Migrants

Refugees arriving in Greece from Syria

Migrants. Migrate. Birds famously migrate; so do shepherds and their flocks. Salmon and trout, fisherman will mention, so do eels, to the Sargasso Sea.

And as famously, so does the human animal. Starting in Africa’s Rift Valley and moving to all compass points as pressure of population encouraged them, maybe forced them to seek out more space.

That’s the key to this particular point in history; the weight of population. It’s nothing new; think Rome and the barbarian tribes; think Attila and his Hordes on their little horses, Genghis too coming out of the east. Think of the more recent migrations; unprecedented numbers arriving in Northern America during the last century, freely slaughtering the indigenous people to make the most aggressive and warlike country on this planet.

The real catalyst is population growth, leading to pressure. Consider: China is 1.3 billion people, India is 1 billion. Cities like Cairo, Mexico City, Djakarta and Sao Paulo are 50 million plus; larger than almost all European countries.

All but a very few of these people live lives very different from ours. Life expectancy is much shorter, health care and education nothing like ours. They aspire to dream the American dream and failing that, Europe will do for now. 

What is happening now is simply a taste of things to come. If you don’t believe me look up your Gibbon: “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”. Presently they are being polite and asking to come - playing our game of visas and asylum, but soon they will simply arrive; weight of numbers, like the white settlers destroying the Native Americans.

We should be thinking how we can all share the resources available; how new immigrants can enrich and embolden our crumbling societies not building sandy defences against an unstoppable tide.

Alaric the Goth's sack of Rome

yUK election results and their place in history

Applying for an entry visa - Genkiz Khan style

 I've always taken the longer view. History is cyclical and demographics the single most important factor in driving history. Think of the barbarian hordes overrunning Rome; Genghis and his boys on their little horses arriving at the gates of Buda and Pest; Attila too. Think of the environmental effect of the current population explosion on our planet. The Black Death, bubonic plague, halved European populations with consequent effects on social structure and mobility.

Super city Shanghai

The world and its debt is today owned and run by one great super power. China. 1.3 billion people. India is more than a billion and Indonesia rapidly approaching it. No other political entity is anywhere. Pretty soon these peoples are going to stop playing our silly games and applying for visas and permission and simply arrive - just like the Goths, Vandals, Genghis and Attila. Let’s talk cities; Cairo, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, Djakarta, and many cities in India and China have populations in excess of most European countries except Germany and Russia. 

Climbing the fence in Ceuta

Population explosion in Africa, together with pressure caused by indiscriminate weapon sales and subsequent suffering by peoples unable to follow their traditional ways of life peacefully, means that both North and Sub-Saharan Africans are climbing fences in Ceuta and Melilla despite Spanish troops shooting at them, and boarding sinking, leaking boats to cross the straits to a life in the poisonous greenhouses of Almeria.

From the coast to the mountains under plastic; where does your fruit and veg come from?

"May you live in interesting times." is an old Chinese curse. As historians we live in fascinating times; for many, many marginal people they are beyond dangerous.

Taking the longer view, the election results in Little USA mean little; confirmation that the Brits have taken to a greed driven society like a duck to the wet stuff and abandoned almost totally any concept of Cooperating and caring for others. Clearly conservative under both Conservative and Labour parties, Britain has distributed wealth EXACTLY right. There are enough people who feel they’ve “never had it so good!” They feel rich enough to vote for the rich. There still aren’t sufficient people poor enough to burn, bomb and eat the rich. Cameron knows exactly where the line is and will stop just before it.

While politically, nations are splintering along ethnic, cultural and linguistic lines, real power is being exercised by large multinational corporations who answer to no political government. Indeed, quite the reverse; when will they finally consider it not worthwhile to maintain this tenuous farce and privatise “the government”, simply do away with nations as political entities, as China has done away with Tibet and Russia will soon do with Ukraine? Not long now I fear. 

Which brand do YOU live in?

Book reviews NOW please!!

http://www.amazon.com/Travels-Time-Wheels-Wedding-Republic/dp/1497335361/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

There have been sales, OK, I know there have been sales.
And its not my Mum buying them all, OK.
So where are the reviews.
I don't expect you to be honest... hyperbole, flattery, down-right imitation and simple lying will do.
I'll give points for the best ones; and what do points mean??
Points mean prizes!!

But get them done; c'mon now... if not - detention, lines, remember lines?

Sales doubled in August!!

It is pretty, isn't it!

A bird lover on her honeymoon...

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LIB5P1O

In July I sold two books; one to my wonderful, very beautiful and lifelong friend Mary (she’s in the acknowledgments) and one to someone else – possibly my oldest pal Mart who features in the book three times... and his shop, The Bike Shed (Wales) gets a gratuitous mention too. Why wouldn’t it, its demonstrably the best bike shop in Cardiff, in Wales and quite possibly the universe!

One of these men knows about I.T. and one...doesn't!

Now I’ve sold two more... One to Javi, who had a hand in getting the bugger published (he’s mentioned in the ackies too – Super Techie!) but being a monoglot Spanish speaker, won’t be able to read it. He just felt it would be a good thing to have, an investment, and he says it looks really cool. He should know, he’s seen it – you and I haven’t.

Then the Belgian wanted one but couldn’t download it onto his non-Kindle i-book. We did a deal; I’m open to deals. Unlimited use of his washing machine while I’m living in my van this summer... So then we had some beer to seal the deal! A proper Belgian amount of beer.

