www.owohrod.com.

This is a short video of a couple of fish, sleekly, quietly and unhurriedly making their way through the scarcely resisting waters of the canal. Please take a look and, if by chance it commands your interest, do enjoy!

It constitutes an infringement of of the rights of sovereign states, individuals and organisations to conduct 'free trade.'  It is an egregious act of carte blanche tyranny. Certainly not one which is compatible with a nation which purports to be the 'guardian of 'democracy' and the 'free world.' Which is why it is about time a government or corporate body/ies take the American government to the international court, to seek exemplary compensation for the damage done to their economies by American sanctions.  But then, as might have been expected of American exceptionalism, it is not a participant to the International Criminal Court.   Which makes it a law unto itself, and above the law of the ICC.  A law which does apply to many, if not all of the countries which the American government expects to comply with American law.  Which speaks loudly about the contempt which America has for the rest of the world and their national and intern

How, then, I am left wondering, has the 'crisis' in Palestinian/Israeli relationship, something which has become a norm, an almost natural state of being, seemed to have taken priority over the devastation of Yemen and her people?  Why is the United Nations Security Council not being convened to demand that Saudi Arabia desists from laying waste to Yemen and her people? Why is the 'Abrahamic religious crisis' surrounding the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and its repercussions for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, taking centre stage?  Why are religious sensitivities being given more importance than the lives, health and happiness of a whole nation; the people of Yemen?  Why this persistent use of the past as the reference point for the direction of the future being aimed for, instead of a break with it, as it is clearly not making any forward advance? This I do not readily understand, as it is so perverse, and egregious. It is clear that it is not because of the West

The Europeans, it seems, have had enough of America First and American Exceptionalism.   And are not keen to have their trade and economic agreements with the Russian Federation, further disrupted and taken out of their sphere of influence, by the unilateral action of the Americans.  They are, it seems, tired of having to play 'second fiddle' to the Americans, and left to pick up the disparate economic and financial pieces.  Having suffered the impact of the Cuban economic embargo, the pre-Iraq invasion economic embargo, the Iranian economic embargo, the Russian economic embargo resulting from the Ukrainina conflict, et al.  Some would say it is about time for the EU and European leaders and governments to assert their independence.  By protecting the interests of their own people, and not being so damn subservient to the Americans.  And then there is the matter of international law and 'free trade' between nations. It might be understandab

'The apparently perpetually hostile relationship between the modern State of Israel, with it raison de'tre being predicated upon ancient and unproven Jewish history and myths.   And the Palestinians, who have one of the strongest claim to being perpetual victims.   Is also a lurid and compelling testimony to how religious beliefs continue to be probably the biggest cause of conflict in the world.' Following the killing of two Israeli security officers, Israel, as has tended to be her response in these situations.   Increased her security measures within the Occupied Palestinian territories, including the setting up of CCTV cameras and metal detectors.  Measures which, under normal circumstances, would or could be considered as reasonable.  Considering that the Israeli State and its security apparatus, and the Palestinians, at best have a tense and uneasy accommodation between them, and, at worst, view each other as enemies.  Which is not a surprising

But what I contemplated on most, was the failure of the service to illuminate the matter of 'light versus darkness', or 'day versus night.'  As they epitomise the 'light of knowledge', the 'darkness of ignorance', being it forced or due to self-deception.'  The 'darkness or night' of being afraid, or not being allowed to thoroughly examine what one has come to believe, or told to believe to be true.   Whether or not it is able to stand firm when it is subject to the microscope of objective enquiry and analysis. Yes, how courageous it would have been, had the officiating religious officials in this service at Saint Patrick's Church.  Taken this as an opportunity to cast 'the light of open enquiry on the religious doctrine which their church follows? And for the whole religious establishments to follow their example?  For them to be holding up to the prism of 'the light of accumulated knowledge', and '

  This is a short video of a section of this Canal being under stress from accumulated abuse of it. Hopefully it will, in the course of time, recover from this assault from people who should know better. Please take a look and be dismayed, in the hope that it will soon be put right and become health again, so that it will continue to give pleasure.