The Dilemma of the Left

This weekend will go down in history. The G20 summit in Hamburg was accompanied by wide spread protests, many held in good faith and non-violent. Yet, the images that will stick in the collective memory for years to come will be those of rioting and looting in Hamburg.

Let’s be clear: I condemn violence. Protest and demonstrations should be peaceful. The lasting impression from this weekend however, will be that the Left is stuck in a cycle of violence. This way there will never be a left or leftist Renaissance.

The Left or anyone considering him- or herself to be on the left hand side of the political spectrum should really consider what is at stake. If riots and looting are all the Left has to offer, then it is condemned to its little corner.

If the Left however, manages to offer a viable alternative, one that offers safety and well being for all, one that has sustainability and the human at its centre, then will there be a chance. If this alternative is moreover inclusive unlike the current incumbent form of capitalism, chances may be even higher that it will succeed.

The G20 is the forum where the 20 most influential countries meet to discuss financial matters. In that alone it excludes the majority of countries. Why can’t there be a G180 or however many countries are left out of this summit to offer a counter image? An image of inclusiveness and open mindedness that would be in contrast to what the G20 have to offer.

Herein lies the chance of the Left. It’s up to them to take it.

photo credit: tama66 via pixabay under CC0 Public Domain

The EU tells UK: it’s not enough

The UK’s government has presented a policy paper outlining how the rights of EU citizens will be handled during and after the Brexit negotiations. It seems each move by the UK is met with more demands by the EU to amend the British policies to fit them with the EU’s positions. May has almost no options to navigate.

Rule, Britannia

Britannia rule the waves…

Most people are familiar with this song and the lyrics. It is a poem written by James Thomson in 1740 and set to music by Thomas Arne. Even though the British Empire was not yet as large and Britain was not yet ruling the waves, the song nonetheless stands for the British Empire like few other songs and depicts the idea of Britain as a nation of seaman and traders.

With the Brexit negotiations scheduled to begin on June 19, Britain will find itself at sea, mastering waves it has no experience of sailing. Instead the country will find itself lost at sea.

The ship is captained by a woman who doesn’t want to be there in the first place, her crew is waiting for a chance to get rid of her and the passengers have a gut feeling that this journey might end with their ship running aground.