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We got so many hits yesterday with our “World Government” musings that we decided to throw you some more. And written by better people. So here’s some thoughts from Margaret McMillan in the Guardian [1] and Wikipedia [2], always a standby in dark times.
It’s not that we are starry-eyed converts to the idea. We see the problems with it, and we will certainly come back to them in later posts. These texts are jumping off points and we hope you will read beyond them.
So far the nation state has served us well-there’s no denying that. Yet there are so many problems which a world government would solve so much better. From technological problems like global warming and new medicines to economic ones like chronic inequality. And medical ones, such as the case of Mr Putin. And one other thing. Many current nations grew by the fusion of what were once proud independent polities. France from the Fusion of Normandy, Anjou, Provence, Burgundy and the others. China was a set of autonomous states in the Spring and Autumn phase and then in the time of the warring Kingdoms. Yet no one would deny now it is China-and has done much better as a result.
There is so very much to think of-how a world Government could be achieved and sustained requires immense thought. But if the old model is as broken as it now seems, we should at least be casting around for alternatives.
The last part in out little series on the consequences of this war
According to Tim Marshall [1] and many others, the real cause of this war is Geography. Russia can never be secure while it is surrounded by wide flat plains over which invading armies can cross with ease. And so it must push out to create buffer zones in places like Poland or the BalticStates, to ensure that a Grand Armee or Wermacht can never threaten it again. And so in turn those neighbouring lands queue up to join NATO, the EU or anything else that will save them from subjugation to the Kremlin. Russia must always try to dominate, and its neighbours to resist, until the end of time.
Nothing kills so effectively as lines drawn on maps. A glance at the origins of the First and Second World Wars will reveal their deadly presence on places like Danzig or Belgium. Millions died so some cartographer could re draw them.
Russia could never invade the Baltic States if a World Government had an army to stop them. But why should they? Northumbria no longer wars with Mercia, firstly because the UK Government stops them. Secondly because both are in a larger polity-England. And so it is with France and Germany, because both are now in the EU. And this thought is true in most places in the world. Is there an armed frontier between Victoria and New South Wales? Yet there is between the two Koreas. Compare these two observations alone and you understand much about the problem.
So far the Nation State represents the highest and best form of human organisation. It is able to command great loyalty. Yet in a world with nuclear weapons these advantages may soon become impossible to sustain. Many things which were once good in their day outlive their usefulness. Videos. Horses and carts. Stone Tools. 45rpm records. Castles. Sailing ships. Burning witches. Might it be time now for the nation state to give way to a world government which would make people like Putin irrelevant? What form such a government might take, and how it shall be achieved will require much thinking. We shall certainly return to it.[1]
This war started in 1998 According to Allan Little, who was there, the roots of our present troubles lie in the botched attempts to modernise Russia in the 1990s. They failed: the economy collapsed, Putin came to power and the death certificates of thousands of innocents were effectively signed.
Can Kitty go veggie? Probably not according to Pete Wedderburn of The Guardian. Your cat is an obligate carnivore, like many other creatures in the natural world. But read the article and judge for yourself.
Solar Power Stations in Space? Science Fiction writers from Isaac Asimov onwards have toyed with the idea of giant solar arrays in orbit beaming free energy down to earth. Jovana Radulovic of the Conversation explains how that possibility just got one step nearer:
More shells in the Seychelles For us, turtles and kin have always been one of the true wonders of the ocean. But human ignorance and greed have driven them almost to extinction. So we liked this heart-warming success from the beautiful Seychelle islands of the Indian Ocean. (For the record it’s joint effort between our regular chums Nature Briefings and the Conversation)
To make soup for European tables, green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in Seychelles were once hunted almost to extinction. Now the species is thriving, thanks to the protection of Aldabra Atoll, a favourite turtle nesting ground, in 1968. Three researchers who took on the task of analysing decades of data about nesting females, tracked by the huge tractor-like trails they leave in the sand, describe how the conservation success was achieved.The Conversation | 5 min read
Help Ukraine here We haven’t always seen eye to eye with the Daily Mail. But financially speaking, it’s a completely honest organisation, which is why we chose them for our donation to Ukraine. Whatever your background politically please could you consider their donation page foryour contribution? The money is still desperately needed.
The days are growing longer and the long dark nights of winter are becoming a memory. Sometimes a sheltered sunny spot can feel almost warm , and you can pause to watch the daffodils at their March peak of splendour. What better way to celebrate than a specially designed spring cocktail? This week we’ve got ten for you, all from the BBC Good Food website.
You could choose a positively primaveral Pink Lady. Or mix a refreshing Rhubarb Gin. Or what about a frisky White Rabbit? Click below and try for yourself.
The BBC Good Food website is a treasure trove of recipes and mixes, and as such an important contribution to our civilisation. When you’ve clicked on cocktails, why not explore this amazing site further-perhaps to see a nice recipe for that Easter Sunday lunch?
