Blog Post: Peace on U.N. Day

 

Professor Johan Galtung, the Norwegian ‘Father of Peace Studies’ celebrates his 90^th birthday on United Nations Day 24/10/2020, the 75^th anniversary of the United Nations. Two peace milestones. One of my first ‘outings’ with Michelle, my future wife, was to the UN's 25^th Anniversary celebration with Her Majesty the Queen in Westminster Hall on 24/10/1970. We were senior leaders of the United Nations Student Association in those days, with seats in the second row and full view of the 'Beefeaters' who provide Her Majesty's personal guard.

 

Happy Birthday to the U.N. and to Johan, with whom I had the pleasure to teach at the European Peace University in Austria. The Founder of the TRANSCEND network for peace journalism and Transcend University, Johan Galtung has been a mediator for conflicts in more than 150 countries; has written more than 1500 articles and book chapters and over 500 Editorials for the TRANSCEND Media Service; and 170 books on peace and related issues, of which more than 40 have been translated into other languages.  https://www.transcend.org/tms/2020/10/biography-prof-johan-galtung-born-24-oct-1930/

 

 

I read the Transcend Media Service weekly email in order to obtain a different view of world affairs, looking not at the bullets that have been fired, but at the reasons for conflict and possible solutions for peace.  Do you know anywhere else that has a section reserved for Nobel Peace Laureates to write? Sometimes I send my own comment to: tms-submissions@transcend.org

 

When we look around the world, it seems that peace is fragile. Yet if you visit the museum of the International Red Cross in Geneva, you quickly discover that our world is actually more peaceful today than at any time in the past 150 years. And fewer people are dying of hunger or disease. The 24-hour news cycle gives the wrong impression of reality. So The United Nations and Johan Galtung have made positive marks on our world, and we should give thanks.

 

How Facebook promotes mysogyny = FACEBOOK PERSECUTES WOMEN

Facebook is TOXIC. Men use Facebook in evil ways to harrass women, and ZUCKERMAN says it is not his fault. Nothing is ever Suckerman's fault. He sucks up the money, and allows the cesspool to flourish. The WASHINGTON POST has published an excellent account of how Facebook allows nasty stuff to flourish about Kamala Harris: naturally it is not about her ideas or her intelligence, but about sex. Read the excellent investigative journalism by Post reporters Karen Tumulty, Kate Woodsome, Sergio Peçanha Then draw your own conclusions about the need for the GAFAM cabals to be broken up because they are too big, too powerful and uncontrolled. Monopolies are always bad. We need robust anti-trust legislation to break the overweening power of Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Microsoft. Zuckerman is the poster child of too much power in the hands of one unelected man. Democracy? We now have Government of the 1% for the 1% and by the 1%. That is a swamp that needs draining!  

Remembering my lovely sister Alana

 My Sister Alana - sweet memories 

In 1989 we had a family holiday in Scotland - in the Highlands with my brother Rory and sister Alana, posing here with Catherine Leila and baby Timothy. We camped, we explored the midges of Skye, we climbed Ben Nevis, we helped our Hanlon friends with a flood in Paisley, we had a wonderful time .... such as I have had with my wee sister Alana since she was born in 1948. She became a nurse, a midwife, a matron, a health visitor and a community leader in Wiltshire, the beautiful county where she lived in a medieval village near Salisbury Cathedral. Alana was a lay pastoral assistant in the Anglican diocese, everybody's favourite aunt and an all-around good Christian person who was loved by everybody. Leukemia got the better of her and she died on October 1st. We shall miss her a lot.

Alana wanted donations to be given to Cancer Research.  

This lovely, warm picture of contentment shows Alana - who was a wonderful cook - celebrating her birthday on 2010 with her dearest friend Louisa, and some "fine cuisine" in elegant surroundings. We pray that her surroundings today are celestial, affording her infinite peace.