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Keith

What do we do about "Islamic" terrorist organisations?

What do we do about “Islamic” terrorist organisations?

What is to be achieved by sending armed forces to Syria against Isis? That is what they want us to do. Such actions enable them to gain more conscripts. Such a move would fit the narrative of Armageddon which they predict. But beyond that violence breeds more violence. And the greatest threat of violence is within our own communities, not in eastern countries.

For the most part, those who arrive in Western countries as refugees or migrants are happy to be there in relative stability, and make efforts to be constructive members of society.  Some are Islamic, and that is not a threat to us, rather true Islamic values can benefit our society. But the children of these migrants, educated in the shallow way of the west - to be part of our overly-capitalistic society – and experiencing prejudice against them and their parents, sometimes are drawn to extreme movements which espouse doctrines totally unrelated to the teachings of Muhammad, yet purport to be truly Muslim. These movements desire the destruction of the Western system.

This worldwide Western system proclaims democracy and freedom, and we wonder why these so- called ‘Islamic ’ movements seek to undermine us. But if we step back and view our society with some distance, and over a period of time, we can see that we came from a period of narrow rigid values into a time of social revolution, but without true direction this became a culture of hedonism – do what you like as long as it makes you feel good.  This was a time, though proclaiming peace and love and tolerance, of a net reduction of values.  From this the pendulum swung and we moved into a time of gross materialism, the philosophy of greed proclaimed long ago by Adam Smith taken to new heights of application in the philosophy of Friedman, exported around all the western nations. Individualism replaced community, and inequality extremes became a virtue. The loss of values moved onward.

Surely we can now perceive how young people, born between two worlds and feeling intensely isolated, could want to embrace an organisation proclaiming brotherhood and powerful rules with the avowed aim of destroying the impure Western society.

Now we are faced with the questions, “Will bombs and guns destroy ‘Islamic’ militancy? Will stopping the flow of millions of migrants fix the world?” Surely the bombs and guns will increase the flow of migrants? Different nations of the west have different values as to who is a terrorist, to be bombed from the sky, and who is a freedom fighter against oppression. And these bombs do not discriminate between the people they land on, especially the women and children.

“We do not need guns and bombs to bring peace, we need love and compassion.”

― Mother Teresa

“An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

The world is at war and the human race is in travail and mortal combat. The dark night of hate hath taken over, and the light of good faith is blotted out. The peoples and kindreds of the earth have sharpened their claws, and are hurling themselves one against the other. It is the very foundation of the human race that is being destroyed. It is thousands of households that are vagrant and dispossessed, and every year seeth thousands upon thousands of human beings weltering in their life-blood on dusty battlefields. The tents of life and joy are down. The generals practise their generalship, boasting of the blood they shed, competing one with the next in inciting to violence. 'With this sword,' saith one of them, 'I beheaded a people!' And another: 'I toppled a nation to the ground!' And yet another: 'I brought a government down!' On such things do men pride themselves, in such do they glory! Love -- righteousness -- these are everywhere censured, while despised are harmony, and devotion to the truth.

                (Abdu'l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu'l-Baha, p. 2)

When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content.

Thoughts of love are constructive of brotherhood, peace, friendship, and happiness.

                (Abdu'l-Baha, Paris Talks, p. 29)

And to finish with a recent quote which supplies an answer to the problem:

“With guns you can kill terrorists, with education you can kill terrorism.”

― Malala Yousafzai

This is not just the shallow education we supply children to make them efficient parts of the profit making machine, but true education into the values of life, into true reality, as espoused by all the above leaders of thought.

Inklings of a New World

 All religions have millennial prophecies in which “the end of the world” is proclaimed for a future time.  Many also mention a millennial rule of order and justice also for the future. 

Baha’is believe that the foretold times have arrived and that “the old world order” is dying, even as the new world order is emerging.  That is, the old accepted way in which the world functions, the separation of the human world into ‘sovereign nations’, the separation of races, of classes, and economic systems of advantage, are all being fast eroded.  In their place new systems are gradually evolving, and are often overlooked because of their immature forms.

