Undergroundnetwork

Having had many respectful discussions with all sorts of people about religion and politics, I feel as though George Orwell was right when he said:

“As with the Christian religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents”.

The same of course could be said for any other political opinion or religious faith.

And in order to be balanced:

“He was an embittered atheist, the sort of atheist who does not so much disbelieve in God as personally dislike Him”.

I must admit though, I have not ever met one of the atheists Orwell describes, as this person would not even be an atheist! I would have expected someone with the interest in language that Orwell had to have understood the definition of atheism. Perhaps he would appreciate even a fan such as myself challenging him on an error such as that!

How important is a good headline?

The most read BBC News story yesterday and today was titled “Great tits cope well with warming“.

Okay, I admit it, I read it! Needless to say, the article was not what I expected. I assume many others felt the same. Perhaps this shows how dirty minded BBC News readers are.

As it turned out, it was a fascinating read!

The recent devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis has displaced perhaps over a million and killed tens of thousands. The initial storm flattened villages and sent a tsunami wave crashing over low-lying coastal areas. Waterborne diseases now pose a further threat to those affected. The military dictatorship has hindered relief efforts from across the world, as agencies struggle to get the aid in to the country that is desperately needed.

When will the people of Burma get the assistance they so badly need? Or will the government of Myanmar continue to hinder relief efforts? (more…)