Posts for 2011
Category: 2011
0 Notes for Good Morning Sunday 14th August 2011 at 7:40am
Before each show I try to plan out what my views are for my appearance. These notes are the based on the first draft & not reflective (!) of what will eventually go out ‘live’.
I’ll try and put up the show & should really promise to blog more as its been a while!
What is your view of what happened in London last week ?
I believe it was a mix of opportunism and wasted energy, coupled with an underlying development of gangs that have become prevalent without the mainstream realising their surge.If you look at the profile of some of those who took part some looked like they just ‘jumped on the bandwagon’. However, others have serious mob/gang mentality based on a possible lack of confidence or the need to exploit.
They are also street savvy! Using free social media to mobilise their forces and agendas.
Have we become a society that is too orientated on self propagation?
I believe that the emphasis in mainstream reporting on celebrity, accumulating possessions and attachment to worldly goods takes us away from a spiritual path.In Sikhism we believe that there are five major weaknesses of the human personality at variance with its spiritual essence. They are: Lust, Rage, Greed, Attachment and Ego.
Do you have any worries for communities?
I worry about the need for disaster recovery strategies and the need for places of worship to connect to local authorities. Are systems, communications and early warning procedures in place. Are those in-charge, including the Police able to stay one step ahead of those hell bent on venting rage?!How can we motivate our youth to do good?
Maybe our politicians need our help to suggest new ways of connecting across the world and harmonising economies.Markets bounce about and yet people still die in Africa !? Why? Why are there have nots, haves and have yachts? I’m not suggesting that people should not enjoy life, maybe we’ve forgotten to share in bringing joy to others. Somebody once said to me that in some parts of the world people live for themselves, in others people live for each other. Maybe its the latter we need to move towards.
Moment of Reflection.
At the beginning of the week I bought a shiny new pair of shoes that I wore to a couple of long business meetings.Unfortunately, by Wednesday as sometimes new shoes do, they started hurting my feet and I began to regret that I had not worn them in or maybe I should have used shoe stretchers to help!
Last week the nation looked on initially as bystanders in shock as the actions of a set of gangs and possibly disenfranchised youth from all walks of life embarked on trashing our towns and cities. After a few days many communities established a stance of protection and mutual support.
My new shoes today are like the gangs in that they attempted to hurt. What we need today is to help understand how we can make them comfortable with life. How can we stretch our future generation to accept that by being part of a community you can have a better life by helping others.
In Sikhism we believe that there are five major weaknesses of the human personality at variance with its spiritual essence. They are: Lust, Rage, Greed, Attachment and Ego.
Maybe our politicians need our help to suggest new ways of connecting across the world and harmonising economies. Humanity needs to come now together to work for common good by establishing formal ways of recruiting people to serve in other nations to prevent starvation, poverty and nationally to counter local deprivation.
0 The killing of Bin Laden
When I was at school one of our reading books was To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harpers Lee. Since it was first published in 1960 it has never been out of print. One of the key scenes in the book is of Lynching – This is a term described as an extrajudicial execution carried out by a group in order to punish an alleged transgressor…
At a recent public discussion shown on TV it was suggested that maybe Bin Laden had lost his human rights as he (Bin Laden) had denied others the right to life. Its an interesting perspective as should we do onto others what others do to us? Should we show a higher degree of morality? One of the main problems with what Bin Laden eventually lead others to do is that it resulted in such devistation, shock and horror. Human emotion will move towards revenge. The other issue is the aftermath, what can be done to prevent him from becoming idolised. If he had been captured and put on trial, that too would have taken years. However, a trial could have been useful to expose the extent of penetration of his network or influence.
As a society we need to be careful about how we communicate what took place, explore the reasons why his supporters continue to be driven to terrorise. Dialogue with murderers is hard but when they see the light of sense to stop with our help, maybe that is a better long-term solution.
How close are we to getting to the root cause of all the issues. Or, are we too late and some people will never change?
