Month: June 2023

Interesting to see a new look at our perilous economic position. It totally debunks liberal capitalism and the need for growth. To occur will require a massive disruption of the economic and thus political systems. More seriously what can we do to bring about change when the economic and political systems are dominated and protected by wealthy corporations and their supporters. Both the social and environmental boundaries are theoretically achievable but look unobtainable despite all the warniings by thousands of climate scientists and environmental models. The last being the disruption in ocean temperatures. In the western world with the media controlled amnd manipulated by the rich and wealthy leaving protesters the only option of physical disruption by groups of protesters like Just Stop OIL and Extinction Rebellion.

A court of law that was equitable and fair would look at the protest, the climate change, the stupidity of governments and award the protesters damages not lock them up! “You prevented my wife from getting to the shops, and that deserves a prison sentence “-I have heard people say they would throw away the key! But there will need to be a bigger disruption than they can muster to disrupt the system. I doubt that it can be done peacefully, we have seen how desperate the rich and powerful like Johnson, Trump, JR-M will use anything to retain their position.

Even the war in Ukraine has had little effect. Countries like the UK with massive potential for clean power generation are using the war as an excuse to open more oil well in the seas around us. Electric cars do not come without environmental and social cost (Cobalt mines in the Congo), perhaps we all need to have better more affordable public transport Cost of running a car is £5-6000 per year – transfer most of that to public transport and we could have virtually free buses and trains.

Basically we need to live within the constraints of the doughnut – something I am not sure Conservatives (free market) or Labour (basically the same with modifications) would agree with?

Canada has the worst wild fires at the moment 1400% up on last year. New York is making 1million masks available for use, free in public buildings due to the air pollution. Time to change from growth to sustainability in economic policies. This summer may bring a new reality to food production and sustainability. The knuckle draggers may not like “Just stop oil” but will be proved to be as neathderthal as they look and behave.

The population of Manchester City Centre will have risen from 11000 to over 100000 since 2010 by 2024. Massive profits are being made with little affordable rents or houses available. However it is a sign that the demand is there for flats near the city centre. A number of stores are pondering this trend with Waitrose looking to create flats above its stores. This makes total sense, proximity to work, shops and leisure, combine this with rental of electric vehicles for holidays in the UK and ensuring access to green spaces and we can provide some sustainable solutions to the housing shortage without plundering the countryside. Add in roof gardens and converting multistory car parks to urban farms with use of hydroponics and it may even reduce the “urban heat island” effect.

We have seen various councils cut down trees most notably Sheffield and Plymouth. City planners should be embracing climate change to provide better environments for people and wildlife, not denying it. China has reported record temperatures last month and warnings are out for world wide record temperatures in the next 5 years as being almost certain. And yet we allow more oil to be extracted, more trees to be cut down, 10000sq.km last year in Brazil alone.