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Who are the ‘Establishment’?
What is the ‘Establishment’? It is a general erm for the ‘ruling classes’, those who hold power in the UK. I don’t know if the term is used elsewhere. For centuries it hardly needed a label. Society was hierarchical, the rich man in his castle, the poor man at his gate. The Continue reading
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We’re all Palestinians now
Donald Trump’s proposal to take over Gaza, move all the people out and redevelop the strip as a rich man’s playground was really only to be expected. Trump is the epitome of America – a country built on hypocrisy and violent crime, that seems to believe itself ‘entitled’ to rule the entire world, as it pleases, for Continue reading
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The Sound of Silence
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 Continue reading
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Fight or flight?
All humans, indeed all living beings suffer stress. It is part of being alive: we all suffer injuries, sickness, and sooner or later death. Without these limiting factors, life itself would not be possible. Everything in the universe changes constantly: death makes life itself possible. As Thich Nhat Hanh famously Continue reading
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Hotel Caledonia
This week’s Lesley Riddoch’s podcast (http://subscribers.transistor.fm/2313536c989765 ) resonated with me, including the idea of the ‘Hotel Caledonia’ (With apologies to the Eagles): “Relax,” said the night man “We are programmed to receive You can check out any time you like But you can never leave” It’s time to go. It’s not ‘just’ about Scotland. The whole planet’s political and Continue reading
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Rebirth
I started the Planet and People blog on WordPress and FB in 2023, but it went nowhere so eventually I mothballed it. Now, after much reflection, it’s time to start again. And from now on it will also be available on Substack. Feel free to check it out there. It’s also time to talk about Continue reading
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‘Entitlement’
Climate change is a symptom of a deeply sick, destructive ideology: a belief in ‘entitlement’. A belief that wealth is its own reward and can put you above the law. Nietzsche in his book Beyond Good and Evil, identifies two types of ‘morality’ – that of the master and that of the slave. Master-morality values power, Continue reading
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Stirring the pot: behavioural psychology
When Thich Nhat Hanh went to America during the Vietnam – American War, he was asked, ‘Do you come from North Vietnam or South Vietnam?’ To which he answered, ‘I come from the middle (of Vietnam) ‘ . Both sides in the war regarded him as an enemy because he refused to take sides. Continue reading
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Why keep running, lemmings?
Well, fellow lemmings, why keep running? We are like the proverbial lemmings, running off the cliff. Even when we see the death toll mounting, as it is, we keep running. The planet is burning, and we run headlong into the flames. Those at the back are shouting ‘Faster, Faster! It’s the only way Continue reading
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Open letters
Despite great efforts to raise serious concerns with a wide range of official bodies, politicians at all levels, and the legal profession over a considerable time, I continue to face a wall of silence on all sides. It’s frustrating. So over the next few weeks I will publish correspondence here, with the replies received. Readers Continue reading
About Me
I am an archaeologist and activist living in the Highlands of Scotland.
Planet and PEOPLE 