Are Humans Parasites?

I'm reading a book by a Norwegian author that suggests humans are parasites engaged in collective suicide. At first it seemed a bit drastic, but it intrigued me. I did A Level biology so I know what a parasite is - a living organism that lives on or inside another organism, (the Host), & harms it. The analogy is that our World is the Host & we are destroying it. 

Well, actually I can't argue with that. We are polluting our world in all manner of ways. Man made Climate change is proof of that, as are dying species, oceans & rivers. We are destroying the forests & ecosystems that are a vital part of the whole of our complex world. We are grabbing natural resources that are finite & in doing so we destroy the places where we find them.

The difference between humans & other parasites is that we are sentient beings. We know what we are doing. We are presented with the evidence every day, both in our own lives & through the scientific evidence & news media. That is why this is collective suicide. 

So I accept the premise. The question is why we continue to do something which any intelligent person must see has the real probability that it will ultimately cause our own destruction?

I think that most of us are cocooned, (protected from pain or an unpleasant situation), in a mindset that we can't reverse this. That we individually cannot exert any control. That anything one person does will not even have the effect of a butterfly wing. We are selfish. We want to carry on doing all the things that we have become accustomed to doing. Someone else will sort this out in the fullness of time. Technology will be the solution.

We are deluded.

Each & every one of us has to make a personal effort to stop doing the things that make us parasites. We all have to stand up to the powerful, wealthy, vested interests that are now controlling our politics & international companies. 

If you don't believe me look at what is happening in America now that Trump has been elected. The people in charge of Trumps America include;-

• Matt Gaetz as Attorney General, who is under investigation ny the ethics committee & is very right wing.
• Robert F Kennedy as Health & Human Services Secretary, promoter of baseless conspiracy theories about vaccines and other public health staples, such as water fluoridation.

There is a whole list in the Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/nov/14/trump-cabinet-administration-maga-extremism  America has power, money & influence. It doesn't look as if it will go in the right direction when Trump actually becomes president for the second time. Obviously the lesson of the first presidency has not been learnt. 

Or perhaps it has. Maybe the Parasites are winning & we are actually participating in our own collective suicide. If we are, hopefully the Host, (the World), will recover without us.
 

Choice & Democracy

The recent American election made me wonder just how democratic Western democracy is. Are we really saying that Trump & Biden were the best candidates for America to chose from? Or even Trump & Harris? If we are I think we should all be deeply worried, because similar patterns can be seen in other, so called, democracies, including the UK. 

Running for election in the USA is all about money. Both Trump & Harris raised hundreds of millions of dollars for their campaigns. If you can afford it, and there are no limits on spending, you can stand. It used to be funded by public money, but now private money is much more widespread. Candidates who are backed by the likes of Elon Musk with assets of $304 billion literally buy the election. Candidates who relied on public money had to agree to spending limits. Private donors give candidates far more freedom.

I don't believe private donors are driven by altruism or the good of the nation. Having spent shedloads of money private donors expect a return on that investment. They are business people. It's the art of the deal. They want jobs for the boys & political power or they want a quid pro quo in terms of future legislation. One way or another they want control. In simple terms it's blackmail or bribery.

Instead of being concerned about voting errors or fiddles, which are largely eradicated in the west, we do have a transparent & fair system of voting with proper oversight, we should be much more concerned about money. We can argue about the different methods of voting - first past the post or proportional representation. Personally I would get rid of F P T P. 

But we should all be far more concerned about the undermining of democracy through the current imbalance in funding for parties & candidates. What we need is a level playing field where there are limits on spending for everyone involved in the process. I do think that private money should be removed from the process because it isn't like giving to charity. The donors are paying for something they want. It's transactional.

Time will tell with every new government elected to office whether they do what is in the long term best interests of the country & even international affairs. But by then it's too late. Cronies will have  important, decision making roles in government. International companies will have their way to new contracts eased. Wealthy individuals will become even more wealthy & powerful. Leaders will inevitably be compromised & justify it in some way. 

