An Easter story relating to a tree.

For millennia, mankind's heartlessness has been demonstrated in their disregard for living trees. Men have cut down and decimated trees, our most beneficial relation, with whom we share common DNA. Trees raise the goodness from the earth and spread it above to maintain the planet's atmosphere. The bare Easter Island shows what happens when every last tree has gone. Even now, a massive area of Brazilian rainforest is being cleared to make another dam for profit.

In Ternate, Indonesia, the world's oldest spice tree has survived for 400 years, despite struggles to control every one of its clove-producing relations. Cloves, the dried flower buds of a tree which can grow up to 12m height, are used in cooking, either whole or in a ground form, as well as in some cigarettes, incense and perfume. The tree referred to as Afo was once 40 meters tall and four meters round. Sadly, today, all that remains is a massive stump and some bare branches inside a brick wall. A few years ago, villagers hungry for firewood attacked the tree with machetes.

For millennia, Ternate and its neighbor were the world's only source of the fragrant, twig-like herbs. Cloves were traded by Arab seafarers along the maritime Silk Route as far afield as the Middle East, Europe and China.  A Han dynasty ruler from the 3rd Century BC insisted that anyone addressing him chew cloves to sweeten their breath. Their origin was a fiercely-guarded secret until the Portuguese and Spanish burst into the Java Sea in the 16th Century.

If the Dutch had had their way, Afo would not have survived at all. The Netherlands United East India Company seized total control of spice production in 1652, after displacing the Portuguese and Spanish. All clove trees not controlled by them were uprooted and burned. Anyone caught growing, stealing or possessing clove plants without authorization faced the death penalty—already carried out on the entire male population of Banda, the world's only source of nutmeg. To keep prices high, only 800-1,000 tones of cloves were exported per year, the rest burned or dumped in the sea.

Somehow, the tree Afo managed to slip through the net. Mankind took on a kinder role, perhaps motivated by profit and deception. In 1770, a Frenchman stole some of Afo's seedlings and distributed them in France, then the Seychelles Islands and, eventually, Zanzibar. Today the seedlings have produced plantations of clove trees at Zanzibar, the world's largest producer of cloves.

Although the 400-year-old tree is dead to all intents and purposes, new life has sprung forth like the Easter story.

Whether human nature or selfishness, I need to look after myself before I can change the world.

North Korea is intent on entering a state of war with South Korea in the latest escalation of rhetoric against its neighbor and the US. Terrible things are happening in the world and I can't do a thing to stop them.

Right now, my immediate surroundings affect me more than a far-off threat. I understand that whatever goes on in the world might escalate to include me at some time in the future, but I'm more concerned about keeping warm and mobile.

The power went off at six this morning—right when I get up. A loud peep came from a building next door every five minutes, so I knew the power had failed to our area. No cup of tea first thing because today, I needed to take my weekly dose of alendronic acid—meant to prevent the effects of osteoporosis. Stiff and cold, I sat under a blanket to meditate in the unusual silence of the living room. No reassuring hum from the fridge or the gas central heating.

Thousands of elderly people are at risk from cold every year. The very young and the aged are less able to combat extreme temperatures. Okay. I'm not elderly—yet.

Time to move. I tossed aside the thought of crawling back into bed with my warm husband and decided instead to sweep the floors and cut up a pineapple—things I'd put off for too long. The action would keep me warm. However, the drop in temperature had already made me stiff. What should have been a pleasant routine, gave me pain and further discomfort. After I'd eaten some fruit to break my fast, I grabbed my notebook and flicked over pages of notes, refreshing my memory about things I'd decided to work on in my writing. Time arrived at last to eat cereal and make a cup of tea. Without electricity, I filled a saucepan and lit a ring on the gas hob.

My neighbor knocked at 9am to check if I'd lost power too. I assured her that was the case and set a pan of water on the stove for her. I considered how to carry boiling water through the door left-handed, with my walking stick in the other. I could either use the trolley on wheels or ask her to collect it.