We can only hope that staying one step ahead will avoid the loss of innocent lives.
1 What is true Change?
Its been a while since I posted to my blog. Part of the reason is that there is so much going on in the world and I tend to be Tweeting more (@DrSavi). A guess apathy is another reason. All these reasons are not really justified as I believe to blog is to share ones view point, suggest debate and seek verification of ideals. Tweeting is good but it could be supported by greater depth of discussion through an attached link.
As I said, there is so much happening in the world. My last posting was in February and at the time we all saw the pace of change sweeping North Africa. Since that post date Libya and Syria are centre stage in the demand for change and greater freedom.
I was recently fortunate to be a guest on Radio 2′s Aled Jones Good Morning Sunday. In my moment of reflection, I pointed out,
‘As we sit in our armchairs watching from a distance I wonder if we ever thought about why it takes so long to demand change.’
The full transcript is shown below, together with a link to the audio:
We’re all watching the news and almost hourly developments of people close to Europe & further afield struggling to free themselves from their current rulers and injustices. Everyday it seems that more lives are lost or put at risk in the hope for an outcome that will result in a new and fairer way forward for a country.
As we sit in our armchairs watching from a distance I wonder if we ever thought about why it takes so long to demand change.
Maybe its because often people with power want to hang on to it. Or, could it be that the public have adopted an apathetic approach to life as their survival depends upon it. People can also be unknowingly conditioned to accept the status quo.
In mid April 1699 the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh established the Sikh identity called the Khalsa. Its establishment continues to assure defending the defenceless, honest living and equality. Guru Gobind Singh lost his father, mother and children in the struggle for freedom.
The Sikhs succeeded in creating fighting for freedom. In some countries and societies the challenge continues.
I should also point out that at the time Sikhs not only fought for the freedom, liberty and justice, they were defending the defenceless. India today enjoys an environment of religions living side-by-side, however, communal violence and manipulation by extreme groups such as the RSS continues and in many cases on a covert basis.
The question posed in this article is really one of what drives change? Is it a case that oppression by a selective few can only last for so long until just before a camels back is broken. Or, does a sense of revolution come when all else has failed. Maybe achieving change is harder in the 21st century as there is a need for:
- The correct environment – enough support
- Infrastructure abandonment – i.e: supports of a regime know that the ‘writings on the wall’ and its ‘time to switch sides’!
- Only with the latter taking place, weapons turned on the people asking for change can be turned off.
- Media Vs Propaganda Vs the revelation of truth
As both Syria heats up and the Libyan situation is developing into a turf war (both sadly with the loss of lives), when will the desire for change be concluded. Will it be a positive outcome for all? Maybe it is up to the leaders to view that forced and violent suppression will further condem them (leaders) and they have an opportunity to demonstrate that they care for a positive outcome.
In terms of my statement about apathy, maybe I really meant to say that sometimes we are too accepting of regimes. A case in point being Libya and the appeasement by the West over the years, including the sale or weapons. The latter is clearly from a country management to country management perspective. However, inside a country acceptance is ‘safe’ as it secures milk to babies and infrastructure continuity. Maybe its only a revolution that really achieves change and there is no half-way house.
We continue to live in a world where there is inequality or as George Orwell implied in Animal House, ‘All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others’. We marvel (including media frenzy) at the spectacle of regal ceremony but on the next corner accept that poverty is inherent in our global reach.
True change comes from within with a passion to exercise and drive it through but the conditions must be right for it to be lasting and worth it.
0 Egypt, People Power or People of Power
We’re all watching the news and the unfolding almost hourly developments. Everyday it seems that more lives are lost or put at risk in the hope for an outcome that will result in a new way forward for the country.
As we sit in our armchairs watching from a distance I wonder if we ever thought about why it has taken so long for the demand for change.
Maybe it is because often people with power will want to hang on to it. Or, the public have adopted an apathetic approach to life because their survival depends upon it. People can also be unknowingly conditioned to accept the status quo.