I know we live in a world dominated by consumerism. But buying elections really should be the last straw. Voters should unite & stop it. 

expenses potentially reaching $1 billion.

Read more at:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/us-elections-2024-how-much-does-it-cost-to-elect-a-president-of-the-united-states/articleshow/112824555.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

expenses potentially reaching $1 billion.

Read more at:
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/us-elections-2024-how-much-does-it-cost-to-elect-a-president-of-the-united-states/articleshow/112824555.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

NHS - How Much Does it Cost? -

My husband always thought that we don't really value the NHS because we don't directly pay anything for what we get. It's free at the point of need. I don't think that is sustainable any longer. 

So I'm digging to find out what the cost of the simple basics are. It isn't easy. The Kings Fund is helpful. https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/data-and-charts/key-facts-figures-nhs

Full Blood test - Couldn't find NHS cost. Private (Spire Healthcare) approx £160. Includes the practice charge for taking the sample and a laboratory fee for processing the specimen. £109 (Nuffield Healthcare).

Urine Test - Couldn't  find NHS cost. Private (Spire) includes a consultant fee £150 - £230

RSV Vaccination - Ive just had this free on the NHS. Privately it costs £180 - £200 (Pharmadoctor)

Flu Vaccination - Boots £21.95. Rowlands £17.99.

GP Appointment - A 2022/23 study estimated that a 10-minute face-to-face GP consultation costs around £56.

Prescription -  NHS estimates that the average prescription costs around £28. 

Outpatient Appointment -  NHS is around £120 

Inpatient Cost -  General ward: £351 per bed day. Isolation ward: £586 per day. ICU: £1,621.16 per day.

What we need to do, in the face of the ever rising costs of NHS care, is have a real conversation about how we can make the NHS viable, without the huge cost to the taxpayer while retaining the general principles that we all love. We need to think about a hierarchy of need. Obviously A&E and serious medical conditions need to remain free at point of need. But why shouldn't we either be prepared to pay something towards the day to day smaller costs or be prepared to take out insurance to cover those?

According to the Irish nurse who did my RSV vaccination, health insurance is not uncommon in Ireland. I think that may be the Republic, not Northern Ireland. https://www.movehub.com/uk/moving-abroad/ireland/healthcare-for-expats/#four

If we accept that neither the UK nor the NHS is the same as it was in 1948, we surely have to accept that we need to find a new model for the 21st Century. Rather than ever increasing taxes shouldn't we be prepared to either pay a bit towards some things or have basic, relatively inexpensive, insurance for some things?

I certainly think that if we make lifestyle choices that increase the risk of needing healthcare, like taking part in some sports, we should be responsible for having an insurance policy. I also think that now the NHS sends out text reminders for appointments there is no excuse for simply not turning up or cancelling. There should be a hefty fine. Having everything, always, free just doesn't seem viable.

Leaders Facing Justice.

As far as I can see from research there have been judicial cases against leaders of 15 different countries between 2000 - 2020. (9 of them in Africa). Between 2020 - 2024 I have found 11 more. My list may well not be exhaustive. My point is that this is not isolated behaviour. It is becoming more & more prevalent. The increase starts to become much more evident in 1993 with the Jugoslavian war tribunals. It is becoming learned behaviour by unscrupulous & greedy leaders. They know that they can get away with it. 

2000 -2020 - East Timor, Sierra Leone, Italy, Cambodia, Peru, Congo, Sudan, Libya, Kenya, Tunisia, Egypt, Guatemala, Chad, Ivory Coast, Kosovo.

2020 - 2024 - Croatia, Argentina, France, Israel, Italy, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, Pakistan, Russia, USA.

