About me
So we are here, sentient and able. What to do with this life? I would like to think I will leave this world a better place for having existed in it. That is my purpose.
I think the UN Declaration of Human Rights is a great place to start if you’re looking for some foundation values, and common ground, for a ‘where do we start to fix the world’ discussion. We need to have that discussion more … and act on it.
I like the ‘why are we here’ questions. I like the ‘thinking about thinking’ questions.
We can be inspirational and articulate, and we can be dumb and aggressive. We can choose. I think we regularly confuse needs with wants. I think we have become (or have always been) largely a society of teenagers. Bit confused, lost and fearful. Bit self-centred and self-serving. And a lot oblivious to the plight of others and the planet that supports us.
I think we need to grow up and take responsibility for the priviledge of living. I think we should have more fun.
I think that we need to reinvent ourselves and the way we live. I think that we need to stop treating our government as though they are our parents. I think we need more ‘I can do’ and less ‘why doesn’t someone do’. I think we need to help others more. I think we need to help ourselves. I think, I think .. I’m off to do something useful 
How about you?
This is me having fun
This is me with my son
Yup. I’m with you. You can see me striking a similar pose in this Post to my blog, Librarians Matter
Kathryn Greenhill said this on June 23, 2009 at 5:15 pm
acacia is the most amazing teenager in the whole world, she thinks the best and when i am old she might pay someone to change my nappies- at the present moment i change my own nappies.
acacia
Acacia said this on June 23, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Responce Question 1.a) Sub Section 7.0.1)Daily use inside the house. Rule a)6 x showers for 6 mins @ 10L/min = 360L
Q: Does this also = 1 x shower for 36 minutes, this being based on a more realistic shower time for the average Australian?
Responce Question 2.a)Title section “Final words”, quote “anels make most of our power needs, our chooks give us eggs and manure”
Q: Is this a type of moter fuel?
Responce Question 3.a)Tirle “Cost”
In general I have a major issue with this whole section, espeshialy the spaelling and garamer, msot anyonig.
Q: Is there some whay that cost can be reduced by some form of non human labour technekes? maybe something like death and self composting combined.
Responce Question 4.a)Title “Equipment required”
Sub section “First flush divertors”
Q: Is this some how linked to the chook manure? (which I assume is used to make moter fuel)
Mr Brick said this on June 24, 2009 at 1:31 am
I wish you luck with your six minute showers
Jill said this on June 24, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Hi Paul,
Hope i am commenting in the right place. Like you i am technologically challenged! Cool Pics.
Cheers
Crystal
Crystal said this on June 26, 2009 at 9:23 am
We enjoyed your suggestions and we will reflect on them more sometime in the future. In the meantime, keep up the good work and keep thinking!. With regard to your summation of what is wrong with the world, we like your statement: “And a lot oblivious to the plight of others and the planet that supports us” Richard suggests your thinking is good Paul but here is one to extend you a little more; is there room for God in your thinking?
Irene MILLS said this on June 27, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Thanks for checking out my site Richard and Irene.
Your comments raise one of the biggest questions. While i believe spirituality is very important, I confess that I am not a big fan of religion. How many times have people killed, and continue to kill, in the name of God. Fundamental humanitarian values would seem to extend (improve?) some religious practices. I accept peoples right to religious freedom, but suggest that it would be a whole lot more fun, and peaceful, if interfaith relations were based around the fundamental humanitarian principles outlined in the UN Declaration of Human Rights. If religion could bring our society to this point, I would be more interested in where it might take me from there.
Paul Lock said this on June 29, 2009 at 10:09 am
Yep, Your 99.9% correct Paul if religion is all that it clams to be then we don’t need to care for the planet as this is only a steping stone to our next adventure.
I ask you Irene what does GOD have to do with “First flush divertors”? Not a lot I would think. God is not an answer to everything, we as humans must act on these issues as we still don’t have any proof that God even exists outside of our own minds.
Having Faith is not an answer, and wishing on Hope is not a solution.
Which gets me back to you Paul, when can I expect a responce from the questions I asked?
Mr Brick said this on June 29, 2009 at 4:21 pm
PS. your Blog page site Rocks.
Mr Brick said this on June 29, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Paul, we don’t want to make this a religious project but we feel compelled to comment on your statement re God: God is interested in the care of humans (He probably invented humanitarianism). The fact that people have and are killing in His name is not His doing - it is man’s misunderstanding of and lack of desire to know Him.
Mr Brick,your statement “if religion is all that it claims to be then we don’t need to care for the planet” couldn’t be further from the truth. God commands us to care for the planet.
Rene and Rich.
Irene MILLS said this on June 29, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Fair point Irene and Rich Hence my preference for the separation of spirituality and religion. Some people do some awful things in the name of religion. I believe the state of the planet also raises a compelling argument for those of the Abrahamic faiths to focus on consolidation, rather than recruitment, so that the humanitarian and environmental practices of their followers are not seen to be hypocritical.
My understanding is that God is also prone to sending floods and plagues when upset with humanity. Presumably Noah and family were not the only ones doing the ‘right’ thing when the floods came. I would like to think that the others were given a choice place in heaven.
It is also my understanding, via my friendly neighbourhood Jehovah’s, that one way to know God is through practice of the bible scriptures, and another is through deep insight in nature. Is this correct?
Paul Lock said this on June 29, 2009 at 5:58 pm
And so we continue on with this theme….we, Richard and I, don’t think it is possible to separate spirituality and religion; the Christian faith is not concerned with recruitment as much as it is with the idea of telling others about God and leaving them to make up their own mind which path they take. God gives every one of us a free will.
With regard to hypocritical; Christian followers are on a learning journey throughout thier life and will therefore sometimes lose direction.
With regard to Noah; your presumption is not correct - God had given humanity 100 years to listen to what Noah was saying.
With regard to your friendly Jehovah neighbours - I’m afraid they are not correct either - the way to know God is through faith and this means trusting and obeying God’s word.
Rene
Irene MILLS said this on June 29, 2009 at 6:28 pm
Amen
Paul Lock said this on June 29, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Wow, this blog site has it all science, the Environment, simple living and even religon. It also has, by me adding my two bobs worth to it now there’s ‘the Bullshit factor’.
Love Mr Brick
Mr Brick said this on July 1, 2009 at 2:15 pm