Evening all,
The first thing I want to chat about is Facebook's new Suicide prevention tool. The idea is a pretty cool one, the idea being that if you see a post from a friend or family member that you feel indicates that they may be thinking about suicide or self-harm, you can flag the post. The post then gets analyzed by a dedicated team within Facebook, (one assumes properly trained) who then assess the risk level and intervene accordingly. It has been trialed in the US since 2015 and has been fairly successful. This is a prime example of a company that takes it' social responsibility to it's clients very seriously.
Lord Martin Rees, the Astronomer Royal has said that the European Space Agency should devote it's budget to robotic space missions rather than sending astronauts into space. His thinking being that all of the tasks performed by humans can now be performed by machines, for longer and cheaper. Whilst I can see his point it doesn't address something huge. Surely the end game to space exploration has to be colonization of other planets. We know for a fact that the human population growth is unsustainable, with nothing in sight to indicate that the growth will change, we need to be looking towards sustainable solutions like colonizing other planets if we hope to survive much longer as a species.
In more positive news, following the large scale arrest of at least 3000 people suspected of being involved in recent attacks by islamic radicals in Bangladesh, one of them has been charged with the murder of Faisal Arefin Dipon because the publishing house that he headed had published books by atheist author Avijit Roy. A victory, not only in that it seems that the perpetrator will be brought to justice, but also because it seems as if police in Bangladesh are taking the matters very seriously. Let's just hope that this can bring some peace to Faisal's family.
Tonight's video comes courtesy of Chris Hadfield, the Canadian astronaut who made a music video in space. It may seem small but to me it embodies all that is good and right with this world, as well as our hope for the future.
Please remember that I don't own the content, Chris Hadfield has also done a lot in terms of Education and encouraging students to go into the sciences, please visit his youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/ColChrisHadfield/featured.
Well, that's it for tonight, please remember to comment, subscribe and like the Facebook page.
Ta,
G
Showing posts with label social responsibility. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social responsibility. Show all posts
Thursday, 16 June 2016
Friday, 10 June 2016
Eat your drugs, stay in vegetables and don't do school!
Evening all,
So as you may or may not have deduced from the title, today's post is all about drugs, more specifically my opinion in terms of the legalization, legislation and control thereof. It's a difficult subject to be sure, my initial thoughts are that adults have the right to do with their bodies as they please, provided that their actions do not infringe on the rights of others (suicide bombers and rape come to mind). Though as anyone who has had an addict in their lives will attest to, drug addiction is not quite that simple. Addicts have an unfortunate knack of pulling those close to them into their drama, whether it be theft to maintain their addiction or drug dealers showing up uninvited to collect outstanding payments, through to the agony of having to watch a loved one spiral downwards on their road to overdose and death.
In most nations, what most of us consider illegal drugs have traditionally been criminalized, with hefty jail time attached to anyone caught in possession of them, though the worlds opinions have slowly started changing. The Netherlands have had a relatively lax attitude towards drugs since the 1970's, with cannabis being legal in designated areas, magic mushrooms enjoyed the same conditions up until 2008 when they were completely banned due to a sharp increase in accidental deaths related to the drugs hallucinogenic effects. More recently, various American states have legalized cannabis, some strictly for medicinal purposes and others to include recreational use. Uruguay has also recently legalized the recreational use of cannabis, though the law itself has not been implemented due to legal requirements regarding suppliers.
The fact that current worldwide drug policies are at best ineffective and at worst a black-hole that authorities throw money into is well documented, in America in 2009 the feral government spent over $2 billion housing drug related prisoners, with a total bill to fight the war on drugs reaching an astonishing $15.9 billion annually. A massive 46% of Americans today admit to having used illegal drugs, most saying that it is now easier to buy purer, cheaper drugs than it has ever been despite the record amounts being spent to curb them. The war on drugs has failed, and it is without a doubt time for change.
My suggested solution is not by any stretch of the imagination popular, but what you have to remember with the worldwide drug problem is the fact that the problem actually has little to do with the drugs themselves, but rather with the actions that addicts take in order to maintain their habit. Most drug users steal because they have prior convictions for drug possession and are unable to fulfill their potential earning capacity. Ending the prohibition on drugs would not only free up the money that is currently being spent on fighting the war on drugs, but increase revenue as governments are able to tax the drug trade. Conservative estimates say that in the US alone, the federal government could add an additional $80 billion annually to it's coffers over and above the savings it would make.
This additional money could then be pumped into education and healthcare of addicts. This tactic has proven it's effectiveness with tobacco as more and more people come to the conclusion that the negative consequences outweigh the benefits. With not a single cent being spent on prohibiting tobacco, the number of adult smokers in the US has been cut almost in half thanks to campaigns aimed at education.
