#paradisium2014

Over the past few years, it has become easy to become desensitised to the horrors of the conflicts that are happening across the world.

The simple fact is far too many people are accepting of the pain, suffering and death that are being seen as normal. So the question to me is very simple. Are you willing to see this as acceptable? Are you willing to see children dying and think it's ok, it's not here. If it was your neighbours, or your friends, or your family, would you think it's ok then?

The enemy of conflict is unity. By working together and by saying this is not acceptable. We will not allow people to die unnecessarily. We will not allow children to be turned into soldiers, we will not see them watch their fathers killed because of their religion or where they live. We will not watch millions driven from their countries and struggle for food, medicines, clothes and the essentials of life.

So, what can we do? We aren't soldiers, we aren't high powered politicians who are failing to end the wars that other people have started.

I will admit I am a little bit of an environmentalist. I don't consider myself an extremist. However fracking has got my blood boiling. Apparently the north of England (ie not London so therefore it's not important), can provide enough shale gas to supply England for 40 years. Local authorities are beng offered 'tax breaks' for nearly £2 million if they allow fracking to take place. Add this to the 1% of revenue from the gas removed. This can equate to almost £10 million a year. Hmm, I wonder whether the councils will want this to go ahead? This is nothing more than a bribe, and there has been far too little investigation on the effects of fracking on the surrounding land and the water supply for me to be comfortable with this.

I am realistic, I know we are running out of gas. But, there have to be other ideas for how to solve this issue.

I can imagine not too far in the future showing pictures of the northern countryside to kids and them not recognising things like fields and flowers and trees. If this makes me a mental environmentalist so be it.