Just then, the power returned with buzzes and clicks. The service had been restored. The phone peeped continually for a minute. I had no idea how to stop the annoying noise, so that was a relief. I turned the heater on and then the computer. Bliss! Back to my routine.

However, Korea and the world are still in danger. Unable to avert the situation, the way I couldn't restore the power service, I wish someone could turn human aggression and avarice off with a flick of a switch.

By respecting each other, we can quell any argument about who created our Earth and all it contains. Over thousands of years in every country of the world, religions, and the way each person worships God, have changed. Rather than delve into every religion, I'll concentrate on England and America.

Today, on Good Friday, Christians remember the death of Jesus. Sad Friday, I used to call it.

Christianity emerged in the area around Palestine and Israel in the mid-1st century AD. Christianity spread initially from Jerusalem throughout the Near East, into places such as Syria, Assyria, Mesopotamia, Phoenicia, Asia Minor, Jordan and Egypt. In the 4th century it was successively adopted as the state religion by Armenia in 301, Georgia in 319, the Aksumite Empire in 325, and the Roman Empire in 380. It became common to all of Europe in the Middle Ages and expanded throughout the world during Europe's Age of Exploration from the Renaissance onwards to become the world's largest religion

In England, Henry VIII made the first break away from traditional Catholic religion. Born on 28 June, he reigned from 21 April 1509 until his death in 28 January 1547. He was lord, and later king, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France. Besides his six marriages, Henry VIII is known for his role in the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church.

Persecuted by the English, the Quakers left for America. In 1682, William Penn received a grant which the King called Pennsylvania. The first settlement of Philadelphia quickly became one of the largest in the New World.

Before the invasion from abroad, Native American beliefs were deeply rooted in their culture. Until this day, they believe everything to be sacred from a mountain to a bee. They honor, love and respect the Creator and Mother Earth as well as every living thing. The Elders keep the culture alive and share an understanding that everything is part of the One.

In the early 18th century, many Amish and Mennonites immigrated to Pennsylvania for a variety of reasons. A group of traditionalist Christian church fellowships formed a subgroup of the Mennonite churches. The Amish are known for simple living, plain dress, and reluctance to adopt many conveniences of modern technology.

Today there are 2 billion Christians, one third of humanity. Christianity divided into the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church in the Great Schism of 1054. The Protestant Reformation split the Catholic Church into many different denominations.

The United Kingdom has been through many changes in their spiritual beliefs.

In Iron Age Britain and France, Druid priests carried out religious rituals. The Romans, who visited and later conquered France and Britain, met the nature-loving Druids and wrote about their beliefs and rites. Although these writings may not always have been completely truthful, it is clear that the Druids were an important group of people in many Iron Age societies.

Now days, the United Kingdom respects the different races and religions of all its citizens.

Representing the rights of all in 1826, the UCL University offered places to students of any race, class or religion and welcomed female students on equal terms with men. Beforehand, university education in England was restricted to males of the Church of England. The university challenged discrimination. Spiritual and moral systems offered by religious rituals, such as dress, diet and prayer, form an integral part of traditions and beliefs.

The Jewish faith Judaism continues its ancient practices amongst the other UK citizens from the world. Their UK population is the second largest in the world.

Others include: Islam, Bahá'í Faith, Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism.

Where reasonably practicable, the needs of people from all religious backgrounds, and also of those with no religious affiliation, are valued. However, nobody should impinge upon the needs and freedoms of others. Terrorist attacks from one group of believers against another can never be tolerated. Peace depends on respecting one another.

Have humans incited the wrath of God? Now, as well as Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel, a severe plague of locusts has descended over the unique island of Madagascar.

Whether we believe the bible word-for-word or not, the collection of stories forms part of our history. Presumably, the change from grasshopper to locust was a natural occurrence even then, and one feared by mankind. It must have been terrifying to have all available food wiped out by an unstoppable swarm.

The island of Madagascar is heavily exposed to tropical cyclones which bring torrential rains and destructive floods. A recent cyclone provided optimum conditions which allowed another generation of locusts to breed. About half the country is infested by hoppers and flying swarms made up of billions of plant-devouring insects.