The additional benefit to legalization, legislation and control of the drug market is quality. The average gram of cocaine or heroin found on the street contains astonishing amounts of other substances that dealers cut the drugs with in order to increase their profits. It is more often than not these other substances that lead to the medical conditions that are so often fatal.
Most of the research I've done for this bit has been from a NPO in America called LEAP, (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), for more info please feel free to have a look at their website: http://www.leap.cc/
The funny clip of the day comes from Australian comedian Jim Jefferies explaining what a coke wank is (yes, it's exactly what it sounds like)
Per usual, I don't own the content, though the man is funny as all hell, so please feel free to check out his other stuff. I've linked his official page below:
http://www.jimjefferies.com/
As always, thanks for reading, please comment, subscribe and remember to like the facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/theangryafricanatheist/
Ta,
G
So as you may or may not have deduced from the title, today's post is all about drugs, more specifically my opinion in terms of the legalization, legislation and control thereof. It's a difficult subject to be sure, my initial thoughts are that adults have the right to do with their bodies as they please, provided that their actions do not infringe on the rights of others (suicide bombers and rape come to mind). Though as anyone who has had an addict in their lives will attest to, drug addiction is not quite that simple. Addicts have an unfortunate knack of pulling those close to them into their drama, whether it be theft to maintain their addiction or drug dealers showing up uninvited to collect outstanding payments, through to the agony of having to watch a loved one spiral downwards on their road to overdose and death.
In most nations, what most of us consider illegal drugs have traditionally been criminalized, with hefty jail time attached to anyone caught in possession of them, though the worlds opinions have slowly started changing. The Netherlands have had a relatively lax attitude towards drugs since the 1970's, with cannabis being legal in designated areas, magic mushrooms enjoyed the same conditions up until 2008 when they were completely banned due to a sharp increase in accidental deaths related to the drugs hallucinogenic effects. More recently, various American states have legalized cannabis, some strictly for medicinal purposes and others to include recreational use. Uruguay has also recently legalized the recreational use of cannabis, though the law itself has not been implemented due to legal requirements regarding suppliers.
The fact that current worldwide drug policies are at best ineffective and at worst a black-hole that authorities throw money into is well documented, in America in 2009 the feral government spent over $2 billion housing drug related prisoners, with a total bill to fight the war on drugs reaching an astonishing $15.9 billion annually. A massive 46% of Americans today admit to having used illegal drugs, most saying that it is now easier to buy purer, cheaper drugs than it has ever been despite the record amounts being spent to curb them. The war on drugs has failed, and it is without a doubt time for change.
My suggested solution is not by any stretch of the imagination popular, but what you have to remember with the worldwide drug problem is the fact that the problem actually has little to do with the drugs themselves, but rather with the actions that addicts take in order to maintain their habit. Most drug users steal because they have prior convictions for drug possession and are unable to fulfill their potential earning capacity. Ending the prohibition on drugs would not only free up the money that is currently being spent on fighting the war on drugs, but increase revenue as governments are able to tax the drug trade. Conservative estimates say that in the US alone, the federal government could add an additional $80 billion annually to it's coffers over and above the savings it would make.
This additional money could then be pumped into education and healthcare of addicts. This tactic has proven it's effectiveness with tobacco as more and more people come to the conclusion that the negative consequences outweigh the benefits. With not a single cent being spent on prohibiting tobacco, the number of adult smokers in the US has been cut almost in half thanks to campaigns aimed at education.
The additional benefit to legalization, legislation and control of the drug market is quality. The average gram of cocaine or heroin found on the street contains astonishing amounts of other substances that dealers cut the drugs with in order to increase their profits. It is more often than not these other substances that lead to the medical conditions that are so often fatal.
Most of the research I've done for this bit has been from a NPO in America called LEAP, (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition), for more info please feel free to have a look at their website: http://www.leap.cc/
The funny clip of the day comes from Australian comedian Jim Jefferies explaining what a coke wank is (yes, it's exactly what it sounds like)
Per usual, I don't own the content, though the man is funny as all hell, so please feel free to check out his other stuff. I've linked his official page below:
http://www.jimjefferies.com/
As always, thanks for reading, please comment, subscribe and remember to like the facebook page!
https://www.facebook.com/theangryafricanatheist/
Ta,
G
Wednesday, 8 June 2016
RIP Muhammed
Evening all,
So, the first thing I want to talk about is the fact that a giant among men died on Saturday. I must stress that whilst I can certainly appreciate Muhammad Ali's athleticism, I am by no stretch of the imagination a boxing, (or general sports for that matter) fan, over and above his sporting prowess, I do not particularly agree with his view on life. I find islam to be a vile religion, made more so by the number of adherents who actually believe the entirety of it (in stark contrast to the more moderate christians who don't seem to be a fan of stoning rape victims). Moreover, I am not by any stretch of the imagination a pacifist. Pacifism is a wonderful concept that, much like communism, only works when everybody buys into it. What I do admire about the man was his courage and determination to stand for his beliefs no matter the personal consequences. In light of that my thoughts go out to his family, I only wish that there was something concrete that I could do to help you through this sad time.