As terrible events unfold in Ukraine, those of us still fortunate enough to lead comfortable lives in peace are forced to ask the question “what are the causes of evil?” Quite a few thinkers have been having a go at this one since at least 600 BCE. But no question is ever entirely answered: so today we think the psychologists should have a try.
Nadja Heym and Alexander Sumich, writing for the Conversation, identify a “dark triad” of personality traits-psychopathy, Machiavellianism and narcissism. To which, tentatively, they add sadism. They point out that some people are so bad you can sometimes see them coming. But they point to a hidden, deeper group of baddies who may be hiding in plain sight, whom they label as “dark empaths“. A chilling thought indeed! Anyway, read for yourself. And think-do I know anyone like this, perhaps at work or who has been in the news recently?
We thank Mr P Seymour of Hertfordshire for today’s story
Every schoolchild will remember Π, pi, 22/7, that curious number you get when you divide the circumference of a circle by its diameter and which works out to a series of digits which no one has ever finished. Okay, it’s good for geometry and engineering, the Ancient Greeks knew that, but- so what else? Well the odd thing is that it seems to crop up in other branches of mathematics which are completely unrelated to geometry.
In today’s El Pais, Fernando Chamizo explains how. Take a very large number-call it N. Now multiply the products of all the even numbers that lead up to N. Call it q. Now the odd numbers and call it p. Divide p/q, square it and multiply that by 2N. You will get an approximation to Π. We tried it for N=10 and got 3.302, but as Fernando explains, the bigger the value of N, the closer you get to the real value of Π. Somehow our old friend pi is nested in the deep structure of the numbers.
It’s the same for Euler’s number, e , 2.718…which crops up all over the place in mathematics, compound interest, and computing, to paint the matter with a broad brush. And other abstruse things like imaginary numbers which equals the square root of -1.
And so we ask-is this a coincidence, a random consequence of numbers and algebra? Or is it a tiny hint, a clue of a clue if you like, to some deeper structure of reality which we have barely glimpsed? The potential dividends of such research might be enormous for us all. Instead of which we must spend our time dealing with the actions of a sociopathic tyrant whose learning is confined to some half digested mystical versions of history, and mopping up the blood which flows from it. (English speakers, get those translators ready!)
a weekly look at stories of more than short term significance
Does Covid affect your brain? Covid-19 shows worrying signs of returning-and the effects may not be too nice. For The Conversation, Jessica Bernard considers if even a mild dose may affect your “grey matter”.
Chile takes the right path The true sources of national greatness lie in building up the economy and by advancing technology. Once you turn to excessive reliance on armies and fleets you are already in decline, as history shows. It’s a lesson Chile seems to have learned. Nature Briefings has a nice summary, with a link to click if you want to know more Hope is the word for scientists in Chile
Chile’s new president is ushering in what many scientists see as a new era for the country. Gabriel Boric, who is only 36, enlisted scientists in his election campaign and has given some of them top jobs in his administration. He has promised to take strong climate action, boost stagnant science funding and fight inequality. For scientists who lived through the 17-year dictatorship that followed a coup in the countryChile in 1973, the promise of this new era is exciting — and long overdue. “Hope is the word” to describe how researchers are feeling, says neuroscientist Jacqueline Sepúlveda.Nature | 7 min read
Bionic eyes? No disability moves us more than that of the blind. We love to read stories of hope, and here’s an exciting one from Live Science’sMark Smith, Bionic Eyes: how tech is replacing lost vision
A song for us all Yes, the Star Spangled Banner is the National Anthem of a particular state Yet the American Revolution was also a victory for the Enlightenment in general, as its protagonists knew well. For all its faults, the USA and its allies in the EU , Canada, Britain and around the world still represent the best hope for mankind. That’s why we still love this version by Lady Gaga
the next part of our series on the transition to a new world
We promised you, gentle readers, a series based this war. Our thoughts on how it began, what happens now, and what might yet be to come. And how we dreaded writing some of them! Especially the one about how we got here. Complicated or what?
Fortunately, we found the work of Keith Gessen. Ladies and gentlemen, this little piece he put in today’s Guardian is so remarkably fair, full and above all clear, that we recommend it wholeheartedly and without further ado.[1] And don’t be put off by the “long read” strapline, because it’s really not that long at all.
The story dates at least to that fateful coup d’etat in 1991 and has one central theme. Mistrust. The Baltics and others could never trust the Russians, and longed for NATO/EU membership as the ultimate guarantees of freedom. Russia smarted from what she saw as a humiliating defeat in 1991. Every political change in Russia, or any or any of the border republics, was seen as evidence of nefarious American purpose. This was especially true of Putin and his coterie of KGB men who seemed unable to ask a simple question “why might people prefer the West to us?”
In the end all roads lead back to Putin, who believes violence and terror are the only certain guides to human conduct. His concerns therefore cannot be with the real or imagined grievances of national minorities, or local lines on maps. They are pretexts for a bigger project: the restoration of the USSR in its entirety. And who can say with confidence that this time it will stop on the Elbe?
A new heaven and earth -part 2 :The world we left behind
The world which was snatched from us on 24th February 2002 was not perfect. Our astute readers will be aware of many of its imperfections Yet this Lost World was actually trying to solve some of them and might have done so, but for Vladimir Putin.
