Terry Lloyd's Blog, page 10

Self-Defence.

What does self-defence mean to you? Recent traumatic and absolutely shocking events have made lots of people question what those two words signify.

I have just seen a clip of a group of unarmed civilians carrying a white flag and displaying open hands up and subsequently one of their number, is without warning, shot dead. There has been much speculation about why and if it was a consequence of an interview having been a few minutes previously conducted with that same individual. Tactics of an execution or another in an unthinkable, widely scoping mass scale attack has yet again caused harm, grief and murder.

Politically self-defence has been used to explain or justify action taken in economically important areas in certain shipping waters. Self-defence has been the term to suggest the objective for military retaliation, further extensive destruction of formerly habitable locations and an exacerbation of brutal, harmful degradation of thousands and thousands of lives.

How can people treat each other in such an inhuman way? Is the answer to remove the fact that all humanity is human. It becomes easier to describe the object of aim as not being a human at all but just a moving target and something that deserves to be killed.

Crimes committed during any conflict are internationally known as war crimes. Indiscriminately and repeatedly legitimising atrocities as fallout from any specific mission is not deemed as acceptable according to multiple codes of conduct and the most basic of human rights standards.

A right to self-defence is logically measured and should be monitored, otherwise there could be a scenario in which one side determines an automatic autonomy type determination of the future for a population. A seemingly justifiable state if thought to have been attacked could then turn aggressor and vigilante in their desire to take revenge. If this is not curtailed, confusion and error could take hold, innocent civilians harmed and any sense of justice diminished.

Any conflict but particularly one fueled by charged emotions and historic upheaval, should be kept within guidelines otherwise people caught up in the conflict could be warned to leave that place, only to be killed in a supposed safe area.

People have to be careful, I feel, to apply self-defence in a proportionate and productive way. Any gross violation of human standards is a stain on justice. My criticism is not limited to the one incident that I have described but to all acts of inhumanity no matter who the perpetrators are.

Announcing to any population that they should be ready for fighting, specifically at this time of financial hardship for many, financing bombing raids and preparation for war does not seem the best course of action. I believe without talking or a willingness to find a just common solution to conflict, no decent progress to peace can be made. A start to a positive resolution would be not to enter into further aims and claims of self-defence but to promote negotiation, democracy in wise division and safely devised independence.

Assumptions.

It is with some amusement that I recall a conversation with a friend about the Earth being spherical. At first sight it would have seemed an easy task to prove the situation until he suggested going back in time before that of modern technology.

The conversation widened into the moving Sun around the Earth, which was a statement that had been believed for thousands of years. Yet it is so easy to assume and perhaps jump to conclusions based on what you perceive to be the evidence of your own eyes, however things might not always really be as first thought.

Of course we all assume everyday things and often without a moment's hesitation. Although this is so very regularly the case, I believe some assumptions could be described as stumbling blocks to progress. One such assumption was to change progress in scientific matters. At a time in the past, many advances in Mathematics and Astronomy were founded in the Arabic world. One man assumed science was the work of evil and successfully spread this belief. At that time the West existed in the dark ages and validations of facts were not necessarily as easy to internationally conflate.

I must say some assumptions could be life saving, particularly if you believe there is an approaching danger and remove yourself from the situation. On another level, when trying to solve a puzzle to assume your first step is right may not be the best course of action.

One character from fiction displayed a bewildering ability to correctly assume no end of people's professions and subsequent intentions. His name was Sherlock Holmes, created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I mention this because while assumptions can vary greatly depending on the scenario and subject, the actual process of assuming can be extremely entertaining.

It might be a good idea to check an assumption before placing too much trust in the idea that it is correct. Therefore judgement and research can be very useful partners in practice when it comes to assumptions.

Middle East Conflict.

The conflict in the Middle East between the Palestinian people and Israelis is a long time affair with atrocities being carried out by extreme political ideologies. Caught in the middle of it, are on both sides, innocent civilians.

It seems ironically sad that Israeli people have lived and do live peacefully, while celebrating their own culture and tradition in many countries across the world and yet when a specific strip of land is involved, peace and compassion has not prevailed. It is undoubtedly important that any country is mindful of not only the basic needs of its people but also how the international security and sanctity of life is respected. If any country no longer prioritises a wide, broad and cooperative approach to the support of their respective countries' economies and potential to survive let alone flourish, it can make for a crisis of politics and conscience.

