Mosul Update

While we have been distracted with our domestic politics the world beyond our shores has continued on its path.  It's time to visit Iraq again, I think.  The battle for Mosul rages on in the western area of the city even as the eastern half starts to awake from the long nightmare that descended on the city with the advent of Daesh ( Islamic State) three years ago.

In this first video we have a native of Mosul who is returning to visit after a long absence.  His friends give insight into life under Daesh and also the fears that many in Mosul feel for the future.

But it is not a simple matter to remove the militants who have ruled Mosul, as this video makes clear.

And for many in the city there is still the pain and horror of a war that still burns red hot.

This war will not end with Mosul.  But perhaps, as the last scene in the first video shows, a new future can begin with Mosul.

The Fix...that was

In the last post I talked about the problems the world faces with climate change.  In this post I thought I would visit what some people, and I emphasize some, have been working on to try to deal with the problem.  This video is from 2011, so obviously some things are out of date, such as our Energy Secretary, and our energy policy.   And that is partly why I found this so interesting, and sad.  It was a time when the US was still intent on retaining a place in the race to future clean energy.    

The rather poignant part was regarding the current residing place of one of the solar panels Jimmy Carter used to have on the White House, which Ronald Reagan had removed.  It seems rather prophetic.  If you have a rainy day, like I have here today, you may want to check it out for nostalgia's sake.

Meltdown

This past week Donald Trump made the decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Accord, an agreement reached by the majority of nations on the planet to attempt to fight climate change.  His reaction to the many voices that rose in objection was a statement that read:  "I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris".  For some reason Donald Trump apparently believes that the future of this planet is not of concern to the people of Pittsburgh.  

I realize that the Paris Accord may not have been a perfect agreement, but it was a start to at least attempt to address an issue that will affect everyone, and I do mean everyone, on this planet.  That our president in his infinite wisdom doesn't seem to understand that is of great disappointment.  

This video is an illustration of various scenarios of what the future may hold.  I am greatly relieved that I will not be around to see it.  But I feel very sad for those who will and complete disgust at those alive today who have deliberately contributed to it.