Is it not shameful that the vaccines are being channelled to wealthy countries, at the expense of the poorer. To dominate Covid 19 and its variants, pharma companies should be transferring their tech and training to factories worldwide – so that poorer regions can self supply. But CEO Albert Bourla openly mocked the idea that Pfizer should waive its patents to poorer nations; the profits of market capitalism simply ignore human justice. After the privations of the last war, we Brits were minded to suspend all market activity around health care; I wonder if Covid could nudge the focus of Big Pharma from shareholder profit towards human wellbeing.
We all sensed that winter lockdown was going to be tougher than the first one – and it certainly was. Although it’s not conscious, alarm continuously activates my central nervous system – to ‘fight or flight’ readiness; this brings flash memories of trauma. In recent weeks I’ve been rescued by a return to the garden – which has already improved my mental health: the feeling that I’ve regained control of something.
Nature around us obeys natural laws which we mostly understand – this predictability is comforting. The garden is also my personal domain, where I shape my own wee imaginary world – pretend I’m in control. I rest these days, as much as I work, and become aware of my enjoyment of ‘stillness’ (old age). Being ‘still’ in the garden, opens us to a heightened sense of the ‘life force’: “What is all this juice and all this joy”.
———
Scotland’s missing tier of democracy at a community level is the single most telling weakness in the institutional infrastructure of our country. Our communities display the most amazing energy and creativity – yet this primary level of citizen action is excluded from the democratic process. I did not easily reach my present conclusion – which is that the SNP has deliberately restricted community empowerment over many years – a centrist administration’s fear of organised community action. I’ve just spent half an hour with the new Govt papers for Democracy Matters – same old. In Scotland, the campaign to empower communities will need to be separate from Govt; they won’t devolve willingly.
———
This Conversation piece explains that Prince Harry now works for what the US calls ‘Woke Capitalism’ – where companies publicly advocate social issues. As always with private sector ‘hybrids’, it’s difficult to determine whether his one exists primarily for social or personal gain. Harry’s title is ‘Chief Impact Officer’ or ‘Chimpo’. No comment!
———
Two UK Govt advisors, Richard Mackenzie-Gray Scott and Geoffrey Chapman, have written a controversial article saying that Scotland could conceivably become independent without Westminster permission – and that we would fare better than the UK Govt (and Tory media) like to imply. The article outlines constitutional options and economic prospects – shows that the independence issue is a much more nuanced than many of us realise.
———
This is a nine-minute video encouraging us to slow down – a bit ‘hippy’, but I like it.
———
I’m a keen supporter of the four day week – which I think would improve both productivity and the wellbeing of workers. Here are the comments of businessmen like Willie Haughey and Tom Hunter. Lockdown has definitely changed the way we look at work patterns, and there is now the opportunity to tweak our work/home balance.
———
I don’t like Alex Massie or his paper, The Spectator – they are both Tory and, in my opinion, too negative. But, on this occasion, he is demolishing Alex Salmond which I don’t mind at all – some things need said. Massie thinks Salmond risks bringing the entire indy movement into disrepute; again, we see maximised negativity.
———
Quote from English novelist, Arnold Bennett (1867-1931)
“You wake up in the morning, and your purse is magically filled with twenty-four hours of unmanufactured tissue of the universe of your life. It is yours. It is the most precious of possessions. No one can take it from you. And no one receives either more or less than you receive. Waste your infinitely precious commodity as much as you will, and the supply will never be withheld from you. Moreover – you cannot draw on the future – impossible to get you into debt. You can only waste the passing moment. You cannot waste tomorrow – it’s kept for you.”
