessary action. With mankind I think it is altogether a different prospect. I am led to the conclusion that having the mental capacity and opportunity, changes the scenario. Influencing harm, killing and similar choices can greatly impact nature’s aims, not just to all life but especially to members of the human race.

Where does morality fit in nature's tapestry of life? For me nature is a background that reflects so many points that one might learn from in life. Aesop's fables as an introduction are both informative and amusing. In some ways a rigid list of rules can not address the subtitles of what really is moral, as each situation could be different. It does however give one a basis from thereby to think of what qualities matter and how they can affect what is done.

Experiencing nature should be a joy but encroaches of the industrial world is an ever danger to
the natural beauty that is so abundant. I think one should learn about and appreciate what the natural aspects of life bring. In thinking, sustaining and learning about nature, there is such a lot of inspiration and possibility for now and the future.

Recent Affairs.

A healthy society might be judged by individuals conforming to accepted standards of behaviour. This could be widened to include countries observing international rules of conduct for both legal or moral conditions. However there have just been several acts that show disrespect for welfare and long-term security. Violating standards of humanity or attacking civilians in a way that contravene international laws could promote destruction, hate and an unravelling of internationally signed agreements. Shooting somebody because they are publicly expressing views that do not conform to your ideas is not acceptable and endangers a collective right of free expression. Similarly how affairs such as these are dealt with can have major implications both for a country internationally and at home.

In another international affair that recently took place a Hamas peace delegation was sent to Doha Qatar. Israel, without warning, bombed the buildings where the peace negotiation should have been enacted. The incident caused multiple injuries and damage. It does bring about the question, how can peace negotiations take place when the representatives stand a good chance of being killed? Apart from causing consternation about what physical destruction had been caused, it is another attack that has flouted international sovereign security. In consistently causing harm or destruction in the aim or claim of vindication, damage can be done in many ways. I think there should be caution so as one country’s attempts at defence does not progress to defying the wellbeing of others.

More acts of aggression aimed at Qatar could end up with escalating violence throughout the region. When countries stand by and watch genocide as claimed by UN committee of inquiry in Gaza and only voice support yet fail to back their words with action, it does cause one to query what chance is there for any improvement?

Keeping Mobility.

It could be said that it is usually accepted that exercise is good for you. However as the years pass, almost without realising it, there is a steady reduction in most people's mobility. Arguably this is due to the reduction in size and strength of the muscular system.

One day it can be a surprise that every physical action has now become a constant effort. Even keeping your balance, when walking, can be an arduous task. Yet do not fret, all is not lost in the mobility area. It is a fact, if one concentrates on the specific points in the body that affect their balance and important muscles, regulated exercise can achieve both strength and stability. Regular exercise in those areas can bring about a remarkable resistance to decline and a change for the good should result.

One might think walking alone might do the job and although very good for physical strength, there are areas of the body that affect balance and are not stimulated by just walking. One example of this might be to imagine walking a tightrope placing each foot immediately in front of each other. Of course if feeling unsteady, do this next to a table or wall so you don't fall. This is a simple test to check your balance and coordination.

Gentle, targeted exercises can be a good way to retain or increase mobility. Even small actions can stimulate muscles, lubricate and articulate joints and boost stamina. Do seek out the best physical exercise for yourself because at any age, keeping mobility can be the key to staying strong and healthy.

Moments in History.

One evening, after work, I had boarded a bus on the way home when I noticed two ladies sitting opposite me chatting. I overheard one say, did you know that President Kennedy has just been shot. It was one of those moments whereby you almost froze. I felt how shocking it was and could tell that the ladies were trying to take in the enormity of it. Later news announced that they had the perpetrator and named them as Lee Harvy Oswald. In fact it was going to go on to be that Oswald was shot by Jack Ruby. This meant there was no trial for Oswald so he could not refute the accusations. For years there have been claims that Oswald was framed and the real murderer has never been found.

Some instances are so significant that they cannot be forgotten. It was with shock that I heard that there had been a traffic accident involving the car Princess Dianna had been traveling in. At first it appeared that news was contrasting and statements came about alleging that the injuries Princess Dianna had suffered were too severe for her to survive. Soon there were countless accusations, speculation and ideas of what and who caused the accident. The outpouring of grief affected the whole of the country and counties across the world. The funeral became an internationally observed event and was participated in and watched worldwide.

It could be argued that speaking out for peace and trying to unite the population is a very dangerous activity. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated by one of his own bodyguards who was opposed to the idea of unity. Dr Martin Luther King Jr. was a preacher who led a civil rights movement aimed at increasing black people's rights as individuals. He was shot by James Earl Ray.

There have been remarkable examples in history. Moments that have helped to achieve inspiration, action and touched the hearts of populations. Individuals who stood up for principals and helped to influence lives physically beyond even their own. It is a worthwhile activity to lead and become known for positive achievement. A healthy society needs people that will strive for what they believe is the correct way of being and these moments can mark history.