Deprivations - Your Days are Numbered

At last I'm writing again.  I've being reorganizing my work-space.  Effectively I've been moving my desk, bookcases with the books and boxes of associated paperwork from upstairs to my new workplace downstairs.

I'm glad to actually get back to work to get some rest...

I've not even had time to have my 15 minute nervous breakdown - I'll have to reschedule it for sometime in the future.  God knows when.

Okay let's think about the environment for a bit.  Now you know I've had solo exhibitions of my pro-diversity and pro-environmental art pieces.  I've been somewhat taken aback by the snobbery within the art world which seems to dismiss any awareness of environmentalism or for that matter diversity issues. 

(Don't ever let the universities con you into believing their art departments believe in diversity - just think about the very talented people who come from very disadvantaged circumstances and therefore can't afford the university fees.  As for my interactions with universities in Manchester, UK - let's just say it was very enlightening.)

Anyway...

Let's talk about electric cars.

Well, OK, the electric car in my 'Deprivations' novel was deliberately sabotaged to explode but petrol and diesel don't usually cause explosions.  Deaths on the other hand...

Petrol and diesel cars' days are numbered in the UK.  By 2040 in fact.

• New diesel and petrol cars and vans will be banned in the UK from 2040 in a bid to tackle air pollution, the government is set to announce.
• Air pollution is thought to be linked to about 40,000 premature deaths a year in the UK, and transport also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
• A government spokesman said poor air quality was "the biggest environmental risk" to public health in the UK.
• "This government is determined to take strong action in the shortest time possible," he said.
• "Our plan to deal with dirty diesels will help councils clean up emissions hotspots - often a single road - through common sense measures which do not unfairly penalise ordinary working people."

[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40723581]

I'm a bit wary of the efforts other countries will take to also more away from air pollution.  Obviously there is the stance by USA - most vocally by President Trump.

Now I know there are some states in the US who are pro climate control - most obviously California.  But of course there are plenty of other countries.  When you look at worldwide data America isn't actually the worst.

In some ways, I can understand the position taken by Trump.  (No, I've not become a Trump supporter.)  There are several countries who seem to be far worse than USA.  But there are several countries that America supports who are serious World polluters.  Saudi Arabia is one.  It is the World's most polluting country.

Effectively, I'd advise anyone going to that country to update their Will - you might just die there from the massive amounts of pollution you'll be breathing in Saudi Arabia. 

[Effectively the vast numbers on female children killed over in Saudi Arabia would just simply die anyway from pollution, never mind the other ways females are killed in that country.  Of course fatal pollution includes the male children as well so perhaps that kind of pollution evens things out.  So I suppose that just simply leaves the vast numbers of female children killed in some other way.  "Honor Killing" is just the tip of the iceberg.  Perhaps a discussion for another time.]

• The maps show that Middle-Eastern oil-rich countries dominate the top ten spaces on the list. Saudi Arabia is recorded as being the most toxic, with the highest recorded air pollution on the list. The UK ranks 81st for toxicity, behind countries such as Germany and the United States, however, it is listed as having the 37th highest carbon dioxide emissions.
  

• The 20 most toxic countries:

1. Saudi Arabia
2. Kuwait
3. Qatar
4. Bahrain
5. United Arab Emirates
6. Oman
7. Turkmenistan
8. Libya
9. Kazakhstan
10. Trinidad and Tobago
11. Islamic Rep of Iran
12. Luxembourg
13. Bulgaria
14. Bosnia and Herzegovenia
15. Mongolia
16. Korea
17. FYR of Macedonia
18. Singapore
19. Iraq
20. China
    

[http://www.wired.co.uk/article/this-map-reveals-the-most-toxic-countries-in-the-world]

So unless you're suicidal these are the 20 countries for you to avoid.

Remember I told you about the USA interactions with Saudi Arabia?  Well that oil from Saudi Arabia is going to run out at some point in the near future.  Now I don't know when but that country is actually making some headway towards solar and nuclear power.  (It's got a long way to go yet.)

As for the major discrimination against LGBT people in Saudi Arabia.  I suppose it is dwarfed by the huge amount of sexist discrimination but it doesn't really allow me to overlook issues like this:

• Two transgender people were packed in sacks, thrashed with sticks and tortured to death, according to human rights activists.
• Police allegedly killed 35-year-old Amna, and Meeno, 26, both Pakistanis, after raiding a house in Saudi Arabia and arresting 35 transgender people.
• Activists in Pakistan are demanding clarification from Saudi Arabia over the deaths and the 22 people reportedly still in custody.

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[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/transgender-pakistani-saudi-arabia-tortured-death-amna-meeno-11-custody-lgbt-rights-human-a7607446.html]

Yeah I know we're hardly innocent in the UK.  There's been too many incidents where LGBT+ people have been violently assaulted or murdered.

And the same situation is true regarding the treatment of women in the UK.

So where do we go from here?

You know  my mainstream novels are pro-diversity. 

(You also know my artwork is pro-diversity and pro-environmentalism.)

Yeah, I've had some very complimentary reviews about my first published novel - 'Deprivations'.

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[https://www.amazon.co.uk/Deprivations-Lee-R-Jackson-ebook/dp/B06XYWD3XC/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8]

I'm certain my second mainstream novel 'The Ruler of Hell: The Devil's Sister' will receive similar reviews.

Again it's pro-diversity.

But I don't believe in pontificating.  The primary focus of my books is entertainment.

Yeah, 'Deprivations' and 'The Devil's Sister' do express issues about our lives.  Murders?  Well, I'll keep you in suspense about that.

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Anyway...

I think I've written enough here.  Besides I want to get on with writing my next novel.  It's already got a title but I'll reveal it to you when I've fully written it.