The United Nations, or a similarly purposed organisation, must gradually evolve from its current condition to a world governing body that properly embodies the following characteristics:.

“A world executive, backed by an international Force, will carry out the decisions arrived at, and apply the laws enacted by, this world legislature, and will safeguard the organic unity of the whole commonwealth. A world tribunal will adjudicate and deliver its compulsory and final verdict in all and any disputes that may arise between the various elements constituting this universal system.”

                (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 203)

The creation and evolution of the Internet surely fulfills this further part of the prediction, written in the 1930s.

“A mechanism of world inter-communication will be devised, embracing the whole planet, freed from national hindrances and restrictions, and functioning with marvelous swiftness and perfect regularity.”

                (Shoghi Effendi, The World Order of Baha'u'llah, p. 203)

The imminent collapse of the economic system is foreseen by many, though they are often labelled as doomsayers. However, an economic system largely proclaiming to be the “free market”, yet where possible, the participants subvert regulations and politicians to stamp out fair competition and increase profits, and with a monetary system based on continuous rapid expansion where the capital largely does not exist requiring the constant enlargement of debt, cannot provide stability nor endure much longer.

So while this system is in its death throes, where is the new system in its infancy, to replace the old financial order? Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i Faith, proclaimed that one world currency is needed. Might not that currency be one of the digital ones being devised, such as Bitcoin? How else will the nations be persuaded to relinquish their separate, age-old currencies? Bitcoin is associated in peoples’ minds with crime and pornography, but that was also the accusation against the Internet a couple of decades ago, yet people now would not be without this system of communication and information.  Who knows what will develop from these systems given ten, twenty years?

But where is the economic system to replace the multinational corporations dominating the world economic system and its politics, and to utilise a new currency system? Even as world-embracing systems such as Twitter and Facebook have rapidly evolved on the Internet, so systems will evolve linked with digital currency, the Internet, and mobile phones. Indeed mobile phone technology is starting to revolutionize the fortunes of ordinary people in the Third World, and linked with digital currency, their problem of a lack of banking facilities will be addressed.  In the west now, we have the new technology of Peer to Peer Lending, creating an alternative to conventional banking.

Some balance is already being created in Third World economics through Micro-financing. Often micro-financing is directed towards the women, bringing an important principle into play, namely equality of men and women. This principle, announced by Baha’u’llah, is indispensable to producing a just, stable world system.

Interestingly, there are other technologies being invented in the West, which seem destined to bring equity to the world, such as solar power. This technology, though of benefit to western countries, is immediately revolutionary to the Third World. All benefits of new technologies, however, can be reduced or undone by political and social instability.

Unless the world system becomes more equal between east and west, there can be no long-term stability for any country in the world.

(Inspired foresight by Baha’u’llah and Shoghi Effendi, opinions by Keith Mitcherson)

Can Religion put a proper perspective on giving Tax Breaks to increase business and employment?

Can Religion put a proper perspective on giving Tax Breaks to increase business and employment?

Governments are often pressured into giving huge tax breaks to businesses. Film companies will seek benefits if they are to make the film locally. Multinationals will seek tax breaks and incentives before establishing a large factory in a certain locality. From the perspective of the government, they are securing economic activity for their locality which would otherwise go elsewhere, and something is better than nothing, so the reduced tax income does not matter.

But if logic carries on this direction one can assert that all businesses should not have to pay tax, and this would increase business activity and therefore employment, producing benefits to all. Indeed, many are trying to make this assertion, those who believe in the trickle-down theory.

However, it can be clearly seen worldwide that the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer – a direct result of the sort of rationalising mentioned above. This cannot continue indefinitely. The obvious limiting factor is that civil unrest will eventually ensue. Less obvious is that as the extremes of poverty and wealth grow, trade will necessarily falter due to the lack of ability of the masses to afford the rich array of goods and services being offered to them.  Wealthy producers will increasingly struggle to find markets to continue their income flow, but the markets will be in decline.

A major fallacy in the logic lies in our artificial division of areas of the earth and populations into socially and economically separate units.  Although this may have been a partially accurate truth in centuries gone by, there is no longer any validity for this.

