It is really hard to avoid doomscrolling at the moment as there is so much terrible news and ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing, but for my own and close family and friend sake  it seems necessary to only keep abreast of events to keep motivating oneself to continue to protest, write and support demonstrations and resistance movements. On the other hand it seems necessary to also focus on positive news and to try and live and enjoy the here and now. Without hope it is hard to stay personally optimistic or to encourage others to 'keep on trucking' to use the old Fabulous Freak brothers mantra.

So I have been encouraged by the return of a few different species of butterfly, a few more plaaces around us where the sound of daytime cicadas can be heard and even in early Summer a few frogs still crying out for mates in the basin of a friend's garden. 

While knowing that the Democrats can hardly be called socialist or radical at least they have a couple of candidates who are to the left of the party, offer improvement in the lives of ordinary Americans and hopefully see off the Trump MAGA racist neofascist wave. only can only hope that if they win then maybe just maybe they can bring an end to the genocide and  ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. In the mean time bit by bit the horror of Gaza is forcing some companies to stop their embrace and arming of the Israeli government and there is some hope that we and France will be forced to stop arming the IDF's offensive

When are we seniors going to see a better future with a new government

 As someone who is both a senior, campaigning for age equality, friendliness and age diversity as well being someone who tries to persuade other elders to embrace their earlier baby boomer identities and vote for progressive change, I am both hopeful yet fearful of whether the new government  can deliver the changes we so desperately need.

Only if people of all ages see that their private and public lives are improving can we hope to stem the tide of reactionary, racist and anti equalitarian movements that are gaining ground via a biased hard right media, funded by hard right billionaires and  supported by global corporate lobbying.

So what do we seniors want and need and are there similarities between the needs of the elders and the young? Well lets take one thing at a time.

Improved local services  for starters, re-opening libraries, community and sports centres, providing safe open spaces with accessible and clean toilets. This means funding for local government, for the voluntary sector and social enterprises to provide facilities accessible and welcoming to all that enable us to meet, to read, research, use computing facilities, have access to training and support, meals and meeting places, encouraging healthy activities and social interaction. If this is done then there are many problems which will be addressed, the isolation and loneliness of many older people, the poor mental and physical health of many particularly the poor.

These investments - which would be new and refurbished buildings and spaces but also require ongoing staffing and volunteers and would also be welcomed by young parents with small children, who also need these types of facilities, including soft play and creches as well as young people who need access to social and sporting and leisure facilities that are free or affordable.

It may also open the way to more intergenerational connections and even friendships.

Lets hope that devolving power to local authorities and mayors and providing the resources and investment long term facilities and being properly staffed can start us down the road to  better more communal, happy and healthy lives which should lower the anger, hate and hopelessness which undermines our society now