Madagascar is the world's fourth biggest island. Because of its isolation off the east coast of Africa, most of its mammals, half its birds, and most of its plants exist nowhere else on earth. Click here to see the unique mammals, birds, reptiles, insects, trees including Baobabs and the habitats.The World Bank has estimated that 70% of the population lives on less than $1 per day. Poverty and the competition for agricultural land have put pressure on the island's dwindling forests, home to much of Madagascar's unique wildlife and key to its emerging tourist industry.

Now, locusts will devour rice crops and decimate livestock. 22m people could be threatened by a significant worsening of hunger in a country that already had extremely high rates of food insecurity and malnutrition. The UN's Food and Agricultural Organization estimated the need for $22m to avert starvation for  60% of the population.

I can't help wondering why groups already at risk are the ones most likely to suffer hardship. Divine providence or Mother Nature's forces? No matter which, the weak are targeted.

Where do ideas come from?

Over a thousand letters written by Charles Darwin to his good friend are about to be published. The words express his emotional side in a way previously unknown when he speaks of deaths in his family. The first tentative approaches to his theory on evolution are more like an apology, as if he's committing a murder of ideas and faith. See the full story here. The letters as a whole are hailed as a wonderful set of documents about Victorian science, but also show the social bonds that could be forged in correspondence.

Famed for his theory of evolution by natural selection, Darwin travelled extensively, most famously as the naturalist on the Beagle on an expedition to South America and the Galapagos Islands. At the end of the voyage, he approached Joseph Hooker to work on classifying his collection of plants. After comparing two lists, one entitled Marry, the other entitled Not Marry, he married Emma Wedgewood in 1839. They produced 10 children, three of whom died in infancy.

How did Darwin develop his ideas and subdue the strict religious beliefs of the day? Now days, scientists are encouraged to think freely.

Truth, seen through each person's eyes, developed in their brain and filtered by their emotions is different for each person. One person's account of a traumatic event, like an accident, will differ from another's. I remember learning in Religious Studies at school nearly sixty years ago that each person faces a central fire to see a different flame. The flame represented God or the Creator in that circumstance.

Many people have expounded the idea of a Universal Consciousness. Scientists have proven a common DNA in all living things. So we're linked to trees, snakes, animals, insects and a banana. Can certain people hone in on their contact with living things and absorb information? Perhaps this explains telepathy.

The legendary seer, Edgar Cayce said that when a person thinks, that thought makes an impression on the Universal Consciousness. Nothing is lost or done in secret, and each thought affects the whole.

This could explain how two inventors, living apart at a time when communication could only be achieved by letter, came up with the same thing. A case in point is the invention of the telephone. Born in Scotland, Alexander Graham Bell lived in Ontario, Canada, with his deaf wife. This led him to invent the microphone and later, in London, the electrical speech machine, his name for the first telephone. Elisha Gray, a Quaker from rural Ohio, came up with the same idea at the same time, but because of an earlier court case, Bell won the caveat.

In my own experience, ideas concerning writing penetrate during my morning meditation. Such profound, clear thoughts lead me to expand and modify what I'm working on. I don't actively seek advice—it just comes. Sometimes, I'm amazed at the diversity and I question whether they came from my own mind at all—or somewhere else.

Do you have similar experiences, where an idea seems to pop out of nowhere?

Just like Sing a Song of Sixpence, thousands of jobless people have been referred to foodbanks in the United Kingdom.

The financial slump in the UK has been called the slowest post-recession recovery in output in the past 100 years. A prediction shows the economy many not recover fully until 2018.

The bitter struggle for survival faced by families in the United States is most famously captured in John Steinbeck's 1930s classic novel, The Grapes of Wrath. Millions of Americans, blighted by recession and the Dust Bowl of the Mid-West, were forced to go west to avoid starvation.


The recession and recovery in the United Kingdom during the 1930s was less severe than the one that blighted the US. In fact the worst years for the UK economy in the 20th Century were between 1919 and 1921 when the aftershocks of First World War sent output spiraling by 20 per cent.