How did the politicians think that with no objective intervention, a territory already occupied and a divided population of citizens with varying rights, could have a peaceful future? I think there is little chance of both sides agreeing easily to a separate and fully self governing Palestine territory. The reason being a desire for political and practical autonomy, fuelled by division, fear and religion.

Religion should of course be the ultimate force to unite and bring about a realisation of the precious aspect common in human beings and promote compassion above any other cause for destruction. However politics and religion do not always practically play out as intended and an elected at one time democratically Hamas seems to have an ideology of total destruction of the Israelis, whereas the Israel defence forces are being led via a resolute campaign in destroying Hamas at seemingly any cost.

I believe all countries have the right to defend themselves from attack but for humane reasons, there are rules governing conflict. Many totally condemn murder, no matter who the perpetrators are and they do not accept any reason to justify that action.

Even conflicts have a requirement for level, logical and humane strategies and claiming the enemy has placed civilians in the line of fire, halting or slowing the access of urgent supplies, or bombing supposedly safe zones whereby civilians have been directed, do not coincide with a legitimate application of warfare. Stating that a government or administration bears no responsibility for what happens in the mutilation or killing on a mass scale of civilians is not acceptable or should it be a feasible stance to take.

Israelis have a history somewhat similar to Palestine’s in that they too were unjustly brutalised and subjugated. The question is why such an atrocity should ever be repeated on another population. Internationally, there is rightly outrage and debate. The world can never be happy to observe as a population suffers and justice can never come from the withdrawal of peace from a nation.

Wonders of Life.

A universal approach as to explain why things are as they are has been represented over many years and usually is in the form of a story with a main character who is responsible for everything that is in existence. Countries all over the world have traditions that stem from an initial beginning or story of explanation.

There are different points of view and some base their theories on certain science and historical evidence that suggests over millions of years there has been change due to the properties of existence without any specific goal. It has been argued that what can be seen all around you is a pause in the process of change. Therefore in the past things were different and in the future they will be different. An example of this might be put forward as the tiny slow down of the spin of the Earth, which at one time in the past was a six hour day and now not quite a twenty four hour day. The Moon came into existence due to a collision of a large asteroid with the Earth and it is slowly moving away from the Earth.

Life including vegetation has taken many twists and turns and even viruses without intention are linked to the survival and demise of other forms of life. As a subject, this kind of evolution process is one that can be quite fascinating. As a child, how things came to be always associated in my mind to scenarios about epic topics of thought such as environments, varying forms of wildlife and survival of species.

Many of the stories about the beginning of existence, included in my opinion, a focus to explain intention amongst other things. There are implications and consequences involved that are based on what could be seen as the starting point as there was no complete knowledge of the past.

One of the most crucial lessons in life, I believe, is how people evolve in both their thinking and their actions. Nature can at times appear hard and cruel but this should not stop human beings from forming their own intentions based on the welfare of humanity and the future of all life.

Happy Christmas

Christmas is the time in many calendars that many look forward to participating in. It is with the spreading of kindness and happiness that the sentiment of goodwill to all can truly be felt. Being able to pause and think of others is both helpful and poignant. It is a very useful point to become far more outward looking and think about who and what is significant.

Economically the festive season is majorly crucial as the shops are poised for the possible boost of trade and income. Efforts are made to decorate and set sparkle into the images of shops and brands. Anticipation is high for those well known campaigns and TV promotions that can represent memories of childhood and seasonal trade experiences.

I think back to my early days as a child counting down the days for the great event itself. It seemed to be an age before it arrived. Now the Christmases come and go with an alarming frequency and much quicker that I believe I ever felt before. Yet the spirit of Christmas, that sense of alluring festive cheer has not lost any of the attraction. Seeing the joy in families and friends as they work together spreading goodwill and happiness is something that can emphasise those sometimes rarely spoken of emotions.

A very well loved and widely known symbol of Christmas is of course Father Christmas. Father Christmas is a worldwide phenomenon with many different names, a jovial character accompanied with a long beard, dressed in a red suit with a happily expanded waistline and recognisable black boots. Of course the most important accessory for those younger in age is an enormous sack stuffed with toys. Only for good children are the toys intended but at this time of the year, even the potential threat of bad behaviour bringing about no reward means that there does not appear to be any bad children at all.

There is no doubt that a little bit of fantasy is a powerful way of lifting spirits and for a short time making so many people happy is both miraculous and a good thing to acknowledge.

May I wish you and all of your loved ones a very happy Christmas and healthy, prosperous New Year! I will be taking a break for the Festive season but am back again in January!

Everyday Stress.

