26 I saw an interesting story in the news today about Russian diplomats returning home from North Korea with their families and luggage facing a problem getting over the border. North Korea has stopped all trains going in or out of the country as Coronavirus-prevention measures. So the diplomats travelled on a train and bus […]

25 There was a piece in the news today that a number of investment bank bosses would like to see an end to home working, and return to ‘traditional’ office life, once the pandemic restrictions are lifted. That may not affect very many readers of this ‘thought’, or their friends, or their families – and

24 The First Minister indicated in Parliament yesterday the framework for easing Covid-19 restrictions in Scotland – though at the moment there is still a lot of detail to be finalised. We heard about schools, care homes, outdoor meetings, shops – and maybe churches. At some point we should go from Enhanced Level 4 to

23 Fairtrade Fortnight Yesterday marked the start of Fairtrade Fortnight, the annual focus on trying to create Fairtrade arrangements around the world – focussing particularly on remuneration and working conditions for small-scale farmers and manufacturers. Over the past few months we have heard a lot in the news about ‘Free Trade’, and have probably learned

22 Guide Thinking Day Today is Guide Thinking Day. The last twelve months have been hard for all youth organisations and their leaders, who have worked hard to keep them going. Today is an opportunity to express our thanks and appreciation for the incredible amount of work that the leaders have been doing over the

20           World Day of Social Justice This ‘international day’ was established by the United Nations in 2008, following the unanimous adoption of the International Labour Organisation’s Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalisation. This year’s theme is a ‘Call for Social Justice in the Digital Economy’. Over recent months the restrictions put in place

19 There are reports in the media that at a virtual meeting of G7 leaders today richer countries will be urged to donate part of their vaccine orders to poorer countries where little or no vaccination has been done. Apart from the altruistic, inclusive concern that everyone on the planet should be protected from the