World Cup

The World Cup began today. As is the normal the hosts South Africa kicked off the tournament with a game against perennial qualifiers, Mexico. I listened on the car radio as the pressure built on the home defence, however as if in the script the South Africand went ahead in the second half, before Mexico equalised.

In many ways this tournament should open Africa to the world. Hopefully the revenue generated will benefit the people of South Africa, from the outside it looks like a society where inequality of wealth hangs over society.

The opening games were played to the sound of African horns that sound like a swarm of bees on a F1 circuit. In the evening, my team in the work sweepstake, France, played out a goalless draw, with the masters of 0-0 football, Uruguay.

The tournament has somehow ceased to be about football, it is in fact a huge commercial venture. Sport is used simply to sell product to the mass of the population. I wonder if in other countries, flags on houses and cars festoon the streets. Do the supermarkets sell world cup dog bowls and baby's nappies !

In less than 24 hours England play the USA. The backcloth to this game is less about the rematch of 1950, when the part-time Americans huniliated England, but more about the oil that have spewed into the Gulf of Mexico in recent weeks. While Obama has to bolster his sagging ratings by rightly holding BP responsible for the environmental disaster that it has caused, the British media have picked up on the president's use of British Petroleum and his call to "kick ass". As BP shares go into freefall who really is to blame ? The President for saying that BP has been slow to compensate, solve the problem and clean up the mess ( can it /), BP for appalling public relations or our society forbecoming so dependent on a fossil fuel that necessitates drilling deep into the sea and ocean floor.

Finally finished Andy Beckett's "When the lights went out" today, unfortunately I knew the ending, the victory of Mrs Thatcher. Nevertheless it was a good read, and going back into the 70s was a worthwhile journey that allowed me to think about how Britain has changed during my adult life.

Next Up : Caroline Lucas' book on Green Alternatives to Globalisation. Yesterday she won the Observer's "Ethical Politician of the Year", I was highly amused by her remark that while being delighted to receive the award, she was concerned that there was so little competition.