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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: The Pointlessness of War

Gavin Oldham
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Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: The Pointlessness of War
Even if Putin were to succeed in his barbarous land-grabbing attempt, what would he inherit? A land where almost all facilities of civilisation are being bombed into oblivion, inhabited by a people filled with disgust and distrust for the Kremlin autocracy: and, bearing in mind that an estimated 11 million Russians have family in Ukraine and the close cultural relationship between their two countries, this disgust and distrust will be shared by much of the Russian population. Meanwhile the young generation is of course the most impacted by conflict, which is almost always initiated by old men. So the pointlessness of war is not lost on these young generations, whose high level of communication and mobility also gives rise to a much better understanding of the need for global interconnectivity. Background Music: 'Breathing Planet' by Doug Maxwell

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Conservative Socialism

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Conservative Socialism
Far from digging the UK out of the mess that seventy years of socialist welfare have got it into, our new Conservative government seems intent on burying us still deeper. Of course fiscal responsibility must come first, but why perpetuate the myth that everyone, including the wealthy, must receive equal free rations: even if it significantly reduces the amount of public resources available for those most in need? At least the NHS in Scotland has heard the message, even if politicians across the board don't understand (or is it just electoral bribery?). What we really need is a strategy for individual freedom within an egalitarian society — we're a long way from this at present. Background music: 'Freedom?' by Dan Lebowitz

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Empowering the United Nations

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Empowering the United Nations
The greatest challenges facing humanity - climate change, economic injustice and peaceful coexistence - are global and long-term in character. The United Nations talks about them, but lacks authority — which can only come from democratic legitimacy. We propose a country-by-country transition to directly-elected UN representatives in order to enable global long-term solutions to take precedence. Background music: 'World's Sunrise' by Jimena Contreras

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Educational Choice

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Educational Choice
As Rishi Sunak steps into the lead role in British politics, we look at the educational choices which have paved the way for him, and discuss how the search for a more egalitarian form of capitalism can reconcile opportunity for all with individual freedom. The degree to which parents take responsibility for that education, as Rishi's parents did for him, is critical — and that poses a significant question for the huge numbers of young people who are not enjoying a traditional family upbringing. Background Music: 'Everything Has a Beginning' by Joel Cummins

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Tributes to the Queen

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Tributes to the Queen
“I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied, 'Go out into the darkness , and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light, and safer than a known way.'” - indeed, the guiding light for the servant leadership that she gave us throughout these past seventy years. Our Thought for this Week comprises the tributes given in the House of Commons on Friday 9 September, beginning with the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, and followed by - (4:46) Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss MP, The Prime Minister (11:17) Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP (20:06) Sir Peter Bottomley MP (20:36) Rt Hon Ian Blackford MP (27:57) Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP (36:31) Rt Hon Harriet Harman KC MP (41:53) Rt Hon Theresa May MP (50:05) Rt Hon Ed Davey MP Background Music: 'New Year's Anthem' by Quincas Moreira

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Transforming Leadership

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Transforming Leadership
As Liz Truss takes the hot seat in British politics, we explain why political leaders must embrace disintermediation and servant leadership as the way forward to a better world. Arrogance is so often the Achilles heel of leaders, and genuine humility is hard to detect. So, as the new Prime Minister takes the reins in 10 Downing St, we call for a proper understanding of servant leadership and explain why disintermediation is critical to effective delivery, the ability for all to share both wealth and opportunity, and a legacy of continuing progress for the future. Background music: 'When All of This is Over' by The Westerlies

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Generational Disconnect

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Generational Disconnect
Janice Turner's strikingly clear article in Saturday's Times (13/8/22) sets out why young people from low income households have such a struggle finding stability and economic security, after years of student debt, soaring house prices, and a much higher risk of split parents. In 2010 David Willetts' book 'The Pinch' was published, setting out the huge generational divide at that time: but over the past 12 years, the position has deteriorated significantly. Will Liz Truss call for change? Background music: 'Land of My Fathers' by The 126ers Links via https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/comment-wc-2022-08-15/

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: ++ Justin's Lions

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: ++ Justin's Lions
Opening the Lambeth Conference last week, Archbishop Justin drew his colleagues' attention to the ‘lions’ threatening humanity with attack, hostility, danger and uncertainty, summarising them as climate change, religious extremism, war and government oppression, economic injustice and poverty, and culture wars. His comments on science and technology were more circumspect, accepting their capacity to deliver solutions as well as to present challenges. It is, however, important to recognise how long-term and short-term motivations to tackle these challenges are so often in conflict. In a world where our actions today influence the long-term more acutely than at any time in history, we must re-balance our search for solutions in order to avoid the long-term being continually eclipsed by, and often sacrificed to, the short-term. Background music: Brass Chorale and Motet by Sir Cubworth Links via: https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/comment-wc-2022-08-08/

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Engage or Detach?

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Engage or Detach?
The dilemma between whether to engage or detach has challenged humanity for millennia. In all walks of life, from international tensions to faith, and from living in a civilized society to personal relationships, it challenges us — whether to work hard at finding solutions, or to stand aloof. As we've seen in Ukraine, with international relationships detachment leads ultimately to conflict. It's an outcome which our ancestors have had to suffer throughout history but, since the mass deployment of nuclear weapons, it is now an existential threat every bit on a par with the other great issue of our time: climate change. In both respects, engagement is now not only the preferred way forward — it's the only way which makes it possible to see a long-term future. Background music: 'Resolution' by Wayne Jones

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Gavin Oldham

Thought for the Week: Sacrificing the economy to NHS universality

Gavin Oldham
Original Broadcast:

Thought for the Week

Thought for the Week: Sacrificing the economy to NHS universality
Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak are both understandably focused on the UK economy, challenged by massive public debt and soaring inflation, but who will tackle the 'elephant in the room' of the gargantuan health and social care budget, which has resulted from seventy years addiction to socialist universality? We update our proposal first made in June 2018, since when the cost per adult of health and social care has doubled. Background music: 'Addicted' by VYEN

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