Blogs

In the past few months I have been struck by what we could call the ‘parable of the pit’, reflecting on how, in our society, we are digging ourselves into a dangerous hole, the sides of which may very well fall in and bury us. The economic globalisation of the world means that large corporations rule over or through democratic governments, with the result that increasingly more human activity is subjected to the pressures of maximising short-term profit and avoiding the results of longer term consequences for the Earth and its inhabitants. Ecological pressures and environmental problems...

Christmas is a great time for catching up with family and friends. Long, lazy meals are chances to tell old stories, relax and laugh.

For some, of course, the joy of Christmas is muted by sadness or loneliness. When the front door is shut, what surfaces for some of us are only unhappy memories.

There is often a huge gap between the fantasy world of the adverts and the reality we face. The fantasy world says life is a series of treats and choices: ‘It’s your call’, ‘Do what you want’, ‘Go on, spoil yourself. You’re worth it’. But reality is about getting up in the morning...

Nearly five years ago, Haiti was struck with a massive 7.0 scale earthquake that killed up to 300,000, and left 1.5 million homeless. Today however, it remains a country riven with problems, despite the promises of the biggest humanitarian mobilization of a generation.

When the disaster struck in 2010, I went to Haiti, and spent seven months working in the relief effort for an NGO, and saw the destruction first-hand. The reasons for its continuing problems despite massive aid relief lie not a lack of resources, or willing hands, but in the way we treat stricken countries in general...

Bad manners, telemarketing calls and bras digging in are among the top annoying ‘niggles’ that women in Exeter face on a daily basis.

Survey figures revealed that on average females experience at least five annoying niggles on a daily basis, including bad manners (50%), telemarketing calls (45%), ill-fitting lingerie (38%) and annoying Facebook statuses (37%), all filling the top 10 of life’s daily annoyances.

The research, for Triumph lingerie, also showed more than half (62%) of women in Exeter actively seek help to overcome their daily niggles, with talking to a friend...