New Horizons

BRIGHTEVERYDAY New Horizons

I am often dismayed by the power and influence of a few against the will of the people. Why do we tolerate division, greed, and corruption? It is largely born of low self-esteem, ignorance and often fear. Self-respect, respect of others and respect for our Planet are essential tools in understanding and preserving our World. We all have a natural right to share in the riches of Planet Earth and with that we have a common responsibility to look after the natural resources, so abundantly provided. We can share that responsibility working as individuals and in our communities to raise the level of awareness of a healthy living growing environment. Education and communication are key elements in raising awareness and we all have a role to play in how we effect and shape change.

We also have a voice and we have a vote. Younger people have a collective voice and together we can ensure the will of the people is heard. Discussion and research groups, active lobbying at a local level, writing and communicating using social media are but few of the tools. If we want change, we must set it in a cohesive framework and my belief is that we can have radical change in many quarters. We should ensure that we have a levelling across our countries so that we all can share in the resources and wealth of the Nation. We can demand of Government that our Institutions, their departments, and organisations be de-centralised, and Industry and Commerce be given incentives to re-locate. We can and should most certainly re-establish our manufacturing base and revitalize the many training and re-training programmes of the past. I would vehemently support that investment is made from within and we do not auction off infrastructure projects or other vital contracts and services to the highest overseas bidder, particularly those regarded as a “Pariah State”. This aspect of our Government’s recent history of worthy of serious investigation and it may lead us to who really is pulling the strings, and why!

We have a plethora of natural resources and renewable energy initiatives to commit to our respect of the environment and reduce for one, carbon emissions. We have a background of excellence in our skills and inventiveness and a wealth of talents to commit to change and diversification. As a nation we could guide that towards a variety of integrated infrastructure projects to the benefit to all and perhaps that would be best appreciated if this were undertaken as a National Project under Public Ownership. Services not fragmented, under-invested and poorly managed, but ones where there is again a pride in excellence and pride in public involvement. There are strong economic and social reasons in having an integrated economy benefiting each one of us but more so, a spiritual reason in the pride of public endeavour and participation. It is a time for connecting with each other and sharing in the energy and effort in re-shaping of our political landscape.

An immediate challenge to integrate and modernise our whole Rail Network under Public Ownership could herald a new beginning. It has been an unmitigated disaster under the fragmentation of private ownership. How could it possibly have worked? Imagine the opportunity to invest and share once more in the pride of connecting people and ensuring their mobility in a responsible, environmentally friendly infrastructure project managed and run professionally by a Team of dedicated skilled workers. A new Pride of the Nation project. This could quickly be followed by the Pride of the Nation project in Public Utilities integrating Gas, Electricity, Water and Telecommunications. We absolutely deserve a shared responsibility, management, and ownership of such public services to protect their integrity and safety. We deserve transparency in such integrated services and be public stakeholders in such key Civic and Public services. We could perhaps share in the profits generated by such a Network of services by directing them to further improve on regional and national infrastructure projects.

We could also engage as a Nation in the more sedentary pursuits of nature, gardening, planting, and growing. No fast track projects but the altogether more healthier options of the Allotment and the appreciation of our natural world. I did think at one time if HS2 was not going to be the “integrated” link to the rail network it promised, it could be divided into allotments with a connecting electric monorail! The time in Now to change direction and gather momentum to a more fulfilling and nourishing way of life. It would be humbling indeed, and it will ignite a new enthusiasm to embrace change and further our relationships with each other and share in the richness of our wonderful Planet.

A voice of caution! Never be silenced by those whose raison d’etre is to protect their safe, materialistic, cosy world. There are those who seek to maintain the status quo at all costs. Subversion and division come easy to those who fear change, loss of power and control. We will be told we are naïve and do not understand the complexity of their work or industry. What is really meant by that is they would be looking into the abyss! They would enter a new unscripted world and they would not have the upper hand. There is a whole activity matrix out there, a web of corrupt and incestuous practices of the self-indulged, but, with a fresh mind and, undaunted by convention, these relationships will soon be broken down. When you have a movement for good and a vision for hope for all, it will be easy to mobilise a whole untapped reserve of human endeavour. Be strong and resolute.