Increasingly less reasons to be optimistic

 

The show

I have a dark room in my mind

that I enter on neglected days 

festooned with horrifying

cold, damp, and still

hanging in unending space and recurring time

I see passing processions of gaiety and grief

to emote an appropriate response

unaware of past or any clue of future. 

The trickster on the street

entertains an absent audience

his skinny body folds up

and he dance in deathly frenzy

for the moment

    to exist.        

Moonlight clouds 

I dread the passing clouds in the moonlight

It blanks the night into swaying spirit

The trees, the river and the restless crows

Enter the silence as if in a pact

Punctuated by rushing stars

Pulsating in heart beats

From light years to light years

        Swirling in churning space 

Incapable and incapacitated

 I read somewhere that as people age they become cynical and rigid. That may not be true. Over the years I have come across some wonderful vibrant elderly people, but these are not norms in an overwhelmingly bleak scenario degraded by systems. Indeed, I have come across more and more youngsters who are cynical and sarcastic, either as a reaction to systems or coopted by it -either way it really cannot be positive. With overwhelming omnipresence of technology -that opens up amazing possibilities, youngsters are also getting exposed to systemic oppressive values and manipulations at an early age. Having awareness and deeper understanding -that comes with exploring their senses to realities, and comprehending with their mind as also exposing to interesting thoughts and contemplations is how unique presence gets consolidated. Overwhelming and constant exposure to systems tends to destroy this uniqueness or very likely makes one reactive, and this has debilitating impact on young minds unless ofcourse they are protected and natural inquisitiveness nurtured. We live in the best of times, and its increasingly clear, in the horribly worsening time. Although humanity is having best of life’s possibilities anywhere experienced in human history, we are also seeing real time breakdown of life sustaining systems that were exploited to create this sense of wellbeing. We are passing the tipping point and real time collapse.  

So, with great expectations we are watching COP26 at Glasgow. And I must add I for one (like billions of people holed up in their little corners across the world working their existential problems and survival needs but still concerned, atleast for some hope, in an increasingly futile scene) is getting quite cynical. With the absence of major nations like China and Russia we aren’t sure how this climate commitment -if ever, going to work. Fragile egos of few is how our lives seems to be hinged on. Placed in primitive society like India I am quite aware of this frame but I was expecting something different at international scene when facing with overwhelming odds. To put their little lives aside and take responsibility. What emblemizes the tragedy of the times is leadership of the summit. Boris Johnson is the sickness of systems we have created (and by no small measure the fattened fluffs who contributed to the reactionary choices for common people meanwhile also the worst of nonwhites in the cabinet, as representation). I had overwhelming sense of anguish, and seethed in anger, when I watched the image of venerable David Attenborough (at the age of 95, active enthusiastic and concerned -a rare human being – a life well lived) was made to sit next to unmasked drowsing pile of a human. Then there are formalities of “excellencies” and what not as they speak to the audience while studiously avoiding each other. I am told there are discussions happening in the back drop. What is clear is that the system is not placing -indeed incapable, the best of humans to deal with what is essentially the most crucial occasion for survival of life.

There is a sense of dread. You really cannot blame when concerned youngsters are getting abusive. They may even get violent. It’s overwhelming odds they are facing, and decency is least of concern (reminds me of jostling to get into crowded dirty bus in Delhi every morning -you have a livelihood to work out, you got to survive). It’s about survival and all that they love.  In their limited frame of action, they tend to get reactionary. While on the internet chats there is another section who are fed by the systems and algorithm to be vile and bring out the worst in human being. Its getting difficult.

I am closing down.   