The current stage of development of mankind can be summed up in one statement made by in the 19^th century by Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, and it is that:

“The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens”.

Therefore any government policy which does not keep this perspective in mind cannot have enduring beneficial results, but will instead be a part of the economical battleground, that tries to assert one locality over another, fighting over ever-diminishing resources, instead of sharing in a global, ever-growing wealth.

The other perspective ignored in giving tax breaks to companies is that of justice and equity, as briefly alluded to above.

 “We entreat God to deliver the light of equity and the sun of justice from the thick clouds of waywardness, and cause them to shine forth upon men. No light can compare with the light of justice. The establishment of order in the world and the tranquillity of the nations depend upon it.”

                (Baha'u'llah)

Is it equitable for directors, executives and investors in companies to get ever increasing returns/salaries while those who do the practical work have to survive on a fixed or even a decreasing wage?  Is it equitable that these same workers also have to carry the tax burden on behalf of those businessmen? Economic theories of greed threaten world order, and therefore the fortunes of those who currently celebrate and advocate the same economic systems.

There is an indisputable rule to be considered in the light of these statements, the Golden Rule of all religions.

One should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself.

Or taken further

“Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself.”

(Bahá'u'lláh)

Spring Renewal

Spring Renewal

Finally, at mid-afternoon, the weak spring sun finally broke through the thin, wispy veils, warming and brightening the landscape. So I grabbed the mountain bike and took the dog for a run along the Tukituki river stopbank.

In the distance I saw what could have been a man in dark clothing, beside a brightly lit poplar tree still unawakened in these first days of spring, but as I approached nearer it proved to be the ‘negative’ shadow area on the side opposite the sunlight. This set me to thinking how what can seem to be a real object or force is actually just a lack of a positive presence. For instance, dark is the absence of light, and cold the absence of heat, both of which had earlier been rectified when the sun won the battle against the aerial water vapours. In the same way, we perceive evil as a definite reality, yet it is actually the absence of good. Walking out into a big frost early on a morning, one would want to assert that cold was a definite force as that is how we perceive it, but the sun’s first rays can quickly neutralise the challenge at this time of year. However I decided that one has to carefully pick one’s metaphors when I considered that the peace and quiet I was enjoying was due to the absence of sound!

“If there was no wrong how would you recognize the right? If it were not for sin how would you appreciate virtue? If evil deeds were unknown how could you commend good actions? If sickness did not exist how would you understand health? Evil is non-existent; it is the absence of good; sickness is the loss of health; poverty the lack of riches. When wealth disappears you are poor; you look within the treasure box but find nothing there. Without knowledge there is ignorance; therefore ignorance is simply the lack of knowledge. Death is the absence of life. Therefore on the one hand we have existence; on the other, nonexistence, negation or absence of existence.”

            (Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 78)

Indeed, this world provides us with many metaphors, intended, I believe, to instruct us should we open our minds, about a greater existence than this physical world. In part our reason for existence is to penetrate these hidden meanings.

"Divine things are too deep to be expressed by common words. The heavenly teachings are expressed in parable in order to be understood and preserved for ages to come. When the spiritually minded dive deeply into the ocean of their meaning they bring to the surface the pearls of their inner significance. There is no greater pleasure than to study God's Word with a spiritual mind."

            (Abdu'l-Baha, Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 79)

“O wayfarer in the path of God! Take thou thy portion of the ocean of His grace, and deprive not thyself of the things that lie hidden in its depths. Be thou of them that have partaken of its treasures. A dewdrop out of this ocean would, if shed upon all that are in the heavens and on the earth, suffice to enrich them with the bounty of God, the Almighty, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise. With the hands of renunciation draw forth from its life-giving waters, and sprinkle therewith all created things, that they may be cleansed from all man-made limitations and may approach the mighty seat of God, this hallowed and resplendent Spot.”

