Earth Hour

Ok…every news site I visited today had a piece on this special hour called “Earth Hour” which is supposed to be tomorrow night (March 29) at 8pm your local time. I listened to City News from Toronto and every other report was about either Earth Hour, energy conservation or waste management. I was in awe as it appeared that every citizen interviewed in the street, from the womb to the grave had some knowledge on the importance of saving energy. One child said her school practiced today and had classes without electricity for an hour. Amazingly this little child was able to speak about the meaning of having energy saving bulbs. Then I looked outside and wondered just how many Jamaicans will switch off tomorrow at 8pm for an hour. However I think the bigger picture is EDUCATION. It takes education (and a whole lot of it) to appreciate the value of electricity, gas emissions, global warming etc. I was wondering if we will ever reach a stage in the Jamaican education system where these kind of issues are given priority in the school curriculum.

 For Jamaicans, the notion of waste disposal is tearing the wrapper off an item, stuffing it in a garbage bag loaded with fruit skins, bottles, eggshells, used batteries, milk cartons, paper, containers made from all sorts of material, then we pray the garbage truck arrives. When it arrives, we expect it to collect our waste and transport it straight to Riverton City dump (in the case of Kingston), then lighting a big bonfire and “bun down di place”. When will we start thinking about separating our garbage and being more responsible for our waste products..and when I say WE I mean all Jamaicans inclusive of the government.  Not to mention finding an alternative source of energy by encouraging people to install solar panels on their rooftops. When are we going to really take these things seriously?

 Anyway, back to Earth Hour…..are you turning off your lights tomorrow at 8 pm? I hope JPS at least makes an announcement in case we become conscious and turn off the lights at 8pm and all decide to turn it on at exactly the same time after the hour…..just in case the grid fries!

Air Jamaica Strike!

I had no reason to comment on this issue but after reading the Jamaica Observer editorial today, I felt compelled to say something. The editorial is entitled “Those misguided Air Jamaica flight attendants” and it basically lambasted them for taking strike action and reference was made to one customer’s letter of disgust with the industrial action.

 Ok…well I am no flight attendant, never was and never will be. However, I like to look at things from the “underdog” perspective. As Karl Marx said, the only thing workers have is their ability to sell their labour from one owner of the means of production to another. Doesn’t that make sense? That is why one is able to get a job, paid a wage and when another wage buyer comes along with an offer, we can make that ultimate decision: to stay or not to stay. We are paid a wage for our loyalty as well as insurance that our needs are somewhat satisfied and we will have no need to overturn the place where we work and take over. That is reality. But back to the flight attendants’ issue, while I do not know the intimate details other than what the media has decided to share, I can say that the best way to get some action is to strike unannounced. It is non-effective if people are given notice. There have been threats of strike the world over…..but nothing beats the element of surprise. It says “since you don’t value my work, safety, input, salary, or whatever  my case is, see what it is like in the absence of my services”. I totally agree.

It is human nature to think of self first then others after. Do you think about your boss when your house is on fire? You’re abnormal if you do. Therefore, for the Jamaica Observer to call these people selfish, unpatriotic, misguided or uncaring is just plain ridiculous and unfortunate. Should I care if the cost of a barrel of oil rises for my job or for my pocket when it affects both? Should I be thinking of the economic and social implications of a strike when I can’t buy food or I have to work under the conditions they claim they are? Let’s get real! The point is, people always think of themselves first and their problem is the biggest problem to them as opposed to others.

 So yes Jamaica Observer, it is clear that the thoughts of the flight attendants were entirely of themselves and not that of Jamaica……and?

Who exactly is Jesus Christ?

This morning I decided to watch a “Good Friday” movie or 2…..actually I am on the first one. Halfway through the film a thought came to me. Who is Jesus Christ? Most movies I have seen depict Him as blond-haired, blue-eyed guy, with shoulder length hair with a little flip in the back. Thanks to Hollywood, Jesus Christ has an American accent and speaks as if he is really on the frontier of a western movie. The language and gestures are very American .  So I decided to Google Jesus Christ images and again, came up with images as described above. Even a Black Jesus Christ came up as a “browning”……Herod, Pontius Pilate etc are all caucasian men….and the few darkies in these movies are……slaves, who use palms to fan their kings and queens…….

So….who is Jesus Christ?

Happy Easter!