Stress can be a major factor in everybody's lives. Controlling stress is a necessary ability for most people and knowing what one should do is a positive start.

Acknowledging stress in life is a first point to being able to diminish the consequences of it. Many techniques are basic enough to talk about or learn however putting it into practice amongst a very packed schedule is not always that easy.

You may well believe that you are immune from the effects of stress, but it has a nasty habit of showing up and causing problems. The foundation of stress, I believe builds up over time and could well be a result of habit and thinking. It is almost too easy for many to accept the suggestion that how a person thinks could be a way of either accumulating or cutting down stress. Quite simply put, focusing on the negative repeatedly becomes a habit and undermines a healthy state of mind. It can lead to habitual worrying or negative, stress inducing thoughts. These processes can then bring about a wound up physical state, as automatically muscles are clenched and tightened in apprehension. Many people may be surprised to find that if they check their thoughts, they may well find negative thoughts dominate their thinking.

Redirecting how thought patterns influence how we feel and what we do is not an answer for all aspects of stress, however it can alleviate certain resulting problems. Altering the recollection may be easier than trying to stop thinking of it. The minute thoughts are noticed as negative, try thinking of an alternative, calming idea or a distraction from it entirely.

Stimulation of the mind is another course of action powerful in combating and relieving stress. It is by preoccupying the mind with solving puzzles or some form of concentration that a much better mindset can be achieved. A win, win of a situation can be attained with this objective because while the mind and body reduce stress, improvements can also be noted in agility and cognitive ability.

Even exercise can be useful for interrupting the flow of thoughts. It can be useful to promote health through the body and encourage a healthier frame of mind. Of course when implementing relaxation, resting the mind by use of meditation and mindfulness is another great way of combating stress.

Above are a few carefully chosen points focused on stress management and ease of use. They can be as quick as you like or as effective as you require and could be useful for creating peace of mind. Each is easy to incorporate individually or collectively into a daily or weekly schedule.

The best way to utilise any techniques on stress is at that time when it is needed or even anticipated. Try the methods that work for you at the optimum times that suit and enjoy the benefits of what they can do.

NHS Woes.

One of the most important facts about life is the ability to be alive and thrive. In an attempt to achieve that aim there is in the UK, the incredible NHS. I can not praise it enough. I, like many, know how tremendous the efforts, work and conscientious staff can be and how even when pushed to the limit, multiple varied disciplines can come to the fore.

However I do believe that the powers that be are failing to let the NHS function to a standard capacity and they have seriously impeded how it runs. They are playing with people's lives as financial considerations take precedence over life saving staff requirements and basic, conventional objectives are often ignored. Solving obstacles to ensure the smooth running of the NHS is so important because it is relied upon vastly and vitally. If maintained and invested in properly it can act as an inspiring example of positively known and shown healthcare.

When any system is made to endure with serious problems, cracks start to become evident and in the example of the NHS a potential patient is left unable to easily access medical help as the resources are overburdened. Neither time or response status are on the patient’s side and staff are left overworked and demoralised by the situation.

Is there a solution to this problem? In some countries private medical care is listed and each person receives an allowance as partial state funding for treatment, this can either completely pay for those particular healthcare professionals and services already highlighted or go towards further private topping up from an individual for any medical option of their choice.

Applying a part payment option may alleviate some of the burden on the NHS. There have been delays and many report trying to attain a GP appointment or finding a dentist can be hugely problematic. It is imperative that lessons are learnt and different systems I think should be used to ascertain possibility, preference and potential for a properly working integrated healthcare system that applies to people’s needs when it is required.

Often trained experts are the wisest to know how to fix difficulties and the NHS is no exception. People have been left, in the majority, stuck between not being able to access what should be an accessible NHS or where possible attempting to go private where there have been allegations of inflated and excessive costs.

How long the present situation will last depends on the pressure applied to reach a point of successful negotiations, achievement of a strident and compassionate vision and a positive implementation of long lasting structure. I just hope that the people who can meet the needs of this task can form and that action, like any assessments and treatment will be given as quickly as possible.

Positive Energy.

When there is so much news about global warming, it is puzzling that those in control of determining what is substantially and sustainably done about it, seem to lack the urgency that this important situation needs.

Many governments globally appear quite content to repeatedly debate or theorise about an issue that has a huge influence on multiple populations and the environment. It is one of those factors that populations and certain leading bodies do agree on in thought but differ on in terms of practical application. While many societies and communities would like to have more radical and positively noticed improvements to climate policies, change does not come that quickly or effectively when particular governing practice takes charge.