            (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 279)

At the furthest point of my ride, where the track met the river, I sat down on the river bank observing the flush of bright green as the willows newly clothe themselves in these first few days of spring, and the wattles glow in yellow, intending to ponder further. But gradually the dog distracted me, wanting me to throw stones into the river for him to try to catch in his mouth. The peace and quiet further deteriorated when a helicopter flew past, turned sharply, and passed near to me to see what I and the dog were doing.  Shortly I left for home, but after a short distance nearly rode over three  power lines downed by the helicopter shortly before my arrival, and so I returned home in a great degree of excitement, instead of a mood of reverie.

Increasing Disorder in the World

Increasing Disorder in the World

Why is there such an increase in disorder in the world, especially among the youth? Western examples are, on the small scale, escalating violence between girls, and on the large scale the riots in England.

Of course there are many contributing factors, but we need to simplify and look at the major influences, ignoring complications such as the increasing use of technology – since these powerful new tools can always be used for good or bad.

Increasingly, education has been about developing the intellect of children, but not teaching appropriate use of the intellect. That is, our young are lacking in moral and spiritual education. This will be discussed later.

The vacuum left by the weakening of religion, which for all its faults was the greatest means for the pacification and disciplining of humanity, has been effectively filled by the mass media, especially by a bombardment of messages of one’s need to have the latest goods, and of “labelled” goods.

Religion has to an extent been responsible for its own demise, as its descent into superstition, and failure to interpret the scriptures symbolically to accord with evident science, has encouraged many in the western civilisation at least to conclude that all that is worthy of regard is detectable by the senses, and therefore scientific experiment. This is the true definition of materialism, a creed causing great destruction to our civilisation. How often do we hear it said in the media, that man is just an animal, except with an opposable thumb and a larger brain? 

“Should the lamp of religion be obscured, chaos and confusion will ensue, and the lights of fairness and justice, of tranquillity and peace cease to shine.”

            (Baha'u'llah)

Do we instruct our children and youth that the reality of man is his truthfulness, trustworthiness, kindness, dignity and compassion, and all the other qualities which lead to the building of civilisation, and which were originally promoted by each religion?  Without these qualities, we are lower than animals.

We have left our youth adrift, believing that life’s enjoyment is about ownership of things, and personal pleasure seeking a priority. And now, many have no prospect of work, their benefits are being reduced or stopped, and tertiary education intakes of students cut back, so they cannot be educated into the jobs that are available. We are all given the ability to discern true values for ourselves fortunately, but how many more would attain true wealth if living in a supportive culture?

Discerning a True Leader

Discerning a True Leader

Discerning a True Leader

In order to make the distinction between an authentic leader and a false one, it is necessary to look for certain qualities and characteristics in the individual. As pressures grow on populations around the world, there is a tendency to look for a “strong” leader, and to consider radical methods for change, thus moving away from the old “tried and true”.

A false leader is likely to make passionate and radical statements that lead to his/her popularity in difficult times, but such ascendancy is fortunately short-lived, though considerable damage can be done in a short space of time (remember the Second World War!). Radical statements can be divisive and can be used to portray certain sections of society as the cause of one’s miseries, resulting in racial, economic, religious, or other groups being blamed for societal deterioration.  Truth will be very much manipulated to suit the circumstances, but the detached observer, who does not get caught up in the passions provoked by oratory, will notice untruths, or at least half-truths mixed with falsehoods. Examples abound in the politicians of this day in all countries.

One key-identifier of a false leader is the offer of a “quick-fix” for community problems.

An authentic leader, a real statesman, will be detached as regards personal position, seeking only to serve and ensure the progress of the community. Though also a “strong” leader, the strength exhibited is of a different kind. The individual expresses his or herself with restraint yet is inspirational, identifies and describes a process that leads to a gradual improvement of circumstances, in contrast to the “quick-fix”, and allows for minor setbacks along the way. For this true leader, truthfulness and trustworthiness will in no way be sacrificed for political expediency, yet cooperation and compromise will also be employed.

“Truthfulness is the foundation of all human virtues”  (Bahá’u’lláh)

Some may say this is an impossible ideal, and it is true that we all have imperfections, but think of Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.  A noteworthy characteristic of theirs was personal sacrifice. Consider that sacrifice is giving up something that is lesser for something that is greater. That could be physical comfort for intellectual and spiritual growth and fortitude.

