All Blog Articles, arranged here by Year and Month.

Celebrating Mass Murder by the State and especially Business

It seems very bizarre to me, that in general, murder is condemned, when perpetrated on individuals, but mass-murder appears to have been accepted and approved, if not celebrated all over the world. 

 The most obvious example is war. Once hostilities have ended, we celebrate "our Heroes, the fallen who gave their lives for the rest of us". This is something to mourn. It should be the spur to not repeat it, but instead it is used to remind recruits that it is their heroic effort and lives that are put at the disposal of the state. Reading some of the accounts of various wars, the descriptions are all the same: horrific! So why do we carry on?

There are other mass murders, on a scale so vast it is hard to grasp. That caused by greed.

For example, smoking. It's always been clear that smoke is not good for our lungs. But ever since people have been around, it seems that addictive drugs have been used, often for religious/shamanic purposes. But when I think about cigarettes, pipes, cigars, etc., these have been mass-produced although known to kill in a variety of unpleasant was, such as emphysema and lung cancer. Almost since the beginnings of manufacture of tobacco/nicotine products, it's been known to kill. But it is not only allowed to continue with this kind of mass-murder, but it is even encouraged by states and companies, through advertising. Why, well, killing people earns somebody money - the state in the form of taxes and the shareholders of the companies involved. What strange thinking encourages people to support this kind of mass murder? I'm talking about the state and shareholders, not the poor mugs who have to do the paying and suffering.

 Big businesses, including the tobacco industry, have been linked to many deaths due to their products and practices. For instance, the tobacco industry has been associated with millions of deaths worldwide due to smoking-related illnesses like cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disorders. Additionally, many pharmaceutical companies have faced scrutiny for their role in the opioid crisis, which has led to countless deaths from addiction and overdose. Industrial pollution from corporations has also been linked to respiratory illnesses and other health problems, particularly in communities near manufacturing plants.

More examples:

1. Pharmaceutical Industry: Apart from the opioid crisis, pharmaceutical companies have faced criticism for marketing practices that may have led to inappropriate prescribing and adverse drug reactions. Some drugs have been withdrawn from the market due to unforeseen side effects, resulting in fatalities.

2. Food and Beverage Industry: Excessive consumption of unhealthy foods and sugary beverages has been linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, leading to millions of deaths globally each year. Additionally, foodborne illnesses from contamination or improper handling of food products have caused fatalities.

3. Chemical Industry: Chemical spills, leaks, and pollution from industrial activities have resulted in environmental contamination and health hazards for nearby communities. Exposure to toxic chemicals has been linked to various illnesses, including cancer and neurological disorders.

4. Automotive Industry: Road traffic accidents are a significant cause of death worldwide, and the automotive industry plays a role through factors like vehicle design, safety standards, and marketing of potentially dangerous features (e.g., distractions from in-car technology).

5. Firearms Industry: Gun violence is a leading cause of death in some countries, with firearms manufacturers facing scrutiny over their marketing practices, distribution channels, and lobbying efforts against gun control measures.

6. Mining Industry: Accidents, collapses, and exposure to hazardous substances in mines have resulted in numerous fatalities among miners worldwide. Additionally, environmental damage from mining operations can have indirect health consequences for nearby communities.

7. Alcohol Industry: Excessive alcohol consumption is linked to various health problems, including liver disease, cardiovascular issues, and accidents resulting in fatalities. The alcohol industry's marketing practices and lobbying efforts have also been criticized for contributing to harmful drinking behaviours.

8. 1. The Oil Industry

   2. Oil Spills: Major oil spills, whether from offshore drilling rigs, tanker accidents, or pipeline leaks, have devastating effects on marine ecosystems and coastal communities. These spills can result in the death of marine life, damage to habitats, and long-term health consequences for humans who rely on affected waterways for food and livelihoods.

   3. Air Pollution: The extraction, refining, and burning of fossil fuels contribute to air pollution, which is linked to respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, and premature death. Communities living near oil refineries or heavy traffic corridors often bear the brunt of this pollution, experiencing higher rates of respiratory problems and other health issues.

   4. Climate Change: The burning of fossil fuels is a major contributor to climate change, which has far-reaching impacts on human health and well-being. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and disruptions to ecosystems can lead to increased heat-related illnesses, food and water shortages, displacement of populations, and conflicts over resources, all of which can result in loss of life.

   5. Industrial Accidents: Oil refineries, drilling platforms, and other facilities within the oil industry pose risks of accidents such as explosions, fires, and toxic releases. These incidents can cause fatalities among workers, nearby residents, and emergency responders, as well as long-term health effects for those exposed to hazardous substances.

