Planet and PEOPLE

Hullo darkness my old friend,

The only difference between the time that song was written and now is that the words of the prophets these days are written mostly on social media – and then silenced.

In the new, totalitarian ‘normal’, all dissent and questioning of the powerful is silenced. This is done by first silencing civil society. As Orwell predicted, the familiar structures and faces are still there, from the elected politicians to the ombudsmen, police and courts, but they are now all of them just hollow shells.

It is now rule by violence, previously hidden from view but now coming out in the open. Thanks to the internet, we discover that almost everything is a lie.

The system is underpinned by the apparent belief that everyone, every species, is at war with every other for possession and control. Power is achievable only with money because money can buy anything and anyone. The value of everything is now determined by its price, and this in turn is determined by demand. And demand is created by scarcity. There’s no incentive of create abundance for all.

If you try to raise concerns of any kind, with anyone, the response will be the same

1. No response at all
2. Denial of the issue. To raise such an issue is mad, bad and dangerous becuase ‘everyone (or fact-checkers, or ‘science’) says so’
3. Denial of responsibility. Passing the buck.
4. Silence ( possibly send you back to the start of the complaints process)
5. A flat refusal to engage – the matter ‘has already been responded to’, the complaint is vexatious
6. Threats and vilification; false allegations; stirring up hostility from family, friends and neighbours. ‘Othering’, ‘cognitive warfare’.
7. Assertion that this is just how it is, get used to it and do as you are told because ‘there is no alternative’. ‘Entitlement’, force majeure, eminent domain. Outright denial of truth and justice. The poor have no lawyers, lawyers find they cannot bring cases, and even winning cases is simply ignored. In other words, dictatorship.

This has been my own experience over the last five years, trying to raise issues with various companies and public authorities. It turns out that we are still ruled by a parcel of rogues, even if we’re bought and sold these days for American gold rather than English. For me this started in 2019-20 with EBay, Amazon, PayPal; and since then, it’s been the same sound of silence from British Gas, Clear Business Water, Everflow Water, Scottish Water, Octopus, several banks, Nationwide Building Society, and all public bodies, from Wester Loch Ewe Community Council, to Highland Council, MSPs, The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, The Water Industry Commission for Scotland, Nature.Scot, NHS Highland, The UKHSA, OfCom, OfGEM, the Environment Agency, SEPA, industry bodies, Advertising Standards, the BBC. certain newspapers, Police Scotland, the legal profession, the Courts, the Scottish and UK governments. And others. Who or what are they all afraid of?

Whoever you turn to, it makes no difference at all what you say or do, because you will face a wall of silence. No-one will respond to any concern Because they have no answer to give. Nobody dares to break the wall of silence; but the wealthy and powerful are now above the law and will do as they please. They don’t (apparently) need to offer any explanation or justification. It is a destructive culture of fear and corruption that has taken over the world. Genocide is not really genocide but ‘self defence’. A terrorist one day can be a noble freedom fighter the next. Anything and everything is OK if it’s in defence of the ‘realm’ (aka the rich and powerful)

Donald Trump and others seem to have adopted the approach ‘Never apologise, never explain’. Focus groups have concluded that a refusal to accept any kind of criticism makes them appear ‘strong’. To apologise or even accept any responsibility is a sign of weakness and could make you vulnerable. But this is not a sustainable strategy for long. Actually, a refusal to explain or justify actions just indicates that you have no justification at all and are just following orders.

The poor, the disabled, the elderly, the Palestinians, all those of no ‘productive’ value to be exploited, are just competition for resources. It’s their fault if they ate not billionaires too. The weak go to the wall. And the wealthy burn money in front of them.

Now, of course there are sadists who actually enjoy causing misery and death. But I think most of those who engage in the behaviour above do so our of fear. They have been given to understand that unless they do as they are told, they will suffer consequences – which could range from a lack of promotion, to death; for self or loved ones. Dictatorships have always done this, but no-one wants to admit it happens in our so-called democracy too. And of course, if you want to save yourself, it has to be at someone else’s expense. ‘It’s just the way it is’. We are told to just get used to it.

Democracy and the rule of law are dead, hollowed out in Orwellian fashion so only a facade remains. No-one will confirm or deny it. Even genocide is no longer genocide, and the ‘truth’ is whatever the powerful decree. Because many people believe that rule by violence is ‘scientific truth’. That everything and everyone is in competition. The survival of the fittest means the survival of the most ruthless and reckless. The only relationship possible between any two people or species is abuser and victim.

However in reality, power over others depends ultimately on consent. Even if that consent is actually manufactured with ‘Project Fear’ – manipulative lies, threats, and deception. When challenged, not one of them can respond or justify their behaviour, because they are all just following orders. Too afraid to do anything else. So fear rules the earth. The billionaires are terrified of losing their power and being forced to join the ‘losers’.

We all seem to run around like headless chickens and incapable of stopping. Silence can be helpful sometimes. It can give us a chance to stop running, chattering, worrying and reflect on what really matters in life. I think Covid made a lot of people re-examine their lives. When we stop talking and listen to the planet and its people, we can make an examined life worth living. But then we need to re-engage with others and be the change. If our silence is based on fear, it is likely to be counterproductive. If you are required to keep secrets, or in a job or organisation which you suspect causes harm, or does not make you feel happy and fulfilled, why do it? Why not go and do something creative that you can feel at ease with, that benefits people and planet, in short why not get a life?

So silence can be good, if we go there to listen to ourselves and others. But it’s surely a mistake to stay quiet out of fear. The truth does come out sooner or later. Someone is bound to ask what you knew and when, and perhaps ask you why you didn’t speak out. In reality, we have nothing to fear but fear itself.

The only possible future for humanity and many other species besides is to stand up for ourselves and others, and be the change. Right now.

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
     Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Martin Niemöller