The present day true leader can never contradict certain principles that especially apply to the age in which we now live, such as the equality of people of whatever sex, race, or religion. That is, by belonging to one group by no means gives ascendancy over other social groups, and no such group is responsible for all the difficulties in society. We all have certain human rights.

The heaven of statesmanship is made luminous and resplendent by the brightness of the light of these blessed words which hath dawned from the dayspring of the Will of God: It behoveth every ruler to weigh his own being every day in the balance of equity and justice and then to judge between men and counsel them to do that which would direct their steps unto the path of wisdom and understanding. This is the cornerstone of statesmanship and the essence thereof. From these words every enlightened man of wisdom will readily perceive that which will foster such aims as the welfare, security and protection of mankind and the safety of human lives.

                                                                        (Baha'u'llah, Tablets of Baha'u'llah)

The Existence of Spirit

If the world of spirit exists, even surrounds us, why are most of us in this day unaware of it?

Using a metaphor, Baha’u’llah, in common with other holy writings, uses water as the symbol of the spirit. In His metaphor, fish represent people. If a fish lives continually in still water, as do deep water fish, is it aware of the existence of water?

“Say: My creatures are even as the fish of the deep. Their life dependeth upon the water, and yet they remain unaware of that which, by the grace of an omniscient and omnipotent Lord, sustaineth their very existence. Indeed, their heedlessness is such that were they asked concerning the water and its properties, they would prove entirely ignorant.”

            (Baha'u'llah, The Summons of the Lord of Hosts)

A thought arrives; if we learn to use this spirit which surrounds us and create movement, we may gain greater awareness of this world of spirit, as a fish could feel the movement of turbulent water.

“The greatest power in the realm and range of human existence is spirit, -- the divine breath which animates and pervades all things. It is manifested throughout creation in different degrees or kingdoms. In the vegetable kingdom it is the spirit augmentative or power of growth, the animus of life and development in plants, trees and organisms of the floral world. In this degree of its manifestation, spirit is unconscious of the powers which qualify the kingdom of the animal. The distinctive virtue or plus of the animal is sense perception; it sees, hears, smells, tastes and feels but is incapable in turn, of conscious ideation or reflection which characterize and differentiate the human kingdom. The animal neither exercises nor apprehends this distinctive human power and gift. From the visible it cannot draw conclusions regarding the invisible whereas the human mind from visible and known premises attains knowledge of the unknown and invisible. For instance, Christopher Columbus from information based upon known and provable facts drew conclusions which led him unerringly across the vast ocean to the unknown continent of America. Such power of accomplishment is beyond the range of animal intelligence. Therefore this power is a distinctive attribute of the human spirit and kingdom. The animal spirit cannot penetrate and discover the   mysteries of things. It is a captive of the senses. No amount of teaching, for instance, would enable it to grasp the fact that the sun is stationary and the earth moves around it. Likewise the human spirit has its limitations. It cannot comprehend the phenomena of the kingdom transcending the human station, for it is a captive of powers and life forces which have their operation upon its own plane of existence and it cannot go beyond that boundary.

There is however another spirit which may be termed the divine, to which Jesus Christ refers when He declares that man must be born of its quickening and baptized with its living fire. Souls deprived of that spirit are accounted as dead, though they are possessed of the human spirit. His Holiness Jesus Christ has pronounced them dead inasmuch as they have no portion of the divine spirit. He says: "Let the dead bury their dead." In another instance He declares: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit." By this He means that souls though alive in the human kingdom are nevertheless dead if devoid of this particular spirit of divine quickening. They have not partaken of the divine life of the higher kingdom; for the soul which partakes of the power of the divine spirit is verily living.”

            (Abdu'l-Baha, Baha'i World Faith - Abdu'l-Baha Section, p. 261)

For thoughts on the inter-relationship of religion (using spirit) to science, go to my World View page.