A transformative leader

 

The world is desperately looking for a transformative leader in the trying times we live in specifically for climate emergency. Transformative leader is an impossibility in the diverse world but yes, a collection of thoughts, a collective expression, that speaks for the people and nature -other species, is what is possible. There are some excellent articles, columns, views as also action by younger generations and by indigenous people across the world that has shown signs of hope in what is indeed a bleak scenario. Technology has provided so much of possibilities for people to consolidate, express and seek action. But there is a vast population that is piggyback riding achievements of few from caves into 21^st century. There are systems that has nurtured these mindsets. It is as if last few centuries understandings have bypassed them. At the risk of repeating, it seems to have become a rant -what to do it need to be told, religion is a definite source of unthinking mind that is infecting vast population across the world. It is consolidating a frame of adherence -an obedience, that is incapacitating minds to use faculties of rationality and critical thinking, to use data and evidence to create understanding that is responsible to the reality. The system has manipulated the space for spiritual yearning to entrap people, dehumanize and segregate. The spectacular evolution of life's consciousness: the human brain, is reduced to rationalizing utter nonsense. It has even made potent tool of education meaningless and compliant. The herd is therefore easily coopted by market into money churning enterprise. They also weaponized scientific jingoism, religious nationalism, liberal hedonism, monarchy patriotism, and continue to infect egalitarian ideas and assault sensibilities. We must be vigilant and any attempt to diminish humanity must be fiercely resisted. Humanity must be asserted at every instance.

It is quite ironic that any person who comes close to the understanding of transformative leader happens to be Pope Francis. Most leaders are elected hence are limited by the systems that has debilitated democratic and egalitarian values. In varying degree it’s the lowest commonest denominator rather than synergic humanistic values that is being represented. Market has monetized human relations and compassion to make it meaningless. Precious values of democracy and liberty is being undermined to pander degrading systems. Pope Francis, though limited by degrading religion, has been able to assert the humanity and compassion through the limited frame of functioning. His faltering, whether the question of abortion, gay rights so on, is the failure of the system. It is utterly ridiculous and debasingly juvenile to carry on these horrible values in the contemporary world when humanity has so much progressed and has insights that were not available few centuries back. Despite the system’s failings he has been able to assert aspects of humanity that is becoming increasingly rare. He is a genuine human being and holds sway over millions of people across the world. He doesn’t suffer fools and so it’s sad to see him in the garb that really makes him feel trapped. Nevertheless, and admirably, he is able to use his position to spread concern for deteriorating values -specifically when racist and supremacist use religion to spread hate (in USA). He was probably one of the earliest leaders to realize the threat of climate change and able to influence minds of vast population across the world. Despite functioning in the limited and degrading frame of religion he is a positive presence. Quite an inspirational and transformative leader in many ways. Pope Francis epitomizes the hope as also the tragedy of the times we live in. It is sad that we have less leaders like him.     

COP26 meet

 We are all rivetted. Hopefully concerned common people across the world (busy and distracted in their own existential struggles) have access to live telecast of important discussions on these critical matters that affects them. 

Cannot help but repeating this: Internet is amazing. 

Are you, you need to be?

While watching COP15 live on youtube I heard a brilliant speech by a youngster (not able get the correct name) of Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) from Philippines belonging to indigenous population (these are human beings who are closely connected to nature across the world -aborigines', tribes, native Americans so on not yet blindfolded from reality into fantastical fictions by religions or market and other dehumanizing systems). It was an amazing experience to listen to her. Unfortunately, she didn’t get the kind of acknowledgment nor appreciation that was expected. Today I thought of listening to her again -the simple lines articulated deep thought that had me riveted, but couldn’t get it online despite searching it for quite some time. 

Finally, I found CBD recording. Sadly, it was watched by only 1000 odd people in a population of more than 7billion people in the world. 

You may please visit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcQFIxc7kmg&list=PLjpSs1uejVAnSVyI86tXZCHxf1WQOzkrY&index=61 for the full speech. It’s only 5minutes long from 2:01:30 to 2:06:19 

Her charming self-effacing speech was interspersed with these lyrical questions.      

Who are you?

Are you, you need to be?

Who are we as human beings?

Are we, we need to be?

Who are you as decision makers?

Are you, what you need to be?

Who are you as future ancestor to the next generation?

Are you, you need to be? 

She concludes her speech with these lines

So dear delegates who are you as a human being as a decision maker as a future ancestor? Are you really who need to be? I urge you to be the leaders that we need you to be.  

UN must apologise

 

UN’s role is being seriously scrutinised. Next few weeks are crucial. Though UN is a conception of the world after Second World War it remains the only potent platform for international agreements. Powerful nations and interests have bypassed UN many times (if you recall unilateral misadventures in Iraq 2003 that violated all international laws and norms as also basic sense). For common people across the world (as also other species and nature) who are divided by nations and other pernicious systems like religions and unsatiated greed of market UN remains only hope for international agreements on global problems.