These days, the pain of recession has been spread more broadly than in recessions before, hitting those who may have thought they would escape its worst effects. Staff at the Job Centre have referred six thousand welfare claimants to food banks over concerns about them being left without enough money to eat.  325 food banks spread across the UK provide at least three days' worth of nutritionally-balanced food for local people in crisis. The desperate claimants are limited to emergency aid on three occasions.

My husband and I are retired and on a fixed Government pension, which will not rise for another three years. Food costs have doubled in the last month and every bill that comes in has risen dramatically. Fresh vegetables give nutrition and taste good. Apart from that, we're trying to shop wisely to get the best deal in different supermarkets and have lowered our meal expectations. However, we have no control over the rising service bills.

I don't know how we'll meet the cost. My husband spends hours every night, studying the figures. He holds his worries tight to his chest but doesn't sleep well, so I know he's worried. He already does more than his fair share of the housekeeping, and all the shopping and cooking. I'm used to a life of ease. My husband, with Plantagenet blood and a child during WW2, has always lived for the day—spending money on lavish meals when he had it, and living by his wits when he didn't.

The present situation puts the poem Sing a Song of Sixpence into modern context. Let's hope the blackbird of past actions doesn't swoop down and peck off everyone's nose.

Should mankind be blamed for every recent extinction?

The question of extinction most recently surfaced at Bangkok where delegates debated the treaty meant to save endangered species from the devastating effects of trade. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) negotiated about the slaughter of rhino, the decimation of elephant and many other endangered species including the last stand of the tiger.

The statistics about the losses shock us all, giving rise to protests and the campaigns.

Attractive animals with loveable eyes wrench our heart strings. Yet nobody cares about a tubeworm.

However, every loss can't be blamed on result of man's unwitting or careless activity.

In the story of life on Earth, the harsh reality is that extinction has always been with us. The most famous mass wipe-out was the loss of the dinosaurs. And four other great die-offs have been identified, one of which killed off something like 90% of species. In the background, some creatures routinely fade out year by year, losing out to others and disappearing.

The living world is an agitated enterprise in which nothing endures forever. Most astonishing of all is the knowledge that almost every life form that has ever existed on the planet has died out. According to some estimates, each kind of sea creature or land animal or insect or plant that enjoyed a spell on Earth has vanished into oblivion. Charles Darwin wrote about extinction in his landmark On the Origin of Species.

As a mark of civilization we should be responsible for the survival of weaker species. Every living thing contains DNA, which we all share, linking us to each living thing on the planet. We are related to spiders, wasps, snakes and slugs and our family's survival depends on us to be aware of every action.

Maybe this is part of what he meant.

After an hour of shouting for help, a tourist jumped from a balcony to escape assailants.

In Agra, home of the Taj Mahal, a knock roused a woman in her Indian hotel in the early hours of the morning. At the door, the manager and a guard pushed their way into the room with promises of an oil rub. Jessica Davies managed to repel them and close the door, but they remained outside trying to penetrate the barrier she'd erected. Nobody responded to her continual shouts for help and pounding. Desperate, she jumped out of her window, injuring both legs.

With the safety of women in India still a simmering issue since the brutal assault of a Delhi student before Christmas and the recent gang-rape of a Swiss tourist, Jessica's plight got instant headlines in India and abroad. She remains adamant that she will return to India, but never alone.

Have you ever wondered how you would react when threatened this way? And, more importantly, should we test ourselves to danger?

This morning, meditating in my warm living room, I listened to the soft coo, coo of a wood pigeon. The bird must have sheltered on a tree outside in the corner of the garden where fallen snow had melted. I replaced the dove with an image of myself, snug and protected, cooing in a daily blog. Never venturing out of my comfort zone or placing myself in any sort of danger. It seems that some people live secure lives and others are at risk.

I don't think I need testing at my time of life and circumstances. I'd surely fail to repel anyone intent on doing me harm. Yet, I've faced up to an anticipated risk. In 1987, after a traumatic marriage, I left my protected life in Australia and arrived in London alone. Before planning the venture, I'd heard about roaming gangs of thugs and stabbings on the underground and knew I'd need to use that form of travel when I arrived. However, a cloud of protection hovered over me while I rode on the trains and arranged a live-in job as a nanny. I've never felt unsafe in my whole life.

