Traffic is an interesting phenomenon. The paths of a multiplicity of freethinking vehicle-driving individuals possessing varying levels of intelligence quotients converge for a short period of time as they attempt to negotiate their own way from A to B. For a short time these paths converge and the momentary confusion of priorities and interpretations on the best way to move forward can have observable scientific consequences that have often been the object of academic study.
Most times, just like magic (and thanks to a prudent observation of a basic set of rules), the result is a constant parallel movement, such as is observable among the shoals, packs and prides of the animal kingdom. Other times, due to a myriad factors beyond the control of the group as a whole, a sinister event occurs: the momentum is lost, the various components slow down to a standstill and before you know it you have what we call a “traffic jam”.
Observations of traffic movements have shown that the so-called “butterfly effect” (sudden slowing down causing stoppages further back) can be initiated by a single abrupt manoeuvre (sudden swerving or readjusting of direction) without any actual accidents having happened. On the other hand, when a truck’s jib hits a pedestrian bridge above one of the main arteries on a small island, what you get is not a butterfly effect but a national disaster that is almost equivalent to the much feared “gridlock” in large cities.
One particular bit of news that struck me from the reporting of the Triq Aldo Moro accident – apart from the four hours it took to resume normal service – was the observation of the negative effects of egocentric drivers who put their plight above everyone else’s with the result of increasing and worsening the congestion. It reminded me of particular drivers in Malta who are eager to overtake to win those extra 10 metres towards their destination – as though having overtaken one more driver would make a world of a difference.
I have often thought that given universal automated cars limited to travelling at speeds of 40km/h Maltese traffic would be much more efficient than it is now. But that would mean foregoing the right to be individual oafs of the road… Can you imagine? After the hunters (or part-time farmers) all we need is a drivers lobby!
Congested skies
Another kind of traffic is still dominating the headlines worldwide. The ban on flying that started with the eruption of the unpronounceable Icelandic volcano has been lifted. As the dust settles, the continent examines its original reaction and tries to fine-tune its plans should a similar event occur in the future. The “prudence v money” argument is a no-brainer for me. I would rather be stuck on the ground than hurtling towards it at breakneck speed thanks to multiple engine failure thank you very much.
It’s not just that. It’s also the fact that given the reluctance of certain airlines to grant consumers their basic rights, I’d rather not think of what other penny-pinching schemes they come up with in order to scrounge on costly security checks. The Ryanair conundrum was a particularly amusing scenario this weekend (at least for those who did not have to fly with them). You see, the inspired flawed-cost airline decided to inform all of its stranded passengers that it only felt obliged to reimburse them with the full cost of whatever they had paid in the first place. No hotel bills, no feeding costs for Ryanair. Only the €4 (or so) that you paid for the ticket. There’s an eye opener if ever was needed – you get what you pay for with Ryanair. Nothing less. Nothing more.
Mass repentance
Every cloud has a silver lining and Pope B-XVI’s visit will not, after all, be remembered for the early reactions to an artistic decoration installed on a traffic roundabout. Instead, the Pope’s stay in Malta has echoed all over the world for the unscheduled visit with the victims of abuse. On mediatic terms this was a winner for Malta – it is comparable to the Bush-Gorbachev visit in 1989 that was a crucial step towards the end of the Cold War. Benedict XVI’s visit gave a human, repenting face to an institution that still has a lot of decisions and answers to give but that showed these first steps in his “meeting in Malta”.
I cannot stop repeating that the Roman Catholic Church is not a democratic institution and that people inside the Church (let alone those outside) cannot expect it to change its ways on a referendum style basis. On the other hand, there are some consequences of the actions of members of the Church (with a big C) that cannot only be dealt with within the institution.
I am not one to judge whether priests should be celibate or – that is a question of faith. I am even loath to create links between celibacy and the atrocious stories of abuse we have heard. What I definitely feel well positioned to judge – as a lay citizen – is the civil and criminal responsibilities of whoever commits such atrocities. No Catholic Church authority, or any other religious authority for that matter, can substitute itself for the law. Ecclesiastic immunity ended a long, long time ago.
Third ways
Most times, when you are stuck in a jam you desperately look for a way out. While it is not always possible, sometimes you find that you can take the long way faster. European politics seems to be heading towards a sort of impasse. Government incumbents are burdened with a track record tainted by recession and blockage. The natural oppositions seem to be all opportunistic talk and no substance – of the “same, same but different” type. The instability of this “crisis” point is leading to the surfacing of more and more third way alternatives. Witness the Clegg phenomenon in the UK and the threatened split by Gianfranco Fini in Berlusconi’s PdL.
It may be early days but we may be about to witness the first reactions to the fact that duopolistic politics for the sake of duopolistic politics does not really work. It will all boil down to voters’ changing habits (in the UK – for now Fini will criticise from within, but for how long?). Are there enough elements to provoke them away from their habitual voting patterns? Will the “either/or” formula still work for much longer? The Internet and new media might hold the key to open new doors in participative and representative democracy.
Blog traffic
Traffic on J’accuse slowed to an abrupt halt this week as I went on a happy trip of pushing the wrong buttons risking the very existence of www.akkuza.com in the process. Thanks to the hard work of net-savvier colleagues of mine (thanks Simon!), the world as we know it was saved and J’accuse is back up and running. In this edition of the Independent on Sunday you will also find a page of posts from the TH!NK3 competition. They are a sample of the hundreds of blog posts from around the world discussing the UN Millennium Goals and the Development World. Do check it out and if you like what you see go to www.thinkaboutit.eu for more.
Speaking of traffic, it turns out that the man who had been pointing fingers and playing the victim in 2006 had been busy generating a high traffic of phone calls to referees and the like. Massimo Moratti’s Inter-cettati have been on a roll since they fed off the carcass of the World Cup Winning Juventus team (10/11 players in Italian squad) in 2006. Every “achievement” of the past four years must be seen in the perspective of their having neutralised their opponents off the pitch.
Inter-cettati might feel happy to have legal prescription on their side but that only means that rather than pay for their deeds as Juve have done, they will have to live with the stain on their “achievements” – give me Serie B any day than a scudetto or Champions League won with the sweat of hypocrisy and strength of jealousy.
www.akkuza.com is up and running again. We are now also twitter compatible – highlight your fav quote from j’accuse and tweet it. It also works on mobile phones – so you can do it when you’re in your next traffic jam!