There is however reason for pessimism the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of the Child, the global human rights body tasked with protecting children’s rights, refused to hear youth from around the world who are threatened by the climate crisis. It is a serious setback for humanity. It clearly shows flawed values governing at the helm of UN. Let’s be unequivocal about this: CLIMATE CRISIS IS A VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS OF FUTURE GENERATIONS. We are the violators. We are all culpable if we don’t take action and be responsible. UN is exhibiting collective arrogance of contemporary world and supreme assurance of its entitlement that comes with flawed estimation of their eminence as arbitrators of crucial matters on which life on earth is hinged. These ego heads need to understand that it’s not about them. It never was and never will be about them. They are too insignificant. It’s a statement on contemporary world that such people are in the helm of affair as also reflection on mess we are in. This is not the occasion of power and control. They have a responsibility. The onus is on them to fulfil these crucial responsibilities and show concern. Remove your false conception and just be human. Its difficult but try it. 

UN COP26 is starting on wrong foot. There is a need to be apprehensive if not hopeless. Anger and disgust that the responsible youngsters feel is not only well placed but make us responsible and force us to act. The problem is that these so-called leaders are not only arrogant with fragile egos (Greta Thunberg blah blah does it well, surely ruffled lots of plastic feathers on thick skins and is rocking the cosy system) but are in the position of control being successful as herd controllers. They cannot think beyond the herd controlling systems unless the herds are impacted and wake up to reality. They are incapable to be proactive. There are no leaders or visionaries but compromisers and fixers. The world armed with digital media arsenals quick in opinions lacking depth or concern conjures its leaders in its shape. They are going to meet in Glasgow for the sake of humanity and yes other species too. What should we expect?  

In dismissing the case, the UN Committee has told children, the future generations and other species, that climate change is a dire global emergency, but the UN’s doors are closed to them. They must fight urgent global issues within their state boundary! What arrogance. What lack of conviction. What kind of horrible people are these? It is baffling and deeply disturbing.   

UN should apologise to the children.   

Algorithmic predation

Algorithmic predation 

It builds on binary of negation

0s and 1s chopped up into chunks

Packets routed through fibers crossing mountains and ocean

The IP taps screen with an easy assurance of a serial killer

Taken in by the charm but still wary, the sixth sense wagging crazy

You type in the request

“O hell is that what you want I could feed you more” gush the algorithm jinn

Go ahead click it. Give me your attention.

Trust me on this.

Biological evolution superseded in dopamine groom.

Cognition accumulated in experiences, valuing, accessing

go haywire into sinister grip

tightens on latent neural circuitry mastered in caves

Feedback frenzy loop recommends meaningless outrage, generously reward addiction, suggest self-worth  

Targeted, tailored, depleted for data

Carbon units morph into silicon units in full self-awareness

the freedom of choice

into a pixelated world of pixelated dreams of next depravity

next fantasy, next alternate truth and conspiracy clubs

Sure you want more. This is fun. No strings attached. 

Hunter troll dredge deep for prey and meet the mob

chasing matrix of likes, shares, comments, cults

and death wishes.

       

 

  

GDP and Bhelpuri

Wow what a pleasant surprise!

I found this scribble/poem “GDP and Bhelpuri” written some 25years back in the Sahitya Akademi journal (published in 1998, I must have scribbled it in 1996) that I mentioned in my last blog entry. I thought I had lost it like many of my early writings in rain flooding and carelessness, though mediocre and naïve attempts but loosing writings that one spent lots of time, effort and thoughts is rather painful. So, discussion on GDP did happen while we hanged out on beach for sunset but nobody was eating bhelpuri (I though prefer peanuts -salted roasted in hot sand, that is quite common in Kerala during evenings. Amazingly crispy warm peanuts that I haven't really come across anywhere else in India, in Karnataka you get boiled peanuts) nor throwing stones at stray dogs. I wanted to work a contrast to bring in the absurd and some fun. Anyway, these were shallow attempts and I was quite impressionable impulsive fellow without much reading habit to get reference for good writing unlike knowledgeable youngsters these days (I mean, look at youngsters like Greta Thunberg or Amanda Gorman and their insights, its mindboggling). Serious reading of literature happened few years later in libraries of Delhi. I mostly kept scribbles to myself. Then this random fellow pushed me to get it published (“Get it published man”, those days youngsters said man and not dude, now they say bro, recently I heard yo!). So here we are. Again, it’s quite mediocre and embarrassing attempt and travesty on idea of great art form called poetry but I still find it quite funny in a stupid way. Reminds me of the lost youngster trying to earnestly understand things to find his way through the careless world.       