To my mind this pattern, which seems to be endemic, matters because of what is now happening in Ukraine, Gaza & the West Bank & possibly even more crucial, the American presidential elections. Putin, Netenyahu & Trump, if he is elected, are not leaders intelligent & caring people want to be in charge of wealthy & powerful countries. 

The problem is that although there is International law & there are International courts, bringing transgressors to justice isn't easy. For a start you have to be able to get the leaders into an International courtroom. They aren't going to volunteer, so they have to be extradited if there is regime change, or they have to be forcibly brought to court. They can be tried in absentia, but not sure that really puts them off. 

Then there is the difficulty posed by gathering a verifiable evidential trail & credible witnesses prepared to risk testifying. In addition, the Prosecutors & Judges face intimidation & worse from supporters of the criminals. It takes courage to go against incredibly powerful & usually wealthy men, (mostly). Not only the people trying to enforce the law themselves are at risk, but also their families. Not sure I would put my head above the parapet. 

It's a quagmire. Law is important, but it does have to be enforceable & have consequences for the perpetrator. Especially when it involves death, destruction, genocide, starvation, crimes against human rights & humanity & complete corruption.

The really startling thing is that there are so many men, (usually), prepared to behave in this inhumane way to retain power & accumulate obscene levels of wealth.

We need to find a solution that works.

 

Putins Palace

I really didn't think I could be shocked anymore by the excesses of dictators. But I've been following the story of Alexei Navalny for quite a long time. He did a documentary on Putins Palace amongst other investigations & posts. This link is not Navalny's, but it is very detailed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQbCOYnp_fA

There are several "security" services operating in Russia. The SBP is the presidential security service. The FSO is the federal protection service. Intelligence services are the GRU, FSB & SVR. Putin is known to be paranoid, probably with good reason - If I were a Russian I'd probably think I would be doing the world a favour if I helped bring him down. The measures he takes to avoid anyone having the chance to get to him are amazing. He has had a lot of time to refine the techniques he uses to remain safe & in power.

https://www.quora.com/How-secure-is-Vladimir-Putin-in-his-position

As of 2023, Russia's economy is forecast to be among the largest in the world by nominal GDP, with a value of approximately USD 1.9 trillion. Russia remains a significant economic power with a strong resource base and a diversified economy. However, the ongoing war in Ukraine and Western sanctions will weigh on GDP growth ahead - Focus Economics - Russia's Economy.

According to NDTV World Putin is said to be worth $200 billion. What is it with these corrupt leaders? Just how much money does any one person need? It simply isn't possible to spend it in a lifetime, no matter how many palaces, yachts & aeroplanes you've got.

My conclusion is that it's the "Little Man / Napoleon" Syndrome. A psychological pattern in which people, often men, feel inadequate due to their height and may overcompensate with aggressive or domineering behaviors. It's thought to derive from anxiety & feelings of inadequacy & inferiority. Causes include being bullied or teased about physical appearance, leading to insecurity. Some people respond by constantly attempting to prove themselves, leading to hostility & aggression.

Life for average Russians is not wonderful. 

https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/russian-federation/

I imagine that living in a dictatorship, with huge variations in wealth, power & influence must be very hard indeed. Not having any access to truth, only propaganda - defined by Lenin as the "reasoned use of historical and scientific arguments to indoctrinate the educated and enlightened", must make you feel very powerless to change anything. 

So those brave people who do stand up to people like Putin deserve our help. Not just words, but action too. 

 

AMOC - The Climate Change Impending Disaster you've never heard about.

Actually you do know what AMOC is - it's the Gulf Stream. But you probably don't know just how important it is. You almost certainly don't know what would happen if it stopped working properly. Therefore, if you are quite a bit younger than me, you aren't aware just how it's failure may well affect you. I'll hopefully be long gone.

 

It's a "conveyor belt bringing nutrients, oxygen and heat north from tropical waters, while moving colder water south — a balancing act that keeps the Northern Hemisphere warm". It has switched off in the past & the scientific concensus is that it is dangerously close to doing so again with massive consequences. Climate Change is causing it to slow now. 