The pigeon outside my window eventually flew away to face cold and hunger. Should we push ourselves more in life?

Advice from a leading expert is that we should allow children to become bored. They're over stimulated with television and different screens so they never get a chance to relax and smell the roses. Or just stare at the sky. During these times of boredom, creativity is born. A child needs time to dream—to work out how to fill their time—to entertain themselves. See the full BBC News article here.

Children who don't develop their imagination often become antisocial teenagers, who resort to destructive acts like smashing bus shelters and shop windows.

What I remember most about my childhood is the boredom—nothingness—staring outside through the window. School didn't stimulate me. Back in the 1940's, we learned times-tables by route and chanted them together in class. Latin and geometry held no meaning. The only thing I liked doing was devising plays for the children living in our built-up area of Prahran in Melbourne, Australia. My mother would take us to the market where we could mingle with friendly people of other cultures. At home, I loved to dance for my sisters, scare them with stories and read. As the oldest sister, I was a natural leader without troops.

Now I see the light: Being bored is not only beneficial, but necessary—allows creativity to flow.

Some well-known writers say they used their boredom in a constructive way and wrote diaries or short stories. However, I could never settle on any one activity. I tried everything, did well, and moved on to something else. When I retired from full time work, I finally turned my hand to writing poetry. Then, I wrote songs, sang them into a recorder, and worked out how to jot the notes down on manuscript paper. Finally, after writing about a million poems and songs, I decided to write my life story. Having reached the very end of my exploration, I started writing a novel. At last, I've found an activity I'll never tire of. Learning to write properly, following the guide-lines of good writing, editing and sharing critiques with other members in the Internet Writer's Workshop fills my days. Each story leads to another. See my published novels at the bottom of the page

So—let your child become bored. Send them outside with no screen in their hand. They might yell and wail, but you can smile with the secret knowledge that it's for their own good.

Could a continual battering of sound cause poor health?

In the latest report, a US agency denies complaints that their army drills would be responsible for illness on the Puerto Rican island of Vieques. The US Navy used the island between 1941 and 2003 to practice firing rockets, missiles and bombs. Many of the self-governing island's 10,000 residents claimed 62 years of being subjected to the drills caused serious damage to human health and to the environment.

The report dismissed the islanders' health as generally poor, stating that increased mortality rates could be partially due to a lack of access to medical care. A solution springs to my mind. The navy could donate and fund a medical facility to the island as a parting gift after years of self-interested use.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry said there was no credible scientific evidence to link cancers, asthma and other illnesses to the military activities. They admitted that other tests needed to be done to detect the cumulative impact of exposures to chemicals. A munitions clean-up is ongoing and is expected to take at least another 20 years.

What about sound? Noise from the constant firing of rockets missiles and bombs could affect the resident's health. The effect of sound is an expanding area of research.

What we hear affects the way we experience food. A recent study by scientists at Oxford University found low tones could make food taste bitter and high-pitched tunes played on pianos or bells make things taste sweeter. They are carrying out further studies about why this happens. Chef Heston Blumenthal has experimented with sounds and food. His Fat Duck restaurant has a dish called the Sound of the Sea, which is served with an iPod playing sounds of the seaside. Crashing waves, wind and the cries of birds reportedly make the food taste fresher.

The use of sound is even being applied to white goods. Companies are looking into the hum fridges make, as a certain tone could make people think their food is fresher.

I'm reading an exciting novel at the moment about the way music affects the brain. The characters are taken into a state of ecstasy by certain mathematical sound vibrations, and are oblivious to the harm caused to their body. I look forward to finishing Connected by Simon Denman.

There is always an opposite or opposing force. Sound can benefit or harm a human brain. The plight of the innocent islanders should evoke sympathy from us all. I'm in no position to help financially, but I'll generate empathetic thoughts in the hope of a solution.