The truth about violence

www.dictionary.com defines violence as (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/violence):

1.	swift and intense force: the violence of a storm.

 

2.	rough or injurious physical force, action, or treatment: to die by violence.

 

3.	an unjust or unwarranted exertion of force or power, as against rights or laws: to take over a government by violence.

 

4.	a violent act or proceeding.

 

5.	rough or immoderate vehemence, as of feeling or language: the violence of his hatred.

 

6.	damage through distortion or unwarranted alteration: to do editorial violence to a text.

It pains me greatly to read what is transpiring in Gaza (http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\01\08\story_8-1-2009_pg1_8).

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli-Palestinian_conflict ) the Israel – Palestine conflict’s roots can be traced to late 19^th century (1897). One would have thought that after more than a century of misunderstanding, the people would want a stop to all the unnecessary killings and sufferings due to the continuous confrontations. I guess  that was how the saying ‘violence begets violence’ came about.

Mahatma Gandhi (Indian political and spiritual leader (1869 - 1948)) said “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”. I find this adage applicable for the events that have transpired in the Middle East conflict. I visited (http://www.mideastweb.org/briefhistory.htm) and (http://www.mideastweb.org/briefhistory-oslo.htm) and came to the conclusion that history is indeed written by the victor. I find it difficult to trust the authenticity of records that dates back to 1800 B.C.

Each and everyone of us have a choice – if you think it is acceptable for a nation to invade another, please visit http://votersforpeace.us/index2.php

 

The Day The Earth Stood Still

‘The Day the Earth Stood Still’ made me think when Klaatu (Keanu Reeves) said:

‘It doesn’t make sense for one species to occupy this planet at the expense of all other species’

Or something to that effect. He was referring to the continuous destruction of planet Earth with our pollution and waste that was directly contributing to the decimation of other species.

Someone should have told Klaatu that common sense isn’t common, because if common sense was common, then humans wouldn’t resort to such environmentally destructive ways.

 

The corrective actions:

Governments of the world must play their roles to draft new regulations to ensure that companies products / services are environmentally friendly. Companies that are not environmentally friendly should be fined and be given an agreed time frame for them to ensure that their products / services / processes / wastes are environmentally friendly. Continuous failure to comply should result in the closure of such companies.

The ball should not stop there. Laws should be approved that anyone caught buying / using products / services that are not environmentally friendly would risk being fined.

This may sound drastic; however, drastic situation requires drastic measures. I fail to see how the environment will recover if no drastic actions are implemented.

As the saying goes ‘Every cloud has a silver lining’. The oil price peaked to US 147 in July 2008 has propelled car makers to intensify research into electric cars and hydrogen-powered engines that virtually is zero emission. Unfortunately, the R & D cost into these environmentally friendly technologies are profoundly enormous – thus expect cars with these technologies to be costly.

Or think of it as your contribution to save Mother Earth. What do you think?