This week a report was published saying "the risk of collapse has been "greatly underestimated" and will have "devastating and irreversible impacts" for the world". There are 2 possibilities;-

• Dansgaard-Oeschger events, leading to a sudden warming over Greenland, 10 to 15 degrees Celsius [18 to 27 F] within a decade

• Heinrich events, big ice discharges into the northern Atlantic 

The science is beyond my pay grade, but it is real & there has been a concern for over 50 years. I can remember it in the 60's.

The effects would be far reaching. " Ireland, Scotland, Scandinavia, Iceland, would likely get several degrees colder and also drier. Southern Europe would still be warm and Northern Europe would be cool. These temperature differences drive extreme weather events, bringing a lot more variability and storms. The sea level would also rise by up to half a meter [1.6 feet] in the northern Atlantic in addition to the global average rise that is happening anyway".

Ocean carbon dioxide uptake would be affected. "If the overturning circulation stops, that CO2 will stay near the surface and quickly equilibrate with the atmosphere. That would make [C02 concentrations] rise faster in the atmosphere".

"An oxygen-depleted ocean it would disrupt the entire web of life in the northern Atlantic, and that would disrupt fisheries".

"In the Southern Hemisphere, greenhouse warming would get worse".

https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/rivers-oceans/we-dont-really-consider-it-low-probability-anymore-collapse-of-key-atlantic-current-could-have-catastrophic-impacts-says-oceanographer-stefan-rahmstorf

We have messed with our planet heedlessly for decades. Ever since we stopped being nomadic & settled. But the huge unsustainable rape of resources that I have seen in my lifetime has been exponential. 

We humans are literally destroying our habitat & everything in it. 

We really do need to wake up & understand what our children & grandchildren are facing if we don't take serious action.
 

Offsetting & Greenwashing - A Modern Fairy Tale

Offsetting Source "How Bad are Bananas" - Prof Mike Berners Lee 

"Can carbon be offset? - it is a nonsense - cheap offset options (are) fatally flawed - we can't just use them to counterbalance our emissions. The only genuine offset is removal of CO2 or other greenhouse gases, taking them out of the atmosphere & storing them permanently. There is no substitute for cutting our carbon footprint". 

"We should not fall for the idea that we can offset our footprint, as is often offered by airlines, often at absurdly low cost. The test for a legitimate offset is that it must actually remove carbon".

We need to have a realistic conversation about what "necessary flights" are.

Greenwashing Sources - https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/greenwashing  Shout Out U K - SOUK 

"Claims are often based on questionable plans, including emissions offsetting and “insetting” – rather than actual emission cuts. As such, the transparency and integrity of such claims remain critically low and risk creating a failure to deliver urgent climate action".

"Greenwashing is a marketing tactic where a company makes misleading claims about its environmental impact or the environmental friendliness of its products. The goal is to convince consumers that a company is more environmentally conscious than it actually is". 

"In 2020, a suit of consumer protection agencies gathered to carry out the survey that would turn to evidence of the wrongdoings of large UK businesses undertaking greenwashing practices. Hence, the study discovered that four in 10 international companies made deceptive statements. Greenwashing promotes false solutions to the climate crisis that distract from and delay concrete and credible action".

10 worst greenwashing companies Source - Earth.org;-

Volkswagen

BP

Exxon Mobil

Nestle

Coca Cola

Starbicks

Ikea

Plastic Bottle Water Companies

Major Banks

Fast Fashion Brands 

 

We have all the evidence we need, but we desperately need more action. But it isn't enough to say our politicians are not doing enough. They aren't. But neither are we on an individual level. Every single one of us needs to look at our lives & assess what we are doing, regularly, to stop the escalating & devastating effects of climate change. 

We will only solve this if we are all really well informed & are prepared to change our unsustainable habits.