Articles by: Peter Van Els

We are all Brothers and Sisters. It can be different, it must be different   

We are all Brothers and Sisters. It can be different, it must be different   

      Brothers and Sisters, we must free ourselves from the consuming money powers and the immoral habits that these have brought. Capitalism should not divide us any further, so that we remain each other’s enemies. We are all brothers and sisters. It can be different, it must be different. A forgotten Brotherhood      Today, the realization that we[Read More…]

by 21/12/2018 Comments are Disabled Life/Philosophy
The Amazon and the New Conquistadores

The Amazon and the New Conquistadores

When the Spanish conquistador Francisco de Orellana in 1541, explored a majestic river, surrounded by a green oasis of unprecedented beauty in a pristine paradise and accompanied by mysterious animal sounds, he ran into a local tribe. A subsequent battle was fought at the mouth of the Madeira. In the record of the monk Gaspar de Carvajal, he wrote that[Read More…]

by 12/11/2018 Comments are Disabled Climate Change
The Evolution of Greed – From Aristotle to Gordon Gekko

The Evolution of Greed – From Aristotle to Gordon Gekko

The comfort of rich people depends on an abundant supply of poor people. -Voltaire Greed is as old as time. As long as there are people, greed and avarice will continue to exist. In Ancient Greece they had a special word for it: ‘pleonexia’. Pleonexia is a concept that unites greed, covetousness and avarice in a philosophical context. Strictly speaking,[Read More…]

by 10/10/2018 Comments are Disabled Life/Philosophy
Photo by Thejaswi

Plants And Animals Don’t Have A Voice, Let Us Be Theirs

43 years ago, my parents owned a public swimming pool. In the summer season, there was a lifeguard that I remember fondly. He was a handsome, kind and idealistic young man, always with a pipe in the corner of his mouth. He studied to be a priest and wanted to visit the Amazon someday. He could talk about it passionately[Read More…]

We are Heading Down a Dangerous Path

We are Heading Down a Dangerous Path

  What Trump stands for is not “America First”, but unbridled capitalism, growing inequality, increasing racism, white supremacy, hatred of women, protectionism and constant provocation. He is purposely creating a crisis, as Trump’s administration thrives by chaos. One man’s loss is, after all, another man’s gain. The Trump Family is characterized by lawlessness, megalomania, and a general sense of superiority[Read More…]

by 12/12/2017 1 comment Life/Philosophy
Many Leaders Make Hate Acceptable

Many Leaders Make Hate Acceptable

Hate is spreading like an oil stain over the Earth. Hate is even further encouraged by populists who purport to speak in the name of the people. Populist politicians try to obtain the support of the electorate by all means without worrying about the viability of their proposals. They invariably rage against the ‘elite’. Ever since Trump took office, the[Read More…]

by 03/11/2017 1 comment Life/Philosophy
 Our Unique Planet Earth

 Our Unique Planet Earth

We’ve all done it at one point: look up at the stars and wonder about the meaning of it all. Is the universe infinite? Is there life on other planets? Is someone looking back at us, right now, somewhere out there in the inconceivable vastness of space? How small, how fragile must the world seem to him -,- Little more[Read More…]

by 05/10/2017 Comments are Disabled Climate Change
Why is There Such A Lack Of Wisdom Among World Leaders And Governments?

Why is There Such A Lack Of Wisdom Among World Leaders And Governments?

When looking at the world today, one gets the impression of living on a sick planet, with sick world leaders in an ailing democracy. It sometimes seems as if the planet has the flu, and no-one seems able to come up with a workable cure. Few will deny the fact that there is a terrifying lack of wisdom in the[Read More…]

by 29/08/2017 2 comments Life/Philosophy
Dreaming The Same Dream

Dreaming The Same Dream

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. held his world-famous speech; “I Have a Dream”. A dream we all dream and dreamed of. I was almost 7 years old and still remember. His speech was full of fire and passion, right out of his honest heart. A speech, and also in that time the greatest demonstration ever in America,[Read More…]

by 27/06/2017 1 comment World
 More Mass Destruction Weapons

 More Mass Destruction Weapons

On May 25, Donald Trump, the President of America, visited Brussels and the NATO. His visit concluded that Europe must meet its obligations and buy more mass destruction weapons for the security and democracy of the Western and free world. In a clumsy, arrogant and disrespectful way he insult America’s best and most loyal allies. After Trump had closed a[Read More…]

by 05/06/2017 1 comment World
Dear MR.President  

Dear MR.President  

Dear MR.President,  On Sunday Mister President, you went, as always, to the Church of Christ with your family.  As you know God is a “God of love”, and in the church the priest is praying  about love, peace, respect and understanding for you Mister President, and for all who live. In all probability, You pray every day for yourself to[Read More…]

by 03/03/2017 1 comment World
A Little More Matriarchism And Egalitarianism

A Little More Matriarchism And Egalitarianism

Give women more opportunity to realize the world of tomorrow, because male dominance has not brought the promised Kingdom so far, and has not brought the Paradise on Earth, which is truly around us, but simply not seen. There is currently no world peace, which every sensible person strives for and desires. Remarkable is the crucial role of the man.[Read More…]

by 23/02/2017 1 comment Patriarchy
Living In A Man’s World

Living In A Man’s World

A short history Our Earth was formed about 4.56 billion years (4.560.000.000 years) ago by accretion of material from the Solar Nebula.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accretion_(astrophysics) Compared to many other species, the history of mankind covers a very short period. Early modern humans (Homo sapiens) were born in Africa about 200,000 years B.C., and have since spread around the world. This development began[Read More…]

by 09/02/2017 1 comment Patriarchy
Populism And The Rise Of The Demagogues

Populism And The Rise Of The Demagogues

While the winter, outside, descends in all its severity, thoughts go to all those people who now have to face the cold, under miserable conditions. Thoughts go to war refugees who are left to their fate, the Greek islands, the Balkans and other places, where political Europe does not want to burn their hands and would rather look away. Politics[Read More…]

by 15/01/2017 1 comment World
Photo by John Vetterli

Confidence And Courage

We stand on the edge of the destruction of humanity and our planet, therefore we need Confidence, Courage, Love, Respect, Understanding to comprehend precisely, what human race needs to do in order to achieve real changes for the benefit of all mankind. As long as people do not see this great danger, nothing else matters. Understanding of the strength of[Read More…]

by 17/12/2016 1 comment Life/Philosophy
Similarities And Commonalities

Similarities And Commonalities

There is so much similarity and commonality among people, voters, left, right, social, center, liberal, or not politically interested. Almost everyone has had enough of the establishment, of the selfishness of greed, of the failure of the elite. The degradation of society, spiritual values and decency. Similarities: Hard work, work longer, without getting anywhere. The gap between rich and poor[Read More…]

by 21/11/2016 2 comments Life/Philosophy
This Europe Isn’t MY Europe

This Europe Isn’t MY Europe

The EU is a precarious subject these days. Both backers and detractors are subject to harsh criticism, and those wanting to leave the EU are habitually considered populists or nationalists. However, this Europe, with its undeniable capitalist and neoliberal penchants, isn’t MY Europe, or at least not the Europe I once pictured it to be. That is why, as it[Read More…]

by 12/07/2016 Comments are Disabled Video, World