home back to band page	The Soap Box – Ian Salmon February 2001
	It's raining again and I need to get some shopping. The shop is only a 15 minutes walk away but this time I take the car. It takes me 25 minutes to get there because of the traffic. Why does it rain so much these days? Because the moment it rains, everyone gets in their car just to go round to the shops. Why does it take so long to go such a short distance in my car? Because everybody drives in such a paranoid and territorial manner that nobody leaves any gaps for the traffic to flow around corners etc. I'm not saying we should all be nice and kind and considerate to each other. That would be too much to ask and historically has tended to result in painful, untimely deaths on crosses and the like. What I would suggest is that we all (my-self included at times) attempt to take a look around us and realise that we are nearly always part of a system (I'm not talking about the system here) and have responsibilities, both individually and collectively to that system.  With a bit of care, attention and effort, we may still be able to work with the eco-systems of this planet so that there will still be a planet to live on and develop and grow on for thousands of years. So long as we reduce this need to consume the best looking, cheapest, most uniform, (who cares if it's GM) food. The latest, fastest, flashest computer. The biggest, fastest, flashest, most features, best; car, mp3 player, DVD, Hi-fi, FST TV, whatever. You know what I'm on about. Okay, okay, I know some of these things really do improve your quality of life, ability to communicate, etc. What I mean is this acquisitive habit, fuelled by multi-nationals, successfully advertising a whole lifestyle package to you, which you don't really need (this lifestyle package seems to include ‘You should go shopping in your car and be aggressive while your on your way.’ How do I manage to get this message from all those ‘cheesy grin’ adverts?). As for me, next time I need some shopping, I'll get my waterproof jacket on and get on my bicycle (like I usually do to get to work etc.) and save some energy by shutting up and getting off my soapbox.  Bye all. Take care out there.  Ian