The joys of a #WinterSolstice spoilt by consumer greed.

At the risk of being called 'a humbug' or a 'party-pooper,' I choose to do as little 'Xmas' stuff as possible and, instead, focus on something meaningful. The depths of a Northern Hemisphere winter spoilt by overly commercialised, overly religious festivals that nobody thinks about and that should have no place in a modern society. I mean, think about it. Prophecies, virgin births, angels, wise men, magical moving stars, stables, donkeys, trees, turkeys, crackers, reindeer, chimneys and gifts. Really? What a load of absolute hokum. Nothing more than a mixed up, patchwork quilt of Pagan,

There be dragons! ...Lots.

The population of China in 2014 is a staggering 1.355BILLION people. Just to put that in to context, that is more than the populations of the UK (63.7million), USA (319.5million), Russia (136.7million), France (66million), Germany (80.9million), Spain (47.7million), Ethiopia (99.94million), Egypt (86.8million) and Brazil (201.1million) COMBINED!!

With a growing population, a thirst for raw materials, unlimited low-wage labour and a massive export market, the Chinese economy is growing at close to 10% year on year. At some point soon they will overtake the USA as the major global economic force.  Add in the emerging Indian economy (1.23BILLION people!) and it is not difficult to see where the bulk of the worlds raw materials, energy needs, carbon emissions, jobs and business opportunities will be focused. Frightening.