Making Actively Aerated Compost Tea AACT

After reading of actively aerated compost teas, I have decided to try the proces for myself. It is a way of building the soil without having to create and move large volumes of compost - so it is a possible future answer to large scale farming as an alternative to chemical fertlisers.
Here is a description from Soil FoodWeb International's New Zealand site:

Compost Tea Information

The two key reasons to use compost tea are:

1. Impart microbial life into the soil or onto the foliage fof plants
2. Add soluble nutrients to the foliage or to the soil to feed the organisms and the plants present.

What is compost tea?

Compost tea is a liquid produced by extracting bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes from compost.  Compost tea production is a brewing process that is as simple to master as making a home brew.  Just like perfecting your home brew, brewing compost tea may at times seem frustrating.  However, if you concentrate on what you are doing and choose a suitable compost tea brewer that meets your specific needs, then creating a compost tea that will improve the health of your plants is relatively easy and well worth the effort.
If you want to introduce a highly beneficial group of bacteria and fungi, protozoa and possibly nematodes, buy good compost that has these organisms, and make Actively Aerated Compost Tea.  There are a number of compost brewers available to choose from in the market.  When purchasing a tea machine, you should ask the manufacturer to provide information on oxygen levels during the tea brewing cycle (the brewing process has to be aerobic) in addition to a standard food web analysis (molecular analysis of diversity, and total and active bacteria and fungi, and protozoa, present in the tea made under standard conditions).
The benefits of using a compost tea that contains ALL the food web organisms are:

• Improved plant growth as a result of using beneficial organisms to protect the plant surfaces.  The organisms occupy infection sites and can also prevent disease-causing organisms from finding the plant. 
• The tea improves the nutrient retention of the soil thus stimulating plant growth.  If your soil can retain its nutrients it helps minimise the need to use fertiliser.  A healthy soil is less likely to leach its nutrients into ground and surface waters. 
• Increasing the nutrients available to the root system leads to a stronger healthier plant.  The predator-prey interactions increase the available nutrients required by the plant and enables it to absorb them in the correct dosage at the time the nutrients are required.
• Compost tea assists in reducing the negative impact that chemical-based pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers have on beneficial micro-organisms in the ecosystem.
• Improves the intake of nutrients by increasing foliar uptake.  The beneficial micro-organisms increase the time the stomata stay open, while at the same time reducing evaporative loss from the leaf surface. 
• Reduces water loss and improves the water retention of the soil thereby reducing the need for frequent watering. 
• Improves tillage by building a better soil structure.  Only the biological components in your soil can build its structure, and ALL the organism groups in the food web are required in order to have this occur.  Thus your soil must contain not only bacteria but also fungi, protozoa, nematodes and micro arthropods. (Please be aware that the plate count method on its own does not supply you a complete overview of your existing soil foodweb.)

Deciding to make a start, I put a plastic drum in the narrow space connecting between my house and garage, which I grandly term "my conservatory", and filled it with rainwater - to avoid chlorine. First I created an air bubbler with calf tubing with holes along one blocked-off end, to sit at the bottom of the barrel, and an electric air mattress pump. I have suspended an old pillow case with good quality compost I have made from garden waste, and worm casts (with some worms) from my compost tumbler (which is fed with vegetable scraps and lawn clippings).

As I expected, the pump only lasted a few hours before a pivot began to seize. I read that the aeration should not be interrupted, but it was several hours before I realised I had a much better solution - if only I had thought of it sooner. I connected the tubing to my air compressor, reduced the pressure to minimum, and now I have an air bubbler which can easily go for the required 24 hours, and indeed the compressor motor hardly ever starts up. It is important to fasten up a loop of tubing high in case of pressure loss, and backflow of water.

It is best to keep the tea at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, but I have not yet worked out this little problem. Later today I intend to put the tea on areas of vegetable garden using a watering can (low tech!).
Now I need a microscope, to see the differences between where the compost tea has been used, and where it hasn't. 

The idea is that true fertility is in the soil life of algae, protozoa, bacteria, fungi, nematodes, arthropods, etc. As each of these levels consume the other, nutrients are released. This sounds much more suitable to me than the New Zealand system of having rock phosphate mined in Morocco, shipped to NZ, treated with sulphuric acid and spread over the land with spreader trucks or top-dressing planes!