Opening a new coal mine and offering North Sea drilling licences do not concur with green, clean energy ideas of spoken and promised pledges. Primarily these offers could not even be challenged as financially attractive, certainly these aren’t a viable option for indicating environmentally aware credentials and the irony is that the UK will not be able to directly use the produce from the drilling anyway.

There are a lot of inspiring ideas on how to produce green energy and how to implement this into different industries. Students have amply shown that natural resources can enhance energy efficiency in Scotland with water power and built working hydro examples and actual modes of positive energy production. Globally there has been acknowledgement of innovative and practical revolutionary technology, forms that utilise an area’s own available or abundant natural renewable potential to enable a future far more environmentally friendly than ever before. The desire, ideas and readiness to adapt can be noted and significant now is the way that these capabilities are processed and sensitively transferred into the advancement of the way energy is known and used.

The same old announcement is made that we are on schedule for net zero by 2050 however the short term consequences should not be ignored. When such an issue requires action, many people have keenly been at the forefront of providing both more basic and complex solutions and leaders should be far more proactive and cohesively use their own energy to achieve a vital common aim.

Epic Encounters.

I saw an article recently that got me wondering about the Jaws film sequel. Could it really be true? It was reported that a pod of killer whales had collectively at different times sunk four sailing boats in the Mediterranean. The idea being the killer whales were getting their revenge on the boats for maybe injuring one of their number. The really interesting part is that the attack on the boat was methodical as it seemed repeatedly this occurred by first removing the propeller and then for over forty minutes they sustained a dismantling and demolishing of the vessel.

Another mind boggling event happened when a fishing boat loaded its catch of fish. The crew were surprised by a giant squid that was looking for food. It straddled the side of the boat like in the Jules Verne film 20.000 Leagues Under the Sea. With its armed tentacles that have hooks on, it latched on to several seamen. Fortunately they were able to fight the squid off.

I urge people not to copy this next true tale. Some divers were filming the feeding habits of squids. At the end of filming and when it was getting dark suddenly they realised one of their number was missing. They searched in vain until the missing diver surfaced and was covered in injuries sustained from his encounter with a group of squids. Underwater at first the diver had been fascinated by a squid as it nibbled on a part of his well equipped body but events were to take a more dramatic turn as the lone squid was then joined by others encircling his neck and body. Relentlessly he felt himself being pulled deeper and deeper into the looming void. He realised if he didn't fight them off then his life would be over.

It is important to remember that the animals mentioned in this blog can also be amongst some of the most intelligent and in other circumstances or different experiences pose no threat to humans. The sea is an inspiring domain but there is the ever present possibility of danger and death. It is an epic place and it is quite possible that from the sea, first known forms of early life appeared. No wonder then that it is alluring and a mystery to the minds and hearts of many.

Troubled Times.

At this time you might well be forgiven for thinking that we appear to be surrounded with conflict. Historically there have long been terrible disputes and depictions of war and bloodshed. Usually these fights are fought over territory, power and dominance of control. However, given that progress is meant to come with important lessons learnt from the past and insightful perspective, it is again quite reasonable to assume that the hostility of brutal war should not be reenacted.

It is ideas and desire that motivate action. If ideas included that of the positive capabilities that are available, international relations and political leadership would be the basis for a far more adept and humane mode of response. Just because people have different views of a solution that does not entitle either side to cause brutality. If actions involve destruction and harm to a vast number of civilians, then politics on any side is no defender of justice if it seeks out more violence in an aim of retribution and autonomy. Issuing redundant instructions claiming safety when practically none is given, should not be acceptable. Politics should be about positively influencing the plight of the people and in the case of international resolution helping to bring about parity not provoking the potential for prejudice. Countries should attain a focal point of promoting safety without question and that has to include an equal welfare code of conduct sought for the benefit of each other's populations.

Legitimate talking is often the key to reaching a settlement. However if respective leaders are unwilling to find a talking solution to their differences, another idea could be to endorse more conducive leadership. Leadership that does acknowledge diplomacy and works towards recognising that people’s needs across all sides are the priority.

Political conflict is not easy but that is why the actions of ministers and leaders are integral to success and should convey an ability to choose positively inspiring language or internationally seen actions rather than increase people’s level of tension or aggression.

Even more so in troubled times, leaders need to convey the thoughts of peaceful promotion nations. Power is something that can be used in many ways but the true application of it when it comes to any country is in how well a leader can bring about safety and success for the people. It should recognise good international relations and a sense of decency and integrity in how issues are governed.