GDP and Bhelpuri

This friend of mine

would discuss GDP only eating Bhelpuri.

Crushing the puri of the Bhel,

with saddened mockery,

loosening his executive tie,

he would discuss

crashing of shares at BSE;

gulping generously,

he would suggest,

The Finance Minister should show restraint in fiscal measures.

Flexing his fatty muscles,

he would suggest,

the rupee needs to be strengthened,

Ogling at the legs on the beach,

he said,

the economy needs to be in good shape.

Pushing the urchin away,

he would talk of

the need for liberal credit policy,

Stamping the sand castle,

he would say

Investor confidence needs to be built.

Whistling at the dames,

he would express concern,

at the falling value of the rupee.

He would flow his hand,

over the receding hairline,

and tell me about the horrors of recession.

Taking a stone

he would throw it

at the mongrel,

Straight and direct.

And say,

Foreign Direct Investment should increase.

As the mongrel howled

in protest

He would look disgustingly

and scream

It's the political set up

"Democracy, the bloody hell."

As we sat

watching the sun set,

into the stretched blue Arabian Sea

the sky filled with

beautiful pink, blue and red.

He would shrug

and say,

"you know what, Saju

it’s all a mess,

only God can save this country now."

Looking up,

he repeated,

only God can

as the birds flew motionlessly

into the sunset.

*Saju in the scribble is my first name, for those who only know depalan.       

Economists please stand up to be counted

 

It’s about time that economists are held responsible for the mess we are in. They are foot shoulders of flawed economic system. They are the enablers of flawed value systems. I am not into economics and have trust deficit but I do follow Nobel laureate economists like Krugman, Stiglitz, Thaler as also Piketty on twitter to get some insights, also watched Kahneman on youtube, so on but they rarely express concern for these serious flaws or any insights despite being erudite (I met Elinor Ostrom in Bangalore many years back, she had valuable understanding on “tragedy of commons”). Few hours back António Guterres the UN Secretary General tweeted that “The planet's resources still do not figure in countries’ calculations of wealth. The current system is weighted towards destruction, not preservation. The world must reconsider how GDP is calculated, reflecting nature's true value in all policies, plans and economic systems”. It is therefore important that economists take the responsibility. They need to have an international conference or an important addition to Glasgow to sort out how to define growth. The present GDP led development is going nowhere. They need to factor in nature, and help arrive at an economic system that nurtures life. There is no point having big theories if it is only fueling destruction and misery. From Schumacher (Small is beautiful) to Raworth (Doughnut economy) and many have provided insights and templates to work on.

Footnote: About two and half decades back while sitting on the beach in Kochi watching sunset I had a discussion about GDP with a friend. Later I scribbled a poem to express the absurdity I felt titled “GDP and bhelpuri” (lost the copy, it was published few times, quite a naïve attempt). The world hasn’t changed much in its understanding. The sunset is as beautiful, and the dear friend died in an accident. And after all these years I watch sunset with same awe but a creeping sense of anguish and despair.