I watched the following video and saw the emotion in the mans voice and expressions.
It is hard for us to know the true facts of today and the political alliances of the past. With regard to the latter, why have Countries not said anything in the past. Such countries could consider voicing opinions as intefering with internal affairs. It is interesting that some countries are left to their own devices?
I only hope for a peaceful outcome. The current leaders in Egypt will show true progress if they can meet, respect each others views and not resort to killing.
0 BA Complaint, My father’s journey
Here is a copy of the letter I sent to both BA and BAA, regarding the treatment of my father. Clearly, you will note that has been no adherence to protocol. If a person has become sick on-board, then common-sense suggests that it is the duty of cabin crew and ground staff to do everything in their power to help and save a life.
At the time of going to print on my blog, he is still in an Intensive Care Unit in hospital and we hope he will recover.
I still await a reply from the organisations involved in this apparent shambles.
Ref: Passenger Mr P S Arora Medical Alert
21st January 2011Dear Sir/Madam,
It is now 4 weeks since my father arrived back from holidaying in India. His e-Ticket number was: xxxxxxxxxx and reservation number was: xxxxxxxxxxxxx (BA0256)
Since his arrival on Christmas Eve 24th December 2010 he has been in ITU – The Intensive Treatment Unit. The reason for writing to you is to outline what happened on the flight and subsequent disembarking. This is what happened:
- The flight arrived at 5pm and at 5:10pm a member of the BA Cabin Crew, a Mr Singh called my home and spoke to me about collecting my father from the arrival gate at terminal 5.As we live close to Terminal 5 we arrived at approx 5:40pm
- My daughter and I ran between the ground and 3rd floor to find the BAA passenger assistance desk and I left my son standing at arrivals to wait for my father there.
- By coincidence we met 3 of the BA cabin crew near one of the lifts and one of them spoke to us as noticed we were asking people the location of the BAA passenger assistance desk.
- The BA crew member said he had called me and that my father had been on Oxygen for the past 6 hours. He further said that he was behind arrivals.
- When we did eventually find a BAA person, after 50 minutes they placed a Public address call out to the wheelchair attendant to find my father.
- All in all it took an hour to locate my father.
- His condition worsened when we managed to get him brought out by BAA from the baggage area behind arrivals. He had apparently been left there and ignored?!
- Mr Depak, the BAA duty manager assembled some of his staff and organised some portable curtains as my father was in deep medical distress, slumped forward in the wheelchair, with his eyes rolled up and hands and feet frozen.
- We stressed to BAA that they call an ambulance immediately. NB this should have happened far earlier – BAA claim no request was made by the cabin crew. Surprising as my father was on Oxygen for 6 hours.
- Within 10minutes, the time now being past 6pm an ambulance arrived and my father was rushed to hospital.
- Upon arrival to hospital we were told by 2 Doctors that my father could die and that one lung had stopped functioning. He has
been on a ventilator ever since suffering from severe Pneumonia.We are hoping he will recover.
Why did the BA cabin crew not contact the medics on the ground? Why was the BAA wheelchair attendant contractor not proactive- My father was best described as in a comatose position. BAA claim (the main person that organises the medics to be called out) that no call was received from the plane/cabin crew for medical assistance. Is this not against the protocol of both organisations and BA training, especially as a passenger was on Oxygen for 6 hours and clearly in medical distress?
What will you be doing to investigate this matter, fully audit responsibilities and ensure that this never happens again? Will you please find out about the facts as a persons life has been compromised by what appears as a collective lack of communication or responsibility.
It is likely that my fathers condition was also comprised further by lack of Oxygen for a further 1 hour causing a complete white-out of his right lung. I would appreciate a call to discuss this ASAP.
I hope that my father recovers.
Dr Savi S Arora
Lets hope somebody writes back to me soon. Or, do I have a legal case here?