Climate change was the obvious one.[1] COP 26 for all its faults marked a genuine momentum towards net zero emissions. Now the urgent need for energy, any energy has all but vitiated climate reform for many years. If your home is drowned by rising waters, blame Vladimir Putin. The same is true with this blog’s own little obsession with antibiotics. The urgent needs of war and refugees will destroy attempts at rational prescription, and much research capacity will be diverted to military ends. If your child dies of an antibiotic resistant disease, blame Vladimir Putin. We could say much the same about his destruction of the global market, which was doing so much to lift billions out of poverty.
Yet his real legacy will be far more terrible. Older readers will recall how Ukraine gave up its Soviet era nuclear weapons in1994. A real gesture to peace and trust. Now it has been invaded by a nuclear level power. We doubt that would have happened if Ukraine had kept its nukes. The message to nations large and small is: get nukes! And if you have them, keep ’em at all costs! The risks of nuclear wars is now infinitely enhanced. And if you die in one, perhaps from the explosion, the burns, or cancer, you will know who to blame.
[1] This Financial Times article is via Nature Briefings
On top of the human suffering and death that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is causing, it will complicate global cooperation on climate change and the transition to greener energy. The conflict could make some European countries in Europe more reliant on coal in the short term, as they work to break their dependence on Russian gas and oil. The good news is: Europe is increasing its investment in clean energy. “Many of the strategies to lower dependency on Russia are the same as the policy measures you want to take to lower emissions,” says energy-politics researcher Thijs Van de Graaf. “They say, never waste a good crisis.”Financial Times | 10 min read
#russia #ukraine #vladimir putin #zelensky #ukraine war #nuclear proliferation #weapons of mass destruction
At times of stress everyone needs a little escape. Gentle readers, we’re going to offer you Euronoir– the genre of crime, murders, mysteries and general skulduggery in the lands of our Allies. Yes, you’ll never surpass the American masters like Hammett and Chandler. But you can be just as good. And no, we haven’t read it all, we’re on a journey of discovery as well. Let’s tell you about what we’ve found so far.
Maestro of the Euro mystery novel is Manuel Vázquez Montalbán (1939-2003) who brought the world a tough private eye called Pepé Carvalho. Something of an outsider-he hails from Galicia and, unlike our other characters, has no Police department to back him up. Pepe’s adventures began in Barcelona of the 1970s. A grainy treacherous world of criminals, whores and big shots set against the background of Spain’s lumpy transition from Francoist Dictatorship to fragile democracy , with all its moral compromises. As the series progressed, Carvalho’s pursuit of murderers spread out across the world, giving him ample opportunities to pursue his spare time interests of fine food and accommodating ladies. We recommend the early work Tatuaje (1974) as a starter.
There is no greater tribute to a writer than another great writer paying him homage. That’s why Andrea Camilleri (1925-2019) named his detective Salvo Montalbano. Geddit? Those of you who have seen the TV series will know how this intelligent, grumpy man negotiates his way through the underbelly of modern Sicily. He has problems enough with subordinates, criminals and the local Mafia. But the real angst is from the network of well-padded police chiefs, politicians and judges who sit above him: Camilleri’s oblique slant on the mores of his society and the way it functions, or does not. Like his Spanish ancestor, Salvo is a bit of a gourmet, and is not immune to the charms of the female of the species. For an intriguing, funny and deeply moving mystery we recommend Il Cane di Terracotta (1996) which we know you will find in English and Spanish!
The moody atmosphere of Galician rías and fishing towns is captured by Domingo Villar (b1971). His chain smoking Policeman Leo Caldas and his good natured, violent side kick RafaelEstévez pursue their killers against a background of tight-knit suspicious communities, dark secrets and their own bickerings and doubts. Leo’s personal cross is being forced to make regular contributions to a local radio show whose vacuous host is a cryptic synecdoche of the shallowness of much of modern society. La playa de los ahogados (“beach of the drowned”, 2006) is a great place to start, but you’ll find the translation sold as Death on a Galician Shore.
Spain is a land of competing jurisdictions, There’s a Guardia Civil, a Policia Nacional, a Policia Municipal and other forces in certain regions, all jealously guarding their respective rights, labs, crime scenes and shares of the pot. So Lorenzo Silva‘(b 1966) makes Guardias Ruben Bevilacqua and his assistant Virginia Chamorro negotiate any number of tripwires before they get near a murderer or a witness. Spanish readers will have guessed that Ruben too is a bit of an outsider, having been born in Uruguay, and it doesn’t help his concentration that Chamorro, like Spain, is both attractive, and yet quite unavailable. We won’t spoil El Alquimista Impaciente(2011) too much except it’s got something to do with dirty dealings in a nuclear power station. Which makes it rather scary, especially now.
As we set off to discover more, we hope you will too. Next time you’re on holiday remember-behind the hotels bars and cafés there may be murky goings-on. Salud!
Learning, Science and Society 