This Too Shall Pass

The worst kind of suffering is the one you know there might be a way out of.

If there’s no way out of it, it becomes easier to bear.

~ Alan Watts

Rainbow Bridge

For anyone who's ever lost a beloved furry friend

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown

We blame society, but we are society.

‘We the peoples of the United Nations’. These are the opening words of the UN Charter. A charter that puts people at the center. A pledge to give every person in the world a voice on its future. A promise to help protect the weakest and the strongest from war, famine and other man-made disasters. 

Right now, we are facing a man-made disaster of global scale. Our greatest threat in thousands of years. Climate Change. 

If we don’t take action the collapse of our civilizations and the extinction of much of the natural world is on the horizon. 

The United Nations provides a unique platform that can unite the whole world. And as the Paris agreement proved, together we can make real change happen. 

At this crucial moment, the United Nations has invited the world’s people to have their voice heard, by giving them a seat. The People’s Seat; giving everyone the opportunity to join us here today, virtually, and speak directly to you the decision makers. 

In the last two weeks, the world’s people have taken part in building this address, answering polls, sending video messages and voicing their opinions. 

I am only here to represent the ‘Voice of the People’: to deliver our collective thoughts, concerns, ideas and suggestions. This is our ‘We the peoples’ message. 

The world’s people have spoken. Their message is clear. 

Time is running out. They want you, the decision makers, to act now. They are behind you, along with civil society represented here today. Supporting you in making tough decisions but also willing to make sacrifices in their daily lives. To help make change happen, the UN is launching the Act Now bot. 

Helping people to discover simple everyday actions that they can take, because they recognize that they too must play their part. 

The People have spoken. Leaders of the world, you must lead. The continuation of our civilizations and the natural world upon which we depend, is in your hands.

Transcript of the speech by Sir David Attenborough
COP24, Katowice, Poland, 3rd December 2018

Egalitarianism

“We're not very different from one another, not different at all in fact. We're all just people with the same needs, the same desires, the same feelings. It's a lie about us being different.” 

Harry Bernstein, The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers

Where the loser saw barriers, the winner saw hurdles – Robert Brault.