UN Biodiversity conference begins

 An important conference on Biodiversity begins in Kunming China. This is precursor to significant Glasgow summit. Common people should have access to live participation, now that the digital platforms are quite advanced. I recall Biodiversity summit in Hyderabad many years back where only official delegates were allowed but there were some interesting stalls and discussions by NGOs and individuals on the sidelines that were open to all. All these international meet should have digital platform option for common people across the world to have free access. The world has changed in last few years, everyone should have easy free access to these important international meetings which has common people and planet as stakeholders. The Indian crab mindset (of not allowing people while making their life miserable meanwhile keeping them distracted, in fatalist loop or patronized entities hence show power/blessing through bureaucratic jugglery and wasteful ways to keep important issue at abeyance) must be shunned. It is not for reason that squatter tamil word "paklaam" became a byword for solving any problem anytime anywhere. The chalta hai value system that make the third rate Indian media to be least concerned about these issues (wherein India is a biodiversity hotspot as also extremely climate vulnerable) as they rake muck and sniff for immediate profit. I feel sick to be part of this degraded society. Thankfully internet is such a lifeline. 

Its a request to international community to not emulate primitive people, and make it easy for common people -who are equally concerned, to participate and understand the intricacies of discussions. There is a difference between participating live and going through final report highlighted through media.        

Sickening righteousness

 

Righteousness has its place in evolving values, to attribute morals for better dealings and anticipating the best from others. It’s a transaction for a better world. It’s about loving best in everything and striving to create a better world. The problem begins when you seek purity, that is, morality as the only aspect for dealing. You construct narration around morality, controlling structure of what is perceived as better, now this could be from oppressive systems like religions or through state power to control herds. There is an attempt at using ideas of morality to not only control but degrade others. Morality is therefore coated in sickening righteousness to dehumanize the other. Morality poses itself to be on a civilizing mission. This then also becomes pointers to define others, and divide and segregate common people. Indian society, like any other society that is deeply gripped by brutal banalities of religions, is sickening in its righteous claims. This is ofcourse land of mahatmas and pundits. Morality really cannot be allowed to undermine humanity. Values of human rights hinges on ethics, morality can only contribute. Giving primacy to morality would be giving fantastical fiction primacy over human life, and all that forms the beauty of life.  Decency is basic for dealing in civilized society, it’s a Kantian contract that is logical and deeply humanist.

Since time immemorial humans have been using hallucinants. Its but natural for human being to crave for world beyond their immediate. It’s also is a source of escape from harsh realities of life, ofcourse there are also other means to deal with oppressive reality but then each individual will have to live their own life and examine it in all possible way that life has to offer. And that is what makes life worth living. It’s also very common among younger crowds to experiment with life as they seek to understand and explore. It’s a new world, it’s a new experience, it’s an excitement that only youth can understand. It depends on ones understanding to put limitations where one sense danger or feel one is slipping from self-control. This changes from individual to individual, hence some fall into addiction. Ideally in a more civilized compassionate world all kinds of drugs should be freely available, and its individual who would make the choice as to how much to consume or not. If ever the restriction must be on how much is made available. Also, if the society is not matured to handle these kinds of freedom then please work to control the spread of drugs but do not victimize the consumers, particularly the young who are new to the ways of “proper” living. I have consumed drugs in my 20s, avoided getting addicted but had some deep insights, as also became aware of my limitations. Does that make me good or bad, or a criminal? Does consuming drugs anything to do with any ethics or moral lack? Humans are contradictions of emotions, and only understanding their own experiences in life give deeper insights that make them better. Denying experience is therefore criminal. Taking drugs is not harming others, its experimenting with oneself and with right understanding and circumstance has much greater possibility to come out as better person fully aware of one’s frailties. There is no need to be role model for others, not at 23 nor even at 83. It’s a sickening idea of acknowledgement seeking society that pursue personification of perfect qualities and construct purity to gawk. It’s a sham. Pity the society that needs role models (paraphrasing Sartre). Everyone is role model for oneself. Every day we strive to be better. Nobody can ever be perfect for others, nor try to be otherwise you will miss life. To be human being is to be gloriously imperfect while working to understand oneself and world better.   

 Consuming drugs should not be seen as a crime. It’s a society that lacks compassion that seeks morality in these. Some may consume to get a “high”, and maybe they would mature in life to realize that everything about life is “high”, starting from the sunrise to that insect struggling on the window sill. It’s an individual journey and nobody should have any right to pass judgement. If you cannot fathom the reality of other then you don’t have the capacity to be a human. Each human beings’ tribulation is a personal and deeply individual journey. We have the choice, the only choice, of being compassionate and pray for a better world. 