On lighter (haha) news, was the fact that the Jesus Dome in Durban burnt down last night. No doubt part of god's plan to convince the world of his existence and divinity before the rapture. It always amazes me how easy it is for the religious to give god the glory when a surgeon slaves for 16 hours to save their life but when it all goes wrong it's suddenly all a part of his divine plan. On the note of divine plans, if god has a plan, what's the point of praying? I mean, I get the idea in terms of maintaining a relationship with him, but put yourself in god's shoes for a second. You've been planning every single persons destiny, quite literally forever, when some guy pops on his knees and prays, asking that you save his dying mother. What if that wasn't in your plan? What's the point of being god if any twit with a R20 prayer book can fuck your plans up?
On to news that makes my blood boil, a man in Greeneville, Tennessee has been sentenced to life in prison for SELLING HIS THREE DAUGHTERS TO A PEDOPHILE! Now there is little in this world that makes me think that simply erasing an entire group of people from this planet would be a good idea, though pedophiles that act on their impulses are definitely high up on the list. Now I've worded the previous sentence specifically for a reason, the word pedophile is defined as a person who is sexually attracted to children. I find the idea nauseating to say the least but simple sexual attraction cannot and should not be considered a crime, quite frankly what you think about while tugging the one eyed snake or flicking the bean is your business. What is rightfully a crime is the act of pedophilia. I would suggest that the answer to this scourge is not only stronger sentences (the death penalty would be a good start here), but also help for pedophiles that are struggling to control their urges, more support from governments would see far fewer offenses and increase control over people known to have the problem.
The relevant comedy of the day comes from legend George Carlin with his musings regarding prayer:
As always, I in no way own any of the above material and if you've not seen any of his stuff before, I urge you to do yourself a favor and watch more, the man really was a true legend.
And that's tonight's blog, if you enjoyed (or didn't) any of what I've posted, please feel free to comment and as always, please subscribe.
Ta,
G
So, the first thing I want to talk about is the fact that a giant among men died on Saturday. I must stress that whilst I can certainly appreciate Muhammad Ali's athleticism, I am by no stretch of the imagination a boxing, (or general sports for that matter) fan, over and above his sporting prowess, I do not particularly agree with his view on life. I find islam to be a vile religion, made more so by the number of adherents who actually believe the entirety of it (in stark contrast to the more moderate christians who don't seem to be a fan of stoning rape victims). Moreover, I am not by any stretch of the imagination a pacifist. Pacifism is a wonderful concept that, much like communism, only works when everybody buys into it. What I do admire about the man was his courage and determination to stand for his beliefs no matter the personal consequences. In light of that my thoughts go out to his family, I only wish that there was something concrete that I could do to help you through this sad time.
On lighter (haha) news, was the fact that the Jesus Dome in Durban burnt down last night. No doubt part of god's plan to convince the world of his existence and divinity before the rapture. It always amazes me how easy it is for the religious to give god the glory when a surgeon slaves for 16 hours to save their life but when it all goes wrong it's suddenly all a part of his divine plan. On the note of divine plans, if god has a plan, what's the point of praying? I mean, I get the idea in terms of maintaining a relationship with him, but put yourself in god's shoes for a second. You've been planning every single persons destiny, quite literally forever, when some guy pops on his knees and prays, asking that you save his dying mother. What if that wasn't in your plan? What's the point of being god if any twit with a R20 prayer book can fuck your plans up?
On to news that makes my blood boil, a man in Greeneville, Tennessee has been sentenced to life in prison for SELLING HIS THREE DAUGHTERS TO A PEDOPHILE! Now there is little in this world that makes me think that simply erasing an entire group of people from this planet would be a good idea, though pedophiles that act on their impulses are definitely high up on the list. Now I've worded the previous sentence specifically for a reason, the word pedophile is defined as a person who is sexually attracted to children. I find the idea nauseating to say the least but simple sexual attraction cannot and should not be considered a crime, quite frankly what you think about while tugging the one eyed snake or flicking the bean is your business. What is rightfully a crime is the act of pedophilia. I would suggest that the answer to this scourge is not only stronger sentences (the death penalty would be a good start here), but also help for pedophiles that are struggling to control their urges, more support from governments would see far fewer offenses and increase control over people known to have the problem.
The relevant comedy of the day comes from legend George Carlin with his musings regarding prayer:
As always, I in no way own any of the above material and if you've not seen any of his stuff before, I urge you to do yourself a favor and watch more, the man really was a true legend.
And that's tonight's blog, if you enjoyed (or didn't) any of what I've posted, please feel free to comment and as always, please subscribe.
Ta,
G
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