0.1.2 Why bother? We care about understanding!

Version 1.0 September 2016                                        Previous Version

●   All human beings probably need a comprehensive understanding of how the world works.  For many people the core understanding comes from their religious beliefs and local history.  These beliefs may be erroneous, and may not be very conscious, but still powerful, underlying action.  Even the sceptics, cynics and post modernists who decry such narratives are stuck in their own.

●   Too many otherwise intelligent people are refusing to take action, or taking too little action, against climate change.  Many people think there is a global conspiracy of climate scientists to get research funding.  They seem to think scientists are so stupid that they are raising a scare campaign for which there is no evidence, and these silly scientists couldn’t think of another real problem to scare us with – like poverty, crime, epidemics, dementia or nuclear holocaust. 

●   Too many people use antibacterial soaps and wipes.  Too many farmers routinely give antibiotics to their stock.  Too many doctors and hospitals prescribe too many antibiotics.  We are breeding too many superbugs that cannot be treated with our current medicines, and we are at risk of untreatable global epidemics.  Too many people are unaware of this issue.  Of those that are, too many don't care about the wider social impact and just look after themselves.

●   Too many people think that it is reasonable to make and use nuclear weapons.  The USA did it first, in World War II, because they thought the Nazis might do it first – and they might have.  The USA tried to keep secret how nuclear bombs were made.  Russian spies found out within a few years.  Now Britain, France, Israel, China, India, Pakistan and North Korea have “the bombâ€�.  The USA’s declared policy was to use atomic weapons to defend Europe if Communist Russia (the USSR) invaded.  A Christian bishop said nuclear weapons would be used “wiselyâ€�. 

●   Too many people still think the moon landing in 1969 was faked by America, and that America is hiding, on various USA air force bases, evidence that aliens have come to Earth.

●   Too many people think science has little value and is very often wrong even though advanced science is required for us to use mobile phones, watch TV, access the internet, drive cars, cross big bridges, make renewable energy, reduce poverty and save the planet from pollution.

●   Too many Christians believe the Earth was created within the last 10,000 years, ignoring all the evidence from science.  They don't know they can be good Christians and still believe science.

●   Too many people have a fear of childhood vaccinations, some quoting a now debunked study reporting a link between one of them and autism.  This causes their children and their whole community to be put at risk, including those who have been immunised.

●   Too many people still oppose adding fluoride to drinking water, despite the overwhelming evidence that this dramatically reduces cavities in the teeth with few side effects.

●   Too many people take medical advice from homeopaths and naturopaths, abandon orthodox medicines and use unproven and often dangerous “alternativeâ€� medicines that don't work, when there is no evidence of effectiveness.

●   Too many people ignore health warnings about tobacco, alcohol and other recreational drugs, and about healthy diets and exercise.  About half the deaths in affluent countries are due to “lifestyle diseasesâ€� caused by lack of exercise, poor diets, obesity, and recreational drugs.

●   Too many of the rising middle classes in Asia and Africa are copying the Europeans and Americans by eating too much, exercising less, polluting more, and adopting rigid religions.

We need a better understanding of science, especially nuclear science, military technology, environmental science, biological sciences and health sciences, because the beliefs we hold about these subjects, the conclusions we reach, the facts we know, impact on our lives.