   6. Conflict and Instability: The oil industry is often linked to geopolitical tensions, armed conflicts, and human rights abuses in regions where oil reserves are located. Wars over control of oil resources have led to countless deaths, displacement of populations, and humanitarian crises, particularly in countries with fragile political systems and weak governance.

9. 1. Agricultural industry

   2. Pesticide Use: Agricultural pesticides are designed to control pests and increase crop yields, but they can also have adverse effects on human health and the environment. Exposure to pesticides has been linked to acute poisoning, chronic illnesses like cancer and neurological disorders, and developmental abnormalities. Additionally, pesticide run-off contaminates water sources, affecting aquatic ecosystems and potentially leading to long-term health risks for humans and wildlife.

   3. Antibiotic Resistance: In animal agriculture, antibiotics are commonly used for disease prevention and growth promotion. However, this overuse contributes to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can cause infections that are difficult to treat and may lead to increased mortality rates among humans and animals.

   4. Foodborne Illnesses: Contamination of food products with pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria can result in foodborne illnesses, which can be severe and sometimes fatal, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young children, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Factors contributing to foodborne outbreaks include inadequate sanitation practices, improper handling of food, and contamination during production, processing, or distribution.

   5. Environmental Degradation: Intensive agricultural practices, including monoculture farming, deforestation for expansion of farmland, and excessive use of fertilizers and irrigation, contribute to soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and degradation of ecosystems. These environmental impacts can have indirect health consequences, such as reduced availability of clean water, loss of natural habitats that provide ecosystem services, and increased vulnerability to climate change-related disasters.

   6. Occupational Hazards: farmworkers face various occupational hazards, including exposure to pesticides, hazardous machinery, extreme weather conditions, and musculoskeletal injuries from repetitive tasks. These hazards can lead to injuries, illnesses, and fatalities among agricultural workers, particularly in regions with limited labour protections and access to healthcare.

All of these industries combined have been responsible for a vast number of deaths just within the last century or more. Add to that their responsibility for climate change and their continued lack of reducing risks, and we arrive at the conclusion, that governments everywhere put profit and income before the welfare of their own people/voters. 

So we can all celebrate mass-murder, by continuing to support all of these activities! After all, none of the industry leaders are ever condemned to jail-terms for the killing of millions, probably billions of people world-wide.

History is useless unless we can and do learn from it

Wikipedia defines it as "History (derived from Ancient Greek ἱστορία (historía) 'inquiry; knowledge acquired by investigation') is the systematic study and documentation of the human past."

I understand that. I understand that it is the study of the past. What I question is the purpose of that study. Simply put, does history help me become a better person? It can do that, I suppose, if I can learn the lessons the past can teach me.

The amount of knowledge available in the world about the past is enormous. Check out any library. There are tomes written on every conceivable aspect of what human beings have done in the past, but the lessons are never learnt.

 Why do I say that? Well, the most obvious clue is the current state of world affairs. We have always discovered that war is shit. Its advantages are vastly overshadowed by the disadvantages. The endless destruction, the many lives wasted, the pain and agony of those deaths and the survivors. Not once have humans stopped that behaviour. Incited by greed and fear, we mark boundaries and claim ownership of bits of earth. Earth, which is our individual temporary abode and knows no boundaries. Yet we kill to defend the bit of ground to which we will eventually be returned to when dead. 

We haven't even learnt that we are individuals yet! Instead, we try and force people into moulds with our rules and regulations, although clearly they don't fit, as there are always exceptions which don't fit. We could be proud of being a unique individual and rejoice in the uniqueness of each person, but instead we compare ourselves to someone we consider to be better than we are. There is no one better than us. That is the definition of uniqueness. But we compare and judge and so conclude that there are those are superior or inferior to ourselves. So incredibly obtuse and stupid. And then we have to prove it, by putting others down.

We may learn something about technology from the past, but about behaviour and living together on one planet, we have learnt nothing at all. Hence, my contention that history is a meaningless subject to spend time on, as we don't apply the lessons it can and should be teaching us.

Classic example: in 1947 the British and American governments decided that it would be a good idea to give those Jews who wanted it, a country of their own, to hold and to have. It was just unfortunate, that the land chosen was already being lived in by many who called themselves Palestinians. No problem: these governments gave them enough arms and ammunition to kill tens of thousands and drive the rest away, so that the land can be occupied by the Jews, largely from Eastern Europe. Like the rest of us, the Palestinians are not happy at being slaughtered and driven from their homes. So they fight back. Inevitable. The history of colonisation shows how those with the bigger weapons can do what they want and that the indigenous people have to take it or lump it. Palestine and Israel are no different.

I would recommend that history be scrapped as a subject for study, as it demonstrates on an almost daily basis that human beings are not capable of learning any lessons from it. Our "glorious" past is completely inglorious. Let's not pretend otherwise.