PS: I wrote this since an hour back someone sent a whatssap of collage of role models at 23 while the unfortunate youngster is shown wanting. It was deeply disturbing, and was sickened by the moral posturing of it. 

      

Extraction as enterprise

Extraction, from the earth, from the surroundings, from people, from whatever is the next opportunity is how enterprise is being defined. This predatory mindset is what frames entrepreneurship in most part of the world while possibilities of education is reduced as conduit. There is no care or concern as long as extraction is multiplied into money, and showcased as blessing. In primitive exploitation driven societies these are revered channel for personal aggrandizements and social mobility. As humans shifted from hunter gatherer -which ofcourse had its benefits, the extraction mindset took over. The extraction of land was how agricultural societies took root; humans were graded, animals were reared for extraction while exploitative systems took hold. When the immediate becomes abstract commodity relations are transactional. There is an inability to connect to individual or reality since extraction works through dehumanizing, abstraction as voters/followers/consumers. There is inability to connect through emotions of vulnerabilities but grander conceptions of reality. So, you see trees to cut not forest to sustain. There is an incapacity to be part of nature or thriving moment in ecosystem. Extraction is always exclusionary. It assumes a special place in universe while carrying predatory beggar’s mindset.       

 

On inequality

During pandemic one of the significant factors for rising inequity as elaborated by Thomas Piketty was in display for keen observers. As people suffered untold misery, hundreds and thousands of lives were being lost millions of livelihoods became untenable, the richest were getting richer. There is obviously flaw in the system (apart from ofcourse other major flaws that is pushing us to catastrophe) that seems to be favoring money over wellbeing. Even in India (rampant institutional inequity, rent seeking society) there was 35% increase in net worth of billionaires during pandemic while the economic growth was in negative! Piketty -French economist, has been explaining inequality for many years now and is indeed quite popular among wide range of audience across the world. Inequality is sharply rising and Piketty warns that it will become unsustainable when return of investment on capital is higher than rate of economic growth. Meaning a section is well placed while majority are in misery, and more the misery better for this richest section. And this not because of any divine providence or blessing just that the system is flawed or skewed to the richest. Piketty’s insights were proved correct during pandemic. This is akin to solar eclipse moment (worked by Arthur Eddington) for Einstein in 1919. Pandemic has been an eye opener in more than many ways, and with climate crisis looming it will be foolhardy to carry on with flawed systems. How IPCC meet at Glasgow -arguably the most significant meet ever for human race as also for the sake of other species, is going to point these out will be keenly observed.     

 

Update curriculum

 Climate change must be by now an important curriculum for study in schools and colleges. Its urgent that each subject taught at specialized level must have climate change as a framework for action. For instance, if you are teaching/studying civil engineering or architecture then there should be a core topic: Civil engineering and Climate Change or dealing Climate Change through Civil engineering. Similarly, for Commerce students: bringing Commerce to Climate Change, as absurd it may sound but every avenue must be explored to reduce the impact. The History of Climate Change and anthropogenic impact. Climate Management. The Science (Chemistry -acidification/bleaching/warming, Biology-biodiversity/species extinct/data, vulnerabilities so on) of climate change and how to deal with the crisis. The point being raised is that Climate Change crisis should be applied to every field of study. More than that there needs to be comprehensive approach that brings all the subjects together and removes these artificial barriers of studies to realities.

Shockingly school and college curriculums are not being updated, atleast the field of higher studies must be attuned and updated at the earliest. I have mentioned a decade back that when I cycled through coastal areas students were found to be lacking in basic knowledge of climate crisis. The other day I was interacting with students from premium technical educational institutes in the country about climate preparedness of their core competent areas and found them lacking. Their field of studies is not being updated for this existential crisis. It’s shocking the lackadaisical attitude of policy makers and educationists. They seemed to be immune to fast changing world wherein India with its vast population is distinctly vulnerable. There is a need for urgent attention in these areas of capacity building and expertise, and making younger generations equipped to the changing realities. Meanwhile this blogger in the last few months has added few YouTube channels in context to sustainable development through biomimicry with an attention on climate change as emerging threat. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rx9XaRsU5o