Jewel in the Crown

This is only a little song but it requires a sizeable introduction to focus your thoughts.

Birmingham, the cradle of industrialised trade, has been chosen as a starting point to consider the subject of how the planet, Earth, has been plundered and its resources abused by the European “gene pool” of its population.

We arrogantly say that we discovered America, Australia etc., but let’s face it, the inhabitants were a lot better off before we discovered them. Apart from the species we have destroyed, we have wiped out other human groups who led a life that respected the planet and all of its plants and creatures. Many have fallen beneath the European sword and cross.

This is the march of progress. The resources are there for us humans to use. Yet, we have developed a civilisation and made laws that compel us to compete against each other, however unequal that contest may be. For one to gain, another must lose. Throughout human history, only a short time in the life of this planet, spirituality within our civilisations has risen and fallen like a mighty pendulum.

Today, international Corporations control the world. Whatever the nation or its politics, the Corporations are there… lobbying and conniving for the benefit of their shareholders. They are richer than most countries and money has been allowed to control the world. Their subtlety is persuasive. Have you have seen the TV advertisements of the Carbon Trust? The Corporations acknowledge the damage to the planet and ask for our help to put it right. But it is to no avail. Even if the super rich survive in their bunkers, there will be nobody left to exploit !

But greed continues to weave its mischief. While the enormous sum donated to help victims of the Asian Tsunami is virtually powerless to improve the situation of the victims, the floods have put up the price of higher land plots. Surprise, surprise, the poor tenants are being evicted.

Most religions of mankind, from the Maya to the Hebrews, predict an “End of Days”. Our scientists have discovered how this will happen. Vulcanologists have shown us that, any minute now, the ironically named “Old Faithful” geyser in Yellowstone Park, USA, will erupt sending out a cloud of dust that will take us into an ice age.

Mankind has devised weapons and pollutants that are capable of destroying the planet. These are nothing compared with the power of nature. Perhaps the Almighty gave us free rein to see how far we would go before calling a halt to the bodily form of the human race and returning us to spirit.

JEWEL IN THE CROWN

Birmingham in England, jewel of the crown

Greed to make more money turned your rivers brown

Trade shows now converge there from each and every land

Each Corporation strives to be the world’s most powerful brand

The pendulum swings both to and fro

Deep into “yes” and back to “no”

We murdered the folk who loved the earth

Then plundered it – for all we’re worth…

And now we’re…

Feeling oh so sorry for wrong that we have done

But we need not worry, the human race is run

The planet has the last laugh and buries us in dust

Forget about your body, in your spirit you must trust.

Repeat from The pendulum…and coda to finish