The next morning he had a proper Belgian beer hangover and I didn’t; as I was leaving with my washing, I stopped in the doorway to chat some more – this is Spain and it’s rude to leave when you say you’re going... about twenty minutes later is a good average. As I stood there the cat ran out, the Belgian chased the cat and the unattended door slammed shut.

No keys, 
No cat,

No shoes,

No mobile,

No nothing.

Thus the book cost the Belgian the eighty Euros the locksmith charged to open the door. Expensive reading – and he won’t understand it either!

You, on the other hand, can read the book at these prices...

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LIB5P1O

STOP PRESS: 2 books sold!!!!!!!!!!!!

Debbie Thompson - illustrator incredible!!

I've sold not one, but TWO books!

Step forward Golden People to be gratefully thanked by a published author drunk on success! Clearly you are superior people; your taste is peerless, your decisions to be respected and imitated.

Seriously; I would love to know who has bought the book. And if you enjoy it...

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LIB5P1O

Never mind the hedgerow; there has been a bustle on the bookshelf. The issues have been sorted and the book can be issued! Click on the link to see it...

What a pretty cover! Isn’t it pretty? Debbie did it – Debbie Thompson; Guilford’s answer to Janis Joplin, Four Non Blondes and Pink all rolled into one, has revealed another side to her amazing artistic abilities. She knocked it off in two hours after we’d been down the pub one evening. Why suffer for you art, says Debs.

So, what’s it about? A bike journey that I did in 2003 from Wales to the Czech Republic and back. But it’s definitely not about the bike. Wise and trusty sergeants; bikes chasing cars; three gorgeous Chermann Anias; blondes gone by; bicycling as Buddhism; sex, drugs, Rock and roll and tiny French villages; the Rainbow Warrior skipper; sex on a stick – a bed-rumpled Bardot; Trabbies and Chevettes, kebabs, Guiness and the “clear stuff” all make their appearance, as do camels in the Czech Repulic, aka, the world capital of surreal... its definitely not about the bike.

Care to peruse a page? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LIB5P1O

Travels in Time

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LIB5P1O

Never mind the hedgerow; there has been a bustle on the bookshelf. The issues have been sorted and the book can be issued! Click on the link to see it...

What a pretty cover! Isn’t it pretty? Debbie did it – Debbie Thompson; Guilford’s answer to Janis Joplin, Four Non Blondes and Pink all rolled into one, has revealed another side to her amazing artistic abilities. She knocked it off in two hours after we’d been down the pub one evening. Why suffer for you art, says Debs.

So, what’s it about? A bike journey that I did in 2003 from Wales to the Czech Republic and back. But it’s definitely not about the bike. Wise and trusty sergeants; bikes chasing cars; three gorgeous Chermann Anias; blondes gone by; bicycling as Buddhism; sex, drugs, Rock and roll and tiny French villages; the Rainbow Warrior skipper; sex on a stick – a bed-rumpled Bardot; Trabbies and Chevettes, kebabs, Guiness and the “clear stuff” all make their appearance, as do camels in the Czech Repulic, aka, the world capital of surreal... its definitely not about the bike.

Care to peruse a page? http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LIB5P1O

Burgos is Burning

Gamonal in flames

Burgos is burning. Franco’s old HQ, now a quiet provincial capital, best known for its cathedral, burst into flames on Friday night.

 

So; not just a few disatisfied yoof then!

The background is simple; after hard years of economic crisis many are without work, especially the younger generation, many of whom have never had a proper job; there are families surviving on one small pension. We are told loudly and often by national and local government that there isn’t money for vital social services like health and education.



The original issue; 8 million misspent

The issues are simple; el pueblo, the people of Spain are fed up with their bankers and politicians. Here, the local council wanted to spend millions to reshape the main road as it goes through Gamonal, the city’s main working class barrio. It has been the one straw too far and this highly conservative city has exploded in a popular protest.

On Friday the local committee in charge of the campaign cancelled a march and then dissolved itself, worried about possible extreme elements and misbehaviour. A spontaneous and peaceful gathering from the neighbourhood took place in front of the anti-disturbios, riot police drafted in from Valladolid. At ten o’clock some stones were thrown at the police and they responded with a charge. The rest of the night saw small groups of young people destroy all the fences and barriers surrounding the area of the road works, rubbish containers were burnt and the windows of several local banks were smashed.

 

As is the way in Spain, things were quickly organised and a timetable set; 6am keep the bulldozers out; 12am public meeting to discuss the issues; 7pm demonstration.

Tonight on the street things were very peaceful although the tension was noticeable; a march took place around the area and then went to the police station to demand the release of those young people arrested Friday and Saturday night. This was el pueblo, all the people, old and young, mums with pushchairs; a genuine demonstration that everyone has had enough. Humour was everywhere; social networks are bursting with gags and jokes. Many people around me tonight were joking that it’s a great fiesta; a way to meet all your friends and what’s more it’s free, no need to even buy a beer.

Returning to Gamonal from the police station, there was a large crowd on both sides of the street, surrounding the anti-disturbios, who were guarding what remains of the road works. The crowd were vociferous, demanding that the police leave; serious chants of, “You are the disturbance here!” mixed with, “While you’re patrolling, your wife is f******”. All the political issues were aired too. Although the noise was pretty scary and augmented by frequent and very loud explosions of fireworks, there was no violence. Everyone I spoke to agreed the presence of so many press and television cameras was responsible; without them another police charge would have occurred and people would have been hurt.

Rumours were flying as people made their way home that as from midnight anyone on the street would have to present their ID card, which must be carried by law; in effect a curfew.

Here’s a link:

http://revolution-news.com/burgos-spain-rioting/